Maybe This Is The Lord...

Or Maybe That

"That is the best knowledge which will be serviceable to us in doing our duty, and such that knowledge is which enables us to discern between good and bad, right and wrong, sin and duty, truth and falsehood, so as not to be imposed upon by false colours in judging either of others' actions or of our own." - Matthew Henry

Pastor Henry also had this to say - "It highly concerns us to have a right touchstone wherewith to try the word we hear, that we may know what that word is which the Lord has not spoken..."

In 1 Samuel 6:9, we read the words of the Philistines in saying - "And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then He hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us."

Here were a people under the severe judgment of Almighty God because they took the ark of God - which was representative of His presence among His people - into their camp. Immediately, "the hand of the LORD" lay heavily upon the men of the various cities - "both small and great" - "and they had hemorrhoids"(1 Samuel 5:9). "There was a deadly destruction" throughout all of the cities for the "hand of the God was very heavy there"(1 Samuel 5:11). 

In their plans to return the ark to the Israelites, they made "a new cart" and took "two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke," tied "the kine to the cart," and brought "their calves home from them"(1 Samuel 6:7). They took "the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold" which they returned to Him "for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof"  (1 Samuel 6:8) and directed the cart led by the cows toward Bethshemesh - a city of Judah - located in the southeast border of Dan.

Their reasoning was this - if the cows crossed the Philistine border and went into Bethshemesh - which is highly unlikely because they both would be longing for their young - then they would know that God brought this great evil upon them. Otherwise, if the cows returned to their calves, then the plague was simply a coincidence or a matter of bad luck.

Wait a minute here! Earlier, when the destruction was upon them, they readily admitted Who the source of their judgment was - "...The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for His hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god"(1 Samuel 5:7)..."They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people"(1 Samuel 5:10)..."Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to His own place, that it slay us not, and our people..."(1 Samuel 5:11).

Now, when the plague is stayed, they are not sure whether God brought the destruction or if chance was responsible - "And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then He hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us"(1 Samuel 6:9).

How many times have you heard people attribute God's attempts to get their attention to coincidence, bad luck, or chance?

You hear them say - "Maybe this was the Lord...and then again, maybe it wasn't."

The Philistines - who were heathens - lived on "Maybe" and "If" Street - that is, when it came to discerning the ways of the Lord.

But how sad it is - when God's own people - who should be in a working relationship with Him - do not have the foggiest idea what is going on in their life. They don't know if Satan is attacking or God is trying their heart.

This ought not to be!

God wants His people to know His ways.

In Deuteronomy 18:21, Moses asked a pertinent question - "And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?"

In other words, how can we detect - when a message has not come from the Lord...the true prophets from the false...or who is working for God and who is working for Satan?

It is a sure thing that God does not want His precious people to be misled by false Preachers or imposed upon by pretenders to the faith. He wants them to be able to discern a cheat when they see and hear him.

In 1 Kings 3:9, King Solomon prayed a prayer which is much needed for the Church today - "Give therefore Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people, that I may discern between good and bad..."

In other words, O God, give me a discerning heart to distinguish between right and wrong, justice and injustice, good and bad, sin and duty, or truth and a lie...a hearing heart that is inclined to do Your Will...and the ability to reason according to your Word.

In 1 Corinthians 12:10, the Apostle Paul mentioned one of the nine gifts of the Spirit as being - "discerning of spirits" - a much needed gift for today. This is an enabling of the Holy Spirit to distinguish between the works of God and demonic activity. The Spirit of God furnishes the saint with the ability to detect deception - whether or not someone is truly inspired of Him or an imposter.

And lastly, we see in Philippians 1:9 where Paul prays for the saints that they would add to their love - "knowledge" and "judgment" - discernment, perception, insight, understanding, and moral sense - "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment."

In this day and age, so many are deceived by the Love Gospel. In this particular verse, the Apostle was not talking about an ooey-gooey emotion that many consider as Christian love. He was referring to an intelligent and morally discerning love - one based on Biblical revelation and knowledge. 

It implies a knowledge that is centered on a relationship with the Lord Jesus and consists of fellowship, obedience, a lasting, unconditional commitment, and an enlarged view of divine things. It includes a love that has depth of insight that easily discerns between right and wrong...a clear moral perception of divine and social things...a proper sense of the value of things...as well as an ability to discern what is best in each situation.

"It highly concerns us to have a right touchstone wherewith to try the word we hear, that we may know what that word is which the Lord has not spoken..." 

God does not want any of His children to live on "Maybe" or "If" Street where - all day long -  they entertain doubts concerning His ways.

He has given us His Word as a touchstone and offers to all - "an understanding heart," the gift of "discerning of spirits," and His immeasurable love which consists of "knowledge" and "judgment."

We don't ever have to think - "Maybe the Lord is saying this...or maybe this is what He is saying through this situation." We can know His ways. He has made provision.

If you still remain in the dark, it is your own fault.

Connie