STORY TELLING TIME

      I love the Wednesday night services at the church I attend.  We have a meal together with fun and fellowship. Then we have a time of Bible study and sincere prayer.

     Lately, in the Bible study time, we have been looking at the parables of Jesus.  Telling little stories about life situations was a great teaching tool.  We all tend to be like children and need these “make it plain for me” wisdom stories.

     Even King David came to a place in his life that he needed a “you need to wise up story”.  This particular story-telling incident is found in 2 Samuel chapter 12. 

     Before I get to the story, let me explain why King David needed this lesson.  This explanation we can find in chapter 11.  This chapter of scripture tells us that David lusted after a woman who was not his wife.  He gave in to the lust and then when the woman became pregnant he sought to cover his sin by insuring that the woman’s husband died in battle.  Sin on top of sin. The last verse of chapter 11 says this: But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.  Sin, the crossing of God’s boundaries displeases Him.  

     I doubt if anyone wants to displease the Lord.  But we go off on selfish ventures that does just that.  You might ask, “If we do displease Him will He stop loving us? 

    The answer is “No, He will love us still, but we will probably miss out on blessings He wants to give and, He just might have a “wise up” story for us.  He does not want for us to sin.  Sin causes havok and that is not what God wants for us.

    King David’s “wise up” story was delivered by the prophet Nathan at the Lord’s request.  Nathan told King David this story:  There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.  The rich man had many flocks and herds.  The poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children.  It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him.  Well the story goes on that a traveler came to the rich man.  Well, this rich man refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

     Blind to the comparison and reason for the story, King David’s anger was greatly aroused against this rich man who would do such a thing.  King David tells Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die!  And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

    Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”  O boy, truth, and shame, came crashing in and repentance was the result of this story.

    The parable that we looked at this week was one that opened my eyes a bit.  I had read it many times but had not understood it fully, and probably still don't understand it fully.  (Let me say here that I appreciate my pastor and the lessons that he brings on Wednesday nights.  The next few paragraphs of this blog come from my notes from his lesson.)

     It is the parable of the persistent widow.  It is found in Luke chapter 18: 1-8.  There are just two characters in this story that Jesus is telling. 

     The first character is a judge.  This judge is described as one who did not fear God nor regard man. Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom I think we can safely assume that he is not a wise judge.  On top of that he didn’t care about people.

    The other character in the story is a widow woman with an issue that needed resolved.  She wanted justice.  We learn that the judge finally took care of the situation not because he cared or because he was a good judge but because she was bugging him.

    Then Jesus compares the lousy judge to God our Father. His words are wonderful yet sad.  “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of Man come, will He really find faith on the earth?”

    The widow, one who is alone is compared to God’s people, His elect, his beloved bride. We are never alone.  The widow was a stranger to the judge.  God’s children are not strangers to Him.  They are loved and special with an invitation to come boldly to Him. 

    That poor widow sought help from an unjust judge.  We seek help from a righteous Father.  She was alone fighting her cause alone.  God is for us, He is on our side, and Jesus is our advocate.

    In times past I somehow thought the lesson in this parable was to never give up and to keep praying until God answered.  That however puts the focus on the woman.  I realize that the lesson here is to focus on who God really is and to rest in the assurance that He cares. 
     The lesson is that I can trust Him completely even when He doesn’t answer right away.  He will answer with wisdom at the right time and in the right way because He loves us very much.

    If you have prayed long and hard for a situation, keep praying and remember as you pray who is at the receiving end of your prayer. Keep your focus there.  It is a loving holy God who beckons you to come to Him.  He says we can come without fear.  We can come as often as we need to, and we come knowing we are loved. We can be sure that He will use great wisdom when He answers.

    Viewing God for who He is will increase our faith. Faith pleases God. I mentioned that these words are wonderful yet sad.  They are sad because Jesus asks the question, "When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  He wants us to know we don't have to badger Him.  He wants us to know how very much He loves us.  He is the very best judge.  Trust Him.  Blessings.