A Bow Drawn at a Venture

Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor.   So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,  for I am wounded.”

1 Kings 22:34

The Bible abounds with unnamed characters who were pivotal in accomplishing the larger purpose of God’s providential plan.  The servant girl in Naaman’s house, the widow of Zaraphath, the great woman of Shunem, the lion-slain prophet of Judah, and the wise woman of Tekoah each had a role to play in the ongoing performance of God’s will.  The text before us today brings to our attention another anonymous individual whom God used at a critical moment to fulfill His Word.

Ahab went disguised into battle at Ramoth-Gilead in an attempt to thwart the prophecy of Micaiah, the prophet of God, who had said that Ahab would fall in that battle.  It was this anonymous archer whose arrow brought Ahab to his end.  We ought to see in this an encouragement for ourselves.  Like this unnamed archer so we ought to continue to make our contribution to the battle for truth even though we may never realize, in this life, what effect we have had.  The fact that we do not know this man’s name makes him an obscure character.  He steps onto the stage of human history, performs one act, and disappears forever.  It may be so with us.  We may never be well-known or identified at all to the world at large; yet we have a role to perform in the unfolding drama of God’s plan.  This fellow did not know his target.  In human terms we would call this an “accident.”  Yet there are no accidents with God.  As far as he was concerned, this soldier was just performing his duty; but look at what use God made of that one dutiful act.  Perhaps we do many things in life which we just consider to be our “duty,” but God can make great use of these “small”acts to accomplish His purpose.

There is also the thought to consider:  that this man did not realize the importance of what he had done.  The battle over, he probably went back to his family and farm, and never really thought about the effect of his arrow.  You may never know what use God is going to make of your least-considered act.  Eternity alone will reveal what purposes we have accomplished under God.  Therefore, take heart today, Christian, God has some work for you to do.  He will make use of you for His own plan.  Be faithful to do what you know to be the Lord’s revealed will, and leave the results with Him.

Our Lord and Our Master,

strengthen our hands today

to do the right thing.

Use us for Thy Glory.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice

What Doest Thou Here, Elijah?

And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.  So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

1 Kings 19:9-13

How much we owe to the Holy Spirit!  That blessed, gentle, third person of the Trinity has ministered unto us in so many ways, and on so many occasions.  To Him we owe the thanks that we have experienced regeneration.  He is that one who convinced us of our need of Christ.  He brought home unto our heart that call that brought us to the Savior in repentance and faith.  He has indwelt us and daily leads us on in the grace of sanctification.  He also performs for us the gracious office of Comforter and Counselor.  We find an example of this performance in the life of Elijah in the 19th chapter of 1 Kings.

Elijah was in the depth of despondency, and the Holy Spirit came to reason with him in that still small voice.  It is yet the same with us.  When we are in the depths of despondency, the Holy Spirit comes in that still small voice to reason with us.  He comes when we are at our lowest spiritual point.  Elijah was worn out physically at the beginning of the chapter.  God tended to that need first.  Elijah was worn out mentally and spiritually.  God tended to that need next.  It was when Elijah was at his lowest ebb that God came to him in the still small voice.  When the Spirit came, He came to reason with Elijah about his condition.

His question to the despondent saint was, “What doest thou here, Elijah?”  It is the same for us.  When we are in our self-pitying despondency the Holy Spirit reasons with us about our condition:  “Christian, what doest thou here today in your present condition?”

The Holy Spirit also reminds us of who and what we are.  To Elijah He said, “What doest thou here, Elijah?”  Here was the bold denouncer of evil, the caller down of fire, away out in the desert in the throes of spiritual lapse.  Do you remember your former days of usefulness, child of God?  Do you hear the Holy Spirit’s still small voice calling to you this day?  Hearken to His sweet reasonings with you.  He has days of usefulness ahead.

Oh Gracious Lord and Master, 

we confess unto Thee that

we need Thy Holy Spirit

to speak to us today.

Use Thy word today in 

our hearts to lift us up.

Where the Bush is Burning

Tomm Tice