to the Cathedral. We have lost the holy desperation o f Adullam. David not only attracted those who were in debt, distress and discontent; he was joined by the prophet Gad and by the priest Abiathar. True men of God rally to our Lord at Adullam. The cause of Christ needs prophets, men who speak for God. There are time-serving false prophets and hireling priests today like the stooges of Ahab’s time and like Amaziah who ordered Amos out o f Samaria. They are not out to crown David’s Son; they are on the pay-roll of the powers that be. The cause of our King is not popular and never will be. Only those who know God as Gad the prophet did and those who have stood the test of persecution as Abiathar did will ever show up at Adullam. David’s men were not lawless freebooters. They were worthy men who had suffered under Saul’s regime the loss of all things. A true prophet must have some of Elijah and Adam and Micaiah and Daniel and John the Baptist in him to refuse the rewards of this world and take his lonely stand with an exiled King. David’s company also included men o f Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do (I Chron. 12:32). They did not merely have knowledge of the times; they under stood them. There is great knowledge o f our times available through many sources o f information. But listen to the commentators, the news analysts, the politicians, and it is evident that they do not understand the times. We know a lot about what is going on but we do not know the meaning o f it. That is very true around Washington. As our Lord predicted, it is a day of “ perplexity” ; we have lost our way. Only the man who views his day in the light of God’s Word understands it. Further more, the men of Issachar knew what Israel ought to do. They had understanding that produced a knowledge of duty. That is practical statesman ship. They knew what ISRAEL ought to do. The church today needs an understanding of the times that produces a knowledge o f what God’s people ought to do. Only people thus equipped are prepared to follow David’s Son and make Him King. A lot of dear people are out to crown Jesus King who have no idea of His program or how His coronation is to be brought about. When He was on earth, there were many who believed in Him superficial ly, who wanted to crown Him King, only to fall away when He told them they must eat His flesh and drink His blood or else they had no life in them. They were interested in bread for the body but not for the soul, in His fish but not His flesh. The sixth chapter of John tells the sad story of their defection. That kind of preaching will drive away shallow disciples today. They will say, as then, “ This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” for they cannot endure sound doctrine. They will not
king
V a n c e H a v n e r
Drabs from the alleyways and drug fiends pale, Minds still passion-ridden, soul powers frail, Vermin-eaten saints with mouldy breath, Unwashed legions with the ways o f death . . . Are you washed in the blood o f the Lamb?" Surely here is a throng from Adullam! Study the beginnings of every Spirit-filled movement and David’s men come to mind. The core of the church has aways been a desperate band out to crown a King. Eventually they may become rich, increased with goods and needing nothing. Then they forget their business and God starts over again on the other side of the railroad tracks. The despised sect eventually builds a cathedral on the main avenue and forgets its first love at Adullam. It is a long way from the cave to the cathedral and the church today is no longer a persecuted band of the dis inherited. We have settled down in this world; we have come to terms with it and we are enjoying it, not overcoming it. The kingdom is not coming, we are for building it now and the return of the King does not thrill us. Ever since Constantine made Christianity respectable, got it out of the cave and started it toward the cathedral, we have had trou ble remembering that we are a colony o f heaven, a Master’s Minority in a pagan world. The early church was “ a third race,” they were “ creatures of an alien underworld” to use Toynbee’s phrase. It was said of them: “ They live each in his native land but not as though really at home there. Every foreign land is for them a fatherland and every fatherland a foreign land. They dwell on earth but are citizens of heaven. . . . They love all men but are persecuted by all.” They were a David’s band out to crown a King. How little like that we Christians are today! The Saints of Suburbia, settled in their ranch houses in a forest o f TV antennas do not get up much fervor singing: “ / am a stranger here, within a foreign land; . . . I’m here on business for my King." We are too far from the Cave and too close
17
DECEMBER, 1968
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