Fri.’s Devo - Establishing the Kingdom

Read: 2 Samuel 4:1-6:23; John 13:31-14:14; Psalm 119:17-32; Proverbs 15:31-32
Everyone wanted position with the new king, David so they did what they thought would give them favor. Baanah and Recab had been military leaders for Israel and thought that if they killed Ishbosheth, the leader of Israel, and presented his head to David, David would honor them and give them portion in his army. David was not like Saul, he had them killed for taking matters into their own hands and not letting God determine what was to happen to Ishbosheth.
Now that there was no king, all the tribes came and found David and anointed him king of Israel. David was 30 years old which is the same age Jesus was when he started his ministry. He reigned as king over both Israel and Judah for 33 years which was the age of Jesus when he died. The first thing David did as king is to take the city of Jerusalem from the Jebusites and make it his city. When Hiram sent wood for him to build a house to live in he knew that his kingdom was established and for the first time in many years he had a permanent dwelling place to live. He started growing his own family.
The Philistines found out about David’s new kingdom and came to fight him. God gave David specific orders when and how to fight them. Once he had defeated them, he was ready to bring the ark from Judah to Jerusalem. When the ark almost fell and Uzzah, one of the priests, put out his hand to steady it. God’s anger broke out and killed Uzzah. Once again, man was trying to do God’s work his way. The ark was not to be carried on cart but on the shoulders of the priests with the poles. David, not knowing what to do, stopped the festivities and let the ark stay right where it was till he could figure out why God was so mad.
The ark rested at the home of Obed-Edom and God blessed his household so much in 3 months that it was noticeable to the people. David knew it was time to bring the ark to Jerusalem and he had researched how to carry it.
David brought the ark home sacrificing a bull and a calf every time the priests took six steps. He wore the linen ephod of the priest and danced wildly in worship of the presence of the Lord. There was music and festivities and great joy. Saul’s daughter, Michal watched David dancing and was embarrassed. That night she told him that he had made a fool of himself in front to all his slave girls. David put her in her place and told her that God had chosen him over her father and he would make a bigger fool of himself in the future worshipping God. She might be embarrassed, but his slave girls would honor him. Michal was barren the rest of her life.
In John, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment and it was to love others as he had loved them. Up to that time, Jesus had taught them to love others as they loved themselves but this was much higher. Jesus had shown them a love greater than man’s love and that was their new challenge. Then Jesus talked about leaving them and going somewhere they could not go. He was talking about the kingdom of heaven. When Peter argued he was ready to lay down his life for Jesus, Jesus gave him a sign that he wasn’t ready. He told him that before the rooster crowed, he would deny him three times.
Jesus was making the point to Peter that he could not do this on his own passion and strength. After the Holy Spirit came, not only could they go where Jesus had gone but they would have the power to resist sin and the devil. Then they would be ready to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, help us to love as you loved us. Thank you for making the way for us to approach the throne and go where you have gone. Remind us of who we are in you. Establish your kingdom in our hearts.