Tag: Saul

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Let the adoptions begin.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,” ‭‭Acts ‭28‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Apostle Paul, formerly Rabbi Saul, trained and certified under the well known and respected Gamaliel, has made his case before his peers, the religious leaders. At first they were curious, “But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere”‭‭ (Acts 28‬:‭22‬). Paul did an excellent job presenting the gospel through the Law and the prophets. Some were even convinced, but others would not believe. Then he quoted a long and sad truth spoken by Isaiah: They would hear but not understand, see but not comprehend. Their hearts were hard and closed. Thus, they cannot turn to God and let Him heal them! All this time, all the cycles of grief and glee, they refused to listen to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And… it was necessary!

Their resistance to the Messiah was part of God’s plan. This is the moment that Paul made the formal announcement to most of the official Sanhedrin – “So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it” ‭‭(Acts 28‬:‭28). It had also been the plan before time began. It was told to the leaders of Israel, demonstrated by many of the stories and prophets’ behaviors that were confusing to the religious leaders of that day. The plan of salvation was for ALL human beings. Israel was to be mentors, teachers and examples to the nations! Before there would be converts to Judaism, in what the Jewish people call a “righteous convert.” But now, millions upon millions would become converts to Jesus Christ, adopted by God and grafted into the Jewish tree! Their righteousness would not be in the fulfillment of the Law, but in the fulfillment of faith in the work of Christ to repair the breach between God and humankind, permanently eradicating sin for those who would repent and believe.

Paul became God’s first missionary carrying the message of hope and inviting all to be adopted and come into the family of God!

Prayer

​Dad,
It is so rare to see the simple moments that shift the future so profoundly. This moment that Luke recorded about Paul is subtle but powerful- I have, we have, been grafted into this beautiful tree, this root of Jesse. I am so thankful salvation and redemption has come to all! Amen.

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A friend in deed to a friend in need.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him. Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.” So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh. ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The friendship between Jonathon and David is a legendary picture of camaraderie and commitment. The problem is most folks (myself included) visualized the two as equal in age. They were not. Jonathon was at least twenty years older than David. I know we read the stories and see two young twenty-somethings hanging out in the palace, dodging dear old king Saul as he went through his mental collapse. But do the math, Jonathan was in his forties!

Two things about these “hide-n-seek” scenarios with David that are amazing. One, God spoke directly to David when he needed an answer! Up a few verses David asks God if he should go and help a neighboring city fend off the Philistines. “Should I go?,” David asks. “Yes, you should go,” says God. Another time David asked God, “I heard Saul is coming obliterate Keilah because of me, and the leaders of Keilah will betray me – is that true?” God says “Yes they will betray you and yes Saul is coming.” Can you imagine this? David is running for his life and it’s looking like everything is out of control, yet God is right there with him! Would I want to walk through the crazy circumstances that David did, having the highest level of authority chasing me with a bounty on my head? No! But, wouldn’t it be wild to be on the run while having a two way conversation with the God of all things? Heavens yeah!

Two, the other aspect I love about these true stories is the fact that Saul’s own son, is besties with David, giving him the inside-man advantage. Between God telling David exactly what will happen and Jonathan providing Saul’s movements – it’s an exciting real life drama of good verses evil. Jonathan knows exactly where David is hiding out and goes to him to simply encourage him. Jonathan says, “don’t be afraid,” and “you will be king.”

There are so many stories and scriptures about the importance of having trusted friends encourage us when we walk through valleys with shadows of death. The Apostle Paul writes to the churches in Galatia (6:2), “share each other’s burdens…because in doing so you fulfill the law of Christ.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 says “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” A single-strand life is a constant struggle! Carrying a heavy load alone will kill you, but shared with a friend makes it lighter. We don’t need friends to fix things for us, we just need them to show up and bear the burden with us.

Be that friend that shows up! Be that friend that randomly texts encouragement when you know someone is struggling. Be the voicemail that leaves a prayer and a good word. You will be the friend that joins God and comes alongside in someone’s darkest, loneliest moments.

Prayer

Dad,
I truly believe the verse that says that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother – and that friend is you! Through the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, you are always there. You see, you hear, you know, what my life can bear. But, I also know what it’s like to have friends check in and let me know they are standing with me, available for whatever I might need. These friends are load-lifters and I am deeply grateful when they join in to carry the weight of emotions too much for me to handle alone. Thank you for them as well. Amen.

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Obedience vs Sacrifice.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the Lord all night. Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, “Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal.” When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. “May the Lord bless you,” he said. “I have carried out the Lord’s command!” ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We can love sacrifice, but be stubborn about obedience. God certainly has shown a preference of one (obedience) over the other (sacrifice). Why is one easier than the other? Why are we more impressed with our ability to sacrifice in opposition to being obedient? Our heart carries with it the ability to do both, but we’d rather choose to flaunt the appearance of doing good rather than doing what is right. By sacrificing are we just masking the underlying motive of truly believing that we know better? We know what God has said, what He has asked of us, but when we are faced with the option of something we perceive to be better, or benefit ourselves, we often fail. God told Saul exactly what He wanted Saul to do with the Amalekites, “Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys, (15‬:‭3‬). But Saul decides to do something different. ”Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality, (15‬:‭9‬).

Then, immediately Saul starts lying and reframing the entire story, making it look like he was obedient. When questioned about being disobedient, he began sidetracking the conversation saying that his “intentions” for disobedience were to give God the choicest animals for a sacrifice to Him. God did not tell him to capture the Amalekite King. God did not tell him to set aside the best of the animals for Himself. God said completely destroy! Saul didn’t obey God at all.

Samuel gives us a principle that is still important to remember – when God tells to do something, obedience is the ONLY thing that pleases Him! “But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams, (15:22). Just as faith is credited as righteousness, obedience is credited as trusting God.

Prayer

​Dad,
It is interesting that we believe that sacrifice would take priority and precedence over obedience. Obedience is clear, with no grey area. We either obey or we don’t! And, I understand how I might think you are impressed with the quantity or quality of what I bring you that costs me time, money and effort. Which, does please you because I know that generosity and sacrifice are both valued in Your kingdom. But certainly not above pure obedience. Thank you for helping me and being patient with me in my struggles to obey. Amen.

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Doeg must die.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

O Lord, oppose those who oppose me. Fight those who fight against me. Psalms‬ ‭35‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David writes this Psalm while reflecting on the horrific slaughter of innocent men, women and children in the ancient city of nob. David himself, a shepherd turned warrior, is in the unique position to understand when a man breaks from reality, from a sense of morality, and a code of honor even in times of war – it is devastating.

Doeg also went from a being a shepherd, to being Saul’s chief shepherd. Then suddenly in a moment, with little warning, he gets caught up in Saul’s obsessive rage to pursue David at any cost, and Doeg becomes a mass murderer. The story is all in 1 Samuel 21 & 22. David finds refuge, some food and the famous Goliath sword at the tabernacle in Nob, where Ahimilech served as priest. Doeg also happened to be at the tabernacle at the same time as David and his men. Doeg immediately reported the incident to King Saul. Saul then summoned Ahimilech and his family to the palace to hold him accountable for what he considered to be treason. When Saul asked Ahimilech why he harbored and abetted a criminal of the crown, Ahimilech told him the truth – he said, You mean David? “Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house?” Ahimilech was openly declaring his innocence.

Saul became enraged and ordered the palace guard to immediately kill the priests of the LORD – all of them, while standing there in the court. But the guard refused the King’s direct order! Saul then turned to Doeg and ordered him, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod.”

But Doeg wasn’t done.

For some reason, he didn’t stop with slaughtering innocent priests. Doeg then rode off, back to Nob, the city of the priests, and killed every man, woman, child and baby. He even killed the city’s animals, the oxen, donkeys and sheep. Whoa. Doeg, like his King went full on demonically mental to become a mass murderer.

David, feeling remorse and responsibility for their deaths, writes this Psalm, pleading with God to bury Doeg. Doeg became known as the “priest slayer.” Jewish legend says that David himself took Doeg’s life.

The backstory to the Psalms are so full of triumph and tragedy. They are all reflections of the good, bad and ugly of our human nature and the beauty of God’s mercy and justice. Only God is perfectly capable of wielding both. When we don’t understand the why behind the stories we see or hear about, there is often a backstory. God knows what He is doing!

Prayer

Dad,
The Old Testament is filled with such raw voracity, a hunger for evil. It reveals the true nature of what sin can do to the human heart – anyone could be a Doeg! I hear about the rampant evil currently accelerating in our cities and I think, “Dear God, we need you!” We need you to pour out your Spirit, confronting the anarchy, corruption, suffering and brokenness in our dark hearts. Help us Oh Lord! Answer our cries for peace in our communities and countries. We repent of our self-determined wills that rise up against you. We repent of our lusts for more. Hear our prayers today God. Have mercy to soften and turn our hearts towards you once again. We don’t want to be a Doeg. Amen.

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Where determinism leads.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say. I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people. My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Whoa. The context of this Psalm is deeply disturbing. It was written concerning the story recorded in 1 Samuel 22:11-21. What a awful story of injustice and the power of a mad king – Saul. Saul ranted and raged against Ahimelech, because he had fed and housed David. Saul was so filled with anger and hatred towards David that he couldn’t see anything but subterfuge and betrayal. Saul ordered his men to kill Ahimelech and all the priests who served with him. Saul’s men refused the order, so Saul ordered Doeg to do the deed. What an horrific deed to slaughter the innocent! “Then the king said to Doeg, “You do it.” So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments. Then he went to Nob, the town of the priests, and killed the priests’ families—men and women, children and babies—and all the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.” Hundreds of people were butchered, having nothing to do with Saul’s private feud with David.

This Psalm was recorded by David in response to him receiving the news, “Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David. When he told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord…” David felt responsible for their deaths! He carried the weight of responsibility when he had simply asked the priest for food and shelter. This Psalm doesn’t catch David’s arrogance of perfection, it lets us see his broken heart while trying to follow God and do what is right!

So often people blame God for the wackadoodle behaviors of crazed, rage-filled humans who enact unspeakable acts on others. It’s a fair question to ask, “why did God allow Saul (or Doeg) to do such a thing?” God didn’t ALLOW this brutal act. God gave us the gift of free will! These are the latent behaviors that exist in all human beings who strive to distance themselves from God, disobeying God and choosing to do their own thing, making up their own rules. One might say, “well I would never…” What? Kill? Become a maniac? It’s quite the discussion on social media platforms. The general consensus is, “Everyone is capable of murder.” Do we really know what we would be like if we truly followed our own will, desires and passions? Throwing off all constraints with a healthy dose of power and authority mixed with hate, anger or revenge, I think we would have to admit – we are all capable.

David’s prayer is all about following God and NOT his own bent, destructive will! David’s intent is to KEEP God’s commands so that he does not become a Saul or a Doeg! Sounds like a good confession to me.

Folks are willing to wander off God’s path with the curiosity of wondering, “what’s out there?” Be careful of what paths we choose and what doors we open! Not all paths lead to God. Not all doors of experimental experiences should be opened. Could God have stopped Saul, or Doeg? Absolutely. Shouldn’t God stop ALL OF US in our free will and decisions to pursue whatever we want. We are all capable of good and evil. And that choice is ours to make. We get to live in a world where we have the results of good and the consequences of evil among us. David was not perfect, not in the least bit! But neither are we, not yet. God will judge all things perfectly in the end. I am determined to follow God and believe His plans, His ways. Certainly not my own.

Prayer

Dad,
Not only have I come this far by faith, I am determined to go all the way. Nothing will stop me. Not my sin. Not my questions. Not offenses towards me. Not the evils all around me. I have set my course and I will not change my decision nor my destination. Heaven will be my home and you will forever be my God!

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Relationships on the dark planet called earth.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, “Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, ‘I won’t tell Jonathan—why should I hurt him?’ But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the Lord and by your own soul!” 1 Samuel‬ ‭20:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This scene that takes place with David and Jonathon takes place with an “in-between” moment, a now but not yet. God has already yanked His Spirit from Saul and put it on David. God has already renounced and even regretted Saul being king and has anointed and appointed David as successor. But God allows Saul to live on and allows this whole drama to play itself out.

One of the big mysteries of God is all about this kind of scenario. Why doesn’t God step in, intervene and just kill Saul himself? I don’t think we’ll ever fully understand until we enter eternity. God takes on the questions and “bad press” but it doesn’t bother Him in the least. God has ways we will not understand.

David had this ability to read people and situations incredibly well. It’s one of his gifts as a leader. He starts as a shepherd, living in opens fields caring for the sheep and ends up in the palace in preparation to serve as Israel’s second king. He’s found a true friend in Jonathan. Remember, Jonathan is much older than David, likely by at least 20 years! So if David is in his twenties, Jonathan is in his forties at this point. David knows Saul wants him dead but also doesn’t want to begin the inevitable “run for his life” outlaw lifestyle.

Jonathan just can’t believe his own father has the capacity to kill someone like David, an innocent, gifted young man that has only done good for the king and country. Jonathan’s own codependency just thinks, “Dad has some anger issues,” and seriously underestimates the real danger within his own family. Jonathan had been covering for his own Dad for several years and did not understand the shift that took place when the Spirit of God left his Dad! How is that possible? How can a son or a wife or daughter or even a father miss the cues of behavioral change in the family? Because we want to believe in the best in our loved ones and often can minimize the red flags because it means that some serious work needs to happen before a family member truly goes off the rails – hurting themselves or others. There were signs and warnings all along but they were ignored!

Jonathan tells David, “You’re not going to die. He always tells me everything he’s going to do, even the little things. I know my father wouldn’t hide something like this from me. It just isn’t so!” Did you see that? I KNOW MY FATHER. Jonathan may have KNOWN his father, but didn’t recognize or chose to minimize when his behavior radically changed.

Until Saul turned on his own son and made it clear, “Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. “You stupid son of a whore!” he swore at him. “Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother?” Jonathan tried to reason with his dad and actually defended his friend David. That did not go well! “Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.” Saul, the king, the spear hurler and father explodes with uncontrollable anger. Who in their right mind let this guy have access to weapons when he has lost his sanity? Saul didn’t have the courage to spear-hurl Goliath, but he now he’s throwing a man-tantrum at his own son!

God lets humanity’s choices play out and rarely overrides free will, even to the point of allowing crazy leaders to make horrible decisions. I am glad this story and others are left IN the Bible and IN God’s grand story from creation, to redemption, to the final end when true justice and grace will make all things right again. Personally, I get a little sick of living on the dark planet. It is filled with beauty. And there is good amidst evil. I’m just weary of our own arrogance of denial.

PRAYER:

Dad,
I agree with the cry “come quickly Lord Jesus,” but not to get out of this existence or have a callous heart towards humankind. I ache for the end. For godly justice to be served instead of these weak imitations and excuses for justice that is just a smokescreen for more selfish, self-serving ideologies pretending to help or advance our culture, our world. Let your light shine bright through my life and the lives of true followers of Jesus.