Daily Devotional for Friday, January 19

The Refusal and Request

“But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city,” 2 Samuel 18:3.

I love my youngest son’s enthusiasm, but it can sometimes be problematic. If I am in the middle of doing something, he likes to be right there under foot. He likes to help. But he is only two years old, and he is not yet able to help with a lot of things. He thinks he can cook and feed the dog and do the laundry, but we all know that he is a little young to be tackling those chores. And of course, when he is old enough to handle them, he will probably not want to do them. Sometimes we hurt his feelings because we will not let him help. He does not understand that the stove can burn him or that the dog cannot eat the food if he pours it outside of the fence. He just wants to be involved.

David wanted to be involved in the pursuit of Absalom. Thankfully, he had people who loved him and wanted to protect him. In 2 Samuel 17:27-29, the Bible records that people brought David and his men supplies and food to sustain them. Now, his people were asking him not to go with them to battle. The logic was simple: the people felt that one King David was more valuable than ten thousand servants. David agreed to the arrangement, although probably reluctantly, and helped the people prepare for battle. He had just one request. He asked that they “deal gently” with Absalom (2 Samuel 18:5).

Like David, it is easy for us to want to be in the thick of things, but God sometimes has different plans.

JUST A THOUGHT
Are you serving where God wants you to serve, or where you want to serve?

Chris Floyd