Bible Study

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1 Chronicles Book
Bible Lesson 8
Meditation Portion – 1 Chronicles 14:16

David was a very courageous man. Even in his youth, he killed the giant Goliath and rose to the height of fame. It is said that at that time David would have been around 15 to 20 years old.
He was an excellent military commander and had the mightiest warriors by his side. Yet, when we look closely at his victories, we see that he always sought God’s counsel—whether he should go into battle or not—and only after receiving God’s guidance did he go into battle and win.
Before fighting the Philistines, he inquired of the Lord, and the Lord guided him; he won a great victory. (2 Samuel 5:19, 23)
Before pursuing the Amalekites, he asked the Lord about it. (1 Samuel 30:8) He recovered everything.
In many other instances too, by seeking the Lord’s permission, he won victories in battle.
But in the springtime—when kings usually went to war—David sent Joab, his servants, and all Israel to fight the Ammonites, while he stayed back in Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 11:1)
Here, the David who usually asked the Lord’s counsel, if he had prayed and asked whether he should rest or go to the battlefield, would surely have gone to battle—and he would not have fallen into that great sin.
Similarly, when David took a census of the people without asking God’s counsel, it brought about terrible loss to his people.
David loved God’s commandments and His Word very deeply. He wrote many psalms of praise to the Lord. He was a mighty worshipper. Yet, the other side of his life shows that when he failed to ask God’s counsel and did not seek His will, he fell into errors.
In our own spiritual life today, we also sometimes ask God’s counsel only when we feel we need it. At other times, we act according to our own desires. But when we act without making sure that our desires are pleasing to God, it can sometimes bring great losses into our lives.
Our theological knowledge, our worship life, or even our committed ministry will not, in themselves, give us protection. In this world, our only true protection is to remain in the center of God’s will and to fulfill His will. There is no other alternative.
Our Lord Jesus Christ made this very clear. He came into this world solely to fulfill the Father’s will. And we too have become His children for the very purpose of fulfilling the Father’s will.
Therefore, the man who seeks God’s counsel at all times and does His will is the man of victory. Yes, it is true that God is with us. But along with that assurance, we must never do anything without asking for His counsel.
Even Eve, who lived in God’s holy presence without knowing sin, when Satan suggested that she eat the forbidden fruit—if only she had asked God whether that counsel was right—she would not have brought such great destruction into this world.
There is nothing in this world safer for us than fulfilling God’s will and seeking His counsel