‘The End’

2 Samuel 20:1 ESV

Now there happened to be there a worthless man, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite. And he blew the trumpet and said, “We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to his tents, O Israel!”

There he was hanging from a tree. His body writhing and wiggling trying to get free. He hears the familiar voice of his neighbor. Knowing that dome is imminent, he attempts one last burst of emotion but to no avail, his neighbor soon executes him and all his hope is lost. A statue in the desert is left to mark his name. So ended the rebellion of Absalom against his father by the hand of Joab, his cousin and neighbor. It is easy to see and believe this is where David’s trouble ended. He quickly came back to Jerusalem and began the “Golden Age” of the Israelite Kingdom, but that is just not how it works. David must be rebuked by his wicked nephew for his disregard for the lives of those loyal to him. The people still dissatisfied with his reign as King must be convinced to bring him back, and then on the best of days for David, a day of joy and gladness, strife between Israel and Judah erupts.

Sheba uses the strife and frustration to his advantage and looks to start another rebellion. Done with his wicked commander David demotes Joab and establishes Amasa as the commander of the army, and sends him to gather troops and destroy Sheba. Joab then murders Amasa, his cousin, and takes his position as head of the Army, has Sheba killed and then returns to Jerusalem, but is that the end…

I enjoy well told stories. I enjoy watching good guys win, bad guys get justice, and the wonderful lines that used to come at the conclusion of the movie, in large bold script over the sunset sky “The End”. This love is probably one reason I detest sequels so much. They take a good ending and destroy it to make another buck. In novels and movies, I seek to be entertained and leave or finish them with the false delusion that all is right in the world, a certain amount of escapism I must admit. This is why the bible is not like other books. It is life. The end does not occur until the end of time, and then it is but a beginning for those of us who follow Christ.

When is the battle over, when do I rest from the work? Rest In Peace, I have seen attached to memes and tributes to the late Justice Ginsberg, yet I have also heard repots of her being distraught and anxious thinking that her replacement on the court would be chosen by President Trump. Contrasted with Justice Scalia’s death four years earlier, simply going to sleep one night and not waking up. We must realize that peace in how it turns out can not be linked to who is President or who controls the Senate but in a sovereign God who works all things for his glory. I here Liberals weep and moan, while conservatives are practically salivating, one thing both need to realize is that no matter how great the victory or the loss, ‘The End’ is not emblazoned on the sky, yet.  Conservatives may when this battle but many more await them. Our ‘rest’ is in the Lord, not court nominations, senate victories, or Presidential campaigns.

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name, of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO