Category: Christian Spirituality Blog

Showing God’s Kindness (2 Samuel 9:1-13)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
King David reaching out and receiving Mephibosheth, 13th century Bible illustration

David asked, “Is there anyone from Saul’s family still alive that I could show faithful love for Jonathan’s sake?” There was a servant from Saul’s household named Ziba, and he was summoned before David.

“Are you Ziba?” the king asked him.

“At your service!” he answered.

The king asked, “Is there anyone left from Saul’s family that I could show God’s kindness to?”

“Yes,” Ziba said to the king, “one of Jonathan’s sons, whose feet are crippled.”

“Where is he?” the king asked.

“He is at the house of Ammiel’s son Machir at Lo-debar,” Ziba told the king.

So King David had him brought from the house of Ammiel’s son Machir at Lo-debar. Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson, came to David, and he fell to the ground, bowing low out of respect.

“Mephibosheth?” David said.

“Yes,” he replied. “I am at your service!”

“Don’t be afraid,” David told him, “because I will certainly show you faithful love for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the fields of your grandfather Saul, and you will eat at my table always.”

Mephibosheth bowed low out of respect and said, “Who am I, your servant, that you should care about a dead dog like me?”

Then David summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything belonging to Saul and his family. You will work the land for him—you, your sons, and your servants—and you will bring food into your master’s house for them to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will always be at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my master the king commands.”

So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. All who lived in Ziba’s household became Mephibosheth’s servants. Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table. He was crippled in both feet. (Common English Bible)

This is actually one of my favorite stories in all of Holy Scripture. It clearly demonstrates why David is a king and a person who reflects God’s own heart. I believe that King David is at his best here, ruling and living exactly as the Lord wanted him to.

In much of the ancient world, whenever a king came to power and replaced the previous king of whom he was not related, it was a common practice to either exile or outright kill the sons and grandsons who would have become heirs to the throne. It was a literal cutthroat way of securing the new throne, by wiping out any potential rivals.

It’s quite possible that no one would have faulted David or batted an eye if he had made sure there was nobody around related to King Saul – who died in a battle with the Philistines. Not only did David avoid that practice, but he did just the opposite of it.

Finally on the throne of both Israel and Judah, one of the first acts of King David was to wield his power and authority by finding out if there were any relatives of Saul that he could show faithful love toward.

I can just imagine the servant of Saul, Ziba, being brought into David’s presence, thinking for sure that this is the end. Instead, David wanted to know if there’s anyone in Saul’s family to which he could show kindness.

The word King David used to communicate his benevolent intentions was “chesed” (חסד – pronounced “KES-ed”). This is rich Hebrew word which refers to God’s steadfast covenant loyalty and love toward Israel.

Because of its richness, chesed is translated various ways in the English translations, including: “mercy,” “kindness,” “loving-kindness,” “steadfast love,” “compassion,” and even “goodness.”

The big idea in today’s story is that David had the power to destroy, but instead used his authority in order to extend loving loyalty and mercy to Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, and grandson of Saul – David’s old enemy and nemesis.

What’s more, David could have found out about Mephibosheth, learned that the man was crippled, in no position to ever do anything for or against him, and simply left him alone. And again, nobody likely would have thought anything about ignoring the man.

But not David. He was determined to embody chesed in the life of Mephibosheth. So, he brought him to Jerusalem and provided for him by having him sit at the king’s table for the rest of his life.

David didn’t have to do that. Yet, God’s steadfast love compelled him. You know grace has a hold of someone’s life, whenever they go out of their way to extend human kindness to another person who has absolutely no means of paying them back or reciprocating at all.

Jesus, the Son of David, clearly understood the idea of chesed and lifted it, taught it, and embodied it for his own followers:

“If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that. If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, why should you be commended? Even sinners lend to sinners expecting to be paid back in full. 

“Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. (Luke 6:32-36, CEB)

I wonder who it is that God wants you to show grace, mercy, and love toward?

Lord Jesus, as you commanded us to love one another, just as you love us, help us to demonstrate that love toward others. We acknowledge that it is impossible on our own, so we ask for the enabling of your Holy Spirit to produce that love in us.

We believe that you love and care for those who are suffering from illness, violence and persecution. We pray for protection, comfort and healing for those in need or who are forgotten.

Enliven us with your Holy Spirit, so that we may be instruments of your peace and love in a troubled world. Use us and all believers as your ambassadors to our families, colleagues and neighbors.

Holy God, you demonstrated your love for us through the Resurrection of your Son and our Savior Jesus Christ. We commit to making decisions as who trust in your ever-present love and grace. Guide us in becoming a people who welcomes all, and values mutuality and partnerships.

Provide us courage and insight as we seek to be a community who provides respite, and a place to sooth souls. Grant us all the things necessary for our common life, and bring us to be of one heart and mind within your Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility (2 Samuel 8:1-18)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment

In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.

David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, when he went to restore his monument at the Euphrates River. David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tebah and Berothai, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze.

When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold and of bronze.

King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold from all the nations he had subdued:Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. He also dedicated the plunder taken from Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David’s sons were priests.(New International Version)

“God’s sovereignty does not negate our responsibility; it empowers us to live out God’s purposes.”

D. A. Carson

In every biblical story, the real hero is God. That’s because, in each scriptural narrative, God’s sovereignty, power, and authority works on behalf of the people. The secondary characters – if they are good people – take up their mantle of responsibility by working for the people in fulfillment of God’s good promises to them.

Divine sovereignty and human responsibility work together. When that happens, it doesn’t matter what the odds of a situation are, because God’s people will emerge as recipients of God’s gracious promises.

It’s good to always keep in mind that God is working – albeit, mostly behind the scenes where we never see it – and that therefore we must remember to be ourselves continually responsible for acting consistent with God’s revealed will to us.

Up to this point in today’s story, the Ark of the Covenant has been brought to the new national capitol of Jerusalem. The Ark signifies the presence of God, and it’s central placement in the life of the Jewish nation, signifies King David’s desire to be responsible in working on God’s behalf.

So, this is why we have a litany of David’s successes, in order to show us the connection between God’s presence and the national advancement of Israel’s people in the region. King David was able to defeat Jewish enemies in all the geographic places around Israel and Judah.

King David’s Jerusalem, by Julia Goddard

All of the areas mentioned in today’s text fit the boundary promises given to the original Jewish ancestor Abraham, centuries earlier. (Genesis 15:18-21)

David defeated Judah’s main enemy in the West, the Philistines, by capturing their main city, and thus, controlling their entire territory. Philistia had been the major thorn in Judah’s side for a very long time. After David’s victory over them, the Philistines never regained their power again.

David defeated Israel and Judah’s enemies in the East. The Moabites were ancient foes, having tried to put a curse on Israel so that they could enter the Promised Land (Numbers 24:17). But the curse backfired. King David was perhaps merciful to them by not wiping out Moab altogether, but only humbling them with limited violence.

David defeated Israel’s enemies in the North by achieving an overwhelming decisive victory against the Arameans and the city of Damascus, despite insurmountable odds. Yahweh, Israel’s God, clearly outdid Aram’s storm god Hadad – proving to the people once and for all that the Lord is not limited to the geography of Israel.

David defeated Judah’s enemies in the South. The Edomites were always looking to take advantage of their brother Jews, constantly playing out the ancient rivalry between Esau and Jacob. Overcoming the nation of Edom, along with the other surrounding nations, allowed David’s kingdom to more than double in size.

The hallmark description of any good and godly leader is that they do what is right and just for all the people – which is precisely what King David sought to do, and did. And he didn’t do it alone, but had a solid group of good and godly people helping him in his royal administration.

King David acted according to his understanding of God’s will for the Jewish nation, which meant decisively handling the ancient enemies which previous leaders either could not or would not take on. David moved with confidence, believing that God was with him in all his endeavors, based upon divine promises from God’s covenant with Israel.

The God of David is still watching over the nations, and still yet remains sovereign. People are still responsible to act according to their understanding of God’s will – not confusing that responsibility with Israel’s, but knowing what their place is in the kingdom of God with King Jesus as the ultimate Sovereign.

Today, I believe that two significant problems plague us: 1) A lack of knowing God and God’s will for us; and 2) An unwillingness to act confidently in faith and take a risk based on a solid understanding of God. The result of these two problems is pervasive spiritual immaturity and mediocrity.

We have a lot of work to do. And it’s high time we roll up our sleeves and deal with the primary problems in front of us – not with military weapons and shedding blood – but by the means of knowledgeable prayer and loving actions.

May it be so, to the glory of God and for the blessing of the nations. Amen.

Some Perspective: Pray Like You Mean It (Psalm 61)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment

Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call to you,
    when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock
    that is higher than I,
for you are my refuge,
    a strong tower against the enemy.

Let me abide in your tent forever,
    find refuge under the shelter of your wings.
For you, O God, have heard my vows;
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

Prolong the life of the king;
    may his years endure to all generations!
May he be enthroned forever before God;
    appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

So I will always sing praises to your name,
    as I pay my vows day after day. (New Revised Standard Version)

Some Historical Perspective

Historically, the book of Psalms has been the Church’s prayer book. Yet, over the centuries, the biblical psalms have tended to lose this understanding of being a written expression of one’s inner response to God.

Protestant Evangelicalism, in particular, has tended to disdain anything written, rote, and repetitive. Instead, the Evangelical understanding of true spirituality tends toward a strong bent of extemporaneous prayers.

Some Personal Perspective

I still remember years ago, when I was a young Pastor, a parishioner happened to see that I had a written prayer in my notes for the worship service. This person ended up “reporting” me to the church elders, questioning my relationship to God – simply because I read a prayer, instead of improvising it for the congregation.

The church elders had a discussion with me and “dressed me down” for the practice of using written prayers. What’s more, they didn’t like the content of the prayer – charging that I must be emotionally and spiritually unstable for having crafted such a prayer (assuming that I wrote the prayer myself).

After they were all done (and having not asked me why I “read” my prayer) I responded to them calmly, stating, “Yes, I read a prayer on Sunday. And the prayer I read was Psalm 61. By the way, that’s in the Bible. And I apologize that I didn’t have it memorized.”

Some Logical Perspective

Aside from my sarcastic and passive-aggressive statements at the end, it is a sad affair whenever we are unable to take advantage of Holy Scripture for it’s intended use in the life of the believer.

To be sure, the condemnation of written prayers originally came about because of clergy and lay persons alike reading prayers without any sincerity or heart behind it – sometimes not even understanding what they were reading.

Yet, it’s illogical and unreasonable to simply throw out the baby with the bath water. The problem was never with the prayers themselves, or the act of reading them; the issue always has been with the person praying.

Some Existential Perspective

All of this is to say that I am inviting you to read today’s psalm, out loud and several times; and to adopt it as your own and express it as your own offering to God in prayer.

Because it is truly possible (and I would argue necessary and important) to read biblical prayers with personal flavor, resonating with their content and intent.

Furthermore, I also invite you to restate the psalm in your own words, to write out your understanding of the text (with actual pen and paper) so that the concepts and ideas of the psalm are expressed from the heart. This is just one way of embracing both the written and personal aspects of praying to God.

Some Biblical Perspective

Psalm 61 is a personal lament of King David, concerned with having the reassurance of God’s protective presence. David found security in the Lord as his refuge and strength. Whatever particular circumstances prompted the prayer, it seems David was facing an adversity out and away from the worship center of Jerusalem.

David longed to be in that center, to be in the place where God dwells. He pictured himself under the shelter of angelic wings, as if he were there inside the Ark of God itself, as close to the Lord as he could possibly get.

Because it is in the presence of God that there is perfect steadfast love and faithfulness. There’s no better place in all the world than to be in that spot, enjoying the peace and protection of the sovereign almighty God of the universe.

Ultimately, deliverance from threatening situations, fearful circumstances, and dire straits, comes from the Deliverer, the Savior, the God who sees all, knows all, and has the power to do something about it!

Some Prayerful Perspective

So, having said all that, here is my own expression/translation/transliteration of Psalm 61 – and may the Lord’s blessing and peace rest upon you this day, and every day, as you pray for yourself and for those who are good and godly leaders:

God, listen to my loud echoing shout,
    and bend your ear to respond to my heartfelt prayer.
When I am experiencing a disappointed heart and at my last breath,
    from a place that seems the very end of the earth,
I cry out and call to You from the highest lonely mountain,
    so that You may hear me above all else that’s going on in the world.

You’ve always given me plenty of space and grace to be myself,
    and provided for me a place to get away from it all on this messed-up planet,
You have always taken me seriously, God,
    welcoming me under the shadow of your wings, letting me reside permanently in Your tent.

I know that You will let the days of the benevolent ruler add up,
    and that there will be years and years of good and just leadership.
Make this good leader’s chair last forever, in the full light of God.
    Post the sentries of Steadfast Love and Faithful Truth as ever-watching lookouts.
Then, it will be me who makes a grand musical fuss to You forever and ever,
    and I shall make good on that promise every single day.

Amen.

Renewal (Mark 6:30-34, 53-56)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Great Crowds Followed Jesus as He Preached the Good News, by Elizabeth Wang (1942-2016)

The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 

Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things….

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 

And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed. (New Revised Standard Version)

Recuperation

Christ’s disciples had just returned from their first ministry trip without Jesus. He had sent them in pairs to take authority over unclean spirits, with specific instructions on how to handle themselves. (Mark 6:6-13)

Now they had come together after a successful experience. Jesus immediately recognized that the disciples needed rest in a private retreat so that they could recover and debrief on their mission.

Jesus knew a thing or two about what we now call “self-care.” Christ understood the necessity for awareness of one’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual state – and to take appropriate steps in caring for oneself in order to maintain a vigorous life and ministry. He often punctuated his life with solitary times away with his heavenly Father. (e.g. Mark 1:35)

So, the disciples followed Jesus to a deserted place where they could be alone. Besides, it had become ever more risky to be out in the open. The religious authorities were looking for ways to snuff out this popular upstart of a movement with Jesus as rabbi.

Redirection

Things don’t always go as planned, even for the Son of God. Interruptions are part of working with people. Yet, Jesus never saw those disruptions as a bad thing. It seems that perhaps he even understood them as part of the plan from his heavenly Father. However Christ thought of them, he was unfazed by them.

With an expanding ministry came a larger and more expansive crowd following Jesus. Like a group of ancient paparazzi, there were people dedicated to tracking down Jesus and watching for him; they were absolutely intent on seeing him.

Whereas a lot of people might be annoyed with this behavior (especially us introverts!) Jesus truly saw them, viewing the crowds as “sheep without a shepherd.” In other words, Christ understood the people’s vulnerability, and he had compassion on them.

Refocus

Christ felt genuine care and concern for the people from the pit of his gut. Jesus knew their very real spiritual predicament, an age-old one that God was familiar with:

I, the Lord God, say you shepherds of Israel are doomed! You take care of yourselves while ignoring my sheep. You drink their milk and use their wool to make your clothes. Then you butcher the best ones for food. But you don’t take care of the flock! You have never protected the weak ones or healed the sick ones or bandaged those that get hurt. You let them wander off and never look for those that get lost. You are cruel and mean to my sheep. They strayed in every direction, and because there was no shepherd to watch them, they were attacked and eaten by wild animals. (Ezekiel 34:2-5, CEV)

Jesus, in the spirit Moses, took up the concern for people:

Moses spoke to the Lord: “Let the Lord, the God of all living things, appoint someone over the community who will go out before them and return before them, someone who will lead them out and bring them back, so that the Lord’s community won’t be like sheep without their shepherd.” (Numbers 27:15-17, CEB)

Because the Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd and takes up the responsibility of caring for the flock, there were sheep (the crowds of people) continually either present around him or pursuing him (hence, the need for continual times of rest and recuperation).

All of this resulted in the impossibility of Jesus strolling into a town, village, or city under the radar.

Restoration

Not only did everyone want to see Jesus, but the people also desired to touch him, or at least the tassels of his garment – anything toget close and experience healing.

What’s so amazing about this account is that every single person who Jesus saw or touched experienced healing – without exception. It wasn’t that a few people, or even some of them, walked away changed. All of them did.

Indeed, Jesus is the divine shepherd, who will gather his sheep from the places where they have been scattered.

Christ went into towns and villages to the public places where the people were. That meant Jesus spent a good deal of time in the marketplaces. Since these were gathering areas where people bought and sold and interacted with each other, there you would also find the weakest, sickest, and most vulnerable people.

The needy were looking for help. And Jesus did for them, well beyond what any of them expected.

The Lord Jesus was also doing more than we might expect, as well. By conducting ministry in the economic center of a town, he was introducing a different (and subversive) economy from the kingdom of God.

Those with goods, resources, and money do not occupy the commercial spaces in God’s kingdom realm. Instead, the ones with the least, inhabit the spaces and places of honor. Indeed, many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. (Mark 10:31)

Christ’s earthly ministry restored people’s bodies, minds, emotions, and spirits – thus bringing a thriving economy into God’s kingdom. All of his work resulted in renewal of people’s lives, and a renewed way of living in this world.

“Healer of Our Every Ill” by Marty Haugen, 1987

Refrain:
Healer of our every ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.

You who know our fears and sadness,
grace us with your peace and gladness;
Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts. [Refrain]

In the pain and joy beholding
how your grace is still unfolding,
give us all your vision, God of love. [Refrain]

Give us strength to love each other,
every sister, every brother;
Spirit of all kindness, be our guide. [Refrain]

You who know each thought and feeling,
teach us all your way of healing;
Spirit of compassion, fill each heart. [Refrain]

Amen.