DCLM Sincere Milk 17 November 2024 — Beware of Hasty Judgment
DCLM Sincere Milk 17 November 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Beware of Hasty Judgment
Topic: Beware of Hasty Judgment
Text: 1Samuel 17:22-31
22And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
24And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
25And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.
26And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
27And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
28And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
29And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
30And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
31And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
Key Verse: “And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.” 1 Samuel 17:28
Message
The story was told of a man who had four sons whom he wanted to teach on how not to judge things too quickly. He sent each of them to go and look at a pear tree a great distance away at different seasons- Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. As expected, each of them came back with different results and findings. One said the tree was ugly, bent and twisted, the other said it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third said it had blossomed and smelt so sweet while the last one saw it dropping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
Also Read: DCLM Sincere Milk 16 November 2024 — You Are a Wonder To Your Generation
David in our Bible passage was sent by his father to give provisions to his brothers at the war front. However, Eliab his brother had concluded that his coming was borne out of pride and to see the battle. Little did he know that the journey was ordained by God to fulfil a divine purpose. How often do we make hasty decisions or jump into conclusions about people due to one situation or another without having a full picture? You must beware of how you judge others. Always seek to do to others what you would want them do to you.
Further Reading: Proverbs 29:20
Prayer for today: Father please, give me the grace not to be hasty in passing judgment on others.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
