"A Study in Contrasts"

Scripture Passage

Psalm 12-17; Psalm 19-21

Scripture Focus

They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content.
     Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”
                                       (Psalm 12:4 NLT)

You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.
     You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong.
     I am determined not to sin in what I say.
                                       (Psalm 17:3 NLT)

Observation

It’s a study in contrasts—180 degrees’ separation between those who recognize their obligations to God and others, and those who blatantly ignore them.

Psalm 12 opens with David’s lament regarding the paucity of Godly people. Ultimately (verse 4), David describes those so godless that they give no regard to what’s right in any situation, determine they can live however they want, and believe that they have no obligation to anyone but themselves:

They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content.
     Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”
                                    (Psalm 12:4 NLT)

That is, by the way, the mantra of a significant portion of today’s culture. “What I do with my time, my resources, my body, my life is nobody’s business but my own—I’ll do what I want, and you stay out of it!” “Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”

By contrast, in Psalm 17 David opens his life to the Lord’s inspection—You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.

(I like that David adds “in the night,” as often those are the moments when our hearts are most open and vulnerable to the Holy Spirit’s conviction and challenge.) And then David adds…

I am determined not to sin in what I say.

What a contrast! David recognizes that, in word and deed, he is both accountable to God and bears responsibility towards others.

Of course, what we choose to say is powerful and significant. The New Testament author James affirms, “If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check” (James 3:2 NIV). Which leads me to the prayer in another of today’s psalms…

May the words of my mouth
     and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
     O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
                           (Psalm 19:14 NLT)

"National Treasure"

Scripture Passage

1 Kings 2:1-9; 2 Samuel 23:1-7; 1 Kings 2:10-12; 1 Chronicles 29:26-30; Psalm 4-6; Psalm 8-9; Psalm 11

Scripture Focus

Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
     Let your face smile on us, LORD.
You have given me greater joy
     than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
     for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe
                                     (Psalm 4:6-8 NLT)

Observation

I can’t imagine a better word from heaven given current economic and political realities. I’m not a guy fully immersed in things political—ultimately, my citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and I’ve pretty much chosen to focus my efforts there. Still, I cannot recall a season in my brief lifetime where there has been such division among political lines and such confusion over the best course of action. Seems to me that just a generation ago, though you might disagree with someone politically, there was a general sense that your “opponent” was at least a decent person who still wanted what was best for the country. Nobody seems to believe that about the “opposing viewpoint” any more. (And yes…I hear you…maybe rightly so…)

As for me, I’ll stake my claim with David’s words—

Many people say, “Who will show us better times?”
     Let your face smile on us, LORD.

David recognizes the priority and value of relational bounty with God over even the economic bounty of a rich harvest!

You have given me greater joy
     than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.

And David affirms that “national security” is rooted in God’s care:

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
     for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.

Lord, let my priority be on You…my trust be in You…and Your favor towards us the foundation of all prosperity!  You are our true "National Treasure"!

"Yours? Or His?"

Scripture Passage

1 Chronicles 29:1-22; 1 Kings 1:1-53

Scripture Focus

Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! (1 Chronicles 29:14 NLT)

Observation

Giving credit where credit is due, it was John Maxwell I first heard use the illustration I’m about to share with you. He told the story of dad who stopped for a snack at a hamburger joint with his young son. As the boy munched on the fries the dad had just purchased, Dad reached for a few to enjoy himself.

The boy protested—“Hey, those are my fries!” And suddenly, the father saw the Father (yep, the heavenly Father) and His generosity towards us in a whole new light.

“What my son didn’t understand,” said the dad, “was that I gave him those fries…and I could take ‘em away again! What he equally failed to understand was that I had the resources to step back up to the counter and supply my child with more fries than he could ever possibly consume! He failed to see me for who I was—the supplier of all he enjoyed and, ultimately, the owner of it, still.”

And so it is, so often, between God and His people. The offering plate passes and we withhold what rightfully belongs to God because we have (we think) so many other obligations…so much lack ourselves…and have to hang on to everything we’ve got. Our Father watches from heaven, and perhaps even responds a bit to our behavior like a father with a son unwilling to share a French fry.

David got it right: Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! (1 Chronicles 29:14 NLT)

Lord, remind me that, ultimately, I possess nothing and only steward what belongs already—and always—to You.

"Got Friends? ...Been One?"

Scripture Passage

1 Chronicles 26-28:21

Scripture Focus

Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend. (1 Chronicles 27:33 NLT)

Observation

I’m not an administrator. That is, if an administrator is a person who’d be pleased to read the lists in today’s passage and consider who was assigned to what responsibilities in David’s kingdom and think about what each of those responsibilities were and…—well, that just doesn’t interest me.

I’m glad administrators exist. I admire people with an administrative knack. I’m much more interested in the vision David casts for his son, Solomon, and the temple he will build to honor the God of Israel.

But in the middle of all those administrative lists is an interesting designation. “Hushai the Arkite was the king’s friend” (1 Chronicles 27:33 NLT). The skeptic in me thinks, “What? King David had to designate an official ‘friend’? Did the guy have an office with a sign on the door—‘Friend of the King’?”

The “old softie” in me believes differently—and is glad David had a friend. I imagine David—as all these lists are being made out and reviewed for accuracy—saying to a scribe, “Make sure Hushai is in there!”

“Why?” asks the scribe.

“Because he’s been a good friend.”

In the thick of a life filled with people asking for this, that, or the other thing—a life full of expectations by others that could never fully be met—how excellent that David had a friend.

And, of course, my first thought is to connect myself to David—as one in need of less “friends” full of needs and expectation, and more friends simply bringing themselves for connection and relationship. My second (and more legitimate thought) is that I’ve been wonderfully blessed with several friends. My third (and most challenging) thought is to wonder how often I bring myself to others, without an “I need this…could you do that” kind of list, and simply, instead, to be a friend.

"Just Doin' My Job!"

Scripture Passage

1 Chronicles 23-25:31

Scripture Focus

And each morning and evening they stood before the LORD to sing songs of thanks and praise to him. (1 Chronicles 23:30 NLT)

Observation

Another list this morning. I understand the importance of these historical records—sometimes recording genealogies, sometimes recording civil assignments within David’s kingdom. If I were a descendent of Aaron and eligible to serve as a priest, I’d want these records available to prove my qualifications. Still, they don’t do much for me devotionally.

There is one verse I find interesting, however. 1 Chronicles 24:28-32 lists the responsibilities of the Levites now that the Ark of the Covenant was secure within the city of Jerusalem and didn’t need to be carried about from place to place. It’s a list of lengthy and varied responsibilities, and reading it reminded me of the variety of tasks my employment sometimes requires. But in the middle of it all, it says…

And each morning and evening they stood before the LORD to sing songs of thanks and praise to him. (1 Chronicles 23:30 NLT)

I like that. One of the duties…responsibilities…assignments of the Levites was to make sure that “morning and evening they stood before the LORD to sing songs of thanks and praise to him.”

That’s an assignment easily overlooked in a life busy with other obligations. And it might seem that a “missed” morning or evening here or there wouldn’t be all that significant. But the fact is, stopping to sing praise was as important as—and one might argue even more than—any other obligation a Levite carried.

Pausing consistently—rhythmically, if you will—to remember and celebrate God brings a stability to life like nothing else can. That’s why things like regular Sunday worship and consistent personal quiet times—though often minimized in our busy days—remain just as important (and just as beneficial) as ever. That’s why I want to “pause to praise” so consistently you’d think it was my job!

"An Offering That Costs Me Nothing?"

Scripture Passage

2 Samuel 24:1-9; 1 Chronicles 21:1-6; 2 Samuel 24:10-17; 1 Chronicles 21:7-17; 2 Samuel 24:18-25; 1 Chronicles 21:18-22:19

Scripture Focus

But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24 NLT)

Observation

Well, you know the story—and probably the application I’m going to make. David has taken an ill-advised census of Israel (ironic that America is in the middle of its census-taking even as I write). The problem for David probably wasn’t with taking a census per se, but rather that David’s presumed purpose in taking the census was to calculate how many fighting men were available.

What’s the matter with that? Well, God never brought Israel victory because of how many soldiers they had available, or (for that matter) whether they enjoyed some technological advantage over the enemy, or whether they had devised a superior strategy. God brought Israel victory over her enemies because of who He was—because He was gracious towards them and powerful over their enemies, and was the One who went before them into battle!

All of that makes David’s census evidence of an absence of trust in God. Judgment follows. And when God in his graciousness stays the hand of judgment, David wants to offer a sin offering. Araunah offers to give David both the land and the materials for the sacrifice, but David refuses:

“No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24 NLT)

David’s actions do not imply that he thought he could somehow pay the price for his sin, but rather, they testify to David’s recognition that sin is costly—that sin exacts a huge price. Indeed, you’ll never find a more expensive proposition. David’s refusal to let someone else supply the materials for a sacrifice acknowledging his own sin was his way of recognizing how costly sin is, and how gracious God was in stopping the flow of judgment.

Jesus, of course, paid the full and ultimate price for my sin—and there’s no way I ever could…and no reason I need to…try to pay what He’s already paid for me. But I can—by the way in which I bring everything I am and everything I have before the Lord, making it available to Him even if that involves great sacrifice—acknowledge how costly my sin is…and how deep the price He paid for my redemption.

“So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,

‘till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it someday for a crown.”

"God's Delight"

Scripture Passage

2 Samuel 22:1-51; Psalm 18

Scripture Focus

“To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
     to those with integrity you show integrity.
To the pure you show yourself pure,
     but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.
You rescue the humble,
     but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them.
                                      (2 Samuel 22:26-28 NLT)

Observation

What a great psalm is found in 2 Samuel 22. I was thinking, as I read it, of all the ways David finds to praise God…of all the phrases and expressions by which David shows God’s care for him. I wondered, as I read, if I could do the same. I didn’t wonder if I had as many reasons to offer praise as David did—I’m confident that I do. I wondered if I could slow down long enough to reflect that thoroughly on what God has done for me.

Verse 20 caught my attention, because it’s there that David says the Lord “delights” in him. What a wonderful thought, that God should delight in us. The verses that follow articulate at least part of the reason why, as David expounds on how he has sought to honor God with his life.

I don’t think our behavior is the only reason God delights in us—or, at least, continues to love us. I love my kids even when they’re not perfect—God loved me while I was utterly oblivious to Him and trapped and deceived by my own sin. Nor is God’s delight only offered when we’re perfect. We’ve certainly seen plenty of imperfection on David’s part.

But when I see my kids give 100%--when I see them love as they have been loved—I delight in them. And so it is, I believe, with God. Though my performance may not be perfect, when my heart is pure—when my intent is right—when my delight is in Him…He delights in me.