It Means We Follow Instructions
Instructions are orders or directions, and we don’t much like to follow directions. Just think about putting together something that you bought that comes as a bunch of parts in a box.
You can follow the instructions or not. It is a choice.
Sometimes we can put it together without the instructions, and it turns out okay… most of the time, not so much.
Or take the Buffums’ dog. When she gets out of the fence, she will go jump in the lagoon, roll in things that are less than desirable, or run out onto the highway. She doesn’t know what her boundaries are when she doesn’t have a fence to restrain her.
Last week, we talked about David doing stupid and how he repented. We also talked about how he repented and God forgave him.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean that there aren’t consequences.
At the end of last week’s Scripture in 2 Samuel 12:13, Nathan told David he would not die. But what was not included last week was verse 14: “Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the Lord, the son born to you will surely die.”
There were other consequences that David dealt with relating to his family. Amnon slept with his sister, Tamar. (2 Samuel 13:10-17) Absalom and his brothers killed Amnon. (2 Samuel 13:23-33) Absalom fled, and this created a rift between him and David. After they reconciled, Absalom decided he wanted to be king and began conspiring against his father. (2 Samuel 15:1-12) Eventually, Absalom chased after David and was killed. (2 Samuel 18:1-15)
These were some of the consequences of David NOT FOLLOWING God’s instructions.
Even through all these trials, David continued to be obedient to God and return to His instructions. He wanted to build the temple for the Ark of the Covenant, but God said no.
David called the leaders of Israel, commanders, overseers of property, officials, and mighty men of valor together. He told them,
“Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and as a footstool for our God. I had made preparations to build it, but God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for My Name, because you are a man of war who has shed blood.’ (1 Chronicles 28:2-3)
God instructed David that Solomon, his son, was to build the temple, and David followed those instructions.
David told Solomon to obey God and that things would go well for him, but if he didn’t, they wouldn’t. (1 Chronicles 28:8-9)
“So now in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, keep and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants forever. As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought.
“If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”
Just like putting things together without using the instructions isn’t a very good plan, the same is true for building a life without following the instructions from God that are in the Bible.