A Brief Pause

M

y last few posts have been devoted to the Nativity, and I confess to you I’ll probably be pondering the concept of the “Glory” of the Lord for a long, long time.  Very fresh and fertile soil which contains more potential than I’ll ever be able to exhaust!   

          The next post will return to the life of King David.  We’ve considered some of his heroic accomplishments and contributions and the lofty place he occupies in Hebrew history.  We also ran headlong into his selfish dalliance which created such a scandal it could have wrecked his kingdom and destroyed any possibility he had of a decent legacy.  He really messed up!  In a familiar scenario too often repeated by rich, spoiled, self-Indulgent “leaders,” he very nearly destroyed his kingdom as well as any worthwhile lasting legacy he may have left. 

           In the last sentence of the report detailing the shameful debacle, the reporter commented: “The thing David had done displeased the Lord.”(II Samuel 11:27).  That is an understatement.  A Classic Understatement.  Apparently out of control, David had set in motion some forces which no spin machine could control.  No glib, smooth-talking, fast-talking “front man” with any amount of money could hush.  ”God was not pleased.”  That has the sound to me of a quiet rumbling, growing beneath the surface and about to unleash wrath.    For a while I’ve been pondering what would happen next in this breaking scandal.  my thoughts so far are under a file which I’ll be calling “You Da Man!” 

           Before launching into that, though, I wanted to let you know I truly appreciate the thoughtful encouragement and comments some of you have offered.  you don’t need to be reluctant to share your own observations.  I’m wanting to learn from you as well as hoping something I write might be helpful to you.  I also wanted to wish you again much great Joy as you’ve pondered the real meaning of Christmas and as you take that with your aith and hope into all your new years.  And, there’s another thing I’ve done while trying to take care of a sick wife (She’s better now, thank you.) and juggle a few other responsibilities.  In my opinion, the people who comment on this site are smarter and better writers than I could ever hope to be.  I don’t know how they do it, but if  you click on the little icon (Picture) beside their remarks, it will take you to their sites.  

         I’ve mentioned several of my friends before.  I believe you’d be really impressed with the entire lot of them.   Anne Lang Bundy, Bob Brault, Brad Moore, nAncy, Neil Simpson, Robert Sutherland, Marie Notcheva, Mark Ryman, and others.  They invest a good deal of time and thought into their efforts, and they enjoy their work. If  you appreciate their talent, why not tell them? Your encouragement will simply double their joy and inspire them to continue and get better.  And you’ll feel better, too, doing something that icne!  

          Expressing appreciation and offering encouragement is a good thing for everyone involved.  I think I’ll make that one of my New Year’s Resolutions! 

(I’ll Be Back Shortly.  ~Donkimrey)

The GLORY of the coming of the Lord

THE GLORY OF THE LORD….

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? 

         Searching for an answer to that question, I ran across an eloquent attempt to define “Glory.” It was in a sermon by John MacArthur, a very perceptive, capable spokesman for God:

           “Let me give you simply this, to begin with. The glory of the Lord is the expression of God’s person. It is any manifestation of God’s character, any manifestation of His attributes in the world, in the universe is His glory. In other words, the glory is to God what the brightness is to the sun. The glory is to God what wet is to water. The glory is what heat is to fire. In other words, it is the emanation, it is the effulgence, it is the brightness, it is the product of His presence, and it is the revelation of Himself. Anytime God discloses Himself, it is the manifestation of His glory. That really refers to His presence.”                                                                           John MacArthur

         Another attempt was by Robert Brault, a writer whom I’ve come to enjoy and respect.  He hesitated at first, but answered the question after I posed it on his blog: http://www.robertbrault.com:

         “As the saying goes, ‘An author is entitled to his subject.’ There are several dictionary sites, including Wikipedia, that will define glory for you. What they won’t do is wish you a Merry Christmas, which I hereby do.

smiles,
rb
   
Oh, all right—

glory: n, the realization of one’s essential being, as in the blossoming of a rose, the flight of an eagle, the artistic and intellectual expression of the human soul. God’s glory resides in His transcendence of the natural laws He created, as in the appearance of an angel to shepherds.”

         Both are profound, beautiful, definitions and are on target.  However, I’m still not certain. It seems to me that in the Scripture quote above Luke was trying to express the inexpressible. There are times when I stand in awe at mysterious Majesty and am left at a loss for words.  I definitely cannot define this concept fully.  Nor do I understand it completely.  In coming upon this word and spending time contemplating it, I believe I’ve stumbled upon a rich treasure worthy of being explored long after the scent of cedar has faded and the sound of Christmas carols dies on the crisp winter air.

          No words can adequately convey the beauty of a golden sunset or sunrise at the dawning of a new day.  The reality of “glory” is far greater than our limited ability to understand or explain.  And beyond the “glory” of the Lord, there is The Lord, Himself.  Far greater than any expression of His majesty.  Especially as we gather around the Christmas tree and exchange presents, we will discover that the gift inside a package is usually far more wonderful and valuable than even beautiful, professionally wrapped, glittering paper which surrounds it.

         So it is that the “glory” of the Lord surpasses our human capacity to fully understand what it means.  As in many other instances, it does seem to be a valuable enough concept to warrant further investigation and a serious, continuing effort to grasp its significance.  You’re surely familiar with forensic science and know how important it is when investigators find fingerprints, or footprints, or the supremely important DNA at some location.  For a reason entirely different from our purpose here, it is conclusive evidence that a person really was present on that scene.

         Now, as far as real, complete answer to the question I posed, I don’t know.  I simply do not know.

         However, may I pose this possibility? 

         I believe the “glory of the Lord” in the evidence of His presence, or His nearness.  Beyond that, all I feel really comfortable with is that personal conclusion. He was actually here, “in those days.”  At a definite point in time and space, simple, uneducated, probably poor shepherds saw and heard and then told others what they had experienced.

         The word “glory” is used many, many times in many ways throughout Scripture.  Always, it appears, people are startled (even frightened) at such an occurrence.   As they try to absorb the significance, invariably they stare in slack-jawed, wide-eyed wonder. They marvel at the fact that they’ve been in the presence of the Lord.   The experience is burned into their consciousness, and forever afterward they seek His presence and try to follow His leadership.

         Again, I ask the Lord that my priorities might be straight and my vision might be clear so that perhaps “in these days” I may sense (even if I do not see) the Glory of the Lord.  And, of course, I pray the same for you and yours.

         Thus, may this become a truly joyous, memorable Christmas experience.

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

THE GLORY OF THE LORD, II

          “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them and the GLORY OF THE LORD shone round about them.  And they were sore afraid.  And the Angel said unto them: “Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. . . “ (Luke 2:8-11). 

         In considering the concept of “glory,” for some reason I thought of Albert Einstein’s early efforts in theoretical physics while he was a lowly clerk in a fairly remote Swiss patent office. Fresh out of graduate school, he could not get a job in his native Germany. I read somewhere that early in his academic career a professor had advised him to pick any career he wished: No matter what he chose he’d fail at anything he selected.  With a young wife and a baby to support, unable to find work, young Albert was desperate. Being a Jew in Germany was not exactly in his favor, and with an attitude some of the professors considered cocky, his options were very limited in Germany.

         So, he wound up in a remote outpost almost at the edge of nowhere, on the lowest end of the totem pole salary wise, trying to chisel a living out of what even then was a granite – like Swiss economy as far as foreigners were concerned.  But he was ambitious, confident, brilliant, and had some ideas in a massive mind, and an unquenchable imagination and incredible curiosity and patience. He had time on his hands in the slow-paced office, so he pondered and wondered and simply  unlocked some of the great mysteries of the Universe.

         Understand this: He did not invent anything.  He did not create anything.  Just by studying an thinking, his general theory of relativity rocked the scientific world and has led to unimagined developments in almost every area of modern technology; and the end of the impact has not even yet been approached.  He had never seen an atom (nor, for that matter, has anyone else.).  He didn’t know what he was searching for, but as he explored and imagined, he gathered information, took time to think,  and discovered things no one before had seen and most of us can’t even imagine.

         My point is simply this: Einstein did not invent or create anything.  He took time to think, and study, and his theory E=mc2 is a secret of the universe which had been there all the time and he took time to uncover it.

         Trust me.  I’m a long, long way from being an Einstein even after having read two of his biographies. There are so many wonders and mysteries we’ve not yet explored. Vast areas where there is no evidence of a human footstep or imprint.  Outer space and the ocean depths are only two such areas.  In my opinion, the “Glory of the Lord” may be one of those ideas worthy of further consideration. I realize  it isn’t a concept which can be reduced to a mathematical equation or a chemical formula contained in a test tube.  It does strike me, though, as being worth more than a passing glance.

         My personal view of Scripture is that God doesn’t waste words or ideas.  If He says something, it is noteworthy.  It is, therefore, worth taking time to try to understand if we can. 

         So:  Here I am still pondering the question: “What is the Glory of the Lord.”

         I feel very certain it is more than the sights (beautiful, colorful, twinkling lights, snow scenes, etc,) scents (of cedar/pine, cinnamon, etc.), sounds (Jingle Bells, White Christmas, Away in a manger, etc.), tastes (gingerbread, fruitcake, peppermint candy canes, etc.) and the treasure chest full of frosted, multi-colored  memories of your yester years.

         A prayer of mine is that I will somehow be able to get beyond the trappings and wrappings, tinsel and distractions and discover the “Glory of the Lord” and understand the meaning of the Message the Angel announced. And that I’ll be able to experience fresh and fist hand something of the joy and wonder of that night when a feed trough in Bethlehem cradled the King of Kings.

         That, also, is my prayer for you and those whom you love.

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

the GLORY OF THE LORD

          Reading the narratives again about the Birth of Christ, a phrase gripped my mind and imagination in a way it had not done before.  Here’s what I was reading. . .          

          “And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and

            keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood

            by them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for, behold,

            I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:

            for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which

            is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you; ye shall find a babe

            in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.”  (Luke 2)

         

            So, I began to think about that phrase. . . “The GLORY of the Lord.” And in times of solitude as our celebration of Christmas approaches, I’ve thought about it further length: 

         What IS the Glory of the Lord? 

         My view of Scripture is that in a wonderfully unique sense it is the written Word of God.  That is a faith presupposition (we all have them) and the point of departure as I approach the study of Scripture.  Because of that view, I have a feeling we take it much too lightly (even those who thump it vigorously and say they believe  every jot and tittle from Generation to Revolution~in the KJV!).  It deserves reverent respect and thought, and I dare not skim superficially over the surface hardly ever pausing to weigh words and ideas and discover treasure that will yield to prayerful thought and careful study.

         What, then, is the “Glory” of the Lord?

         In pursuit of an answer I consulted a dictionary, a thesaurus, a concordance, a Bible dictionary, Wikipedia (a pretty handy online encyclopedia), a couple of sermons on the subject and a couple of commentaries.  I also conferred with the gentleman whose face I see in the mirror each time I decide to shave.  He and I don’t even try to blow smoke at each other these days!  And I wondered and pondered.  I tried to think of synonymns (other words with similar meaning) and antonymns (words with the opposite meaning.  Sometimes I can get a better understanding of an idea if I can decide what it is NOT.).        

           There’s a lot of information out there; much of it what I call “antics with semantics.”  I found out that “glory” can be used as a noun (like what ‘shone around the shepherds’ that night in the passage which triggered my thinking.), or a verb (like the way Paul used it when he said he would not ‘glory’ in anything other than the cross of Christ.). I’ve also heard it used as an interjection.   If you ever spent any time around Baptists, you’ve probably heard folks say that instead of “amen,” or “hallelujah,” or “praise the Lord.”  They’d simply verbalize their nearly delirious joy by shouting “GLORY!”  The Marines at Camp Lejeune near here often say:  ”Hoooaaahh!”  I’m not sure I always understand what they mean by that, but they do.  It’s an expression.                                                                                  

         If you’re not accustomed to such, it can startle your socks off off!

         The shepherds weren’t expecting such an appearance or spectacular display.  It dawned upon them and turned darkness to light. It scared them.  The entire event frightened them, but this and subsequent happenings turned their world right side up.  They were rocked back on their heels at first, but then they took time to investigate for themselves.  Luke says when they left the manger later that night they were joyous and told everyone what they’d seen and heard.  That sounds like a pretty logical progression.  What they experienced was meant to be shared.

        The Glory of the Lord.  Christmas.  Is there any connection? Has Christmas lost its luster?  Do we ever even think beyond the superficial to consider to the Profound?

         The GLORY of the Lord.  May it shine upon you during this time when we think of Someone whom we should never forget. 

         What do YOU think the “GLORY of the Lord” is?

 

        God’s son and servant, your friend, brother, and fellow student  ><> donkimrey

A CHRISTMAS THOUGHT

           (My study of David has taken me right up to the edge of the Christmas season. So far, I’ve considered how he  created one of the biggest scandals recorded in the Old Testament. In spite of all his accomplishments and contributions, it seems his career is tottering on the edge of ruin at the end of the eleventh chapter of II Samuel. It looks as if the only thing really going in his favor is the conclusion drawn and stated early in his youth, i.e. :”He was a man after God’s own heart.” (I Samuel 13:13-14). In light of the mess he’s made, his ‘comeback’ seems impossible at worst and an uphill climb at best. Soon we’ll continue the study of his come back. You haven’t yet heard the rest of the story. ~don)

Thoughts at Christmas

          It’s been my custom for quite a while to set aside the studies and thoughts I’ve had earlier and consider the Christmas narratives as though reading them for the first time. For my own benefit and to keep the real meaning of this eternal event in proper focus, I ponder some not so obvious lessons learned in Bethlehem.

DON’T BE AFRAID

         “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:27~33)

          More than once the Angel of the Lord told his audience “Don’t Be Afraid.” That seems to be a note worth striking again and again. For Mary, she was understandably startled and frightened at the sudden appearance of the Angel, and the responsibility that was about to be thrust upon her. Both were reasons for a teenage girl to be frightened. But the fear must have been relieved when the Angel calmed her fear and told her: “You have found favor with God.”

          I’ll bet she was unaware of that. She didn’t know God had a special role for her to fulfill! She was just a kid! How could she have possibly had an idea of such eternal enormity?! She certainly had no inflated idea of her own importance.

          This looks like a good place to stop and think about implications. Do you suppose there is the possibility. . . even a very slight possibility. . . that God may view YOU (and Me) in a favorable way. Is it possible, unlikely as it may seem to you at present. . . that God favors you and has a special purpose for you?

          The point the Angel is making is that God knows what He’s doing, even when His children don’t. Therefore, we don’t need to be afraid. This incident, which occurred even before Mary became pregnant, should serve to calm our fears and help us understand that God has great plans for his children. . . even for those who may be unaware of His intention to use them to bless others!

          When David was writing, he gave as his reason for being unafraid even though he had to walk “through the valley of the shadow of death”(Psalm 23). He felt he didn’t need to fear any circumstance, if in fact the Lord was with him.

          “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people, for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2: 10 ~ 11)

          Early in Luke’s account, apparently on the night of Jesus’ birth, some shepherds were taking care of their flocks outside the town and again the Angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to them. They were so startled and so afraid that it actually hurt physically. “They were sore afraid.” You’ve probably had such a sensation when something you weren’t expecting happened. If you can remember such a reaction, you probably know how terrified the shepherds must have been.

          The Angel (who isn’t identified in this instance) told them not to be afraid. This time, the reason given for their not needing to be afraid was the reason the Angel gave for his sudden appearance. He had an announcement to make which could allay their fears and ours as well: “ I bring you good tidings of great joy, for unto you is born this day a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.”

          In our world which seems at times to be spinning out of control, as fierce, wild, wicked forces run rampant, apparently determined to destroy our way of life, there is much reason for fear. We may attempt to amuse ourselves and try to avoid harsh realities that explode all around us and threaten our very existence. But, somehow the gaudy lights and the sounds and scents of Christmas do not mask or relieve the enormous, ominous sense of fear which stalks and haunts the world.

          One of the messages which emerges clearly in the Christmas story is that we do not need to be afraid. God is with us. The “good tidings of great joy” are sufficient to drive the darkest fears away and bring light and hope of forgiveness and eternal life.  That word of advice does not just appear here. It is a constant. A part of loving faith is that it casts out fear.

          When it looked as if the world seemed at its worst and people were ready to give up, beaten and broken, this is what God said: “Do not Be afraid.”

          At perhaps the worst possible time in one of the world’s remotest places the Light of the Word burst upon the ancient world and we were told: “Don’t be Afraid.” Later, in the middle of a lake in the middle of the night in the middle of a sudden squall, Jesus appeared to His friends saying: “It is I. Be not afraid.”

          To be sure there’s much to be learned as we stand in awe at the advent of the King of Kings. One of the things we most need and can  treasure is this simple, profound, beautiful sentiment:
                                                                                  “DO NOT BE AFRAID.”
God’s son and servant, your friend and fellow student
~donkimrey >

PLEASED. . . OR DISPLEASED?

“…the Lord was not pleased with what David had done.”                (II Samuel 11:27)

         I keep reminding myself of what I’m trying to do in this effort.  Sometimes I tend to go chasing rabbits or fireflies.  If I’m serious about this study, that is not the thing to do.  Please be patient with me, help me stay focused on my objective, and keep me on track.

         In studying some of the Biblical characters whom I’ve been calling “God’s Comeback Kids,” the questions which need to be asked seem self evident:  (1.) How or why did they stray or get knocked off course?  (2.) How did they deal with their battles and bruises?  (3.) So what?  What difference does it make?  What can I learn and use today in my own situation?

         This time, a new question is raised: (4.) What were the consequences of the spiritual “detour” they took? And that led me to consider the comment at the top of the page.  To be sure, there were nasty, ugly, hurtful results of King David’s moral collapse. But there were other consequences which, perhaps, had never even entered David’s mind when his temple was pounding with lust, or his heart was perplexed and heavy with guilt because of the mess he’d created.  We know no one sins alone.  Always we involve others in one way or another. What had just taken place between the King and his next door neighbor was not simply a momentary harmless dalliance between two consenting adults.  David and Bathsheba were not the only ones affected by what they did.  There was an unborn child, a kingdom compromised, innocent men murdered (Uriah wasn’t the only one killed in this clumsy, bungled attempt at a cover-up.  Other warriors were killed in David’s attempt to erase any potential for exposure of his adultery.  In spite of his notable achievements and contributions, and his basic decency, his reputation stands stained indelibly for all eternity because he dropped his guard. 

         Like a widening circle when a pebble is dropped into a pond, the repercussions kept spreading, affecting others.

         But perhaps the greatest consequence of David’s sin was that sentence concluding the eleventh chapter of II Samuel which revealed the whole sordid affair. Unless you’re searching for something, you’re apt to overlook something posted so inconspicuously, almost unnoticed.

         “God was not pleased with what David had done.”

         That looks to me like a classic understatement! 

         It has driven me to a conclusion which seems very logical.  In order for such a situation to be resolved, we need to consider all the damage done.  Before a disease can even begin to be healed, a surgeon needs to go into all the deep crevices and get to the base of the problem. It makes no sense to paint with bright, tacky colors over rotten, termite-riddled timber. 

         Once I heard someone observe: “Nothing is ever settled until it is settled right.  And nothing is ever settled right until it is settled with God.” 

         David had hurt a lot of people badly.  Nothing though, strikes me as foreboding as that haunting comment: “God was not pleased with what David had done.”

         I have no way of knowing how that affects you.  For my part, and as I’ve weighed every word of that singular idea for days, it seems the only proper response for me is to pray: “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 21st Century KJV)*                                     

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

(The problem I’ve been considering was God’s quiet, reserved reaction. Before David can even think about going forward spiritually, that has to be considered.  While the sins I’ve committed may not be the same as those of King David, they are sin, nevertheless.  And that is something God always takes seriously.  He loves us, surely.  But He also has standards for us and plans.  When we disregard His presence and His role and plans in our lives, that always displeases Him.) 

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:

          

 

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         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.