October 14, 2008 (again!)
Today’s reading was from 1 Samuel 21 to 25. Saul was chasing David around the desert, trying to kill him… but David was refusing to attack him back or hill him, because Saul was the LORD’s anointed. Even though David was the newly anointed one, and knew that someday he would be king, he refused to take revenge or judgment of Saul into his own hands, but waited for the LORD to deal with Saul in His own way and time.
David, did, however, become angry and planned bloody revenge on Nabel… but in the end he listened to the advice of Nabel’s wise wife and left Nabel’s fate up to God. (Which turned out to be a very good decision in the long run!)
David was hiding in the harsh wilderness for a long time, isolated and exiled from his home, his people, and even from the opportunity to worship the LORD at the tabernacle. His wife was even taken away and given to another man. He faced the threat of death constantly. It had to be discouraing and frustrating. His followers urged him to take advantage of opportunities to destroy Saul. But David reverenced God, and honored Saul, God’s anointed, even though Saul through disobedience had fallen away from God’s favor.
I wonder what valuable lessons God was teaching David all that time? How would things have turned out differently if David had “helped” to hurry the king-replacement process along? Would David have ever truly become “a friend of God?” Or would he have suffered the fate of Saul, who early on decided to take things into his own hands, instead of waiting and trusting God?
Oh Lord, help me to wait patiently for Your perfect timing and plans. I want Your purposes fulfilled – in Your way and time! I don’t want to meddle and try to do things “my way.
“You alone are God, and I surrender to Your will.
Thank You for this reminder, today, Lord – when I am thinking about “what to do?” about jobs, moving, housing, etc etc etc.
Teach me to wait patiently, Lord, and honor You – and Your ways and timing -
And honor Your servants, too! Sometimes I think – oh dear! – that they are somehow lacking in Your wisdom, and in spiritual maturity, or whatever – which of course also means that I am being prideful, not humble before You – or them! Forgive me, dear LORD. Help me to love and honor all Your children – even those who have chosen not to be Your children, yet still sit in the seats of power and authority where You have allowed – even ordained! – that they be! [Help me vote with honor, today, dear Lord]
Help me be patient as You work out Your purposes in Your children, in Your church, in the world (and in me, too… oh I, above all others, so need YOUR purposes worked out – not mine!)
Thank You! In Jesus’ name!
Today’s study chapter: Exodus 30: Instruction for the HOLY (set apart for God alone!) items of the tent of meeting:
- the incense altar of atonement – to wash away sin and make HOLY
- the half shekel numbering offering of atonement – to wash away sin and make HOLY
- the bronze laver for washing the priest’s hands and feet – to make them clean and HOLY
- the HOLY anointing oil – to consecrate and make HOLY
- the HOLY incense – to make HOLY
HOLY! Holy! Holy! – OR DEATH!
There is no choice, no “kind of holy.”
That is our life in Christ!
