Tribes

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 19-21, Psalms 5, 38, 42

The other day I attended an event at the convention center here in Denver. It was an event centered on prayer. An event designed to bring people together. An event organized by Christians to give people a chance to pray for and bless our political and business leaders. I love the heart for unity. I love the heart to build bridges between Christians and our public officials. I love the heart that seeks to bless rather than curse. Perhaps my favorite moment was getting to interact with Christians from all different kinds of backgrounds. International and domestic. Citizen and immigrant. Black, white, and brown. Different denominations and generations. It was powerful and encouraging.

At the same time, I’ve been around long enough to know our unity is often superficial. It only goes so far. There were significant divisions in our midst. Some of those divisions were political. Some were social. Some were cultural. Some were theological. It’s not always easy to navigate. It requires a lot of hard, sometimes even painful, work. For example, I got to sit in with a group of Latino pastors as they discussed the impact of immigration on their communities. It was hard and heartbreaking. Afterwards, one of the pastors shared with me a recent experience he’d had with a white church where he was mistreated and looked down upon. Just brutal. In the main meeting, a friend of mine read excerpts from two letters some of our elected officials had received. One used some of the most horrific language to attack them. After the meeting, I saw several Christians attempt to defend the letter and its approach online. All I could do was shake my head. Later in the day, a few of my colleagues asked me why I went. Is it really worth the time and effort? Are the people who attend for us or against us? And, if I am honest, I often ask those some questions myself though I am absolutely committed to working to tear down the barriers and walls that divide us from one another.

Human beings, as a general rule, seem hardwired for tribalism. I once talked to a Somali man who shared with me a proverb from his country. “Me against my brother. My brother and I against my family. My family and I against my clan. My clan and I against my tribe. My tribe and I against my nation. My nation and I against the world.” That sounds about right. And not just in places like Africa or the Middle East where tribal loyalties have been a part of life for thousands of years. I see it in America where we tend to gather with our political or social “tribe.” I see it in the Christian world where we tend to gather in theological “tribes.” I see it in society in general where we tend to gather according to economic or ethnic class or “tribes.” Often, we will do all we can to protect our tribe. Even using ungodly means to accomplish our tribe’s ends. I’ve seen people intentionally use deception or anger or verbal abuse against those not of their tribe. I’ve seen people shade the truth, leave out important facts, purposefully employ inflammatory rhetoric all to support the narrative of their tribe. Sadly, none of this is new.

David and his son Absalom fight a civil war. Though brief, it shatters the peace of the nation. The seeds of disunity are sown. The twelve tribes of Israel, once united, now find themselves at odds. Jealousy over who has the better claim to the throne creates fractures. Harsh words are exchanged, resulting in a second rebellion under a man named Sheba. Once again, lives are lost. People are murdered as political loyalties shift. It’s harsh and brutal. We may not understand how or why all this happened. We are thousands of years removed from their world but make no mistake, we have our own issues with justice. We have our own problems with disunity and division. We too struggle with tribalism just as they did. So where do we go for healing? We go to Jesus. Through His death and resurrection He tore down the dividing walls that separate us from God and from each other. Only He can bring healing. Only He can bring reconciliation. And that’s why the Psalmist proclaims, “Put your hope in God for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God!” (Psalms 42:11b CSB)

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 22-23, Psalms 57

What is Prayer?

Readings for today: Psalms 26, 40, 41, 58, 61, 62, 64

What is prayer? Communion with God. On our knees. Folded hands. Eyes closed. Forming thoughts in our minds and sending them upwards like sparks from a fire? Is it a conversation or more of a monologue? A task we have to complete each day if we want to stay on God’s good side? Something we do before meals or before bed? Is it the recitation of memorized words learned as a child and carried through to adulthood? “Now I lay me down to sleep...” “Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen." “God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for this food.” “Our Father, who art in heaven...” What is prayer? 

The Psalms are the prayerbook of the Bible. 150 different prayers written by different people on different occasions as they wrestled with life. Readers of the Psalms are always struck by their raw honesty and transparency. The beautiful way they express the deepest emotions of the human heart. The vivid descriptions of God and His great faithfulness. They are marvelous and great teachers when it comes to prayer.  

One of the biggest things I’ve learned in the years I’ve spent meditating on the Psalms is that prayer comes more from the heart than the head. Prayer is less about me forming thoughts or saying words or reciting texts and more about laying before God the deepest emotions of my heart. Deep prayer doesn’t require much in the way of words. Just letting the feelings flow and trusting God is hearing what’s behind them. This is what makes David such a great Psalmist. He doesn’t seem to stop to think about the “appropriateness” of his feelings. He doesn’t seem to “judge” his emotions. He just lets them fly up to God and trusts God is big enough and great enough to make sense out of the chaos. It’s why he can express contradictory emotions all in the same prayer. “I hate a crowd of evildoers, and I do not sit with the wicked. Lord, I love the house where you dwell, the place where your glory resides.” (Psalms‬ ‭26‬:‭5‬, ‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬) He feels no need to try to make sense of it all. He trusts God can sort it out. 

He can express his anger and desire for vengeance against those who hurt him. “God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; Lord, tear out the young lions’ fangs. May they vanish like water that flows by; may they aim their blunted arrows. Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman’s miscarried child, may they not see the sun. The righteous one will rejoice when he sees the retribution; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. Then people will say, “Yes, there is a reward for the righteous! There is a God who judges on earth!” (Psalms‬ ‭58‬:‭6‬-‭8‬, ‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬) And almost in the same breath, be so tender. “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before him. God is our refuge.” (Psalms‬ ‭62‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Ultimately, the Psalms give us permission to be real and authentic before God. To truly be ourselves. To put aside all pretense and performance and let drop the masks we so often wear.  

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 19-21, Psalms 5, 38, 42

Grief

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 16-18

I’ve often wondered at David’s grief over Absalom. At first blush, I can certainly identify with the death of a child. Anyone who has been a parent can understand this pain. Our love for our children transcends any disappointments, failures, even betrayals they may have committed in their lives. As a pastor, I have sat with parent after parent who is grieving over their children. Their children may have engaged in all kinds of behavior, some of it even criminal, and yet the parent’s love endures. In fact, I would argue their child’s mistakes only compound their heartache. So David’s grief makes sense to me on that level. Even though Absalom has literally betrayed and rebelled against him. Shamed him on every possible level. David still loves his son and his heart breaks when he receives the news he has been killed.

Recently, I’ve been wondering if part of David’s grief is due to his recognition of how he contributed to his son’s death. The choices he made. The way he isolated him after he murdered his brother, refusing to reconcile. The way he treated Absalom, purposefully keeping him at arm’s length. I wonder if David wept over what might have been, what could have been, if he had just made different choices along the way. All parents have regrets. All parents make decisions they later wish they had not. All parents know they bear some responsibility for the way their children turn out. I think of my own parenting. As a dad, I failed many times. I struggled to know how to handle certain situations. I got angry way too often. I let my own fears drive some of the decisions I made as a parent. None of these things were good. All of them impacted my kids. Thankfully, we have worked hard to forgive and reconcile but I can see how my failures as a parent create certain vulnerabilities in them that will last a lifetime and I grieve.

Thankfully, however, God is good and gracious to me. He has healed many of my griefs and sorrows as I’ve turned to Him. And this is one of my big “takeaways” from today’s reading. Take your grief to God before it is too late. David waited too long to express his true feelings for Absalom. His grief was that much deeper as a result. Don’t make the same mistake. If you are grieving the brokenness in a relationship with someone you love, ask the Lord for the strength to forgive and reconcile. Healing is possible if we will simply turn our grief over to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 26, 40, 41, 58, 61, 62, 64

Looking Up

Readings for today: Psalms 3, 4, 13, 28, 55

It’s hard for me to imagine how David must have felt. Running for his life from his own son. Knowing his son not only wanted to depose him but wanted to kill him. I can’t fathom such a scenario. Not only that but David had to know he bore some measure of responsibility for what had taken place. He refused to bring Amnon to justice. He refused to reconcile with Absalom when he lived in the city. His decisions helped create the very conditions under which a rebellion could rise up. I also wonder what kind of impact David’s crime with Bathsheba had on both his boys. What did they learn from his example? Did David ever sit down with them and share his pain and heartbreak over his sin? We will never know but it’s worth thinking about.

It’s also worth noting where David goes when he feels afraid. He goes to the Lord. He cries out to God. He rehearses what he knows about God over and over again. “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of thousands of people who have taken their stand against me on every side…Salvation belongs to the Lord; may your blessing be on your people.” (Psalms‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭6‬, ‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬) I don’t think this means David is any less afraid. True courage is not the absence of fear. In fact, true courage is walking by faith even in the midst of your fear. True courage is keeping your eyes fixed on God even in the middle of the chaos of our world and David’s world is incredibly chaotic at this point in his life.

Last evening we met with some friends. We talked with them about a recent period of their lives where they were out of work and things got hard financially. It wasn’t easy for them. They experienced all kinds of anxiety and fear. But they kept walking by faith. They kept looking to the Lord. They found the courage to keep moving forward despite their feelings. And as they leaned on the Lord, their faith deepened. It was a powerful testimony. What about you? How are you looking to the Lord in your own life? Let the Psalms lift your eyes and heart to the Lord.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 16-18

Dysfunction

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 13-15

All families live with some level of dysfunction. Dysfunction occurs where unhealthy behavior (rage, addiction, abuse, neglect, etc.) is normalized, leading members of a family to make unhealthy accommodations rather than pursue repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Left unchecked, dysfunction leads destructive patterns of behavior that often impact generations as unhealthy coping skills are passed down from parent to child. Breaking generational cycles of sin is extremely difficult and requires incredible courage as well as sacrifice as dysfunctional family systems are often highly resistant to change. 

Consider the family of King David. Perhaps the pre-eminent Biblical example of a dysfunctional family system. Of course, his situation was made much more complex by the cultural practice of polygamy which led to many children by many different wives and concubines, all seeking to ascend the line of succession. Dynastic considerations complicate what we read today but many lessons can be drawn that are helpful in our own lives. Amnon is the oldest son of David and heir apparent to the throne. As such, he has grown accustomed to power and privilege and simply taking what he wants when he wants it. His treatment of Tamar, his half-sister, is horrific in its own right but probably emblematic of how Amnon lives his life. Absalom is not much better. What begins as a noble desire to protect his sister from public shame ends in murder and a coup attempt against his own father. Who knows what prompted Absalom’s move against David but it clearly was pre-meditated and even assisted by some of David’s closest confidants. David doesn’t help matters much. As king, he should have punished Amnon for his crime but instead appears to give him a pass. Once Absalom takes matters into his own hands, David appears both relieved and appalled. He refuses to forgive and reconcile with Absalom which only isolates him further and divides the royal household. David chooses to ignore the growing conspiracy until its almost too late and thus has to flee into exile. His family shattered. His kingdom divided. His country on the brink of civil war. 

I think of my own family system. Over the years, we’ve spent lots of time in counseling as we sought to break patterns of sin that not only were passed down generationally but reinforced by our own sinful choices. I had to learn to deal with my anger issues. Wrestle with my own fears and failures and disappointments. I had to face the fact that I caused my children pain through the choices I made and how I responded to the difference circumstances we had to face as a family. I had to take a long hard look at myself through Christ’s eyes and repent. Ask for forgiveness. Pursue reconciliation. It wasn’t easy. It required humility and sacrifice. I had to relinquish my need for control. My need to protect my family from the consequences of the choices we’ve made in life. My need to project “success” to the world around me. I had to come to grips with the fact that my family is as broken as any and I am a major contributor to that brokenness because of my own sin issues. Honestly, it was a painful journey. Then again, dying to self is always painful. 

What about your family system? If your family’s story was written in the Bible, what would others see? What failures? What successes? Would they see patterns of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation? Would they see pride, neglect, abuse, addiction, and rampant conflict? Perhaps a mixture of both? Where is Christ at work in your family right now? What areas do you need Christ to pay particular attention to in order to bring healing, wholeness, grace and peace? Are there particular family members you need to be praying specifically for? Who are they? What are the issues? How are you contributing to the pain? Ask Christ to help you chart a different path. One that leads to true transformation. 

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 3, 4, 13, 28, 55

Forgiveness

Readings for today: Psalms 32, 86, 102, 103, 122

This morning I found myself so thankful for the forgiveness and grace of God. It’s overwhelming. Reading the Psalms, especially Psalm 103, touched my heart. Perhaps it’s because I know the depths of my own sin. I know how my mind wanders. I know how my heart fails. I know how self-indulgent I can be. Selfish and self-absorbed. I know my cynicism. I know how easy it is for me to catastrophize. I know how quick I am to assume the worst about people and the worst about life. I have to battle these things on a regular basis. Thankfully, not every day. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has sanctified me to a certain point but that work is clearly ongoing.

At the same time, I believe. My faith in Christ has never been stronger. My trust in God never greater. My gratitude for all God has done for me is daily at the forefront of my mind. It’s why I love reading and re-reading the Psalms. They keep my focus where it needs to be. God is faithful. God is good. God is gracious. God is merciful. God is loving. God is forgiving. God never fails. He forgives all my sin. He heals all my diseases, if not in this life then in the next. He redeems me from the grave. He sets me at His side and crowns me with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies me completely. He renews my strength every single day. God’s faithful love cannot be measured. It is as high as the heavens are above the earth. His forgiveness has no limits. It is as far as the east is from the west. The gift of His righteousness is infinite. It is from eternity to eternity. And this is why I bless the Lord. I cannot begin to count up all His benefits for me.

Many feel like they have to hide their sin. Many go through life weighed down by a burden of guilt and shame. Many feel they can’t be honest with themselves much less those they love much less God. But the words of the Psalmist reminds us there is no end to God’s love and grace and mercy and compassion. And this provides a deep sense of safety and security when we come before the Lord for He sees us. He knows us. And He loves us. There is nothing that can make Him love us any more or any less than He does right now, in this moment, even as you read these words. We can tell Him anything. There is nothing that will make Him turn His face away. We can share the deepest, darkest secrets with Him knowing He loves us eternally. Let his Spirit sanctify you, heal you, strengthen you, and make you whole.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Power

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalms 51

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” - Lord Acton

He might as well have been talking about King David. David who had so much going for him. David whom God raised from a shepherd’s field to a palace. David who went from fighting off wild animals to protect his sheep to fighting giants to protect the people of Israel. David who killed his “ten thousands.” David who was the bane of the Philistines. David who seemingly could not lose a battle. David who was a man after God’s own heart. David who refused to kill the Lord’s anointed. David who trusted God on so many occasions. This same David was also subject to weakness. Vulnerable to temptation. And the higher he rose, the more precarious his position became. The more authority and power he accumulated, the more it went to his head. As the prophet Nathan’s story makes clear, what happened with David was not a moment of weakness. He didn’t just slip up. He didn’t just fall into sin. He believed he had every right to Bathsheba just as the rich man believed he had every right to the poor man’s lamb.

Human beings don’t handle power well. It corrupts us from the inside out. It twists our way of thinking. It perverts how we see those around us. It makes us feel entitled. It deadens our sense of right and wrong. We start to believe we know better than others because, deep down, we believe we are better than others. And because we are better than others, we deserve what we can get. Think of the politicians who have become incredibly wealthy as they’ve served our country. They believe, deep down, they deserve it. Think of those in the highest economic classes who commit egregious crimes or exploit those who work for them or who take advantage of unjust laws in other countries to grow their companies. They believe, deep down, they are above the law. Think of those who exercise great spiritual authority like pastors and priests who take advantage of those who are hurting and struggling. They believe, deep down, they are immune from any consequences. But God sees them. God judges them. God will hold them accountable just like He did King David.

How do we avoid falling into this trap? How do we resist the temptation to use whatever influence, power, or authority we have in our lives for ourselves? We give it away. We seek to serve rather than be served. We intentionally lay it down for the sake of others. This is the way of Jesus.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 32, 86, 102, 103, 122

Provision

Readings for today: Psalms 65, 66, 67, 69, 70

I have seen plenty and I have seen want in my life. I’ve had seasons where my bank account was full and times where it was empty. I’ve had years where I made plenty of money and was able to provide abundantly for my family and years where I’ve needed public assistance to feed them. I’ve seen both ends of the economic spectrum. I’ve moved up and down the levels of our economic system. Here’s what I’ve discovered to be true…God provides. He provides what we need in the time we need it. Maybe not more than we need but never less than what we need. Maybe not what we want or desire but enough for us to make it through another day.

Ancient Israel was an agrarian society. As such, they depended on the harvests each year to provide them with food. They worked hard. They were faithful to till the ground. Plant the fields. Do what they could to tear up the weeds or chase away the animals who might steal their crop. But as any farmer knows, there’s only so much one can do. Ultimately, there are so many things outside our control. The sun. The rain. The health of the soil. These things can only come from God. This is why David sings Psalm 65. It’s a song celebrating the bountiful harvest. It’s a song of praise to God the provider. It’s a song declaring the goodness of God the creator.

“You answer us in righteousness with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the distant seas. You establish the mountains by your power; you are robed with strength. You silence the roars of the seas, the roar of their waves, and the tumult of the nations. Those who live far away are awed by your sings; you make the east and west shout for joy.” (Psalms 65:5-8 CSB)

“You visit the earth and water it abundantly, enriching it greatly. God’s stream is filled with water, for you prepare the earth in this way, providing people with grain. You soften it with showers and bless its growth, soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges. You crown the year with your goodness; your carts overflow with plenty. The wilderness pastures overflow, and the hills are robed with joy. The pastures are clothed with flocks and the valleys covered with grain. They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.” (Psalms‬ ‭65‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

“God’s stream is filled with water.” I love that line. Perhaps because my family has been in farming for generations. I know the importance of abundant water. In fact, my mom is about ready to replace a well on our land up in Nebraska because the old well is failing and the crops can’t survive without the water it provides. I also know the importance of Living Water. The kind of water Jesus talks about to the woman at the well in John 4. I’ve experienced it in my own life. No matter how much I’ve struggled or how far I’ve fallen or how little I may have, God always provides. His river is always flowing, providing what I need. Sometimes it feels like a trickle but it gets me through. Sometimes it feels like a torrent and I am overwhelmed by its abundance. Most of the time, I find it to be a slow, meandering stream constantly refreshing my soul.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20, Psalms 51

Honor and Shame

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalms 20, 53, 60, 75

One of the big challenges in reading the Bible, especially the Old Testament histories, is the cultural gap between their world and our world today. The ancient world viewed all of life through the lens of honor and shame. The goal in life was to accrue as much honor as possible and one would do this by honoring those around them and protecting the honor of those in their family, clan, tribe, and community. When the king of the Ammonites dies, David seeks to honor his son by sending emissaries to console and bless the family. The goal here was to strengthen the relationships between their two nations. However, Hanun shames David’s messengers by cutting off their beards and exposing their nakedness and sending them away. It was a dramatic act meant to humiliate David and Israel as much as the emissaries themselves. David responds by protecting the honor of the men. He tells them to remain in Jericho until their beards grow back so no one will see their shame. However, the shame cannot go unaddressed. The Ammonites know their actions are effectively an act of war. They know David will have to respond or the other nations who are watching will take advantage of his shame. So they form an army and attack Israel, hoping to catch David before he is prepared. David devises a strategy that not only defeats the Ammonites but also their allies, the Arameans. His victory is so complete the two tribes are afraid to ever join forces against Israel ever again.

Our culture is built on a guilt/innocence paradigm rather than honor/shame. A significant reason for this difference is how we understand ourselves. We see ourselves as individuals first and members of a community second. The opposite was true in the ancient world. We also privilege being “right” over being in “relationship” whereas those in the ancient world always privilege the relationship over everything else. We go to war if we feel it is the “right” thing to do and that’s why we tend to describe our conflicts as a battle between “good and evil.” In the ancient world, wars were fought over insults and perceived slights to members of a family or clan or tribe. Another layer to this dynamic is how the ancient writers described their victories. Hyperbole was a tool they often employed in order to increase the “honor” of their nation. So when the Bible describes these battles where tens of thousands are killed, it is highly unlikely it is using a literal number. The intent of the author is to convey a sense of overwhelming victory over their enemies. This is yet another significant cultural difference. Whereas we are concerned with getting the facts right and want a specific tally of the number killed, the ancient authors were more concerned with upholding the honor of their king and their nation as they reported out.

Interestingly enough, most of the world still runs on an honor/shame paradigm. When I travel to different nations in Africa or Asia or Central and South America or when I interact with immigrants domestically from these countries, I am always struck by how important honor is to building strong, healthy partnerships. Understanding this dynamic is the key to cross-cultural relationships and is becoming more and more important as the world gets smaller and our communities become more diverse.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 65, 66, 67, 69, 70

Dedication

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18

What often gets lost in the stories of David’s victories is what he did with the spoils. The tribute from the Arameans. The gold shields from Hadadezer. The bronze captured from different cities. The gifts from the king of Hamath. He dedicates all of it to the Lord along with all the gold and silver captured from the nations he subdued. It’s a powerful testimony to David’s faith and humility. David understood his victories came from the Lord. He understood it was the Lord who had gone before him and won the battles. David gave the Lord all the honor and glory for his success. He walked humbly before the Lord never claiming any honor for himself. And the result? “The Lord made David victorious wherever he went.” (‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Not only that but the Lord established David’s reign over all Israel and he ruled with righteousness and justice.

I think about the “victories” I’ve won in my own life. The successes I’ve had in ministry. The achievements I’ve been able to accomplish. Do I give the credit to the Lord or do I take some of the credit for myself? What do I do with all the blessings that come my way? Do I seek to bless others in the name of the Lord? Do I give all the honor and glory to God? Do I dedicate my time and energy and attention and resources back to the Lord in tangible ways? Give more generously? Serve more sacrificially? Am I committed to walking in faith and humility? One of the secrets I have learned over the course of my life and ministry is to always give God the credit. Remind myself I am nothing without Him. Everything I have and everything I’ve achieved over the course of my life is due to Him. He determined where I would be born and what family I would be born into and I have been blessed. He gave me the gifts and talents and abilities I enjoy. He created all kinds of opportunities for me that I did not deserve. He opened doors that should have remained shut. He called me to the church I serve. He raised me into positions of influence. All I did was walk with open hands. And that’s why all the credit goes to God for any success I’ve had over the course of my life and ministry. And it’s why I continue to dedicate more and more of my time, energy, and resources to His mission.

What about you? Do you see God’s hand at work in similar ways in your own life? Do you give God the credit He deserves for the success you’ve been able to achieve? Do you look for tangible ways to dedicate your time, energy, and resources to Him? What would that look like for you today? Where do you start? What’s the next step? Go to the Lord in prayer and ask the Spirit to lead you.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 10, 1 Chronicles 19, Psalms 20, 53, 60, 75

The Builder

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17, Psalms 1, 2, 33, 127, 132

“Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.” (Psalms 127:1 CSB) This verse hits me almost every year. Especially when juxtaposed with David’s desire to build the Lord a temple. A permanent home. A sacred place where Israel could come and go before the Lord. It’s not a bad desire. It’s not a sinful desire. In fact, the prophet Nathan initially affirms David’s heart. God Himself agrees with David though David will not be the one to build God His home. However, the bigger lesson God wants us to grasp here is that He is the master builder. He is the great architect of our lives. We may think we are builders, doers, planners, achievers but it is God who wills and who works according to His good pleasure.

It’s so tempting to look at the work of our hands and take credit. It’s so tempting to look at what we have done or what we have accomplished in our lives or what we have achieved and think we are the author of our success. But God makes it clear through the life of David that He is the one who builds and grows and grants success. God plucked David from obscurity in a shepherd’s field. Gave Him a name. Gave Him victory after victory. Anointed Him king. Built his household so he would have successors who will sit on the throne after him. David doesn’t bless God, God blesses David. David doesn’t provide for God, God provides for David. It’s not David who is making God’s name great, it is God who is making David’s name great. And the same dynamic is true for us. I think about my marriage and my family. We are close. We love each other deeply. We serve each other. We have great relationships and conversations and the future is so bright for all our kids. All of it is because of God. I think about the church God called me to serve. It is growing. It is thriving. There is so much life and joy here. All of it because of God. I think about the many ways I’ve been able to serve students at Denver Seminary or our denomination nationally or the Petros Network internationally. All of it because of God.

The problem, of course, is I start to think it’s because of me. I start to pat myself on the back. I start to believe my own hype. I start to look at everything and think “I did this” or “I’m the essential part of this story.” Nothing could be further from the truth. God doesn’t need me but graciously chooses to use me. God doesn’t depend on me but graciously invites me in to share in His blessings. God can easily do all this without me but graciously includes me. This is the lesson David needed to learn. It’s the lesson I need to still learn. It’s the lesson all of us need to learn and hold onto in life.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18

Filling a Need

Readings for today: Psalms 89, 96, 100, 101, 107

I love the Psalms. They give expression to so much of what I feel on a day to day basis. They give me the words to pray as I navigate the ups and downs of life. Last week was one of the best weeks of my life. I’ve been a pastor for over twenty years but Holy Week hit different for me this year. Perhaps it was the intentionality and brilliance of our team as they planned and executed some of the most incredible worship services. Perhaps it was the overwhelming success of an Indian outreach event that’s been in the works for some time now. Perhaps it was seeing all the people I know and love at PEPC coming to worship on a beautiful Easter morning. Perhaps it was all of the above. And it’s why I found myself reciting the opening line of Psalms 89 on Sunday afternoon when everything was over. “I will sing about the Lord’s faithful love forever; I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations with my mouth.” (Psalms‬ ‭89‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Of course, another possibility is the state of my soul this year. It’s been a very good year but a very challenging one with lots of changes. My wife and I put our youngest daughters on a plane to Australia in late January/February and officially entered the “empty nest” phase of life. While we’ve enjoyed the transition and are proud of all four of our children, it has resulted in a significantly different rhythm for us. My dad passed away last year and my mom is needing more and more of my attention which I am more than happy to give. She is one of the most amazing people I know but getting older is not easy. The demands on my time are growing. I have been leading a national team for our denomination to revise standards for ordination and our recommendations were due April 15. I am heading to Ethiopia in May and my teaching outlines were due April 18. I am teaching a class at Denver Seminary and papers needed to be graded the first week of April. I am the chair of the board for a mission agency and we are writing two key policies that were due April 29. Not to mention preaching Palm Sunday and Easter for PEPC and our Indian Outreach Ministry. So lots going on! Ha! I love every bit of it. I feel called to every part of it. But I have been stretched during this season more than normal. Perhaps running on fumes also opens me up to the message of the Psalms in new and fresh ways and I found myself turning to Psalms 107 and finding comfort in these words, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity. For he has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things.” (Psalms‬ ‭107‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

What about you? Do you find yourself full or empty or somewhere in between? Do you find yourself stretched, stressed, or relaxed? Are you joining the Psalmist in praise or looking to him for hope? What do you need from the Lord during this season? Let the words of the Psalms meet you in your point of need and direct your attention back to the Lord.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Walking with Integrity

Readings for today: Psalms 15, 23-25, 47

Recently, a friend of mine went through a job change. He was notified he would be let go because his company was “going in a different direction.” The news came out of the blue. All of his performance reviews had been exceptional. He hit every mark the company ever set for him and often exceeded them. None of that seemed to matter. The boss just wanted to make a change. As you can imagine, he went through a range of emotions. There was the initial shock when he first got the news. Shock gave way to anger as he wrestled with the injustice of it all. Anger turned to frustration as he processed the years he had given to this company. Frustration became hurt as he realized how deeply this decision wounded him. In the midst of his hurt, he felt fear and anxiety rise up as he pondered what he would do next. Starting a job search at his age and station in life was no easy task. Would he be able to replace his income? Would he be able to provide for his family? He was pretty close to retirement so how many years did he really have left? I imagine many of us have gone through these experiences ourselves or walked through them with those we love. It’s not easy.

The temptation, of course, is to retaliate. To get back at those who’ve hurt us. To justify our anger and frustration and lash out. We might work to undermine. We might spread rumors or gossip about those in positions above us. We might seek to recruit others to our cause and create all kinds of conflict in the office on our way out. Sow seeds of discontent. Exploit opportunities to create dissension. Those kinds of things. Some might even take things to an extreme and try to take the company or the person responsible down with them. It can get ugly.

“What would God have me do?” This is the question my friend asked me. I took him to some of the Psalms we read today. I pointed him beyond his circumstances and challenged him to think about the bigger picture. Do you want the blessing of God on your life? Do you want the favor of God to go before you? Do you want to walk before God with a clean conscience and a pure heart? Then walk as blamelessly as possible. Do what is right. Don’t give in to the temptation to slander or return evil for evil. Remain humble. Stay focused on Jesus. Trust God is sovereign over all things - including injustice - and nothing can stand in the way of His will for your life.

The ultimate test of faith is what happens when we come face to face with a circumstance that is unjust or unfair. In those moments, we are faced with a choice to either “walk our talk” or go our own way. If we can keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. If we can keep our minds set on eternal rewards. If our treasures are truly in heaven, we will find ourselves looking to please God rather than man and this is the essence of godly integrity.

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 89, 96, 100, 101, 107

Audience of One

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 5:11-25, 2 Samuel 6, 1 Chronicles 13-16

Many years ago, a therapist challenged me with this question, “Who are you trying to impress?” I was a young pastor serving my first church. The church was struggling when I first arrived and I felt it was my job to “save” her. I worked long hours. I got involved in everything. We launched new programs. The schedule filled up. More people came. By all outward appearances, the work I was doing was bearing fruit. But I was burning out. I was trying to do too much. And I was motivated by my fear of failure rather than my faith in God. I was worried about what my colleagues would say about me. Worried about my reputation in the community. Worried that the people I loved and served might think less of me. Worried that my family might lose faith in me. I was so worried about what others thought and believed and it was driving me crazy. So I went to see a counselor. A therapist who specialized in treating pastors. He cracked open my head and heart and helped me to see that I was performing for the wrong audience. My true audience was the Lord. He was the only one whose opinion I needed to worry about and He had already declared me justified. Already declared me righteous. Already set His great love on me. Not because of anything I had done but because of what Christ had done for me. It’s hard to describe the freedom I felt once I processed this gospel truth once again. It was transformative and has shaped my life and ministry ever since.

King David understood his true audience. It wasn’t his people. It wasn’t his enemies. It wasn’t even his wife. David performed for the Lord. David served at the Lord’s good pleasure. David became king not through his own effort or ability or achievements or accomplishments but through the grace of God. This was why he was more than willing to strip down and dance for the Lord. It was why he was more than willing to humble himself and dishonor himself before all the people. He didn’t care. He only had eyes for God. His heart was completely devoted to God. And while he would make incredible mistakes in the future and even commit terrible crimes that would put his kingship in jeopardy, right now, in this moment, he was as free as a person could be. All because he understood his true audience was God.

Who do you work for? Who do you perform for? Who are you living your life for? Is it for the cheers and affirmation of those around you? Is it to gain status and favor and influence in our world? Is it to secure a good reputation with your family or the community? What drives you? What motivates you? Is it fear of failure? Fear of letting others down? Fear of not being recognized? What would it look like for you to shift your focus and begin playing for an audience of One? What would it take for you to shift your heartset and mindset and begin doing “everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him?” (Col. 3:17)

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 15, 23-25, 47

Unity

Readings for today: 2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11-12, Psalms 133

Psalm 133 is one of my favorite Psalms. Mainly because I have seen it in action. I have seen what happens when God’s people truly serve Him with one heart and mind. I have witnessed the miracles that take place when God’s people put aside their egos, their needs, their wants, their desires in favor of serving the Kingdom. I have watched God’s Spirit move when God’s people humble themselves. Deny themselves. Pursue forgiveness and reconciliation. Lay aside their need to be safe, both physically and emotionally, and chase after God. It is powerful. Life-changing. It transforms churches. Communities. Villages. Towns. Cities. Entire tribes, regions, and nations.  

True biblical unity requires us to relinquish “self” in favor of others. It requires us to lose our individual identity in favor of the whole. It requires us to consider others more important than ourselves. It requires us to risk. Risk being hurt. Risk being wounded. Risk feeling rejected. It requires us to have courage. Courage to forgive. Courage to pursue reconciliation. No matter what the cost. No matter how many times we get burned. Like Jesus told Peter, we must be willing to forgive “seventy times seven.” It requires honesty. Transparency. Self-reflection. We must constantly seek to take the log out of our own eyes before we look to take the speck out of someone else’s eye.

True biblical unity requires the church to lay aside it’s need to compete. Extend it’s brand. Criticize other parts of the Body as if “we have no need of them.” It requires leadership to get serious about working together. Working with and for one another. Willing to sacrifice our buildings, budgets, and attendance in order to expand God’s Kingdom in the communities where we serve. It requires mutual submission and accountability. A willingness to step aside and relinquish our platforms when we fall into sin. It requires a radical commitment to love God and neighbor at the expense of our organizations and institutions. Self-denial and picking up our cross is not just a call to the individual Christian but to the church as a community as well! 

True biblical unity requires a radical re-orientation of the heart. It requires laying aside our personal preferences for the sake of those around us. It requires laying aside our cultural preferences for the sake of those who may be different than us. It is incredibly difficult and challenging which is why it happens so infrequently in Scripture. Even the unity King David experiences as he builds his kingdom will soon give way to division as his own children betray him. We have to constantly be on guard because we are our own worst enemy. Our hearts naturally resist unity because it requires literal death to self. And we have such a strong instinct for self-preservation.  

Ultimately, unity is not something we can achieve through our own strength. It’s not about us being the same but coming together across our differences, even allowing those difference to enrich our life together. And this is why it is a work of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can bring the kind of deep, spiritual unity Psalm 133 talks about. And the first step towards unity is surrender. Surrender to the Holy Spirit and all He wants to do in our lives.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 5:11-25, 2 Samuel 6, 1 Chronicles 13-16

Small Things

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 7-9

Easter weekend is a big one for any pastor. This one was no different. I spent a great deal of time after all the services connecting with different people. Different ages. Different cultures. Different languages. Different life experiences. Many of them asked me a variation of the same question…what now? Where do we go from here? How do we live the resurrection life that we celebrate on Easter Sunday? Honestly, it’s not rocket science. It’s the small decisions we make every single day. It’s paying attention to the little details in life that matter. The words we say. The way we listen to those we live with and work with and interact with every single day. Keeping our priorities straight. God first. Others second. Ourselves third. It’s watching how we spend our time and energy and resources and making sure they serve God’s purposes.

The thing that always strikes me about this section of the Jewish Histories is how important the little details are to God. He designates some of his people to be doorkeepers. Think greeters on a Sunday morning or a life safety team member who keeps everyone safe. He designates others to care for the utensils used in worship. Think of a deacon team who prepares the communion elements, makes the coffee, or serves the donuts and then cleans up and takes out the trash afterwards. Think of the facilities team who cares for the property and keeps things in working order. Then there are the singers. The worship teams. The volunteers who dedicate so much of their time and energy to practicing the music we sing week over week. The worship leadership who plans and executes each service with such intentionality. The audio and production team who spends late nights getting everything set up and torn down for each service. None of these may seem like big things. In fact, I’ve often heard people dismiss them as unnecessary or even distractions to “true worship” whatever that means. But these things matter to God so they should matter to us. The people involved matter to God so they should matter to us. We should appreciate them and honor their calling just as David and Samuel did in their own time.

Before we get too far away from Easter, I would encourage you to find a way to reach out to those who served this past weekend. Thank them for helping with the parking, the greeting, and the kids ministry. Thank them for serving the food and the coffee and preparing the communion elements. Thank them for leading us from the platform in music or from the sound booth in production. Thank the life safety team and the facility team for all their hard work setting up and tearing down. Thank the prayer team and the elders and deacons and staff who gave so much of their time and energy. None of them do it for the recognition, of course, but I know they will appreciate it. Even more, I believe God loves it when we honor His people for serving Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Samuel 5:1-10, 1 Chronicles 11-12, Psalms 133

Easter

Readings for today: Psalms 81, 88, 92, 93

Holy Week is always powerful for me. It drains me emotionally, spiritually, and physically and not just because there is more activity on the schedule than normal. Yes, there are multiple services and multiple rehearsals and multiple things to do to mark this sacred week. Our teams run hard to pull it all off. There are a lot of late nights. But I find the emotional and spiritual demands of this week far more taxing than the physical ones. Closely walking with Jesus through His final days and hours opens my heart up to all kinds of emotions, many of them expressed so well in Psalm 88 from our reading today. Crying out to God. Feeling the weight of my sin. The loneliness of my journey at times. The rejection I’ve experienced in my life. The despair, weakness, and isolation. I know what it’s like to feel like darkness is my only friend. This is the experience of Holy Saturday and by the time I get there every year, I feel exhausted and spent.

Then comes Easter Sunday. A new day. Another day. An additional day. A bonus day. You see, Holy Saturday is not the end of Holy Week! Though Holy Saturday is the seventh day, the last day, the Sabbath day; the resurrection of Jesus Christ changes things. Changes how we mark time. Changes how we look at our calendars. By raising His Son from the dead, God moves us beyond the old Sabbath into the new Sabbath. An eternal Sabbath. A Sabbath not bound by hours or minutes or seconds. A Sabbath not bound by the cycles of evening and morning. A Sabbath not made for this world but for the world to come. A Sabbath not made for earth but for heaven. And without fail, as each Easter morning dawns, I find my strength renewed. I find my heart lifted. I find my joy restored. I lift my eyes above the hills to see from where my true help comes! My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth! As Psalm 93 puts it, “The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, enveloped in strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. Your throne has been established from the beginning; you are from eternity.” (Psalms 93:1-2 CSB) Yes, the floods have lifted up. The world has done all it can to rid itself of God. To throw off all restraint. But the Lord rides the waves like a chariot. His voice is lifted high above the tumult of the seas. He will not be subject to His creation. He will not be ignored by the creatures made in His own image. By dying and rising again, He has declared His Word to be completely reliable, trustworthy, and true.

For Christians, Easter Sunday is not just a day on a calendar. It is not just an occasion to celebrate. It is a lived reality. We are an Easter people, shaped and formed by the Easter experience. Once you’ve tasted the new life Easter has to offer, the eternal life Easter has to offer, there’s no going back. And why would you want to? The old life is drab and boring by comparison. Nothing attractive about it all. Certainly not worth comparing to the glory that has now been revealed in us through the Risen Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 7-9

Singing

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 6, Psalms 36, 39, 77, 78

Music has always been a part of the worship of God. We sing about the character and nature of God. We sing about God’s mighty acts in human history. We sing about God’s power over creation and over the creatures of the earth. We sing of our redemption. The song book of the people of God is the Psalms. They set their prayers to music. Music allows them to express the full range of emotion. I imagine some of the songs they sang were slow and reflective. Others were fast-paced and joyful. Still others were confessional and melancholy. Still others were focused on praise. We don’t necessarily know the style of music they played or the different instruments they used. In my experience, both in Israel and the Middle East, it probably varied based on what was available to them and the quality of the leader. But those things were secondary. What mattered most was their heart and how they expressed themselves to God.

In 1 Chronicles six, King David sets apart a certain group of people to be in charge of musical worship. They will lead God’s people in song. They will lead God’s people when they come before Him to make their sacrifices. They will lead God’s people during the prescribed feasts and festivals. They were not only in charge of leading God’s people but I imagine they were also charged to create new songs for them to sing. New songs to describe the wonder and glory of God. New ways to describe all He had done for Israel throughout her history. I have to believe it was an amazing job. To spend your life pondering and reflecting and creating music for the people of God to sing as they come to worship. It’s why I admire those I serve alongside at my own church for the many ways they create and design and shape our worship services week over week. Introducing new music to go alongside the classic hymns from our past that we all love. Introducing new liturgical elements through prayer and testimony to draw us all closer to the Lord. It is a great privilege to work alongside such gifted and talented people.

Ultimately, however, the excellence of the music doesn’t matter if our hearts aren’t right before the Lord. If we harbor sin. If we hold onto bitterness or resentment. If we refuse to extend forgiveness and seek reconciliation with others in our community. If we enter into worship with pride, seeking only to serve ourselves. God wants our hearts. He wants us to approach Him with humility and open hands. An authentically contrite heart, He will never despise or reject. As we gather for worship this Easter weekend, my prayer for all of us is that we come open and expectant and ready to meet the Lord. My prayer is we come honestly and authentically before Him. My prayer is we come in humility as we approach the throne of grace to receive the help we need. Most of all, my prayer is we come with a desire to worship the Lord. To make worship about Him and not us. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! May the miracle of His resurrection bring us to our knees in awe and wonder yet again!

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Righteous Prayer

Readings for today: 1 Chronicles 3-5

Over twenty years ago, a best-selling book was published on the prayer offered by a rather obscure Old Testament figure named Jabez. He shows up in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 but no specific mention is made of how he fits into the family tree of Judah. He is described as a man of honor who was birthed in pain by his mother and who prayed a prayer God answered. That’s it. Two verses total. Not much to go on. Not much to draw any conclusions from and yet the book written about him became an instant best-seller, selling millions of copies, launching an entire cottage industry.

Why the popularity? I think it has to do with the fact that Jabez’ prayer fits the prevailing self-centered, “health and wealth” theology of so many Americans, Christian or not. “Jabez  was more honored than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez and said, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only you would bless me, extend my border, let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not experience pain.” And God granted his request.” (‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Fundamentally, we believe we are worthy of God’s blessing. Fundamentally, we believe we have earned the right to have our territory expanded. Fundamentally, we believe we should never experience evil or pain or suffering. Fundamentally, we believe life is about us and our comfort and the prayer of Jabez only reinforces this idea.

I was in seminary when the book came out and I remember church after church teaching on it. All kinds of miracles were attributed to this prayer. Entire congregations would commit to praying this prayer for thirty, sixty, or ninety days and then report back on the ways God answered their prayers. Preachers, even from evangelical and mainline church contexts, would preach entire sermon series on this prayer and encourage people to memorize it and pray it daily. It seemed utterly crazy to me. After all, this was a verse ripped completely out of it’s Old Testament context. It comes from a figure in the Old Testament we know almost nothing about. If we’re going to memorize one prayer from the Bible and pray it fervently and daily, shouldn’t it be the Lord’s Prayer?

This highlights a danger for us as we read through the Scriptures. The Bible is not a magic book. It is not a book full of mantras that we can pray to get what we want. The Bible is not a self-help book meant to teach us how to have a better life. The Bible has one primary purpose and that is to reveal the character and nature of God. It tells the story of God’s mission to reach His people with the gospel. As one rabbi famously put it, “The Bible is not the story of humanity’s search for God but God’s search for humanity.” God is on a rescue mission to deliver us from the powers of sin and death and evil. His goals are far greater than material blessings or expanding our territory or giving us more influence in this world. He wants to save a people for Himself. He is growing His family through the conversion of women and men. He is building His Kingdom here on earth through His church made up of Jews and Gentiles together. This is His plan and this is what should be the focus of our prayers.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 6, Psalms 36, 39, 77, 78

Faith under Pressure

Readings for today: Psalms 49, 84, 85, 87

“Better a day in your courts than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than live in the tents of wicked people.” (Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

There is nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. No place we can go to be safe. The world is full of sin and corruption. Injustice and oppression come in all kinds of forms. Human beings pursue power and pleasure at all costs. We say in our hearts, “there is no God.” Each of us does what is right in our own eyes. All of us are like sheep who have gone astray. Recently, I had a conversation with a good friend. They are looking to relocate out of our state. They simply cannot fathom the depths to which we have fallen. We are a haven for abortion on demand. We are considering criminalizing any dissent against the transgender movement. We are overspending to the tune of billions and are looking to reform, or perhaps even take away, the main guardrail (TABOR) that restrains the state government. As our state continues to move further and further left politically, many people of faith (not just Christians) feel they are being forgotten, left behind, left out, and marginalized. And I understand those feelings. It’s why I can’t in good faith discourage my friend from leaving, especially as they look to raise their children in a safer place. At the same time, I am not sure there is a “safer” place. I’ve lived all over the United States and, in my experience, every place has it’s issues. Every place deals with injustice, corruption, unrighteousness, and oppression. Every place faces the same root challenge of sin.

Israel faced these same challenges. It’s why they looked beyond the horizons of this world to the Lord. They understood they would not find a refuge in this world. They would not find a sanctuary in this world. There was no safe place to run to from sin. There only home was with God. He would be their protector. He would be their provider. No matter where they lived, He would be with them. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.” (Psalms‬ ‭84‬:‭11‬ ‭CSB‬) At the end of the day, Israel understood herself to be an “alien and stranger” in this world. A people just passing through. They did not cling to the things of this world but instead sought to live open-heartedly and open-handedly. They didn’t expect the ungodly people who surrounded them to act in godly ways. Instead, they sought to live as faithfully as they could. They trusted God to use them as light to pierce the darkness. The world may make our faith illegal. They may seek to harass and persecute us for what we believe. The world may make it difficult to live as Christians. But at the end of the day, the government can’t legislate what happens in the heart. They can’t govern what we think, do, or say. Yes, it may become more costly to be a Christian in the years ahead. My friends around the globe would say, “welcome to the club.” They would point us to Jesus, who was crucified for what He believed in and stood for and humbly call us to follow His example. As we look to Him, we will discover the truth that the Psalmist sings about, “Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace. Truth will spring up from the earth, and righteousness will look down from heaven. Also, the Lord will provide what is good, and our land will yield its crops. Righteousness will go before him to prepare the way for his steps.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭85‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬)

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 3-5