A Time for Rest and a Time for War

Scripture:

II Samuel 11:1 "In the Spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army.  They destroyed the Ammonites and beseiged Rabbah.  But David remained in Jerusalem."

Observation:

This is how the familiar story of Davd and Bathsheeba begins.  It was the Spring time when kings went out to war, but this Spring, David decided to let his troops go and he stayed home.  While he was home and his troops were fighting hard against their enemies, he noticed Bathsheeba, sent for her and had sexual relations with her.  When David should have been on the battlefield, he was home.  When he was inactive, his mind raced with other ways to have some excitement.  This choice to relax when he should have been in battle caused him terrible consequences.

Application:

Rest is good and very necessary.  If I have ever felt like I need rest it is now, but rest is different than inactivity.  David was not doing what he should have been doing and in doing this, he opened the door to the enemy in his personal life.  There is a time for rest and an time for war.  This was the time for war and David was inactive in his calling as king.  We must be able to understand the times and seasons.  We want to rest at the the right time and fight at the right time.  This way our inactivity will not brnig about bad results.

Prayer:

Lord God, You are faithful and good to your people.  Teach me to know the times and seasons.  Give me strength to fight when it's time to fight and rest when it's time to rest.  Teach me to stay focused on the main thing, so that other things don't distract my attention.  I want my life to please you.

Yours Forever,
Jeff