A Righteous Ruler

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

A Righteous Ruler

Date: Nov. 16, 2024

Passage

2 Samuel 23:1-7 (ESV)

1 Now these are the last words of David:

  The oracle of David, the son of Jesse,
    the oracle of the man who was raised on high,
  the anointed of the God of Jacob,
    the sweet psalmist of Israel:
2   “The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me;
    his word is on my tongue.
3   The God of Israel has spoken;
    the Rock of Israel has said to me:
  When one rules justly over men,
    ruling in the fear of God,
4   he dawns on them like the morning light,
    like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning,
    like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.
5   “For does not my house stand so with God?
    For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
    ordered in all things and secure.
  For will he not cause to prosper
    all my help and my desire?
6   But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away,
    for they cannot be taken with the hand;
7   but the man who touches them
    arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear,
    and they are utterly consumed with fire.”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 23:3

  The God of Israel has spoken;
    the Rock of Israel has said to me:
  When one rules justly over men,
    ruling in the fear of God,

At the end of his life, David summed up all he had done. He did not despair over his failures. He did not gloat over his enemies. Rather, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and professed that God above is with a righteous ruler who fears God. Such a leader is like a ray of sunlight who gives hope and promise to his people. Also, David testified that God was his Rock, and all his household and everything he did was blessed. What a wonderful testimony to have at the end of one’s life!

We learn here that when we are called to lead, we must fear God and not people. When we seek a right relationship with him through repenting our sins and seeking his ways, then God upholds us and blesses us. We have no regrets, nor do we struggle with vanity or conceit. We can inspire and strengthen those under us with God’s help. We can build a firm foundation for our household and community (5). Are you relying on God the Rock to lead those under you?

David compared a wicked ruler to a painful thorn that should be discarded in a heap to be burned. May God give our nation’s leaders a fear of God. May God save us from ungodly rulers.

Prayer: Father, thank you for righteous rulers. Help us to be godly leaders who depend on God as our Rock and live purely before you.

One Word: Grant us righteous rulers

Adonijah Makes Himself King

1 Kings 1:1-27

Key Verse: 1:25

For he has gone down this day and has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king’s sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’

Today's Question

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