Eternal Blessings Bring Changes

“And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.” (1Ch 17:26-27 AV)

As God’s children, we sometimes don’t realize just how blessed we are.  What this does not mean is blessed beyond correction.  David would fall horribly with Bathsheba and in numbering the people.  The LORD would correct him for it.  But the failures of his life did not erase all blessings God had bestowed.  David still had sons he could be proud of.  David still had a kingdom, even though it was threatened.  David still passed on as the most beloved of all Jewish kings.  David was still the apple of God’s eye.  David still had eternal life.  David was still the progenitor of the Messiah. When the LORD blesses, He blesses forever.

When the child of God stops to consider all that he or she has in Christ, it is overwhelming and humbling.  From eternal life to the blessings of life, God’s blessings are too numerous to count.  That doesn’t even count the scripture that reads, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1Co 2:9 AV) Our finite minds cannot even begin to understand the blessings that await us in glory.

Which brings us to our application.  The bible also says, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Ro 2:4 AV) When we reflect on the grace, and particularly the grace as it applies to blessings, the true believe will be humbled by it, seeking to improve his life by rejecting sin for the sake of the kindness shown towards him.  Eternal security is often mocked because doubters assume it is a license to sin.  Not so.  The true believer has a livened conscience that will not allow him or herself to take advantage of so great a grace.  The more we meditate upon the blessings and grace of God, the more motivated we should become to confess and live right!

A Leader Must Lead

“And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.” (1Ch 15:27 AV)

It is often misunderstood that David danced before the LORD half naked.  Because of Michal, his wife’s, statement, it is often believed that David was immodest.  She states he uncovered himself.  Yet, this passage clearly teaches us he wore a full-length robe as well as an ephod.  What David did do was to remove his regal attire for the attire of the priests and singers that went before the ark.  He uncovered himself of the kingly robes and choose to wear a more common linen robe and ephod.  What bothered his wife was his common appearance and behavior before the people.  Michal, being a daughter of a king, knew how a king should act.  It wasn’t in a dressed down manner jumping and leaping like some circus act.  The scriptures further tell us David’s motive was to please the people.  Again, in the eyes of Michal, that really wasn’t the proper place of the king.

We really do not know who was in the right.  Directly, anyway.  The people may have appreciated their king acting as they were, but there were those of the royal household that didn’t appreciate it.  If David had behaved himself more regal, the people would have respected him and his household would have been pleased.  The better part of valor should have led David to present himself as a king and not as a dancer.  There are times and boundaries when the leader should condescend to men of low estate.  There are other times when this is not such a good idea.

It is becoming more and more the practice that men of God are condescending beyond those boundaries and are losing the spiritual authority granted to them by the word of God.  Years ago, when one of my sons was born, I met my wife’s doctor as he was leaving and I was coming.  I addressed him by his first name and he promptly corrected me by saying, “It is Doctor So-and-so.”  Today, it is becoming more the practice by calling your pastor by his first name without the acknowledgement of his office.  Pastors prefer this because it pleases the people.  Not a good idea.  By doing so, we reduce our credibility to guide, lead, and advise.  There are times to put one’s office aside.  There are other times asserting one’s office is the right thing to do.  Wisdom to know when to do this is much needed in today’s churches!

What's in a Name?

“Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,” (1Ch 5:5 AV)

Names are not important, right?  Perhaps.  But one can tell a few things based on what names are used.  The question is, who in Israel would name their child after a pagan god?  This was only a generation or two before Assyria came and invaded Israel.  Not all that surprising that a pagan god was the name sake of a Jewish son.

We name things after that which we admire or value.  My wife and I became second amendment adherents.  When we moved to the south, we learned from our hosts to appreciate the freedom to keep and bear arms.  With that appreciation came an interest in different makes and models of handguns.  One in particular struck my wife as a desirable handgun to own.  However, they are not cheap!  The base models ran around $800.  The mid-range easily exceeded a thousand dollars.  On a preacher’s salary, there was no way that was going to happen.  Promising that one day I would give her a Kimber, she brought home a black lab rescue dog which we promptly named Kimber.  She now has her Kimber!  Just a side note:  we took the dog to a firing range to shoot skeet.  He ran back into our van and under the seats because he didn’t appreciate loud noises.  The gun dog that doesn’t like guns!  How ironic.

Names mean something.  Names reveal something.  Whether it’s sports teams, Nick names, favorite haunts, etc, what we name things reveals a lot about what we value or tolerate.  Even a wife takes her husband’s last name because she desires to be known by what he stands for or has or will accomplish.  Names mean something.  We should be careful of the names we use.

Necessity Verses Vision

“And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them utterly unto this day, and dwelt in their rooms: because there was pasture there for their flocks.” (1Ch 4:41 AV)

This verse is referring to the tribe of Simeon.  Joshua began conquering Canaan in 1410 BC.  Hezekiah began to reign in 710 BC.  Simeon had an inheritance in the midst of Judah because they had a history of being a little undisciplined.  So, the LORD gave them an inheritance surrounded by the tribe that would rule: Judah.  What is striking here is the time it took and the motivating factor in finally conquering what was rightfully theirs.  The real sad thing is, they would only get to enjoy it for a few decades.

There is a difference between being motivated by necessity verses being motivated by vision.  Simeon was motivated by the later.  They conquered their inheritance because they had no other choice.  Their flocks needed pasture.  If they were an industrious tribe whose economy relied more on a trade, perhaps they would never have conquered their inheritance at all.  They ran out of room so they finally decided to claim what was theirs to claim.  Too bad.  They could have accomplished much more. They could have realized prosperity much earlier and enjoyed the blessings which the LORD had for them all along.  But they had no vision.  They only did that which they minimally had to do to make it work.

I fear this is the condition of many independent Baptist churches today.  There is no vision.  We are doing what needs to be done to survive.  We are content with things the way they are and there is no desire to see anything that might mean our life will radically change.  We complain that we need revival.  Yet, we are the greatest hindrance to it.  The preacher has a vision and passion, yet the people have no heart for it.  It astounds me that Simeon took 700 years to claim that which the LORD had for them and by the time they attained God’s blessings, it was too late to really enjoy it.

What Great Grace!

“And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.” (2Ki 25:27-30 AV)

Grace undeserved is grace that is great!  Jehoiachin was the last of the Jewish kings.  No other king would or will sit on the throne of David until Christ does.  This king did evil in the sight of the LORD.   He rebelled against the king of Babylon who was the LORD’s arm of chastisement.  He was originally cast into prison.  It was only by the grace of a pagan king that Jehoiachin didn’t rot in his cell.  Jehoiachin deserved none of the above.  It was all of the grace of God.  He is a picture of a restored backslidden believer.  An example of the grace God can and does show to those who least deserve it.  And, that would be all of us!

When one stops to consider what we do deserve and compare it with what the LORD does, it is humbling to say the least.  In our wickedness and rebellion, we deserve a devil’s hell!  We deserve to be tormented for all of eternity for our stubborn and unrepentant heart.  The LORD would be completely justified in destroying our souls in hell.  When one considers that as a child of God, we know better, this thought becomes even more dramatic.

One more thought.  The daily rate did not change.  One has to wonder if Jehoiachin resented limited grace.  One wonders if he got used to the grace he was shown as though it was old hat and expected the daily rate to increase.  We can be that way.  If all Christ did for us was to die on the cross to cover our sin, that alone would be amazing grace.  We become discontented with the grace given and want more and more.  We should be grateful for the daily rate that does not change because the alternative was a prison cell!

God Saves Us From Ourselves

“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.” (2Ki 20:1 AV)

God knows how to save us from ourselves.  Before Hezekiah ever knew that he was sick, the LORD knew his ego would get the better of him.  Before Isaiah warned Hezekiah to put his house in order, the LORD knew the king would court the enemy.  God knows our future.  What seems like a bad thing might just be the hand of the LORD protecting us from ourselves.  We know the story.  Hezekiah was diagnosed with a terminal disease.  He was given the grace to know ahead of time.  He was without a male child to sit on the throne, so, some conjecture Hezekiah’s request for more time had something to do with fathering an heir to the throne.  His son was born three years later.  This son would be the one who would condemn Judah to Babylonian captivity.  God knew all this.  Perhaps that is why the LORD wanted to take Hezekiah when he did.

More times than not, we will never know why the LORD did what He did.  I for one, am grateful.  The worst enemy we have is ourselves.  The LORD knows what we are capable of and will always have that as a consideration.  We often see undesirable consequences as a bad thing.  But it could be that the LORD is rescuing us from ourselves.  My father was good at this.  He knew the nature of children.  He kept us busy with chores, paper routes, high school age employment, and adult responsibilities.  He knew that leaving teenage children to themselves we a bad thing.  We may not have appreciated it at the time, but I can tell you that it kept us from a world of trouble.  It wasn’t always successful.  There were times when I get into a few fixes with my good friends.  But the lack of time and opportunity kept it from getting worse.

Hezekiah prayed for the wrong thing.  Instead of more time, he should have prayed for an heir.  His son would have grown up without a father, but he would have been told of a father who brought revival to Judah.  He would have never known a father with an ego who courted the heathen.  Who knows where Judah might have been had Hezekiah trusted the LORD.

The Devil is in the Details

“And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?” (1Ki 22:7 AV)

The devil is in the details.  The difference between truth and error is often subtle.  The prophets of Ahab refused to prophesy in the name of the LORD.  They did not preface their prophesy with “this saith the LORD.”  Old Testament law required them to do so and if the thing did not come to pass, then they were to be executed.  What astounds me is the carelessness in which many today treat truth and the lack of discernment or concern of God’s people to separate truth from error.

I remember my High School algebra class.  It wasn’t enough that the right answer was at the end of the problem.  The way in which we got the right answer was also granted.  The steps to solve the problem was just as important as the end result.  I never understood this.  Who cares how the right answer came to be.  As long as the solution was correct.  But there was a principle to learn.  Simple steps became more complicated steps.  Learning the basics of problem solving laid a foundation to solve more complicated problems.  When the wrong answer was the result, the devil was in the details.  It mattered how one went about his work.  Specifics matter.  Details matter.

The man of God is often judged as being to persnickety about the Bible and Bible truth.  We are accused of making minors into majors.  I remember my early Christian walk and the attitude I had towards my pastors.  They always brought me back to the Bible.  In Bible school, they didn’t allow any error, no matter how little, to slide.  Today, people couldn’t care less.  As long as we have our liberty and can do whatever we want, then that is all that matters.  The problem is, God judges what matters and what does not.  Details can often lead to catastrophic consequences.  Like a plane flying one degree of course, over time, can have no place to land.  Details matter!  They always have!

No Time For Turtles

“And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?” (1Ki 19:13 AV)

This is the second time the LORD asked this of Elijah.  The first was before all the natural events ending in the still small voice.  This is after the still small voice.  The question remained.  Regardless of God’s manifestation of Himself to the prophet, the prophet didn’t belong hiding in a cave.  There was still work to do.  The Holy Spirit has a way of revealing God’s more blunt side.  Probably because of how I was raised.  If it is Elijah feeling sorry for himself or Job questioning God’s wisdom, the Holy Spirit shows me how the LORD will not allow us to be a turtle!  He will not allow us to cower or give up when there is no need to do the same.

My Mom just passed away.  One of the memories I have of her was her unflappable demeanor in handling all sorts of crisis.  She had to.  She had eight boys.  The only time I ever saw her loose it was when her new born son turned all different shades of blue.  The ambulance was called and she was beside herself.  When one tallies up all the catastrophic injuries we boys suffered, her experiences were far more and away dramatic than the average Mom.  One thing she always said, no matter the severity of the situation: “What did you do now!”  From broken bones to a head split wide open, it was always the same. “What did you do now?  Let’s get in the car and go to the hospital.”  There was no time for sitting idle and crying about it.  There was something that had to be done.  The time for sorrowing was after the injury was triaged.

If the truth be known, Monday morning finds the resignation of many a man of God.  We battle the forces of evil with every fiber of our being, only to find minimal gains.  The world is not our greatest challenge.  The devil can only be in one place at a time.  Our flesh is the greatest adversary but God’s people can sometimes come in a close second.  Not because they are any worse than our other challenges.  But we are around God’s people much of the time.  It was so with Elijah.  He had battled the rebellious of God’s people with little or no change.  That gets old really fast.  But that is too bad!  The question above is still valid!  Why are you here?  What are you doing?  We expect God to give us some slack.  But He does not.  Why are you here?  You don’t belong here!  Why are you here?

Rebellion Against God Results in Strife with One Another

“And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.” (1Ki 15:6 AV)

This is a switch from the last time we saw a potential war between the north and the south.  Rehoboam was fixing to invade the north when the LORD told him no.  The kingdom had just split because of Solomon’s idolatry.  It was of the LORD to split the kingdom.  The constant war between the two came because of habitual disobedience between the two houses.  Neither followed the LORD.  It wouldn’t be until much later when Jehoshaphat of the south and Jehu from the north both followed the LORD that there would be any kind of peace between the two.  This is what happens to relationships when neither follow the LORD.  There will be constant strife for no good reason between two who should be closely allied.

I grew up in a large family with many siblings. At any one time, there were a few of us going through those rebellious years at the same time.  My poor parents!  It was amazing to see how, at one moment, two teenagers could be in cahoots against a parent, but then be at one another’s throats the next.  They could be conspiring to get away with something together, but once the united rebellion was over, they would be in a roe.  This is why discipline is so important.  I have seen families who were filled with strife because no one wished to follow the LORD.  I have seen marriages in disarray because neither spouse wishes to follow the LORD.  There are preoccupied with self-interest rather than to both live sacrificially unto the LORD.

Harmony can only be had in the presence of the LORD.  As both seek to walk with the LORD, then both will learn to live in harmony one with the other.  It is a real shame the amount of damage that is done in the name of disobedience.  Even in our own nation, we have discontent and strife.  The biggest reason is because we rejected our foundation of Judao-Christian belief.  We have turned our backs on the God who created us and in whose law we find our own.  Now, we have riots and lawsuits against one another thinking that law will solve our problem.  It didn’t solve Israel’s problem.  Only a right relationship with the LORD will bring peace and harmony to our nation, churches, and families.

Cannot Improve on God

“And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was,” (1Ki 7:48 AV)

Solomon remade the temple furniture other than the Ark of the covenant.  These pieces of furniture were generally made of wood and overlaid with gold with the exception of the brazen altar which would have caught on fire if it contained a wooden interior.  The Ark was not remade because to do so would require that which resided inside the Ark be transferred which would have required someone(s) to open the Ark. This they were not allowed to do.  The motive is clear.  Solomon’s temple was the most elaborate temple ever built by man.  The Oracle (holy of holies) was plated with solid gold.  The priest who entered this room stood on golden floors.  He saw golden walls and a golden ceiling.  The gold-plated furniture that came with Israel from the wilderness simply wouldn’t do for such an elaborate temple.  One has to wonder if all this was necessary.  There is another question that arises.  What happened to the original furniture?  It has significant historical value.  Where did it go and what did they do with it?

Sometimes what we do is more about us than it is about the LORD.  When David wanted to build this house, God told him no.  When Solomon built the house, God reminded him that the heaven of heavens could not contain the LORD, much less this house.  God has created all things and nothing mankind could ever do would match His glory.  The LORD also warned Solomon and all the rest of Israel that if they ever left the law of God, no matter how wonderful the temple was, God would dismantle it and send it off to Israel’s enemies.  Which He did.  One has to wonder how different Israel would have treated the things of God if the kept with the original tabernacle.  Maybe it would have made a difference.  Maybe it wouldn’t have.  But one thing is for sure.  The LORD never told Solomon to replace what God had provided in the wilderness.

It reminds me of all that churches today are trying in and attempt at reaching others for Christ.  A bigger and better VBS than the church over in the next holler.  Guns give always.  Open houses with carnival rides.  A modern facility with the best of electronic media.  And the worst of all is to assume a new translation of the Bible is a better translation of the Bible!  With all the man-made glorification, Jesus Himself is becoming less impressive.  The Ark lay as a gold-platted wooden article.  Now the altar, table, laver, and candlesticks are of solid gold and contain no wood.  The vessels of the temple are of greater value than the piece of furniture that contained the word of God.  How prophetic.

God Overcomes Less than Perfect Homes

“Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.” (2Sa 23:5 AV)

David is reflecting on the condition of his house compared to the everlasting covenant God made with him.  He knows that his sin with Bathsheba as one of the causes of trouble in his house.  The young baby, Amnon, and Absalom all died, whole or in part, because of his adulterous affair with Bathsheba.  However, one thing to bear in mind is Amnon and Absalom made their own choices.  Yes, Nathan the prophet told David that he would lose four sons because of his sin.  But three of the four made their own bad choices and were responsible for their actions.  God did not cause Amnon to rape Tamar, Absalom to rise in insurrection, or Adonijah to prematurely claim the throne.  These men did what they did of their own mind.  The point here is, David choose to rejoice in God’s faithfulness, mercy, and grace rather than whatever failures he or his family made.

There is another way of looking at this as well.  David mentions the covenant.  He knows it is unconditional and eternal.  He knows that a future descendant of his will indeed sit on the throne and reign in righteousness.  He knows, by virtue of putting two and two together, a future descendant will indeed be the Messiah.  He knows that even though in the short term his family may have failed a bit, the promise is still in force and eventually there will be the greatest blessing a man could ever know.

So, the point is this:  God’s mercy can and does overcome our failures.  No matter how many mistakes we may make in life, God’s mercy can overcome it.  We strive to have a godly home.  However, children and grandchildren have their own wills.  As parents, we are not perfect.  We have made mistakes.  But time and God’s mercy is what overcomes our human nature.  If God can overcome David’s sin, they He certainly can overcome ours.  The key is to acknowledge and repent of our sin.  Then have faith that, in time, God will fix what we have may have failed to do.

Correct Response Determines True Repentance

“Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.” (2Sa 12:20 AV)

Herein is another reason David is so special.  Many would have been bitter at the death of their newborn son.  Nathan the prophet told David the child was going to die.  Yet David fasted and prayed for this young child’s life hoping that perhaps the LORD would change his mind.  When the LORD didn’t change His mind, David’s response was to worship the LORD.  Many would believe the contriteness of one’s heart would overturn the chastening hand of God.  When it doesn’t, many would be angry and bitter against the LORD for doing what He said He was going to do.  Not David.  He washed himself, changed his cloths, anointed himself, and went to tabernacle to worship.  This is evidence of true repentance!

How many have told our child that if he or she fails to obey, they would receive a chastening hand.  Not wanting the consequences, they would wail, “but I said I was sorry!”  Thinking that emotional drama would be the escape clause from a firm hand, they build it up good.  When first tried, resulting in failure, they come to terms with the hand of chastisement.  However, as this is tried again and again, failing each time, something different happens.  That young child changes his tactics.  He becomes bitter or angry at his parent’s correction thinking he will guilt trip the parents and cause emotional harm equal to what he just received.  This doesn’t work either.  The next stage is indifference.  Accepting the chastening while showing a stone-cold reaction that says, “I really don’t care what you do, it won’t affect me.”  What the parent is hoping to get is a confession that chastisement was deserved and maybe even a thank you for it.  This last bit of maturity may never come.  Or at least not as a child.  This is what David did.  He prayed God might change His mind.  When He didn’t, David worshipped Him anyway.  He accepted the consequences of his actions as his just do and gave God the glory!

The next time we are chastened of the LORD, mark our reaction.  How we respond to the chastening hand of God will reveal if we are truly repentant for what we have done.

God's House Before All

“That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.” (2Sa 7:2 AV)

The enemies of which David speaks of are the house of Saul and the city of David.  There are still battles to be fought as is revealed in chapter 8.  What is admirable here is that David’s priorities are the ark of the covenant and the temple before finishing his battles.  He is concerned for the glory of the LORD much more than he is a career accomplishment.

What a lesson!  As a man, what drives us more than anything is what we can accomplish in life.  Build an estate.  Promotion at work.  What we accomplish is more important the relationships.  Leaving behind us that which we accomplish is important.  Some lasting evidence of our lives.  Jebus, the city which would eventually become Jerusalem, was also known as the city of David.  What he wanted even more was a temple in that city and the city to be known not for his military success, but the name of God!  How many men have neglected their spiritual duty for some temporal aspiration?  How many men have squandered away their family’s spiritual welfare for the sake of moving up the ladder?  How many men have whittled away Sundays for maintenance on the estate, scoring the lowest on a golf course, building a hobby, or some other temporary pursuit.

The LORD may have told David no.  He may have declined David’s desire to build the house of God.  But that didn’t stop David from making the house of God his highest priority.  David assembled all the material, furniture, and implements needed so his son could construct the project.  Every war he waged, every goal he accomplished, every spoil he took, had the priority of amassing what was needed for the temple.  His career goals were centered on the temple.  The needs of God’s house came first!  God’s name came first!  Career, hobby, outside interests, were all governed by the priority of the house of God!

The Blessing of Pleasing Both

“And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.” (2Sa 3:36 AV)

That to which this passage is referring is the mourning of David over Abner.  Not only did he mourn, but his lamentation condemned Joan as a wicked man for killing honorable Abner.  His act of charity, forgiveness, and respect went a long way in winning the hearts of those yet to ally themselves to David.  He acted as a gracious sovereign would act.  He showed the proper respect for his adversaries understanding that warfare is not personal.  But what we want to notice this morning is that a leader is not failing or compromising if he seeks to please the people.  It only becomes a problem if the desire of the people is in conflict with the will of God.  Then, God must come first.

There is a wonderful balance which the man of God can enjoy.  It warms my heart when I can please the people and please the LORD at the same time.  Sometimes, that is impossible.  In fact, the majority of the time God comes first and the people have to learn to adjust.  But there are times when the prophet can please both.  It is even said of Christ that in his early ministry he pleased both God and man.  The two are not necessarily in conflict all the time.  Keeping the correct balance is a difficult thing.  Many pastors err in one direction or the other.  In the old days of fundamentalism, the mentality used to be a hard nosed preacher who was at constant odds with the people he lead was considered a good leader.  If there wasn’t a little friction in the house of God, it meant the preacher had compromised.   In our current generation, the pendulum has swung far too much the other way.  Preacher-politicians abound.  No one seems to be standing for truth anymore.  The man of God bends over backwards to impress the people he is leading so he doesn’t lose anyone or he can boast about how great of a preacher he is.  Somewhere, there must be a balance.

All I can tell you is that it is a wonderful experience to be able to please both God and man at the same time.  That is the greatest experience the preacher can have.  It doesn’t always happen.  But it can happen.  And nothing will deepen a relationship between the man of God and the sheep than to seek ways in which he may please the sheep without compromising his convictions or the will of God.

Remember Your Friends

“And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;” (1Sa 30:26 AV)

And this is why David had the heart of the people even before he took the throne.  Some of the spoil originally came from Judah.  The Amalekites attained their spoils from invasions to the north in the territory of the Philistines and Judah.  What David did was give the spoils back to their original owners with interest.  He did this for two reasons.  Frist, some of these spoils were from Judah.  But second, they provided David with temporary sanctuary from Saul in that they did not join with Saul while Saul hunted for David.  They allowed for passage without completely giving him up.  There were two cities that gave him up.  But the tribe as a whole did not.  Remember, David did not exact judgment against those who would give him over to Saul.  He forgave them and ruled them without bias or prejudice.  However, he did reward his friends.  And rightly so.

Sometimes, our adversaries take more attention than they should.  We are preoccupied as to how to overcome them.  We don’t want to harm them, but we do want to overcome the trouble that they cause.  This can become so overwhelming that we forget those who have been there all along.  Our friends.  Those who have faithfully served with us or, at the very least, prayed for us.  Perhaps they ran interference that we knew nothing about.  These are our friends.  It is important to remember your friends when the opportunity arises to do just that.  A kind word.  A thank you note.  A smile or a hand shake go a long way. 

When Saul dies in the very next chapter, David has already laid the foundation of a friendship with his own tribe.  Judah would be the first to help him ascend the throne.  They, and Benjamin would provide the support.  He would have to rule from Hebron for the first seven years.  When the other ten tribes realize that David is indeed the king and the house of Saul has been diminished, then David returns to Jerusalem.  But it would be his friends, the ones he acknowledged to begin with, that would stick with him because he appreciated them.  Remember your friends when opportunity arises.

For The LORD's Sake

“The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed. And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.” (1Sa 26:23-24 AV)

David and Abishai snuck down in the middle of the night to steal Saul’s sword and canteen.  The LORD protected them by causing the whole camp, including Abner, to suffer a deep sleep.  When in the tent, Abishai suggested they kill Saul and be done with it.  Bad idea for two reasons.  The first, being it would have awoken the entire camp.  They would not have made it out of there alive.  But more so, David refused because he was principled.  He would not raise his hand against the LORD’s anointed.  What is interesting here is the motive if David.  Reading on to the next chapter, it is clear David did not trust the word of Saul.  Saul promised not to pursue him.  Which, by the way, he never did because the Philistines rose up. David didn’t know this and fled to the land of Gath, the capital of the Philistines.  David did what he did to prove to himself and the LORD that he as integrity.  David did this for God’s favor.  He proved to the LORD that he had faith to allow the LORD to deal with the LORD’s anointed.

Some might argue, and rightfully so, that God does not tempt to evil.  This is absolutely true.  But here is the key:  God knew what David would do.  Plus, David had opportunity in the past to dispose of Saul.  As in the bathroom break Saul took while David was right behind him.  That would have been far less of a risk then stealing his sword while surrounded by the enemy.  God knows what we will do before we do it.  When a time of proving comes, He knows the outcome before we know the outcome.  This time of proving is an opportunity for us to learn something about ourselves and to glorify the LORD in our choice.

David proved to himself and to Saul the purity of his heart.  This move was a checkmate.  As David protected the life of Saul, so too will the LORD protect his.  The next time we have opportunity to do the wrong thing, let us remember that God honors integrity and righteousness.  He remembers.  He has allowed us to make choices.  The LORD did not tell David to do this.  He did this on his own.  God protected him and gave him a miracle that made obedience possible.  But the choice was David’s.  The LORD wants us to walk in obedience far more that we do and will make a way for obedience every time.  Sometimes, we need to make choices of faith and trust the LORD to make a way!

Letting Bygones be Bygones

“Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?” (1Sa 23:19 AV)

David has been rejected by Keilah and now the Ziphites.  Both small communities go to Saul to rat him out.  David has to flee two cities among his own tribe in order to save his life.  But what we don’t see is that later, when Saul is gone and David reigns, there is no retaliation on David’s part.  No vengeance.  Now retribution for a lack of loyalty.  Perhaps for two reasons.

First, these cities were honoring the authority in power.  They should have remained neutral.  But they chose to honor the authority as it was.  This is certainly understandable.  But even more so, David is not a petty man.  He does not hold grudges.  In fact, at the time of his death, there were four individuals who David has a legitimate beef with and he left those four with Solomon.  David was able to see the bigger picture.  It may have made him feel better to exact justice on those who would not support or obey him.  But wisdom is the better part of valor.  It was better for himself and the kingdom to forgive and forget.  Mercy and grace were a better weapon than vengeance and retribution.

Joseph is a great example.  He could have easily made the lives of his brothers miserable.  Yet, he chose to be the bigger man, forgive them, and provide for them.  This is the mark of a great leader.  He cannot take personally the actions of those whom he leads.  He has to allow these things to roll off his back and see it for what it is.  Even those who will give the leader a hard time still are in need of leadership.  They may cause a great deal of harm.  That is, in the short run.  However, over time, the leader gains back the ground that was lost.  Forgiveness goes a long way for a leader.  He has to.  Otherwise, there will be no one left to lead!

Hanging With the Preachers

“So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.” (1Sa 19:18 AV)

David shows a lot of wisdom here.  He could have fled back to his father’s house, explained the situation, and asked for sanctuary.  However, he chooses to go to the man of God.  From there, the man of God takes David to men his own age who are studying for the ministry.  Naioth is a school of the prophets.   It is just outside the area of Ramah; the home of Samuel and Saul.  The name Naioth means dwellings.  It was here Samuel had established a complex to house those men indicating a call to the office of prophet.  It would be here they would study the scriptures so they could discern between the voice of God and their own feelings or thoughts.  David was found among the men called to be prophets.  He would see what faith truly was and the power of the hand of God upon his enemies.  He would see three waves of Saul’s armies turned into prophets and Saul himself strip naked and prophesy.  David would go in the strength of this fellowship until the LORD brought to him others of like faith and passion.  When we are in trouble, the best place to be is around God’s people.  And even more of a blessing is to be around God’s servants.

In my early Christian life, I had the privilege of fellowship with preachers.  It is something I would encourage everyone to experience a few times in their lifetime.  My pastor at the time, Skip Tilton, would take me along to preacher’s fellowships.  One particular meeting still affects me even to this day.  Twenty some years later.  It was in Dansville, NY.  The church was a remodeled barn.  On the outside, it didn’t look like much.  The parking lot was dirt and stone.  But the first thing I notices was the volume of the signing that emanated from that building.  No gang banger car stereo could out blast this crowd.  The building literally shook from volume of human voices sing the old-fashioned hymns.  The preaching was nothing I had ever experienced before.  Then came the fellowship afterwards.  Preachers from all around were in the basement fellowship area sharing their burdens, blessings, and befuddlement.  They sought counsel from one another, but at the same time, encouraged one another.  To hear them speak of the things of ministry as though it was a normal part of life was eye-opening for me!

That evening, and others like it, changed me forever.  I realized that ministry was normal and other pursuits of life were not.  I learned there were men out there who would brave a cruel and challenging world for the sake of the Savior and do so with determination and joy.  I learned that even though my life at the time may have had troubles and trials, they do not compare, nor ever will, to the trails a man of God experiences.  I learned that my troubles, although to me were significant, to the man of God who had to fight the devil every day, didn’t seem all that large.  It would be an experience to hang with some faithful soldiers of Christ!  It would do us good.  It would grow our faith.  It was give us a definite change of perspective and the battle would become vastly more real.  Hang with the men of God.  It will change your life!

Welcome the Change

“And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.” 1 Samuel 10:6

The transformation which comes by way of the Holy Spirit is miraculous.  Saul was indwelled by the Holy Spirit and immediately began prophesying to the astonishment of most.  His transformation was so dramatic that almost the entire nation took notice.  One wonders what happened to Saul that led to his downfall.  If the LORD changed him that much, why did he ever fail the LORD?  Why did he ever feel as though he could not trust the LORD?

Note the Bible says Saul became another man.  Not a different man.  Another man.  When the LORD changes us, we are not simply different.  We are much more than that.  We are another man because our desires change.  We are another man because our choices change.  We are another man because we have two warring natures that are opposed to one another.  We are another man and the LORD has expected us to live by the Spirit and not in the flesh.

Saul had two major issues he of which he battled.  He lacked the courage and faith necessary to effectively lead.  He also lacked a commanding respect for the prophets of God.  These two flaws were his eventual downfall.  These tow flaws still needed to be addressed.  But the point it this:  we are made into another man.  The old man is gone.  We are no longer a slave to that other man.  We are changed from the inside out.  Saul never really got comfortable with whom the LORD wished him to be.  He gravitated towards the old man way too much.  He is not that man anymore.  He is another.  Failure came because he was never really committed to the changed man God wished him to be.