From My Perspective - - -

The American Heritage Dictionary gives an apt definition for the word, Manipulation: “Shrewd or devious management, especially for one's own advantage.” This tends to be very prominent in the Political climate of our times. Some speak of it as “talking points”, whereas others indicate it is a more blatant “spin” (or intended to make one believe something is true when in fact in may contain a deliberate partial truth). We see this in professional sports and people who are professional actors. Their “handlers” publicize what they want the public to know and think. It is particularly appalling when manipulation occurs within religious groups and denominations. It is especially painful to witness and experience manipulation – the shrewd or devious management as details are blurred and a rationale for actions taken fails to conform to defined procedures and practices – rules and regulations are set aside and personal preferences are substituted.

One of the many problems with Manipulation is that it tends to be dominated by the “devious”. It was Sir Walter Scott who is credited with writing: "Oh! What a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive." Devious is defined as: “not straightforward; shifty or crooked, insincerity or deceit; evasive, indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading…” It is an effort to paint a picture that is less than accurate regarding a person, place, thing, historical event, etc. To get a sense of this, all one needs to do is read the Daily Newspaper objectively and logically (maybe even skeptically) – and it will become very obvious that opinion has replaced fact, as well as redefinition replacing historical narrative and accuracy.

We get a picture of the devious and manipulation in I Samuel 15. The Word of the Lord is clear to King Saul regarding the Amalekites, namely, “Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.” It’s difficult to understand the modification Saul allows for the very clear directive: “But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.” 

Saul’s approach was not the best “spin” because he stated to Samuel: “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” Of course, there was a twofold matter that had not entered into the calculation of Saul, namely (1) the perception of Samuel, and (2) the immediacy of evidence to the contrary. Saul’s explanation for his modification and the contraband was: “And Samuel said, What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear? Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” The only way to deal with the “spin” and the “devious” is to do what Samuel did: “Then Samuel said to Saul, STOP! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” Samuel then asks: “Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” Saul begins to manipulate and spin: “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” Basically, Saul was told he compromised his integrity and he would no longer be King over Israel.

What a sad ending because of the devious and manipulative! What kind of tangled web have you allowed to be woven in terms of your life? Is your life lived with integrity and forthrightness? It would be best to change before it is too late!

Think about this with me - - - -