Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Cast Away

1 Samuel 21:3, 8, 12-13
“David said to Ahimelech, ‘Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find. Don’t you have a spear or a sword here?’” “David was very much afraid and pretended to be insane in their presence.”

Stranded on an uninhabited island, one sane person would readily attempt to send rescue signals or find a raft as getaway. When these fail you, next is to search for food, water and make shelter to keep you alive at least. After weeks and months and you’re still there, you’ll find yourself naming a volleyball ‘Wilson’ and have regular conversations with him. With this friend, you’ll be strengthened anew, enough to brave your way though surfs and storms. Such is the drama behind Tom Hank’s Cast Away and in agreement to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

David had none of those. No bread, no sword, no one, no plan. The little faith left in him brought him to find shelter in the tabernacle. But at Ahimelech’s inquiry, he let loose all his held-truth. At the sight of Saul’s head shepherd, Israel’s best sheep-defender was threatened and talked more lies. He fled again and thought safety behind enemy lines. But this too failed him and so he resorted to the unimaginable: he acted insane. He was hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down - - but he was never forsaken. God was with him all along. He was hungry and he was provided with sacred bread; he was unarmed but he was handed with Goliath’s sword; his life was at his enemy’s taking but no one took it; he was alone but in the next chapter his family will come to him; he was an outcast but soon  he’ll be leading four hundred men. God left no stone unturned. Even if we are faithless, He remains faithful. That’s who He is, He cannot change.

To resort to desperate measures is to imply you have lost all hope, equals having no God to hold. And that is a lie. God maybe silent but He’s never absent. In His wisdom He may not free us from all sickness, but that doesn’t discard that truth that He is Healer. He allowed Lazarus to die to display He’s more than what we ask for.  His comfort seeks that we become His comforters, rather than be plainly comfortable. God allowed David to be empty handed so he can soon declare that ‘no righteous will beg for bread’. He deliberately gave him no time to arm himself for He purposed to hand him Goliath’s sword to remind him that this battle is the Lord’s. If what we’re holding is that last straw, keep going. If it went past your grip, don’t despair. ‘Wilson’ may have fallen from your raft but that only means God’s cargo ship is nearby. He will soon draw you out of deep waters. That’s who He is, He's in charge!
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Cast Away

1 Samuel 21:3, 8, 12-13
“David said to Ahimelech, ‘Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find. Don’t you have a spear or a sword here?’” “David was very much afraid and pretended to be insane in their presence.”

Stranded on an uninhabited island, one sane person would readily attempt to send rescue signals or find a raft as getaway. When these fail you, next is to search for food, water and make shelter to keep you alive at least. After weeks and months and you’re still there, you’ll find yourself naming a volleyball ‘Wilson’ and have regular conversations with him. With this friend, you’ll be strengthened anew, enough to brave your way though surfs and storms. Such is the drama behind Tom Hank’s Cast Away and in agreement to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

David had none of those. No bread, no sword, no one, no plan. The little faith left in him brought him to find shelter in the tabernacle. But at Ahimelech’s inquiry, he let loose all his held-truth. At the sight of Saul’s head shepherd, Israel’s best sheep-defender was threatened and talked more lies. He fled again and thought safety behind enemy lines. But this too failed him and so he resorted to the unimaginable: he acted insane. He was hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down - - but he was never forsaken. God was with him all along. He was hungry and he was provided with sacred bread; he was unarmed but he was handed with Goliath’s sword; his life was at his enemy’s taking but no one took it; he was alone but in the next chapter his family will come to him; he was an outcast but soon  he’ll be leading four hundred men. God left no stone unturned. Even if we are faithless, He remains faithful. That’s who He is, He cannot change.

To resort to desperate measures is to imply you have lost all hope, equals having no God to hold. And that is a lie. God maybe silent but He’s never absent. In His wisdom He may not free us from all sickness, but that doesn’t discard that truth that He is Healer. He allowed Lazarus to die to display He’s more than what we ask for.  His comfort seeks that we become His comforters, rather than be plainly comfortable. God allowed David to be empty handed so he can soon declare that ‘no righteous will beg for bread’. He deliberately gave him no time to arm himself for He purposed to hand him Goliath’s sword to remind him that this battle is the Lord’s. If what we’re holding is that last straw, keep going. If it went past your grip, don’t despair. ‘Wilson’ may have fallen from your raft but that only means God’s cargo ship is nearby. He will soon draw you out of deep waters. That’s who He is, He's in charge!