The Citizen, 2015-08-20, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2015.
By Pastor Ernest Dow
Living Water Christian
Fellowship, Blyth
What do you look for most in a
leader? Someone who seems to have
it all together, is perfectly poised and
coiffed, and seems to know all the
right things to say?
It’s all too easy for leaders
amongst humans to become arrogant
and puffed up, to be “full of hot air”,
all show and no substance. Jesus
Christ shows us leadership can
sometimes mean leading as a servant
all the way to the cross. It’s not
about letting power go to your head.
Arnold Glasgow said, “A good
leader takes a little more than his
share of blame; a little less than his
share of credit.”
Those who knew Prince Philip,
husband of Queen Elizabeth, might
say he was a leader who was not just
a stuffed shirt. Before becoming
prince, he worked his way up
through the ranks in the Royal Navy.
He was commander of a frigate
(HMS Magpie) and served in senior
leadership capacity on other vessels.
My father-in-law, who was a
detective at Scotland Yard in the
early 1960s, recalls hearing the story
of Prince Philip touring the old
Scotland Yard sometime in the late
1950s. Having been in the navy,
Prince Philip was familiar with
inspections and how some areas
received more emphasis in
preparation, and others less. While
touring the Yard, he voiced a need to
use a washroom. Someone
recommended a washroom that was
just a little further on and (probably)
well prepared for such a
contingency, given the prominence
of the visiting dignitary. But Prince
Philip, likely with a twinkle in his
eye, said something like, “No, I
think I spotted one just back there...”
and proceeded to search it out. It, of
course, had not received the special
cleaning! This caused some humour
amongst the lower-ranking police,
and endeared him to them, as it
showed the Prince was nonetheless
familiar with how things often got
done – or didn’t get done – on the
job where the “common folk” lived.
As centuries earlier Israel’s King
David responded to difficulties in his
life, we see a real contrast between
this true king’s approach, and that of
his rebel son who groomed his
profile and attempted to seize the
throne.
Absalom, David’s son, had a big
head. His hair was exceptional. “In
all Israel there was not a man so
highly praised for his handsome
appearance as Absalom. From the
top of his head to the sole of his foot
there was no blemish in him.
Whenever he cut the hair of his head
– he used to cut his hair from time to
time when it became too heavy for
him – he would weigh it, and its
weight was two hundred shekels by
the royal standard.” (2Samuel 14:25-
26) The NIV text note approximates
this as “about 5 pounds (2.3 kg)”.
This guy ranked as ‘virile plus’!
Today our culture takes a hairy
chest as a sign of manliness;
Absalom’s admirers were in awe of
his mop. He would have stood out in
a crowd. Unfortunately, good
appearance can also predispose a
person to arrogance, smugness, self-
centredness and conceit.
Absalom began acting like a big
shot. He started augmenting his
profile, like a movie star might drive
around in a flashy convertible. “In
the course of time, Absalom
provided himself with a chariot and
horses and with 50 men to run ahead
of him.” (2Sam.15:1)
The NIV Study Bible notes, “As
far as is known, Absalom was the
first Israelite leader to acquire a
chariot and horses.” Unlike his
father, David, who used more
pedestrian modes of transportation,
Absalom engaged horses and a
chariot, and not one or two, but 50
bodyguards! You sure knew he was
coming down the street. It’s all about
image, pomp, show, making a
splash. Interestingly, what are two
key factors in his demise? His long
hair (which gets him hung up in a
tree) and riding a mule (without
which he might not have gotten
caught in the branches).
Absalom looked at his own image
in the mirror – that beautiful head of
heavy hair, the shiny chariot, the 50
men trumpeting his approach – and
he made the mistake of starting to
believe his own press releases. He
worshipped himself and supposed
HE deserved to be king! But as Paul
notes (Romans 1:21ff), when we
refuse to glorify God, our values
become inverted, distorted, perverse;
our thinking becomes wise, and our
foolish hearts are darkened.
In contrast to Absalom’s big-shot
arrogance, note King David’s
humility. Having heard of Absalom’s
uprising, David hurries to flee
Jerusalem, taking his family with
him, sparing the city so innocent
lives aren’t drawn into the fray and
slaughtered. “But David continued
up the Mount of Olives, weeping as
he went; his head was covered and
he was barefoot. All the people with
him covered their heads too and
were weeping as they went up.”
(2Sam.15:30)
Absalom shows off his Clairol-
sheeny heavy-hairedness, but David
covers his head as a sign of
mourning and humbling, walking in
bare feet – no chariots and horses
here. He stayed down at the people’s
level, degrading his appearance to
make it clear he was sorrowful,
unpretentious, relying on God not
his own strength or wisdom.
Did you know we have a humble
Saviour? Jesus called and promised,
“Come to me, all you who are weary
and burdened, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you and
learn from me, for I am gentle and
humble in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls.” (Matthew
11:28f)
David’s resignation to be pelted
with stones and dirt and treated
shamefully by a critic named Shimei
(2Sam.16:5-8) shows David trusts
God absolutely to be the Judge, to
settle the score, to keep track of any
wrongs done to us and put things
right. If it’s discipline that’s
warranted, David can accept it, as
from the Lord’s hand. He has faith
God sees it all, is watching and
waiting.
Can we do the same when we are
wronged? Have you been pelted by
any verbal ‘rocks’ this past week?
How about curse words, or
denounced injustly for things you
didn’t actually do? Isn’t it all too
easy to lash back, to let fly verbal
missiles of your own to counter-
attack and defend your honour?
The apostle Paul wrote, “Do not
repay anyone evil for evil...Do not
take revenge, my friends, but leave
room for God’s wrath, for it is
written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will
repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans
12:17,19) Absorb the hurt as King
Jesus absorbed the whipping and
pain of crucifixion to pay for your
sins. Trust God to look after
payback. His sense of justice, and
His record-keeping, are far better
than yours.
CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS
MINISTER
Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div.
All Welcome
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224
Sunday, August 23
See the Play Hear the Sermon “Mary’s Wedding”
Sunday, August 30
See the Play Hear the Sermon “Fury”
Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m.
MUSIC DIRECTOR
Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.
Children
Welcome
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Elwin Garland
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23
Nursery care available
519-887-9017
Worship & Sunday School - 10 am
Coffee & Snacks - 11 am
We invite you to join our church family in:
Fridays 11:30 am - 1:00 pm ~ Soup & More 2
- a free community meal held in Melville’s basement, and
made possible by the Brussels churches working together.
BRUSSELS
WORSHIP SERVICE
AND SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 am
All Welcome
United Church
Minister: Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M.Div.
Bulletin notices: 519-523-4224
blythunited@tcc.on.ca
Church bookings: 519-887-6377
Other concerns: 226-963-1175
HURON CHAPEL …. every Sunday @ 10:30am in Auburn
huronchapel.com
Youre Invited
to come worship
with us
Sunday, August 23
Brussels Business & Cultural Centre
at 10:30 a.m. and at various homes
at 6:30 p.m. from July 5 to Sept. 6
Sunday School for children
4 to 12 years of age at 9:30 a.m.
Childcare provided for infants and
preschoolers during the sermon.
Coffee & cookies after the morning service.
For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621
Steve Klumpenhower 519.292.0965 Rick Packer 519.527.0173
SUNDAYS
Morning Service 10:00 am
Evening Service 7:30 pm
Hwy. 4, Blyth www.blythcrc.ca 519-523-4743
Minister: Pastor Gary van Leeuwen
You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
From the Minister’s Study
Jesus is a king who connects us: Dow
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