All He Did Pleased Israel (II Sam. 3:36)

March 6
John 2:24, 25 are two verses I have pondered hundreds of times in the past 38 years, “But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.” II Samuel 3:36 tells us everything King David did pleased Israel. All one has to do is read carefully, all of the chapters concerning David to discover he was deserted by his closest confidants, and one of his children temporarily took over his kingdom and committed incest with ten of his concubines during the takeover. One of his sons committed incest with one of his daughters. His first wife, Michal was given to another man while he was in exile. And his father-in-law tried to kill him on several occasions.

King David’s life is filled with problems that, if studied and analyzed critically, will help us know how to deal with similar kinds of challenges. Mankind is plagued with the propensity to throw his closest friend under the proverbial bus if we perceive it must be done to preserve our own status quo. Barack Obama is a master at it. It is a survival instinct. It’s like the backup system on Microsoft Works that automatically moves in to stop any virus that attempts to invade it. John 2 tells us Jesus knew this principle, and of course we have no problem believing that. Jesus knew everything. But we miss the point if we fail to recognize this characteristic is crucial for us to understand if we are to get along with our fellow aliens on this planet.

Man is flawed. One of his major flaws is this propensity to protect himself from public embarrassment. He will lie, cheat, and steal to do it. And, lo, even regenerated followers of our Lord will often revert to this very human tactic when backed up against the wall. Please believe me. I know. I have been the object of hatred and violent aggression time and again for backing people up against that wall. Like Jesus, because John told us, I know what is in the heart of man; and I simply move on with my life when those I once considered friends become ravenous wolves. What you do today might please everyone. Tomorrow is another story. Now go and tell someone what great things God has done for you today.