Today's Reading:
1Chronicles 11:1-9
“So, David waxed greater and greater: for the Lord of hosts was with him” (v. 9)
For God to be with a man means he has His support in all areas of his life and also His approval in whatever he does. It means God is there for him all the time, especially in times of trouble. It connotes a friendship relationship between God and the man, and dependence on each other. God likes to depend on man to obey his instructions and directives, by carrying them out. On man’s side, it pays him to depend on God who has all the powers and resources in heaven and on the earth.
All the victories David won in his lifetime, were because God was with him. He started to enjoy victory right from when he was a shepherd boy, being protected in the wilderness from wild animals, some of which he killed. The next level of victory was over Goliath the giant, who taunted Israel in wars. The victory won with a catapult can only be possible because God was with David. He then won victory over King Saul, who out of jealousy hunted him to kill him, and he could not, but made him into a fugitive, hiding and living with out-law people in caves and mountains.
Eventually, his enthronement as King in Hebron and later in Jerusalem was plagued with resistance from the Jebusites, who did not want to surrender their land to David, as capital of his kingdom (Vs 4-8), but he won the victory. It is said in V9 of the Reading, that David waxed greater and greater: for the Lord of hosts was with him.
Overall, David’s life is an evidence of the words in Rom.8:31, that if God is for you, no one can be against you. Even when attempts are made against you, they will fail, because God is with you. Aside from David, God was obviously with many others who won victories as recorded in the scriptures. They include - Moses, Joshua, Nehemiah and Ezra in the Old Testament; Jesus Christ, the Apostles including Paul, in the New Testament. God so desires to be with us, as individuals, as well as collectively, that He sent Jesus his only begotten Son to the earth, in order to be with us as our “Emmanuel” (Is. 7:14).
How does one forge a relationship with God, so that He is with him?
In Chr. 15:2, it is said that the Lord is with you, while you be with him; and if you seek him, He will be found of you. You seek him and find him by being born again, accepting His gift of salvation. From that point, He starts to live in you, together with his Son and the Holy Spirit. To retain him with you, you have to be in total obedience to him and trusting him in all things and areas of your life; living in faith, humility and his Word.
Some of the benefits derived from God being with you include a) his presence, with fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11) and which will keep you from sinning; b) his strength (Phil. 4:13); assurance (Josh. 1:5); encouragement (Rom. 8:31); security; counsel; no shame; fighting for and standing by you.
CHRISTIE KUPOLUYI
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for desiring and accepting to be with us, in Jesus name.
I thank you for manifesting that you are truly with me and all family members, in Jesus name.
Father, I pray that you take from us all anything that will not let you be with us, in Jesus name.
I thank you Lord for being with us in this nation, in spite of our unrighteousness, in Jesus name.
Father, please take from us everything that will drive you away from our nation, in Jesus name.
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