Like one who lifts a little child to the cheek

Like one who lifts a little child to the cheek

Scripture: It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:3-4

Observation: The passage today gives us a beautiful picture of how God takes care of us. Picture a father holding a toddler by the hands, as the little child takes his first, few unstable steps. Imagine a mother tenderly putting a wet cloth on the forehead of a sleeping child who has a fever. Think of a father carrying his little daughter up to cheek height, the little one squealing with delight from being lifted so high off the ground. See in your mind’s eye a mother stooping to give a bottle of milk to her baby lying in her cot.

All these images give us an idea of how God takes care of us from young, teaching us, showing us love and kindness, delighting in us as parents delight in their children. It is God who created families as they are – the little ones in their cute forms from young and the parents with strength and abilities to take care of little ones. Every time we see a father holding his son’s hand, a mother feeding her young, parents laughing with their children, we see a picture of how God loves us and watches over us and takes care of us. When we delight in little children, we get a glimpse of how our Almighty delights in us. Everything in Him is good, perfect and holy. He has made things as they are according to His perfect wisdom. God created families to help us know Him more. He even uses family terms to introduce Himself to us. Father, Son. In the church we too are as if in a family, calling each other brother, sister.

Like the sleeping, sick child who does not know his mother watches over him and tends him back to full health, God always watches over us, even when we do not know it. As the song goes “Where would I be if you would not be by my side? How could I live to meet the rising of the day, Your tender mercy always calling from behind, at times I could not see, even though You were close by”.

Application: Praise God for His great love to us. Whenever we see families taking care of each other, enjoying each other’s fellowship, praise God and remember that this is God’s way of showing us how He loves us. Thank God that He watches over us even when we do not realize it, and He preserves us even when we are not aware of His presence.

Prayer: Praise You, O Heavenly Father, for Your great perfect love towards us. You introduced families so that we might know You more. Help me love my own family I pray, and help me see that in loving each other, we know You so much more. Thank You for always being with me, even when I did not know. You are so precious to Me, O Lord. May Your name be praised forever. In Jesus name, Amen.

Yes you can

Yes you can

SIBKL. Elder Koon Tat, 5/11/11

In the late 70s, a new designer sports shoe came into the market and overtook the generation. Before that, sports shoes were mainly for sportsmen, but this all changed overnight. One pair cost RM500 in the 70s, the monthly salary of most people. Its brand name in Greek means victory, overcome or conquer. The company understood the power in the meaning of the word and this word is often found in the pages of the Bible. The name is Nike.

What is it that will give us victory in life? 1 John 5:4-5 tells us clearly
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” He who believes Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world. In this Scripture as well as in many others, there are three main things we must do:- Acclaim the promise, acknowledge the problem and apply the principle.  

When the Scripture says that everyone born of God overcome the world, it means that victory is our birthright. It is in our DNA, it is done. Victory always belongs to the kingdom of God and His citizens. As a child of God, it is our destiny to prevail against the weapons of warfare waged against us in this world. In John 16:33, Jesus says “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Acclaim the promise

Wilma Rudolph was born 2 months premature into a large black family, as was very sickly as a child, picking up scarlet fever, measles, chicken pox, double pneumonia and later polio which caused her leg to be twisted. Doctors told her mother that she might not walk again. Nevertheless, Mrs Rudolph, a devout Baptist never gave up on her, praying fervently for her daughter to be restored to fullness. She continued to claim Jeremiah 29:11 for her daughter “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Wilma’s mum would take her 40km away every week to the nearest hospital that would treat a black child. Mrs.Rudolph continued to tell Wilma that she would walk again and did not cease to pray for her. She also taught her siblings to massage Wilma’s legs. Mrs Rudolph persevered for eight long years, enduring the humiliation of the segregated buses and the racial taunts. Finally, at the age of 12, Wilma shed her braces. Thereafter, things began to improve very rapidly and Wilma joined the basketball team. To improve her basketball, Wilma also joined the athletics club and that’s where the Tennessee state track and field coach Edward Temple noticed her and took her under his wing. In her first few races, Wilma finished far behind. However, she continued to improve and made it to the state and national team. In the 1960 summer Olympics in Rome, she became the first African American woman to win 3 gold medals in the Olympics. Who could have imagined that Wilma could rise above polio and braces, and the circumstances in her life to become one of the greatest sportswomen of her generation. Only her mother never wavered in her faith that God ‘s plan for her daughter was the very best. The girl the doctors said would never walk again became the fastest woman in the world. Both Wilma and her mother were invited to the White House where they met President Kennedy where Wilma was conferred the highest civilian award. God had honored the prayers of a mother who continued to believe. Despite her fame, Wilma shunned the limelight and after finishing her education, went back to teach little black children and encourage them to rise above their circumstances in life. Buildings, a bridge, and a highway were named after her. The national courage award was given in her name. She was even voted as the greatest sports personality of the 20^th century ahead of her hero Jesse Owens and Muhammad Ali. In her autobiography, she said that every one has a God given potential for significance. Yes, you can! It’s our God given birthright! Never give up on your family, your children and yourself. God has promised the very best!

Acknowledge the problem

The word overcome suggests that something stands in the way -  a storm, a problem. Life is not a breeze. There are challenges in life that we need to overcome. Bruce Lee famously said “he who denies or is unaware he is walking in darkness will not seek light”. Carmen Sanders at the age of 40 had saved enough money to own a gas station. For many years, he lived a comfortable life, but at the age of 65, Sanders encountered a major problem. His petrol business went completely belly up when a new Interstate highway was built that bypassed his station. After paying off his debts, he was reduced to relying on Social Security to survive. Looking at his first cheque of only $105, he knew he would not survive if he simply waited for the next cheque. So Sanders took out a piece of paper and wrote down the gifts and talents that he had. First of all, he wrote that he was a disciple of Christ, and God had always helped him overcome his problems. He did not have much education and had been a farmhand, a railway mechanic, a handyman and an insurance salesman. Then he remembered that travelers had always complimented him on the chicken that he cooked for them using 11 spices. Liking that last idea, he cashed out his $105 and began traveling from county to county cooking batches of chicken for different eateries. If they liked it, he would draw up a contract where he would receive 5 cents for each chicken cooked. 9 years later, Sanders had signed up 600 restaurants and sold off his franchise for 2 million dollars. Today, Kentucky Fried Chicken still uses his face as their logo, and his recipe is in 109 countries. All this began when a 65 year old man acknowledged his problem, cashed his cheque and went traveling to start a small business. Sanders understood an important point. The real issue is not the problem, but our response in the face of the problem. Because God is in the picture, we can have assurance. As the song goes, there is no problem too big God cannot solve, and no need so great that He cannot meet. Whether we can overcome or not has nothing to do with the difficulty of the circumstances. Rather, it is who is inside us. 1 John 4:4 says “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”. If God is for you, who can be against you?

Apply the principle

What principle? Coming back to 1 John 5:4, it says - This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Our faith overcomes the world. We exercise faith every day. When we sit down, we have faith the chair will not break. When we take a plane, we have faith that the pilot and plane is safe. However, faith here is different.

In vs.5, we see that “only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world”. It is about our faith in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, and He is sovereign over every situation. It is faith that allows us to believe in Him. Faith in action in a real storm can be seen in Mark 6:45-55. The disciples were in a storm, and toiling away until Jesus came and commanded the wind to cease. Like the disciples, we are often confronted by storms, when problems threaten to overwhelm us. However, we need not be so because of our faith in Jesus. This passage teaches us three sureties. The Lord sees, the Lord sustains and the Lord saves.

Now, we can see that the disciples went towards Bethsaida upon the instruction of the Lord. We may be in the centre of God’s will and still walk into a storm, but the Lord sees. Jesus saw the disciples straining at the oars. The Greek word used for “see” means to discern, to perceive, to know, to be aware. Jesus knew that His disciple were straining. God is a God sees everything. In the desert, Abraham’s servant Hagar called God “El-Roi, the Lord who sees (Genesis 16:13). 2 Chronicles 16:9 says “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. The disciples had been in the storm for 9 hours. God will never keep us from going into a storm but Jesus will keep us in the midst of a storm. Isaiah 43:2 says “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

The Lord saves. The most important resource to survive a storm is knowing how is with us during the storm. The Scripture assures us Jesus is with us but we need to call on Him. Until Jesus came, none of his disciples called on Him. After 9 hours, they would have been completely tired out. When Jesus came to them, they did not recognize Jesus. In such situations, we may become easily frightened and see the worst in everything. If we read the passage carefully, we see that Jesus was about to pass them by. They fought the storm in their own strength and did not recognize the Savior. If our problem is so big that we do not recognize Jesus, we have a big problem indeed. Jesus said “Do not be afraid, it is I”. The “I” used here is a very emphatic word, like “I am”. Jesus’ name means Yehoshua – Yahweh saves. The Lord saves.

In the far northern mountainous region of China, there is a unique flower that blooms in the early days of January, in the coldest day of winter. When temperatures drop to below 40 degrees, this flower bursts forth into full bloom, bringing life to a dreary landscape. This flower is a good picture of an individual who in the strength of God bursts forth in adversity, fragrant and radiant with the beauty given to one who overcomes. It is in our DNA. All of us were made to overcome for He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world.

Why did you despise the Word of the Lord?

Why did you despise the Word of the Lord?

Goshen

Study led by Brother Daniel/ 4/11/11

2 Samuel 12, Psalm 51,

Our study on Friday was focused on the event where the prophet Nathan confronted King David and cleverly exposed to him the serious error of his sin via a carefully crafted story. Nathan told King David the story of a rich man with many lambs who took a poor man’s only lamb, leaving him nothing. King David responded in anger to the injustice but was shocked when Nathan told him “You are that man”. King David repented and was forgiven, but his sin still had terrible consequences on him and his family. In Psalm 51, we also see a very deep insight into the repentant heart of King David as he cries out to God for forgiveness and mercy.

Lessons from the study:-

·      Sin has terrible consequences, not only for one person, but for the future generations to come. Nathan’s first prophecy “the sword will never depart from your house”, came true, when David’s son Absalom killed his brother Amnon and was later killed himself by Joab. Later, King Solomon also ordered the death of Adonjiah. Counting Bathsheba’s first son with King David, four of King David’s sons died prematurely. As in David’s own words, he paid for his sin literally “four times over” (vs.6). Nathan’s second prophecy (vs.11-12) –“Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel” came true when Absalom under the advise of Ahitophel, slept with David’s concubines in broad daylight to shame his father David. It is also interesting that Ahitophel could possibly have been Bathsheba’s grandfather (2 Samuel 23:34,11:3)

·      What was the purpose of Nathan speaking to David via a parable and not denounce him directly? David thus far, had shown himself to be a brutal king, a man of war, and such direct confrontation could easily mean a swift death for Nathan. More likely though, Nathan’s parable led David to view the situation from a more objective, third party view. Otherwise, he probably would have thought up some excuse or reason for his actions. Why is it difficult for people to be objective? Pride is a big factor. We just don’t like to be wrong and be vulnerable to judgment from others.

·      How is God’s mercy and judgment revealed in this story? On one hand, David’s sin was severely punished, and the consequences suffered by both himself, especially in the affair of Absalom and his family. On the other hand, the Lord was merciful in still being with David, and delivering him from all his troubles. Later, God showed his supreme grace in allowing David’s son with Bathsheba, Solomon, become the greatest and wisest king of his time. David himself was spared for a specific purpose for God had s destiny for him.

·      What is the difference between brokenness and broken-hearted? Here we revisited the important point brought out by Pastor Lee Choo that brokenness is an attitude towards God while broken-heartedness is an attitude towards self. Broken-heartedness comes as a result of disappointment in a failed dream – a boy-girl relationship that did not work out, a sportsman who trained his best but could not win, an entrepreneur who had great business ideas but failed, a couple who bought a dream home that was destroyed in an earthquake. The focus is on self and can easily lead to self-pity, depression or worse. Brokenness, on the other hand is coming before God in utter humility, knowing full well our depraved sinful state as a sinner, and hoping for the Lord to accept us and help us for we know we are helpless and lost on our own. It is like the tax collector who beat his chest before God and cried “Have mercy on me, a sinner”. It is brokenness that enables us to come close to God. As Jesus declared in the Beatitudes “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth”. In Psalm 51, we see this brokenness in David’s words “Have mercy on me O God”, “My sin is always before me”, hide your face from my sins”, “do not cast me from your presence”. David recognized the depths of his sins and repented before God, humbly asking for help. Even in his sin, he desired to be forgiven, to return to fellowship with God, to have a pure heart and a steadfast spirit. We have to be careful not to lose that in our relationship with God. Once we become complacent and think we are righteous, pride comes in, and we begin to drift further away from God. We cannot be 100% perfect as long as live in this world, but as we come humbly before God often, we become more and more holy, more and more like Jesus.

·      Although David hurt Uriah by his adultery and murder, Nathan said that by sinning, David was “despising the word of the Lord”, and showing “utter contempt for the Lord”. When we know what is sin yet purposely go into it, we are despising the word of the Lord and showing contempt for the Lord. Strong words indeed. We must never treat sin flippantly but recognize that willful sin insults the Lord. That’s why we need that heart of brokenness to truly desire for a new heart that hates sin but seeks to please the Lord.

·      When Bathsheba gave birth to Solomon, the Lord loved him and sent word through Nathan to name his Jedidiah which means beloved of the Lord. How precious is our Lord who loves us though we are sinners. Praise His Holy name!

It is time to seek the Lord

It is time to seek the Lord

Scripture: Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground. Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you. Hosea 10:11-12

Observation: In this passage, we are given the picture of God’s people likened to oxen plowing the ground. A heifer threshing the grain gives us the idea of contentment and luxury as threshing was not very hard work for a young ox and it was free to eat freely from the grain as commanded in Deuteronomy 25:4 Do not muzzle and ox when it is treading out the grain. In contrast, the plowing and breaking up of the ground was very hard work, yet without it, the crop would not be able to grow at all.

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus depicted the hearts of men like soil and God’s Word like the seed. Some seed fell on the path, some among rocky places and some among thorns. But only those seed that fell on good soil produced a crop, a 100, 60 or 30 times what was sown. Now typically, good soil refers to soil that has been plowed. Observe the definition of the purpose of plowing sourced from Wikipedia:- “The primary purpose of plowing is to turn over the upper layer of the soil, bringing fresh nutrients to the surface, while burying weeds and the remains of previous crops, allowing them to break down. It also aerates the soil, and allows it to hold moisture better.” A proud heart is like hard soil. The proud resists God and depend on their own strength. The humble, soft hearts and the broken and contrite hearts seek God  and the Lord is near to them. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.

When we humbly seek the Lord, He comes to us, and showers His righteousness on us. He crowns the humble with salvation, as the Psalmist writes. 

Jesus also used the picture of plowing in Matthew 11:28-30 ”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” When we believe in Jesus, when we come humbly to our Master, He gives us rest. He deals with our hearts gently and we find that as we spend more and more time with Jesus, change comes easily and we become more and more like Him. It is not our vain efforts or human works that makes us better, but rather the closeness of our relationship with Jesus that improves us.

Application: Hold the image of the unplowed ground in our minds. Seek God humbly, asking Him to change us, to break up the fallow ground and make it fresh and moist, open to receive and learn from His Word. Let our hearts always be humble and contrite before the Lord. Seek a deeper relationship with Jesus day by day. It is by knowing Him, that life becomes so much easier, as His presence goes with us to help us day by day.

Prayer: Father God, I bring my heart before you. Mould it, change it, make it like Your Son’s. Forgive my pride O Lord, let humility and peace dwell in my heart I pray. Lord Jesus, be so real in my life I pray. Draw me to seek Your gentle presence day by day. Teach me Your ways, and refresh me anew. Bless You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman

The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman

Scripture: The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac. The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God Hosea 9:7-8

Observation: The passage today speaks of the days of punishment to come upon Israel, when the days of reckoning are at hand. Whenever judgment is proclaimed upon Israel and the warning that basically says “time’s up”, it is a reminder for us in general that the Day of Judgment is likewise very close for the world. When Jesus began His ministry, He declared “Repent, for the kingdom of God is near”. How much more so this warning applies to us, in these last days when so many end time signs are being fulfilled before our eyes.

Why did Israel have to fear? Because her sins were so many. In Genesis, we see how God prophesied to Abraham that his fourth generation would come back and conquer the land when the sins of the Amorites had reached its full measure. By this we know that there once a measure of sin is reached for a particular nation, judgment will come. According to God’s grace and wisdom, this will vary from nation to nation, person to person. However, the warning for us is to beware greatly of treating sin lightly and blatantly continuing in a sin when we know it is wrong. Who knows whether we will have time to repent before our life is called of us?

God also mentioned in particular Israel’s hostility. A hostile person is someone who gets angry easily, who will not hesitate to quarrel and fight with others for little reason. How different is the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We must be careful not to become a hostile person, whether at work, in the car, or at home. Just as Jesus is the Prince of Peace, we too are to be a peaceful people, even in our dealings with the hostile.

The Scripture further mentions that in that time, the prophet was considered a fool and an inspired person a maniac. A prophet is one who brings messages from God, who teaches others according to God’s Word. In the end times, it is true that those who serve God will also be persecuted like the prophets of old. Yet Jesus tells us in the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The portion of Scripture that reads “the prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim” is especially interesting. This shows us that when we serve God, He is with us. We are not alone. God is with us. Just as God is the watchman, we are the watchman. Wherever we go, our place of work, our family, our Cell Group, our Church, we are akin to watchmen there. We do well to look out for those we have been called to, to pray for them, to intercede for them.

Application:- Recognize that God judges sin, and though He forgives those who repent and believe in His son, we must beware lest sin become so dominant in our lives that we completely lose sight of salvation. Examine our hearts to see if hostility has become present, perhaps due to bitterness, hurt or disappointment. Ask God to give us a new heart, a compassionate heart inspired by the Holy Spirit. Where some of us are persecuted because of our faith, do not lose heart, but remember the prophets as our encouragement. Know that God is with us, working together with us as we serve Him always.

Prayer: Father God, I thank You that You are just yet merciful. Turn my sins away from me I pray. Create in me a new heart that seeks Your Spirit and Your holiness. Forgive the times when I have been hostile. Let me exhibit more and more the fruit of Your Spirit, love, peace and gentleness. When I am persecuted, let me not be ashamed but I will continue to hope in You. Thank You that You are ever with me, and You will not leave me alone. Bless You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

They regarded my law as something foreign

They regarded my law as something foreign

Scripture: “Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning. I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as something foreign. Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to me, and though they eat the meat, the LORD is not pleased with them. Now he will remember their wickedness and punish their sins: They will return to Egypt. Hosea 8:11-13

Observation: In this passage, we see three main areas where Ephraim has failed before the Lord.

Firstly, it is written that Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, but the altars have become altars for sinning. In the New Testament context, altars are akin to churches, sanctuaries, places where people worship God. How do we sin at church? Some may come to church with an unrepentant heart. There may be some areas in our lives which we know is sinful but just can’t give up. Yet we come to church and perform the functions without any true change in our lives. It is telling that the term “hypocrite” is very commonly used to define Christians. Church is not a social club or convenient meeting place. It is a most holy place, and we need to come to the Lord with reverence, always with a desire for the Lord to be more and more real in our lives.

Secondly, it is written that Ephraim considered God’s law as something foreign. What is our attitude towards God’s Word? Do our actions show that we treat it as something foreign? The Bible should be something very familiar to us. We need to learn to delight in it like David did. Psalm 119:97 says “O how I love your law, I meditate on it all day long”. Psalm 112:1 says “Praise the Lord. Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands”. If we do not love the Bible, it is as if we do not truly love God, for that is the primary way with which He speaks to us.

Thirdly, it is written that Ephraim’s sacrifices did not please the Lord. Eating the meat of the sacrifice symbolizes having fellowship with the Lord. Why was the Lord not pleased? Because Ephraim’s heart was still bent on sin. In Hosea 6:6, the Lord says “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” We show mercy by being kind to others, by helping the poor, which is what God delights in. We acknowledge God by keeping ourselves away from sin. James puts it quite clearly in James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Mercy and acknowledging God by aiming for holiness.

Application: Let us go to church with a reverent and repentant heart, seeking to meet with God, and let Him change us to be more and more like Jesus. Pray for God to give us a fresh love for His Word. Ask Him to open the Word to us that we might learn many things. Pray for a heart of compassion to help others, and acknowledge God by keeping away from sin.

Prayer: Father God, forgive me for the times I have gone to Your house with an irreverent attitude, and even treated my sins nonchalantly as I entered Your presence. Change me O Lord, as I continue to seek You. Let me grow in greater love for You. Let me learn to love Your precious Word O Lord, let my eyes be open to see the many beautiful things You say to me. Give me a heart of compassion for others that I might help the needy, and lead me away from sin I pray. In Jesus name, Amen.

What is so right about King David

What is so right about King David

SIB/Pastor Lee Choo/29Oct11

King David was one of the most admired persons in the Bible, and even God speaks highly of him. Yet we also know that King David did not get everything right. He had moral failures, falling in the area of his adultery with Bathsheba and the census of his fighting men. At times, his leadership was seen to be indecisive and too emotional. In 2 Samuel 12, we see how Joab had to coax David to come out and fight himself to show his worth as a king to the people and in 2 Samuel 19, we saw how David shamed his own men who had fought valiantly for him by mourning for his son Absalom who had almost overthrown and killed him. David did have his moments of leadership failure. Furthermore, King David also was a failure as a father. Basically, all his sons did not do well, except Solomon, and only for a time. When Amnon raped his sister, King David was furious but did nothing, and when Absalom took revenge on Amnon, he too did nothing. When Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel, King David again did nothing.

In today’s high performance world, we always want to do things right. However, David did not make right decisions all the time. In fact, sometimes David made right decisions but still things didn’t turn out right. For example, after David spared Saul’s life the first time, Saul again came back to hunt him. But what did David really get right to be so esteemed?

The first clue we have here can be found in 1 Samuel 16:7 where in the search for the new king, God told Samuel “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” Now it has been known for some time that people are generally divided into four personality types and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. Cholerics are great entrepreneurs but also step on people’s toes. Sanguines are great motivators but also people pleasers. Melancholics are highly talented but also tend to be moody. Phlegmatics are steady and calm but afraid of conflict. We may or may not get the decision right but ultimately, the Lord looks at the heart. Hence it is so important for us to watch over our hearts. Out of the heart come the issues of life. If our heart is right, even what is wrong can turn out right.

There are three main postures of David’s heart that we can learn from. Firstly towards himself, David had a broken and contrite heart. Secondly, towards God, he was wholehearted. Finally, towards others, he was big hearted. We see this in the incident of Shimei in 2 Samuel 16 and 19. In his distress during his flight from Absalom, Shimei had mocked him incessantly. However, when King David was fully restored, Shimei pleaded for forgiveness and David kindly forgave him.

A child once told his mum who had forced him to sit down “I may be sitting down, but in my heart I am standing up.” How different is a broken and contrite heart. We get a glimpse of this in Psalm 51. In verses 1-5, David acknowledges his sinfulness, even from his mother’s womb. In vs.6-11, we see how deeply David repented, pleading with God not to take His Holy Spirit away. In vs.12-17, we see David’s teachable heart, and his faith in God to restore him fully. How profound were his words “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalm 34:18 says “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit”.

Although King David was great, and his kingdom had extended so successfully, he knew that it was only because God was good to him, bringing him up from his life as a simple shepherd boy. How could God from just 15 people, grow SIB to where it is today? It is only because God is good.

David was a morally upright man. He was not a sin-filled man, not a man who was controlled by sin. In Psalm 16, he declared that apart from God, he had no good thing. He realized that he was only a sinner saved by grace, like us. David was an ordinary man. He was besieged by fears. He became angry. He wished revenge on his enemies. Yet the hallmark of a broken-hearted man is that he knows he is indebted to God. He knew he was not perfect.

There is a difference between brokenness and being heartbroken. Being heartbroken is an event. It is about one’s self and his disappointment. Brokenness, on the other hand, is a posture towards God. David was able to realize his sin against God. When we sin, do we blame others or go into depression? Brokenness is not being fully helpless and depressed. Rather, brokenness is acknowledging one’s sin so he can repent deeply. The greatest of men are still men at best. We must remember that. Brokenness is an admission that we are human. Broken men respect that others also have weaknesses. When King Saul died, David did not rejoice. When Shimei repented, David forgave him. In his early ministry, the great evangelist Billy Graham had many critics and opponents. He was called a moral dwarf. He was attacked from pastors. Yet he would not contradict them or oppose them. He had brokenness. Indeed, brokenness is a beautiful trait before God.

In Isaiah 66:2, God says “Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” When we are broken, God heals.

David’s second great attribute was his wholeheartedness towards God. In 1 Kings 14:8, the Lord said that David followed him with all his heart. Solomon on the other hand was half-hearted, and Saul had no heart. In 1 Kings 11:4, it is written that King Solomon’s heart was not fully devoted to the Lord as his father’s had been. Being wholehearted means being fully committed, fully devoted. In Psalm 13, we see how despite enduring bad times, David still trusted and praised the Lord. In Psalm 73, in challenging times, David hoped in the Lord. In times of personal failure, David still put his fate in the Lord. In 2 Samuel 24, we see how David preferred to accept punishment from the Lord rather than men because He trusted in the Lord’s mercy.

Throughout his life, David had faith in God’s deliverance, timing, justice, mercy and covenant. David obeyed God with delight. Psalm 119:14-16, David says “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”

Because David was wholehearted, God was able to do great things through him. In Acts 13:22, Paul shared how God declared of David “I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” In 1 Kings 15, we see how in spite of King Abijah’s unfaithfulness, the Lord still strengthened Jerusalem for the sake of David. It is interesting to note that during King David’s reign in history, his influence was such that no new religion or cult came about. Indeed, David’s faith in God has inspired many to put their faith in God, even among us today.

Many of us, like King David, have made mistakes, but we must allow God to teach our hearts to obey Him. In the early days, SIB only had 120 people and 90% of them were students and everyone loved God. When students were challenged to buy 1 chair for the sanctuary for themselves, and as many extra chairs as they would bring, several bought 5,6 even 10. It’s not how much we give, but how whole-hearted we are. When we begin to be whole-hearted, we begin to have a heart like God. David inspires us to love God, so let us learn like him to love God wholeheartedly.