1 Kings 13: Trying to Avoid a Lion.

Presented the Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries, 03 October 2021, by Captain Michael Ramsay [1] 

 

I think this is a very significant passage. A prophet, a person of God, is used mightily by God to do amazing things (like we have been here) [2]. He was even used to shrivel up the king’s hand and then restore it! God told this prophet that then he was supposed to go straight home without stopping. The king, the government, they wanted the prophet to stay and have dinner with them.[3] The prophet said ‘no’. He was faithful to God in the face of the Government. 

Part way home, an older prophet tells the younger prophet that God has told him that he is supposed to stop and have dinner with him. The younger prophet, who had just successfully stood up to the government and refused to be delayed in returning home, now defers to the senior prophet and does the opposite of what God wants him to do. He follows a man of God instead of following God – because of this, the younger prophet suffers the consequences. In this case, he is killed by a lion [4]. 

This is important: The message of this story isn’t about the senior prophet. Even if he was lying, he was still used by God. This story isn’t about a bad prophet who lies. The story does not say that the senior prophet was bad at all. This story is about a young prophet who, instead of doing what God tells him, does what a man of God tells him and so is killed by a lion. 

We serve in an hierarchical organization. I have great respect for people who are in my upline. Our AC is very competent. She knows a lot. Our DC and his wife are both amazing officers. They are two of the best preachers in The Salvation Army world. We served together in BC years ago; we then served together on the prairies; and then in Toronto and now in BC again. Jamie was instrumental in bringing Susan and I here to Port Alberni. I have a lot of respect for he and Anne and I have nothing bad to say about either of them. Our current Personnel Secretary, we also served with in BC and the Prairie Division as well as in Toronto. His wife, Lynn was a major support to my wife and I during some very significant times in our lives. I have nothing bad to say about them. God used the Braunds and the Armstrongs in our lives and in our ministries. They are amazing people. 

The younger prophet in this story respected the senior prophet; however, in his case he knew in his heart what God wanted him to do and he didn’t do it.  

The Salvation Army plans to implement a policy that troubles me greatly whereby people who are unable to be vaccinated will no longer be able to be a part of our community: they can no longer work or volunteer with us. This vaccine mandate seems to go against what I believe the Lord is speaking to me. I don’t believe that whoever proposed this policy is necessarily disobeying God, but I do believe God is telling me not to have any part of it – maybe at the risk of being killed by a literal or a metaphorical lion. I need your prayers as all of us Officers try to figure out what to do about this vaccine mandate that troubles so many of us. 

The vaccine mandate objectifies people: anyone can come to church, the store, and the soup kitchen to spend money or be waited upon, but only some people are deemed worthy enough to actually participate in our community. The policy will require our employees and volunteers to be injected with two doses of one of the government-approved vaccines by November 14, 2021. If they are not injected, they can be removed from the premises, they can be placed on unpaid leave of absence, they can be in essence fired without even receiving severance pay (because they will technically still be employees).  

Clients, as well, will be removed from our team here. One of the strengths of The Salvation Army is that those of us at our lowest points are able to find a place where we belong and where we can contribute. The proposed mandate states that conscientious objectors to the vaccine, people with legitimate health concerns, and people with mental health barriers that interfere with their ability to be injected with government approved drugs will be longer be able to be part of our community. They will be free to drink coffee across the table from us, but they will not be permitted to serve the coffee or clean up someone’s spill for them. We can do things to them but not with them. We will thereby objectify them. 

We just had orange shirt day in our country. This Thursday we heard many horror stories of people who were told they were no longer invited to be a contributing part of society. 

I am double vaccinated. I am because I work with vulnerable people, many of whom cannot or will not be vaccinated for many different reasons.  

I, like every Officer across this country I am sure, am praying and thinking about this a lot.  I have no condemnation for THQ. If they are doing something wrong that is between them and God, if not then all is good for them. I am concerned about my obedience to God. If I implement the proposed vaccine mandate, am I disobeying God the same way the younger prophet did in our story today? Am I liable to be eaten by a real or metaphorical lion? I don’t want to disobey God. 

This is my Officer Covenant that I signed with God 15 years ago this June. It reminds me that I promised, among other things, “to care for the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the unlovable and befriend those who have no friends.” Who has less friends these days than those who hold minority opinions about vaccinations?  

I am struggling. I want to obey my senior officers, but I don’t believe I can remove those from our community who cannot be vaccinated. They are, in many cases, those who have no friends. Those that work for me are under my care. Can I deprive someone who is under my care access to a community of Christ? 

I had a close friend in Toronto who died of AIDS. The discrimination that he suffered due to his health should be in the memories of any of us who lived through the AIDS scare. Our society was terrified. People with HIV/AIDS, a contagious health condition, lost so much, including their jobs, their volunteer work, and their ability to participate in society.   Maybe we have now forgotten what it was like. People with HIV serve all over this country today; maybe even here in this ministry unit; we do not ask for proof of their taking medication. We are not even allowed to ask about their medical status. How can we now be asked to discriminate against even healthy people who do not want to share their medical history with us and/or do not wish to be injected with government approved drugs? 

I do not believe that I can morally remove someone’s employment, volunteer work, ability to be part of a team simply because they make a health decision that might be disagreeable to some, or even to most.  By removing someone from their job for making different medical choices than my own, I would be doing to them what was done to my friend years ago.   

In Winnipeg, I volunteered alongside a senior gentleman in prison ministry at Stony Mountain Penitentiary. The reason he was involved in prison ministry was that during WWII, he was a conscientious objector. They locked him in that very same jail because his values and beliefs were different than the majority of people – and he suffered in the ways that people who are in jail suffer!    

I do not believe I can discriminate against people who conscientiously object to the vaccine. To force someone to go against their deeply held convictions or to lose their employment, and ability to contribute as part of a team because they stand by a deeply held conviction that might be disagreeable to some, or even to most, I don’t believe I can do that.   

We have an employee who was double vaccinated. She has lost her sense of smell and her sense of taste. In tears she told me that if she had the choice again to be vaccinated or not, she would not under any circumstance. We have another employee who’s relative was previously fit, healthy, and active, who is now a paraplegic due to the vaccine. We have staff and employees who are not willing to take that risk. Who am I to take away their livelihood, their inclusion in our team here, because they are unwilling to risk their lives?  

We have many members of our team here who are on the margins of society; we have people who are coming out of addiction; we have friends with mental health issues; we have friends with deeply held convictions; we have many people who we have been walking alongside. Our friends have come from just receiving our services, to volunteering as they are able, some to employment, and all to being fully contributing members of our community here. I cannot tell our friends that they are no longer welcome to contribute alongside us helping others in need. I cannot tell them they are no longer part of us, can I?   

I have no condemnation for those who disagree with me. I also have no condemnation for those above me in the hierarchy. I do, however, feel I have a duty to protect those I am responsible for in our structure to include the outcast, to include the excluded.

My Officers’ Covenant is very important to me. This covenant that I made with God requires me to ‘love the unlovable’. The vaccine mandate will remove from our community people who need you, people who need me, and people who need Christ. Like many other Officers across this country, right now I do not believe that I can be faithful to God and the oath I took to Him and at the same time support the vaccine mandate.    

I don’t know what is going to happen. Maybe God will permit me to turn away the people THQ wants me to turn away. Maybe God will change THQ’s minds before the policy is fully implemented; but as it stands, I feel that if I stay with the mandate, even at DHQ’s insistence, rather than go with God’s leading, I will need to be on the lookout for metaphorical, if not literal lions.  

It is my hope that whatever choices any of us make about anything - and they may be different than others' choices - that we always do so without hesitation and under the direction and guidance of our Lord.

Let us pray. 

[1] See Captain Michael Ramsay, "1 Kings 13: Lion for Prophet" for a more in-depth analysis of this pericope, (Sheepspeak.com, The Salvation Army, 25 November 2012) Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2012/11/1-kings-13-lion-for-prophet.html

[2] R. D. Patterson and Hermann J. Austel, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:1 Kings/Notes to First Kings/First Kings 13 Notes/First Kings Note 13:1, Book Version: 4.0.2: If Josephus's suggestion (Antiq. VIII, 240-41 [ix.1]) that the prophet's name was Yadon is accepted, he may perhaps be connected with the Iddo mentioned as a chronicler of the events of Abijah's day (2 Chronicles 13:22).

[3] Donald J. Wiseman, 1 and 2 Kings: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1993 (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries 9), S. 158: If the man of God were to make an agreement or show fellowship (‘eat bread’, vv. 7, 18) with the king, that would have been tantamount to a withdrawal of judgment. The king’s motive could have been ‘to link himself in fellowship with him as a form of insurance’ (Robinson, p. 161; cf. Noth, p. 298), and so to seek for the prophet’s endorsement of his new royal position. The ban on the return route might serve to avoid further contact with a cursed place and people.

[4] Cf. Choon-Leong Seow. The First and Second Book of Kings, (NIB III: Abigdon Press, Nashville, 1999), 108.

Matthew, Romans, Hebrews and 1 Peter: You need to do it!

Presented to The Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries, 18 April 2021 by Captain Michael Ramsay (service outside the Legion following all of the Covid-19 rules and recommendations)

 

I am so thankful that we are allowed to have our worship times outside now (as long as we are blessed with appropriate weather). 

 

There has been a lot of talk about obeying the authorities in recent times. It has after all been illegal for the Church to meet in the churches for church services since Christmas. It is only in the previous few weeks that we have even been allowed to meet outside in the elements again. There have been many discussions about churches gathering. I had an article published in the Journal of Aggressive Christianity entitled “What we did when Church was illegal ^“[i]. It has been a serious concern. At a time when rates of suicide and drug use and abuse are at all-time highs to remove these emotional and spiritual supports from the most vulnerable doesn’t seem to make any sense to many people. 

 

According to Matthew, Jesus famously tells us to “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Mt 22:21) and Paul in Romans 13 and Peter in 2 Peter 2 caution us to obey the authorities, reminding us that they are not there by accident. For good or ill, whether they are good or bad, God has put them there or at the very least permitted them to remain. 

 

This is a very important directive that we are given in Romans, Peter, and Matthew – to obey the authorities. There is very good reason for this advice. 

It is also very important to look at who is offering us this counsel. Jesus, like Peter and like Paul later, was executed by the State. The government tried, convicted, and sentenced Jesus, Peter, Paul, and many of Jesus’ disciples to death by capital punishment. Jesus and many of his prominent followers – including authors of the comments here encouraging us to obey the government – were convicted and executed for disobeying the government, breaking the law. Peter, Paul and Matthew all knew Jesus was executed by Caesar’s authority, after a trial, before they wrote their letters encouraging us to obey the authorities. They also seemed to realize that if they continued to meet with other Christians publicly that they would be sentenced to death and yet they did it anyway. How do we reconcile this apparent contradiction? 

And how does it apply to us today where the Church has been denied by the courts (at least so far) its constitutional protection from the government? If we are told again not to meet for services, should we obey government directives or not? Should we meet in the churches or not? Peter has an answer for us .

 

1 Peter 2:20-22a records “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

 

I think this is key. We are not supposed to disobey the authorities about anything in the whole world (no speeding, no working under the table, no breaking covid-19 laws) – except when the authorities forbid us to serve God. We are instructed in the Bible to meet as a Church and not stop doing so, Hebrews 10:25. This is important. If the community of the saints no longer exists than the Church no longer exist.  

 

The question that we have to ask ourselves is what does our meeting together look like? Some people feel that have been able to meet successfully through zoom or social media. Some feel that regular meetings have been accomplished through phone calls or letters. We here have been meeting to make and serve meals to those in need in our community. We have also had support groups running, as they are now permitted. Our support groups are of course based on the Bible and have prayer as a key component and our food service always has had prayer as a part of it, sometimes a devotional thought and always the option of worship music playing in the background. 

 

To conclude for today: If you are hearing me in person right now then obviously you are meeting as the Church. If you are reading or watching this at another time and place, I encourage you to ask yourself these two very important questions about being a part of Church during the pandemic when the government is restricting religious gatherings:  

1.     Are you obeying the government in every way that you possibly can? As a Christian you need to do this. Anything else makes us all out to be causeless and seemingly clueless rebels. And 

2.     Are you continuing to meet as the Church somehow with others to pray, serve, and read the Bible? If you are not, you need to do so. 

 

Let us pray. 

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[i] Michael Ramsay, “What We Did When Church Was Illegal”, Journal of Aggressive Christianity Iss. 131 (Feb – Mar, 2021), On-line: http://armybarmy.com/JAC/article4-131.html?fbclid=IwAR16vfl-dZKyos7OGnZpyZmWI6xp0JaSQtqQAZNvV0MF5AEWbdJ8HWE1VUU

Luke 9:27-37: Listen to Him! (The Jesus Exodus)

Presented to Alberni Valley Ministries, 03 March 2019 by Michael Ramsay

As I was working away yesterday evening trying to type out a sermon on the transfiguration, my computer interrupted what I was listening to, to pay tribute to Jerome Iginla. Jerome Iginla’s friends and colleagues were paying tribute to him in a ceremony where the Calgary Flames were retiring his number 12. He was certainly one of the greatest Calgary Flames players and they were talking about who he was, on and off the Ice.

Our Scripture today pays tribute to Jesus. The Salvation Army doctrines give us a glimpse of who is Jesus. Doctrine 4 of The Salvation Army says, ‘We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.’

Luke 9:18 asks directly the question, who is Jesus? And Jesus is paid tribute here by God, Moses and Elijah in front of his closest friends and colleagues.

Reading again from Luke 9:27-31:

27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, [just] appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his EXODUS, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

Just like when they are retiring an athlete’s number they bring important people up to speak about him, here God has chosen a couple of really important people to speak with Jesus. Do we know who these people were? It says they were Moses and Elijah; these were two very significant people in the history of Israel. In hockey they could be like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. From a pro-US view of their history they could be like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the winners of their two civil wars. In terms of Canadian society, they could be compared to our two great law-givers, Sir John A. [MacDonald] who gave us the Constitutional Act of 1867 and Pierre Eliot [Trudeau] who gave us the Constitutional Act of 1982. Now I am not meaning to be controversial, I know that there are many bad things, some of which are true, that can probably said of each of the people I have listed but I just wanted to give us a little bit of perspective as to how important Moses and Elijah were to the history and identity of the Hebrew people. Who it is, from an historical-political viewpoint, who are standing here with Jesus atop this mountain.

Now there is more to them than this too. Elijah is famous for a few things (Malachi 4:5; cf. also 1 Kings 17-2 Kings 10; 1 Chronicles 8:27; 2 Chronicles 21:12; Luke 4:25; James 5:15. Among other things, Elijah is famous for announcing an end to a devastating famine that lasted a very long time and he is famous for the miracle of producing bread to feed a widow and her son (1 Kings 17-18). And Jesus, earlier in this very chapter, Verses 10-17 has just miraculously fed 5000+ people himself. (Peter, James and John who are here with Jesus would instantly make the connection in all probability). Elijah also raised this very same widow’s son from the dead and Jesus himself is about to die and be raised from the dead. You can see how Jesus and Elijah might have a lot to talk about here on this mountain.

We know who Moses is too. Moses was the great law-giver. Remember the 10 Commandments. God wrote them by hand and handed them to Moses from atop Mount Horeb/ Mount Sinai (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5). Moses is the one God used to bring the people out of the slavery in Egypt. Moses followed God as God led Israel in a fiery cloud around the desert during their EXODUS towards the Promised Land. And now Jesus is about to go own His own EXODUS with His crucifixion and resurrection. You can see how Jesus and Moses might have a bit to speak about here on this mountain too.

Now the text doesn’t say what mountain Jesus, Moses, and Elijah are on here but Moses’ and Elijah’s most famous miracles each happened on Mount Horeb/ Mount Sinai. And Moses is the Law personified and Elijah is an arch-type of all the prophets. And we know that Jesus, scriptures says, sums up the Law and the prophets. You can see how they might have something big to talk about here.

There is one very important part about this conversation too that I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it. The Bible says that Jesus is here on this mountain talking to Moses and Elijah… but Moses and Elijah are dead. They are long dead. They were gone well before Jesus was ever born. It would be like if you and I after church headed outside on the street corner and had a conversation with William Shakespeare, William Tell or William Booth or a deceased relative.

But here is another interesting bit. Elijah never really did die technically. You’ve heard of chariots of fire. That’s this guy. Elijah, when it came time for him to ‘be promoted to Glory’; when it came time to ‘meet his Maker’; instead of dying God sent him down this taxicab or sorts to pick him up; God sent him this flaming chariot and horses in a whirlwind to pick him up and take him straight to heaven or wherever it was God was taking him.

So now picture this then. Jesus is talking with these two on the mountain and our text says that Jesus had brought his closest friends and disciples up to the mountain with him: Peter, James and James’ brother John are there. I don’t know about you but if I had walked up to hump here with you and all of a sudden I turned around and saw you talking to some famous dead people and lights were flashing everywhere, I think you’d have my attention. But it says here that they were pretty sleepy and Peter at one point even offered to pitch a tent for each of them: Jesus, Moses and Elijah. But the Bible says also here that Peter didn’t know what he was talking about.

Now there are a couple of more interesting things going on as Peter, James, and John are watching all of this. They know who all of these people are somehow and there are a few pretty dramatic things going on while they are talking. It says that Jesus’ clothes all of a sudden became as bright as lightning and these guests all of a sudden appear and it seems like this radiance is again reminding us again of Moses. We remember that when Moses received the 10 Commandments from God it says that his face shone so bright that no one could even look at him; he had to put a veil on his face.

And the passage here also speaks about a cloud descending on the mountain. We know that God shows up in a cloud quite a bit in the Bible. God leads them on the EXODUS out of Egypt and into the Promised Land in a fiery cloud and God also fills the original Temple in Jerusalem with in a cloud and shortly Jesus, after he is killed and comes back to life, Luke will tell us in his next letter, Jesus is going to go to the Father God in a cloud (cf. also Exodus 13:21, 14:19, 16:10, 19:16; 24:12-18, 40:35; 1 Kings 8:10; Psalm 78:14, 104:3; Nehemiah 9:19; Acts 1:9, Revelation 14:14-16).

God is making sure He has their attention and then He says – speaking out of this cloud – God says to Peter, James, and John, God says, about Jesus, He says, ‘this is my Son whom I have chosen; listen to him!’ and then Moses and Elijah vanish as quickly as they appeared and Jesus is alone. The disciples kept this to themselves it says. And then the story continues the next day with them coming down from this mountain and being met by a large crowd.

Now, my friends, listen to me. When we are here today it is like we are on that mountain top. We have had a chance to pray and to sing to God; we have had a chance to read and look into His scripture. We have been invited, like Peter James and John, to get to know God better. Do you want to get to know God better? If so you can always talk to us after church or during the week, you can read your Bible, pray and come to Bible study, and…

In The Salvation Army we have these benches here that we call the Mercy Seat. If anyone ever wants to come and spend some time with God like Jesus’ disciples encountered Him on the mountain you are invited to come up here and do so; If you are so willing able during this next song I invite you to come up here and do just that – come and meet God.

When we leave this place today we will encounter people and crowds – just like the disciples in the story did - and they will tell us lots and they will ask of us much but when we head out the doors today, like Peter, James, and John, we must –like God  said - listen to Jesus; and then everything – no matter what happens – everything will be alright.

Let us pray.

[1] Captain Michael Ramsat, ''Luke 9: Don’t Miss the Bus!" (Swift Current, SK: Sheepspeak:28 February 2010). Available online: https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2010/02/luke-9-dont-miss-bus.html

[2] Major Bruce Power, ‘The Transfiguration – Lent: Second Sunday Sermon’ in Journey to the Cross: Seven Lenten Sermon Outlines, Seven Small Group Studies, (The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory, 2009), p. 7.

[3] Cf. D.A. Carson, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM: Matthew/Exposition of Matthew/IV. Book Version: 4.0.2. re: Schweitzer.

[4] Hans F. Bayer, Note on Mark 6:14b-15 in ESV Study Bible. (Crossway Bibles: Wheaton, Illinois: 2007), page 1904. Available on-line: http://www.esvstudybible.org/search?q=Mark+6%3A14-15: The list of popular beliefs (see also 8:27–28) about Jesus includes that he is (1) the revived John the Baptist, (2) the expected Elijah (from Mal. 4:5), or (3) one of the prophets. The first belief, held by Herod Antipas (see Mark 6:16), is clearly false. The second opinion reflects the widespread expectation in Judaism (Mal. 3:1–2; 4:5–6) that Elijah, who was caught up to heaven without dying (2 Kings 2:11), would return at the end of time. Contrary to popular speculation that Jesus might be the expected Elijah, Jesus himself describes John the Baptist as having come “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17; cf. Mark 9:11–13). The third proposal—“a prophet, like one of the prophets of old”—might have arisen from Deut. 18:15, 18. Jesus was far greater than any of these theories, something that Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi will show (cf. Mark 8:27–30).

[5] Cf. for a detailed discussion of this question, Captain Michael Ramsay, ‘Luke 23: Who do you say He is?’ presented to the Community Good Friday Service in Nipawin, Saskatchewan at the Apostolic Church (April 10, 2009). Available on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2009/04/luke-23-who-do-you-say-he-is.html

[6] Leon Morris Luke: An Introduction and Commentary, (TNTC3: Downers Grove, Il.: InterVarsity Press, 1988). Disc: Tyndale Old and New Testament Commentaries (US) (3.0f) version 2009-10-09T22:50:34Z: “The paragraph is rounded off with a mysterious saying. …But there are many ways in which the kingdom comes and there is much also to be said for the view that Jesus is referring to the critical time of the crucifixion, resurrection and the coming of the Spirit. The saying is complex, and without further information it is impossible to be sure of the precise meaning intended.”

[7] Wayne Grudem, see notes on Luke 9:28 and Luke 9:28-36 in ESV Study Bible. (Crossway Bibles: Wheaton, Illinois: 2007), p. 1973, available on-line at http://www.esvstudybible.org/search?q=luke+9.

[8] Marvin R. Vincent, ‘Was Altered’ in Word Studies in the New Testament Vol. I, (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 2009), pp. 343-344.

[9] Cf. for a good discussion of this, William Hendriksen, Exposition of the Gospel According to Luke (NTC: Baker Academic: Grand Rapids Michigan, 2007), 506.

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Luke 9:17-37:

 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his exodus, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.

May the Lord add a blessing to the reading of His Word.

1 Samuel 28: Which Way to Turn?

Presented to 614 Warehouse afternoon service, August 06, 2017 by Capt. M. Ramsay

Canada had its 150th celebration this year. Quiz for you: (answers at end)

1.         Who was Canada's first official PM? 

2.         Who was Canada's longest serving PM? 

3.         Who is Canada's Head of State?  Since when? 

  

Saul was Israel's first official king. He served as king for 42 years. That is twice as long as Canada's longest serving head of government; Just as Queen Elizabeth is the only monarch many of us remember, so Saul would be the only king that many of the Israelites remembered. Remember too that Saul wasn't just a figurehead. He was the head of government (such as it was then and there) and more importantly, he was not only in charge of the armed forces but he actually led them into battle. Our queen is 91 years old. Her husband, Prince Phillip, served in the armed forces from 1939 until she was about to inherit the throne, in 1952. Though he just retired from his royal duties this past Wednesday (he is in his 96), he hasn't served in the military in 60 years. King Saul, on the other hand, is 72 years old in our story today and he is actually fighting in the war and in the battle himself.  Anyone here in their 70s? Can you imagine strapping on 100+ lbs of armour, picking up a spear that weighs about as much and going off to fight in battle with 20 and 30 year olds? This is Saul.

            Just like one of the titles of our monarch is 'Defender of the Faith', one of Saul's most important duties was defender of the faith.  Israel was supposed to worship God alone - Saul for all his faults and struggles was faithful enough to hold to the state religion; his job was to represent God and He did in that regard (cf. Leviticus 19:31; 20:6-7; Deuteronomy 18:11).  This was actually better than many of the kings of Israel and Judah who would follow him; I think you will find as you read your OT that the Israelites worshiped Baal and/or Ashtoreth at least as much as they worshiped the Lord. Saul was defender of the faith. He was God's anointed.

            This brings us to our story today. Saul is getting ready for battle. Saul is afraid. God has done some great things through Saul. God has left him on the throne for decades and also in that time Saul has done some bad things and made some mistakes. Saul is still God's anointed but God's spirit has departed from him and his downfall is predicted.

            Saul is seventy-two or so. I don't know if you, in your life, have ever uttered the phrase, "I'm getting too old for this"? I imagine that he might being feeling that way he is feeling as he is with his sons and his men looking over the enemy or the reports of the enemy that is ready to attack him yet again. Saul has been at war with the Philistines for what must feel like his whole life and they are still there attacking him.[1] They just won't go away. I don't know if you've ever felt that about anyone? ...wishing they would just leave finally.

            Here he is, this 72 year-old, strapping on his amour, seeing the foe and receiving the reports. He is a little lost. He is overwhelmed. He is afraid. He doesn't know what to do. He tries to hear from God. Like many of us, I imagine, especially when life goes south, he is desperate to know what to do. Samuel, the leader of Israel before Saul, even though Saul and he had more than little disagreements, Samuel was one that Saul would approach for Godly advice; Samuel was a prophet but Samuel, our text today says, is dead. Saul, doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know where to turn to find out what God wants.

            Have you ever been there? Your life is in dire straits. You don't know where to turn. You cry out to the Lord and you just can't hear what he is saying. You wish he would just speak to you. You wish you knew what to do.

            Saul's enemies are ready to pounce on him. There is fear that the end near. He is trying everything he can think of to ascertain what God wants. He wants to know what to do. He can't ask Samuel because Samuel is dead. Saul maybe then has a fleeting thought that he can go to a witch, a medium, and consult the dead Samuel in a BCE séance of sorts but the text reminds us that Saul had cracked down on the media. To Saul's credit here, he is not trying to just do things on his own - maybe he learned his lessons from making that mistake previously. He is desperate to know what God wants him to do. (Actually this is neat: does anyone know what is the Hebrew word for 'to ask' , 'to inquire'? It is sa'al. So the text here says that Saul "sauled" the Lord.)[2]

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? Our text says He inquired of the Lord and looked for answers in a number of different ways. Samuel was dead so Saul sought out other prophets from whom he could hear God's word. Prophets before Saul were often political or military rulers themselves (Abraham, Moses, Samuel) and prophets after Saul were often expected to be able to bring a word from God into a situation. Nathan is a prophet who will be introduced in 2 Samuel. He brings the Word of the Lord to King David and even rebukes him, reminiscent of how the now deceased Samuel rebuked Saul (2 Samuel 12). Later, of course, there would be disputes if prophets had different messages (cf. 1 Kings 13; 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18).[3] Are some speaking for God? Are some not? How can you tell? Was Saul getting conflicting messages or could Saul not even find a prophet in this situation? For whatever reason here, Saul couldn't find out by prophets what God wanted him to do.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? He hoped for a response in a dream - this was a common way then and there to hear from God. We remember Joseph from the book of Genesis. God told Joseph in dreams or through interpreting others' dreams what He was going to do (Genesis 37,40,41): that Joseph's brothers would bow down to him, that one of Pharaoh's servants would live but another would die, and that there would be a terrible famine following years of plenty. Later God would speak to Daniel many times through dreams. Once God not only gave Daniel the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream but also knowledge of the dream itself (Daniel 2). God was known to speak in dreams but - try as he might, want as he might, worry as he might - Saul did not discern an answer in his predicament through dreams.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? There is the Urim. You know what is the Urim? The Urim and the Thummim were sacred lots that were cast to discern God's will. They were often kept in the High Priest's breast plate, over his heart ( Exodus 28:30). They were a way to figure out what God had ordained. One would ask God a question and the Lord would answer through the casting of these lots. Saul had used these before to inquire of God (1 Samuel 14:41). But the Lord did not answer him by Urim or prophets or dreams today. The Lord, it appeared, was silent.

            Do we ever find ourselves in this spot where it seems like life is crashing in around us and no matter where we turn we can't seem to see where God is leading? Do we ever get to the point where we don't think we can even hear God much less see to follow where He is leading? This is Saul's predicament.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? He has tried prophets, dreams, and the Urim. If only Samuel were here, Samuel would know what to do. Samuel and Saul didn't see eye to eye and in fact they didn't see each other at all in the years before Samuel passed away. Now Saul must think, 'if only Samuel were here'. And then he obviously thinks, 'I wonder if I can contact him even now that he's dead'? He may even think, 'if only I didn't expel all the witches, mediums, and spiritists then I could contact him and find out what to do'. He then asks his people if any of them know of any mediums who are still in the land. It is interesting that they do. It makes one wonder why they didn't turn in the Witch of Endor when Saul was on an earlier witch hunt but they didn't.

            Saul is afraid. Time is running out. Enemies are surrounding him. What can he do? His men, at his behest, bring Saul to the witch at Endor. She is afraid. She is suspicious of these people who have shown up in disguise at her door. She must suspect that this is entrapment of some sort but she goes ahead and calls up the ghost of Samuel as the incognito Saul has requested. She then becomes terrified and screams as she reveals that she knows for sure that he is Saul. There has been a media black-out of sorts. Saul has driven out the mediums but here is a woman who has been caught live-streaming the dead.[4] She is afraid but Saul convinces her this isn't a trap and he really wants to hear what Samuel has to say.

            So she tells him. The end is nigh. God through Samuel and the witch at Endor give King Saul one last rebuke.[5] 1 Samuel 28:15-18 again:

15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

 “I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

16 Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has departed from you and become your enemy? 17 The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors—to David. 18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. 

            This is the final prediction of the impending tragic end of Saul and his reign.[6] The Lord left Saul in a position of great responsibility for many years. One assumes he had all that time to seek the Lord's leading and direction in his life. But here he is condemned: like a tragic soul on a Halloween night, standing before a witch and a ghost. Saul did not listen to the Lord (v.18). Saul did not follow (obey) the Lord. He turned away to consult someone other than our Lord.

            The question for us today is do we ever fall into the same trap as Saul? Do we ever find ourselves in this spot where it seems like life is crashing in around us and no matter where we turn we can't seem to see what to do? Do we ever get to the point where we don't think we can even hear God much less see to follow where He is leading? Have we ever been there? Do we turn to horoscopes, palm readings, personality tests, conventional wisdom, celebrities, or even 'experts' or anything or anyone in the place of God?[7] Our life is in dire straits, do we run off in strange chaotic directions or do we wait on the Lord? It is said that God answers prayers in one of three ways: 'yes', 'no', or 'wait'. If we don't discern a 'yes' or a 'no' from Him what should we do?

            Our lives can sometimes seem out of control. They can sometimes seem overwhelming. When they do, instead of running around here and there in a panic and turning to anyone and anything around us, we can trust and obey. God will never leave nor forsake us. Instead of rushing around, Psalm 46:10: [God says] “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Because of this, Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." And as Jesus reminds us in his famous Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." and  in one of my favourite verses in the Bible to which I often return when I am in my time of need, Matthew 6:33-34, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." If we seek and wait for God, He will take care of us. He will, God loves us. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Therefore, we can keep on keeping on as they say. He is faithful (Romans 3:3,4) and He will take care of us; so when life seems overwhelming we don't need to run around in a panic, we can instead read our scriptures, pray for one another and otherwise be still and know that He is God. For He is able, more than able to take care of what concerns us today.

Let us pray.

www,sheepspeak.com 

   

ANSWERS TO QUIZ

1.Who was Canada's first official PM? (Sir John A MacDonald)

2. Who was Canada's longest serving PM? William Lyon Mackenzie King served 21 years over a period of 27 years. Sir John A. MacDonald served almost 19 yrs and Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Sir Wilfred Laurier served over 15 years each.

3.Who is Canada's Head of State?  Since when? HRH Queen Elizabeth II, since 1952.

  

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[1] cf. Ronald F. Youngblood, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:1 and 2 Samuel/Exposition of First Samuel/III. Establishment of Monarchy in Israel (16:1-31:13)/B. The End of the Reign of Saul (28:3-31:13)/1. Saul and the medium at Endor (28:3-25), Book Version: 4.0.2

[2]  Bruce C. Birch, 'The First and Second Books of Samuel' in New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 2, ed. Leander E. Keck, et el. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998), 1118

[3] cf. Captain Michael Ramsay 1 Kings 13: Lion for Prophet (Sheepspeak.com: Swift Current, SK: 25 Nov. 2012), on-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2012/11/1-kings-13-lion-for-prophet.html

[4] cf. Samuel Waje Kunhiyop, 'Witchcraft', Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), 374 for a discussion of witchcraft even  in contemporary African societies and even churches

[5] Cf. for a discussion of whether or not the necromancer did actually contact Samuel:  Lewis, Cults of the Dead, p. 115 n. 39) and Hoffner, TDOT, 1:133-34; Haley, Alleged Discrepancies, pp. 194-95; Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 180-81; cited from The Expositor's Bible Commentary.

[6] This tragedy will see his death, the death of so many of his soldiers, the death of his sons, and the penultimate death of his kingdom's dynastic hopes (cf. 2 Samuel 4&9 for the ultimate death of dynastic hopes). Two chapters later Saul and his sons are dead. This is a tragic end to a tragic hero.

[7] Cf. Bruce C. Birch, 'The First and Second Books of Samuel' in New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 2, ed. Leander E. Keck, et el. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998), 1185.
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Further Questions

Psalm 46:10: “...Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

      I.        Life

1.   1. What is something you noticed about God this week?

    II.        Text

Re-read 1 Samuel 28

Leader's note:

·         Dreams were a common way to try to understand God will (ie. Joseph, Genesis 39ff, and Daniel).

·         Prophets were political, military and religious leaders prior to King Saul; after Saul they often represented God to the king and the people (cf. 2 Samuel 12, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles).

·         Urim was one of 2 sacred lots kept in the High Priest breast plate (by his heart) that were used to seek God's will.

1.    What happened in this story?

2.    Who was the prophet and previous leader of Israel that this passage mentions had recently been 'promoted to Glory'? Why might King Saul want to consult with him?

3.    Why did King Saul have to disguise himself to see the seer/witch (necromancer)? The Bible mentions that it was right to get rid of the witches/mediums; why do you think that is and why do you suppose he went to see one now?

4.    Saul was a senior (72) and in a difficult situation (still fighting in the army!) and he was afraid. He wanted to know what to do; what were some of the things he did to attempt to discern the correct course of action? [see leader's note]

5.    Saul gave up waiting for God and turned to a witch/medium/seer/necromancer; what are some of the people or things we can be tempted to turn to (instead of or as well as God) when we want to know what to do?

6.    Saul was in a difficult situation (still fighting in the army!) and he was afraid. Are there times when our life is overwhelming and we don't know what to do? what should we do then?

7.    It is said that God always gives one of three answers: 'yes', 'no', or 'wait'; if we don't have a 'yes' or a 'no' from God, what should we do? St. Monica prayed for years for salvation for her son, eventually the Lord saw that happen and  he became St. Augustine, one of the most important names in the early Church. Give an example of when has the Lord answered a prayer after you prayed that prayer many times over the years.

8.    Pray for each other and this week thank the Lord for specific ways that he has answered your prayers.