:: To Worship Him ::

 

      “The sword shall never depart from your house.”  (2 Samuel 12:10)

 

   This is certainly not a word one would want to hear spoken about their home and family.  This word was given by the prophet Nathan to King David.  David’s son, Amnon raped Tamar, his half-sister, who hung out ‘desolate in her brother Absalom’s house as written in 2 Samuel 13:20.  This upset David greatly but he did nothing.  When his other son Adonijah staged a coup, David ‘never crossed him at any time by asking, ‘Why?’  This account is written in 1 Kings 1:6.  With his family crumbling around him, David should have taken authority over the situation.  It seems strange that David unified Israel, won wars, brought the Ark to Jerusalem and was outstanding in so many ways, yet he had a problem when it came time to bring peace and order in his household.  In 2 Samuel 15:30-33 we read the sad story of his son, Absalom’s untimely death.  David cried, “O my son….if only I had died in your place!” 

 

   This stirred my attention when I heard someone point out the absence of David praying for his household and family.  I can’t recall ever reading where he mentioned his family in his prayers.  Apparently nothing is ever recorded of such.  It’s as if they never existed and the price David pays is reflected in how he spent his last days.  When he was facing death, instead of sending for his wife and children, his servants hired ‘a …young woman…and she cared for the king.’  (1 Kings 1:3-4)  I’m sure David payed his price and learned too late, something we all must face.  Our number one duty is developing a vibrant relationship with our Lord.  Our number two duty is in loving, caring and praying for our family.  Our spouses and children are our most precious possessions.  We must never neglect to guard them with our prayers and our love.  We may not always think they deserve it, but we haven’t always deserved our Saviors love either.