Real Hope: Discovering Hope in the Life of DavidSample

Doing Things God’s Way

Even though we have the greatest of intentions in life, if we aren’t living according to God’s will, none of our good intentions will get His favour. We see this clearly in 2 Samuel 6 when David wanted to bring the ark of the Lord back to Jerusalem. This was David elevating the restoration of God being worshipped as a national goal, not just the fulfillment of a king’s pet project. When David learns that Obed-Edom is being blessed with the ark at his house, David realises that the ark itself is not the problem. He wants that blessing in the City of David! He begins to research in the Torah about how the ark is supposed to be transported, and discovers the priests are to carry the ark the right way – on their shoulders (1 Chronicles 15:11–15).

This time, David makes sure to do God’s will in God’s way. He and the people come with faith before the Lord, and God honours them in it.

We often think that a ‘new cart’ or ‘strength’ is the way to bring the presence and glory of God. But God always wants His presence and glory to come on the shoulders of consecrated, yielded, obedient men and women.

‘Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning’ (Psalm 30:4–5 ESV).

Written by Heidi Wysman