Everyone has dropped a glass or a plate and seen the glass shatter into a million pieces. It might have been just a momentary lack in judgment or a little stumble over something on the floor, but the result is a mess that can not be cleaned up. Even if you collected all the pieces and somehow glued them all back together again, you could never recreate the original.
That was the picture I got as I read 1 Samuel 2:9-10 this morning. It is part of Hannah’s prayer of praise to God for granting her a son:
“He will protect his faithful ones, but the wicked will disappear in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone. Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered. He thunders against them from heaven; the Lord judges throughout the earth. He gives power to his king; he increases the strength of his anointed one.” – 1 Samuel 2:9-10 (NLT)
Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered. In the context, Hannah is talking about the “wicked” that intentionally fight God and His will. But Jesus said that those who were not with Him were against Him (Luke 11:23). Jesus seems to indicate that there are two choices: Choose to be with Him or choose to be against Him. Work with Him or fight against Him.
He didn’t seem to leave much “wiggle room”. I don’t think His theology would have much room for an agnostic. We either believe and obey Him…or we are against Him. Scripture, including 1 Samuel 2:9, is clear that those that are not with God will be “shattered” in the end.
I don’t want to be shattered.
I was struck this morning that when I try to “succeed by strength alone”, I am fighting against the Lord. When I jump into a project, a conversation or a plan for the day without consulting Him about it, I am fighting against Him. When I fight against Him, things get shattered. It isn’t that I intentionally fought against God, but the result is the same.
Fortunately, unlike the broken glass, God can turn shattered pieces into a masterpiece of art. He can take the shattered pieces of our mistakes and turn them into things of beauty. If we only ask, He will make us clean again.
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. - 1 John 1:9 (NLT)
I needed a reminder today not to fight against God, and a reminder to ask Him for forgiveness when I do.
I don’t want to stay shattered. Thank you God that You don’t want me too either!
1 comment
Lynette says:
September 9, 2009 at 8:48 am (UTC -5 )
Tom, Thank you for the reminder to always consult God before doing anything and everything!! It is so easy not to and it is also so easy to do; unfortunately is it also too easy to just rush through the day w/o giving God a second thought. Consulting God first does make life seem much easier though.