For most complex tasks, there is usually a very specific order of instruction. When you cook a big meal, there is a specific order in which you prepare and cook the ingredients. Rearrange that order and your meal will likely not look like the beautiful pictures of it on page 332 of the cookbook. When you assemble furniture from IKEA there is a very specific order. Did I say very specific? If you skip step 86 then you’ll quickly be backtracking to step 85 to correct the problem. I even learned in college that there is a specific order in which you need to take the required classes. Get them too far out of order and you’ll find yourself in a pickle come your senior year. And yes, there is an order for each and every life that walks this planet.
God created each and every one of those lives and as a result, the Maker has a specific plan for each. Just as the designer of that IKEA buffet created all 12,249 pieces of it, they know that it must be assembled in a very certain way to function with the perfect purpose they designed it for. God knows that each life He built has a very specific purpose that will be realized when it is assembled correctly. The hard part of this equation? How does the IKEA creator perfectly relay his assembly instructions to the one that is building it? And thus, the conundrum is revealed...how does God reveal the assembly instructions that are specific for your life?
I love the chapters that focus on King David. After the countless chapters on evil kings, David is a breath of fresh air. And as I drill down into my logic for this, I can settle in on one big reason. David listens to God. David makes the big hard decision of life seem simple because He simply listens to God. You see, the life of David had as many problems, obstacles, and headaches as anybody, probably tons more, yet he almost always seems to come out smelling like a rose. Why? Well, when the going got tough in David’s life, he gets going. And he goes running straight to God.
1 Chronicles 14 finds David finally the official king of Israel. Saul is gone, the evil opposition is gone, and David has been anointed king over a newly united Israelite nation. And as soon as it’s made official, the enemy comes knocking. The perpetual enemy of the Israelites, the Philistines, come calling at David’s door and they don’t want to sing campfire songs and make smores. They want to fight. David is a new king over a new people. He is a new leader over a new kingdom. He has barely been able to sit on the throne before the first big battle finds him. So what does David do? Where does David go? He goes to the same place he went to as he was hiding in caves, writing Psalms and running for His life from Saul. He goes to the same place he went to as he reached for those 5 smooth stones to face an enemy that towered over him. He went to the same place as when he was lamenting over his poor sinful choice with Bathsheba. He knows there is a proper order to his life and David observes this order at all costs. He always performs step #1 in the directions, never attempting to skip on to other steps that seem easier and simpler. David keeps first things first; He goes to God.
As the Philistines approach with murder on their minds, we find this verse:
“Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?” 1 Chronicles 14:9-10
I’m sure David was nervous in the face of the enemy; he was a man. I’m sure he feared for the safety of his people, he was a good, caring king. I’m sure he also wanted to rush right out and fight the enemy and remove his problem; he was a great warrior and victor. I’m sure he wanted to assemble his trusted advisors and counselors and ask them their valued opinion; he would be smart to seek wise counsel. But he didn’t do any of these until he completed step #1. He kept first things first. David’s first step in this situation was a step towards God. David inquired of the Lord.
We only get a few more verses about this skirmish. God answers David and tells him to go and fight and He will deliver the victory, and He does. That’s it. Problem finds David, David seeks God, the victory is given. Simple as soap, right? But in the very next paragraph we see David facing yet another immediate problem. Folks, so is life. As soon as God settles one problem another one will rise up to take its place. Peter and James both tell us that this should not surprise us. For it is in these constant problems that God is teaching us the assembly order of life. Going to God first.
Considering what just happened with the Philistines, this time could go very different for David. David could assume that God would automatically give the victory again, therefore allowing him to skip step #1 and just rush right out and fight. David could assume that God’s answer would be the same since the situation was so similar, meaning he could skip step #1, not waste God’s time, and just let the victory happen. You see, our sin nature can cook up a million reasons of why we should rearrange the order of assemble and skip step #1. We can easily talk ourselves out of following the directions, thinking that our way is better. But friends, David keeps first things first.
“Once more the Philistines raided the valley; so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.” 1 Chronicles 14:13-16
Same enemy, same problem, same king and same reasoning for the fight. But it all goes differently. And since David kept first things first, he was aware, not of his plan, but Gods. Folks, as the countless problems, frustrations, setbacks, obstacles, and trials find you in this life, where is the first place you go? What is first for you? Is God the first step in you seeking to better understand and deal with the problem that stands in your path? Or do you try steps 2-10 before you finally decide to circle back to #1 and talk to God?
Not only are most people surprised by the fiery trials that face them, thinking that something unfair or strange is happening to them, but they falsely assume that the trial is a surprise to God as well. Folks, who do you think put that trial directly in your path? We’re told in this very scripture passage that God puts it there not to punish us or inconvenience us, but to strengthen us. And just how does He do that? By reinforcing step #1. By giving us valuable practice in keeping first things first. You see, by going to God first we build our faith in Him, His power, His knowledge, and His love. By going to God first in everything, we build a rhythm of dependency upon Him that will allow us to operate in His strength, not our own.
Today, there is one place and only one place to go as the enemy is marching outside your gates. And regardless of how many times that enemy has been there, it doesn’t change the order of your plan. First things first. Go to God and allow the creator of the universe, the very creator of your being, to do what He does. Lead those that faithfully follow Him.
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4
Comments