When we look back and see the mercies of God in our lives, it should humble us.   #daybydaylw   Interested in learning more about becoming a devoted follower of Christ? Go to follow.lifeword.org!   ~~~   2 Samuel 4:9 “As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity…” This seems to be David’s favorite characteristic of God. He says this line later in his life to Bathsheba when it comes time to name a new king (1 Kings 1:29). David has just been presented to him by Rechab and Banaah what they consider a desperate situation. “You have had a long standing enemy, David. Saul and his household have hunted you like an animal. And today, we have taken it upon ourselves be used as the Lord’s tools to avenge your good name.” Abner thought he could bring about God’s promise on his own behalf. Rechab and Banaah thought they were the ones to bring into existence God’s promise on their own behalf. What they called good was really wicked and evil. But David saw the situation differently than Rechab and Banaah. And he swears by the living God who has been extraordinarily merciful to him that he, David, will not turn his back on God, turn his back on God’s word, in order to join in the plot and ploy of these men who raised their hand against the house of Saul unjustly. The Kingdom of God, led by David, would not be established by the means of injustice and murder. It would be established upon the foundation of God’s promise. Get what David is saying. David is not presuming upon the mercy of God. David is not saying, “Well, God has been merciful in the past, so I’m pretty sure he will be merciful again.” No! David is saying, “The Lord has been kind and gracious and merciful to me, that when I was in dire straits, He pulled me out. When I was being chased down, He delivered me. When I was wasting away in the wilderness, he was building me up and renewing my strength. When I was in misery, I was met with mercy!And none of it was because I deserved it! It was all because God made a promise and was going to keep that promise. So how could I turn away from Him? How could I take His promise into my own hands? Why would I trust anyone else, who by false means, is trying to bring the promise to reality. NO! I will trust LORD! I will not presume upon future mercy by my disobedience, but instead I will trust the LORD!” My friends, can you look back over your life and see sparing mercy? Can you see saving mercy? You must not look upon those mercies and gain a proud heart.