‘Your Seat Will Be Empty’

Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.”

I Samuel 20:18

The Scripture declares that, ‘If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.’ In order to do that, we will have to live apart from some of them. Saul was beside himself with rage, fear, and hatred for David. The narrative in 1 Samuel 18-20, demonstrates the plotting and conniving in which Saul engaged to try to kill David. David had to leave. In the mercy of God, Jonathan, Saul’s son, was David’s friend, and on his side. He helped David escape. David removed himself from the presence of an unreasonable man. What is quite fascinating is that Christ did the same thing. When the Jews, ‘sought again to seize Him…He escaped out of their hand and He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed.’ It is, at times reasonable, sensible, and Christlike to remove ourselves from certain people. David did. Christ did. We may have to as well. Paul requested of the Thessalonians, ‘Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.’ As unpleasant as it may be, and as difficult as it may be, sometimes it comes down to walking away. David did what was, in fact, the wisest, most sensible, and most Christlike thing. We may take our cues from him, and more importantly from Christ. In the face of total unreasonability, sometimes we just have to go. Wherever you are today; whatever your situation is, there is an answer for you by looking to Christ. He is both Savior and Pattern. He has been where we are, and knows how to bring us through trouble or out of it.

Our most Gracious and Wise Savior,
we praise You, that even in the hardest of our circumstances,
You show us Your Wisdom.
Evermore, show us Your way, and more than that,
show us Your Glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

A Fearless Defender

Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

I Samuel 17:37

One of the most captivating scenes in the Scripture, is the encounter between David and Goliath. It is the stuff of legends. Here again, we see God developing Christlike character in David. Jesse, David’s father, sent him to the Valley of Elah, where his brothers were serving in the army. As he arrived, a giant Philistine named Goliath came out to challenge any Israelite to single combat. The battle over servitude would depend on who won the combat. David immediately volunteered. ‘Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”’ In this manner, David evidences likeness to Christ as The Great Defender of His People. Christ is utterly prepared to put Himself between His People and their bitterest enemies. One of the most compelling scenes, from the passion of Christ, was that in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Christ stood between the mob and His disciples, saying, ‘Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way.’ We understand from all of the rest of Scripture as it bears upon Christ, the Great Defender of His People, that He shall not fail to defeat all of His enemies, and all of ours. In this way, God was, even in his early years, developing David into a Christlike leader. Let us dwell today, upon the scene before us. Let us contemplate the work of God in David, and beyond that, the Person of Christ, the Great Defender of His People. This gives us great hope, great courage, and great confidence. Against all the enemies of His People, Jesus shall never fail.

Our Great God and Our Defender, we praise You,
that You never fail to stand between Your people,
and all who would do them harm.
We rejoice that You will defeat all of Your enemies,
and all of ours, for Your Own Name’s Sake, and for Your Own Glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘Keeping the Sheep’

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down b till he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” …

I Samuel 16:11&12

David stands as one of the most excellent examples of Christlike leadership. For us to appreciate how God brought him to be such a leader, we must examine his origins. He came from the tribe of Judah, and was the Son of Jesse. He was the youngest of his household. As such, his work assignment was the most menial. It was here, that he began  to learn the Christlike behavior, which would later mark him as the ‘man after God’s Own Heart.’ One of the characteristics of the Servant Leader, who is Christlike, is his care and defense of the sheep. In his account of his work as a shepherd, David recounts his experiences. ‘But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.'”‘  A characteristic of the Christlike Servant Leader, is that he places the needs of his flock above his own. It is in this spirit, that upper ranking members of the United States Marine Corps eat after their subordinates. It was for the purpose that His sheep might have forgiveness of sins, redemption, and eternal life, that Christ, The Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd, became incarnate, lived perfectly, died sacrificially, arose victoriously, intercedes perpetually, and is returning gloriously. God was grooming David, from early days, to become the Christlike King of Israel. Christ, Who in human history, would appear after David, would be, ‘the Root and Offspring of David….’ As God made David Christlike, so may He conform us to His Image.

Oh, Great Shepherd of the Sheep,
we rejoice that You, by the power of Your Holy Spirit,
work in us all that pleases You,
to conform us into Your Image, for Your Glory.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

Future Help for Future Paths

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

I Samuel 7:12

Our text holds within it, the idea of things that are yet to come. ‘Thus far,’ holds out to us the idea that we have yet to arrive at our final destination. Wherever we are in life, this is encouraging. Am I young in life, or perhaps young in the faith? There is, all things being well, more of life ahead of me. The same Christ Who has helped me thus far, will be faithful to help me onward. Am I in the middle of life, with the burden of responsibility lying heavily upon me; burdens of family, work, and community? Christ ‘has made and He will bear.’ He has helped me until now, and will sustain me through this busy time of life. Am I now in the twilight years, with a failing body and slowing steps? Behold, how faithful He has been to help me all along the way unto these, ‘threescore years’ and perhaps more. He Who has helped me ‘thus far,’ will be faithful to help me until that hour when I set my foot upon the bottom step of the Golden Stair. God saves the best for last. Christ is the Great Shepherd of His Sheep. He will not allow His Sheep to go without help, all the way to the Eternal Kingdom. All His Faithful Character argues for the continuing Help of His people. Look forward today, Child of Grace. ‘Thus far has the Lord helped You.’ He will not fail to finish all that He has begun.

Our Gracious Master and our God,
how we praise You, for all Your faithful helping of us.
Unto this day and hour, we rely utterly upon You,
to lead us all the way, until we see You and the faith is finally sight.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice

The Lord, Our Help

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

I Samuel 7:12

As we return to consider our text from yesterday we find our attention resting upon the Lord Himself. We considered yesterday the path over which Christ has brought us thus far. Today we will spend some time contemplating the fact that it is, indeed, Christ Himself, Who has brought us along this path. ‘While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ When we were lost and ruined, Christ sought us, and bought us. When we were beset by our accusesrs, Christ defended us. When we had only thirst, Christ gave to us the water of life. Since then, He has daily enabled us to feed upon the fresh Bread from the ovens of heaven. We have quenched our thirst with that Living Water, and celebrated eternal life with invigorating draughts of His ‘wine, upon the lees, and good wine, well-refined.’ At every turn of the road, Christ meets us, and accompanies us. He begins, ‘at Moses and the prophets, and expounds to us all the things, concerning Himself.’ We stand today on the high hill called, ‘Thus far,’ to which we referred yesterday and as we survey the path over which we have come, we see in all those landmark locations the clear evidence of the Helping Hand of Christ. ‘I will tell the saints and angels, as I lay my burden down, Jesus led me all the way’. Christ is ever the Great Helper of His people. ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’

Our Gracious Guiding Savior,
We praise You for your help and leading.
Evermore show us Your way, evermore show us Your Glory.
Lead us in a plain path and guide us with Your eye.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice