Today's Quick Word
Today’s Quick Word
2 Samuel 8:9-11 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and […]
2 Samuel 8:9-11 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze. King David dedicated these articles to the LORD, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: …
What a powerful reminder this is to us that everything we have comes to us as a gift of God’s grace, and really belongs to him – we are only ever stewards of these things – and, as Paul reminds us, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).
The form of the verb translated ‘dedicated’ in today’s passage carries the strong idea of being deliberately set apart as holy to the LORD. I think of the hymn: “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in endless praise. Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love. Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee. Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee. Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and use every power as thou shalt choose. Take my will and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne. Take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store. Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee.”
It would have been fairly easy for King David to rationalise and convince himself that he had earned his trophies of war and was entitled to benefit from them himself, but instead he ‘set [them] apart as holy to the LORD.” Whenever I sing Frances Ridley Havergal’s hymn I am challenged about just how consistent I am in voicing the words. Am I ‘dedicating’ every part of my life to my Lord and Saviour? I take some comfort in the story of the man who said to Jesus: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) – “Lord, take my life, and please help me not to try and hang onto any part of it”!
– Bruce Christian
