Cultivating Companionship

Friends are a blessing from God, and cultivating friendship requires individual effort as well.  As it is written in Proverbs 18:24, "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."  We are not "close" to brothers and sisters by virtue of having the same parents, sharing a room, or having grown up together.  We can be distant or detached from people who live in the same house as we do!  But if we want friends, it falls to us to be the kind of friend we would appreciate ourselves.  Friendship is not restricted to a handful, for even Jesus called His disciples friends.  If Jesus was not above cultivating friendship with sinners, let us not be so proud to scorn friendship with others - especially of the household of faith.

This morning I read through a list of notable people during his reign in Jerusalem.  Here is portion of the list in 1 Chronicles 27:32-34:  "Also Jehonathan, David's uncle, was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons. ³³ Ahithophel was the king's counsellor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion. ³⁴ After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, then Abiathar. And the general of the king's army was Joab."  As king David had many counsellors, for in counsel there is great wisdom.  Jehonathan was a scribe and counsellor, and Ahithophel was also an adviser - business associates one could say.  Abiathar was a priest, and Joab was the general of the army.  But the person who stood out to me is Hushai, "the king's companion."  It is amazing the king would have a companion, someone he spent time with as a friend.

The friendship forged between king and subject withstood the test other relationships failed.  Ahithophel turned against David and sided with his usurping son Absalom who sought his life.  The priest Abiathar and general Joab supported Adonijah's rise to power behind David's back, disregarding the will and command of the king.  Yet through it all Hushai was a valuable friend who risked his own life for the good of his friend and king.  His relationship with the king was greater than respect for David's calling or position ordained by God but Hushai valued his person.  Christians and especially pastors have a need of friends of this kind where there is trust without suspicion, transparency without fear, and delight in companionship which goes both ways.

How happy was David to have a friend like Hushai, and blessed beyond measure is the man who makes Jesus Christ his friend.  The most profound and lasting friendships are those formed in the shared fear of the LORD and obedience to His Word.  In a world of superficial "friends" and "likes" profound friendship is found through a relationship with God and enduring friendships which spring from this one.  Jesus has not held back anything from us, and may we not hide from the One who sees and knows all.  Through His demonstration of love on the cross for sinners and patience with His disciples we are provided a perfect picture of the kind of friend we ought to be.  As Hushai was a companion of David, may we be towards our King and other friends in His name.

Getting Off the Ground

Faithful to His promise, God gave His people victory over Jericho.  God commanded the spoils of the fallen city to be brought into the treasury of the LORD.  Anyone who took of the gold, silver, or articles of brass or iron would bring upon themselves a curse.  All the Israelites who stormed the city were obedient to God's command - all except one.  The Bible tells us Achan the son of Carmi took of the treasures for himself and stashed them in his tent.

All seemed well as the congregation set their eyes on overthrowing Ai, a small city in comparison to Jericho.  When the men of Israel went up to battle against Ai, however, the Israelites fled before their enemies.  36 men died in the assault, and the men retreated back to camp and Joshua their commander.  Joshua and the elders tore their clothes in grief and put dust on their heads for the remainder of the day.  How could this be?  Why had God brought them this far to allow them to be defeated?  Wasn't it a horrible thing that God's people should be put to flight?  What if the surrounding nations heard of it!  Oh, the shame!

God's response certainly grabbed Joshua's attention in Joshua 7:10-11:  "So the LORD said to Joshua: "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff."  Joshua's humiliation served no purpose when there was sin which needed to be confessed, exposed, and dealt with biblically. The covenant God made with the people had been broken, and Joshua lying in dust couldn't repair the damage nor restore the loss of life.  The children of God needed to be determined to walk in victory over their own sin even as they desired the defeat of those who chased and slaughtered them.

Sin in the life of the believer has an undermining effect which ruins all.  It reminds me of a verse I read last night of those who pray but doubt in James 1:7-8:  "For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."  Unbelief and disobedience in our lives makes us unstable, unable to stand upright.  The hearts of the men melted when the men of Ai rushed at them even though God had promised them victory.  The victory of God's people is often contingent upon faith and obedience, and this is true under the New Covenant of the Gospel.  Jesus has removed the curse and power of sin, and if we will stand girded in the armour of God and fearless in battle we must confess sin and repent.

This passage teaches me humility without repentance for sin avails little.  Thankfully God spoke to Joshua and revealed the truth.  After atonement for sin the children of Israel were victorious over Ai, and so it is with us.  In our distress let us humbly cry out to the LORD, but let us also be vigilant to confess our known sin and forsake it.  God will not keep us in the dark because in Him is light and no darkness at all.  It is His will we would repent, be forgiven, and victorious.  Grieving over our loss is not adequate to deal with sin which must be repented of.  Praise the LORD God has supplied His righteousness not by works which we have done but according to His mercy and grace.

The Sin of Dread

I was impacted recently by words David spoke to his son Solomon.  The passage of God's Word exposed my own sin, bringing to light a connection I was previously blind to.  This revelation also illustrates the power of words, how we can use them to justify ourselves.  An Australian politician recently said, "I'm not a saint" yet this is hardly a revelation.  This statement really says nothing because most everyone would also say it of themselves.  Had he said, "I am a liar and an adulterer" that is saying something!

Christians know they shouldn't worry, so some will avoid saying they are worrying.  They will use a different word, like they are "concerned."  Christians also know they should not be afraid because God commands us to "Fear not!" and trust Him.  Joshua, Solomon, and many others in scripture were told to "Fear not" because it was their natural tendency.  Guess what?  It is our tendency too - and that includes me.

See what David said to Solomon, the man called and chosen by God to be king of Israel and to build the Temple in Jerusalem in 1 Chronicles 22:11-13:  "Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee. ¹² Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God. ¹³ Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed."  There are two words David used in the KJV which are often translated "fear" or "afraid" in the Bible:  dread and being dismayed.

I would not claim to be afraid often, but dread?  Dread is a kind of fear repackaged without traditional warning signs of sin.  The Strong's Concordance explains being "dismayed" as "to break down in confusion or fear."  It took reading the Word of God applied by the Holy Spirit to discern fear I didn't know I had in the form of dread and being dismayed.  There are plenty of things I can honestly say I dread, so I was led to confess my sin and begin viewing dread as sinful fear.  It is lovely when God destroys strongholds in an instant which have held our minds and hearts hostage for as long as we can remember.  The God who exposes sin is able to cleanse us and liberate us from bondage, releasing us to praise and serve the LORD like never before.

Praise the LORD that dread now has a recognisable face, like a criminal caught in the act on film.  Never again need I be terrorised with dread because I have been provided the victory through my Saviour.  How about you?  Does dread have a place in your heart or life?  When we repent and trust God we too can be strong and of good courage as Solomon was, and God gave him great success.

Take Another Lap

When I assisted the coach on my eldest son's soccer team, we had a fun-loving bunch of kids with heaps of energy.  Often they were so hyped up during training they were incapable of focusing on simple drills.  During coach orientation we were told it was potentially "abusive" to single out a single player for discipline, so if one player was made to run a lap around the ground for messing around the entire team was also required to run.  The team did a lot of extra running that year, but I'm not sure they learned the discipline running was intended to teach.  Because their energy was often misdirected they didn't play up to their potential.

I have heard Christians (jokingly and seriously) say they have been told to "take another lap" by God because they have not yet learned a necessary lesson.  Personally I have never used the analogy, and I find the implications of this perspective concerning.  It runs the risk of placing the emphasis on our measuring up to God's standard by our own efforts rather than extolling the grace of God.  I have seen many people facing difficult circumstances racking their brains to discover some unknown "lesson" they need to learn so God will change their situation.  Again, this sounds a lot like man making himself central rather than God.  This view places the focus on me learning the lesson rather than the grace of God to provide a lesson at all.

During our earthly pilgrimage God will ensure we learn many lessons, yet we do not learn them all well.  When we do learn a lesson, however, we only could do so because God instructed and helped us every step of the way.  Consider for a moment why God fed the children of Israel manna for 40 years in the wilderness as it is written in Deuteronomy 8:3:  "So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD."  I ask you:  did all the children of Israel who grew up in the wilderness learn the lesson man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God?  Hardly.  These are the same people Joshua upbraided before his death for carrying the idols worshipped by their fathers into the Promised Land.  People who have learned lessons can still repeat their mistakes, but glory to God He is faithful and will still fulfil His Word by His grace.

From beginning to end, it isn't about you or me:  we exist only by the grace of God who loves us, teaches, guides, and helps us.  Life is all about the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last, Jesus Christ the Son of God who gives eternal life to all who repent and trust in Him.  As we follow Him we will thankfully learn many lessons along the way because He is a good teacher - not because we are model students.  We ought to put forth effort to seek after Jesus and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly.  During our walk with Jesus our disobedience demands discipline from a loving Father.  People may even be disqualified from service for a season due to rebellion or pride.  But it is not about our stellar performance should we be restored - it never was.  God uses unworthy sinners to do excellent wonders in His strength, and this should not embolden us to sin.  Recognising the grace of God towards us keeps us from even the appearance of sin because the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

It is not about you "learning the lesson."  God has far greater than lessons for us as we follow Christ in obedience, for we are graced with His presence.  Will there be things God teaches us along the way?  Certainly!  But they are all given and received by His grace - not because you ran an extra lap.