Good Answer, Good Answer

Has someone ever asked you to do something that simply did not make sense? Your first thought was, “Get outta here!” The request was very strange, odd, out in left field.

Once upon a time, thirty years ago a young husband and father was asked to join the lay leader team at his church. This group of people handled the greeting, offering, reading of scripture, and benediction. This young man had a lifelong speech impediment and was not about to stand up in front of a group of people and talk. No way. No how. Never. However, over time, something pricked in this young man’s heart, and against his better judgment, he agreed to join the speaking team. Fast forward to today, that young man is now in his sixties. He became a pastor and very much is comfortable speaking in front of groups. I know that story to be true.

History is filled with similar stories of people being asked to do or not do things that caused them to pause and ponder. Maybe even wonder what the person was smoking to have made such a bizarre request. The Bible too is filled with those kinds of stories. God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son on the altar. God asking Isaiah to preach naked and barefoot (Isaiah 20:1-4). Sure glad God never asked that of me. Just sayin’! Jesus asking Simon to go back out fishing in the daylight after the fishermen had been out all night and caught nothing (Luke 5:1-11).

There is a story in the Old Testament that is one of those “What did you just say?” moments. It is found in 2 Samuel. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king, they were fearful and went looking for him. Remember Goliath? It didn’t end well for the big fella. David retreated and found a cave somewhere in southern Judah. This suggests that David had not yet taken Jerusalem, since if he was already in the city, there would be no need to “look” for him. While hiding, David inquired of the Lord, who tells David to go into battle expecting a victory. David and his troops defeated the Philistines at Baal-perazim (translated as Lord of breaking through). David credits his victory to his Lord.

The Philistines were not going down easily. They re-grouped and came at David and his troops a second time. Again, David inquires of the Lord. But, this time, instead of calling him into battle, the Lord tells David to wait. Here is what the Lord said to David – “And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, ‘You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.’” 

I encourage to read the full narrative by clicking here.  

Say what? Wait until I hear marching in the treetops? I am sure that when David told his troops what God had said, they did not say good answer, good answer. They likely thought David was nuts. What was he smoking? Wait until the enemy can see us? We are dead ducks. But the text tells us that David waited, trusting what the Lord said to him. And we know that when the marching was heard, David and his troops attacked the Philistines, defeating them again.

What can we take from this seemingly bizarre encounter between David and his Lord? How about this – David inquires of the Lord. He waits for the Lord to answer. He obeys, even when the answer wasn’t good answer, good answer. He experiences victory. He remembers where the victory was won (Baal-perazim). He gives credit where credit is due.

So, what do you do when you need guidance, when you need a breakthrough, when you need a victory, when you stand at your Baal-perazim, do you inquire of the Lord, do you wait upon Him, do you obey, even when answer from the Lord is anything but good answer, good answer? 

So, what do you do when your answer from the Lord is anything but good answer, good answer? 

Note from Dave: I will be taking a few days off from writing to rest, recharge, and quiet my soul. Look for new content mid next week.

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