Mike Warren

Preaching on the last in our Life Calling series – Called on 

(The bible reading are at the end) 

This is the fifth and final sermon exploring the idea of God’s call. We’ve heard Murray use the story of Abraham to introduce the different ways of understanding calling, otherwise known as ‘vocation’.

I explored how the very fact of being ‘created in the image of God’ meant that each of us is born with a calling from God.

Barbara led us to understand how even our weaknesses and infirmities can help us to respond to God’s call on our lives.

And Pete opened up the fourfold path of Creation Spirituality, whereby we are moved to respond to God’s call when our emotions are engaged and our wills alert to the possibilities which circumstances put in our way.

Today, it falls to me to explore what it means when we live our lives out of a sense of call from God. 

Our study material is the Old Testament lesson for today, and we’ll be looking at how King David demonstrated in his life all the aspects of God’s call, but I want to begin with Jesus and the last part of our Gospel reading, where Jesus says, “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say ?

      ‘Father save me from this hour’ ? No ! It was for this very reason that I came to this hour !

      “Father, glorify your name !”

At this point in the story, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem where he knows that treachery, humiliation  and crucifixion await him. Out of the blue, an opportunity to avoid, or at least delay, his fate comes when a group of devout Greeks ask to see him. Their appearance seems to offer him a way out: go on a preaching tour of Greek cities. Compared with arrest, mockery, brutality and a barbaric death, no wonder Jesus is “troubled” and asks “What shall I say ?”

But look at how he resolves the situation. He considers the only two options open to him – “Father, save me from this hour !”  In other words – “Father, release me from my call to die for the sins of the world !”

Or, “Father glorify your name !” When Jesus considers that his whole life, his reason for coming to earth in human form at all, has been to make the final sacrifice at Calvary, he firmly rejects the call of man and submits to the call of God. 

When we are following our unique call, we may hear God say “No !” very firmly to some courses of action which seem very attractive to us, and which seem, also, to be good and godly things to do, but which would lead us away from the particular path which He has set apart for us.

In the same way, we find ourselves having to say “Yes !” to a course of action which we’d like to avoid, but which God has chosen to lay upon us. At times like these, we’ll find like Jesus that only two options are open.

To look at God’s plan and say either, “Father, save me from this hour !” or “Father, glorify your name !” God grant us the strength to follow the path which Jesus, the “Son of David”, took. 

Now David is probably the best-known character in the Old Testament. There is a mass of information about him in its pages and it’s a valuable exercise to look at his experiences when considering our own. 

David was ‘called by name’ - He was chosen personally by God to be King of Israel. To human eyes, his brothers looked far more promising than the young shepherd boy who was not even invited to the meeting until Samuel asked if there were any other brothers. God knew exactly which one he wanted for that particular ‘vocation’, David could either accept it or reject it. The initiative came from God alone – and David humbly accepted it. God asks each of us to receive our call by faith and with humility and gratitude.  

David was ‘called from within’ – God saw through David’s youth and humble occupation to the very ‘heart’. God’s call took root in David’s character and choices. Away from home for long periods, in dangerous situations with only sheep for company, David learnt fast ! To survive, and keep his sheep safe, he had to learn vital skills – but he also learnt to trust God. Psalm 23 is the perfect illustration of this. Like David, God calls us to keep ourselves in tune with God and his character.  

David was ‘called out’ – if you remember the story of Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, where David seduced Bathsheba and plotted the death of Uriah when Bathsheba became pregnant, you’ll remember that David, like us, was sometimes drawn to attractive but false paths to fulfilment.  

We live with selfish urges and false goals and none of us knows whether temptation will overcome us, or, worse, a slow but steady slide away from faith and obedience to God. What we mustn’t do is dwell on our failure. Instead, let’s face up to it, as David did, and receive God’s forgiveness and mercy in return for our confession and repentance.  

David was ‘called up’ – David had to keep his anointing a secret and go back to his sheep. His first step in proving himself worthy of God’s choice was when he defeated Goliath – and he did it by trusting in God and using the skills which he had learnt as a shepherd - how to hit the bullseye on a moving target ! He went on to become the greatest and best-loved king in the entire history of Israel, one whom the prophets saw as the forerunner of the Christ. David was part of a much bigger story. When we submit ourselves to God’s loving purposes, we, too, will find ourselves living far beyond our small and often narrow ambitions. 

David was ‘called on’ – his life was a rollercoaster that took him from humble shepherd-boy to mighty king “through many dangers, toils and snares”. That holds true for everyone who follows  God’s call and, although we are not usually permitted to see what the future holds, we, like David, know the One who holds it. 

In the Old Testament reading, we find David enjoying a period of God-given peace. The chance to relax and reflect awakens in him a long-held ambition – to build a permanent “House of God” in Jerusalem. When he shares his dream with the prophet, Nathan, he gets the answer he wants to hear, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.”

But notice that David doesn’t just go straight ahead, as he could easily have done, and send for architects and builders. He takes Nathan into his confidence and, as we say, “runs it by him”. When we are following God’s call, we too need to pause and share our dreams with others whom we can trust. Remember when this place was up for reordering? We consulted everyone, gave opportunities for anyone to study the plans and put in their two-penn’orth, had plans redrawn at horrendous cost[ !] before a brick was laid or a pew disposed of. That patient consultation paid off, as we can see by looking around .  

God’s call on us as individuals is not some closely guarded secret to be kept from our church family, but something to be shared, pondered and prayed over as a body. And maybe altered and amended in the light of what that process reveals !

And not just once !

Nathan was sure he knew the mind of God, but on this occasion he got it wrong ! God had someone else in mind to build the Temple. Sure, God had more honours to pour out on David, and more blessings for the people. David was to be the founder of a great “House” – a Royal Family whose kingdom would last. There would be mistakes, as there always are when people get involved in God’s plans – but although God might have to punish, he would never abandon or totally destroy the Royal line which he had begun with David. Eventually it would include Jesus Christ, the Son of God , the Anointed King of God’s everlasting kingdom.

So, too, for us. As we try to follow God we will sometimes get it wrong “through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault”. Sometimes we will be hurt, sometimes we will hurt others, but it will only be terminal if we let it be terminal. If we recognise our fault, confess it and repent of it, as David did, then we shall be raised to our feet, put back on track and led to greater glory and honour in heaven if not on earth. 

And let us remember those words of Jesus when we come to that fork in the road where God is pointing firmly in one direction and we’d rather take the other.

What shall we say ?

Will it be “Father, save us from this hour” ?

Or “Father, glorify your name” ? 

As Jesus taught us to pray, so may we pray – “Our Father in heaven…your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

When we follow God’s call wherever it leads, then God’s kingdom comes, God’s will is done on earth. What a responsibility – and what a privilege ! 
 

FIRST READING: Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 7, verses 1 – 17.

Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.”

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: “Go and tell my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘Are you the one to build me a house to live in ? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have moved about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel [whom I commanded to shepherd my people] saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar ?’

‘Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the names of the great ones of the earth.

‘And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies.

‘Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord shall make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish his kingdom for ever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. When he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human beings, but I will not take my steadfast love from him as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.’”

In accordance with all these words and with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.                                                                                     [NRSV] 

PSALM: 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

Your rod and your staff – they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.                [NIV] 
 

GOSPEL: John Chapter 12, verses 20 – 28a

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. They came to Philip [who was from Bethsaida in Galilee] with a request. “Sir,” they said, “We would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed, but if it dies, it produces many seeds. Those who love their lives will lose them, while those who hate their lives in this world will keep them for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.

“Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say ? ‘Father, save me from this hour’ ? No ! It was for this very reason that I came to this hour !

Father, glorify your name !”                                                                   [NIV]