The Monday Memo from John Stanko

Memo 1066: The Blind and Lame

David was finally the king but he did not take time to celebrate. He got busy making history by securing a place in his territory that still plays an important role in the world:

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David. On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace" (2 Samuel 5:6-8).

David and his men did what the local inhabitants didn't think possible due to the advantage they had occupying the higher elevation of Jerusalem, but David's entourage did the impossible. Let's examine how they did it, especially looking at the saying that emerged from this historic event (and its spiritual implications).

PURPOSE INSIGHT

It's interesting that David's first priority as king of the united tribes was to go after Jerusalem. This is the first mention of the city in the Bible so we aren't aware that any other campaigns were waged there and don't know the reason David felt such an urgency in capturing it. Note that while the locals were mocking David with a false confidence in the security of their position, David knew exactly what needed to be done to win the battle—the water shaft was the key.

David had insight that others probably had overlooked or didn't think was possible to accomplish, but David was so confident of his perspective that he offered a reward as we learn in 1 Chronicles 11:6: "'Whoever leads the attack on the Jebusites will become commander-in-chief.' Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, and so he received the command." When you're functioning in your purpose, you too will have wisdom and insight that you think is common sense, but it's not common; it's uncommon and unique to you.

What's more, David started his reign by setting and achieving a big goal. What big goals do you have based on the unique insight God has given you in your purpose? All those are good lessons but not the main thing we need to examine this week; it's the proverb that began to circulate after the city was won that we need to take a closer look at.

GOING SOMEWHERE

The phrase that the Jebusites used as a taunt became the battle cry for David: "the blind and lame will not enter the palace." That phrase still holds true today for God's people, which may sound odd so allow me to explain. The blind couldn't enter the house then or now, for God can only use those with eyes of faith who can see the unseen and function according to God's vision and not their own: "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1, emphasis added). Paul wrote, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). David saw the city falling and set out immediately to do what he had seen.

And that leads to the second group of people mentioned in the proverb: the lame. There are those who see, who have spiritual insight into many things but do nothing with it. They aren't blind but they're lame: unable to take action or make a difference with what they see. Jesus said, "Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them" (John 13:17, emphasis added). Paul wrote, "for we walk by faith, not by sight." Paul wrote we "walk," which indicates we're going somewhere, making progress toward a specific objective or goal.

The sons of Issachar were "men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do" (1 Chronicles 12:32). That's what God wants you to be, too—a person who has insight into the "water shafts" of the enemy and can then go forth to do something with that knowledge. Do you need to seek the Lord for understanding about who you are and what He wants to do through your life? Do you need to do something with what you know? Keep in mind that the "blind and lame" still can't enter the king's palace, but those who see and act will be used by God to find and conquer their own Jerusalems. Have a blessed week.

Memo 1065: Finally

Does it seem like you have been waiting forever, or at least longer than you ever expected, for God to fulfill His promise to you? Are you about to give up or at least move on? If so, then this week's Memo will help you, for finally, after at least a 20-year wait, David became king of Israel. Let's look at that event to see what you can take away from it and apply to your own life situation.

"YOU'RE OUR KING"

After Saul's son on the throne had been killed, we read that the people came to their senses:

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’” When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years (2 Samuel 5:1-5).

All of a sudden, the people who had cooperated with Saul, those who had harassed and persecuted David, came to him and said, "You know what? You're our king! You've always been our king!" David could have said, "Where have you all been these last two decades? Now you want me to lead you after you and your former king put me through so much!" David's reaction isn't recorded, but he probably breathed a sigh of relief and thought, "Finally!"

Yes, there is a finally to every promise of God. God wasn't being arbitrary or whimsical in leading David to the throne. It took as long as it did to get David ready for leadership and when he was ready, God opened the door. His promotion started with God showing the people what David had known all along—that he was to be the king. David's former rivals and enemies became his subjects, but God had to open their eyes before that happened. And God has to show people who you are before you can be accepted as such.

A NEW AUDIENCE

I can relate this process to my own life journey to my throne, the place of leadership and authority God had for me. I waited 11 years for a pulpit, preaching two times in those 11 years. Then after my dream job of traveling the world to organize worship conferences ended, I began to consult to help organizations build more effective teams. Since I had a paying job, I would not bill much to consult, usually only charging the cost of my materials ($30) for some personality profiles.

When I wanted to do the consulting full time, I knew I had to charge more, but the people who knew me as the $30 man were not willing to pay $250 for the same services. I had to go to new places and find a new audience who saw the worth of what I was doing. I had to trust God for a new market who saw $250 as reasonable. In other words, God had to open the eyes of my clients, just like God had to open the eyes of Israel to see David in a new light as God saw him. That meant I often had to travel to Africa where I was accepted in the fullness of who God made me to be as opposed to my local friends who knew me as that $30 man who was now, in their mind, over-charging for his services.

What about you? Are you waiting for God to open the eyes of others to the reality of who He made you to be? Perhaps you need to find a new audience or market like I had to do? Maybe the people you are destined to help aren't desperate enough yet to humble themselves and accept your mantle of leadership? Maybe you have to go away and then come back to your opportunity?

Whatever is going on, you should be encouraged by David's story this week that every waiting period has a "finally" ending when God moves and establishes you on your throne. Don't give up for in the fullness of time, people will come to you and tell you what you knew all along—that God was and is with you. Have a blessed week!

Memo 1064: No Help Needed

When David was waiting for his throne, a young man came to report Saul's death, indicating that he was the one who had done the killing at Saul's request. The young man was lying, hoping to gain favor with David. David would have none of it, however, and ordered the young man executed since he didn't have the sense in David's mind not to kill God's anointed. Now this week, we see two men who decided to operate in the same spirit but this time they were the ones who took the king's life who was standing between David and the promise of God. Let's see what David did this time.

FINALLY

David's house had been at war with Saul's descendants after David became king of Judah. Saul's son Ish-bosheth was in the throne when we read,

Now Rekab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out for the house of Ish-Bosheth, and they arrived there in the heat of the day while he was taking his noonday rest. They went into the inner part of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rekab and his brother Baanah slipped away. They had gone into the house while he was lying on the bed in his bedroom. After they stabbed and killed him, they cut off his head. Taking it with them, they traveled all night by way of the Arabah. They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who tried to kill you. This day the Lord has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring” (2 Samuel 4:5-8).

We aren't told why they did this. Perhaps they were tired of the instability and fighting between the tribes. It's more likely that they were hoping to gain some favored position in David's administration by taking matters into their own hands and putting Saul's house out of its misery, for it was inevitable that they would be removed from the throne once and for all.

This was one more test for David. Would he look the other way? Was he tired of waiting and ready to get it over with and get on with leading the kingdom? Would he indirectly take matters into his own hands and do what probably every other kingdom would have done at that point in history? David didn't fall into any of those traps as we read in the narrative that follows.

NO HELP REQUIRED

Those two assassins must have been surprised when they heard David say,

David answered Rekab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, when someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news! How much more—when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed—should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!” So David gave an order to his men, and they killed them. They cut off their hands and feet and hung the bodies by the pool in Hebron (2 Samuel 4:9-12).

I waited 15 years to become the lead pastor in a church. In the early days, I was eager and anxious, and did what I could to promote myself and my chances of becoming a leader. Then one day, I had a dream of a gravestone with my name on it, which will certainly get one's attention. When I sought the interpretation, I felt like the Lord was saying, "I want you to work here, in this city and in this church, like it's your last assignment—like you're going to die here." And so that's what I did for 11 years after that.

Then at the end of those 11 years, someone offered me a pastoral position in a wonderful city, but I said no. Then they asked me again, but I said no again—and meant it. God had so dealt with my leadership drive that I refused to take matters out of His hands and into my own. Then on the third occasion, I was asked and said perhaps. From there, God opened the doors and I found myself the pastor of a church in Orlando, Florida. I had waited more than a decade, and the last three invitations were a test to see if I had truly released my desires and timetable to the Lord's purpose. I think that's similar to David's final test with the two assassins. He had so released his ambition to the Lord that he wasn't about to take matters into his own hands or allow others to do so.

Are you waiting for your throne? Have you thought of giving up or accepting any throne just so you will feel like progress is being made? I urge you to continue to prepare like your throne is imminent (that's what I did during those 11 years) but at the same time leaving the timing of your promotion in His hands. That way, you'll be ready when the door opens but won't be guilty of kicking the door in before it swings open or unlocks before you. David waited and didn't allow anyone to take away the privilege of God personally escorting him to his throne. I encourage you to do the same, for God needs no help in giving you the place He has hand in mind for you since the beginning of time. Have a blessed week!

Memo 1063: Far From Perfect

As we read about David's continuing struggle to ascend to his throne and his war with the house of Saul, his biographer inserted a few verses to let the reader know about the growth of David's family during his seven years in Hebron:

Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream the son of David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2-5).

The writer made no comments about or evaluation of David's family growth, but simply reported the births in a matter-of-fact manner. Yet these sons were to become a source of pain for David and his kingdom, for they would go on to create problems that would lead to civil war and the death of many of David's subjects—including his sons. What are we to make of these few verses and the six sons born in Hebron?

SILENCE

In doing some research on this passage, commentators have written very little about these verses and sons. I couldn't find a single preached message on this passage or practice. It seems that everyone has assumed that this was the practice of the day and David went with the flow of the tradition and culture and took on multiple wives who bore him sons as all the other kings of the region were undoubtedly doing. What's more, it even seems like God was silent on the practice, for at no point does any prophet come to challenge David until he crossed the line in his relationship with Bathsheba. More on that story in future Memos.

In a popular comedy movie years ago, the line was repeated "It's good to be the king" whenever the royal characters in the movie enjoyed the benefit of something that was unavailable to the common folk. However, was this practice beneficial to David and his kingdom? Was it good to be the king and do whatever one wanted? We were told in verse one that "David grew stronger and stronger" and then we have the list of sons, so his six sons were obviously seen as part of David's kingdom growth in the eyes of the historian. What are we to make of this?

POSSIBLE LESSONS

Since few others have chosen to address this fact of David, let me attempt to draw some lessons from these few verses in God's inspired history. If we look at it objectively, we can say that David was good at fathering children, but he wasn't good at raising them. None of the sons, except Solomon, distinguished themselves as servants of God and even Solomon took his father's practice of many wives to a new level when he entered into political marital alliances with hundreds of women.

As gifted and anointed as David was, he was far from perfect. His flaws, like those of any leader, had ramifications for many beyond his family and were part of Samuel's warning to the people when they wanted a king in the first place:

“This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day" (1 Samuel 8:11-18).

As special as David was, he was just a man and could only do so much and take the people so far. Yet one would come one day from the line of David who would be the matchless King and lead His people in grace and truth. Today, Israel has decided to be the people of David, putting their hope in him for their identity and image. Those who have put their faith in Jesus have made Him king, looking past culture and tradition to God's righteous Kingdom, which will have no end—and has a way of doing its business that is nothing like the kings of this world, even David.

Have you put your faith in leaders who will take the best of what you have and who you are and use them for their own ends? Or have you put your trust in the King of kings? Are you a servant of God who has taken on the cultural norms of your day, or are you a person who patterns yourself after the One who emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant? David is a man worth emulating in many ways, but he was far from perfect. I opt to follow the One who is (perfect in every way) and allow Him to teach me how to be like David only if it is consistent with being like Jesus. We will not come into all God has for us if we only have the righteousness of David; we need the righteousness of Christ. Have a blessed week!