Joab.
That name may not even ring a bell for you. Yet Joab, the commander of David's armies, is mentioned in the Bible more than Samuel or Elijah or any of the prophets, more than John the Baptist or John the Apostle, more than Mary or Daniel or even Satan. He's kind of a secondary character throughout the narrative about David, but he's always there, mentioned more often in Scripture than all but 12 people.
If he is so prominent in Scripture, there must be something to be learned from his life. God gave Joab a particular set of gifts for his particular time and place, and God accomplished his purpose through Joab. We can see through his story that the Kingdom needs people like Joab--loyal and strong, skillful people of action. But we can also see that those with Joab's strengths need to watch out for the pitfalls that ultimately destroyed him.
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Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
An Interesting Forum for the Presidential Candidates
Here's a video of an event called "Thanksgiving Family Forum" featuring the major Republican contenders (except for Mitt Romney). It's not a debate, and they seldom talk about their disagreements or even specific policy but rather talk about personal beliefs, philosophy of government, and events that shaped their lives.
I'm not all that politically active, so this was an interesting introduction for me to a few of the candidates with whom I was less familiar. There is certainly an element where they are to the crowd (it took place in a large church) by mentioning and emphasizing their Christian beliefs repeatedly. But some of the statements impressed me, because they are statements that could easily be twisted by those who fear religious people and used against them should they make it to the general election.
More than that, though, I enjoyed seeing these candidates with their guard down, not speaking at a podium in the tones of an orator but speaking conversationally about very personal issues, with several candidates getting choked up or wiping away tears. (There is one story in particular from Rick Santorum that will make anyone cry.)
It's long, but I enjoyed it, and it gives us some insight into who these candidates are as people.
I'm not all that politically active, so this was an interesting introduction for me to a few of the candidates with whom I was less familiar. There is certainly an element where they are to the crowd (it took place in a large church) by mentioning and emphasizing their Christian beliefs repeatedly. But some of the statements impressed me, because they are statements that could easily be twisted by those who fear religious people and used against them should they make it to the general election.
More than that, though, I enjoyed seeing these candidates with their guard down, not speaking at a podium in the tones of an orator but speaking conversationally about very personal issues, with several candidates getting choked up or wiping away tears. (There is one story in particular from Rick Santorum that will make anyone cry.)
It's long, but I enjoyed it, and it gives us some insight into who these candidates are as people.
David: Man of Blood
Some people see David's sin concerning Bathsheba and her husband Uriah as a singular misstep in an otherwise blameless life. But the biblical record really doesn't agree with this assessment of David. David was denied permission to construct the temple for his life of violence, not the sin with Bathsheba. David's sins resulted in a lot of unnecessary bloodshed and loss of life, and it did not begin or end with the "great sin" of 2 Samuel 11.
I think people believe David's place at the head of the Messianic line somehow necessitates that he be exalted as a model of (near-)perfection that foreshadows Jesus. But that's not really how Scripture characterizes him. He is "a man after God's own heart" in comparison to Saul who preceded him (he is only given that "title" in direct comparison to Saul). He is the model for future faithful kings in that his reign was not stained by the idolatry and corruption through bribery that plagued later administrations. In fact, the Bible says Hezekiah surpassed David in his trust in the Lord (2 Kings 18:5) and Josiah surpassed him in obedience to the law (2 Kings 23:25).
David "served God's purpose in his own generation" (Acts 13:36), an example of how God uses flawed people for his purpose--that it depends on God's sovereignty, not on us. But before David "rested with his fathers," he had brought a curse on his family (2 Samuel 12:9-12) that tore it apart. Four of his sons would die premature deaths, three of them violently. His daughter would be raped by his own son and never marry. Obsession over his enemies caused him to count his fighting men and bring a plague onto Israel.
The point here isn't to tear David down but to sound the warning the Bible gives in the record of David's life. David had a genuine heart for God. He was blessed by God. He accomplished a lot and was a huge part of God's plan. But, at the heart of many of the things that matter most, David ruined his life. This week, we try to look at how that happened...
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I think people believe David's place at the head of the Messianic line somehow necessitates that he be exalted as a model of (near-)perfection that foreshadows Jesus. But that's not really how Scripture characterizes him. He is "a man after God's own heart" in comparison to Saul who preceded him (he is only given that "title" in direct comparison to Saul). He is the model for future faithful kings in that his reign was not stained by the idolatry and corruption through bribery that plagued later administrations. In fact, the Bible says Hezekiah surpassed David in his trust in the Lord (2 Kings 18:5) and Josiah surpassed him in obedience to the law (2 Kings 23:25).
David "served God's purpose in his own generation" (Acts 13:36), an example of how God uses flawed people for his purpose--that it depends on God's sovereignty, not on us. But before David "rested with his fathers," he had brought a curse on his family (2 Samuel 12:9-12) that tore it apart. Four of his sons would die premature deaths, three of them violently. His daughter would be raped by his own son and never marry. Obsession over his enemies caused him to count his fighting men and bring a plague onto Israel.
The point here isn't to tear David down but to sound the warning the Bible gives in the record of David's life. David had a genuine heart for God. He was blessed by God. He accomplished a lot and was a huge part of God's plan. But, at the heart of many of the things that matter most, David ruined his life. This week, we try to look at how that happened...
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Wednesday, November 16, 2011
David: Man After God's Own Heart
We've heard that David was called "a man after God's own heart." But in many different places in the biblical account of his life, he makes mistakes and even commits apalling acts of wickedness. This is a man after God's own heart?
First, we have to understand where that phrase comes from. It originates from a conversation between Samuel and Saul, possibly before David was even born:
What were the primary differences between David and Saul that made David more fit to lead God's people and earned him his well-known moniker? There are many things about David we should not try to follow. But if we can grasp these key ways that he is different from Saul, we can learn to become a man or woman who pursues the heart of God.
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First, we have to understand where that phrase comes from. It originates from a conversation between Samuel and Saul, possibly before David was even born:
"'You acted foolishly,' Samuel said. 'You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.'" (1 Samuel 13:13-14).The first thing you notice here is that this is primarily a statement of judgment against Saul, more than it is a prophecy about David. So I believe the answer to how David is a man after God's own heart lies in this comparison (or rather in contrast) to Saul.
What were the primary differences between David and Saul that made David more fit to lead God's people and earned him his well-known moniker? There are many things about David we should not try to follow. But if we can grasp these key ways that he is different from Saul, we can learn to become a man or woman who pursues the heart of God.
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Monday, November 7, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Saul: The King the People Demanded
I love Old Testament stories. I grew up reading them and have them read to me, and they played a large part in my coming to know Christ--I loved the stories, and I wanted be a part of it. I wanted God to work in my life like I saw him work in those stories (and in the lives of my parents). I learned about sin through the Old Testament stories as well, and I knew I was guilty. The New Testament told me about Jesus, but it was the Old Testament stories that brought me to him.
That's why one of my favorite books in the Bible is 1 Samuel. A bunch of the best stories in the Bible are found there: Hannah and Samuel, the Philistines taking and returning the Ark, and, of course, the stories of Saul and David.
In the Old Testament stories, we really get to see very human people try to obey God. We see them mess up, too. And, through it all, we can see that though the setting has changed a lot, there are people just like Saul and David and others among us today.
This week and next, we are examining the life of one of the most interesting guys in the Bible, King Saul. Some people just toss him into the file of "Bible villains" and leave it at that. But there's a lot more to Saul than his failures. And when you really look at his strengths and shortcomings, you might find a lot more of yourself in Saul than you'd like to admit...
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That's why one of my favorite books in the Bible is 1 Samuel. A bunch of the best stories in the Bible are found there: Hannah and Samuel, the Philistines taking and returning the Ark, and, of course, the stories of Saul and David.
In the Old Testament stories, we really get to see very human people try to obey God. We see them mess up, too. And, through it all, we can see that though the setting has changed a lot, there are people just like Saul and David and others among us today.
This week and next, we are examining the life of one of the most interesting guys in the Bible, King Saul. Some people just toss him into the file of "Bible villains" and leave it at that. But there's a lot more to Saul than his failures. And when you really look at his strengths and shortcomings, you might find a lot more of yourself in Saul than you'd like to admit...
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