Dad's Ramblings -- The Mediator

"Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted greatly in David. So Jonathan told David, saying, 'My father seeks to kill you. Therefore please be on your guard until morning, and stay in a secret place and hide...and I will speak with my father about you'....Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father....So Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, 'As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed.' "
 
                                                                                I Samuel 19:1-2, 3b, 4a, 6
 
Jonathan took the position of mediator between Saul and David, and he saved David's life. Mediators fill an important role, but the job is not easy because the mediator risks alienation by both parties -- even death. Jonathan was willing to take the risk. And despite the pig-headedness of Saul, he listened to and heeded the voice of reason. Sometimes, I have tunnel vision and get so stuck in my own way that I will not listen to advice. Some people call me stubborn; I tend to consider myself faithful to my word, reliable, consistent!!! The truth is, I need to be more flexible and listen to the voice of reason. Moreover, I am so grateful for the Great Mediator -- the Man Christ Jesus -- Who "delights greatly" in me, and Who intercedes for me to save my life (see I Timothy 2:5).

Today's Thought: Mediator is a tough job, but so very necessary.

Have a mediating day. Love you.

Dad's Ramblings -- Conflict

"Thus Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter loved him; and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David's enemy continually."
 
                                                                  I Samuel 18:28-29
 
Saul watched David and saw his pure life, and he knew that God's blessing was on David. David was a thorn to Saul because Saul was not living a life pleasing to God. David's life was in contradistinction to Saul. So Saul hated David. The person who lives for God can expect that ungodly people will not love, nor even like, him because his life highlights the sinner's sin. The godly life is at odds with the ungodly. There will be conflict. But the goal of the Believer is to be loved by God, not the world. We shouldn't be surprised when the world rejects us.
 
Today's Thought: The godly life brings conviction to the ungodly.
 
Have a godly day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Blame Game

"Then Saul said to David, 'Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the LORD's battles.' For Saul though, 'Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.' "
               
                                                                              I Samuel 18:17
 
Saul, with evil intent, wanted David to be taken out of the way, but he did not want it to look like he caused it. So he devised a plan to get David into battle, because "Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines" (vs. 25b). David later used this same tactic himself when he wanted Uriah, the wife of Bathsheba, killed in battle (see II Samuel 11). Human nature has not changed. We want someone else to do our dirty work and take the blame so we do not appear responsible. As children we pass the buck – "He did it." As adults, we blame our genes, our upbringing, our environment or anything else to avoid culpability. But God knows the truth. Better to "fess up," as David eventually did, and say, "I have sinned" (II Samuel 12:13).
 
Today's Thought: Blaming others does not remove guilt.
 
Have an honest day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Behaving Wisely

"And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him....But all Israel and Judah loved David because he went out and came in before them."
 
                                                                            I Samuel 18:14, 16
 
Two times in this chapter it says that David "behaved wisely" (vs. 5). What does it mean to behave wisely? I think it refers to David's spirit. He did not become proud and arrogant when he defeated the giant, nor when the king's son loved him, nor when the people adored him. Nor did he become bitter and vengeful when Saul hated him and tried to kill him (vss. 10-11). Keeping a good spirit in prosperity and adversity is the key to behaving wisely, and is attractive to others.
 
Today's Thought: A person behaves wisely when he is not proud in success nor bitter in adversity.
 
Have a "good-spirit" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Jealousy

"Now it happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.' Then Saul was angry and the saying displeased him....."
 
                                                                         I Samuel 18:6-8a
 
The root of Saul's anger was jealousy. Here they were, being met with rejoicing by the people while returning from a great victory over the Philistines and carrying all the plunder they had retrieved from the tents of the Philistines (17:53). But Saul let one little song take over his life. Jealousy will do that. It will block out everything else and take control. It can happen so easily. Another co-worker can receive an award instead of me. Someone else can have a make more money than I. More praise is lavished on another person than myself. The antidote to jealousy is thankfulness – remembering all that God has done. How can I be jealous when I think of all the blessings that God has bestowed on me?
 
Today's Thought: Jealousy has no room to grow in a thankful spirit.
 
Have a thankful day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Friendship

"Now when he (David) had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul....Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt."
 
                                                                                   I Samuel 18:1, 3-4
 
What a friendship! This kind of relationship is very rare. In fact, I can't say that I have ever experienced this kind of friendship with another man, perhaps because of my own self-centered nature. But Jonathan had a heart as big as Texas. Even though he had the status of the son of the king, he had a heart that was big enough to knit to a peasant. He was willing to put his entire life on the line for David, even to the point of giving David perhaps his most important possessions – his princely robe and his articles of manhood. Without his armor, sword and bow, he was defenseless. The kind of friendship that gives up our defenses leaves a person vulnerable, open to being taken advantage of. Jonathan trusted David with his life. What a friendship!
 
Today's Thought: The kind of friendship that does not require being defensive is rare indeed.
 
Have a "friendship" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- People of Value

"When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, 'Abner, whose son is this youth?' And Abner said, 'As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.' So the king said, 'Inquire whose son this young man is.'....And Saul said to him (David), "Whose son are you, young man?" So David answered, 'I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethelehemite.' "
 

                                                                           I Samuel 17:55-56, 58
 
Prior to David's bout with Goliath, he was a nobody in Saul's eyes even though he was a member of the king's court. Saul knew nothing about David's personal life –only that he played the harp well. To Saul, people around him only had value as objects to be used to satisfy his needs. It was only after David's victory over Goliath that Saul took some personal interest in his subject. I need to be careful to not just see people as utilitarian objects who are only useful if they meet my needs. People have personal lives, and relationship is based on having knowledge of who they are, not just what they do. I am valuable to God because of who I am, not just for what I do.
 
Today's Thought: A successful person values people for who they are.
 
Have a "valuable" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Running Toward the Enemy

"So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine...Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his (Goliath's) sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistine saw that their champion was dead, they fled."
 
                                                                                        I Samuel 17:48, 51
 
The army of Israel huddled together in fear on one side of the valley. David was willing to take the battle to the enemy. Sometimes we Christians get a persecution complex. We huddle in our little groups for protection, and run away from the enemy instead of toward him. Confronting the enemy – not isolationism – is the path to victory. Prior to World War II, there were isolationists in America who wanted to stay out of the conflict in Europe. Instead, we went to Europe to face the enemy. Had we not gone to fight the enemy there, we would have faced him here. Avoidance does not win the battle – it only delays it. A few days ago, I heard that a campus group in California is required by a court decision to allow membership and even officer-ship to non-Christians, even though the non-Christians do not subscribe to the beliefs of the group. So much for the constitutional right of assembly. But instead of running from the enemy, why not do as David did and run toward the enemy, and even use the enemy's own tools and tactics to conquer? Why not go en mass as Christians and join the local atheist organization? We need to avoid isolationism in our cultural battles. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
 
Today's Thought: Running toward the enemy is the way to victory.
 
Have a conquering day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Battle Is The Lord's

" 'This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand....Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands.' "
 
                                                                              I Samuel 17:46a-47
 
God allows challenges to come into my life so that He can show Himself strong. It is in those times that I must realize that "the battle is the Lord's." He uses my meager resources, but they alone are not enough to be victorious, so in the end He gets the glory. "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty...that no flesh should glory in His presence....He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (I Corinthians 1:27-31). I confess, I need Jesus.
 
Today's Thought: Challenges come so that God can show His strength.
 
Have a victorious day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Facing the Enemy

"And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy, and good-looking. So the Philistine said to David, 'Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods." ....Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.' "
 
                                                                I Samuel 17:42-43, 45
 
David had only three things going for him – his youth, a good complexion, and good looks. That's what Bill Clinton had, but they did not help him in his moral battle. When facing the enemy, I need more than the "sticks" of my youth (?), my charm (?), and my good looks (???). My resources are puny compared to the giant's sword, spear, and javelin. I need a power greater than myself if I expect to win my battles.
 
Today's Thought: The enemy may disdain us but we have a secret weapon – faith.
 
Have a trusting-God day.  Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Preparation for Battle

"Then he (David) took his staff in his hand and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand, and he drew near the Philistine."
 
                                                                       I Samuel 17:40
 
Common exposition of this verse says that David picked up five stones because Goliath had four sons (see II Samuel 21:17-22). Be that as it may, the principle is to "be ready." We don't always know the giants that we will face, but we can still prepare ahead of time. Boot camp is important for a soldier in a national army so that he is ready to face whatever enemy he encounters. We need to be ready to give an answer (I Peter 3:15) and study so we won't be ashamed (II Timothy 2:15). We don't always know what our enemy will throw at us, but we can be prepared by knowing God's Word and wearing His armor (Ephesians 6:10-18).
 
Today's Thought: Preparation is important in our spiritual battles.
 
Have a "ready" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- One Size Fits All?

"So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head, he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, 'I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.' So David took them off."
 
                                                                    I Samuel 17:38-39
 
What a picture!!! Here is David with the helmet down over his eyes, the sword dragging the floor, and the sleeves of the shirt covering his hands. Remember that Saul was "head and shoulders" taller than anyone else (I Sam. 9:2), and David was just a lad. Have you ever noticed that "one size fits all" rarely fits you? Just because one person discovers a successful strategy in dealing with a problem does not mean it is a good fit for someone else. The bookshelves are loaded with books of advice that came out of personal experience. They may help some people, but most of the time, the techniques do not work for others. Churches try to copy other successful ministries and fail. Individuals try to imitate only to find frustration and discouragement. We need role models who show us good ways to live, but we don't need to be clones. God has created each of us differently. This is not to promote a "do your own thing" mentality. We need to listen to advice, but ultimately, we have to "wear our own armor.".
 
Today's Thought: Living what we have "tested" and found beneficial is usually better than imitating someone else.
 
Have a "tested" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Growing Faith

"Then David said to Saul, 'Let no man's heart fail because of him (Goliath); your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.' .... Moreover David said, 'The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine.' "
 
                                                                  I Samuel 17:32, 37a
 
Confidence in God's faithfulness is developed through experience. I don't always like the challenges of the lion and the bear, but they prepare me for the giants. Don't underestimate the value of experience-credits in the school of life.
 
Today's Thought: Trust in God's deliverance is increased with each victory.
 
Have a growing day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Misunderstood!

"Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, 'Why did you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.' And David said, 'What have I done now? Is there not a cause?' "
 
                                                                                 I Samuel 17:28-29
 
It's tough when people misunderstand your motives and question your integrity. When other people – even family members – feel that you are attacking them personally, they get angry and respond from their emotions. Eliab attacked David's personal worth ("few sheep in the wilderness") and his integrity ("insolence and pride"). David's response is interesting. He did not attack back – "You guys are too chicken to fight Goliath." Instead, he answered by questions: "Now what did I do?" (He had probably been put down before by his brothers), and "Don't you know the reason I'm here is that Father sent me?" (appealing to the rational rather than the emotional). How I react to misunderstanding and questioning of my motives is very important. How I respond can either calm or inflame the situation.
 
Today's Thought: When I am misunderstood and my motives attacked, I should not attack back.
 
Have an "understanding" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- A Higher Purpose

"Then as he talked with them [his brothers], there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name....So the men of Israel said, 'Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes.' Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, 'What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?' "
 
                                                                      I Samuel 17:23a, 25-26
 
Saul tried to motivate his army with the promise material and social rewards. But what good is money and status if you are killed in the process? David was operating on a whole different level – the spiritual. David's motivation was the honor of God and Israel. Material rewards were unimportant to him. He had a higher purpose. Motivation is important, but material success does not motivate people to sacrifice their lives to fight the giant. It takes a higher vision. David was willing because he was motivated by the spiritual. What motivates me?
 
Today's Thought: An honorable warrior is motivated by higher principles than material things.
 
Have a "higher purpose" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramlings -- A Beautiful Spirit

"David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep....Then Jesse said to his son, David, 'Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp.' "
 
                                                             I Samuel 17:14-15, 17
 
Jesse had eight sons (16:10). Besides the three oldest who were in the army, there were four other brothers who could have done some of the work. But David, being the youngest, was at the bottom of the pile. He got the grunt work – tending sheep and being the go-fer. Sometimes the bottom person can feel used – doing the jobs no one else wants to do. But I hear nary a complaint from David. Even though David knew he was anointed as the future king and had a position in the royal court of Saul, still he does the grunt work without murmuring or carrying a chip on his shoulder. What a spirit!  I want to be like that.
 
Today's Thought: A servant spirit is a beautiful thing to behold.
 
Have a happy day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Intimidation

"And the Philistine, said 'I defy the armies of Israel this day;  give me a man, that we may fight together.'  When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid."

                                                                             I Samuel 17:10-11

Why were Saul and people so greatly intimidated by the Philistine?  Because they had no confidence that the God of Israel was with them.  Samuel had left the scene, and the Spirit of God had departed from Saul.  So they were facing the giant alone.  All that was left was their own human abilities that paled in the presence of the giant.  So why am I so intimidated by those who speak against God?  Because I know my own human weakness, inadequacies and failures.  Who am I to stand against them?  In the presence of the giants, I sometimes forget that God is on my side, and if God for me, who can stand against me?  (Romans 8:31)

Today's Thought:  I am no match for the enemies of the Gospel unless I know that God is with me.

Have e a confident day.  Love you. 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Power of Music

"And Saul's servants said to him, 'Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well'....And it was, whenever the distressing spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would be become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from Him."
 
                                                                  I Samuel 16:15-16, 23
 

The power of music is amazing. As the old saying goes, "music hath charms to soothe the savage breast." It can cause great feelings of love, patriotism, and devotion that move a person's spirit. It can soothe, refresh, and bring healing. God did a good thing when he included in His creation the concept of music. Music is truly a gift from God. "He has put a new song in my mouth -- praise to our God" (Psalm 40:3).
 
Today's Thought: Music is a wonderful gift from God.
 
Have a singing day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Life Without God

"Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward...But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him."
 
                                                                        I Samuel 16:13-14
 
Gone!!! God's Spirit left Saul and it was not pretty. Romans 1 describes what life is like when God turns people over to another spirit – vile passions (vs. 26), a debased mind (vs. 28) with all its evil (immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, violence, untrustworthiness – just to name a few (vss. 29-31) ). David saw first-hand the effects of life without God's presence. No wonder later cried, "Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy spirit from me" (Psalm 51:11)   I'm so glad for God's presence in my life because I see how life is without Him.
 
Today's Thought: Life without God is "distressing."
 
Have a God-presence day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- God's Choice

"And Samuel said to Jesse, 'Are all the young men here?' Then he said, 'There remains yet the youngest and there he is, keeping the sheep.' And Samuel said to Jesse, 'Send and bring him. For we will not sit down until he comes.' "
 
                                                                          I Samuel 16:11
 
After all the older sons came before Samuel and were passed by, they finally got to the least of the least – the kid tending the smelly sheep. What an encouraging word! There is hope for me. Despite the fact that I don't have the age, gifts, or persona of other people, God can still use me. The fact is that "not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world...and the things which are despised God has chosen" (I Corinthians 1:27-28).
 
Today's Thoughts: God's criteria for choosing his servants are not the same as the world's.
 
Have a choice day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Outward Appearances

"So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, 'Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him.' But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not look at man's appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.' "
 
                                                                       I Samuel 16:6-7
 
I must confess I am guilty. When I see a person covered with tattoos and body piercings in places that seem inappropriate (tongue, lips, navel), I tend to dismiss that person as less spiritual. I do think that these things demonstrate a lack of self esteem, or discontent with the way God made them. But I am wrong to be judgmental and question their relationship with God. Lord, let me see people as You see them.
 
Today's Thought: The outward appearance does not tell the whole story about a person.
 
Have an "inward" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Trembling Before The Prophet

"So Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said 'Do you come peaceably?' And he said, 'Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.' Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice."
 
                                                                           I Samuel 16:4-5
 
Samuel was a no-nonsense kind of guy. When he came, people trembled. People knew that he spoke for God. I doubt that he started his sermons with a joke from the internet. When Jonathan Edwards preached, people trembled and many were saved. He is credited, along with other ministers, for inspiring the Great Awakening of the 18^th century. Many preachers today think that their job is to make people feel good. I understand that we respond to humor, and there certainly is joy and solace in the Word of the Lord.  But I think that when the man of God speaks, our spirit-man should be stirred rather than our soulish nature be stroked. Preaching God's Word is serious business. May God give us prophets who will speak God's truth without adding a lot of sugar to make it palatable.
 
Today's Thought: God's prophets are to speak God's truth without compromise or soft-soap.
 
Have a serious day. Love you.