UH OH!

         I really hope folks who read what I write on this site will sense that I take it seriously. In order to offer even a half way intelligent comment on Scripture, it takes time* to think, and pray. And I must be honest with my self. Something has to make sense to me, or there’s no way I could possibly expect it to make sense to you or anyone else.

 

         There are some things about these stories which you and I will probably never be able to understand completely.  There are incidents which are absolutely horrifying and definitely not for mixed audiences.  Or for the faint of heart.  But I’m not so sure how far we’ve progressed.  Not sure there’s a polite, civilized way to kill someone.  Someday the clouds may clear away, or my understanding may be enlightened.  But in the meanwhile, there are things which I accept as information and simply withhold judgment.

         In considering “God’s Comeback Kids,” we must never overlook or excuse, or endorse the repeated examples of serious, obvious misconduct.  Nor does God.  To be honest with you, I sort of lost track of how many wives and concubines David had!  Or how many mistresses.  Some of our athletes and politicians would probably have to take a back seat to him if there were a marathon! 

 

         The Scriptures are cast in a specific time and place in history and in a culture which the modern western mind doesn’t grasp. Women in those days were considered barely more than chattel.  That is still pretty much the rule where the teaching and influence of Christ has not gone.  The Bible doesn’t usually go into lurid detail about sensitive matters, but unless you have an ostrich mentality you can get the picture.

 

         However commonplace it may have been then or may be now and in whatever circles it may be practiced, sexual immorality is always wrong and will always have its consequences.  You kid yourself if you think otherwise.

 

         There’s no way to count how many people died violently by David’s direct action or decree. If you don’t see that kind of contradiction in these pages, it is because you aren’t looking. God was dealing with sinful mankind, as He always has and as He still does today.  How He could tolerate some of the things all of us know is wrong and not just wipe His hands and be done with the lot of us is one of the reasons the writer entitled his song AMAZING grace!** For my part, there is simply no way to attempt to explain what I can not understand, so I’m not even going to try.

 

         While a cloak of mystery surrounds some things in Scripture, other things are not thus shrouded.  They are clear as crystal.  My concentration will be on those things.  My focus will continue to be trying to find sensible answers to these practical questions:  How did these “saints” get into such messes?  How did they deal with the crises and tests of faith? How did they manage to emerge? And, finally and most importantly: What difference does it make to us today?

 

         (The context for the episode currently being considered is the entire eleventh chapter of II Samuel. You’ll need to read it in context to understand what took place. Here the stage is set for David’s fall).

 

2 Samuel 11:1 “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2And it came to pass in an eveningtide that David arose from his bed and walked upon the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman washing herself, and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”                                                                                  4And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her, for she was purified from her uncleanness; and she returned unto her house. 5And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”                                                                6And David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.”

         In attempting to sort out events in David’s ascent and descent, here’s what occurred.  In considering the event which created such a scandal and thinking about how it happened, there were several questions which I raised for my own benefit:

          

 

`

         WHAT WAS DAVID DOING ?   One night he evidently had insomnia. When he couldn’t sleep, he didn’t have a refrigerator to raid or late night television talk shows to bore him back to sleep, so he went for a walk.  Up on the roof of his palace.

         As he scanned the city of Jerusalem that night, his eyes fell upon a scene which stopped him dead in his tracks and set his pulse pounding.

         There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with this picture right now, unless you consider the next question.
         WHAT WAS HE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING?  The story says the incident took place in the spring when kings went to war. Just a few months before, he’d been personally leading his troops against the Syrians and routing the opposition. The other kings were at war. Maybe it was some kind of blood sport. You will recall that David had earned a reputation as a warrior, a leader, and a man among men. That was a large part of his persona. Remember, after all, in the wake of his defeat of Goliath, the tune about his exploits had been number one on the hit parade.***  He was a man of action. To be lazing around the palace while his men were in harm’s way was totally out of character.

         Any way you look at it, nothing seems right about a nation’s leader dallying with a young intern or one of his general’s wives while his soldiers were fighting.   

         WHAT WAS BATHSHEBA DOING?   Bathing.  In the nude obviously.  With the King living next door?  There’s something to be said for indoor plumbing!  Was she, perhaps, an exhibitionist? We don’t know, so we can’t say for certain. Who knows what she knew?  She may have been completely innocent and oblivious that anyone was paying any attention. But there are other possibilities, and speculation seems to be pointless.

         It doesn’t really seem to matter in this case.  The King was the person who could and should have taken control of his emotions and appetites.  If you don’t conquer them, they will conquer you.  We hold our leaders to a higher standard.  And we have a right to do that. No matter what Bathsheba’s motives or actions may have been, or how provocative she was, David was the king. He not only was an imposing figure.  He was king.  Kings had absolute authority. That included the power over life and death. No one said “no” to ancient monarchs.  He was in control of the situation, but he was not in control of his appetites. When he let go of the reins of self control and gave in to lust, and self-gratification, he turned loose destructive forces which cost an innocent man his life, almost destroyed the king’s legacy, set in motion some continuing consequences which stained his record, nearly cost him his kingdom, and left scars on his reputation which were never erased.

         There’s no way you can justify that kind of conduct.  And there is no way you can cover it up.  Eventually, the truth will emerge. “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23) isn’t just a statement in Scripture.  It is an inviolable, eternal, universal principle. If it hasn’t, don’t give up.  It will.  Sooner or later.  “Whoever covers his sins will not prosper”(Proverbs 28:13.) is another of those principles which are engraved in granite. Robert Louis Stevenson put it another way saying that sooner or later everyone must “sit down at a banquet of consequences.”

         We’re free to make choices.  Even foolish choices.  But we are not free to choose consequences; and consequences always follow choices.

         When will we ever learn? 

         David is in a mess. Spin-doctors and image-makers now have a P.R. problem they’ll be unable to handle.  His biggest problem, though, isn’t that the scandal hungry press might pick up on the rumors and flood the market with salacious reports.  The greatest problem with which David must now deal is quoted in the last sentence in this chapter:

          “The Lord was very displeased with what David had done.”

(*Time…These posts don’t come easily or automatically for me. I can’t churn them out with what I call a “mimeograph mentality.”  Nor do I try.  My prayer is that, whether or not you accept my conclusions or thoughts, you’ll begin to approach the Scripture, as it deserves to be approached: with a thoughtful, inquisitive mind and a teachable spirit.  Your observations are always welcomed . . . and respected.  ~don)

** Amazing Grace is the title of a familiar hymn composed by John Newton, slave trader, infidel and libertine turned minister in the Church of England somewhere in the mid 1700’s

*** I Samuel 18:6-7  And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music: “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”  This song made the rounds and eventually even found its way into some of the enemies’ camps.  Someone did a really fantastic job as David’s press agent following the giant slaying.  And his reputation grew even larger!

 

 

 

DAVID EMERGES FROM OBSCURITY

               There are several occurences recorded in the first book of Samuel which give us a pretty clear picture of how David came to the attention of the public and how he rose so quickly to a position of great prominence and respect.  The references are listed, and you’ll certainly want to consider them for yourself and form your own opinions about how such an unlikely candidate could be selected for such an important role in the history of God’s dealings with mankind.

1.)          Early years as shepherd, composer, harpist (Presumed)

2.)           David is selected and anointed as the second king of Israel.                (I Samuel 16:1-13)         

3.)           He’s recruited as musician to the King and also becomes his armor bearer.  (I Samuel 16:14-23)

4.)           A man of war versus a man of God (I Samuel 17~ Notice vs. 33, especially.  Armed with nothing but a simple, primitive weapon, courage, and faith in his God, he confronts a seasoned, feared enemy warrior.)

5.)           He joins the King’s court.  Growing public adulation angers Saul almost from the beginning. He rises in the ranks and becomes a public hero.

         When we first meet David, there doesn’t seem to be anything “kingly” or distinctive about him.  His country is having a crisis of leadership, and he’s probably totally oblivious to it.  There was no round the globe, round the clock news reporting, so he was probably blissfully naïve and unaware of the problems on the national scene. He was just a shepherd boy, taking care of business.  He wasn’t seeking glory.  He was doing his duty, herding sheep.  When the “Kingmaker” (the prophet Samuel) came to announce and anoint God’s choice for a successor to Saul, David didn’t elbow his way to the front. But although it may not have been apparent to me immediately, he possessed all the qualities you’d expect in a leader. From the outset, he strikes me as modest, courageous, dependable, loyal, and respectful. But he probably smelled like sheep!  Good thing it wasn’t raining when Samuel came calling!

         Again and again it seems God sees things in us that everyone else might overlook.

         As I began to get reacquainted with David, one of the things which kept being said is that: “the Lord was with him.”  There’s a key to his comeback! I’m not certain of all the implications in such a statement, but at the very outset it seems there was a love which went back and forth between him and his God.  There’s no doubt in my mind that such a bond was forged early in his life that nothing could ever completely sever it.  Enough is said about David’s time of solitude and a close relationship with his Creator that you can hardly miss it.  If he only wrote even a small percent of the Psalms attributed to him, there’s great evidence of appreciation and adoration for his God.  Those early memories and cherished experiences could not possibly be forgotten or simply cast aside.  Just now I’m in process of reading Just As I Am, the autobiography of Billy Graham.  In it he speaks often of times when he sought solitude.  When he would simply get away from the noise and distractions to meditate, and pray.* Those “quiet times” were as essential to the growth and service Billy Graham has  given for so long, so unselfishly, as they were for David.

           And they are equally invaluable to you and me, if we’re seriously considering serving God.

         I thought, for example, of the twenty third Psalm which is attributed to David.  If that’s the case, he probably wrote it in his mid or early teens!  Tell me what teenager you know who feels so deeply and writes so profoundly!

         So quickly he rose to notoriety.  Early it became apparent that he was on the fast track to fame.   A man of vision with a mission….How did he make it so quickly? 

         When you first meet him, he’s young, naïve, modest, and a simple shepherd.  As we learn more about him, it appears we’re becoming acquainted with someone destined for leadership.  Among Jews and Christians, his memory and contributions are honored, even revered.  In spite of his huge mistakes, he returns from what easily could have been the rubble and smoke of a ruined career and becomes one of the most respected figures in Hebrew history.  In fact, he might well be considered an ancient renaissance man before the historical period we know as The Renaissance.   From humble beginnings as a shepherd lad from a very modest family to be regarded as perhaps the greatest king ever to occupy the Jewish throne, he became warrior, poet, musician, kingdom builder, and disgraced and then restored, respected ruler.

         As he strides forth, humbly but confidently, he is a young man of great but simple faith, integrity,  and courage.  He handles himself magnificently in a great crisis, and as a result the people adore him.  And the soldiers trust his leadership and follow him.

         After an almost meteoric rise from obscurity, he soars far above the ordinary in both accomplishments and in potential.  

         There is little hint about the mess he’s about to make.  Or the consequences which he’ll be unable to escape. 

God’s son and servant, your friend and fellow student, ~dk

*“On rainy days, I liked to sneak away into the hay barn and lie on a  pile of straw, listening to the raindrops hit that tin roof and dreaming.  It was a sanctuary that helped shape my character…at our home in the Blue Ridge Mountains, my favorite spot is a little path above the house where I walk alone and talk with God…” Billy Graham

( As a boy and in the early days as a young Christian, I did pretty much the same thing.  Try as I may, I have been unsuccessful in every attempt to erase memories of those experiences.  When I strayed away, they beckoned me back.  I came to understand what Augustine meant when he said: “Thou has made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” ~dk)

I’m still working and thinking

DAVID…Shepherd, musician, poet, warrior, King, adulterer, murderer, forgiven sinner
My purpose in these studies about “God’s Comeback Kids” is not intended to be an exhaustive biography. At best, these are only brief sketches, designed to answer simple questions about how some of the best know examples of faith sometimes blundered or had their vision blurred. You’ve noticed that once someone has faltered or failed, or has been brutally treated, I began to look for clues about how they managed their crises, and how they were able to recover spiritual balance, courage, hope and direction. I’ve also attempted to learn from their experience and apply the lessons they learned to my life. And, if what I’ve discovered is worthwhile, I share it with you gladly.

Having said that, you’ll see some things I don’t, and won’t, address. The violence, especially in the Old Testament is sometimes troubling to me. The crude customs baffle and occasionally amuse me.* There are times when I simply do not understand what God is doing, or why. . . and am not too proud to admit that. Nor is there anyone among my acquaintances or among the numbers of scholars whose lectures I’ve heard or whose books I’ve studied who can claim such understanding.

Sometimes Scripture is tough reading. It’s a rough assignment to try to polish it up and make sense out of some things, or make some actions sound holy or sacred or even civilized. But it is in the real world that God makes His presence a reality. It is through (and to) flawed humans that God speaks. It is into the midst of the havoc humans wreak that the Son of God enters the fray. Out of the wreckage and carnage we make when we ignore His holy and clear commands He can erect something holy, beautiful, useful and inspiring.

Without reluctance, I concede the fact that God is God and I am not. And when a truth is visible, clear and unclouded, my intention is to discover it and attempt to accept and apply it directly and correctly everywhere it is most evidently needed in my life. That is my choice. Others may take another approach. I do not see the wisdom or necessity of tying my mind in knots, or trying to untangle all the great, hidden mysteries and deliberately overlooking the great, equally profound, easily grasped “simplicities.”

The story of David’s life, feats and defeats, accomplishments and failures, is recorded in the Biblical books of I and II Samuel. In earlier posts I considered the beautiful comment about David being “a man after God’s own heart.” That struck me as central to his character. It was true of him almost all his life, and when he faltered and fell that must have been a key to his comeback. Since the compliment seemed so important, it captured my thinking from the very beginning of my study of King David.

While I’ve been raising a question about how some of the most prominent figures in Biblical history wavered under pressure, I’ve also been asking how they came back once they failed. The things we do and say sometimes contradict what we believe. And who we really are. In times of great weakness, or temptation, we may buckle. It seems, though, that David’s most defining character trait was: “He was a man after God’s own heart.”

Scripture never trivializes sin of any description. It never overlooks sin, even the “small” ones we take for granted. It paints an accurate picture of man at his weakest, worst and darkest moments. But on the other hand, there is the consistent declaration of a Love which knows no boundaries. The Bible tells of a God whose grace is greater than all our sin. It records a long history of Redemption, of a loving God who will forgive and cleanse those who come honestly to grips with their sin, recognize it for what it is, and repent.

David did all those things. The story of his comeback does not gloss over the grave sins he committed. I’ll talk about that next time, and I’ll share some more results of my examination of this forgiven sinner who came back from really terrible mistakes to be forgiven and restored. He really is one of “God’s Comeback Kids.”

In the meanwhile, a friend has helped me set up a website for the book I’ve been writing. You’re invited to visit www.godscomebackkids.com or www.godscomebackkids.org when you have time. We can begin taking orders for God’s Comeback Kids now with about a two week delivery time expected. If you have occasion to visit the site, you must already know that I would greatly value any suggestions you make or try to answer any questions.

God’s servant and son, your friend and fellow student, ~donkimrey

*One example of what I’m saying is the “dowry” Saul asked of David when trying to marry off one of his daughters. David had no money. He had no blue blooded references or credentials to offer. For devious reasons, Saul suggested an alternative: namely: “Go out and bring back one hundred (100) foreskins from Phillistine warriors!” David must have been pretty motivated. He went out with a few troops and pretty soon came back with two hundred (200) of those suckers! So help me, I winced. And then my imagination wandered and I wondered: “What on earth would Saul do with all those things! Make key chains? They’d hardly seem like appropriate wall decorations, even with ornate frames and under glass! The prospect of sautéing them cost me my appetite. And, I thought, “We used to think Indians were savage for taking scalps!”

I’ve already told you the Bible is straightforward. I believe it is the inspired Word of God. But I bet you’ll never hear this story in Sunday School!

Man After God’s Heart (Part two)

(Preliminary note; I hope I’m never so naive that I think I can fathom the depths of profound thoughts in a single post . . . or in multiple volumes. The notion that a man could be defined with such words has captured my thinking for quite some time. I know some people feel a man’s life is defined by his mistakes. The greater and more public the mistake, the more he diminishes in stature. What if, instead, we were to able to isolate a single characteristic which could become the sum of his character ~ in spite of glaring mistakes? Obviously, he was a man of flesh and bone and blood.
His sins were exposed to shaming, humiliating glaring light. History has recorded them in blaring headlines. Those facts along with our appetites for sensational scandal, are the way we think. The Bible says it this way:”Man looks on the outward appearance; but God looks on the heart.” How thankful we should be for that fact! How worthwhile it would be for us to set such a goal for ourselves: “people who desire the heart and mind of God more than anything! Knowing I’ll never reach such a goal, it is still worth a try!

“But now your kingdom shall not continue; the Lord has sought out [David] a man after His own heart, and the Lord has
commanded him to be prince and ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” I Samuel 13:14

I may be the only guy I know who gives the answer to a question he’s going to ask even before he asks the question. Go figure.

When I think of David, for example, he made some tragic, costly mistakes. And the consequences of those mistakes hounded and harassed him for the rest of his life and are known to history. They were exposed plainly, showing us that we can “be sure our sins will find us out.” As much an embarrassment as the failure of His anointed must have pained the Lord and David, there was no cover-up. Before any television commentator used the phrase, we here encounter a true “no spin zone.” The sins stand as an indelible stain on an otherwise exemplary life and career. It is, as well, a lesson which we seem never to have learned.

The post I made earlier is, I believe, an important insight into how Joseph was able to get past those errors. That may seem premature in light of the fact that the purpose of this exploration was to ask: “How did he mess up?” Then, after addressing that and attempting to answer it as reasonably as possible, I would pose the next logical question: “How did he come back?”

To give you the main reason he was able later to recover spiritual equilibrium and direction before ever saying how he strayed off course may be another classic example of putting the proverbial cart before the proverbial horse! Sometimes, admittedly, I think in reverse. I gave you one of the answers before even raising the question!

But the logic (whether it’s inductive or deductive reasoning) seems to work. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he’s old, he will not depart from it,”* isn’t just a wise proverb. It is a timeless truth. I believe it was Horace Bushnell, one of education’s great voices confirmed the same truth. Michael Apted** a great British film director did a documentary, following the lives of fourteen British children for forty years. The main theme of his study was Give me a child until he is 7, and I will show you the man.”

I happen to believe that early childhood gives you a pretty good idea of the kind of person someone will become. If a child starts out early and continues lying, sneaking, stealing, disobeying, bullying, treating others with contempt, being cruel to animals, etc., you get a pretty accurate idea of what that person will become in later years.

Think about David as you consider the phrase: “A man after God’s own heart.” To even attempt to grasp what that means, I need to understand how he grew. It’s easy to discover that much of his early life was spent in solitude, out in the desert tending sheep. Sometimes that put him in a dangerous place. He risked himself to do his duty, to carry out faithfully the menial tasks he was assigned for his family. Much of his time as a youth was spent in solitude, out beneath the desert sun and stars. There, without the distraction of bright lights and honking horns, ipods, cellphones, computers and jangling telephones, he learned the art of meditation, and prayer, and praise. Somewhere out there, it seems, he learned what it means to “hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

David is credited with having written many of the Psalms. Look them over when you have the time and you get a sense of what was really in the young man’s heart. Sure, he made some bad mistakes. Sure, he tried to cover them up and in doing so he made an even worse mess. But there runs through his life a steady current of love for the God about whom he wrote so many psalms.

In spite of the blunders, you can examine his record and learn that he really longed to know God. And there seem to have been times when they were so close, it shows through in his writing, his music, those early psalms. We must not discount early experience in seeking to understand later developments in life. If you’ve been on a steady course since your youth, you will be what you have been becoming, even if there are momentary lapses.

All of us know it is possible to kill a conscience by repeatedly ignoring or defying it. But any of us who has been exposed to a godly influence or felt drawn to faith early in our lives KNOWS that is like a magnetic pole which draws us steadily back. I don’t doubt that some have succeeded in breaking that attraction, but if it is recognized it will always draw us back to our true center.

In ways I can remotely understand, David early in his life developed a strong attraction to God. Even when he strayed, that was a force which helped him return.

For all his flawed humanity, the record still attests that David was a “man after God’s own heart.” Think about it. Remember times and places when you felt God was as close as your own heartbeat? Perhaps you can even now hear His faint calls for you to come home where you belong.

If you will listen, I’m sure you’ll hear.

(Concluding thought: When David finally did admit his sin and repent of it, the lesson of Scripture does not minimize the wrong he did. Rather, it focuses upon and maximizes clearly the magnificent grace of God.).

God’s son and servant, your friend and fellow student, ~donkimrey

*Proverbs 22:
**With this simple premise, Michael Apted, prolific in both scope and accomplishment, began his illustrious career as few successful feature directors have, doing documentaries. In 1962, Apted began chronicling the lives of fourteen English children, all aged 7, and from sundry walks of life. Then, a researcher at Granada Television he has followed most of the original participants, for more than forty years, spacing interviews and broadcasts seven years apart.

PLEASE PERMIT US TO PAUSE…

My journey is about to reach a milestone. The editing of final chapters of God’s Comeback Kids is being done as I write. Next step is getting it in final format, and I have the good fortune of knowing and loving two experts in that area (my sons Tim and Jon) who have taken on that task.

Also, a website is up. Needs tweaking, but you will be able to witness its growth and development. You’ll also have opportunity very soon to record your suggestions and thoughts. I welcome that.

There’ll be a brief pause after publication of GCBK before I strike out on the next adventure. At least a couple things are on my mind, and some who read the blog have suggested those: viz, (1.) a workbook to be a companion piece and study guide for the first installment of Comeback Kids, (2.) at least one sequel to “comeback kids” in the Bible and (3.) a book about current examples of heroic comebacks.

As always, I welcome and appreciate your response. I’d also be grateful if you invited some of your friends to join us on our journey. Don’t do that, though, if you doubt the value of the book and its author’s purpose.
God’s son and servant, your friend and fellow student.

Oh, by the way, the website is www.Godscomebackkids.com or org

You may be aware that I’ve been wrestling with the idea of the contents in the idea of David being a “man after God’s Own Heart.” Since I believe that is perhaps the key factor in the man’s rise to fame and power to begin with, and also it was perhaps the main key to his comeback, I’m trying to discover how he acquired such a compliment. What was there about him that he was considered so special? What did that have to do with his being restored after having committed such grave sins against God and crimes against man?

Thinking takes time. Thinking seriously and prayerfully, looking for insights into my own failures and achievements and aspirations takes even more time. But I believe it is worth every effort and every minute. Speaking of that aspiration (i.e. becoming a “man after God’s own heart), here’s a poem which has long been perhaps my favorite. As far short of it as I fall, it remains the pinnacle to which I aspire.

“I have one deep supreme desire:
That I may be like Jesus.
To this I fervently aspire,
That I may be like Jesus.
His spirit fill my hungering soul,
His power all my life control.
My deepest prayer, My highest goal:
That I may be like Jesus.” (T. Chisolm)

David: Shepherd, Musician, Composer, Warrior, King, Philanderer

Let’s resume our consideration of God’s Comeback Kids.

I Samuel 13:14

From God’s viewpoint, one of the biggest embarrassments in the Bible must undoubtedly have been King David. Teddy Kennedy and Chappaquiddick, Bill Clinton and his lustful dalliances with an intern young enough to be his daughter. . . stupid, blundering efforts to cover up the messes they made. . . are nothing new. Incurably adolescent, powerful and privileged, but spoiled, soiled, self-indulgent, self-centered leaders are nothing new.

King David and Samson are two of the Biblical “heroes” who would make Kennedy, Clinton and their kind look like “bush leaguers” by comparison.

Let’s consider David as an example of God’s “Comeback Kids.” His background was not one of privilege, unlike Edward Kennedy. But he was very talented. I suspect he was quite handsome, and maintaining a youthful naïveté no doubt he was charismatic. Scripture says adoring females flocked after him, singing his praises as a warrior. Without doubt he was a gifted leader who inspired loyalty in those who followed him. The downside of that is that he was attractive to ladies, and found at least one to be his Achilles’ heel. He’s credited with having composed and sung many of the Psalms (Songs) contained in the Old Testament. Beautifully profound, yet understandably simple, they give voice to some of the greatest sentiments ever penned in any language, expressing the serenity and majesty of God’s creation, the depth to which men descent, pain caused by sin, the wonder of God’s grace and mercy.

He must have also been a very talented musician, becoming quite skilled with a harp. In fact, the instrument he mastered is known to this day as “David’s harp,” the national instrument of Israel. He played the instrument with such skill he became court musician called often to soothe King Saul when he seemed to descend into madness.

David grew up knowing the value of hard work. As the youngest of Jesse’s sons, he spent hours caring for his family’s sheep. For a large part of the time that was probably a very dull and boring task. David, however, used those idle times to think and meditate and pray. He learned the value of solitude and turned it to good use. He learned to think. He wasn’t coddled or entertained with gameboys and endless wasted hours in front of a one eyed idol. He must have seemingly endless hours out in the desert, watching sheep, guarding against predators in foul weather or fair beneath a blazing sun or the stars twinkling high above the desert.

Somewhere very early in his life, David encountered God, learned to love him. When he stumbled and fell flat on his face he did not stay there.

He learned the importance of responsibility. He became courageous and brave, and very accurate with a weapon. Primitive, but very effective.

He was also gifted in other ways, and early on that ability was recognized. A prophet let it be known early one bright young lad would one day become King.

If you study the lives of Biblical characters, you will discover that the early years were foundational. They were figurative in everything that happened thereafter. The wisdom of the day was that if you “train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it.” And, if by chance he does stray, he will not stay away. He will return to his roots. So it appears to me that David’s early experiences had more than a little to do with his return after he had fallen.

We need to bear in mind the formative years of these characters. It had as much to do with the kind of person they became, the character they developed. The initial impressions. The dispositions. If life is a journey, in order to understand it correctly, you need to take into account the origin as well as the destination, and the points along the way. Early influences must be taken into account. As just one person, I’ve come to understand that my eager and early experiences as a young Christian became the reference point for my life. When I strayed, I came to understand what Augustine must have felt when he prayed: “Thou hast made us for thyself; and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” Nothing filled the void left in my heart by His absence. Somewhere a hunger had developed in my heart which nothing and no one else could fill.

One of the most intriguing observations about the young David is that, in the words of Samuel, he was a “man after God’s own heart” (I Samuel 13:14).

That, above all the insults and accolades that looms large. Very, very large. Of all the kudos and compliments I could ever imagine or hope to receive, that ranks numero uno.

I can’t find words to describe the value or the impact of such a description. Think about it: “a man after God’s own heart!” In my mind, that seems to set him apart and above. It seems to speak of a depth of love for God that more clearly defines the man’

Let’s ponder that when we consider David’s life. One thing about the Bible which commands respect, even from unbelievers, is the consistent truth it tells about man. Even the so-called “saints.”

David, mighty David, the Giant killer, is no exception. For all the good he accomplished and in spite of the esteem he commands in Jewish, Christian and Muslim history. . . he was a flawed man. He was a sinner. He really messed up badly, and those glaring mistakes are written down for all the world to see.

But, keep in mind that one of the most accurate and eloquent descriptions of his basic character is that he was “a man after God’s own heart.”

When my duties here are done, I wish somewhere, someone could be able to truthfully say that about

God’s son and servant, your friend and fellow student
~donkimrey

A WORD ABOUT POLICY

It is not in my nature to be rude or discourteous to anyone. While I’ve made a commitment of my life to Jesus Christ, I want to be considerate of everyone, including those who disagree with me or who have not met Him and do not view Jesus as Savior and Lord. Even when I disagree sharply with their points of view.

When I started this blog, it was out of a desire to share discoveries I had made (and am making) in my own journey of faith. I spent too many years away from Christ to waste much time in verbal sparring or intellectual gymnastics. I made a deliberate determination at the outset that I would not be drawn into theological, political, philosophical, metaphysical or any other areas where people are likely to become combative and either offensive or defensive. If someone is looking for a place to debate, there are sites where that traffic is welcome. If someone simply wishes to pontificate, they can always start their own blog.

For that reason, I felt an additional word of clarification might be in order. A couple of days ago, for example, I received a letter from a gentleman who was evidently a follower of a religious leader from Korea. I did not feel his comments were relevant to anything we had discussed on the site. I also felt his comments bordered on proselytizing. I do not have any desire or intention, and certainly don’t have the space to air every opinion that is expressed . . . especially when it appears to be mistaken or irrelevant to our task.

Perhaps this would be a good time for me to state a policy as clearly as I can: I’ll reserve the right to determine what appears on the site. I’ll try to be as open minded and charitable as a gentleman can be. At the same time, if in my fallible judgment any comment is ugly, a personal attack on anyone, mean spirited, or simply crude, rude, irrelevant or pointless, it will not appear in print under the Scripturesudent.wordpress masthead.

I believe most intelligent, kind people will think this a reasonable policy.

        
       Among my friends there are some very, very capable thinkers who deal with apologetics and related matters.  They are very thorough and professional and courteous way with current events, and are open to discuss such issues far more competently than I.  Neil Simpson is one of them.  His blog site is chock full of information and you are welcome to visit and participate in discussions at http://4simpsons.wordpress.com/. Another who is extremely well-versed is Marie Notcheva She posts regularly at http://theo-geek.blogspot.com/

HOW do I persecute the Lord?

          If I’m serious about “conversing” with God (check back on the last several posts), I must take the questions and concerns He expresses seriously.
          Lately, I’ve been thinking about the question Saul of Tarsus was asked when he was relentlessly and mercilessly trying to stamp out the infant Christian faith. The point at which I had to do a “double take” was when I realized Saul didn’t seem to realize what he was doing constituted “persecuting” the Lord. In the best way he knew how, following the directions of the religious establishment. He thought he was right. He simply felt he was carrying out orders. After all, he was on a mission sanctioned (and perhaps financed) by the best that organized, institutionalized religion had to offer. So, can you understand a natural reaction he may have had:

                              “HOW AM I PERSECUTING YOU, LORD?”

 
           This kind of post isn’t easy for me. Writing seems to come easily and naturally to me at times. Thinking, though, is quite another matter. Especially when I try to be honest, and examine my own life under the microscope of truth I try to use.
          There’s a request in Scripture which forces honesty in the face of God: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23~24.)

   
          I feel sure that was something Saul and the Lord addressed during those days in Damascus while he was recovering his sight, getting a new set of orders and a new name. The evidence is quite clear that he took decisive steps to correct his conduct. But my responsibility isn’t to deal with what Saul was doing to hurt the One whom he thought he was serving. It is not my responsibility to figure out what he was doing or to try to correct his errors. Instead, is IS MY RESPONSIBILITY to consider how I treat the One whom I claim to love and seek to serve.

            Do you understand why I struggle to address and answer the question? In the days since I first began to ponder this idea, I’ve attempted to look carefully at my own attitudes and actions. I know I want to be close to Christ as possible, and I also know there are areas of imperfection which He and I must address. Which we will need to continue addressing, if I know me at all. There are things I’ve done or said or thought which are disappointing to Him. And there are probably just as many things I’ve left unattended.

               In addition, we should also consider how our activity (or inactivity) affects others. And how that affects our Lord. Jesus expressed very clearly that when we hurt (or help) others, there is a real sense in which that affects Him:

                “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’            Matthew 25:44~45

          He hurts when we persecute (or ignore, or exploit, or injure) others in any way. The poet said: “In every pain that rends the heart, the Man of Sorrows has a part.”

    
              If that kind of thinking causes anything, it should encourage us to treat everyone right. It seems a pretty safe course of action to always treat others in the way we want to be treated.

              As I continued considering this probing, painful question, my thoughts were drawn once again to the first chapter of Isaiah. Among other things, I recalled that one of my seminary professors, Dr. Leo Greene, was also an outstanding preacher. In his treatment of the prophet Isaiah, in the class of young seminarians aspiring to be “great preachers,” he annually delivered an expository sermon which he entitled: “The Great Arraignment.”

  
              No one missed that lecture. Dr. Greene approached Isaiah’s message to a rebellious nation as if it were a trial. The Nation had committed offenses against a holy God. He had lodged a complaint against them invited to “reason together.” “You present your case, and I’ll present mine.”
              One of Jehovah’s greatest objections was the way His people treated Him, thinking vain, empty, repetitious rituals composed real worship. I remember Dr. Greene, with what looked like the piercing eyes of a prophet, declaring: “A SOULLESS WORSHIP IS A HOLLOW MOCKERY.” That was one of Jehovah’s principle objections.
              As I re-read that chapter in the prophet’s writing, it seemed to be clear to me that their offense caused great pain to the very One they professed to honor and serve. Does it rise to the level of persecution? It certainly seems to me to be one of the main grievances God has against His people. It certainly caused me new concern and reason to examine my motives for “worship.”

             If I think putting on “Sunday go to meetin’ clothes,” and a sanctimonious face are “worship,” it will come as a shocking revelation to read the first chapter of the prophet Isaiah’s book. He likens unthinking, unfeeling, uncaring “worshippers” to cattle mooing and milling about the court like it was a barnyard. In the presence of the Holy, and acting with indifference! Profaning the Sacred by their superficial, unthinking “trampling of His courts.” Lest you misunderstand, and I appear to be judgmental, perhaps you would like to read the message Isaiah delivered for yourself.

             Don’t do it, though, unless your courage, your heart and your brain are connected and functioning.

             Isaiah has God asking this question: “Who has required this of you?” Who ever made you think you could enter my presence with impunity, and treat the presence of God with such disrespect? Where could you possibly have come up with the idea that by doing this you were serving, or worshipping the God of the Universe? How did you ever conceive of such an absurd notion, that you could simply “flip at tip” at Jehovah and selfishly, merrily keep the rest of the resources He’s given you as though they were your own?

             The Israelites thought, at least on the surface, that they were worshipping. Serving. Impressing Him with their pious acts.  They were mistaken. Thoughtless, religious routines not only do not please God. They are, in fact, a source of such great displeasure it makes Him sick.  I’m not certain if that constitutes “persecution,” but it is obvious God is not impressed.

             Below is just a brief  sample of Isaiah’s indictment.  I warn you, he hits hard!  He pulls no punches.  He calls people (me, for example) to task for their failure to place proper value upon the great God of the Universe.  Next time I’m at worship, it might serve me well to understand where I am and in whose presence I stand.   Worship is not performed by idle chatter, or cutting business deals, or “styling” or socializing.

              I don’t make this stuff up, trust me.  When the writer said: “The Lord is in His holy temple.  Let all the earth keep silence before Him” (Habakkuk 2:20) seems to suggest ser   And when He says: “Be still and know that I am God”       (Psalm 46:10).        .  
 

             “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me [unless they are the offering of the heart]? says the Lord. I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts [without obedience]; and I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or of he-goats [without righteousness]. “When you come to appear before Me, who requires of you that your [unholy feet] trample My courts? Bring no more offerings of vanity (emptiness, falsity, vainglory, and futility); [your hollow offering of] incense is an abomination to Me; the New Moons and Sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot endure–[it is] iniquity and profanation, even the solemn meeting.” Isaiah 1:11-13 

           Now, is that enough to make us stop and think?  Am I worshipping, or just ‘playing church?’

 

God’s Servant and son, your friend, brother, and fellow student   ~donkimrey

SOMETIMES I DON’T KNOW WHY

    ”But Saul, still breathing threats of slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any men or women belonging to this Way (a word used for Christianity), he might bring them in bonds to Jerusalem. And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven shone round about him; and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?” And he said, “Who art thou Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom thou art persecuting.”                                      Acts 9:1-5, 

              So, here I am again. Still wondering what it might be like if God were to initiate a conversation with me like He used to with prophets. Still thinking, if He were ever to do such a thing, He might begin by asking a question. And waiting for my answer. And here is the troubling question I’ve imagined He might raise: “Why are you persecuting me?”
          Please don’t think I get bogged down and tend to run too long in one place (I never was a “speed merchant” and one of my old football buddies once told me that was my problem.). Try to look at it (this question) from another point of view: I suspect we’re more likely to run lightly over some really tough terrain. Rather than spending too much time, thinking too deeply about important issues, most of us glance across the surface. We rarely take time to think deeply, carefully about many things. That would require work, time and effort and sometimes causes discomfort.

              That is especially true of a question like the one Paul was forced to face.
              I’m pretty sure Saul didn’t have an answer ready immediately. It took him a while to recover from his blindness, and I’m sure while he was recovering in Damascus he gave careful thought. At any rate, when he re-emerged with a new name, he also had a new nature. Transformed from opponent to proponent, he became one of the most brilliant and effective theologian/evangelists in Church history. From misguided arrogant ignorance, he stands for all time as an example of humble, brilliant effectiveness in Christian thought and evangelism.
               Like Paul must have done, I struggle to find an answer. In an instance such as this, I also could not help recalling the day Jesus was crucified. As the storm clouds gathered, and a maddened crowd vomited venom and screamed obscenities and hurled epithets, at the vulnerable, defenseless victim of their collective insanity, Jesus prayed: “Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do.”
               What!?  They don’t know what they’re doing?  It seems to me they know EXACTLY what they’re doing   It looks to me as if their eyes are wide open, their hearts full of hatred, and their minds working diabolically and  deliberately. With careful, methodical, ruthless cruelty it looked like a killing machine was working with the precision of consummate evil genius. And yet, Jesus told His Father: “They don’t have a clue. They don’t really understand what they’re doing, and to whom they’re doing it. They’re out of control. They don’t even know why they’re acting so irrationally. Please forgive them, Father. Please don’t lay this sin to their charge. Please don’t grant their request for my blood to be upon them. . . nor their children. Father, I ask you to forgive them.”

 
             You know, I’ve been thinking about this for some time. The things I’ve done or said. Or the things I’ve left undone and unsaid. For the pain I may have inadvertently inflicted upon Him who loves me most, I’ve found myself again at the throne of mercy, asking for grace and forgiveness. My only defense has been ignorance. My only hope is mercy, and I pray:

           “Father, forgive me, when I know not what I do.”

God’s son and servant, your friend and fellow student ~donkimrey

WHY ON EARTH WOULD I DO SUCH A THING?!

Acts 9:1-5, “But Saul, still breathing threats of slaughter against
the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for
letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any men or
women belonging to this Way (a word used for Christianity), he might
bring them in bonds to Jerusalem. And as he went on his journey, it
came to pass that he drew near to Damascus, when suddenly a light from
heaven shone round about him; and falling to the ground, he heard a
voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?” And he
said, “Who art thou Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom thou art
persecuting.”

          On a lazy afternoon this past week-end, I went exploring the internet
looking for ideas about how to improve the format and content of my
blog. And, hopefully, to increase traffic and draw some kind of
response online from those who do happen to visit. I really want to
make this a site where thoughtful people can come, be caused to think
a bit more seriously about their faith, and come to a better
understanding of Scripture. Beyond that, both for myself and any who
care to join the quest, I want to be able to make practical
application of the results of such a study.

          One successful blogger gave ten reasons why, in her opinion, people
didn’t post any comments when they do drop in. I learned some
lessons, I hope. One of the reasons given was that we (the writers of
the blogs) sometimes ask questions which are too large. Too large?
After I thought of it, the idea made sense. I realize that the
question I’m asking right now is one of those questions:

          Why are you persecuting me? Indeed! That was the question God
raised for Paul to consider, and that’s the question I’ve been
wrestling with lately. It is not a question which can be dismissed
lightly. A superficial answer simply won’t work.

          In a sense, I reckon it’s my own fault. The idea of having a
conversation with God (with Him speaking. Out loud. To me.) led me to
think: If He were to do such a thing, wouldn’t it be logical to assume
He might do so by simply asking a question and then waiting for my
response? Following that line of thought, I began to remember and
discover where He had done precisely that and had asked questions of
others in distant places and times.

         That’s what brought me to this place. And the question which has made
me a bit uncomfortable for several days. I couldn’t imagine that I’d
deliberately persecute, or hurt God. Of all people! Why would I do
such a thing?! How could I possibly do such a thing?

          Trying to be as careful and thorough as possible, I pondered the
meaning of “persecution.” I looked at definitions in several places,
including a couple of Bible dictionaries. A thesaurus offers synonyms
(words which mean essentially the same thing.), which vary in some
ways and run the gamut from “aggravation” to harsh and savagely cruel
treatment of another person. There are degrees of severity, but it
boils down to hurtful action against the person who’s being targeted
for persecution.

          On the road to Damascus, on a mission to flush out and capture any
“Christians” he could find, Paul got stopped dead in his tracks and
heard that question.

          The thing that struck me so forcefully is that Paul had no idea he
was doing such a thing. Quite the contrary, he (or someone) had
psyched him into actually believing he was doing the will of God by
stamping out the impudent, Christian faith which was still in its
infancy. I do not doubt that he was convinced he was doing the right
thing. He was sincere. But he was sincerely wrong.

          Can you imagine what a blow that must have been to the man’s pride?
A devout, well-trained, highly educated person, on the fast track to
stardom among his fellow religionists. And, suddenly, he is
confronted with the question which shakes him to his foundation.
Gracious! That’s enough to make any person stop and take inventory
about their conduct, their objectives, their motives, and their
methods!

          Whatever I do, I don’t want to be found going against the Lord God of
the Universe. This is some serious stuff! If I hadn’t taken the time
before, I’ve been carefully considering this question lately.

          Is it possible to be completely dedicated, completely convinced, and
completely wrong? Could I mistakenly be caught up in fervent,
religious activity, which actually turns out to be persecution of God?

          Do you understand now why I’ve been taking so long to ponder?  This really is a “BIG” QUESTION!

 

file:///Users/donkimrey/Desktop/Photo%2049.jpg    GOD’S son and servant, your friend and fellow student