His Presence

 DEVOTION

2^ND SAMUEL

HIS PRESENCE

2 Sam 8:7-18

7 David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze. 9 When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 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 and gold and bronze. 11 King David dedicated these articles to the LORD, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued: 12 Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 13 And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 14 He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The LORD gave David victory wherever he went. 15 David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 16 Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 17 Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; 18 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David's sons were royal advisers.  

NIV

All of this plunder is being gathered so that Solomon can use all of it in the construction of the Temple, where the ark of God will be placed in the Holy of Holies. Although we could rehash the fact that the LORD gave David victory wherever he went, and how we could take that same victory because the Lord is with us, there are other stories. The first is that David did what was just and right for all his people. In Hebrew, a more literal meaning is that David served justice with righteousness. He acted correctly as the leader of the people, causing what is just in the land, judging fairly over disputes, and declaring decrees that served the welfare of the people because the presence of the LORD was with him. It would behoove all of us believers to serve others rightly and for their benefit. Still, it is especially incumbent for any who serves in some leadership, or rather servanthood position, to serve justly and rightly for all the people of God. The second story is about all the plunder being gathered that will be used to build a temple for the LORD. Interestingly, the LORD’s presence was represented by or through the ark of God; however, it was hidden away deep within the holy of holies, behind a thick, heavy curtain with only one priest to enter in once a year. How was it they could contain the presence of the LORD in such a secluded place? Did not the LORD God meet with Moses in the tent of meeting, and his presence filled the place, covering the tent with smoke, and the glory of the LORD filled that place? The rest of the story is where we can break in for it was God, himself, who when he came in the form of man and hung on that cross for us, the veil in the temple was torn down the middle giving us all full access to the Lord God Almighty and his presence now fills the new temple, our bodies, or as we offer ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice. No longer is God hidden away from us, nor do we have to wait to meet with him on Sunday in the sanctuary of the church. He is always with us, and He will be with us forever, and He will never forsake us. We live in His presence continually, and we respond to His presence with praise, worship, and obedience.