23 January 2016

Scriptures:

• Psalm 22
• Genesis 21:22-34
• 1 Chronicles 26
• Luke 14

Observations:

In the psalm, David is pleading with God to be heard and to be delivered. He is recounting his situation and how he feels everything is against him. Also, note that he is recounting the faithfulness of God to his people and to him in the past.

In Genesis, we see Abraham's treaty with Abimelech (I swear I keep overlapping passages by accident). Abimelech comes to Abraham where he is currently residing and entreats with him for fair dealings, testifying to Abraham's faith in God. Abraham responded with a counter-issue, that some of Abimelech's servants had robbed him of his well. So, the two made right by each other and sealed their treaty with seven of Abraham's ewes, freely offered.

In 1 Chronicles, we see the division of the gatekeepers, with their assignments by lot to the north or south entrances/walls. We also see the division of the treasurers and overseers/judges.

In Luke, again, we see Jesus confronting the pharisees about working on the Sabbath. This time, a man with an illness has walked in and, before healing the man, Jesus asks the pharisees and teachers whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, healing the man in the face of their mute answers, then asking them whether they would even engage in work in the face of an emergency. 

Next, Jesus teaches on humility, advising his followers not to take for themselves the positions of greatest honour, but to take the positions of least honour, for it is better to be asked to move to a seat of higher honour than one of lower honour. 

Following this, Jesus gives advice on inviting others to a banquet, that is, to not invite those from whom you can expect a return invitation, but to invite those unable to repay you. From this statement, Jesus gives the parable of the great banquet, in which every one of a man's invited guests declined last minute with excuses. In response, the man sent his servant to invite the beggars, crippled, and all others whom he could find so that his house would be filled, for none of those who had scorned the invitation would have a place at the table. 

After this, Jesus is speaking to his followers about the cost of following him: 

1. We need to be so devoted to him that, by comparison, we hate our families, friends, and selves
2. We need to be prepared to die any death, even the most ignominious death
3. We need to renounce all we have (all ties, assets, pride, etc.)

As Jesus said, it is important that we bear these in consideration, because just as a builder weighs his budget before construction and a king measures his forces' strength before going to war, so we as Christians must weight the cost of following him before we blithely state our allegiance.

Last, Jesus talks about the very nature of his followers. He compares them to salt. He then makes an absurd statement, "If salt loses its saltiness..." How can salt become unsalty? I'm not going to delve into the whole sea salt having impurities thing. I'm looking at the very nature of salt as compared to Christians. If salt isn't salty, then is really isn't good to be used for salt anymore, so, it's just used for roads. Similarly, if a Christian isn't Christlike, then how is he any good to be used as a Christian? Of course, you can't have unsalty salt (chemically speaking), just like you can't have an un-Christlike Christian. Either you are a Christian and Christ is manifesting himself in you, or you aren't and you're only fooling yourself and those around you.

Application:

Yesterday, I talked about faith and its effects on the believer, changing his very nature and permeating him with Christ's nature and purpose. 

Today, we see the cost of following Christ and, honestly, it follows from yesterday. If we are permeated with Christ's nature and purpose, our connections and assets, our pride, our sins, none of that matters. If we are permeated with Christ's nature and purpose, we have security in our eternity and are invested in Christ's mission above all else -as Paul put it "To live is Christ and to die is gain." If we are permeated with Christ's nature and purpose, there is no room for any other connection, save as an outpouring of what God has given. Does this mean to actually deprive your spouse and children? No. What it means is that your family should know and clearly see that they play a very second fiddle to your devotion to God (and hopefully they too have such a relationship with God).

If we are permeated with Christ, then we cannot be anything other than salty. So, let's stop hiding our saltiness and impact the world around us - our workplaces, our classes, our churches, our streets.

22 January 2016

Scriptures:

• Psalm 21
• Genesis 21:1-21
• 1 Chronicles 25
• Luke 13:10-35

Observations:

In the first stanza of the psalm, we see David praising God for the blessings and aid he has given to him as king. In the second, David is praising God for the punishment of his (the Lord's) enemies.

In Genesis, we see the intended fruit of God's promise - Isaac is born. Following that, we see strife again between Sarah and Hagar to the point where Sarah is urging Abraham to cast Hagar and Ishmael out again. God speaks to Abraham, reassuring him that they would be okay and that, though Isaac is the intended child, he will make a great nation of Ishmael as well, because he is Abraham's son. In the wilderness, then, Hagar finds herself running out of water, lamenting the impending death of her son, when an angel from God reminds her of God's promise and shows her a well. Ishmael grew up to be a strong man, good with a bow we're told, and that he was married to an Egyptian woman. Lastly, we see Abraham's reputation and merciful dealing in his treaty with Abimelech regarding the well at Beersheba.

The 1 Chronicles passage continues the detailing of the Levites, specifically the musicians. We see the prescriptions of who is performing what roles as well as an annotation of lot-taking (thought I do not know what the lot-taking was for). Matthew Henry interprets the lot-taking as the organisation of shifts - who is on duty when.

In Luke, we see a handful of situations. First, Jesus heals a woman with a disfigurement or disability (it looks like some kind of anatomic dysfunction of the spine). The healing itself is rather commonplace for Christ, but it sparked an outrage from a number of the religious leaders, because it happened to be the Sabbath, an argument which Jesus met by showing the leaders their own hypocrisy. Second, Jesus makes two comparisons to the kingdom of heaven. First of the two, he compares it to a mustard seed, which, though small, grows into a large plant, big enough to serve as home for birds. In a similar way, the knowledge and faith in God is a small seed planted within us, but, when cared for and allowed to grow, it expands and branches out, impacting all areas of a person's life and extending shelter/affecting others. Second of the two, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to yeast - a small, single-celled organism whose presence changes the entire nature and flavour of dough and its resultant bread. Next, Jesus responds to a follower's question on the number of saved souls by comparing the kingdom of God to a narrow door - not all will manage to come in - and one that will be open only for a finite time, leaving all others removed from the presence of God, in punishment. This segment has imagery very similar to Matthew 25:31-46, except where the evidence of salvation in Matthew is having served God, the evidence in Luke is having entered through the narrow door, which many seek and few find. Fourth, we see Jesus speaking a lament for Jerusalem over the role it would play during his next and final visit and its lack of willingness to come to God, preferring to remain in its slavish obedience to the Law.

Application:

Do not underestimate faith.

For the first time, I have a better understanding of Jesus' two parables on the kingdom of God. 

I also understand the blindness of the world. The narrow door is not an indication of Christ's meanness, but of man's blindness.

Let Christ's seed, the kingdom of God grow in you, permeating throughout your being, that every thought, every action, every word, every aspect of your body, heart, mind, and soul is infiltrated and held captive by Christ, because we are to be Christ - Christian means little Christ and we are often described as the hands and feet of Christ. Our role is to guide others towards that narrow door, to bring light to their darkness and sight to their blindness.

That is why the church spread under persecution. That is why the pharisees did not understand. Christ demands a surrender of self and an urgency of purpose that defies all man-made stricture and human reason.

21 January 2016

Scriptures:

• Psalm 19
• Genesis 19
• 1 Chronicles 21:18-22:19
• Luke 12:13-48

Observations:

In the psalm, we have four stanzas, each with a different theme. The first is praise, showing how all of creation sings praise to God. The second is scripture, praising the word of the Lord in how they guide man in what is right and wise. The third is contrition, wherein David asks God to show him his faults and asks God to cleanse him. The last is commitment, as David, in my understanding, commits himself to the worship of God, entreating that his worship would always be pleasing to God.

Well, there is a whole lot going on in the Genesis passage: Lot's delivery from Sodom, Lot's wife turning to salt, and Lot's daughters taking advantage of him. What stood out to me is Lot's reticence to leave Sodom. I understand, that was his home, but it says something about the strength of his faith compared to Abraham's. We also see it in his sons-in-law's derision of Lot's warning to leave the city, his wife's turning back, and his daughters' incestuous actions. If he sought after God more and had a deeper relationship with God, would his sons-in-law have reacted differently (or even been different people)? Would his wife and daughters have acted differently? I would say so. His faith set the tone for the way he and his family settled and interacted in Sodom. The difference here, between Lot and Abraham, is that Lot put himself and his comfort first, then God. Abraham put God first (usually) and his comfort second. Now, I'm not saying be legalistic, doing thousands of good things for God, becoming an ascetic and selling all your possessions, etc. I'm saying seek God first, not ourselves.

Okay, so in 1 Chronicles, this is following God's punishment on Israel for David's sin of pride in taking a census. At the place where the angel stopped in Jerusalem, a threshing floor, David was commanded to build an altar. So, he bought, full price, the threshing floor and built an altar on it, sacrificing to God for forgiveness and peace. At that spot, David commissioned the temple to be built, though God had previously told him that it would be Solomon to do so, since David's hands were so stained with blood. So, David did all the leg work in acquiring the resources and workmen for Solomon to use.

So, in Luke, we have three passages that are often read separately, but, when read together, make for an amazing synergy. First, we have the parable of the rich fool, in which Jesus is admonishing us not to stockpile assets and riches on earth instead of investing in God, for we will all be called up and our earthy possessions will serve us no greater purpose. Second we have the encouragement to not be anxious, which is begun with a "therefore", indicating it flows from the first passage. Because we are to invest our efforts in God instead of earthly assets, we are encouraged to not be anxious about having enough to eat or be clothed, but to have faith that God, whom we are invested in, will care for our needs, closing with a reminder that where are treasures are is where our hearts are. Last, we have the call to readiness. If we are then invested in and committed to Christ, should we not also be preparing ourselves to move at his command? Should we not be busy doing his work so that when we are called up, we are not caught unawares, engaged in worldly vices, but prepared and engaging in the work we have been given.

Application:

The application I see is two-fold.

Part I

In what ways do I serve my own comfort?

Where do I reluctantly follow God's direction?

Part II

How am I investing in Earth instead of God?

What do I need to rid myself of so that I may lean upon God?

What is the work God has given me to do?

19 January 2016

Scriptures:

• Psalm 18
• Genesis 18:16-33
• 1 Chronicles 21:1-17
• Luke 11:37-12:12

Observations:

In the psalm, we see David giving praise to God for being his rock and shelter. We see David describing how the Lord goes out to war on his behalf, giving description of his earth-shattering power. David also makes note of why God would act on his behalf - David has sought to remain clean and pure, seeking after God. From God, then, David gains his strength, speaking of how the Lord has equipped him to face his enemies.

In the Genesis passage, I find Abraham's attitude very curious. We see God "debating" within himself over whether to let Abraham know what he was going to do next, to deal with Sodom. After telling Abraham, though, Abraham, knowing the city's reputation, begins to haggle for the city's survival, whittling God down to sparing the city if there are so much as 10 righteous people living there. Yes, we know that Abraham's nephew, Lot, lived in Sodom, but Abraham's humility and self-effacement in haggling with God is interesting. You can see Abraham's gratitude that the Lord would consider his offer. You can also see Abraham's not wanting to presume, recognising his existence in the face of God, but still wanting to press for further clemency on behalf of the city.

In 1 Chronicles, we see the beginnings of kingly pride infecting David, affecting his rule. David called for a census, desiring to know the size of his kingdom. Surprisingly, Joab, his general, who was not particularly known for his godliness, had reservations, pleading David not to tempt God's wrath. David continued and, sure enough, God delivered David a choice of punishments, ultimately delivering a pestilence across the nation, stopping partway through Jerusalem. 70 000 men had died because of David's folly (and that number doesn't include women or children). The Lord stopped the pestilence early because of David's sincere contrition.

In Luke, we first see Jesus dining with some pharisees and teachers of the Law. Not very long after being there, one of the pharisees questions Jesus about a traditional behaviour of cleanliness that Jesus didn't do. Jesus makes a point about this, leveling against the pharisees in general about how they pursue external cleanliness and recognition of man instead of working for the recognition of God, which leads to internal cleanliness. Similarly, at a protestation from a teacher of the Law, Jesus lays at their feet their guilt for the burdensome additional laws which have been made over the last few centuries to keep the everyday Jew from trespassing the ten commandments, but which served more to ensnare and enslave them.

From these statements, Jesus then turns to his followers, who had been gathering and admonishes them to hold on to a few thoughts:

• Do not pursue the influence of the pharisees
• That is, do not seek to emulate them in the hopes of gaining what they purport to possess.
• Do not fear your peers or authorities; instead, fear God.
• Seek first, then the ways in which God says to live, holding to that standard first.
• Do not compromise on your faith in Christ when pressured or questioned by your peers or authorities .

Application:

I think the Luke passage is the linchpin here. Let us start from the three points of Luke - not pursuing the influence and lifestyle of the world, not fearing the world's authorities, but God, and not compromising on our faith in any situation.

From there, we can see David's folly: he pursued the lifestyle and prestige of the world. Let us also see David's salvation: he feared God.

Also, we can see David's psalm. In his solid faith in God, he had no fear of other powers, because he knew what God could and would do.

Lastly, in Genesis, we can see the fruit of a life of growing closer to God, towards the no compromise threshold, in Abraham as he petitioned God on behalf of his nephew. 

18 January 2016

Scriptures:

• Psalm 17
• Genesis 18:1-15
• 1 Chronicles 18-20
• Luke 11:1-36

Observations:

In the psalm, we see David pleading with the Lord to shelter him and to fight on his behalf. We see him showing his heart and actions to God, as evidence that he is worthy of God's favour. We also see David's heart. He doesn't want God's protection for this particular instance. In verse 8, we see "Keep me as the apple of your eye." David is seeking intimacy with God and seeks to remain in intimacy with God.

In Genesis, we have the final promise to Abraham and Sarah that they will have a child, to which Sarah scoffs, because she is well past menopause. What's also interesting and very much worth noting is the urgency of Abraham's hospitality for the servants of the Lord, urging them into the shade, offering and making them food and drink. It brings to mind the passage in Matthew 25:35, "For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me." We never know when we might be entertaining messengers of God, so let us always be available and graciously hospitable. That being said, we should be doing so anyways, because of the love of God that dwells within us.

In 1 Chronicles, we have an account of a number of military and political events occurring through David's reign. In ch 18, we see his war victories and spoils as well as his administration. In ch 19, we see a new Ammonite king, the son of one who had been kindly towards David in his youth, spit at David's offer of consolation and friendship, bringing the Syrians to war against Israel. Israel routed them both and Syria became a vassal state. In ch 20, we see the capture of Rabbah from the Ammonites as well as the deeds in single combat of some of David's men. Clearly this period of David's rule was one blessed by God, as evidenced by his successes.

In the first segment of the Luke passage, we see the people gathered asking Jesus how to pray. In reply, he gives them two pieces of instruction. First, he gives them a skeleton prayer. Second, he tells them to pray boldly, asking for whatever they seek, because God loves us like a perfect father and desires to bless us with what we need. In the second segment, Jesus deals with accusations that he is in league with the devil to be able to cast out demons, giving the crowd two if-then statements on if he worked by the power of Satan and if he worked by the power of God. Third, Jesus talks about an unclean spirit that has been cast out, returning to find its old home clean and well-kept, and inviting more to dwell with it. To me, I understand this as attempting to remove our sin on our own. We might hold out for a time and get ourselves straightened up, but that sin comes back and with a vengeance, bringing us to new lows. Unless, of course, there is a different spirit residing in its place - the spirit of God. Jesus then continues, closing out this particular collection of verses with a woe to the crowds, lamenting their lack of faith, wanting to see greater miracles before they believed, and with an illustration on faith-filled living.

Application:

Well, from Chronicles, we can definitely see the effect of God's hand in physical affairs. In the psalm, we see David's example in his desire to never be removed from God's favour. In Genesis, we see how God will answer his promises, albeit in unlikely ways sometimes, and how we should be ready to serve God and others, with our very best and consideration for their well-being. Lastly, in Luke, we see we are to be bold in prayer, recognising that Jesus' power is of God, meaning that the kingdom of God is truly near, recognising that it is only through him that we are cleansed from our sins, and that we are to be bold in our faith, reflecting Christ, shining his light like a lamp on a stand, being aware of ourselves, checking that the light we reflect is indeed of Christ and not self.

That's still very wordy.

God answers his promises and has clear power. Recognising that it is Jesus who cleanses us and allows us to come into the presence of God, let us cleave to God and desire never to leave, petitioning him boldly for his favour and blessing, and allowing him to change us from the inside, that we would reflect in growing faith the character of God.

So, cling to God faster than a man does his wife, for God is sufficient, able, and willing to meet every one of our needs.