The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Samuel 20:1,
"Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, 'What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?'"
Jonathan was the son of King Saul. Saul was a man who did not place his faith and trust in God, but lived his life based on the observable circumstances he found himself in, much as so many people do today. Because of his lack of faith and trust in the Lord, the Lord rejected him as king over his people and selected David to replace him. A series of circumstances that pitted the successes of David's faith against the backdrop of Saul's failures (due to his lack of faith) led to Saul's insane quest to murder David. David felt this unjust and unfair enmity Saul held toward him, occasioning his question of Jonathon.
I am reminded of something John would write a millennium later: "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother [Abel]. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you."
This was true in David's day, a thousand years before John said it, and it is still true today, two thousand years since he said it. We would all do well to recognize there are two teams in this life, and only two: Team Cain and Team Abel. Team Cain is made up of all those who fail to place their faith and trust in God, and Team Abel is made up of those who do place their faith and trust in God. There is no third team whatsoever, "Whoever is not with me [Jesus] is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." Luke 11:23.
In the confusion of life, some team members may be found batting for the other side, but generally speaking these two groups are distinct and everyone plays on one team or the other. Cain's team despises and fears God's people and seek their destruction. We see it all over the world today. God's people don't deserve it and never have to do anything to earn the hostility of Cain's team, yet find themselves continually under attack by it. Much of that hostility, I am sure, arises from the fact that Cain's team instinctively "feels" the reality that they are excluded from the Lord's tent and rejected by him. They may not be cognizant of what motivates them, but motivated they are, nonetheless. This is seen in politics, social institutions, debate in the public square, etc., as well as in private life.
"Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, 'What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?'"
Jonathan was the son of King Saul. Saul was a man who did not place his faith and trust in God, but lived his life based on the observable circumstances he found himself in, much as so many people do today. Because of his lack of faith and trust in the Lord, the Lord rejected him as king over his people and selected David to replace him. A series of circumstances that pitted the successes of David's faith against the backdrop of Saul's failures (due to his lack of faith) led to Saul's insane quest to murder David. David felt this unjust and unfair enmity Saul held toward him, occasioning his question of Jonathon.
I am reminded of something John would write a millennium later: "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother [Abel]. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you."
This was true in David's day, a thousand years before John said it, and it is still true today, two thousand years since he said it. We would all do well to recognize there are two teams in this life, and only two: Team Cain and Team Abel. Team Cain is made up of all those who fail to place their faith and trust in God, and Team Abel is made up of those who do place their faith and trust in God. There is no third team whatsoever, "Whoever is not with me [Jesus] is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." Luke 11:23.
In the confusion of life, some team members may be found batting for the other side, but generally speaking these two groups are distinct and everyone plays on one team or the other. Cain's team despises and fears God's people and seek their destruction. We see it all over the world today. God's people don't deserve it and never have to do anything to earn the hostility of Cain's team, yet find themselves continually under attack by it. Much of that hostility, I am sure, arises from the fact that Cain's team instinctively "feels" the reality that they are excluded from the Lord's tent and rejected by him. They may not be cognizant of what motivates them, but motivated they are, nonetheless. This is seen in politics, social institutions, debate in the public square, etc., as well as in private life.
What team do you play on?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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