Thursday, June 18, 2009
Refiners fire
My friend Shaundra and I were hanging out today and I was telling her about the sifting I am going through. She told me that I was being refined and that it would make me beautiful. I thought about that for a minute and all I could think was, 'that's ok, Lord, I am beautiful enough.' Thank you Lord for your sweet sense of humor. That had to come from You because I am just not that clever.
Friday, June 5, 2009
girls only
For the first time in history, all generations living today have been driven by, or at least strongly influenced by the media. Women are faced with some false image of perfection on all fronts. We are bombarded with media images that make us feel so much less than what we should. As if women needed more to worry about. I know it grieves the heart of God! If we could only see ourselves how He sees us! And I think we can if we choose to. We need only look to the word of God and believe it is true. We have to apply it to ourselves. I think that is the hard part for most of us. I can so much more easily believe good things for you than I can for myself and I can so much more easily believe the negative about me than any positive. I am sure you can relate to that. We have to work together to replace the lie with the truth. That sounds so easy but, in truth, it will be a challenge. We have to challenge what we believe about how we should look, what we should wear and how we should use our bodies. It may be a daily struggle. And it will be more of a struggle for some of you than for others. But when we do hard things to honor the Lord, He pours out blessing!
I do know what it means to struggle with insecurity and fear. My mom was 5'2" and weighed just over 100 pounds when she gave birth to me. Her first words about me, in a drug induced stupor of course, were "that's not my baby, that's a buzzard." She certainly didn't mean it, but it was the standing joke at my house. My mom would never call me fat but would always say I was just a big girl. My dad would tease and say 'are ya gonna eat that Tubby Butt". My parents meant no harm there at all. To my mom the fact was she was little and I was big. She's 5'2" and I am 5'7". But my heart heard that I was fat. My dad would tease so that I wouldn't get fat but I heard that I already was. So like every other woman on the planet, I developed weight issues. Which were in complete conflict with the attention I got from boys. Well except for the boy I had a crush on in 3rd grade that called me fatso. But by the time I was in high school, while I still felt like a chubby 3rd grader, I had grown and my weight redistributed. I am sure many of you know what it's like to have a conversation with a guy and you keep wondering if they are going to ever look you in the eye or if they plan to just stare at your chest the whole time. I'd say that was the majority of my conversations with guys. Don't ya just wanna smack 'em! I was pretty confused as to what to believe about myself because of all these things and some sexual abuse issues as a child. Then the major abuse started. I guess I allowed all of my value to become wrapped up in what I looked like and who would like me. It all seems to be determined by outward appearance doesn't it. But God says that man looks on the outward appearance but He looks on the heart. Unfortunately I wasn't much prouder of my heart than I was the outward appearance. I was so desperate for love and acceptance that I compromised. I did things to get attention and that left me feeling so ashamed. So the remedy for that feeling of shame was more attention, someone to accept me. If I could have only really understood God's great love for me and allowed it to fill me and heal me.
Do you know that God is glorified when we have a right view of ourselves? What does it mean to glorify God anyway? It means to make God look good. First, let me just say, I know that God doesn't really need me to make Him look good. He is good. But I want others to see how good He is when they see me. When we see ourselves the way God sees us we have an inner confidence that doesn't need outward appreciation. When I am choosing to believe that God made me intentionally the way He did for a good purpose, I can be satisfied in that, especially as God uses me in the way He designed me. John Piper said "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him". Hmmm how does that look on an average day? Well if I am satisfied that God is good and will work all things together for my good, I have a genuine contentment. Which makes me think of 1 Peter 3:4 which talks about the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that is so pleasing in the sight of the Lord. When I very first read that verse I though, oh great, here's one more thing I'll never be able to do. I couldn't understand why God would expect me to be gentle and quiet and make such a talker. I totally misunderstood what God was telling me here. He was talking about us having a spirit that is gentle and quiet. Gentleness concerns itself with the needs of others and how to meet those needs without doing harm. Ok I can do that. But quiet was where I was stuck. And now I understand that a quiet spirit can easily dwell in the a woman that has a lot to say. A quiet spirit is content with how God has provided for her. Content with her living situation, her home, her life, herself. Not that she doesn't desire better of and for herself but if nothing were to ever change, she would be ok with that. That spirit says, "God you know best what I need and what I don't. I trust you and am satisfied in you." That is beauty that runs through a woman's whole being and what's more it grows more lovely with the passing of time. Although I can tell you my outer beauty is fading, fading, I pray that as I grow more content in God and His provision, I will become more beautiful to Him and really to anyone else who matters. Once we have developed that priority we will dress, behave and present ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to God and feels pretty good to us.
1 cor 6:19-20 says
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body
See before Chirst came the Spirit of God was not always present with the people. He first visited Moses in the burning bush. He spoke to His people in various ways and then had a temple built where he would dwell. Only the high priest could enter into the holy of holies, which was the innermost part of the temple, where the spirit of God literally would be, and only once a year to have fellowship with God. That's why the temple curtain was ripped from top to bottom when Christ died on the cross. We then had complete access to God the Father through Jesus Christ. He is the door. When we believe, as if our very lives depended on it, He comes to take up residence in us. We become the holy of holies! AMAZING!!! When we choose to be mindful of that consistently it will change the way we live. When Christ gave His life willing on the cross, he paid for our debts,our sin. He bought us. He owns us. But only if we choose to let Him. Only if we receive Him and allow Him to pay for our debts. The thought of someone not wanting that sort of dumbfounds me. It kinda reminds me of when my husband and I got married and he actually started paying the bills, he said to me more than once, "I didn't have any debt til I married you." We laugh about that now but, ya, ouch. I guess facts are facts. So we diligently have paid those debts off and I have to tell you I have greatly come to value how much my husband hates debt. Well, Jesus didn't have any debts til he chose us. Scott knew in advance that I had a car payment and a school bill. He chose me, debts and all. In Hebrews 12 we are told that Jesus, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God. The joy set before Him was you. He endured the cross because He knew He was taking your debt so that you could be with Him one day. And he did that before you had even thought of Him. Now I can tell you that I am pretty sure Scott didn't mind terribly taking on my debt because he did want to be with me. But what if he had to pay them off before he could even pursue me, before I even knew he existed? Maybe. I like to think so. But what if the debt was so big that it would take his whole life to pay it off? Maybe. And what if it would cost him his very life. Well now that would seem silly wouldn't it. But Jesus did that. We have been bought with a price and that price was the life of Jesus Christ. I have learned a lot over the years about how to be much more careful with money and much less willing to go into debt. Scott still pays for my debt. I am so motivated to be better because I know how much Scott loves me and how much he hates debt! I am likewise motivated not to sin because I know how much Jesus loves me and how much He hates sin. And even in the midst of my sin, he loves me. The weight of that is at times unbearable, when I am wrestling sin. Let's face it, sin is fun. Sometimes we even feel justified in our sin. But sin is sin because God knew in advance that that activity brings a negative consequence. Oh He is so good. So when we have victory over sin, we make God look good. Others around us can see our good behavior and see God dwelling in us! God uses that to draw others to Himself. One way we do that is not conforming to the world. We look different. You can totally still dress cool and modestly at the same time. I won't even tell you how to do it because if you have a relationship with Jesus, He is perfectly capable to let you know what is appropriate and what isn't. Just make sure you ask Him. You will feel convicted if you cross the line.
If we are satisfied in Chirst we can stop slamming ourselves. Stop criticizing ourselves and seeing everything that we consider to be a flaw. I mean, seriously, who decides the standard anyway. Vogue, Cosmo, The Hills? Do they love you? Do they want what is best for you? No way. They want to sell magazines and stuff. They want you to believe that everything about you is inadequate and you need more here, less there, better this, different that! What if we listened to what God says about us even half as much as we listen to what they say. God says that you are so precious and valueable to Him that His thoughts about you outnumber the grains of sand! Ok so let's grab a handful of sand and see if we can count how many grains are there. Ok then how about a truck load? When we are at the beach, take a minute to just think about that. Look down at your feet and then down the beach both ways and remember that we are just on one beach and think about how many grains of sand there are in the world. He thinks about you more than that!!! If you don't believe me read Psalm 139:18. And then Zephania 3;16 tells us that He rejoices over us with singing and quiets us with his love. And my absolute favorite, Ephesians 3:14-19. I remember the first time I read this passage and God's Spirit spoke to mine. I got it, if only for that moment.:
And 14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
I could almost hear that passion in Paul's voice as he is trying to help the saints understand how deeply our Savior loves us. We can't even wrap our minds around it. I still struggle with it.
I fear many of you are in the same place I was at your age. And you have to deal with media that tells you even bigger lies. I can tell you that the enemy of your soul wants to destroy you. His biggest weapon against you is your sexuality. He wants to convince you that there are really no boundaries. That you can do whatever you want. Rules are made to be broken. And then once you cross the line he goes on full assault with condemnation. He wants you to feel terrible about yourself and rejected. You give yourselves away far too easily. You don't even understand your great worth. Will you hear it from God's word?
Look, I don't know where you are today. Today could be one of those good days where you are feeling pretty good about yourself. But I know that no one feels that way every day or even most days. I don't know what your insecurities are. But I do know that guilt and shame are major tools that Satan will use to keep you insecure. Why we avoid God in the midst of our shame seems to make sense on the surface and yet the truth is, when we take our shame, our guilt, our sin to the Father, He fully forgives! He restores. When we have Christ living in us we are already forgiven. We need only walk in that. If you are afraid you will be rejected by Christ then you are listening to a lie. He will never reject you! Ever! When we kneel before Him and confess our sin He he removes it as far as the east is from the west. We stand up pure. Pure! Do you really get that? Oh precious precious young women, you are so treasured by the God of the universe! Please take that in. Please try to let that wash over you and fill you up.
No more believing the lies the enemy wants to crush us with! No more! We can be wholly pure and sanctified through and through! I have believed a lie for most of my life. I think that because so much was taken from me and then I willingly gave so much away I began to see myself as the harlot, the seductress, the adulteress that scripture warns men to avoid. Once my innocence was stolen, I started giving it away. I became a target and had no defense. It hurts to even think about much less say. But it is time to rise up and believe the truth. We were not made for sin. We were not made to be sinned against. We were made for better, higher purposes. If you have been a target, that doesn't mean you deserved it or did anything to bring it on. I am just getting this so I pray it makes it into your soul. I lived too many years believing that lie. I need my innocence restored. And I know just where to go to get that done. The Father restores our soul. He has made a way for all our wounds to be healed, for all our sin to be forgiven, and for us to be made brand new. Think about that. As a new born baby enters the world with no sin to her account. That is who we are when we confess our sin and leave it at the cross. Remember when I said we have to work together to overcome this. I mean it! We have to or the enemy will have too much victory in too many peoples lives. Girls we have to choose to believe the best in each other. We are not each others enemies. We have to get on the same team against the enemy. Don't just assume when you someone has an unusual expression on their face that they are directing it at you. We all have bad days. Let's believe that she needs an arm around her and some encouragement. Let's get to know each other. Let's say encouraging words to each other. Oh how the Lord loves that and how the enemy hates it. We make a choice to honor God or the devil with every word or action. You have the ability to choose. Believe everyone needs your encouragement. Be kind, tenderhearted toward one another even forgiving one another in as God, in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4) Do you know what a difference you can make in someones life by just being kind. Let's build each other up and in so doing we build hedges of protection around God's treasures. I imagine that would bring delight to the Father's heart. I want to do that, don't you?
I do know what it means to struggle with insecurity and fear. My mom was 5'2" and weighed just over 100 pounds when she gave birth to me. Her first words about me, in a drug induced stupor of course, were "that's not my baby, that's a buzzard." She certainly didn't mean it, but it was the standing joke at my house. My mom would never call me fat but would always say I was just a big girl. My dad would tease and say 'are ya gonna eat that Tubby Butt". My parents meant no harm there at all. To my mom the fact was she was little and I was big. She's 5'2" and I am 5'7". But my heart heard that I was fat. My dad would tease so that I wouldn't get fat but I heard that I already was. So like every other woman on the planet, I developed weight issues. Which were in complete conflict with the attention I got from boys. Well except for the boy I had a crush on in 3rd grade that called me fatso. But by the time I was in high school, while I still felt like a chubby 3rd grader, I had grown and my weight redistributed. I am sure many of you know what it's like to have a conversation with a guy and you keep wondering if they are going to ever look you in the eye or if they plan to just stare at your chest the whole time. I'd say that was the majority of my conversations with guys. Don't ya just wanna smack 'em! I was pretty confused as to what to believe about myself because of all these things and some sexual abuse issues as a child. Then the major abuse started. I guess I allowed all of my value to become wrapped up in what I looked like and who would like me. It all seems to be determined by outward appearance doesn't it. But God says that man looks on the outward appearance but He looks on the heart. Unfortunately I wasn't much prouder of my heart than I was the outward appearance. I was so desperate for love and acceptance that I compromised. I did things to get attention and that left me feeling so ashamed. So the remedy for that feeling of shame was more attention, someone to accept me. If I could have only really understood God's great love for me and allowed it to fill me and heal me.
Do you know that God is glorified when we have a right view of ourselves? What does it mean to glorify God anyway? It means to make God look good. First, let me just say, I know that God doesn't really need me to make Him look good. He is good. But I want others to see how good He is when they see me. When we see ourselves the way God sees us we have an inner confidence that doesn't need outward appreciation. When I am choosing to believe that God made me intentionally the way He did for a good purpose, I can be satisfied in that, especially as God uses me in the way He designed me. John Piper said "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him". Hmmm how does that look on an average day? Well if I am satisfied that God is good and will work all things together for my good, I have a genuine contentment. Which makes me think of 1 Peter 3:4 which talks about the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit that is so pleasing in the sight of the Lord. When I very first read that verse I though, oh great, here's one more thing I'll never be able to do. I couldn't understand why God would expect me to be gentle and quiet and make such a talker. I totally misunderstood what God was telling me here. He was talking about us having a spirit that is gentle and quiet. Gentleness concerns itself with the needs of others and how to meet those needs without doing harm. Ok I can do that. But quiet was where I was stuck. And now I understand that a quiet spirit can easily dwell in the a woman that has a lot to say. A quiet spirit is content with how God has provided for her. Content with her living situation, her home, her life, herself. Not that she doesn't desire better of and for herself but if nothing were to ever change, she would be ok with that. That spirit says, "God you know best what I need and what I don't. I trust you and am satisfied in you." That is beauty that runs through a woman's whole being and what's more it grows more lovely with the passing of time. Although I can tell you my outer beauty is fading, fading, I pray that as I grow more content in God and His provision, I will become more beautiful to Him and really to anyone else who matters. Once we have developed that priority we will dress, behave and present ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to God and feels pretty good to us.
1 cor 6:19-20 says
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body
See before Chirst came the Spirit of God was not always present with the people. He first visited Moses in the burning bush. He spoke to His people in various ways and then had a temple built where he would dwell. Only the high priest could enter into the holy of holies, which was the innermost part of the temple, where the spirit of God literally would be, and only once a year to have fellowship with God. That's why the temple curtain was ripped from top to bottom when Christ died on the cross. We then had complete access to God the Father through Jesus Christ. He is the door. When we believe, as if our very lives depended on it, He comes to take up residence in us. We become the holy of holies! AMAZING!!! When we choose to be mindful of that consistently it will change the way we live. When Christ gave His life willing on the cross, he paid for our debts,our sin. He bought us. He owns us. But only if we choose to let Him. Only if we receive Him and allow Him to pay for our debts. The thought of someone not wanting that sort of dumbfounds me. It kinda reminds me of when my husband and I got married and he actually started paying the bills, he said to me more than once, "I didn't have any debt til I married you." We laugh about that now but, ya, ouch. I guess facts are facts. So we diligently have paid those debts off and I have to tell you I have greatly come to value how much my husband hates debt. Well, Jesus didn't have any debts til he chose us. Scott knew in advance that I had a car payment and a school bill. He chose me, debts and all. In Hebrews 12 we are told that Jesus, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God. The joy set before Him was you. He endured the cross because He knew He was taking your debt so that you could be with Him one day. And he did that before you had even thought of Him. Now I can tell you that I am pretty sure Scott didn't mind terribly taking on my debt because he did want to be with me. But what if he had to pay them off before he could even pursue me, before I even knew he existed? Maybe. I like to think so. But what if the debt was so big that it would take his whole life to pay it off? Maybe. And what if it would cost him his very life. Well now that would seem silly wouldn't it. But Jesus did that. We have been bought with a price and that price was the life of Jesus Christ. I have learned a lot over the years about how to be much more careful with money and much less willing to go into debt. Scott still pays for my debt. I am so motivated to be better because I know how much Scott loves me and how much he hates debt! I am likewise motivated not to sin because I know how much Jesus loves me and how much He hates sin. And even in the midst of my sin, he loves me. The weight of that is at times unbearable, when I am wrestling sin. Let's face it, sin is fun. Sometimes we even feel justified in our sin. But sin is sin because God knew in advance that that activity brings a negative consequence. Oh He is so good. So when we have victory over sin, we make God look good. Others around us can see our good behavior and see God dwelling in us! God uses that to draw others to Himself. One way we do that is not conforming to the world. We look different. You can totally still dress cool and modestly at the same time. I won't even tell you how to do it because if you have a relationship with Jesus, He is perfectly capable to let you know what is appropriate and what isn't. Just make sure you ask Him. You will feel convicted if you cross the line.
If we are satisfied in Chirst we can stop slamming ourselves. Stop criticizing ourselves and seeing everything that we consider to be a flaw. I mean, seriously, who decides the standard anyway. Vogue, Cosmo, The Hills? Do they love you? Do they want what is best for you? No way. They want to sell magazines and stuff. They want you to believe that everything about you is inadequate and you need more here, less there, better this, different that! What if we listened to what God says about us even half as much as we listen to what they say. God says that you are so precious and valueable to Him that His thoughts about you outnumber the grains of sand! Ok so let's grab a handful of sand and see if we can count how many grains are there. Ok then how about a truck load? When we are at the beach, take a minute to just think about that. Look down at your feet and then down the beach both ways and remember that we are just on one beach and think about how many grains of sand there are in the world. He thinks about you more than that!!! If you don't believe me read Psalm 139:18. And then Zephania 3;16 tells us that He rejoices over us with singing and quiets us with his love. And my absolute favorite, Ephesians 3:14-19. I remember the first time I read this passage and God's Spirit spoke to mine. I got it, if only for that moment.:
And 14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
I could almost hear that passion in Paul's voice as he is trying to help the saints understand how deeply our Savior loves us. We can't even wrap our minds around it. I still struggle with it.
I fear many of you are in the same place I was at your age. And you have to deal with media that tells you even bigger lies. I can tell you that the enemy of your soul wants to destroy you. His biggest weapon against you is your sexuality. He wants to convince you that there are really no boundaries. That you can do whatever you want. Rules are made to be broken. And then once you cross the line he goes on full assault with condemnation. He wants you to feel terrible about yourself and rejected. You give yourselves away far too easily. You don't even understand your great worth. Will you hear it from God's word?
Look, I don't know where you are today. Today could be one of those good days where you are feeling pretty good about yourself. But I know that no one feels that way every day or even most days. I don't know what your insecurities are. But I do know that guilt and shame are major tools that Satan will use to keep you insecure. Why we avoid God in the midst of our shame seems to make sense on the surface and yet the truth is, when we take our shame, our guilt, our sin to the Father, He fully forgives! He restores. When we have Christ living in us we are already forgiven. We need only walk in that. If you are afraid you will be rejected by Christ then you are listening to a lie. He will never reject you! Ever! When we kneel before Him and confess our sin He he removes it as far as the east is from the west. We stand up pure. Pure! Do you really get that? Oh precious precious young women, you are so treasured by the God of the universe! Please take that in. Please try to let that wash over you and fill you up.
No more believing the lies the enemy wants to crush us with! No more! We can be wholly pure and sanctified through and through! I have believed a lie for most of my life. I think that because so much was taken from me and then I willingly gave so much away I began to see myself as the harlot, the seductress, the adulteress that scripture warns men to avoid. Once my innocence was stolen, I started giving it away. I became a target and had no defense. It hurts to even think about much less say. But it is time to rise up and believe the truth. We were not made for sin. We were not made to be sinned against. We were made for better, higher purposes. If you have been a target, that doesn't mean you deserved it or did anything to bring it on. I am just getting this so I pray it makes it into your soul. I lived too many years believing that lie. I need my innocence restored. And I know just where to go to get that done. The Father restores our soul. He has made a way for all our wounds to be healed, for all our sin to be forgiven, and for us to be made brand new. Think about that. As a new born baby enters the world with no sin to her account. That is who we are when we confess our sin and leave it at the cross. Remember when I said we have to work together to overcome this. I mean it! We have to or the enemy will have too much victory in too many peoples lives. Girls we have to choose to believe the best in each other. We are not each others enemies. We have to get on the same team against the enemy. Don't just assume when you someone has an unusual expression on their face that they are directing it at you. We all have bad days. Let's believe that she needs an arm around her and some encouragement. Let's get to know each other. Let's say encouraging words to each other. Oh how the Lord loves that and how the enemy hates it. We make a choice to honor God or the devil with every word or action. You have the ability to choose. Believe everyone needs your encouragement. Be kind, tenderhearted toward one another even forgiving one another in as God, in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4) Do you know what a difference you can make in someones life by just being kind. Let's build each other up and in so doing we build hedges of protection around God's treasures. I imagine that would bring delight to the Father's heart. I want to do that, don't you?
Monday, June 1, 2009
David
Now for David. We have seen how Samson fell and Joseph fled, and now we'll see how David found repentance. I think more of us can relate to David than the other two. Actually I think vastly more people struggle even more than Samson but I think more sincerely devoted Christians can relate best to David. David had many wives and much temptation. The best known story of David is his battle with Goliath. David inspires boldness and faith in me as I face giants today, I remember how David wasn't comparing himself to Goliath but comparing Goliath to God. David's life was not unremarkable although he began as the youngest son of a Shepard. God choose him out of all Isreal to replace Saul as king. God rejects Saul as king, it even says he was sorry he made him king. The Greek work used for sorry there indicates a deep sigh. He was grieved that He had made Saul king because Saul would reveal to the people that their desire for a king was unwise. Why was God sorry? I think it indicates that God was disappointed in Isreal for asking for a king and then He had to show them that men sin and there would be no man worthy of divine rule. God as our King is irreplaceable. But more specifically, the most recent act of Saul was disobedience. God had told Saul to utterly wipe out all of the Amalekites and so Saul did, almost. He saved the best of the livestock and the king but killed and destroyed everything he didn't consider of value. If this were a test Saul would probably get an A. I mean he did almost everything right. But God was grieved by Sauls incomplete obedience.
Enter David. Let's take a story of David's life and grade him. How about the story of David and Bathsheba? This account is found in 2 Samuel 11:1 and following.
" 1 Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem."
First of all, David wasn't where he should have been. He should have been out on the battle field with his men.
"2 Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.
3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
4 David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house."
David certainly shouldn't have been on the roof of the palace. It was customary for women to bathe on the rooftop at this particular time of day and for men to avoid the sight. Surely, David knew better. But David was already hooked. He had seen her and wanted her. He sent for her even after knowing she was married to one of his bravest and most loyal soldiers. What we see here is a clear lack of self control. Proverbs 25:28 tells us, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." A particularly interesting thing about this passage is who wrote it. Solomon did. Perhaps he learned the lesson from his mom and dad, David and Bathsheba. I love that! I can just imagine Solomon as a teenager sitting with Dad and Dad saying "Son, I hope you will learn from my mistakes." as he recounts the story of how his parents had hooked up. I love it because Solomon gives credit to his parents in many of the Proverbs for teaching him wisdom. These very same parents who had blown it so huge. Gives me so much hope that God can still use me even after I fall. And He can use you too!
David's defences were crumbling. There were broken down places in David's walls. The picture here was of the walls that fortified a city. Take Ninevah for instance, the walls around Ninevah were so wide that several chariots could ride side by side on them. They were inpenetrable! These defences are as important to us today in our protection from the enemy as they were then from their enemies. We must be aware of the enemy's schemes and have built walls of defence around our hearts and minds.
Next thing you know, Bathsheba is sending word to David that she is pregnant. I am sure the blood rushed to his face in panic as his heart beat wildly. Immediately he started scheming how he could cover up his mistake. He sent for her husband hoping that he would come home from the battlefield, sleep with his wife and then he could think that the baby was his. But Uriah was a man of greater integrity, at least at this moment in this circumstance. Uriah refused to go in and enjoy his wife while his men were still on the battlefield. So the next night David decided to get Uriah a little drunk so that he would sleep with his wife. Again Uriah did not go home to Bathsheba. So, what was he going to do now? David then writes to Joab, the commander, to place Uriah on the front lines of battle and tell everyone else to retreat. Then he sends this written order to Joab in Uriah's hands. Unbelievable!
So Uriah is sent to his death and once the time of mourning is over David sends for Bathsheba and marries her.
David and Bathsheba's baby dies and God tells David through the prophet, Nathan that there will be violence in his family from then on as a consequence of David's sin. Don't miss that. There are consequences to sin that can live with you forever. I was just thinking about Uriah's family and how David had a brother, husband, son killed when he had Uriah killed. I am sure he lived with that pain for the rest of his life. And just imagine if he and Bathesheba got into an argument. Can't you almost hear her say, "oh ya, I guess your gonna put me on the front lines and have everyone else retreat. That was brilliant!"
So, let's score David here. what do you think? I'm thinking a big fat F! But here is where God's measurements differ so vastly from mine and I am so glad they do! God looked at Saul and though he had done almost everything right, Saul was not repentant but was defensive. Whereas David, once he was convicted of his sin, was so grieved over it. Psalm 51 is Davids lament.
1Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5Behold,(K) I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered to the altar
When God chose David he was choosing a man after his own heart and that is what David came to be known as. David presents the perfect picture of redemption. No wonder he authored most of the Psalms. Jesus says in Luke 7:47 He who has been forgiven much loves much. David loved much. I take such comfort in his stories. David could make some pretty big mistakes. But he also knew how to face his consequences with a broken and contrite heart. He knew to humble himself before the Lord. I am sure there were times when he wrestled with pride but he always came back to the realization of God's supremacy in his life. I love that about David. I want to be like that. I also love the picture we get of the heart of God. He is slow to anger and abounding in love. He is quick to forgive. He even sent His own son to die just so we could have unhindered fellowship with Him. I am amazed at the love God shows me continually. I am so far from where I want to be and He is so patient. He is with you too. I hope you don't miss that. He knows your sin and loves you still. He's right there if you need to turn from sin and run to Him, you won't run far. He has followed you all the way. Just like He followed David. God wanted to have a right relationship with David and that is where conviction comes from. If you are feeling convicted, Hebrews 12 tells us not to take lightly the correction of the Lord because He corrects those He loves and disciplines every son he receives. Let God do His work in you and you will experience the peace and righteousness of God Himself. There really is nothing better!!!
Enter David. Let's take a story of David's life and grade him. How about the story of David and Bathsheba? This account is found in 2 Samuel 11:1 and following.
" 1 Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem."
First of all, David wasn't where he should have been. He should have been out on the battle field with his men.
"2 Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.
3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
4 David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house."
David certainly shouldn't have been on the roof of the palace. It was customary for women to bathe on the rooftop at this particular time of day and for men to avoid the sight. Surely, David knew better. But David was already hooked. He had seen her and wanted her. He sent for her even after knowing she was married to one of his bravest and most loyal soldiers. What we see here is a clear lack of self control. Proverbs 25:28 tells us, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." A particularly interesting thing about this passage is who wrote it. Solomon did. Perhaps he learned the lesson from his mom and dad, David and Bathsheba. I love that! I can just imagine Solomon as a teenager sitting with Dad and Dad saying "Son, I hope you will learn from my mistakes." as he recounts the story of how his parents had hooked up. I love it because Solomon gives credit to his parents in many of the Proverbs for teaching him wisdom. These very same parents who had blown it so huge. Gives me so much hope that God can still use me even after I fall. And He can use you too!
David's defences were crumbling. There were broken down places in David's walls. The picture here was of the walls that fortified a city. Take Ninevah for instance, the walls around Ninevah were so wide that several chariots could ride side by side on them. They were inpenetrable! These defences are as important to us today in our protection from the enemy as they were then from their enemies. We must be aware of the enemy's schemes and have built walls of defence around our hearts and minds.
Next thing you know, Bathsheba is sending word to David that she is pregnant. I am sure the blood rushed to his face in panic as his heart beat wildly. Immediately he started scheming how he could cover up his mistake. He sent for her husband hoping that he would come home from the battlefield, sleep with his wife and then he could think that the baby was his. But Uriah was a man of greater integrity, at least at this moment in this circumstance. Uriah refused to go in and enjoy his wife while his men were still on the battlefield. So the next night David decided to get Uriah a little drunk so that he would sleep with his wife. Again Uriah did not go home to Bathsheba. So, what was he going to do now? David then writes to Joab, the commander, to place Uriah on the front lines of battle and tell everyone else to retreat. Then he sends this written order to Joab in Uriah's hands. Unbelievable!
So Uriah is sent to his death and once the time of mourning is over David sends for Bathsheba and marries her.
David and Bathsheba's baby dies and God tells David through the prophet, Nathan that there will be violence in his family from then on as a consequence of David's sin. Don't miss that. There are consequences to sin that can live with you forever. I was just thinking about Uriah's family and how David had a brother, husband, son killed when he had Uriah killed. I am sure he lived with that pain for the rest of his life. And just imagine if he and Bathesheba got into an argument. Can't you almost hear her say, "oh ya, I guess your gonna put me on the front lines and have everyone else retreat. That was brilliant!"
So, let's score David here. what do you think? I'm thinking a big fat F! But here is where God's measurements differ so vastly from mine and I am so glad they do! God looked at Saul and though he had done almost everything right, Saul was not repentant but was defensive. Whereas David, once he was convicted of his sin, was so grieved over it. Psalm 51 is Davids lament.
1Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5Behold,(K) I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered to the altar
When God chose David he was choosing a man after his own heart and that is what David came to be known as. David presents the perfect picture of redemption. No wonder he authored most of the Psalms. Jesus says in Luke 7:47 He who has been forgiven much loves much. David loved much. I take such comfort in his stories. David could make some pretty big mistakes. But he also knew how to face his consequences with a broken and contrite heart. He knew to humble himself before the Lord. I am sure there were times when he wrestled with pride but he always came back to the realization of God's supremacy in his life. I love that about David. I want to be like that. I also love the picture we get of the heart of God. He is slow to anger and abounding in love. He is quick to forgive. He even sent His own son to die just so we could have unhindered fellowship with Him. I am amazed at the love God shows me continually. I am so far from where I want to be and He is so patient. He is with you too. I hope you don't miss that. He knows your sin and loves you still. He's right there if you need to turn from sin and run to Him, you won't run far. He has followed you all the way. Just like He followed David. God wanted to have a right relationship with David and that is where conviction comes from. If you are feeling convicted, Hebrews 12 tells us not to take lightly the correction of the Lord because He corrects those He loves and disciplines every son he receives. Let God do His work in you and you will experience the peace and righteousness of God Himself. There really is nothing better!!!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
sifting
God has recently cemented Luke 22:31-32 in my mind.
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Here Jesus is telling Peter that the enemy had petitioned the Father to wage war on Peter at the time when he would be the most vulnerable. Peter was passionate about Jesus. He was the one who saw Jesus out on the water and wanted to get to him. He stepped out of the boat. He loved Jesus and had already shown that he hated the idea of Jesus sufferring so. Satan knew Peter too. Satan knew this would be the opportune time to attack. He does that, you know. He doesn't play fair. He doesn't see us struggle and suffer and think, "I really shouldn't kick the poor guy while he's down". Nope that just the moment he wants to start wailing on us. Fortunately, he must go through the Father to get to us and what's more, we have Jesus at the right hand of the throne of God who ever lives to make intercession for us! That is utterly amazing that our precious savior would descend to earth and suffer so and as Hebrews says 'for the joy set before Him endured the cross.' The joy set before him was fellowship with me, with you! Incredible! And here in this passage Jesus tells Peter that he has prayed for him. Wow. And this is when Jesus tells him that Peter would betray his master before the rooster crows 3 times! It's intresting too that Jesus doesn't say Peter, Peter. He says Simon, Simon. I guess the Father had decided to allow Satan to sift Peter because he knew that Peter still needed some Simon sifted out of him. God would go on to use Peter in incredible ways, Peter was crucial in the establishment of the church. Could God have done it without Peter? Of course! But he didn't. I love that Jesus offerred Peter the encouragement that he would return and the admonishment to strengthen his brothers. Jesus knew Peter would fail, he had already done so many times, and yet Jesus loved him so dearly and used him so mightily.
Oh how I identify with Peter. Sure I'd rather be like Paul or John or Mary but I am who I am and I am so grateful that though I fail, my Jesus loves me enough to refine me, pick me up, and use me for His glory. That's my hearts desire, to bring Him glory. I wish I never failed. But I am so thankful to have Jesus praying for me and knowing I will return when I stray, and that He will use me to strengthen others. May it be so!
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Here Jesus is telling Peter that the enemy had petitioned the Father to wage war on Peter at the time when he would be the most vulnerable. Peter was passionate about Jesus. He was the one who saw Jesus out on the water and wanted to get to him. He stepped out of the boat. He loved Jesus and had already shown that he hated the idea of Jesus sufferring so. Satan knew Peter too. Satan knew this would be the opportune time to attack. He does that, you know. He doesn't play fair. He doesn't see us struggle and suffer and think, "I really shouldn't kick the poor guy while he's down". Nope that just the moment he wants to start wailing on us. Fortunately, he must go through the Father to get to us and what's more, we have Jesus at the right hand of the throne of God who ever lives to make intercession for us! That is utterly amazing that our precious savior would descend to earth and suffer so and as Hebrews says 'for the joy set before Him endured the cross.' The joy set before him was fellowship with me, with you! Incredible! And here in this passage Jesus tells Peter that he has prayed for him. Wow. And this is when Jesus tells him that Peter would betray his master before the rooster crows 3 times! It's intresting too that Jesus doesn't say Peter, Peter. He says Simon, Simon. I guess the Father had decided to allow Satan to sift Peter because he knew that Peter still needed some Simon sifted out of him. God would go on to use Peter in incredible ways, Peter was crucial in the establishment of the church. Could God have done it without Peter? Of course! But he didn't. I love that Jesus offerred Peter the encouragement that he would return and the admonishment to strengthen his brothers. Jesus knew Peter would fail, he had already done so many times, and yet Jesus loved him so dearly and used him so mightily.
Oh how I identify with Peter. Sure I'd rather be like Paul or John or Mary but I am who I am and I am so grateful that though I fail, my Jesus loves me enough to refine me, pick me up, and use me for His glory. That's my hearts desire, to bring Him glory. I wish I never failed. But I am so thankful to have Jesus praying for me and knowing I will return when I stray, and that He will use me to strengthen others. May it be so!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Joseph
Joseph is absolutely one of my favorite heroes of Scripture, not because he was perfect, after all, he seemed to be a little bit of a spoiled brat in the beginning. But the lessons we can learn from him in listening to God, obeying Him, suffering well, honesty and integrity inspire me to be better. He went through such difficult and even unfair situations and yet remained faithful. Joseph was the first son Jacob had with Rachel. Jacob had two wives who were sisters. He had worked for 7 years to earn Rachel's hand, but her father, Laban, tricked him and gave him Leah instead. So Jacob worked for another 7 years to earn Rachel. That is beyond amazing to me! He ended up working for Laban for 14 years waiting to marry Rachel! Because Jacob loved Rachel God had mercy on Leah and she bore sons to Jacob but Rachel had not. Rachel envied her sister and decided to send her servant in to Jacob to bare a son for her. And she did. I don't know if this was much comfort to her or not. So Leah retalliates and sends her servant into Jacob. Think God could have given Jacob all those sons without the women's schemes? Of course. And perhaps there would have been less conflict. Finally God saw the anguish of Rachel's heart and gave her a son for Jacob. It is no wonder then that Jacob had a special relationship with that son, Joseph. The favoritism that Jacob showed Joseph didn't exactly make him the favorite brother. Jacob educated him and spent time with him while the other brother's labored. Jacob knew God had marked Joseph for something special. His brothers were jealous and actually plotted to kill him. The threw him into a pit and would deal with him later. But Rueben, the oldest of the brothers, changed their minds and they decided they would just sell him. When they went to get him they found they were too late. The Midianites had already taken him to sell him. Joseph was sold to a very wealthy man, Potiphar, and he quickly rose in favor. Joseph was handsome and wise. He was a great servant and even protected Potiphar from being scammed. Potiphar respected Joseph so much that he gave Joseph access to and rule of his entire household. Potiphars wife was also pretty fond of Joseph.
Genesis 39:7-20 (English Standard Version)But he refused and said to his master’s wife, "Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, he has put everything that he has in my charge.He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, "See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house." Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home,and she told him the same story, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house." As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
Potiphar was a very prominent man and you can bet his wife was no slouch! But maybe she was very lonely and starved for attention. We don't really know for sure. We do know she was the only thing Potiphar had withheld from Joseph. Sounds like they may have even had the discussion. Joseph was in a precarious position really. He was either going to offend his master's wife or offend his master. Ultimately Joseph chose to not sin against God and ended up at odds with both. Potiphar's wife propositioned him day after day and so Joseph started avoiding her. I sort of wish I could get into his head. I wonder what he was thinking. I wonder if he was tempted. If he was, he didn't let it be known. If he was self-seeking he may have thought of what he could gain by having an affair with her. Maybe the thought never crossed his mind. Anyway, the day comes when Potiphar's wife sees an opportunity, Joseph is there, no one else is around and she makes her move. I imagine Joseph already knew what he would do if that situation arose. It was in his character to avoid evil, it stands to reason that he would also flee from it. And then to be thrown in prison even though the absolute opposite was true. He hadn't attacked her but she had attacked him. In those days you were guilty until proven innocent and you had no right to a speedy trial. Joseph had brought God's favor with him into Potiphar's home and it followed him in to the prison. He spent 2 years in there before he was brought before Pharaoh and that was only because Pharaoh needed him to interpret his dream. Joseph correctly interpreted and the dream and wisely counselled Pharaoh on how to handle the coming famine. One of the things I love about Joseph's story here is how God restored to him so much more than he had ever lost. Joseph kept his eyes on the Lord and humbled himself. God lifted him up. Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over all of Egypt second only to himself, this middle son of a Hebrew Shepard. But God had a plan all along. God knew exactly where Joseph would end up. He knows where you will end up too. I believe we affect how long it takes to get there and how much trouble we experience along the way. But God has such great plans for each of us if we will take Him at His word and act by faith on it. We sacrifice our futures on the alter of the immediate. But if we will do what God says to do when He says to do it, even if it's hard and even if it costs us, God will bless that. He is loving and full of mercy. How many times are our hands be the ones that hold back God's blessing? Wherever Joseph went, he had God's favor. I want that! Don't you? When we are in the midst of temptation it is so easy to cave. So easy! Scripture doesn't tell us why God allowed all of this to happen. Why did it have to be so hard on Joseph. But the process was refining for Joseph. His suffering and humility produced godly character. His faithfulness to God brough him honor. Joseph is a major player on the field here. He's like the star receiver and though he faced a stellar defence, he ran the play and scored a winning touchdown. Oh Father, help us be faithful! Help us be like Joseph!
Genesis 39:7-20 (English Standard Version)But he refused and said to his master’s wife, "Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, he has put everything that he has in my charge.He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, "See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house." Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home,and she told him the same story, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house." As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
Potiphar was a very prominent man and you can bet his wife was no slouch! But maybe she was very lonely and starved for attention. We don't really know for sure. We do know she was the only thing Potiphar had withheld from Joseph. Sounds like they may have even had the discussion. Joseph was in a precarious position really. He was either going to offend his master's wife or offend his master. Ultimately Joseph chose to not sin against God and ended up at odds with both. Potiphar's wife propositioned him day after day and so Joseph started avoiding her. I sort of wish I could get into his head. I wonder what he was thinking. I wonder if he was tempted. If he was, he didn't let it be known. If he was self-seeking he may have thought of what he could gain by having an affair with her. Maybe the thought never crossed his mind. Anyway, the day comes when Potiphar's wife sees an opportunity, Joseph is there, no one else is around and she makes her move. I imagine Joseph already knew what he would do if that situation arose. It was in his character to avoid evil, it stands to reason that he would also flee from it. And then to be thrown in prison even though the absolute opposite was true. He hadn't attacked her but she had attacked him. In those days you were guilty until proven innocent and you had no right to a speedy trial. Joseph had brought God's favor with him into Potiphar's home and it followed him in to the prison. He spent 2 years in there before he was brought before Pharaoh and that was only because Pharaoh needed him to interpret his dream. Joseph correctly interpreted and the dream and wisely counselled Pharaoh on how to handle the coming famine. One of the things I love about Joseph's story here is how God restored to him so much more than he had ever lost. Joseph kept his eyes on the Lord and humbled himself. God lifted him up. Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over all of Egypt second only to himself, this middle son of a Hebrew Shepard. But God had a plan all along. God knew exactly where Joseph would end up. He knows where you will end up too. I believe we affect how long it takes to get there and how much trouble we experience along the way. But God has such great plans for each of us if we will take Him at His word and act by faith on it. We sacrifice our futures on the alter of the immediate. But if we will do what God says to do when He says to do it, even if it's hard and even if it costs us, God will bless that. He is loving and full of mercy. How many times are our hands be the ones that hold back God's blessing? Wherever Joseph went, he had God's favor. I want that! Don't you? When we are in the midst of temptation it is so easy to cave. So easy! Scripture doesn't tell us why God allowed all of this to happen. Why did it have to be so hard on Joseph. But the process was refining for Joseph. His suffering and humility produced godly character. His faithfulness to God brough him honor. Joseph is a major player on the field here. He's like the star receiver and though he faced a stellar defence, he ran the play and scored a winning touchdown. Oh Father, help us be faithful! Help us be like Joseph!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Samson
(These are just my thoughts in preparation so overlook typos and grammatical errors. If you can't or don't want to do that, stop reading now. There will probably be many.)
In preparing a lesson on sexual purity for senior high camp I am considering the lives a 3 men in Scripture: Joseph, Samson, and David. There are so many more I would love to dig into also. I'd love to look at Daniel, who had purposed in his heart not to be defiled. Or even Paul who taught that it was better not to marry at all. I have to admit that, as a young woman, that idea made me kinda mad at Paul. But after many years of marriage, I get it. I have a wonderful husband and I can see how he could accomplish more for the kingdom if he didn't have a wife and kids to take care of. So I need to make it my duty to make his home a place of refreshment so he is encouraged in his ministry. But with that said let's take a look at Samson.
Here's an interesting situation to find yourself in. You'd have to read Judges 13 through 16 to get the overview of his life. And we do get the start to finish and it began with an angel visiting a barren couple. The angel told Manoah's wife, who isn't mentioned by name, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not eat anything unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bare a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and sh shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." Hmmmm. So what exactly is a Nazarite vow? The vow of the Nazirite was usually for a time of unusual devotion to God. Ordinarily this public vow was for a limited time. There were three prohibitions. (1) total abstinence from everything associated with wine, couldn't even eat a grape; (2) no trimming of the hair; and (3) no contact with a dead body. From the womb Samson was called to fulfill this vow even to the point that those expectations were placed on his mother while she carried him. Kind of makes me think that Samson is going to be a remarkable, godly man. Samson's Nazirite service was remarkable in three ways. First, he didn't take the vow voluntarily, it was his before birth. Second, his service was to be lifelong, not temporary. Third, He eventually broke every one of it's stipulations: his head was sheared, he associated with the dead and he drank at his wedding feast. God's purpose was to begin to deliver the Isrealites from the Philistines. I think that's pretty interesting. How would you like for God to call you to strict vow and your ultimate goal being the beginning of a great work? He wasn't planning to use Samson to fully deliver them, just begin to deliver them. Sometimes we get to be the stepping stones. Samson grew and the Lord blessed him and His spirit moved upon him, literally, impelled him. The Spirit of the Lord was pushing Samson toward doing the work that God wanted him to do. , Samson goes to Timnah and checks out a Philistine woman. He goes to his mom and dad and wants them to go get her for him as a wife, because she 'pleases him'. They weren't too excited about that. A good little Jewish boy shouldn't marry one of those Philistine girls. But God was at work paving the way for the Philistine's destruction. On the way a lion came roaring at them and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands. Seriously! I bet none of you could tear a phone book apart with your bare hands! And he goes to see this girl and now she not only pleases him but pleases him well. He must have gotten an even closer look. And as he's walking away he notices bees coming from the carcass of the lion he had torn up and, ya know where there bees, there is honey. Samson takes some of the honey comb out of the carcass of the lion and shares it with his mother and father. Uh oh, vow number one broken. He touched a dead animal and not only that but ate from it, and not only that he shared it with his parents causing them to unknowingly become defiled. So Samson's dad goes and gets the woman and Samson holds a feast. Broken vow number 2, Samson drinks wine at this feast. Samson, always one for a good practical joke, decides to give his Philistine companions a little riddle with a wager attached, 30 linen garments. And for 3 days they couldn't explain the riddle. So they get an idea. Get the new wife to entice Samson. They threatened to burn her and her father's house with fire if she didn't. I can see it now. The little woman comes in with puppy dog eyes, tears welling up and says 'you don't love me. You have posed a riddle to my people but you won't even explain it to me.' But he resists at first so she cries for 7 days. So he gives in to shut her up. She tells the Philistine men and they win the bet. Well Samson is enraged, he goes to Ashkelon, the Spirit of the Lord falls mightily upon him, he kills 30 Philistine men, takes their clothes and gives them to the 30 Philistine companions, and left. Samson's wife was given to his friend, who had been the best man. After a while Samson's anger cooled and he decided he wanted to go see his wife. He gets there and finds out that his wife had been given away. Samson decided this time he wouldn't kill people but instead tied torches to pairs of foxes tails and sent them through their crops, orchards and vineyard. When the Philistine learned it was Samson who had done this they took Samson's wife and her father and burned them with fire. (Kinda makes you think that she should have just told Samson what was happening in the first place because she and her dad ended up being burned anyway.) Samson took revenge on them and slaughtered them. So the Philistines rose up against Judah and came to arrest Samson. Looks like he went with them voluntarily. And after they travelled a while the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him and he broke the new ropes like flax picks up a donkeys jawbone and slays a thousand men. And then here is the 1st mention of Samson calling out to the Lord because he is thirsty. And God gave him water. So far we have seen that when Samson performs some death defying feat, the Spirit of the Lord has fallen mightily upon him. Was his strength really in his hair? I'm just sayin'. Let look at the great love story of Samson and Delilah.... Well first, as Samson enters Gaza(now there's a place where the Isreali's and Philistines ,oh I mean Palestinians, still struggle) , he's sees a prostitute and spends a little time with her. Then Samson falls in love with Delilah. But I am not so sure she was in love with him. These 5 Philistine lords told her they would each give her 1,100 pieces of silver if she could find out the source of Samson's strength. 1100 pieces of silver was a lot of cash. Delilah could have 2 idols made with that . But it wasn't just 1100 pieces, it was 1100 from each of the 5 lords. We're talking 5500 pieces of silver. You might recall that Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver which was the going rate for a slave. Most people wouldn't see that much money in their lifetime. She could buy like a hundred slaves and chariots and all kinds of stuff. Oh the dilemma for her, love or money. Well we know what she chooses. She asks him and first he tells her that if he was bound with 7 fresh cords he would lose his strength and next thing ya know, the philistines are there binding him with 7 fresh cords. Of course she warns him and I guess he buys it. She she calls him a deceiver! Seriously? And then it was new ropes and then his dreads woven into a web and pinned. I am thinking by this point he would have figured out what was up. How many of us do that? I know I have convinced myself that I wasn't being played when I so was! I hate that. She accuses him again of deceiving her. She says "how can you say 'I love you' when your heart is not with me?" What must he have told himself. "Oh she is just testing me to see if I really trust her." I'm wondering why he didn't say, "how can YOU say 'I love you' and try to get me killed???" But, instead, he tells her that his secret and she gets him to go to sleep, calls for someone to come shave his head and steals his strength. I guess it really isn't stealing though if he just gives it away.
In preparing a lesson on sexual purity for senior high camp I am considering the lives a 3 men in Scripture: Joseph, Samson, and David. There are so many more I would love to dig into also. I'd love to look at Daniel, who had purposed in his heart not to be defiled. Or even Paul who taught that it was better not to marry at all. I have to admit that, as a young woman, that idea made me kinda mad at Paul. But after many years of marriage, I get it. I have a wonderful husband and I can see how he could accomplish more for the kingdom if he didn't have a wife and kids to take care of. So I need to make it my duty to make his home a place of refreshment so he is encouraged in his ministry. But with that said let's take a look at Samson.
Here's an interesting situation to find yourself in. You'd have to read Judges 13 through 16 to get the overview of his life. And we do get the start to finish and it began with an angel visiting a barren couple. The angel told Manoah's wife, who isn't mentioned by name, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not eat anything unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bare a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and sh shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." Hmmmm. So what exactly is a Nazarite vow? The vow of the Nazirite was usually for a time of unusual devotion to God. Ordinarily this public vow was for a limited time. There were three prohibitions. (1) total abstinence from everything associated with wine, couldn't even eat a grape; (2) no trimming of the hair; and (3) no contact with a dead body. From the womb Samson was called to fulfill this vow even to the point that those expectations were placed on his mother while she carried him. Kind of makes me think that Samson is going to be a remarkable, godly man. Samson's Nazirite service was remarkable in three ways. First, he didn't take the vow voluntarily, it was his before birth. Second, his service was to be lifelong, not temporary. Third, He eventually broke every one of it's stipulations: his head was sheared, he associated with the dead and he drank at his wedding feast. God's purpose was to begin to deliver the Isrealites from the Philistines. I think that's pretty interesting. How would you like for God to call you to strict vow and your ultimate goal being the beginning of a great work? He wasn't planning to use Samson to fully deliver them, just begin to deliver them. Sometimes we get to be the stepping stones. Samson grew and the Lord blessed him and His spirit moved upon him, literally, impelled him. The Spirit of the Lord was pushing Samson toward doing the work that God wanted him to do. , Samson goes to Timnah and checks out a Philistine woman. He goes to his mom and dad and wants them to go get her for him as a wife, because she 'pleases him'. They weren't too excited about that. A good little Jewish boy shouldn't marry one of those Philistine girls. But God was at work paving the way for the Philistine's destruction. On the way a lion came roaring at them and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands. Seriously! I bet none of you could tear a phone book apart with your bare hands! And he goes to see this girl and now she not only pleases him but pleases him well. He must have gotten an even closer look. And as he's walking away he notices bees coming from the carcass of the lion he had torn up and, ya know where there bees, there is honey. Samson takes some of the honey comb out of the carcass of the lion and shares it with his mother and father. Uh oh, vow number one broken. He touched a dead animal and not only that but ate from it, and not only that he shared it with his parents causing them to unknowingly become defiled. So Samson's dad goes and gets the woman and Samson holds a feast. Broken vow number 2, Samson drinks wine at this feast. Samson, always one for a good practical joke, decides to give his Philistine companions a little riddle with a wager attached, 30 linen garments. And for 3 days they couldn't explain the riddle. So they get an idea. Get the new wife to entice Samson. They threatened to burn her and her father's house with fire if she didn't. I can see it now. The little woman comes in with puppy dog eyes, tears welling up and says 'you don't love me. You have posed a riddle to my people but you won't even explain it to me.' But he resists at first so she cries for 7 days. So he gives in to shut her up. She tells the Philistine men and they win the bet. Well Samson is enraged, he goes to Ashkelon, the Spirit of the Lord falls mightily upon him, he kills 30 Philistine men, takes their clothes and gives them to the 30 Philistine companions, and left. Samson's wife was given to his friend, who had been the best man. After a while Samson's anger cooled and he decided he wanted to go see his wife. He gets there and finds out that his wife had been given away. Samson decided this time he wouldn't kill people but instead tied torches to pairs of foxes tails and sent them through their crops, orchards and vineyard. When the Philistine learned it was Samson who had done this they took Samson's wife and her father and burned them with fire. (Kinda makes you think that she should have just told Samson what was happening in the first place because she and her dad ended up being burned anyway.) Samson took revenge on them and slaughtered them. So the Philistines rose up against Judah and came to arrest Samson. Looks like he went with them voluntarily. And after they travelled a while the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him and he broke the new ropes like flax picks up a donkeys jawbone and slays a thousand men. And then here is the 1st mention of Samson calling out to the Lord because he is thirsty. And God gave him water. So far we have seen that when Samson performs some death defying feat, the Spirit of the Lord has fallen mightily upon him. Was his strength really in his hair? I'm just sayin'. Let look at the great love story of Samson and Delilah.... Well first, as Samson enters Gaza(now there's a place where the Isreali's and Philistines ,oh I mean Palestinians, still struggle) , he's sees a prostitute and spends a little time with her. Then Samson falls in love with Delilah. But I am not so sure she was in love with him. These 5 Philistine lords told her they would each give her 1,100 pieces of silver if she could find out the source of Samson's strength. 1100 pieces of silver was a lot of cash. Delilah could have 2 idols made with that . But it wasn't just 1100 pieces, it was 1100 from each of the 5 lords. We're talking 5500 pieces of silver. You might recall that Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver which was the going rate for a slave. Most people wouldn't see that much money in their lifetime. She could buy like a hundred slaves and chariots and all kinds of stuff. Oh the dilemma for her, love or money. Well we know what she chooses. She asks him and first he tells her that if he was bound with 7 fresh cords he would lose his strength and next thing ya know, the philistines are there binding him with 7 fresh cords. Of course she warns him and I guess he buys it. She she calls him a deceiver! Seriously? And then it was new ropes and then his dreads woven into a web and pinned. I am thinking by this point he would have figured out what was up. How many of us do that? I know I have convinced myself that I wasn't being played when I so was! I hate that. She accuses him again of deceiving her. She says "how can you say 'I love you' when your heart is not with me?" What must he have told himself. "Oh she is just testing me to see if I really trust her." I'm wondering why he didn't say, "how can YOU say 'I love you' and try to get me killed???" But, instead, he tells her that his secret and she gets him to go to sleep, calls for someone to come shave his head and steals his strength. I guess it really isn't stealing though if he just gives it away.
( So as I have been thinking about this for a week or so, I kinda feel bad for Samson. I may have been a little hard on him. I mean I am no better really. The guy was born and thrown into complete commitment without a choice. I don't know about you but I don't much care for expectations being placed on me. I wonder if he was able to keep his vow for most of his life. Could be. He resisted his Philistine wife for 7 days over a riddle. That was probably pretty tough. I know how women can be. While I can feel for the guy, the thing that gets me about
Samson was that he never really called on the Lord. He didn't seem to have much reverence or relationship with Him. If he had called on the Lord, he would have had power to overcome his temptations. He relied on his own strength. Just like I do all too often.)
I know many of you have heard the story of Samson and Delilah in Sunday school since you were little kids. Have you ever considered what you can learn from it, what you should apply? Reading the story of Samson's struggle is sort of like watching a scary movie and wishing you could yell at the dumb blond walking into the room where the murderer is. You want to yell 'run' or like the scriptures teach "Flee!" As far as I know Samson didn't marry Delilah and of course he hadn't married the prostitute. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says ' Flee sexual immorality! Every sin that a man commits is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body."
This is a mercy of God for him to tell us this. He didn't try to find the thing that we want the most and then make it the worst thing we can do. God created the sexual experience as a wonderful and beautiful thing inside of marriage. When you sin in other ways the restoration process is simpler, it is outside the body. If you steal, you can seek forgiveness and pay restitution. God is warning us because He so dearly loves us. He knows us best, after all, He created us. He knows that sex outside of marriage destroys. We do stupid things, make terrible mistakes, risk valuable relationships all for temporary pleasure. Samson was beguiled by Delilah. I have been beguiled. I know you have been too. Our enemy, the Devil, is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. I have been devoured. I hate that. Samson lost his strength, had his eyes gauged out and was ridiculed by his enemy. Don't you know that our enemy ridicules us too? Can't you imagine his snickers and all out evil laughter at our failings. I never want to give the enemy pleasure and yet I have far too many times to count. I also think it's important to note that every time Samson performed some great feat, God's word tells us that the Spirit of the Lord fell upon Samson. His hair represented Samson's strenth but his miraculous strength was from the Spirit of the Lord. That same spirit actually resides within us when we have given our lives to Christ. The same power that enabled Samson lives in us! Is there anything too hard for the Spirit of the Living God?
Samson was that he never really called on the Lord. He didn't seem to have much reverence or relationship with Him. If he had called on the Lord, he would have had power to overcome his temptations. He relied on his own strength. Just like I do all too often.)
I know many of you have heard the story of Samson and Delilah in Sunday school since you were little kids. Have you ever considered what you can learn from it, what you should apply? Reading the story of Samson's struggle is sort of like watching a scary movie and wishing you could yell at the dumb blond walking into the room where the murderer is. You want to yell 'run' or like the scriptures teach "Flee!" As far as I know Samson didn't marry Delilah and of course he hadn't married the prostitute. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says ' Flee sexual immorality! Every sin that a man commits is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body."
This is a mercy of God for him to tell us this. He didn't try to find the thing that we want the most and then make it the worst thing we can do. God created the sexual experience as a wonderful and beautiful thing inside of marriage. When you sin in other ways the restoration process is simpler, it is outside the body. If you steal, you can seek forgiveness and pay restitution. God is warning us because He so dearly loves us. He knows us best, after all, He created us. He knows that sex outside of marriage destroys. We do stupid things, make terrible mistakes, risk valuable relationships all for temporary pleasure. Samson was beguiled by Delilah. I have been beguiled. I know you have been too. Our enemy, the Devil, is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. I have been devoured. I hate that. Samson lost his strength, had his eyes gauged out and was ridiculed by his enemy. Don't you know that our enemy ridicules us too? Can't you imagine his snickers and all out evil laughter at our failings. I never want to give the enemy pleasure and yet I have far too many times to count. I also think it's important to note that every time Samson performed some great feat, God's word tells us that the Spirit of the Lord fell upon Samson. His hair represented Samson's strenth but his miraculous strength was from the Spirit of the Lord. That same spirit actually resides within us when we have given our lives to Christ. The same power that enabled Samson lives in us! Is there anything too hard for the Spirit of the Living God?
Well, first things first, I guess. I decided to call my blog sup2u because Jesus is available to us all and His power then is too. It's up to you what you do with that opportunity. You can receive it by receiving Him. You can receive Him and live as you choose, which won't be too comfortable. But best of all you can receive Him and walk daily in the very same power that raised Him from the dead. You choose. We have opportunities and temptations every day. Sometimes it seems impossible to just do what's right. I was talking with a student yesterday about why we shouldn't use foul language. She could see why some words we consider offensive were wrong to use but not all. I told her what I will tell you, it's up to you. I can explain why I believe that we shouldn't use unwholesome language, or coarse joking, that's what God's word says. But it's up to her to decide what she will believe. Is there an absolute truth? Yes there is. Do I always act on it? Unfortunately I don't. She didn't like the idea of being considered ungodly if she used inappropriate language. Ok I get that, but how else is godliness determined. Godliness has everything to do with behavior. If it's not in your heart it won't come out of your mouth. Godliness is holiness and purity. So is it holy or pure to say things that are gross or offensive? I don't think so. What do you think? It's up to you...
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