A Hope Note for May 21, 1011

Readings for today, May 21 are:

• 2 Samuel 17-28
• Hebrews 13
• Proverbs 21
• Psalm 77

This week we read in  2 Samuel chapter 15 and 16  about Absalom’s treason against his father, David. What he said to the people of Israel at the gates, seemed right to them. Seemed fair, seemed to be exactly what they needed at that moment.
But it was wrong.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. ( NKJV)

We read further in the chapter that while the King’s own people were deceived by Absalom but the stranger , the Gittites , that had just arrived, dedicated their lives to David, the King.

2 Samuel 15:21 But Ittai answered the king and said, “As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.” (NKJV)

That shows us a whole different picture of Messiah, but I digress!

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. ( NKJV)

We come further in the chapter to Ziba. You will remember Ziba as the servant that brought Jonathan’s son to David to be blessed. Well, now Mephibosheth has turned on David as well, expecting his father’s kingdom to return to him.

Again, might seem the right way, that Jonathon’s son would receive the throne his grandfather held, but it isn’t right in God’s eyes. This was well clear to the people of Israel that David was now the anointed. The majority of them are doing what seems right in their own eyes, without checking with God at all.

We then see Shimei, a distant relative of Saul hurling curses and rocks at David. Shimei believes that the Lord is punishing David for Saul’s death. Wrong again….

It is abundantly clear in these few chapters that just because things happen and people say they are God’s will, does not make it so.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. ( NKJV)

Even when the enemy tempted Jesus in the garden, the enemy used the Word. It might have “seemed” right because it was a bible verse. Jesus sets him straight clearly, you can’t take a verse of scripture and make a doctrine out of it. The Word tell us it must be in the mouth of two witnesses. If you have scriptures that disagree with the one you find it means YOU are missing something!

This type of thing happens in our lives today. Either bad things happen and we think they are God’s will and he is trying to teach us something. NONSENSE!

Or when something good happens we think it must be what God wants. Again, NONSENSE.

Let me give you an example that would apply to our life.

A believing woman is married to an unbeliever. Things are not great in that marriage.

Along comes a wonderful Christian man! She thinks God must want her with this Christian man over an unbeliever, right? She thinks that of course God wants her happy, right?

She even has scripture that she is not to be unequally yoked!

Is she right?

WRONG!

(This scripture applies to before one is married, not after. It is important you read the scriptures around it and get context. Find  the scriptures that apply to your situation, not someone elses. )

The Word says she is only free if the unbelieving spouse leaves her. (There was no sexual infidelity which would be grounds for her to leave if the Lord so led,  that’s a separate issue.)

1 Corinthians 7:12-13 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. ¹³ And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. (NKJV)

She is not free to leave because it might seem right in her own eyes. It might feel good at the moment. But it is the way to death.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. ( NKJV)

So she stays with her unbelieving husband, forsakes any other relationship. Her husband gets born again and she now has the most blessed marriage on the planet. That end is the way of life not death! 🙂

That was a true story, btw. Mine.

That is just one example, there are many, many in our lives that will come up. It is extremely important that you get in the Word and find out what God says about your situation and not believe a pastor, preacher or a TV show host that may “sound” nice.

You must learn to hear His voice so He can guide you and test all things against the Word. So much tripe is being spewed on TV , internet, and other ways today that so many things seem wonderful but they are full of death.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. ( NKJV)

God’s desire for you is for you to have life and have it more abundantly. He said:

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

So even though your head says things might be “nice”, if they aren’t lined up with God’s way of doing things they will not lead to a life full of abundance, they will lead to death.

So keep your eyes on Him! and enjoy the good life!

Be blessed!

-Kath

Scripture quotations marked “NKJV” are taken from The New King James Version / Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers., Copyright � 1982. Used by permission. All rights reserved.