A Pertinent Quotation

At the risk of seeming lazy, this week I'm again posting another's thoughts and not my own. Often, I find that others have said what I'd like to say, only they have been far more succinct. Scripture teaches us that knowing the love of Christ is a corporate activity (see Eph. 3:18). I believe that this includes the writings of the saints who have gone before us. With this in mind, I reprint some thoughts from a much more accomplished "seeker after God."

"How tragic that we in this dark day have had our seeking done for us by our teachers. Everything is made to center upon the initial act of `accepting' Christ (a term, incidentally, which is not found in the Bible) and we are not expected thereafter to crave any further revelation of God to our souls. We have been snared in the coils of a spurious logic which insists that if we have found Him we need no more seek Him. This is set before us as the last word in orthodoxy, and it is taken for granted that no Bible-taught Christian ever believed otherwise. Thus the whole testimony of the worshipping, seeking, singing Church on that subject is crisply set aside. The experiential heart- theology of a grand army of fragrant saints is rejected in favor of a smug interpretation of Scripture which would certainly have sounded strange to an Augustine, a Rutherford or a Brainerd...."
"Every age has its own characteristics. Right now we are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its stead are programs, methods, organizations and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and the servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we, in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all."

-A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

1 Samuel 21:7

Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord.

1 Samuel 21:7

Not everyone in God’s house is there for the right reasons.

In the preceding verses, we saw the great blessing that came to David from the Lord’s house. As a man after God’s own heart, his troubles brought him unerringly to the place where he could meet with God and receive counsel, nourishment and armament from God’s Word. But this verse reveals that David was not the only one at the house of the Lord: one of the villains of this story was there also, Doeg the Edomite.

I had just taken my first pastorate when a fine-looking couple visited the church for Sunday morning worship. As we talked, I found out that the man and his wife owned a prominent business in our small community and that they were “looking for a church.” Initially, I took encouragement from their interest and found them to be very congenial and generous. They professed faith in Christ, and the elders gladly brought them into membership. But whenever I tried to engage them in spiritual conversation, they seemed to have no interest in the things of God at all. I also noticed that they paid little attention to the preaching and seemed more interested in who else was (or was not) attending on Sunday. After a short while, their attendance became sporadic. Eventually, despite my efforts to encourage them, they stopped coming. It was my first pastoral experience with a Doeg.

Doeg was “detained before the Lord.” Clearly, the Lord had placed him there in the house of God for His own purposes. As we will see, Doeg will bring about the death of Ahimelech, 85 other priests and their families. Only Abiathar escaped the massacre to join David. Both the wording of this verse and his later actions make it clear that Doeg was a true Edomite – an enemy of God and of His people. Yet, he was at the house of God. But he was not there with a heart of delight; he was there reluctantly and considered his time there to be “detention.” Although in the presence of God and His people, Doeg had other things he wanted to be doing and this worship stuff was hindering him. He was watching the clock, waiting for the priests to finish his perfunctory sacrifice, so that he could get on his way.

It may seem self-evident, but it’s important to be aware that not everyone who shows up at the Lord’s house comes with the sincere desire to worship the Lord. There are a whole host of reasons why people attend church. They are there on some kind of errand – often a religious one – but their heart is far from the Lord. These are the professors, the formalists, the works-oriented religionists who are more interested in fulfilling the forms and obligations than in developing a heart for God. They consider their time in the Lord’s house to be essentially lost and they can’t wait to be freed from their forced attendance. They will watch the clock and be frustrated when the service “goes too long.” They will pay more attention to others’ actions than to their own heart (as Doeg was watching David), and will file away these events for later, when the stories can be used to their own advantage (1 Sam. 22:9,10). Normally, they will bolt for the door as soon as possible.

In so doing, the Doeg’s among God’s people evidence the fact that they consider their life to be “outside” rather than inside the church. They look upon their attendance as an interruption to their preferred course of life and not – as with God’s true people – a privilege and joy that grows out of the daily worship of a Godward life.

Such people are a danger to themselves and to others. Jude describes them as, “blemishes on your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, looking after themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.” (Jude 12,13) Doeg’s will use the knowledge they have gained at the Lord’s house for worldly advantage. They will turn against and destroy God’s people in a heartbeat. (1 Sam. 22:18,19)

As I think of this couple who fulfilled these prophetic words from Jude, I am reminded of some advice given to pastors centuries ago by Bishop Joseph Hall: “When we see our auditors before us, little do we know with what hearts they are there, nor what use they will make of their pretended devotion.” (Hall 1:359)

May the Lord give us the grace to examine our own hearts and to make certain that we come before Him for worship and not “detention.” God’s people should never enter His house like an Edomite. And may He give us the discernment to identify the Doeg’s among us so we can pray for them and, if possible, limit the damage they often cause.

A Word from Samuel Rutherford

For some time now, I have been reading the Letters of Samuel Rutherford (1984, Banner of Truth) in my devotions. Rutherford was a Scottish Presbyterian and one of the leading opponents of the English liturgy and polity forced upon the Scottish Kirk by Charles I. As a consequence of his vocal opposition, Rutherford was ejected from his pulpit in rural Anwoth and banished to Aberdeen, a "stronghold of Episcopacy and Arminianism." There, he was forbidden to preach or teach. His only outlet came in the form of the letters he wrote to friends and former parishoners and it is these letters that form the core of the book.
Don't let the title fool you. These letters are rich in spiritual instruction and many generations of God's people have found them helpful. C.H. Spurgeon, the great 19th century preacher, wrote, "When we are dead and gone let the world know that Spurgeon held Rutherford's Letters to be the nearest thing to inspiration which can be found in all the writings of mere men."

Rutherford loved Christ more deeply than anyone I have ever known. Outside of the Bible, I have found no parallel to his soaring devotion to Jesus. This is my main reason for wading through these letters. I need to know Christ as he knew Him; I need him to teach me how to love Christ with the same wholehearted passion.
Frankly, it is not easy reading. Rutherford used the long, convoluted sentences that were common in 16th century writing. He also wrote in a Scottish dialect that employed words totally unfamiliar to the modern reader. (Thankfully, the Banner edition includes a glossary of Scottish terms.) But the labor is well worth the effort. Rutherford speaks to the heart and, although writing about the Scottish Kirk, his comments on the state of Christianity in his country could have been written today about our own church.
The passage below combines both of these elements: a confession of personal unworthiness, and an analysis of the heartless Christianity that prevails among professing believers both then and now. To make it more understandable, I have changed the wording in a number of places, but I have kept as much of Rutherford's wording as possible, so you will be able to catch the flavor of his writing.

"[F]or myself, I am broken-hearted that I cannot find myself inclined to forsake myself and enter completely into Christ. How sad that there should be one bit of me outside of Him. How sad that we carve out so much liberty and latitude for ourselves – for our own ease, benefit and pleasures – and leave so little room [in our lives] for Christ, who is worthy of all of our love. Oh, what sorrows and sacrifices it costs Christ before He gets us; and when all is done, we are not worth having! It is amazing that He should seek people like us. But love overlooks ugliness and uselessness; for if it had not been the case, Christ would never have made so fair and blessed a bargain with us as we have in the covenant of grace. I find that in all our sufferings Christ is only marking boundaries [lit. redding marches], so that every one of us may say, “This is mine, and this is Yours.” Our crosses are intended to teach us how truly weak a foundation [human] nature is to stand upon in trials. And the goal intended by our Lord in all our sufferings, is to cause us to recognize our need of grace and encourage us to request it. I should succumb and come short of heaven, if I had no more than my own strength to support me; and if Christ should say to me, “Either do or die,” it would be easy to determine what should become of me. The choice would be easy, for I would have no choice but to die if Christ should pass [me] by with a hardened heart; and who then would help us in our great difficulties? I know we may say that Christ is kindest in His love, when we are at our weakest. For if Christ had not been shielding us in our sad days, the water would have gone over our soul. His mercy has set a time and appointed a place, how far and no farther the sea of affliction shall flow, and where its waves shall be stopped. He prescribes how much pain and sorrow, both in weight and amount, we must have. Consequently, you have good cause to recall your love from all [other] lovers, and give it to Christ. He who is afflicted in all your afflictions does not look on you in your sad hours with an insensible heart or dry eyes.

All the Lord’s saints my see that it is worthless to bestow love upon this perishing world. Death and judgment will make men lament that their miscarrying hearts ever led them to spread out and lavish their love upon [such] false appearances and night-dreams. How sad that Christ should lose out because of His own goodness in making peace a companion of the Gospel! How sad that we have yet to measure the value of Christ in His ordinances. What a tragedy that we are likely to lose the well, before we have tasted the sweetness of the water! It may be that with watery eyes, and a wet face, and wearied feet, we shall seek Christ and shall not find Him. Oh, that this land would be humbled while there is still time, and by prayers, cries and humiliation would bring Christ back in the church door again – now when His back is turned towards us, and He has gone to the threshold and, as it were, He has one foot out of the door! I am sure that His departure is what we deserve; we have bought it with our iniquities. For even the Lord’s own children have fallen asleep and, alas! professing Christians are concerned only about appearances and the latest fads, and make no serious effort to come to their senses again. Everyone has his own set standard for faith and holiness, and is content with only the bare minimum of godliness, as if that was enough to bring him to heaven. We forget that as our gifts and spiritual understanding grow, God should also receive an increasing return on the investment of His talents. We cannot pay God with the old use of gifts and patterns of behavior which we gave Him seven years ago; for this would be to mock the Lord by setting the “price” of our repayment at the level we choose. Oh, what difficulty there is in our Christian journey, and how often we come short of the thousands of things that are Christ’s due! And we never consider how far in debt we are to our dear Lord."

- taken from Letter 158, pp. 291-92

1 Samuel 22:1-6

David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest.

1 Samuel 21:1

No matter how difficult your circumstances, you can find what you need at the Lord’s house.

“I was praying this morning about a big question in my life, and the Lord answered through you as you preached.” This faithful sister, weighed down with family troubles and illness, came to church expecting to hear from God – and He met her there. People come to church for many different reasons, many of them wrong. But she came for direction, encouragement and spiritual sustenance. She knew that God had the answer, and she came with her ears and eyes and heart wide open to receive it. No wonder God met her there! She knew where to go for help.
David also looked for help from God. Like many who come to church these days, David wasn’t in the best of shape. He was being hunted by the king and was frantically running for his life. He was without weapons or food and, as Ahimelech noticed right away, he was alone. It was clear that something was wrong, and Ahimelech was worried. But when he was questioned David about why he was there, David lied and tried to make it appear as if everything was okay. Like so many of us, David was a mess.
So it’s no wonder that the first place he stopped after leaving Jonathan was the house of God. David was cut off from all of his friends and from all other sources of help. He needed help, he needed direction and he needed to know that God was still with him. So, he came to Ahimelech, to a man of God. But he was really looking for the Lord.
He had come to the right place.
God delights to provide for His people and His house is intended to be a place of safety and provision. People get the wrong idea many times, thinking that they need to get their act together before they come to God’s house. It may be that we Christians give them that impression, with our fancy clothes and correct behavior and calm appearance. Maybe if others could see us without our masks, they wouldn’t be so reluctant to come. Because we are no better than they are. In ourselves, we are just like David: dirty, confused, helpless, hungry and alone. That’s why a passage like this is so vital for all of us. David came to God’s house for help and so should we. What did David find?
First, David found acceptance. No doubt it seemed to him that the whole world (except Jonathan) was out to get him. But here in God’s house, he was accepted. Ahimelech knew David well and had often inquired of the Lord for him. And so, despite his condition he was welcomed and received help.
Second, he was fed. David asked for the only food that was present in the place – the bread of the Presence. This bread was set out on a regular basis as an offering to the Lord, and it was holy. It wasn’t lawful for David to eat this bread, it was only for the priests. And yet, Ahimelech gave it to David. [While it may seem insignificant to us now, this event was later cited by Jesus Christ as a justification for his disciples, who ate grain on the Sabbath Day. You see, the legalities of the Old Testament (i.e. the ceremonial law) were never intended to prohibit the meeting of legitimate needs among God’s people. In fact, the Sabbath was intended to actually meet man’s need for rest, and to provide a foreshadowing of the eternal rest we have in Christ. This is why Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” However, Jesus’ critics placed Sabbath-keeping – or at least their interpretation of it – above people’s needs. Such an approach was abhorrent to Christ, and He repeatedly told these legalists that they needed to learn what the Lord meant when He said, “I desire compassion and not sacrifice.” Jesus approved of David’s action and He felt free to set aside the legalities of the OT ceremonial system when it was for the purpose of meeting needs. He is “the Lord of the Sabbath” and He interprets its meaning.]
The Lord’s house is source of food for us as well – spiritual food. Here is where we find food for our souls: in celebrating the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper and in the preaching of the Word. One of the primary reasons for gathering at church is to receive this spiritual nourishment from those who are called by God to dispense it. “Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding.” Jer. 3:15
David also received direction while in the Lord’s house. We find in 1 Sam. 22:10 & 15 that Ahimelech “inquired of the Lord” for David while he was there. During OT times, the priests used the mysterious Urim and Thummim to discern God’s will and direction. Apparently, David was accustomed to seeking God’s direction through Ahimelech. This was certainly a time in which David needed guidance from God. And while we don’t know what God told him, we do know that he asked for a weapon as he was leaving. Clearly, David knew that danger lay ahead of him.
It is common these days to restrict the Lord’s guidance to the Bible alone. The Bible does give us general guidance, and God certainly never guides His people in a way that contradicts those Biblical principles. But the Bible itself is full of examples of “extra-Biblical” guidance – guidance from the Holy Spirit that is direct, detailed and clear. So, it is not unbiblical to ask God to give specific guidance. That He has done it so infrequently in our experience may have more to do with our lack of faith and expectation than with His willingness to speak.
Finally, David found a weapon he could use against his enemies. Some time before, he had given Golaith’s sword to Ahimelech, dedicating it to the Lord as a memorial of God’s victory through him. But at this point, when he was unarmed and helpless, he gladly received it back from Ahimelech. The New Testament often characterizes the Christian life in terms of warfare. This is one of Paul’s favorite analogies. And he wrote about weapons also, most clearly about “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Eph. 6:17 This weapon, so vital to us in our spiritual warfare, is often found and sharpened in the Lord’s house.
What do you need today? How difficult are the circumstances you’re struggling against? Do you feel like David - dirty, confused, helpless, hungry and alone? Now you know where to go for help.