The valiant men stripped Saul of his head and armor. I Chronicles 10:8. On a mount separating two unfriendly regions. And Saul's body is hung on the fence. No more breath. I stood there on Mount Gilboa where you can see as far as the eye stretches both east and west. I stood at the spot where they hung Saul's body. And I so wondered as I stood there what it would have been like to have a father-in-law that wreaked so much havoc on you; and I wondered what it was like to live in those days. Did they struggle with being invisible or independent. Did they try to manage their lives to just make things work. And the words of Saul haunt me---you remember the dancing in the street party where the women sang to Saul and he contemplated: "They have ascribed unto David ten thousands but to me they have ascribed thousands." I Sam 18:6-9. From that day and forward to his very death, Saul never dealt with what really went on in his own soul. May I deal this day with these misgivings that plague me. I struggle with everyone having a place, a space, an ace in the hold. Things are not that tidy for me. May we be a people known for surrender. May I repent of anything that is not dependence on my Lord.
I wrestle today, my LORD, with this mantra of Saul. Someone I trusted with my heart once told me: We will see who is right by the results of your life and church growth. I didn't think it was right then nor now. We are here for your glory, not numbers and prestige. Saul wanted to be somebody better and greater than David. Father, help me to put on the full armor of God not just a shiny armor of protection. Clothe me in this chink that I may learn to think better than this. Thank you for detaching us from anything that makes us want to look for credit and praise for ourselves.
The crowd comes to Capernaum in John 6 with a calm and pleasant passage by sea. Not so for the disciples tossed to and fro. What can we learn from that? John 6:26 says they found Jesus on the other side of the sea. Christ will be found by those who seek Him. Search for Him for more than what this crowd wanted. One commentary says: Have more to show for your love of Christ than running after preaching and prayers and pages of affection. This crowd wanted a show. Christ uncovers the corrupt principles they acted on to follow Him. John 6:26. Christ knows why we do what we do. The crowd followed because Jesus fed them. Maybe some had not eaten a good meal in a good while. John 6:27 Labor for meat that endures.
PHOTO: Reminds me of Mount Gilboa where you could see forever. Something contemplative about miles and miles. Something going on in my heart where I feel invisible and have found Something far better and I was looking for the wrong thing.
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