May 23rd, 2015
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

In Submission We Find Peace

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Lord, my praise rises to You, from whom all blessings come. Engage me now with Your Word as I come before You.

Read 2 Samuel 15:13-26

[13] A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.” [14] Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.” [15] The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.” [16] The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines to take care of the palace. [17] So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. [18] All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king. [19] The king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner, an exile from your homeland. [20] You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the LORD show you kindness and faithfulness.” [21] But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.” [22] David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him. [23] The whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness. [24] Zadok was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city. [25] Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the LORD’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place again. [26] But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

“The Lord disciplines those he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child” (Heb. 12:6, TNIV).

Think Further

God issues reminders when we disobey, for sin before God must arouse his loving discipline. The words “Then a messenger came to David…” (13) echo the day when David first heard about Saul and Jonathan’s deaths by messenger. Sadly, this déjà vu reminds David and us that sin has its consequences.

David submitted to the rod of God. Betrayed and tracked like an animal by his son Absalom, David refused to put up a fight. Imagine watching the champion warrior and great king departing his capital, Jerusalem, as he trudged along with a small retinue of loyal subjects out the city gates. When some of David’s loyal men asked if they should bring the Ark of the Covenant, David told them to leave it, for God might permit them to return in the future. God’s special tabernacle presence belonged in Jerusalem, and David was not about to defile it by taking it with him into exile. In these appalling circumstances, David responded to mistreatment in a simple and example-worthy manner. David submitted to the Lord’s chastening hand. David said, “Let him do to me as seems good to him” (26). God’s rod of discipline can be painful. No one knew this better than David. But, at this difficult time in his life, David shows us how to accept God’s chastisement in our lives. David peaceably submitted to God’s hand. In submission, David found peace.

God’s discipline tends to be an unpopular topic. Some people might like to deny that God would discipline them. He tells us clearly that he will (cf.  Heb. 12:7-13). But we need not live in fear of God’s discipline if we obey him. And we should remind ourselves that God disciplines in love.

Apply

Is God chastening you? Submit to his mighty and loving hand and enjoy his forgiveness.

Closing prayer

Chastening and loving Father, help me understand Your discipline better so that I might walk in obedience with You and find Your perfect peace.

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