Do You Take Prayer for Granted? (2 Sam 14.17)
The LORD your God be with you!
Background
It is said that power corrupts. This is no less true for the people of God than anyone else. David’s incredible successes, his wealth, and his status made him less than cautious. While he was never arrogant and defiant of God (like Saul), his sins came through lack of discipline and attention to important matters. The phrase “a man after God’s own heart” never stopped being true about David. That phrase means that God chose him and that David continued to trust him. It is not literal; “a man according to God’s own heart” does not mean that David always trusted God or did the right thing. David never consulted other gods or pagan seers like Saul did. This did not mean he did not fail in his faith, for he did so with terrible consequences. After all the successes recounted, we see the first example. While is army is off at battle (why is he no longer with them?), David relaxes at his palace. He sees a woman, and he takes her for his own and makes sure that her husband is killed in battle. His sin results in the death of a baby. We also learn that his interactions with his children are fraught with a lack of discipline—he does not act when he should, and he acts when he should not. His sin results in the eventual murder of two of his sons.
Meaning
Prayer is a great gift given to us by God. It is a means whereby any of us, no matter our status in life, may speak to God our thoughts and concerns. No matter our sins or our great acts, we can talk to God. No matter our age, our faithfulness, our abilities, or our spirituality, we can speak to God. This is a rare benefit for most of us. Few people can pick up the phone and speak to the President of the United States, or the Prime Minister of the UK, or the King of Jordan, or even the CEO of a major company. Yet the Creator and Sustainer of the universe allows us to speak to him at any time, and He promises He will hear them.
Read the full study of this prayer, including more about the background and meaning, and an application, by becoming a patron of the Praying Through the Bible project for less than a cup of coffee per month.
