Who Asked You?

Often, or perhaps all the time, we have people encouraging and spurring us on to do God’s will. God has made His will about something, very plain and clear, so that we all know it. Additionally, God often calls people to work with Him in the carrying out of that will. Here’s an example. When the Lord wanted Saul, whom He had converted, to be baptised and know his way forward as a new person in Christ, the Lord sent Ananias to do the job. We know that this disciple was authorized and called by God to do this work for God.

Many times though, as previously stated, people have to be chastened and encouraged to do the Lord’s work. We know of persons whom the Lord has called to preach, for example, lay people, who sometimes have to be reminded of their calling. They sometimes are either too busy with their other duties, or simply do not feel inclined to take services when needed. The point is that people sometimes have to be fired up, to go and carry out God’s will.

However, there are times when the opposite takes place. There are occasions when people, knowing the will and mind of God, rush to carry out God’s will without His authorization. These are people who have not been sent by God to do His will, but by virtue of their knowledge, undertake to do things which are not God-directed.

Has God authorized you to carry out His will? Has He called you to be His servants to bring about His Word and desire? This is a most tragic example of two men who thought they were doing God’s good. Here is the text. Here is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who tried to kill you. This day the LORD has avenged my lord the king against Saul and his offspring. 2 Samuel 4: 8b. What is this all about? These are the words of Baanah and Rekab, to whom we are introduced in this way. Now Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding bands. One was named Baanah and the other Rekab; they were sons of Rimmon. 2 Samuel 4: 2a.

Mind-Halt: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.

Who asked them to go and kill the son of Saul, David’s enemy, to bring about God’s plan?

Who authorized them to work on behalf of God, avenging the enemy, to clear the path for the fulfilment of God’s desire?

Who appointed them to speak on behalf of Israel’s God, rejoicing at the clear, free path ahead, to ensure God’s will be done?

Are you and I doing something, or have in mind to do something which will facilitate the plans and desires of God, which He has already made abundantly clear? Know, with unstinting, unwavering, undeniable surety that you truly have been: -

Asked by God to do or speak it.

Authorized by God to do or speak it.

Appointed by God to do or speak it.

Ish-Bosheth, who by lineage, should be Israel’s ruling king, after his father, Saul's death, has lost all courage, all confidence and all hope of being leader. Why is this the case? It is so because news has just reached Ish-Bosheth and all Israel that Abner, the brave and mighty warrior of Israel, the man who led and commanded Israel’s army, since the days of King Saul, has been killed in Hebron. The news has brought widespread panic and alarm to all Israel.

With Abner dead, the only block to David being able to literally sit in the throne in Jerusalem and rule all Israel is Ish-Bosheth, the son of Saul. These men know that David has been anointed and appointed king of Israel. Clearly, they knew that God had rejected Saul as king and placed David to be king in his place. However, Saul spent his entire rule as David’s arch enemy, trying to kill David. Now that Saul is dead and Abner, Saul’s right-hand man is also dead, these men clear the way for David to reign, by murdering Ish-Bosheth.