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Because He First Loved You

April 24, 2024 by conrad

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn’t speak
You were my eyes when I couldn’t see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach
You gave me faith ’cause you believed
I’m everything I am
Because you loved me

Celine Dion, Because You Loved Me

The lyrics to this Celine Dion classic are a wonderful encapsulation of how God walks for us, speaks for us, sees for us. I’ve said before that the “Heroes of the Faith” were not incredible men and women of valour who God chose because of their qualifications. They were simply used by him and became notable in history as a result. And those we remember most fondly are the ones who worked to recognize their place and position and power relative to the God who placed, positioned, and empowered them. David does just that when he gets a word from God via Nathan the prophet. David says that he was chosen by God without merit, in the same way the Israel as a nation was chosen without merit. He simply picked them out (well, Abraham, really) and chose to bless them and fulfils promises through them.

Let’s seek to give thanks to the God who chose us, who died for us, who loves us, and who saves us. He makes us into more than we could hope to be on our own and we need to be careful not to take the blessings of God for granted and start getting high on our own abilities. Recognize the source of your skills, abilities, and success.

2 Samuel 7:1-8:14; 1 Chronicles 17:1-18:13; Ps 60 | 114/365

In Defence of Michal

April 23, 2024 by conrad

This story is a famous one, which produced the Matt Redman-penned worship chorus “Undignified”. The Ark of the Covenant is finally returning to Jerusalem and there is a grand celebration. I imagine it like the arrival of Prince Ali into Agrabah in Disney’s “Aladdin”. And there is David dancing and singing and praising the God who had anointed, protected, delivered, and sustained him through countless battles and difficult decisions. Meanwhile, his first wife — Michael — is scowling from her second-floor window, then she comes down to meet David. He is wearing an exuberant grin while she accuses him of being undignified and unbecoming of a king. The last we are told of Michael comes in 2 Samuel 6:23 where she remains childless until her death.

Over the years I have continually heard how terrible Michael is here. The angry, bitter, queen of sourpuss castle. Yet, every time I read this story it breaks my heart. Here is a woman who has been little more than a political pawn her entire life. First Saul uses the promise of her hand in marriage to lure David into a situation where he will hopefully be killed (but David kills 200 Philistines), then she betrays her father to successfully help David escape… yet he never returns for her. Instead he marries two other women. So she re-marries. Then some time later David decides he wants her back, and so she is torn from the arms of her current husband in a dramatic scene that would tug the heartstrings of even the most calloused individual. This excellent article by the Gospel Coalition summarizes Michael’s life thusly:

Used. Abandoned. A victim of infidelities. Rejected. Scorned. Kidnapped. This just about sums up Michal’s life.

Lynne Moses, https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org/article/coping-with-a-husbands-betrayal-a-lesson-from-michal/

Michal did not see God’s victories. She didn’t see God’s provision. She saw a man who already had two other wives, forcefully bring her back into his home, then add many more wives again. She knew little of God and of grace and David failed her. That’s right. David failed her. This confrontation was an opportunity to see how hurt she was. How far from God. How he had not taken care of her needs (never mind paying ANY attention to Deuteronomy 17:17). David didn’t need to apologize for dancing, but he DID need to apologize for being a poor husband to his wife.

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: David is regarded as great by history BECAUSE God used Him. Sometimes we think David was a great man. False. David was a man who was deeply flawed (as each of us are), but who sought the Lord. David did a poor job of shoring up his weak side, and we will continue to see how this becomes his downfall, and indeed even the downfall of his son.

Just because David did many good things doesn’t mean we need to give him a pass for the bad things he did. There were warning signs along the way to Bathsheba, and he ignored them. He blew through the stop sign then found himself in a wreck. It’s hardly surprising. Perhaps if he had taken batter care of his first wife, he could have finished his race with a better win-loss record.

He need to live in a way that communicates the Gospel with those we love. I would be heartbroken as a pastor if my wife and kids felt like I cared more about the church than I did about them. If they were bitter at God not because of HIS actions, but because of MINE. Let’s make sure we take care of those in our own households, too.

2 Samuel 6:12-23; 1 Chronicles 15-16 | 113/365

What’s Your Vector of Attack?

April 22, 2024 by conrad

While David is separated from Michal (who helped saved his life in his flight from Saul) he married two other women. And here again we are told that he gathered “more” wives and concubines. Most of David’s life and actions… 99% (probably MORE than that if we’re going by word count) is upright, virtuous, and worthy of emulation. The way he desires unity, honours the Lord, and seeks His counsel in every leadership decision is commendable. But here we have him amassing wives, in fairly straightforward contravention of Deuteronomy 17:17’s command for kings not to take many wives.

If you know the story of David, you know that this chink in his armour — this Achilles’ heel — will lead to the biggest and most egregious series of sins and terrible decisions that will leave an indelible scar on his story for the rest of time.

I remember years ago hearing famous evangelist Greg Laurie talk about the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) and cleverly referring to them as Gold, Glory, and Girls/Guys. Every sin boils down to one of these three. And one of them is your weakness. One of them is your vector of attack. And when Satan comes for you, he isn’t going to go after your strong side. He’s going after your weak side! Shore up the area where you are most vulnerable. Take every thought captive (1 Corinthians 10:5) and force it into submission to Christ. Like anything else, you need to train the part of you that is weak to become strong. Find an accountability partner, talk openly about those things which represent your vector of attack. Allow the sunlight to prevent the mold of sin from forming in your life.

I guess what I’m saying is: don’t struggle alone and hope it goes away. Take practical steps to defend the weakest part of you against attacks and temptations from Satan.

2 Samuel 5:1-6:11; 1 Chronicles 3:4, 11:1-9, 12:23-40, 13:1-14, 14:1-2, 8-17 | 112/365

What’s In It For Me?

April 21, 2024 by conrad

From David’s early life, it’s easy to see why he became so beloved. His respect for God’s plan and timing, his patience, his loyalty, his desire for peace, his goal of unity in the kingdom of Israel. Quite a stark difference from Saul’s near-mad behaviour, likely due to the tormenting spirit sent by God. I personally imagine this spirit to be less of a malevolent being causing mischief in Saul’s mind and more of a withdrawing of the grace of God that had previously protected Saul from his natural tendencies. But either way these two kings ran things quite differently. And when we look at the wider behaviour throughout the kingdom we can see why David stood out above the pack (and why he loved Jonathan so much — his heart was also for the Lord and for unity in Israel).

Ishbosheth (Saul’s son) accuses Abner (Saul’s general) of having an affair with his wife. While Abner never actually denies it (at least according to what’s recorded) he does get quite upset with the accusation and switches to David’s side. Abner offers to use his political connections to bring the other tribes to the unification table. David is fine with this.

BUT Joab (David’s general) does like this and executes a plot to kill Abner. Upon learning of Abner’s death David mourns and curses Joab and his brother for what they’ve done. David is NOT fine with this.

THEN a pair of brothers (Recab and Baanah, Ishbosheth’s captains) plot to kill Ishbosheth. They do so successfully and bring his head to David in another attempt to curry favour. They are executed for this act. David is NOT fine with this.

David is trying to bring unity, but everyone else is just looking out for #1. Motivated by personal sleight, revenge, or political power. And all of these motivations result in death and destruction!

This is a powerful reminder in our own lives. If we are just chasing things that bring us pleasure rather than seeking the Lord, what we are ACTUALLY chasing is our own destruction. Now, it may not come as quickly as it did for Joab, Abner, Recab, and Baanah, but it will come. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on the Lord and leave the rest up to Him.

2 Samuel 3:6-4:12 | 111/365

David Pours One Out

April 20, 2024 by conrad

This account strike anyone else as weird?

David was thirsty and said, “How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate!” So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate. They carried it back to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the Lord and said, “O Lord, I will not do this! It is equivalent to the blood of the men who risked their lives by going.” So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors. 

2 Samuel 23:15–17, NET

Why would David pour out his desired drink offering — one for which his greatest warriors, The Three, risked their lives? It doesn’t make any sense! I looked for guidance from serval online resources, but struggled to find any explanation that rang true. Lots of talk about the comparison to blood and how the Law would not allow Israelites to drink the blood. Another suggestion was that the water was “too good for [David]”. This still didn’t really seem to fit for me. Then I stumbled upon another brother who had the same problem, the late Jay Guin. He pointed me to a commentary by one Hamilton Smith which reads:

Many would have been ready to risk their lives in carrying out some service for the benefit of the kingdom; but these mighty men were ready to face death in order to do something that was wholly for the gratification of the desire of David. They broke through the host of the Philistines, drew water from the well, and brought it to David. This act of devotion delighted the heart of David, and he sees in it a sacrifice of which the Lord alone is worthy. Hence, refusing to drink the water, he pours it out before the Lord.

Edification Vol. 6, 1932, page 169.

It seems entirely plausible to me that David felt these men risking their lives for a whim of his was not appropriate. Their lives could only be laid down in service of the LORD, not of David’s wants and desires (seems David would soften his position on that later) and so he took the plunder acquired by these great warriors and poured it out to the Lord. Thus giving their battle, victory, and possible sacrifice back to Him — the ONLY one who was worthy of such risk and effort.

Let’s make sure that we, likewise, use our most valuable resources on the most valuable things: Jesus and His Gospel.

2 Samuel 2:1-3:5, 23:8-39; 1 Chronicles 11:10-47 | 110/365

LATEST SERMON

Ruth 2:2-9a

Bold as Love

Manuscript All sermons

songcraft

Intro:
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Verse One:
I have always been the one to corronate the king
To put him on his throne and in charge of everything
He said he’ll always rule the court benevolently
He said he’ll overlook my flaws
Hallelujah

Verse Two:
The king’s command is just as he rules over the land
From me he asks one simple thing: that I would choose to stand
For he has heard it from the Lord that we must all defend
Never to withdrawl
Hallelujah

Verse Three:
He told us of the outside world where heathens did abound
They celebrated sin, yes, we were told so by the crown
They were doomed to damnation, should not have them around
They might corrupt us all
Hallelujah

Verse Four:
We stood and watched the heathens from the towers of the gate
We know they’ll try to break it down, one day they’ll penetrate
So we cannot sit back and watch lest it become too late
It was a rally call
Hallelujah

Verse Five:
We had to win some converts by an edict of the court
So grab your swords and muskets, boys, we’re riding with the Lord
If they refuse our gift of love, we’ll rend them with the sword
Love at the end of a gun
Hallelujah

Verse Six:
One by one they turned us down and so we ran them through
Sent them to the damnation that they were destined to
We just followed orders, did what we were asked to do
For the King has the ear of God
Hallelujah

Verse Seven:
As I watched the last of them be rolled into their graves
I stood upon this land of theirs, that for the king we’d claimed
And I began to wonder: did we need it anyway?
Was I proud of what I’d done?
Hallelujah

Verse Eight:
So I sought an audience with his majesty
That he would dain to entertain a lowly serf like me
I watched his face tighten as I sought for clarity
Then he stood up tall
Hallelujah

Verse Nine:
He straightened out his arm and threw his finger in my face
He declared disloyalty and labelled me disgrace
The rhetoric of brotherhood has fallen by the way
Execution for treason
Hallelujah

Verse Ten:
And as I stood before the Lord and maker of us all
There was such sadness in his eyes for all the pain I caused
He said his heart breaks for me, too, because I chose him not
How could I be so wrong?
Hallelujah

Verse Eleven:
Now as the darkness covers me and as I fade away
For my brothers and my sisters in the kingdom I do pray
The king knows nothing of the Lord, we’ve all been led astray
The King, he is a fraud
The state, it is his god
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Backstory

I was inspired by the religious love some people have for their political leaders while listening to The Ballad of Hollis Brown by Bob Dylan. I think when we try to marry the church and the state it more often than not leads to the state getting priority. It’s good to take your civic duties seriously and to vote for policies that align with your faith, beliefs, and worldview. But the State makes a terrible God.

Song Info

Author: Conrad MacIntyre
Feel: Folk Ballad
Tempo: 104bpm
Key: D Major
Time: 4/4

Ballad of the King, The

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Bernardin

Newell Brands came to the agency I worked for — ideaLEVER — and needed a new website for their Bernardin brand jars. I was tasked with the project, and it was a huge one. I enjoyed it, though and had a tremendous amount of fun solving some of the biggest "problems" created by our designer. She, of course, is more concerned with the appearance and how user-interactions worked, and I was tasked with bringing that vision to life. It was a great project, but alas, like so many things on the web, that version has since been replaced and much of my problem-solving went with it. But I'm still proud of the work I did. Using HTML, SASS, JavaScript, Gulp, Grunt, Git, and all on a .NET stack.

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Video projects

I’ve always loved the 1990 “IT” miniseries. I taped it off TV when it originally aired and it stayed in my collection for years; until the tape wore out. Now I have a Blu-Ray copy. The director’s commentary is wonderful, by the way. So, it is announced that the new “IT” re-adaptation is coming out in September of 2017. Of course, I’m super excited to see what this will look like with modern effects and budgets. My take? It was fine. Without Stephen King’s insane, coked-out, sex-pervert novel as the source material and especially without the iconic miniseries and work of Tim Curry (and — I would argue — Jonathan Brandis), I doubt folks turn out in droves for it after the string of poor King adaptations recently (Cell, Carrie, Dark Tower, etc)....

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