Sustain That Note

1 Kings 13:18

The old prophet answered, "I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the LORD: 'Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.'" (But he was lying to him.)

Controlled breathing is so important to singers. In sustaining a good tone, they need to achieve the perfect balance of holding back while letting go. Sounds crazy. But so difficult too. I wish singing would just be blurt outs and staccatos.  Maybe, I'd pass with that, haha :> But  my muscles are so lazy to hang on. You wouldn’t believe I signed up for Voice as my minor in the College of Music. In the middle of the semester, my teacher advised me to consider switching to flute. I didn’t. That needs a lot of air too, haha. I managed to finish the semester, and the next, and then I pulled myself out of that school. For a different reason though.

Here’s the second part of the story about that man of God. We now find him under an oak tree, possibly worn and famished. The encounter with the king was more than stressful and the idea of a long walk back home – without food and water - was unimaginable. Then an old prophet arrived with an invitation to dine at his home. God’s order was still clear to him at this time and so he refused. But the old man was persistent. Suggesting food to a hungry man makes him hungrier, right? Mentioning it again, that will make him drool. The man of God is now very vulnerable. Flesh is now taking over his spirit. The old prophet completed his goal when he tapped his mind, his will. He lied that an angel sent him. Coming from an old prophet, that’s quite believable. With no further inquiries and confirmations, he dropped his defenses and took the offer. He was halfway the finish line. He may have accomplished the bulk of the assignment in Bethel, but it was not yet over ‘til he’s home. The old prophet bothers me too. How could he, at his final lap of ministry, deceive his co-worker and cause his destruction?

When God calls us to a faithful and steadfast commitment, it means He expects us to be unwavering, persevering, and fixed ‘til the end. It’s sad that even after being used by God mightily in Egypt and in crossing the Red sea, plus enduring the company of thousand of complainers, Moses would not be allowed to enter the Promise Land because he once angrily struck the rock and dishonored God. Yes, just one unguarded moment. Just one meal for Esau and this man of God. Just one lie for the old prophet. We sure have vulnerable times. Thorns in the flesh. But we also have a God who promised grace sufficient and strength perfect in weakness. Hide His Word in your heart. He never contradicts His own assignment. Sustain that note. Don’t ever let go.