God gave the law to Moses, then instituted sacrifices. They were offered first in the portable Tabernacle where God’s Spirit dwelt and now David wants to build God a permanent home where sacrifices can be offered perpetually. This place is eventually where our forever sacrifice gave His life for all of us. Then, there was no longer a need for animal sacrifices or a Temple because His Spirit lives in every believer. Through our faith in the Perfect Lamb, we present ourselves now as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.

Like any loving father, God cares about our spiritual and moral character, and He wants to teach us right from wrong. He has the power to keep us from temptation. But sometimes He decides to use it to help us see our vulnerabilities and correct them. If we are attentive and recognize it early or heed the warnings He sends our way, then we could escape without any consequences. But sometimes we have to learn our lessons the hard way and that’s better than not learning them at all.

Do you truly love the Lord? Do know Him? Do you recognize His power in your life? Do other people know the things He’s done for you?

Our lives are precious to the Lord. Because we were created in His image, taking an innocent life is a grave sin that must be atoned for with blood. Thankfully, Jesus shed His blood for all our sins proving just how precious our lives really are.

If you have ever felt your support dwindling, it may be God’s way of telling you it’s time to move on. Then again, it may just be an obstacle that He wants you to push through and persevere. So, how do you know?

What are you willing to give up to maintain or acquire good relationships? Are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of peace and give up your rights in order to reconcile?

Sometimes God chooses to intervene for us and sometimes He chooses not to. But in both instances, He is acting on our behalf, for our good and His glory.

God chose to withhold His hand of protection towards David as a punishment for his sin. But He did not withdraw His protection completely or forever. He still had favor on David and took care of him until everything was restored back to him.

Are you brave enough to pray for His will in your life? Do you have the courage to give yourself over to Him fully? David was exiled from the city he built, dethroned by his own son, separated from the ark of God, cursed by Saul’s descendants, and his people were turning against Him. Through it all, David trusted God’s will for his life.

Sometimes when we are conflicted, it’s easier to just dismiss our feelings and try not to think about it. But this seldom ever works and usually only makes matters worse. Even though it is hard, we need to take it to God and let Him help us sort it out and find the right course of action.

Everyone is tempted. That is not the sin. Even Jesus was presented with temptation. It is what we do with the temptation that matters. When we allow ourselves to dwell on sinful desires, it is almost inevitable that we will eventually give in to that temptation. The desire must be defeated while it is still in our minds, or it will inevitably result in action. Then, once we have made up our minds to sin, we will go to great lengths to satisfy that desire.