Dr Tong came in whistling a tune through his nose (yes... even his whistling is unusual). He told me that he is trying to remember a tune he composed a few days ago, and he went into the main hall to play the piano, only to return because he said too many people have arrived. Then I got to witness him composing a new hymn, whistling away and jotting down the notes. He said the hymn would be about the commitment in marriage. The funny thing was that the other leaders would walk in, they would converse with Dr Tong, and he would keep whistling in between conversation and writing the notes without breaking the trend of thought either of the conversation, or the composition... true multi-tasking in action... ha ha. Now I can honestly say I was there when a certain hymn was composed!

Dr Tong told me earlier that it would be quite difficult to reflect upon the lives of David and Samuel, because these were such great men of faith that it may take a long time just to preach about them, so he may want to skip them. But in the end, he continued with David, which resulted in a really powerful (and longer) exposition this evening.

The session started with a revision of Jephthah, with Dr Tong emphasizing that Jephthah was from a lowly background with a prostitute-mother, but he rose above all the difficulties to lead his people in great honour. In stark contrast, his brothers were brought up in a privileged manner, yet behaved despicably. Thus we see that regardless of background, every human being has his basic human rights, having been made in the image of God, and these rights are to be respected. God can enable us to rise above our circumstances to do great things, if only we have the greatness in our heart as well, as Jephthah did.

We then moved on to David. Dr Tong said that most of us know of David well, but we often only remember him for Goliath and Bathsheba, as if David was all about these two incidents. But the most important 2 things the Bible said of David were from God and from man. From God, David was described as a man after God's own heart (1 Sam 13:14). From man, David was described as a person who fell asleep after finishing his task for God (Acts 13:36). David was foremost a person who sought after God's will, understood it, and was obedient to it. He was living for the throne of God while in the midst of the complexities of life. He was a person who lived the life of heaven while he was on earth, and his faith is the example for all generations.

But he was of course not perfect. The Bible recorded 2 great sins of David, that of arrogance, and that of lust/murder. The consequence was that his descendants could not escape the sword. David was like every other human being, with the same weaknesses. Dr Tong said that the fact that the Bible recorded his failings at his generation is of great significance, for who would dare record the king's faults while he was still alive? This proves that the Bible indeed is the Word of God, for the sovereignty of God is above that of man. Rather than doubt the Bible, Dr Tong believed from a young age that the recording of all the failings of these great men affirmed that the Bible is the Word of God, because it has shown no fear or favour towards man. We need to rise above his failings to see what sort of examples he could give to us.

Dr Tong made a stark contrast between God's method and man's method. Saul was selected as king by the people, who demanded to have a king and asked Samuel to give them a king. Despite of Samuel's warnings that the king will persecute and oppress them, the people still wanted the king, and God allowed that to happen. Their cries to the LORD was heard, and Saul was selected, a handsome young man who was a head taller than the normal man (1 Sam 9:2). Humanly speaking, he would have been able to lead the people, defend them and be great. But he was not a man after God's own heart. He was bold in opposing God, and lied to Samuel in the keeping of the loot of war, but claimed that they were for sacrificing to the LORD. In response, Samuel said that obeying is better than sacrifice (1 Sam 15:22), a most important biblical principle.

Dr Tong said that many people think that they can simply give offering to God and turn God's wrath back, as if God can be bribed. Dr Tong emphasized that offering is a privilege, and all things came from God in the first place. What God really wants is our heart and our obedience, and "to obey is better than sacrifice" is thus the most important proclamation for us to remember and observe. Samuel than declared that the LORD who never relent (1 Sam 15:22) had relented the anointing of Saul as King (1 Sam 15:39).

The example of Saul tells us that while democracy is about the fairest system there is, it is built upon the fallen nature of man. As such, it cannot possibly contain the absolute and eternal truth of God, and may not always produce the best result. God's way is higher than man's way.

Humility
Another person who was after God's own heart had been prepared, but no one knew where he was, not even Samuel. Dr Tong said that some among us may really be after God's heart, and because the timing of God is not yet up, they are still hidden among us. Many a times, we think that we are at wit's end, and there are no other people working for God. Elijah thought the same, and the LORD rebuked him and said that He had reserved 7000 people for Himself, much to Elijah's surprise (1 King 19:18). We often panic because we do not see the way, just like the people thought that Saul was the best among them, and so must be used. God would only reveal His will to those who truly serve Him and are sensitive to God's guidance. And in this case, Samuel was the only person to whom God revealed finally, leading him to the home of Jesse.

Dr Tong observed that Jesse was able to summon all his sons immediately, which meant that Jesse taught his children well and they had discipline. The irony of it all was that David, the youngest and smallest among them all was chosen. He was so insignificant that his father forgot him completely. This is the way God works. He uses the insignificant, the weak, the disenfranchised, and manifest and demonstrates His power through them. The other thing Dr Tong said was that God has a good sense of humour. Because the Israelites were pleased with a man that was one head taller than the rest and wanted him as king. So God chose the smallest, the youngest to be king. This was why the apostle Paul changed his name from Saul (who was the tallest) to Paul (which meant small or little).

Another significant thing to note was that David was anointed by Samuel while Saul was still alive. In other words, he was made king while the present king was still reigning. However, he ascended upon the throne only after Saul died decades later. This is a very significant thing, for David did not flaunt his status as king either to his brothers or the rest; nor was he eager to take over the throne and dispose of someone whom he regarded as the anointed one of the LORD.

The humility of David is a great lesson. Dr Tong said that those who have been truly called by the LORD often think little about themselves. They always feel unworthy to do the work of the LORD. And the LORD would choose people like that, so that His power is not manifested through natural talent, but by His grace alone. This is directly opposite to what we are used to, often thinking that talent, wealth and might are the ways to build God's kingdom, rather than the power of God Himself.

Interestingly, David was bold with the LORD once he was certain about God's calling. He asked that the throne remains in his household forever (2 Sam 7:29) once he was certain about the will of God. Dr Tong revealed that when he was 17, he felt called by God. He was so overcome with emotions that he shed so much tears that his shirt was wet. He felt completely unworthy, but was very certain of the calling. Since then for the past 45 years, Dr Tong said that there was not a single second passed when he doubted the calling of God, not a single second passed when he wondered if he is the servant of God, not a single second passed when he relaxed and does not want to do his very best for the LORD. So Dr Tong said he understands how David must have felt; paradoxically that he was unworthy, not capable, but since he was called anyway, by the power of God Almighty, he will not doubt the calling.

Faith
There are also great lessons to learn when David faced difficulties. Dr Tong pointed out that Goliath was a direct response to the disobedience of the Israelites. Since they wanted a king that was physically taller than others, God sent an enemy that was much larger than the Israeli king, again displaying His humour. Saul was afraid of Goliath, and kept praying for others to go fight him. Dr Tong said that this is the way we often pray. We want the LORD to send people, but better send other people. He said that his mother prayed for years for the LORD to raise up more workers, in the end, 5 of her own 7 sons became preachers. His mother asked for the balance 2 to become businessmen to take care of her, but the fact was that even the preacher sons maintained her livelihood. Dr Tong said that when we pray, we must be prepared to pay as well.

The confrontation with Goliath displayed other aspects of David's life and faith as well. The contrast between David and Goliath physically was very great, and when asked why he thought he could battle Goliath, David's answer was startling in its simplicity. He said that he used to rescue his sheep from the lions and the bears. Dr Tong said that the simplicity of his answer actually demonstrated two important things - that David was faithful in small things, and he did all these things consistently since he was young without telling the whole world. The 23rd Psalm could only have been written by this young shepherd boy who had fought with lions and bears ever since he was a child.

Saul sent David forward, essentially to die for him. Dr Tong said that Saul and David each represents one of 2 types of church leaders today. Saul represented church leaders who were legal, have organisational support, might, wealth, anointed by God BUT without the presence of God. Saul had everything, except the presence and the faith in God. Saul and David saw the same thing, yet also saw different things. Both Saul and David witnessed the giant Goliath ahead of them, the vast Philistine army behind Goliath, the great crisis and danger for the people Israel. Both types of church leaders would see the same thing, the same crisis, the same dangers and difficulties ahead. But David saw what Saul could not see. David saw the presence of God, and Saul could not see it. David saw the possibilities, Saul could only see the difficulties.

Dr Tong said that God is really displeased with prayers that are faithless, that laments the lack of future leaders, because the LORD is the provider of all things. He will surely prepare the way ahead for His own name's sake. God picked the tiniest David to defeat the mighty Goliath to prove this point. Dr Tong pointed out that our human culture and traditions often bind us to a fixed set of thinking and constraint. Other than the source of all wisdom found in God alone, human beings have no real future. Leonardo da Vinci was a great genius during the renaissance precisely because he was not schooled in the traditional manner, or he would have not been able to express breakthrough concepts. Dr Tong said that this is the way the LORD works as well. He has the sovereignty to raise someone from unexpected avenues and source.

Dr Tong said that he has always been advised against starting new projects and ministries because it is difficult to see where these will go if he should die (ha ha, I was there when some of these comments were made). People say that it is near impossible to find someone to take his place. But he said he is determined to do whatever the LORD asked him to do and leave everything to God. And recently, he noticed a young seminary student in his church who is very promising, having preached more than 1000 sermons at age 25 because he started very young at 15. He listened to one of his sermons on prayer, and was very impressed with his understanding and preaching, so Dr Tong said that he was filled with joy for the whole week. The LORD is always in control, and He is preparing someone to do great things for Him. This person may be silently working among us, and God will raise Him one day. William Carey said that we ought to ask the LORD for great things, and do great things for Him.

Loyalty
Lastly, David had to wait decades before ascension to the throne, and had to endure persecution by Saul. Because of his victory over Goliath, the women praised him over Saul and Saul was determined to kill him. Yet David was loyal till the very end, for he regarded Saul as the anointed one of God. In contrast, we often curse at others and have no patience for those lesser than us. We would even pray that the LORD remove a certain person, or even our spouse out of our hatred (Dr Tong said we often pray that the LORD grant our spouse heavenly pleasure by taking them away... ha ha). Dr Tong said that our heart should emulate that of God, all of whose intentions toward us are good. Our lips should only have words of blessings, and all of our thoughts and actions should be for the benefits of others, whether they are for, or against us. The Korean proverb says that when words of cursing come forth from our mouth, the cursing must first touch our own lips before departing.

Here, I can testify that Dr Tong is a man true to his own preaching. Some times when Christians gather around and discuss the latest happenings in the church scene, we like to say unkind things about the excesses of other leaders. I have noticed that Dr Tong becomes very cautious whenever the names of church leaders are mentioned, and would hardly say anything personal about anyone. He once said that his mother taught him that he should not pass comments on the servants of God, even if that particular servant was not very effective in his ministry. From the pulpit however, he would boldly point out doctrinal mistakes made by Christian leaders, but I have never heard him say anything negative about any leader privately.

Dr Tong ended the session by saying that there are more to learn about David, and he would continue next week.

Disclaimer: This summary does NOT represent the official position of STEMI (Stephen Tong Evangelistic Ministry International), and is the personal opinion of the author, expressed without prejudice. Expressed opinions are meant for academic discussions only.