The Joy of Glory

2 Samuel 23:1-7 (click here to read the entire passage)
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, 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. (2 Samuel 23:3-4)

Reflection
Right now… outside the window, I hear the rain pouring down.

On Saturday, I spent nearly the whole day outside with my kiddos with the sun shining on my face as we laughed and played.

Sunshine and rain… both good. Both life-giving. Both gifts.

God says good kings are like this. “When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light… like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.”

The Lord spoke these words to David, Israel’s greatest King. And sure… David was able to see echoes of this truth in his own life. When David feared the Lord, worshipped him, and loved him above all it spilled over into loving rulership of his people.

And if we are honest, the stirs up a longing in us for we do not see much in the way of rulers who fear the Lord these days. Instead of sunshine and life-giving spring rains, our days are too often described as dark days of drought.

But we are a people who take heart!

Our hope is not tied to any human ruler or kingdom. If we are honest, we know that even King David’s kingdom wasn’t all sunshine, April showers, and spring flowers… it had its dark days of drought.

But… the day is coming when the King of kings, the true and greater David, Jesus will return! His face shines brighter than the sun! He is the living water that never runs dry!

Jesus is the good-life-giving-gift!

So today, we live as a people of hope… for we have seen the rising sun and the coming rains! We live as citizens of a coming kingdom and we bear witness to the hope of our coming King!

When we do this… we become like rays of sunshine and drops of life-giving rain already breaking into the dark-drought of our world!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.