The Lord, Just Behind the Curtain - Ruminating in the Word of God

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 Chronicles 19:17-18,

"When David was told of this [the Arameans sending reinforcements after David's army routed them], he gathered all Israel and crossed the Jordan; he advanced against them and formed his battle lines opposite them. David formed his lines to meet the Arameans in battle, and they fought against him. But they fled before Israel, and David killed seven thousand of their charioteers and forty thousand of their foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak the commander of their army."

David's expression of sympathetic kindness toward the Ammonites when their king, Nahash, died, was answered with a striking humiliation of David's envoys. Although the leaders of the Ammonites were not the brightest around, they did manage to figure out they offended David and were now in danger. They hired mercenaries from Aram and Zobah to help fight against Israel. When David heard the Ammonites had moved out for battle, he sent out Joab with the army who defeated the Ammonites and Arameans.

As the Arameans called for reinforcements, the events in the passage above took place. David destroyed his enemies. I am reminded of a phrase used twice in the previous chapter, "The Lord gave David victory wherever he went." Verses 6 and 13.

However, the Lord is not mentioned at all in chapter 19, other than Joab's comment that the Lord "will do what is good in his sight" just prior to advancing on the Arameans in the first fight.

With these victories in 1 Chronicles 19, the Lord was in the background - his hand of victory not expressly documented. However, as surely as his hand was acknowledged in many other military actions of David, it was certainly there.

It causes me to think of what all we are aware of today, the many things that take place on the international stage, the politics within our own nation, the ebb and flow of our cultural norms, those things discussed in the public square, social media, etc. that have the Lord's involvement behind the scenes - just as David's military actions were in 1 Chronicles 19.

It appears to me that all too often it is failed to recognized the Lord's hand in things, what he may be doing, how he may be pursuing his agenda in the actions and activities we read of in the news and other places. Even in churches, where hand-wringing may be a common activity together with the observation that so many things seem to be going to hell in a handbag - might the Lord be just behind the curtain, accomplishing those things that culminate in the building of his family? It certainly is worth considering as we read passages such as 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (especially verses 11-12.)

Something to consider...

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.