What Do You Desire?

Follow Along with the Message

What do you desire? What are deepest wishes? Do you want God on your terms or on His terms? 

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart (Palm 37.4).

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple (Psalm 27.4).

Our text today summaries an impressive “winning streak” for the new king of Israel. 2 Samuel 8, especially vv. 15-18, is a summary statement of what began in 1 Samuel 15 where God rejected Saul as king.

I want us to note 3 truths from this important chapter.

1. “The LORD helped David wherever he went” (2 Samuel 8.6, repeated in v.14). “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15.5).

2. David asserted his leadership and took control – he defeated his enemies just as God commanded him

• God recorded his victories of the nations which he subdued (v.11-14) - Aram, Moab, Philistines, Ammon, Philistines, Amalek, Hadadezer.

• He did not hunger after material wealth gained from these conquests (8.7, 11). David’s success was not for himself or his ego. He did not need to win to prove it to himself. It was God’s promises that were at stake.

3. David has everything well-ordered – judicial, military, priestly, recording history, key family and people in charge – he had a well-ordered kingdom and everything seems to be in place.

What do you desire?

Let’s reflect together.

• This is God’s call to us – to rule and reign in this world. Subdue creation – that’s the Genesis mandate (Genesis 1.28). That’s what our work is all about. God’ desire for us is that we order the details of our lives and our world and reclaim it for Him.
• The kingdom will not be established without a fight. History will not ooze into the kingdom of God. Enemies will oppose it. There are always enemies lurking to destroy or take you out (Psalm 71.1-4)
  • Be prepared
  • Be vigilant
  • Be a warrior – a fight

When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time (Luke 4.13).

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall (1 Corinthians 10.12).

Beware - Life is not all what it seems at times. In the midst of our success, we may think we can do whatever we want – whatever our motivation that moves us (don’t forget Numbers 20.8-13 [Moses striking the rock] or 2 Samuel 6.7 [Uzzah – God struck him down because of his irreverence]).

God wants you to succeed – but He wants us to succeed His way.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (Philippians 4.13).

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success (Joshua 1.8).

“God’s work done man’s way is not God’s work. Only God’s work done God’s way is God’s work.” Francis Schaeffer

Next Week – 2 Samuel 11