Hands

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. (Zephaniah 3:16 ESV)

Hands

Fear often stops us from doing things.

The People of God in Zephaniah’s day had plenty to be afraid of. 

And maybe we do, too.

The order of this command is important.  Fear not, then find strength.

Finding strength is not the pathway to fear-ending.

We find strength when the fear is gone.

But only if the end of fear happens in the right way.  Christ Jesus is the only answer to fear.  And when we believe, and fear flees, then God graciously gives our hands the strength we need to do the work HE calls us to do.

Jesus allows us to be willing and able. Jesus empowers us to be willing and able.  Jesus makes us willing and able.

Fear not, because He has work for us to do.

When You Can Not Help

I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. (Habakkuk 3:16 ESV)

When You Can Not Help

Have you ever felt so helpless that your body trembles?  Your lips quiver at the sound of your fear?  Your bones feel rotten?  Your legs cannot hold you up?

Maybe, like Habakkuk, it was the terror of warfare. 

Maybe it was a growing awareness of the looming effects of your sin.

Maybe it was a political crisis. 

Maybe it was crippling debt.

Maybe it was a breaking relationship.

Maybe it was death’s scythe.

Habakkuk felt like that.  And in the midst of it, He was granted the faith to wait quietly on the Lord.

He stopped trying to fix things himself.  He stopped trying to raise his metaphorical sword and win battles.  He stopped trying to solve everything for himself, his family, and his nation.

Because Habakkuk know the Lord would win.

And the Lord DID win.  He won when exiled Israel returned home.  He won when the prophets stopped writing the Bible, because all the words needed were written.  He won when Immanuel arrived.  He won when every enemy was sliced, diced, and shattered on the cross.  He won with the final enemy, death, trembled and lost on Resurrection Day.  He won when the throne was given on the Day of Ascension.

We do not have to wait for His victory.  It happened.  But now we wait for understanding.  Now we wait for consummation.  Now we wait for every tear to be wiped away.

But those things ARE coming.

Hope

You increased your merchants more than the stars of the heavens. The locust spreads its wings and flies away. (Nahum 3:16 ESV)

Hope

God was disappointed with His children, Israel.  They had repeatedly rebelled against Him, consistently ignored Him, and constantly chosen sin, unrighteousness, and hate instead of choosing the Lord’s way of holiness, righteousness, and love.

And despite their arrogant expectation that God would continue to give them second chances, He had finally turned away from them.  God removed His protection from them.  God allowed Israel to fall into utter destruction and disrepute.  The blessed nation of God’s People was battered, ruined, and ashamed.

Nahum uses metaphors to help us understand how bad things were.  For Israel (including both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms) God’s blessing was incorrectly measured by wealth.  Rich people believed their accumulated possessions indicated God’s favor.  And so, since Israel was successful financially, they believed that God did not really care about their sin.

But we see that God took away from them particularly what they valued most.  Their wealth was carried away by foreign merchants.  Their rich land was as empty as if locusts had devoured everything.

They were undoubtably devastated.

But despite appearances, God had not really taken everything from them.  God only took those things that they foolishly valued more than they valued Him.

Even in His wrath and holy justice, God had not abandoned them.  In fact, the only real abandonment that God performed was against His Son, on the cross.  God abandoned Jesus in the fullness of God’s wrath.  Israel here deserved to be abandoned.  Judah here deserved to be abandoned.  God’s people then, and God’s people NOW deserve to be abandoned.

But as bad as things got, merchants and locusts emptying the Promised Land of earthly value, God kept His promises of salvation, redemption, restoration, and love.

God often gets our attention by bringing loss and suffering.  And we deserve all of it, honestly.  But every trouble we experience is a reminder of our Savior.  The suffering servant.  The bearer of God’s wrath.

Have hope, in Christ, because God’s just anger was put on Jesus’ back instead of ours.

Voice

The Lord roars from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to His people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. (Joel 3:16 ESV)

Voice

My grandfather told this story about his Recruit Division Commander (the Navy’s Drill Instructor). The man was like a mountain.  He woke the recruits loudly.  He called them to order loudly.  He dismissed them loudly. 

He had one volume level:  Extra Loud.

But in the wild chaos of battle, my grandfather said that he imagined that terrifying voice becoming a comfort to every sailor.  Sure, it was loud, but it was loud on HIS side!

The Lord’s voice is something like that.

While the unrighteous should fear when they hear His voice (in His Word, in creation, in His people, or via His Spirit), God’s people can find comfort in His voice.

He is mighty, and He has called us to His side.  He is awe-inspiring, and He has brought us to His city.  He is both loud and quiet, terrifying and peaceful, roaring and whispering.

But to us, His people, whose righteousness is bestowed on us through Christ’s life and death, His voice is the cry of freedom, of victory, of redemption, of salvation.

We hear that voice only through the mediation of Christ Jesus.

We are comforted by that voice only through the mediation of Christ Jesus.

We find rest only through the medication of Christ Jesus.

Debate

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.” (Daniel 3:16 ESV)

Debate

These three young men were commanded to disobey God.  It was not complicated.  God says worship only HIM, the One True, Living God.  And the king tried to get them to worship him, the king.

We might expect these men to argue passionately.  And there are times that would be appropriate.  But here, perhaps knowing that only the Spirit persuades, they did not argue.

We might expect these men to throw a staff like Aaron before Pharaoh.  And there are times that would be appropriate.  But here, perhaps trusting that God had a different plan, they did not argue.

We might expect these men to call on God’s power to strike down the blaspheming king.  And there are times that would be appropriate.  But here, perhaps realizing that they were first called simply to obey God, they did not argue.

I am wondering, today, about the times that I debate, and shout, and rage… thinking that God needs me to defend Him.  I am wondering, today, about the times that I outsmart the enemies, outmaneuver the enemies, outfox the enemies… thinking that God would be glad I was on His team. I am wondering, today, about the times I think God loses if I am not loud enough… thinking that God’s presence and power are best shown through my mouth.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose not to do those things.

But they obeyed what they knew God’s Word taught.  Right there in the first commandment. 

This is not a complicated command from God.  No gray areas are discernible.

And so nothing needed to be said.

Only something simple, but dangerous, to do.

They did not debate… but God won anyway. 

God wins today, too.

THE Answer

And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: (Ezekiel 3:16 ESV)

THE Answer

Ezekiel had just suffered through a terrible vision.  He describes it in dreadful word-pictures and it is almost as terrible for us to read about it as it was for Ezekiel to see it.    Earthquakes, rebellion, and the promise of ineffective ministry were all a part of what Ezekiel experienced.

And then God transported the empty-hearted Ezekiel PLOP into the middle of some Hebrew Exiles.  War refugees who were without physical, intellectual, and emotional hope.

After a wait of seven days, God finally spoke to Ezekiel.

We do not yet know the message God gave Ezekiel.  But it is enough to read that God was not silent.  He saw the sorrows besetting the Hebrews due to their stiff necks… and He spoke.  He saw the hopelessness endured by those broken members of God’s people… and He spoke.  He saw their emptiness… and He spoke.

God spoke.

There is no better answer to whatever we are suffering with.

A lot of people speak.  A lot of ideas get proposed.  A lot of excuses get made.  A lot of false hope gets presented.

But God spoke.

If we want hope, He is the source of hope.  If we want redemption, He is the Redeemer.  If we want the joy of our salvation returned, He is the joy-giver.

And He starts with His Words.  For us, His written Words.  For God’s people, the Bible.

Read them.  Hear them, like Ezekiel.  Let them fill you, turn you, fix you, and re-establish you.

Listen to Him speaking.

Deep Needs

He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes. (Lamentations 3:16 ESV)

Deep Needs

I had a panic moment recently.  My awaited tax return was five days late.  My bank seemed unwilling to help, my tax program did not have the information.  And the IRS said, “we sent it, ask your bank.”

At the same time, some tough counseling situations were drowning my peace, car trouble was looming its head over my daily plans, and the airline flights for a summer wedding trip were suddenly canceled. 

I stared at my computer screen… and found peace in these words of Jeremiah.  Jeremiah was hurting.  Jeremiah was afraid.  Jeremiah had complex and apparently unsolvable problems that were tearing him apart physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.

My problems were miniscule compared to his.

Many in the world have problems that make mine seem like mosquito bites.  Many of God’s people have problems that make mine seem like mere cold French fries.  Many of you have problems that make mine seem like a forgotten bad daydream.

But the answer to ALL of those problems, no matter how overwhelming or underwhelming is the same thing.

Oh, how we need Jesus.

The peace I found from Jeremiah’s words is that Jesus knows my needs.  The Holy Spirit knows my needs.  The Father knows my needs.

And His saving Grace, and continued mercy are enough.

More than enough.

More than I can imagine.

He is that great.

No Need to Look Back

And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. (Jeremiah 3:16 ESV)

No Need to Look Back

I remember the day I got my learners’ permit to drive.  I was excited, glad, and it was SO necessary.  But as good as it was, I would not want to go back.

I remember DeAnne and my first date.  We were excited, glad, and it was SUCH a necessary beginning to our wonderful relationship.  But as good as it was, I would not want to go back.

I remember the first guitar I owned.  It was not quite plastic, and the strings would not stay tuned.  But I did not care. I quickly learned how to play, “Greensleeves.”    I was so excited, so glad, and I needed the guitar to get me started.  But as good as it was, I would not want to go back.

The Ark of the Covenant was beautiful, symbolic, and powerful.  But it was temporary.  It existed to point the way to the Messiah.  And when the Ark was being carried through the wilderness, in the tabernacle, and in the temple it was exciting.  It made God’s people glad.  And it was necessary.

But Jeremiah foretold the time we live in now.  We no longer need the Ark because God’s presence, through Christ Jesus, is IN us.  We no longer need the temple because God’s presence, through Christ Jesus, is IN us.  We no longer need that Holy City.  Because God’s people, through Christ Jesus,  ARE the city of God.

There is more to come!  We will be fully transformed into Christlike holiness.  We will know fully God’s presence always.  We will not endure any more effects of the old days.

But we do not have any need to look back with yearning.  To admire the Ark-days.  To wish for a return to the tabernacle, the temple, or those wonderful things that only existed to aim folk forward to what we already now have!

Because we have Jesus, Himself!  Not a mere (but absolute) Jesus promised.

Yourself

The Lord said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks,

glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet, (Isaiah 3:16 ESV)

Yourself

Our society is strongly in the mode of encouraging us to “be yourself.”  We are urged not to define ourselves by the standards of society, culture, and peer-pressure.  But to determine who we believe we are, or wish we are, or dream we are, and stick to that determination.

But…

What started as good advice to “know ourselves” (even way back with Socrates) has instead become an excuse to avoid criticism, Biblical standards, submission to God, and community involvement.

We see these women of Isaiah’s time, not really being true to themselves.  When we act superior to our ability or character, we become haughty.  When we stretch out our necks, we are attempting to draw attention to ourselves in unnecessary or inappropriate ways.  When we glance with wanton eyes, we attempt to shortcut deep relationship, and achieve shallow, easy skin-deep loves. 

But the strongest picture is of their feet… mincing (walking as if they were other than what they are) and bell-tinkling (proclaiming LOOK AT ME!!!!!) describe someone who is not actually being true to themselves, but instead are in denial of their created and developed nature.

IF we are true to ourselves, we know our Sin and rebellion against the One True Living God.  IF we are true to ourselves, we know the only pathway to improvement, success, and peace is through the Christ who restores us to God Himself.    IF we are true to ourselves, we know that we cannot fix ourselves, improve ourselves, or survive long without Jesus.

The people of Isaiah’s time (actually women AND men were guilty of this) painted themselves as other than what they actually were.

Because they did not want God’s help.  They did not accept God’s knowledge.  They did not hold to God’s standards of truth, beauty, and goodness.

And so they minced.

And so they missed.

The same is true for us, today.  God is the ultimate definer.  God is the only determiner.  God is the only identifier. 

And we connect with Him only through Christ Jesus, the redeemer, the fixer, the sanctifier, the Savior.

In Him, we find out who we really are… and who we are going to be.  And His understanding is complete, full of understanding, full of love, and full of hope concerning our future.

Everywhere

Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. (Ecclesiastes 3:16 ESV)

Everywhere

I generally do not like basketball.  I just do not enjoy it.  But at certain times of the year, basketball is unavoidable.  Basketball is everywhere.

I generally do not like Kale.  But sometimes it seems like it is everywhere, at every restaurant, in every recipe, and in every grocery store.  At times, Kale is everywhere.

I generally do not like St. Patrick’s Day.  But in March, everywhere I look is green, leprechauns, and four-leaf clovers.  The celebration is everywhere.

But despite what it seems to me, not many things are actually everywhere.

But Sin is everywhere.

We expect to see Sin in greedy banks, raunchy rock concerts, Rated-R movies, and Washington DC.  But the author of Ecclesiastes found Sin in unexpected places.  He found Sin in places usually considered righteous.

I imagine he meant the courts of Israel, the King’s palace, and the temple.

It should not have surprised him.

Because Sin is everywhere.  If we kind find a location, a people-group, an occupation, or even a hobby, that was not twisted, ruined, or tainted by Sin… that would be one part of creation, community, or locale that did not need Jesus’ atonement.

But everyone, and everything needs Jesus.

And He came to defeat Sin and Sin’s effects, everywhere.

It is prideful, inaccurate, and dangerous to ignore Sin.

But thankfully, as ‘everywhere’ as Sin is… Jesus’ atoning, redeeming, fixing work is more EverywherER!

Results

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. (Proverbs 3:16 ESV)

Results

The first few chapters of the book of Proverbs presents Wisdom as a person.  It is a metaphor.

Unlike what the world says, Wisdom is not necessarily found in old age, experience, or common sense.  Wisdom is choosing God’s way, even when it is hard, costly, or we do not understand it.  Wisdom is submitting to God, particularly through Christ Jesus.

Of course, Christians choose God’s Way because He is amazing, loving, gracious, righteous, and good.   We choose HIS wisdom because of HIM.  Success is not the goal.  Being blessed is not the goal.  Happiness is not the goal.

But those things often come as the the result of wisdom.

Because we creatures, doing things the creator’s way, are bound to have success.  Not for success’s sake.  But because God knows what He is doing when He teaches us how to live.

Long life on the one hand… riches and honor on the other.

Of course, these hopes might merely be referring to the billions of years Christians will have in heaven.  Eternal life… heavenly riches… the honor of standing with Jesus…

But it also can happen here.   Not because of our good choices, acquired skills, or worldly wisdom.  But because of the One in whom we trust.

That is wisdom.

Complaining

Or why was I not as a hidden stillborn child, as infants who never see the light? (Job 3:16 ESV)

Complaining

Job had a lot to complain about.  Because of Satan’s accusation against Job, God allowed a series of tragedies to beset His faithful servant.  And things had become pretty bad.

Job’s complaints take an odd turn.  We usually compare ourselves to others, and find that other folk have things better than we do.

But Job actually comparing himself with other people who have suffered terribly… He particularly mentions here those poor children who were never born, never reached the outside world, never actually used their senses, never were revealed to the world.

And Job says they would have it better than him.

He did not compare himself to others’ lives of blessing, and complain they were blessed more than him.  He compared himself to the absolute worst situations he could imagine, and wishes he were like THEM, because then he would be better off.

But he comes short of wishing he were in hell.  He does not admire those people who are fully absent from the balm of God’s presence, however miniscule it might seem at present.

Because Job remains an example of faith, even with his complaints.

He is bitter.  He is confused.  He is suffering.  He has lost most hope.

But he knows that the presence of God is enough.

Elsewhere, Job writes, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him (Job 13:15 JKV).

Job’s book encourages us to honestly complain… but to realize that our hope remains in God.  Jesus did this in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Paul did this in prison.  Joseph did this in Jail.  Jeremiah did this in the cistern.

But not just because of some vague sense that God is good.  Rather, we have hope because our suffering is nothing compared to what Jesus Himself endured.  He suffered complete separation from God, so that His people will never be separated from Him. 

In a way, it would have been better for Jesus if He had never been born.

But His love for Christians ensured that He was born.  So that He could live, die, and be resurrected on our behalf.

We can pity Job.  But we can also admire and emulate his faith.  And most of all, we can cling to the same Savior he did.

Lesser Fame

After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men. (Nehemiah 3:16 ESV)

Lesser Fame

I know of a man who shares my name.  He lives in the city in which I was born, and is an engineer/entrepreneur.  I have never met him, but sometimes the internet reports the business successes that “I” have accomplished!

This Nehemiah is not the Nehemiah that led the returning exiles back to Israel, and wrote the book of Nehemiah!

This lesser-known Nehemiah was a leader among the Hebrews who were not taken into captivity.  He was not exiled.  He was a governor of some kind, from near Jerusalem.  And when the well-known Nehemiah organized the rebuilding of the Temple walls, the lesser-known came to Jerusalem and worked on a section of the wall.

While I could easily get lost imagining humorous situations where one Nehemiah was near the other, and both heard their name called out… that is not the main thing of wonder in this verse.

Rather, perhaps it can remind us that we share a name with someone of greater fame.

We Christians have been given HIS name.

He is Christ, and we are lesser-known folk of the same name.  “Christians,” in fact means, “Little Christs.”

I am not sure that Nehemiah, son of Azbuk, was glad to be confused with Nehemiah, cup-bearer to the King.  No one would confuse me with Christ Jesus, though.

But Christians are becoming more like Him!  This is what sanctification is.  As we learn to love our namesake more, and as we strive to walk like Him (Not to earn His favor, but because we love Him!) we are made more Holy in God’s eyes, simply because He is holy.

And when our bodies fail, and we enter the Kingdom of God fully, we will be like Him! 

Icing

 He made chains like a necklace and put them on the tops of the pillars, and he made a hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains. (II Chronicles 3:16 ESV)

Icing

My best friend and I once rebuilt a 1965 Chevrolet Panel Truck (a sort of early suburban).  We fixed the engine.  We reran the wiring.  We fancified the interior.  We painted it (by trial and error) a deep dark blue, with waves (instead of the usual flames) of light blue.

I must say, it was pretty nice.

Then my mother crafted tiny wooden and stained glass coach lights for the interior. 

Those lights were not necessary.  The truck was beautiful without them.

But the fine detail was the icing on the cake.

The Temple in Jerusalem was beautiful.  Entire Biblical chapters are used to describe the long awaited building that represented God’s presence among His people.  The plans were amazing.  The construction was amazing.  The wood and stone were amazing.

But on this world-renown beautiful building, craftsmen made icing for the cake.

It is clear that God likes beautiful things.

And most beautiful to Him are His children.

Not because of our appearance, skills, or personality.

But because we are made in HIS image.

Through (and only through) our relationship with His beautiful Son, Christ Jesus.

The chains and pomegranates He crafts around us are often forged with tears and troubles.  They are often molded with our experiences of joy and happiness.  They are often made in a way that we do not notice them at first.

But because of your creation, God’s people are beautiful.  And since He loves beauty, He puts icing on our cake.

Author! Author!

The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son; (I Chronicles 3:16 ESV)

Author! Author!        

To earn some much needed extra credit in high school, I attended a privately produced drama at a small theater.  I was supposed to write a review, describing what happened in the play, and what it meant.

After watching the actors perform, I had no idea what the play was about.  I did not really even know what was supposed to have happened.  It was one of those kind of plays.

The audience, at the end, applauded.  And someone, perhaps the play-write’s mom, started to call out, “Author! Author!”

And the author stood up to receive his applause… and… explained what had happened in the play!  And what it meant!

And I went home relieved.

This verse is actually debated among some scholars.  Is this a direct line of ancestry? Is this two brothers, both sons of Jehoiakim?  Are these men known by other names elsewhere in Scripture?

And in preparation to write these paragraphs, I followed a lot of rabbit trails.  Academically, historically, linguistically, so many questions arose.  It could have been confusing, discouraging, and mind-numbing.

But then I remembered the Author.

Even if I cannot at present unravel the strings and knots of this verse, I know Someone who easily does.  Even if I cannot at present understand exactly what happened in this verse, and what it means, I know Someone who easily does.  Even if I cannot at present unravel the confusion found in this brief list of names, I know Someone who easily does.

Knowing the Author makes all the difference.

In the same way, we might not understand what happened yesterday.  We might not understand what some event means.  We might not be able to see the big picture of our lives, and how we connect to all of God’s Kingdom.

Do not despair because a particular Biblical verse is confusing.  Do not despair because we do not understand, even while those around us are applauding.  Do not despair because we do not know.

We know Someone who does.   And the meaning always has something to do with Jesus!  That can let us go home in peace.

Surprising Blessings

And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’” (II Kings 3:16 ESV)

Surprising Blessings

The King of Northern Israel sought help against the King of Moab, who had started a war against him.  That northern King sought help from the Kings of Judah and Edom.  But Moab still had the larger army, the better tactical position, and more resources.

And despite Israel’s and Judah’s unfaithfulness at that time, the Lord helped them miraculously.  Without any wind, clouds, or storm, the allied armies woke to see the ditches that Elisha had ordered them to dig, in preparation for His surprising blessing, filled with water.

And when the Moabites so the water in the morning, they mistakenly thought the water was blood from a fight amongst the allies, and jumped into battle!  And the Lord, again miraculously, gave a surprising victory over Moab.

The nations of Israel and Judah did not deserve God’s help.  The kings barely did ANY of the things we normally think are required before God sends help.  We see no humility.  We see no apology.  We see no promise to improve.

But God gives them help, blessings, and military salvation.

This should not surprise us.  Because He saves His people today the same way.  He gives us the cross long before we were even aware we needed it.  He gives us blessings before we display humility.  He changes our hearts so that we can repent, before we even know we have sinned.

God’s usual M.O. is grace.

And He showed it to the Judeans and Israelites with undeserved water and victory.

I expect there was a lot of rejoicing.  I hope there was a lot of turning again to the Lord.

But even if there was not… let US turn again to Him.  Not to receive His blessings, but because He already has given, is giving, and will give them to His people.

A True Judge

Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. (I Kings 3:16 ESV)

A True Judge

The law of the land, ANY land, is not separated from God and His gospel.  In this oft-quoted story of King Solomon we do not see common sense displayed, nor human fairness, nor expediency.

Instead, Solomon displayed in his judgment an awareness of the presence of sin, the consequences of sin, and the hope that all sinners have in God’s grace and mercy.  That grace and mercy are what Jesus Christ is all about.

It takes an awareness of Sin to understand grace.  It takes acknowledgement of guilt to accept forgiveness.  It takes hopelessness to appreciate hope.

A true judge judges from that perspective.

Lately, it seems our nation seeks legal expertise, the ‘correct’ political viewpoint, and soft words when evaluating a judge. 

But Solomon shows us that there is no such thing as a secular judge.

A judge is either judging on the basis of God’s law and God’s amazing gospel… or that judge is not really judging at all.

A Good King

But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” And he returned. (II Samuel 3:16 ESV)

A Good King

We need Godly national leadership.  (As well as state, county, and city…) 

This episode in II Samuel reads like an afternoon soap opera, but more terrible because it is history.

This verse describes a sorrowful effect of unGodly leadership.  God had replaced wicked King Saul with King David.  Saul did not like this, and eventually kicked David out of Israel.  Further, Saul unlawfully took back Saul’s daughter, Michal, from his rival, David.

It probably broke David’s heart.  David responded, trying to find solace and political allies by unrighteously marrying a bunch of other women, related to neighboring kings and leaders.  One unrighteousness led wrongly to more unrighteousness.

Then, when David won the civil war, he demanded to have his previous wife, Michal restored.  And General Abner, previously working for Saul and his family, agreed.  So Michal, after marriage to Phaltiel for nine years, was again ripped from a family, and returned to David.  And her husband grieved.

Unrighteousness, in kings as well as in us, leads to grief.

And Michal is now pushed into remarriage to David.  Whom she does not know anymore.  In competition with a group of women.

More sorrow.

All caused by a series of unrighteous acts by Israel’s leadership.

And this points us to our need for a true leader.  Not a king like other nations have.  Not a king who is mighty.  Not a king who we like. 

But a righteous, reliable, Godly leader.

And that is Jesus Christ… and Him alone.

Everything else will lead to a husband weeping.  Everything else will lead to a lot of grief.  Everything else will lead to disaster.

Proclaim our true King, Jesus!

Totally Present

But Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And he said, “Here I am.” (I Samuel 3:16 ESV)

Totally Present

Sometimes we answer a call or question with an obscure, “What?”

Sometimes we answer a call or question with a vague, “Uh-huh.”

Sometimes we answer a call or question with a glance.

But Samuel says one Hebrew word.  And that word means, “I am here, attentive, focused, willing, and not distracted.”

It might be a nod towards God’s answer to Moses, “I am.”

It might be a word that honors the one who calls.

It might be a word that focusses the responder on the honor of the one (or One) calling.

But Samuel had a servant’s heart.  He said, “Here I am” to both God and Eli.  He lived his live of humble service with an attitude of, “Here I am.”

Because he was usually nowhere else.

Jesus, too, and more completely said, “Here I am.”  He said it in Gethsemane.  He showed it at His baptism.  He said it as he wept for Lazarus.

He was truly Emmanuel.  God with us. 

When you are alone, remember that Jesus says, “Here I am.”

When you see hurt, copy Samuel and Jesus by saying, “Here I am.”

Conversations

And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her… (Ruth 3:16 ESV)

Conversations

I like to talk about college football.  I like to talk about Star Trek.  I like to talk about books.  I like to talk about travelling.  I like to talk about my family.

And those are ‘fine’ conversations.

Of course we do not know about every conversation that Naomi had with her daughter-in-law.  They had known each other a long time, and had travelled a long road without radio, spotify, or the internet.  So they had probably talked a lot.

But here we see a conversation that is worth copying.

They talked about salvation. 

Boaz was the Kinsman-Redeemer.  The things ‘he had done for her’ were not casual, mundane, regular things.  He was in the process of being a type of Christ, whether he knew it or not.

So Naomi was not just asking about what Ruth had for lunch, or how the gleaning went, or who she had made friends with.  Naomi was asking about salvation.

In fact, every conversation in the Bible is a conversation about salvation.  Every statement, directly or indirectly, points towards the Messiah, the Redeemer, the suffering Servant, the Savior.

And every conversation WE have gets to do that, too.

It happens a lot more readily when three things are true.  First, that we are aware of how amazing Jesus is.  Second, that we are aware of Jesus’ part in our lives.  And third, that we are not ashamed to talk about Him.

Be like Naomi and Ruth.   We can talk about the weather, traffic conditions, favorite sportsball teams, our kids, our jobs, and politics.  But when we do, we also get to talk about salvation.