Title Have You Asked God?
Have you asked God?
Text/ 1 Samuel 30:8, 2 Samuel 2:1, 2 Samuel 5:19, 2 Samuel 5:23...
1. Introduction
I don't have very good eyesight, but my eyes are brighter than anyone else. And if you go to a place you've been to once, you'll definitely come back again. How can you do that? The secret is <Ask!>. When I go near my destination, I unconditionally park my car, and go to Bokdeokbang, Chinese restaurants, pharmacies, police boxes, etc. and ask. And if you want to be 500m ahead of your destination, ask again. It's a common occurrence in real life, and it's something you should ask, but how often do you get tired of asking questions, passing your destination, and having a hard time getting stuck on the way back?
2. A wise man asks, a fool does not ask.
So is life. A foolish person is a big failure when he tries to do his best, but a wise person is not ashamed to ask. Confucius said that to ask is 禮, and he said 不恥下問 (incurable xiamen). It means there is nothing to be ashamed of asking the person below. In modern terms, it means that even experts should ask non-experts what they should ask.
As the proverb says, if you want to be a wise person, <ask>. When you ask something, you can get advice and lessons. You won't get anything if you don't ask. That is why it is said, “Hear counsel and receive instruction, and in the end you will become wise” (Proverbs 19:20). A wise man asks. A foolish person goes out with his own thoughts without asking, and goes out of his way.
3. How did David become the eternal star of Israel?
There are many records of historical events about great people. In the case of David, 1 Samuel 16 to 2 Samuel 24 are all historical records about David. There are many famous events in this historical record, such as the duel with Goliath, the conflict with Saul, the friendship with Jonathan, the carrying of the ark, the Bathsheba incident, and the rebellion of Absalom. David's greatness can be discovered through the character and leadership of David displayed in the course of such historical events.
However, it is not a historical event that deserves special mention, but it is more humane, more sincere, and therefore more deeply moving to discover David's greatness in records such as David's habits that flow naturally in everyday life. In this sense, today's texts can be said to be another historical evidence to prove the fact that "this is why David is the eternal star of Israel."
4. David was a man who inquired of the Lord about life's problems and acted upon them.
What the main text 1 Samuel 30:8, 2 Samuel 2:1, 2 Samuel 5:19, 2 Samuel 5:23 have in common is the fact that they all consist of sentences that say <David asked the Lord and said, ...>. Will you pursue the Amalekites? Will you give up? (1 Samuel 30:1-30), Where will you go up among the numerous cities of Judah, such as Bethel, Ramoth, Aroel, Shimmoth, Ragal, Holma, and Hebron, after Saul's death? (1 Samuel 30:26-30), the Philistines Will you fight a war with people? Will you avoid it? (2 Samuel 5:17-25), etc. David asked Jehovah God before asking anyone about the problems he had encountered in life. For the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7), the LORD gives wisdom (Proverbs 4:6), trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Because it is said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).
David asked God in front of all these life problems that everyone encountered, such as pursuits, defenses, attacks, and problems on the course of life. To “inquire of Jehovah” here means to pray to Jehovah. David asked his question simply and clearly. If we chase, will we be able to catch the Amalekites or not? God also gave a clear answer. “Go after them, and you will surely take them captive and reclaim all that was taken!”. “Where shall we go up?”. “Go up to Hebron!”. David obeyed and received great blessings. David became the eternal star of Israel because he inquired of all his problems to the Lord and acted on them.
5. Closing Story
Prayer is essentially a personal relationship between God and man. Prayer is not a monologue, it is not a complaint, it is a conversation. It is when a person reveals all the problems of his life to God and receives God's answers. Just as God was present in the heart of Elijah on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:9-18), in the heart of those who pray, <This is it! He responds with an unshakable inner realization>.
These days, while I pray <40 Days Alone in Prayer>, I report to God all the problems of my life, such as problems with my soul, problems with our church, problems with intertwined relationships, problems with economics, and so on. I pray in my heart, with a small voice, with a loud voice, sometimes with a cry. And this is God's answer! I am having an amazing experience. On December 3rd, the day after I prayed, the answer was given, so I was very surprised myself! (I can't write in detail because of the space, but this is really non-fiction!). I don't know what George Muller would do with that much, but I have to say something. “I can pray, so why worry? Why are you disappointed when you can pray? Please pray. Then, really, miracles really happen!”.
Weekly <Fountain of the Word>