May 12 - A Flawed, but Faithful Leader

 Read today’s texts first: 2 Samuel 21-23; 1 Thessalonians 1

MAXIMize YOUR DAY
 When I am justified by God,
it is “just-if-I’d” never sinned.

As we look back at the life of David, we see a man who was clearly flawed, like all of us, but still an effective leader. Despite serious sin, God blessed David, and Israel reached her zenith under his 40 years of rulership. But I must admit, for the first time in reading these passages (I’ve been reading through the Bible every year for decades), I was disappointed in my childhood “superhero.”

I grew up listening to the exciting and inspirational stories from David’s life. His fearless fight against Goliath was, and still is, my favourite. But like Batman and Spiderman, David had his dark side that somehow I missed as a kid. When I read through the list of his faithful mighty men (23:8-39), I noticed for the first time that Uriah was among them (v. 39). These men risked their lives, over and over again, to protect their king. They were proof of how effective David was as a leader to inspire that kind of dedication. But David, my hero, showed shockingly selfish disregard for Uriah’s loyalty by stealing his wife and then setting him up to be killed in battle.

As I thought about that, I reflected on today’s psalm, when David sang: For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not done evil by turning from my God. All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees. I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin. The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight (22:22-25). Yah, right!  But as I thought about it, though David sinned deeply, he also repented deeply. He knew that God had forgiven him, cleansed his sins, and washed him until he was “whiter than snow” (Psa. 51:7).

This is true for all of us, including me. When I am justified by God, it is “just-if-I’d” never sinned. God looks at the orientation of our heart. He seems to bless those who humbly head toward Him at all times, whether we are doing well or not. But if we proudly turn away from him, like Saul did, He will turn against us. You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low (22:28). 

“Lord, I can be no more disappointed in David than I am in myself. But like David, I will sing, The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my Savior” (22:2).