The Silent Psalmist

There are sixteen months of the Psalmist’s life in which you find no song. They are the months that David was living in a land not his own, under the rule of Achish king of Gath. It does seem so odd that David, who led the nation of Israel against a Philistine of Gath name Goliath, would at some point in his life pledge allegiance in the same streets the giant ran as a child.

What lead to his compromise? First, David started looking in the wrong direction, “David said to himself…” (1 Sam 27:1) Then, David questioned the promises of God; “… I will perish.” Remember even Saul affirmed the prophecy that David would be king (1 Sam 24) Then he acted on his own flawed logic “There is nothing better for me to do…” David thought shallow, moved quickly and invested deeply.

There was no song because David became complacent in Gath with the false since of security that comes with sin. There was no song, because he gave over the authority of his life to a king that God had given him victory over when a giant fell. There was no song because the land of compromise became the home of David’s family, his men, and their families. There was no song because he lived a life of duplicity. David would fight the Israel's other enemies on one front, appearing against Israel on the other, and kill anyone who could testify of the truth.

David lost his identity as the enemy called him friend. He lost his purpose as he tried to convince the king that he would fight against Saul and the children of Israel. And he fell into depression upon finding the enemy had destroyed his home while he was chasing after a battle he had no business fighting.

The parallels are striking. When comprise begins by looking in ourselves for our answers and direction we logically lose our identity in Christ. When we continue by questioning the Word of God we lose our purpose. And as we invest in the flawed reasoning derived from the previous mistakes we will trade true treasures for destitution and depression.

Thankfully we know that upon seeing his home empty and in shambles David cried unto the Lord, and the Lord heard him. How many songs of victory, songs of sustenance, songs of peace, could have been sung had David looked to the Lord the first time around?

Tokens, Tools & Trophies

In 1 Samuel 6 the Ark of the Lord is returned to the Israelites by the Philistines.  The heathen nation was growing weary of the diseases plaguing their cities.  I find it fitting that even the world can tell the Hand of God when they see it.

 

What really stirred me though was the slaughter that occurred in Beth-shemesh. The men there violated the commandments of the Lord (Num 4:20) by looking into the Ark.

The slaughter was so great that they ended up praying the same prayer as the enemy - that the Ark of the Lord would be taken away. You see Israel had only wanted to use the Ark as a means to victory in battle.  It was a token, a tool, a trophy if you will.  God couldn’t allow his people to get to a place where they thought His power was only good for their desires.

 

Perhaps that is why many find it hard to live for God today.  Their desire for God ends at the need they wish for Him to fill.  God has never been interested in taking the place of a good luck charm.  He calls for “transformation” and a “living sacrifice” (Rom 12).  The world has a bit of a different view.  The following quote from Wilbur Reese comes to mind…

 

“I would like to buy three dollars’ worth of God, please. Not enough to explore my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don’t want enough God to make me love my neighboor* or pick beets with a migrant. I want ecstasy, not transformation. I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth. I want a pound of the eternal in a paper sack. I would like to buy three dollars’ worth of God please.”

 

I want the Lord in my life.  Be His call sacrifice, service, joy, victory, defeat or sorrow – His will and His glory is my chief desire.  I want your presence at work in my life.  I want to be completely yours.  You see there is another tale of the Ark of the Lord.  This one found in II Chronicles 5.  The priests brought the Ark into his place... the proper place.  And when they did "the glorious presence of the Lord filled the temple."

When we place the Lord in His rightful place.  His glory and power are revealed.  Let Him be revealed in you.

*I believe the original quote reads a black man.  I wrote this for a group of brethren that I felt might be offended by the quote in it's original form.

Where Your Treasure is...

Matthew 6:21 is a very well known and often quoted passage:  "Where your treasure is there will your heart be also."

However I have recently seen it in a different light than I previously had.  I don't know if I only heard it preached as such, or if the roadblock has been in my own mind.  Regardless, I have most often heard the passage used reciprocally - as some sort of biblical litmus test...  Show me where you spend your time and money and I will show you what you love or cherish.

Though that application could be considered and for that matter affirmed I am convinced Christ was speaking in a much more instructive sense.  You see in both the two verses prior and two paragraphs further Jesus is very directive.  Using imperative statements such as "store up..." and "seek first his kingdom..."

You see we too often, especially in a Western culture, follow after our heart.  We seek to do what we love or what we want rather than what we know to do.  Christ was assuring us that if we invest our treasure, our heart will assuredly follow.


Invest your treasure.  Your time, your energy, your talent and absolutely your MONEY in that which is Godly regardless of how you may feel about it.  Your heart will follow.