Readings for today: 2 Samuel 1-4
In my sermon yesterday, I said, “Humanity has always wandered in a moral and ethical wilderness.” Despite all the technological and medical and scientific advances, we have no idea of where we’re going or why or what we’d do when we get there. We are ethical and moral adolescents, constantly fighting against God’s created order. I think the root of the problem is that we want to be gods ourselves but that’s probably another post for another day. However, today’s reading felt very familiar to me. Probably because I see many of the same dynamics playing out in our world today. Humanity seems just as prone to violence, greed, power, selfishness, hatred, and anger as ever.
Today’s reading includes political intrigue, civil war, and assassinations. Israel was in chaos as different parties jockeyed for influence and power. An Amalekite lies about killing Saul in order to curry favor with David and ends up being executed. Abner tries to preserve Saul’s legacy by marshaling Israel on Ish-Bosheth’s behalf only to split with his master over a perceived offense. Joab and his brothers have it out for Abner, perhaps seeing him as a potential rival for position and power in the new kingdom. The sons of Rimmon take matters into their own hands to bring about the end of the civil war and gain favor with David only to suffer the same result as the Amalekite who killed Saul. It’s a brutally honest account of the politics of the day and the only silver lining is that God is using even this sinful raw material to fashion His will for His people.
Our politics aren’t much different. The intrigue and jockeying for power and influence and position continues. The civil war between Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and progressives is as brutal and hateful as it has ever been. Thankfully, mass violence has yet to break out in our country but we certainly see it in different parts of the world. About a year ago, I was supposed to board a plane for Ethiopia. We were heading to a northern region of the country to a city called Dessie to train church planters but violent protests broke out as one particular tribe pushed back against the decisions of the national government. Two aid workers were killed. All US State Department personnel were evacuated from the area as fears of a resumption of hostilities in the area grew. It was so heartbreaking. And yet, it served as a great reminder that our only hope is the same God who was at work in ancient Israel bringing about His will through the sinful choices of human beings was still at work in our world today.
I love the line from Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 CSB) All things. The good. The bad. The ugliness of life. God uses it all according to His sovereign power and wisdom to bring about His will for you, for me, for the world in which we live. No matter what circumstances you find yourself in. No matter what choices you made that brought you to this place. No matter what forces you find arrayed against you. No matter what lies in your control or outside your control. Trust that God is taking the raw material of your life to make you more and more into the image of His Son and prepare you to spend eternity with Him.
Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 6, 9, 10, 14, 16, 21