NOT EVERYONE WILL SHARE IN OUR JOY

PROCLAMATION

“As the ark of the covenant of The Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window.  And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.”  1 Chronicles 15:29 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After David had completed building the palace for himself, he prepared place for the ark of God.  Unlike the first time when he did it his way, this time when he went to retrieve the ark of God, he followed the instructions which The Lord God had given him regarding transporting it. (1 Chronicles 15:1-2 and 12-15)  This fifteenth chapter of First Chronicles is a repeat of the events presented in The Bible Book of Second Samuel but in a different perspective and with more details provided. (2 Samuel 6:12-18)  As the Israelites entered the city, King David was rejoicing, dancing and singing, as they brought the ark of God from Obed-Edom to Jerusalem.  However, his first wife Michal, who was watching the events from a distance, did not share in his joy.  In fact, she despised him because of it.

APPLICATION

When The Lord God blesses us and allows good things to happen to us, one would expect that our family and friends would be happy for us.  However, not everyone wants to share in our joy.  In fact, if the truth be told, some of our family members and “so-called friends” are not happy for us, and some of them even hate us for it.  Our blessings and good fortune can cause envy, jealousy, and resentment in others.  Some people may become “back stabbers” if our good fortune is not also a blessing for them.  We should be very careful with whom we share the specifics of our good fortune.

DON'T LET THE LACK OF RESPECT FROM FAMILY STOP YOU

Proclamation:

“Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’”  Mark 6:4 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Mark.  This is the gospel as he received it from the apostle Peter.  In this chapter Mark begins by stating that Jesus was not well received or respected in His own home town and he quotes what Jesus says about the lack of respect from those who knew Him. (Mark 6:1-6)  Then he records that Jesus sent His disciples out, two by two, to preach, to heal the sick, and to cast out demons from among the people. (Mark 6:7-13)  Mark also presents the events surrounding the beheading of John, the baptizer. (Mark 6:14-29)  Then he recounts the feeding of the five thousand men, plus women and children, with the two small fish and five small loaves of bread. (Mark 6:32-44)  He ends by reporting the miracle of Jesus walking on water across the lake to join His disciples in the boat. (Mark 6:45-52)

Application:

There is an old saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt.”  People are not likely to think too highly of individuals that they are very familiar with.  It is often much easier to gain the respect of strangers than it is to gain the respect of ones family members.  People may rise up to a position of respect but family will always see them as the person that they were beforehand.  Some people will constantly remind a believer of their sinful past because that person has never risen above that.  Don’t let the lack of respect, contempt, envy, or whatever from family or friends hold you back or block your growth in The Lord.  We may be more effective in our work for The Lord in places other than the place where we grew up, or around people other than our own family.

I PRAY THAT THE PEACE OF GOD BE WITHIN ALL OF YOU

Proclamation:

“For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’  For the sake of the house of The Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.”  Psalm 122:8-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

This psalm was written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  It is a psalm of ascent that the children of Israel sang rejoicing as they went up to Jerusalem to worship and for their feasts.  This is the third song of ascent.  In Psalm 120, the Jews were in distress because of their neighbors.  In Psalm 121, they were travelling to Jerusalem and could see it in the hills.  Now, in Psalm 122, they are within the gates of Jerusalem.  David rejoiced with the saints who said to him, “Let us go to the house of The Lord.” (Psalm 122:1)  He prayed for peace for Jerusalem and for the people who lived within the walls of the city. (Psalm 122:6-7)  He prayed for peace for his family and friends. (Psalm 122:8-9)  He also prayed for the good of the house of God and the people of God (Psalm 122:9) because of his zeal for God’s house. (Psalm 69:9)

Application:

Most people do not have to travel as far as the children of Israel did to go to worship in the house of The Lord.  However, most of us pass by many churches in order to get to our church to worship because we no longer live in the neighborhood where our church is located.  When we pray, we should pray for every church where they worship The Lord, our God.  We should also pray for all of the people of God, where ever they may be, that they would be blessed with the favor of God and that they will prosper.