Seeing With God's Heart

"And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few." I Samuel 14:6

Jonathan is in the same situation as Saul and Israel, yet his response is completely different, because his heart is inclined to see things as God sees them.

First, Jonathan sees the enemy differently. Jonathan sees the Philistines as "these uncircumcised". In other words, Jonathan sees them as God's enemies - those who have refused to follow after God. He doesn't define them in terms of their relationship to himself, but in terms of their relationship with God. But Saul sees the Philistines in terms of their relationship to himself, as his enemies ("that I may be avenged on mine enemies" I Sam 14:24). What a difference it would make in my day-to-day life if I would see people in terms of their relationship to God instead of their relationship to me.

Second, Jonathan positions himself differently. "Come, and let us go". Jonathan wants to be in a position to be used of God however God deems fit. Jonathan leaves the place of safety, comfort, and notoriety to draw near to the place of usefulness. Meanwhile, Saul is tarrying under a pomegranate tree seeking the counsel of a fake (but well-dressed) priest who has been rejected by God. Saul has positioned himself in a little scene orchestrated to make him appear surrendered to God. This is image marketing at its finest, but that's all it is - an empty image - a mirage - all done for the praise of man.

It is Jonathan who is truly surrendered to God. His actions are done in secret because he cares nothing about the praise of man. True surrender shuns the spotlight. Those who are truly surrendered to God and His purposes for His glory would rather go about their tasks unrecognized. What a difference it would make in my life if I would position myself for usefulness and care nothing for the praise of man.

Third, Jonathan does the math differently. "...it may be that the LORD will work for us for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few." Jonathan has done the math differently than Saul. Jonathan's not willing to fight with just two (me and my armorbearer), but he is willing to fight with three (me, my armorbearer, and the LORD). Saul, on the other hand, is tarrying under a pomegranate tree because he only has 600 men and a fake priest. Please let me spend the rest of my life doing the math like Jonathan! Please let more Christians of this age do the math like Jonathan!

Lord, help me see people in terms of their relationship with you, not in terms of their relationship with me. Help me to position myself for your usefulness and glory with no regard for the praise of man. Help me to do the math like Jonathan and be willing to fight the good fight with you alone at my side.

Turn Not Aside

"...turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; And turn ye not aside for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain." I Samuel 12:21-22

On Saul's coronation day, Samuel scolds Israel for demanding a king, and gives them this stern warning. How quickly do the people and their king "turn aside from following the LORD"; how quickly do they turn from serving the LORD to wanting the LORD to serve them; how quickly do they look to vain things for deliverance...

Two years into his reign, Saul forms an army of 3,000 men. Saul keeps 2,000 of the men with him at Michmash and sends 1,000 with Jonathan at Gibeah. Jonathan attacks the Philistines at Geba. "And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines." It sounds like an underhanded way to start a war. First a military buildup, with 1/3 of your army commanded by your son, whose attack on a garrison is justified after the fact by the vague suggestion of provocation ("Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines").

The Philistines respond with such an impressive show of force, that the people of Israel become distressed and hide! Meanwhile, Saul and his trembling followers are waiting at Gilgal for Samuel, but when Samuel doesn't show up at the appointed time, the people scatter from Saul. So Saul "forces himself" to offer a burnt offering to God. When Samuel confronts him, Saul says, "Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering." (I Samuel 13:12)

It looks like Saul started a little war with the Philistines, gets a reality check, and suddenly wants to talk to God after-the-fact about the situation. Saul isn't following the LORD; He's asking the LORD to follow him.

Samuel rebukes Saul for not keeping God's commandment. "And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee." (I Samuel 13:13-14)

Saul usurped his position as king by performing a task reserved for the priests. This was clearly a violation of God's commands. But Samuel's rebuke also specifically addresses the heart, so God has a heart issue with Saul as well.

Saul turns aside to vain things for deliverance. Saul performs the mechanical routine of "worship" by offering the burnt offering. But it was merely an outward routine, not a meeting of the hearts. That's what God desired from the "captain over his people", a heart-to-heart meeting, not a performer of rituals. That's what God desires from us today - a heart-to-heart meeting. Worship isn't achieved by mechanically completing an order of service on Sunday. Worship is an inner meeting that takes place on a personal level - a meeting of my heart with God's heart. When that inner meeting takes place, it will work its way out of my heart into my outward actions. It's like fidelity in marriage - when a husband and wife share the same heart, that inner unity will work its way out of both hearts into outward actions like fidelity, commitment, honor, selflessness.

Now Saul's people turn aside to vain things for deliverance. Over the years, they've been completely disarmed by the occupying Philistines, so all they can do is take their farming implements to the Philistine blacksmiths to have them sharpened. These common folk know that a battle is brewing, so they're sharpening whatever they can find to defend themselves. They're trusting in vain things for deliverance; simple farmers and their sharpened implements will never defeat armed Philistines. The power of God can certainly defeat armed Philistines - and He can use the most unlikely tool to do it - even simple farmers and their sharpened implements. But make no mistake, it's the power of God that wins the victory - not farmers and implements.

Saul turns aside to another vain thing for deliverance. While his people are frantically sharpening tools to defend themselves, Saul tarries under a pomegranate tree with 600 men. And who is with him, dressed in the priestly garments? None other than Ahiah, a descendent of Eli, whose corrupt line was cursed by God at the time God raised up Samuel as the true prophet of Israel. Ever since this time, God has been speaking to Israel through Samuel. But Saul isn't seeking spiritual counsel of God's true prophet, Samuel. Probably because Samuel rebuked him. Saul has selected instead someone who won't rebuke him - a descendent of the tolerant Eli, whose line was cursed by God when Eli refused to "restrain" his sons. This "priest" who will not rebuke or restrain is Saul's choice for spiritual counsel. In Ahiah, Saul has turned to yet another vain thing that cannot profit or deliver Saul or Israel. Neither the favor or power of God is available through Ahiah - his line has been rejected by God.

My Life Story on Broadway

Psalm 40: 1-3
"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD."

This is a familiar plot that is woven throughout the Bible as God deals with His children - one by one. Just read through the individual stories of the "Heroes of the Faith" listed in Hebrews 11. You'll see that each one has a "horrible pit", a "miry clay". Each one cries out to God, and God faithfully brings each one of the out of the pit, out of the miry clay. Then God sets their feet upon a rock and reveals an established path for each one of them. God does indeed put a "new song" in their mouth that praises God. The result of the "new song" and the "changed life" is that those around them fear and trust in the LORD.

I wonder - if we were to produce a theatrical musical play about each of those heroes listed in Hebrews 11, what would it look like? There might be three acts :
Act 1 - "Cries from The Horrible Pit"
Act 2 - "Out of the Pit and Onto the Rock"
Act 3 - "New Songs from a New Creature"
What songs would we need to write to accurately portray their lives in each of these three acts?

What if God were to produce a Broadway musical of your life? What would the unfolding drama of your life teach others about the LORD? What horrible pit or miry clay would be staged in Act 1? What kind of song would God have to write to portray the state of your life in the pit? What emotions or inner motivations would the actor/actress need to convey as they act out your cry to God? Confession or concealment? Humility or pride? Submission or resistance? Forgiveness or bitterness?

What would the audience learn about the power and grace of God in Act 2 as they see the way that God brought you out? Would they desire to have God set THEIR feet on a rock (faith in Jesus Christ)?

In Act 3, what new qualities would the actor/actress have to convey to capture the new creature that you've become? If the old creature in Act 1 was selfish, is the new creature in Act 3 selfless? If the old creature in Act 1 was critical, is the new creature in Act 3 gracious? If the old creature in Act 1 was arrogant, is the new creature in Act 3 humble? What "new song" would the audience hear from the actor portraying you in Act 3? In other words, what is the primary topic of your conversations - the primary focus of your life? Would the "new creature" or the "new song" bring God glory?

How would the "new song" in Act 3 differ from the "old song" in Act 1? Are they radically different? Which song would the audience catch themselves humming the next day - the old song from Act 1 or the new song from Act 3? In other words, what is the "hit song" of your life? What song are you causing others to hum?

If your new life and new song don't bring God glory, do you really even HAVE a new life? If there's no transformation in your life, maybe your feet are not standing on the Rock after all....

No Tale to Tell

When God gives His account of a man's life and work, He records the bad right along with the good. This is one of the peculiarities of the Bible that lends it credibility.

However, the Bible tells very little, good or bad, about the three men who judged after Jephthah. Apparently, they have no tale to tell. How many Christians will have these kinds of little blurbs recorded about their lives and work? How sad to be just a footnote in the annals of God's history.

IBZAN - A Family Man
The Bible says of Ibzan "He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem." Judges 12:9-10

J. Vernon McGee says, "Ibzan was a man who gave all of his time to his family. There's nothing wrong with that, but it was not what he was called to do." Still today, many are so focused on family that they neglect to perform God's calling.

ELON - A Heritage Man
The Bible says even less about Elon. "And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun." Judges 12:11-12

The only thing the Bible really notes about Elon is his tribe - and it's mentioned three times. Perhaps Elon's life was wrapped up in his heritage. One particular friend comes to mind here, because she is so focused in looking back on her heritage that she does nothing of note in the present day.

ABDON - The Properous Man
"And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel. And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites." Judges 12:13-15

The mention of the multitude of sons, nephews, and donkeys leaves the impression that Abdon was a properous man who made sure that his sons and their cousins rode around in real style. We see many Christians today who do little in the Lord's work because they are focused on amassing wealth to provide all the latest toys and gadgets to their family.

These three judges have no tale to tell. What kind of tale is God recording of my life? What kind of material does God have to work with in the way I'm living my life? Will God be able to write a tale about the great things He accomplished through such a flawed but willing servant?

May God inspire us to live and work such that we will someday have a "tale to tell" that gives glory and honor to God.

Jephthah's Daughter - Sacrificed or Dedicated?

Whenever I have heard this story taught or preached before, it has been taught that Jephthah made a vow to sacrifice whatever came out of his house first, that his daughter came out first, and that he did offer her as a burnt offering in keeping his vow to the LORD.

But J. Vernon McGee's "Thru the Bible" makes the case that Jephthah did not sacrifice his daughter to the LORD, but rather that he dedicated her to the LORD.

Here's the vow:
"And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering." Judges 11:30-31

The vow can be read as two parts:
(1) dedication to the LORD ("whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me... shall surely be the LORD's"), and
(2) burnt offering to the LORD ("I will offer it up for a burnt offering").

In verse 37, the daughter asks for two months to "bewail my virginity", which the father grants her. Upon her return home, he keeps his vow.

"And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man." Judges 11:39

The Bible does not say that Jephthah offered her as a burnt offering - it says he kept his vow, "and she knew no man".

In other words, she was not sacrificed to the Lord, but dedicated to the Lord. This would be consistent with God's commandments against human sacrifice, God's providing of a substitute for Isaac, and God's commandment "thou shalt not kill".

Her dedication to the LORD meant that she was to remain a virgin all her life (which is consistent with her request to "bewail my virginity"). She was not given in marriage, "and she knew no man". She was set apart for God.

Ye Have Not Obeyed My Voice

"...when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites, that the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them...but ye have not obeyed my voice" Judges 6:7-10

God used the Midianites to impoverish Israel to the point that Israel finally cried unto the LORD. As soon as they called out to God, he responded... by sending them a prophet with a message.

The message? "Ye have not obeyed my voice".

I think of the dire situation we are in today. Aren't we, the richest and most powerful nation on earth, suddenly being impoverished?

How miserable will we have to be before we cry out to God? How long after we cry out will He wait to send us a messenger? What will the message be?

I think it will sound a lot like the message He sent to Israel... "ye have not obeyed my voice".

The big questions on everybody's mind sound like this: How long will this recession last? How far down will our economy go? Answer: That all depends on how long it takes us to cry out to the LORD... Until then, the solution will continue to elude us.

Our hope is not in our President or in our Congress or in Wall Street or even in the global economy. Our hope is in the LORD. As soon as we acknowledge that, He will reveal the solution to our problem. And just like Israel, the solution will be to put away the false gods and idols out of our midst and return unto the LORD God.

The Stubbornness of Idolatry

Judges 3 tells that the LORD left some nations in the Promised Land "...to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses."

Now begins a cycle told throughout Judges:

Israel inter-married with the pagans
Israel forgot God
Israel worshipped idols
God delivered Israel into capitivity
Israel repented
God raised up a deliverer (a judge)
God delivered Israel
Israel had rest
The judge died
Israel forgot God...

and over and over the cycle continued...

shows the persistance of idolatry - they returned to it over and over again
shows the patience and mercy of God - He forgave over and over again
shows the quickness of restoration - as soon as the people cried out to God, He raised up the deliverer with no delays