No Gift for a King?

1 Samuel 10:27

Coming home to Manila for Christmas season, the first agenda on my list is Divisoria shopping! T’was literally a mob, but the inconvenience was pale compared to the great deals I found. No, I don’t buy bulk and just give it away. It took me seven hours (and counting) to look for the perfect present for my loved ones. Gifts are meant to match and please its recipient. Reading the first Christmas story the other day, I was amazed seeing the ironies in God’s concept and big production of Jesus’ incarnation. His first guests are from opposite poles: shepherds and magi. The wise and the otherwise :> We can be lowly and broken and unworthy, yet God will welcome us into His presence. But in giving Him gifts, it has to be costly. Giving a crippled animal to a governor is unthinkable. It is doubly an insult, if not grave defiance, not to give a King the honor He deserves. And this is what some people did to Saul on his first days in office. It is said that ‘they despised him and brought him no gifts’.  Doubting his potential to lead them from their enemies, they acknowledged him not. It is as immature as not giving a person a holiday gift because you know he couldn’t afford to give it back!  How many groups rally on the street, blaming the head of state for their empty plates, and yet never once gave him even a cent of respect?  Saul kept silent. But he sure was hurt.  And so is the baby in the manger, the King whose birthday is celebrated worldwide, but never made it to our gift list :<  

Application:

Googling to find the lyrics of ‘The Little Drummer Boy’, I was surprised to find it sensible, haha! All the while I thought it was all babbling and ‘pa rum pum pum pums’.  The song tells of a poor young boy, unable to afford a gift for baby Jesus, plays his drum instead and got a smile from the newborn. Awww, sweet! :> Just like the widow offering two small copper coins, the boy was commended not for the market value of his offering, but for how much he values it. Gift giving, although sometimes sacrificial in nature, shouldn’t make our faces long and hearts struggling. How would you like to receive a gift from a teary-eyed friend who can’t take his eyes off from that wrapped box, even telling you how hard it is for him to let it go?  But it happens. Because we’re focusing on the gift. How about lifting our faces a bit and see our Father, Savior and Comforter at the receiving end.  I’ve never been summoned to a royal court, ever. But given a chance, all pleasure is mine.  Maybe what we’re missing here is the wonderment of being in His presence. That nothing earthly is worth keeping compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Him. Ask a man courting the girl he loves and he will tell you he will do anything and everything just to see and please his beloved. We give because we love. It follows then, that when we’re empty handed this Christmas,  we have failed to love.

Changed Hearts

1 Samuel 10:9-26

                     

“As soon as Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart”.  God knew the Benjamite has big shoes to fill. For if the Israelites rejected an all-powerful King to rule over them, how could this finite rookie stand a chance? We may be pushed to perform a task larger than us, but when God calls, He also enables. Like Gideon, Saul thought little of his clan (and himself!) to be singled out. But the least among us, He can make great. What we regard as impossible, He can make happen. Never before was Saul seen among prophets, now his neighbors were surprised to spot him prophesying with them. And just when you expect a man to get excited for his promotion or a make a move against his critics, this new king kept silent. His new heart knows when to go public and when to stay concealed, and which concerns are for family and which are not for their meddling. To establish this new monarch, God has to touch other hearts as well. There was Samuel to instruct the people and write down the regulations of the kingship. It is kinda awkward for a new leader to address a crowd once his equal. Some valiant men were tabbed too as first royal escorts to accompany and attend to him on his way home. God also made sure many people will shout well wishes to Saul. It is a crucial affirmation and encouragement to help him stand against those who will openly (and rudely!) question his credibility. Such is the lonely first days of even our leaders today. Sometimes it’s not the question of ‘can they’, but ‘will we’. Our out-of-this-world expectations will remain unmet unless we go back to Theocracy. For who can best lead us than He who cares for us the most?

Application:

Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, Saul’s was changed. No leader can claim to have fully made a decision apart from the will of God. It always serves His purposes. We have to trust His sovereignty to overrule even at the cruelest of tyranny. That’s why we are called to honor our kings, submit to authorities, and obey our masters. We can! We have a God who is above all thrones and at His word, can uproot them all.  We can vote against them, file a case if any violation was done, but once the decision has been made and God allowed them still seated up there, may we give it a rest and work with them instead. David spared Saul’s life, Daniel and his friends excelled even in exile, and  Jesus paid his taxes! The heart change we’re praying for could be our own!

Amazing Race

1 Samuel 9:25-10:8

                     

Paul compared the Christian life to Athletics. You need training, you have a track, you’re timed, and you need to finish the race, hopefully with a prize too. But reading Samuel’s instruction to Saul here, it’s more likely he was signed up for Amazing Race. He attended one rooftop orientation, received a pouring from a flask of oil as passport,  and was given three clues to look for in this leg. That’s it and off he goes.  Next destination will be revealed after seven days at the Gilgal Pit Stop. Of course all those preliminaries before his kingly proclamation were not without reason and relevance. The anointing of oil was for him to acknowledge that he was God-chosen and is accountable to Him; the first clue being at Rachel’s tomb was to remind him of God’s grace to his ancestral line; his second clue was to receive two loaves of bread which is but a portion of the people’s offering to God , that clearly puts him second in line; third clue is joining a processional of prophets where he’ll come out a changed man. Meaning, though being given a position head above the Israelites, God wants him to be one with the people in singing His praise!  After those clues have been fulfilled, Samuel instructed him to wait. It would seem an ordinary task if it was given to my mother who unbelievable doesn’t mind waiting. God knew this will be Saul’s downfall soon, so as early as this time, He is training him to hold the reins of his weakness. What a wonderful, wise God we have! All his moves are purposeful and are motivated with much love. God’s wisdom extends to designing a race with challenges tailor-fit for each one of us. Some needed more heights to climb, for some colder nights to bear. At some points He can give us teammates to give us that necessary push, but at times they can be our unwanted extra load. Some tasks are already set, some presents us with a choice. But we all have been armed with the necessary provisions to carry us through the entire leg. No wonder it’s called an amazing race!

Application:

Waiting. The usual concept is to remain stationary and inactive. Sounds unproductive, right? But in a royal court, to wait is to readily attend to an instruction. It is not a red light, but a yellow light, closer to the Go. It is being prepared for an immediate action. What do you think waiters in a restaurant do? Sit and chat while you decide on your orders? No. So why is it, when God puts a hold on our prayers, that we let go of our defenses, wander around in circles and give everyone the reason that God hasn’t given any direction yet? Shouldn’t singles choose not to have that alone-lonely-loner look and start working on being God’s best instead? Why stare nowhere when we can start somewhere. Ruth was a loving and diligent daughter-in-law even before Boaz saw her. Esther prayed and fasted and she got the King’s favor. Mary kept herself pure and became the virgin mother of Jesus. It took seven days for Saul to be disqualified from office. Just one day more to hold his disciplines intact and his kingdom secure. Looking back at my many life’s choices, I know I could have endured more and waited longer. Given this nth chance to run again, I’ll play by His rules, give it my best shot, and wait on Him on the pit stop. I’ll never give in and never give up again!

Actor Meets Co-Actor

Actor#1: SAUL  (vv.1-14)

If there is one story in the Bible proving that God really orchestrates events to serve His purposes, it is this chapter.  The young man, Saul, was asked by his father to look for their lost donkeys.  As per instruction, he brought with him one of his servants, whom God made sure was that one who knew about Samuel and who has a quarter of a shekel in his pocket.  And guess which path they took? The exact road leading to where the prophet is.  They couldn’t bump into the donkeys along the way for there will be no need for Saul to see the seer. So I’m sure God hid the animals somewhere safe and be found at a later time, on His cue. Before hitting town, there were girls coming out to draw for water and they had to be the most accommodating and enthusiastic  set to encourage Saul to keep on going. Ever been to an unfamiliar ground looking for an unfamiliar face?  Your first encounter with their people is the crucial crossroad which provides you a picture of what to expect next and gives you just enough time to back off when a danger sign pops up.  God took care of that too. The girls gave them the detailed itinerary of Samuel and pushed them to urgency, saying ‘you’re just at the right time. go now or miss him’. God knew Saul so much that He gave him no room for second thoughts.  As they were entering the town, Samuel was already coming towards them.  How convenient! All actors playing their parts as pre-conceived by the Director.  I wonder how many angels were recruited to take some roles too :> Cut! Perfect! God now calls everyone for their next location. 

Application:

Amazing how God moves all things and makes all men work according to His grand plan. As an event planner and sometimes coordinator, my task is to be sure all grounds are covered and no stone left unturned. I literally run the program per second in my mind. Rewind-forward-slow-mo, over and over again. Multiply that infinitely and you’ll declare only a great God could make every life, generation past, present and future, designed and perfected to work independently from and dependently with all the rest of mankind. Mindblowing!  So how should we adjust our lives to that truth? First in my list is to praise God that He has already my life’s script on hand. Nothing will surprise Him, no one else can edit it, and I have no reason to worry about it. Second, is not to edit the life’s script of another. Although actually I couldn’t. But still, I should let go of every scheme that tries to manipulate others to serve my side of the story. Third, is to take some time off my script and just marvel at the many other stories God wrote.  Not only it will deepen my understanding and skill as His actor, but more importantly, it will heighten my worship of God, the sole Author and Perfecter of my faith! 

Actor # 2: SAMUEL (vv.15-24)

Second scene shifted on God’s veteran actor, Samuel.  The Director told him a day before  to prepare for the coming of a young actor and to personally orient him for his role as the new male lead. So at the sight of Saul at the entrance gate, he hurriedly welcomed and invited him for a meal. Seeing the puzzled look on the newcomer’s face, Samuel whispered that all will be explained in detail the next morning and gave him an added assurance that his family concerns has all been taken care of. The old man brought him to a hall already filled with invited guests.  A reserved sign was already placed at the head seat and the chef was immediately notified to serve the set-apart meal.  For an outgoing actor, this could be heartbreaking, if not impossible. But Samuel was humble enough to accept that his time under the limelight is up and a new star is born. His big heart ushered Israel’s new leader in, giving him the welcome party befitting for a King. 

Application:

When I was still a student, I heard that there were teachers in the conservatories who would never teach just anyone their skill techniques, unless you’re so good enough to earn that distinction of having been under their tutelage.  No one would miss and say it’s pride at work. But  if we move closer we’ll realize they're just putting on a mask. What lies beneath is actually plain insecurity. They wanted to freeze time and be the best for all season. They couldn’t bear the thought of seeing someone overtaking their glory days.  And so they kept their life’s work to themselves and to those chosen few with the condition of tagging their names wherever and whenever.  Building a name that will last forever is the very reason why man’s Babel project was cut short.  We don’t create a legacy for people to remember us. We live well to be better signages and point them all to God.  If at any point we are asked to leave our post, we should gladly step aside for the next steward to take over.  If our replacement turns out to be younger than us, never think his inexperience meant God made an unwise move. We were younger too when God first called us in, right? However, if our replacement  turns out to be better than us, we should all the more rejoice for the sake of our post. It is foolishness to keep toiling God’s ground for a year when another man can finish it well within a month.  We are all workers in God’s vineyard, we work for the glory of One.  And don’t worry, there is no retirement in His kingdom.  When God pulls us out from a post, it means He’s assigning us to another.  Ready for your new assignment? Your welcome party awaits you!

Give us a King!

1 Samuel 8

Discredited  (vv.1-8)

Imagine a mother who singlehandedly raised her three sons, taking on two jobs to make ends meet, letting go of her personal wants, even sacrificed their family times, just so they could finish college. All three soon had their own families, sent her to one of those homes for the aged, and barely visited her. How about a man who was once Mr. Indispensable, thirty years in the company, bringing in more sales than his peers combined together,  and just when he’s next in line for vice presidency, politics had its way in, found some discrepancy in his staff’s dealings, and so he was bypassed in favor of the owner’s close relative. That’s the heartbreak Samuel felt when the Israelites asked for a king to lead them in his stead. They reasoned that his sons were faulty which I think is their own decision despite Samuel’s teaching, otherwise God should have scolded him as He did to Eli. What was painful is that Samuel was forced to retire. These are the people who benefited from his leadership, asked for his wise counsel, and pleaded him to present their requests to God. We can all take frontal attacks from our foes, but it is unbearable to be backstabbed by friends. 

Now imagine how insulting it is to be left by your husband for another woman who is twice your age?  Or as an honor student be defeated in the student council because they voted instead for that popular hunk? Why would young girls exchange their purity for money, or young politicians their honor for a higher position? That’s how God felt when Israel demanded for monarchy over theocracy. Imagine choosing bondage over freedom, paying taxes instead of keeping your own harvest, your daughters as servants when they could live as princesses in your homes? Why would they want a human king when they have the Almighty God to rule them? How foolish! But guess what? How many times have we exchanged God’s glory for worthless things too? Let’s skip the big things like idolatry, adultery, sorcery etc. How many times have we decided to sleep longer on Sunday mornings instead of going to church? Or why can’t we spare a little amount from our more than enough salaries to help a friend in need?  Why do we withhold defending someone for fear of association? Should we lie and exaggerate to be accepted? Will we drink and curse to blend in? When we choose worthless things over God, we become worthless ourselves!

Application:

In the midst of Samuel’s discouragement because of Israel’s ungratefulness, He remained faithful to His God and continued to do his work, praying on their behalf. When people stopped believing in us, started criticizing our work and discrediting all our past efforts, it’s unbearable to report for duty right? We’ll resign immediately for sure. You dare turned your back from me, I’ll not die a martyr serving you, undeserving people! The gentler one among us of course will say this under his breath. And yet Samuel never blurted even one angry word. He prayed and it was God Himself who encouraged him. I have recently been treated unfairly and it really broke my heart. The enemy was giving me a list of why I should be acknowledged instead, but God was faithful to remind me to choose what is true and noble, right and pure. To think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. It was a decision to take captive my every thought, and make it obedient to Christ. Within the week, God allowed us to reconcile the issue and he confessed he was just so discouraged and felt discredited for all his efforts. Come again? We were on the same boat after all!  And if we both gave in to pride, higher walls could have been built and not bridges. We don't fight discouragement with disdain, for we will both lose. We don't even have to defend our line. God will. 

Dissuasion (vv.9-18)

God in His infinite wisdom knew Israel will have this request for a king. He already provided set guidelines even before they formulated the concept. There is really nothing in this world we can claim as our original idea. Even designers like my husband would admit that the best they could come up with is but a shadow of the wonders of nature. Shapes and patterns, lightings and colors, textures and materials, all are His provisions for us to build something beautiful. Truth is, only God can create a masterpiece out of nothing! The image of a king is no exception. It is God-originated. What ‘like the other nations have’ is an imitation of His rule over Israel. How could they miss that! Even idolatry is man’s cheap version of worship. That’s why in Deuteronomy 17:14ff, God included in a king’s job description to write for himself a copy of the laws, read it all the days of his life and follow carefully all its words, turning not to left or the right. For how can we implement a project unless the Idea Man itemize to us how he intends it to be done? Ask first-timer moms what ‘groping in the dark’ means and they’ll tell you if it wasn’t for the support of been-there, experienced moms, they wouldn’t know that babies cry for different reasons. God gave Moses the exact measurements for the tabernacle, step by step instructions for offerings, specific jewels and fixtures, otherwise how would he know how to make a house for the King of Israel? Now through Samuel, God warns His people what it would take for them to set up a king. Since they’re trying to imitate heaven’s royalty, it has to be grand. A king should have the best of everything his kingdom has to offer for he is the face of the nation.  He needs a lot of servants and soldiers to display his strength and power.  He has to demand portions from everyone for who will finance his lavish lifestyle. God wanted them to realize that a human king will suck up their resources for himself.  God never asked our gifts and services because He had none. As King, He doesn’t represent us, but we represent Him. That’s why we are called to excellence and character; As King, He never asked the Israelites to fight for Him, instead He always wins the battle for them;  As King, yes, we are His servants, subject to His rule, but He also has called us friends and co-heirs with Christ; And when He asked us for our tithes, it isn’t because He can’t finance His own church, when actually all that we have came from his gracious hand. It is never giving up, but giving back! Given this comparative analysis, God should have won His case. He has all the advantage of being the sole King of our lives. But just like the Israelites, in our foolishness, we exchanged  true worship for worthless things. Consider again. We always have a choice.

Application:

Think about it, we represent the King of kings to the nations. The Church is called the Bride of Christ.  But how come most of us don’t look as a ‘lovely’ as a bride should? Why do our churches now have that reputation of lacking this, wanting that, asking help, needing support? Shouldn’t blessings flow from our side because we’re connected to the Source?  Noting that we are also called to suffering, but it’s far different from appearing hopeless right?  Our pastors now are no different from the Levites of the Old Testament who because of the unfaithful giving of the people were deprived of their allotted supply, pushing them to envy or greed.  How easy it is for us to point a finger to God’s called servants when they fell into sin and be disqualified from office when actually we have never extended a hand to ease their burdens? How convenient it is for us to criticize the choir singing out of pitch, or the Sunday School teacher faltering in her speech, or the church building smelling so old, when the professionals and the well-to-do among us never offer to God our expertise and resource?  And do you know why not many are attracted to Christ anymore? Because some of us who claimed to be His faithful followers  are mediocres in the workplace, repeaters in school, and our family’s dysfunctional too. It’s high time to prove them wrong.  Our King is the best ruler for every soul.  I will do more, give more, be more -  for Christ and His kingdom! 

                                         

 Demand (vv.19-22)

My sister and I stand on opposite poles of stubbornness.  I’m the ‘you can’t make me do it if I seriously don’t want to’, she’s the ‘you can’t stop me if I really want to’.  I’m the close minded, she’s the brat. My wants I can give you, but my wonts,  no one can break into. No amount of persuasion or pressure, even from my parents and husband, can force me to do something against my will. Facing a flying cockroach, for example, haha! My sister, on the other hand, will do everything within her powers to get what she wants.  You’ll be surprised how she can manage to buy good stuffs even with an impossible budget. More interesting is how she can overhaul  my parents’ rule to conform to her own. Knowing my father, it’s a jaw drop! The Israelites here appear to fall on my sister’s side of stubbornness. They want a king, period.  Although they got my genes too for they were unyielding and did refuse to listen to anything or anyone :<  Ever saw a toddler throw a tantrum to his parents for a toy? It’s annoying!  If my kids would do that, the more I will not give in. So why did God said to Samuel, “Listen to them and give them what they want”?  I don’t think God was a spoiler here. But I think I’ll understand as a parent how we sometimes allow our kids to hurt a bit, hoping they’d soon learn the lesson for themselves. Ten years ago, people were advising against my chosen partner.  They gave warnings and deep in my heart I know they were right.  If listening means acting upon their counsel, I have to say I did not listen.  I continued the relationship and God seems to allow it. And then the heartbreak.  I pleaded with much tears. But this time He said, “That is enough! Do not speak anymore about this matter.”  So I gathered myself up and closed the case. Looking back, I saw myself as the stubborn child who suffered much, not because God did not stop things from happening, but because I took it upon myself.  He never left me though. His hand was there waiting at the cliffside. A Father who would never allow His children make that downfall.

                         

Application:

I speak more than I listen. Anybody there brave enough to raise their hands with me? When I’m taking the wheels, I have control. Giving up that seat is opening doors to unsolicited advice, another belief system, or additional emotional baggage.  It requires time, politeness, and it can be draining.  But I don’t think listening is what we hate here. It is responding to what we heard that shakes us to the core. It’s the resistance to change or care. When we don’t listen, it’s actually because we do not want to relate further or be hurt deeper.  But in doing so, we miss the point of listening which is learning much and loving better. When God’s asked Samuel to “listen to them”, I think it’s the most difficult of all. Imagine having a forum with non-listeners?  It takes unconditional love.  Our world now is hurting. Everyone is carrying a burden and wanting to be heard.  If only we would all take turns and be willing to sometimes be on that listening end, then we won’t have to fight our battles alone.  Second shift is coming next, care to sign In with me?