The Power of Passionate Praise

“You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.”

Psalm 4:7

 

Humanity’s words can be employed to either express God’s glory, or expose our guilt. And there is something to be said for the heart that is fully enraptured by, and complimentary of, God’s amazingness. Passionate praise can produce a spirit that is joyous and a voice that longs to privately, and publicly, adore the Lord. Passionate praise refocuses priorities and redirects the steps of one’s life. It generates a hopeful disposition and yields a positive outlook. It brings about a trustful mindset in the will and Word of God. And such was the case with David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Psalm 4, a song attributed to David, is a microcosm of the power of passionate praise.    

David often chose to sing, write, and rejoice about the goodness of God, which is rather remarkable when you consider how many hardships he faced leading up to his crowning as King of Israel. But his soul was unbroken because his confidence in God was unshaken. David’s life was characterized by relentless worship and jubilant activity. He was tested at times, and, as a result, fell mightily at times. But, in the end, David’s great legacy is that he rose above the muck and mire and continually sought to resoundingly speak favorably of His heavenly Lord. David faced giants and came out victorious. He lived as a shepherd and became a ruler. His is a story for the ages. But it is an enduring story mainly because of David’s spiritual attributes, not because of his achievements or accomplishments (achievements and accomplishments consequently that were ushered in through God’s sovereignty, not David’s strength). When we review the sum of David’s life we should marvel at God’s hand of blessing upon it.

In Psalm 4:7 David proclaimed that God is more desirable, more enjoyable, than taking in a fresh and abundant harvest. Take that in for a second. In an agrarian society, there is nothing more essential than reaping in a life-sustaining crop. So, in essence, David decreed that a union with the Lord is more fulfilling than putting food on the table, or money in a private treasury. What he is stating is that only a real, authentic relationship with God can give whole and complete contentment. This knowledge was so fervent in David’s worldview that it moved him to have a yearning to call out to God daily. To see God honored. To see justice prevail. To see God’s followers on bended knee in reverent worship. To declare that serving God is better than taking in a plentiful harvest.

David’s passionate praise was prevalent and prevailing. He placed a high value on knowing God. In fact, he placed so high a value on divine communion that he viewed it as more important, more crucial, than eating, or pursuing income disbursements. In the final analysis, David was a man who understood the benefit of God-centric living. He longed for God’s presence and communication. The evidence of David’s abundant devotion to God was ample and audible. Could the same be said of God’s believers today?

The Unsatisfying and False Allure of Self-Accomplishment

"So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, ‘Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.’”

2 Samuel 24:2

Pride can be defined as a display of disdainful behavior, or as a personal quality that leads one to perform ostentatious acts. This was evident in King Nebuchadnezzar, who surveyed the kingdom of Babylon one day and internally surmised that he was largely, if not solely, responsible for the wealth, prosperity, military victories, and expansion of the kingdom he oversaw (Daniel 4:28-30). This was evident in Satan, who believed he was worthy and capable of being in the position of God, his Maker (1 Timothy 3:6b). And sadly it was evident in King David, who momentarily succumbed to an unsanctioned yearning to number the fighting men of Israel in 1 Samuel 24:2.

Taking a census was not in and of itself an ungodly decision. After all, Exodus 30:12-13 provided the Hebrew people instructions about how to properly number the people. But the primary difference between the biblical text in Exodus and how David carried it out so many years later is that he did not call for a corresponding ransom, or worship, offering. Thus, Israel was in direct violation of God’s Word because they counted themselves without giving God the glory or recognition via monetary gifts, symbolizing gratitude and thankfulness to the Lord. In essence, the Hebrew people focused on physical benefits instead of God’s spiritual blessings. And what happened after David received the tally of fighting men? He felt immense shame and guilt (2 Samuel 24:10), which is always the result of impure conduct and thought. 

The underlying longing for David to number Israel’s army was steeped in pride. His reign as king had encountered the sunset years and he wanted to know the size and scope of his earthly domain. In no way did David consult God or show humility with the request. He simply wanted to see how big and how grand his military war machine was during his civil leadership watch. He looked away from God and he looked to his kinsmen for a sense of self-accomplishment. It was a costly move for God immediately shrunk the range of David’s empire in one fierce blow. A plague was summarily thrust upon Israel, and some seventy-thousand people died as a result. Coincidentally, the mechanism of reckoning an unlawful census was through a nationwide plague, per Exodus 30:12.       

What emerges from this Scriptural account is that pride is the antithesis of humility. It prevents mankind from sincerely and respectfully observing the ways of God. If we are to walk rightly and reverently then we need to keep our heart’s intention pure and upright. We need to be passionately mindful of God’s will. We need to be attuned to God’s work. We need to be careful to guard out steps and keep them within the moral boundaries God has outlined in His Word.

Ultimately, pride robs us of the opportunity to trust in God. It prevents us from enjoying the joy that comes from leaning on the Lord’s everlasting arms. It falsely guides us to selfish ambition and egocentric pursuits, which always disappoint and disillusion in the end. In short, pride undermines a relationship with God because it causes us to wrongly conclude that we don’t need God. Obviously, nothing could be further from the truth for it is only by embracing our dependency upon the Lord that we discover definitive meaning and purpose. It is only through dying to prideful, fleshly behavior that we can experience the humble, eternal life God has for us through the atoning work of Jesus Christ - a life that does not require the continual pursuit of self-accomplishment and human accolades. A life, rather, that thrives by exercising faith in God and resting on His great promises.

Unresolved Discord; Unstable Relationships

“Absalom fled….But King David mourned for his son every day.”
2 Samuel 13:37

One of the biggest difficulties to resolve is relational discord. When there are unaddressed feelings of angst or irritation with a family member, friend, or an associate it can lead us down an unenviable path emotionally. Unhealthy thoughts and actions tend to flow from broken personal connections. It churns a bitter spirit when we are caught up in it. We see this reality so powerfully displayed in Scripture. David encountered a domestic ordeal that practically tore his family, and the kingdom of Israel, apart. 2 Samuel 13-19 documents a tragic narrative of envy, rape, disregard, deception, revenge, and revolt. Remarkably, all of this generated from within David’s own lineage.      

2 Samuel 13:1 notes that Amnon, David’s son, fell in love with one of his half-sisters: Tamar. Unfortunately, Amnon’s version of love was actually lust. Love is caring; lust is cruel and cold. Evidently, Amnon became obsessed with Tamar. Amnon’s fascination of Tamar was so strong that he eventually conjured up a deceitful plan to be alone with Tamar by faking sickness. He requested Tamar’s help, which King David agreed to. Tamar went to Amnon’s residence, believing him to be genuinely ill. But Amnon soon forced himself upon Tamar and raped her. He disgraced Tamar, his family, and himself. All for the sake of temporary pleasure.

Tamar was devastated by this shameful event. Her standing as a virgin of reputable quality was instantly shattered and stolen from her. She wept at the tragic turn her life had just taken and became a desolate woman. Tamar’s brother, Absalom, took Tamar into his home and sheltered her. In the process, Absalom learned what Amnon did to Tamar and slowly plotted his means of vengeance. Two years later, Absalom found a way to strike back at Amnon. He arranged a special feast for King David, his sons, and the royal officials. David refused the invitation, but obliged Absalom’s request for the king’s sons to be present. When Amnon was drunk with wine Absalom had some of his companions kill Amnon right in front of the entire audience. Panic and confusion quickly set in. Everyone fled. The initial report that was given to David was that all of his sons were dead, except for Absalom, but the report was hastily amended to confirm that only Amnon had died. Absalom bolted out of Jerusalem, and David mourned deeply for Absalom.

What is absent throughout this entire biblical account is David’s dealings with Amnon, Tamar, or Absalom. Did David know that Amnon had raped Tamar? If so, what did he say, or do, as a result? The fact that Amnon still had good standing as a prince of Israel two years after his rape of Tamar implies that if David did know about what had transpired he did little to nothing about it. As a father and as a king, David had an obligation to address this matter. He should have publicly acknowledged that Tamar did not relinquish her virginity out of wedlock willingly; it was robbed from her in a disgusting and devious act by Amnon. David should have offered Tamar a welcomed stay in his palace. And David should have revoked many, if not all, of the privileges that Amnon enjoyed as a royal, since he abused his position in the family, and kingdom, in a repulsive fashion. But we do not read that any of this took place. How differently would all of this turned out had David dealt with the matter personally?

Wounds left open to fester do not heal - they worsen. Absalom was a son largely ignored by his father. Absalom was not taught, or shown, how to exercise spiritual discipline and forgiveness. So he reverted to the natural tendency of a man without relational borders. He sought power, hoping it would usher in some twisted sense of retaliation. Absalom’s disgust for David was so intense that he upended Israel’s governance arrangement without remorse or hesitation. He caused his father, a king, to go into exile for a time. Because David did not express or communicate love to Absalom, Absalom did not respect his father, or David’s God-given authority and stature.

It is one thing to be merciful; it is quite another to be unwilling to address injustice and wickedness, especially within one’s immediate family structure. When it came to the enemies of Israel David had no reservations defending God’s name or pursuing restitution for wrongs committed. But when it came to the iniquities of family members and friends David seemed hesitant to confront such issues. Trying to sweep matters under the rug, so-to-speak, or ignoring them altogether, does not bring about restoration or resolution. Such misguided conduct only prolongs the problem and enlarges the scope of damage. In all areas of our life we must seek to honor God, and call out non-virtuous behavior that occurs in and around us. It is not easy, but it is right.

 
In summary, unresolved discord produces unstable relationships. It regenerates friction and strife. It damages and destroys connections. It denies opportunities for peace or relational repair. Therefore, we, as God’s followers, need to be beacons of truth and pillars of love. We need to exercise compassion and patiently combat human fury with godly faith. We need to address iniquity in our homes and seek to mend broken hearts. We need to be vocal when we see, or hear, wrongful conduct occurring around us. We need to shine God’s holy light in a dark world. We need to be true to our commitment to God, and honor the desire to bring glory to His great name.

The Dissatisfaction and Destruction of Sin

“…But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”

2 Samuel 11:27b

Most of the recent postings on this blog have focused on the admirable quality traits that King David possessed. His kindness. His patience. His worship-centered spirit. Etc. But David was certainly not a perfect man, and today’s review reminds us of that fact. If David’s weaknesses could be placed under a spiritual microscope the reoccurring fault that would require the most examination would be his sensual/sexual improprieties. David was unable to remain satisfied martially with just one woman. Over time, he slowly and surely collected a bevy of wives. In the process, he marginalized the sanctity of marriage and created an improper wedded balance, choosing to gratify physical pleasure alone, rather than complementing it with emotional and relational intimacy.     

Today we observe a dark moment that forever changed David’s life: the moment David committed adultery with Bathsheba. The king of Israel found himself as a crossroads of sorts, and he chose the wrong path. The journey that David embarked upon as a result of his affair with Bathsheba was laced with pain, betrayal, and regret. This biblical narrative provides believers of God sober warning about the ultimate dissatisfaction and destruction that sin generates in our lives.

Scripture affirms that David was a fierce warrior. He was not afraid to fight, even when the odds appeared stacked against him. Therefore, it is somewhat surprising to note that David was not leading Israel’s army as they were engaged in battle in 2 Samuel 11:1. The reason for David’s absence from war is not given. But the consequence of this decision would cost David. One night, David, perhaps unable to sleep, got out of bed and strolled along the roof of the palace. As he looked around Jerusalem he noticed a beautiful woman bathing. The curiosity about this woman’s identity plagued him, so he quickly charged a palace staffer to ascertain her name. When informed that the mystery woman was a married lady named Bathsheba David later sent for her, and slept with her.

Part of what makes this story so compelling is that a few small seemingly insignificant mistakes can lead to a crisis of epic proportion. Why wasn’t David with Israel’s army? Why couldn’t David sleep that fateful night? Why did David believe city gazing would cure his inability to rest? Why was Bathsheba publicly washing so indiscreetly? Why did Bathsheba surrender to David’s sexual advances? The sequence of unwise decisions that David and Bathsheba unleashed set in motion a string of events that not only negatively impacted them, but it cast an adverse net over many others. Their affair led to conspiracy, deception, murder, rivalry, and sorrow.

When we fall, we fall greatly. David had virtually everything one could ask for. God’s favor and blessing. Wealth and prosperity. Power and fame. People who were enthralled by him, and vehemently loyal to him. Yet he was not content with it all. He hungered for more. Women essentially became carnal conquests. Unaddressed sin is so dangerous because it longs to be fulfilled in the flesh. David lost much in the aftermath of his infidelity with Bathsheba. He lost credibility with Joab, his army general. He lost the child conceived in the adulterous act with Bathsheba. He lost self-dignity. It was a transformative moment, but for all the wrong reasons.

In sum, sin offers nothing spiritual redeeming or beneficial, which is why God is so eager to steer us away from succumbing to it. May David’s biblical fall, along with our own past and present transgressions, compel us to be on guard against sin’s allure, and properly shield ourselves from yielding to it. May we buffer against the dissatisfying, destructive temptation of iniquity by injecting ourselves daily with the Word of God, and pray continuously for doses of divine strength, discipline, and integrity.