Will Be Back on Monday

Going for a long weekend to Las Vegas to celebrate my wife's birthday with family! See you Monday!

Always Read the Instructions - 2 Samuel 6 (1-11)

Does this sound familar? Your wife comes home from the store with a huge box filled with seemingly hundreds of pieces of processed wood and hardware. The picture on the front of the box shows this beautiful entertainment center standing majestically in a pristine living room. And you know your wife expects hers to look equally majestic. After you fight off the urge to procrastinate and continue watching the football game, you rip open the box and dump its contents on the floor. Your manhood has now been challenged. You want to please your wife, to show her that her husband is capable, smart, and good with his hands. The last thing to fall out of the box is a thick instruction book written in eighteen different languages. Your supreme pride and arrogance quickly leads you to discard the needless manual written only for dummies who can't put a cap back on a bic pen. In a matter of 30 minutes, your project starts to take shape. You're feeling pretty good about yourself at this point. You're going to make your wife happy and stroke your ego all in one sitting. Yeah baby! But wait, something's not right, the dowel holes for the shelves don't seem to line up. What the? You soon realize that you had failed to face all of the unfinished sides of the different wooden pieces in the same direction!! AHHHH! A few curse words leave your lips and in walks your wife. "What's wrong?," she asks. The question alone stings your pride. And you can already anticipate the next dreaded question...."Did you read the....?" See, I can't even finish typing it!! I've been there, done that!

Now, the consequences of our failure to read the directions were more of an annoyance. It was a simple matter of disassembly and reassembly. It was my pride that was injured. No big deal. But 2 Samuel 6, is a whole different story.

David was establishing his new capital in Jerusalem. And one of the first things he decided to do was bring the ark of the covenant to the capital city. The ark had been staying at Abinadab's house for approximately 40 years where his sons were appointed to take care of it. It is interesting to point out that the ark was sent to Abinadab's house before Saul became king. (1 Samuel 7:1-2) Yet, Saul did not attempt to bring it to his capital. This shows the contrast between Saul and David's heart toward God. Unlike Saul, one of the first things David did when he became king over the united kingdom of Israel was to bring the very presence of God to Jerusalem. Certainly, David had good intentions with this decision.

However, David and his men failed to read or remember the instructions found in Numbers 4:1-10 regarding the proper handling of the ark. The ark was no entertainment center. The ark of the covenant was where the Lord literally dwelt! This was no common symbol or flag. This was the very habitation of God - the creator of all things!! The meticulous instructions on how to move the ark where set up by God to help the Israelites to appreciate the terror and power of God! They needed to understand that He was not to be taken lightly. That is why Numbers 4 instructs a certain clan of the Levites (sons of Kohath) to literally carry the ark. This was a great honor amongst the Levites. The transport of the ark would not be left to unpredictable animals. There would be no shortcuts to carrying the ark by hand.

Yet, what do we see happening in 2 Samuel 6? The ark is placed on a new cart pulled by oxen and driven by Abinidab's two sons, Uzzah and Ahio. What's wrong with this picture? Numbers 4 is being completely ignored. David's good intentions seem to be mixed with haste, arrogance, and irreverance. While David leads a marching band ahead of the cart, he ironically acts as though he does not understand the magnitude of the ark and God's literal presence. The ark was to be carefully and deliberately carried by Levites to its new home. This would have taken longer and required much more effort. But David, Uzzah, and Ahio took the shortcut. They didn't read or heed the specific instructions provided by God. His very presence was not fully comprehended. It became more about the event than God. It became more about ceremony and pomp and circumstance than Jehovah - The One true God of Israel. And the consequence of this irreverance and sloppiness with the ark cost the life of Uzzah. At first reading, this punishment may seem harsh. But this was a complete mishandling of the very presence of God! God was in their midst and they treated Him no better than a cargo of crops headed to market!

Two points I should take away from today's study: 1) Never allow good intentioned ministry to move ahead of God Himself and 2) God is to be revered and feared.

So often we can get involved in a minstry in our church and get caught up in the activity and make that activity a complete substitute for communing with God. The ministry may provide accolades, increased popularity, status, and personal gratification. And then God slowly fades into the background in our minds and hearts. Be careful not to be like David, Uzzah and Ahio and get caught up in the ceremony and good intentions and forget that God has specific instructions for your life that are found in His word. And when those "good" activities conflict with God's instruction manual, we need to stop, disassemble, and reassemble. Otherwise, the very "good" we think we are doing is all in vain.

The ultimate purpose for which we were created was to fellowship and worship God and God alone. He is to be feared (respected, to be in awe of) and reverenced. In our culture today, even in many churches, irreverence is in style. It's cool to give Jesus nicknames, use slang when speaking of God, and make worshipping God more like a rock concert or a means of showing off. But do not forget the example of Uzzah. While God is a God of love, patience, and forgiveness, He is a holy God, an omnipotent God, a God we cannot even look upon without Christ's blood covering our countless sins! A true understanding of God's presence will drop us to our knees with our face in the dirt and proclaim we are on Holy ground!

Prayer: May I never be so lazy, flippant, and arrogant to toss aside Your instruction manual for my life. May I learn to reverence You name and presence in my life as I continue to learn more and more about You and Your awesomeness! Forgive me for those times I have treated You like any other hero, celebrity, or idol. You require and deserve so much more!

A Tale of Two Cities (2 Samuel 5)

Jerusalem. The City of David. The center of God's eternal plan. This beautiful city is now the capital of David's kingdom. This is a momentous day in the history of Israel and mankind for that matter. From this day forward, Jerusalem would become a thriving economic center, a religious battleground, and a stumbling block to the rest of the world. Even today, in 2009, Jerusalem is a thorn in the side of world leaders as they try and manufacture peace. Today, Jerusalem awaits the return of the Prince of Peace on the mount of olives just outside its gates. It is a dream of mine to one day walk the streets of this ancient city. So much history is found within and without its walls. But I digress.

Chapter 5 is a pivotal moment in David's reign. The elders of Israel arrive in Hebron after the death of both Abner and Ish-bosheth. They proclaim David's rightful claim to the throne of Israel. I wonder when these men got a clue? Where was this speech for the last seven years?

Nevertheless, David's kingdom is now united. Israel is one nation again. But what strikes me about this chapter is more about David's dichotomy. On the one hand, we see David recognizing God's hand in all of this. (v.12) On the other, David takes in more wives in direct violation of God's law. (v. 13-16) (The taking of wives was borrowed from surrounding cultures where kings would use marriage to consolidate power within and without his government.) Then, we see David enquiring of the Lord before going to battle against the Philistines in verses 19 and 23. And also David obediently burns the images of the Philistines after God gives him the victory. One of those images may have been similar to the idol that had once been in his own house with Michal when we examined 1 Samuel 19-20. Another lesson learned maybe?

While David has made progress, he still harbors sin in his home. The multiple wives and concubines would be a sinful practice he would pass down to Solomon. And this very practice would serve as an instrument of Solomon's undoing.

While we may pat ourselves on the back from time to time because of the good works we may do, we must be careful not to be blinded by our own self-righteousness to sin that remains. Should we rejoice when God gives us victory? Yes. Should we strive to please God and obey His word? Absolutely. But in doing so, never lose sight of our tendency to fall back into sinful ways. We must constantly be on guard for breaches in the dam. For at the height of David's reign, in the midst of victory, at the moment of deliverance, David still disobeyed God. A better title may have been, "A Tale of Two David's". But like David, we are not really two different people. We are simply flawed people in need of a savior. And thank God we have a savior, Jesus Christ, who constantly argues on our behalf when we falter. Jesus' blood washes away our sin! Where sin abounds, grace does abound more! (Romans 5:20)

Have a great weekend! And never take the grace of God for granted!! Thank Him daily for it!!

Prayer: God, thank You for Your grace. Grace that is personified in Your Son Jesus Christ. Grace that abounds without limit. Grace so undeserving. Let me never take it for granted. May I abhor sin as do You!!

Oh Brothers, What Art Thou? (2 Samuel 4)

Violence rears its ugly, bloody head (pun intended) in this short chapter. When word gets out that Abner, the real power behind Ish-bosheth's throne is dead, Ish-bosheth knows his days are numbered. Two of his military captains who are brothers, Baanah and Rechab, devised a plot to kill Ish-bosheth in his bed.

It is a bloody scene where the two brothers walk straight into the kings room, stab him in the stomach, and cut off his head. They escape and run straight to David in hopes of finding favor with the king of Judah. These two evil men have the audacity to then claim before David that "The Lord has avenged my lord the king..." v. 8. How dare they represent themselves as agents of God? When their true motive was self-preservation now that they could see the writing on the wall. David would soon be king over all of Israel. And Saul's house, whom they served against David, would finally crumble.

David clearly saw this counterfeit claim for what it was....evil. The ends do not always justify the means. Certainly, it was clear that God had anointed David to be king over all of Israel. And one could argue that the killing of Ish-bosheth brought David one step closer to him unifying the kingdom. But David's handing down of a quick death sentence on these two brothers demonstrated once again that David would never condone such cavalier action. David was still confident God would deliver in His good time.

Is there a righteous cause you support? For example, all christians agree that abortion is sin. (Or they should) But should we go around bombing abortion clinics? Absolutely not! We deceive ourselves when we think that such violence is of God. We should recognize, as David did, that vengance is God's. He will repay.

And while most of us aren't going around bombing abortion clinics, there are other righteous causes we may pursue. Personally, my righteoous cause is doctrinal accuracy in our churches. But sometimes, in trying to promote that goal, my pride and arrogance gets in the way. I justify my biting attacks on other christians because I'm just "trying to get them to see God's truth". Who am I to make that happen? Is God, through His Holy Spirit, not able to bring church leaders into the knowledge of truth? Of course He is! How ridiculous of me to use a sinful attitude to try and accomplish something that only God can do!! David had learned that lesson. And chapter 4 shows how we should respond as well - put to death all of our own devices. Stay out of God's way!

Always remember that sin is never justified, even for a righteous cause.

Prayer: Father, I keep coming back to the same problem. I do not trust You enough. I rely on my own sinful flesh so often. Forgive me. I put my trust in You and you alone.

"My Name is Abner, General Abner" (2 Samuel 3)

Reading chapter 3, I find myself rather perplexed in trying to figure out what to take from this portion of scripture. There is so much sin going on here I want to just gloss over this and get to the happy ending. But I won't take the easy road here.

I'll start by referencing James Bond. Really? Yep. The Bond character we all know and love has at his core a suave confidence and arrogance about him. It's what has the ladies flocking to him. He's a badass, a modern day cowboy. He needs no one and mostly works alone. But while arrogance may be attractive on the big screen, it's repugnant to God.

(BTW, Timothy Dalton was the worst Bond ever!)

In chapter 3, Israel is still divided between David's kingdom (Judah-Hebron) and Ish-bosheth's kingdom (Israel - all other tribes). Our main character is Abner. He's the general of Saul's army. (And for me, he's kinda like our James Bond of the bible.) Many commentators suggest that Ish-bosheth was a puppet king propped up by Abner, the true power in Israel. The chapter opens with Ish-bosheth accusing Abner of sleeping with Saul's concubine. I'm sure Abner 007 had his share of the women folk. Even after the king dies, apparently his wives and concubines were off limits. This may have been an attempt by Ish-bosheth to break free of Abner's influence and establish his own power as king. Abner is greatly offended by this accusation and decides to abandon Ish-bosheth and join forces with David.

Abner sends word to David that he will unify Israel under David's rule. By Abner's own words, he seems to recognize that David is the true anointed king. But what strikes me here is the apparent arrogance of Abner in thinking he will be the one to unify Israel. He gives no credit to God.

In the last few days, God has humbled me and showed me where arrogance has been festering in my heart. So maybe I'm a little over-sensitive to Abner's arrogance. But I do question Abner's real motives here since he seems to think quite highly of himself and his abilities. Had Abner told David, "I recognize you as king of all of Israel anointed by God. I know He will deliver Israel into your hands. If I may be of service to my Lord and my king, I submit to your rule," I would feel alot better about Abner. But I think God wanted to show David that He didn't need to use a prideful, arrogant man like Abner to restore David's kingdom. And granted, Abner certainly seemed to be the perfect man to help David accomplish unification. But Abner shows his heart is not right. Pride and arrogance plague him.

And what happens? Joab, David's current general, comes back from a battle and hears that Abner has just left Hebron after consulting with David. I'm sure Joab felt threatened by this. He probably feared that Abner was a double agent coming to deceive David. Or, if Abner was sincere, Abner would pose a threat to Joab's power in David's government. And for some icing on the cake, it was Abner who killed Joab's brother (Asahel) in the initial battle that started this civil war! (See chapter 2) One commentator pointed an interesting fact about Joab's plot to assasinate Abner. Joab lured Abner outside the gates of Hebron before killing him. Why? Probably because Hebron was a city of refuge where Abner had protection under the mosaic law for the killing of Joab's brother during battle. One could argue that Abner's previous act of killing Asahel was of self-defense since he was running from Asahel when he thrust the spear into him. So long as Abner remained within the walls of a city of refuge, the avenger could not touch him. But outside the walls, Abner was fair game. And so, Joab kills Abner. And unlike in the movies, the prideful, arrogant 007 meets his fate. As God would prove in due time that He does not need prideful, arrogant people to accomplish His purpose.

Through all of this, David is a passive observer. He laments the fact that Abner's blood was shed by his general. David is seen still patiently waiting for the Lord to put him in his proper place in the kingdom. In the meantime, what a mess is being made by sinful men.

The lesson I have learned is pride and arrogance have no place in God's kingdom. It is sin. And when I find such sin stirring up in my soul, may I repent and ask God to purge it.

Prayer: Forgive me Lord when pride and arrogance rear their ugly heads in my life. May I give no place in my heart for such attitudes. They are not from You. And they are sinful. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me.

I Want My Throne NOW, Daddy!!! Whaaaa!

Have you ever felt that your rights were infringed upon by someone? Did a co-worker get promoted, praised, rewarded for something that you were really responsible for? Did a fellow church member get credit for a ministry accomplishment that you spent more time working at? Or, have you ever felt that someone else simply stole your blessing? We often times react with righteous indignation or plain ol' anger and jealousy. We too often lose patience and feel as though God has forgotten our hard work or diligent effort. We start to question if God is really fighting for us. We resort to taking matters into our own hands. We many times act with an air of entitlement. Shame on us!

If anyone had reason to feel entitled it was David. In 2 Samuel 2, David finds himself still in Ziklag - his hometown in the Philistian territory. Saul is dead. God had chosen David as Saul's successor and Samuel confirmed this by anointing David when he was still a shepherd boy. The throne was David's to claim. And here, we find David once again consulting God for direction. He asks God if he should now return to his tribe of Judah. God says "Yes". He then asks to what town should he return. God responds, "Go to Hebron". David is maturing isn't he? I seem to remember that he failed to ask God if he should go to Ziklag when he was running from Saul. And look at the trouble it brought him. He did not want to make the same mistake again. David's showing his repentance by turning away from past mistakes. He won't move now without God's direction.

When David settles in Hebron, his tribe anoints him king of Judah. And as a gesture of good will, David sends word to Abner and the rest of Israel's leaders and blesses them. David tells them that Judah has anointed him king. But Abner, Saul's cousin and military leader did not want to relinquish control of Israel so easily. Abner props up a falsely claimed son of Saul, Ish-bosheth, as king over the rest of Israel. And Ish-bosheth reigns for two years without incident. But then, a contest of military skills between David's servants and Ish-bosheth's quickly escalates to a bloody battle that starts a civil war.

For the first two years of Ish-bosheth's reign in Israel and even through the initial stages of the civil war, David stayed remarkably controlled and patient. His mistakes running from Saul and taking matters into his own hands had matured him. He could have easily gathered his men and marched to Mahanaim where Ish-bosheth reigned as king and claimed the throne that was rightfully his. He was God's anointed afterall! How dare this illegitimate son of Saul sit on HIS throne?! It wasn't right! But I believe David knew God had other plans. David had faith that when the time was right, God would remove all obstacles to David reigning over a united kingdom. David was careful not to get ahead of God's timing and purpose. And most importantly, David realized he was not entitled to anything but for God!

One of the most difficult lessons for me to learn in my life is to wait on the Lord's timing. And whenever I start to feel a sense of entitlement about anything, I need to remind myself that I am nothing...but for God. I have nothing...but for God. I would not exist...but for God.

Prayer: Forgive me Father when I have the audacity to lash out at others when I do not get what I feel I am justly entitled to. Do not ever let me forget that it is only by and through You that I am or have anything. And thank You that you still so graciously pour out blessing after blessing on my life!

The Tragic End of God's Anointed (1 Samuel 31- 2 Samuel 1)

When I read about the tragic end of Saul and his sons, I can't help but think about the tragic fall of the well-known evangelist, Jimmy Swaggart. I don't know how many of you actually remember him. But throughout the late 70's and early 80's his ministry flourished. Thousands of souls received Christ under his preaching. He was a pioneer in the area of televangelism. My family was encouraged and challenged by the no-nonsense, fire-branding messages that Jimmy Swaggart was known to bring. Rev. Swaggart would sit at the piano and sing passionately for the Lord. And frankly, in my humble opinion, few I have heard preach hold a candle to the anointing that was on this man.

But tragically, Rev. Jimmy Swaggart's worldwide ministry came crashing down around him when he was caught soliciting a prostitute. Those who followed his ministry were crushed. And those skeptics who hated what he stood for in the first place found ample fodder to bury the man. Even people who called themselves christians decided to jump into the fray and pile on. Few people hear of Jimmy Swaggart on the national or world stage anymore. Although, he and his son still have a large church in Baton Rouge, LA. But Rev. Swaggart will forever be known, not for the countless lives he reached for the Gospel of Christ, but for the scandal of sex and prostitution.

So what should our attitudes be when a fellow brother falls and suffers the consequences of his sin? (and please do not misunderstand my use of the term "fall" as meaning losing ones salvation. I do not believe this is what the bible teaches. But that is for another day.) The answer to this question is found in the reaction of David in 2 Samuel 1.

David receives word that Saul has been killed from one of Saul's men who had escaped from the battle. Considering David's history with Saul, his flesh would have rejoiced in this fact. Saul was dead! The king who was obsessed with killing him was gone! David was not only able to return to his homeland, he would return as king!! What glorious news this should be, right? But what does David say when he laments Saul and Jonathan's death?

"The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel." (2 Samuel 1: 19-24)

I copied this entire passage to fully demonstrate David's amazing response to Saul and Jonathan's death. If you knew nothing of Saul before this lamentation you would think he and David had the same close relationship that David had with Jonathan. I think it is plain to see that David never lost focus of the fact that no matter what Saul had done wrong, he was STILL God's anointed king. And as God's anointed king, Saul deserved to be mourned. It is NEVER a day to rejoice when one of God's anointed falls! I believe David could respond this way because he knew that he was equally capable of falling into sin. Also, David knew that word of Saul's demise would only empower and encourage God's enemies. And David would do anything he could to preserve Saul's honor and not bring open shame to God and His anointed.

We as christians need also be careful how we judge and react to those in authority in the christian church who fall into sin. We need to be more like David and cry out in sadness when one of God's anointed falls. For who are we to stand and point fingers? Any one of us can find ourselves in the same predicament needing forgiveness and mercy. Don't get me wrong. I am not suggesting that an anointed leader of God can be restored to a prominent ministry after putting God to an open shame. Their ministry is often a casualty of sin. But a fallen brother's personal relationship wth God is not for us to decide. We must lament his or her condition, be quick to forgive, and be as David and proclaim the beauty of Israel! Remember and rejoice in the wonderful things God has done through that person. And gladly pick up the standard and continue on as David did!

So You Wanna Be Part of the Crowd? (1 Samuel 29-30)

I can remember my high school days and the identity crisis that every teenager goes through. I decided that I wanted to be black. So all my energy went into trying to fit in with the brothas. I bought clothes from "Chess King". I spent countless hours in a beauty salon at the mall with small curlers in my hair to get just the right, tight Jheri Curl. I listened to nothing but soul music and learned how to "pop". I played basketball and nothing else. My speech pattern even changed to the point where you couldn't tell I was white when talking to me on the phone. I wanted nothing to do with white girls. It was all sista girls for me. Every ounce of my being was invested in fitting in. And I did a pretty good job of it if I say so myself.

Now there was nothing wrong with me doing those things. But looking back, it helps me understand David a little better. We find David completely assimilating with the Philistine culture. He has his own town to live in and he has won the complete trust of king Achish. He has so completely immersed himself to the point of being willing to go to battle against HIS OWN PEOPLE! However, his desire to fit in, cost him dearly.

And while David was making his share of mistakes, he had not forsaken God. David is sent back home after King Achish is pressured by the other princes of Philistia to prevent David from fighting with the Philistines. But when he arrives back to his hometown, he finds that it has been burned to the ground by the Amalekites. And all of the women and children, including his wives, have been taken. This is what can happen when we choose to disobey God and do our own thing. David was living with the enemy subject to the consequences of his disobedience.

But David shows he has not completely forsaken God. He calls for the priest and the ephod and asks God for direction. Yay David! And God answers! Even when we make mistakes and disobey, God is ready to answer our call when we call on Him. He is faithful to us! Even when David was making bad decisions, trusting in the protection of a foreign enemy, God shows His mercy when David calls on Him in distress.

Make no mistake, God will allow us to suffer the consequences of bad decisions. David is a prime example of this in these two chapters. His home, his possessions, and his family have been ripped out from under him. He learns a harsh lesson. The powerful Philistines cannot protect him. But when David calls on God for direction, what happens? God responds!

Be encouraged! No matter how deep a hole you dig for yourself, it's never too late to cry out to God for direction and help. Oftentimes, it will take us getting to our lowest point where all seems lost before we call out to Jesus for help. That's what it took for David. And praise God His mercy is so rich and ever present! He will respond!

1 Chronicles 28:9: ..."If you seek Him, He WILL be found by you (David). BUT IF you forsake Him, He will cast you out forever. (Saul)" (My parentheticals)

PRAYER: God, forgive me for my stupidity. Forgive me for taking steps in my life using my own "wisdom" which is nothing but foolishness. And I am so grateful that You promise to be there if I seek You!

Lessons from the Witch of Endor (1 Samuel 28)

Do you believe in seances, ouija boards, ghosts, and wizards? Well, believe it or not, these paranormal elements do exist. The Bible says so. And they are an abomination to God. (Lev. 20:6 for example). I can remember when the ouija board by Parker Brothers was the bomb! They were selling like hotcakes. The toy stores (yes, I did say toy stores) could not keep their shelves stocked long enough to satisfy the public's demand. Satan had found a way to bring a form of witchcraft into the mainstream. Ouija boards seemed like harmless fun. It was just another game to enhance the imagination. Whether you believe that the ouija board was truly witchcraft or not, the game was based on an ancient seance where the participants allowed the spirits to control the planchette (heart shaped piece of wood) in the middle of the board to point to letters and symbols to spell out messages. It was teaching the participants a form of witchcraft whether they knew it or not.

The Mosaic law clearly states that mediums, seers, and all forms of witchcraft are forbidden and considered an abomination to God. (Deut. 18:9-14) God commands us to flee from witchcraft. Witchcraft is very real! When someone goes to a fortune teller, palm reader, astrologist, or spiritualist to learn of their future or find answers to life's questions, it is an outward showing of their lack of trust and reliance on God. Satan is a crafty demon. He knows how to counterfeit the power of God. He can fool people into disobeying God's firm command to flee from all forms of witchcraft. And we must be always on our guard regarding such matters.

Saul, sought out a medium, a witch from Endor, for guidance and direction concerning the immenent threat of the Philistines. God would not answer his prayers. Saul was still an unrepentant king who only sought the counsel of God at a time when he was desparate. God was silent. What a horrible place for Saul to find himself. He had no line of communication to God anymore.

Also, I think Saul's desire to speak to Samuel's ghost (Samuel was now dead) shows his utter lack of understanding as to who Samuel was when he was alive. Saul wants to get answers from Samuel since God will not respond. But what Saul fails to realize is that Samuel was only an instrument through which God spoke. Samuel was nothing of himself. Saul thought Samuel had the answers apart from God. And when the witch of Endor successfully calls forth Samuel's spirit, Samuel rebukes Saul on this very point! Samuel says (paraphrased), "If God won't talk to you, what makes you think I can do anything for you!?"

Saul had placed the man ahead of God. Saul thought Samuel could still guide him even though God had long since departed from Saul. What he failed to understand is that apart from God, Samuel was of no use to him. This is a pathetic picture of God's anointed first king of Israel clearly disobeying the Mosaic laws and dabbling in witchcraft (that was very real) while seeking out guidance from a dead man with no hope of hearing from God.

To sum it up, there are two main things I take from this chapter: 1) witchcraft and spiritualism are very real; and 2) be careful not to elevate the man over the true God.

I have witnessed Christians elevating a pastor, bible teacher, bible professor, author, or historical Christian philosopher/preacher to a dangerously high status that makes me wonder many times if the fallible man is being confused with the One true God. When fallible men are quoted by Christians with greater frequency than the infallible Word of God, we run into the danger making man's opinion indistinguishable from God's Word.

Certainly, God has gifted many great biblical scholars with the ability to teach and divide the scriptures. But we must be careful to not eat from the crumbs of one man's table. Pick up God's Word. Read it. Study it. Make sure to question every commentary, every author, every teacher who professes to interpret the bible. Allow prayer and your own meditation on God's Word alone to feed you through the Holy Spirit. Whether you supplement your study with John Calvin or John Hagee, never confuse fallible men with the unfallible precious Holy Spirit that leads us into all truth. (John 16:13)

Prayer: Holy Spirit, it is through You and You alone that I find my answers. May I not seek after the things of this world or the supernatural world of witchcraft to find solutions or amusement. It is in God and God alone that I put my faith and trust!

David's Motley Crue Band - World Tour (1 Samuel 27)

Yes. I'm showing my age with the "Motley Crue" reference today. But I think it fits pretty well. How rediculous do these guys look in that photo? I think the picture speaks for itself. And what we see in chapter 27 is pretty embarrasing for David and his crew as well. As we discussed yesterday, David is entering another dark, low time in his life. This period could be to what David was referring in Psalm 23 when he talks about the "valley of the shadow of death". David has relegated himself to leading a motley crew of fighting men. Men who are outcasts in their own towns and villages - mercenaries for hire. I am sure this band of men were a colorful, rough sort. They were probably similar to the gangs of pirates that pillaged the high seas in colonial times. They were dangerous since most were unafraid to die. And they were led by David, a man quickly falling into despair and losing faith in God.

David opens chapter 27 with a shocking statement showing his change of heart from chapter 26. David says in his heart, "Now I shall perish someday at the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to speedily escape to the land of the Philistines." How low was David's faith that he believes there is "nothing better" for him than to run into the arms of his enemies, the enemies of God, for safety and protection! Nothing better??? David! Have you forgotten who your God-Father is?? Have you forgotten what God has already done for you? Do you remember Goliath? Have you forgotten Ramah? Have you forgotten the two times God has placed Saul directly into your hands? Has not God shown you enough of His protective hand to convince you only HE can protect you??

Ok. I'm done lecturing David. Because I many times live my life in a way that shows I too forget what God can and will do in my life if I place my trust in Him. Think back for a moment over your life and just reflect on God's deliverance both in your life and the lives of people you know. Hasn't He already proven Himself over and over again? Then, why do we so quickly act as though there is nothing better for us than to dispair and feel sorry for ourselves? Why do we turn to the world and God's enemies for protection as David does here? It's because we are a stubborn people. We too often live in the flesh and not walk by the Spirit.

The end of Chapter 27 shows David and his motley crew resorting to raiding and pillaging towns and villages. I'm sure David rationalizes his actions by raiding only those people who were historical enemies of Israel. But clearly David is not consulting God. He is depending on the skill and tenacity of his rough band of mercenaries to provide sustenance. And to make matters worse, David lies to King Achish (remember him? this is the same king to whom David pretended he was crazy to avoid being killed) and tells him he raided Israeli towns. Obviously, David seeks king Achish's approval in hopes that he can find protection. By now, King Achish is convinced Saul is their common enemy and accepts David and even gives him an area in which to live.

David's sleeping with the enemy. (Hey, that also could have been a good title for this article.) Anyway, let us not be so weak in our faith to forget that only our God can deliver us. Running around aimlessly using the world's devices to find sustenance and protection will not be effective. Seeking approval from the world will not satisfy or protect us. Only God can provide and protect His children.

David was once a valiant leader of God's army. He was a killer of Giants. He was a conqueror of God's enemies. But through a lack of faith and growing despair, he became the aimless leader of a motley crew of pirates and pillagers. But the story isn't over! Keep reading! Isn't this fun?

Prayer: In my hour of despair I know You're still there. So may I keep my eyes stayed on You and never forget Your power and ability to deliver me when all seems lost!

Rollercoaster of (Life)....Say What! (Ooh, Ooh , Ooh)

"Rollercoaster of Love" by the Ohio Players, one of the funkiest fun songs to sing and dance to, kept going through my head as I thought about 1 Samuel 26. I could easily change the title to "Rollercoaster of Life" because that's what it is, baby - a rollercoaster. When I rode my first rollercoaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio (incidently the rollercoaster capital of the world) there were moments of pure terror and fear followed by exhileration and joy. Just like riding the Blue Streak at Cedar Point, our earthly relationships with people we love and our more important walk with Christ is filled with ups and downs. And needless to say, the extreme dips, turns, loops, and lows that we experirence in our christian walk is many times attributable to when we allow the flesh to prevail. David is a perfect example of this truth.

1 Samuel 26 is an account of another encounter that David has with Saul while Saul sleeps unaware of David's presence. Once again, God puts David in a position of testing. David is probably even more exhausted from running. He is tired of leading his group of ex-cons, outcasts, and vagrants. He wants his old life back. He wants to be able to go to the tabernacle to worship his God. And here, once again, God has dropped Saul right in his lap for the taking. One good thrust of the spear and David's worries would all be over. This is the second time he's been put in this situtation...it MUST be God's will for him to kill Saul....right? Wrong. David resists the temptation of his own desires and proclaims that it is a sin against God to harm a hair on the head of God's anointed king. David honors Saul's position. Yay David! You passed the test!

You see, David was at the top of his rollercoaster ride in this chapter. He ignored misleading circumstantial evidence of God's will and trusted in God's Word. We too must be careful not to equate circumstances with God's will. In other words, that open door we talked about a couple of days ago may keep coming open when you walk by. That doesn't mean it's ok to go in! If that opportunity is contrary to God's word, run from it - no matter how many times it presents itself!

Over the course of the last few chapters we see David's rollercoaster ride. He's up during his first encounter with Saul sleeping. He's down when he wrongly reacts to Nabal's insults. He's up when we see him again in this chapter refusing to kill Saul. And he'll be down when we get to chapter 27. And David's rollercoaster will continue throughout his life. So be encouraged because even a man after God's own heart rode his own rollercoaster of life. And be assured, you will too. But if you are saved by grace, you are then sealed by the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 1:13) He's got you securely fastened in your seat. He will NEVER let you go! So sit back and enjoy the ride....it's gonna be a wild one!

Prayer: Father, thank you for your Holy Spirit that seals me for that great day when the rollercoaster ride will be over and we see you face to face! Until then, may I trust in You and obey your Word. When I'm down, may You remind me it's only for a season. When I'm up, may You remind me it's because of You alone. When I'm jolted by a sharp turn in life, may I rest secured knowing Your Holy Spirit holds me fast!

Who's Yo Godfather? - 1 Samuel 25

Don Vito Corleone sits at his table in the back of a darkly lit restaurant. A thick cloud of cigar smoke swirls around his head. In walks two of his goons with word from the street that a local businessman refuses to pay his tribute in exchange for protection. Imagine the Don's response when he's told that this businessman brashly responded, "Who was Vito Corleone to make him do anything?" I think we all know that at minimum, a horse's head would be sleeping with that guy the same night. This is the image I see when I read chapter 25.

On the heels of chapter 24, David is once again faced with an opportunity to claim his own justice by his own hand. Nabal, a rich, business man, insults David and his men after they protect Nabal's sheep and shepherds in the wilderness. Instead of providing David's men with payment in supplies and food, Nabal figuratively flips David the bird and sends David's men back to him empty handed. When David hears of this, he and his men grab their swords and heads out into the streets to show Nabal just how he feels about being humiliated.

We see a very different David in this chapter. Just a few verses earlier, David was showing great discipline and trust in God in sparing Saul's life. And now, David's going gangsta and letting his ego and anger get the best of him. He certainly is not acting on God's command. Because there is no mention of him enquiring of God before heading out to kill Nabal and his men.

Now, the parallel between David and Vito is not a perfect one. Don't get me wrong. David was not the criminal here. But his motivation for desiring to kill Nabal is similar to Vito's. David's been insulted. He's been challenged. His manhood is at stake. He must teach Nabal a lesson and preserve his reputation. Does David stop and pray before heading out? There's no mention of it here.

Thank God for Abigail's faith! It is her intervention that stays David's hand. When she meets him on his way to Nabal, she carries with her various gifts in hopes of making peace and sparing her family. In verses 23-31, Abagail gives a wonderful speech proclaiming who God is, what God has done, and what God will do! Read that passage over again. What a model for us when we start to act out rashly against our enemies! David blesses Abagail and recognizes that God sent her to stay his hand! Even though David seems to have learned that vengeance is God's in chapter 24, he relapses in chapter 25. We are also prone to relapse like David. When that happens, listen to Abagail and remind yourself of these three things: 1) Who God is; 2) What He has done for you and for others; and 3) What He will do for you!

David returns to his home. Nabal collapses from heart disease a few days later. God takes care of David's enemy. Another valuable lesson that God is driving home to David and us. Let Me fight your battles! When we let God fight for us, He keeps us from sinning. Because often times fighting for ourselves is motivated by revenge, pride, ego, and rage. These are not fruits of the Spirit. And when we allow ourselves to be controlled by these emotions, we sin.

Don't be a gangsta. Let the one true God-Father hand out the justice.

Prayer: Father, only You are worthy to hand out justice. When I am wronged, may I not react in anger, ego, revenge, or pride. Intercede on my behalf. God you are my deliverer!

"Oooooh Girl, Don't Go in There!" (1 Samuel 24)

In my college days at Texas Southern University, a predominantly black university, I had some close friends with whom I would go to the movies on the weekend. Have you ever been in a theater in the black community? It's awesome! The first time I went with my buddies I was more entertained by the audience than the movie. Seeing a movie in a black theater is more of an interactive event. The best dialogue is likely to come from the seats than the screen. And horror movies are THE BEST! Inevitably, in every good horror movie, there is that moment where the stupid white girl hears some noise in the basement or attic and feels some compulsion to go explore it. And when that happens...wow...the theater erupts with "Girl, get your butt out a dodge, honey!" or "Oooooo girl, don't go in there!" or "If that was a black person, all you'd see is the bottoms of they shoes, girl!" or "They have to get a white actress for that scene, 'cause ain't no black person crazy enough to go in there!" And, unfortunately, that white girl never heeds the warnings. And you know the rest of the story. How does this relate to 1 Samuel 24? Well, I think the lesson that me and the white girl need to learn is just because a door creeks open doesn't mean it's wise to walk through it.

Look at David. Saul is back from defending Israel against the Philistines and has resumed his hunt. And Saul falls right into David's lap. And I believe this was no accident. This was a test from God. Saul and his men were probably passed out cold from a night of heavy drinking. David's men found Saul and ran to David and insisted this was God's providence to deliver Saul into David's hands. This was the moment to exact his vengeance! David had justice on his side, right? Saul was out to kill him. David could end this once and for all. He could stop running. His kingdom could begin. Afterall, he was anointed by Samuel to be king, right? All these rational reasons to kill Saul in his sleep and what does David do? He cuts off a piece of Saul's robe and walks away. What an act of forgiveness! What a showing of trust in God and HIS timing! Unlike Chapter 23, David had no clear directive from God. But David could have easily interpreted this opportunity, this open door, as a sign of God's will. However, David is growing. He's learned what can happen when we follow our own devices. David still honored Saul as God's anointed king. He would not take the throne by force without God's command. David was willing to wait on the Lord.

Sometimes we as Christians misinterpret an open door or opportunity as God's will/direction. When that new business deal, chance to relocate, or chance to get justice presents itself we often don't even hesitate thinking that it must be God or why would this opportunity look so good. I'm sure a sleeping Saul looked awful tempting to David. At first glance it certainly appeared God was delivering Saul on a platter for David's taking. But Deut. 32:35-36 probably came to David's mind at that moment that says, "Vengeance is mine and retribution, in due time their foot will slip because their day of disaster is near, and the impending things are hastening upon them. For the Lord will vindicate His people..." David heeded the word of God, as should we. David later wrote in Psalm 119:11: "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." It was a good thing that David had spent many a day meditating on God's word. Because at that critical moment in history, God's word gave him all the direction he needed.

Prayer: God, I thank you for Your word. How marvelous are Your statutes! May I meditate on them daily that I might not sin against thee at that critical moment in my life.

"So NOW you ask Me!" - God (1 Samuel 23)

Yesterday, I alluded to the big change in David's approach in making decisions from chapters 21-22 to chapter 23. Today, I can't shake this awesome truth - when we acknowledge God in everything, He WILL direct our paths (Prov. 3:6). But when we take things into our own hands and make our own decisions, we leave in our wake death and destruction.

Verses 1-13 of chapter 23 almost hit you over the head with "David inquired of the Lord". David repeatedly asks the Lord for direction! Should I go help Keilah? He asks this twice. God tells him to go for it. Then, after delivering Keilah from the Philistines, David asks the Lord whether the men of Keilah will give him over to Saul when Saul surrounds the city. God tells David that the men of Keilah will succomb to Saul's pressure and hand him over. So David gets out of town.

You see the difference between the David at Nob and the David at Keilah? He involves God in his decision-making. He finally gets a clue! And look what happens! Amazingly, David doesn't lie! He doesn't need to act like a crazy lunatic! He doesn't get a group of priests slaughtered this time! He defeats the Philistines once again! He successfully escapes Saul's plot at Keilah! And to put icing on the cake, just a few verses later, when it appears that David and his men are trapped and becoming surrounded in the mountains, God intervenes using news of a Philistine invasion as a diversion to distract Saul from chasing David.

What a dramatic difference! When I acknowledge God in all my ways, He WILL direct my path. When I start to see my life spinning out of control, when I am trusting in my own wisdom and foolish devices, when my choices are not based on God's word, when my prayer life is non-existent, is it any wonder I'm miserable? Is it any wonder that everything I touch dies? That's when I need to come back to 1 Samuel 21-23 and re-read these chapters. I need to be reminded that prayer and the word of God should be the beginning and end of every decision I face. I can't count the number of times that God has probably groaned at me from His throne on high, "So NOW you ask Me!" What took me so long?

Prayer: Father, before every step I take, before every decision I make, may I inquire of You as David learned to do. Thank you for Your promise that if we acknowledge You in all our ways, You will direct our paths. And when I do not follow this truth, Lord, thank You for being patient with me and never ceasing to pick me back up. In Jesus name...

The Fugitive's Guide for Dummies - 1 Samuel 21-22

When I read 1 Samuel 21, images of the movie "The Fugitive" came to mind. David, like Dr. Kimble, is running from the law. And Saul, like Lt. Gerard, becomes obsessed with catching him. David has done nothing to deserve Saul's wrath. He's an innocent man running to save his life! But is David truly "innocent"? I think Chapter 21 answers that question with a resounding "no"!


First wrong turn: David lacks the faith to return to a safe refuge in Samuel


David now is running to Nob where the tabernacle is located. David was apparently running out of places to hide from Saul. I assume he felt he could not go back to Samuel in Ramah because Saul would have staked out the place hoping David would return. I think this shows a weak moment in David's faith. Why not go back to Samuel? Did he forget how God saved his life through the power of music and the word of God? Samuel represented a safe refuge of God. But it would take faith for David to go back there. And his faith was weak. His decision to turn to Ahimelech would prove to be a disasterous one.


Second wrong turn: David lies to Ahimelech


Then, Ahimelech shows suspicion as to why David, a man of his fame and status in Saul's army, would be traveling alone. In desperation and fear, David lies to a priest! He tells Ahimelech that he's a CIA agent on a secret mission from Saul! C'mon David! That's got to be the corniest story possible! Do you know how many times that line has been tried and failed? (I seem to recall that prohibition in "Dating for Dummies" - what not to say on a first date). Seriously, David has completely forgotten that God is protecting him and starts relying on the flesh. How many times do we find ourselves in David's shoes? We get into a desperate situation with seemingly no way out and we lie. We cheat. We rationalize.


Third wrong turn: David seeks refuge amongst the enemies of God


Finally, I stopped and re-read the end of Chapter 21 several times not believing what I was reading. David, with Goliath's sword in tow, runs to the PHILISTINES, the enemy of God's people, for protection!! Maybe David thought he could hide in plain sight in Gath. I'm sure even king Achish was shocked to learn David had the gonads to show his face in town. Had David's fear and lack of faith blinded him to the dangers of sleeping with the enemy? Another genious choice David makes here. And then, I can only imagine the lengths to which David goes to convince the Philistines he is crazy - slobbering at the mouth, rolling around in the dirt, talking to himself, and who knows what else. Sometimes we take so many wrong turns in our lives we end up with our backs against the wall looking like David - a crazed idiot. This chapter is such a great image of what happens when we take matters into our own hands and try to solve problems on our own.


The tragedy that occurs in Chapter 22 is a direct result of David's sin in Chapter 21. The priests were slaughtered because David made horrible decisions without consulting God. David learns his lesson as he soon after specifically seeks out the word of the Lord in Chapter 23 before he goes to battle against the Philistines.

Every decision we make has consequences. One lie, one wrong turn can lead to horrible results. If you feel like a fugitive running for your life, don't leave God out of the equation. David did and we see what can happen. If you feel desperate, inquire of God. If you do not know where to turn, ask God for guidance. No sin, no matter how seemingly small, is ever the answer to your problem. We can be skilled at rationalizing a little "white lie" or seeking refuge in the things of this world. But no amount of reason or rationalization will ever make sin an acceptable solution to a problem. God is bigger than that! Go back to Samuel David! Go to back to God!

Prayer: Lord, in my darkest of days, may I acknowledge You. When times are tough, may I stand firm on Your word. And thank You for being patient with me when I make wrong choices. Thank You for being faithful when I am unfaithful. Let me never forget that sin is NEVER the answer to any problem in my path.

Killing Me Softly With His Song - 1 Sam. 19

Music. There is little that moves a human being more that a beautiful melody, a catchy beat, a thrashing guitar riff, or a clever lyric. Ezekiel 28:13 seems to suggest that Satan played a major role in the music played in Heaven before his fall. That is why, today, while music can be both a major force to heal our spirits and renew our minds, Satan can pervert it to infect our thinking and ignite fleshly desires. Simply put, music is powerful.

Have you ever heard the "live" version of "Killing Me Softly With His Song" sung by the late Luther Vandross? Check it out on You Tube some time. It's an incredibly beautiful and moving song about the power of music and lyrics.


How does this fit in with 1 Samuel 19 and all this prophesying we read about at the end of the chapter? Well, "prophesying", according to many commentators and biblical historians, was more than simply foretelling the future. Prophesying was an art form. Throughout scripture we will see examples of prophets proclaiming the word of the Lord through poems and music. In chapter 19, David runs to Samuel's school for prophets to hide from Saul. We find Samuel teaching and directing a group of prophetic students in the art of prophesying. And here we see this strange thing happening. As Saul's messenger's of death arrive to kill David, they hear the amazingly powerful combination of beautiful music and the word of God being sung by a choir of prophets. Through this Spirit-filled concert, God overwhelms these evil men's desire for blood and they become entranced by what they hear. The music and lyrics are so powerful that these men join in and begin prophesying themselves!!

Later, Saul decides that if you're going to get something done right, you got to do it yourself. So he sets off to Samuel's prophet university to kill David. But even before he arrives, the faint echos of this anointed music melts his soul and even SAUL begins to join the chorus!! The music of God literally brings him to total submission as he lay on the ground paralyzed by the power of God! What a sight to see! As these evil men are overcome by the sweet sound of music from the throne of God, David slips away and escapes. God uses music to fulfill His purpose.

Sometimes I see churches using music to simply fill the gaps in the service before the preacher delivers his sermon. And when I help lead in praise and worship at my church, I am guilty of sometimes just moving my lips and going through the motions. Shame on me! When spirit-filled music fills a room, it can tame the wildest spirit! It can break the hardest heart! It can lift a crippled soul! It is vital to the health of any church body! Music is powerful. Don't ever underestimate it's influence on the heart.


Kill me softly with Your song, oh God!


Prayer: Thank you Lord for music. May my lips praise you and my voice be raised to sing your praises daily. Place a new song in my heart to glorify Your Name.

Saul's Worst Nightmare

I was planning to discuss what all that prophesying was about at the end of 1 Samuel 19. But I cannot avoid this amazing statement of "the evil spirit from the Lord" that plagued Saul and is repeated several times in 1 Sam. 16:14, 18:10, and 19:9. How can an evil spirit come from the Lord?

Clearly the bible teaches us that God is Holy and that He is Light and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5. So can an evil spirit come from the Lord? Many commentaries I have read demonstrate that "evil" here is not a spiritual wickedness, but rather some form of mental or physical torment. With that understanding, we can read this seemingly controversial statement knowing it does not contradict God's very Holy essence.

Along with the above commentary, I came to an eye-opening realization in 1 Samuel 16:14 about this perplexing phrase. The first time we hear about Saul receiving an evil spirit from the Lord is in verse 14. I'm confused by the "evil spirt from the Lord" phrase, but what does the phrase before that say? "But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul." By the time I got to the "evil spirit from the Lord" phrase, I had already forgotten about the first phrase because I was so shocked to read that an "evil" spirit could come from God! But here's where the beauty of meditation and prayer comes in! A couple of days after first reading those words, I was still thinking about Saul's evil spirit and this verse came back to my memory. "But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul." WOW! I cannot imagine what Saul felt the moment the Spirit of the living God departed from him.

Saul, in his original human state, was depraved. But after being annointed by Samuel, the Spirit of God came to dwell in him. Wow! How amazing Saul must have felt! To have the Spirit of the living God dwelling in him had to have been an amazing high! He was now king of Israel and GOD WAS WITH HIM. The void and chasm between God and man was graciously filled by the very presence of the Almighty! (We who are Christians take this amazing truth for granted sometimes. But God lives in US! What a reason to celebrate, right?!)

But now imagine what it would be like if God took His precious Holy Spirit away from you or me (Of course, God clearly promises He will not do that to those whom Jesus saves). It's unthinkable to those who have experienced the amazing power of God in our lives! Unimagineable! It's our worst nightmare!! David shares this feeling when he proclaims in Psalms 51:11: "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit away from me!!" Can you imagine the void that's left without the Holy Spirit?? In God's absence, all that is left is evil. All that is left is despair, depression, and death.

So, when I read 1 Samuel 16:14 again, I see God not directly sending an evil spirit from Himself to Saul, but rather leaving Saul with an evil spirit of insanity, depression, and despair by the very fact that God removed His Spirit from Saul. Do you see the distinction? It was God's action of removing His Spirit that brought about Saul's evil spirit that exists by default apart from God. The absence of God is the presence of evil. And I believe that is what the author of 1 Samuel is trying to convey in 1 Samuel 16:14.

Saul, having personally eaten of the sweet honeycomb of God's presence, now knows what it is like to have tasted the Goodness of the Lord only to have it ripped from his soul! It then is easier to understand why Saul went mad. I can only imagine that I would also go mad and insane at the very moment I realized God left me. It is even hard to write such a statement. Why do real human characters exist like Jack Torrence in The Shining? Why would a woman kill her baby and eat the child's brain? Why would a couple who adopts and raises children with special needs be gunned down in cold blood? Answer: When the Spirit of God does not reside in man's heart, evil is all that remains. It is a little easier to understand why such unthinkable acts occur. It now is also easier to see why Saul acts as he does through the remainder of his life. His mind will never find peace. What a tragedy. What a nightmare.

Prayer: Thank you Father for Your precious Holy Spirit that lives within me! May I never take Him for granted. May I see Saul as an example of the preciousness of Your sweet Spirit. I have nothing but despair, depression, and death without You! Forgive me for my apathy and ignorance of the power of the Holy Spirit. And let Your Holy Spirit guide and rule my heart today in Jesus name.

THIS is Kochav Nolad!

American culture dominates the developed world. We export more of our music, movies, television shows and fashion than any other commodity we produce. A perfect example of this is the television and music phenomena known as "American Idol." Love it or hate it, this show has spawned offspring in many countries around the globe (of course, to be accurate, British Idol preceded our version, but American Idol is what made this format a universal sensation). Countries such as Japan, India, Canada, and Australia have adapted hugely successful licensed versions of AI. And even some unlicensed knock-offs in countries such as Israel are thriving. Wait, did I just say ISRAEL? The country of God's chosen people has been sucked into this choral catastrophe? Yes, we have polluted even our blessed Jerusalem. Their show is called Kochav Nolad (Hebrew for "A Star is Born"). Over 2000 years ago a star was born but few came to watch that show. How ironic that one of the most popular shows in Israel would have this name. But I digress. This isn't a Christmas post.

So, how does this minutiae fit into 1 Samuel 19-20? So I'm reading Chapters 19 and 20 . Saul's ticked at David. He wants him dead. Jonathan, Saul's son and heir to his throne, loves David and is trying to convince his father to lighten up. Saul refuses. Michal, David's new bride and Saul's daughter, warns David to run or die. He escapes through a window and runs to Samuel. Meanwhile, Michal stalls her father's men by putting an idol in David's bed to make it appear that David is quietly sleeping. Saul commands his men to bring David in his bed to him. Saul's men soon discover Michal's deception.

Now, I read through that story and almost missed an interesting fact. Why the flip did David and Michal have a man-sized idol in their house?!! We can always blame Michal and say it was hers. But David should have been the spiritual leader, huh? Can you image it's the day after their wedding. The royal movers pull up to David's crib and start carrying the furniture inside. David and Michal probably are seeing much of each other's stuff for the first time. Out comes David's smelly sheepskin rug. Michal takes one whiff of the thing and insists it go back in the cart. David protests. It's a family heirloom he argues. It reminds him of where he came from. But his persuasion falls on deaf ears. At least his homemade harp and slingshot collection made it in. He reluctantly agrees to give his precious sheepskin rug to Jonathan.

A few minutes later the royal movers come staggering out of the cart with what looked like a life-sized mummy. A human body, wrapped in linen, is carried past David as his eyes widen and his mouth drops. He steps in front of the movers and blocks the front door. It is his turn now to protest. He will not let some mummified prize from her father's conquest come in his home! Michal laughs. She assures David it is no real body. It is a beautiful wooden image that her father's idol makers had hand-carved for her birthday. It was very special to her. It would bring protection and prosperity to their home. David responded by quoting God's prohibition against idols. Michal begins to cry. She sees nothing wrong with keeping this one special gift from her father. Afterall, he IS the first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel himself! Then, I can imagine Michal craftily proposing a trade-off. She offers to bring back the sheepskin rug if they keep the idol. David loves that rug and reluctantly gives in. And the rest is history.

This is certainly NOT in the biblical text. It's just my imagination having a little fun. But one thing is for sure. It was a sin for David to allow that idol in his home, regardless of how it got there. Israel sinned when they failed to completely eliminate all of the pagan cultures that existed in Canaan when they first entered the land. And the ripple effect of that sin is still being felt in 1 Samuel. God's people were still being negatively influenced by these cultures.

My goofy example of Israeli Idol is not far from the reality of David's day. Israel was importing culture from pagan societies like Fat Albert at a buffet. And by the time we reach the story of David's escape from Saul, idol's are so prevalent that it's almost an afterthought in the account. How far have God's people fallen away! Even David, a man after God's own heart, is seemingly complacent about his wife's idol worship.

Yet, here is an example of how God uses even sin to accomplish His purpose. Michal's deception with a sinful idol allows David to escape and run to Samuel for protection. Now, was this the only way God could have delivered David from Saul in this instance? Of course not! God can use any situation to bring glory to Himself and accomplish His purpose! That's what makes Him sovereign. All things (obedience and disobedience) work together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. (my parenthetical) Romans 8:28.

Does this mean that God condoned Michal's idol worship and David's weak leadership in the home? Absolutely not! Their sinful choice has its consequences. But God takes our good and bad free-will choices and carefully and mysteriously crafts them into something wonderful!

Stay tuned for more on 1 Samuel 19-20! What's with all this prophesying???

PRAYER: Lord, if there are any idols I have allowed to come into my home, cast them out and forgive me for sinning against You. Thank You for working in my life, even in spite of my stupid mistakes and arrogant decisions.