David, the Wisest King of Israel

Fresh 'baon' from The Feast Bibletimeline last night. I got most from Bro Rolly, though I inserted some of my learnings too. =) : 

David established the family of God as one Holy Kingdom (2 Samuel 6-7). He brought the Ark of Covenant to Jerusalem. He's like much of a priest than of a king as he danced and rejoiced before the Lord wearing a linen ephod, and become true to himself even if the people would see him, and even blessed the people around him! He understood who is the true king of Israel. God promised to make his name great and will give him a kingdom that will reign forever. It's a prophesy about Jesus, yes, he came from the line of David.

Though, David went through a lot of pain. Trouble chases sinners (Prov. 13:21). He pursued Bathsheba and committed adultery. He plotted the death of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah. The consequences of his actions: his son with Bathsheba died. His son raped his daughter. His another son rebelled against him. He went through adversities. But sometimes God used adversities to deepen our commitment to him. During David's reign, Israel was the most powerful nation. After David committed his sin, he repented with a contrition and retribution. His beautiful response about repentance was written in Psalms 51. Yes, adversities can bring out the best in him even to us!

Our irritations become our gems, because God wants to refine and purify us. Solomon wasn't the wisest man, because in the end he didn't use it for goodness. He can be knowledgeable because he had written his wisdom literature in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon but he overlooked his common sense. He didn't follow Moses' prophetic warnings in Deuteronomy 17 regarding a King shouldn't multiply his gold, chariots and wives. Solomon has 700 wives, 300 concubines, and 666 talents of gold. His foreign wives made his heart turned to other gods. And during his reign, he became tyrant. He didn't put his wisdom into practice thus he ended in ruin, later on it caused the kingdom's division, in which his father David built and united.

In today's generation, temptation is related to pride and sexual immorality. We must be careful and be guarded not to fall in any of those.

It's still good to be wise in the way, God's wise.

David, a Man after God's Heart

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Joseph the Dreamer

This may sound personal, but all of us have our own favorite bible character. Mine, aside from Jesus Christ, who was the seed of the woman,  was his almost counterpart in the Old testament, Joseph. In recounting his life during Session 5 at the Feast Bible Study, I don’t know but his life is somehow related to mine. I’m sure a lot of people could relate or even get awed once they piece by piece study Joseph’s life. You may refer to Genesis 37-50.

Jacob/Israel is now the father of twelve songs from whom will come the twelve tribes of Israel. This “account of Jacob” zeroes in on Joseph, who is eleventh son of the firstborn son of his beloved wife Rachel. Like those before him, Joseph is tested. Inspite of dreams indicating that he will rule over his brothers, circumstances are against him for years. “Will you trust God?” is still the question. 

Who would've thought his life can change forever?

Joseph never loses his faith in God, inspite of mistreatment by his brothers, being sold as a slave, unjust accusations, and languishing forgotten in prison. He is honest, hardworking, thoughtful, and courageous. He is humble and gives all credit to God rather than trying to advance himself in the eyes of others. He does not grasp what has been promised but waits patiently for it, trusting that God will do as he has said. Consequently, he rises to the chief position of leadership under Pharoah and is able to bless not only Egypt, but the surrounding countries as well.

After Jacob’s death, his brothers ask forgiveness and offer themselves as slaves. This was Joseph’s reply to them, “As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20). This was a foreshadowing of Bible verse from the New Testament, “All things work for good, to those who love him and those whom he called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Joseph had learned through years of patient waiting and through tribulation that God had his hand in their affairs—that whatever things looked like on the outside, God was working it for good. Joseph’s faith gave him eyes to take this eternal perspective on events, while his brothers’ lack of faith and guilt fixed their eyes on temporal.

According to Jeff Cavins, Joseph is the forerunner of Jesus. These are the many parallels, similarities in character, in circumstances, and in what they accomplish.

Both Joseph and Jesus:

* are humble, forgiving, and strong in the face of temptation

* are beloved sons of their fathers

* see beyond the appearance of things and trust in God

* are betrayed and sold for silver

* are wrongly accused

* are brought out of captivity/death to life and glory

* reconcile their brethren to their father

* save the world

* become the source of food and life

* both have a big heart

Joseph blesses the foreign land, Egypt, and other nations by the end of Genesis. It shows that it's another stage in the growth of God's family when the seventy strong family of Jacob stayed there and completed the 12 tribes of Israel.

I keep on believing that dreams do come true, in God's perfect time. :)

Joseph, the real guiding star.

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