What a Ride

Is this is an amusement park ride?

No, it's a sketch of one of our Bible heroes! I'm sure he never rode a roller coaster, but King David sure could have designed them.

He was conflicted with the idea of doing what was most God-like. Some days he did exceedingly well, others he struggled. One day he was securely fastened by his seat belt with hands and arms safely inside the car, the next he was all over the place, almost falling off the track.

In other words, he was very much like you and me.

Before he actually becomes King of Israel, David is celebrated nation-wide for having killed Goliath. While it is clear to most everybody that someday he will be King, the current monarch, Saul, is trying desperately to hold on to power. In fact, he's twice tried to kill David!

The same man whom David saved from the Philistines is now hunting him down. Talk about your inverted loops!

While David could easily have done unto Saul as he did to Goliath, he shows great patience and submission as he obediently thought, "How could take the life of the Lord's anointed?"

What great character, right?! Well, just as you think David's on a straight track, here comes one of those startling turns.

A wealthy rancher named Nabal foolishly stiffs David over a business deal. It shouldn't surprise David too much, since the Hebrew name Nabal literally means "fool." David and his mighty men had kept watch over Nabal's shepherds and his vast flock. Though the custom of the day was to pay for these services when rendered, Nabal refuses to rightly recompense the future King of Israel. When he sends some men to collect their paycheck, Nabal acts like he's never heard of David!

You're thinking, "So what?! Big deal, You're going to be king someday, David. Be patient! Saul's trying to kill you and you're showing patience! Just wait this one out and don't let a fool get the best of you!"

But David didn't wait it out, he went ballistic. When his men tell him Nabal refuses to pay up he says, "Put on your swords!"And about four hundred men went up with David to take Nabal out. Maybe it was the fact that he was tired of running, of playing the nice guy. Maybe it was just too much now to have to explain to your friends why you're on the run, and now why you can't get a man to settle his account. But David goes on a murderous dash. You can almost hear the clickety-clack sound as the car moves up the hill of the roller coaster!

This is where the story takes one more sudden twist. Abigail, Nabal's wife, is exactly opposite of him. Smart and beautiful, the Bible says she had good understanding and beautiful form. She is lovely within and without and proves to be a level-headed, keen thinking woman. Hearing about David's furious response to her husband's foolish and faithless ways she he does what Nabal should have done. She goes out to meet David with a host of gifts and a meal in I Samuel chapter 25.

In essence she says, "David, don't do this. Think it over. If God has called you to be king someday, you can't be a murderer today! The Lord will make you a lasting dynasty!" Abigail saves David from making a murderous mistake that would have haunted him the rest of his life.

David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me." He goes on to say her advice kept him from murder. It is not a good thing for the future King to have a murder rap. As far as our ride goes, David's car careened, almost falling off, but is safely back on the track!

The amazing thing is that Abigail did all this maneuvering without her husband knowing. When she goes home to tell him that she saved him from 400 angry and well-armed men the fool is too drunk to even listen. When he sobers up enough to hear what his wife has to say he has a stroke. Just ten days later he dies, and not long after David marries Abigail himself.

Isn't it amazing?! When you take care of your business, when you do what is right, when you do what reflects the heart of God, He takes care of the impossible things.

Three lessons come to mind.

First, when conflicts arise, whatever you do be wise. In this roller coaster life of ours do as you would at a RR Crossing: Stop, Look, and Listen! Remember who God has called you to be and what He has called you to do. Don't make decisions based on anger, fear, or based on what foolish people do or say. God can break through to your heart, or send a friend at the moment you most need to listen. Who would have thought that a single woman could have stopped 400 men bent on destruction? But you have to, like David, decide to stop, look, and listen.

Second, take each conflict as it comes. Just because you beat a giant yesterday that doesn't guarantee you victory today. Like Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, Each day has enough trouble of its own.

And finally, when you realize there is nothing else you can do, wait on the Lord God Almighty who can do all things! Slow down and put on the brakes. Later in life David writes Psalm 40:1-2 "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." The Psalm doesn't say "David did nothing" it says "He waited patiently." "Waiting patiently" is a conscious decision! It is an action! It is choosing to let God be in control, not me. And it is not always easy. It takes discipline.

Waiting on the Lord is like waiting as a child does, perhaps at a busy intersection. That's sure not "doing nothing." In fact, faithful waiting may be the difference between life and death! It's waiting for guidance, waiting for help, waiting because someone with a hand bigger than yours will take you across from danger to safety.

Though I love the thrill of a good roller coaster, I almost always close my eyes during the curves or steep drops. Life is like that. Sometimes we find ourselves surprised, moving too fast, surrounded by so many concerns we may not know from moment to moment which way is up, or we may lose spiritual insight for a moment.

When this happens, wait for God to move you in the proper and safe direction. Lean on Him for all understanding, no matter what else is rushing by. Your seatbelt may be another Christian, Scripture, or some other leading from the Holy Spirit. In all cases the key is acknowledging your dependency on God and trusting him.

Our days are like a roller coaster. You don't have to be a Bible character to find that out. Just fasten your belt, have a seat, and take off in the life of faith in the living God.