Ahithophel cannot wait to turn on David when the usurper Absalom rose to power. Hushai remained faithful in the face of a new and awesome threat. The Jewish leadership cannot wait to have the Romans crucify Jesus. The disciples do not know what to do, frightened, they will watch at a distance, but watch. “Institutionalized religion, the church, the old God, is not for me.” versus “I will cling to the old rugged cross.” Absalom represents the new order, the fresh look at the world, bold, uncharted, powerful. David’s faithful know this is just not right. Jesus threatened the world as they knew it, threatened the entire system by which they understood, ruled, were comfortable, safe. Jesus’ disciples know that He has brought a new age from God Himself. “My God would not stand for these old ways, these dry, narrow minds. The Bible needs new eyes for a new age — perhaps no Bible at all. God is in me and you. We are all gods and goddesses.” versus “Jesus loves me this I know, because the Bible tells me so.”
How so human. How so full of self. Full of rebellion. Full of Satan. When God’s anointed is not what we want Him to be, then we proudly proclaim from our dark emptiness of ignorance, “I know better.” When the Creator does not reflect our image then man decides that is not the real God, there surely must be another that looks more like, well, like me!
Then the others, so determined to be faithful in the face of death itself; so committed to the One Who truly loves them. Not knowing but yet trusting the One Who leads. These are blessed, walking by faith, not by sight.
Ahithophel and Absalom died cruelly. David retook the throne and planned the end of his enemies. The anointed of God ruled the dominion given to him. Jesus arose from the grave, astounding all who saw Him, frustrating all of his enemies who heard, “He lives.” The will of our Creator cannot be stopped, will not be frustrated. We can either work with Him and be blessed or stand — momentarily — in His way and find our best human wisdom thwarted and ground to dust by the Rock of Ages.
The next time we find faith untenable, obedience unfathomable, spirituality an unsolvable puzzle and life that makes no sense, remember those faithful of ages past. The risks, which were no risks at all to those who could truly “see.”
Prayer: Holy, Righteous, True and Faithful One, may we be faithful to You in this day.