When Assessing One's Lifework - II Samuel 5 - 8

Time can be defined as the embryonic period of development that passes between inception and birth: or as the period of early childhood development from birth to kindergarten; then comes the age of the young and often foolish that definitely should end at age twenty-one when we are considered to have reached adulthood. Time is our most precocious possession. We should continually assess the method we are using to gain the greatest rewards available from time.

What does the word ‘assessing’ mean? Be careful and think. Do we assess our taxes each spring? We often say so, but we do not. We access our property for the purpose of taxation. To assess anything means that we are putting an acceptable and defendable value on it. Have you ever taken the time to evaluate your life and develop a written picture of its value? I think you will find your life evaluation both interesting and useful.

Use a note book or legal sized paper to jot down the various facets of your life including but not limited to finances, relationships, vocation, family, education, and Christian service to the Lord. Remain humble and prayerful and evaluate [assess] each facet by asking yourself the question; “Am I living and working in line with God’s purpose in this area of my life?” Only by living and working in line with God’s purposes for our lives can adults of all ages expect to experience the blessings of God.

Introduction:

David ruled over the southern part of the nation called Judah for over seven years before he finally became the one undisputed king over all of Israel—both the North and South Kingdoms. His capitol was in Hebron…in the far south…and he defeated the Jebusites and Jerusalem and moved the capitol to Jerusalem where it was more centralized. David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and determined in his heart and mind to build a city and a temple in the city that would forever honor God. David did the planning, obtained materials, and raised much of the money necessary to build the new temple, but the actual building was reserved by God for his Son, King Solomon, to do.
In the first few verses of chapter five we find that David was anointed king three different times. The first time was back in 1 Samuel 16:13 in a private anointment by Samuel as directed by God. He spent his first years as king serving Saul the first anointed King of Israel. David was 30 years old when he was anointed as King of Judah where he served seven and one half years. The nation was divided as North and South. In today’s lesson he becomes king over all Israel. The North and South are united and he remains king for thirty-three years. During this time Jerusalem became the City of David, Zion. It became the city that would forever be referred to as the most important city in Biblical history.

Because of a constant barrage of wars against the Holy City and God’s people the union between the North and South only lasted 75 years, and then it became divided again. However, from that date forward for the next 400 years, David and his dynasty ruled over the Southern part of Israel. It was during this period of time that God was working out his plan for the coming of the Messiah to be born, live, preach, teach, die and be resurrected in David’s City.

David was called from the field to fight the giant when he was a young lad and became famous and was soon anointed but did not become King over Israel until he was 37 years old. Scholars believe that this period of elapsed time developed a man with long and solid patience; and that his bent for being patient made it possible for God to mold him into the man after his own heart.

Remember that Jerusalem was a part of the Northern Kingdom and it was the first stronghold that David determined to conquer. It was located on the land of the tribe of Benjamin and was occupied by the Jebusites, who were a tribe of Canaanites. They were Israel’s greatest enemies, and had never been captured in all of the wars that had been fought.

Jerusalem was the safest city ever built. The lay of the land and the walls that had been built were fortified to the point that the Jebusites did not have any fear of David. This story sets the stage for the truth regarding safety. The lay of the land…the position of the river and the mountain protection has nothing to do with the safety of people who were standing against God and his plan. This should remind us that our only safety from our enemies, or the enemies of God, lies in His hands and does not depend on our tanks and plains.
The Jebusites had a clear military advantage and were noted as boasters of their security behind the impregnable walls of Jerusalem. This city had one of the most elaborate water systems ever known in the entire world. It was constantly adequate and available from the mountain springs and streams that flowed into the underground tunnels into the man made system of distribution. David moved his armies into the city under cover and through these underground water systems and when they were adequate in number they simply stud up and claimed the city without fight.

David knew that he had been chosen by God. He knew that God had thrice anointed him to be King of Israel and he knew that his power came from God. He also realized that the power of the other kings and nations came from their wealth, power, armies and ability of men.

It must have been toward the end of theses days that David began to make the assessment of his life that helped him to determine that God was definitely on his side. It is not expected that many of us have as many explicit incidences in our lives as did David. We have few if any times when we were able to kill a giant that was standing in our way. However there are many times when we have had some annoying little midget that got in our way and we were able to triumph, with God’s help.

David succeeded by keeping his ambition under control. He realized that he was well liked, respected and had a strong leadership role, but he never lay claim to his success but always gave God the glory for all of his gains and glory. He had a strong human drive that kept him going forward but it was always for the benefit of others. Most of us have a strong human instinct to get ahead…but the question is…is ours a selfish reason or is it mainly so that we can be of service to others.

One is never too young to make an assessment of his life work. However it is very easy to grow older and neglect to make regular assessments of life’s work. You should never leave it to others to help you make your assessment. Our friends will decline to tell us the truth about our noticeable faults for fear of hurting our feelings. Our enemies are likely to stretch their stories of our constant failures and this can lead to doubts and misgivings. In fact, the bible says that we should not judge others—lest we be judged. This leaves it up to each individual to assess his own position before Christ.

Time can be defined as the embryonic period of development that passes between inception and birth: or as the period of early childhood development from birth to kindergarten; then comes the age of the young and often foolish that definitely should end at age twenty-one when we are considered to have reached adulthood. Time is our most precocious possession. We should continually assess the method we are using to gain the greatest rewards available from time.

What does the word ‘assessing’ mean? Be careful and think. Do we assess our taxes each spring? We often say so, but we do not. We access our property for the purpose of taxation. To assess anything means that we are putting an acceptable and defendable value on it. Have you ever taken the time to evaluate your life and develop a written picture of its value? I think you will find your life evaluation both interesting and useful.

Use a note book or legal sized paper to jot down the various facets of your life including but not limited to finances, relationships, vocation, family, education, and Christian service to the Lord. Remain humble and prayerful and evaluate [assess] each facet by asking yourself the question; “Am I living and working in line with God’s purpose in this area of my life?” Only by living and working in line with God’s purposes for our lives can adults of all ages expect to experience the blessings of God.

Introduction:

David ruled over the southern part of the nation called Judah for over seven years before he finally became the one undisputed king over all of Israel—both the North and South Kingdoms. His capitol was in Hebron…in the far south…and he defeated the Jebusites and Jerusalem and moved the capitol to Jerusalem where it was more centralized. David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and determined in his heart and mind to build a city and a temple in the city that would forever honor God. David did the planning, obtained materials, and raised much of the money necessary to build the new temple, but the actual building was reserved by God for his Son, King Solomon, to do.
In the first few verses of chapter five we find that David was anointed king three different times. The first time was back in 1 Samuel 16:13 in a private anointment by Samuel as directed by God. He spent his first years as king serving Saul the first anointed King of Israel. David was 30 years old when he was anointed as King of Judah where he served seven and one half years. The nation was divided as North and South. In today’s lesson he becomes king over all Israel. The North and South are united and he remains king for thirty-three years. During this time Jerusalem became the City of David, Zion. It became the city that would forever be referred to as the most important city in Biblical history.

Because of a constant barrage of wars against the Holy City and God’s people the union between the North and South only lasted 75 years, and then it became divided again. However, from that date forward for the next 400 years, David and his dynasty ruled over the Southern part of Israel. It was during this period of time that God was working out his plan for the coming of the Messiah to be born, live, preach, teach, die and be resurrected in David’s City.

David was called from the field to fight the giant when he was a young lad and became famous and was soon anointed but did not become King over Israel until he was 37 years old. Scholars believe that this period of elapsed time developed a man with long and solid patience; and that his bent for being patient made it possible for God to mold him into the man after his own heart.

Remember that Jerusalem was a part of the Northern Kingdom and it was the first stronghold that David determined to conquer. It was located on the land of the tribe of Benjamin and was occupied by the Jebusites, who were a tribe of Canaanites. They were Israel’s greatest enemies, and had never been captured in all of the wars that had been fought.

Jerusalem was the safest city ever built. The lay of the land and the walls that had been built were fortified to the point that the Jebusites did not have any fear of David. This story sets the stage for the truth regarding safety. The lay of the land…the position of the river and the mountain protection has nothing to do with the safety of people who were standing against God and his plan. This should remind us that our only safety from our enemies, or the enemies of God, lies in His hands and does not depend on our tanks and plains.
The Jebusites had a clear military advantage and were noted as boasters of their security behind the impregnable walls of Jerusalem. This city had one of the most elaborate water systems ever known in the entire world. It was constantly adequate and available from the mountain springs and streams that flowed into the underground tunnels into the man made system of distribution. David moved his armies into the city under cover and through these underground water systems and when they were adequate in number they simply stud up and claimed the city without fight.

David knew that he had been chosen by God. He knew that God had thrice anointed him to be King of Israel and he knew that his power came from God. He also realized that the power of the other kings and nations came from their wealth, power, armies and ability of men.

It must have been toward the end of theses days that David began to make the assessment of his life that helped him to determine that God was definitely on his side. It is not expected that many of us have as many explicit incidences in our lives as did David. We have few if any times when we were able to kill a giant that was standing in our way. However there are many times when we have had some annoying little midget that got in our way and we were able to triumph, with God’s help.

David succeeded by keeping his ambition under control. He realized that he was well liked, respected and had a strong leadership role, but he never lay claim to his success but always gave God the glory for all of his gains and glory. He had a strong human drive that kept him going forward but it was always for the benefit of others. Most of us have a strong human instinct to get ahead…but the question is…is ours a selfish reason or is it mainly so that we can be of service to others.

One is never too young to make an assessment of his life work. However it is very easy to grow older and neglect to make regular assessments of life’s work. You should never leave it to others to help you make your assessment. Our friends will decline to tell us the truth about our noticeable faults for fear of hurting our feelings. Our enemies are likely to stretch their stories of our constant failures and this can lead to doubts and misgivings. In fact, the bible says that we should not judge others—lest we be judged. This leaves it up to each individual to assess his own position before Christ.