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 27:8,
"Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites."
While living under the protection of the Philistine king, Achish, in Gath for sixteen months, David raided outlying non-Jewish peoples friendly with Israel. In order to keep King Achish from finding out what he was doing, David killed all the people of the towns and villages he pillaged. He left no one to report what he was doing.
David had been anointed by God to replace Saul as king of Israel. At some point David would assume the throne, but for now he had to find his refuge elsewhere. David's activities at this time bring to mind the choices God makes about the people he chooses for his purposes.
I might tend to think that God would choose those who appear to be religious, upright, without faults for the big things he does. Someone who manifested in their life a greatness that separated them from the pack when it came to taking the high moral ground, etc.
David doesn't seem to fit that just exactly. Not in the way he slaughtered people, not in the way he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, not in the way he employed devious ways as he escaped the king of Gath earlier by feigning mental illness, etc.
I am reminded, however, that not only did God choose David for big things in his agenda, he also chose me to spend an eternity in his family. David may have had his shortcomings... but when I think God has allowed me into his family with my shortcomings... I am just astonished!
This brings to mind what Paul had to say in his letter to the Corinthian church, "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
David was a great man of faith, one that God extolled as being a man after his own heart. Yet, David was a man of bloodshed, a man with faults. As such, it makes clear to me that there is a place within the family of God for someone such as me, someone undeserving, someone unaccomplished in the things of God.
I love the way Paul completes his thought in 1 Corinthians. He says, "It is because of him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'" 1 Corinthians 1:30-31.
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
"Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites and the Amalekites."
While living under the protection of the Philistine king, Achish, in Gath for sixteen months, David raided outlying non-Jewish peoples friendly with Israel. In order to keep King Achish from finding out what he was doing, David killed all the people of the towns and villages he pillaged. He left no one to report what he was doing.
David had been anointed by God to replace Saul as king of Israel. At some point David would assume the throne, but for now he had to find his refuge elsewhere. David's activities at this time bring to mind the choices God makes about the people he chooses for his purposes.
I might tend to think that God would choose those who appear to be religious, upright, without faults for the big things he does. Someone who manifested in their life a greatness that separated them from the pack when it came to taking the high moral ground, etc.
David doesn't seem to fit that just exactly. Not in the way he slaughtered people, not in the way he committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, not in the way he employed devious ways as he escaped the king of Gath earlier by feigning mental illness, etc.
I am reminded, however, that not only did God choose David for big things in his agenda, he also chose me to spend an eternity in his family. David may have had his shortcomings... but when I think God has allowed me into his family with my shortcomings... I am just astonished!
This brings to mind what Paul had to say in his letter to the Corinthian church, "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
David was a great man of faith, one that God extolled as being a man after his own heart. Yet, David was a man of bloodshed, a man with faults. As such, it makes clear to me that there is a place within the family of God for someone such as me, someone undeserving, someone unaccomplished in the things of God.
I love the way Paul completes his thought in 1 Corinthians. He says, "It is because of him [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.'" 1 Corinthians 1:30-31.
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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