Warriors Arise: January 18, 2023
2 Samuel 6:7-9 (NKJV) Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 And David became angry because of the Lord's outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9 David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?”
So many things had to be running through David's mind. Thirty thousand men were watching him. "What would he do? How would he respond? Did he really have the favor of God? He may be after God, but does God want to be with him?" They might have been thinking, "I sure hope he doesn't chose me to take Uzzah's place." They could have thought this was a sign from God that David was not to be their king.
David wasn't afraid of losing the kingdom. David wasn't afraid of what people thought. David was afraid the presence of the Lord would not be with him, in the place where he lived. David wanted to bring God back to His place among the people. He wanted the presence of God to be where he could go and worship or sit before Him. He wanted the ark of God with him. He was afraid that would never happen. I wonder how long he had dreamed about having the ark of God with him? Did he dream about it, after he was anointed king, all those long years ago when Samuel came out to his father's house? As he is walking back to the sheep, speaking out loud, "My first duty will be to bring the ark of the Lord back to the people." Maybe at that time, he was already assessing what was wrong in the nation of Israel: "If we just had the presence of God in our midst, our country would not cower at the Philistines. They would fear us and we would prosper at the hand of God."
David was afraid. It was not for himself or what the people would do to him. He was afraid God might not want to be with him. I am trying to put myself in his shoes. David had been a worshipper out in the fields with the sheep and the Spirit of God was with him. Everyone attested to this, which is why he was brought in to minister to Saul when the distressing spirit came upon him. God continued to be with David while he was on the run from Saul and all those years in the wilderness. Now, that he is king over all Israel, God doesn't want to be with him? What was going on? What had happened? What had he done wrong? Did he even want to be king if God wasn't going to be with him? Was any of this worth it? David wanted more from God. He wanted God's presence with him in the City of David. He wanted the ark of God in a place where he could protect, pursue, petition and praise Him. Was he afraid God didn't want to be with him?
How desperate are you to have the presence of God with you? At what lengths will you go to be in the presence of God? Yes, the Spirit of God is within each believer; however, there is a difference. There is a difference in having God within us and being in the presence of God.
Father, I desire to be in Your presence. I am incredibly grateful for the Spirit of God to lead me with Your counsel, compassion, and love. However, there are times when I need to be in Your presence. There is nothing like it. Peace saturates my being and quiets my mind, steadies my heart and strengthens my body. I know without a doubt I am accepted and loved beyond measure. In Your presence, the things that were tormenting my mind are made clear as Your wisdom reveals the problems and the solutions. In Your presence, I am made whole. In Your presence, I am revived. In Your presence, I am renewed in purpose. I desire to dwell in Your presence in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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