Dad's Ramblings -- Where Did This Come From?

[David said to Saul]. " 'Now therefore, please, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let Him accept my offering. But if it is the children of men, may they be cursed before the LORD....' "
 
                                                                     I Samuel 26:19a
 
David was unsure whether Saul's persecution was the will of God or the will of man. He was willing to admit that perhaps it was God's way of dealing with him. It is not always clear to me whether the challenges I face are God's way of working His will in me, or whether they are from other men, the devil, or even perhaps just a part of life. In any case, I can commit them to the Lord, and pray, "Lord, if it is my fault, please accept my offering of repentance. But if it is from another source, I trust You to take care of it."
 
Today's Thought: I can trust God as I face life's challenges, regardless of the source.
 
Have a trusting day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Second Temptation

"Then Saul arose and sent down...to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph .... Then Abishai said to David, 'God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear ...' But David said, 'Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?' "
 

                                                                                I Samuel 26:2, 8-9
 
Same song, second verse. David had already been through this scenario once before (Chapter 24). Again he was tempted to violate his integrity. Abishai made it sound so spiritual – "God has delivered Saul into your hand." But David would not be fooled into yielding to this temptation. Just because I win a battle does not mean I have won the war. Satan does not give up easily. Even Jesus experienced this. Satan came to Him sounding so spiritual, even quoting Scripture (Luke 4:10). Jesus resisted the temptations, and did not give in to Satan's schemes. But Satan was not a quitter. "Now when Satan had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time" (Luke 4:13). I believe Satan returned to tempt Jesus during His struggle in the garden just before His betrayal. I need to understand that Satan does not quit trying and will attack again even if I am victorious the first time.
 
Today's Thought: The war calls for vigilance against repeated attacks.
 
Have a victorious day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- The Servant-Bride

"So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, 'Blessed be the LORD...' And he sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife....Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, 'Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.' So Abigail arose in haste ... and became his wife."
 
                                                                            I Samuel 25:39, 41-42
 
What a picture! Abigail was delivered from the clutches of tyrant. No longer was she under Nabal's dominion. When she heard the invitation to become the bride of her savior, she rose in haste – no dilly-dallying – to go to him. I love her spirit. She saw herself as a servant to the other servants. This is a wonderful analogy to becoming a servant-bride to our Savior.
 
Today's Thought: We are freed from the tyranny of Satan to become a servant-bride to the Savior. Hallelujah!
 
Have a rejoicing day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- A Dead Heart

"So it was in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone.  Then it happened, after about ten days, that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died."
 
                                                                                          I Samuel 25:37-38
 
When Nabal heard what Abigain had done, something snapped inside.  Perhaps he became became so angry at Abigail that he blew a gasket.  He probably had a stroke or a heart attack  and became paralyzed -- unresponsive like a rock.  What I do know is that Nabal never had a chance to repent or ask forgiveness.  Sometimes life -- and death -- comes at you fast.  It pays to keep the heart right with God.
 
Today's Thought:  It is imperative that we live ready to die.
 
Have a lively day.  Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- No Regrets

[Abigail said to David], " 'And it shall come to pass, when the LORD has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart ot my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause or that my lord has avenged himself.' "
 
                                                                                          I Samuel 25:30-31
 
It feels good to get revenge at the time, but there is a price to pay later on.  Abigail's plea to save her family was an appeal to David so that he would avoid regrets later on.  The main regrets I have in my old age is the way I treated other people -- whether family, friends, enemies, students, or parishioners.  How we treat people will come back to haunt us later.
 
Today's Thought:  Treating people well now can help us avoid regrets in the future.
 
Have a "no grief" day.   Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Marriage Commitment

"Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel and the man was very rich.  He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats .... The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of the wife was Abigail.  And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance;  but the man was harsh and evil in his doings...."

                                                                              I Samuel 25:2-3

It seems that this is a picture of a lot of marriages with two people so totally different.  Here is Abigail, the perfect Proverbs 31 wife, hooked up with Nabal -- whose very name means "fool."  He was a bad dude.  Even his servants called him a scoundrel (vs. 17).  It was likely an arranged marriage (ala "Fiddler on the Roof").  I can't imagine a woman of Abigail's character choosing such a loser.  But even in today's practice of marrying for "love," it happens.  That is why it so important for a young person, whether man or woman, to look beyond emotions and physical attraction when choosing a life-mate to avoid a "Nabal" at all costs.  To Abigail's credit, she was committed to her man even in a bad situation.

Today's Thought:  Marriage is for life, so choose carefully.

Have a committed day.   Love you.

Dad's Ramblings -- Tears of Sorrow

"So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, 'Is this your voice, my son, David?'  And Saul lifted up his voice and wept .... 'And now I know indeed that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.' "

                                                                                  I Samuel 24:16, 20

Tears of sorrow, but no repentance!   Saul may have sorry at the time, but later he pursued David again to kill him (see Chapter 26).  The Apostle Paul said that godly sorrow produces repentance, but the sorrow of the world produces death (II Corinthians 7:10).  I have seen through the years (and have done it myself) people who come to the altar time and time again with tears, only to return to their sin again and again.  Now I like to see tears because they show the heart was touched.  But it's like the proverbs that Peter quoted, "a dog returns to his own vomit, and a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire" (II Peter 2:22).  It takes more than tears of sorrow to live godly.  It take a commitment to righteousness.

Today's Thought:  Repentance requires more than tears of sorrow.

Have a godly day.  Love you.

Dad's Ramblings -- A Tender Heart

"So he [Saul] came into the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) .... And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe. Now it happened afterwards that David's heart troubled him because he had cut Saul's robe.... [And David said,] 'Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.' "
 
                                                                   I Samuel 24:3, 4b, 5, 12
 
Keeping a tender heart when someone – especially a person in a position of leadership – is doing wrong is a challenge. David understood that God had placed Saul as king. In fact, David called him "lord" (vs. 8) and "father" (vs. 11). So after David attacked Saul, his conscience bothered him and he felt guilty. He determined in himself that he would not harm Saul but let the Lord judge and avenge. A tender heart will keep me from doing great evil.
 
Today's Thought: Thank God for a tender conscience that constrains the evil I could do.
 
Have a tender heart today.  Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Crafty

"And Saul said [to the Ziphites], 'Blessed are you of the LORD, for you have compassion on me. Please go and find out for sure, and see the place where his hideout is, and who has seen him there. For I am told he is very crafty.' "
 
                                                                                 I Samuel 23:21-22
 
David has a reputation for being crafty. Sometimes craftiness has a bad connotation. But it also means to be aware or prudent. Several times, Scripture states that "David behaved wisely" (I Samuel 18:5, 14, 15, 30). People sometimes think Christians are an easy mark to be conned because they are people of faith. A tender heart does not mean a gullible heart that swallows everything that comes down the pike. Just because we have simple faith does not mean we should be simple – without understanding. Whether it is an unscrupulous preacher or beggar or some other con man trying to take advantage, the Believer should be alert and prudent. Jesus said to be "be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). Jude warns about people who "mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage" (Jude 16). God has given us the wisdom of Proverbs so we can have understanding to deal "craftily" with our world.
 
Today's Thought: Christians need not be an easy mark for con men who seek to take advantage of their soft hearts.
 
Have a "crafty" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Encouragement

"Then Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God."
 
                                                                I Samuel 23:16
 
Encourager: One who strengthens another person in God even at the risk to his own person.  We have an enccourager, the Holy Spiirt, who comes alongside to help.
 
Today's Thought: An encourager supports and strengthens another person's hand.
 
Have a strong day in the Lord. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- God's Omniscience

"Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men....Then David said [to the LORD], 'Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?' And the LORD said, 'They will deliver you.' "
 
                                                                               I Samuel 23:8, 12
 
There are two lessons to be learned in this incident. First, don't expect that everyone you help deliver from the enemy will be grateful. Some may turn on you to repay your effort. The second is God's Omniscience. It was while attending a Parents Weekend at Northwest College while my daughter was a student there that I attended a doctrine class. The topic of the day was God's Omnicience. The prof asked the question, "Does God know everything that MIGHT happen in the future?" The answer is "Yes." He knows the end result of all the choices I could possibly make. That's why I need to rely on His leading and let Him direct my steps. He know's what is best.
 
Today's Thought: God's knows the end result of all the rabbit trails that are possible to take.
 
Have a trusting God day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Intervention!

"Then they told David, saying, 'Look, the Philistines are fighting against Kielah, and they are robbing their threshing floors.' Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, 'Shall I Go and attack these Philistines?' And the LORD said to David, 'Go.....' But David's men said to him, 'Look, we are afraid....' Then David inquired of the LORD once again...."
 
                                                                      I Samuel 23:1-4a
 
David did not take on Kielah's battle until he was sure of the will of the LORD. He wasn't just ruled by his emotions, but he listened to God, and he also listened to the counsel of his men. He asked a second time to make sure that it was God's battle and not just his. Prudence calls for delaying intervention until the will of the Lord is clear.
 
Today's Thought: Seek and know God's will before intervening in someone else's problems.
 
Have a waiting day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Taking Responsibility

"And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the LORD's priests. So David said to Abiathar, 'I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father's house.' "
 
                                                                       I Samuel 22:21-22
 
Was David really responsible for the deaths of all the priests and citizens of Nob? I think we may take more blame than we ought for what other people do. In the news is a pastor in Florida who threatened to burn the Koran. He is being blamed for Muslim riots and anti-American fervor. But is he responsible? To put the blame on the pastor is to absolve the terrorists of responsibility for the mayhem they cause. David was not responsible for the misdeeds of Saul or Doeg. They made their own evil choices. A biblical principle is that every person is responsible for his own choices (see Ezekiel 18:20). Herein is the beauty of Jesus. Even though he was not responsible for my sins, He took the punishment for it. What a Savior!
 
Today's Thought: Each person makes enough mistakes for himself without carrying the weight of other peoples' wrong choices.
 
Have a freedom day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Brown-Nosers

"Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, 'I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob, to Abimelech the son of Ahitub....And the king said to Doeg, 'You turn and kill the priests!' So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword...."
 
                                                                       I Samuel 22:9, 18-19
 
Doeg was an Edomite, and he had the same lack of regard for spiritual things as did his ancestor, Esau. (Esau was the progenitor of the Edomites; see Genesis 25:30, 36:1.) They both lived to satisfy their own desires and ambitions with no regard for the spiritual things of life. Doeg was willing to kill God's priests and an entire city in order to gain favor in the eyes of Saul. Upon hearing of the deeds of Doeg, David composed a song (Psalm 52). In it he wrote, "Here is a man (Doeg) who did not make God his strength...and strengthened himself in his wickedness" (Psalm 52:7). Beware of people who are ambitious to climb the ladder of success. They will "strengthen" their position and promote themselves by any means necessary. They have no regard for righteous values of virtue or honor, and will stab you in the back without remorse. When we encounter these kinds of people, we can make God our strength.
 
Today's Thought: People who are ambitious tend to disregard righteousness to attain their goals.
 
Have a "God-strengthened" day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Paranoia

"Then Saul said to his servants who stood about him, 'Hear now, you Benjamites! ... All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse, and there is not one of you who is sorry for me, or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servants against me, to live in wait, as it is to this day.' "
 
                                                                               I Samuel 22:7-8
 
Saul had a classic case of paranoia. He thought the world revolved around him, and that everyone was out to get him. Remember Rodney Dangerfield's comic routine – "Nobody loves me, everybody hates me"? That spirit is real bondage. It may be on the job, thinking that everyone is out to get you fired. It may be parent who thinks his family is against him. It may be a church leader who fears for his position. Whatever the circumstance, the spirit of fear that everyone is conspiring against me is all wrapped up in "me." To live in self-pity is to live without joy. There is a cure for paranoia. A Believer can live in the trust that his life is in the Lord's hands, and in the freedom of David's faith: "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:6).
 
Today's Thought: The Believer does not need to live a paranoid life if he trusts in God's care.
 
Have a freedom day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Transformed

"David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Abdullam. So when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was I debt, and everyone who was dissatisfied gathered to him. So he became captain of them. And there were about four hundred men."
 
                                                                               I Samuel 22:1-2
 
What a rag-tag army! The distressed, the poor, and the discontented. There were wicked and worthless men in the group (I Samuel 30:32). But when he became king, he had a nucleus of followers who would go on to be mighty men of valor and do great exploits. (See II Samuel 23 for a summary of these men.) The fact is that being with David changed them. They became like David and became conformed to his heart. So it is with the followers of Jesus. They come to His as wicked and worthless, distressed, poor and discontent. But Jesus transforms people as they spend time with Him and are conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). Hallelujah!!
 
Today's Thought: People can be transformed by the influence of a godly leader.
 
Have a changed day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Crazy?

"Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.....Now David...was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard."
 
                                                                            I Samuel 21:10, 12-13
 
Is there something wrong with this picture? David retrieved the sword that killed Goliath from Ahimelech (I Sam. 21:9). Then he fled to Gath, the very homeland of Goliah (I Sam. 17:4). But he was afraid, so he had to put on a facade to make them think he is harmless. I guess I shouldn't think it strange, because I have found myself faking it in the presence of unbelievers because of fear, while in my hand is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). People already think I my ladder does not go all the way to the top, so why should I pretend?
 
Today's Thought: The Believer does not have to live in fear of the enemy nor put on a front when he is standing in God's armor and strength.
 
Have a strong day in Jesus. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Holy Vessels

"Now David came to Nob, to Ahimilech the priest....So David said to Ahimilech the priest, 'The king has ordered me on some business...Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.' And the priest answered David and said, 'There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women.' Then David answered the priest, and said to him, 'Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.' "
 
                                                                                          I Samuel 21:1a, 2a, 3 -5
 
What makes something holy? An object is only made holy or unholy in the way it is used. We call it the "Holy Bible," but the pages are mere common paper. The Book is not inherently holy, only in its use. We take "Holy Communion," but the juice is common grape juice and the bread is only bread. There is nothing special about the juice and bread. They are holy only as they are used for communion – set apart for that use. I am mere flesh and blood consisting of common atoms and molecules. The only thing that makes me holy is that I am set apart for the master's use. I think this is what Paul was saying when he wrote, "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work" (II Timothy 2:20-21). Being made of silver or gold, wood or clay is not the issue. The important thing is what the vessels are used for. Even though my vessel is made of clay, I want to be holy – set apart to be used by God.
 
Today's Thought: A vessel is not inherently holy; it is only holy as it is used by and for God.
 
Have a holy day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Expectations

"Then Saul's anger was aroused against Jonathan, and he said to him, 'You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom...."
 
                                                                            I Samuel 20:30-31
 
The better I know Jonathan, the more I like him. He had such a gracious spirit. He had no aspirations to inherit the kingship of his father. His expectations were based on God's will. So often children are thrust into positions of leadership based on their father's ministry. It is true that often the son of a preacher or missionary will follow their father's footsteps. But it is not necessarily God's calling, but rather other people's expectations. (Note the sons of Billy Graham, Jimmy Swaggart, John Hagee and others.) I think Warren Buffet set a good example. He has made it clear to his children that they will not inherit any of his billions of dollars. He set them up in their own businesses and it is their responsibility to make their own way. Ministry positions are not passed down from generation to generation. (Where are the sons of Jesus' Apostles?)  Everyone needs to personally seek God's calling – not man's.
 
Today's Thought: God's calling to ministry is personal, not inherited.
 
Have a called day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Unreasonable Anger

"Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and went and said to Jonathan, 'What have I done? What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?' ....And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, 'Why should he (David) be killed? What has he done?' Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him....So Jonathan arose from the table...."
 
                                                                  I Samuel 20:1, 32-33a, 34a
 
A person who is controlled by anger – as Saul was – does not think rationally nor act rationally. It is as if a switch is flipped in the brain. Don't expect to be able to reason with angry people, because they are not reasonable. It is better to just leave them alone than to try to talk sense with them or argue with them. Save your energy for something more productive.
 
Today's Thought: Angry people are not reasonable nor do they listen to reason.
 
Have a reasonable day. Love you.
 

Dad's Ramblings -- Fight or Flight

"Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul's presence....Saul also sent messengers to David's house to watch him and to kill him in the morning....So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped."
 
                                                                        I Samuel 19:10a, 11a, 12
 
David stood and fought Goliath but he fled from Saul. Sometimes we have to decide whether to fight or flee. The early Christians faced this choice. Sometimes they stood in the face of persecution (Acts 4:8-31; 5:17-21), and at other times they fled (Acts 8:1). The Apostle Paul fled being kill by being lowered over the wall in a basket (Acts 9:25). And another time he left Antioch after he was almost killed, but later returned to the same city (Acts 14:19-28). He went to Jerusalem, knowing he would be bound and face tribulation (Acts 20:22-23), but later he appealed to Caesar in order to avoid facing the Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 25:10-12). Whether to stand and fight or to run away from the conflict takes the wisdom and leading of the Holy Spirit. I need to pick my battles prayerfully and carefully.
 
Today's Thought: There is a time to fight and a time to flee.
 
Have a discerning day. Love you.