Protected

After 2 Samuel 9:1-13 

Protected by his friend,

saved to avert his murder

at the hands of the king,

he shares a covenant,

house to house, a love

again demonstrated 

by the acknowledgement

of what had to happen.

The relationship was sealed

in promise and love, and

he showed that love and

he showed that faithfulness,

by protecting the son

of his friend, and more so,

by blessing the son

of his friend.

 

Photograph by Jed Owen via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Sunday Readings

 

Into the Unknown – Melissa Edgington at Your Mom Has a Blog.

 

Is Joy in Jess a Christian Obligation? – John Piper at Desiring God.

A kindness shown

After 2 Samuel 9:1-13 

A kindness shown,

a steadfast love displayed,

to the son of his friend

slain in battle,

the grandson of the man

who tried to kill him,

a kindness shown

because it was time 

to forgive.

 

And more than kindness,

an honor, a tribute

to the friend he loved,

one soul in two bodies,

severed. Some might

have eliminated all and

any potential rivals;

instead, he showed

kindness, she showed

mercy, he showed

blessing.

 

Photograph by Masjid Pogung Dalangan via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“A Message for the New Baby,” poem by Luci Shaw – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

Four Advent Villanelles by Anna Friedrich – The Rabbit Room.

 

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” – Anthony Esolen at Word and Song.

 

The Empty Chair at Christmas – Daniel Darling at One Little Word.

 

“On Change of Weather,” poem by Francis Quarles – Sally Thomas at Poems Ancient and Modern.

A friend

After 1 Samuel 18:1-5 

Two souls, knit

together as one,

two souls loving

each other as one,

the exalted one

loving the lower one.

A covenant made,

a prince’s robe given,

a prince’s armor given,

a prince’s sword given,

a prince’s bow and belt given,

the lower one so honored

that he fought and conquered,

proving worth and valor,

a prince’s blessing given,

a king’s blessing given.

 

Photograph by Thiago Barietta via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“Autumn Wealth,” poem by Kristijonas Donelaitis – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

The Theology That Forgot Christ – Lara d’Entremont at A Mother Held. 

 

Are We Under Spiritual Attack? – Andrew Klavan.

 

Events for St. Edward the Confessor – Westminster Abbey.

Lament for a friend

After 2 Samuel 1:17-27 

The brother of his soul

lies fallen on the field

of battle, fallen along

side his father, both

struck down, bodies

now becoming one

with dust. He sings

his song of grief

for his friend, the one

who loved him even

knowing he would

take his place. He

remembers the kindness,

always shown; he

remembers the love,

always extraordinary,

always faithful, always

expressed. He remembers

the love and he weeps

for the loss, the loss

of the friend

who loved him.

 

Photograph by Gabriel via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

On the Holy Spirit’s Wondrous Consolation – poem by Catharina Regina von Greiffenberg at Kingdom Poets (D.S. Martin).

 

A Might Fortress – poem by Brian Yapko at Society of Classical Poets.

 

Poetry Friends, Jody Collins – Megan Willome. 

 

5 Poems I’m Memorizing – Jonathan Threlfall. 

A friend

After I Samuel 18:1-5 

He hears the words

spoken to his father,

simple words that

identify, and he is

so struck by what

he hears that his soul

knits to the speaker’s.

They become as one,

not two. They make

a covenant, a pledge,

a promise of friendship

and faithfulness with

each other. He gives

him his robe, he gives

him his armor, he gives

him his sword and bow

and belt. The son 

of the king turned

from his father

to his friend.

 

Photograph by Mohammad Mardani via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“Abraham and the Binding of Isaac” and “A Far, Far Better Thing” – poems by Brian Yapko at The Society of Classical Poets.

 

Archangel Explains – Poem by Pamela Mordecai at Kingdom Poets (D.S. Martin).

 

Tribes, Trolls, and the Power of Technology – Jason Thacker.

 

The Good Riddle, poem by G.K. Chesterton – Malcolm Guite.

 

Ghosts Come and Go – three poems by Kerry O’Connor at Skylover. 

Finding Poetry: An Interview with Poet Rick Maxson -- Tweetspeak Poetry.

The Conflict of Interest That Saved David’s Life

The idea of a conflict of interest goes back to at least Babylonian times, when judges were forbidden from accepting bribes from people involved in legal disputes. (Yes, this sounds like a no-brainer, but it must have been a significant enough problem for it to be forbidden.) The origin of the phrase "conflict of interest" is less certain, but it was in use in the English language by the 1740s, primarily in a legal context.

One of the best examples of conflict of interest occurs in the book of 1 Samuel. And yet the account never raises the question itself.

It's a familiar story. Jonathan, the son of Saul, is the friend of David. That friendship saves David's life, over and over again. It also put Jonathan squarely in the middle of at least three types of conflict of interest.

To continue reading, please see my Daily Reflection today for The High Calling.

Jonathan

In the dawning
Will come the battle,
The last for
Our house, for
Our families, for
My father’s name
And position and
Rank and favor and
Crown, the crown
Already long lost.

In the night eve of death,
Across the campfire
I see his eyes, staring,
Filled with anger,
Stilled with hate.
He stares through
His madness at me,
The surrogate.
My treason is I
Loved my friend.

That day on
The hillside,
That day when
He slung the smooth
Stones,
That day when he held up
The giant’s head,
That day, my
Heart knitted
To his.

I knew then,
Just a boy,
I knew then my
Father’s fate.
I knew then my
Friend would
Be given, one day,
The crown my
Father intended for
My head.

We became men together,
Two beings, two minds,
One heart, one soul.
My father would not understand
What I did, what I said,
What I knew.
His anger with,
His fear of my friend
Was measured out
In fury to me.

After this night eve of death,
I will die
In the dawning,
Near my father but
Not next to him.