An Unlikely King

This weekend in Children’s, we learned about the anointing of David–the forgotten son of Jesse, a shepherd who was unproven and unlikely to be king.

What was it that made God choose David?

David was a man after God’s own heart, even as a boy. He took God at His word and worshipped Him accordingly. What an easy but hard thing to do. Just believe God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. And believe it to the point of action.

That is what faith is—belief in action.

Belief in action, faith, is the difference between saying you know God and being so convinced of His nature and character that you spend your free time writing and singing songs, worshipping God for who you know Him to be.

Faith brings a shepherd into the field to face the giant, Goliath.

Despite the odds, despite the circumstances…David knew Goliath defied the One True God and profaned His name. And David knew God was greater than Goliath. David didn’t need to know a whole lot more, did he?

Because faith acts.

At some point, someone confronts the giant.

I thought about that this weekend as events unfolded, and we became aware of American efforts to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities. Now, this is not a perfect parallel, and I am not attributing Davidic authority or anointing to anyone.

I don’t know with any certainty what happens next in geopolitics. All anyone can do is evaluate the information that seems trustworthy and try to fill in gaps left by unknowns with logical guesses.

And there may be varied opinions or responses to Trump’s actions. Admittedly, my response included shooting off recently expired black-cats and making my kids listen to Whitney’s National Anthem. But I think we can all agree–decisive action was taken, yes?

FOR DECADES, our enemy has bullied, threatened, and killed us. FOR DECADES, our enemy has disregarded wisdom, abandoned promises, and avoided accountability.

And we have let them.

We have tried to buy our way into “peace” with a “friend” who hates us. “Peace, peace, when there is no peace…” For instance, one of Iran’s first statements in response to the US neutralizing the nuclear sites that they were never supposed to build, to enrich the uranium they agreed never to enrich…was to threaten to activate sleeper cells of terrorists within the US. As one does.

I don’t know that anyone has stitched this Hallmarky maxim onto a pillow yet but…”Friends DO NOT keep sleeper cells of terrorists in their friend’s yards.”

How many leaders have passed the buck on Iran? After the Beirut barracks? After the Khobar bombing? After Karbala?

At some point, someone confronts the giant.

And I don’t know that a president considering re-election would have. I don’t know that a president who wasn’t independently wealthy would have. I don’t know that a president who wasn’t independent of any establishment party politics would have.

I think it took the most unlikely, unexpected, and unconventional kind. The kind who knows his life has been spared for a purpose. The kind who has a sense of urgency that may be world-saving but career-ending, and acts on it anyway.

What an amazing time to be alive, right?