The Bearer of Good News

“Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies. And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.” (2Sa 18:19-20 AV)

“And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed [be] the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and [me] thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was].” (2Sa 18:28-29 AV)

There is great wisdom in what Ahimaaz did.  It was customary for certain pages to relay certain types of news.  There were pages that relayed good news.  There were others who relayed bad news.  Cushi was the page of bad news.  He was the one whom Joab wished to send alone.  However, it seems Ahimaaz knew how David would take the news of Absalom’s death and wished to cushion the blow with good news.  This is further evidenced by exactly what it was that Ahimaaz told David.  Note in particular that Ahimaaz knew of Absalom’s death by way of Joab’s testimony.  He may not have seen the incident nor witnessed Absalom’s burial.  He knew of Absalom’s death as secondhand information.  Therefore, when he shared the news of a battle won, he was not lying to David regarding his knowledge of Absalom.  Ahimaaz knew his job well.  He knew his job was to encourage the king when adversity was on the way.  Adversity is part of life.  Those who encourage in the light of impending adversity are much needed.

I have been in enough hospitals to know the value of this.  There are healthcare workers who have good news.  There are healthcare workers who have bad news.  When a therapist comes to help work muscles, or a occupational therapist comes in the room to teach new skills; these blessed people bring good news.  But when an oncologist enters the room, especially for the first time, there may not be good news.  When someone from the nutritional department comes in to help plan a menu, this is generally good news.  When an orderly comes in to take you to imagining, it might not be good news.  A few months back, my wife was getting an infusion.  She needs supplemental hydration following her cancer treatment.  It is difficult for her when they need to put an IV in.  It often takes someone from imaging to come with an ultrasound machine to find a workable vein.  This is a painful process because her veins are hard to get to.  In walked a gentleman from an organization that shares flower bouquets with patients who are having a difficult time.  That month happened to be the month they ministered to my wife.  The flowers came before the imaging team came.  Good news before bad.

Ahimaaz knew how to soften the blow of what was coming.  He could have risen up in pride because he knew something David wanted to know.  He could have practiced ‘one-up-manship’ by sharing the news of the death of Absalom.  However, he knew his duty.  He knew what it was that he did best.  He knew that David needed to hear the good news before he heard the bad news.  Ahimaaz ministered to his king well.  Perhaps the LORD is asking you to be that one who softens the blow of some hard news that is on its way.  Perhaps you are the one who needs to show someone the bright side of an otherwise dark experience.  Maybe your words of encouragement will get someone through and impossible situation.  We know how David reacted to Absalom’s death.  One has to wonder how much worse it would have been if David was not first encouraged before he was discouraged.

What Happened to Tamar?

“And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he [is] thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house.” (2Sa 13:20 AV) 

I wonder what happened to Tamar when Absalom rebelled.  I feel sorry for Tamar.  She was forced and rejected by her half-brother.  Her brother shows compassion by taking her into his home.  Then he rebels against their father, the king.  He must flee to his grandfather and leaves Tamar behind in Jerusalem.  Two men used her.  A half-brother and a brother.  The brother was far more subtle.  He used the injustice toward his sister to commit insurrection which he probably had in his heart already.  If he really cared for Tamar, he would not have tried to take the throne from the duly and divinely anointed king of Israel.  Rebellion fails to see a greater responsibility while pursuing the desires of the heart.  Absalom’s duty was to protect and provide for his sister.  Once banished and eventually dead, he could do neither.  Absalom’s sin was founded on the false idea of a greater good.  He believed exacting justice and fleeing was a greater good than to care for his sister.  In the wake of his rebellion, Absalom left a family and a sister behind.  For what?

Absalom’s fault was not in executing his half-brother for raping his sister.  The bible tells us that David was comforted by the death of his criminal son.  Why Absalom did not return and make it good with his father is not immediately known.  What we do know is that when Absalom returned to Jerusalem, he sat in the gate and judged the people.  We can surmise that Absalom did not return to Jerusalem upon executing justice because, in his heart, he had no respect for his father.  Perhaps he resented his father because he felt that David should have been the one to exercise justice and not leave it to his son.  But that begs a question.  Why does justice need to be as swift as Absalom wanted?  It didn’t.  The law allowed half-siblings to marry as long as they forfeit their inheritance.  Perhaps David was working the situation to that end.  Who knows?  There is a lot of detail missing.  We don’t know what was going on behind the scenes.  Nor can we perfectly discern the hearts of David or Absalom.  What we do know is that Absalom’s rebellion failed to take care of his obligation towards Tamar.  Once David had passed, one has to wonder what ever became of poor Tamar.  A victim of one man’s lust and another’s rebellion.

When man is bent on a course of action, he will justify it with a greater good.  The greater good is not a greater good.  It is an excuse.  Absalom was so bent on rebellion that he did an equal injustice to his sister as his half-brother did.  He abandoned her for his own ambition.  Perhaps he believed he would not be denied the throne and thus could care for Tamar.  But someone who acts in rebellion never considers failure.  He feigns compassion for his sister.  He feigns an elevated sense of justice where it concerns his sister, Tamar.  It is hugely ironic that Absalom sits and judges Israel according to the law, yet commits insurrection contrary to it.  He follows the law as a means of breaking it.  This morning, I was impressed by how calloused Absalom was toward his sister once rebellion was stirred.  He claimed love and compassion for her enough to welcome her into his home and take care of her every need.  Yet, he would not sacrifice his rebellion for the sake of someone he professes to care for.

Always Working For You

“O LORD, how great are thy works! [and] thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.” (Ps 92:5-6 AV)

I almost feel insulted!  But we are what we are!  The works of God are incalculable.  There is no way the entire human race, coordinating talents and resources for the entire history of our race, could come to an understanding of everything God does; big or small.  God is the antithesis of idleness.  He has infinite understanding, infinite power, and infinite presence.  He cannot cease.  He can choose to cease certain things.  He ceased from creating and established the Sabbath rest.  But that does not mean God slept.  He did not take a break from all things.  Rather, He ceased creating.  The works of God are innumerable because His attributes are without limit.  To say that the brute beast nor a fool can understand this is merely the painful truth of being human. But there is a more pointed application here than mere logistics.  I think the writer is pointing to another ugly truth.  The brutish man and fool believe the works of God are limited.  He cannot accept or understand that God is infinite in attributes and actions.  It is not so much that he cannot count the works of God.  Rather, the brute or fool will not accept that God is infinite in attributes and actions.  Therefore, he lives in his own abilities vacant of faith in someone infinitely greater and active than himself.

Faith requires that we accept things that we cannot understand simply because they are.  Faith is not for the faint of heart.  Or, maybe that is exactly who faith is for!  Faith means we accept God and His word on face value.  If God exists, He does not exist apart from all other truths.  His existence requires certain truths to be self-evident.  The infinite nature of His being is one of them.  If God is not infinite in being, and infinity exists, then there is the potential of something or someone existing as greater than God.  If that is true, then God does not exist.  We accept many things as infinite.  Pi being one of them.  If Pi is infinite, that suggests other things can also be infinite.  Therefore, God can be, and is, infinite.  If God exists and is infinite, He must also be in perpetual motion.  He cannot exist in complete idleness.  If He did, He would then cease to exist.  Even a rock, which appears idle, is actually in motion.  The atoms that make up a rock are constantly moving.  Yet to us, it appears completely lifeless.  We look at a rock and assume it has no motion.  If it had no motion, it would fall apart into individual atoms that would cease to be observable.  Our entire created existence is in constant motion.  If that is true, then why cannot a God who is bigger than what He created by in constant motion?

Only a fool would think that God is idle.  Only a man of no faith would believe that God’s works are done.  A fool or a simple-minded man concluded that God has ceased from all His works and has no part in the affairs of men.  But to put it in terms that might help those who do have faith: there is never a time when the LORD is not working on your behalf.  He can no more cease to work for you than He can cease from existence.  It is the nature of His infinite being that necessitates His industry toward the works of His hands.  God is always involved.  He is always accomplishing things.  He is always building, intervening, guiding, providing, instructing, etc.  He cannot cease.  So, to take the insult (lol) Solomon threw at me and turn it around, I will admit that sometimes faith fails me.  Even though it does, God’s hand and not slacked nor fallen short.  My comfort is not in the activity of God’s hands.  Rather, it is in the faith required to rely on the truth of the activity of God’s hands.  He is busy regardless of what I can or cannot observe.  Therefore, comfort comes in believing that God is busy no matter what my feeling or senses may otherwise tell me.

Finding the Right Promise

“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day;” (Ps 91:5 AV)

This psalm is a mixed bag.  Some attribute the psalm to Moses.  One can understand.  The overwhelming threat seems to be a pestilence that comes in the night.  The psalm speaks of the enemies of God falling by the pestilence, but the addressees being free from the evil.   However, some attribute the psalm to David, and the pestilence was the one sent on the occasion of David numbering the people.  Perhaps David did write it.  But he could have written it upon reflection of the first Passover.  The challenge with Psalm 91, as many passages, is application.  The psalm concludes with a promise of divine protection based on the love the addressees have toward the LORD.  The promise of protection for Israel, at least concerning Passover, was specific to that event.  There would be other pestilences that did exact a loss.  When God promises to perfectly protect and deliver those mentioned in the psalm, we can take the promise as a principle rather than direct application.  What I mean is that persecution and adversity are the domain of the saint.  God does not promise us the same as others in different dispensations.  Our promises are more in the light of eternity.  So, how can we apply the above promise?

First, let us note that arrows do fly by day.  Let us also note that terrors do come at night.  God does not promise to remove the threat.  And He certainly did not.   The angel of death came on that first Passover night.  Egypt pursued them to the Red Sea.  They compassed them in and were preparing to extinguish them by arrow and sword.  The threats were not removed.  What God promises is deliverance from fear.  “Thou shalt not be afraid” is the promise.  It is not deliverance from adversity so that adversity never comes.  In fact, one can read the entire bible from cover to cover, and outside of eternity, no one is free from adversity.  Adversity is part of the human condition.  It is how we live.

There is a scene in the movie Ten Commandments was the people are preparing to leave.  They sing portions of this psalm.  Joshua, as he is preparing his household is heard reciting this psalm.  Reciting this psalm did not take away the plague of the death of the firstborn.  The blood over the door frame did.  Singing the psalm did not keep Egypt from pursuing Israel.  But it did give them the courage to cross the Red Sea.  Trouble will come.  Adversity is assured.  But fear does not have to be a part of it.  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1Jo 4:18 AV)

A Spark of Hope

“Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” (Job 10:12 AV)

This is one of the first statements Job makes that seems to point to hope.  He is in the process of processing his emotions regarding the loss of his children, his entire livelihood, and his health.  The only thing he has left is a wife who encourages him to curse God and three friends who think sin is the cause.  There is no hope on the horizon other than what he already knows.  He has no answers.  He has no promise of restoration.  He is living in the here and now.  Each day is the only reality he knows.  He cannot plan ahead.  He cannot see a way out.  He is in the middle of a trial for which he has no answers, and it seems every day is as dark as the last.  But then he makes this statement.  He makes the statement that God granted him life and favour.  By the presence of God, Job was and is able to continue.  That is the message for this morning.  Job’s experience from the past is that by the presence of God, God has preserved his spirit.  What that means is the emotional and spiritual health he knew.  I am sure there were hard times in the past.  But through each and every one of them, God was faithful.  This time will be no different.

A personal walk with God is far more important than we realize.  We often hit the wall and then suffer because our relationship with the LORD hasn’t been as intimate as it could have been.  There is work to do.  There is time to spend in His word and in prayer.  There are hours that need to be reclaimed.  Days that need to be invested.  Job wasn’t able to make the statement above because he took a class on theology proper.  He didn’t study the omnipotence and omniscience of God and leave it at that.  Job had a working relationship with the LORD, and that is why he could make the statement above.  The statement above is one small stone in the wall to recovering.  It will take far more than one statement to make Job well.  But this is a beginning.

Another detail to note is the tense of the verb ‘…hath…’.  This verb is in the perfect tense and is usually represented as the present tense when translated into the English.  In other words, the perfect tense in the Hebrew means it is a completed state regardless of when it was completed or will be completed.  As far as Job was concerned, the presence of God kept his spirit.  His will to live was there because God was there.  His emotional health would improve because God was there.  Without totally realizing what he was saying, Job assented to the truth that God was with him and he was surviving.  Without hearing from God and receiving an answer he so desperately wanted, he assented to the truth that God’s presence was with him.  This is why his spirit was preserved.  God was there, He always was there, and He will always be there.

A Picture of Salvation in Two Verses

“And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;” (2Sa 3:3 AV)

Not much is known of Chileab, nor much more of Abigail after the lineage of David is given here.  In 1Chr 3:1, Chileab is named Daniel.  The former name means ‘like as his father’ whereas the latter name means “God is my judge”.  There is speculation that Chileab was actually the son of Nabal and Abigail, but born to Abigail after Nabal’s death.  Thus, Chileab was born to David as a stepson rather than a physical descendent of David.  This would explain why he was never considered a legitimate heir to the throne.  Being the second son of David, once Absalom was killed, Chileab would have been the next logical choice.  Yet nothing is mentioned of him.  This is a common explanation of the difference of names between 2Sam and 1Chr.  This would also explain why the LORD thought it was important to mention these details.  Solomon, who was not chronologically next in line to the throne, was God’s choice.  Adonijah was next in line, and he led a rebellion to overthrow Solomon.  Again, no mention of Chileab or Daniel.  There might be a nugget of truth here.  The death of Nabal benefitted Abigail. But it also was a blessing to her child.

Adversity may seem troublesome, but the results are better than what could have been.  If Chileab was the son of Nabal, he was spared a horrible childhood.  He was raised by a godly father who loved the LORD.  Chileab is a great picture of salvation.  Jesus tells the Pharisees that they are of their father, the devil.  The works of their father, the devil, are what they did.  This is true of all who are not born again.  If we are not born again, we remain a child of the devil.  The works of the devil have to be destroyed.  This Jesus accomplished on Calvary’s cross.  When we are born again, the bible says we also receive a new name.  That name is known in heaven and when we graduate there, we will know it.  Just like Chileab, the influence of our wicked father, the devil, is destroyed by his own pride.  Nabal died because he was scared to death.  Literally.  David came to show hospitality to Nabal, and Nabal responded in harshness.  When David prepared himself and his men for war against Nabal, Nabal heard of it and collapsed from a drunken heart attack.  He died several days later.  If Chileab is the son of Nabal, God spared him the experience of being raised by a drunk.  Rather, Chileab, or Daniel, was raised by the king of Israel who loved his God.

When I look at only two verses where the person of Chileab or Daniel is mentioned, I cannot help by see the grace of God.  No doubt Daniel mourned his earthly father.  But the alternative was far better.  Just like our experience in salvation, the old life was cruel and uncaring.  It exacted more from us that we could pay.  There may be portions we miss, but to be honest, walking with God is far better.  Recently, a friend of mine sent me a picture of my boyhood home.  There were good times there.  Fond memories, especially of winters and Christmas.  There were neighborhood friends, adventures we shared, and family events that will live on in my memory.  However, since Jesus saved me and gave me the new birth, He has given me much more.  A perfect wife and three awesome sons.  Six grandchildren who all attend church and love their LORD.  All this because my David rescued me from my Nabal, gave me a new name, and become my Father who loves me unconditionally.

No Need to Hide if God is on Our Side

“When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.” (Pr 28:28 AV)

This statement can be taken several ways.  It can be a criticism toward mankind in general.  After all, when the wicked rise, then the righteous should do something about it.  Or, what I think Solomon is driving at is that as a general rule, when the wicked rise into power, society generally goes into survival mode.  In particular, when the wicked rise, people are too afraid to be righteous for fear of being persecuted for being as such.  This is generally true.  When the wicked rise, revival is hard to come by.  Too many are intimidated into a state of unbelief.  Too many are afraid of the consequences of faith.  Too many are too afraid to stand on what is right regardless of the blowback.  The Devil knows this.  The world knows this.  The only way to overcome it is to suffer for the cause of Christ.  Some of the greatest revivals came after the right won.  The end of the Civil War and WWII saw a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Many souls came to Christ, and many churches were erected.  But now, we are in a pattern where the wicked rule again.  Only by the courage and prayers of those who know God can revival come again.

If the student did a study on the revivals recorded in the Bible, most came as a result of deep adversity.  What led them out was a leader who had a vision for doing right.  The temple was cleansed.  The pagan systems of worship were cast out.  Israel or groups of people got right with God because of the courage of leadership to set the vision.  There has to be a start somewhere.  Someone has to say that sin is wrong and God will judge unless humanity takes seriously the opinion of the Creator.  But there is a promise above.  The wicked will perish.  Solomon could be referring to the coming of Christ.  In one quick battle, all those who hate God will be removed from the earth.

At the start of the reign of Christ, the earth will be filled with those who know Him and love Him.  The promise above will be made sure.  The wicked will perish.  The righteous will multiply.  Gone will be the threat of evil.  The Devil will be imprisoned for 1,000 years.  Justice will be swift and holy.  Sin will be in control.  The wicked will rise no more.  Then the righteous will flourish.  Then the saints of God will be at rest.  Then the Jewish nation will rise above all others.  But not until Messiah comes.  Until then, we must deal with the reality that the wicked will influence the world.  What can we do in the meantime?  We can pray.  We can pray that the righteous ascend to places of authority.  We can pray that the wicked are put down by the letter of the law.  We can share Christ’s love with all who will hear.  We can covet that we will not hide.  It may be the general reaction of society, but it doesn’t have to be for the saint.  We have nothing to lose.  Heaven is our home, and the enemies of God cannot take it away.  Our lives await in the future, not in the present.  Hiding may help us to survive.  But hiding will not improve the conditions that caused it.  It is time be involved.  It is time to let God’s voice be heard.  It is time that the righteous rise to challenge the wicked for the hearts of those who are still considering their relationship with their Creator.