April 30th, I Chronicles 1-2
If you like lists of old school names this passage is the one for you. I feel the reference to Nimrod in our modern day is a disservice to the person and the name. Not many names in this text get an explanation, but after the listing of his name it says he was the first on earth to be a mighty man.
Why do people say... "don't be such a Nimrod." Actually being a Nimrod would be a really good thing. So I'm going to encourage just that.
I started counting names. I got about halfway through chapter one and I was up to 110. I decided maybe my time was better spent doing something else. There are a few things I take note of in all of this. We are generally happy if we can speak about our great grandparents. The people in the Bible track it back for thousands of years. No one knew they were keeping track of the family line of Jesus, but in the end they did.
In community based thinking our past and who we come from matters. It's not just about finding out who our famous ancestors were. That's just a popularity contest, more a matter of stroking my ego rather than an appreciation for the man or woman in my family line who honored the Lord with their life and for whom I feel a sense of honor and pride by their dedication to God. Not pride like a fools pride, but proud that another choice could have been made and wasn't.
It is an overwhelming thing for me to ponder the billions of people who have lived before me. Each life has a story. A heart for God or a heart for self. Trials and joys, marriage and children, death and loss, jealousy and honor, dead too soon or long full life, country or rock and roll!! There are so many things that set us apart, make us different. And yet at the same time there is something that makes us common through the ages.
What's the point of life, why do I have this hankering to worship, struggles for power, ego needs, and most importantly a need to surrender to an Almighty, Everlasting, Loving God. Lives so similar, so different...mostly similar!
I hope you find yourself able to identify with the lives of people in the Bible. More importantly that you can identify with the God revealed there as well.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
2 Kings 23-25 Spring Cleaning
April 29th, 2 Kings 23-25
King Josiah, another good king and a chance to witness what growth looks like in our own life. First step, they found this book in God's house. They decided to read this book together with the priests and the prophets. They made a promise with the Lord to do what was written in the book and surrender their heart and soul to the Lord. Great Idea!!
Josiah had the priests remove all the vessels made for the worship of Baal and Asherah. Kinda unbelievable isn't it. I've been to Pier One and jokingly thought to myself...how much trouble would I be in if I bought one of those Buddha statues and put it in our garden in front of church. I'm thinking it would almost be a fire-able offense. How about if I bought it and put it on the altar next to the cross in front of church. Nevertheless Josiah is having to remove swastika banners, Hindu and Buddha statues from the house of God. Truly strange.
Josiah reinstituted the Passover. Apparently the tradition hadn't been honored since the time of the judges. That was a long time ago, no wonder people didn't remember.
Someone found a dusty edition of God's word hiding in the Temple of God. They read it, followed it, made new decisions because of it, walked in the blessings of God for that time.
That's my invitation to us and the reason for this journey through God's word this year. Like Josiah, our world wold have a new order as we walk God's way.
King Josiah, another good king and a chance to witness what growth looks like in our own life. First step, they found this book in God's house. They decided to read this book together with the priests and the prophets. They made a promise with the Lord to do what was written in the book and surrender their heart and soul to the Lord. Great Idea!!
Josiah had the priests remove all the vessels made for the worship of Baal and Asherah. Kinda unbelievable isn't it. I've been to Pier One and jokingly thought to myself...how much trouble would I be in if I bought one of those Buddha statues and put it in our garden in front of church. I'm thinking it would almost be a fire-able offense. How about if I bought it and put it on the altar next to the cross in front of church. Nevertheless Josiah is having to remove swastika banners, Hindu and Buddha statues from the house of God. Truly strange.
Josiah reinstituted the Passover. Apparently the tradition hadn't been honored since the time of the judges. That was a long time ago, no wonder people didn't remember.
Someone found a dusty edition of God's word hiding in the Temple of God. They read it, followed it, made new decisions because of it, walked in the blessings of God for that time.
That's my invitation to us and the reason for this journey through God's word this year. Like Josiah, our world wold have a new order as we walk God's way.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
2 Kings 20-22 If orthopraxy ever met orthodoxy we'd be in business
April 28th, 2 Kings 20-22
Sometimes a moment of clarity is easier to find than you might think. Knowing something is the first step doing something is the second and an amazing advancement over the first. Here's a few things to take mental note of...
1. God wants to bring life to his people. He would do anything to resource his people.
2. Mankind likes things other than God to feel okay about themselves. This is called idolatry. This never works...see Old Testament for thousands of examples.
When tempted to serve a manmade idol, best advice....STOP IT.
Life comes only from God. You can make thousands of attempts at something else, but much like gravity the result will always be the same.
Idolatry bad, God good. Again simple in instruction, difficult in practice. Here goes a great try.
Sometimes a moment of clarity is easier to find than you might think. Knowing something is the first step doing something is the second and an amazing advancement over the first. Here's a few things to take mental note of...
1. God wants to bring life to his people. He would do anything to resource his people.
2. Mankind likes things other than God to feel okay about themselves. This is called idolatry. This never works...see Old Testament for thousands of examples.
When tempted to serve a manmade idol, best advice....STOP IT.
Life comes only from God. You can make thousands of attempts at something else, but much like gravity the result will always be the same.
Idolatry bad, God good. Again simple in instruction, difficult in practice. Here goes a great try.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
2 Kings 18-19 Good King, Wise Decision
April 27th, 2 Kings 18-19
Finally, a good King comes along...and there was much rejoicing! He tore down the worship places to other gods and had people worship Jehovah...you remember him right. The God of our Father's... Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
What I found interesting this morning is that King Hezekiah also destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had made back in the day. The people of Israel had begun to make offerings to it. It even had a name: Nehushtan. Never underestimate the longing we have to worship something. And never underestimate the how quick and easy it is to forget the one true God and replace him with just about anything.
This idea of how we offer ourselves to worship so quickly and easily has been one of those proofs for the existence of God. This constant hunger that is exhibited in humans beings worldwide for all time. A hunger to give praise to, expect attention from...something. The ease with which almost anything can become an idol for us. It doesn't even have to make sense to us, we're just tempted to do.
Hezekiah did the right thing. Recognized that a cool artifact had become something more than the physical reminder of a good story of God's healing power in the desert. Artifacts are not the same as the God that makes the artifact interesting. Traditions become the same for people. Worshipping the wrong the thing instead of our God who gave that thing meaning.
It tripped them up then, it trips us up now, it will trip people up in the future. The important thing is to see what Hezekiah saw and do something about it.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
2 Kings 12-14 Using our Strengths for God's Glory
April 25th, 2 Kings 12-14
Priests do what priests do, craftsman do what they do. Reading this story I was expecting something bad to be said about the priests, like they were taking the money that was being collected and using it for themselves or something. It simply says that they were accepting donations and work wasn't being done.
Then when the organizational structure had donations going to pay workers a lot was getting done. No blame or accusation, just the realization that sometimes structures have to change for good work to be accomplished. We could make a thousand guesses as to why, in the end some of us do home repairs ourselves, some of us do not. It's about what we are comfortable with, what we have ability to do.
The priests were charged to fix up the Temple, they did not. I really like this story because it seems like problem solving was the order of the day. It wasn't about blame, getting mad at someone, proving someone wrong. things were changed so that the original request could have some follow through. It's a good little reminder about how we conduct ourselves in our home, at our work, in our church.
Sometimes people get put into wrong position and flounder. Instead of writing them off, maybe something else is going on. Next time there is trouble in an area with people stop and consider if priests are being asked to run construction and if that suits them or not. As long as the problem doesn't surround the matters of character there is a good solution.
We all have our strengths, we all have our weaknesses. Let's learn how to use all of our strengths for the glory of God!!
Priests do what priests do, craftsman do what they do. Reading this story I was expecting something bad to be said about the priests, like they were taking the money that was being collected and using it for themselves or something. It simply says that they were accepting donations and work wasn't being done.
Then when the organizational structure had donations going to pay workers a lot was getting done. No blame or accusation, just the realization that sometimes structures have to change for good work to be accomplished. We could make a thousand guesses as to why, in the end some of us do home repairs ourselves, some of us do not. It's about what we are comfortable with, what we have ability to do.
The priests were charged to fix up the Temple, they did not. I really like this story because it seems like problem solving was the order of the day. It wasn't about blame, getting mad at someone, proving someone wrong. things were changed so that the original request could have some follow through. It's a good little reminder about how we conduct ourselves in our home, at our work, in our church.
Sometimes people get put into wrong position and flounder. Instead of writing them off, maybe something else is going on. Next time there is trouble in an area with people stop and consider if priests are being asked to run construction and if that suits them or not. As long as the problem doesn't surround the matters of character there is a good solution.
We all have our strengths, we all have our weaknesses. Let's learn how to use all of our strengths for the glory of God!!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
2 Kings 9-11 Systemic Failure, Systemic Healing
April 24th, 2 Kings 9-11
Systems are everywhere. They are part of life. There are living systems...our bodies, there are relational systems...our families, there are inanimate systems...our cars. Within each system there are systems... our bodies digest and think, our families have parents and sibling, our cars have brakes and engines. When things break down they have impact on other systems.
For the last several years my back has gone from being annoying to being a problem. It was explained to me that too much sitting over the years means your hips rotate out of place. Systems have to work so they compensate for a problem with a solution. The solution is your muscles begin to strengthen and tighten to to try to hold something that should be different. The tightening of those muscles could be an irritation so you begin to try and sit another way, which is also wrong, so your body has to figure out a way to solve that, round and round it goes... A Doctor (a great young man in my case), then comes in and tells you how things ought to be(like a prophet). Years of messing it up, won't be cured instantly. This is also the nature of systems.
Systems get off course, don't diagnose the real problem, come up with bad solutions, work hard at something that doesn't solve the problem, reidentify a symptom(not the core problem), failed diagnosis, pain, frustration, blaming. Sound like government...sound like some churches, sound like some families(relationships), sound like the Old Testament...sounds like life...I can't wait for heaven.
Today's story sounds a bit brutal. Where we are in the history of Israel and kings is at a point where the whole system is so toxic( it could take a pageful of info to express the toxicity), that something radical has to take place to even bring it back to life. Like chemotherapy and high doses of radiation. Treatments that can kill the host if doctors aren't careful. In the case of Ahab and Jezebel's family line, it had to come to an end so that something new could start. Now it's going to have a restart with the youngest king in Israel's history. King Joash, seven years old.
You and I have to pay attention to the system of our lives. What sin are we tolerating and allowing to incubate inside of us? What cancer cells of gossip, control, greed, lust, jealousy are welling up inside of us. Better to take some vitamins now than chemotherapy later. Better to listen to the Spirit's voice when the issues of life are budding, than to need to cut off a main trunk 10 years from now. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so let's take good steps. Here's some good midwest United States advice...
"Ain't no use being in a hurry....if your going the wrong direction."
Systems are everywhere. They are part of life. There are living systems...our bodies, there are relational systems...our families, there are inanimate systems...our cars. Within each system there are systems... our bodies digest and think, our families have parents and sibling, our cars have brakes and engines. When things break down they have impact on other systems.
For the last several years my back has gone from being annoying to being a problem. It was explained to me that too much sitting over the years means your hips rotate out of place. Systems have to work so they compensate for a problem with a solution. The solution is your muscles begin to strengthen and tighten to to try to hold something that should be different. The tightening of those muscles could be an irritation so you begin to try and sit another way, which is also wrong, so your body has to figure out a way to solve that, round and round it goes... A Doctor (a great young man in my case), then comes in and tells you how things ought to be(like a prophet). Years of messing it up, won't be cured instantly. This is also the nature of systems.
Systems get off course, don't diagnose the real problem, come up with bad solutions, work hard at something that doesn't solve the problem, reidentify a symptom(not the core problem), failed diagnosis, pain, frustration, blaming. Sound like government...sound like some churches, sound like some families(relationships), sound like the Old Testament...sounds like life...I can't wait for heaven.
Today's story sounds a bit brutal. Where we are in the history of Israel and kings is at a point where the whole system is so toxic( it could take a pageful of info to express the toxicity), that something radical has to take place to even bring it back to life. Like chemotherapy and high doses of radiation. Treatments that can kill the host if doctors aren't careful. In the case of Ahab and Jezebel's family line, it had to come to an end so that something new could start. Now it's going to have a restart with the youngest king in Israel's history. King Joash, seven years old.
You and I have to pay attention to the system of our lives. What sin are we tolerating and allowing to incubate inside of us? What cancer cells of gossip, control, greed, lust, jealousy are welling up inside of us. Better to take some vitamins now than chemotherapy later. Better to listen to the Spirit's voice when the issues of life are budding, than to need to cut off a main trunk 10 years from now. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so let's take good steps. Here's some good midwest United States advice...
"Ain't no use being in a hurry....if your going the wrong direction."
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
2 Kings 6-8 Seeing All, Turns the Tables
April 23rd, 2 Kings 6-8
Ahh the ax head story. Your ax head falls off into the water and Elisha throws a stick on the water and the ax head floats to the surface. Much easier than the ways I have had to find things that dropped into the water. It's reminds me of another story about axheads. It's similar story to Narcissus. That story has the ax head falling into the water and Narcissus going to the water's edge to find it. He's never seen how awesome he looks so when he sees his image in the water, he forgets about the ax head and just stares at himself. He eventually falls in the water and drowns. Thus where the idea of narcissism comes from... drowning in yourself. I'll let you tie up the issues there, I am inspired by another story even more.
Elisha and his servant are on the run from the King of Aram. During the night the city they were hiding in was surrounded by the King's men. In the morning the servant goes to look and sees that they are surrounded and hope is lost. The servant has lost hope, but Elisha sees things differently. Chapter 6:17 "And Elisha prayed, Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see. Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
The in the next verse Elisha prays that blindness would fall on the King's men, they become blind, he tells them they are in the wrong city and that he will take them to the right one. He leads them to Samaria and the King of Israel(the hand of their enemy), takes away the blindness so they know they are caught!!
Like Elisha's servant you and I don't get to see the totality of what God is doing around us. When things feel like they are hopeless, God is watching out for us.God is keeping our enemies at bay. The power of God and his angels is more powerful than our enemies. We don't simply wrestle with flesh and blood but also with principalities and powers that we can't see. The eyes of the God's servants were opened and the eyes of their enemies were shut. The enemy that thought it had it's catch... was caught! By the power of God we live our lives. I pray that we can learn to see with faith like Elisha, and when we can't to learn to trust that God sees and delivers!!
Ahh the ax head story. Your ax head falls off into the water and Elisha throws a stick on the water and the ax head floats to the surface. Much easier than the ways I have had to find things that dropped into the water. It's reminds me of another story about axheads. It's similar story to Narcissus. That story has the ax head falling into the water and Narcissus going to the water's edge to find it. He's never seen how awesome he looks so when he sees his image in the water, he forgets about the ax head and just stares at himself. He eventually falls in the water and drowns. Thus where the idea of narcissism comes from... drowning in yourself. I'll let you tie up the issues there, I am inspired by another story even more.
Elisha and his servant are on the run from the King of Aram. During the night the city they were hiding in was surrounded by the King's men. In the morning the servant goes to look and sees that they are surrounded and hope is lost. The servant has lost hope, but Elisha sees things differently. Chapter 6:17 "And Elisha prayed, Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see. Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
The in the next verse Elisha prays that blindness would fall on the King's men, they become blind, he tells them they are in the wrong city and that he will take them to the right one. He leads them to Samaria and the King of Israel(the hand of their enemy), takes away the blindness so they know they are caught!!
Like Elisha's servant you and I don't get to see the totality of what God is doing around us. When things feel like they are hopeless, God is watching out for us.God is keeping our enemies at bay. The power of God and his angels is more powerful than our enemies. We don't simply wrestle with flesh and blood but also with principalities and powers that we can't see. The eyes of the God's servants were opened and the eyes of their enemies were shut. The enemy that thought it had it's catch... was caught! By the power of God we live our lives. I pray that we can learn to see with faith like Elisha, and when we can't to learn to trust that God sees and delivers!!
Monday, April 22, 2013
2 Kings 4-5 Healing: My Terms or God's Terms
April 22nd, 2 Kings 4-5
Naaman was a commander of a foreign army. A great man in the favor of his king and it's said that the Lord gave him victory. One of his victories brought a young Israelite girl to live in his household. As great as Naaman was, he had a real problem...he had leprosy.
The Israelite girl tells him about the prophet in Israel, that he could cure him. So Naamman did a few things...
1. He packed a large gift, because even in their day everything can be fixed with money..."I'll buy my way out of my problem."
2. He goes to the King of Israel instead of going to the prophet Chapter 5:6-7 The Kings last line shows how people make mountains out of molehills, anyway on to the prophet...
3. Naaman went to Elisha's house (got to go to the right place to get healed). Naaman arrives with his party and his chariots and gifts..."THE SHOW IS HERE, COME GREAT ME." Elisha sends a messenger out to tell him to go wash in the Jordan seven times. Naaman makes a big deal. He wanted a cool show, potions, hand motions, lightning, a Hollywood healing. He certainly doesn't want to go to the Jordan."that's a dirty river, I want to go to a clean river." The mistake is that it's about the river and not about God and obedience to do what's asked. He's a military commander he should know that, but it's been a long time since he's taken an order.
4. Naaman goes off in a rage. His servants come to him and say, hey, he could have asked you to do something difficult, but he asked you to wash in a river so let's go do that. He did, he was healed.
This feels a lot like people's response to the gospel. I want to be in control so I'll purchase this, something I own, I'll buy my salvation.
I'll go anywhere but Jesus to try and make this right, then I'll be confused when I've only interacted with the King instead of the prophet (Jesus) who can actually make me well.
I'll want a bit of a show, I want some flash, some Hollywood glitz and be famous cause of it all. The glory is for me right?
I'll go off in a rage because the dirty water of the Jordan is no place for an important person such as me.
Finally the good news...Naaman surrendered all of the above, simply did what was asked and was made clean. Jesus asks us to acknowledge our sin, repent, accept Christ's payment for sin on the cross as our payment and to daily choose to follow him as our Lord. Naaman's reactions live inside of our hearts. Prayerfully over time, we simply learn to wash in the Jordan and be clean.
Naaman was a commander of a foreign army. A great man in the favor of his king and it's said that the Lord gave him victory. One of his victories brought a young Israelite girl to live in his household. As great as Naaman was, he had a real problem...he had leprosy.
The Israelite girl tells him about the prophet in Israel, that he could cure him. So Naamman did a few things...
1. He packed a large gift, because even in their day everything can be fixed with money..."I'll buy my way out of my problem."
2. He goes to the King of Israel instead of going to the prophet Chapter 5:6-7 The Kings last line shows how people make mountains out of molehills, anyway on to the prophet...
3. Naaman went to Elisha's house (got to go to the right place to get healed). Naaman arrives with his party and his chariots and gifts..."THE SHOW IS HERE, COME GREAT ME." Elisha sends a messenger out to tell him to go wash in the Jordan seven times. Naaman makes a big deal. He wanted a cool show, potions, hand motions, lightning, a Hollywood healing. He certainly doesn't want to go to the Jordan."that's a dirty river, I want to go to a clean river." The mistake is that it's about the river and not about God and obedience to do what's asked. He's a military commander he should know that, but it's been a long time since he's taken an order.
4. Naaman goes off in a rage. His servants come to him and say, hey, he could have asked you to do something difficult, but he asked you to wash in a river so let's go do that. He did, he was healed.
This feels a lot like people's response to the gospel. I want to be in control so I'll purchase this, something I own, I'll buy my salvation.
I'll go anywhere but Jesus to try and make this right, then I'll be confused when I've only interacted with the King instead of the prophet (Jesus) who can actually make me well.
I'll want a bit of a show, I want some flash, some Hollywood glitz and be famous cause of it all. The glory is for me right?
I'll go off in a rage because the dirty water of the Jordan is no place for an important person such as me.
Finally the good news...Naaman surrendered all of the above, simply did what was asked and was made clean. Jesus asks us to acknowledge our sin, repent, accept Christ's payment for sin on the cross as our payment and to daily choose to follow him as our Lord. Naaman's reactions live inside of our hearts. Prayerfully over time, we simply learn to wash in the Jordan and be clean.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
2 Kings 1-3 It's rough being a Prophet and Bald!!
April 21st, 2 Kings 1-3
Word to the wise, don't mess with God's prophets. First of all Elijah's taxi from heaven comes to bring him home. Flaming chariots and horse swoop down and take him away. Quite an experience for Elisha who was walking right next to Elijah at the time. It is certainly a confirmation of the prior conversation in Chapter 2.
The idea of a pile of clothes after the rapture maybe comes from this passage. Elijah left his cloak behind. Elisha struck the waters of the Jordan river with it and the waters parted, followed by a series of miracles. The prophets of the day saw this as a confirmation of Elisha's place after Elijah.
Like all prophets, powerful displays of God are followed by teenagers making fun of you because your bald. As much as we're used to people rudely calling one another names, in the OT this absolute disrespect of a receding hairline cause Elisha to place a curse on the 42 young people. A couple of bears show up and maul them. Truth is stranger than fiction!!
Chapter 3 demonstrates a parallel to our day. People seem to know where to go when they need help, they just don't go there very much. I'm not sure if God is honored in... "being the last resort if everything we've tried hasn't worked." If we can't think of any other way then we'll call on God. I encourage all of us to have a knee-jerk reaction of ..."God, I need your help here with....
Word to the wise, don't mess with God's prophets. First of all Elijah's taxi from heaven comes to bring him home. Flaming chariots and horse swoop down and take him away. Quite an experience for Elisha who was walking right next to Elijah at the time. It is certainly a confirmation of the prior conversation in Chapter 2.
The idea of a pile of clothes after the rapture maybe comes from this passage. Elijah left his cloak behind. Elisha struck the waters of the Jordan river with it and the waters parted, followed by a series of miracles. The prophets of the day saw this as a confirmation of Elisha's place after Elijah.
Like all prophets, powerful displays of God are followed by teenagers making fun of you because your bald. As much as we're used to people rudely calling one another names, in the OT this absolute disrespect of a receding hairline cause Elisha to place a curse on the 42 young people. A couple of bears show up and maul them. Truth is stranger than fiction!!
Chapter 3 demonstrates a parallel to our day. People seem to know where to go when they need help, they just don't go there very much. I'm not sure if God is honored in... "being the last resort if everything we've tried hasn't worked." If we can't think of any other way then we'll call on God. I encourage all of us to have a knee-jerk reaction of ..."God, I need your help here with....
Saturday, April 20, 2013
I Kings 21-22 Jezebel's Brainstorm
April 20th, I Kings 21-22
Jezebel: that name conjures up some images for all of us. It's almost exclusively used as an expression of negative, to call a lady a "Jezebel" would really be the ultimate insult. In the witness of "pop" culture I've always assumed that to call someone by that name was to accuse a woman of having some loose sexual morality. It's seems to be the way it gets used.
Jezebel is the wife of King Ahab here in I Kings. Her name being used in the negative is certainly well earned. Ahab is bad enough, but together these two really bring down the property values of leadership.
In today's story Ahab has his eye on a local vineyard. Ahab wants a donation or to buy it outright. For the owner this is family inheritance, you don't ever sell that. It's not about money, it's about hundreds of years of family growing up here. Ahab goes home vexed and sullen(not sure what either of those words mean...sounds bad). But no plan to fix it, just upset that it wasn't going to happen.
Jezebel hatches a plan almost instantly. Throw a banquet, have some lousy people give fake witness of the owner cursing God and King, stone owner, take what you want. Just for reference, Ahab was famous for having a house built out of ivory. I'm gonna throw out a guess that he might have had a nice garden somewhere and didn't really need this one too.
The instant knee-jerk reactions of life will tell us much about where we are at. Posed with a problem, Jezebel's first thought went to faking a legit problem to murder someone and get my way. Now David hatched a similar plan once and felt the weight of it for the rest of his life. Jezebel does this as a way of life, all her life.
What are the knee-jerk reactions we have that catch us off guard? That moment when something happens that we can't control, didn't expect, is going to cost us something. What do those reactions say about what's going on in our heart? How can we use those times to gain a better picture of what needs a makeover in our hearts? I encourage you to not run from, or downplay those reactions we have. To be honest, reactions that we'd rather cover up and hope nobody saw. Those are great little insights for us about areas of life we need to address to be more like Christ. They are great opportunities for growth.
Friday, April 19, 2013
I Kings 18-20 Maybe your god is on the Toilet?
April 19th, I Kings 18-20
Ahab, wife Jezebel: Killed prophets, worshipped Baal
Drought: Predicted by Elijah and lasted three years
Elijah: Man of God in the midst of this story
Prophets of Baal: In need of God instead of god.
The whole story is a worthy read. I'm in need of a few funny lines this morning, because it's spring and we got another foot of snow. It's supposed to be 50 degrees this time of year, so I need something to amuse me.
Amusing line #1: Ahab(terribly evil person in the story) says to Elijah(man of God, upright and generally all around good guy) upon greeting him "Is it you, you troubler of Israel." That's the kind of thing evil people say about righteous people. What do you say to people who live in opposite world, I don't even know where to start. You just have to laugh a little.
Amusing line #2: The Prophets of Baal are having a tough time getting their fire started. Elijah tries to help them feel better about it saying...Maybe your god is out thinking, or maybe he's busy on the toilet. Maybe he's in Tahiti and doesn't want to be bothered or maybe he's taking a nap and someone should go wake him. Bummer to serve a god who doesn't pay attention.
The other thought for the morning is that as amazing as this event is, in the end, it really didn't change anything. Sometimes I think we think if God would just do something spectacular people's minds would be changed about him. For Jezebel the first thing she thought of after hearing the story...kill Elijah, you know the "troubler of Israel."
Some people only have capacity for reaction. Jezebel shows us that way. A capacity for reflection would serve us better. So on snowy days like today, reflection would be good for my soul.
Ahab, wife Jezebel: Killed prophets, worshipped Baal
Drought: Predicted by Elijah and lasted three years
Elijah: Man of God in the midst of this story
Prophets of Baal: In need of God instead of god.
The whole story is a worthy read. I'm in need of a few funny lines this morning, because it's spring and we got another foot of snow. It's supposed to be 50 degrees this time of year, so I need something to amuse me.
Amusing line #1: Ahab(terribly evil person in the story) says to Elijah(man of God, upright and generally all around good guy) upon greeting him "Is it you, you troubler of Israel." That's the kind of thing evil people say about righteous people. What do you say to people who live in opposite world, I don't even know where to start. You just have to laugh a little.
Amusing line #2: The Prophets of Baal are having a tough time getting their fire started. Elijah tries to help them feel better about it saying...Maybe your god is out thinking, or maybe he's busy on the toilet. Maybe he's in Tahiti and doesn't want to be bothered or maybe he's taking a nap and someone should go wake him. Bummer to serve a god who doesn't pay attention.
The other thought for the morning is that as amazing as this event is, in the end, it really didn't change anything. Sometimes I think we think if God would just do something spectacular people's minds would be changed about him. For Jezebel the first thing she thought of after hearing the story...kill Elijah, you know the "troubler of Israel."
Some people only have capacity for reaction. Jezebel shows us that way. A capacity for reflection would serve us better. So on snowy days like today, reflection would be good for my soul.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
I Kings 15-17 The Power of One
April 18th, I Kings 15-17
Many of us remember this image. The image of one man holding up the powers that be. The ongoing footage shows him moving back and forth with the tank, staying in it's path. A stand of defiance against tyranny in a country where defiance is brought to a halt abruptly, forcibly.
It reminds me of this mornings readings. Kings who seemed to care nothing for God or his way (except for one). A constant theme of those who did evil in the eyes of the Lord. A sidenote that leadership and Godliness can be separate things and they shouldn't be.
There is power that brings life and power that destroys. This picture represents that Popeye moment in the hearts of people "That's all I can stands, and I can't stands no more." Dying here would be more valuable to me than living the way I do... in shackles, imprisoned. A heart that wants to be renewed.
In the spiritual realm God raises up prophets to make voice to things that ought to be different. After many years of ungodly kings, Elijah arrives on the scene. Unlike the period of the Judges where God called a person and they rose to power to deal with the problem of the day, the prophets are a little different. Their message from the Lord carries weight without any political, social clout to back it up. Prophets are a burr under the saddle of those with great power, much like the guy in the picture. Let's be honest, putting this tank in gear and stepping on the gas pedal will take care of this problem with little or no energy. And yet maybe the one in our way has something to say.
Power, godliness, prophets. These three things can bring a harmony that is the most beautiful thing. In God's kingdom there will be no need for the third on the list, in the mean time people with number 1 might not have number two which means we need number three. But much like days of old number three is annoying and easy to run over. Maybe the man in the picture has something profound to say, maybe all the power in the world should stop and listen. Maybe they won't and a martyr is made, maybe they will and great change will take place.
It reminds me of this mornings readings. Kings who seemed to care nothing for God or his way (except for one). A constant theme of those who did evil in the eyes of the Lord. A sidenote that leadership and Godliness can be separate things and they shouldn't be.
There is power that brings life and power that destroys. This picture represents that Popeye moment in the hearts of people "That's all I can stands, and I can't stands no more." Dying here would be more valuable to me than living the way I do... in shackles, imprisoned. A heart that wants to be renewed.
In the spiritual realm God raises up prophets to make voice to things that ought to be different. After many years of ungodly kings, Elijah arrives on the scene. Unlike the period of the Judges where God called a person and they rose to power to deal with the problem of the day, the prophets are a little different. Their message from the Lord carries weight without any political, social clout to back it up. Prophets are a burr under the saddle of those with great power, much like the guy in the picture. Let's be honest, putting this tank in gear and stepping on the gas pedal will take care of this problem with little or no energy. And yet maybe the one in our way has something to say.
Power, godliness, prophets. These three things can bring a harmony that is the most beautiful thing. In God's kingdom there will be no need for the third on the list, in the mean time people with number 1 might not have number two which means we need number three. But much like days of old number three is annoying and easy to run over. Maybe the man in the picture has something profound to say, maybe all the power in the world should stop and listen. Maybe they won't and a martyr is made, maybe they will and great change will take place.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
I Kings 12-14 Fast Fade
April 17th, I Kings 12-14
Yesterday was about Solomon's slow fade, but the end of Solomon's life is the beginning of an era that is anything but slow. It's a race to the moral bottom. As we get into the story a repeated line is going to be King XXX did more evil than any King ever before. Worse and worse and worse.
It really is amazing to me how something so great, seems to be moving along and then seem to just fall off a cliff. Like when my friend was sharing a story with me in on a New York subway deck about a guy who was trying to sell him something. As we were walking along at a brisk pace, all of the sudden in mid story he runs into a pole and falls over. My friend fell over and disappeared. It's a funny memory for me, maybe not for him. He too fell off a cliff(so to speak).
To be honest I don't even know where to go with this. I know that as we get into the prophets, sometimes it's hard to understand all the desperation they feel. Know that their desperation is rooted in these moments where this grand moment in national and spiritual history for God's people is going to come crashing down and the prophets are led by God to say something. Hard words for hard times.
These are intense times. Chapter 13 tells of a time when a prophet is confronting Jeroboam. As Jeroboam reaches out to seize the prophet his hand dried up, so that he couldn't grab him or bring it back to himself. Sounds like an Indiana Jones scene. Crazy times.
Reading these sections of the Bible feel a little like watching a bad scary movie. Like the last Jaws movie years ago. Someone thinks a shark has it out for his family so he moves to the Bahamas(or wherever he moved). First off, I've never heard of a shark attack on land. If I really wanted to get away from a shark that had it out for me I would move to Colorado. Very rarely is anyone attacked by a shark in CO. My point being we sit here, read the story and want so bad for something to be different. Want the obvious to us to be obvious to them, and somehow it's not.
We've now entered the heartache of God. A God who knows there could be something better. Praise be to God for his patience and perseverance with us!
Yesterday was about Solomon's slow fade, but the end of Solomon's life is the beginning of an era that is anything but slow. It's a race to the moral bottom. As we get into the story a repeated line is going to be King XXX did more evil than any King ever before. Worse and worse and worse.
It really is amazing to me how something so great, seems to be moving along and then seem to just fall off a cliff. Like when my friend was sharing a story with me in on a New York subway deck about a guy who was trying to sell him something. As we were walking along at a brisk pace, all of the sudden in mid story he runs into a pole and falls over. My friend fell over and disappeared. It's a funny memory for me, maybe not for him. He too fell off a cliff(so to speak).
To be honest I don't even know where to go with this. I know that as we get into the prophets, sometimes it's hard to understand all the desperation they feel. Know that their desperation is rooted in these moments where this grand moment in national and spiritual history for God's people is going to come crashing down and the prophets are led by God to say something. Hard words for hard times.
These are intense times. Chapter 13 tells of a time when a prophet is confronting Jeroboam. As Jeroboam reaches out to seize the prophet his hand dried up, so that he couldn't grab him or bring it back to himself. Sounds like an Indiana Jones scene. Crazy times.
Reading these sections of the Bible feel a little like watching a bad scary movie. Like the last Jaws movie years ago. Someone thinks a shark has it out for his family so he moves to the Bahamas(or wherever he moved). First off, I've never heard of a shark attack on land. If I really wanted to get away from a shark that had it out for me I would move to Colorado. Very rarely is anyone attacked by a shark in CO. My point being we sit here, read the story and want so bad for something to be different. Want the obvious to us to be obvious to them, and somehow it's not.
We've now entered the heartache of God. A God who knows there could be something better. Praise be to God for his patience and perseverance with us!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
I KIngs 10-11 Slow Fade
April 16th, I Kings 10-11
As I was sitting here trying to think what to write, this song came into my head. Today's two chapters are this story exactly. Solomon having it all together and then having it all fall apart, little by little, piece by piece. Not one grand moment of failure, but a failure to recognize each little compromise, until the end is drastically different than the start. "Slow Fade" by Casting Crowns. Follow the link and listen or just read the lyrics...
Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
The wisest man in the world was not able to recognize his "Slow Fade." Part of finishing life well is to be able to recognize distance between us and God and close the gap through our attention and realize most of our world would wants to create the gap. Here's to a God of reconciliation, may we know Him more than any other!!
Monday, April 15, 2013
I Kings 8-9 Who's Idea is This?
April 15th, I Kings 8-9
Who's idea is this? Today takes us to the dedication of the temple that Solomon built. It reminds me of the question God asked David when he was fired up to build this thing and that is..."When did I ever ask anyone to build a house for me." Also from Isaiah, "The heavens are my throne the earth is my footstool, where is the house you will build for me."
All I can think is that all this effort goes into this building that was David's idea and not God's. We build this monster over the top impressive thing, but for who really. I imagine heaven and the place that God has built for himself. Based on the book of Revelation, I'm gonna guess that this house that Solomon built is fair, I mean it's okay. God can speak and make a universe come into existence, but your seven years of labor has made a nice little place.
So who is this for. God's not in need of a house, the earth is his ottoman according to Isaiah. I'm thinking we're the ones who want to be reminded of the greatness of God. Much of Solomon's presentation has to do with impressing the neighbors with how big our God is. Is the house for God, or is the house for us?
People build things for "God" when maybe it's not really for God. How much do I do that? How much do you do that? Seven years is a lot of time building something that God never asked for. Yeah, God gave some plans to build this thing, but none of this was initiated by Him. I'm not saying that building the temple was a bad idea mind you. If God thought it was not worth their time and energy he could have put a stop to it. He knows what has been long evidenced in this story, that we need something tangible in front of us so we don't go off and make golden calves.
But the thought for the morning is that we learn to do what God asks of us, not forge ahead with our own plans when God hasn't even asked that of us.
Secondly, God has promised to go and prepare a place for us. So if the temple was impressive by the hand of man, guess what the hand of God could build?
Who's idea is this? Today takes us to the dedication of the temple that Solomon built. It reminds me of the question God asked David when he was fired up to build this thing and that is..."When did I ever ask anyone to build a house for me." Also from Isaiah, "The heavens are my throne the earth is my footstool, where is the house you will build for me."
All I can think is that all this effort goes into this building that was David's idea and not God's. We build this monster over the top impressive thing, but for who really. I imagine heaven and the place that God has built for himself. Based on the book of Revelation, I'm gonna guess that this house that Solomon built is fair, I mean it's okay. God can speak and make a universe come into existence, but your seven years of labor has made a nice little place.
So who is this for. God's not in need of a house, the earth is his ottoman according to Isaiah. I'm thinking we're the ones who want to be reminded of the greatness of God. Much of Solomon's presentation has to do with impressing the neighbors with how big our God is. Is the house for God, or is the house for us?
People build things for "God" when maybe it's not really for God. How much do I do that? How much do you do that? Seven years is a lot of time building something that God never asked for. Yeah, God gave some plans to build this thing, but none of this was initiated by Him. I'm not saying that building the temple was a bad idea mind you. If God thought it was not worth their time and energy he could have put a stop to it. He knows what has been long evidenced in this story, that we need something tangible in front of us so we don't go off and make golden calves.
But the thought for the morning is that we learn to do what God asks of us, not forge ahead with our own plans when God hasn't even asked that of us.
Secondly, God has promised to go and prepare a place for us. So if the temple was impressive by the hand of man, guess what the hand of God could build?
Sunday, April 14, 2013
I Kings 6-7 "Made by God"
April 14th, I Kings 6-7
Craftsmanship. Those who are skilled in their labor are an inspiration. The idea from today's text that blows my mind is from chapter 6 verse 7..."In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built." It gives extra weight to the idea "measure twice, cut once." It's a long way back to the quarry if you don't get the stone shaped right the first time.
Craftsman who can shape stone without lasers, diamond blades, and all of our modern conveniences. For those in the trade, and inspiration indeed.
Seven years were spent building the temple. Quality can't be rushed and taking the time to do something spectacular is worth it. There is certainly debate in our world about how much church buildings should cost. I certainly could argue with others that the money could be better spent somewhere else in God's Kingdom. God wanted this temple to be of spectacular proportion. Something that inspires awe, and awe that creates a silence in God's presence.
We've all been in one of those kind of sanctuaries. A place where you feel like whispering is the way to speak with one another. The ceiling is high, the stained glass larger than life the lines that draw your eye upward are powerful, and might I add...intentional. The makers of these sanctuaries invite you into the almighty presence of God almighty and there is awe. A feeling that is right and true.
Current church architecture wants ceilings to be lower, seating to be in the round and feel closer. We want to feel welcomed, part of a body, warm, close to each other, close to God. I can't argue with that either. That God is near, he knows my name, he is... God with us.
In some moments we should be reminded that he is near. In some moments we should be reminded that God is larger and more powerful than anything we could imagine. That the quality of life matters more than the quantity, that craftmanship is truly inspiration and used of us when the Bible says we are God's workmanship. He's handcrafted you and I.
"Made by God." I pray that's the sticker on your life and mine!!
Craftsmanship. Those who are skilled in their labor are an inspiration. The idea from today's text that blows my mind is from chapter 6 verse 7..."In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built." It gives extra weight to the idea "measure twice, cut once." It's a long way back to the quarry if you don't get the stone shaped right the first time.
Craftsman who can shape stone without lasers, diamond blades, and all of our modern conveniences. For those in the trade, and inspiration indeed.
Seven years were spent building the temple. Quality can't be rushed and taking the time to do something spectacular is worth it. There is certainly debate in our world about how much church buildings should cost. I certainly could argue with others that the money could be better spent somewhere else in God's Kingdom. God wanted this temple to be of spectacular proportion. Something that inspires awe, and awe that creates a silence in God's presence.
We've all been in one of those kind of sanctuaries. A place where you feel like whispering is the way to speak with one another. The ceiling is high, the stained glass larger than life the lines that draw your eye upward are powerful, and might I add...intentional. The makers of these sanctuaries invite you into the almighty presence of God almighty and there is awe. A feeling that is right and true.
Current church architecture wants ceilings to be lower, seating to be in the round and feel closer. We want to feel welcomed, part of a body, warm, close to each other, close to God. I can't argue with that either. That God is near, he knows my name, he is... God with us.
In some moments we should be reminded that he is near. In some moments we should be reminded that God is larger and more powerful than anything we could imagine. That the quality of life matters more than the quantity, that craftmanship is truly inspiration and used of us when the Bible says we are God's workmanship. He's handcrafted you and I.
"Made by God." I pray that's the sticker on your life and mine!!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
I Kings 3-5 The Best things in Life
April 13th, I Kings 3-5
Solomon and his famous request for wisdom is what permeates our story today. It easily triggers thoughts of what I would ask for. What would make my life better? A genie and three wishes is an overdone story line, and the lottery is the modern expression of our strongly held belief that riches would somehow improve our life. I'm willing to try, but evidence seems to support the notion that money isn't the answer. Power and fame spring into action for many as well. All of them at some point will ring as hollow as a high school cheer eventually.
I'm feeling a bit like I should be reading the book of Ecclesiastes today. I look out my kitchen window at all the snow and realize I am filthy rich by world standards and lower middle class by american standards. I try to scrape together some money for a camping trip as a vacation. Not complaining, but obviously money is not, in an over the top way, improving my life.
On a worldwide note I'm about as famous as Philip Goulee. Who's that? Exactly my point.
From the standpoint of power, I have a position with some authority, but we're talking about a small subset of a small/medium sized town in a county, in a state, in a country, in a world of 6-7 billion...you get the picture.
Some how you and I still have an important part to play in the midst of the smaller picture for which we are part. Solomon's request should be our request regardless of the level of any of the above. In the midst of seeking the above, we will miss the greater values of doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly. Being GREAT is not the same as BEING great. One generally leads to another and the one keep us from the other. I'll let you sort out what I'm saying there...just for fun.
In all that's done under the sun today, bringing God glory is the task!
Solomon and his famous request for wisdom is what permeates our story today. It easily triggers thoughts of what I would ask for. What would make my life better? A genie and three wishes is an overdone story line, and the lottery is the modern expression of our strongly held belief that riches would somehow improve our life. I'm willing to try, but evidence seems to support the notion that money isn't the answer. Power and fame spring into action for many as well. All of them at some point will ring as hollow as a high school cheer eventually.
I'm feeling a bit like I should be reading the book of Ecclesiastes today. I look out my kitchen window at all the snow and realize I am filthy rich by world standards and lower middle class by american standards. I try to scrape together some money for a camping trip as a vacation. Not complaining, but obviously money is not, in an over the top way, improving my life.
On a worldwide note I'm about as famous as Philip Goulee. Who's that? Exactly my point.
From the standpoint of power, I have a position with some authority, but we're talking about a small subset of a small/medium sized town in a county, in a state, in a country, in a world of 6-7 billion...you get the picture.
Some how you and I still have an important part to play in the midst of the smaller picture for which we are part. Solomon's request should be our request regardless of the level of any of the above. In the midst of seeking the above, we will miss the greater values of doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly. Being GREAT is not the same as BEING great. One generally leads to another and the one keep us from the other. I'll let you sort out what I'm saying there...just for fun.
In all that's done under the sun today, bringing God glory is the task!
Friday, April 12, 2013
I Kings 1-2 Chapter Two of our life could be different.
April 12th, I Kings 1-2
So the lesson for the day is that God gets to decide who is King. All of the trouble that comes to us from this story happens as a result of a person making the decision that he is going to be King. The power to want what we want is a stronger power than asking what God wants. A lot of the trouble in life comes from this issue.
As we've talked on Thursday Nights at church, there is an uneasiness about the level of violence contained in these stories. It stems from our way of life that from A-Z is less (note the word less) violent than the world of the OT or even parts of our world today. In parts of our world 10-12 year old boys are expected to be soldiers and don't even know that they should have a bike and play little league baseball. We have different norms.
But secondly all of the violence in this story could have never happened had the leadership of Israel decided this collectively before someone decided individually AND all the players would have submitted well to the decision. That could have been the story and chapter two could have been written about different events.
There is a chapter two in all of our lives. Chapter two is based on the decisions of chapter one. The good news is that God desires to be part of every chapter. But that is really our responsibility. What chapter is next for you? How are the events of the previous chapters going to have impact on "the rest of the story." (Hear Paul Harvey's voice!!!)
I also hope you realize the blessing of chapters. Drawing something to an end and having a new beginning. Israel's in a new chapter with Solomon as their new King. Chapters graciously come to a close in our life so that something new can happen. All the chapters are related, God is in them all, what gets written in them is partly our responsibility(not all, look at Job).
David's commission to Solomon is Chapter 2:1-4... a worthy read, with a healthy dose off foreshadowing!
So the lesson for the day is that God gets to decide who is King. All of the trouble that comes to us from this story happens as a result of a person making the decision that he is going to be King. The power to want what we want is a stronger power than asking what God wants. A lot of the trouble in life comes from this issue.
As we've talked on Thursday Nights at church, there is an uneasiness about the level of violence contained in these stories. It stems from our way of life that from A-Z is less (note the word less) violent than the world of the OT or even parts of our world today. In parts of our world 10-12 year old boys are expected to be soldiers and don't even know that they should have a bike and play little league baseball. We have different norms.
But secondly all of the violence in this story could have never happened had the leadership of Israel decided this collectively before someone decided individually AND all the players would have submitted well to the decision. That could have been the story and chapter two could have been written about different events.
There is a chapter two in all of our lives. Chapter two is based on the decisions of chapter one. The good news is that God desires to be part of every chapter. But that is really our responsibility. What chapter is next for you? How are the events of the previous chapters going to have impact on "the rest of the story." (Hear Paul Harvey's voice!!!)
I also hope you realize the blessing of chapters. Drawing something to an end and having a new beginning. Israel's in a new chapter with Solomon as their new King. Chapters graciously come to a close in our life so that something new can happen. All the chapters are related, God is in them all, what gets written in them is partly our responsibility(not all, look at Job).
David's commission to Solomon is Chapter 2:1-4... a worthy read, with a healthy dose off foreshadowing!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
2 Samuel 22-24 And there was much rejoicing!!
April 11th, 2 Samuel 22-24
I want to let David's words speak for themselves this morning. Here's is David's song written after being delivered from his enemies... From chapter 22
17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Maybe today is a day to sing David's song or possibly write your own. But at the heart of it is that God cares for us, watches out for us, defends us. I pray for a deepened awareness of the blessing of being watched over by a mighty God!!
I want to let David's words speak for themselves this morning. Here's is David's song written after being delivered from his enemies... From chapter 22
4 “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and have been saved from my enemies.
5 The waves of death swirled about me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
and have been saved from my enemies.
5 The waves of death swirled about me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
6 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
26 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
28 You save the humble,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29 You, Lord, are my lamp;
the Lord turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop[g];
with my God I can scale a wall.
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
27 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
28 You save the humble,
but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
29 You, Lord, are my lamp;
the Lord turns my darkness into light.
30 With your help I can advance against a troop[g];
with my God I can scale a wall.
47 “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
2 Samuel 19-21 It's Complicated, Good Advisors Will Help
April 10th, 2 Samuel 19-21
Snap out of it!!!! Today's passage finds David mourning the loss of his son Absalom. It's not your normal loss, it's the loss of a son that was trying to kill you (I assume that's not normal to most of us). It's a complicated story at best. David has had a good decade of failure. This animosity between Absalom and David is rooted in David's failure (not completely David's fault, but certainly rooted). Now your son's dead, there's no reconciliation and your left with a mouthful of gravel.
David seems to be impossible to console. How much of this grief is over a son and how much is over his own failure. In those moments it's probably impossible to tell, but it's a worthy question.
To add to the mix David is a leader. People need David to lead. Joab steps into the mix and confronts David. In short saying, you have a bunch of people who have fought for you. Yes it was against your son, yeah we're sorry your enemy was your child, but your people need to know that you care about them too. His line of challenge was it seems like you "love those who hate you and hate those who love you."
Speaking of complicated..... This text makes it seem like all of this was the same day David heard of Absalom's death. My first thought is David's friends and family could let him cry for a day couldn't they? Their seeming neediness is a problem too in my book. This is certainly the challenge of leadership. My needs verses the needs of others.
Did I say something about complicated... Joab tells David that unless you come out and address these people they will all leave you by morning, they need to know that their fighting for you was worth their time and energy. That you love those who love you more than you love those who hate you. I think the request is simply to address the needs of his people. 5 minutes of thank you's could be followed by 48 hours of mourning. But leadership has it's privileges and it's responsibilities. It's not always easy to sort out.
If your a leader and you have someone like Joab you are blessed. If your a leader and you don't have a Joab you need to find one. Someone who will tell you the hard things that others won't. Life is complicated and navigating it well by ourselves is almost impossible.
Snap out of it!!!! Today's passage finds David mourning the loss of his son Absalom. It's not your normal loss, it's the loss of a son that was trying to kill you (I assume that's not normal to most of us). It's a complicated story at best. David has had a good decade of failure. This animosity between Absalom and David is rooted in David's failure (not completely David's fault, but certainly rooted). Now your son's dead, there's no reconciliation and your left with a mouthful of gravel.
David seems to be impossible to console. How much of this grief is over a son and how much is over his own failure. In those moments it's probably impossible to tell, but it's a worthy question.
To add to the mix David is a leader. People need David to lead. Joab steps into the mix and confronts David. In short saying, you have a bunch of people who have fought for you. Yes it was against your son, yeah we're sorry your enemy was your child, but your people need to know that you care about them too. His line of challenge was it seems like you "love those who hate you and hate those who love you."
Speaking of complicated..... This text makes it seem like all of this was the same day David heard of Absalom's death. My first thought is David's friends and family could let him cry for a day couldn't they? Their seeming neediness is a problem too in my book. This is certainly the challenge of leadership. My needs verses the needs of others.
Did I say something about complicated... Joab tells David that unless you come out and address these people they will all leave you by morning, they need to know that their fighting for you was worth their time and energy. That you love those who love you more than you love those who hate you. I think the request is simply to address the needs of his people. 5 minutes of thank you's could be followed by 48 hours of mourning. But leadership has it's privileges and it's responsibilities. It's not always easy to sort out.
If your a leader and you have someone like Joab you are blessed. If your a leader and you don't have a Joab you need to find one. Someone who will tell you the hard things that others won't. Life is complicated and navigating it well by ourselves is almost impossible.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
2 Samuel 16-18 God's Will Be Done
April 9th, 2 Samuel 16-18
The cry goes out and the assumption is that "God is on my side." Whatever my side is, for whatever reason we might think that God is with "us" verses God being with "them." Saul's family, Saul's old regime loved the idea of Absalom's rebellion. From our perspective it's hard to understand how people rally around something that was so wrong, and yet in the history of mankind, it's more normal than we'd like to think.
I love David's response to the man cursing him. David's servants ask if they can kill'em. David's response was in essence... if God has told him to curse me why stop him. If my son wants to curse me why shouldn't this guy. If it's wrong for him to curse me then the Lord will look on the wrong that has been done to me and repay me with good. It's not "God is on my side so shut him up." It's an awareness that in time, these matters will be sorted out by a Holy God.
Speaking of God sorting things out, 2 Samuel 17:14. Absalom gets counsel from two different people. Absalom chooses the bad counsel and this verse speaks of God's ordaining these events to bring harm on Absalom who even though his sister has been wronged, he himself is also in the wrong and God is going to take care of this situation. Apparently two wrongs don't make a right.
While I look at David's behavior in these matters it seems like he is being a little passive and just avoiding a fight. It also appears that his behavior is rooted in a firm belief that God will have his way. If I step in the way it won't go well for me, if I get out of the way, God will make his will known.
That's a tough pill for us Americans to swallow. We are the captains of our own destiny. We make outcomes favorable to us, because after all, God is on our side right?? David is light years ahead of us. David has learned...
If God is my fortress, then I can stop spending so much time building walls. If God is my strength I don't have to spend so much time flexing in the mirror. If God is my shield, I can rest in regards to the rumors meant to undo me. David has learned these lessons well as should we.
The cry goes out and the assumption is that "God is on my side." Whatever my side is, for whatever reason we might think that God is with "us" verses God being with "them." Saul's family, Saul's old regime loved the idea of Absalom's rebellion. From our perspective it's hard to understand how people rally around something that was so wrong, and yet in the history of mankind, it's more normal than we'd like to think.
I love David's response to the man cursing him. David's servants ask if they can kill'em. David's response was in essence... if God has told him to curse me why stop him. If my son wants to curse me why shouldn't this guy. If it's wrong for him to curse me then the Lord will look on the wrong that has been done to me and repay me with good. It's not "God is on my side so shut him up." It's an awareness that in time, these matters will be sorted out by a Holy God.
Speaking of God sorting things out, 2 Samuel 17:14. Absalom gets counsel from two different people. Absalom chooses the bad counsel and this verse speaks of God's ordaining these events to bring harm on Absalom who even though his sister has been wronged, he himself is also in the wrong and God is going to take care of this situation. Apparently two wrongs don't make a right.
While I look at David's behavior in these matters it seems like he is being a little passive and just avoiding a fight. It also appears that his behavior is rooted in a firm belief that God will have his way. If I step in the way it won't go well for me, if I get out of the way, God will make his will known.
That's a tough pill for us Americans to swallow. We are the captains of our own destiny. We make outcomes favorable to us, because after all, God is on our side right?? David is light years ahead of us. David has learned...
If God is my fortress, then I can stop spending so much time building walls. If God is my strength I don't have to spend so much time flexing in the mirror. If God is my shield, I can rest in regards to the rumors meant to undo me. David has learned these lessons well as should we.
Monday, April 8, 2013
2 Samuel 13-15 Leadership void, leadership folly
April 8th, 2 Samuel 13-15
What do you get when you add together a family sex crime + injustice + 2 years + murder + 3 years + 2 years? You get a troubling story found today in this text. For me it's the number of years that pass by that I never noticed earlier in life.
It just always seemed like Absalom was a bad egg in the nest of David's family tree. In the end he is responsible for his own action and maybe he was a bad egg, but David's passivity to defend the honor of his daughter is appalling and Absalom takes notice. The royal family shouldn't be raping one another and the law of the land should be enforced on your family members as well as on everyone else.
Amnon gets a pass on his first rape and two years later Absalom decides to take matters into his own hands and make justice happen. Add three years and two more years and chapter 15 introduces us to a slimy salesman outside the city gates of Jerusalem. The guy with the slicked back hair, shiny suit, and wagon full of elixir is none other than Absalom. "Oh that there were a judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me and I would give them justice."
Add another four years and Absalom acting like he cared about justice will win the hearts of people for your cause. Your cause against one who doesn't care about justice, doesn't care about my sister, doesn't care about your sister... Come to me..."the just, care-giving, Absalom."
Playing amateur psychologist, my guess is that David's own failure with adultery and murder keeps him from being the right man for the job when it comes to justice in his own family(so he thinks). His passivity in these family matters are certainly another glimpse at the cost of his own sin. In the same manner Absalom is responsible for his own sin as well. David's response to inadequate leadership (Saul) was vastly different than Absalom's. All of us have our part to play in not adding to the heartache of this story of life.
There are a lot of lessons here. Lessons about leadership, our own sin, our own response to other's sin. What strikes you about the story today that is a point of growth for you??
What do you get when you add together a family sex crime + injustice + 2 years + murder + 3 years + 2 years? You get a troubling story found today in this text. For me it's the number of years that pass by that I never noticed earlier in life.
It just always seemed like Absalom was a bad egg in the nest of David's family tree. In the end he is responsible for his own action and maybe he was a bad egg, but David's passivity to defend the honor of his daughter is appalling and Absalom takes notice. The royal family shouldn't be raping one another and the law of the land should be enforced on your family members as well as on everyone else.
Amnon gets a pass on his first rape and two years later Absalom decides to take matters into his own hands and make justice happen. Add three years and two more years and chapter 15 introduces us to a slimy salesman outside the city gates of Jerusalem. The guy with the slicked back hair, shiny suit, and wagon full of elixir is none other than Absalom. "Oh that there were a judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me and I would give them justice."
Add another four years and Absalom acting like he cared about justice will win the hearts of people for your cause. Your cause against one who doesn't care about justice, doesn't care about my sister, doesn't care about your sister... Come to me..."the just, care-giving, Absalom."
Playing amateur psychologist, my guess is that David's own failure with adultery and murder keeps him from being the right man for the job when it comes to justice in his own family(so he thinks). His passivity in these family matters are certainly another glimpse at the cost of his own sin. In the same manner Absalom is responsible for his own sin as well. David's response to inadequate leadership (Saul) was vastly different than Absalom's. All of us have our part to play in not adding to the heartache of this story of life.
There are a lot of lessons here. Lessons about leadership, our own sin, our own response to other's sin. What strikes you about the story today that is a point of growth for you??
Sunday, April 7, 2013
2 Samuel 8-12 Hero to Gossip Column
April 7th, 2 Samuel 8-12
Everything changes, resting on what's been done in the past is part of the future's failure. David really seems to go from golden boy to one mistake after another in his later years and today's passage begins that slide and witness of both of the above.
First, more victories. Winning and aquiring assets, being just and bringing equity to all the people. There is a great story about David wanting to honor is friend Jonathan. They hear about Mephibosheth (not in most baby name books) and David seeks to honor this guy and have his tough life be something different. Now a guy who is physically lame and least in the kingdom gets to sit at the king's table for the rest of his days. Certainly a story to reflect God's call on us to watch out for the widows, orphans, strangers and the poor.
More victories, then...adultery, lies, asking others to lie for you, and murder. It's amazing how fast one can shipwreck their life. I think about my kids and pray that they won't make bad choices that will have a disastrous impact and then you read about David. I begin to realize that at any age you could make choices that would create big problems. One of my prayer requests for my life is that I might finish all of this well.
Life changes and navigating those changes well are important. We're two years away from our kids being off at college, out of our house. I begin to think how many of my good behaviors are present just to try and be a good role model for my kids. When they leave I will no longer feel compelled to _________. By God's grace that will all go well, but I see how those kinds of things can be difficult for people to navigate.
David had wives and concubines, how hard would it be for the lines to be blurred so that any woman he wanted could be the order of the day. It's not so difficult to see the problem brewing.
God's at the center, becoming like him is the priority, growth towards that should be our focus, all of your days. By God's grace, may it be so.
Everything changes, resting on what's been done in the past is part of the future's failure. David really seems to go from golden boy to one mistake after another in his later years and today's passage begins that slide and witness of both of the above.
First, more victories. Winning and aquiring assets, being just and bringing equity to all the people. There is a great story about David wanting to honor is friend Jonathan. They hear about Mephibosheth (not in most baby name books) and David seeks to honor this guy and have his tough life be something different. Now a guy who is physically lame and least in the kingdom gets to sit at the king's table for the rest of his days. Certainly a story to reflect God's call on us to watch out for the widows, orphans, strangers and the poor.
More victories, then...adultery, lies, asking others to lie for you, and murder. It's amazing how fast one can shipwreck their life. I think about my kids and pray that they won't make bad choices that will have a disastrous impact and then you read about David. I begin to realize that at any age you could make choices that would create big problems. One of my prayer requests for my life is that I might finish all of this well.
Life changes and navigating those changes well are important. We're two years away from our kids being off at college, out of our house. I begin to think how many of my good behaviors are present just to try and be a good role model for my kids. When they leave I will no longer feel compelled to _________. By God's grace that will all go well, but I see how those kinds of things can be difficult for people to navigate.
David had wives and concubines, how hard would it be for the lines to be blurred so that any woman he wanted could be the order of the day. It's not so difficult to see the problem brewing.
God's at the center, becoming like him is the priority, growth towards that should be our focus, all of your days. By God's grace, may it be so.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
2 Samuel 4-7 Growth and Blessing
April 6th, 2 Samuel 4-7
God's mercy in our growth sometimes happens this way...I've always wondered what would happen if God was to reveal to us sometime all the ways that we fall short. What if we suddenly felt conviction about every wrong part of our lives. I think that it's God grace that he begins to work on us piece by piece. As we go along with the program we begin to think different, act different, look at life different and by that grace our lives begin to reflect God more and more.
Each of those interactions can come as a relief, or a challenge, or as a revelation that stings for awhile. Sometimes it's a relief because we've decided to drive down the wrong side of the highway, but no one ever told us or we never saw that there was a right side of the highway. When we got there we were amazed at how much better things were. Some times we have to face a revelation from a friend, sermon or God's word that reminds us we are dead wrong and need to make a new choice to find the abundant life God promises.
Sometimes like David today, there comes a challenge to rethink something. David finds a city, David goes to great lengths to build himself a house. Not just any house, but a king's house. God has blessed him with rest from his enemies and now a retreat, a place to call home. It's a lot more pleasant than the caves he has spent time in. But sometimes in the middle of life there comes a conviction. Something that says, this probably isn't right, there's probably something I'm missing. These are good moments of growth for us. Pay attention to them and see where they lead.
For David it led to asking the question... Why do I live in a house when the ark of God lives in a tent? I've been there, it's one of those moments when you think to your self, maybe I should have thought about that first instead of second. A moment of growth, a moment to inquire of the Lord and see what he wants, a moment of conviction, apology, restoration, and moving in, on the park bench of life, to sit just a little closer to God.
It's on this park bench of life that God reveals his best stuff, don't just wave to him from the other side of the park, come take a seat...enjoy the connection!
God's mercy in our growth sometimes happens this way...I've always wondered what would happen if God was to reveal to us sometime all the ways that we fall short. What if we suddenly felt conviction about every wrong part of our lives. I think that it's God grace that he begins to work on us piece by piece. As we go along with the program we begin to think different, act different, look at life different and by that grace our lives begin to reflect God more and more.
Each of those interactions can come as a relief, or a challenge, or as a revelation that stings for awhile. Sometimes it's a relief because we've decided to drive down the wrong side of the highway, but no one ever told us or we never saw that there was a right side of the highway. When we got there we were amazed at how much better things were. Some times we have to face a revelation from a friend, sermon or God's word that reminds us we are dead wrong and need to make a new choice to find the abundant life God promises.
Sometimes like David today, there comes a challenge to rethink something. David finds a city, David goes to great lengths to build himself a house. Not just any house, but a king's house. God has blessed him with rest from his enemies and now a retreat, a place to call home. It's a lot more pleasant than the caves he has spent time in. But sometimes in the middle of life there comes a conviction. Something that says, this probably isn't right, there's probably something I'm missing. These are good moments of growth for us. Pay attention to them and see where they lead.
For David it led to asking the question... Why do I live in a house when the ark of God lives in a tent? I've been there, it's one of those moments when you think to your self, maybe I should have thought about that first instead of second. A moment of growth, a moment to inquire of the Lord and see what he wants, a moment of conviction, apology, restoration, and moving in, on the park bench of life, to sit just a little closer to God.
It's on this park bench of life that God reveals his best stuff, don't just wave to him from the other side of the park, come take a seat...enjoy the connection!
Friday, April 5, 2013
2 Samuel 1-3 Winds of Change
April 5th, 2 Samuel 1-3
One thing we should celebrate here in America is the non-violent exchange of power that takes place every 4 years(sometimes 8). For ages past this would be considered miraculous, for our story today, it would have been as well. Saul's lack of interest in God's will has been learned well by his family and fellow leaders and parts of Israel. Saul's death, David's anointing to be the next king, really means nothing to them. so the needless heartache and war continues. How often is that story told in our lives as well.
Why fight God's will? God's intent in this story is plain to see and yet masses of people are led away from the will of God into a self-absorbed continuation of slimy questionable leadership. It's hard for me to fathom that people living in this time would fight for Saul and his family and leadership to continue in that role instead of David. People believe what they want to believe and when they do it in mass, people forget to think.
We'd like to think that only happens to people looooooong ago. But we have our own version of entrenched, embedded, self-focused thoughts in the American church. Instead of following an anointing rooted in God's leadership, we follow an anointing rooted in protecting what we value to the exclusion of what God values. First and foremeost, concern about ourselves over and above our concern for the lost. Flip through your bulletin or newsletter and see where your church has it's emphasis. 'nuff said.
Winds of change come calling. God wanted to be their King, they wanted someone else. God wants to be our King...he has a will...we should follow!
One thing we should celebrate here in America is the non-violent exchange of power that takes place every 4 years(sometimes 8). For ages past this would be considered miraculous, for our story today, it would have been as well. Saul's lack of interest in God's will has been learned well by his family and fellow leaders and parts of Israel. Saul's death, David's anointing to be the next king, really means nothing to them. so the needless heartache and war continues. How often is that story told in our lives as well.
Why fight God's will? God's intent in this story is plain to see and yet masses of people are led away from the will of God into a self-absorbed continuation of slimy questionable leadership. It's hard for me to fathom that people living in this time would fight for Saul and his family and leadership to continue in that role instead of David. People believe what they want to believe and when they do it in mass, people forget to think.
We'd like to think that only happens to people looooooong ago. But we have our own version of entrenched, embedded, self-focused thoughts in the American church. Instead of following an anointing rooted in God's leadership, we follow an anointing rooted in protecting what we value to the exclusion of what God values. First and foremeost, concern about ourselves over and above our concern for the lost. Flip through your bulletin or newsletter and see where your church has it's emphasis. 'nuff said.
Winds of change come calling. God wanted to be their King, they wanted someone else. God wants to be our King...he has a will...we should follow!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
I Sam 28-31 One or Two?
April 4th, I Samuel 28-31
The word for today is duplicity.
Duplicity 1: contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially: the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action.
This is the story of Saul. On the one hand chapter 28:3 tells us that Saul had "put the mediums and necromancers out of the land." It was a God ordained command, that this type of thing was not to go on amongst God's people. Unless of course.... you need one.
So when the leader of God's people needs a medium he tells his people to find one. To which his servants don't spend any time on research, they simply, immediately say, "Oh, there's one at Endor." You see because it goes like this. The leader, Saul, makes the command. But Saul's leadership knows full well about the level of duplicity in Saul's heart. Instead of following his command, that they would later get in trouble for if the went to the trouble to actually expel these people, they simply kept a rolodex of mediums so they could find one when(not if) the need arises.
Here inlies the heart of the problem of duplicity in leadership.People here what you say, but they know what you want. When those two things don't line up there is no capacity for respect. If there is no capacity for respect, everyone makes their own way, just like their leader has. Over time, the mess grows and the missteps begin to compound.
If the mediums were expelled and Saul's servants didn't know where to find one this afternoon, maybe two weeks would have been enough time for Saul to seek God's face and for God to speak to him.
Notice Saul didn't have a problem with quickly knowing where one was, disguising himself because he knew it was wrong, or making promises to absolve one who was going against God's command. Saul trained his followers that in regards to integrity, nothing really matters.
Duplicity in our lives has the same result it had in Saul's. First off in our home, children recognize the difference between words and actions without fail. They resolve the tension by doing the same. Leadership in the workplace, at church, in social settings is recognized by people. As we get older we imagine that we cover it up better, but we usually don't. If your in a position of power like Saul, you might think you're getting away with it, but the truth is your powerful position just keeps people from being honest with you. That's how Saul became so delusional.
The real goal here is to be one with God. He convicts me, forgives me, sets me on a new path. The very opposite of duplicity is to be one with God. That's my prayer for us!!
The word for today is duplicity.
Duplicity 1: contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action; especially: the belying of one's true intentions by deceptive words or action.
This is the story of Saul. On the one hand chapter 28:3 tells us that Saul had "put the mediums and necromancers out of the land." It was a God ordained command, that this type of thing was not to go on amongst God's people. Unless of course.... you need one.
So when the leader of God's people needs a medium he tells his people to find one. To which his servants don't spend any time on research, they simply, immediately say, "Oh, there's one at Endor." You see because it goes like this. The leader, Saul, makes the command. But Saul's leadership knows full well about the level of duplicity in Saul's heart. Instead of following his command, that they would later get in trouble for if the went to the trouble to actually expel these people, they simply kept a rolodex of mediums so they could find one when(not if) the need arises.
Here inlies the heart of the problem of duplicity in leadership.People here what you say, but they know what you want. When those two things don't line up there is no capacity for respect. If there is no capacity for respect, everyone makes their own way, just like their leader has. Over time, the mess grows and the missteps begin to compound.
If the mediums were expelled and Saul's servants didn't know where to find one this afternoon, maybe two weeks would have been enough time for Saul to seek God's face and for God to speak to him.
Notice Saul didn't have a problem with quickly knowing where one was, disguising himself because he knew it was wrong, or making promises to absolve one who was going against God's command. Saul trained his followers that in regards to integrity, nothing really matters.
Duplicity in our lives has the same result it had in Saul's. First off in our home, children recognize the difference between words and actions without fail. They resolve the tension by doing the same. Leadership in the workplace, at church, in social settings is recognized by people. As we get older we imagine that we cover it up better, but we usually don't. If your in a position of power like Saul, you might think you're getting away with it, but the truth is your powerful position just keeps people from being honest with you. That's how Saul became so delusional.
The real goal here is to be one with God. He convicts me, forgives me, sets me on a new path. The very opposite of duplicity is to be one with God. That's my prayer for us!!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
I Samuel 25-27 Trustworthy and not trusting
April 3rd, I Samuel 25-27
David gets a wife: In chapter 25 we witness the hard heart of Nabal. David's men have been a blessing to him. A hungry band of men of have been of utmost integrity and when asked a favor for food, Nabal stingy heart says..."it's all mine." Abigail , his wife, was said to be discerning and beautiful. Long story short discerning is better than stingy. Nabal falls over dead from his hard heart and David invites Abigail to be his wife. Apparently when your first wife is the daughter of the king trying to kill you, things don't work out. Saul decided to give Michal to someone else.
David spares Saul's life: Chapter 26 is another opportunity for David to demonstrate his good will toward Saul. David sneaks into Saul's camp and steal's his spear and water bottle from his tent while Saul was sleeping. When David addresses this, Saul is quick to invite David back and promises to do him no harm. Saul pronounces his blessing over David. The part of the story that demonstrates good wisdom is that David flees. Abusive tyrant killers can't be trusted. Aren't you glad to serve a God who brings life to us rather than someone who would steal life from us!!
David causes strife: Chapter 27 has David going to live among the Philistines. Get this... in David's mind it's more safe to go live in the land of Goliath (whom he killed) than it is to live in Saul's territory. David doesn't trust Saul at all. The king of the Philistine land thought he had David in his pocket and didn't mind having him around, even gave him a city to live in. Giving meaning to the saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
What keeps our character from getting twisted in all these difficult trials of life? I pray that the weight of all of this turmoil in David's life would be a wonderful background for the Psalms that we are going to get to later. When David asks "How long o Lord, will you forget me forever?" you know it's not just a philosophical question. It's the real time question of a man in genuine turmoil. The Bible is offering more than cute sayings, it wrestles with the real time struggles of people and offers a glimpse into God's heart for how to live out this journey of faith.
Praying for one another on the journey!!
David gets a wife: In chapter 25 we witness the hard heart of Nabal. David's men have been a blessing to him. A hungry band of men of have been of utmost integrity and when asked a favor for food, Nabal stingy heart says..."it's all mine." Abigail , his wife, was said to be discerning and beautiful. Long story short discerning is better than stingy. Nabal falls over dead from his hard heart and David invites Abigail to be his wife. Apparently when your first wife is the daughter of the king trying to kill you, things don't work out. Saul decided to give Michal to someone else.
David spares Saul's life: Chapter 26 is another opportunity for David to demonstrate his good will toward Saul. David sneaks into Saul's camp and steal's his spear and water bottle from his tent while Saul was sleeping. When David addresses this, Saul is quick to invite David back and promises to do him no harm. Saul pronounces his blessing over David. The part of the story that demonstrates good wisdom is that David flees. Abusive tyrant killers can't be trusted. Aren't you glad to serve a God who brings life to us rather than someone who would steal life from us!!
David causes strife: Chapter 27 has David going to live among the Philistines. Get this... in David's mind it's more safe to go live in the land of Goliath (whom he killed) than it is to live in Saul's territory. David doesn't trust Saul at all. The king of the Philistine land thought he had David in his pocket and didn't mind having him around, even gave him a city to live in. Giving meaning to the saying, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
What keeps our character from getting twisted in all these difficult trials of life? I pray that the weight of all of this turmoil in David's life would be a wonderful background for the Psalms that we are going to get to later. When David asks "How long o Lord, will you forget me forever?" you know it's not just a philosophical question. It's the real time question of a man in genuine turmoil. The Bible is offering more than cute sayings, it wrestles with the real time struggles of people and offers a glimpse into God's heart for how to live out this journey of faith.
Praying for one another on the journey!!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
I Samuel 21-24 When perception is not reality
April 2nd, I Samuel 21-24
In the history of injustices, Saul's treatment of David ranks right up there. Second in the history of injustices is David's response to it, along with his understanding of the flow of authority. In an age when a coup of leadership is as common as our morning coffee, David chooses to honor the Lord's anointing of Saul and not become king before his appointed time.
Running for your life, hiding in caves, living with a bunch societal misfits when you were the boyhood hero who killed Goliath, found success for your king and country, had women write songs about you and have a nation in love with you...except for...one hyper... jealous...fearful ... king.
When you think about the opportunities for a young man to rouse a coup and take out a madman who is king, the circumstances here are ripe. But honoring the Lord and his authority are more important that my need to make this evil stop. Even the story of the cave this morning. Saul goes into the cave to "relieve himself." That's our euphemism for going to the bathroom. A little fact for you to use today, an OT euphemism for going to the bathroom was to "cover my feet." Have fun with that today if you wish. David's party sees this as a chance to take the life of Saul. David wants nothing to do with that. David wants to prove his innocence in regards to his stance towards Saul, and he does.
David proves his allegiance, but the same warning goes out to us that went to David. Apologies don't mean much when jealousy, revenge and anger have more importance to you than reconciliation. All along in this story David could have been Saul's biggest asset. Sometimes our mindset clouds how we should see things. Saul will always see David as a great enemy...further proof of a line I really don't like..."Perception is reality." Saul's perception is not reality, I don't want that for my life...I don't want that for your life.
In the history of injustices, Saul's treatment of David ranks right up there. Second in the history of injustices is David's response to it, along with his understanding of the flow of authority. In an age when a coup of leadership is as common as our morning coffee, David chooses to honor the Lord's anointing of Saul and not become king before his appointed time.
Running for your life, hiding in caves, living with a bunch societal misfits when you were the boyhood hero who killed Goliath, found success for your king and country, had women write songs about you and have a nation in love with you...except for...one hyper... jealous...fearful ... king.
When you think about the opportunities for a young man to rouse a coup and take out a madman who is king, the circumstances here are ripe. But honoring the Lord and his authority are more important that my need to make this evil stop. Even the story of the cave this morning. Saul goes into the cave to "relieve himself." That's our euphemism for going to the bathroom. A little fact for you to use today, an OT euphemism for going to the bathroom was to "cover my feet." Have fun with that today if you wish. David's party sees this as a chance to take the life of Saul. David wants nothing to do with that. David wants to prove his innocence in regards to his stance towards Saul, and he does.
David proves his allegiance, but the same warning goes out to us that went to David. Apologies don't mean much when jealousy, revenge and anger have more importance to you than reconciliation. All along in this story David could have been Saul's biggest asset. Sometimes our mindset clouds how we should see things. Saul will always see David as a great enemy...further proof of a line I really don't like..."Perception is reality." Saul's perception is not reality, I don't want that for my life...I don't want that for your life.
Monday, April 1, 2013
I Sam 18-20 Jealous Leaders Make Lousy Leaders
April 1st, I Samuel 18-20
We're now diving into the story of David. A story of the guy that was a winner in everything he did because the Lord's hand was with him. And the story of a jealous leader. It's no surprise, king's in these times were always a jealous, nervous bunch. People that could take over their jobs were often found "missing" shall we say.
This story witnesses the madness of jealousy. Saul sends David out to do important business, David wins, Saul gets more jealous. Round and round it goes. The modern day story of this is the Chicago Bulls/Phil Jackson and Dallas Cowboys/the lame duck coach Jerry Jones hires because there is only so much room for ego in one place.
If Saul was smart he would have realized that since David can accomplish anything, I should set him loose. But ego and jealousy produces something vastly different. May we learn our lessons well.
The other lesson for the day is our response to crazy!! Crazy is being ordained by God to be the next king and having to have spears thrown at you. There are certain things that develop in your mind as people throw spears at you. There are choices that have to be made to survive.
The first choice one can make is learning the fine art of spear throwing. If someone throws a spear at me, I'm gonna pick it up and chuck it back and become like the very person who threw it at me in the first place. Probably the most common choice. Not's David's choice. David is a skilled warrior, David is next in line for the throne. David's popularity is so high, not many would care. After all, "Saul's killed his thousands, David his tens of thousands." Learning the art of spear throwing is how the madness gets passed from one generation to the next.
The second choice is David's choice...walk away. Recognize crazy for what it is and not partake in it. For most of us it seems like the weak, passive choice. And sometimes it could be that because sometimes one has to stand up, but sometimes walking away and not becoming like them is the better option. Like the saying "Be careful getting into an argument with a fool. Someone may be watching and not know who the fool is."
David charts some new territory for us to consider. His thought process in all of this has been to "not touch the Lord's anointed." There are some lessons in that for us about how we follow leadership that sometimes looks completely evil. David knows his time will come and that murdering the king isn't the way to make it happen.
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