Seeing the Big Picture

While drawing spiritual parallels from biblical historical accounts can provide insights, we must remain vigilant to survey the big picture.  For example, this morning I read 1 Samuel 7 which explains how the Ark of the Covenant remained in the home of Abinadab for 20 years before the children of Israel returned to the LORD with all their hearts, put away their idols and served God only.  For a long time the nation of Israel had been oppressed by the Philistines, and drawing near to God according to His covenant was an important step in their restoration.  The Hebrews gathered at the word of Samuel and humbled themselves before God in acknowledging their sin with fasting and repentance.

The Philistines heard the Hebrews had gathered in Mizpeh, and they decided it provided an opportune time to attack.  The people were likely weakened from their fast and not organised to fight a battle, so it seemed they would be easy prey.  Some might read this passage and draw a spiritual parallel, that when God's people take steps to be right with God and serve Him the enemy of our souls will muster forces to attack.  We do observe it was after Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness and hungry from an extended fast Satan tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread.  While this interpretation may have merit, it is not the whole story.  If we hold fast to this interpretation of events on a spiritual level, we do a disservice to ignore what happened later.  Focusing on the enemy attack or satanic temptation results in poor--even unbiblical--personal application.

When the people saw the advancing Philistines, they were afraid and asked Samuel to intercede on their behalf with God.  Samuel cried out to God, and God heard him.  1 Samuel 7:10 reads, "Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel."  In response to the cries of His people, God delivered them from their adversaries with a mighty hand, for He thundered against them.  The passage goes on to say in 1 Samuel 7:13-14, "So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. ¹⁴ Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites."  When the enemies of Israel seized an opportunity to fight and overcome Israel, God fought for His people, overcame their enemies, kept the Philistines out of Israel's territory, and restored cities long inhabited by Philistines!  God brought peace where there had only been oppression and warfare.

For those who would use the 1 Samuel 7 passage to suggest we ought to expect opposition when we turn to the LORD and serve Him wholly, we also ought to praise God because He will deliver us!  After the temptations of Satan proved futile, the Gospels of Matthew and Mark say after the devil left him angels came and ministered unto Him.  God allowed Job to suffer at the hands of Satan with the aim to doubly bless him in the end and reveal His compassion and mercy (James 5:11).  The devil imagined he could destroy Jesus on Calvary, but by God's grace the death of Jesus ushered in the means of justification and salvation for all sinners forever.  From these passages the big picture is revealed, that whenever God allows attacks and trials God is able to redeem them as a massive win for those who love Him.

If we only focus on the likelihood of attacks for seeking the LORD and serving Him, it follows people may conclude opposition is validation of their piety.  A better interpretation and application is to realise our sovereign God is able to deliver, save and minister to us because He preserves us by His grace.  Let us be those who cry out to Him for salvation and abide in His word.  John 8:31-32 says, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  In Christ we are free from the shackles of worry, sin, fear and pride, and we are free to worship, praise and thank God for His salvation.  As it is written in Psalm 34:6, "This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."  More than focusing on enemy attacks or what we must do to overcome, how good it is to rejoice in our Saviour who hears and saves us out of all our troubles.

Rejoicing in Christ

I enjoy reading good books that provoke reflection and provide insight into living like Jesus Christ.  I especially like concrete examples that aid personal application of points being made.  In Spiritual Leadership, a list from the Life of Robert E Speer was provided for leaders to measure their maturity in practical and timeless ways.  Most of those listed were things to avoid because it is our natural, fleshly inclination we all suffer from in various degrees.  Here are some I found most useful:

• Not to murmur at the multitude of business or the shortness of time but to buy up the time all around.
• Not to groan when letters are brought in; not even a murmur.
• Not to magnify undertaken duties by seeming to suffer under them, but to treat all as liberties and gladness...
• Before censuring anyone, obtain from God a real love for him.  Be sure that you know and that you allow all allowances that can be made.  Otherwise, how ineffective, how unintelligible or perhaps provocative your best-meant censure may be.
• Oh, how well it doth make for peace to be silent about others, not to believe everything without discernment, and not to go on easily telling things.
• Not to seek praise, gratitude, respect or regard from superiors or equals of age or past service.
• Not to feel uneasiness when your advice or opinion is not asked or is set aside.
• Never to let yourself be placed in favorable contrast with another.
• Not to hunger for conversation to  turn of yourself.
• To seek no favor, no compassion; to deserve, not to ask for, tenderness.
• To bear blame rather than share or transmit it.
• When credit for your own design or execution is given to another, not to be disturbed, but to give thanks. (Sanders, J. Oswald. Spiritual Leadership. Marshall Pickering, 1986. pages 118-119)

There is much in the world, in the church and in ourselves that can be disheartening when we focus on faults and failures.  But when we learn to trust God, continue to cast our cares on Jesus, and expect to see the goodness of God in the land of the living, we will experience comfort from the LORD as we rejoice in our Saviour.  Examining the motivations of our hearts and walking in integrity before God and man is our calling and a blessing afforded us as God's beloved children.  By God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit we can implement Philippians 4:4 in all seasons of life because Jesus is our Life:  "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"

Saved to Stand

History has shown even those who believe God exists and attribute power to Him often choose to reject Him.  The Egyptians realised the God of the Hebrews fought against them when suddenly their chariot wheels began falling off as they tried to pursue them through the Red Sea.  The testimony of Rahab in Jericho showed the miraculous, marvelous power of God had been voiced throughout the region with the plagues He poured out on Egypt, yet those in Jericho did not worship Him.  In a passage I read this morning, the Philistines believed the God of Israel was responsible for the deadly tumours and plague of mice that ravaged the land wherever the ark of God was carried, yet they continued to cling to their idol Dagon.  God's own people were guilty of forsaking the worship of God in their service to idols who never once saved them.

In a rather humorous way, the Bible describes what happened when the ark of God was captured and placed by the image of Dagon in the Philistine temple.  1 Samuel 5:3-5 says, "And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. ⁴ And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it. ⁵ Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day."  It is likely the image of Dagon had never toppled over until the ark of God was brought into his temple.  The irony is after Dagon fell over a second time and his head and hands broke off--leaving only a stump--the Philistine priests and people reverenced the threshold where Dagon fell rather than transferring their allegiance to the God before whom Dagon bowed.

Recently I viewed a clip of a hardened atheist who railed upon God for the suffering He allows people to endure, yet his worldview does not provide him or anyone else comfort from suffering in this supposedly godless world.  All the rage the fellow expressed remained impotent to redeem the past or provide a bright future for him:  so it is for all who make a covenant with death.  The amazing thing about the living God is He chose to come to earth as a man and suffer a bloody death at the hands of murderous humanity on the cross on Calvary so whosoever might believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead and ascension to heaven reveals His power over sin and death, and by faith in Him we have a living, enduring hope.  God demonstrated His love for us that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us so we might live with Him.

The God who created mankind has suffered more rejection than everyone else combined, yet He remains gracious and loving towards us.  Despite people throughout the ages to this day who reverence rocks, stones and themselves over the true God, He stays faithful and is worthy to be praised.  Let us be numbered among those who cast aside our idols and wrath and faithfully cling to Him, for He able to set us back on our feet after we have fallen.  When we suffer, He draws us to Himself with words of comfort, love and peace.  He supports us, despite our wretchedness and folly, with His redemptive power and everlasting arms.  Psalm 20:6-8 expresses our great confidence in Christ:  "Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. ⁷ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. ⁸ They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright."

Power of Prophecy

Some Christians have an appetite for biblical prophecy to gain understanding of future events.  Some enjoy observing what is happening in the world with the aim of connecting what they see with what the Bible says.  Given a bit of time, this often proves to be a highly speculative practice.  If people were to dig out dusty paperbacks from the 70's and 80's, there undoubtedly would be suggestions based on current events at the time that sound quite silly now.  A problem I have with those who have a prophetic sweet tooth that springboards off current events is the quick discarding of claims that proved erroneous to make way for new speculations that pose as revelations--without damaging the credibility of those who made false claims previously.

I am convinced God has revealed Himself to mankind through His word for the purpose of us knowing Him, that we would be saved and sanctified by Him.  This is true concerning poetry, prophecy or any book of the Bible.  God has spoken through historical narrative, through prophets and His Son Jesus so we would be transformed inside and out.  On the subject of God being our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, the sons of Korah sang prophetically in Psalm 46:10-11:  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! ¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah"  To people who looked around at the desolations of the earth and justified being afraid, God commanded His people to stand still and know the LORD of hosts is God.  Knowledge of God's power and presence was intended to shift the perspective of God's people from their enemies or troubles to their God who will be exalted.  God's word ought to change our outlook, thinking, words and actions.

At the conclusion of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ Revelation 22:10-11 says, "And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. ¹¹ He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."  The words of prophecy spoken through the apostle John were relevant for the 1st century Christians and remain important to this day.  The words were not to be sealed because they were intended to be heard and responded to by faith through obedience.  Those who refused to heed God's word would remain unchanged in their sinfulness, and those made righteous by faith in Jesus would listen to and obey His word.  This exhortation is not to encourage unjust and filthy living, but it shows how our response to God's pure and holy word will be reflected in our actions.  Sin and righteousness each have their own final reward from God:  death or life.

The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary said this:  "No worse punishment can God lay on ungodly men than to give them up to themselves. The solemn lesson derivable from this verse is, Be converted now in the short time left (Rev 22:10, end) before “I come” (Rev 22:7, 12), or else you must remain unconverted for ever; sin in the eternal world will be left to its own natural consequences; holiness in germ will there develop itself into perfect holiness, which is happiness."  One thing that rings true from reading the Bible is it never comforts or exhorts people to remain as we are, for unconverted sinners and redeemed saints are both called to repentance and to follow Jesus.  We come to Jesus as we are, and as a potter fashions clay so God works in and through us to accomplish His pleasure as vessels sanctified for His honour.  The power of prophecy is not knowing when or what will happen in the future but by the transformation God brings about in us when we submit and entrust our lives to Him by faith and obedience.