April 21
2 Samuel 3:6-4:12
Though popular, one of the most dangerous phrases is “doing things for the greater good”. What this essentially means is that you are about to embark in something that you know is wrong, but despite this due to your own self-imposed morality you are rendering this wrong decision right. Everyone in healthcare knows the importance of having loved ones physically present and engaged with their ill loved one in a hospital setting or long-term care facility. There is no better advocate. They offer hope to the ill individual. When things go wrong they are often the first to recognize and call for assistance. There is nothing like a personal touch. Doing FaceTime and phone calls is a very poor substitute. Yet during the pandemic people were excluded from visiting their loved ones in long term care facilities. There will be no studies, we will never know just how many deaths or worse outcomes have been due to “the greater good” of isolation to protect the visitors, the staff, and “flatten the curve” which was flattened well before the restrictions were eased up.
We read of Abner, the commander of Israel’s army in 2 Samuel 3:6, “ As the war between the house of Saul and the house of David went on, Abner became a powerful leader among those loyal to Saul.“ The desire for power can be a huge reason for doing things “for the greater good”. But after Abner is insulted by Saul’s son, Ishbosheth, in his response we see what Abner knew all along in 3:9-10, “ May God strike me and even kill me if I don’t do everything I can to help David get what the Lord has promised him! I’m going to take Saul’s kingdom and give it to David. I will establish the throne of David over Israel as well as Judah, all the way from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south.” Not only did he know it, but so did everyone else as we read his comments to Israel’s elders in 3:17-18, “ Meanwhile, Abner had consulted with the elders of Israel. “For some time now,” he told them, “you have wanted to make David your king. Now is the time! For the Lord has said, ‘I have chosen David to save my people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and from all their other enemies.’” The truth was David was anointed long ago and everyone knew God’s hand was on David. Yet years went by that Abner and the leaders in the north would not acknowledge this fact because they had enjoyed their positions and power for a season.
We live in a biblically illiterate society. Being ignorant to God’s word is a choice that one makes. It is available in many translations, in the form of a book, available through numerous apps, even audibly. It has been translated into over 700 languages, and the New Testament alone into an additional 1500 languages. By reading God’s word you come to know and understand God’s authoritative view on virtually every topic. It is both current and relevant, not antiquated or irrelevant as many cynics like to say. When your “greater good” goes against God’s statements as to what is good, then to state it simply God is right and you are wrong every single time. His morals and ethics are always correct. If what you are doing, even if you are being told to, goes against God’s word then decide what it is that you care about more: your position, your position of power, your popularity, your friendships, your income, etc. Each time you make that decision, please don’t justify it, reverse course, even if unpopular. Being a sheep following an evil shepherd is really not an excuse. May we spend time in His Word, follow the Good Shepherd, then move forward daily following His principles.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: