No retaliation

And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it. May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, ‘Out of the wicked comes wickedness.’ But my hand shall not be against you. After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! May the Lord therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.” 
As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands. For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day. And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. Swear to me therefore by the Lord that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” 
And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. (1 Samuel 24:9–22)

The flesh wants personal glory and victory over all threats and will destroy anything that stands in its way. The Holy Spirit trusts God to care for and protect. David was firm in faith, but Saul waffled and tried to manage his own security. David could have killed this king but instead took a corner of his robe to show that he meant him no harm and Saul was convicted by that, and knew in his heart that the throne would go to David. Therefore he wanted him to swear that he would not retaliate.

Our home group studied this week:

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17–21)

No one pointed to David’s example but it is a strong one that points to why David was called a man after God's own heart. There is not one person who has not sinned against God. Some would put Him to death if that were possible, but God does not retaliate. Instead He comes near to us and dies to that right to retaliate. He cuts off the robe of our self-righteousness and replaces our evil with His goodness.

Jesus, Your love has let me go away safe, even protects my children, and instead of dealing with me as my sin deserves, You deal with me in grace and mercy. Like David with Saul, You deal with me in great kindness that I do not deserve. How wonderful. How amazing.

 

 

Choosing the right god…

And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth. Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. And the people of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died. (Judges 3:7–11)

The world news troubles me. So do local events. The Bible speaks of God's power through His people, but sometimes His people are crippled by fear, anger, personal loss, and a host of life’s responsibilities and distractions that we neglect to plug in to God for His instruction and guidance.

When talking with other Christians, I often hear about their problems. That is okay for I consider listening and caring is important, but I also consider their words as prayer requests, even if they are not given with that designation.

That lack bothers me because it seems as if the people with the problems have forgotten the power and love of our great God. In the above passage, this was happening and God was not happy about their lack of faith in Him. I could pray that He grant them greater ability to trust Him, but that is not what He does about their need. Instead, He sends them into captivity. Interesting is that the meaning of Cushan-rishathaim is “double-trouble.” After years of more stress under this enemy, He raised up one person to get them out of their mess.

Othniel’s name comes from a root word meaning “force of God” which honors the One who sent him. This one man went to war and overcame double-trouble. Like much of what God does, we are not told how this happened, but it did, and the people had rest for forty years.

The NT passage that comes to mind is this one:

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:1–10)

The problem in both passages is God's people serving other gods. In the OT it was the Baals and Asheroth. In the NT it is the world and its fleshy and selfish desires. We may get along nicely for a little while but if motivated by the old nature a long time and as a group, it will eventually wind up as a form of slavery — fighting with one another — unless God raises up someone who honors Him.

Jesus is the force of God to save us from ourselves. And if we neglect Him. We will wind up in slavery to our troubles. Yet in grace, He still fights to set us free. My option is: Have my way and run my life accordingly, or fight alongside Him in prayer for God's will to be done — in my life  and in those who are serving the god of self. That could include a few years of slavery to make it happen, but after that — peace.

Jesus, I see You neglected by many Christians who have not yet humbled themselves to Your Lordship or live according to Your direction and voice. Their goals and aspirations are worldly and I know how easy it is to fall into wanting the wrong things. I tremble at the responsibility of stepping out of this sin and as an Othniel, going to war as Ephesians 6 describes our war against false gods, so that Your people can have peace, yet if this is what You want, grant me all that I need to be faithful.

Open His gifts…

 

As I pray for those who do not yet know Jesus, the Bible seems clear that one day He will speak to them, whether this day or on their death bed. I can share the gospel with them, but it is that ‘visit’ from God that will make the difference. I’m praying for them and know how important that my life matches my words. Integrity not hypocrisy:

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)

The rest of this NT book offers a description of honorable conduct. Some of it might surprise even God’s people. . . .  

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 

Doing good is not about rigid rules as some might think. It means I’m to live in freedom but not use that to cover sinful selfishness. Instead, I’m to serve God and honor everyone, loving other Christians and fearing God. This includes honoring political leaders and respecting anyone in authority over me, no matter what they are like. The Lord says: “This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.”

This is being like Jesus, not retaliating, but trusting the Righteous Judge. It applies also to marriage. If hubby was not obeying the Lord, I’m to remain respectful with a gentle and quiet spirit. Husbands are to understand and honor their wives. This is so our prayers are not hindered by any selfish demands put on each other. 

In all of life, God asks for “unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” This is about godly speech, doing good, and seeking peace. The eyes of the Lord are on me, and my obedience is important because it means He is open to my prayers. 

I’m not to fear those who ill-treat me, but honor Christ and “Be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” in a gentle and respectful manner.” It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 

Jesus could return at any time. For that reason and for the sake of my prayers, I’m to be self-controlled and sober-minded, loving others, meeting their needs without grumbling, and serving them with the gifts and grace that God give. This is to glorify Him, not me.

I could be insulted for the name of Christ, but am blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon me. I must trust Him and do good, no matter what. I’m also to be humble in all this for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 

PRAY: Jesus, all this reminds me to humble myself for at the proper time, You will lift me up. I can cast all my anxieties on You, because You care for me. I can be sober-minded and watchful even though my adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour me. I can resist You, firm in faith. I know others suffer too, and that after I suffer, You, the God of all grace who has called me to Your eternal glory, will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish me. All this is the Gift that came to a stable, died on a cross and now lives forever to bless all who trust You. Hear my prayers for others to know and receive the wonder of Your gift to them.

Faith is about His will, not mine…

 

Most of the time I think of faith as trusting God to do something that I want Him to do. However, reading Hebrews 11 this morning describes faith differently. It is not about my wants but about receiving what God wants or is doing, trusting His actions and commands. In other words, faith is trusting that whatever God decides or does is okay by me, and not necessarily asked for or expected by me.

Not only that, the examples of faith in this chapter are far bigger and more significant than my prayers for myself, or family and friends. The first one is:

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:3)

Most of the scientific world tries to decipher the origin of the universe. For those whose faith is in God, He says He created it and we believe it, not because of the evidence but because we know that God does not lie, and that by a word, He can do whatever He wants.  

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. (Hebrews 11:4)

Abel knew what God wanted and offered it. Cain offered what he wanted to give, trusting his own judgment. Even today, I need to remember that my ‘great’ ideas need to be from Him, not mine alone.

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

Noah listened and obeyed. The ark and the flood were not his idea or his prayer request. It was the same for Abraham who “obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8) He lived “in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise” and his wife “Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.” Then “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son.” (Hebrews 11:8-17) None of these were prayed for as human wants. 

More are mentioned, Moses particularly. His life was preserved because his parents hid him, trusting God to preserve his life. But the result was beyond anyone’s prayers as He became a great leader who “By faith, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” and “left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” By faith, “he kept the Passover, crossed the Red Sea as on dry land” and led God’s people to their gifted land. 

Later, God told His people to conquer Jericho with a strange battle plan, and “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” (Hebrews 11:30)
These accounts give ample reason for prayer that listens more than prayer that treats God like a genie in a bottle. In love, He does hear and answer my smaller requests for such things that are significant to me, yet would I respond in faith to His requests? And to the revelations He gives me concerning His will?

PRAY: Forgive me Jesus for talking more than I listen. My will is so imperfect. I need to pay greater attention to Your will and in faith, act on what You say instead of always asking You for what I want. While You often put requests into mind that are Your will, I cannot assume anything. Far better to ask You to surprise me than tell You what to do.