Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: June 4th

And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.- 2 Samuel 15:31.

Clouds gathered very fast and grew very black at this time over the head of king David. His own beloved son had drawn the sword of rebellion-his subjects flocked in great numbers; and to heighten the king’s distress, his own counsellor joined the conspiracy. But under all this David shewed himself to be a man after God’s own heart. His soul looks through every discouragement. He knew the throne of grace to be ever open and accessible, therefore the very tidings that brought sorrow to his heart, he instantly makes the subject of his prayer. Happy conduct! when before carnal reason is suffered to plead, the prayer of faith is presented. Too, too oft do disciples, upon hearing disagreeable tidings, consult flesh and blood before they apply to their ever-loving and faithful friend Jehovah. This ought not so to be. According to David’s faith and prayer so the Lord answered him. The counsel which he had reason to dread from Ahithophel, was defeated by the Lord, and turned to his own destruction. Thus "the Lord only is our refuge and strength; a very present help in every time of trouble."- Psalms 46:1.

Knowest thou not, disciple, there is treason and rebellion found with thee against David’s Lord, even Jesus, thy king? Not greater reason had David to fear, and to pray against Ahithophel’s counsel, than thou hast daily. As his name signifies brother of ruin or folly, it reminds one of the flesh, a brother or partaker of the ruin of sin with the soul; and also that its wisdom is ever with us, is ever counselling and conspiring against the peace and safety, the love and holiness, the joy and happiness of the soul in Christ Jesus. It not only counsels against, but lusts contrary to the Spirit continually. May this be our daily prayer in the spirit and in faith, O Lord, turn the counsel of the flesh into foolishness, confound its pride, destroy its lusts, subdue its passions, suffer us not to confer with flesh and blood, let us not sow to the flesh; but enable us to confer with thee by faith. May our conversation be in heaven! So strengthen us to put off the old man with his deeds, until we put off the body, to be "sown in dishonor, and to be raised in glory."- 1 Corinthians 15:43.

Arise, my soul, my joyful pow’rs,

And triumph in my God;

Awake, my voice, and loud proclaim

His glorious grace abroad.

Christ rais’d me from the deeps of sin,

The gates of gaping hell,

And fixt my standing more secure

Than ’twas before I fell.

LORD, be merciful to me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee. Psalms 41:4.

Is this the language of the man after God’s own heart? Was David a saint when he uttered it? Yes, he was a holy man of God. This confession and prayer shew it. His heart was not hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, nor blinded by self righteous pride, so as to say, “I have no sin.” Self-righteous hearts cannot away with this, that all the Lord’s saints are yet in themselves miserable sinners; that they daily see need to confess this; and to sue for mercy and healing from the Lord. Here is a confession, a plea, and a prayer. (1st.) A confession, “I have sinned against thee.” Thus we must come and confess to the Lord to-day, to-morrow, and every day, till the sun of life sets. Sense of sin, whether fresh contracted, or long since committed, abides with us. It wounds and pains a gracious soul. Here grace discovers itself. That soul waits not for time to efface the memory of sin, or strives to stifle convictions for it, but goes humbly to the Lord, and confesses it, with all its aggravations, and with this above all others, “Lord, against thee, I have sinned.” O may my soul never, never lose this conviction, that every sin is against thee, my Lord and loving Father-thee, my Lord and gracious Redeemer-thee, my Lord and gracious Comforter. This makes sin exceeding sinful, while it magnifies the super abounding riches of grace, in receiving sinners, and pardoning sin. (2d.) Consider the plea. It is not the Pharisee’s parade, Lord, I have done this and that, or I have not done so and so. Lord, I have been faithful to thy grace: I am not so bad as others. No! but it is the Publican’s plea, “Lord, be merciful:” to me a vile sinner, who have done nothing to deserve thy favour, yet plead thy mercy promised to sinners, in Christ Jesus. Thou canst be just, and yet justify the ungodly who believe in Jesus. Therefore (3d.) I pray, “heal my soul.” No prayers, no tears, no duties, no terms and conditions, of mine, can heal my soul. No, my best works are stained with pollution: my holiest duties are mixed with sin. Nothing but the blood of the Lamb can bring pardon to my heart, peace to my conscience, and healing to my soul. “The Lord will speak unto his people and to his saints.” (Psalms 85:8.) For, O precious words! he assures us, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.” Matthew 12:31.

Tho’ sin doth so distress my soul,

With sickness and with pain:

My God will heal and make me whole,

And give me peace again.

No plea have I, thou Lamb of God,

For mercy, but thro’ thee:

Cleansing and healing by thy blood,

To sinners come most free.