Readings for today: 2 Samuel 19-21, Psalms 92
There are some who look to David as a great role model for faith. They extol his virtues. They lift up the fact that he has a heart after God. He refuses to strike down the Lord’s anointed. He is humble. He is charismatic. He is a leader for God’s people. He is a song-writer. He is a poet. He is a warrior. Without a doubt, David is a gifted man. However, David is also a deeply flawed man. In many ways, he is a product of his culture just like we are products of our cultures. David is a classic ancient near east warlord. He uses violence to accomplish his goals. He is more than willing to sacrifice others in pursuit of his ends. He often takes matters into his own hands rather than listen to God. And he frequently refuses to accept responsibility for his actions. For example, he weeps over Absalom. While his grief is understandable, he never owns the fact that it was his actions - or inactions as it were - that led Israel to civil war. He refuses to hold Joab responsible for murdering one man after another. And when it comes to the matter of the Gibeonites, he seeks the Lord to find out the reason for the famine in the land but doesn’t ask God how he should resolve it. Instead, he takes matters into his own hands and sacrifices seven men to atone for Saul’s crimes. It’s a classic pagan, ancient near east move.
Thankfully, God has provided a greater David to serve as our example. He has provided the perfect Man to follow and pattern our life after. While we can learn from the saints of the Bible, the only role model we should seek is Jesus. He reveals the perfect will of God for our lives. He shows us the perfect way to live. He never leads us astray. He is full of the grace and truth. He is the light and life of the world. Every single saint in the Old Testament longed for the day when Messiah would appear. Every single Christian in the New Testament looked to Christ not only as their Savior but as their Lord as well. He was the one they were to be like. Him and no other. Sadly, I see far too many ministries and far too many books and far too many conference speakers lifting up the flawed human beings of the Old and New Testaments as role models for the faith. Far too often, they use their sinful actions to justify their current social and political and personal beliefs. And, again, while I can appreciate their strengths as well as their weaknesses, the only person I am going to model my life after is the Person of Jesus. What about you?
Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 22-24, Psalms 93