The Power of Story

The power of a story, of a narrative, is that it can become our story and connect us as a people who all find ourselves on the same journey.  For example, I often find comfort in the great biblical stories: Job's faithfulness in the midst of great loss, how God chose Jacob, a trickster and deceiver, and also David, who cheated and killed Bathsheba's husband, but God knew that David was a man after God's own heart.  God certainly loves to qualify the unqualified!

David: shepherd, poet, warrior, and leader -- a God-seeker.  Last week I was thinking about my name and my namesake.  I was thinking about the story of my life and my family and this flowed from my pen:

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THE STORY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID

This is a story about David and his House. It is not about the David of the Bible, but it is also not too unlike his story either. From the beginning, David was blessed by God because God gave him many things and prospered him in his life. David knew God, but not personally; he only knew “about” God. David either forgot or ignored God during most of his life. Yet God still blessed David, prospered his House with beautiful and talented children and wives because God had a plan for David. And David, remembering God, brought each child to the temple were they were baptized and dedicated to God just like the parents of David and his wives had been in the past.


While David pursued his career, grew his family, God continued to pour out more of his blessings and protection upon David and his House because God wanted David to know him. David became a great leader and was acclaimed among his peers.


On day trouble came to the House of David; internal chaos and brokenness reigned between his wives and children. David did not know what to do. He did not ask God for help. And so the division continued and all were injured in some way -- including David. The House of David was now broken as hurt and blame and anger continued to reign.


God gave David another wife. His third wife was a loving tower of strength, a gifted warrior-woman who respected and encouraged David. Three more children were added into the family – now there were nine. Still David went about his life without God but continued to mourn his broken House. But God’s plan was now being unveiled as he showed David wisdom. God showed David his everlasting love and his plan for David. David learned how to become a godly husband and father. After many years as a warrior and faithful husband, David retired to the priestly life and became a man singularly after God’s heart – a man who prayed to God sought to deeply know God. So God revealed to David that he was more than the “beloved” man he thought he was (David thought his name only meant “beloved” in Hebrew and so God revealed to him that his name was “beloved of God.” And then God blessed him even more abundantly.


Now David was in his seventy-third year and the one gift that David really wanted was withheld from him – a restored House. And so David continued to pray each day for God to heal and restore his family; to bring the broken House of David together. Even though his third wife loved and consoled him, and many of his children loved and respected him, he still grieved for many of them were apart.


Then one day, a great tragedy struck the House of David. Matthew, who was a son, and father of two daughters grieving his broken family, took his own life. The House of David was now in great grief. And David cried out to God, “O God, help me to heal and restore this House and my children, I can do nothing, nor can any of us survive our broken hearts without you!”


And so the Lord God heard David. He looked down on him and his great grief and had compassion on him and his House and answered his prayer. And on the day that the House of David came together to mourn and remember Matthew, the Spirit of the Lord God came across the hills and fields as a warm October wind and passed over and touched each member of the House of David assembled on that hill called Restoration. And this began the healing that would one day fully restore the House of David, his children and his children’s children.


And David was exceedingly glad, praising God, and God’s love and grace. Then God said to David, “I am the LORD, your God, and a God who restores to the faithful that which was destroyed. What the locusts devour, I restore!”

And so the House of David continues its journey toward restoration and healing – even to the fourth generation -- and beyond. Thanks be to God!