WHO'S SIDE?

King David was a man annointed by God to be King of Israel. While just a young, ruddy shepherd the Prophet Samuel through the Spirit of God picked the least, smallest, youngest son of Jesse to be King in Saul's place.



Years passed. Anyone who has studied the Book of Kings and Chronicles knows the journey David had to pass through before asscending to the throne. It was a long, difficult, uncertain journey from a human perspective; but not from God's. We receive promises as children of our great King who is the Creator of all things in heaven and earth. The human, fleshly side of our being wants delivery of the promise the next day, or shortly thereafter. We want the promise now and lots of it!



If we are students of Scripture, we begin to realize that along with the promises there are roads to be traveled. I believe there are times of immediate, absolute deliverance during times of crisis. I believe in deliverance from sickness if God so wills. I also believe promises we receive as His children that influence our livelihood, our calling, and our effectiveness for His Kingdom are a process; sometimes in short order, but usually long term. We change in ways we do not realize as we allow His Spirit free reign in our lives.



1 Chronicles 12:16-18 has stuck with me this week. I wrote down the verses this past Friday while reading. It says:



" And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David. And David went out to meet them, he said, "if ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon and rebuke it." Then the Spirit came upon Amasal, who was chief of the captains, and he said, "Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: Peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers: for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captain of the band."



Men from only two tribes come to David's aid? And this is the annointed King of Israel? Where were the other ten tribes? Being called and annointed of God is not an easy calling. Friends and family seem to thin out the deeper one goes into their calling. At least this is the way I interpret the lessons of Scripture. King David is an excellent example of this concept. As one grows, learns God's ways and dealings, and matures in stature with Him we can expect the road to be a lonely one; but eventually an effective one if we yeild to His workings in our lives.



Things promised seem to be off into the distant future. What was promised seems a far off dream. But underneath the surface spiritual issues, things we cannot perceive in the natural realm, are being dealt with. We have no idea the effects our obediance and prayers have in the eternal, spiritual realm; which, by the way, is the real realm. Our bodies are but clay. They are temporary and will return from which it came. But our actions while in these bodies have eternal consequences.



I have experienced thus far a friend or two along the way who only want to talk of the things of God. Not the Cowboys, not the Yankees, not American Idol, but GOD! The road is a lonesome one if we wish to seperate and not worry about fitting with and going along with the crowd. But like the ones from the Tribe of Benjamin and Judah, the rewards of following the leading of the Spirit of God eventually will reap glory, honor and peace; both here and now, and in eternity.