“SEASONS IN TRANSITION”
When I first read it, I admit, I didn't see it. King Saul and three of his sons die in battle. Okay. Historic yes, but what kind of sermon am I going to preach based on that? But then I read ahead. What unfolds is a series of stories that mark what turns out to be a season of transition not only for David but also for his countrymen in Israel. They are all facing a change in national leadership. Some of them strongly favor it, such as David's men, and some oppose it, such as Saul's men and family.
Sounds strangely familiar, doesn't it? We, too, face a season of national transition. Some favor it and some not so much. So how do we move forward? Is there something here in David's story in which we can be encouraged? It reminds me of a cartoon featuring a a cat being released from her portable crate as a dog looks on in dismay. The cat steps out, eyeballs the dog, and coyly announces: “I'm hoping for a peaceful transition of power, but that's totally up to you.”
So hoped the people of Israel. Looking closer at the stories that follow we see that David and others are not only facing and responding to the national transition issue but there are also other diffi-cult and challenging changes and life transitions that they're facing. There are seven of them in fact.
The first one, as noted, is the change in national leadership. The second one, though, involves a deep, personal loss. That would be the death of his best friend, Jonathan.
“When the Philistines attacked Israel, the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa. The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons – Jonathan, Abdinadab (gesundheit!) and Malkishua.” (1 Samuel 31:1)
Jonathan was David's best friend. If you were here the week John was here and preached, you'll recall how close these two guys were. They had rescued each other numerous times. The opening chapter of Samuel's sequel here cites the funeral song that David composed for Saul and Jonathan.
“How beloved and gracious were Saul and Jonathan! They were together in life and in death. Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies dead on the hills. How I weep for you, my brother Jonathan! Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!” (2 Samuel 1:23-27)
A number of you have lost someone dear to you recently as well. Such a loss is one of the hardest, most painful transitions in life we face. We must learn how to move on and live our lives in their absence, even though we do so initially as though a part of our insides has been ripped from us.
If that's you, or was you, you're story is represented here!
The third transition that some of you can relate to is that David is moving to a new home: “Fol-lowing Saul and Jonathan's death, David asked the Lord, 'Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?' 'Yes,' the Lord replied. 'Which town should I move to?” David asked. 'Hebron'...
So David and his wives and his men and their families all moved to Judah, near Hebron.”
(2 Samuel 2:1-3)
Moving to a new community is stressful. Psychology Today ranks it in the top 10 stressers...
It's not just the physical part – the packing boxes, moving furniture, cleaning cranies, unpacking boxes – okay, it is, but its also the stress of starting new somewhere, especially making new friends. Stressful!
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A fourth transition in our text is that of leaving one job for another, the transition from one level of expectation placed on you, to another. Ever experience that...? Some of you are being asked to serve or continue to serve in some increased level of responsibility here. Such a season of transition is full of decisions. Someone posted a pic of a man sitting in his cubicle at work wearing pokadotted pajamas, with his barefoot on a footrest and a cat asleep on his desk, while two people peer over his cubicle, one saying to the other: “Transitioning from home to office again is more difficult for some than others.”
The other grimaces: “Apparently!” Transitions of responsibility can be hard!
“Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah.” (2 Samuel 2:4) That must've been quite the honor but also an incredible leap in responsibility. It's his job to protect all these people; but then the level of expectation expands yet again: “Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron...and there anointed him king over all of Israel.” (2 Samuel 5:1,3)
That more than double the territory David was responsible for and the tribe he's to shepherd!
A fifth transition David experiences is a new family/community. Those of you who are new to Redeemer have experienced that here. That can also be a bit stressful, especially if you're carrying wounds from past church experiences. Maybe you've felt like some spears were thrown at you.
“Then all the tribes of Israel went to David at Hebron and told him, 'We are your own flesh and blood.. We embrace what the Lord told you: 'You will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'”
(2 Samuel 5:1-2)
David's sixth transition is that of marking time. As a rare occurrence in the telling of his life story, the author makes note of David's age. “David was thirty years old when he began to reign...” (2 Samuel 5:4)
He was not a boy any more, nor had he been for some time. Noting that he'd just begun his third decade of life, in that day, was to say that he'd entered his middle ages. Many of us when we hit such milestones are subject to what has been famously called, a mid-life crisis. Clearly this can be a very stressful time in life as well, like that of retiring, means a new way of seeing one self.
Finally, the seventh transition in our text is that of David's maritial status. This season of transition, of a change in national leadership, in the loss of his best friend, and everythig else, comes a clear indication that David's marriage to Saul's daughter, Michal, has taken a turn for the worse.
“When (Michal) saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him. Later, as he returned home, she said to him in disgust: 'How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls! You're so vulgar!'”
(2 Samuel 6:16,20)
As a result of this confrontation between the two we're told that she remained childless her entire life. That is, from that moment on, they shared the same house, but stopped living as husband and wife. Some in our community have suffered this painful transition as well – the break up of a marriage is another one of the most painful transitions one can experience.
It's quite remarkable that all of those transitions are covered in the context of a few chapters. It would seem that some seasons of transition are compounded by other forms of transition. Some times the changes in life come in bunches. My brother's family suffered three deaths in two years. David stands in the crossroads and we can learn from his example. We can also acknowledge that change, itself, is hard. I heard of two friends talking about change. Joe's girlfriend said he needed to change.
So his friend, Bob, looked it up. “Says here that handling change is a four step process. 1. Denial. 2. Anger. 3. Adjustment. 4. Acceptance. So, Joe, what stage would you say you're in now?”
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He looked over as Joe demonstrated his answer. (putting head in garbage can)
Bob later explained...: “Joe's at that awkward stage of life between birth and retirement.”
Most of us come change resistant. Transitions in life make us tremble. Transitioning from what was to what's on the way is more difficult for some than others. Some seasons are harder than others.
Once again we are offered David's experiences to learn from. What struck me were four distinct actions David took in response to the various seasons of transition he found himself. The first of the four is perhaps the most significant. He sought divine guidance. He talked to God about it.
“Some time later David asked the Lord, 'Should I move back to one of the towns of Judah?'
“Yes,' the Lord replied. Then David asked, 'Which town should I go to?' 'Hebron', the Lord replied”
(2 Samuel 2:1)
I love that David and God have this back and forth conversation. David recognizes this is a big transition in his life. There's a lot going on. There's a lot riding on where sets up camp, as it were. With all these forms of stress and transition going on in his life he seeks the lead of the God he loves.
He wants to hear from God. He's not going anywhere until he's sought out and obtained a little divine guidance. It's interesting that because it's one of my favorite talks on the Alpha Course: “How Does God Guide Us?” I not only love the talk, with it's useful five CS's..., but I love the conversation!
When we're in transition what we chiefly need is some direction, right? And that's what God is all about. That's the intent of his written word – to provide guidance and our very salvation! In prayer we seek to have a conversation, which means we need to also listen! No doubt, you're familiar with the old anecdote about how to get God to laugh? Simply tell him your plans! Best to listen!
David's second action seems particularly timely. He reaches out......, not just to anybody, but to his political opponents & adversaries: “May the Lord bless you for being so loyal to your master Saul and giving him a decent burial.... I, too, will reward you for what you have done. Now that Saul is dead, I ask you to be my strong and loyal subjects like the people of Judah who've crowned me king”
(2 Samuel 2:5-7)
This is so atypical behavior of any other king of his day, or most other days as well, for instead of seeking the demise of his opponents he reaches out to them, acknowledges their grief, commends them for their conduct and extends them the olive branch of being part of his new, growing kingdom.
What if we reached out to those hurting from this transition we're in, they're in, and like David see there an opportunitiy to reach out and offer the space and opportunity to heal....and be cherished?
David's third action in our readings was that of making a covenant which is a binding agreement
between two parties or more. David makes his with the elders of Israel who are crowning him king. “So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the Lord with all the elders of Israel.”
(2 Samuel 5:3)
Note that it's 'before the Lord'. That's biblical lingo for promises were made to and before God as well as to one another. This deal is binding, airtight and forever! Get it? Got it? Good!
This is David saying to God and those in his community: 'I'm All In!!' This is like someone being baptized knowing that in doing so they are standing up for Jesus and Satan may make things tuff!
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It's he/she who're tired of trying things always his or her way, relenting, repenting and saying yes to Jesus by being baptized in his name. The picture once painted for me of new Christians in India somewhere being baptized in polluted, croc invesed rivers is a vivid picture of David's all in covenant!
At some point we need to commit! It's one thing standing on the outside looking in but at some point we need to invest... We use a covenant agreement here at Redeemer to help people who are new, or who've been baptized but absent for a while, to renew and belong. We covenant with each other to distinguish ourselves from a club. We are a fellowship of Christ followers in covenant with him!
Finally fourth, David celebrates God's generosity and goodness to him in public and impassioned worship. “David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and blowing of horns”
(2 Samuel 6:14-15)
David let loose! I love how demonstrative, how provocative, and how upper-octave it was! It was demonstrative in that David danced with all his might! He threw himself into it. He didn't care what others thought, (or Michel), he only cared what God thought, and he wanted God to see that he didn't think too much of himself, at least not in comparison with what he thought of God.
And it was provocative. Yes, those are priestly undergarments David is wearing. He wears little in an act of humility but he chooses priestly attire to convey that he comes to lead God's people back into faithful obedience and worship of God. He rules as a priestly shepherd. Sounds familiar...!
And David's worship is upper-octave. They're shouting and blowing rams horns! They could be heard in the wildernerss – to the Sea of Galilee - across the mountains! They were loud and exuberiant! They were all in! I can only imagine the smile on God's face at the sight of David!
I can only hope to achieve the same – to bring a smile to God's face! If you'd like to achieve the same – Learn from David how to shine through this season of transition you find yourself:
1. Seek divine guidance
2. Reach out to those who're grieving
3. Renew your covenant with God and His people
4. Worship with passion and purpose