On the Way to Wonder

1 Kings 16:29 – 19:18  Rehoboam succeeded his father Solomon to the throne but was not wise.  David’s kingdom split.  The ten tribes of the north followed Jeroboam and became known as Israel while the two southern tribes stayed loyal to Rehoboam, David’s grandson, and became known as Judah.  It would appear people of faith are split and other gods step into the crack introduc

         Ahab eventually became king of Israel in the north, married Jezebel, and openly practiced idolatry. “Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.”  Elijah, one of the greatest prophets of Israel, enters our epic story to confront the evil Ahab and stop the idolatry Ahab and Jezebel were leading the people into.  For three years Elijah hid from Ahab in a cave, praying that there would be no rain.  Finally Elijah calls for a showdown with the priests of Baal.  The real god would burn up a sacrificed cow.  As the people watch, Elijah taunts the priests, “Shout louder!”  Perhaps the baals were sleeping, in the bathroom, or busy!  Elijah douses his bull with water and the fire of heaven consumes the sacrifice and altar!  Rain returns.

         Spiritual victories are often exhausting and Elijah, burnt out, flees to the mountain of God and hides in a cave.  There he meets with God who speaks in “a still small voice.”  In Elijah we see the highs and lows of faith, even the faith of great leaders.  At his lowest, God does not abandon Elijah but sends an angel to Elijah who bakes a cake and has him eat and drink some water “for the journey is too great for you.”  God does not condemn Elijah for being tired but corrects Elijah’s misconceptions.  Elijah is not alone.  Elisha will replace him and there are 7,000 faithful believers.

         As the kingdom of David splits our epic story becomes more complex as we read how God honors his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and David but also works with the northern kingdom with weak leaders like Ahab.  This story encourages me that not only is God able to deal with all kinds of kings and leaders but God is also able to work with me in my highs and lows.  God is able and is faithful.

         I do not know where you are on your faith journey today.  Perhaps you are despairing of the political polarization in our country and the humanness of our religious leaders.  Or perhaps you are pondering on a more personal level your faith journey.  It is always encouraging to look at those low times in our life and identify the people and resources that God used to help us make it through the desert time.  How might you encourage someone who is struggling in faith today?  How might you rejoice with someone in his or her spiritual victory today?  Both are part of our journey.  We do not need to shout louder.  Our God is not in the bathroom or distracted!

1 Kings 8:1-9:9  Solomon’s kingship is established. He has built a beautiful palace, and now a magnificent Temple.  He calls all the elders and leaders of Israel together and they bring the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple with loud praise, innumerable sacrifices and worship.  It was a day of celebration.  At that moment a cloud fills the Temple with God’s glory so that the priests cannot perform their duties.  That was a day of worship!  So often we desire that Sunday mornings have the same fervor and fanfare and drama and if it does not we are somehow disappointed and question our spirituality.

         Solomon looks at his magnificent temple and admits, “but will God really dwell on earth?  The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple.” What follows is Solomon’s prayer with the repeated plea, “hear from heaven.”  He seeks for Israel mercy, forgiveness, and action in judging wrongs.

• When the land cries for rain, hear from heaven
• When people struggle with disaster and disease, hear from heaven
• When foreigners hear of you and pray, hear from heaven
• When your people go to war, hear from heaven
• When they pray for forgiveness as captives by enemies, hear from heaven
• “May your eyes be open to your servant’s plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you.”

The heart of worship is not so much the wonderful building or the wonderful mechanics executed by the many dedicated people who develop church services but it is about meeting with a living God who is merciful, who acts to bring justice, and who hears our cries.

         As we go to church this Sunday, may we meet with the living God who hears the issues of our heart, hears from heaven.

1 Kings 2-3  King David turns over his kingship to Solomon but as David dies he reminds Solomon of the treacherous men still living.  Solomon’s first task as king was to “clean house” and eliminate threats.  Solomon dealt with his older brother Adonijah, son of David’s first wife, who tried again to claim his throne.  He dealt with Joab the general of David’s army who treacherously had killed his own competition.  And Solomon dealt with the relative in Saul’s line that had cursed David.  Solomon dealt with past threats he inherited from his father but how would he deal with the future?

         Solomon is famous for his wisdom.  As he is sworn into office, he meets with God in the tabernacle.  God offers Solomon a blank check, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”  Like his famous forefathers, Solomon realizes he has inherited a job far bigger than he can handle.  Who am I that I am chosen?  Solomon is famous for asking, “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.”  God is pleased and grants Solomon a wise and discerning heart plus all he did not ask for – health, wealth, and fame. Chapter 3 closes sharing that the people “held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice. (3:28)”

         Note that even the people recognize that Solomon’s wisdom was from God.  As Solomon’s kingdom grows, his riches grow, his fame grows, and life is good, Solomon begins to loose focus on God, the I AM, and becomes lax respecting the gods of his many wives.  Idolatry was not something Jehovah, I AM, tolerated.  Child sacrifices to these gods were practiced and Solomon who looked so promising begins to slide.

         A commercial running on Spotify now is how person A shares that she brings dedication to her job.  Another brings fairness.  If you were to receive a fax from God asking what gift you would like that would characterize your life, what would you ask for and why?  Solomon wanted wisdom to govern others wisely and administer justice.  Perhaps you would want health for you or your beloved friend.  Perhaps it would be “let there be peace….and let it begin with me.”  Perhaps all the world needs now is love, sweet love.  Then again it might be forgiveness for that indiscriminant act of your younger years.  Spend two minutes pondering and praying over what you need for that big task facing you today.  Be specific.  Blessings.

2 Samuel 11:1-12:25  “At the time when kings go off to war, David sent” his general and army out but he stayed in Jerusalem.  What is going on here?  Was David feeling his age?  Was he facing burnout from all the battles he had fought?  Perhaps he saw himself as too important to risk.  In any case David did not go with his men but stayed in the palace – and looked out the window.  So began a dark period in David’s life and the beginning of a compromise.  David saw Bathsheba, wanted, and took.  She became pregnant so King David arranged for her husband, Uriah the Hittite, to be killed.  Ouch.  The sin and the cover-up!  God sent Nathan, the prophet, to David with a story that confronted David with his sin.  David immediately repents, “I have sinned against the Lord. (12:13)” The child became sick and died.  The consequence was, “Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.” 

         Do we call it the sin of pride, the sin of lust, the sin of devaluing women?  What was done in secret now became a pubic life of conflict for David and the kingship became complicated.  David, our hero, is forgiven but the names of Goliath and Bathsheba will be attached to him forever.  How easy it is to think one potato chip won’t hurt us!

         David suffered a” temporary lapse of judgment.”  We are all human and it is so easy to deceive ourselves and convince ourselves that this little deed, this little lie, this little indulgence is ok.  No excuses make wrong, right.  The law convicts and the slip will have consequences.  God sees us, even though we do not see God. 

         I also note that David allowed himself to get separated from his men that he led.  We all need accountability, someone with whom we can be open and honest and friends who will stand in prayer with us when we are feeling tempted.  The “Lone Ranger” had Tonto.  “Batman” had Robin.  Who holds you in their heart and with whom can you be open with and get honest feedback?  Who cares enough to “call a spade a spade?”  Who is your Nathan?

         God forgave David.  God did not undo the sin by bringing Uriah back to life.  The consequences had to be lived with.  But God did then bless David and Bathsheba with another son, Solomon, but the downward slide had begun.  David repented.  He did not justify.  He did not argue.  He did not blame.  He realized he had ultimately sinned against God by abuse of his power that came from God, abuse of the privileges and abuse of the people entrusted to him by God.  To humble ourselves in repentance is very difficult. Very little stays secret for long.  Perhaps there is something you need to set straight today.  Repentance and getting straight with God is never a bad choice.  Making the choice is the hard part.  God is willing to forgive!

Somewhere around 1000 BCE we see the nation of Israel pulling itself together from being 12 tribes conquering a geographical area into a political entity.  They go from being a theocracy, a country under a god who communicated through representatives, to a country with a king.  Eli the high priest started this transition when his sons were unfit to follow in his steps.  God brings Samuel, a small boy from a barren mother, whose fulfilled prayer for a child led her to give the boy to Eli to raise.  Samuel’s sons too were not fit to follow in their father’s footsteps and the elders gather and demand a king like other nations.  They wanted to be like other countries and they wanted a king they could see with all his trappings and demands rather than a god who was unseen.  God allows them to learn.  Saul, another unlikely candidate from the smallest clan of the smallest tribe but tall and handsome is anointed.  He started well but did not obey God completely so God chose David, a shepherd boy.  In the story of David and Goliath we see the heart of a king who would unite his country and who would seek to honor God.

         Both Saul and David responded to being chosen by asking the question, “Who am I that I should be chosen.”  God seems to delight in choosing ordinary people like you and me and uses us to write his epic story that is still being played out through us.  Amazing grace!  I have chosen two songs for this Saturday.  We would sing, “Only a Boy Named David” to our children at bedtime to express our belief in their God given potential.  As an adult, I love the song, “Who Am I.”  Enjoy.  God wants to use you.

2 Samuel 5-7.  David is considered by many as Israel’s greatest king.  After King Saul died in battle along with his son Jonathan, David unites the tribes  and at age 30 becomes king for the next 40 years, until age 70!  He captures Jerusalem and calls it “the City of David.”  David returns the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.  David wants to build the Temple for the Lord but God stops him.  That task will be delegated to David’s son, Solomon.  David brings a reign of peace that make the building of the Temple possible.  God tells Nathan, the prophet, to give a promise to David,

         “Now I will make your name great like the names of the greatest men          on earth.  And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant       them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be     disturbed, wicked people will not oppress them anymore.” (7:9,10) 

God promises to establish the house of David. “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.  I will be his father, and he will be my son. (7:13)” We call it the Davidic Covenant.  God then gave David rest from his enemies.

         David was not perfect but he did show three character habits that stand out in these chapters. 

• David sought God’s directions and advice when he went into battle. (5:19)
• David celebrated with his whole being, worshipping God as the source of his success. (6:14)
• David was a man of prayer.  Chapter 7 records his prayer that showed a heart of humility.  “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? (7:18)”

Seeking God’s plan, celebrating God’s person, and giving God the credit for my achievements are good habits and qualities for us to be building into our lives.  Do we measure success by how much God is honored?  Do we measure joy by our relationship with God?  And am I humble, seeking God’s fame rather than my own?  David may well have been the greatest king Israel ever had.  Certainly “David” which means “beloved” is a common male name.  As we mentioned yesterday, David was able to wait for God to unfold his life’s plan and what a plan it was!  That little shepherd boy far exceeded the expectations of his family.  May we ponder today those qualities in our lives. Blessings.

1 Samuel 23:7 – 24:22.  Saul is king but paranoid of David’s popularity and determined to kill him.  Jonathan, Saul’s son and heir apparent, “helped him (David) find strength in God.”  Jonathan knows, Saul knows and David knows that some day David will be king.  Amazingly Saul, in pursuit of David, enters a cave to relieve himself, unaware that David and men are hiding in the back of the cave.  David sneaks forward and cuts off a corner of Saul’s robe, refusing to kill Saul as his men wanted.  David confronts Saul with the proof, “May the Lord be our judge and decide between us.  May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hands.” David is waiting on the Lord.

         Being king for Saul was harder than just being chosen.  The fear of competition for the throne plagued Saul and stole peace and concentration.  He was busy chasing David rather than ruling and fulfilling his role.

         Waiting for God’s timing is harder than just knowing God’s will for David.  Samuel had anointed David as a youth, Jonathan had confirmed the future but David needs to discern the time and refuses to seize the position while Saul, “the Lord’s anointed,” was still alive.

         We dream of getting married, of getting that perfect job, of buying that wonderful house, of taking the dream vacation or maybe just retiring.  It seems so idyllic in the movies or as we watch someone else do our dream but then we achieve–are appointed, are chosen and we discovered the reality is a lot of work.  Not only is there work but there is the battle with fear that someone better will come along.  Saul did not have peace even though he had achieved so much.

         I find it interesting that David has multiple opportunities to grab his destiny and yet he does not.  Getting his dream by devious or immoral ways ie killing Saul, is not what he wants.  He is willing to wait for God’s time.  That is hard.  I love the scene from “Chariots of Fire” where Eric Liddell is preaching on Sunday morning as he feels it would be unethical to run an Olympic trial race on Sunday.  He uses as his text Isaiah 40:28,

         “Do you not know? Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting         God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or      weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength          to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow         tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope     (wait) in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings    like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not      be faint.”

         I do not know where you are feeling impatient and finding it hard to wait on the Lord’s timing, but trusting God’s timing is important.  Keep focused on God rather than who might do what you’re doing only better.  They might do it better but God has you in the situation and trusting his timing and keeping his peace is important.  Be kind as you critique others doing their jobs and wait on the Lord in doing yours!

1 Samuel 16:1 – 18:16. This is one of the famous stories in the Bible that most people know.  David, a youth, fights the giant Goliath who is challenging the Israelite army.  It has become symbolic for any struggle where the odds are terribly mismatched and the fight looks hopeless.  In this case Saul was still king but he was scared and he had lost God’s blessing by lack of obedience.  God had Samuel anoint David to be the next king but David was not king yet and David seems to know it is not his time yet.  God tells Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (16:7)” David was known for being “a man after God’s own heart.”  Our story today lets us look into David’s heart as he faces Goliath.

         Unlike King Saul, David is not afraid of Goliath.  The outward appearances do not determine his courage.  He remembers all the times God has helped him as a shepherd to kill the beasts that threatened his flocks.  David sees his source of power as outside himself.  He can be brave.

         Unlike King Saul, David is not threatened by the status of King Saul or height of Goliath.  After David kills Goliath, the people sing praises of David who killed “his ten thousands” while Saul killed “thousands.”  Saul realizes David is a threat to his throne.  Fear begins to plague Saul’s kingship.  David, on the other hand, obediently does as requested and refuses to be jaded by jealousy or false aspirations.  We do not see David playing politics with his popularity.

         Unlike King Saul, David forms a deep friendship with Jonathan, son of Saul.  “Jonathan became one in spirit with David” and this friendship would provide a loyalty and “north star” during his time before he becomes king.  David was able to cross party lines and see issues and talents clearly.

         Possibly most importantly, David realizes that Goliath has not picked a fight with the Israelites but with God. “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. (17:45)”  Clarity of vision to understand the core issues in an argument is important.

         It is easy to look at our world today and feel overwhelmed – environment/fires, immigration and displaced people and assigned leaders, potential spread of disease, and all the other issues we hear about on the news.  We are like David facing Goliath.  May we remember that God looks at our hearts, not our looks.  May we remember all the times when God has helped us in the past and remember that he is able.  May we not be distracted by petty jealousies and may we be loyal in our friendships.  May we see clearly what the core issues are and seek God’s heart.  Blessings as you face your challenges.

1 Samuel 8-10.  “When Samuel grew old…”   At this point the elders of Israel gathered and came to Samuel, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways, now appoint a king to lead us, such as the other nations have. (8:5)”  We are headed to another transition.  Samuel had been mentored by the high priest, Eli, whose own sons were undisciplined.  Samuel too had two sons who were also dishonest and disrespectful of the priesthood.  At the same time, the people of Israel are observing the nations around them.  Please note that even the most godly men in the Bible had wayward children.  Perhaps they were too busy being priests.  Perhaps the sons were spoiled by all the perks of being the sons of the high priest.  We don’t know but we do know, but the elders thought a new process of leadership was needed.

         The request for a king sounds reasonable but note the motivation is to be like the other nations.  The human desire to belong, to be like everyone else, is dangerous because it often leads to compromise to fit in.  Samuel realized the implicit rejection of God but God allowed the people their king.  Samuel warned the people of the dangers but they wanted a king.  Tall, handsome Saul was chosen.  How often are we so sure of what we want that we cannot listen to honest feedback from our friends?  It reminds me of the song, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, that we sang in the 60s.  The people were determined to have a king.

         When Samuel tells Saul, Saul is speechless, “But am I not a Benjamite  from the smallest tribe of Israel and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin?  Why do you say such a thing to me?”  God has again chosen an unlikely person to lead his people, someone  with a humble heart at this point but someone who fits the job description of a stereotypical king – tall and handsome!

         Growing a nation of loyal people who will choose to follow God’s ways is a process of character formation.  We are not the person we were as a youth with our dreams and aspirations to climb mountains and “leap over tall buildings with a single bound” but as maturity settles in and the bumps and bruises of life form us, we become and make choices that keep us moving forward.  We may not always choose the easiest route but God works with us, teaching us and loving us.  Most of us may feel as unlikely and unworthy of God’s attention but God sees beyond the surface to qualities he wants to work with.  I find it comforting that God works with us even in our detours and God always has some unlikely person he is willing to use.  It may be you!  Winston Churchill is credited with saying, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Epic stories involve epic heroes, epic villains, and have multiple subplots or iterations that can be told.  The first iteration in the Bible, we heard our epic hero, God, lay out his agenda, that through Abraham he would raise up a nation that would bless all people.  Our epic villain, Satan, has done his best to lead the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses astray.  In Egypt the original clan of about 70 people grew into a fledgling nation of slaves that were freed, that crossed the desert, received the Ten Commandments to guide them, crossed into the Promised Land and then during the time of the Judges, occupied the land.  So far God has communicated with this nation through leaders and then through judges.  God’s “leadership style” is dissonant, though, with how the people of Israel see other nations being governed.  Jehovah has strict rules, worship in a tabernacle and he is invisible!  Others have kings, baal figures that can be kept in houses, and sensually pleasing worship practices. Tension is growi

         1 Samuel 1-3 starts the next iteration.  God again uses a humble woman who has been barren and ridiculed for her infertility.  She has a son, Samuel, whom she sends to be raised under Eli the priest.  As a young boy, God speaks to Samuel.  Eli has not disciplined his own two sons who thus have lost the privilege of following in their father’s fame. God will go with plan B. The leadership of the country is turned over to Samuel.  God seems to delight in taking ordinary people who seek him and then he molds them into his purposes.  Samuel is probably the most famous of all the priests and eventually will be instrumental in anointing King Saul and King David.  His outstanding characteristic at this point was his listening to God and obeying.

         Age does not seem to be a factor as God first speaks to Samuel when he is a small child.  Education does not seem to be a factor as Samuel is a small child.  There is no identified talent. Samuel simply answers God’s call, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”  Today let’s ask ourselves if we are finding time and places when we can listen for God’s voice speaking?  Are we willing to be servants?  Good questions.  Blessings as you seek that wee small voice leading you.