Which Ear, Week 14 Day 1, 1 Kings 12

Which Ear, Week 14 Day 1, 1 Kings 12

You’ve probably seen movies, TV shows or cartoons where the character, faced with a moral dilemma is “assisted” in making their decision by a good guy on one shoulder and a bad guy on the other.  Often times these shoulder conscious kibitzers are a devil and an angel. 

Invariably the angel gives advice about the right or good thing to do.  The devil gives advice about the wrong or bad thing to do.  And invariably the angel and the devil represent the internal discussion of the character faced with a choice.  No real new information is offered.  But as we watch or listen to the character converse with the angel and the devil, we get to eavesdrop on their internal decision making process.

In 1 Kings 12, the characters are real.  But the choices are just as stark as our modern day angel and devil argument.  Rehoboam has been made king.  Jeroboam comes to plead for Israel.  Under Solomon they were oppressed.  And Jeroboam asks Rehoobam to lighten their load.

No angels here, but the elders who had served as Solomon's advisers now plead Jeroboam’s case.  The elders’ advice to Rehoboam, act as a servant of the people, lighten their load and they in turn will always serve you.  A win – win if ever there was one.

Rehoboam  doesn’t like their advice.  So he rejects it and seeks the advice of his friends.  The young men’s advice, boast of how much stronger you are than your father was and increase their burden.  Yes, Solomon placed a heavy burden on them, but you make it even heavier. 

That’s the kind of advice you would expect from someone who attended the “Pharaoh While Israel was their Slaves School of Negotiations.”   That’s the kind of advice that you would expect from someone who is more concerned with getting whatever they can from others, rather than getting along with others. 

And Rehoboam decides to follow the advice of his younger friends rather than the advice of his father’s experienced advisers.  But this really isn’t about who is smarter, the young or old, the experienced or inexperienced.   Jeroboam wasn’t concerned with getting good advice.  Jeroboam was concerned about getting the answer that he already knew that he wanted.

Once you’ve made up your mind, it can be hard for any advice, good or bad, to change it.

We live in a time when politics and social issues are sharply divided.  And many of us only spend time listening to those people that already agree with us.  And if we do listen to the other side, it’s mainly to find points against their position.  We’re not really trying to learn anything.  We’re trying to score points for our side and poke holes in their side.

Rehoboam already know the answer he wanted.  And he only accepted the council of those who already agreed with him.  And in doing so Rehoboam, son of the wisest man ever to live made a most unwise choice.  And so the kingdom was torn in two.

Often in life there really is an absolute right or wrong position or thing to do.  But every day, leaders and even us normal folks are faced with choices and opportunities for discussion where there is room for real choice.  Will we serve others?  Or will we seek to get what we think we deserve?  Will we seek selfish gain or mutual benefit?  Will we seek to win our argument or understand another’s position.  Will we value others and really listen to them to hear their heart, or will we listen to them only enough to marginalize them and their position before we dismiss them.

Will we divide or unite?  Will we seek to serve ourselves or others?  And have you already decided, or will you really listen?

God, I pray that you would give me a servant’s heart.  Help me to see how to serve others, to see how by serving I can better their lives.  Don’t let me just see how others might serve me.  Give me wisdom that comes from You.  May I have ears to hear, a heart to listen, and a spirit of discernment that comes from You.  When there is a right or wrong, give me the courage to stand for what is right, and the grace to stand with a merciful and graceful heart.  But sometimes the hardest choice is to choose to listen.  Make me quick to hear the heart and needs of others.  Amen

Leonard

The Genie in the Lamp with a Side Order of Magic Spell and Binding Legal Agreement, Week 13 - Day 1, 1 Kings 1-4

The Genie in the Lamp with a Side Order of Magic Spell and Binding Legal Agreement, Week 13 - Day 1,  1 Kings 1-4

I’ve got to wonder how many bad jokes, how many stories start off with the premise of the magic lamp.  You know, gal or a guy finds a lamp, rubs it and out pops a genie that will grant them three wishes.  In most of the joke or stories things don’t end up well for the finder of the lamp.  Some people try to treat God like the genie in the lamp. If they just rub Him the right way then they’ll get what they want.

Others ask God for stuff like they were doing some sort of magical incantation.  An opening “Oh God” with a pious “Pretty Please” followed quickly by a “In Jesus Name” to close out that spell.  If you just pray right, if you pray hard enough, then the magic words will do the trick.  Like Dorothy in Oz we just need to click our heels, while wearing our magical red prayer slippers and repeat, “I just want the answer to my prayer.  I just want the answer to my prayer.”

Then there’s the legal prayer.  Sometimes we call this name it and claim it.  If you can remember the verse and repeat the promise contained therein, God is obligated to grant your request.  For this one you get extra credit if you remember and mention the Scripture reference.  Also, you’re allowed to use the specific Bible translation that does the best job of saying exactly what you want it to say.  God said it, I claim it, that settles it.

Put them all together and you’ve got yourself a trifecta of God having to do whatever it is that you want Him to do.

Then there’s Solomon.  He actually gets that one wish.  In a dream God tells him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”  Wow!  One request!  Solomon can ask for anything.  ANYTHING! No qualifiers, no limitations, your mileage won’t vary, valid in all states including the District of Columbia.

What would you ask for if you were in the same position?  What is this new King Solomon going to ask God for?

He asks for wisdom.  But it turns out that he was already pretty wise.  Consider that just a short time ago, David gave Solomon his final instructions as before he passed away.  And here is what David gave to Solomon as his charge.

To be strong and do everything that God required, walking in His ways, keeping all His commands.  Doing that would allow Solomon to prosper.  Deal with the Joab, an enemy of the past.  Show kindness to sons of Braillai, a friend of the past.  Then there’s Shimei, son of Gara, another past enemy who needs to be dealt with.  Then there’s Adohijah who was trying to take the role of kin.  There’s Abiathar, the renegade priest to be dealt with.  Wow, talk about a busy first week!

But in the end of David’s charge he calls Solomon “a man of wisdom.”  So why then does a man who is already wise, wise enough to secure his kingdom make his one request wisdom?

Because while Solomon may already be wise beyond his years, he’s also wise enough to know that his human wisdom isn’t up to the task.  He knows his limitations. He knows that he really doesn’t know how to carry out all his duties.  The people are too numerous.  His request is simple, be a servant with a discerning heart to govern God’s people and to distinguish right from wrong.

The trick isn’t knowing how to rub the lamp.  The magic isn't in saying the right words in the right way.  We can’t trick or bind God with some legal mumbo jumbo.

We need to realize that it’s not the genie or ourselves who is in charge, it’s God who is in charge.  We need to realize that our words aren't magic, it’s only God who can work the magic of creation and salvation.  We need to realize that the law wasn't given to force God to act in a certain way, it was given to show us how much we need God.

And we too need to be wise.  Wise enough to realize that we can’t do it our own.  We need to be wise enough that we to admit that we don’t always know right from wrong.  We need to realize that the genie doesn't serve us, but it’s we that serve God.  And ask Him for the wisdom to walk in His ways, to keep His commandments, and His Spirit working in us so that we can do His will.  One request, one prayer that is the key to living the life that God wants us to live.

God, really only one way to end this.  Please grant me a spirit of discernment.  Give me the wisdom to know Your ways, to know right from wrong.  And then God, give me a heart to do what is right.  Not my right.  Not the world’s right.  Give me the heart to do Your right.  That’s all.  Amen

Leonard

Where’s Leonard Been and What Do You Give to Someone Who has Everything?

Where’s Leonard Been and What Do You Give to Someone Who has Everything?

Hi All! 

A few people asked why I haven’t been blogging.  I’m sure a far greater number of people quietly breathed a sigh of relief when I was no long appearing on their Facebook Newsfeed on a more than daily basis.

I’ve been blogging on the passages from a study my church is doing on The Story, a 30 plus week survey through the major portions / themes of the Bible.  Well, for the month of December we’ve taken a break from The Story for a sermon series on Christmas Hymns.  While interesting, not exactly my cup of tea.  So I’ve taken a bit of a break.  I’ll be back to The Story in another week or so.

But, and you knew there had to be a but, with all the “Christmas” advertising I’ve noticed something.  I’ll have to admit that in one way I’m kind of glad that all the stores have Holiday sales and not Christmas Sales.  Why?  Well, I’m all for the gift giving (but please don’t break your budget) but I’m pretty sure what the stores are selling isn’t really Christmas.  I’ll explain.

There are ads for clothes, thanks for the socks Grandma.  There are ads for toys.  There are ads for electronics and gadgets and stuff of the house.  There are ads for everything.  I even heard a radio ad the other day for a digital tire pressure gauge from the local auto parts store.

Then there are these ads, “What do you get for someone who has everything?”  You’ve probably heard that phrase at least a few times during the “Christmas” shopping season.  The idea is, what could you possibly give to someone who already has everything that they need or want.  Of course the irony is that the ads posing this question then go on to recommend things that you could actually give to someone who has everything.  Name a star after them.  Make a donation in their name to a charity.  Get them a bigger, better, more expensive version of something they already have.

But I believe that it is fundamentally impossible to have everything.  Matthew 6:26 tells us, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”  We’ve made “Christmas about the stuff of the world.  We’ve made “Christmas” about presents.  We’ve made “Christmas” about family.  We’ve made “Christmas” about lights and decorations and parties.  And all of that stuff is okay.  But none of it is about the real meaning of Christmas.  If I was to paraphrase Matthew 6:26 for Christmas it would be something like this:  “What will it benefit you if you celebrate the holiday, if you have all the decorations, all the presents and even all your family if you don’t know or lose track of the true meaning of Christmas, which is the coming of Christ our Lord and Savior?”

Earlier in the passage, Matthew 6:24 tells us, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”  The ads can try to sell stuff that money can buy.  But they can’t sell God.  You can’t really chase after all that stuff and still chase after Christ.  They can’t sell Christ whose birth Christmas is really all about.  The ads can’t sell salvation.  Because our salvation has already been paid in full and offered to us as a free gift from God.  That’s the true gift of Christmas from God through Christ our Lord and Savior. 

So I’m okay with “Holiday Sales” because the sales and the stuff aren’t really what Christmas is about.  Christmas is about the free gift of God which is salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.  And if you have that gift, then you truly have everything. 

God, thank You for the greatest of all possible gifts.  Thank you for this season that can remind us how much You really love us.  Thank You that You would send Your Son to be born as a Man, to live His life, to suffer and die on the cross and to rise again.  All of this so that we could have Your Precious gift of Salvation.  God, thank You for the Child in a manager who was starting His earthly journey to be the Savior of the world.  Amen

Leonard

True Confessions, Week 12 Day 2, Psalm 51

True Confessions, Week 12 Day 2, Psalm 51

Celebrity confessions are a big thing these days.  It’s like there’s a laundry list of things one must do to apologize and make good in our modern world.  I’m pretty sure someone is work in a book right noe, “Confessions for Dummies”.  Sure to be a best seller.  And there are different kinds of apologies.

First, there’s the non-apology.  It generally starts with the words, “If I offended anyone…”  Why do I call this a non-apology?  Because it makes no logical sense.  The very fact that you’re saying, “If I offended anyone” is an oxymoron.  If you don't think you’ve offended anyone that you wouldn’t be apologizing.  So you obviously know that you did offend someone or someones.  When I hear these I really think the person is saying, “Good grief, I can’t believe anyone was really offended by this.  But I’ll say I’m sorry even thought I really don’t think I have anything to apologize for. “  Or they could be saying, “What I’m really sorry about is that I said it our loud.  Oh god, now I have to pretend I’m sorry I offended you.  I’d rather you just went away and I didn’t have to waste my time. They really aren’t “sorry” for what they did or said.  They’re sorry they have to bother issuing a ridiculous (in their eyes) non-apology.

Then there’s the apology that looks real, but how do we really know?  Especially in the case of public figures, we expect them to do something that shows their sincerity.  Give a donation. Pay a fine.  Serve their time.  Participate in some sort of program.  Get treatment.  Take time off from whatever it is that they do.  Resign.  Etc.  And we look at what they say and what they do and make a judgment on if their apology is sincere.

 Then there’s David’s apology after killing Uriah and having his guilt exposed by Nathan.  Some of what he says doesn't fit very well in our current world, in our culture.  In Psalm 51 he says, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against You, You only have I sinned.”  Really?  Seems like Uriah bore the brunt of David’s sin.  Not really sure how Bathsheba felt about it.  What about how David’s sin will affect the nation?  Yet David says his sin is against God and God alone. 

David’s confession represents a completely different world view.  We view that we have harmed someone.  And only the person that we have harmed, or “if” we offended them, can be the ones to forgives us.  But, at least for public figures that isn’t true.  I’m going to take a brief step into current events and politics to make my point.  I hope that even if you don’t completely agree with my point of view you’ll get the point that I’m trying to make.

Bill Cosby has been in the news recently in horrible and awful ways.  He’s accused of sexual assault by many different women that occurred over decades.  I’m not in a place to judge his guilt.  And I really believer in the concept of innocent until proven guilty.  On the other hand, to have so many women come forward.  It seems highly unlikely that so many women would make false accusations against him.  And public opinion and judgment have fallen on Bill Cosby in a mighty way.  I don’t know where that it end but it very much looks like his career as an entertainer is over.  One can only guess if he will face and criminal or civil legal proceeding.

Then we had President Bill Clinton.  He was also accused by many women of unwanted sexual advances over the years.  He admitted to an affair with an intern, or at least he did depending on what the meaning of the word “is” is.  Yet former President Bill Clinton gets hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fee, is regularly interviewed, and works for national and international causes.

When I look at these two men and the things they are accessed of, the things they have admitted to it tells me how fickle we are as people, as a society.  What one does is labeled unforgivable.  The other does the same and is highly regarded.

You can judge these two men or not as you see fit.  And that may affect how we react to them.  And I’m not saying that society should ignore and not deal with these issues.  But ultimately it is God who will judge them.  And it is God who they have sinned against.  And, while our approval may affect how we react to them in this world, it is God’s Word that is final, both in terms of their guilt and if they have received forgiveness from God.

What is critical of each of us is that we realize that we are in the same boat.  Most of us will be fortunate that our sin is not subject of a 20/20 interview or Congressional hearing.  But that should be small comfort, since who we all answer to is a much higher and more final authority that either 20/20, Congress or public opinion.  We all will answer to God.  And we all need to confess our sin to God and pray that He would, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

No “if” in this one.  You have sinned against God.  Make your peace with Him.  You should also make it with those you have harmed if they will let you.  But it’s only God who can truly forgive.

God, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against You, You only have I sinned.”  “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”  Amen

Leonard

Never ever try to “out pray” the Psalms.  At least that’s my opinion.

But I’m Not Hurting Anyone, Week 12 Day 1, 2 Samuel 11 and 12

But I’m Not Hurting Anyone, Week 12 Day 1, 2 Samuel 11 and 12

The story of David and Bathsheba may be one of the better know stories in the Bible.  There’s a lot to learn about sin in this story.  There are a lot of stories about the consequences of sin in this story.  There’s even forgiveness in this story.  And there’s one thing that’s always gotten me about this story that I think helps to put sin into perspective.  I’ll save that point for near the end.

First, David goes for a evening walk on the roof.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  Then he sees a beautiful woman taking a bath on the roof.  That would have actually been normal.  Nothing wrong with that either.  But then David sends someone to find out about her.  And now he’s started down a slippery slope that will end in sin and disaster.  And that brings us to our first lesson, don’t flirt with temptation.  You may not give in to the temptation.  But then again you might.  And that would be bad.  It’s best to give temptation a wide birth.  People are quick to blame the object of temptation for their problems.  But it isn’t the object that gets you into trouble.  It’s not even the first look.  It’s the second look, the inquiring about it, the chasing after it that gets you into trouble.

David does more than look.  He sends for her.  He sleeps with her.  And she gets her pregnant.  Given the situation it’s not entirely clear how much choice Bathsheba had in the matter.  The king calls, you come.  Now David has another problem.  He needs to cover his sin.  So first he tries to get Uriah to come home and sleep with his wife.  Tries to make it look like that child is actually Uriah’s.  But Uriah is decidedly uncooperative.   He won’t go home and sleep with his wife while the rest of the men are still in battle.  And that’s the second lesson that’s here for us, deception doesn’t always work to hide our sin.  And while we may be able to hide our sin from those around us, we can’t hide our sin from God.  We’ll see that later.  Sin leads to deception. 

When David can’t hide his sin with deception he develops a conspiracy to have Uriah killed.  A plot is hatched to have Uriah killed in battle.  And the plot works.  And that is the next lesson, once we start with deception, it’s hard to stop.  And the lies can just keep getting bigger and bigger.  Sending a man to his death, you can’t get much worse than that.  And yet here is King David, God’s favorite, who finds himself carrying out the murder of another man to cover his sin.  And David takes Bathsheba to be his wife.

“But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.”  Yeah, the obvious lesson here is that God is displeased by sin.  So Nathan comes to David and through a story gets David to pronounce judgment on his own sin.  And God pronounces judgment on David through Nathan.  And a hard judgment it is.  David will lose the son from Bathsheba.  David will lose his wives.  And the sword will never depart from his house.  And there is our next lesson, sin has consequences.  We like to tell ourselves that “it does hurt anyone.”  But it does.  It affects those close to us.  It affects the people we work with.  It affects the people that we interact with during the day.  Like waves from a pebble dropped in a pool, the sin in our life moves outward and disturbs others.  They may not know what caused the disturbance.  They may not even realize there was a disturbance.  But it’s there none that less, disturbing their life, changing their life.  Rocking the quietness of their life.

And with confession there can be forgiveness.   David confesses.  And the Lord says that He will take away David’s sin.  But the consequences remain.  There will be other sons.  But his first son from Bathsheba is lost, a terrible consequence of his sin.  Yes, there is forgiveness, but the damage of our sins remains.  We can find forgiveness.  We can find reconciliation.  We can find new hope and have a life restored.  But what is lost is lost.  The future can be redeemed. But the lose from the past remains lost.

And now back to what has been forgotten.  In every Bible I ever owned this story is called “David and Bathsheba”  and “Nathan Rebukes David”.  Or that “titles” read something like that.  Now I’m not saying that those titles are untrue.  But I think they put the focus in the wrong place.  My title might be a bit more blunt.

“David Kills Uriah With His Sin”  Ouch!  But I think this title does a better job of shining a light on the fact the what we do affects others.  I don’t exist in a vacuum.  You don’t exist in a vacuum.  David didn’t exist in a vacuum.  And “if” this world is messed up, then that’s because everyone has contributed to the mess, each with our own sin.  Each with our own ripples of the things we’ve done that not only affect us but send out waves that upset the world around us.  David can be forgiven, but Uriah is dead.  That consequence cannot be undone.  My sin, your sin, all our sin leaves a mark on the world.  And that sin leaves its mark on us.

As long as it doesn’t affect anyone is a lie pure and simple.  “It” affects me.  It affects those I know.  The  ripples go out into the world. 

God, just life David, I have sinned against You Lord.  And my sin has rippled out into the world.  Its ripples have washed over everyone I know and out into the world around me.  And Lord, I’m am so thankful for Your forgiveness.  And I give thanks for Your redemption.  But now I ask you Lord.  Create in me O Lord a mind and a heart those so desires to follow you that I avoid that second look, that I don’t chase after the temptation.  Give me the strength of character by the work of Your Holy Spirit in me that keeps me focused on You and not the temptations of the world.  Amen

Leonard

I Don’t Dance, Week 11 Day 5, 2 Samuel 6

I Don’t Dance, Week 11 Day 5, 2 Samuel 6

I don’t dance.  Very few people have seen me dance.  They are probably all still in counseling.  My apologies to those poor souls.

But I guess that doesn’t matter.  David, now David could dance.  When they were bringing the Ark from the house of Obed-Edom to Jerusalem, they offered a sacrifice.  Then David danced.  He danced before the Lord.  He danced with all his might. He danced with all of Israel amid shouts and trumpets.  And everyone loved his dancing.  Well, except…

David’s wife, Saul’s daughter, Michal did not appreciate David’s dancing.  It says “when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.”  And  while she’s not into dancing, she is apparently pretty up on sarcasm.  “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

David’s reply, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel-I will celebrate before the Lord.  I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.  But by these salve girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

So, what’s a guy who can’t dance supposed to do?  Some would take this to mean that everyone should be willing to dance before the Lord.  But I’m not sure that’s what it means.

A while back a group from our church went on a short term mission trip to Latin America.  When they were giving a report on their trip they all said how they wished they, and the rest of us, could be more emotionally demonstrative like they were.  And I have to confess that I really struggled with that.

And while I much prefer our contemporary worship service with the drums and guitar and modern songs, I’m not really a raise your hands, dance in the aisle kind of guy.  I’ve got nothing against people who do those things.  Or who are more outward in displaying their emotions.  That’s just not who I am.

So, dance or don’t dance?  So raise your hands or don’t raise your hands?  Wear your emotions on your sleeve or keep them under the surface?

Well, I don’t think any of those questions are the right ones.  It’s easy to focus on others.  It’s easy to focus on specific actions.  It easy to say, “You should be more like them.”  It’s easy to say we should be more expressive in showing our faith.  But expression shouldn’t follow a set of rules or regulations.  Just because David danced doesn’t mean we have to.

We’ve been sharing videos in our church, the stories of our people and their ministries.  One story was Victor Wong, retired professor and dean of a major university.  Now he volunteers in our Free Dining Program.  He and his wife help each week, plating desserts, setting tables, washing dishes, greeting those who come to eat and buttering bread.  Not exactly “dean” stuff.  But they serve as humble servants, unseen by most, doing the details that care for the people who come to our Free Dining program twice a week.

The point isn’t that David danced so we have to dance.  When bringing the Ark home, a dance is an appropriate celebration.  When the call is to feed the hungry, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and butter some bread.  When it’s time to dance, if God calls you to dance, then it’s time to dance, even if you’re the king.  When it’s time to feed the hungry, if God calls you to feed the hungry, then it’s time to butter some bread, even if you’re a professor or a dean.

The point isn’t to be like anyone else.  I don’t have to display the emotions that come from a different culture.  I don’t have to bust a move like someone who actually has a sense of rhythm.  I don’t have to speak with the eloquence of a trained speaker.  I don’t have to cook like a master chef or someone who regularly feeds hundreds.

The point is to do what God calls you to do.  If God calls you to dance, you dance, even if you don’t dance.  If God calls you to feed the hungry and you feed the hungry, even if you’re not a cook.  If God calls you to share your faith, you share your faith, even if you’re not a public speaker.  It isn’t about “what” you are.  It’s about doing what God calls you to do, regardless of who you are.  And regardless of how it may look to others.

You don’t need to be like others.  You just need to be who you are.  And if God calls you to, then that’s the time to step out of your comfort zone and dance or cook or speak.  But not because someone else tells you to, but because God has called you to.

God, there’s a lot of things I’m comfortable doing.  Most of those were “new” when You first asked me to do them.  Now, they come pretty naturally.  But there’s still a lot I’ve never done, there’s a lot I’m not comfortable with.  I suppose that You’ll be asking me to do some of those things sometime, someday.  You might even ask me to dance.  Ah, okay.  You’ll need to work with me on that one.  But You are the God of miracles.  So who knows, certainly not me.  Amen

Leonard

Warning Labels, Week 11 Day 4, 1 Samuel 31, 2 Samuel 6, 22

Warning Labels, Week 11 Day 4, 1 Samuel 31, 2 Samuel 6, 22

Afters years as king, after years of chasing David, King Saul dies.  First his son’s, Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shur killed.  Then Saul is critically wounded by archers.  Rather than being captured and killed by the Philistines Saul asks his armor-bearer to kill him.  When the armor bearer won’t do it, Saul kills himself by falling on his own sword.

The Philistines cut off the heads of Saul and his son’s, hang the bodies on a wall, take their armor and put it on display.  David is deeply grieved by what happened.  He recovers their bodies and buries them.  David grieves the king who had dedicated much of his time and resources trying to kill him. 

David begins the process of consolidating his position as king, a process that will take seven years.

Change is hard.  Change almost always involves some sort of lose. Even a good change normally means leaving something behind.  This change which leads to David becoming king was difficult.  David was committed to the ideal that one does not king God’s anointed.   Yet Saul is dead.

The time that we live in is so different from David’s time that it’s hard to put things in perspective. Back then life was so much more violent.  We just had some elections.  Many new leaders were elected.  The leaders they replaced will go back to there or lives or move on to something else.  But in David’s day, if you lost the election, or the war, you generally lost your life.  Change came at a significant price.

Years later, they were moving the Ark from Abinadab’s house to David’s city.  On the way, at Nacon, a guy by the name of Uzzah touches the Ark to steady it.  And because of that irreverent act, God strikes Uzzah dead.  Again, a different time, a different place with different rules.  Today, if we had the Ark it would be plastered with warning labels, “Caution: Touching May Invoke God’s Wrath and Result in Injury or Death.  DO NOT TOUCH!”

We live in a warning label society, in the day and age of the of the safety cap.  “Caution!”  “May Cause…”  “Side effects include…”  “Do not operate…”  “Hot!”

But we don’t put warning labels on the most important thing.  “Caution, Changes Ahead. May result in lose of something dear to your.  Side effects could include but not be limited to, anxiety, disorientation, confusion, discomfort, inability to get your bearings, facing new situations,  lose of old friends or habits, family arguments, heated discussions, uncertainty, even lose of life.”  Following God can be a dangerous business with some pretty extreme side effects.  Jesus gives some pretty significant warnings about the cost of following Him in the New Testament.  But the folks in the Old Testament are still kind of figuring that out.

You can’t listen to God and follow His call for your life without going through change.  It’s just not possible.  But much of the time we try to sugar coat the faith.  We make is sound more like a product commercial, “Things go better with God.”  Fidelity God – Eternal Insurance that you can depend on!”  God won’t really change you, He’ll just make your life better.

But that’s not true, because God can’t really make your life better unless He changes you.  If you truly give your life to God, He Will Change You.  And at times that change will hurt.  At times that change may be difficult.  At times that change will mean losing some parts of your life so that you can experience your new life in Him.

And while giving my life to God and becoming a follower of Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me, in many ways it has also been that hardest.  Hardest because I had to change.  It wasn’t possible to really follow Christ and stay the same person that I use to be.  Yeah, the Christian faith should come with a warning label, “Caution!  Difficult Changes Ahead.  To Get a New Life in Christ You Must Give Up Your Old Life.” 

God, walking with You has been an adventure.  And when I look back at my life now, I can see I’m not the same guy that started this journey.  Along the way You’ve taken bits and pieces of my life, bits of me, and replaced them.  And as I look back I can see how great some of those changes have been.  But I also remember not being comfortable or happy with many of those changes while I was going through them.  Thank You for Your faithfulness as You’ve worked those changes in my life.  Thank You for having a better vision of me than I had for myself.  I’m pretty sure I’m going to like the final “me” when I get there, even if I’m not always happy about the process.  Amen

Leonard

Lost Wallet, Week 11 Day 3, 1 Samuel 24

Lost Wallet, Week 11 Day 3, 1 Samuel 24

Did you ever read one of those stories where someone finds a wallet or a pile of cash and returns it without taking anything?

That happened in our family once.  Not the pile of cash part, just the wallet.  One of our kids left their wallet sitting on top of the gas pump at that gas station.  They hadn’t even realized they had lost it until a little bit later.  They just realized that it was gone and was quickly moving or “Oh shoot!” to panic central.  They were getting ready to go on a trip and no wallet and no ID would make the trip difficult if not impossible.

Right then there was a knock on the front door.  There was middle aged couple with only minimal English skills and the missing wallet.  Everything was still inside.  They’d gotten the address from the drivers license and drove to our house to return it.  Why?

Well, due to the minimal English skills on their part and the very poor Spanish skills on my part, I’ll never know exactly why.  But there was some cash in the wallet, credit card, ATM card, etc.  They very easily could have taken that cash and dumped the rest.  But they didn’t.  They did the right thing, went out of their way and returned the wallet.  So my kid’s trip went from “Oh Shoot!” and panic central and made a quick detour to “Thank Goodness” and relief.

How hard is it to do the right thing, especially when you could profit from doing the wrong thing?  Especially when no one but you would know?

That’s the dilemma that David faces.  Pardon a bit of indelicacy on my part as I describe what happened.  So, back in Saul and David’s day there aren’t any porta-potties.  So, if you’re out in the wilderness and you need to relieve yourself you go behind a rock.  If you want some real privacy, and who doesn’t at a moment like that, you might even go into a cave.

So when Saul needs to take a natural break from his “let’s go find David and kill him” hunting expedition he decides to go relieve himself in a cave.  And talk about bad luck, he just so happens to pick the exact cave where the David that he is trying to kill is hiding.  Now Saul must have been REALLY intent on taking care of business, because he doesn’t even notice when David creeps up on him and cuts off a corner of his robe.  Either Saul is really focused on the business at hand or David has one really sharp knife and is a world champion creeper.

David’s men wanted him to take advantage of the delicate situation in which Saul has placed himself to kill Saul.  David could very easily have killed Saul.  But David didn’t.  Why?  And that is the question that we’ll answer in a moment.

A short time after Saul had finished his business, David confronts him with the corner of Saul’s robe as evidence that indeed, he could have killed Saul.  And with the evidence in hand that he meant no ill for Saul, David makes his case and prostrates himself before Saul.  What happens next is completely up to Saul.  Remember that’s spear throwing trying to hunt you down to kill you Saul.  Yeah, David certainly isn’t short in the courage department.

So what are the lessons to be learned from this indelicate moment of personal hygiene?

First, if you’re going to take care of your business in a cave then it would really be a good idea to make sure the cave is empty BEFORE you get down to business, especially if you’re trying to kill someone who might be hiding in that cave.  Yeah, I know, words to live by.

Second, and this is the real lesson, it’s not okay to do whatever takes to get what you want, even if God has promised it to you.  David has already been anointed by Samuel to be the next king.  Things like honor, honesty, integrity, patience, respect for others and respect for God are all important.  Saul got into trouble for trying to take short cuts to get what he wanted.  It appears that David, at least at this point in his life, does not suffer from the same fault.  David refuses to kill God’s anointed, even if it would make him king. 

David could have rationalized. “God wants me to be king, look, He just provided me with the opportunity to make that happen.  I’m just taking advantage of the opportunity that He provided me.  Thanks God!”  Nope.  David doesn’t fall into that trap. 

Coming back to the wallet, I bet you thought I’d forgotten about it.  The fact remains that when you find the wallet it isn’t yours.  And what’s in it isn’t yours ether.  Finder’s keeper’s losers weepers is most definitely NOT a Biblical principle.  “If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t trying’.” is a popular sports adage.  That one isn’t Biblical either. 

Cheating means you’re not depending on God.  Doing something that isn’t right isn’t depending on God either.  And that’s true even if you can rationalize whatever “it” is.  Yeah, rationalizing isn’t depending on God.  Depending on God is doing what’s right no matter what.  It means doing what’s right even it could end up costing you dearly.

Sorry to be such a spoil sport.  But those aren’t my rules, those God’s rules.  David understood them.  David was even willing to put his life in jeopardy to follow God’s rules.  Heck, if Saul had lost his wallet and had David found it, I bet he would have even returned it to him, with everything still inside.

God’s version of that old sports adage would be something like this, “If you are cheatin’, you ain’t trustin.”  And God is pretty big on that whole trust thing.

God, it’s all too easy to see things that happen around us and try to find a way to rationalize it as Your will.  No matter what the circumstances Lord, I pray that You would create and mind and heart with in me to do Your will.  And I pray that I would always listen to the leading of Your Spirit.  God, You require obedience not to the letter of Your law, but to the Spirit of Your law.  May I always be lead by Your Spirit and not by circumstances.  Amen

Leonard

And You Thought Your Boss Was Bad, Week 11 Day 2, 2 Samuel 18, Psalm 59

And You Thought Your Boss Was Bad, Week 11 Day 2, 2 Samuel 18, Psalm 59

So David kills Goliath and moves from part time service to full time service of King Saul.  Talk about a promotion.  David becomes best friends forever with Jonathan, the king’s son.  And everything he does in the service of the king is successful.  So David gets a further promotion, a high rank in Saul’s army.  What can go wrong?

Well, everything.  It turns out that Saul is a bit of a difficult boss.  Ever had a tough boss?  I have.  I’ve been blessed with some really good bosses throughout my career.  I’ve had a couple of real stinkers.    The thing that’s bothered me the most about the bad ones what that they were more worried about trying to make themselves look good then they were about helping me to get my job done.  Maybe those former bosses of mine went to the Saul School of Management.

After returning home from battle the women are singing and dancing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”  “And Saul was angry; this refrain galled them.”  Saul is jealous of David and his accomplishments.  How jealous?

David is playing his harp.  Saul has his spear.  Saul tries to kill David with his spear, twice.  Okay, that qualifies as jealous.  So Saul sends David away to command over a thousand men.  And David is still successful and safe, at least for the moment.

So what can we make of this.  We’ve got the current king who has fallen out of God’s favor.  We’ve David who has been anointed as the future king.   Not clear if current king Saul is aware of that anointing.  But mad or not, evil spirit or not, Saul can see the writing on the wall.  If David keeps up his successful ways, “What more can he get but the kingdom?”

We’ll see how David handles this in the next few days.  But what is clear is that David, anointed to be king David, David the most popular, David the obvious best candidate for king, he just continues to play his harp and serve the current king.  Oh, and dodge spears too.  Yeah, spear dodging is another one of David’s many talents. 

If it were me I’d be sorely tempted to take my rightful place as king.  I’d rationalize how I was the anointed one.  I’d be able to justify doing whatever I needed to do to become king.  I was anointed after all.  If I don’t take my rightful place as king and get rid of my spear chucking rival, well I might be a little too slow ducking next time.  Then what’s God going to do for a king?  And I am appointed to become king after all.  I’m sure that God wouldn’t mind me helping things along.

But not David.  He continues to serve his spear chucking leader, faithfully, successfully, continually, patiently.

And that is perhaps David’s greatest gift, his patience.  He doesn’t force God’s hand.  He doesn’t take what will be his rightful place.  Faced with his possible death, he still remains faithful to his God and his spear chucking king.  Patience and faithfulness, David had those in  abundance.

Now it’s not that he’s unaware.  He’s not even silent about his plight.  Read Psalm 59, read all the Psalms.  David is acutely aware of the danger that he faces.  But if he wasn’t in danger, if he wasn’t aware of that danger, we would not see his faithfulness and his patience. 

We tend to think we are doing what God wants when things go well.  But David’s situation is a very mixed bag.  Everything he does in service of the king is successful.  But it only brings him danger and grief. 

So, using my situation as a barometer of how well I’m serving God is not the best way to tell if I’m on track.  I could be doing exactly what God wants me to do and still face incredible hardship and danger. 

 Some of my best jobs have been doing difficult things that required great effort.  Some the of the things that have brought the most satisfaction in my life were not lauded by colleagues or others as success.  And in my Christian walk it’s not the worldly measures of success that indicate success in the eyes of God.

Success in God is simply relying on Him and doing what He has called me to do.  Regardless of what the world says.  Regardless of what my boss says.  And sometimes regardless of any actual outwared sign of success.  To the world I may look like a failure.  To the world it may look like I’m wasting my time.  But to God, it’s simply being faithful.  And that is the only measure of success in God.

God, once again I ask that You help me to keep my heart and mind focused on You and doing Your will.  That’s often difficult for me.  I want to plan.  I want to measure.  I want to see success.  You’ve not called me to fail.  But neither have You called me to succeed on my own.  “Unless the Lord builds the house they labor in vain who build it.”  Lord, may You build the house and not my own efforts.  Just tell me where to work Lord.  And keep me humble.  Oh, and if It’s not too much trouble, please help to me duck any spears chucked my way.  Amen

Leonard

Doing What You Do Best, Week 11 Day 2, 1 Samuel 16-17

Doing What You Do Best, Week 11 Day 2, 1 Samuel 16-17

I find the story of how became king David very interesting.  Perhaps it’s how I was first taught the story.  Maybe it’s some deep seated personal bias or issue.  But it seems to me that David is often portrayed as an unusual candidate for the position of king.  But I don’t see it that way.

First, he doesn’t just take over the position right from the start.  He goes through in incredibly long “internship” process.

He starts out by learning about “life in the castle” as it were.  Saul, suffering the effects of an evil spirit needs to have his spirit soothed.  So David gets his first exposure to the king, and it probably isn’t the best role model.  And while the position may be a tough one, he’s certainly qualified.  He knows how to play the harp.  But then there are his other qualifications: brave, a warrior, speaks well, a fine looking man and the Lord is with him.  Hum, sounds kind of over qualified to just play the harp.  But he gets the job.  Cue the harp music. He also had armor-bearer duties.  And hey, it’s a part time job to boot.  Still spends time back home watching sheep and such.

Then comes the whole Goliath thing, and David isn’t even on the radar of this one.  He’s off tending sheep while Saul and his troops spend 40 days quaking in their boots.  Then David shows up and gets the story of what’s going on.  And once David hears the score he volunteers to fight the giant.

Now this is that part that I don’t get.  Saul says that David is only a boy and Goliath has been fighting his whole life.  But wasn’t David described just a little while ago as a warrior?   Did they forget about that?  David didn’t forget.  He remembers the lion and bear he fought defending his sheep.  David gives the credit for those victories to God.  And he’s willing to trust God to give him victory over Goliath.  So he’s hired. 

One problem.  Maybe David’s ready, but Saul’s armor isn’t.  Turns out David is a size normal where Saul is a king size.  So David ditches the armor and the sword and goes with what he know, his sling.

And there’s I think the main point of the story.  Remember David’s initial qualifications:  plays the harp, brave, a warrior speaks well, a fine looking man and the Lord is with him.  He’s been playing the harp.  Now’s it’s time to use the brave warrior.  So maybe David’s never fought a giant, but he also isn’t really covering any new ground.  He fought the bear and won.  He fought that lion and won.  And he knows that he won them not on his own, but with God.  So this is new ground in that it’s Goliath.  But it’s familiar ground in that he’s fight a beast with a weapon that he knows how to use trusting the same God that he’s always trusted.

So, from everyone else’s point of view this is crazy.  A kid against a giant.  No armor.  No sword.  No experience.  No chance.

For David this is same thing, different day.  Facing a giant?  Okay that’s not normal.  But he does it in his normal clothes. Does it armed with just his faithful and well used sling.  Oh, and God.  Yeah he’s going into battle with God, just like he always has.

So, from a human point of view, David might not be all that qualified to fight Goliath.  The armor doesn’t fit.  Hasn’t been to giant facing school.  From God’s point of view he’s just the right man for the job.  David is brave and a warrior with a history of facing long odds while trusting in God.  Just what’s needed to face a giant, or even become king.  Although that part will be a long time coming.

Clearly God doesn’t look at our qualifications the same way that we do. “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” If we truly desire to follow God, He will use the gifts He’s given us, the qualifications that we do have, and our willingness to serve, to bring us to the place where He wants us, where He needs us.  He even use things that don’t look like qualifications to us, our issues, our problems, our short comings, as tools to be used in His service.

Play the harp?  Yeah God can use that.  Good with a sling shot?  He can use that too.  But the first question is this, where is your heart?  If it belongs to God then you have every skill, every tool, every trait that He needs for you to start your journey.  You can begin a walk of faithful service that will take your life today and use it for His will and His purpose.

God, I can look back on my life and see what look like some pretty strange starting points.  Small and seemingly inconsequential bits and pieces of me and my life that were a starting place, a stepping stone to things I certainly never would have thought of.  Lord, I thankful that You gave me a heart for You.  That heart has opened up the rest of my life to serving You.  And often in ways that I never would have dreamed of.  Thanks for not see me as the world sees me.  Thanks for see my heart.  And thanks for using me in ways I never would have thought of.  And most of all God, Thank You for being the center of my life.  Amen

Leonard

Good Beginnings - Questionable Endings, Week 10 Day 5, 1 Samuel 8-15

Good Beginnings - Questionable Endings, Week 10 Day 5, 1 Samuel 8-15

It’s good to have a good beginning.  Saul starts so well.  In chapter 9 he’s described as “an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites.”  Accompanied by a servant Saul is searching for his father’s lost donkeys.  Showing good judgment Saul decides to head back when the donkeys can’t be found rather than worry his father.  When they decide to visit the seer Samuel, Saul is concerned that won’t have the proper offing to give to Samuel.  When Samuel tells Saul that he will be king, Saul humbly replies that he is from the least of the clans from the smallest tribe.

Saul, unassuming, concerned with properly recognizing the position of others, concerned with his father’s feelings, is chosen to be king.  And he starts off pretty well.  When first announced as king Saul keeps silent when he’s not brought the proper gifts.  When crowned as king he shows mercy to those that opposed him.

But he starts to go astray.  At Gilgal, rather than waiting for Samuel to come and make the offering Saul takes it upon himself to make the offering.  Saul was not the right person to give the burnt offering. Samuel tell Saul that his “kingdom with not endure” because he did not keep the Lord’s command. 

Saul is sent to attack the Amalekites and completely destroy them, taking nothing and killing everyone.  Yeah, there is definitely a fair amount of violence in the Old Testament.  So Saul attacks the Amalekites but keeps their king, Agag, the best of the sheep, cattle, fat caves and lambs.  Basically they keep the king and all the good plunder.  And God’s response is hard.  God’s message, “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from Me and has not carried out my instructions.”

When Saul reports to Samuel about the attack on the Amlaekites, he claims to have carried out the Lord’s instructions.  Samuel isn’t buying it.  And neither is God.  God’s final pronouncement, “You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel.”

How did Saul go from, “an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites” to “You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel.”?  Well, the first Saul, the young Saul sought to do what was right.  He thought of others before himself.  And he was concerned about what would please God.  The second Saul, the older Saul was concerned with getting done what he wanted to get done and short cuts were not only okay but encouraged.  No priest for the offering, do it yourself.  Not supposed to take anything or leave anyone alive, keep the best and keep the king alive.

And God’s message is clear.  If you’re going to follow God you really need to follow God.  Yes, we are forgiven by faith.  But God still requires obedience.  And it’s not okay to pick and choose what part of God’s Word you want to follow.  God chooses.  We are supposed to obey.  And if we don’t then there will be consequences.

Now some would say that the Old Testament is all about obedience and vengeance, and wrath while the New Testament is all about love, faith and forgiveness.  But God has not changed.  That same God of the Old Testament with His obedience and vengeance and wrath is the same God that welcomed Rahab and Ruth, that sent judges and prophets to lead Israel back to God when they strayed.  And that same New Testament God of love, faith and forgiveness is also said if you deny Me before man, I will deny you before God.

God is consistent.  And the God of the Old Testament that accepted Saul’s faith and obedience also accepts our faith and obedience.  But if we ignore God and what He requires, then it may not go well for us. 

Now I know, some of you are thinking, “but the same God who began a good work in you will be faithful and complete it.”  Yes, God is faithful.  But in this story it’s not God’s faithfulness that is in question.  It’s Saul’s.  

God, You have called each of us.  You call us to make a decision about who we will follow, You or?  What’s clear from Saul’s story is that following you requires obedience.  God, I pray that you will keep me on Your path.  I pray that You and Your Spirit will work in me so that I might understand what You want me to do and how You want me to live.  Lord, I pray that I would be both faithful and obedient.  May my beginning be good.  But may my finish also be strong because I finish with You.  Amen

Leonard

Be Careful What You Wish For… Week 10 – Day 4, 1 Samuel 8

Be Careful What You Wish For… Week 10 – Day 4, 1 Samuel 8

Samuel has become the judge over Israel for all the days of his life.  And when he grew old he appointed his sons as judges for Israel.  But his sons Joel and Abijah were dishonest, took bribes and perverted justice.  So guess that the first lesson is that the faith of the parents is not necessarily passed on to the children.  Pardon my language, but as a parent that kind of sucks.  But that’s something we see over and over in the Old Testament.  The faith of the parents doesn’t necessarily get passed on to the children.  I get it.  But if I had one thing I could ask God for, it would probably be to change that. 

The next thing that happens here is that Israel asks for a king.  The elders tell Samuel that he’s getting old and his sons don’t walk with the same faith so they now want a king just like all the other nations have a king.  And Samuel takes it personally.  But God tells Samuel that the people have not rejected him, they have rejected God.  Israel has history of fallowing God and then rejecting God.  And they are about to reject Him again.

What’s so bad about wanting a king?  Everyone else has a king.  What’s wrong with wanting be like everyone else?  It would be fine to be like everyone else.  But only if everyone else was following God.  But the other nations aren’t following God.  And to be like the other nations is to be without God, to leave God behind.

And God tells them what having a king will mean.  The king will take their sons and daughters to serve him.  The king will take their sons to serve his chariots and horses, and as troops in front of the chariots.  They will work the king’s fields and make weapons.  And their daughters the king will take to serve a perfumers, cooks and bakers.  The king will also take the best of their fields and olives.  And finally, the king will take a tenth of everything, a tenth.    

I’ve tried to not be political in this blog.  So I’ll hope you’ll forgive this one slip.  Considering our current federal and state tax rates, our sales taxes, the property taxes, social security taxes and the fees that we pay today, ten percent actually sounds like a pretty good deal.  End of my brief political commentary.  Please forgive the brief side trip.

So Samuel explains all of this to the people.  And the people refuse to listen to Samuel.  They still demand a king.  And so God let’s them have their king.

But what is wrong with having a king.  Well, for Israel having a king is a choice, a choice to not follow God.  And a choice to not follow God is a bad choice. 

Everything good that has happened to Israel has been because they followed God.  And they are turning their backs on God. 

Ruth chose to follow God and she became a part of God’s people.  Rehab choose to side with God and God’s people, and that saved her family. 

But bottom line is that we have a choice of who we will serve.  We can serve God.  Or we can serve someone else.  It’s pretty straight forward.  Just like Israel we make that same choice.  We make that choice at important points in our lives.  We make that choice every day in so many different ways.  And if we choose to not follow God, well then we just might get what we asked for.  And everything that comes with it.

But, be careful what you ask for, you just might get it.

God, help me to see and understand the choices that I make every day, to follow You or not follow You.  Help me to understand, to see what the consequences of turning from You will be.  Most of all, create in me a desire to follow You, a desire to always follow You.  God, may I always choose You.  Amen

Leonard

Changing of the Guard, Week 10 Day 2, 1 Samuel 2-3

Changing of the Guard, Week 10 Day 2, 1 Samuel 2-3

The prophet Eli had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas.  And his son’s did not fulfill their duties as they were supposed to.  They were unfair in how they took their portion of meat from the sacrifice.  When those that were cheating they threatened the very people they had cheated.  They slept with the women who served at the Tent of meeting.  And all of these things were not just against the people they served; they were also sins against God.

God is not pleased to put it mildly.  God tells Eli the line he has crossed, “Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me we be disdained.”  And Eli’s family will be cut off.  His sons will die on the same day.  God will call a new priest, a faithful priest, who will replace Eli.  And as we shall see, God isn’t about irony in choosing who that new priest will be.

God’s proclamation, “Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me we be disdained.” Is echoed in the New Testament.  “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.   But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”   (Matthew 10:32-33)  Once again the consistency of God in both the Old and New Testaments can be seen.  Sin can be forgiven.  Sin will be forgiven.  But you cannot deny the only One who can forgive sin.  Not without consequence.

So God calls a new priest, and calls him again, and yet again.  Three times God calls Samuel.  The here is the irony, the child that was the result of Eli’s blessing on Hannah is who person who will replace him as priest.  And the first duty God gives Samuel is to tell Eli the price he will pay for his faithless sons.  Little Samuel  was the answer to his mother’s prayers.  Little Samuel whose mother Hannah would bring him a new robe every year.  Little Samuel will replace the very priest who blessed his mother with a son.  Samuel, will take Eli’s place.  Samuel will serve in the place that would have belonged to one of Eli’s sons.  All because Eli’s sons were not faithful to their calling and while Samuel heard and responded to God’s call.

And what can be learned from all of this.  First and foremost, do not presume too much about your relationship with God.  Eli’s sons presumed much about their relationship with God.  They wanted the position.  They wanted the perks of their position.  But they cheated those they were supposed to serve, using their position to steal.  And they paid heavily for their abuse of their call.  We should not take our relationship with God for granted.  We should not abuse our position for our own advantage.

Second, it we don’t fulfill our duty, God may call another.  Again we cannot presume.  We can’t presume that the same opportunity to serve will always be open to us.  We cannot presume that God will continually let us run astray. 

But there is also hope.  God may call us once, twice, even three times.  A missed opportunity to serve does not always mean an opportunity lost.  If we were not ready to hear God’s call, He may well call again.

And finally, we need to continually encourage people to hear God’s call.  Even Eli, who is about to lose his position in disgrace can still call others to listen to God.  No matter how shaky our relationship with God, He can still use us to point others to Him.  That is because ultimately the call comes from God and not the person that encourages others to listen. 

Be faithful to your call.  Serve those you are called to serve with faithfulness and integrity.  Encourage others to listen to God’s call.  And never deny God.   All these lesson to be learned from a boy in a robe made by his mother. 

God, may I serve with faithfulness.  May I be faithful to those that you have called me to serve.  May I always remember that my reward is in serving You and not in the stuff that may come my way as I serve You.  And God, keep me humble.  And never let me be presumptuous about my position in You.  Just as you called Abraham, I’ve been blessed to be a blessing.  Always remind me of that.  And may I never deny You Lord God.  Amen

Leonard

Gift Receipts and Returns, Week 10 – Day 1, 1 Samuel 1

Gift Receipts and Returns, Week 10 – Day 1, 1 Samuel 1

Again with the children!  Or more accurately, again with no children.   This time it’s Hannah.  Yeah, there’s the husband Elkanah.  But readings the story he seems to pretty much be a bit player.

So, what can we say to set the stage for what is happening here?  It’s important that we understand how important children were in this culture and at this time.  Children carried on the family name.  Children provided for their parents in their old age.  And providing children was a huge part of what a woman was supposed to bring to a marriage.  Definitely not the way we do or look at things today, but then Hannah doesn’t live today.  She lived then.

And even though it’s obvious that Elkanah cares for Hannah, she is not consoled.   After years of no children and years of being provoked by Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah (again, different times, different customs) Hannah is at the temple weeping and praying.  And she makes a deal with God.  “O Lord Almighty, if You will only look upon Your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget Your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”  On the surface, this doesn’t seem like a good deal.  Give me what I so desperately want, and I’ll give it back to You.

Give me a son and I’ll give him up.  I just don’t comprehend how important having a son was for a women form the place and that time.  But obviously it’s a matter of huge importance to Hannah.  Having a son is so critical that it’s desired even if the son is to be given up.   Oh, and the thing with the razor and the hair, that’s a religious thing that shows the son will be set apart to serve the Lord. 

So  great is her desire to a son, that in her lament and praying she appears dunk to the priest Eli.  After Eli learns of her fervent prayer, he tells her to go in peace and that God will grant her heart’s desire.  And that is enough for her.  No longer downcast, she cleans herself up, worships and goes home. 

There are a number of things that I find of note from this part of the story.  First, in this patriarchal society God once again focuses the story on the woman.  God clearly is an equal opportunity God.

Second, I wonder what and if I have felt as passionate about as Hannah.  We live in a culture that says it’s okay to believe in God, just don’t go overboard.  You can have God as a part of your life, but don’t get carried away.  Clearly Hannah missed that lesson.  She is passionately and vocally seeking  God to provide the desire of her heart.  And she doesn’t care if she looks like a drunk when she does the seeking.  She is out there.  She is passionate.  She is committed.  And she doesn’t care who knows it.  So, what in my life, what in your life are you so passionate about that you will throw yourself at God and not care who sees you doing it?  Unbridled passion in seeking God.  Clearly God isn’t just a small part of her life.  God IS her life.

But always be ready to explain your passion.  Eli, the priest doesn’t even understand what is going on.  And I’ve heard people fault Eli for “jumping to conclusions” regarding Hannah.  But he is willing to listen.  And in listening he hears and has compassion.  I’m not sure my listening skills are up to his standard.  I’m not sure my explaining skills are on a par with Hannah.  Along with Eli’s listening, he’s also willing to bless Hannah, to tell her that God will grant the desire of her heart.  And when Eli pronounces that God will grant her desire, she accepts that on faith.  She sounds a lot like the great heroes of faith.  Trust that God will do what God says He will do long before there is actual evidence that it will happen. 

And finally, don’t hold the desire of your heart too close.  Hannah was willing to dedicate the son she so desperately wanted to God’s service.  Yes, she will see him.  She will visit him.  But her son Samuel won’t live with her.  Often times our walk of faith will require us to give up what we find the most precious.  It’s easy for us to target the love of money as something that can keep us from following God. But the truth is that anything that we hold so closely that it keeps us from following God is a stumbling block.  And we need to be able to let those things go.  This is in keeping with the promise that was made to Abraham.  He was blessed to be a blessing.  What he was given wasn’t just for him.  It was to be passed on.  And in passing it on it’s value is increased beyond measure.  And this makes sense.  If it is of value to us, then it will be of value to others.  And it’s true worth will only be realized when we give it back to God for Him to use as He sees fit.

God, let me be passionate of You and desires of Your heart.  And give me a freedom of heart and mind to let that passion show. God, give me a listen ear and Your compassionate heart when others share their passion with me.  And may I bless them an Eli blessed Hannah.  And Lord, when You do grant my desires, let me not hold them too closely.  The blessing that You give me, may I be just a willing to give up those blessings to You and others that they too may be blessed.  Amen

Leonard

Another Branch on the Tree, Week 9 Day 5, Ruth 4

Another Branch on the Tree, Week 9 Day 5, Ruth 4

So after a whirl wind romance / business negotiation, it’s decided that Boaz and Ruth will be married.  Doesn’t seem like much of a romance story by modern standards.  But by the standards of their day, it was pretty darn romantic.

Boaz finds the man in line ahead of him to marry Ruth.  Together they meet with ten elders.  He calls out the man and explains to him the situation.  Naomi is selling the land and but the rules of kinsman redeemer it’s up to him to buy them and “redeem” Naomi and Ruth in the process.  Yeah, the women and the property are a package deal in the rules of their day.  Not exactly how we do things today, but they don’t live today.  They live then. 

The guy who is first in line balks at the deal.  He would have to marry Ruth and provide an heir to continue that family name.  Concerned with how this would impact his current estate, he offers the land and the women to Boaz, by taking off his sandal.  Like I said, different times, different customs.

So Boaz completes the deal and announces to all the he has bought the property and with it will take Ruth the Moabitess was his wife.  This will assure that the family name will continue.  Not only that, the elders and all gathered proclaim, “We are witnesses.  May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel.”  That is a high blessing. 

And what a blessing.  Boaz and Ruth have a son, Obed.  Obed will be the father of Jesse.  And Jesse will be the father of David, King David!”  And Ruth, the Moabite is remembered forever.  In Matthew 1:5 she is listed in genealogy of Jesus.  Ruth, the foreigner.  Ruth a woman.  Ruth is listed in the genealogy of the Savior.   All because she said, “Your God will be my God.” And because a man named Boaz took on the role of kinsman redeemer.  Oh, and Boaz’s mother was Rahab, not a Israelite by birth, but another women who decided to follow God.

God keeps taking those who aren’t a part of the story and bringing them in.  Both these women were from the enemies of Israel.  But that doesn’t matter.  Once again, it isn’t where you’re from.  It isn’t about where you were born or your nationality.  It’s all about who is your god.  Who do you follow?  What god do you commit your life to?  These women decide to follow God.  And God brought them in with opens arms.

God, it’s exciting to see how reach out to those who aren’t a part of Your story.  A simple choice to follow You.  A decision to give a life to You.  And those making that choice become a part of Your family.  It’s not about having the right parents.  It’s not about being born in the right place.  It’s not about living the right kind of life.  It’s about a choice, a decision to claim You as our God.  A decision and a choice to follow You.  Then just like Rahab, Just like Ruth, we can become a part of Your family.  Thanks for inviting us all to join.  Amen

Leonard

Two Ways to Read This One, Week 9 Day 4, Ruth 3

Two Ways to Read This One, Week 9 Day 4, Ruth 3

There are a couple of different ways that you can read or interpret this passage.  I don’t think which interpretation you choose really changes what happens in the story.  But it might change how you feel about characters.

 So, I’ll be blunt, and you children may want to leave the room for a moment.  One school of thought is that Naomi is telling Ruth to sleep with Boaz.  And that is what Ruth does.  Basically, men would have gone to the threshing floor during the harvest.  Prostitutes would know this and would go there to sleep with the men.  Naomi is basically telling Ruth to take advantage of that social convention and catch herself a Boaz as it were.

The another possible interpretation is that Naomi is telling Ruth to quit mourning the death of her husband and to make sure that Boaz knows that she is now available for marriage.  The idea is that she should clean herself up, take off her clothes of mourning, put on her best everyday clothes, and meet with Boaz. She’s not presenting herself to him for sex, but instead she is demonstrating that she is now once again ready for marriage.  I lean towards this interpretation, but I’m really not enough of an Old Testament scholar to give a definitive statement.  Since there’s disagreement on how to interpret this part of the story, perhaps no one can give a definitive answer.

There seems to be two very different interpretations.  And honestly there are a few other possible interpretations too.  How can I say that it doesn’t really matter?

In the last chapter it seems that Boaz at least has a favorable view of Ruth.  He thinks well of her.  He provides for her physical safety and financial well being.  And perhaps he is interested in her.  But their customs for meeting and engagements are so different from ours, we need to be careful to not project our modern dating, engagement and marriage customs onto their story.  Their relationship is guided and ruled by the time and society in which they live, not ours.

When Ruth goes to Boaz he is clearly taken with her.  It seems as though she a fair bit younger than him.  He is flattered that she would present herself to him and not a younger man. And apparently, whatever did or didn’t happen that night, they find the relationship mutually agreeable.  And for that time this is a romance story worthy of note.  A man and women’s marriage would generally be arranged by the parents and not left to something as “silly” and romance and personal choice.  Or it would be decided by the rules of kinsman redeemer.  And under those rules Ruth should marry another man.  There is another man who is first in line to marry Ruth.  So Boaz has some work to do.  Boaz goes off to see if that man will let Boaz take his place.

In Old Testament terms this is a story of great romance, but it’s a bit hard to see that with the eyes or our culture.  Ruth chooses Boaz.  Boaz chooses Ruth.

Again with the choosing.   Apparently God is big on choosing.  How can a God who is sovereign, a God who knows everything that has happened and will happen, how can that God create a world where a widow and an older man can choose each other?  I don’t know. But here it is.  They get to choose, or at least they will get to choose if they figure out how to get around the guy who is first in line for Ruth’s hand in marriage.

Sometimes we don’t have a choice.  Sometimes we do.  Ruth and Boaz had a choice.  They choose each other going against the conventions of their day.  We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see how it all works out.

God, thank You that You give us choices.  Sometimes You let us chose even when society says that we shouldn’t.  Sometimes You insist, but not all the time.  That messes with my theology.  That messes with my preconceived notions of who and what You are.  But I’m glad.  I’m glad because You’ve left room for Ruth and Boaz to chose each other.   And You’ve given me the greatest choice, the ability to choose You.  Amen

Leonard