Joining the Underdog

Since I tend to have a heart for the underdog ; the one wrongly accused or unjustly treated (after all I’m social worker duh...) I wanted to share something for all of us who have experienced being pushed out of what was rightfully our due...

First, there’s Jephthah (Judges 11) who was the product of his father, Gilead, who slept with a harlot. Then his father’s actual wife had sons & when those sons, Jephthah’s half-brothers, grew up, they threw him out saying because of whom his mom was he wasn’t entitled to the inheritance. Verse 3 says that ‘worthless’ men banded together with Jephthah.

This of course made me think of the men who banded with David after Saul drove him out unjustly. The word says that all who were in distress, debt, and ’worthless men joined with David (I Samuel 22:2)

So what’s my point? David & Jephthah were both wrongly chased out by those whom

1.) Should have received them and

2.) Did not realize how much they actually needed them.

Saul called for David, used him for his talents and in battles then got jealous and ran him out of town.

Jephthah’s brothers ended up needing him after they stole his inheritance and ran him out of the city because of who his mother was. They figured that his mother was worthless which made him worthless as well. Nevertheless, God had placed the victory of Israel within Jephthah hands.

Unlike man God, throughout the bible shows a soft spot for those with a mother of ill repute, and also for the women themselves.

Consider the following the next time you’re feeling bad about your background:

Except for Mary, (who’s rep was also tarnished) All the female ancestors of Christ were prostitutes, adulteresses, incestuous, or gentiles

(Rahab? prostitute,

Tamar? Lost two husbands, shamed by the third, posed as a prostitute, and accused of promiscuity.

Ruth? Descendant of the incest between Lot & his daughters,

Bathsheba? husband killed by David after their adulterous affair)

So what does that have to do with Jephthah & David? Well like those who joined with David & Jephthah, they all made covenants that overrode their backgrounds. Jephthah’s brothers had to eat their words and beg him to lead them in battle against their enemies, making him the Judge over Israel. David as we know became the King over all Israel despite Saul’s crazed attempts to murder, lie, and discredit David.

In addition, all the ‘worthless’ men who had banded with these rejected leaders, also benefited. Both groups gained reputations as selectmen of valor, renown, skill, courage, integrity, and character! More is said about what these people became than of what they were!

On a personal level we may come from the worst families and lifestyles. We may have done all kinds of things in our past; Drugs, debts, violence, sex, stealing...but regardless of our pasts when we turn to God and the body of Christ, we can manifest fruit that endures. Man may call us rejects, but God has called us chosen. Man will tell us we will never be successful, and have no right to our inheritance, but God has made us prosperous. When we make the right spiritual ties and associations-those according to Christ’s standards, NOT man’s- we change our destiny.

We can go from worthless to highly favored. We change our outcome from distressed to select, skilled, and courageous. Our past becomes a postscript in the testimony of God’s re-creation of our lives. Just like at the beginning of creation, lives that were once void, without form and immersed in darkness get called into order and light; given purpose and a destiny. God actually promises to “subdue our iniquity...” (Micah 7:19) He brings those things from our past under control, so that we can bring forth a new heritage - to receive a new inheritance. We can obtain the birthright that Christ redeemed for us to receive. Like Boaz did for his relatives. (Ruth 4:17)

Whom have we joined together with? Who are our names, skills and even our pasts benefiting? Alternatively, are we still walking in worthlessness? Are we still in distress or debt? If so, the devil is lying to you! He like Saul and the brothers of Jephthah is wrongfully robbing you of what is rightfully yours! Those who have misused or abused us will end up calling us back for help. In the meantime, while in covenant with God, allow His healing balm to remove and uproot any hurts or bitterness. Be ready to take your rightful place when the power and will of God open up the door of opportunity.

The bottom line is that God is not hung up on our pedigree, or our filth of yesterday. The question is, are we willing to accept the adoption He offers us today?

Are our hearts hungry and desperate to seek and band with God?

That willingness and openness are what positions us for acceptance and to lay claim on our proper birthright.

Were you low class? Good, let God lift you!

Were you in the upper echelons? Then bring yourself low so that you can be approved and lifted by God on His terms.

Be abundantly blessed,

Raine