Even the best of us can make bad decisions. Our human judgment is far from perfect and is often clouded by emotions, personal desires, or personal preferences. Not
even the “rich and famous” are immune to making dumb decisions.
Even David, King of Israel and Judah, made some colossally dumb decisions, decisions that cost the lives of many people.
For example, in today’s Bible reading, King David moved the Ark of the Covenant without following God’s explicit instructions. This bad decision had consequences. 1 Samuel 6:7 tells us what happened: “The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.”
That wasn’t David’s only bad decision. David also chose to have an adulterous affair (2 Samuel 11:4) and he plotted the murder of his lover’s husband (2 Samuel 11:14 & 15).
Think of the lives that could have been spared if David had made better choices!
Think of the pain and heartache that could have been avoided!
Don’t make rash decisions. Take time to think things through, consult other people, and talk to God. This bit of caution will help you avoid the tragic results of bad decisions.
Like the old saying says, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Today’s Digi-Doodle is a simple reminder to use caution in all areas of life. Think before you speak. Seek advice and wisdom from God and fellow Christians before making decisions. Soak your life and soul in prayer and the reading of scripture so that you will learn God’s way of doing things and will be better able to act in ways that line up with God’s way.
Pray with me.
Heavenly Father, help each of us to always speak wisely and make good decisions. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Related Bible Verses:
2 Samuel 6:1-16 – “When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months, the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”
They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.”
The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?”
They replied, “Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. Make models of the tumors and of the r
ats that are destroying the country, and pay honor to Israel's god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and you
r gods and your land. Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When he treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?
“Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance.”
So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.
Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they rejoiced at the sight. The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and there it stopped beside a large rock. The people chopped up the wood of the cart and sacrificed the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. The Levites took down the ark of the LORD, together with the chest containing the gold objects, and placed them on the large rock. On that day the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD. The five rulers of the Philistines saw all this and then returned that same day to Ekron.”
Proverbs 12:18 – “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Just for Fun: I did a humorous version of my "Caution" doodle as a surprise for my future son-in-law who loves puns. Here it is. I hope it makes you smile. :)
