Don’t assume on God’s behalf …

Have you ever heard of “Occam’s razor”?

In philosophy, Occam’s razor is a problem-solving principle that recommends searching for explanations constructed with the smallest possible set of elements. It encourages simplicity by suggesting that the simplest explanation or solution — with the fewest assumptions — is often the correct one. In other words, when faced with competing hypotheses, prefer the hypothesis that requires the fewest assumptions. You might also hear it paraphrased as, “The simplest explanation is usually the best one.”

That last sentence sounds both rational and wise, doesn’t it? “The simplest explanation is usually the best one.”

The problem is, it can also be the wrong one. Sometimes it can be nothing more than an assumption.

Kind of like this embarrassing story shared in “Watchman Prayer” by Dutch Sheets:

A traveller, between flights at an airport, went to a lounge and bought a small package of cookies. Then she sat down and began reading a newspaper. Gradually, she became aware of a rustling noise. From behind her paper, she was flabbergasted to see a neatly dressed man helping himself to her cookies. Not wanting to make a scene, she leaned over and took a cookie herself.

A minute or two passed, and then came more rustling. He was helping himself to another cookie! By this time, they had come to the end of the package, but she was so angry she didn’t dare allow herself to say anything. Then, as if to add insult to injury, the man broke the remaining cookie in two, pushed half across to her, and ate the other half and left.

Still fuming sometime later when her flight was announced, the woman opened her handbag to get her ticket. To her shock and embarrassment, there she found her pack of unopened cookies!

How amazing it is to discover how wrong our assumptions can be!

Even in the simplest of things, we can make an assumption that seems to be rational, even wise, but is an assumption that’s wrong.

Just ask Nathan.

Nathan was a prophet who served God during David’s reign as king in Israel. One day, when called for by the king, Nathan would respond to King David with an assumption that he would have to backtrack on. First, the summons and the situation raised by David:

“When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, the king summoned Nathan the prophet. ‘Look,’ David said, ‘I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!'” 2 Samuel 7:1-2.

Nathan didn’t take a second to think — or pray — before responding:

“Nathan replied to the king, ‘Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you.'”

Did Nathan immediately employ “Occam’s razor” after hearing David’s statement, assuming that since the king had such a wonderful relationship with God, surely this would be the right action for David to take … right?

Right?

Wrong.

Here’s the problem: Nathan spoke FOR the Lord before speaking TO the Lord about the matter. And so the Lord would correct Nathan regarding his faulty assumption:

“But that same night the Lord said to Nathan, ‘Go and tell my servant David, “This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, ‘Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?’ Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you — a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house — a temple — for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.”‘ So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the Lord had said in this vision,” 2 Samuel 7:4-17.

The lesson for Nathan to be learned was to not speak FOR the Lord before speaking TO the Lord. Or, in other words, don’t assume on God’s behalf, talk to Him first.

Scotty