Timely Worship

One of my favorite things about reading through a chronological Bible is getting to read through David's story in I and II Samuel while also reading his Psalms as they correspond to events in his life. I wrote last time about how many years of suffering David went through (primarily at the hand of Saul) before he was actually able to take the throne for which he had already been annointed years and years earlier. However, I never realized how many of David's famous Psalms were written during this time period. As David lived in hiding to escape the unjustified death sentence of a jealous king, he was constantly writing psalms of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. For example, when the Ziphites betray David and tell Saul where he is hiding (I Samuel 23:19), David writes Psalm 54 in response: "For strangers have risen up against me; ruthless men seek my life...Behold God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life...I will give thank to your name, O Lord, for it is good." Another example is David's response when he finds out that Saul ordered a whole group of priests to be killed, simply because they showed David hospitality earlier on. His response to this horrifying news is found in Psalm 52: "Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day... I trust in th steadfast love of God forever and ever." I find Psalm 34 the most startling. It's one of my favorite Psalms, "taste and see that the Lord is good!" (v. 8), but I didn't realize that David wrote it after he was forced to act like a mad man in order to save his own life. I Samuel 19 gives the account of when David must flee to the land of Gath. Knowing David is a great warrior, the people there fear his presence. Afraid the king will have him killed, the only thing David can think to do is to act as if he has gone crazy, literally mad. He pretends to be insane, to the point of having "spittle run down his beard" (I Sam. 19:13). His plan works, and the king perserves his life, but it shows the absolute desparation David has found himself in. Yet, Psalm 34 is his response. David had to act like an insane man to save his life, and he says: "I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my troubles" (v. 4). If I were forced to act insane and spit all over myself to save my life, I'm not sure I would have the same response.

I am so convicted by David's responses of praise and thanksgiving despite his wretched circumstances. He is literally facing death day after day, living in caves, separated from his family, and yet he trusts that the Lord is the upholder of his life. Evil men want him dead, but he knows that God is good and is worthy of his praise. My circumstances have never been as bad as David's were during  that period of many years, and yet my response in trial is hardly ever to worship. I ask that God would change my heart to worship him all the more when my circumstances are grim, because he is so good, so loving, and so worthy of my praise, and my steadfast help in times of suffering.

A Man after God's Own Heart

I just finished I Samuel today, and I love reading about David BEFORE he becomes king of Israel. When someone says David's name, I generally think of one of three things: David and Goliath, Bathsheba, or the fact that he became King of Israel and began the Davidic line leading to Christ. Little boy with rocks and a sling. Lustful man involved in adultery and murder. King leading to Christ. Clearly, all of those events are important. It's cool to think of David as a young boy with full faith in God as he faces a literal giant, whom he must fight to the death. It's awesome to see David's repentance and God's forgiveness after his sin with Bathsheba. And it's absolutely amazing to see how God fulfilled His promise to David, that he would have a decendant on the throne forever, by sending Christ, our eternal kind, through David's line.

However, these events provide only small glimpses into who David was. I have been struck with the realization of how simple David's beginnings were... and how humble he was throughout all his many trials before he took the throne. David started as this ruddy little kid. He was the youngest of many brothers and probably wished he could go off and fight in war like they did, but instead he had to stay home tending to the sheep. In fact, David is annointed king by Samuel... and then nothing happens for a very, very, very long time. At first, it seems like things are happening correctly when David is chosen by Saul to play the lyre in  his court. David's musical ability basically gets him close to the king, which makes it seem a little more likely that he might become royalty. However, things go downhill from that point foreward. Saul eventually grows jealous and paranoid about David's success as a military leader, and resents the common phrase at the time: "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands" (I Samuel 18:7). God is protecting and growing David to be a great leader, but Saul is jealous of his success. This only leads to trouble for David... Saul, in a fit of rage (and on two separate occasions!) throws a spear at David as he plays his lyre, trying to "pin David to the wall" (I Samuel 19:10). Even after this, David continues to faithfully serve his king. Finally though, Saul's anger becomes so bad that David is forced to flee and he lives in exile from Israel for many years. David honestly lives in caves and fields and foreign cities, moving from place to place as Saul pursues him seeking his life. It's not all too glamorous. And the thing is... David is kind and humble the whole time. On two separate occasions, David has a chance to kill Saul, and he refuses to lay a hand on God's annointed king.

What an example... David is a foreshadowing of Christ. He becomes a great king and is called a man after God's "own heart" (I Samuel 13:14) But although God grew him into a fierce warrior, a successful leader, and a whole-hearted worshiper, I think David is most like Christ because of his constant humility and service despite the wrong done against him. Of course, David was a sinner, but his humility and patience in suffering under Saul reminds me so much of my Savior who suffered death at the hands of sinful, violent men, to cover my sin and the sins of the world.

Rejection and Royalty

As I was reading I Samuel last night, I was struck by a clear theme that stretches from the Old to New Testaments...and even applies to life today. Although Samuel was a great and holy judge of Israel, the Israelite people decide they want a king "like all the nations" (I Sam. 8:5) around them. Despite Samuel's warnings, they insist on converting from their judge system to a monarchy. Samuel is somewhat forlorn and possibly hurt by their stubborn insistence, but the Lord reminds him "they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them." The Lord then tells Samuel to fulfill their request for a king even though it shows their hardness of heart. This reminds me of another verse in the New Testament, John 15:18: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." Jesus is reminding his disciples that any rejection, persecution, or hatred they experience is not really directly toward them, but it is a result of those whose hearts are hardened against the Lord. Jesus offers words of comfort here, just as God comforted Samuel, reminding him that ultimately he is not being rejected as a judge, but the Lord is being rejected as king of Israel.

And why reject the King of Kings? All because Israel wants what the other nations around them have...an earthly king. How often in my own life do I desire and plea for the things I see around me that seem good at the time? How often do I insist on pursuing those desires even when I know that acquiring them might not be for the best? Why do I chase after things that may put a wedge between me and the Lord? Yet, the Lord is still faithful. Even though a king was not in Israel's best interest at the time... their folly led to the Lord's providence in sending David to the throne, which began the royal road to Jesus, our eternal King!

Ruth - A Worthy Woman

The story of Ruth has always had a special place in my heart. It was one of my very favorite Bible stories growing up and, even yesterday, I woke up eager to complete my Bible reading for the day, because I knew that the whole book of Ruth was on the agenda.

Many people love the story of Ruth, and yesterday I learned why the story itself is so charming. First of all (enter English major nerdiness), I learned that the book of Ruth is an idyll, meaning a brief story describing an event in rural, domestic life. Basically, Ruth a simple romance about common people from Bethlehem. Secondly, the main theme of Ruth is kindness, shown through both the young widow who lovingly follows and provides for her mother-in-law in a foreign land, and through the kindness of a Godly, middle-aged man, Boaz, who protects, provides for, and eventually redeems the same poor, young widow. This small story is tucked into the middle of books chronicling tumultous times in Israel (Judges and I Samuel) where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25) and the volatile establishment of a monarchy in Israel (Saul and David). The placement of Ruth shows that the Lord's will and kindness will always prevail despite earthly sin and circumstances.

Although the beginning of Ruth's story is very bleak, as she is childless, widowed, and living with her "bitter" mother-in-law, the resolution shows that God reigns. He is good, kind, and has a plan to bless those who are faithful to him. Despite her hardship, Ruth is one of the few women named as being a part of the ancestral line of Jesus. She is the great-grandmother of King David himself!

Micah and I are beginning to plan out the details of our wedding ceremony, which is only three months away! I have always wanted my vows to my husband to include Ruth's pledge of faithfulness to Naomi, "...where you go, I will go...your people shall be my people, and your God my God..." (Ruth 1:16). My prayer is that even in the tumultous times of today, which just as in the times of the judges, it seems that everyone just does "what is right in his own eyes" with no regard for the Lord or His commandments, my marriage with Micah will be a light in the darkness. My prayer is that by God's grace, the faithfulness and obedience in my marriage will be a simple, sweet story of God's love and kindness despite the sinful, circumstances of the world today.