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 22:1-3,
"David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there... From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, 'Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?'"
Here we read of David being on the run. He was chosen by God to replace Saul as king over Israel and Saul sought to kill him. I note that David made his moves in order to avoid capture by Saul and had to approach where he stayed and what he did relative to the danger he was in.
However, I read that David was a man after God's own heart. David was loved by the Lord and chose him to lead his people. As Paul said in his sermon at Pisidian Antioch, "God testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'" Acts 13:22.
I have to ask the question, if God loved David so, why didn't he just deliver David from all of his troubles? At times you hear it said in the church today that God loves us and wants to bless us. He doesn't want us to be sick or poor or have troubles. And, then, the prayers follow, asking God to take our troubles from us, as we assume he doesn't want us to encounter trouble in our lives.
I think we have much to learn from the Scriptures. Paul reminds us, "Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4. We are taught much about God in the Old Testament, a body of sacred literature that is often neglected to the loss of those who neglect it. It turns out David's experiences included the troubles this life has to offer and then some. We also read of God's involvement in David's life, but within, as opposed to "instead of" the troubles David faced. What we learn from the life of David is substantiated in the New Testament. God has no intention of keeping troubles from us. He equips us for troubles, he provides resources for us in our troubles, he makes himself available to us during our times of troubles... but he does not keep troubles from us.
Here is a passage to consider: "'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5-11.
The assumption the Lord will keep troubles from us because he loves us is faulty thinking. Out of his love for us he allows us to struggle in the troubles that come our way so that we might be brought to spiritual maturity. As Jesus said in Revelation 3:19, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent."
"David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there... From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, 'Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?'"
Here we read of David being on the run. He was chosen by God to replace Saul as king over Israel and Saul sought to kill him. I note that David made his moves in order to avoid capture by Saul and had to approach where he stayed and what he did relative to the danger he was in.
However, I read that David was a man after God's own heart. David was loved by the Lord and chose him to lead his people. As Paul said in his sermon at Pisidian Antioch, "God testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'" Acts 13:22.
I have to ask the question, if God loved David so, why didn't he just deliver David from all of his troubles? At times you hear it said in the church today that God loves us and wants to bless us. He doesn't want us to be sick or poor or have troubles. And, then, the prayers follow, asking God to take our troubles from us, as we assume he doesn't want us to encounter trouble in our lives.
I think we have much to learn from the Scriptures. Paul reminds us, "Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4. We are taught much about God in the Old Testament, a body of sacred literature that is often neglected to the loss of those who neglect it. It turns out David's experiences included the troubles this life has to offer and then some. We also read of God's involvement in David's life, but within, as opposed to "instead of" the troubles David faced. What we learn from the life of David is substantiated in the New Testament. God has no intention of keeping troubles from us. He equips us for troubles, he provides resources for us in our troubles, he makes himself available to us during our times of troubles... but he does not keep troubles from us.
Here is a passage to consider: "'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.' Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:5-11.
The assumption the Lord will keep troubles from us because he loves us is faulty thinking. Out of his love for us he allows us to struggle in the troubles that come our way so that we might be brought to spiritual maturity. As Jesus said in Revelation 3:19, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent."
Troubles are God's tools to grow us.
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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