Absalom and David by Marietjie Chase
( 2 Samuel 13, 14:21-15:37 and 2 Samuel 16:15 - 18:18)

There is something about the spirit and attitude of Absalom that resides in us all. We get incensed, offended at injustice. We want to punish the guilty and comfort the victim. Yet, in this very appropriate sense of justice, we need to remember that we cannot judge 100% rightly. God is the only one who knows the heart.

Absalom waited for David to punish Amnon for the rape of his sister, Tamar, but David did nothing. He did not even as much as comforted the victim. He just continued with business as usual. Absalom's furry at this compilation of injustice burned, seethed inside of him until, he exacted the punishment  he deemed appropriate.

It could be that this incident and the resulting punishment that David heaped upon Absalom, for the murder of his brother, caused the son to rebel against his father. ( 2Samuel15) This could have been the grounds for Absalom's judgement of David. A judgement that resulted in the conclusion that he, himself, will make a better, more righteous and fair king than David.

We all can bring to mind times and cases when we did not feel like justice were served. There was no punishment to fit the crime. We spoke against the judges, the criminal justice system and even at times against God.

What does the Bible say that we need to do? When you see your brother sin , pray for him. 1 John 5:16 Do not judge, for with the same measure you judge, you will be judged also. Matthew7:1-6. Every one fall or stand to his own master, and in many instances this is God. Romans 14:4-12. When a brother sin against you, go and talk to him. Matthew 18:15-20. ( Also see: Galatians 6:1-5 and 1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11)

God, sometimes, seem to take too long to punish the wicked. (2Peter 3:9) We want the wrong righted now and NOT in His time. Do we forget the mercy and grace of God? Do we forget that He desires all to come to repentance and in true relationship with Him? 2Peter 2:9, 1Cor 6:11

King David, a man after God's own heart, said of Absalom; even after the son's rebellion: " Be gentle with the boy". (2Samuel18:5) Could it be that the same God who loved us while we were still sinners and enemies of God, that same God loves these wicked sinners the same? (Ephesians 2:4-7) Could it be that His mercy and grace, His loving kindness is leading them to repentance as well? Romans 2:4

When we take offense at God's seeming inaction, we set ourselves up as judge even over God. ( 2 Peter 3:14-15. We step out of order, alignment and open ourselves up for the spirit of rebellion. This, the Bible calls witchcraft. 1 Samuel 15:23

Let us rather err on the side of mercy. Let us not become angry, hard hearted, crying out for vengeance, Rather, let us side with those who cry  out for mercy. As Abraham, Genesis 18:17-33, and Moses, Exodus 33, also interceded before God, for a city and a nation full of rebellion and evil. Romans 12:21

In the words of Jesus:" Love your enemies. Pray for those who dispitefully use you, mistreat you. Bless those who curse you and say evil things about you. Do good to those who hate you." Luke 6:27-28

(PS. This is another chapter in the " Inside Out, Upside Down Kingdom")

A New Generation - Marietjie Chase

When David accepted the challenge to go kill the giant, Saul tried to fit David into his own suit of armor. It did not fit. David did not fit Saul's mold.  Remember Saul was "the-peoples-choice". There is again a Davidic spirit released in the people of God. There are those who have been building a history with God on the back pasture, where they learn to trust Him and are not poluted with man's way of doing things. These people, young and old, male and female, from every race, tongue and nation are again crying out; " Is there not a cause?!!!"

They do not fit the mold. These people do not share the same spirit of fear that now makes christians cower and bow to the forces of evil. These are not schooled in the ways of religion and as a matter of fact have no use for religion. What makes them different is that they know God. They truely know God and will not be convinced to believe the lies about Him that are preached. They are convinced of the greatness of their God and know that God have not gone to sleep. They are not afraid of the challenges and will not go silently into the night. They will not be quiet. They will not bow to man's ways and the flesh.


They are not aware of or ignore the "older-brother" spirit that comes against them because their focus is on pleasing God. They have layed aside the fear of men. They have laid aside the concerns for this life. They have laid aside the affects of the systems of this world. They have wasted their lives...on Jesus.

These are the ones who are building a new dwelling place for God. These are the ones who have turned to focus one ONE THING only: GOD!!

After His Own Heart ( Lessons from David)

by Marietjie Chase

God does not need anything or anyone. He is self sufficient. Yet, David pleased God. What was it of David, that was pleasing to God? What makes a man or woman after God's own Heart?

David restored the ark of God - the presence of God - to it's rightful place. I Chron. 13:3
David's main concern was a dwelling place for the presence of God Ps 132:4-5 David valued the presence of God.

David did the right thing the wrong way. And had the heart to go and find the right way and try again. He was no quitter. There was no"giving-up" in the man.

He feared God. I Chron 13:12 Was sold out for God. Ps 16:8 and attacked a giant for blaspheming the name of his God. Ps6:2

David had a sane estimation of himself. He was humble. Real humility is to only care what God thinks. It is to NOT get your selfvalue from people. It is to be resigned to the will of God for your life. To trust God completely.Ps 19:12-13. When Absalom rebelled and David and his household had to flee, there was a man that followed at a distance cursing David and throwing dust about. One of David's men wanted to go kill this little dust bunny. But David said: Let him be. Maybe God told him to curse me. David left his defense to God.

David had an awesome respect for the anointing of God. Even when Saul hunted him like a dog, he refused to lay a hand on God's anointed. He honored Saul not for who he was but for WHAT he was: God's anointed. Even when you can't bear the "who" you have to respect the "what". David chose the life of a fugitive rather than dishonor God's anointing.

David had one best friend who died early. David's lonely heart found it's rest in God. The Psalms, most of it David's, so raw in emotion revealed a deep intimate friendship. People are not to be trusted with our soul. Only God earns this position. The self principle and the flesh makes it impossible to grant people this place. It is not possible to be a God pleaser and people pleaser at the same time.

David was also a painfully honest, passionate worshipper. He was a worshipper long before he was a warrior and king, and also long after.

He was not perfect. As a matter of fact very few of us can measure our transgressions to his level. Yet, he humbled himself and his heart never changed towards God. He did not participate in the blame game but took responsibility for his own actions.

What difference a heart like this makes.

It's All About Heart 
by Marietjie Chase

King David was about heart. God called him a man after My own heart. He was the best King Israel ever had, aside from Jehovah Himself. In David we see the great commandment fulfilled: Love God and Love your Neighbour like yourselves.

David made mistakes. As king he made mistakes, as husband and father he made mistakes.Yet, looking at the overall picture one can easily conclude that he had heart.

David loved God. As a matter of fact, he was so consumed with his love for God, that his own self; his own importance; faded into the background. It was when Goliath defied the God of Israel when David stepped into battle. He wrote: (Ps 57:7) My heart is steadfast, O God. God was obviously the love of his life. Even when running from His enemy; Saul; and presented with the opportunity to rid himself of this problem, he chose to honor God. David's heart relationship with God produced the fruit of humility without humility ever becoming the issue. He trusted Jehovah and left his life and the kingdom in His hands even to the end.

Secondly, David loved the people. Some of his failings as a father comes clearly out of a heart full of love. In his dealings with Absalom this heart cracks wide open as he weeps: O, Absalom! My son, My son, had it been me who died instead of you. O, that God would give us leaders in the kingdom, the church, the body of Christ with a heart like David's. Those who will mourn for the wayward and weep for those who turn against them.

Out of the heart flows the issues of life, a wise man once said. Through the ages people have only responded, once the heart was touched. No wonder Jesus lumped all the law into this: Love God and Love your Neighbour.

Matt22:36-40, Mark 12 : 29 - 34, Luke 10:26 & 27

KNOWING GOD ...

In my study of David I came across the portion where David wants to return the ark of covenant to Jerusalem by using the Philistines(flesh) method. The dire consequences off course is that Uzza lost his life, David got scared and send the ark to Obed-Edom's for a period of three months during which God/Jehovah just bless this home.

David as king of Israel were required by the law to hand write himself a copy of the law, the first 5 books of our Bible. It included Leviticus and Numbers where Jehovah gave clear instruction about the care and transport of the ark of covenant. Let me just insert here- He cares a great deal about the details if it is His details. This piece of holy furniture represented the presence of God.

Did David forget about this ordinances or did he think that his familiarity with God excluded him from it. What was he thinking? He must have either forgot the law or disregarded it. Why else would he follow the Philistines (flesh) in handling the presense of God?

Did David know God or did he know Him by His actions? Knowing God by His actions leave a lot to guess work and subjective surmising. How do we get to know God? Can we know Him by His actions alone ? That would not be possible because our minute understanding of this vast, gigantic God is so pea-brain limited. God cannot be fully known by our experience of Him alone.

We have to study the word. Paul said to Timothy: Study to show yourself approved... There is some alone time in study and Berean time in group study neccesary to know God. He has ordained it that we, together with other believers, should know Him. Know God. Knowing just His actions is open to unbelievers, heathen and atheists as well. Know God by what He declares Himself to be, then measure your experience by that.

David later corrected this error and maybe that is part of what made him such a great King; his willingness to be corrected.

For further study try J.I.Packer - Knowing God or J.B. Philips - Your God is too Small.

Honor God...

As I read through I Samuel 24 [ It's the story where David, hiding in the back of a cave, has the opportunity to kill Saul but instead; cut Sauls mantle and repents afterward.] I noticed that the reason David could not kill Saul and repented for cutting his clothing had nothing to do with Saul or even the explosive relationship between David and Saul. Instead, David is lead by his relationship with God, Jehovah.

"I cannot touch the anointed of Jehovah", he said.

Have you ever experienced someone who has become your enemy by no fault of yours, yet is a bother or sister? Or even someone who's personallity grades on you like sandpaper, yet is obviously called and anointed of God? What do we do in these situations? The most popular solution the church in the West had till now, is to avoid such a person and move on. This must be one of the causes of the epidemic of church hopping in America. Being in the Kingdom of God; it is required that we deal with this. Our own rigidity and heartness of heart require that we be right but if we want to see the purposes of the Kingdom of God advange we need to take another look.

What did David do? He honored what was of God in the person. If all you can do is to love, respect and honor what you see is of God, then do that. I may think the person is a horses patutti but because he happens to be the President of the United States of America, I pay him due respect. It should not be that far fetched to respect and love someone who is part of the Kingdom of God because I love and honor and pursue God.

We used to sing a song in the early seventies: " I love you with the love of the Lord..., for see in you the Glory of the Lord.."

May we follow in King David's example and fear to disrespect God's anointed just because we are in relationship with such an awesome wonderful Father.

Isn't God just deeeeliscious.