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 2 Samuel 14:7,
"Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir as well."
This is part of a story Joab gave to a "wise woman" of Takoa. The wise woman I take as an accomplished actress of the day. Joab constructed a ruse in order to effect a reconciliation between King David and his son Absalom. Absalom had killed his half brother, Amnon who had raped his sister. Absalom fled to Geshur and after three years David's "heart longed for Absalom" and Joab set about an attempt to manipulate this reconciliation.
The story Joab gave the actress was a compelling one in that it exploited a reality we are all too familiar with: people, who parade their "religious" convictions as a stratagem to gain what is in reality only selfish interests.
In the story Joab gave the actress, she had two sons, one killed the other and now the rest of the clan claimed to want justice in the matter by putting the murdering brother to death, which would be consistent with the law given by God to Moses for Israel. This claimed desire for justice was used to eliminate all heirs to the inheritance (the land, etc.) so they could have it for themselves.
In like manner to the story Joab provided, we see people who use religion to fill their own pockets. We live in a day today where charlatans, deceivers, liars, the wicked use a pretense of Christianity in order to separate the faithful from their money. Quite often, the demographic focused on by these deceivers are the most desperate among us. People who are sick and dying, or who have loved ones sick and dying, people who are experiencing financial difficulties and are threatened with bankruptcy, poverty, etc. are appealed to with the promise of "deliverance" from whatever their difficulties may be.
You know exactly who and what kind deceiver I am speaking of. "Just send in your faith-promise pledge of $1,000 or more and we will pray for you. God will deliver you. (After all, God loves you and doesn't want you poor or to suffer, right?)". "Just cast your bread upon the waters and watch God bless you abundantly." Along with these offers, however, is that you must send your check to them - not to your local church, not to the creditor that is breathing down your neck, not to the agencies that provide medical services. No… it must go to them. After all, they are interminably "expanding" their "mission work", their "help to the poor", etc.
Meanwhile, as they drive around in their luxury cars sporting "glam" that would make a Hollywood starlet blush, the fleecing of the flock continues. I am reminded of Jesus' caution to the Twelve, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16.
Sounds like good direction for us today! In any event, if we pay close attention to the wisdom the Lord has provided us in the Scriptures, we will arm ourselves against such deception. How wonderful the Lord has provided us all we need!
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
"Hand over the one who struck his brother down, so that we may put him to death for the life of his brother whom he killed; then we will get rid of the heir as well."
This is part of a story Joab gave to a "wise woman" of Takoa. The wise woman I take as an accomplished actress of the day. Joab constructed a ruse in order to effect a reconciliation between King David and his son Absalom. Absalom had killed his half brother, Amnon who had raped his sister. Absalom fled to Geshur and after three years David's "heart longed for Absalom" and Joab set about an attempt to manipulate this reconciliation.
The story Joab gave the actress was a compelling one in that it exploited a reality we are all too familiar with: people, who parade their "religious" convictions as a stratagem to gain what is in reality only selfish interests.
In the story Joab gave the actress, she had two sons, one killed the other and now the rest of the clan claimed to want justice in the matter by putting the murdering brother to death, which would be consistent with the law given by God to Moses for Israel. This claimed desire for justice was used to eliminate all heirs to the inheritance (the land, etc.) so they could have it for themselves.
In like manner to the story Joab provided, we see people who use religion to fill their own pockets. We live in a day today where charlatans, deceivers, liars, the wicked use a pretense of Christianity in order to separate the faithful from their money. Quite often, the demographic focused on by these deceivers are the most desperate among us. People who are sick and dying, or who have loved ones sick and dying, people who are experiencing financial difficulties and are threatened with bankruptcy, poverty, etc. are appealed to with the promise of "deliverance" from whatever their difficulties may be.
You know exactly who and what kind deceiver I am speaking of. "Just send in your faith-promise pledge of $1,000 or more and we will pray for you. God will deliver you. (After all, God loves you and doesn't want you poor or to suffer, right?)". "Just cast your bread upon the waters and watch God bless you abundantly." Along with these offers, however, is that you must send your check to them - not to your local church, not to the creditor that is breathing down your neck, not to the agencies that provide medical services. No… it must go to them. After all, they are interminably "expanding" their "mission work", their "help to the poor", etc.
Meanwhile, as they drive around in their luxury cars sporting "glam" that would make a Hollywood starlet blush, the fleecing of the flock continues. I am reminded of Jesus' caution to the Twelve, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16.
Sounds like good direction for us today! In any event, if we pay close attention to the wisdom the Lord has provided us in the Scriptures, we will arm ourselves against such deception. How wonderful the Lord has provided us all we need!
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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