From Whence to Seek the Lord

Scripture: The king replied, "If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?' 2 Kings 6:27

Observation: The king of Israel has continuously lead the people of Israel into idol worship. He remains of a mind that the Lord is simply one of the gods. His logic is that worshiping all the gods must be better than worshiping just one ... he likes to 'cover his bases' in this. While he may return to the Lord for urgent matters, it is this lack of commitment that is leading to the destruction of Israel.

In this matter, he often lays the ultimate decisions at the feet of the Lord. In this case, he outright tells a woman that, if the Lord himself won't help her in this famine, certainly he cannot. There is then irony in the places he names as where he cannot find help. The winepress is often a metaphor for God's place of judgment. A former threshing floor is, in fact, exactly where the temple is built in Jerusalem.

So where cannot the king turn for help? He cannot turn to the seat and presence of the Lord, as his sins without repentance leave him in a state where he cannot find a way to communicate with God. He cannot turn to the judgment before the Lord, for he is worthy not of grace but of ultimate judgment.

Application: Where can I find help? I can find help in the name of Jesus. Despite my sins, I can claim faith in Jesus, and thus receive the grace to come before the Lord with my prayers, and to stand in judgment washed clean. This is, as a well know, not something I deserve. It is only by God's love and mercy that any of this is true.

I do not worship any other god, yet my pride causes me to stumble in other areas. I am in need of grace, for I am not worthy on my own of mercy. I will seek the Lord - daily and continually - in the name of Jesus, for that is the only way I can find my way to the threshing floor, or survive the winepress.

Prayer: Lord, today I pray in the name of Jesus and by my faith in your son. Please forgive me of my sins. Remove evil thoughts from my mind and from before my mind's eye. I desire to seek only your instruction and precepts. Thank you for your grace, love, and mercy. Amen.