Getting Your Act Together
David mustered the men who were with him and appointed over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. David sent the troops out - a third under the command of Joab, a third under Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. The king told the troops, "I myself will surely march out with you." But the men said, "You must not go out; if we are forced to flee, they won't care about us. Even if half of us die, they won't care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It would be better now for you to give us support from the city." The king answered, "I will do whatever seems best to you." So the king stood beside the gate while all the men marched out in units of hundreds and of thousands. 5 The king commanded Joab, Abishai and Ittai, "Be gentle with the young man Absalom for my sake." And all the troops heard the king giving orders concerning Absalom to each of the commanders. (NIV 2 Samuel 18:1-5)
Of late, David had been a wimp. Such a change from the young man who had challenged and defeated the great Goliath. Such a change from the man who had taken the fortress of Jerusalem for God. Such a change from the man who had reunited the twelve tribes of Israel under one king. For the past few years, this great king, this David who would be the ancestor of Jesus, the man whose throne the Lord will one day occupy, this man who was so greatly loved by God – had been a wimp. His life had been characterized by indecisiveness and moral decay. He had committed adultery with Bathsheba, and had ordered her husband killed. He had avoided disciplining Joab, even though Joab had repeatedly been deceitful and conniving and had committed murder. He had let his children run wild, doing anything they pleased, including Absalom's murder of Amnon. >From the character of his life over the past few years, there were probably innumerable other, smaller things he had done – or avoided doing – that went along with his indecisiveness and apparent lack of morals.
Sounds to me like David was depressed. It started with the incident with Bathsheba and went down hill from there. David had stepped out of God's will in the name of selfish desire, and the resulting depression had led him further and further down the path to destruction. Most likely, it was during this time that David wrote Psalm 51. Certainly, somewhere during this time, he had sought God's forgiveness and had stepped back into walking with the Lord. So now, David began to get his act together. He was at last in control again. He took command of his armies and rallied them against the armies of Absalom. David was back to being the man he should have been all along.
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When you and I sin, one of the very natural consequences is depression. When we're out of God's will for us, we lose the joy of close communion with Him. We're out of fellowship. By the very act of sinning, we reject His constant companionship. We shove God out of our lives, choosing instead the company of our sin. Our lives become fruitless. Our every effort is in vain. Because without Him, we are nothing. Like David, our very character changes. Instead of the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - we are filled with the fruits of a sinful life - despair, hopelessness, conflict, fear, confusion and doubt. When you and I sin, we construct a wall between ourselves and God. Our side of the wall is a miserable place to be. The only thing that will tear down that wall is our willingness to repent and seek God's forgiveness. That's what David did in Psalm 51. And in his renewed fellowship with the Lord, David's old character returned.
If sin is keeping you out of fellowship with God.... if your life is filled with despair and confusion and fear and depression... seek His face. Turn back to God and receive His forgiveness and His grace in your life. Turn away from the sin that is separating you from His presence. Find comfort and peace and love and joy in fellowship with Jesus. Because it's a jungle out there.
From Dogwood Ministries, Inc.
J-R-and-Bonnie@dogwoodministries.org
Used with Permission
