History - Written by the Victors

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 8

The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal was the father of Micah. (1 Chronicles 8.34)

Devotional Thought: We are venturing back to the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles today.  This book, written by the historians of the Davidic monarchy, was careful to include "the son of Jonathan... Merib-baal." 

Why is that noteworthy?  Winston Churchill once said, "History is written by the victors."  Dan Brown, in his bombshell book The Da Vinci Code, captured that sentiment: "History is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books-books which glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe." The Bible is not like that.  There is room for both winners and losers in God's history because there is a place for both winners and losers in God's kingdom!

Merib-baal is the Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel: the son of Jonathan, the son of King Saul.  Saul was the professed enemy of David.  It would have been acceptable in David's day to proclaim of Merib-baal, Jonathan, or Saul, "May his name and memory be obliterated."  Instead David sought out Merib-baal and gave him a seat at the royal table.

This is good news for you and me.  God, the ultimate winner, is writing history.  He would be justified in writing of us, "May their names and their memories be obliterated."  Instead, God has chosen to write our names in the Lamb's Book of Life for we have been adopted into his eternal family.

There is a great move in western culture to reframe civilization in more politically correct ways.  While history has been written by yesterday's winners, it is being re-written by today's winners, working to expunge all past "losers" from the public landscape.  I am so thankful that God has not obliterated my name from his kingdom!

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that though I was once an enemy of God, you took me in and gave me a seat at the table.  Now I dine with the King of kings and Lord of lords!  Grant that I, too, would reach arms of love around the "losers" of today's culture.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 39:7-13

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

8 Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools.

9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this.

10 Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand.

11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth— surely everyone is but a breath.

12 “Hear my prayer, LORD, listen to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping. I dwell with you as a foreigner, a stranger, as all my ancestors were.

13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again before I depart and am no more.”