David Teaches - Part Two

We resume with this information firmly imbedded in us. Our second demonstrated lesson from David is more humility, or continued humility. David, in his freedom, asks if he is to go to one of the cities in Judah. God responds in the affirmative and tells David, Go up. We must not miss this minute, simple, yet extremely honouring fact. This is what is before us. The fact is that God has told David to go up, but go up where? When we listen again to David’s question, it is all clear cut. Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah? He asked God if he should go to any city. The word, any was stated to God. It stands to reason therefore, that God had responded and said that David could go up to any city in Judah. God has given him the freedom, the liberty to go to any city there, yet David does not even make that decision.

Humility breeds more humility. Humility before God honours God in big and small matters. Humility gives God full, total Sovereignty and control. Is not David, in this other attitude also, professing and demonstrating that God is his Wisdom, Leader and Master? Is not this man, with his God-given freedom, in authority and power, showing us how he sees God and himself? He is king, but God Reigns Supreme. He is leader, but God is LORD over all. He has authority, but God is all Powerful. David humbles himself before his God, being stubborn in humility. He will not even make the decision of where in Judah he is to go. Remember, he is free to go anywhere, but he is not going one step, without knowing the mind of his God. 

Jesus was totally free to speak and do as He pleased, for we know that in no way He would speak words or do actions which were against His Father in heaven. But note, with stupendous awe, His open, unashamed humility to deny the human self in Him, being disciplined in His service to His heavenly Father.  For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6: 38. O how this challenges and marshals us to unceasing humility.

In our freed lives, in Jesus, we daily become humbler and humbler, when we see how humility honours God and gives Him His ever rightful place in our lives. Humility is the staying power which keeps God ever as LORD. Here is Peter with words which only spring from honesty, humility and honouring of who Jesus is. Jesus told Peter to take his boat out into the deep water and let down his net to catch fish. However, this is Peter’s experience. He and friends have just come ashore from fishing all night, in that same water and have been unsuccessful. He has convincing proof from what he has experienced, that the water is barren of fish at this time. Yet, it was in those same barren waters, where Peter, an experienced fisherman had been toiling all night, that Jesus sent him back to. This is the humility, I tell you, which each of us must grow, and very quickly at that. Listen to the honesty and unreserved humility of Peter, when he responds to such an outrageous command from the Nazarene. Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net. Luke 5: 5b. 

Humility exposes our inferiority and God’s Superiority. Humility dares to die to human experiences, in order to live to Jesus’ expertise. Humility always places the Word of God before the word of humans. One sure fact is that because of the freedom and liberty we enjoy in Jesus, we are free to believe in Him and obey Him, even when our carnal senses tug us the other way.

Humility goes even deeper, which brings us to our third demonstrated lesson from David. God has named a place in Judea for David at this time in his freedom. This is a time of rejoicing, celebrating, thanksgiving and sacrificing for David, in the depths of his grateful heart. Free at last! Is this not his current position? Which place in Judah might David have chosen? I don’t know, but I do know that whatever God chose for him, he would welcome and obey.

Honestly, I would not even think of ever hazarding a guess as to why God chose Hebron and none of the other cities in Judah. Nevertheless, I know that Hebron holds great significance. Let’s explore some interesting facts about Hebron that would directly relate to David.