2014-12-26
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week, the Holy Spirit directed me to begin this new segment of the “Our Covenant” series called “God Witnesses Covenants.” You’ll remember that a covenant is a two-way promise. The participants in a covenant are rarely on equal terms, especially in the case of a covenant with God. In the latter, God is the more powerful partner to the covenant. Covenants between God and His people have been instrumental in bringing about important changes, as mankind has gone through their history. Even in the case of a covenant between two believers like David and his predecessor, Saul’s, son, Jonathan, God is both a Partner and a Witness to the covenant that is being made. This is the case, even though God’s name might not be mentioned in the pact [1 SAM 18: 1-4]. In the story of Jonathan’s crippled son, Mephibotsheth, [2 SAM 9: 1-15], we see that this covenant made applied to not only David and Jonathan, but also to their entire families.
To truly appreciate this story it is necessary to back up to two key events which set the stage for it. The first is Jonathan’s moment of decision when he determines he will protect David from his father, Saul’s, attempt to kill him on the battlefield [2 SAM 20: 4, 16-17]. Both men knew the Lord was a Party to this covenant, as evidenced in 2 SAM 20: 23, “And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is Witness between you and me forever,” David said to Jonathan. Repeatedly, David had refused to attack Saul, even though Saul’s behavior would certainly have been diagnosed as bipolar disease in today’s world. There was no question that in his mental illness, Saul had been a dangerous predator against David, the man whom God had made king of Israel in the former’s place [1 SAM 16: 13-14, 23]. The second key element was the battle of Gilboa, in which Saul and his three sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua, are suddenly killed [1 SAM 31: 1-6] by the Philistines. Their removal from the scene and subsequent Philistine disrespect for their bodies didn’t change the terms of the covenant made [1 SAM 31: 8-10]. David and Jonathan had loved each other, as best friends do. Imagine David’s grieving and his attitude toward the Philistines when news of this outcome reached him!
This brings us to the story of Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, who had been crippled in both feet by being dropped by his nurse at the age of five [2 SAM 4: 4]. The trouble between David and Saul had been known, and Saul’s relatives had panicked and fled from Gilbeah, including the nurse who had dropped Mephibosheth in this action. The news of Samuel, at God’s direction in 1025 BC, anointing David king of Israel in Saul’s place had reached them. In the course of panic, trust in the covenant made was forgotten. David consolidated his power at Hebron, in 1003 BC, when he was age 30. He reigned over Judah for 40 years, ending in 970 BC [2 SAM 5: 3-5]. Mephibosheth and a servant in Saul’s household, Zilba, were the only people left in it by the beginning of 2 SAM 9, and David never forgot his covenant relationship or responsibility to them. David, “a man after God’s own heart” [1 SAM 13: 13-14; AC 13: 22] received this information after expressing his desire to show kindness to them. When Mephibosheth had responded to David’s invitation to the latter’s house, the former had serious misgivings. However David put him at ease and invited him to share his kingly table with him [2 SAM 9: 6-7, 11-13].
Lack of trust in the covenant had been forgotten by Mephibosheth and Saul’s household, which had led to panic and misgivings. We must remember that instilling doubt in people is one of the adversary’s favorite tools of evil. That is why anyone involved in a covenant, which certainly includes all believers in the Lord Jesus even today, must remember to invoke the principle of EPH 1: 18-20 and their knowledge of covenants to prevent being vulnerable to this evil. Bottom line: we must learn to place our trust in God. PS 33: 4-5, “The Lord is truthful; He can be trusted. He loves justice and fairness, and He is kind to everyone everywhere on earth.” We must understand that God already knows what troubles us and has a plan for reminding us to rely on Him. That’s a view into the heart of compassion, wisdom, patience, and kindness that our God has. God is never blindsided by any action, plan, or activity of humans. As our Covenant Partner, God is always in on what transpires with us. While the devil causes us pain, grief, panic, and other negative attitudes and behaviors, he can only do this where we allow it. The combination of grief and panic is particularly destructive, as seen in the saga of David and Jonathan’s covenant of friendship. JAS 4: 7 and 1 PET 5: 8 are wise advice indeed. “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you….Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” How blessed we are that Scripture and prayer, our two open channels with God, open at all times, are here to remind us of our power over the evil one!
PRAYER: O Lord, we come before Your mighty throne in need of remembering all the blessings of our covenant relationship with You. You are always on the job, reminding us to learn from mankind’s history, encouraging us to act with courageous and bold faith –relying on You. You protect us with Your power, heal our wounds [physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual], and guide us with Your wisdom and compassion. You teach us to love, using Your Son’s life as a perfect Paradigm. We let Your words speak to us. PS 91: 4, “He will cover you with His wings; you will be safe in His care. His faithfulness will protect and defend you.” IS 58: 11, “And I will always guide You and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry.” 1 PET 4: 7-8, “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled, so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” You are our Covenant Partner, our God Who wants us to know Him better and better [COL 3: 10]. We cherish our covenant relationship with You and work to remember Your Son, Jesus, has imparted the same power to us that You used to raise Him from death to eternal life [EPH 1: 18-20]. A major factor in Your teaching is love. This is why You gave the apostle Paul these words to say, from 1 COR 13: 4-8a, 12-13, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…Now, we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then [when in heaven] we shall see [God] face to face. Now, I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. An now, these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” We conclude this prayer offering You our loyalty, glory, utmost thanks and praise. In Christ’s holy/mighty name, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: After a brief discussion of the principles of a covenant relationship as we should apply them in our own times, the Holy Spirit directs me to take another look at what happened between the Amalekites, Saul, and David during their reigns. Important covenant principles are revealed in this story from the Scriptures. In the meanwhile, we each should look at how God’s love can be applied to our own lives. I can certainly feel His love and the action of the Holy Spirit in my own life now. In my work for an organization which sets up secured computer chats with seekers for those of us who receive them, the Holy Spirit reminds me of Bible verses and passages at the right moments to help in these conversations. People of all ages, both genders, and all religious belief systems chat in with us. This calls upon me to be self-controlled, patient, and very dependant upon God for direction. There are times when I need courage, and the Holy Spirit has been giving it to me. This week, two people, one of them a former believer in Islam, have told me they have come to saving faith in Christ, as an outcome of our conversations. I can’t tell you what that means to me, and how powerfully compelling it is to see the Holy Spirit at work. I can take no credit. He is nothing short of amazing! I can’t help but feel that all the other things that have happened to me, bad and good, in my life were allowed by God to prepare me to be used by Him this way. If one is willing to look for His work in his life, the Holy Spirit will show us just how hard He is working to perfect and purify us-- to sanctify us in preparation for that special time when God decides we are ready to be glorified--to come home to Him for a blissful eternal fellowship with our Covenant Partner. His love for each of us in unmatched. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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