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!