Dodging a despot’s paranoia

𝟭 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝟮𝟮:𝟴 ” 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲? 𝗡𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲. 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆.”

David was a rising star in Israel. The esteem he was held in had surpassed that of King Saul. That didn’t just irk Saul, it drove him into deep suspicion.

There was presumed treachery that filled Saul’s heart and his thinking:

𝟭 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝟭𝟴:𝟴 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝘆; 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗹𝘆. “𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀,” 𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁, “𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺?”

Now, Samuel the prophet had already told Saul that he had been rejected as king – by God. Saul’s hold on power, then, was only by human means. And in the tradition of royal families, there was a dynasty to be upheld and defended. Threats like David needed to be eliminated.

But David had no intention of overthrowing Saul; he served the king with exemplary loyalty. He was NOT, as the king accused, lying in wait for him. He was fleeing for his life from a murderous tyrant.

The paranoia that governs the life of some in power causes acts of malice towards even the most innocent and upstanding people under them. Indeed, the worst thing you can do under a tyrant is do your job well. Any acclaim that comes your way is perceived as something taken away from the despot. There can only be one star – the ruler.

While autocratic, tyrannical, even murderous rulers do exist in the world even today I am thankful to never have one running political things where I have lived; at least to the extent of hunting down their enemies to kill them physically. However, the controlling spirit of stultifying leadership is everywhere, and I have seen that.

If I’m under such an authority, I do think it’s God’s will and self-preservation to escape or hideout in the corners such as David did. While it is part of any employment to do what it takes to advance the corporation or organization, being slain in reputation, limited in future development or otherwise discredited and disparaged is harmful to the soul. I have been there; and my refuge was lateral movement. Escape is not always possible, so shelter is advisable. I prayed, I moved as I saw opportunity.

If I AM in a role of authority, woe to me if I become jealous towards those who report to me – I need to fight that zealously. For indeed, may they be more gifted and productive than I am. I need to promote them, even above and beyond me, seeing my role in their lives as nurturer, even for a short season. And in that role, I rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15), at any advancement.

Hierarchy is solidly scriptural and may I live in the structure with a heart after God.

The true downfall of entitled society

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟬:𝟭𝟯-𝟭𝟱 “𝗪𝗼𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻! 𝗪𝗼𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝗵𝘀𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗮! 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝘆𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝘆𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗺, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻? 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀.

The stark proclamations of eternal judgment are unsettling. People are condemned by their place of residence?

Jesus was telling his disciples what to do if they and their message were not accepted where they went – that they were to shake the dust off their feet to rid themselves of the dust of that place. Since the message of Messiah was not accepted in that town, so that place was not accepted by Messiah. And far more than a visit by a disciple was a set of miracles done in the midst of a place by God the Son.

It is implicit that societies tend to act tribally – as one person. This can work both ways – to accept and embrace or to reject and cast out. After Jesus did what he did in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, he was rejected as Messiah. They had failed to repent of their sins; a clear indication of that rejection.

For an authentic, life-changing heart turning towards God is the expected, even required response to the miraculous. That stands in contrast to an entitled, thankless response. People who seek only to profit themselves – financially, healthfully or in some caste system sense – negate the purpose of the work done in and for them.

Since the people in entire cities or locales tend to act a one, they bring down the whole place with their attitudes and responses. Does this mean every person living within city limits stands condemned. No, that is certainly an overstatement. It does mean that people in those places need to turn from the decrepit status quo – meaning that they may have to exert themselves more in order to turn to God. In a godless society, a Christ follower is a rank rebel.

Jesus came that we might have abundant life – and that life is predicated upon following him. The very first thing a would-be disciple notices is a need to change – there are paths of thought, speech and action that need to be reformed. And some will not allow that to happen.

Search my heart O Lord.

Fellowship of murderers

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟱:𝟳‭, ‬𝟭𝟭 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗮𝘀 …. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱.

The annual prisoner freedom ritual was meant to keep the peace between Rome and those of occupied Israel. There is no biblical record of it being done throughout the Roman Empire, but that would be consistent with the concessions made to maintain control yet allow some local political fervor to simmer. Indeed, the Pax Romana (Peace of Rome) operated at the tips of swords and spears. So, not really peace at all.

That Barabbas was a murderer (likely of one of the opponents of Israel) was an appeal to his candidacy for release. But that he was a murderer at all was perhaps more so, for his advocates were actively using Roman force to murder the One who served neither their aspirations nor that of Rome – Jesus Christ. He was far scarier than any mere criminal or insurrectionist, because His insurrection was against their sin and corrupt authority. He had to go.

The riddle of the cross is that when humankind does its worst, God’s best results. Murderers free murderers and at some level even flaunt their actions with a destructive arrogance that hurts themselves more than anyone else. God pays love forward through His Son and establishes eternal supremacy over the small reign of small people.

The cross wins. Always and forever. In my life and that of all humanity.

Generosity and Labor

Matthew 20:15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’

The master of the field had decided to give equal wages to all his workers no matter how long they had worked.  The ones who had been at it the longest were upset by this, since they only earned the same as those who had worked a few hours.  It was a labor dispute.

Then the master replied with the questions above.  There are 2 aspects to his words:

1. The protesting workers had been paid what they had agreed, but considered that they had control of what all others were paid.  They wanted equal pay for equal work but the master decided differently.  At the heart of that is an assumption that they thought the money was theirs to distribute, not his.
2. The master’s intent was generosity.  In a day and in a place where people lived hand to mouth, a day’s wages would ensure a family ate that night only.  He wanted no one to starve.  Nobody in the story was lazy, they were just unemployed, even into the late afternoon.

For 1., state-level socialism does in fact remove ownership of fields and the wherewithal to pay workers from society.  The state is the master and its wages and conditions are engineered and metered.  The workers get their way – equal pay for equal work.  Except that corruption invariably creeps in and work ethic degrades because there is no reason to work well or even care about one’s toil.  There is no advancement and there is no reward for extra diligence.

Ownership of resources allows for incentivizing good attitude and extra work.  If a “master” grows in wealth, his/her resources can be re-invested in people and entities that will continue to grow.  Greed notwithstanding, the organic seeding of resources has the often-realized potential of causing people and corporate entities to thrive.  Individuals can accumulate wealth as well, becoming “masters” in their own right; it’s part of the system. 

As a follower of Jesus, I believe all I have belongs to God.  Not a few times have people accused and insinuated that I need to give here or there – to them or others in need.  Yet what I have is mine to steward, to pray for wisdom about how and where to give and invest.  I am allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me.

For 2., the scourge of the wealthy – their greed – is vividly exposed.  If I want to protect freedom of resource distribution and the growth of my estate and the community and nation, I MUST practice generosity.  Greed is why socialism arose and why it keeps its place as an alternative to free enterprise.  And greed is not only the practice of the well-to-do (though being greedy with a lot has larger impact).  Ten thousand mini-misers have the same effect as one wealthy one.  The workers in the story were not generous to be sure; they wanted what was coming to them and a strict limit to what the late arrivals were paid.  They did indeed begrudge the generosity of the master.

God is infinitely generous.  His reward is not “fair” as humans would compute it, but abounding in grace as an expression of unconditional love.  If I receive the free gift of salvation – and I do – I cannot with integrity begrudge the generosity of my God towards those who don’t deserve it in my eyes.  Let me learn this deeply.

Scourge of miserable comforters

J𝗼𝗯 𝟭𝟲:𝟭 “𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲; 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂!”

and

𝟭𝟲:𝟰-𝟱 𝗜 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲; 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂; 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳.

The lion’s share of the book of Job contains the theories, platitudes and high brow criticism towards Job concerning the disaster that had befallen him. Certainly, his state terrified them; he was well-known as a righteous man and yet cataclysmic circumstances had destroyed most of the good things he had in life. The book of Job is a profound story of bad things happening to good people.

The reaction of his “friends” – the onlookers who came to his side amidst his suffering – was to sully his reputation and to trumpet God’s justice as invariably meted out through circumstance. In their minds, bad things could NOT happen to good people for if that were true, they were certainly doomed.

Job didn’t remain silent in the midst of their attack. His words above were completely appropriate. For with “comforters” like these, who needs tormenters? Retroactive human judgment is as easy as it is erroneous. And the damage it does is as deep as that done by the trial it claims to justify. Job’s friends were miserable to him at this point. Kicking someone when s/he is down is cruel and childish.

Job then described what he would do in their place – and there is no reason to discard this as an egotistical boast, for Job had the goods in his character to rise above the temptation to tear others down. He also knew what he needed – encouragement in place of their brutal teardown.

The lesson is to be a friend like that. Even if there truly are reasons a person has fallen into dire straits, that person generally knows that and picking someone back up is infinitely more useful and good for everyone – including the would-be judge and jury. I both want to be like that and look for people who are like that when I’m going through stuff (and we all do).

Tenuous secrecy

Luke 12:2-3 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

Jesus spoke to the human insistence on privacy.  His words were all inclusive, encompassing both action and words, but focusing more on words.  He promised public disclosure of all things hidden and kept secret.

What Jesus did NOT say was when or how this disclosure would take place.  There is an eternal implication and one that accompanies judgment at the end of this life.  Also, Jesus did NOT advocate betraying a trust or blabbing things told in (strict) confidence.  The proclamation is absolutely a warning for those who use secrecy to shroud ill intent or slander or plans of intrigue and rebellion.

There are, of course, many legitimate reasons to say and do things in private.  Giving counsel at any level requires confidence.  Public shame is avoided through private confession of sin.  And in this life, there is no implied invasion into the intimacy between people.

It is healthy and righteous before God to come clean of whatever hidden words or deeds I might have.  Indeed, a very good measure of wholeness in God is the ability to publicly admit my sin; it’s pure power for others caught in the same activity with a clear sight on forgiveness and healing.  Likewise, if I have something against someone, Jesus’ instructions here is the template for communication:

Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’    If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Note – private discussion with others IS absolutely part of it, but that follows direct conversation with the person against whom I have an issue.  The order matters.

The searching of the Holy Spirit convicts according to these measures; there is no prohibition against honest emotions and all human passion.  Yet, since humanity is a fallen race, the expression of those things is fraught with excess and sinful motives.  Words will not remain private, says Jesus, and since the worst speech comes from a sinful heart, learning to track my sinful words is a pathway to repentance.

The workings of insecure leadership

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮:𝟯-𝟰 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀, 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗝𝗲𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝗺; 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻.

Herod sensed rivalry, a threat to his rule and dynasty. A king had been born. Magi from the east had arrived and announced it. The news troubled all Jerusalem, for it represented a potential upset of order. The Messiah’s advent would mean upheaval and violent overthrow of the powers that be. For Herod’s part, though, taking the wise men seriously spoke about his tenuous security in his own power and position. He was part Edomite in a day when people of mixed breed were not accepted as fully Jewish. And he was a brutal dictator, executing people randomly and killing several members of his own family.

The slaughter of little boys in Bethlehem that followed was in keeping with his style of reign. It is but one of many biblical accounts of rivalry-driven repression and violence. From the first murder of Abel by his approval-jealous brother Cain, to the misadventures of spear-chucking King Saul and on into this account, even the appearance of challenging some people is a good way to get hunted and killed.

On a lesser but equally distressing scale – manipulation, reassignment and dismissal of those who could and would work as ultra-productive, servant-minded contributors, even if they one day rise to equal or higher rank and responsibility. While never ordering the slaughter of young children, some leaders would gladly clean house of people who might surpass their abilities and authority.

The inability/unwillingness to delegate often has rivalry at its heart. It cripples both corporations and bodies of believers. It is not tolerated to have a delegee surpass his/her superior.

The application is obviously two-sided. As one with any authority, do I squash the development of those looking to me for support or help? Of course there can be outright sedition and rebellion, but disagreement and different ways of doing things are not that; they may well be an improvement. No, as an authority, let me be one who nurtures and delegates power and work with joy.

As one reporting into hierarchy, let me not internalize being pushed aside. There is plenty to learn, even about my own temperament and limitations, but the motives of the mini-Herods do not allow my development, let me learn to move with God’s timing and direction to a place where I can grow. David hid in caves for a season of his life, where he wrote songs for his God, sung to his mighty men.

Danger of a soul’s drifting

Psalm 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

From the beginning of the account of David’s tryst with Bathsheba there was abuse of power – “In the spring time when kings go to war”  (but David did not, instead sending his army without him).  He summoned Bathsheba into his bed, schemed and conspired to cover up his actions and finally had Joab arrange for Uriah’s death on the battlefield so he could lie about whose baby Bathsheba would bear.  In short, David sinned against a LOT of people.

Psalm 51 was written after David’s sins were spelled out publicly by Nathan the prophet.  The song was his confessing lament, and he spells out his sorrow and profound sinfulness (i.e. “from birth”).  The verse above points to the core of the matter though – “Against you, you only” – when it was against many others as well.

The notion is that all sin flows from sin against God.  A soul’s intents, when yielding to the blessed and bountiful purposes of God, will by nature run from sin.  David would go to war with his army, would look away from Bathsheba and would confess sins rather than covering them up.  That didn’t happen, says David, because of rebellion against God.  All the years of seeing God’s faithfulness, deliverance and goodness displayed vividly in remote and desolate places, seemingly were for naught.  When the right temptation came, David took the bait and fell.

Inasmuch as Psalm 51 provides a warning, I can see the eternal value of paying attention to all God would say and direct me toward in life.  If I never listen and drink in the Word, I will by necessity see my faith erode and begin opening up to my most attractive form of iniquity – something the Bible calls “the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1).   For that which attracts me is that which fills a space made for God and his purposes.  There is purity and there is right motive.

In David’s song, there is a recollection of a dry spiritual time in his life.  Blessed beyond all counting, he ceased to seek God like he did earlier.  He let his guard down.

Let that not happen to me, or to us.

The unwarranted wail of the obedient

Luke 15:30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

It’s a parable, a story with made-up characters.  But because Jesus told it, our minds and souls immediately plug real people into the roles, because they are always archetypes of human beings in our lives.  We know people like that.

These words were spoken by the older son of the Prodigal Son, the younger brother who demanded his inheritance money before his father died and then wasted it on wild living.  He had come back, ready to be a slave and not a son, but his father would have none of that.  He was restored to sonship immediately upon his return with great fanfare and celebration.

The older son bitterly resented his brother, in fact refused to call him his brother – “this son of yours” intentionally skirts the fact that they are brothers.  Even if the father had not disowned the younger brother, his older sibling had.

The resentment of those who have remained faithful to a role, relationship or life calling while others have strayed and then returned is founded in envy.  This son wanted to be celebrated by his father and felt he had deserved it by virtue of faithfulness.  His father replied that he could celebrate any time, but that his brother’s return was life from the dead, so they MUST celebrate.

Where do I fail to rejoice with those who rejoice?  To probe my soul –  where is my reticence (my reserve) hiding real resentment?

The root of the anger by the older brother is a feeling of being unappreciated.  Let me recall seeing it in myself – it takes selective inventory of work done, counting every scar, personal cost and crippling fatigue that plagues all hard work.  And arguably we NEED to be validated and celebrated from time to time as we NEED to know and chronicle how our gifts and competencies are developing.  And there’s nothing wrong with having needs.

But if I feel injustice when someone else is celebrated, I need to get over myself.  Because they have needs as well.  The younger brother needed to have his decision to come back validated and joyfully underscored.  He had himself been victimized by those who loved his money but couldn’t care less about him, but at this point he had returned to those who loved him.  Except for his older brother.

Don’t be a resentful sibling when the stray returns.  Just don’t – it hurts you.

Being reconciled

Genesis 45:5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

Joseph was able to disguise is identity before his brothers through several meetings with them until this one. He had purposely tested them to see if the schism still existed in the family – between children of different mothers, one of whom was greatly preferred by their father over the other. When Judah, son of Leah, offered himself up in place of Benjamin, son of Rachel (like Joseph himself), Joseph was convinced that they had mended the schism, at least to the point of desiring their father to not further grieve. So Joseph revealed his identity and the brothers were, predictably, terrified. Then he said the words above.

The events of Joseph’s life were both devastating and exhilarating. But mostly, since he had seen his brothers again, devastating. They had betrayed flesh and blood and, if not for a band of traveling merchants, had committed fratricide. Joseph was well within his rights and powers to annihilate them. Instead, all who would ever hear or read this story would know the extraordinary person Joseph had become through his deep knowledge of God and His purposes. For his faith had sustained Joseph when nothing else could. The Lord was with him at each of the many low points and now, exalted to second in command over all Egypt, the Lord was still teaching his heart.

Can I see the good purpose that prevails despite all the evil done to me? Pettiness, rivalry, vengeance, envy and pride would beckon that I only see the offenses and eternally lick my wounds as they fester and refuse to scab over and heal. Can I see the sun shining? Or the smile that greets me? Can I take a better and newer inventory of my life and see redemption? It is there, let my soul know that well. But do I choose to see it? And celebrate it? And name it as the purpose of God fulfilled?

What do I have to complain about compared to Joseph? Please, there is nothing. And yet comparison is always unjust, so let me indeed revisit my pain not his. Not to wallow there, but just to see it dispassionately, historically. And though I may not know how it works, let me surrender to this – that each of those points of loss and betrayal, of abuse and hurt, of trauma and indignity and shame, all of them were necessary for me to become who I am today. At the very least, they allow me to say “I know how that feels” and at their most, they mold me deeply into someone who is compassionate and who listens and makes time to hear the voice of God as to my place in healing and mending the wounds of the people on this planet, because it was to save lives that God sent me – the way he sent me.