E-pistle for January 26, 2007
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E-pistle
Dr. Curt Scarborough, President FreeWay Foundation January 26, 2007
"UNKNOWN SOLDIERS"
(II Samuel 23)
Dr. Curt Scarborough (first written in 2002)
After World War I, the Allies (Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, and the
United States) chose symbolic unidentified soldiers, buried the remains near national
capitals, and built monuments to these Unknown Soldiers. Monuments were erected,
for example, under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, in Westminster Abbey in London,
and at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
On November 11, 1921, a white marble sarcophagus was dedicated and a
24-hour sentry was posted as an honor guard. The inscription reads: "Here rests
in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.
Unknown soldier . . . unsung heroes. The Bible contains accounts of many
such men and women. In our text (II Samuel 23), look at three such unsung heroes.
1. Eleazer (9, 10) "He arose and attacked the Philistines
until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the
sword.
2. Shammah (11, 12) "He stationed himself in the midst
of a bean field, defended it, and killed the Philistines."
3. Benaiah (20-22) "He had gone down and killed a lion
in the midst of a pit on a snowy day."
Eleazer, Shammah, Benaiah were good soldiers, and each of these warriors
teaches us a valuable lesson.
First good soldiers are faithful in spite of fatigue. Eleazer . . . like you and like
me . . . got physically and spiritually weary. Exhausted! But he fought on and on until
his hand stuck (froze) to his weapon. Real heroes keep swinging . . . "fighting the good
fight" . . . long after others have gotten tired and quit.
My wife's father, the late Rev. Floyd Jent, was such a good soldier. I have his
old sword (Bible) in my study. That old book cover has the prints of his fingers where
he gripped the Word while he preached. He left his fingerprints there, and the Bible
left its imprints on his hands, and on his heart.
Second, good soldiers are faithful in places of obscurity. Shammah . . . like
you and like me . . . had been assigned an obscure pea patch to defend. His was not
the glamorous charge into a smashing victory astride a white stallion. Rather, his
was an insignificant holding skirmish in a bean field way out in the country, ten miles
from the county seat town of Podunk Holler. Real heroes keep on fighting Philistines
in unheralded battles far away from the cheers of the crowd.
Such obscure, unsung heroes remind me of Edward Kimball, a humble Sunday
School teacher in Chicago more than a century ago. Kimball led a shoe salesman
(Dwight L. Moody) to faith in Christ. His influence continued through a half-dozen
generations of men to Billy Graham, who has preached literally to millions of people
around this world. The unknown soldier, Kimball, will share in the heavenly rewards
of the most highly regarded Christian of this century, Billy Graham.
Third, good soldiers are faithful in times of difficult circumstances. Benaiah
. . . like you and like me . . . was called on to fight in a less-than-ideal situation.
He did not use the flimsy excuses which too often come to our minds. That lion
wasn't going anywhere or harming anyone, or even threatening anyone! Besides,
it was a snowy day!
But he attacked and killed a lion in a pit. Real heroes don't wait until a
better day, when the weather is favorable. They attack the "roaring lion" enemy
anytime, anywhere!
The standing orders are, in the words of Paul to Timothy, "Preach the word!
Be ready in season and out of season." (II Timothy 4:2)
To my fellow ministers, I issue these challenges:
1. Hang on to your sword! In spiritual battle, the Bible
needs to be "frozen" to our hands.
2. Defend your own pea patch! Don't look over the fence,
wishing you were in another guys bean field. Take
care of your own pea patch, which the commander
has assigned to you.
3. Don't be a "fair weather" soldier! During the
Revolutionary War, Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet
warning the colonists not to be "summer soldiers . . .
sunshine patriots." He referred to cowardly soldiers,
who, when the shooting started, went AWOL and ran
for the hills. How much more important it is for
Christian soldiers to be faithful in battle regardless
of spiritual inclement weather!
Most of us . . . pastors, associates, denominational execs . . . are, in the eyes of
the general public, unknown soldiers. Yet, let me remind all of us that . . . unlike the
inscription to the Unknown Soldier, in Arlington Cemetery . . . our Commander-in
Chief, the Lord Jesus Christ, stands ready now to say these words: "Well done, good
and faithful soldier!"
And we're NOT UNKNOWN, BUT WELL KNOWN SOLDIERS TO HIM!
A Night on the Threshing Floor
(Ruth 3:1-18)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentrations: on the events of this chapter
1. Naomi instructed Ruth on what to do to get Boaz to take the proper
actions to bring her "security" (v. 1) by taking her as his wife, vv. 1-5.
2. Ruth went to the threshing floor, observed where Boaz lay down for
the night, and (as Naomi had instructed her) uncovered his feet and
lay down there, vv. 6-8.
3. Boaz awoke and, after some discussion, accepted Ruth's request to
become her husband and "redeemer," vv. 9-15.
4. Ruth brought Boaz' generous gift of grain back to Naomi, who
perceived that he would conclude the arrangements that very day,
vv. 16-18.
II. Meditation and Revelation: on some significant details seen here
1. "Relative" (v. 2) refers to the cultural obligation of a family member
to care for kinfolk who have suffered loss. The expression "kinsman-
redeemer" is often used to convey the idea of the combination of a
human relationship with a divinely appointed "recoverer" who was
qualified to "redeem" another relative from slave status or recoup
property once owned but now lost by reason of indebtedness.
2. Ruth "uncovered his feet" (v. 7): The obvious purpose was that the
chill of the night would awaken Boaz, and he would discover her
at his feet. "Was startled" (v. 8) may be translated, "shivered with cold."
3. "Under your wing" (v. 9) is literally "spread the corner of your garment
over" . . . referencing the ancient Middle Eastern custom of casting a
garment over one being claimed for marriage. This act does not imply
anything so inappropriate as a midnight sexual encounter!
4. Although Ruth took the initiative in approaching Boaz (probably
because he was shy due to their age difference, v. 10) her actions
should not be seen as seductive and inconsistent with the spiritual
nobility of the book. To the contrary, Boaz' words, "You are a
virtuous woman," (v. 11), make it clear that he believed her to be
highly moral. "Do not let it be known" (v. 14) was a precaution to avoid
the possibility of anyone's misunderstanding of Ruth's actions that night.
III. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Assume the personal responsibility of caring for my needy relatives.
2. Be respectful and obedient to the God-honoring advice given by my elders.
3. Rest in peace and assurance "under the wings" of my Redeemer, Almighty
God, Psalm 36:7; Matthew 23:37.
4. Live a life of purity and virtue, taking care that observers are not offended
or led astray by the questionable "appearances" of my innocent actions,
I Thessalonians 5:22.
Personal & Practical Devotional Lifeskills
- Fasting: at least one meal each week
Matthew 6:16-18; Matthew 17:20-21; Isaiah 58:3-7
2. Praying: confession and intercession, "without ceasing" . . .
at least three times daily . . . using the Model Prayer
Psalm 55:17; I Thessalonians 5:17; Matthew 6:9-13; I John 1:9
3. Singing: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs . . .
making melody in your heart continually
Ephesians 5:18; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13
4. Praising: speaking words to magnify the Lord
at least seven times daily
Psalm 119:164; Psalm 150:1-6; Hebrews 13:15; Revelation 19:5
5. Reading: God's word daily . . . through the entire Bible annually
II Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12
6. Meditating: daily on the spiritual truths and implications
in each chosen Scripture passage
Psalm 19:14; Philippians 4:8
7. Receiving: the Holy Spirit's fullness, enlightenment,
revelation, renewal, refreshing, and power daily
John 14:26; Ephesians 1:17-19; 5:18; James 1:5; I John 2:20, 27
8. Journaling: daily writing personal reflections, revelations
experiences, and spiritual applications
Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Jeremiah 30:2; Habakkuk 2:2
(Note: These devotional lifeskills are at the core of the Spiritual Mentoring
Track of the Pillsbury College & Seminary)
"Love is supreme and unconditional;
Like is nice but limited."
-Duke Ellington
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