Y'ear 4 Life of LAB.. Sift! Blog 6

 

(Click on the Image to open a clearer view)

Welcome back to The Road2Wholeness Blog.  

Today we enter Blog 6 of Life of LAB.. our 7-Day Blog series which began on November 23rd.  We've been covering David's ascent to Kingship in The Book of Samuel.  

We return to 1st and 2nd Samuel to look at how David overcame a three day plague set against his people by the Lord.  

First let's remember how David began his legacy over Philistine territory with his win over Goliath.  Most of us know the story, but do we know the story of "the scape-goat"?  In Jewish tradition, the scapegoat or the institution of the scape-goat happens when a priest places his hands on a goat for the enumerating of the people's sins.  The goat is taken then by envoy and let go.  This special envoy then undergoes a ritual purification upon its return.  This is called an "impassable wilderness" for the goat. 

In the case of David who is anointed to be king and takes victory over Goliath.. He then enters an impassable wilderness.  In Sift, we've covered David's record and journey to becoming a more intelligent warrior.  Throughout this series the question has been, "What do you hear?".  

In 2 Samuel 24, it reads, "Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."  Here David hears the word of the Lord and moves out to take the census of the armies of God in Israel and Judah.  In verse 10, it reads, "David was conscience stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done.  Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant.  I have done a very foolish thing."  The Lord responds, "Go and tell David, 'This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options.  Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.'"  David heard with wisdom and replied, "Let us fall into the Lord's hands, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands."  So the Lord sent a plague on Israel from the morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died.  When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, Enough!  Withdraw your hand.

But what did you hear?

I heard that the Lord incited David to call for a census.  We then learned that David was overcome with remorse, and realized that he had done a wrong thing.  Years before in 1 Samuel 17:47 David remarked, "It is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."  These are words David spoke against his enemies early in his journey to be king.  Now in 2 Samuel 24, he draws a census of his armies.  Where David had believed God before to be his help..  instead he thought it safe this time to census his armies.  In obeying, seventy thousand men were killed, but again David acknowledges the Lord's hand as a safe place. 

Coming up tomorrow, we look at what shifted in the story and how a goat became a sheep.

Remember to go within that you may never go without.  The God within you awaites you.  Until our paths collide again, I wish you.. Peace, Love, Life, and Complete Wholeness un Christ.

In Service,

NaTisha Renee Williams