Safety Signs

1 Samuel 29:9

“I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said ‘He must not go up with us in this battle’.

In the third season of our favorite TV series Fringe, the female lead Olivia Dunham is trapped in the parallel universe while her alternate, they’ll call her Fauxlivia, took on her shoes as instructed by her superiors. In a conversation with another from-there-based-here, one who supplies her with the intel she needed to thwart, she was warned that her cover may be intact for the moment, but if she’s isn’t committed, if she’s not willing to give up her integrity and self-respect for her mission, she will fail. Being a driven woman, she gave in to his ill-counsel. The compromise did preserve her cover long enough. But it did poke her wedding engagement to break up.

David put it upon himself to cross pagan lines. It was not his first time to play pretense in Achish land. His first character role was a madman. Now he’s on his military rear. In chapter 27, he tried to sneak around this king by concealing his continued pursuit against Israel’s enemies. David conducted himself well as proven by the commendations ‘reliable and faultless’. His plan seems working. But moving there meant he stripped his homeland the advantage of having an asset. The Philistines may have felt Israel’s vulnerability and so they decided for war again. David was tapped and trapped. Either way, he will lose everything. Such is the course of those who stand in the way of sinners, or thought they’re strong enough for a fall. But God is faithful. What is impossible now for David, He made passable. God hardened the hearts of the Philistine commanders against David that they demanded for his pull out from their ranks. Unknowingly, they were pulling him out of this snare as well. I can almost hear David’s ‘Whew!’ when he left their camp the next morning.

Whew! How many times have we implanted ourselves to a fiery situation, caught surprised by the heat up, and then cry a desperate pull out? Didn’t the sign say ‘Hot Surface. Do Not Touch’? Why were we in the No Passing Zone in the first place?  When is cure better than prevention? Shall we go on sinning knowing grace abounds more? By no means, said the Apostle Paul. God’s love will always stretch out His hand for our rescue. But don’t think we can fool His justice and be free of the consequences. One may be forgiven for a lie, but it can’t keep the wife from hurting. You may be accepted regardless of your past, but you can’t bring your virginity back. Praise God for His finished work at the cross! We’re free from sin, but ey, not free to sin. And please, let’s mind those safety signs: Stop Ahead. Do Not Cross. Caution. Warning. Danger. Watch You Step. Better safe than sorry!  :>

So Unfair?

1 Samuel 22:18-19

“The king then ordered Doeg, ‘You turn and strike down the priests.’ So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also put to sword Nob, the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.”

In the U.S. science fiction tv series Fringe, a perfect storm is set to happen via the collision of two parallel universes. This was in result of Walter Bishop, the genius scientist, opening a door to an alternate reality, which he did many years ago to save his son’s ‘other’ life. Such created an imbalance in both universes, but was more destructive to the other. Being equally smart, the parallel Walter exhausted everything from his more technologically advanced side to take back his son and make that personal vendetta. By everything it meant having to sacrifice countless innocent lives which he reasoned, ‘for the greater good’. Season 3 is still running under Fox TV, if you’re interested. We’re hooked :>

In today's reading, we see King Saul under a tamarisk tree trying to sales talk his tribesmen to loyalty by presenting them a list of non-benefits in David’s rule, given the latter's outlaw status: no rice allowance, no retirement coverage, no promotion. He was threatened by the ex-shepherd’s newly formed four hundred force that he called a meeting of his own. Saul’s paranoia lead him to command the slaughter of those he felt might be feeding the conspiracy - - even if they’re wearing the linen ephod. The kill extended to  the priest's town, unsparing even their infants. Every ear who heard of it sure did tingle. It was barbaric, cruel and inhumane. All for the good of one selfish man and as a result of one lying man. It is believed Ahimelech descended from Eli’s line and this was part of their prophesied downfall. True of not, the point is that we all feel they don’t deserve such deaths. The high priest’s last deed was even kindness to the hungry David. How can life be so unfair?

Why should a marriage break for the infidelity of one? Why should innocent children inherit their parents’ sickness? Why do the diligent suffer with their incompetent bosses?  Why do the wicked prosper? Job was upright and blameless, even commended by God himself, but his family, his wealth and health we’re all taken away from him. Nagged by his wife to curse God and die, he replied, ‘Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ And in all this, he did not sin in what he said. Many before us suffered far more than we ever will, yet they kept their faith. Jesus who knew no sin died for all of ours. It was unfair. But He endured it for the joy of our salvation. If Ahimelech knew his son would be able to escape Saul’s sword, that alone is worth praising God for. Parents would trade their lives for their children's. We may feel God has taken away something from us. But that only meant, He did first give. Do your accounting and for sure His side of the scale is weightier. How about your gratitude versus His daily grace? So unfair?