week 6

Psalm: Psalm 123
Old Testament: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
Gospel: Mark 6:1-13
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

This week we continue the story of David as well as the reading from 2 Corinthians and Mark.  I have been enjoying the story of David and am looking forward to spending some time in study soon in the “Samuels.” Last week, if you remember, was the story of Saul and Jonathan’s death where David was overcome with grief.  We discussed how Saul had actually been trying to kill him for most of their relationship because he was jealous of David. After Saul’s death, a civil war occurred in Israel and again David’s life was in danger, this time by Abner, a commander of Saul’s army and one of Saul’s sons Ish-bosheth.  

To make a long and intriguing story short, Ish-bosheth makes Abner mad so Abner joins David.  But, David’s friends aren’t happy and don’t believe Abner because Abner had just been trying to kill all of them.  So one of David’s commanders murders Abner…oh and then Ish-bosheth is also betrayed and murdered by two of his commanders, thus ending the line of Saul.  David actually mourns the loss of Abner, just as he did last week over the death of Saul.  David didn’t relish or enjoy the fight and victory over his enemies.  He laments that the people of God are at war and killing each other.  And thus ends another happy episode in the life of King David. 

Well, this week things finally turn around for David.  With Saul’s lineage finally done, Israel unites behind David and he is anointed as the king over a united people.  Not only that, David is successful in conquering Jerusalem and making it as the new capital city of Israel.  If there was ever a life filled with highs and lows, David’s was it.  We stop David’s story this week on a high note and the words of verse 10 leave no confusion as to why this is: “David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of hosts was with him.”

Moving forward to the Paul’s words in 2 Cor., I see some parallels to his words and David’s life.  In chapter 12, Paul discusses that persistent and mysterious “thorn in the flesh.”  Paul boasts in his weakness because it glorifies Christ. He writes, “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  Paul’s life testified to this fact.  He was persecuted, beat, and thrown in jail.  No doubt there were times when he was hungry, tired, or sick and wanted to stop or take a break.  Yet, Paul’s strength was in the Lord, as was David’s.  Both of them had times when they might and probably should have been killed, yet the Lord saved them.  Both of them relied on the Lord’s strength, not their own, and were thus able to glorify God.  Both of them were also not worthy or deserving by the world’s standards.  David was the youngest son of a shepherd, and Paul was a persecutor of Jesus.  Yet God calls and works to bring Himself the glory.

This message of relying on God to bring glory to him is again present in Mark’s gospel.  Jesus tells his disciples to go throughout the area casting out demons, healing, and preaching the message of repentance.  He also tells them to bring no money, extra provisions, or even a change of clothes!  They are to rely on the provision of the Lord and the kindness of strangers.  In the parallel passages in Luke, Jesus tells the disciples that the laborer is worth his wages.  (10:7) The disciples aren’t mooching off people, but are serving them in the name of the Gospel.  This is a very difficult passage I think for us to understand and take to heart.  However, the message is clear; we are to rely on the Lord and not solely in our own ability.  In fact, in Luke again at the Last Supper, Jesus instructs his disciples that it is now appropriate to take along a money belt, clothes and even a sword. (22:36)

I think by now I have made it obvious how these passages relate and one of the ways they can speak to us.  God is our source of strength and our future.  In times of pain or suffering, God is present and will provide for us.  Yet, lest we think everything will be rosy and easy, the life of David, the disciples, and Paul remind us that life can be difficult.  Tradition says that with the exception of John, all the disciples and Paul were martyred. Therefore, there is no guarantee even that we will die in peace.  Yet, as I have said, Christ, through his Spirit, is with us in life as well as death.