9
Pentecost - Sunday
1 Samuel 17:50-18:4, David’s Triumph over Goliath
Romans 10:4-17, Righteousness by Faith
Matthew 23:29-39
Jesus Mourns over
David killed Goliath with a slingshot, striking
and penetrating
Goliath’s forehead with a stone. David wore no armor and carried no
sword.
David stood over the fallen giant and used Goliath’s sword to cut of
Goliath’s
head. When they saw Goliath fallen, the Philistines fled in panic and
the
Israelites chased them for ten miles northwest to Ekron and southwest
to Gath
slaughtering them as they fled. Then the Israelites returned to the
Philistine
encampment and plundered it. David took Goliath’s head to
When Saul saw David go out to fight Goliath he
asked Abner,
the commander of Saul’s army the identity of Goliath’s challenger but
Abner
couldn’t recognize him. Afterward Abner brought David to Saul and David
told
him he was the son of Jesse, of
Paul taught the Roman Christians that Christ is
the end of
the law (the Covenant of Law), so that we can be justified (judged
righteous)
by faith (obedient trust; instead of by works, i.e. “keeping” of the
law).
Moses taught that (under the Covenant of Law) one must keep (practice,
obey,
apply) the law to be saved by it and live (Leviticus 18:5). The
covenant of
righteousness doesn’t require what is humanly impossible (in contrast
to the
Law, which is humanly impossible; Romans 3:9-20).
The new covenant of
grace
(unmerited favor; free gift) through faith is not far off; it’s near
us, on our
lips and in our hearts. If we confess Jesus as Lord with our lips, and
believe
in our hearts that God raised him from the dead we will be saved from
eternal
condemnation and eternal death. Anyone who truly believes and acts
accordingly
in obedient trust will be saved. No one who truly believes in Jesus
will be put
to (eternal) shame (Isaiah 28:16). God makes no distinction between
Jews and
Gentiles; Jesus is Lord of all and his blessings are given lavishly to
all who
call upon him (in obedient trust). “Everyone who calls upon the name of
the
Lord (Jesus; in obedient trust) will be saved” (Joel 2:32).
People cannot call upon Jesus unless they believe (that he is God’s anointed Savior and Lord), and they cannot come to that faith unless they hear and know the Gospel. In order to know the Gospel they must be taught by someone who has been sent (and equipped by the Lord through the indwelling Holy Spirit) for that purpose. Those who are empowered and sent to preach good news are blessed and are a blessing to those who hear and respond to the Gospel, but not everyone who hears responds in obedient trust, as Isaiah has said (Isaiah 53:1). Faith comes from hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed.
Jesus called the religious leaders of his time
hypocrites
because they built memorials to the prophets and the righteous and
thought that
they were better than their fathers who murdered the prophets, and thus
proved
themselves to be the sons of their fathers who murdered the prophets.
Jesus
called the religious leaders “poisonous snakes” and asked how they
could hope
to escape eternal condemnation in hell (compare Matthew 3:7).
The Lord
will
send prophets and teachers of God’s Word, and the religious leaders
will
continue to kill and persecute them, and in the Day of Judgment they
will be
accountable to the Lord for all the innocent blood that has ever been
shed from
Abel to Zechariah (i.e. from “A” to “Z;” from the first book of the
Bible to
the last, in the Hebrew Bible). Jesus prophesied that eternal judgment
would
become upon “this generation” (the generation who crucified Christ and
every
generation which rejects Jesus).
Jesus mourned for
David is a forerunner and illustration of the Christ, our “champion,” who defeated the superhuman enemy, Satan, at the Cross. David is also an example of a “born-again” disciple of Jesus Christ who fights the spiritual battle with weapons and armor of the Spirit, following the example of Jesus.
The covenant of deep friendship between David and Jonathan is an illustration of the covenant of grace through faith which we have in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus is the son of the King, who gives us the robe of righteousness and the armor and weapons of the Spirit.
Paul taught the Roman Christians that Christ is the end (the termination, but also the goal and fulfillment) of the covenant of law. In Christ we are freed from the demands of the covenant of law, which is humanly impossible to keep, provided that we abide in the covenant of grace through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit we are able to live according to God’s ways, which we were unable to do by keeping the law (Romans 8:1-11). Jesus is the covenant of friendship by which his soul is knit with ours by the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (compare 1 Samuel 18:1).
The Spirit of the risen Jesus (Romans 8:9b) is very near us as we read the Bible or hear the Gospel preached. In my own personal experience, as I began to seek God’s Word I sensed him close to me as I read the scriptures, guiding my understanding, but it was later when I committed to him as my Lord and began seeking, trusting and obeying his will that I received the anointing and fullness of the Holy Spirit within me. When we begin to say “yes” to his will and Word, the Lord begins to disciple us in the everyday events of life, showing us that his will is good and reliable, teaching us to know his Word and touch, and causing our faith to grow to spiritual maturity.
Jesus’ name isn’t a “good-luck” charm. Jesus said “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21, 22-24; compare Luke 6:46). Just adding Jesus’ name to the end of our prayers doesn’t obligate the Lord to fulfill our requests (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right). Faith is not like wishing on a star; we don’t receive whatever we believe, if we “believe hard enough."
It is important to read and know the entire Bible for ourselves so that we can discern false teaching and choose teachers and preachers who are proclaiming the true, biblical apostolic gospel, the gospel taught by the original disciples of Jesus Christ, and recorded in the Bible. Any average reader can easily read the Bible in one year (see Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar, top right). There are lots of false teachers and false prophets in the world today.
Jesus called the religious leaders of his day hypocrites and poisonous snakes. They preached but didn’t practice what they preached (Matthew 23:3). They sought worldly honor more that God’s approval (Matthew 23:5-7). They were spiritually blind guides (Matthew 23:16). They had the appearance of righteousness but were inwardly corrupt (Matthew 23:23-28). In many ways the “nominal” Church (in contrast to the true Church which is the Spirit-filled body of Christ), is in exactly the same condition today. The Church is the New Jerusalem. Are we causing Jesus to mourn? Are we “stoning” the prophets he sends? Are we refusing to hear messages which reveal and convict hypocrisy?
Jesus’ prophecy against
The Jewish religion effectively ended at
the
crucifixion of Jesus. The veil of the temple was supernaturally torn in
two
from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51) signifying that the way into God’s
presence
had been opened through Jesus Christ, the “Door” (John 10:7) and the Way (John 14:6). The covenant of law
ended, along with the need for a sacrificial system, because Jesus
became the
only sacrifice acceptable to God, once for all time and all people
(Hebrews
7:27). Jesus is the new High Priest.
Jerusalem
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Sunday, August, 10, 2003
posted 08/09/03
1Sam. 17:50-18:4 David Killed Goliath
Romans 10:4-17 Salvation is by Faith in Jesus
Matthew 23:29-39 Jesus Laments over
David's Faith in God was vindicated; he had prevailed over Goliath, a seemingly vastly superior opponent, by relying on God, rather than in himself.
Our sins are forgiven and we are restored to a right relationship with God by trusting in Jesus. "For man believes with his heart and so is justified (judged righteous) and he confesses with his lips and so is saved....No one who believes in Him will be put to shame" (v10-11) "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord (in faith) will be saved." (v.23) In order to receive the promise of salvation, we need to hear the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus, and we must also take it to heart and put it into practice.
Those who reject the Gospel of Jesus reject God's gracious offer to forgive their sins. They are relying on themselves, rather than trusting in Jesus, and therefore face the coming judgment, where they will be required to pay for their sins themselves by eternal death and separation from God.
Jesus is not far off from us. He is waiting for us to welcome Him into our hearts and listen to Him.
9
Pentecost - Monday
1 Samuel 18:5-16 (17-27a) 27b-30, Saul’s Jealousy of David
Acts 11:19-30,
Mark 1:29-45 Galilean Ministry
David was successful in everything Saul had him do, so Saul made him an officer in his army, and he was popular with all the people and with Saul’s servants. When David returned with King Saul after David had slain Goliath, the women came out to meet them, celebrating the victory. The women were saying that Saul had slain thousands, but David had slain tens of thousands. Saul was angry and jealous of David, thinking that David was one step from possessing the kingdom, and watched David with suspicion from that day on.
The next day Saul was being tormented by an evil spirit, and David was playing the lyre (a stringed musical instrument like a harp). Saul took his spear in his hand and attempted to pin David to the wall, but David evaded him twice.
Saul feared David because “the Lord was with him (David) but had departed from Saul” (1 Samuel 18:12). Saul removed David from his presence and made David a commander of military unit of a thousand men. Thus David was in a position of authority in public view. David continued to be successful in everything by the Lord’s power, and Saul was amazed at David’s success. All the people knew and loved David because he had become a public figure.
Saul offered his eldest daughter, Merab, to David
as wife,
hoping that a wife would distract David and he would be killed by the
Philistines, since Saul didn’t want to be blamed for killing David
himself. David
responded that he was unworthy of being the king’s son-in-law. Merab
was later
given to someone else. Another of Saul’s daughters, Michal, was in love
with
David and they told Saul, who consented, hoping again that David would
be
distracted and fall into the hands of his enemies.
David couldn’t
provide a
dowry, but Saul had his servants coax David to marry and he told David
to
provide a hundred Philistine foreskins in lieu of a dowry. David was
pleased
with the arrangement, and took his men and killed two hundred
Philistines and
brought their foreskins to Saul, and David and Michal were married. But
Saul
was more jealous and suspicious of David than ever. In battles with the
Philistines
David always distinguished himself beyond the servants of Saul, and he
gained a
great reputation.
When Stephen was martyred great persecution of
Christians
arose in
Barnabas rejoiced in the grace (unmerited favor) of God at
work in
the people and he urged them to remain faithful and steadfast to the
Lord. Barnabas
was known as a good man full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
A large number of disciples were added to the
congregation. There was so much discipling to be done that he went to
Tarsus to
find Saul and brought him back, and for a year they discipled a large number of people, “and in Antioch the
disciples were for the first time called Christians” (Acts 11:26).
A prophet named Agabus came to
Jesus began his public ministry preaching God’s
Word and
healing in the synagogue at
In the morning Jesus got up quite early, and went
to a place
where he could be alone to pray. His disciples followed him and told
him people
were seeking him for healing, but Jesus told them to go with him to
other
villages, so that he could preach throughout
Jesus encountered a leper who believed that Jesus
could heal
him if it was Jesus’ will, and Jesus reached out and touched him
saying, “I
will; be clean” (Mark 1:41). Immediately the man was healed. Jesus told
the man
to tell no one of Jesus’ healing, but to go to the priest and offer the
sacrifice required by the Law of Moses for his cleansing. The man
disregarded
Jesus’ command and talked freely about how Jesus had healed him. As a
result
Jesus became so famous as a healer that he could no longer openly enter
any
town, and people were coming in great crowds to him out in the country.
David was successful in everything he did because
the Lord
was with him. Saul was jealous and afraid of David because the Lord was
with
David and had departed from Saul, so Saul sought to destroy David. He
offered
David his daughter in hopes of distracting David by worldly things so
that he
would be killed by the Philistines.
He made the marriage price for his
daughter
a hundred Philistine foreskins, seemingly beyond human achievement, in
hopes
that David would be killed trying, but David far exceeded Saul’s
expectation.
Everything Saul did to destroy David only made David more successful
and
popular, because the Lord was with David. David had the spiritual
resources to
heal Saul’s spiritual illness (1 Samuel 19:9-10), but Saul missed what
David
had to offer because he was jealous and spiteful of David.
The Jews tried to destroy Jesus by crucifying him, but they didn’t succeed. By killing Jesus, God’s plan of salvation was fulfilled; Jesus rose from physical death to eternal life, demonstrating the truth of the resurrection and of eternal life beyond physical death. As a result disciples who had been of “little faith” and afraid before Jesus’ death (like Peter, who denied Jesus on the night of Jesus’ betrayal; Matthew 26:69-75), after the resurrection preached the Gospel boldly and with great power by the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:14-36). Stephen was martyred, but he was unafraid because he had the vision and certainty of eternal life (Acts 7:56; consider Hebrews 2:14-15).
Persecution did not destroy the Christian Church; it helped accomplish God’s purpose of spreading the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 11:19-20; compare Acts 1:8), because the hand of the Lord was with them (by the “anointing” of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13) as the Lord had been with David by his “anointing” (1 Samuel 16:12b-13). The Lord guided his Church by his Holy Spirit and by the proclamation of his Word by his prophets (Acts 11:28), and the Christians heeded and responded in obedience to prophetic utterance (Acts 11: 27-30).
Jesus began his ministry by proclaiming God’s Word
in the
synagogue at
Jesus
offers us healing so that we can serve him. The leper was interested in
the
Lord’s will for his physical healing, but not interested in obeying the
Lord’s
will not to publicize his healing. As a result he hindered rather than
helped
Jesus’ ministry, and he obtained physical healing, but not spiritual
healing
and eternal life.
Jesus did not allow the demons he cast out to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah, and Jesus wants each of us to decide for ourselves who Jesus is. For the same reason he referred to himself as the Son of man (which is true; he is God, the Son of man, by the Holy Spirit; Matthew 1:18-21; Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28), but which allows his hearers to decide for themselves whether he is the Messiah, the Son of God.
Jesus’ reputation could not be suppressed, and neither could his message. The Jews crucified him, but that didn’t stop his Gospel from being spread throughout the world. It was obvious to many that he spoke God’s Word and that God was with him to accomplish things which were humanly impossible. People will either be drawn to Jesus and healed by his Gospel, or they will be jealous and afraid of him and hate and try to destroy him, but they cannot prevent his eternal kingdom from coming!
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
first posted 08/10/03
1Sam. 18:5-30 David wins Michal
Acts 11:19-30
Mark 1:29-45 Jesus' Healing Ministry
Saul was jealous of David because the Lord was with David and had departed from Saul. "And David had success in all his undertakings because the Lord was with him." (v. 14) Saul tried twice to pin David to the wall with his spear to kill him , but David was able to avoid it, so Saul tried to have David killed in by the Philistines in battle. The more he tried to get rid of David, the more successful and popular David became.
A persecution of Jesus' followers arose after the
stoning of
Stephen, and they were scattered as far north as
When the disciples in
Jesus came from the synagogue to the home of Simon
(who was
named Peter by Jesus) and Andrew (Simon's Brother), ( 2 of the original
12
Disciples chosen by Jesus) and Simon's Mother-in-law happened to be
sick, so
Jesus Healed her. Word spread throughout the town, and that evening the
whole
city came to Him, and Jesus healed many sick and cast out many demons.
"And He (Jesus) would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew
Him" (v34).
They had to leave early the next day to avoid another
crowd,
in order for Jesus to reach other towns with his message. Jesus showed
in the
healing of the leper on the way that Jesus ministry wasn't just about
physical
healing (or solving people's immediate physical needs) but His concern
was
mainly for their spiritual condition. Physical healing, etc., doesn't
have
eternal significance unless it is accompanied by a spiritual healing.
Compare the spiritual condition of King Saul and
David,
after Saul lost his "anointing" and David had received his. (Consider
King Saul's fall from God's "chosen" and "anointed" to
"rejected by God" because he had rejected God.) Compare Saul of
Tarsus, the zealous Jew and persecutor of the disciples with the new
"Paul"
after his eye-opening, and heart- and spirit-changing encounter with
the risen
Lord on the
9
Pentecost - Tuesday
first posted 07/18/05
1 Samuel 19:1-18 (19-24), Saul Tries to Kill David
Acts 12:1-17, Peter’s Release from Prison
Mark 2:1-12 Healing a Paralytic
Saul told his servants to find a way to kill
David, but
Saul’s son Jonathan warned David to hide. Jonathan interceded with Saul
to
spare David’s life, because David had done nothing against Saul and his
deeds
had benefited Saul. David had risked his life fighting the Philistines
and the
Lord had given
Jonathan told Saul that Saul had rejoiced in David’s victory, so
why
would Saul sin by killing David without reason? So Saul swore not to
kill
David, and Jonathan called to David and told him. Jonathan brought
David back
into Saul’s presence and David served him again as a musician.
There was another war with the Philistines and
David fought
and won a great victory, but when he returned to Saul, Saul again tried
to kill
him with a spear, and David fled from Saul’s presence. That night Saul
sent
servants to watch David’s house to kill him in the morning, but David’s
wife,
Michal, Saul’s daughter, warned David. She made a dummy to make it
appear that
David was in bed, and helped David escape through a window.
David fled
to
Samuel, the high priest. When Saul’s messengers came to bring David to
Saul,
Michal told them that David was sick in bed. The messengers reported
this to
Saul, and Saul told them to bring David to him in bed, so that Saul
could kill
him. When they returned to David’s house, they found the dummy in the
bed, and
Saul asked his daughter why she had deceived him and let Saul’s enemy
escape.
Michal replied that David had threatened to kill her otherwise.
Saul heard that David had fled to Samuel in Ramah, so he sent servants to capture David, but when the servants found David he was with a group of prophets led by Samuel. The group was filled with God’s Spirit and they were dancing in ecstatic worship, and Saul’s servants were caught up in the fervor themselves. Saul went to capture David himself, and he too was caught up in the emotion and ritual of ecstatic worship.
Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great, was
king of
During the night preceding the day Herod planned
to execute
Peter, Peter was asleep in prison, chained to the wall between two
soldiers,
and guarded by two sentries at the door. An angel of the Lord appeared
and the
cell was filled with light. The angel awoke Peter and told him to get
dressed.
The chains fell from Peter’s hands and he did as instructed. The angel
told
Peter to follow him and led him out past both guards. The iron gate
leading to
the city opened apparently “by itself” and they passed through and they
had
gone about a block and then the angel disappeared.
Peter thought he had
been
dreaming, but when he realized he was standing in the street, he knew
that the
Lord had delivered him from Herod’s intentions. He decided to go to the
house
of Mary, the mother of John Mark, which was a gathering place of the
Church in
When Peter knocked,
Rhoda,
the maid went to answer. She recognized Peter’s voice, and in her
excitement
she left him standing outside as she went to tell the congregation that
Peter
was at the door. They thought Rhoda was crazy or that it was Peter’s
spirit.
Peter knocked again, and when they opened the door they saw that it was
Peter,
and they were amazed. Peter told them how the Lord had brought him out
of prison,
and told them to tell James (not the martyred brother of John) and the
rest of
the disciples.
When Jesus returned to
Some
scribes (teachers of the Law of Moses, Jewish scripture) were present
and they
were thinking that what Jesus said was blasphemous, because only God
can
forgive sins. Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked them if it
would
have been easier to say that the man’s sins were forgiven, or to tell
him to
rise, pick up his stretcher and walk? Jesus had told the man that his
sins were
forgiven to demonstrate that the Son of man (Jesus) had authority on
earth to
forgive sins. Jesus then told the paralytic to rise, pick up his bed
and go
home, and the man immediately did so. The crowd was amazed and
glorified God,
declaring that they had never witnessed anything like this.
David had done nothing but good for King Saul, but
David’s
goodness and the signs of God’s favor on David made Saul hate David and
seek to
destroy him. Saul tried to use his servants to do his dirty work for
him so
that Saul would appear blameless, but his servants were influenced by
the
spiritual leader, Samuel, and worshipped and glorified God instead of
following
Saul’s evil plans.
Saul even tried to use his daughter as a distraction
to keep
David from fulfilling God’s will and purpose and thus be destroyed by
the enemy
(1 Samuel 18:21). After his daughter became David’s wife, Saul expected
her to
remain faithful to her father and to betray David. Instead, she chose
to cooperate
with David to save him from her father’s evil intentions. Saul himself
was
caught up in the emotion and ritual of worship, although he was not
truly
worshiping God. God was able to preserve David and to distract even
Saul
himself (1 Samuel 19:23-24), to frustrate and cause Saul’s plans to
fail.
Herod
was another evil king whose plan to destroy the Lord’s disciples was
thwarted
by God’s power. Herod chose to do what was evil because it was popular.
The
Church was praying for Peter’s release, but when it happened while they
were
praying, they could hardly believe it. God’s answer demonstrated to the
young
Church that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (person)
availeth
much” (James 5:16 KJV). The power is not in the person or the prayer
but in the
Lord; but note that the petitioners were “righteous” by faith (obedient
trust)
in Jesus and by the cleansing of the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Peter
1:22-23;
see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, top right).
We are all
sinners (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) imprisoned
by the present ruler of this world, Satan, and condemned to eternal
death
(Romans 6:23). Jesus is God’s only provision for our forgiveness and
salvation
from eternal death (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation,
sidebar,
top right). Jesus is the one who releases us from that prison and
eternal death
sentence and restore us to real, eternal life, now and forever.
The religious
leaders of
The religious
leaders had “front-row seats” in Jesus’ home
(see Mark 12:38-40), while the paralytic man with his helpers had to go
to
extraordinary measures to get close enough to Jesus to hear Jesus’
word, so
that he could immediately apply Jesus’ word in his life. When he heard
Jesus’
command, he did exactly as Jesus had said, and he received spiritual as
well as
physical healing.
It would have been easier for Jesus simply to have
told him
to get up and go home, but Jesus wanted everyone to know that his real
purpose
was eternal spiritual healing. He was already attracting large crowds
of people
seeking only what Jesus could do for them physically and materially at
the
moment (John 6:25-28). Jesus knows
our
innermost thoughts and motives; it matters eternally for each of us
individually and personally what we do with Jesus’ words.
Are we
seeking Jesus’ words so that we can apply them in
our daily lives in obedient trust, or only for our own worldly benefit?
Do we
recognize our need for spiritual healing? Do we expect the Lord to hear
and
answer our prayers with out our obedience to his Word? Do we truly
worship the
Lord or are we just caught up in the emotion and ritual of worship? Are
there
so many “nominal” Christians taking up seats in congregations that it
is
difficult for those who are truly seeking spiritual forgiveness and
healing to
get close enough to receive it?
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’
disciple?
Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling
Holy
Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making
disciples of
Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew
28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1
John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
first posted 08/11/03
1Sam19:1-18 David Forced to Flee from Saul
Acts 12:1-17 The Angel of the Lord Rescues Peter from Prison
Mark 2:1-12 Healing a Paralytic
King Saul continued to seek David's death. Saul's son Jonathan interceded with his father on David's behalf and succeeded in restraining Saul for awhile, but soon David had to flee for his life. This time Saul's daughter Michal, David's wife, warned David and helped him flee by letting him out through a window, making a "dummy" to put in the bed to make it appear that David was sleeping, and telling her father that David was sick. Thus David was able to escape to Samuel who was at Ramah. Jonathan and Michal went against their own father the King, probably at considerable risk to themselves, in order to save David, because they loved him.
Herod (Agrippa I) began a violent persecution of the Church by killing James, the brother of John (both were among the original twelve disciples chosen by Jesus), and Peter was arrested and thrown into prison. Since the Passover was at hand he was left in prison until it ended, almost certainly awaiting the same fate. "But earnest prayer for him to God was made by the Church", (v.5b) and an angel of the Lord came to Peter in prison at night and released him and brought him out. Peter was so amazed that he thought at first he was just dreaming! He went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where the church had assembled to pray for him, and they were so amazed that they left him standing outside and he had to knock again to be let in!
When Jesus returned to Capernaum from his healing ministry journey, as soon as the people found out that He was back, they again gathered at His door in such a large crowd that a paralytic brought to Him had to be lowered down through a hole they created at that moment in the roof for this immediate need. "And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic: 'My son, your sins are forgiven.'" (v.5) The Scribes (Jewish religious teachers) took exception to his statement, calling it blasphemy, and noting that only God can forgive sins. Jesus answered them by asserting that He did have authority on earth to forgive sins, and also by healing the paralytic at that moment.
It should be apparent that what Jesus said He could do He did. Jesus answer points out again (see yesterday's reading from Mark) that although Jesus cared for peoples' physical needs, He was even more concerned with their spiritual needs, which are the ones of eternal consequence. How blessed we are that our Heavenly Father is not out to "get us", like King Saul was after David, and that when we intercede for a loved one, like Jonathan and Michal did with their father King Saul, we don't have to fear for ourselves or resort to trickery. What a wonderful example of our loving Heavenly Father's willingness and power to respond to the intercession of the Church for Peter.
"The Lord is... not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance." (2Peter:3-9) "For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." (John 3:17) But Jesus, through our faith in Him, is God's only provision for the forgiveness of sin. "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
9 Pentecost - Wednesday
1 Samuel 20:1-23,
Friendship of David and Jonathan
Acts 12:18-25, Herod’s Death
Mark 2:13-22 On Fasting
Saul had been trying to destroy David. Saul’s son,
Jonathan,
was David’s friend, so David went to Jonathan for help. Jonathan was
unaware of
Saul’s plot, probably because Saul knew of Jonathan’s friendship with
David,
and had kept his plot secret from Jonathan.
David told Jonathan that
since the
next day was a festival day when households were to eat together, David
planned
to be absent. If Saul noticed David’s absence, Jonathan was to tell him
that
David had gone to
David
referred to his covenant of friendship with Jonathan, and told Jonathan
that he
had done nothing against Saul. If he had, Jonathan should kill David
right then
and there; why bother to take David to Saul. Jonathan assured David
that if he
knew that Saul was plotting evil against David, Jonathan would surely
tell
David, so that David could flee to safety. Jonathan asked David to show
the
steadfast love of the Lord to Jonathan. Jonathan asked that he would
not be cut
off from the house of David when the Lord destroys the enemies of
David.
Jonathan knew that David’s absence from the feast the next day would be noticed because his place at the table would be empty. On the second day of David’s absence David would be greatly missed. They decided that David would hide behind a rock pile in a field. Jonathan would come to the field on the pretext of archery practice, with a boy to fetch Jonathan’s arrows. Jonathan would call to the boy directing him where to look, and David would know whether it was safe to stay or necessary to flee by Jonathan’s directions to the boy to look nearer or farther.
Peter had been imprisoned by Herod, and had been
released
from prison by an angel of the Lord on the night before Herod planned
to
execute Peter. When day came there was a great commotion over what had
become
of the prisoner. Herod interrogated the sentries and ordered them to be
executed. Then Herod went to
Herod was angry with the people of
God’s Word (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) spread and
believers
increased. Saul (of
Jesus passed the tax office of Matthew (Levi) and told him to follow Jesus, and Matthew did so. They went to Matthew’s house and Jesus and his disciples ate with Matthew and a large group of sinners and tax collectors (despised as Jewish collaborators with the Roman government) who had followed them. Jewish religious leaders criticized Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners, but Jesus replied that it is the sick who need a physician, not those who are well. Jesus came to call sinners, not the righteous.
The Pharisees were fasting, as were John the Baptizer and his disciples, and people asked Jesus why his disciples were not fasting also. Jesus compared the situation to a wedding celebration. Guests don’t fast while the bridegroom is present, but the time was coming when the bridegroom would depart, and the guests would fast then. Jesus also said that one does not patch an old garment with new (unshrunken) cloth; otherwise it would tear the old garment when it was washed. Similarly, one cannot put new wine in old wineskins, or the skins would burst and be ruined and the wine lost.
David is a forerunner and illustration of the
Christ. Jesus
is the “anointed” eternal king who is the “Son of David” (Matthew
1:1-16), the
heir to David’s throne. Jesus reveals the steadfast love of the Lord
for us.
Disciples are bound to Jesus with a covenant of love, as Jonathan was
bound to
David. If we truly love Jesus we will do what he asks us to do for him
(John
14:21, 23). Jesus gives the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit to his
disciples
who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17) and through his indwelling
Holy Spirit
we will have close fellowship with the Lord as if we were dining with
him
(Revelation 3:20).
Through Jesus, we are assured that we will not be
cut off
from the “House of David” on the Day of Judgment, when the Lord
destroys the
enemies of Jesus Christ. The indwelling Holy Spirit is the seal and
guarantee
that we are in Christ and have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22;
Ephesians
1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible to know with certainty
for
oneself whether one has received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2).
Herod is an illustration of a worldly king. His
subjects did
what he said or they died; there was no forgiveness for disobedience.
The Lord
is the eternal king who has provided forgiveness for our sins in Jesus
Christ.
The Lord supplies food and the necessities of life; it is human greed
which
captures and controls, for personal gain, what God has provided.
The
people of
Christians, instead of grabbing and controlling
God-given
resources for their own selfish motives, contributed offerings for the
relief
of the poor. Jewish religious leaders regarded themselves as more
righteous
than the Lord. They thought they didn’t need spiritual healing.
God’s Word says
that every one of us has sinned (disobeyed God) and fall short of God’s
righteousness (Romans 3:23), and the penalty for sin is eternal death
(Romans
6:23). If we deny that we have sinned we are only deceiving ourselves
(1 John
1:8-10). Jesus is God’s only provision for forgiveness and salvation
from
eternal death (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation,
sidebar, top
right). “It is appointed for [humans] to die once and then comes
judgment” (not
reincarnation; Hebrews 9:27).
Jesus is the bridegroom and the Church is his bride. Jesus’ covenant is a covenant of love and marriage of himself to his disciples. Jesus is the “new wine” (see Acts 2:13 RSV) which requires “new wineskins:” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciples. Jesus is not just a patch on the old covenant of Judaism. It requires a “new garment,” a new covenant of grace (unmerited favor; free gift) to be received by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus is the Savior who has the power to deliver us from the “prison” of sin and the power of death and Satan. Eating at the "table" of the rulers of this world is spiritually deadly, but eating at the Lord's table gives eternal life. Jesus is the "bread of life" (John 6:51).
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
*"This was in the spring of A.D.44. Josephus (ant.xix 8:2) tells how he [Herod] was stricken by a mortal illness immediately after the people hailed him as a god." Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce Metzger, NY, Oxford Univ. Press 1962 Acts 12:20-24 note, P 1334.
first posted 08/12/03
1Sam.20:1-23 The Friendship of David and Jonathan
Acts 12:18-25 Herod's Death
Mark 2:13-22 The Call of Levi; Teaching on Fasting
David and Jonathan swore their lifelong friendship to one another, despite King Saul's (Jonathan's father's) hatred of David. Jonathan promised to support and protect David from his father's anger. Jonathan and David arranged a signal so that Jonathan could let David know King Saul's intent safely, in the guise of archery practice. They made an oath to be friends forever. "When the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the Face of the earth, let not the name of Jonathan be cut off from the house of David, and may the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies." (v.15b-16) (Jesus is the heir to the throne of David. He is the messianic King, "of the house and lineage of David (Luke 2:4) and He is coming again to judge the earth.)
"Now when day came, there was no small stir among
the
soldiers over what had become of Peter." (v18) They were probably
terrified! They would be held responsible by
King Herod (Agrippa), who had a terrible temper! Herod indeed
had the
sentries responsible put to death. Herod was also angry with the people
of
As Jesus was teaching by the sea (of
Eating at King Saul's table was dangerous to David's life, but table fellowship with Jesus is healing and life-giving to the soul.
*Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce Metzger, NY, Oxford Univ. Press 1962 Acts 12:20-24 note, P 1334)
first posted 07/20/05
1 Samuel 20:24-42,
Saul’s anger with David
Acts 13:1-12, Paul and the magician
Mark 2:23-3:6 Lord of the Sabbath
King Saul was trying to kill David, because of
David’s
popularity with the people and saw him as a threat to Saul’s kingdom (1
Samuel
18:8-9). At the new moon feast, David stayed away from the king’s table
and
Jonathan, Saul’s son, was to report Saul’s reaction revealing whether
it was
safe for David to stay. Saul made no comment on David’s absence on the
day of
the new moon, but the day after, when David was again absent, Saul asked Jonathan where David was. Jonathan
said that David had needed to attend an annual family sacrifice in
Saul was angry at Jonathan. He told Jonathan that as long as David lived, Jonathan would never be king. Saul told Jonathan to fetch David, and Saul would execute him, but Jonathan defended David’s innocence. Saul threw a spear at him, so Jonathan knew Saul was determined to kill David. Jonathan left the table without having eaten, grieving for David and disgraced by his father.
In the morning Jonathan went into the field on the pretext of archery practice, taking a young boy to retrieve Jonathan’s arrows, as he and David had agreed. When the boy got to the area where Jonathan’s arrow had landed, Jonathan told him to look for it further away, telling him to hurry and not linger. David was hiding nearby and this was the agreed upon signal to David, but the boy was unaware. Jonathan told the lad to take Jonathan’s bow and arrows home, and when the boy had left, David came out of hiding, and he and Jonathan had an emotional farewell, reaffirming their covenant of eternal friendship.
Paul and Barnabas had been discipling new
Christians in
Paul and Barnabas were directed by the Holy Spirit
to sail
to
The proconsul was
intelligent
and summoned Paul and Barnabas to proclaim the Gospel to him, but
Elymas
opposed the message and tried to turn the proconsul from it. Paul, in
the
fullness of the Holy Spirit, called Elymas the “son of the devil, full
of all deceit
and villainy” (Acts 13:10), and told him to stop perverting the Lord’s
ways.
Paul told Elymas that the Lord was causing Elymas to be physically
blind for a
while, and Elymas was immediately struck blind, and sought someone to
lead him
by the hand. The proconsul believed the Gospel when he saw what had
occurred
with Elymas, and was amazed at the teaching of the Lord.
Jesus and his disciples were passing through a grainfield on the Sabbath, and his disciples were snacking on the heads of grain. Pharisees among the crowd following Jesus criticized Jesus for allowing his disciples to break the Sabbath laws by “harvesting” grain. Jesus replied by referring to scripture (1 Samuel 21:1-6), showing that David and his men ate consecrated bread from the temple, which was unlawful for anyone but the priest to eat, when they were being hunted by King Saul. Jesus declared that the Sabbath was created to benefit people, not to burden them. Jesus declared that he (the Son of man) was Lord (of everything) even of the Sabbath
Jesus entered a synagogue on the Sabbath, and saw a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees were watching Jesus hoping to catch him healing on the Sabbath, so that they could condemn Jesus. Jesus told the man to come to him, and then Jesus asked the crowd whether it was lawful to do good or to do harm, to save life or take life on the Sabbath. The Pharisees wouldn’t answer, and Jesus was angered and grieved by the hardness of their hearts. He told the man to stretch out his arm, and the man’s hand was restored. The Pharisees went out immediately and met with the Herodians (political supporters of the Roman government of Herod) to plot how to destroy Jesus.
Saul had been the Lord’s “anointed” but had not obeyed God’s Word so God took his anointing by his Spirit (1 Samuel 15:22-23; 16:1, 13-14) from Saul and gave it to David. Saul was jealous of David because David was more highly regarded than Saul, and Saul was seeking a way to destroy David, the Lord’s “anointed,” so that the kingdom could remain with Saul and be inherited by Saul’s son Jonathan.
David is the forerunner and illustration of the Christ and Saul represents worldly rulers, and all who refuse to surrender their personal autonomy and self-will to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Jonathan is an illustration of a disciple of Jesus Christ who is bound by a covenant of eternal love and fellowship with the Lord by grace (unmerited favor) through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Worldly people hate Jesus because Jesus is a threat to their own personal “lordship,” and their hatred extends to the disciples of Jesus as well.
Elymas is an example of worldly leaders, “lobbyists” and members of “special interest groups” who try to influence the affairs of this world for their personal benefit. They oppose the Gospel and God’s ways because it competes with their personal interests and political agendas. Elymas is also an example of worldly people who regard religion as “magic” and who use religious ritual as a way to influence and manipulate God to do their will.
Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is the example of a modern,
“post-resurrection” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple of Jesus
Christ. Paul
had apparently never known Jesus during Jesus’ earthly life and
ministry, and
had first encountered the risen and ascended Jesus on the road to
Paul, by the power and inspiration of
the Holy
Spirit within him, told Elymas that Elymas would be similarly struck
physically
blind, and his words were immediately fulfilled. Paul was speaking
God’s Word
by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He was one of the authentic
New
Testament prophets (Acts 13:1) and the example of what Church leaders
should
be.
The Pharisees had inherited religious leadership from their fathers, but without the Lord’s anointing. They were the “Sauls” of Judaism. Jesus inherited the “anointing” of the Holy Spirit (and God’s Word of approval; Matthew 4:17) from his heavenly Father (Mark 1:7-11; John 1:32-34), and Jesus inherited the throne of David as David’s descendant through his earthly father (Matthew 1:1-17). “Christ” and “Messiah” each mean “anointed,” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively. The Jews had been God’s “chosen people” but they rejected God’s anointed Savior and Lord, so the Lord gave that designation of God’s approval to the Gentiles who believed in Jesus Christ.
The Pharisees hated Jesus for the same reasons that Saul hated David; Jesus was the rightful heir and King but they wanted to be in charge; they wanted to run things their way instead of the Lord’s way. They used “religion” to manipulate people for their personal benefit, instead of seeking and doing the Lord’s will. They were perverting and misusing God’s Word to destroy God’s only begotten Son (“fathered” by the Holy Spirit in contrast to “adopted,” as we may be; Matthew 1:18-23; John 1:14), and anointed eternal King. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, but the Pharisees wanted to be the ones who decided what was lawful on the Sabbath. They condemned Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, but thought they were keeping the Sabbath law while plotting with secular powers on the Sabbath to kill and destroy God’s anointed Savior and King.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity? (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)
first posted 08/13/03
1Sam.20:24-42 David Forced to Flee
Acts 13:1-12 Paul's First Missionary Journey Begins
Mark 2:23-3:6 Lord of the Sabbath
David stayed away from King Saul's feast on the Festival of the new Moon, so that Jonathan (Saul's son) could learn whether Saul was intent on killing David. Saul tried to turn Jonathan against David, saying that Jonathan would be Saul's successor if David were dead. When Jonathan remained loyal to David, Saul cursed him and attempted to kill his own son! Jonathan then used the pretense of archery practice to warn David to flee.
At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Paul and
Barnabas were
commissioned and sent off, on their first missionary journey, to
When Jesus' disciples were criticized for plucking
and
eating grain as they passed through fields on the sabbath,
Jesus cited the precedent of David who ate the Bread of the Presence
from the
Jesus is the Christ (or Messiah, meaning "anointed" in Greek and Hebrew, respectively), the heir to the Throne of David. He is Lord of everything, even of the sabbath laws. His will is to do us good. King Saul is man's version of the concept of "lord". Saul was "lord" of the festival of the new Moon, and out of jealousy and fallen human nature he chose to harm (to attempt to kill) David and Saul's own son Jonathan, because his son was loyal to David. Jesus has been given the power and authority to judge and to punish, but He uses it not selfishly like humans would, but to bring about repentance, so that we may be saved from the final judgment. Paul is the great example of how the Lord uses His power not to exterminate but to "regenerate" -- to bring about life-giving change.
9 Pentecost - Friday
first
posted
07/20/05
1 Samuel 21:1-15, David Eats Consecrated Bread
Acts 13:13-25, Paul’s Sermon at Antioch of Pisidia
Mark 3:7-19a Jesus Appoints the Apostles
With the help of his wife, Michal, David fled from
King Saul
who wanted to kill him. David fled to Nob, a high place near to
The only bread was the holy bread of the Presence which had
been placed
on the altar daily. The priest was willing to give the holy bread only
if he
and his men had abstained from women, and David told the priest that he
and his
men never had carnal relations when they were on a mission. The only
weapon was
the sword of Goliath which the priest kept wrapped in a cloth behind
the ephod
(a garment with a pocket for carrying the sacred Urim
and Thummim used for determining God’s will. Some think there may have
been a
box of the same name and purpose). The priest gave David holy bread and
Goliath’s sword.
One of Saul’s
servants, Doeg, the
chief of Saul’s herdsmen, was at the tabernacle performing some ritual,
while
David was getting the bread and sword. Then David fled to King Achish
of
Paul and Barnabas were
on Paul’s
first missionary trip. They had preached in
Paul began to preach
the Gospel
with the history of God’s dealing with
When the Lord removed Saul, he anointed David to be king
of
Jesus and his
disciples went to
the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and a great crowd from all over
Israel, from
the east side of the Jordan and from Tyre and Sidon, came to Jesus.
Jesus had
his disciples get a boat ready so that Jesus could use it to avoid
being
trampled by the crowd pressing forward to hear and to touch Jesus in
hope of
being healed. The demons of those who were possessed bowed before Jesus
and
declared him to be the Son of God, and Jesus sternly ordered them not
to make
Jesus’ identity known.
Jesus
went into the hills and he chose twelve
of his followers to be with Jesus constantly, learning Jesus’ lifestyle
and
message, and to be sent out to preach and to have authority over
demons. He
called them apostles (a messenger; envoy; Luke 6:13). The
Twelve were Simon Peter, James and John,
the sons of Zebedee, who Jesus called “sons of thunder,” Andrew,
Philip,
Bartholomew, Matthew Thomas, James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus,
Simon the
Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
David was the Lord’s
anointed king
of
Doeg, the servant of
Saul was
performing some religious ritual at the tabernacle while David was
getting the
bread and sword (and later became David’s betrayer; 1 Samuel 22:9).
David fled
to
David prefigures and
illustrates a
“born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian. He had been designated as the
Lord’s
representative on earth, but he needed to be spiritually nurtured by
the holy
bread of the Presence, and he needed to be armed with a spiritual
weapon. Holy
bread symbolizes the Word of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit, who
“disciples” us, opening our minds to understand God’s Word (Luke 24:45)
and to know
God’s will. The Holy Spirit arms us with the sword of Goliath,
supernatural
power which has been taken from the enemy by faith (obedient trust) in
the
Lord. Jesus is our “champion” who has defeated Satan at the Cross, has
taken
his supernatural power from him and gives us supernatural power over
our
spiritual enemy. Jesus is God’s anointed Savior and King and Satan is
the evil
worldly ruler who has been defeated but not yet removed from the throne.
Paul and Barnabas were
on a
mission for the Lord armed with the Word of God and led and empowered
by the
gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul’s preaching was God’s Word,
inspired
by the Holy Spirit. In a sense Paul and all “born-again” Christians are
on a
mission as representatives of Christ in this world. Christians are to
be like
John the Baptizer, calling people to repentance and identifying and
announcing
the coming of Jesus Christ and the
Jesus chose twelve of
his
followers to live with him in close personal fellowship so that he
could
teach
them his message and to constantly apply it in their daily lives. After
Jesus’
resurrection and ascension, his disciples received the gift of the
indwelling
Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13), and the Twelve
became the
leaders of the Church, commissioned to make disciples (Matthew
28:19-20). Paul
and Barnabas were doing that very thing.
Christians are to be
disciples of
Jesus Christ. We are to seek spiritual nurture from reading the Bible
and from
the preaching of God’s Word by authentic mature “born-again” Apostles.
We are to
seek and grow to spiritual maturity and the “anointing” of the
indwelling Holy
Spirit. Through the indwelling Holy Spirit we can have the close
personal daily
fellowship with the Lord that the Twelve had, and we can be taught the
same
message and also the lifestyle. Note that Jesus commanded his disciples
to stay
in
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
first posted 08/14/03
Acts 13:13-25 Paul's
Sermon at
Mark 3:7-19a Jesus Appoints the Twelve
David, fleeing for his life from King Saul, asked
for bread
from the priest at Nob (a priestly city,
the home
of the descendents of Eli) who had none
to give him but the Bread of the Presence, which is a Holy offering to
God.
David had fled in such haste that he had no provisions or weapons. He
also asked
for a weapon and the priest offered him
the only available sword, which had belonged to Goliath, whom David had
slain.
David declared: "There is none like that; give it to me." (v.9c) It was indeed uniquely appropriate, since
David was God's anointed king, and the sword symbolized what David had
accomplished for
David then fled to Achish (referred to
elsewhere as Abimelech),
King of Gath (of the Philistines), where
he was
recognized by those close to King Achish
as Israel's
anointed king and thus a political rival. David was therefore afraid of
King Achish, so he feigned madness so that
Achish
found David "unpleasant" to have around, and underestimating David as
crazy, let him go. [The heading for Psalm 34, Revised Standard Version:
"A
Psalm of David, when he feigned madness before Abimilech
(Achish) so that he drove him out and he
went
away." ]
Paul continued his first missionary journey, and
at Antioch
of Pisidia he was invited to preach. His
sermon
outlined the history of
Jesus' fame spread because of the many healings he had done. The demons recognized that He was the Son of God. Jesus appointed twelve of his disciples to be with him and to be sent out to preach and heal -- to join in doing Jesus' ministry.
David, the anointed and rightful King, was forced
to wander,
homeless, without recognition of his rightful authority, because Saul
refused
to acknowledge and submit to it. The promise of the Messiah was well
known by
the religious leaders and people of
9
Pentecost - Saturday
1 Samuel 22:1-23,
David at the C
Acts 13:26-43, Paul’s Sermon at Antioch of Pisidia
Mark 3:19b-35 The Unforgivable Sin
David had feigned madness and had been driven from
Saul learned that David and his men had been located. Saul was at Gibeah (his birthplace) on a hilltop, surrounded by his men. He rebuked them for not informing him that his son Jonathan had made a covenant of friendship with David with the result that David was hiding, waiting to ambush Saul. Doeg, an Edomite overseer of Saul’s livestock, spoke up, telling Saul he had seen David come to Ahimeleck, the priest at the tabernacle at Nob, for guidance from God’s Word and for food and the sword of Goliath. Saul summoned Ahimelech and all the priests (Nob was a city of priests, where the tabernacle was located at that time)
Saul accused Ahimelech of conspiring with David to overthrow Saul and of providing David with bread, a sword, and spiritual counsel. Ahimelech responded by telling Saul that none of Saul’s servants were as faithful as David had been to Saul, and that David was also Saul’s son-in-law and captain of Saul’s bodyguard. Ahimelech said that it was completely reasonable and understandable for him to provide spiritual guidance for David, and that Ahimelech had no knowledge of any plot against Saul by David.
Saul swore to kill Ahimelech and all the priests,
and Saul
gave the command for his men to execute them, but Saul’s servants
refused to
carryout his order. But Doeg, who had betrayed David and who was an
Edomite (a
foreigner and not an Israelite;
Eighty-five priests were killed,
and all
of the residents of the city of
Paul was presenting the Gospel in a synagogue in
Antioch of
Pisidia (in Asia Minor; present-day
They
condemned Jesus
to death even though he was blameless of anything deserving death. They
had him
executed by Pilate (the Roman Procurator of Judea) and his dead body
was placed
in a tomb. But God raised Jesus from the dead, and Jesus appeared to
many of
his followers over many days (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). These followers
were now
witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection and to the good news of the
fulfillment of
God’s promise in scripture of a Son who would be a Savior and eternal
King.
Psalm 16:10 prophesied that the Messiah would be
raised from
death to eternal life. It was not David about whom the Psalm
prophesied,
because David died and was buried after having faithfully served the
Lord
during his lifetime, and yet he wasn’t raised from the dead. But God
raised
Jesus and through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to all,
and by Jesus
all who believe are freed from the condemnation which was unavoidable
under the
Law of Moses.
Be warned by scripture which declares that scoffers will
doubt
and perish (eternally), refusing to believe what has been testified to
them
(Acts 13:41, citing Habakkuk 1:5). As the sermon ended, the people
left, begging
that they be able to continue to hear this message again on the next
Sabbath.
Many of the Jews and converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas,
who urged
them to continue to believe and continue in the gospel and grace
(unmerited
favor; free gift) of God.
When Jesus returned to his home, so many people
came to him
that it was difficult even to eat. His friends though Jesus was having
an
emotional breakdown and tried to take him away. Scribes, teachers of
scripture,
from
In response to those who suggested that Jesus had an unclean spirit, Jesus declared that there is forgiveness for all the sins and blasphemies of mankind, except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit which is the unforgivable and eternal sin.
Jesus’ mother and brothers came, asking for Jesus, since they were not able to get to him because of the crowd. Jesus was told, and he responded that Jesus’ family, his true mother and brothers, are those who do God’s will.
King Saul had turned away from obedience to the Lord and as the result the Lord had taken Saul’s anointing of kingship and the Holy Spirit from Saul (1 Samuel 16:13-14) and had given it to David, who was a man after God’s own heart, who would do all God’s will (Acts 13:22). Saul was no longer the Lord’s anointed, but he had not yet been deposed. Saul had become spiritually corrupt; he could no longer tell right from wrong. His only criterion for decisions was what he thought was his own self-interest.
David was Saul’s most loyal servant, a great
military leader
and captain of Saul’s bodyguard, and Saul’s son–in-law. Saul had used
his own
daughter in an attempt to destroy David (1 Samuel 18:21). Saul had all
the
people of Nob, which was the “City of God,” at that time, where God’s
house was
then located and where the priests lived, killed because a priest
fulfilled his
reasonable duty to the Lord by providing David with spiritual guidance,
nourishment and weapon. Ahimelech had not conspired with David, because
Ahimelech had known nothing about Saul’s enmity with David. David was
entitled
to the sword of Goliath because David had fought Goliath for
Saul ordered the priests executed and Saul’s own
servants
refused to obey Saul’s order. Only Doeg, the Edomite (a foreigner; the
enemy of
The Jews had been given the message of salvation through the scriptures, but the Jews and their religious leaders and teachers did not understand the scriptures which were read every Sabbath, and because they failed to understand, what they did in ignorance, condemning Jesus to death, resulted in the fulfillment of those scriptures. Jesus had done nothing deserving execution, and David and the priests had done nothing to deserve execution by Saul. Jesus could not be destroyed by physical death, because God raised him to eternal life, and the Lord was able to preserve David and Abiathar from Saul. Saul had to get an “outsider” to do his dirty work, and the Jewish leaders got Pilate, the Roman official, a “foreigner,” to do their dirty work.
The religious leaders during Jesus’ lifetime were as spiritually corrupt as Saul had been. They had lost the “anointing” and God’s presence. They were pursuing their own worldly agendas and their own perceived self-interest. They considered themselves experts in God’s Word, but they didn’t understand it. Jesus was the fulfillment and embodiment of God’s Word, (John 1:1-5, 14) and yet they didn’t recognize Jesus as the Messiah (Christ; both mean “anointed”), the fulfillment of God’s promised Savior and King. They couldn’t distinguish the Holy Spirit from a demonic spirit; the Lord of lords from the Lord of demons. Their blasphemy of the Holy Spirit sentenced them to eternal condemnation and eternal death.
God’s Word warns scoffers that those who doubt God’s Word and refuse to accept the testimony of the disciples of Jesus Christ will perish eternally. God’s Word warns that not everyone who call themselves Christians are members of Jesus’ “family” and not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” will be saved; only those who are obedient to God’s Word and do God’s will (Matthew 7:21-27; Luke 6:46)
The Church is the new “City of
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Alternative Entry
first posted 08/15/03
1 Sam. 22:1-23 Doeg the Edomite Betrays David
Acts 13:26-43 Paul Concludes His Sermon at
Mark 3 19B-35 Questions About Jesus' Authority
David departed from King Achish
of
King Saul heard that David had been spotted and he chastised his own
administrators, reminding them that they had failed to warn him when
Jonathan
conspired with David to arrange David's escape. Doeg,
the Edomite, one of Saul's chief herdsmen,
a
foreigner, had been at Nob when David sought provisions and weapons
from Ahimelech the priest, and he now revealed what he had witnessed. Saul
therefore had Ahimelech and all the
priests at Nob brought before him to kill
them for helping David, but
none of his men would do it but Doeg, the
foreigner.
Only one son of Ahimelech escaped and
found sanctuary
with David.
Paul's sermon points out that because the people didn't understand the scriptures they didn't recognize Jesus, and thus fulfilled them by having Jesus crucified. Paul showed from the scriptures that the Christ would be rejected and killed and raised to life again. As a result of the sermon, many Jews and converts to Judaism believed Paul's testimony and became Christians.
Jesus went back to his home, and the crowds were so great that he couldn't even eat. His friends suggested that he was having a "nervous breakdown", saying "He is beside himself". (v.21) His rivals (the scribes) said He was possessed by Belzebul (a pagan god identified with Satan) and that he cast out demons by the Prince of Demons. Jesus answered: "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may plunder his house." (v.24-27) Jesus also said that the one unforgivable sin is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, because they had said Jesus had a evil spirit. Jesus concluded by saying that His brothers and sisters are those who do the will of the heavenly Father, rather than circumstances of earthly biology.
Saul's Kingdom is an example of a house divided
against
itself. The bureaucrats of Saul's administration were enjoying the
wealth and
privilege they would not have in David's Kingdom, but they didn't love
Saul.
They weren't willing to betray David, or kill the priests. Saul had to
"hire" an outsider to do it for him.
When
Jesus
arose from the dead, Satan's fate was sealed. Satan was defeated at the
Cross.
Jesus Lives. Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead.
He's going
to separate the children of God from the children of Satan. The
children of
Satan will spend eternity in destruction with Satan. The children of
God will
spend eternity in life in Heaven with God.