Relationship Equations--Day 129 Through the Bible

                                           "May the Lord be between you and me." (I Samuel 20:42)
                                                            

 The principle of "cause and effect" allows us to understand and explain situations we sometimes deal with in our lives.  David, however, in I Samuel 20, is bewildered as to what he has done to Saul that would cause Saul to seek to kill him.  In algebra, equations have a way of revealing the unknown factors. In David's situation, there are factors outside himself and his actions that are affecting his relationship with Saul. Saul is not seeking his life because of something David has done.  Saul has allowed jealousy to progress to anger and hatred toward David.  David's eyes are wide open to what is going on.  He tells Jonathan, "there is but a step between me and death".  Saul's anger and plan to kill David are evident. 

This is the same Saul God chose to be Israel's first king, the man that stood head and shoulders above all the other people. Although God chose him, Saul made the choices that undermined his own victory.  Saul could have gone down in history as a successful king, however, his heart led him down a path of rebellion, disobedience, and eventual failure.  In Jeremiah 17:9, God says this about our human hearts: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"  The "heart" is also mentioned by God in reference to David in Acts 13:22: "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will".  Saul refused to fulfill God's will, he refused to be obedient to God.  On the other hand, David was just as human as Saul, however David was a man of repentance--a man attuned to obedience to God.  His heart was even sensitive to God's hand in Saul's life. In I Samuel 24:5, after David had cut off the skirt of Saul's robe, we are told, "David's heart smote him".  He confessed to his men, "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord". (We also, are told to confess our faults to one another in James 5:16.)

The Psalms are filled with David's cries to God for help and with his tears of repentance because of his sinful nature.  We can fastforward to the end of today's scriptures and hear Jesus also speaking of "repentance and remission of sins", as part of the Gospel.  "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem".  What part does repentance and remission of sins have in our own lives today?  David was no different than we are.  He suffered during his life and experienced fear, just as we do; I Samuel 21:12, says, "Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid".  (Our scripture reading in Psalms 59 is labeled "A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him".  From what I could find, "Michtam" means "a golden psalm", but not much other information was available.)

In speaking to David, Jonathan said in I Samuel 20:42, "May the Lord be between you and me".  Just as in an algebra equation, certain factors must be present in relationships in order for them to work out.  David's relationship with Saul failed because Saul's relationship with God became nonexistent. Saul's heart was not filled with the love of God and this was revealed in his hatred toward David.  (I think we can honestly say that our relationships with others are better whenever our relationship with God is flourishing.)  Just as David experienced, there are many variables in relationships that we have no control over. (However, we need to examine ourselves first, repent, and even confess our sins to one another, before deeming a difficulty as "out of my control".)  David wisely removed himself from a relationship with Saul--he did not entangle himself in Saul's problems or put himself in harm's way. However, in his heart, David respected Saul as God's anointed--he kept the Lord between him and Saul. The testimonies of Saul and David's lives bear witness to the importance of the condition of the heart.  Only God can change our hearts as we submit and yield to Him in humility and true repentance. 

Walking Our Emmaus Road with Jesus - Day 128 Through the Bible

Below the cabin - pieces of wood and rocks transformed by owner and nationally-acclaimed "Trashformation" artist, Rolf Holmquist - near Mt. Celo Church.  He uses found, discarded, and salvaged objects to create works of art.

My Lessons and Applications from Today's Readings

For those of us who are becoming discouraged with trying our best, "behaving wisely", having divinely blessed results, and still enduring persecution...when enough is never enough in the world's eyes...as we are walking our road with Jesus...these brief character studies of Saul, David, Jesus and the Disciples may illumine our own experiences and give us persevering courage.

Saul (1 Sam 18 and 19) - a humble youth, chosen by God, anointed with the Holy Spirit, corrupted by wealth and power.  From the reticent anointed king (focus on God, his prophet and Israel) - hiding to avoid detection - from "Who am I to be called to this?" to a focus only on himself and against his "perceived" enemy, David.  We now see King Saul on his decline...rejected by God for disobedience and obfuscation when confronted with his sin rather than repenting...the Spirit of God has left him...the LORD has sent a distressing spirit on him.  Saul tries to kill David, manipulates his son, daughter and servants to kill David, sends David out against the Philistines to be killed, marries David into his family so the daughter can manipulate him for her father.  

My Lessons and Applications: Jealousy, rage, manipulation, deceit, anger, hatred against his own family, no thought of Israel's good... these are the manifestations of the life no longer focused on God, no longer empowered or protected by the Holy Spirit...so blind to the truth of his own depraved soul that he now blames and accuses others, even his own daughter:  "Why have you deceived me like this, and sent my enemy away like this, so he has escaped?"  The deception is his; the "enemy" is a loyal friend and servant. I believe this is the predominant spirit in the world today with the same negative, destroying end results. "Search me, O God, and know my heart;
 Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me,
 And lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24)

David  (1 Sam) - "a man after God's own heart", chosen by God, anointed by the Holy Spirit, humble before God and his king Saul, patient for over a decade in receiving the kingship for which he has already been anointed, a loyal friend to Jonathan, Saul, his fighting men, and above all, to God. While not a man without sin, David is quick to confess, repent and change.  He endures constant, unrelenting death threats, plotting and lies against himself yet maintains his loyalty to Saul, preserving his life.  He spends his time in exile drawing near to God.  He writes the achingly beautiful psalms in prayer, praise and petition to God that thousands of years later still sing our own souls.

Jesus (the Gospels and the Prophets) - Focus was always on God - on His Will.  Our Savior endured unimaginable persecution, hatred, and crucifixion...yet the only sinless Man...healed the sick, cast out demons, restored the brokenhearted, brought eternal salvation to souls through His great sacrifice... and yet today He is still mocked, ridiculed, rejected by many...but loved, worshipped, and honored now and in eternity by those of us who love Him above all.

My Lessons and Applications:  David is often seen as "a type of Christ" by Biblical scholars.  In our readings today, we see the similarity in suffering for righteousness sake but being persecuted, accused, plotted against for his life that is empowered by and blessed by God.  But God...also protects David and protected Christ until the time for His final mission became necessary.  George Whitfield said, "Our lives are immortal until our work on earth is done."  These are encouraging reminders to us: "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin."

How to Know Jesus - His Disciples Then and Now (Luke 24: 1-35) Note on the Road to Emmaus story and the Resurrection account:  1) Jesus Himself drew near to AND went with them WHILE a) they talked together of all these things (about Jesus) which had happened b) as they conversed, c) as they reasoned.  2) AS HE expounded Scripture to them in all the things concerning Himself, a) they constrained him to abide with them, b) so He went in to stay with them, c) He sat with them, communed with them, broke bread and gave it to them, 3) THEN their eyes were opened, 4) THEN they knew Him, 5) Then He vanished from their sight and they talked to one another, a) of how their hearts burned within them while He talked with them on the road b) and while He opened the Scriptures to them.  6) They rose up...that very hour...and told the others...the things that had happened on the road...how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

My Lessons and Applications: - Along our own Emmaus roads...our journey in life...we plead with Jesus to abide with us...to teach us from His Word...to expound Scripture to us...to tell us all the things concerning Him...to break bread with us...commune with us...open our eyes.  Then we must...we will...go and tell others all these things He made known to us.