Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

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Jonathan Gets a Clue

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#2In our never-take-no-for-an-answer, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps culture, perhaps it is difficult to understand Jonathan’s actions in 1 Samuel 20:12-17. We live in a world where self-promotion is expected; encouragement to “look out for #1” is covertly or overtly stated in almost every advertisement. We often look for validation in job titles, paychecks, hit counts and followers.

Jonathan is the man who, according to normal succession rules, has the right to become king upon the death of Saul. Conventional wisdom would teach Jonathan to align himself with the people who will help him gain and keep power.

Along comes David. This is the same David that was anointed by Samuel as Saul’s replacement. Also the same David who is being blessed by God in everything that he sets his hand to do. The young shepherd boy who had the audacity to think that he could take on a giant and live to tell about it becomes acquainted with Jonathan.

Jonathan faced a choice. He could accept or reject what was becoming increasingly clear. God’s program was for David to be the next king.

Jonathan’s response shows that he believed God was behind Samuel and David and he chose to align himself with what God had revealed. Jonathan’s actions show that he understood that he would be #2 in the kingdom and he was OK with that. He wanted to be right where God placed him.

The question I have to ask myself is whether I am comfortable doing the tasks and being the person God has called me to be? Or, am I questioning my worth as a result of comparing what God has me doing with someone else who is being used in a ministry that has a large following or wide influence? Am I OK with being a #2 or 3 or 10 or 150 or not being recognized at all?

We know from 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 that God so arranges the Church that every member has a role that is necessary for the health of the whole body. Some are given very prominent roles others are given roles that are hardly even noticed. Yet very role is important. The believer is to discover that role and be obedient within it. Our job is to be a faithful steward of the responsibility we have been given (1 Corinthians 4:2).

I am grateful that we have an example in Jonathan of one who was confident in God and confident in his status before God and allowed himself to be “demoted” for the benefit of the nation. As a result, Jealousy and resentment had no foothold. May it be so in our congregations.

Lions and Bears as Training Aids

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LionWhen David volunteered to confront Goliath to take away the reproach of Israel, Saul questioned David’s preparation for this task.

David responds by informing Saul of times when he protected his sheep by killing a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:34-36). This story triggered two thoughts as I read it today.

First, David was anointed King over Israel. In Verse 13 of the previous chapter we read that the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. David was prepared for the battle with Goliath by having the Holy Spirit come upon him.

Second, I see that God arranged experiences to prepare David for the battle with Goliath. God brought the lion and the bear to David and gave him the ability to defeat them. These animals were used by God as training aids in preparation for Goliath. David could sense the hand of God upon him as he faced Goliath just as he had felt it when facing the lion and the bear.

In the same way, we have the Holy Spirit to indwell us and provide the wisdom and strength needed to face whatever challenges come at us. God brings us through smaller battles to prepare us for the larger ones. He promises to keep us out of any situation that is too difficult for us. (See 1 Corinthians 10:13)

As I look back on events in my life that seemed difficult at the time, I can see how God was leading me step by step and building my confidence. Not confidence in my own ability, but confidence in God’s provision and support. As more difficult tests come, the knowledge that I survived the previous struggles prepares me for what lies ahead.

While we are not promised ease or comfort, we can have peace and joy in the midst of the battle knowing that we have been prepared and empowered to be obedient and victorious.

Abandoned by God – 1 Samuel 15:35

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1 Samuel 15:35 (ESV)

35 And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Saul had abandoned God and as a result, God abandons Saul.

Someone once said that we have two options which determine our eternal destiny. Either we say to God, “your will be done” or God says to us “your will be done.” The result of the former is that we conform to God’s will and accept the provision he has made for us. The result of the latter is that God allows us to go our own way and live as if God does not exist. One leads to eternal blessing, the other to eternal damnation.

Paul speaks of this in Romans 1 where he repeats the phrase, “God gave them over.” This is what happened to Saul in the passage quoted above. God determined to let Saul alone and Samuel no longer came to Saul with a word from the LORD.

We do not have to look very hard in this media rich culture to see examples of people that have gone their own way, flaunting their rejection of God, yet living a lifestyle that is the envy of many. They seem to have everything going their way and have money and fame. These have sought to be free from God and God has granted them their desire – for a time.

Contrast these to saints through the ages who have sought self denial and spiritual discipline and yet have suffered at the hands of their fellow men.

How does it work out in God’s economy that those who reject him prosper and those who earnestly seek God earn suffering as their wages? Jesus tells us that those who mourn are the ones that are truly blessed. To have the prophetic voice in our ears and the pointing finger in our face is not enjoyable, but it is necessary for our relationship with God to deepen. The largest benefit of the reading of Scripture is that it shows us our deficiencies and teaches us to rely on God for our growth.

Like Saul, I have a choice to be open to the prophetic voice and repent when I am busted, or I can reject it and go on my merry way. The danger in the latter is that God eventually stops sending prophets.

The People Began to Scatter

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Fork in the Road SignI see in humans (principally in myself), an amazing ability to find good reasons to do the wrong thing. We (perhaps I am alone in this, but I think not) can muster arguments to do what we want even if it is not what we know is right.

An illustration of this can be found in 1 Samuel 13. Saul, a newly minted King of Israel, finds himself in a situation where the people are beginning to scatter because they are facing an enormous Philistine army. They cannot fight until proper sacrifice has been made and Samuel, who is to perform the sacrifice, is nowhere to be found. From Saul’s perspective, things are starting to unravel. As a result, Saul takes things into his own hands and usurps the function of the priestly office and performs the sacrifice.

It would be easy to look down on Saul at this point. Yet, when I am honest, I see the same tendency in myself to get impatient with God and to take things into my own hands. I can be just as manipulative and conniving as Saul. Saul had arguments that would stand up in court of public opinion, but not in the court of Almighty God.

It appears that by performing the sacrifice, Saul put more confidence in the ritual than he did in the God the ritual was to worship. God is not obligated to bless, and He certainly is not obligated to bless us because we perform rituals. Later on in his life, Saul had to be reminded by Samuel that “to obey is better than sacrifice.” It is all about relationship and not about ritual.

The lesson I take away from this is that God is in charge of timing; my job is to be responsive to when, where and how he leads.

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