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Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Opus 2019-229: Will the Real Trump Please Stand Up

Is President Trump our David, Ahab or Tiglath Pileser?

I come to this question because I am currently reading through the life of the Biblical David in First and Second Samuel.  I read this with another phrase in mind that comes from the New Testament.
(Act 13:22 KJV) And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
David is called a man after God’s own heart.  As I read his life I find that a genuine mystery. 

David does not stand out as a paragon of virtue.  One of his early acts as king involved adultery with Bathsheba and the following murder of her husband.  He had people killed in what we would consider murder.  He looked the other way when a son raped a daughter by a different wife.  He was a miserable example of a father. 

And yet God thought he was special.  God used him as the leader of Israel. 

Ahab is best known as the husband of Jezebel.  She was a notorious piece of work.  Literate people today still know that being called a Jezebel is an insult.  Tiglath Pileser was instrumental in bringing down the Kingdom of Israel.  They don’t get much good press but David is lifted up as a great man of God.

I see possible parallels with President Trump.  He has a lot of sin in his life.  So did David.  He rubs a lot of people the wrong way.  So did David.  Yet I think in his heart of hearts he is a man who loves America and is committed to doing his best for her.  I believe that it is possible that he recognizes his flaws and is working on them.  That is between him and God.  I obviously am not a part of the conversation.

Yet it is that heart that might match up with David.  Both are a long way from perfect and yet each has a heart that is committed to what is right.

Possible? 

homo unius libri

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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.