24 January 2016

Scriptures:

• Psalm 23
• Genesis 22
• 1 Chronicles 27
• Luke 15

Observation:

In the psalm, we see David offering praise to God. In the first stanza, he praises God for his guardianship, leading him to what is good and right. In the second stanza, he praises God for his security and comfort. In the last stanza, he praises God for his provision.

In Genesis, we have the classic story of Abraham offering Isaac as an offering to God. Now, yes, we know that God explicitly commanded the Israelites to stay away from child sacrifice as it was detestable to him. So, what's the whole point here? The point was for Abraham to show that he valued God greater than he valued the gift of his son. Remember yesterday's passage on how our love for God should make it look like we hate our families in comparison? That is what's going on here. Now, just before Abraham actually kills his son, God sends an angel to stop him, commending Abraham for his faith, and providing a ram as a proper sacrifice.

In 1 Chronicles, we see the division of leaders for what I presume is the standing army of Israel. Each month, there is a leader and 24 000 men appointed to this position. In the counting of tribes and tribe leaders, we have a note mentioning David's census and the wrath of God that came about therefrom, mentioning how the census was left unfinished. We also see the appointing of the stewards of David's property and assets and the naming of those in roles with close access to David and his family.

In Luke, we see God's attitude towards the lost. 

The first parable he gives, in response to the pharisees scoffing at his dining with sinners (for the pharisees dined primarily with the righteous and well-regarded), is a simple question: who among them, if their flock of 100 were to lose 1 sheep, would not leave the safe 99, go search for the lost one, and, upon returning with the lost one, celebrate with his friend over the lost sheep returned to the flock? 

The second parable involves a woman who loses one of her 10 silver coins. What does she do? She turns the house upside-down diligently searching for the coin, rejoicing with her friends when it is found. The third parable takes this idea somewhat further. 

In this last parable, we see a young man insult his father by demanding his inheritance early. That same young man disrespects his inheritance by squandering it on the high life in a foreign country and, when his funds run out, he finds a job performing the lowest of work - feeding pigs. during this time, he decides to return to his father, asking forgiveness, and seeking to be counted as one of his father's hired servants. When he arrives home, we see his father forsake all dignity and run to him, meeting him in the road, restoring him to sonhood, and throwing a party for his return. We also see the man's other son, the obedient son who did not ask for his inheritance early and who had remained with the father the entire time. We see his bitterness at the father's celebration and his father's rebuke.

What's the whole point of these three parables? Jesus was using them to illustrate to the pharisees and scribes why he spent more time dining with the sinners than he did with the righteous. God rejoices more over one lost individual coming to salvation than over one, ten, 99 righteous individuals who never strayed. God's heart is for the redemption of the lost. So, why would Jesus not go and spend time with the sinners. After all, they are the ones needing him.

Application: