The Lord God Almighty is With us

 DEVOTION

2^ND SAMUEL

THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY IS WITH US

2 Sam 5:1-10

5:1 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood. 2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.'" 3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. 6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here." 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David. 8 On that day, David said, "Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those 'lame and blind' who are David's enemies." That is why they say, "The 'blind and lame' will not enter the palace." 9 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the supporting terraces inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the LORD God Almighty was with him.

NIV

This story is all about David becoming or being anointed king over all of Israel, but the most important part of his story, or his life, is the fact that he became more and more powerful because the LORD God Almighty was with him. The Hebrew puts it that Yahweh Elohyim of hosts caused David to grow and grow great. Could this not also be our story? There are many people who put their trust in themselves and become great in our society or in the world, including amassing great wealth and power. But all their wealth and power, as long as their trust is in their own abilities, will gain them nothing in the eternal realm of God; in fact, they will lose everything, including their lives. God testified about David that He had found a man after his own heart and that he would do everything He wanted him to do. That is the truth we need to see for our lives. First, we have done that one act of faith the Lord wanted us to do, and that was to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. That is the Lord’s will for all people; however, some will refuse, but we did not, and so we can say that we have done at least one major act the Lord wants us to do. We have also accepted the baptism of the Holy Spirit; that is, we have opened our hearts to him, allowing him to influence our lives. As he fills us, he brings his gifts and fruit into our lives, giving us power to live in accordance with the will of God. We can say with confidence, the Lord God Almighty is with us. Because He is, we will grow and grow greater, reflecting his glory in ever-increasing glory. This was the work or the hand of God upon David that made him king over all of Israel. This is the hand of God who has made us a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who belong to Him. It is the work of God within us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, who brings about this change in us, and gives us the power to be an overcomer. It is the very word of God, His testimony regarding us, that we are holy and blameless in his sight. We have the very power of God upon and within us, because the Lord God Almighty is with us.