1 Samuel 30: 24-25 The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” 25 David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this.”
Unprecedented pandemonium brings reformatory changes. David and his six hundred men were on the pursuit to recover their families and fortune that the enemy (Amalekites) had carried away. Half way through the quest two hundred men were too exhausted to continue, so they were left behind to rest and recoup. After the victory, some evil men and troublemakers among the fighting soldiers said to David, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered” (1 Samuel 30:22b). This is when David documented ‘the ordinance of equality’ for Israel. “The soldiers who go for the battle and those who stay back protecting the supplies should share the spoils alike”. Until we have equality in education, we won’t have an equal society – Sonia Sotomayor. David was an influential leader who educated and inculcated equality in his society. Unexpected upheaval should make permanent, positive changes of respect and reverie across different cultural and social groups.
All along history, God has raised influential leaders like David to establish equality in the world. The Apostle Peter marveled that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were poured out on the Jews and the gentiles alike. Acts 10:34 “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. Ironically, the pandemic is no respecter of persons as well – it has invaded the palatial palace and the pothouse alike. The rich breath the same air that the poor do and we all bask under the same sun.
Unprecedented chaos brings cultural changes:
1. Custom: Customs change when wisdom is indoctrinated. The wrong belief system can be morphed out not just by legislation but by education. Prejudice towards a creed, caste or cultural group is spiritual anesthesia injected by wrong belief system. David not only wrote down an ordinance “All will share alike,” he also made them share the spoils equally. A pandemic such as COVID has awakened the society from spiritual anesthesia of bigotry. Crisis awakens society from the spiritual coma of racism.
- Culture: ‘Blood culture’ is a test that checks for foreign invaders like bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms in our blood. The test identifies blood infections. The society is infested with intolerance, disparity and prejudice. The divisions based on country, colour, caste or creed are detestable to the Lord. He created us in His own image. We are all alike. During a pandemic, there are no separate blood banks for the white and the colored. Unprecedented crisis breaks down inequalities.
- Creed: David established an ordinance to bring equality. The written code on equality in the parliaments and even in the pages of the Bible will not bring about the change. It must be written in our hearts. Opinions on people groups and generalization of behaviour of cultural groups must be broken down in our mind before we can love our neighbour as we love ourselves. If you judge others you don’t have time to love them – Mother Teresa.
Unprecedented times preach equality and change cultural chauvinism.
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I understand that changes start with me. Change me to heal the society from inequality, bigotry and disparity. Amen.
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