Sound The Trumpet : At Ease in Zion

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“At Ease in Zion”
by Art Sadlier
December 1st, 2005

David was one of the greatest men who ever lived. There wasn’t a giant or beast or an army that David feared. The men around him learned to be like him because they so admired him. From him they learned about boldness, courage, loyalty and love. David was triumphant at everything he put his hand to do. It says in 2 Samuel 5:10 “and David went on, and grew great, and the Lord of hosts was with him.”

Alas, what all of David’s enemies could not do, idleness and luxury did. In the caves of Adullam and Engedi, and in the forest of Judea, David grew more courageous and more committed to the Lord.

The first ten chapters of 2 Samuel list David’s triumphs, the last fourteen chapters tell of David’s troubles. The cause of David’s downfall is found in 2 Samuel 11: 1, 2.

In verse one David sent his men with Joab to utterly destroy the enemies of Israel, but David was not with them. It says “But David tarried still at Jerusalem.” What was David doing that kept him from leading his army into battle? Verse two tells us, “and it came to pass at eventide David arose from his bed.”

David was sleeping while the battle was raging. David was shirking his duty; he was in the wrong place. David’s life was out of joint with God’s purpose for him. Idleness and indifference and the luxury of the palace brought him crashing down.

How many good servants of God today have followed in David’s footsteps? Amos 6:1 says “Woe unto them who are at ease in Zion”. Revelation 3:16 says “because thou art lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth.” God never intends his people to be idle.

In verse two it says he “walked upon the roof of the King’s house”. He was out of the will of God in being there. It says, “and from the roof he saw”. From his vantage point he could see the whole city. We can sit in our easy chair in front of the TV and see the world; we can see both Sodom and Egypt.

Scripture goes on to say, “he saw a woman washing herself.” In thirty minutes of TV we can see, in commercials alone, a dozen half naked women. Once you light a fire it is hard to put it out.

It was a year before David would get a good night’s sleep. God forgave him, but he suffered terrible loss in his own life, in his family and in the nation. The lesson, don’t miss it, we dare not be idle.

Again and again that warning is sounded in scripture. Zephaniah 1:12 “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles and punish men that are settled on their lees, (at ease) that say in their heart the Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil.” (The Lord doesn’t care about my idleness and indifference.)

We dare not be idle, we dare not retire from the battle. We have enough to occupy us.

Reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on the Scriptures. Josh 1:8
praying with a burden for God’s people and the lost. Jer 13:17
A passion for souls and a faithful witness. Ps 126:5, 6
Laboring to the point of exhaustion in the place of God’s appointment. Rom 16:2

Such occupation will keep us from idleness and God’s hedge will remain about us. Someone has said, “Not many men finish well”. What a challenge!

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13