by chrisaiken | May 27, 2015 | Devotions
“…Thus the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon.” 1 Kings 2:46, NASB.
Now one of the things that I appreciate about the Old Testament Scriptures is (as my professor taught me) that they present the “stories- warts and all.” There are a number of difficult things about the Old Testament that shock our conscience. In short, the OT has some bloody scenes in it. We struggle to reconcile these things MOSTLY because we look at them through our own cultural lens. This makes discerning meaning more difficult. Because of this, sometimes we will attempt to make a historical account into an allegory or “spiritualize” an event that is simply historical. Frankly, this is unnecessary and is destructive to the practice of studying God’s Word.
The first chapters of this book reflect a struggle for power. With David’s death on the horizon, there was a power-vacuum looming and two factions sought to fill it. Adonijah did politics and popular appeal. He fed the people, was good-looking, and touched the bases with all of the key influencers. He exalted himself to the place of king so that he would be the people’s presumptive choice. Then there was Solomon whom David chose to replace himself (but only after a little manipulation by Nathan and Bathsheba). Following David’s death, Solomon was faced with a choice…learn to tolerate the competing faction, or destroy them. He chose the latter and it was the right choice.
That is the historical account. Certainly we should not try to apply the actions of Solomon in our own lives (since killing your opposition is generally frowned upon). However, we can apply the principle. When we are seeking a new start as holy people, there can be no compromise with evil. Imagine making brownies. You mix the batter with all of the good ingredients but add a few pellets of mouse droppings. Just a few. In the mix of all that is made, it is statistically improbable that 99% of the bites of the brownies could contain the droppings…but who is going to tolerate even those odds? Not me! Not you! If we were making brownies we would expect 100% or nothing. Period.
In our lives which are far more important than dessert, we have a tendency to lower that standard. We will present our bodies a living sacrifice to the Lord…yet we tolerate sin/evil as part of that sacrifice. Like offering God a potentially tainted brownie. How could we do that? We would never eat those ourselves! How could we offer such a tainted sacrifice to God.
The recipe for holiness requires that we completely remove evil if we are to be holy. All of it. Give the enemy no quarter and allow no sin to persist. This alone is the recipe for holiness. In obeying this instruction, we find that we will be firmly established as God’s chosen people.
Shalom, CA
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by chrisaiken | May 26, 2015 | Devotions
“Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory.” 2 Samuel 23:11-12, NASB.
I love and am greatly challenged but this 23d chapter. In it is the recording of the names and many of the deeds of those who were closest to the king…his most trusted and valiant warriors. To read the stories is to step into a narrative of superheros. The actions of these men demonstrate incredible courage and are rewarded with supernatural victory by God.
Where does courage like that come from? In our world today, we (men) have allowed poets and philosophers to redefine courage. It takes courage they say “to sit down and have a conversation.” “It takes courage to forgive.” “It takes courage to admit you’re wrong.” These things do require character…but courage? No sir. I don’t think so…at least not in the way David speaks of courage here. Courage here involves stepping into the battle while greatly outnumbered and giving everything you have to win while trusting God to do what is pleasing to Him. The story above is of a single warrior who stood in a field of beans. All of God’s people (those with the promises of God made to them too) withdrew in the face of a large troop of the enemy leaving only Shammah to stand firm. The requirement for courage INCREASED as each man abandoned the land. In the end…Shammah stood and defended the bean field.
What strategic significance is a bean field? Limited at best…but the choice to stand firm was not about the strategy…it was about the HONOR of the NAME OF GOD! To retreat…was to trumpet a lack of confidence in God’s ability to bring victory. To retreat was to proclaim confidence in one’s own intellect over that of the Lord’s directive. To retreat was not to be the “bigger man” but to simply be a coward in the face of danger.
Shammah had nothing to count on that day…except the power and presence of God. I imagine he quietly decided (having surveyed the fields around him and the size of the enemy forces) that it was better to die standing for something than to dishonor God by fleeing. Did he believe he could win? I am not certain…but I imagine he had seen God bring victory out of the most overwhelming circumstances imaginable before…and believed that God just might do it again. Frankly though, I am not as certain in his expectations of OUTCOME as I am his understanding of RESPONSIBILITY in the present. Maybe he would die…but that was simply a consequence left up to God. What he knew in the moment was no true believer in the power of God runs when facing the enemy. He stands his ground and trusts God for the outcome that He sees fit.
So, what is the source of courage? Two things- confidence in God’s ability and obedience to the orders at hand. The rest is up to God.
Shalom, CA
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by chrisaiken | May 25, 2015 | Devotions
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
The verse above removes all doubt of the limitless nature of God’s love toward us. Not just love of Himself, His purpose, His own glory…but of the deeply rooted value He holds toward us. He loves us.
It is one thing to say that you love someone…that you value him or her…but the truest measure of such devotion and value is demonstrated in the price willing to be paid on his or her behalf. I have heard some say along the way, “I love my spouse, but I just cannot continue to honor my vow of marriage.” This love has limits as is demonstrated by the unwillingness to continue in devotion, “til death we do part.” It may be a love that goes up to the point of deep personal angst…but not to death.
Christ held nothing back. There was no reserved love or withheld devotion. He gave ALL.
I was reflecting on this today in light of the observance of Memorial Day in the US. In like manner, today we observe commitment of men and women who gave their lives in defense of this nation. Not some geographical land mass…but in support of the ideals of the nation. I have said often that the commitment made by veterans, living and dead, is no different. Our oath is the same. We promised to defend the nation (our ideals and way of life) against ALL enemies, foreign and domestic. We promised without reservation to follow the orders of our commanders, our leadership and to give every last measure of strength to fulfilling our assigned objective.
Again, it is one thing to say that and another thing to see it demonstrated. Each veteran who puts on a uniform demonstrates a willingness to fight, but those who have fallen in battle demonstrate that they were willing to die rather than fail their commitment.
Today, we honor our war-dead. We honor them because there is no doubt about the level of their commitment or the limitless nature of their love for our nation. Jesus said, “No greater love has any man than this, but to lay down His life for His friends.” No greater love.
So today…celebrate! Have a barbecue and don’t feel at all guilty. Your right to do so in a free country was purchased for you with blood of a friend. He or she died to demonstrate the value of our nation’s ideals. While you are celebrating…remember. You, your life, your FREEDOM meant (demonstrably) so much to those who’ve died that they gave their last full measure of devotion to secure it for you. Finally, value your freedom as precious and worthwhile, It is a wonderful possession and a sacred trust. Your freedom has been entrusted to you.
As Christ died for you, removing all doubt of His love for you…so the American Soldier who died on the field of battle for you demonstrates His love for the ideals of a nation that he or she entrusted to you.
God bless those who’ve given so much and may we all walk worthy of such demonstrated love.
Shalom, CA
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by chrisaiken | May 19, 2015 | Devotions
“For who is God besides the Lord? And who is a rock, besides our God? God is my strong fortress; and he sets the blameless in His way. He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, and sets me on my high places. He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your help makes me great.” 2 Samuel 22:32-36, NASB.
Sometimes people will say things like, “I need God to give me some spiritual help.” Usually what is meant is that the person desires something supernatural by way of wisdom, direction, or special intervention. It is the acknowledgment of the equivalent of sending up the “Bat Beacon.” Help us Batman!!
David though in this song of praise and acknowledgment of who God is and how God has been his strength throughout his life…expands far beyond the 9-1-1 responses of God. He honors God for strength in everyday tasks.
Now, I know that the war imagery is difficult to swallow for the followers of “hippie-Jesus.” For those who believe that God is all about peace and love and granola…this passage rocks your world…so you’re forced to try to redefine it as allegory or to deny the veracity of the Scriptures. As for me, I will let the Bible speak for itself and simply seek to apply it as if it were absolutely true and speaking a truthful statement from the ultimate Author…who is the Holy Spirit.
Kings, in this day, grew their holdings and their economy by taking land and resources. They took. Their goal was to become powerful and big and resourceful. This is not bad. After all, (in context) we are talking about the conquest of the land that God delivered title-deed to Abraham but was not brought under full control.Furthermore, if it was simply a new order from God, it would be no less authoritative or righteous in its action…even if that seemed unpalatable to some modern readers who impose their values on the culture.
So…kings conquered stuff. They defended against attacks and they attacked. David, who was a mighty and courageous warrior attributed his success…not to his own doing….but to God’s gracious enablement. God made his feet strong and sure. God guarded him with His shield of Salvation. God was his defense (Strong fortress). God trained his hands for battle and strengthened his arms so that he could do things beyond human explanation.
This statement of David’s successes is not boastful or arrogant. David exhibits great humility in speaking fo the conquest he has enjoyed BECAUSE of God’s work in his life. In one sentence, David humbly boasted of God’s power and grace.
You and I would do well to learn a few things from this. It is God that gives us firm ground to stand on, who makes our footing sure…who trains us for the tasks of the day and brings us success while guarding us until we fulfill His plan and purpose. May we rest in that today and tomorrow and every day that the Lord gives us to be used as instruments of His power and grace.
Shalom, CA
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by chrisaiken | May 18, 2015 | Devotions
1Then it was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourns for Absalom.”
2The victory that day was turned to mourning for all the people, for the people heard it said that day, “The king is grieved for his son.”
3So the people went by stealth into the city that day, as people who are humiliated steal away when they flee in battle.
4The king covered his face and cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
5Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines,
6by loving those who hate you, and by hating those who love you. For you have shown today that princes and servants are nothing to you; for I know this day that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased.
7“Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go out, surely not a man will pass the night with you, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”
2 Samuel 19:1–7 (NASB95)
Following David’s sin, we find the consequences still persisting. Absalom, his son, has usurped the king and has established himself on the throne. David was in exile and his troops sought to return their king to his rightful place. So, they took Absalom out.
David’s response upon hearing the news of the efforts of his army…to weep for his son the rebel.
Now, the parent side of me understands and is perhaps a bit empathetic. The Christ-follower side of me (which isn’t a different side but has a more prophetic voice) understand the rebuke of Joab and the error of David. David wept for the rebel and failed to honor the courageous. He felt unworthy of the throne (and not in a positive humility way). He felt as if he had lost something of value (his son) when in reality he was forsaking something of value (his calling).
At times we do the same thing. God calls us to stand up for Him and we choose to blunt the sharp edge of God’s Word. We do so, not by denying the veracity of the Scripture outright, but in affirming evil. We even convince ourselves that we are somehow humble in doing so. We claim that we are exhibiting the gentleness of Christ when we soften our response to sinful rebellion. This is not COMPASSION but SEDITION. In our failure to rebuke, we (by default) affirm rebellion.
I have often thought of the response of Aaron in Leviticus 10:1-4 as perplexing. (Again thinking as a father). However, I am increasingly convinced that his response of failing to mourn his sons’ deaths is the only right response. Had he done so, he would have dishonored the name/holiness of God.
David should have seen Absalom’s rebellion as what it was…rebellion against Holy God. Period. He knew that one should not rise up against God’s anointed king and yet he tolerated it from his own son.
Joab was right. David was foolish. God was ultimately glorified and sin, once again, demonstrates its wicked power in our lives; a power that can only be defeated by God and victory experienced only as we abandon ourselves to trust God’s way.
Shalom, CA
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by chrisaiken | May 17, 2015 | Devotions
“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” Psalm 37:3-5, NASB.
As I was reading this morning, I was reminded again that faithfulness to God is not momentary or fleeting, but is by definition a decision, backed by a decision, backed by a decision over extended periods of time. The Psalmist (David) reminds us here that we are to “CULTIVATE” faithfulness and to DO GOOD. The doing of good is the action behind the decision of faithfulness. Faithfulness is not the byproduct but is the decision itself. We choose faithfulness. We choose to honor the commitment we make to God. We choose to see the world through the lens of our decision for faithfulness. We choose/decide to do it over and over again.
The word cultivate brings to mind the process of farming. While I am not a farmer I have spent a few days working in a garden. Working a garden requires preparing the soil, planting a seed, caring for the seed (Water, etc) weeding the garden, caring for the plant, guarding against predator rabbits :), etc. IOW…no farmer just throws seed, or plants it and leaves it alone. To do so is to leave the produce in the hands of “chance.” In like manner, we are not called to leave our faithfulness to chance. We cultivate it. We decide. We immerse ourselves in the Word. We guard the seed with accountability. We weed the garden, removing other things that diminish precious resources and nutrients.
In our spiritual lives, we must choose to cultivate faithfulness…or we are by default cultivating unfaithfulness. What we cultivate becomes our delight. When my parents would plant corn or cucumbers or melons in the garden, they would go out often to check the progress. They looked forward to the harvest. They sought the product of their labor. The did not plant corn to simply have corn plants…they wanted a have an ear of corn to eat. The bigger, more perfect the ear, the greater their delight.
In the same way, when we guard and cultivate faithfulness, we come to delight in the product of our labors.
Cultivate faithfulness. Dwell in the Land. Delight in the Lord. Your product will come and it will be amazing.
Shalom, CA
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“…Thus the kingdom was established in the hands of Solomon.” 1 Kings 2:46, NASB.
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