David the Shepherd Boy Who Would Become King

From his youth David shepherded his father’s flocks of sheep. In all probability he carried his camping equipment on a cart. He would build his own fire and cook his own meals and clean up after himself. His dad would send him supplies from time to time. Shepherds might spend months to years away from towns and town life.

During the day he watched the sheep graze all day long and cared for all their needs. Undoubtedly he helped the ewes deliver their lambs and helped clean them up and assisted them in learning how to nurse and whatever else they needed.

During his free time he became expert with a sling and could kill (with a stone) an eagle that might prey upon a baby lamb. Those sling propelled stones could also fend off and kill larger predators like wolves, coyotes, lions, etc.

David also in his hours of being alone learned to play musical instruments and composed songs. Those songs were sung to his audience of sheep to calm them down when needed. David also spent a lot of time looking at nature and contemplating God… praying and singing songs of praise to him.

David learned to be Shepherd of Israel by shepherding sheep. He understood about taking care of God’s flock of people and seeing to their needs. He killed the Philistine giant Goliath who was threatening God’s flock Israel with a sling propelled rock to the head just like he had done many times before when predators threatened his sheep.

David sang to his people about God and wrote poetry about the God he had learned about while tending sheep. Nature is a great teacher.

When David was off in those far away pastures grazing sheep he had no idea he would one day be King of Israel (and no one else did either) but God knew. You may think you have the smallest and most insignificant job in the world but set your eyes and the course of your life on God because God can do great things with humble people.

Just Visiting

Larry and I went to visit a young man today who grew up at Parkway but hasn’t attended in a long time. His father has passed away but his mother still attends. I guess I’m writing this to encourage others to go visit.

I’ve kept up with this young man on Facebook and know that to this date he still mourns the passing of his father. After we sat around the kitchen table and shared a few pleasantries I asked him why he wasn’t coming to church. He said that he is engaged in some activities that are not consistent with being a Christian.

I told him that I respected that he didn’t want to be a hypocrite, but I advised him that he should still attend anyway and give Christianity a chance. That he might hear something that would motivate him to clean up some of those behaviors in his life.

I also told him the truth that his dad was a very godly man and that if his dad could send him a message from heaven he would tell him to rebuild his faith. Then I told him he could be very influential to his siblings and nieces and nephews.

Finally I told him that it looked like he had been working out and challenged him to an arm wrestling match if he would attend next Sunday morning. Of course he’s in his thirties and I’m fast approaching 65 so he agreed. That match lasted several minutes and several times I had his arm on the table but never could “break” his wrist. Because we are friends I could say things like “the Devil is really strong in this one” and “looks like he really doesn’t want to go to church”. Finally we were both breathing hard and we both gave up.

He did say he had to work next Sunday but wasn’t sure if it was Sunday morning or Sunday night. I take that as good news.

I told Larry on the way back that he would always remember that we cared enough to come and see him and that well after I’m dead and buried he would remember that he arm wrestled Mr. Perkins who cared about his soul’s salvation.

Managing Anger with Subjection

An old friend of mine told a joke that goes something like this… an older guy tells a younger guy, they’re two theories about how to calm down an angry woman. The younger fellow quickly asks what are they? The older gent replies… it doesn’t matter because neither one of them work (they’re just unproven theories).

That’s pretty funny, especially to men, but the truth is that anger is not gender specific… everybody gets angry… men and women. There may be a lot of “theories” about anger but the truth is that God’s word has “factual” information about anger.

Here’s a fact about controlling anger… subjection. It’s hard to get into a “knock down drag out” if one of the parties is demonstrating subjection… which by the way is commanded of Christians (Eph. 5:21).

So what does subjection look like? Consider Sarah and Abraham…

“For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were subject to their husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You are her children if you do what is right and refuse to quiver in fear.”

Imagine if you were angry with your wife and had your dander up and were fixing to blow your fuse and she quietly got on her knees and bowed her head and said… I’m sorry please forgive me (Lord).

That will take the wind out of your sails and the good ship Anger will come to a dead stop.

There’s a lot of theories and advice your un-godly friends might give you about how to handle anger, but if anger is a problem in any of your relationships you might want to listen to God.

"What Then is The Law?"

“What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise has been made…” Galations 3:19

Here’s an interesting passage. The referenced Law is the Law given to Moses on Mount Sinai. It was a written Law that regulated almost every aspect of Jewish life.

From Adam to Moses there was no written Law. God communicated to the people either directly or through prophets. From Moses to Jesus there was the written Law of Moses given on Mount Sinai. From Jesus onward there was again no written law (on stone or parchment). All communication from God was given through his son… Jesus Christ.

The Galations passage explains the need for a written Law. It was needed because God was unhappy with the sinful conduct of the people. In addition it was needed to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus Christ and his superior Law. The Law of Moses micro-managed almost every aspect of Jewish life. The Law of Jesus liberated the Jews and gave them freedom (from the Law) in its simplicity.

With the coming of Jesus we no longer have a law written on stone or parchments. Christ’s law is written on our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3). The Law that specifically is written on our hearts is to love God and to love our fellow man (Matthew 22:34-40 and John 13:34).

So then an important question comes up… what is the New Testament? Is it analogous to the Law of Moses?

The answer is no. Christ’s Law is written on our hearts. The New Testament is the Christ authorized and Holy Spirit inspired writings of the Apostles (primarily) that explains to us the details of how we apply the Law that is written on our hearts.

A Law written on our hearts is a law we carry with us each and every day. What a great joy and blessing!