Tag: compassion

How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality BlogLeave a comment

Someday when I am dead and buried, I would be fine with my gravestone stating, “He was humble and wise.” For I have always sought (however imperfectly) to embrace and live a life characterized by poverty of spirit, largeness of heart, and a sage mind.

Yet, most of all, I’d like to be remembered by the phrase, “He loved God.” The Great Command of Jesus to love God and each other is something I pray and seek in my daily life. And I hope that at the end of my earthly life, the love of God within me has made the world a better place.

In saying this, it means I forsake a lot of other ambitions to be remembered by. I don’t really care if I am remembered for any other virtues or abilities other than love, humility, and wisdom.

For the times that I have unknowingly pursued other things above what is of concern to my Lord Jesus, I admit and renounce those things. Because that is what humility and love does. And it’s the wisest thing a person could do.

That is in direct contrast and opposition to worldly ambitions for wealth and financial resources, power and authority, attention and greatness. Such desires arise from pride, not humility. With arrogance, ignorance and hate are not far behind.

Things like love, humility, wisdom, mercy, gentleness, righteousness, justice, goodness, and a largesse which comes from the heart, not the bank account, are what characterize the kingdom of God, and not the political realms and economic powers of this world.

Such virtue is itself the good life. And it is not out of touch for any of us. For Christ himself repeatedly told and reminded his disciples that the kingdom of God is near, so near as to be within us.

“The time has come, and God’s kingdom is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News.” (Mark 1:15, God’s Word Translation)

“The Kingdom of God is near you now.” (Luke 10:9, New Living Translation)

And we are told to make God’s kingdom a priority. We are to humble ourselves before God and seek the reign of God and the values of how God operates, rather than putting all our equity into material possessions.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things (material resources) will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33, New International Version)

The super-rich of this world have a super difficult time ever humbling themselves to anyone, including God, because they can so easily rely upon their vast earthly resources.

“Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you: It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:23-24, New Revised Standard Version)

God’s kingdom is not something that is so far out of touch for us, or way out there somewhere, as if we could not, and therefore need not, pay much attention to it. No, it is much closer than any of us realize.

“People can’t observe the coming of God’s kingdom. They can’t say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ You see, God’s kingdom is within  you.” (Luke 17:20-21, God’s Word Translation)

You and I have the light within us. For some people (maybe most people) this light has diminished to a tiny little flame or spark. They themselves either cannot or will not perceive there is something right and good that exists down deep in this soul created in the image and likeness of God.

Phrases such as “Let us rely upon our better angels,” and “Get in touch with our nobler instincts,” are more modern ways of expressing that there is inherent worth within us that we can tap into. It doesn’t even take a Christian or a religious person to recognize this reality.

We really do have a higher self, a conscience containing a moral compass, a given benevolent nature, altruistic impulses, and a compassionate side to us. Will we seek this part of ourselves? Will we tap into it? Will we allow it to come out into the world in order to bless it, not curse it?

Yet, as we know all too well, we also a have within us a depraved part which wants to rule over others and acquire as much wealth and power as possible. As with most things, we ourselves are a paradoxical conundrum of competing desires.

How do you want to be remembered? We can pursue the kingdom of God within us, or we can seek the kingdoms of this world outside of us. It’s your choice. But you will need help, if going after such things as humility, wisdom, and love as your way of life – not only help from God, but also help from others.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for bread, would give a stone? Or if the child asked for a fish, would give a snake? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:7-12, New Revised Standard Version)

What is true of you, that you would like engraved on your gravestone? How do you want to be remembered? That’s what we need in this world, for this time and for this place.

Dealing with Injustice (1 Kings 1:28-48)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Bathsheba appeals to David, by Arent de Gelder, c.1685

Then King David said, “Call in Bathsheba.” So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him.

The king then took an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

Then Bathsheba bowed down with her face to the ground, prostrating herself before the king, and said, “May my lord King David live forever!”

King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” When they came before the king, he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon. There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah.”

Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, “Amen! May the Lord, the God of my lord the king, so declare it. As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!”

So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon mount King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!” And all the people went up after him, playing pipes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.

Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, “What’s the meaning of all the noise in the city?”

Even as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing good news.”

“Not at all!” Jonathan answered. “Our lord King David has made Solomon king. The king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put him on the king’s mule, and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds with it. That’s the noise you hear. Moreover, Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne. Also, the royal officials have come to congratulate our lord King David, saying, ‘May your God make Solomon’s name more famous than yours and his throne greater than yours!’ And the king bowed in worship on his bed and said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has allowed my eyes to see a successor on my throne today.’” (New International Version)

Solomon at the deathbed of King David, by Giulio Romano (1499-1546)

One of King David’s sons, Adonijah, was a stinker. He tried to pull a fast one on his aging father, in order to try and take the throne. But some of the people caught wind of what was afoot.

Even Nathan the prophet got involved and gave some sage instructions to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, so that the king’s wishes could come to fruition – namely, that Solomon would succeed David.

As a result, despite King David’s struggles toward the end of life, he had enough wherewithal to attempt some decisive leadership. He confirmed Solomon as his royal successor.

Despite Adonijah’s attempt to take advantage of his father’s failing capacity and execute a coup d’état, the king immediately took action by anointing and enthroning Solomon without any delay.

The installation of Solomon as king was accomplished so quickly that it caught the conniving Adonijah and his cohorts off guard. King David may have lost several steps in his old age, but he was still someone to be reckoned with. That underestimation would cost the connivers dearly.

To be honest, I don’t like Adonijah. And that’s what the storyteller wants us to feel. We are meant to read the narrative and walk away saying to ourselves that we don’t want to be like Adonijah; we don’t want injustice to have the day; instead, we want King David’s wishes honored, and to see a just and right Ruler ensconced as king.

The Lord is a just God. And since we are people created in God’s image and likeness, we have an inherent sense of justice down deep inside us. So, it drives people nuts whenever there are things happening which are not right nor good.

Everyone faces injustice, and things that are not right, in this life. The trick is to deal with it, without becoming unjust ourselves. It’s not an easy thing to do. It’s tough. So, how do we maintain being just while handling injustice?

The feeling of helplessness is rather uncomfortable, even painful. It doesn’t feel good to think that your efforts at doing right and being just don’t accomplish much of anything, and are only a drop in the bucket of what’s needed. It also doesn’t feel right whenever we see others going through injustice, and we have little to no way in helping the situation.

The first step in dealing with the world’s injustice is to acknowledge it. Don’t purposely ignore it, avoid it, or pretend that it isn’t there. Everything in life must be acknowledged before anything can be done about it – whether it’s dealing with an event, or your own emotions.

So, it is imperative that your care for yourself. And it’s the most important thing in being of service and help to others. Attend to the whole self – body, mind, emotions, and spirit – because it is necessary in order to move through unjust circumstances with health, confidence, and sobriety.

When facing injustice and dealing with it, no matter whether it concerns yourself or another, it’s good to keep in mind that our brains tend to gravitate toward the negative, to the detriment of seeing good and positive things.

Therefore, we must work at keeping our “compassion quotient” high, and not let our compassion turn to fatigue, then burn-out.

It seems that King David continually worked on maintaining a robust spirit and healthy self, so that, even when he was old, his compassionate and wise instincts kicked in – the ones he had spent a lifetime developing.

In contrast, Adonijah appears to have nurtured a self-centered and bitter spirit. He did not attend well to his spiritual and emotional health. His mind turned to the dark thoughts of intrigue and rebellion. Arrogance clouded his right mind. This would not end well for him.

Dealing with injustice is never easy. And it very much requires us to be healthy and just ourselves, so that when we are faced with issues of justice, we can deal with them in a good and right manner.

Almighty God, you have given all peoples one common origin.
It is your will that they be gathered together
as one family in yourself.
Fill the hearts of humanity with the fire of your love
and with the desire to ensure justice for all.
By sharing the good things you give us,
may we secure an equality for all
our brothers and sisters throughout the world.
May there be an end to division, strife and war.
May there be a dawning of a truly human society
built on love and peace. Amen.

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.

A Ruler for the Good of the People (2 Samuel 5:11-16)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
King David, by Sefira Lightstone

King Hiram of Tyre sent some officials to David. Carpenters and stone workers came with them, and they brought cedar logs so they could build David a palace.

David knew that the Lord had made him king of Israel and that he had made him a powerful ruler for the good of his people.

After David left Hebron and moved to Jerusalem, he married many women from Jerusalem, and he had a lot of children. His sons who were born there were Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. (Contemporary English Version)

Once David became ruler of a united kingdom – Israel and Judah – he established the capital in a central place between the two (much like how Washington D.C. was built at a geographical juncture between North and South of the United States).

The Jebusites were firmly lodged within Jerusalem. Yet, with a good deal of ingenuity, David and his men found a way into the formidable stronghold of Jerusalem and took it. It then became the City of David. (2 Samuel 5:8-10)

King David has the spiritual sense to understand that the Lord was with him; and that his own greatness was directly tied to the greatness of God. The Lord is concerned for the divine/human covenant, and for the glory of Israel and Judah. David did not believe that his success was in any way tied to his own personal skills or abilities.

In light of David’s spiritual stance, it seems a bit strange that today’s text then turns to David’s response of taking more women as wives in Jerusalem. The text also lets us know that David established diplomatic ties with Tyre and worked toward building a royal palace in the new capital.

Typically, Old Testament stories don’t give us explicit moral commentary, telling us what is good and what is bad. Sometimes they inform us of people’s motives, but usually not. So, what was David up to, and why was he doing it? The story invites us to offer up an answer from our own consideration. So, here’s mine…

All of us do the best we can, with what we know at the time. That’s why it is so important to be continually cultivating and nurturing a life of wisdom.

Most things in life don’t have ready-made answers for us. David certainly didn’t Google how to capture Jerusalem, or how to establish a kingdom. He instead had a lifetime of walking with God, learning God’s law, and experiences which God brought him through. And that is exactly what all of us need to do for just about everything.

If you and I were in David’s shoes, within his culture of the ancient world, we might very well do what he did by marrying up and bringing political stability to a new united kingdom that was surrounded by non-Jewish nations.

King David, by Adamo Tadolini, on the Colonna dell’Immacolata, Rome, Italy

Trusting the Lord doesn’t mean that we become passive; it isn’t a let go and let God attitude. Faith requires actively pursuing justice and righteousness for the good of everyone. It takes creativity and a wise mind, a compassionate heart, and a well-attuned sense of one’s own gut.

This approach to life indeed requires a lifetime of learning, growing, and experiencing new things. The following are some ways of developing the experiential knowledge that we understand as wisdom:

Pursue and be open to new experiences

If you don’t like the experience you’re having, create a new one. David was open to following God and engaging in whatever new experiences required fulfilling the will of God. To keep growing as an individual, it’s important to explore unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable things; those experiences can teach us how to be more humble and honest, which is especially important for leaders.

Show empathy and be compassionate

This was at the heart of David’s rule as king. He showed steadfast love and commitment to Israel and Judah. Yes, he was a man of war, and did his share of soldiering. And, at the same time, David valued life and went out of his way to show mercy.

After becoming king, instead of wiping out all of King Saul’s family (as was custom for many kings in the Ancient Middle East) David looked for anyone in the family of Jonathan (Saul’s son) to which he could show kindness to (2 Samuel 9:1). There is no path to wisdom that doesn’t go through the land of compassion.

Don’t be afraid to fail

Growth in wisdom usually comes from messing up. How we respond to failure and/or imperfection influences our decision-making and problem-solving skills. A significant part of self-development is learning how not to repeat mistakes. But to do that, you have to make them first.

David made plenty of mistakes, and even outright sinned in ways that effected all Israel and Judah. Yet, he learned his lessons by turning away from the mistakes (repentance) and moving forward (faith).

Ask for help when you need it

A wise person doesn’t have all the answers. They are wise because they know when to consult others and ask for resources. David always had counselors in his court who he knew could give him sage advice whenever he needed it.

Mentor others

One of the best ways of learning and developing wisdom is by coming alongside others and helping them become successful in life. This is one of the main reasons I enjoy teaching and discipling others – so that I can learn from the process, and from the people I mentor. Since David was attuned to this, Israel and Judah had the wisest king in history, his son, King Solomon.

Wisdom is a virtue that goes beyond knowledge. Wisdom is really the study of life. And only by wisdom’s experiential understanding can we make effective changes, influence others, and please God. David was a king for the good of the people.

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us to do, so that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path, we may not stumble. Amen.