The Tepid Waters of Peace

"Then [David] called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon, 'My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quite to Israel in his days..." ' "

David was a man of bloodshed, running from enemies, entering into battles, defending himself and the people entrusted to him. Because of that God wouldn't let him build the temple; instead that honor was given to Solomon, along with a promise of peace during his entire reign. You would think that peace matched with Solomon's eventual unmatched wisdom would set the stage for him to become one of the best kings ever. And he did start out well... but the end of his life was a different story. He had all the wisdom in the world, and no enemies to boot, yet he screwed up in worse ways than his father (murder, adulter

y, pride, etc.).

It is a wonder how often the blessing of peace in our lives can lead us from swimming in the cool refreshment of the Lord, to the tepid, stagnant pools of self-reliance and pride. It doesn't have to. We can enjoy the peace of the Lord to its fullest because it is a beautiful gift from Him. He longs to pour out His favor on His kids. But sometimes we can royally screw up and think we have everything figured out and that is why we have peace. Solomon didn't have too many roadblocks in his life or leadership experience. I wonder if that is why he didn't turn out like his dad who was called a man after God's own heart even though he had his own vices to deal with. David was constantly turning back to the Lord when trouble came across his path. Pain was a sheep dog that herded David back into the fold of the Good Shepherd time and time again. But Solomon didn't have enemies, or wars, or famine to deal with. Yet look how he turned out--a overbearing and idolatrous leader of his people, taxing and working them to death, while he indulged in countless women and unimaginable wealth. He started out so well! And he finished a loser, letting his heart be turned from the One True God.

Solomon didn't treat God's peace as a gift. Rather he let the lack of trouble lead him to spiritual atrophy and his life ended with God's anger and judgment upon him.

So is unrest sometimes a good thing? Unfortunately I have to say yes. Sometimes I wander away from my Shepherd because things are easy, and I need one of those annoying sheep dogs to come bite me in the butt until I turn around and head back to the One who takes care of me. Trouble or pain isn't always a punishment though. Sometimes it is just the result of a busted world. Sometimes it is merely the result of my twisted perspective on life that doesn't fully take into account the goodness and provision of a God who promises to never leave my side. Whatever the reason for the pain, I have found (mainly through hindsight) that my trouble or anxiety can be embraced if it pushes me back into the arms of the Unshakeable God. Sometimes I just need a smack in the face to snap me out of my own spiritual atrophy. And even though I won't pray for troubles to heaped upon me and my family, I have found that there are blessings to be discovered through the process. I never want to turn out to be like Solomon at the end of his life. He had so much and threw it away... and maybe that would have changed if there were a few more potholes he had to deal with.

Me be the sheep, Thou be the Shepherd

I find the Psalms to be a place of refuge for me both in times of struggle and in times of excitement. The psalmists, whether David, the Sons of Korah, or Xavier the lesser known Psalm dude, often found themselves unable to contain their joys, exultations, sorrows, and anxieties within their hearts. So they proceeded to pry themselves open and dump raw emotion and thought upon a page. They were the original troubled rock stars... Dashboard Confessional had to come from somewhere right? Anyway... they learned that God's presence was a safe place to open their hearts without shame. I believe the Holy Spirit led them to be honest and real before the Lord so we would learn to do the same. One of the best ways to do this is to place yourself into a specific Psalm and find where it takes you. It is an intimate and often unhindered atmosphere of communication with the Creator.

So here is a little bit of me putting myself into Psalm 23 and seeing what the immediate applications would be of me being a dumb sheep and God being the Good Shepherd (Read the Psalm first to put it into proper perspective):

Lord, you are my shepherd. When I am with you there is no need that goes unmet. You are the one who leads me to seasons of rest in fields of abundant life and you lead me to places of refreshment. You are the on true source of life for my soul. Apart from you my heart becomes fractured, discontent, and aimless. When I remain in and near you my soul finds comfort, fulfillment, and courage for the adventure you make life to be. When I stay focused on you I know you will guide me in the ways of right-standing before you--when your purpose is my purpose nothing can shake me.

Even in the times of darkness question, pain, or discomfort I can remain secure because you are my front and rear guard. When I am with you fear must leave, for you are greater than anything I may face. You will always faithfully bring me through those dark valleys into fields of life and peace. Even in discipline you are a comfort because through it you shape me to look like your Son.

In the presence of my fears, insecurities and doubts you prepare for me a feast of joy, passion, and confidence in who you are and who you created me to be. In you I find my calling and the mantle of anointing and authority with which I am meant to traverse life's paths. My life in your hands leaves behind an aroma of blessing and favor, never a wake of destruction. For when I dwell in with my foundation firmly rooted in you I am eternally joyful, expectant, secure, hopeful, courageous, peaceful, passionate, and powerful.

The Almighty vs. the Egg Roll

"The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you'.... So Abram left, as the LORD had told him"

(Genesis 12:1, 4a)

Sometimes it would be nice if the Bible gave us some more of the story. Abram lived among pagans who served other gods. He most likely served those same gods. Yet when the one true God decides to speak to him, it looks like he obeys without a word. How weird would that be for him? He didn't have

past examples to look at on how to respond when the God of all Creation summons you. He didn't even serve that God. His family didn't serve that God. He hadn't ever interacted with a holy being before because he served mute idols. There was no handbook for this .... because he was in the process of living out the handbook for us! So where did Abram get the faith to step out there and leave everything behind!? All we see is that God said Get up and go! and Abram got up and went. He didn't have it all figured out, he just figured out that he should respond somehow.

What example does this set for me? How many times have I lacked the initiative to respond to God's summons because of my need for more proof that it was Him that spoke and not just that whacked out egg roll I had for dinner? Maybe I could argue with a heavy dose of Christianese that "my spiritual ears are not in tune enough with his voice." But doesn't that argument fall flat on its face when it encounters Abram the Pagan's example here? The dude had no precedent set for him! He had no conceivable way of gathering "more confirmation." He had never heard from God before. Yet he responded with obedience!

I think I have even less excuse than Abram, because I live on this side of the Cross. Christ died to open up relationship with God for me. Then He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in me, to guide me, to comfort me, to speak to me. There is nothing that separates me from God and His voice except that which I choose to place between us.

I do believe there are times to hold back on action for wisdom's sake (a Biblical truth for sure). But I think I use that and logic too often as excuses to cover up my fear to act.

So there's the challenge... if God summons, do I respond quickly and willingly? Or do I wait until I have everything figured out (which will never happen)?