Michelle
The first section of this passage goes through David assigning the Army divisions, leaders of the tribes, and the King's overseers. Again, these all seems like positions of honor in serving God and David. The second chapter talks of David's plans for the temple. He gathers everyone and gives instruction and shares that he has prepared for his son Solomon, assigned by God, to build the temple. He also instructs Solomon at the end to be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord you God...acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. He tells him to be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, is with you. God knows what is in our hearts, even when we don't. I have thought about this before. Especially right now when I feel like I have been wronged and want the other party to suffer, yet I read this and think that my heart is bitter and angry right now toward that person and that I am not thinking the right things in the eyes of God. I don't want to be, but my mind keeps going back to the anger. I want to move on from this and am trying to. The verse that stands out to me most is "be strong and courageous and do the work". Probably for this reason.
I just read the devotional attached to this after writing the above words. It also focuses on that same verse, be strong and courageous, and do the work. It talks of how David told his son to be strong and that as human beings we are easily discouraged. We encounter a big task and lose courage, lose heart, and sometimes even lose faith. And while it seems that building a temple for God is a small task compared to that of David slaying giants, there is pressure in every situation and it takes bravery to follow God's commands rather than collapsing under the weight of criticism. It takes faith and courage to follow the path God has for you.
I have read the psalm 3 times and am still struggling to interpret it. It seems at the beginning there is praise to God and then telling the people to call on God in the day of trouble, that you will be delivered. Then it goes into the wicked person and all the things they do that are evil. If you forget God, you will be torn to pieces, but for those who honor God, there will be salvation.
Julie
I love what you wrote today. I was focusing on that same verse and the devotional really is convicting today. Thank you for sharing that as I think that is something we needed to hear. I can't really contribute anything more to this.
The explanation I read for this psalm is that the sacrificial system was being used as a way to buy God off. I believe that this psalm is a way of saying this is not enough. You need to also be thankful for all that God does and he will be there for you in times of need. However, if you are always asking for things and forgiveness, but are not ever thankful then you will not be one that he considers righteous. People always think that they can do whatever they want and ask forgiveness, but we also need to thank God for what he does, even when it is something difficult that we have to do.
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