For the last week and a half we have been asked to speak at a few different youth groups. We have talked about the armor of God, personalities, community, spiritual gifts, and the character of David. My favorite talk was the one we did about David. This last week I finished a book called A Tale of Three Kings and the Lord has used it to start changing my perspective on a lot of things. So I’m going to share some thoughts with you.
There are three types of people: Sauls, Absaloms, and Davids.
Sauls are given power from God but they fight to retain it. They throw spears, are jealous, and don’t wait for God.
Absaloms are self-proclaimed authority, they divide and cause rebellion.
Davids do not fight for authority, and do not fight to keep it. They trust God because they have an intimate relationship with him.
Now, as much as we would love to all be Davids, really none of us are…….in the beginning. Naturally (because of sin) we want to be in charge, we want to have control, and we don’t want to be told what to do. When David was anointed king, he was not automatically in charge of the kingdom. After he was anointed king, he then spent about a decade of being broken – almost being killed, fleeing for his life, and wandering around the lands. He learned how to rely on the Lord, how to trust him, how to not fight for the kingdom, how to have authority without commanding it, and how to pursue a relationship with the Lord above everything. David was a man after God’s own heart because he knew how to be broken. He knew he had nothing apart from God, so he was willing to put his reputation, his kingdom, everything on the line so that he could be in God’s will. He knew that all he could ever need – love, belonging, strength – was in being close to God. That was why he was called a man after God’s own heart. It is not natural to give up control, and that is why it is a road of brokenness but what a joy to give it all up for knowing the God of all creation. David thought it was.
So my question for all of you is who do you tend to be? Absalom? Saul? Do you see what’s wrong with the authority in place, and you’re going to be the one to change it? You’re going to stand up and lead the way? You’re going to establish your kingdom that’s right and true? Or are you jealous when others show leadership abilities? That they might be a better leader than you?
A short caveat: I am not saying (nor is the Lord) that when injustice is being done you should just sit by and allow oppression to take place. On the contrary, there are many stories throughout the Bible when people have gone against the authority in place because it was in direct opposition to God’s law or against what they knew was right (Hebrew midwives in Exodus, Daniel and the lions den etc). God cares about your heart/motive in the matter, though. Are you going to be the one to bring it about, and the glory goes to you? Do you trust that God is sovereign? Are you angry, frustrated, bitter towards those who are in authority?
This is a huge issue, and not something that I completely understand, but I hope those were some thoughts that will get you thinking.
Keep the faith,
Malia
