Consider Jesus

599 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 19:11-14, “ So King David sent to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house? 12 'You are my brethren, you are my bone and my flesh. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?' 13 "And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not commander of the army before me continually in place of Joab.'" 14 So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah, just as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word to the king: "Return, you and all your servants!" (2 Sam 19:11-14) The tribe of Judah had joined with Absalom for the revolt and thus occupied Jerusalem. They were very slow in inviting David back to occupy the throne in their city. David, sends two priests to speak to the elders of Judah and reminds them that he is from their tribe, and to his nephew Amasa, who was the commander of Absalom's army, he offers to make him the commander of his army in place of Joab. These two things swayed the hearts of the people and they invited David back into the city to be their king. This incident should cause us to consider a similar rejection that occurred later on as prophesied by Isaiah, Isa 1:2,3, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me; 3 The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master's crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider." This rejection by the flesh and blood of the Son of David (Jesus) was also spoken of in the Gospel of John: Joh 1:11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. It was this this rejection that caused Jesus to weep outside of the gates of Jerusalem: Lu 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. David did not return to reign on the throne until invited. In like manner, Jesus does not barge down the door of our hearts. He awaits a Holy Spirit inspired invitation from the individual, Jew or Gentile. Have you invited Him into your heart? Father, break through to those who are resisting Your Holy Spirit, that they may have life!