Pastor Dan Mangler's Sunday Sermon

Who's in Charge?

4th Sunday of Advent

December 18, 2005

Who's in Charge?

On March 30, 1981, shortly alter President Ronald Reagan was taken to Walter Reed hospital following the assassination attempt by John Hinkley, Jr., General and then Secretary of State Alexander Haig briskly walked to a microphone at a hastily called news conference at the White House and announced, "With the president incapacitated, I'm in charge now." He, of course, as students of the constitution know, was not in charge. In fact, the Secretary of State is actually fourth in line of succession to the presidency following the vice-president, the Speaker of the House, and the President pro tempore of the Senate. And all of Al Haig's protestations following trying to explain what he meant by that announcement will not erase in most people's minds the picture of a man claiming to be in charge who, in fact, was not.

King David made a similar mistake in this morning's reading from 2 Samuel 7. David's actions and intentions suggested a man who believed himself in charge and who, as the events played out, discovered he was not.

By the time we encounter King David in 2 Samuel 7 much has happened. David has killed Goliath; God has removed his spirit of approval from King Saul and given it to David, insuring that David will be the next king of Israel; David has escaped several attempts on his life by King Saul; upon the death of Saul he has assumed kingship over all the Israelite tribes; he has captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made it his capital; and he has built for himself a wonderful palace. Fairly proud of what he has done as a military leader and king - busting his buttons, in fact - David now turns to what he can do of a religious nature for God and proposes to build a house for the Lord, namely a temple.

But God will not allow it. What a shock! David has always had his own way. Or so he thought. It was God's way of saying, "Look, David, you are not in charge. I am." David says, "Hey, Lord, I want to build you a temple." The Lord answers, "No thanks. For now, I prefer a tent."

What's the big deal - temple or tent? Why would God give a rip? One explanation is this - tents are temporary and moveable; temples are permanent and stationary. The Ark of the Covenant, this 5-foot by 3 foot gold-plated box containing the Ten Commandments and other artifacts from the Israelite's escape from Egypt and wandering in the wilderness, was, for the Israelites, the place where God was. Wherever the Ark of the Covenant went, there went God. And when God got up and moved, the people folded up the tent and followed. If this ark were to be deposited in a temple, there might be the appearance that God could be controlled - a God-in-the-box, if you will. But God said, "No, you can't box me in or nail me down. I won't be boxed in to be used. I want to be free to lead." God's rejection of David's plan to build God a temple is God's firm rebuke that David is not in charge. God is.

In the late 1800s in the eastern part of Tennessee, there was a famous moon shiner known as Big Haley. The woman's real name was Mahala Mullins, but since she weighed somewhere around 500 pounds, "Big Haley" was not an inappropriate name.

Big Haley and her sons ran a reliable operation. They were famous for the quality of their product. They didn’t dilute their moonshine and were known to deal honestly. That fact, coupled with the problems of arresting a mountain clan, caused local government officials pretty much to leave them alone. However a newly elected sheriff did once attempt to arrest Mahala and make a name for himself. The judge who signed the arrest warrant just smiled and told the sheriff to be sure to bring her in.

The sheriff and his deputies had no trouble finding Mahala's cabin. He knocked on the cabin door, entered, and informed Mahala she was under arrest. What he discovered, though, was that Mahala was bigger than the cabin's doorway. Alter some futile efforts, he decided not to arrest her after all. When the judge later asked the sheriff about Mahala, the officer complained, "She's catchable but she’s not fetchable."

In somewhat of a similar way God, too, is "catchable but not fetchable." As King David learned, a person can come into the presence of God but he cannot control God. David, assuming he is in control, proposes what he will do for God. But God answers, "No David, you are not in control. I am. So listen up.”

Some may hear these words as judgment. "Lookout. God's in control." I hear them today as evidence of God's goodness and generosity. When God answers, "No, David, you are not going to do this for me." He follows it by saying, "But I am going to do something more for you. You will not build me a house (a temple) but I will make you a house (a dynasty), and I promise that one of your descendants will always be king of my people." And we know that this was fulfilled in the most complete way when, Jesus, "of the house and lineage of David" was born to be king of kings.

I am convinced that the best known and most often quoted words of any presidential inaugural address are the words of John F. Kennedy when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." That line caught on. It called for an appropriate, patriotic commitment and it led to an upsurge in government activities and programs that people could get involved in. It appealed to our desire to do something - something important - something significant. And that was unquestionably good. It is part of our human nature that we want to be useful, to do things helpful. And there is certainly a strong emphasis in the Christian faith on living useful, helpful lives of giving love to neighbor.

But perhaps at this time of year, or at least this Sunday with these particular Bible lessons assigned, we should give more thought to what God has done, is doing, and promises to do in the future for us...a sort of "Ask not what you can do for God, but consider what God has done and can do for you." Give up the notion that you are in control of everything. Listen to God when he says that he wants to be in control.

We see it not only in the OT reading from 2 Samuel but also in the gospel reading in Luke. The angel Gabriel comes to Mary and tells her that she will conceive in her womb and bear a son whose name will be Jesus, the Son of the Most High God and savior of all people. But Mary says, "How can this be, since I have no husband." In other words, "How can I do all this? Not only have I not done anything to deserve this, it is beyond my present resources." But the angel answers, "Not you Mary, but God. Let God be in control."

David was a king; Mary a peasant girl. David lived in a grand palace in the great city Jerusalem;

Mary in a small house in the backwater town of Nazareth. David was powerful; but Mary weak. As different as they were, David and Mary responded in a similar manner. Asked to give up control of their own lives to God's control, both consented. David said, "And now, 0 LORD God... do as you have promised." (2 Sam 7:25) Mary, in her turn, answered, "... let it be with me according to your word."(Luke 1:38)

I know that in the past I have heard these words as almost helpless resignation. "Have your way, Lord; you will anyway." I hear them differently today. I hear them as evidence of God's goodness and generosity, and I receive them not in helpless resignation, but with almost blessed relief.

At times I am overwhelmed by the responsibilities I carry and the oppressing need to be the best in all of it; to be the best father, and the best husband, and the best son, and the best pastor, and the best everything else; and I know the crushing guilt when I fail at each and every one of these. But then the God of King David, and the God of Mary, and the God of all these Advent promises comes to me and says, "Lighten up, Dan. Relax. Give up the notion that you are in charge, that you are in control. Rest in those promises that I am in charge, and that I am in control.” And my troubled soul is comforted, my frenzied spirit calmed.

If you share in this kind of helpless guilt, I invite you to share also is this word of grace.

Some years ago a church member gave me a photocopy of a poster that I wish I would have had cross-stitched and framed and hung in a prominent place in my office. It said simply, "Do not feel totally, personally, irrevocably responsible for everything...that's my job." And it was signed, "Love, God." I treasure those words of grace and I share them with you as a gift today. Amen.

May the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.