Gift of God's Guidance

For me, the most fascinating element of David's story that we looked at this last Sunday in 1 Samuel 30 was his immediate inclination to seek God's guidance in his desperate situation. With his home burned to the ground and his family carted off by the Amalakites he didnt simply turn to his sword and his army to avenge his loss. He turned to the revelation of God.

And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.”.  (1 Samuel 30:7-8)

As I explained this last week, the ephod mentioned in this passage references the breastplate of the high priest upon which precious stones were affixed. Two of the stones, attached above the high priest's heart, were known as the Urim and the Thummim and they were used to determine God's direction. There is great mystery surrounding how these worked but with Urim and Thummim meaning "light" and "perfection" the implication was clear; God was perfectly illuminating the path of His people. The paths of His people who turn to Him for guidance. 

In the age of the New Covenant, in our time following the redemptive work of Christ, God has continued His commitment to providing direction to His people. He has graciously given the Church the gift of guidance by His Word and His Spirit and these two work in conjunction one with another. God's Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit, reveals God's way for His people, a way that is revealed to our hearts by His Spirit at work in us. In addition Christ sent the Holy Spirit after His departure from this world to serve as comforter and counselor, "guiding us into all truth". This is the interactive role of God's Spirit giving personal direction to the believer always in concert with His Word. Seek after the wisdom of God's Word and inspiration of God's Spirit and you will be amazed at where they will lead you.

As mysterious as the Urim and Thummim, God's inspired Word and His powerful Holy Spirit hold God's direction for the believers life. May we be as committed to seeking God's guidance in the midst of turmoil as David.