Good day dear friends, and Happy Independence Day! May we remember the great cost of liberty and freedom, but more importantly, may we remember what responsibility we also have to the rest of the world.
Our text for today comes from 2 Samuel 5: 1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, "Look, we are your bone and flesh. 2 For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel." 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. 9 David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward. 10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. (NRSV)
It didn't matter where David was, the pasture or the palace, God was there too. Early one David learned about God and how to recognize the presence of God. More importantly, David learned to invite God to be present wherever he was. David was a great shepherd and David was a great and mighty warrior even as a boy, fighting lions and bears (oh my!), defeating giants; later as warrior-king, defeating the enemies of Israel. David followed a king that did not invite God to all things. In this passage, David has proven himself as a ruler and even as a ruler over a small area, Hebron, the people of Israel come and ask him to be their king as well. The people of Judah did the same thing, and under David we find the united kingdom. I personally see in the Star of David, two triangles; one pointing south, the other pointing north and I am always reminded of the uniting of two kingdoms, the south and north, under David. And here we also find how David came to hold Jerusalem and to name it the city of David.
Though the good and the bad, God was with David. In victories and triumphs, God was with David. So it should be with us. Whatever we may have faced, no matter where we have come; if we have thought about it and realized it, God was and is with us. Regardless of our position in society, God is with us and will be, if we just but invite God to be with us.
Things go better with God. Invite God to be with you in everything.
PRAYER: Loving God, for the precious blessings of freedom we are thankful. We remember those who are not yet free. We pray for those who do live in free countries but who find themselves imprisoned by so many different things, debt, fear, worry, envy, jealousy, difficult relationships, sin, destructive habits and vices; to them, dear God, give them freedom. I and the person who prays this as their own, invite you to be with me in all things. Let it be said of our lives, that You were always with us and we gave You the glory. In Jesus' precious and powerful name I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
