Thursday, December 9, 2004 Wine & Oil
The Conception of the Theotokos
Kellia: 2 Samuel 5:6-25 (2 Kings 5:6-25 LXX) Epistle: Titus 1:5-2:1 Gospel: St. Luke 2:20-21, 40-52
2 Samuel 5:6-25 RSV, especially vs. 12: "And David perceived that the Lord had
established him king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel." David's
coronation as king over all the tribes of Israel (2 Sam. 5:1-5) imposed a rigorous course in national security upon the young
monarch (2 Sam. 5:4). He, however, proved to be an outstanding learner in the field of statecraft, principally because he
recognized that it was the Lord Who "had established him king over Israel" (vs. 12).
Each of us, Beloved in Christ, has similarly been anointed as a servant of the true Ruler "established by the Lord" over the
unruly inner kingdom of our hearts and souls. Will not the Lord Who established David also aid each of us in the task of
extending the gracious rule of our Sovereign, the Son of David (Mt. 22:41-45), over our rebellious selves? So then, as we
read this passage and observe David strengthening his nation's security, let us heed how we may foster the Lord's dominion
over our inner realm with His unfailing help, so that Christ may be all in all.
A sovereign nation must have control of its entire territory, yet King David faced an enclave within his borders that was not
submitted to his government - a city of Jebusites, a people who did not hesitate to say "to David, 'You will not come in
here'...." (vs. 6). Likewise each of us, as St. John of the Ladder says, "must renounce all things, despise all things, deride
all things and shake off things" that will not submit to Christ and His will within our hearts. A functional nation must
have a defensible "stronghold" for its government (vs. 9). Let each one who loves the Lord say, "the Lord is my
foundation, and my refuge, and my deliverer...I will hope in Him, my defender" (Ps. 17:1,2 LXX). We have a secure inner
Stronghold.
To prosper, a nation needs good working relationships with other countries, especially those who are willing to furnish it
with resources for building (2 Sam. 5:11). We have, as fellow laborers in the Church, Priests, Confessors, all the Saints,
the Holy Fathers, the Liturgy and other services which can well supply us with all we require to secure our inner house.
A nation needs many "sons and daughters" to increase its population and settle its land (vss. 13,14). We, too, must nurture
a large household of virtues if we are to further our inner realm, turn words into deeds, and populate our inner and outward
life with useful offspring.
Nations must have basic defenses against external enemies who "[come] up in search of" its leaders with the intent to
conquer its people. Therefore, when the Philistines sought King David, he "went down to [his] stronghold" (vs. 17). We
too can resort to God our "Stronghold," and seek from Him, as David did, His all-wise counsel how best to ward off the
assaults of temptations, the passions, and the demons that attack our hearts and souls.
With each invasion of the Philistines, David prayed to the Lord and set before Him his battle plan for approval and
correction (vss. 19,23). Pity the nations whose leaders do not seek Divine guidance and direction in their strategic
planning. Likewise, God pity us if we do not "inquire of the Lord" (vs. 19), so that our almighty Ally and Security
Advisor can guide us in breaking "through [our] enemies before [us], like a bursting flood" (vs. 20).
Observe that David maintained national security by doing exactly "as the Lord commanded him" (vs. 25). Since, as St.
John of the Ladder says, "Obedience is the tomb of the will and the resurrection of humility," let us unquestioningly
beseech the Lord for grace to defeat our own will and always to follow His directions for attaining dominion over our inner
life.
O Lord, reveal to us the word of truth, reveal the gospel of righteousness, unite us to Thy holy Church, and have mercy on
us, save us, help us and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.
