What sort of lead do you give ...

I wonder if you concur with me, this is a tough reading and call by Joab?

A bit of background, ever so briefly. Absalom has raised up for himself an army, ever so deceitfully and tactfully, against his own father, the king, David. A battle takes place and Absalom is killed. But here's the thing, David is torn between the victory that is his in the defeat of an enemy, albeit his son, and the fact that his troops return home safely. 

Here's the account:

2 Samuel 19:1-8 (NLT)

Joab Rebukes the King

19 Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. ² As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. ³ They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. ⁴ The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

⁵ Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. ⁶ You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. ⁷ Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.”

⁸ So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him.

Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes.

I wonder where you might have placed your emphasis, your emotions? Would it be in celebration for your own troops returning as victors (this victory is yours), or might you be somewhat torn at the loss of your own son (though an enemy by his own making and action)?

The jury is out on this for me in some respects, for I am a strong believer in the fact that your (my) children are always your (my) children and you love them unconditionally (ie. whether they return the love, receive the love or not, you ALWAYS love them, regardless). It doesn't mean you like all of their life choices or the decisions they exercise. It does mean you might have to exercise grace, much and often.

However, here is the issue that Joab raises, David (King), you are the leader of these people. You might be torn with the loss of your son, this flesh and blood of yours who made his own choices and has suffered the consequences. But, don't loose sight of the people who have honoured you, faithfully served you, who were willing to give up their lives for you if necessary. Watch, because you have the responsiblity to look out for and look after, them too.

'Lord, here's my prayer through this. Help me ALWAYS to love my children, to protect them, direct and guide them, to lead by example for them. When it comes to leading well the people you have placed in my care, help me to be wise and lead well, that I might honour them and be a true example to them, encouraging and praising them appropriately , for Your Kingdom sake.' 

 

What do they say about you ...

We move into the letter of Paul to the church in Colosse tonight and we learn what is said about them there:

Colossians 1:4 (New Living Translation)

4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ
Jesus and your love for all of God’s people,

I would be pretty happy if it got back to me that what people knew about me was one, my faith in Christ, and two, my love for all God's people. Think about it. It isn't about them having done some big deeds, or recognition for some works. It is not about some great elocution of the Word, some sermon preached or theory devised. These people, followers of Christ, are recognised for their stand and belief (faith) in Christ and for their display of love for all people.

And there is more. I love the fact that, even though these people are praised for this, Paul and his colleagues identify that, if they are not nurtured in this, they may not be able to continue in this practice:

Colossians 1:9-10 (New Living Translation)

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you.

We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you

spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always

honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good

fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

The ability for these followers of Christ to continue in their faith and practice of love is assured by the wisdom and knowledge of God to know His will. In this way they will always be able to honour and please the Lord and produce every kind of good fruit. At the same time, growing and learning to know God better and better.

I love the image of life. I love the thought of growth. Not being stagnant or the same, but ever evolving into something better and better. It might seem strange, but I love the fact that, to some degree, we never arrive. We never fully attain. There is always something more to be gained, to be had, to be experienced in Jesus. There is no normality to life really. I hope there are people praying this prayer of Paul and his mates for me, because I want this experience too.

Here it is again from Eugene Peterson (The Message):

Colossians 1:9-10 (The Message)

9-12Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

"Here's to going the distance..."

Trust in the Lord ...

Yesterday I raised the issue of needing to keep focused so as not to become distracted by others, or things around us (as I easily can).

Proverbs 3:5-6 (New Living Translation)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

6 Seek his will in all you do,

and he will show you which path to take.

I am reminded in these verses (again) where my focus should lie and from where my wisdom must come. I am taken by the reminder too that this is not a piecemeal encounter or engagement, the instruction is to do this with all my heart, my whole being. It is serious. It is everything.
 
Another challenge lays within these verses, the seeking of His will. We tend to like it when it is easy, or there is not much effort required (I take ownership of this action). We might even excuse ourselves for decisions or actions because we did not have the full picture. This suggests to me that I have to take some responsibility here, I am required to seek the will of God for each and every circumstance, in all I do. I need to do some looking, praying, asking of others, so that I get this right. For God promises that the path will be right and good and beneficial and profitable, for me, for mine and for others.
 
Lord, help me to not be reliant merely upon the knowledge I have gained to date through experience and and action, whether mine or in observing others. Help me to seek afresh Your desire and will and plan for my life - each day and throughout the day!