After this, David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “go up”. David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “to Hebron”. I love this first. The first thing David does, as he prepares to be anointed King, is he inquires of the Lord, “God, shall I do this? Where do I go? What do I do?”
– 2 Samuel 2:1
He is from the beginning here, seeking God for direction, for wisdom, for help, for guidance. He’s not doing anything apart from the direction and guidance of God. Now, obviously for anybody who knows the way David’s life unfolds. If he had just done this at every moment, then so much of his story would be different. But isn’t that true, not just for David’s life, but for our own lives? What would be different if we paused before making major decisions, and even minor decisions?
Keep us from temptation just as you taught us to pray, Lord Jesus.
And I just think about the book of Nehemiah. When Nehemiah is constantly looking up to God and praying for direction and for guidance, in this way or that way. And then the New Testament with the Holy Spirit of God in us, given to us, to lead us and guide us. So for you and I, to live today and tomorrow, constantly looking to God.
Praying Against Temptation
Praying continually like the Bible calls us to do. Asking for direction in everything we do. Not being quick to do this or that before looking to God and asking for his direction, his guidance, his wisdom, his help. Oh God, we pray that you would help us to inquire of you constantly, continually, all the time. God, today, give us in our minds and our hearts, a constant God consciousness. A consciousness of you and your spirit in us. Lord, we want to follow you today.
We don’t want to sin today. Keep us from temptation just as you taught us to pray, Lord Jesus. Lead us not into temptation, oh God, but deliver us from evil. And we pray for your wisdom in every decision we make. We are so prone to foolish decisions. We are so prone to do what we think is best, instead of walking according to your word and doing what you say is best. So God, help us, we pray, to walk with you, to do according to your word, to follow the leadership of your spirit.
2 Samuel 2:1 Asks God to Lead Us
And in all of this, to inquire of you. To live today, in a sense, in constant conversation with you. Asking you for leadership, and guidance, and help. Help us not to live today, dependent on ourselves, following our own whims, our own ideas. Help us to constantly inquire of you and to follow you according to the leadership of your spirit and your word. God, we pray this, in Jesus’ name. In line of 2 Samuel 2:1 : We inquire of you. Help us to inquire of you all day long. Today, tomorrow, in every facet of our lives, in everything we do. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
