OceanSide church of Christ

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CLINGING TO GOD

Victor M. Eskew

 

            In the life of every human being, there is something to which he clings tightly.  For most, there is more than one thing to which individuals cling.  These “things” are of vital importance.  They are part of one’s identity.  They give his life meaning.  They are the things that motivate and move him into action.  These things protect him and his family.  These are the things for which the individual will fight.  They are the things for which he will give his life if necessary.

            The things which one person holds dear are not necessarily the things that another person holds dear.  Some look at others and laugh at the things to which they cling.  They laugh because they are not attached to them.  They laugh because they do not understand them.  They laugh because they feel the things upon which another depends are weak and beggarly.  They laugh because they feel those things are fictitious and meaningless. 

            As Christians, we cling to our holy God.  Yes, He is invisible, but we know that He exists.  This great God has manifested Himself in His creation, in His Son Jesus Christ, and through His inspired Word.  The child of God knows that He is living and present in His life.  Therefore, He clings to God.  The words spoken to Israel are words by which he lives.  “Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shat thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name” (Duet. 10:20, emp mine,vme).

            Others know that we are clinging to God when we worship Him on the Lord’s Day.  They know that we are clinging to God when we live by His holy Word.  They know that we are cleaving to Him when we lift up our voice in prayer to Him, especially during trying times.  They know that we are holding Him fast when we live sober, righteous, and godly lives each and every day.  They know that we are clinging to Him when we seek to tell others about Him.  They know that we are clutching His hand when we will defy man in order to side with our God.

            In I Kings 22, we read about a prophet who held tightly to the living God.  In this chapter, the king of Israel and the king of Judah were preparing to fight against the king of Syria.  The king of Israel had inquired of his false prophets about going into battle.  They had assured him of victory.  The king of Judah was skeptical.  “And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him?” (I Kings 22:7).  There was one named Michaiah, but Ahab hated him because he never prophesied good concerning him.  Jehoshaphat wanted to hear his counsel.

            As Michaiah was being brought into the presence of the two kings, the messenger who retrieved him told him about the words of the false prophets.  He exhorted the prophet, saying:  “…let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good” (I Kings 22:13).  Instead of agreeing to do this, Michaiah told the messenger that he would cling to His God.  “And Michaiah said, As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak” (I Kings 22:14). 

            The conversation that took place between Jehoshaphat and Michaiah is interesting.  The prophet first answers the king with a sarcastic positive answer about the battle.  Apparently, the king took it that way.  He, then, asked for the absolute truth.  Let’s listen to the conversation.  “So he came to the king.  And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear?  And he answered him, Go, and prosper:  for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.  And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?  And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd:  and the Lord said, These have no master:  let them return every man to his house” (I Kings 22:15-17).  The prophet went on to reveal to both kings that a lying spirit had been sent from the presence of God to speak by the mouths of the false prophets (I Kings 22:19-22).  Because of his word, Ahab ordered Micaiah to be put in prison until they returned in peace from the battle (I Kings 22:26-27).  Micaiah’s response to this action is interesting.  “And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me.  And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you” (I Kings 22:28).  Micaiah did not waver.  He did not become the king’s puppet.  He held to his God and told these two men of great authority the truth.

            Micaiah’s words came to pass when the two kings went into battle.  Ahab was wounded by an arrow.  “And the battle increased that day:  and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even:  and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.  And there went a proclamation thoughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his country” (I Kings 22:35-36).  Yes, Israel was scattered as sheep having no shepherd just as Micaiah prophesied.

            Micaiah is never mentioned in the Biblical text again.  Was he released from prison?  Did he die in prison?  We are not told.  We do know that he cleaved unto the Lord in the midst of great opposition.  Surely he learned that his words had come to pass and that Ahab died in battle.  This would have only strengthened the grip that his hand had upon the hand of God.

            Clinging to God is not always easy.  There are others who will mock us, saying:  “Look at him.  He is clinging to his God.”  Let them mock.  Paul summed it up well.  “For what if some did not believe?  Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?  God forbid:  yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mayest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged” (Rom. 3:3-4).  Dear reader, cling to thy God.  You will never regret clinging to God from the beginning to the end of your short life on earth.