David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron”, the Lord answered.
2-Samuel 2:1
The Israelites went up to Bethel and inquired of God. They said, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Benjamites?” The Lord replied, “Judah shall go first.”
Judges 20:18
Saul inquired of the Lord , but the Lord did not answer…
1-Samuel 28:5
Three examples, but how different they are –
- First, David (2-Samual 5:23-25 is another good example of David’s relationship),
- Second, the people of Israel who feared the Lord (Judges 20. Throughout the whole chapter Israelites Inquired of God and were received answers)
- Third, Saul.
David
Looking at the example of David, I pray God would speak to every Christian in this way. David was a man after God’s own heart.
Israelites
Israelites feared the Lord. Even when they did not have a judge or king on earth, and they did what seemed right. They still searched for God’s guidance and stood for moral truth.
Saul
Saul came to the Lord at his own convenience. He even stepped over his own rules of his kingdom, and just to get the answer, he went to a medium.
THree different levels
I
know that it is not easy even to write about this, but here we see three different levels of relationship:
- First, a very close, intimate relationship with God, when God speaks and David listens and obeys.
- Second, a general relationship, where people are walking in the fear of the Lord, trying to follow His instructions. Still they do not have the close one one one relationship.
- Third is the “God on demand” relationship when people know the Lord, but like to have Him as “a pocket God”, coming to Him, only when something urgent happens and they need an answer. It is not even a relationship! It is using God to get what you want or need.
Where do we stand? What kind of relationship do we want to have? Who is God to you personally? Is He your Best Friend with whom you spend a lot of time? Is He limited in your life to Leader and Judge, where you Honor Him and Love Him as Your King, but still do not have a close relationship like David? Or is He just a “pocket God”, the God on demand going to Him only when you need Him?
Friendship isn’t on demand
Friendship isn’t on demand because the time you spend together makes your relationship complete. Does God talk to us today like He talked to David? Yes, He does. Even more so now because we have God inside us. The Holy Spirit is present on this earth and He speaks to us, through us and in us. It is up to us to listen to Him; it all comes down to relationship.
Sometimes it is not about
talking and listening; sometimes it is just about being together, enjoying each other’s presence.
