H
We can see from the history of David that falling under God's governmental hand is a serious matter (2 Sam. 12:10-14); David restored his fellowship with God very quickly, but God's discipline continued even after his death (v. 15b—20:26).
I
Through the confessing of his sins, David's fellowship with God was restored, as revealed in Psalm 51, but he came under God's governmental hand; after his failure many evils, including incest, murder, and rebellion, took place among his family—2 Sam. 12:15b—20:26.
J
God exercised a severe punishment upon David because his sin was very evil; the source of the unprecedented evil in David's family was David's indulgence in the lust of the flesh; this shows that God's chastisement and His governmental dealing with those who love Him may even affect their children.
K
This should be a solemn alarm and warning to us in our relationship with Christ; what we are, what we desire, what we intend to do, and how we behave have very much to do with our remaining in Christ and participating in all of His unsearchable riches for our enjoyment; if we are not right with God in any of these matters, we will suffer the loss of Christ as our enjoyment.
L
The all-inclusive Christ as our dwelling place, our all-inclusive good land, and everything we need for our enjoyment will vomit us out of Himself and not allow us to enjoy Him any longer if we are not proper in relation to Him—Lev. 18:25; Rev. 3:16.
M
Eventually, David not only became old but also was fading away; David's life had a good beginning, like the bright sun rising, and his life with his career became like the sun shining at noon; however, his indulgence in lust (2 Sam. 11:1-27) spoiled his career and caused his bright life to fade like the sunset in the evening; in David's old age there was nothing bright, excellent, or splendid (1 Kings 1:1-4; cf. Deut. 34:7; Gen. 48:14-16; Prov. 4:18).
N
The Christian life is a life of learning God's government; we reap what we sow; the more generous we are to others, the more generous God will be to us; if we are mean and severe to our brothers, God will be mean and severe toward us; when others are sick or in trouble, it is the time for us to help them, not the time for us to criticize them—Gal. 6:7; 1 Thes. 5:14-15; Luke 6:36-38; Matt. 7:1-2:
１
We must learn to be generous and forgiving persons; if we are severe toward others, God will be severe toward us; we should avoid criticizing, condemning, or speaking about others in a light way; our criticism and careless comments about others often become a judgment upon ourselves—6:15; 18:23-35.
２
There are many brothers who have fallen miserably today for one reason only—they have criticized others too severely in the past, and many of their weaknesses today are the very weaknesses that they criticized in the past.
３
We have been called to bless others, so we, as a blessed people, should always bless others that we may inherit blessing; what we bless others with, we will inherit ourselves—1 Pet. 3:8-11; Matt. 10:13; cf. Num. 6:22-27.
Morning Nourishment
1 Kings 11:13 But I will not tear the whole kingdom away from you; I will give one tribe to your son because of David My servant and because of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.1 Pet. 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing one another,…that you might inherit blessing.
God exercised a severe punishment upon David because his sin was very evil. After David’s failure many evils, including incest, murder, and rebellion, took place in his family (2 Sam. 13; 15:1—19:8a). The source of the unprecedented evil in David’s family was David’s indulgence in the lust of the flesh. This shows that God’s chastisement and His governmental dealing with those who love Him may even affect their children. (2 Sam. 12:10, footnote 1)
David restored his fellowship with God very quickly [after his confession in Psalm 51], but God’s discipline continued even after his death. God’s government would not depart from him as long as His discipline was upon him. (CWWN, vol. 50, “Messages for Building Up New Believers (3),” p. 678)
Today’s Reading
The picture portrayed in the two books of Kings…indicates that what we are, what we desire, what we intend to do, and how we behave have very much to do with our remaining in Christ and participating in all His unsearchable riches for our enjoyment. This picture concerning Israel ends with a tragedy of all the kings who were put into the blessed situation of the kingship and who were not faithful to God and did not take good care of their inheritance: they lost the good land and were carried away as captives to the idol-worshipping world. This should be a solemn alarm and warning to us in our relationship with Christ. If we are wrong in any of the matters mentioned above, we will suffer the loss of Christ as our enjoyment. (1 Kings 1:1, footnote 1)The land, signifying Christ,…is the supply for the existence and living of God’s people and is also for their enjoyment. The good land vomiting out the defiled and unholy people (Lev. 18:25, 28; 20:22) signifies that the all-inclusive Christ as our dwelling place and everything we need for our enjoyment will vomit us out of Himself and not allow us to enjoy Him any longer (cf. Rev. 3:16) if we are not proper in relation to Him. (Lev. 18:25, footnote 2)
David’s life had a good beginning, like the bright sun rising, and his life with his career became like the sun shining at noon. However, his indulgence in lust (2 Sam. 11) spoiled his career and caused his bright life to fade like the sunset in the evening. In David’s old age there was nothing bright, excellent, or splendid. (1 Kings 1:1, footnote 3)
One very important thing can be found in [Matthew 6:15 and 18:23-35]—do not condemn others easily. This is a very serious matter!…We should not only be generous in forgiving others but also avoid criticizing or speaking about others in a light way…. Our criticism and careless comments about others often become a judgment upon ourselves.
The more generous we are to others, the more generous God will be to us…. If we are mean and severe to our brothers, God will also be mean and severe to us. You must learn to be kind, loving, and generous to your brothers. Give others liberty in many things…. When others are in trouble, it is the time for us to help them, not the time for us to criticize them. There are many brothers who have fallen miserably today for one reason only—they have criticized others too severely in the past…. We must be generous toward others if we want to avoid God’s governmental hand! May we learn to love and forbear one another. (CWWN, vol. 50, pp. 683-686)
We have been called to bless others, so we, as a blessed people, should always bless others that we may inherit blessing. What we bless others with, we will inherit ourselves (Matt. 10:13). (1 Pet. 3:9, footnote 2)
Further Reading: CWWN, vol. 50, “Messages for Building Up New Believers (3),” chs. 40-42