Today’s devotion comes from 2 Samuel 18:19-33. Here is a link to this Scripture – 2 Samuel 18 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway
I quote only the following verses.
“Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “All is well.” And he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.” The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was.” Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” Then the king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”
The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”” 2 Samuel 18:28-33.
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“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” Matthew 17:5.
“Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11.
The focus that David had on his son Absalom and for his well-being is remarkable and worthy of our meditation for this devotion.
Despite all the people who rose up and rebelled against David, which rebellion was led by his son Absalom, David was focused on his son Absalom and for his well-being.
Despite that this rebellion caused David to leave his throne and flee for his life, David was focused on his son Absalom and for his well-being.
Despite the news that David’s enemies were killed and that David was now safe and would regain his throne, David was focused on his son Absalom and for his well-being.
Remarkable!
If David so loved his son Absalom, then let us meditate on the love the LORD, God the Father, has for His Son, Jesus Christ.
For example, in the magnificent chapter of Ephesians chapter 1, it is easy to focus only on the love the LORD has for His elect and the blessings that go to the elect.
Let us use today’s Scripture to meditate on the love of the LORD for His Son, Jesus Christ, and the LORD’S purpose in doing all things to honor and glorify His Son.
The purpose is “the summing up of all things in Christ”. “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.” Ephesians 1:9-10.
We, as humans, naturally want to focus about the blessings that go to us, our inheritance. But, notice the following two points.
First, all the blessings that we receive are due to our position within Christ. “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.” Galatians 3:16. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”. Ephesians 1:3. “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,”. 1 Corinthians 1:30.
Second, notice the conclusion of Ephesians chapter 1, that magnificent chapter which richly describes so many of our blessings. The focus is on Christ and “His inheritance”, that is, the saints are Christ’s inheritance. The focus is also on Christ’s “rule and authority and power. God “put all things in subjection under His feet”.
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:18-23.
But, Psalm chapter 2 shows us that Christ’s “inheritance” and Christ’s “rule and authority and power and dominion” extend over more than only “the church”. Christ’s “inheritance” and Christ’s “rule and authority and power and dominion” extend over all nations. Christ’s “rule and authority and power and dominion” extends to punish and to bless.
“7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”
10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” Psalm 2:7-12.
Regarding the Christ’s “rule and authority and power and dominion” over all nations, notice in addition the following Scriptures.
“The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
2 The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
3 Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power;
In holy array, from the womb of the dawn,
Your youth are to You as the dew.
“4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord is at Your right hand;
He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.
6 He will judge among the nations,
He will fill them with corpses,
He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.
7 He will drink from the brook by the wayside;
Therefore He will lift up His head.” Psalm chapter 110.
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.” Matthew 25:31-33.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:11-16.
In conclusion, in both the punishing of God’s enemies and in the savings of God’s elect, this is all consistent with the purpose of the LORD for “the summing up of all things in Christ”. In Christ’s total dominion, “God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 