Running Well

An odd situation occurred after Joab slew Absalom on the field of battle.  Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok and fleet of foot, offered to run to King David to tell him the news of the battle.  2 Samuel 18:20-21 reads, "And Joab said to him, "You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king's son is dead." ²¹ Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran."  Joab said to a Cushite, an Ethiopian who was an eyewitness of what had occurred in the wood, to run and bring the message of the battle to King David at Mahanaim.

Ahimaaz was undeterred, despite lacking a message.  2 Samuel 18:22-23 says, "And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, "But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite." So Joab said, "Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?" ²³ "But whatever happens," he said, "let me run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite."  The burning question is, why was Ahimaaz compelled to run when he had no message ready?  He did not give Joab an answer to his most sensible question.  Joab would have news for Ahimaaz to carry on another day, but he insisted he be permitted to run.  Perhaps the answer to his desire to run was borne out of his great ability shown by overtaking the Cushite.  The running prowess of Ahimaaz, however, served no practical purpose or service to his general or king because he went on his own accord.

I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the church in Galatians 5:7-8:  "You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you."  He complimented their quick start in following Jesus, yet at some point their efforts were misdirected because they were persuaded to run in a way contrary to Jesus Christ.  In their zeal to honour God they left the grace of the Gospel behind and returned to the bondage of the Law.  Their efforts estranged them from fellowship with Christ.  They submitted to circumcision, sought justification by the law and gloried in their flesh rather than faith in Jesus working through love.  Ahimaaz was persuaded by his own desire to run, and the Galatians were persuaded by legalistic believers to return to Law as a means of finding favour with God.  These examples show us we can be persuaded by what hinders us from obeying the truth.  Supposed good intentions are misguided if we will not submit to God.

The one who desires to proclaim good news needs to be an eyewitness and have a message ready.  The one who wants to run their race well must be led by the Holy Spirit and God's word.  Much effort and time is wasted and errors are made when we are persuaded by what hinders us from obedience.  Ahimaaz was a fast runner told by his king to stand aside, and the circumcised Galatians received no commendation for the cutting of their flesh because in doing so they coddled the flesh.   Galatians 5:25-26 exhorts us all, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."  The race we run is to be enjoined at the pace Jesus sets for us, and He will always direct us righteously according to His good purposes.

Email Update!

Hello to all those who are using the automated email to receive updates from the blog!  I have been notified the Feedburner gadget I have been using will be discontinued in June and therefore blog posts will not be sent anymore.  I apologise for this...I have looked into setting up an automated service like Mailchimp but it is simply too much for me to navigate.  The content isn't the issue but figuring how to send out emails without causing confusion.  If you know me and have skill in the area please send me a message...otherwise to receive the content you will have to check the blog itself when Feedburner goes away. :)

The Fruitful Life

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; ² but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. ³ He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

Psalm 1:1-3

God who created trees designed them to produce seeds contained in the fruit.  Seeds make the propagation of more trees possible, and in this way seeds are cultivated to grow an entire orchard.  Before a tree can fruit in season it must be well-established in suitable soil.  Time is required for the roots to tap into the moisture and nutrients so trees will grow and bear much fruit.

The man who is blessed is the one who is rooted by faith in God and His word.  The author of this Psalm did not only read the Law but meditated in it day and night.  The revelation of God, His truth and commands, guided David and all who look to God for wisdom, discernment and strength.  It was not like a book that we read occasionally but divine inspiration to immerse ourselves in.  The one who delights in God and His word will be most fruitful by God's gracious design.  The one who treasures God in truth will refuse ungodly counsel, will not stand with sinners, or settle into scornful ways.

Our tendency is to read a book and move on to the next one; we read one verse or chapter and close the book to do something else.  We cannot read perpetually, yet when the book is closed our hearts and minds ought to remain open to the probing, searching word that refines and directs us.  The word of God exposes our errors, points out the dead works from a guilty conscience and guides us what thoughts must be taken captive to the obedience of Christ.  God's word is not something to lay aside on the path to maturity, for without the Living Water applying Gospel truth to our ways all our efforts will be fruitless.

In sport the best players cannot neglect the fundamentals, the rudimentary skills common among every participant.  The star players are those who do the most basic things best with consistency.  A tree, with a desire to be more fruitful, cannot abandon the connection between roots and soil.  A believer, no matter how well-meaning the motives, cannot safely move on from the gospel to seek deeper truth and revelations beyond the word of God.  The men of Israel facing judgment for their sin were keen to know the word of the LORD, but since they would not obey Him in the basics of faith they were cut off and cast away as dead branches fit for the flame.

How good it is for God's people to realise it is our connection to Jesus Christ by faith that makes us fruitful, and wherever He plants us we can be established and grow.  It is not going to another church that will make all the difference for our walk, nor will our role in a fellowship be a hindrance to personal fruitfulness.  When we are born again and abide in Christ by faith marked by obedience to His word, we will bear much fruit.  Based on God's word, like a tree planted by rivers of water the ones who delights in God's law and meditates in it will bring forth fruit in season, our leaf shall not wither, and whatever we do shall prosper.  Believer, do you truly believe this?

Unexpected Refreshment

When King David heard Absalom had declared himself king in Hebron and the conspiracy against him was strong, he voluntarily vacated the palace in Jerusalem to prevent bloodshed.  He directed the high priest Zadok to return the Ark of the Covenant to the proper resting place in the tabernacle in faith of God's sovereignty and goodness.  If the LORD delighted in him He would cause David to one day return.  To make dire matters worse, David was informed his chief advisor Ahithophel was also part of Absalom's mutinous scheme.  David and all the people who crossed the Kidron valley with him and ascended the Mount of Olives wept as they mournfully trudged away from Jerusalem and God's holy habitation.

As David, his household and those loyal to him left the city, they were greeted by a jeering and cursing man named Shimei of Benjamin.  2 Samuel 16:7-8 says, "Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: "Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! ⁸ The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!"  David was a humble man who knew well his faults, yet he was not guilty of what Shimei accused him of.  To the contrary:  David had been gracious, merciful and generous to the household of Saul.  Shimei cast stones, kicked up dust and hurled insults at David, and he took comfort in the LORD looking upon his affliction and rewarding him good for extending grace in the face of humiliating circumstances.

Then comes the surprising revelation of 2 Samuel 16:14:  "Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there."  Shell-shocked by the betrayal of his own son, grieved with the need to vacate the throne and flee his home, cursed and falsely accused of being a bloodthirsty rogue, the king and all the people with him were refreshed.  I am convinced this refreshment was not one merely of physical rest but of perfect peace that comes only from faith in God.  A man cannot be refreshed when seething with rage, while plotting his revenge or furious over public humiliation.  On the Mount of Olives David and his companions took time to breathe, to recover as they considered God and entrusted themselves to Him afresh--right there as the dust filled their nostrils and the curses rained down.

How blessed are the people whose God is the LORD, who entrust themselves, their reputations and future into His loving hands!  Our God is a Saviour who delivers and redeems those who wait on Him.  The terrible circumstances for David and his people had just begun, yet in resolving to hope in God they found rest and refreshment.  The God who gives us breath is able to provide peace which allows us to breathe the free air of His grace, mercy and goodness.  David vacated the throne of Israel with the realisation God is on the throne over all, and this knowledge ought to refresh us in every season of life.