1 Samuel 23:14

“David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.”

1 Samuel 23: 14

The wilderness teaches us to find our satisfaction in God alone.

David’s location in the Desert of Ziph cross-references to the introduction of Psalm 63. This particular psalm was written by David early in his time of fleeing from Saul, when he was in the “Desert of Judah.” While many of David’s psalms do not refer to a particular time or place, the Lord clearly wanted us to know that Psalm 63 was the result of David’s wilderness (desert) experience. This psalm gives us an insight into David’s heart attitude – into what God was teaching him – while in the wilderness.

This wilderness experience is a common one for God’s people. He often leads us there when He wants to teach us without distraction. We see this take literal form in the lives of Moses and Israel and also in David’s life. Later in Scripture, we see Elijah, John the Baptist and Saul of Tarsus each led into God’s wilderness school. Even our Lord Jesus often withdrew into the wilderness for times of fellowship with His Father.

So, what is the wilderness? Where is it found? For David and many others in the Bible, it was a physical place of dry land and dangers. For others of God’s people, it is a place where God can get their undivided attention. Sometimes, it’s a hospital room or a graveside. It can be a time when relationships are broken or come to an end. For some, it’s a time when even God seems (at first) to turn His back on them and not to hear their cries. And again, it can be a place of “exile,” where we feel ourselves to be far from home and family. Regardless of the outward circumstances, the wilderness enables God to teach us painful lessons we would/could not learn in any other way. (See Michael Card’s song, The Wilderness)

As in so many other areas, David again becomes our tutor as we watch him walk through this wilderness experience. Reading this psalm, we find David using the desert topography – this vision before his physical eyes – to lead his heart to devotion and prayer. This is a technique often used in days gone by, but one that is neglected by many believers today. God’s hand is evident in His creation and the world is full of parables that can lead us to Him in worship and praise. When you find yourself worshipping God as you view a sunset or while you enjoy a mountain vista, or when you draw spiritual lessons from the things you see around you, you are duplicating David’s experience in this psalm. You are also following the example of our Lord’s own teaching. (see Matt. 6) Often our circumstances enable us to more accurately describe the “emotional topography” of our hearts to God.

So, David speaks of this soul’s yearning for the Lord, comparing it to the dry land he sees around him. (v.1) He then remembers his experience with the Lord in the sanctuary (v.2), , and uses the analogy of his physical thirst to speak of his intense desire to see God’s power and glory as he had seen it before. This is the desire of all of God’s people – to experience God’s power and to see His glory manifested in the world. All of this leads David into a worshipful frame of mind. (vv. 3-5) He is reminded of the blessing of God’s covenant love – that it is “better than life.” In this way, David acknowledges that he desires nothing above God, not even life itself. But, having life as a gift from God, he commits himself to praising God for as long as he lives. (v.4)

The combination of danger, desertion, desperation and desert leads David to the conclusion that having God is enough. This is the lesson of the wilderness: God is the only One who can fill our hearts, and who is the Satisfier of our deepest desires. Ultimately, our external circumstances matter very little and can never be a source of true satisfaction. This is why God brings wilderness experiences into our lives: to remove the distractions of the daily bustle, and to put all of our other relationships into proper perspective. He uses the wilderness to dry up our fleshly ambitions (They seem so futile and small in the wilderness!) so we will focus our desires upon what is really important: God’s grace, His presence, His provision, His covenant commitment to be our Helper and our Refuge.

David hasn’t forgotten Saul’s threats or the betrayal of the Ziphites (see 1 Sam. 23:19ff). In fact, he mentions “those who seek my life” in verses 9-11. However, the wilderness has restored his perspective by renewing his relationship with God. He is confident that God’s promises will be fulfilled in his life and that, in God’s good time, he will become king. And so, the trial of the wilderness has become a blessing to David because it stripped away everything except God.

So it should be with us. Because there WILL be wilderness experiences in the life of every one of God’s children. Because of the many spiritual benefits, God will ensure that we travel the wilderness road on a regular basis. But only when everything but God is stripped away, do we truly learn to trust his faithful covenant love, His providential timing, His wisdom and His protection. May each of us learn to thank God for the difficult circumstances that bring about such heavenly blessings.

Kumasi, Ghana EPI Update

We experienced a moment of situation comedy last Monday. We had arrived in Kumasi and realized that the food prices at our hotel were astronomical! So, we decided to eat dinner at a less expensive local Chinese restaurant. (Prices for almost everything were increased because Ghana hosted the African Cup of Nations – a soccer event – in January.) As we waited for our food, we were suddenly struck with the hilarity of sitting in a Chinese restaurant, waited on by African waiters, sitting next to an Indian couple, while the stereo blasted American country-western music! The world is getting smaller all the time.

We were privileged in this final week to teach Romans to the leaders of the Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The PCG is a large and well-established denomination with a strong evangelical bent. They continue to have a strong adherence to Scripture although many of their leaders have been educated in liberal seminaries overseas. So, a study on Romans was something they were strongly interested in. This opportunity was the result of Sam Oppong's friendship with the current Moderator of the denomination. Because of this connection, the denominational leadership opened the door for an EPI conference. They were the ones who suggested working in Kumasi (a city of over 2 million people) with the Asante Presbytery. Asante is the second-largest presbytery in the country, ministering to over 86,000 people in 410 congregations. If the conference was well-received in Asante, then the remaining 13 presbyteries would also be opened to EPI's ministry.

All of their senior pastors and key leaders – including the Presbytery chairman and a former Stated Clerk of the denomination - were in attendance and were very interested in what EPI would bring them. Perhaps because we were there on something of a trial basis, they were friendly but noticeably reserved for the first day and a half. As we began the instruction on Tuesday morning, there were only about 75 people there. But as the morning went on more people arrived so that, by afternoon, we had nearly 150 and the historic Ramseyer Memorial Church was filling up.

Since three of us were teaching this week, I had a bit more free time. (Both Allen and Chuck were very well prepared and, frankly, they didn't really need me to teach since the two of them had taught the same curriculum in Sunyani the week before.) I took advantage of that freedom to meet with another church leader in the Kumasi area on Tuesday. The Right Reverend Daniel Sarfo is the Anglican bishop of Kumasi and another good friend of Sam Oppong. He is also a warm and open evangelical, who greatly desires to see his church leaders be better trained in the Scriptures. Bishop Daniel agreed to meet with me briefly before he left on an international trip. We hit it off well, and as a result, we will be teaching a conference for the Kumasi diocese in the near future. (You may have noticed that virtually everything of substance that happens in West Africa, takes place on the basis of personal relationships. This is a cultural reality in Africa. Consequently, key church leaders don't just want to know about EPI, they want to MEET the guy in charge. If they like you, then the door opens for ministry. But this all requires time for the development of a good reputation, time for the contacts to develop and time for them to learn to trust you. After three years of regular work in Ghana, the doors are beginning to open. Praise God!) Meanwhile, Chuck and Allen taught through Romans 4.

Wednesday and Thursday followed the same general pattern, as we worked sequentially through Romans. By Wednesday afternoon, the folks were beginning to warm up to us and to the teaching. And it was then that the questions began to come. So, we fielded questions on predestination, eternal security, salvation in the Old Testament and many other topics. By Thursday, they didn't want the conference to end, and neither did we! As it was, we were only able to teach through the beginning of Romans 12. So, we may return later this year or early in '09 to do "Romans Part II."

Friday was a travel day, and we returned to Accra in preparation for our flight back to the U.S. There were some significant traffic delays due to road construction, but we arrived in time for an early dinner, enjoying the buffet at the hotel. Along with such delicacies as fried plantain and goat soup, the buffet included "seafood Provincale," a spicy sauce with shrimp and a mystery meat that we afterward learned was octopus! It was actually quite good. I met that evening with Ben Ahadzie, a pastor from near-by Tema, for some good fellowship. We talked about what the Lord is doing through his ministry, and I hope to see him involved with an EPI conference in the future. Saturday Sam, Chuck and I met with Pastor Wisdom Ameku, who trains Baptist pastors in the Volta Region (eastern Ghana). We made plans for a conference in the next year that will include pastors from Ghana as well as from neighboring Togo. Another open door! The rest of the day was LONG, as we waited to fly out at 10 pm.

The weather began to change during this final week of the trip. The dry season is ending; the winds are shifting from the northerly Harmattan winds from the Sahara to the more southerly monsoon winds off the Atlantic. So, we had several heavy afternoon showers with some impressive lightning and thunder. The dust was washed out of the air and the visibility began to improve. By mid-March the monsoons will be in full swing and the rainy season will have begun.

There was also a distinct shift in the nature of EPI's ministry during this trip. Previously, we have focused on conferences for local pastors that focused on practical Biblical instruction. That will continue to be a part of what we do. But on this trip we began the process of training national instructors, who we hope will significantly expand the reach of EPI's curriculum. The "Our Covenant God" curriculum excited the 48 leaders we trained in Nigeria and Ghana and they are on board with the vision of an African Reformation. God has confirmed our new direction by opening four new groups to the ministry of EPI: Agape Evangelical Church, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Anglican diocese of Kumasi and a fellowship of Baptist pastors in the Volta region.

I'm glad to be home and thankful for the safe trip. But I'm also thinking of West Africa and the doors for ministry that God has opened for us. With these new opportunities and the training of EPI national instructors, I need to at least double the time I spend overseas. That will require a significant increase in financial support and several new part-time teachers. But our God is able to provide ALL of our needs – we simply need to ask. As partners in this work, please join me in asking God for the people and the resources to meet these exciting challenges.

Grace and peace,

Dan.