4/4/09

It is true

There was a time when I would have thought this cartoon was funny; but not now. Every day on the news we see the financial problems around us and for those without faith this must be a terrifying time. In the early 80's I found myself in a very difficult employment/financial situation. The unemployment in the Johnstown/Gloversville area was somewhere around 30 percent. I looked for work every day and the situation seemed hopeless. During the first week of 1981 I was looking for work during a blizzard and actually found a job. I had no experience and frankly I told the man that all I could do was to try to do it and he hired me anyway! Why? I asked him. He said that anyone crazy enough to look for work with 16 inches of snow was someone he wanted to work for HIM. I knew God cared for me, but the following passage from the book of Psalms reminded me once again.
Psa 20:1 May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high,
Psa 20:2 send you help from the sanctuary, grant you support from Zion,
Psa 20:3 remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah.
Psa 20:4 May He grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your counsel.
Psa 20:5 We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners. May Yahweh grant all your requests.
Psa 20:6 Now I know that Yahweh saves his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand.
Psa 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust the name of Yahweh our God.
Psa 20:8 They are bowed down and fallen, but we rise up, and stand upright.
Psa 20:9 Save, Yahweh! Let the King answer us when we call!
World English Bible
I don't know everyone who reads this blog, but those who have known me for a long time have heard this story before; it is true! If we trust in God and do what is right, God will make a way for us to get through any situation, even the ones that seem impossible. Also, it helps to be willing to do anything and everything God puts before you!

A cave encounter

In the last of the J.J.R Tolkien movies there is a scene where the hobbit is alone in a cave and what a scary cave it was! Shortly a very menacing spider arrives and you can imagine how I was feeling about that time. But, not all caves are frightening and in fact good things can happen in them. Our remote ancestors lived and thrived in them and I can only guess at all the things that have happened in them. There is a tale of a cave encounter in the book of first Samuel; it is a long passage, but well worth reading.
1Sa 24:1 It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.
1Sa 24:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.
1Sa 24:3 He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.
1Sa 24:4 The men of David said to him, Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.
1Sa 24:5 It happened afterward, that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
1Sa 24:6 He said to his men, Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Yahweh's anointed.
1Sa 24:7 So David checked his men with these words, and didn't allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
1Sa 24:8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.
1Sa 24:9 David said to Saul, Why do you listen to men's words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt?
1Sa 24:10 Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some urged me to kill you; but I spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh's anointed.
1Sa 24:11 Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn't kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it.
1Sa 24:12 May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.
1Sa 24:13 As the proverb of the ancients says, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be on you.
1Sa 24:14 Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea?
1Sa 24:15 May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.
1Sa 24:16 It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, Is this your voice, my son David? Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
1Sa 24:17 He said to David, You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
1Sa 24:18 You have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn't kill me.
1Sa 24:19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me this day.
1Sa 24:20 Now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
1Sa 24:21 Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house.
1Sa 24:22 David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men got them up to the stronghold.
World English Bible
David showed both respect for God and mercy to his enemy in that cave. He showed his heart to Saul and was blessed and delivered out of danger that day. Good deeds can come to light even in the darkest, most dangerous places. God knows how to take care of those who love him, so do right and let God run things. However, remember that even David and his men went up to their stronghold after the encounter with the king. Be careful out there!