The Need For Men In The City Series

THE NEED FOR MEN IN THE CITY

2 Samuel 15:24-37

“If in this world, your presence is not felt, then your absence will not be noticed. And if your absence was not noticed, then your presence was not needed.” – Dr. Paul Enenche

“Only when you make a difference can you become a reference.” – Dr. Paul Enenche

"No one makes a difference until he is different and no one makes a mark until he marks himself out. You can't be outstanding if you don't stand out." - Pastor Peter Amenkhienan

I saw an article somewhere and I wrote it down because it resonates within me. Titled “A letter to my generation,” I would like to share a favourite passage:

“If bad leaders are ruling us now, it is our fathers’ fault.

If bad leaders should rule our children, it will be our fault.

For we have slept too long, the world awaits our manifestation, we must not fail, if we do, the next generation will curse us. Take it or leave it.”

I have seen many mistakes we believers make either knowingly or ignorantly. We have left our position of authority and handed it over to those who are not even supposed have access to it. We have allowed the people who do not know God to take charge of every sphere of life, thereby subjecting us to obey their wrong laws and decisions. Christians have become so lazy and ignorant that we leave the top positions in the hands of the unbelievers to govern us. The land is in chaos and we are not doing anything about it as believers, particularly youths in this present generation. The need for men to go back to the city is important because that is where laws and constitutions are being made.

God expects that we take charge. Indeed, when you say “Lord, I love You”, it shouldn’t be a mere statement but a commitment.

God needs men in the city. He needs men in the place of policy making in the nation. The major essence of Christianity is to “incubate” and raise men, to scatter them abroad in order to make long lasting positive impacts in every sphere of their influence – politically, economically, maritally, spiritually, academically, financially, etc.

If God must make impact, then we must stand up to the task and return to where decisions that affect the economy, the polity and welfare of the nation are made.

I’ve seen that God uses the available, the committed and the willing in heart.

The book of Second Samuel 15:24-37 shares an account of when David was fleeing from Absalom, his son who wanted to kill his father in order to take over the kingdom. We will look closely at few of the scriptures, draw our points and trust God to open our eyes to see that God is indeed, in need of men to return back to where their influence can be maximally utilized.

24 And lo, Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God: and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

25 And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

26 But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

27 The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28 See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

29 Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

Zadok, the Priest was fleeing away with his master, David the King. Zadok carried along with him the Ark of Covenant. He was loyal and committed to God. But David approached him and said to him, “carry back the ark of covenant into the city”.

David started by addressing the need for the ark of covenant, which represents the presence of God, to be returned to the city (the palace; the place of law making; the place of power; the place where destinies are determined; the place where government decides on what will be or not).

We cannot leave out the presence of God in the palace. David understood this fact and knew the consequence that if he should allow the priests and Levites to remove the ark from the city, the whole land would be in trouble and the people would suffer for it.