Topic: Ask the Lord always
Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 4-6; Luke 18:18-43.
Memory Verse: “And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.” 2 Samuel 5:23 (KJV)
Several years ago, my second son was living with us, his parents while the third one was leaving on his own and on a number of occasions my third son would come to our bedroom and look at some of my personal things and made requests. Usually, I would give such things to him and he would go with them. But the one living with me would not ask. Though he had the same access and even a greater access to our bedroom, he will not come to the room talk less of asking for things that he may need that I had. Several times, I had told him why can’t you ask me whatever you need since you are here with me and that was not limited to only physical things. In virtually all cases, I had to ask him or just assume he needed some things and gave them to him but he obviously lost a number of opportunities he could have benefited from.
This is similar to the situation between most of us and our father in heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ says in Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV), “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Can you imagine what many Christians lose by not asking God and just expecting that He will give it to them.
One of the key lessons we should learn from David is his dependence on God. He was fond of seeking the face of God before taking any major decision. When he was crowned king by the remaining ten tribes of Israel, and the Philistines heard of it, they organized themselves and came to besiege the land. But David did not jump to fight the battle which seemed the obvious thing to do, rather he asked God if he should go ahead with it. In 2 Samuel 5:19 (KJV), “And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.” And David went according to the direction of God and he won the battle. What a number of Christians would do in the circumstance is to go to the war and pray that God should aid them to win! When you did not ask if you should go in the first instance, how would you know the method God wants you to use to win the war?
After David won the battle at the valley of Rephaim, the Philistines came to the same place again to besiege Israel and David asked the Lord again and God gave him a different instruction on how to win the war. In 2 Samuel 5:23 (KJV) “And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.” And of course he won the battle again! But did you notice God gave him a different instruction? How often do you assume for God instead of asking Him on what to do rather than just praying for success. Did you ask God whether you should go for a particular job, contract, meeting or even a crusade? Or you only ask him for success after you have decided for yourself? Please stop putting the cart before the horse!
Action point: Before you take any decision, ask God for the decision, listen to his directives and follow. Then you will have good success.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero