DAY 111

POWER – GOD’S VIEW

2 Samuel 12 & 13 and Luke 16

There are four powerful stories in our readings today. Nathan “calls out” David on his actions regarding Uriah, we read of the rape of Tamar and her family’s actions, a penniless servant who with a little power cannot forgive, and Jesus story about a rich man and Lazarus.

I want to take the stories out of order. The first story I want to look at is the rape of Tamar. This is terrible. It happens in David’s family and he does nothing about it. David’s son, Absalom takes matters into his own hands. There is no seeking of God – there is only revenge simmering in Absalom for two years.

In the second Old Testament story Nathan is brilliant. He tells David a story of two people; one with much power and one with one little lamb. David is outraged when he hears the story of the man with power abusing his position against the other. Nathan cries out, “You are that man!” David is convicted. He sees his sin. We read of his actions. He writes Psalm 51. In the midst of this story we see God’s indignation with those who have power, and then abuse it. In this story we also see how God accepts a contrite heart. David is sick over his sin; Psalm 51 certainly reveals his repentance. I know that I often have sin to confess and I think of this moment. This is a moment when David deserves death, but his repentance brings life. It is an instructive story: David is forgiven, yet there are consequences to sin. The same is true for us. God will forgive us, but this is not a God that waves a magic wand and erases all we have done wrong; no there are consequences.

In the New Testament stories we have more dramatic situations of wealth and poverty.

The first, we see a man with no money yet in a position of power, abuse his position. His abuse of power is juxtaposed against his own story, a story where the real Master forgave “him much.” God’s attitude is clear regarding his lack of mercy.

In the second story Lazarus’ only relief is the dogs licking his sores. The unnamed rich man is oblivious. Jesus tells a story that demonstrates eternal consequences [here again we have Jesus talking about heaven and hell – not a popular notion these days.] The pride of the unnamed rich man is amazing. While he is in hell, he tells God to send Lazarus to give him some relief. Really! Talk about oblivious. And so God points out the obvious to the clueless one in hell – that his brothers will be equally clueless.

Now I know that last sentence was especially judgmental, but the key is this prayer – open my eyes Lord to where I am clueless, as Nathan opened David’s.

If you are reading this it means you have a computer. You probably have water and electricity. I won’t expand this point, but we know that we have much as compared to others. May God lead us in his path to those in need.