I can understand David’s lament over Jonathan; after all, they were best friends. But he lamented Saul, and took vengeance upon Saul’s supposed executioner. Why? He took vengeance because Saul was “the Lord’s anointed.” The glory of the Lord was important enough to David that he would not harm “the Lord’s anointed” even if that anointed one deserved to die. But it wasn’t just about right and wrong. David loved Saul because of that anointing. The words expressed in his dirge indicate that he was indeed sorrowful over Saul’s death. David’s focus had to be upon the glory of the Lord. For that reason he mourned. Is my focus upon the glory of the Lord so strong, so clear, that when those who seek to do destroy me meet unfortunate circumstance that I genuinely mourn over their demise? Lord, bring me to the point that Your glory is of utmost importance to me, even greater than my own well being. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
PSALM 68
What makes a leader successful? In 14 & under Pony league baseball I was part of the Murphy Yanks here in Stillwater. The team had a history of being the best team in the city. I played a very special role. I kept the bench warm. The team itself was very successful. My first year on the team, the guys won the state tournament and went on to regionals at Kansas City. Not that I got to go, they only took the good players. Of course there was a big write up in the paper and the triumphant team had their picture in the paper, all of the usual victory celebration. In one respect it was interesting to be part of the best team in the state. In another respect if I could have been traded to the worst team in the league, I would have chosen that. At least then I would have had some playing time during games. At the end of the last season, the coach gathered us all around and assessed our abilities. When he came to me, he said, “Chaffin, you are as good a fielder as anybody on the team, but I swear if I rolled a basketball to you, you couldn’t hit it.” Needless to say, I never played anymore baseball after that. You know, I have no memories of any of the coaches ever trying to teach me how to be a better hitter. Just remember, being ignored. Guess I was a lost cause, and successful coaches don’t waste time with lost causes.
This Psalm is so rich with the Glory of God! David as a successful warrior-king envisions God coming in His glory as a conquering king in His victory procession to receive and display His glory among His people. It used to be when conquering kings/warriors returned home that a victory parade would be given in honor of the victors. The last real victory parades in the USA were at the end of WWII. I have seen news reels of them and read about them. Perhaps you have too. It was common in ancient times to march the captives in the victory procession. It was also common for the king to pay his soldiers using the booty collected among the conquered people. (Which in ancient times is what motivated soldiers. War has almost always been about economics and greed.)
The nations are depicted as being jealous of Israel because of her great King. He is a king that has a heart for the widow and fatherless. He is a King that receives gifts among men. Paul quotes the Septuagint translation of verse 18 in Ephesians 4:8. Ps 68:18:
“You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the LORD God might dwell there.”The Septuagint words it a little differently so that it reads in Ephesians 4:8: Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”He gives us gifts that we may give them back to Him. What a gracious King! We who were once captives, enemies of His, are now enlisted in His army! We are given gifts to give back to Him to enhance His glory, and in so doing we improve the state of His kingdom, and we get to march in His victory procession not as defeated foes but as victorious comrades! He has no lost causes on his team. Unlike earthly coaches, he enters our lives gifting, coaching, enabling, empowering us to do the task for which He has designed for us to fulfill on his victorious team. He indwells us! Because He indwells me, I get to play! I don't have to sit and watch. I’ll gladly march into hell for this King because I know that He will bring me through it victoriously! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
EZEKIEL 37
Bones, they can tell us a lot about how a person lived and died. But we cannot, as of yet, bring them back to life. Archaeologists sort through the trash piles of ancient civilizations finding artifacts, foundations, walls and even bones. They interpret what they find, and bring us all kinds of theories about the civilization which has disappeared. But for all their brilliant investigation, they can never bring the civilization back to life. What happened to the ancient people of Stonehenge, the Great Pyramids, Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat and countless other civilizations? We study the stones and bones of them, but unless we have direct writings of the people who lived in them, the explanations of their lives are mere conjecture. Of those civilizations which completely vanished such as Stonehenge or Ebla or others, could their national unity be reconstructed? Certainly their descendants, if they exist, could be traced by God, but we know nothing of them.
Now take Israel, she was destroyed in the days of Ezekiel. She never was completely sovereign as a nation again. The Lord brought her back to the land, but she was always under the thumb of some other ruler, Persia, Greece or Rome. Then in 70 A.D. she was completely wasted and removed. Never did she regain any sovereignty. Unlike other ancient civilizations, her people never lost their identity even though they had lost their homeland. Scattered throughout the world, her people remained unique and identifiable. Could such a people be brought back and made to live again? Our glorious Lord told Ezekiel that it would indeed happen. Could it be that the formation of Israel in 1948, 1878 years after her demolition, be the beginning of the fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy? It might be. One thing is certain, it is certainly unheard of. Our God can re-attach dry bones, put muscle, organs, skin and hair on them and breathe the breath of life into it.
If He can do that for Israel, what can He do for me and you? Lord make me live again. Make me truly live the life which You have designed for me to live. Let me not be satisfied with anymore half-hearted living! Let me not settle for anything less! Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 CORINTHIANS 16
The Lord Jesus Christ is full of grace. He expresses His grace most often through other brothers and sisters in Christ. The saints in Jerusalem were encountering severe famine. His love in us motivates us to give to those in need. Even this carnal but wealthy church in Corinth was giving to Jerusalem--because of the love of the Lord Jesus. When we give to other’s needs out of the proper motive, we are displaying His glory.
Maranatha-O Lord Come or Our Lord has come-is our hearts cry! We long to see his glory fully manifest! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
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