What Are We Trusting?

David had refused to eat anything on the day of the funeral, and now everyone begged him to eat. But David had made a vow, saying, “May God strike me and even kill me if I eat anything before sundown.” This pleased the people very much. In fact, everything the king did pleased them! So everyone in Judah and all Israel understood that David was not responsible for Abner’s murder. [2 Samuel 3.35-37] 

David's attentiveness to avoiding anything to do with the destruction of Saul or his dynasty is one of the most significant characteristics of David's life. Following Joab's murder of Abner, David demonstrated more of this character regarding the murder of Ishbosheth. It is in his response to Recab and Baanah that David revealed the driving force behind his refusal to have any participation in Saul's (or his family's) demise.

But David said to Recab and Baanah, “The LORD, who saves me from all my enemies, is my witness. Someone once told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ thinking he was bringing me good news. But I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That’s the reward I gave him for his news! How much more should I reward evil men who have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed? Shouldn’t I hold you responsible for his blood and rid the earth of you?” [2 Samuel 4.9-11]

Just as David's actions on the battlefield against Goliath demonstrated a pure undiluted faith in God alone, so David's claim to the throne of all Israel would be by the indisputable miraculous hand of God and not anything of David's strength. In fact, as these stories in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading attest, David went out of his way to assure that his kingship was ordained and established by God and God alone.

David's actions displayed his understanding of God's jealousy regarding any potential idol in his life. David knew he was a powerful human being, and, instead of idolatrously relying on his own strength to rule all of Israel (as God had promised), David went out of his way to make sure everyone knew his throne was not established by the way of his own strength, but by the hand of God alone (two times David could have ended Saul's life, but he did not).

Our modern understanding of David's actions is limited at best. In a world where there are no distinct lines between what is God's distinct doing and what is man's ability, it is near impossible for modern man to fully comprehend David's intent. And yet, it has been recorded in the pages of the Bible for centuries. David categorically rejected idolatry (trusting anything other than God, including himself). David made sure everyone around him understood that his faith was in God alone, "The LORD, who saves me from all my enemies..."

Jesus Christ would confirm the need in mankind to trust God alone in His direct command to that end:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Long before Jesus issued this directive, David gave up his own way (as a strong and capable warrior) and took up his cross (making himself vulnerable) and followed God's promise.

Idolatry is more of a problem today than ever before in the history of God's people. Who will, like David, reject every possible idol to have the testimony that God alone is the keeper of every promise to them? Who will reject the strength and abilities of mankind to direct all attention to God's indisputable and miraculous power alone? Who will dare 'buck the system' - the ways of man - allowing God alone to be seen in all His remarkable power?

I will continue to argue that debt, insurance, medicine and technology are modern-day Goliaths. They defy God and His claim to His people. They keep God's people bound to fear, defeat, and subservience. They are the product of man's ingenuity that have become lords over the very man from which they came. Their ways are not the way of faith in God alone, but instead, the ways of a powerful warrior so arrogant, as Goliath, to defy and discredit anyone who would challenge them in pure undiluted faith in God alone.

Could it be that David's selection of five smooth stones, when facing Goliath, foretold the four flagship idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology along with the fifth idol of religion that would embrace and defend them?

David could have told Recab and Baanah that they were God's gifts to him to fulfill God's promise, but he didn't. Should we not understand why? David told us as he told them: "The LORD, ...saves me from all my enemies..." David made a clear distinction between trusting God alone and relying on the ways of man. We should too. And, Jesus could not agree more:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

What are we trusting? 

Father in heaven, may Your true followers - those who follow Jesus - have the attitude of David, who understood Your jealousy. May Your true followers be so bold as to decidedly make the distinction between Your indisputable intervention and the ways of man. May Your true followers see that theirs is not a battle of their strength (their ways) against the curses of the world, but instead, a battle of their resolve to trust only in You for all to see... So be it.

Do Something!

These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle. Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the LORD gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder! Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory. Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD. “The LORD forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three. [2 Samuel 23.8-17] 

The Three did something.

Jesus did something.

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” [Matthew 9.35-38]

Jesus told us we should do something.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

And yet, most self-proclaimed "Christians" are content with abstract faith (religion) that actually does nothing.

The disconnect is glaring and obvious. We have no business calling ourselves "Christians" when we look nothing like Christ.

Father, I am ashamed of my claim to be a Christian when I look nothing like Jesus. May I be found a bold demonstrator of Your power - like Jesus - as I have been called to do. So be it.

Obedience Beyond Reason

So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD. He failed to obey the LORD’s command, and he even consulted a medium instead of asking the LORD for guidance. So the LORD killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. [1 Chronicles 10.13-14] 

Saul's way was one of a man who lived by reason. He had a logical reason for everything he did. He justified himself by his own reason.

But, in all Saul's way of reason, he was unfaithful to the LORD.

We should be thankful that Saul's story is "Old Testament" right? Not so fast...

Saul blatantly ignored God's Commandments with his way of reason and lost the kingdom of Israel. How can we expect to receive the Kingdom of God if we stand by our way of reason and blatantly ignore Jesus' command?

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

The apostle Paul warned New Testament believers about the dangers of the human way of reason as it stands in opposition to obeying Christ:

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. [2 Corinthians 10.3-5]

While most people think "Old Testament" obedience to God was harsh and unbearable with its requirements for the proper and exacting sacrifices of animals and prescribed offerings, few consider that Matthew 16.24 above requires the complete sacrifice of ourselves to His ways and our cross.

As it was in Saul's day, human reason remains idolatry even today. And, idolaters today no more see their idolatry as did Saul. Their reason justifies their idolatry and their reason therefore defends their idolatry. Instead of reasoning that proper sacrifices and rituals must be observed, idolaters today reason that what Jesus said in Matthew 16.24 does not mean what it actually says thereby relieving them from the responsibility of complying with it. 

Idolaters today "say" they trust God, but their reasonable actions decry their words. They "say" God is their Provider, but they turn to the world's system of debt. They "say" God is their Protector, but they turn to the world's system of insurance. They "say" God is their Healer, but they turn to the world's system of medicine. They "say" God is their Fulfillment, but they turn to the world's systems of technology. All the while these worldly systems mockingly and unbearably "tax" God's people for their unfaithfulness to God in interest payments, premiums, prescriptions, and obsolescent gadgetry.

The systems of the world shamelessly present all manner of Godless lifestyles and self-gratification in their alluring advertisements, and yet, God's people "reason" that these same industries are gifts from God.

Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD.

Although Saul was perfectly satisfied in his mind that he had obeyed God (with some reasonable modifications), he still lost the kingdom. What makes us think we can reasonably (and even,  religiously) modify Jesus' demand to give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him, and still retain the Kingdom of God? 

The way of reason is not the way of God. The way of God is miraculous and glorious and defies reason. His Word (Jesus) proves it.

Father, forgive my attempts to reason my way out of obedience to Christ. My way of reason is the very thing Jesus said I must give up, while taking up my cross to follow Him. May my faith in Jesus - my faith in You - be in obedience beyond reason. So be it.

Important "Whole-Bible" Associations

The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. He asked the LORD what he should do, but the LORD refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets. Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.” [1 Samuel 28.4-7] 

Why did Saul ask for a woman who was a medium?

The short answer is this: because Saul rejected God (Who had rejected him) and turned headlong into idolatry.

Now, for the long answer based on some important "whole-Bible" associations... 

Not only did Saul consult  a woman who was a medium, but he ate with her. This is highly significant and further telling of idolatry.

Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, “Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life. Now do what I say, and let me give you a little something to eat so you can regain your strength for the trip back.” But Saul refused to eat anything. Then his advisers joined the woman in urging him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch. The woman had been fattening a calf, so she hurried out and killed it. She took some flour, kneaded it into dough and baked unleavened bread. She brought the meal to Saul and his advisers, and they ate it. Then they went out into the night. [1 Samuel 28.20-25]

There is another story in the Bible that sheds light on Saul's idolatry regarding the medium at Endor. That story is when the women of Moab seduced Israel's men into idolatry:

While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women. These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab. In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the LORD’s anger to blaze against his people. [Numbers 25.1-3] 

Notice that it was the women of Moab responsible for Israel's idolatry and food was involved. 

Should this information come as a surprise to us? No, not at all because food was involved in the original sin, and, it was the woman who was first deceived and then who persuaded her husband to join in. 

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. [Genesis 3.6]

Afterward, God warned of the dangerous control women could wield over men involving food:

Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” [Genesis 3.16-19]

It must be understood that God's curse upon mankind was not gender-specific, but binary. The woman alone did not carry the responsibility for the original sin (which was in fact idolatry - not trusting God alone), but shared it with her husband who willingly participated. They both had different roles, but the idolatry was the same. Both sexes failed regarding idolatry and now both sexes must remain mindful each other's potential respective roles in it!

Woman cannot point her finger at man any more than man can point his finger at woman regarding their mutual deception into idolatry (sin). The Bible however, generously provides all the information we need to know where to be on high alert for idolatry: it often involves a man and a woman and food.

We all know sex sells. Woman can use sex to control man. Man is precariously vulnerable to the allure of sex. Additionally, food is the fodder of relationship: the resulting relationship of eating together can be good or it can be evil, but sharing food together establishes emotional ties beyond casual acquaintance. It is not remarkable then that men find themselves in constant struggle with women and food. Nor is it remarkable that women find it easy to control men with their womanhood and food.

The seemingly outdated Bible practices of separation between men and women, present even in the New Testament, should now be seen in their relevance today. Women cannot help that their form and beauty attracts men and neither can men help that they are attracted to women. Both must be on high alert that their mutual attractions, even though they do not have to, can lead to idolatrous disaster. Women cannot help their nature to nurture with food any more than men can help their hunger. Both must remain mindful that food is an area of relationship that can lead to good or lead to evil outcomes.

So, for Saul to call for a woman medium is not remarkable. For Saul to eat with this woman medium is not remarkable. These two factors, although not exclusive to, are commonplace in idolatry and therefore provide ample reason to be aware of their influence and therefore the potential of idolatry. This is indeed the fallen nature of mankind - for men and women alike (this is a good place to note the importance of the marriage relationship and food (offered to idols?) as addressed by the Bible).

Saul, was not hearing from God, and so, in his impatient desperation, committed spiritual adultery (idolatry) in associating and eating with an idolatrous woman. Aaaaaand, it did not go so well... Saul would soon be dead.

As seen in Saul's idolatry, both he and the medium were operating outside of God's law. One cannot be blamed any more than the other - both were guilty - both were in complete disobedience to God. 

While it is true that God placed certain restraints upon men and women respectively resultant to their failure in the Garden of Eden, there remains an order in gender that is not designed to punish one sex more than the other, but is designed to point mankind to Christ.

The way of woman is to control man instead of obeying God. The way of man is to be controlled by woman instead of obeying God. It is all about who is in control. Jesus said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Imagine that.

Father, there are so many things that for so many years we have overlooked in the Bible. By "cherrypicking" certain passages and verses, we have missed the bigger picture of all the Bible and the undeniable references to idolatry throughout its pages. May we have eyes to see and ears to hear as we look to and follow only Jesus Who redeems us from the blindness and deafness of idolatry as we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him. So be it.

Jesus In The Story Of David And Abigail

“Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling! When the LORD has done all he promised and has made you leader of Israel, don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the LORD has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!” [1 Samuel 25.29-31] 

In this passage, Abigail prophesied to David both the death of her husband and her marriage to David. Here then is how it played out:

When Abigail arrived home, she found that Nabal was throwing a big party and was celebrating like a king. He was very drunk, so she didn’t tell him anything about her meeting with David until dawn the next day. In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened. As a result he had a stroke, and he lay paralyzed on his bed like a stone. About ten days later, the LORD struck him, and he died. [1 Samuel 25.36-38]

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise the LORD, who has avenged the insult I received from Nabal and has kept me from doing it myself. Nabal has received the punishment for his sin.” Then David sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife. [1 Samuel 25.39] 

How do we find Jesus in this story? (He IS there...)

In verse 39 above David gives us a clue: "Praise the LORD, who has avenged the insult I received from Nabal and has kept me from doing it myself."

"Doing it myself" is the pinnacle of idolatry. It is the epitome of "doing it my way" instead of God's way. Anywhere we find such idolatry is where we might find Jesus as God's antithesis, Who said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

In this light, there is a third thing Abigail prophesied: "don’t let this be a blemish on your record." Had David taken matters into his own hands, it would have been an idolatrous act - an act of his own way, and not the indisputable, miraculous power of God.

Furthermore, the fact that Abigail mentioned stones shot from a sling served to remind David of the time he killed Goliath, not with his declared proven method of clubbing his enemy to death, but with a stone shot from a sling... i.e. God's way, not his own.

Father, I never imagined I would find Jesus in David's circumstance with Abigail. But there He is. May I be found intent to live life Your way - the Way of Jesus - and not my own (or anyone else's). May I be found giving up my own way (the way of mankind), taking up my cross (the Way of Jesus), and following Him. So be it.

We Have "Reasoned" Ourselves Blind

One day news came to David that the Philistines were at Keilah stealing grain from the threshing floors. David asked the LORD, “Should I go and attack them?” “Yes, go and save Keilah,” the LORD told him. [1 Samuel 23.1-2] 

David is on the run from Saul and yet he is commissioned to rescue the people of Keilah from the pillaging of the Philistines. Does this not sound familiar?

This was almost exactly what was happening to God's people when the Midianites were pillaging them and Gideon (who was also hiding) rescued them. It would behoove us to understand the reason why this was taking place in Gideon's situation:

When they cried out to the LORD because of Midian, the LORD sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. I told you, ‘I am the LORD your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.” [Judges 6.7-10]

As is documented in Judges 6.7-10, would it not be entirely Biblical to conclude that Israel was being pillaged again in 1 Samuel 23.1-2 because they had fallen into idolatry again? Based on all the Bible reveals about Israel's history with idolatry, we should think so. And, here is why...

So David and his men went to Keilah. They slaughtered the Philistines and took all their livestock and rescued the people of Keilah. Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he brought the ephod with him. Saul soon learned that David was at Keilah. “Good!” he exclaimed. “We’ve got him now! God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself in a walled town!” So Saul mobilized his entire army to march to Keilah and besiege David and his men. But David learned of Saul’s plan and told Abiathar the priest to bring the ephod and ask the LORD what he should do. Then David prayed, “O LORD God of Israel, I have heard that Saul is planning to come and destroy Keilah because I am here. Will the leaders of Keilah betray me to him? And will Saul actually come as I have heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell me.” And the LORD said, “He will come.”  Again David asked, “Will the leaders of Keilah betray me and my men to Saul?” And the LORD replied, “Yes, they will betray you.” [1 Samuel 23.5-12]

Even though David rescued Keilah from the Philistines, God said they would betray David to Saul. Why would the people of Keilah do that? Because that is how idolatry works. It is blind and it "bites the very hand that feeds it."

The danger of idolatry is that it blinds its participants in order to pillage them, and then causes them to reject the very one(s) sent to deliver them from being pillaged. It was not surprising then that Israelites would betray David to Saul because Israel had not been loyal to Gideon either.

As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping the images of Baal, making Baal-berith their god. They forgot the LORD their God, who had rescued them from all their enemies surrounding them. Nor did they show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-baal (that is, Gideon), despite all the good he had done for Israel. [Judges 8.33-35]

A negligent reader of God's Word will miss this critical association. A haphazard attitude about all the Word of God will keep God's people and future generations just as blind and ignorant and pillaged as Midian and Keilah. And, just as God's people rejected Gideon and David, so they rejected Jesus Christ Whose message was every bit about singular worship of God alone as was Gideon's and David's. Jesus said it like this:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

God's people are still rejecting Jesus' demand to forsake all others and follow Him. Should we be appalled? Should we be surprised? No, we should be contemplative - Jesus Himself declared it would be so and indeed was duly rejected to prove it:

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14] 

In light of all the Bible teaches about trusting God alone, it is purely the work of a strategic campaign of deception to convince God's people not only not to reject today's modern idols, but instead, to embrace and protect them thus betraying loyalty to God alone. Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are the flagship industries of modern idolatry and, unfortunately, religion serves largely as the "mothership-idol" protector of them.

The casual reader of the Bible will unquestionably accept that it was just an ungracious deed for Keilah to reject David. The question "why?" will never be explored. However, when a person actually reads the Bible without predisposition, denominational bias, or religious mindlessness, that person will sincerely question why Keilah would betray David and will subsequently understand that idolatry answers that question just as it does every other question "why?" regarding Israel's repeated and persistent sin.

The apostle Paul confirms the problem of idolatry:

So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. [1 Corinthians 10.14]

As does John:

But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! [Revelation 9.20]

Lest we are tempted to discount idols as merely trinkets of the past, we should consider David's own words in his Psalm written contemporary to the event described in the subject passage above: 

“Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.” [Psalm 52.7] 

It cannot be denied that debt, insurance, medicine and technology ALL represent the wealth of mankind today. Unwary people trust wealth instead of God. Religion makes this misplaced trust "okay" by deceptively teaching that God gave these industries that revolve around wealth. Is it any wonder then, that the Church today is just as pillaged as is the world by debt, insurance, medicine and technology?

Why are we being pillaged by debt, insurance, medicine and technology? Because we blindly trust them instead of God. We need and have a Deliverer... but, we have rejected Him in deference to our idols! We have rejected His call to give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him! We have reasoned ourselves blind!

Father, may this glimpse of the truth of Your Word grow into a mighty flood of revelation in our lives revealing the idolatry that is actively pillaging us today. May we be found repentant for our idolatry and believing in Christ alone - giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Him. So be it.

Quite Enough

I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. [Psalm 34.1] 

...Said the man of whom it was said "he is a man after God's own heart."

Father, it is quite enough today to declare Your praises! You alone are good. You alone are God. So be it.