Today's
Scripture Reading (February 6, 2016): Psalm 142
We want to be strong. It is apparent
in the political campaigns that surround us. Just listen to the
slogans. Donald Trump promises to “Make America Great Again.” For
Ted Cruz it is “Courageous Conservatives – Reigniting the Promise
of America.” Hillary Clinton's slogan is “Hillary for America –
because Hillary Clinton wants to be the champion for everyday
Americans” (emphasis on the word champion.) But I have to admit
that the politician whose slogan resonates with me is that of Bernie
Sanders. Now, Bernie was supposed to have been a disaster from the
very beginning, but a quick look at his website reveals a different
outlook. On the front page there really is no real slogan – just
the word “Bernie” and then the words “We need your help.” The
impression that is left with the reader is that if there is anything
good that is going to come out of this election, it will be because
of a voter movement – one in support of Bernie. And while this is
Bernie's campaign angle, the reality of the words “we need your
help” applies to everyone in the race – whether they want to
admit it or not.
To be honest, I understand the need
for strength in a campaign – or in the application of any job
process. We want to look like we are the ones who have it under
control. Give me the job because I know that I can be a success, if
you will just let me try. Make me the football coach and the team
will win more games, make me the manager and I will allow the
organization to succeed in a murky economic environment. Make me the
accountant because I know how to add. Whatever it is, I am qualified
for the job.
But the drawback is that we aren't
often the only ones needed to make the job a success. It has been one
of the complaints that has been leveled at the Trump Campaign. His
idea seems to be “vote for me and I will make America Great again”
instead of something like “vote for me, and together we will be the
strength that will make America Great Again.” The latter is
actually the reality. One man or one team is not going to change the
direction of a nation. It is going to take everyone. I remember
sitting at the back of a room a number of years ago after an
especially tough meeting. Two sides were fighting over something
trivial and neither was willing to move. After the meeting, an older
gentleman sat down and asked me what I was going to do. My answer,
admittedly, was not a strong one. I just looked at him and said “I
don't know.” What I meant was that there was little that I could do
as a leader until the two sides decided to see value in each other. I
could support one side or the other, or I could force some kind of
compromise that would make the organization stronger, but the problem
was that such a response would make a lot of people really unhappy.
In reality the future would still remain in their hands. They had to
make it happen. The man looked at me with the words “Fix this, that
is what we pay you for.” The problem is that money or paying
someone will seldom fix anything.
David is hiding in a cave. It is
almost a funny picture from a historical perspective. The king who
would be remembered as the great conqueror, the very one who would be
responsible for expanding the borders of Israel to their farthest
reaches, the victor in the fight against the giant Goliath, is hiding
in a cave frightened by his own shadow. And this man, who would be
remembered as the greatest king that Israel ever knew, was admitting
that he was not strong enough for the job. I am not sure that he
could have won a modern day election with the campaign slogan “I am
desperate and weak and my enemy is too strong for me,” even if that
is the reality that most politicians feel at some point in their own
personal campaigns.
But David's admission of weakness
was the invitation that God needed to make a difference in the
situation. And no, it is not that we must be weak in order for God to
intervene, but we must be honest. David looked at the situation and
realized that this was his reality. He needed help – and the only
one who could truly help him was the same one that helped him in the
pasture when he confronted by the predators threatening the flock. He
needed help from his God.
Tomorrow's
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 23
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