Friday, January 14, 2011

For Who's Sake?


1 Samuel 14:24-46

When God entrusts us with a position, He allows us to draw plans, give orders, make mistakes, settle issues, and enjoy our victories. Parents do that for the joy of seeing us grow in maturity. Firming our ground with godly principles, their role now shifts to being advisers, uninvited or not, hahaha!  Saul was given that free hand to rule. It may oftentimes be wanting in wisdom, but God did not meddle in. He did not leave them either. He’s 24/7 on call, ready for our asking. In this last part of chapter fourteen, we see how everyone suffered for one man’s foolish choices. Coming from war, we can imagine how drained soldiers are. Long walks and hours of fighting are physically exhausting, and seeing soldiers fall dead left and right, wondering if you’d be next, is so nerve-racking! Thinking it’s best not to lose their momentum, he called another pursuit. Saul was too focused on avenging his name at their expense. He bound his men under an oath not to eat anything until the next triumph. It could have been less torture if they did not pass the woods oozing with honey. Jonathan, who had a taste then was informed of the order, thought it was trouble to give such a call.  But Saul had his way, and yes, they did win. What followed next was payback. His men pounced on the plunder, ate the meat with blood still in it. They were close to insanity, uncaring of the law, and just so hungry. It is visually disturbing that it woke Saul’s being and made him offer a guilt offering. It was his first try to build an altar actually. In an instant, he switched back to war mode and called everyone to go down and fight again. He just dealt with the consequence of starvation, not he’s depriving them of sleep and rest? Praise God for using the young priest to stop him. His suggestion to inquire of God first was public and there’s no way for Saul to disregard it. It was in fact God’s mercy to keep them from sure slaughter for with sin present in their camp, He will not give them an answer. That’s when Saul discovered that it was Jonathan who violated the oath and as king, he will honor his word. His army never once opposed Saul’s orders, but here they dared to negate him for Jonathan’s sake. Imagine everybody protecting your son but you? Saul withdrew his hand from his son and his plan. Finally, he came to his senses.


 Application:

In the movie Prince Caspian, one highlight is the ego clashing of Peter and Caspian. The former is called high king and the latter, rightful king. It peaked when they planned an offensive attack at Miraz. Everyone knew it was a bad option, but Peter was too hardheaded. Susan blurted in exasperation: “Who exactly are you doing this for, Peter?” Like Saul, sometimes we are blinded by our personal issues that we push it so hard, uncaring of who gets hurt. But what is really sad is that after serving our own purposes, we’re all alone enjoying its fruit. It’s not happy to eat alone, right? But in God’s Kingdom, His agenda is a shared vision. Everyone can own it! No one is left unheard or uncared for. In fact, in Him there is rest, and His goodness tastes good! I can list down all best motives and moves possible to be a good wife and mother, but sooner or later it will fail me. I may be the prettiest person he comes home to after work (you see, we’re just three in the house, haha!), but with a bad headache, not even my best prepared dinner matters and will be appreciated. If I live this life solely for my husband, this will break me to pieces. But daily, I have to choose to work will all my heart, as working for the Lord, not for anyone, not even for myself. High King Peter lost their first battle with the Talmarines because he pursued it ‘For Narnia’ and not ‘For Aslan!’. In his heart, it even vibrated ‘For Peter’! How about us, “Who exactly are we doing (this) for?”
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For Who's Sake?


1 Samuel 14:24-46

When God entrusts us with a position, He allows us to draw plans, give orders, make mistakes, settle issues, and enjoy our victories. Parents do that for the joy of seeing us grow in maturity. Firming our ground with godly principles, their role now shifts to being advisers, uninvited or not, hahaha!  Saul was given that free hand to rule. It may oftentimes be wanting in wisdom, but God did not meddle in. He did not leave them either. He’s 24/7 on call, ready for our asking. In this last part of chapter fourteen, we see how everyone suffered for one man’s foolish choices. Coming from war, we can imagine how drained soldiers are. Long walks and hours of fighting are physically exhausting, and seeing soldiers fall dead left and right, wondering if you’d be next, is so nerve-racking! Thinking it’s best not to lose their momentum, he called another pursuit. Saul was too focused on avenging his name at their expense. He bound his men under an oath not to eat anything until the next triumph. It could have been less torture if they did not pass the woods oozing with honey. Jonathan, who had a taste then was informed of the order, thought it was trouble to give such a call.  But Saul had his way, and yes, they did win. What followed next was payback. His men pounced on the plunder, ate the meat with blood still in it. They were close to insanity, uncaring of the law, and just so hungry. It is visually disturbing that it woke Saul’s being and made him offer a guilt offering. It was his first try to build an altar actually. In an instant, he switched back to war mode and called everyone to go down and fight again. He just dealt with the consequence of starvation, not he’s depriving them of sleep and rest? Praise God for using the young priest to stop him. His suggestion to inquire of God first was public and there’s no way for Saul to disregard it. It was in fact God’s mercy to keep them from sure slaughter for with sin present in their camp, He will not give them an answer. That’s when Saul discovered that it was Jonathan who violated the oath and as king, he will honor his word. His army never once opposed Saul’s orders, but here they dared to negate him for Jonathan’s sake. Imagine everybody protecting your son but you? Saul withdrew his hand from his son and his plan. Finally, he came to his senses.


 Application:

In the movie Prince Caspian, one highlight is the ego clashing of Peter and Caspian. The former is called high king and the latter, rightful king. It peaked when they planned an offensive attack at Miraz. Everyone knew it was a bad option, but Peter was too hardheaded. Susan blurted in exasperation: “Who exactly are you doing this for, Peter?” Like Saul, sometimes we are blinded by our personal issues that we push it so hard, uncaring of who gets hurt. But what is really sad is that after serving our own purposes, we’re all alone enjoying its fruit. It’s not happy to eat alone, right? But in God’s Kingdom, His agenda is a shared vision. Everyone can own it! No one is left unheard or uncared for. In fact, in Him there is rest, and His goodness tastes good! I can list down all best motives and moves possible to be a good wife and mother, but sooner or later it will fail me. I may be the prettiest person he comes home to after work (you see, we’re just three in the house, haha!), but with a bad headache, not even my best prepared dinner matters and will be appreciated. If I live this life solely for my husband, this will break me to pieces. But daily, I have to choose to work will all my heart, as working for the Lord, not for anyone, not even for myself. High King Peter lost their first battle with the Talmarines because he pursued it ‘For Narnia’ and not ‘For Aslan!’. In his heart, it even vibrated ‘For Peter’! How about us, “Who exactly are we doing (this) for?”