Meditation

01/16/2020

“Then the king sang this lament for Abner: ‘Would Abner have died as the lawless die? Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before wicked men.’ And all the people wept over him again. Then they all came and urged David to eat something while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying, ‘May God deal with me, be it ever so severely,’ if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” (2^nd Kings 3:33-35)

Fasting was commanded only connection with the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27-29). It later became customary (Zechariah 7:5). The fast expressed humility and dependence before God. Fasts were often associated with occasions of repentance or mourning.

Fasting was normally avoided on festive occasions and sabbaths, except for prolonged fasts which would involve sabbaths. Mourning should be more than a time of personal sorrow. It should represent prayer for strength and renewal before Almighty God. Lamentation is basically a funeral song expressing sorrow. David joined a vow to fast with his musical lament.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, David as your king, revealed to the masses, that he in no way, had a part in the murder of Abner, son of Ner. David had revealed to the people that he was too weak, and then prayed that God would pay the evildoer according to his evil deeds! David was a man of strong faith and presented an example of what we are to do in hard times as these were. We are to acknowledge our own weakness, and then pray to God that He would pay the evildoer according to their evil deeds. All this we pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Hate is not a family value!”

KNOWING GOD:

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was given a white robe, and hey were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.” (Revelation 6:9-11)

Beloved, the Bible repeatedly emphasizes that God hears the cry of groaning of the oppressed. God is especially tuned to the cry of the persecuted. The answer here is here is a delay, not in blessedness but in revealing the justice of their cause. There is a cost to be faithful to our gospel witness and testimony. True evangelism brings persecution.

I AM:

“Prayer, “Lament”: (Psalm 142:1-7)

Some prayers in the Bible are a cry or groaning. God is especially inclined toward those in desperation. Dramatic deliverance gives opportunity to encourage God’s righteous people. Prayer brings hope to those who feel isolated and persecuted. Mercy, or compassion, and grace are port of the attitudes inherent in a righteous persons.

Second Thought of the Day:

“They said to him, ‘John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.’ Jesus answered, ‘Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” (Luke 5:33-35)

Fasting was normally for the purpose of mourning. Jesus’ presence was an occasion for joy. Different types of prayer are appropriate at different times.

Jesus’ reference to the “bridegroom,” was simple and direct, that as long as His disciples had Him, they had no need to fast and pray. Then he noted the time will come when the bridegroom would be taken away. This is when He was arrested and taken before Pilate. In the meantime, He had sent His disciples out with authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. For the disciples, it was exciting and joyous, for they did not yet understand their time with Jesus was growing short.