Recently a Preacher quipped, “I have stopped looking for signs (of Jesus’ Second Coming) and started listening for sounds!” Like the sound of a trumpet, I presume!
Today we notice a short excerpt from the life of King David. Also on the subject of listening for sounds …
“And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.” 2 Samuel 5:24
The text is set in a time of battle, overcoming an enemy. And the victory is already ensured of God. But WHEN does one attack? (See that David is going to be on the offensive, not defensive, side of this confrontation! In like manner God has equipped us with “the sword of the Spirit” to thrust at the devil!)
“Go forth” … when you HEAR the sound of the Breeze in the mulberry trees! And we all know the typology in play here … the wind being such a clear picture of the Holy Spirit of God!
(Jesus speaking to Nicodemus in John 3:8 … “The WIND bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the SPIRIT.”)
(And on the Day of Pentecost, when the HOLY SPIRIT descended on earth, on the Church … “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty WIND, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” Acts 2:1-2)
My Text, reprinted here, teaches me several things … “When thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself …”
First, I need to learn to “listen” for the Holy Spirit’s Promptings. To be Biblically sensitive to His Leading. Has He blown my way before and I carelessly missed Him? No doubt …
Second, I need to cultivate a healthy relationship with God’s Spirit too. He can be grieved (actually meaning “hurt,” or “caused pain” – Ephesians 4:30) or quenched (“cooled down” – 1 Thessalonians 5:19) by our sinful/selfish actions. Live right, Preacher Bagwell! I must learn to function in the “communion” of the Holy Ghost, enjoying His Presence each hour! (Paul’s idea/word from 2 Corinthians 13:14.)
Third, I must program myself to then “obey” those directives from the Holy Spirit. To “bestir myself” when He “blows” my way!
Frankly, we had all better be grateful He is still “blowing His gentle Breezes” our direction! Or is He?
Have you “heard” Him recently?
Truth be told, it is quite “windy” here in my study this morning as I write each of you! And I pray this lesson will “stir” some of us into a keen craving to know Him (the Holy Spirit) better.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Pray for a “windy” day, you all!
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