Face The Music

Day 54:   1 Samuel 16–19; Jeremiah 1–6; 2 Corinthians 7–9

As I write I have terrible sinus inflammation with a burning and runny nose, itching and tearing eyes and I ache all over.  My energy is drained as if my very life is running out my nose.  In addition to all that I feel irritable.  You might say I have an evil spirit torturing me.

Saul had an evil spirit from the Lord to taunt and confuse him.  The Holy Spirit had been taken from him because of his disobedience and in its place... raves.  Saul increasingly became a desperate man trying to cling to his losing grip on his rulership of Israel. 

One of his advisers suggested music perhaps to soothe his troubled mind.  It is true that music can soothe the savage beast.  But when the music is delivered by one you fear and resent, that's a different matter entirely.

Samuel the prophet grieves over Saul's failure and even fears Saul's violent retaliation if he goes to anoint another king of Israel.  God gives him a clever plan that looks harmless. 
God told Jeremiah not to fear the people or the rulers as he prophesied to them. 

Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you.
Do not be intimidated by them or I will cause you to cower before them. Today, I am the One who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population. They will fight against you but never prevail over you, since I am with you to rescue you." (Jer. 1:8, 17b-19)

Samuel goes to Bethlehem for a sacrifice, but the people greet him as if he is a threat.  What do they fear of Samuel?  They ask, "Seer, do you come in peace?"  Might this echo of Balaam trying to curse Israel at the behest of Balak (Num. 22:4-6)? Or might this foreshadow the magi coming to Bethlehem to worship the newborn king of the Jews, Jesus, only to have the jealous King Herod murder all the boys 2 years old and younger (Mat. 2:16-18)?

Samuel invites Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice as directed by the Lord, but finds none of his sons to be the one God has selected to succeed Saul.  Jesse has his youngest in the fields tending flocks.  When Samuel sees David he knows this is the one the Lord has selected and anoints him.  The Spirit takes control of David from that point on.

David plays on his lyre for Saul and eases his pain.  David slays the giant Goliath and pleases Saul and his son Jonathan who immediately loves David as his own self (1 Sam. 18:3). David began leading Israel's soldiers in battle and winning every time. The women from the villages would dance and sing a song of celebration for the victors as they marched home.

"Saul has killed his thousands,
    but David his tens of thousands (1 Sam. 18:7)."

This planted seeds of great jealousy in Saul against David, so as David played his lyre Saul tried to kill him by throwing a spear at him.  But David gets away from him safely.  When this doesn't work he tries to get David killed in battle by sending him on perilous missions.  This doesn't work either.  On one occasion he sends assassins to kill David and Samuel while they are in hiding.  This too backfires for each time the assassins near Samuel they are overcome by the Spirit of God and begin prophesying in an uncontrollable fit of spiritual ecstasy.  Saul comes to kill David him self and is also over come by the Spirit and ends up naked and passed out because of the overwhelming presence of the Holy One of Israel.

Saul just needs to face the music.  God is no longer supporting Saul's kingship, but the Lord is with David prospering all David does and protecting him.

Jeremiah writes during Josiah's reign and the reigns of his sons Jehoiakim and Zedekiah.  The first is a good king, loyal to Yahweh. His sons are not.  This leads to the exile under the tyranny of Babylonia.  The text implies that Jeremiah is reluctant to prophecy for God.  God tells him, "Don't say, I am only a youth (Jer. 1:7)."  It's time for Jeremiah to face the music as to God's calling on his life.

It is also time for Jerusalem and Judah to face the music. Their idolatry and unfaithfulness to Yahweh has reached a breaking point with God's patience.  "It's time to dance," as the street fighters say with switchblade in hand. 

The desolation coming from the invasion from the north will be as if the world of Judah and Jerusalem was never created.  Jeremiah sings a dirge:

I looked at the earth,
    and it was formless and empty.
    [I looked] to the heavens,
    and their light was gone.
  I looked at the mountains,
    and they were quaking;
    all the hills shook.
I looked, and no man was left;
    all the birds of the sky had fled.
 I looked, and the fertile field was a wilderness.
    All its cities were torn down
    because of the LORD and His burning anger. (Jer. 4:23-26).

As is characteristic of the Hebrew prophets, God will not destroy them completely, but will preserve a remnant through which He will continue His holy project.  I seems God will never give up, nor abandon His plan to shape a holy community who blesses the world and glorifies His name.  The songs of lament will turn to songs of praise.  The music is not over.  Face it! God's will be done.

Paul continues his dance with the Corinthians as he gets around to asking for their financial support for the starving and poor in Jerusalem.  Now that he is welcomed by most and his authority as an apostle restored the Corinthians have a chance to share in his ministry.

In chapter seven Paul sings of how godly grief and repentance leads to salvation (2 Cor. 7:10).  But worldly grief leads to death.  He is glad that they have reconciled with him.  Deeply personal emotions are shared as he lays out his heart for them as a crooner might sing a romantic song pining for the one he loves.

When it comes to giving Paul writes that it is for equality sake.  Those who have a surplus can give to those who are in need.  Later when the Corinthians are in need the surplus of others will flow to them.  This is the economic policy of the kingdom of Christ. 

Listen to this music: 

Those who sow sparingly reap sparingly
and this who sow generously will reap generously
God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

We are not to give reluctantly or out of a sense of necessity, but rather freely as the heart has guided.

And the best music of all is this:

God is able to make every grace overflow to you,
so that in every way, always having everything you need,
you may excel in every good work (2 Cor. 9:8).

Let's face it! God is working to create a holy community that will bless the world. We are part of this great work! Can we trust God and be faithful to serve Him with our whole heart?

May prayers of thanksgiving be given because of your generosity. And may praises in song be lifted to heaven for God's surpassing grace on us all.