Reliant Relief

Based on 2 Samuel 16-18, Luke 17:20-37

"And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness." 2 Samuel 17:27‭-‬29

Do you feel like you're in a wilderness sometimes? Have you been facing circumstances which make you feel like you're in unfamiliar territory? I think upon the end of 2020, when the world changed significantly, we could all say the world itself became a wilderness, and we are all trying our best to navigate through this new future of 2021. Everything is changing at rapid pace, and it's difficult to keep up with the times, and the new demands it has put on our lives. But as the Scripture says, David's people were provided for when they were hungry, weary & thirsty in the wilderness...and so are we!

God sent plenty of help to David because he not only had a repentant heart as we discussed last post, but he also had a reliant heart upon God! David was blessed because he always recognized where The Lord's Hand was upon his life. The Lord handed many blessings & miracles to David throughout his life, but David also recognized when He allowed the not-so-good to take place:

"And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: the LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him." 2 Samuel 16:7‭-‬11.

David knew that God allowed this for a reason. What patience! It only foreshadows the greatest pain, mocking & crucifixion which Christ took on for all of us...so why does God allow things like this? Why does He allow things like 2020?

Repentance gives us release from sin, but reliance brings us back to God! Sometimes, we need reason to rely. Sometimes, we have to be hungry, weary & thirsty in the wilderness in order to purpose ourselves to seek God's Hand through it all. All of these things taking place are a loud cry to God's people, all of us, to seek Him more so He can provide the rest we need! We are living in days like Noah...many people are suffering, yet many hearts are reluctant to rely on God:

"And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all."

Luke 17:26‭-‬27.

Without Jesus, we are destroyed. We are left hungry, weary, thirsty & mocked...and sometimes God allows these times of suffering to linger a little longer so that we will linger a little longer in His presence, and so He can encourage us a little more...so He can build those reliant hearts...the hearts ready to finally enter the ark & sail away to Heaven, where there will be no more hunger, weariness, thirst or pain! So come on, get on the Acts 2:38 Ark!

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38.