Remind Me Why They Have a King?

Now a day before Saul's coming, the LORD had revealed this to Samuel saying, "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me." (1 Samuel 9:15-16 NASB)

In the previous chapter, Samuel wrangles with the people's demand for a king, and what that means for the country and for him.  Here, the king is coming, and Samuel is about to discover him.  But the reasoning from God is now different.  It is more his response to the problem of the Philistines, which another passage prior said weren't a problem during Samuel's life.  It's not a huge issue, but it's worth looking at for a simple reason: it appears contradictory.

In 1 Samuel 7: 13 it says that the Philistines were subdued and did not come anymore within the border of Israel.  And the hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.  Why then in 1 Samuel 9:16 does God now say, "...and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines.  For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me."  These seem to be at odds.  Or are they?

When the Philistines are defeated in chapter 7, Samuel is setting up a stone, not out there whacking Philistines.  God did the real work, and the people chased after the retreating foe.  Samuel really wasn't some strategic or tactical combat leader.  Sure he was effective, but only in keeping the people tied to God.  God did the "rescuing" from their enemies.

When they come to Samuel in chapter 8, they want a king so they can be like the other nations.  There are lots of "nations" made of single cities, and several made up of several kings, but the commonality was that these kings ruled out of success in combat.  It was different to have Samuel, a "nerd" leader, who didn't lead into combat.  They wanted a "battle chief".  So, God finds one for them.

So, it's not that the people weren't delivered from the hand of the Philistines at that point, it was that God has decided to acquiesce to their request and deliver them a different way.  Saul would also deliver God's people from the hand of the Philistines.  For their cry was not that God deliver them from the Philistines but that God grant them the credibility among their neighbors that is brought by a military king.

I wonder if I sometimes get what I ask for because my Master has "regarded" me and my "cry" has come to Him as well.  Where it's not that I need something, or that I'm in any danger, but that my Master has heard me and gives what I want.  It seems dangerous, but only in a limited fashion.  I can only assume that my Master would give me something that is not contrary to His purpose for me, and that will continue to bring glory to His name.  I may not like how these things are accomplished, but they will not fail because my Master has given me what I asked for.  I can also assume that when He doesn't give me what I want, that what I want does not accomplish those things; at least not the way He has chosen to bring them about. 

This does a few things for me.  First, I can ask without fear.  What I ask will never thwart my Master.  Second I can be sure what comes my way, whether I asked for it or not, fits in His purpose and brings Him glory.  If I don't get my request, what I do get is what fits His design more.  These are comforting things to know.

If God Has My Back - Genesis 14

I'm not going to paste the entire chapter here, for thing I think it violates copyright laws.  But I encourage anyone reading this to first read that whole chapter before reading the rest of this.  A lot of this won't make sense without first being freshly familiar with this chapter.  I thought I was familiar with it enough, and yet still, working through it again brought new stuff.  Go read that first and then come back to this.

Welcome back...if you're honest anyway.  If not, go read the chapter.

The essence of this chapter is that kings (possibly including the famous king, Hammarabi) from the region of Mesopotamia (Iraq, possibly Syria), attacked the area on the East side of the Jordan River.  They got to nearly everyone in that region, including the cities along the valley floor (except for Jericho...which is really weird).  After defeating all those kingdoms, they meet the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah (Edom), Zeboim (Gazelles), and Bela (Zoar) by the Dead Sea.

It's a rout, and every survivor of the Dead Sea region flees to the hills.  The victorious kings plunder the area, including Sodom, and take Lot and his stuff captive.  Not a lot of the battle is described, just the first part and the running away part.  The reason for the campaign in this region seems to be the rebellion of the Dead Sea Kings against the King of Elam with whom they had a covenant (one not in their favor).  When they didn't pay their tribute, they got away with it for a year, then the armies came from the east.

One of the survivors fleeing to the hills comes to Abram in Hebron.  Hearing what happened to Lot, he doesn't hesitate, but takes off with three of his friends and all the "tried" men of his household (318) and takes off after the four victorious kings.  All it says is that he catches up with them at Dan, divides his forces, attacks at night, and pursues them to North of Damascus.  Abram wins.  All the other kings and cities fail, but he, the nomad-sheep-and-cattle-herder, succeeds; and chases them half-way home.

This may seem rather incredible, it does to me.  He doesn't even hesitate, though.  It does not seem he had any doubt about what to do.  It was insurmountable, very foolish, and clearly hopeless, but he does it anyway.  It was as if, since family was involved, he willingly went to his doom out of family honor.  I sort of wonder if Sarai was thinking about how she might get back down to Egypt to see Pharaoh when Abram didn't return. 

I somehow doubt there was any doubt though.  I don't think there was any concern that they might not succeed, in spite of the success record of their enemies.  Abram was confident enough to bring his four new friends, brothers with whom he had an alliance.  And they were confident enough to go with him.  Where did this confidence come from?  Where do I get a dose of that?

Back in chapter 12, God promises Abram protection.  Abram has seen it at work in Egypt, and along the way as he traveled.  He may have known these kings from the region he was raised in and left not long ago.  And he knew his God.  In comparison, he saw there was really no comparison.  So, he had his relationship with his King and experience in that relationship. 

I have that experience.  I have seen my Master care for me in ways I couldn't imagine.  I have seen Him make ends meet that I didn't even know existed; connect dots I couldn't see to draw between.  Recently I have seen that my Master is Master over all the things I care about, and over all things I don't.  I am learning slowly to relinquish my desire to make happen what I believe needs to happen.  Instead, I simply need to do what I see He wants done.  He loves me, He has my back, and I am at His service.  I am free to serve, and to be used by Him to accomplish His purposes, or at least I should be.

But being that available requires me to constantly give up my causes, priorities, and my purposes.  That's hard for me.  It's hard in my family, in my job, and in my church.  I want to right wrongs, and fix peoples misconceptions, and build faith!  Not my job, that's my Master's job.  I may see a need or a lack, and my Master may be leading me to address it, but not to "fix" it.  He wants to use me to fix it.  I'm not the faith-mechanic, I'm the faith-wrench.  I don't get to choose one day to be a "wrench" and another an "impact wrench" or "hammer-drill".  Again, my Master chooses how to use me, and what for.  I still try to be some sort of dramatic hero, but that's not my role.  I'm scenery, set dressing, and props.  He is the Star, the Hero.

I was reminded this weekend that I'm not the one making happen what I see needs to happen.  I may see what needs to happen, but my role is not the doer, but one of the ones used to do it.  But I can't be used in that role if I keep trying to take control and be the one doing.  To be used, I have to let go of control.  I'm trying.  I'm struggling with it, but I'm trying.  Oh Master, please help me, and once again, be patient while I wrestle with my selfish ambition.  I will bring it to you captive, I will.  And I will try to hurry; there's work to be done, and You have a use for me I'm missing.

Not Asking But Knowing With Certainty–A New Type Of Prayer For Me

I like today’s entry.  It gets at the heart of where my current struggle lies.  The verse is John 16:23 where Jesus is telling His disciples about their life after He ascends.  What He says is that, in that day (after He ascends), they will not ask anything of Him, rather whatever they ask of the Father will be done for them.  He is getting at the access to the Father, which at that time went through Him, but after Him, will pass direct.  As Chambers’ points out, they will be one with the Father as Jesus is.  As I have pointed out before, this idea is overwhelming for me.

But right now, I struggle with how to pray.  I know that my Master has provision for employment all sewed up, even if I don’t see it.  That’s easy to say, but hard to let go of so I can have peace.  I need to revisit that occasionally to regain that peace.  I know that my Master has provision for where we shall live, even if I don’t see it yet.  Again, easier to say than to live out, and I revisit that one too.

But harder is that my in-laws are looking for a home on our behalf, and I fear that they may be becoming frustrated with the process.  I don’t want that.  We are making this move precisely to alleviate them of stress, and I don’t want to pile on something else in the process.  Secondly, I know that my Master has it covered, possibly through them, but not necessarily.  So, I want them to rely on our reliance upon my Master.  That’s co-dependent.  I may want them to do that, but I can’t stress over it.  What I can do is pray for them.  I can pray that my Master provide them the peace He has provided us; that He make clear to them through us that His provision is supreme, not their purchase power.

I am also concerned that the wheels of industry where I work will not rotate fast enough to decide on allowing me to work remotely before I leave.  Or that they will rush it, throwing something together that will not work well.  But these details are out of my control, and not my problem.  It is my Master’s problem to provide for these details.  While people may be under the impression they control, I know it is my Master really controlling the details, ones they cannot see, and may not be able to imagine.

So, my focus needs to be drawing closer to my Master, worshipping Him, walking before Him, being available to His will.  He loves me, He has my back, what is there to worry about, or what should distract me from what I have to focus on?  Romans 8 ends with this challenge, that since the Father judges, the Son justifies, and has paid the requirements of justice, who can bring a charge against me?  What have I to fear?  Nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Master.  What else matters?

So, in this day, I do not ask my Master for anything.  But whatever I ask in His name (as in on His behalf) I know I have it.  So I ask for the peace and glory of my Master to be revealed to my in-laws.  I ask that in the name of my Master.  And I have whatever I ask.  Now, if they will just see what is being revealed to them.  But that is not my problem to worry about.

Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest": May 28th.