Not long after he took command of Israel, Saul made a huge error, and by doing so, proved himself an unfit leader. Saul took upon himself to act not only as their king but as their priest as well. He offered sacrifices, which was unlawful for him to do, and then tried to make justification for his actions before Samuel. Saul was chosen by Israel, but God had chosen another.
Israel had departed from their unique position as God’s people in desiring to have a king. Instead of being led by God through the prophets, they wanted to have a king like every other nation around them. Their dissatisfaction with God’s leadership through the prophets was sin (1 Sam 12:19). So they chose a king. He stood taller than other men. He fit the bill of being kingly. However, he was the people’s man, not God’s man and his actions proved it to be true.
God had chosen a man to lead the nation. Samuel tells Saul in 1 Samuel 13:14, “The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people...” God’s man was kingly on the inside where it counts the most! By saying that David would be prince of his people, God was reminding Saul that there is only one true King! No matter what the people may wrongly desire, God will be King even when he leads his people through a king.
The lesson for us in this narrative is to learn that God is enough. We do not have to maintain a status quo or keep us with the times. We only need God! He will rule over us as his people, and he will prove to us that our ways will never suffice to replace or improve upon his will for us!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Empty Things - 1 Samuel 9-12
Samuel knew that his time on Earth was coming to an end. Saul had just been established as Israel’s first king. He offers a last word to Israel in 1 Samuel 12. One bit of wisdom he delivered is in verse 21. “And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.”
Empty things. What are empty things? Empty things are alluring distractions. Empty things are dressed-up holes. Empty things are flesh-appeasing options to living for the Lord. Empty things are people, habits, actions, or achievements that promise to deliver happiness and fulfillment but always turn out...empty.
Empty things are anything and anyone that we give our hearts to, our lives to, other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything else will prove in the end to be empty. Nothing was meant to satisfy the deep longing of the soul other than the Creator of the soul, the Lord Jesus. Nothing else is able to satisfy. To embrace another or another thing is to chase the wind, to seek refreshment at a dry well, to grope for warmth and light in the darkness, to cling to that which is not meant to satisfy but rather to destroy.
The bottom line is that to cherish or pursue or give your self to anything other than Christ is to waste your life on what is empty, and as a result, will leave you empty as well.
However, as Samuel warned the Israelites, there is another way! Verse 20 – “Serve the Lord with all your heart.” A heart given to the Lord will never turn up empty! Jesus is an infinite well of life, joy, peace, and satisfaction! Embrace Him and He will never leave you empty!
Empty things. What are empty things? Empty things are alluring distractions. Empty things are dressed-up holes. Empty things are flesh-appeasing options to living for the Lord. Empty things are people, habits, actions, or achievements that promise to deliver happiness and fulfillment but always turn out...empty.
Empty things are anything and anyone that we give our hearts to, our lives to, other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything else will prove in the end to be empty. Nothing was meant to satisfy the deep longing of the soul other than the Creator of the soul, the Lord Jesus. Nothing else is able to satisfy. To embrace another or another thing is to chase the wind, to seek refreshment at a dry well, to grope for warmth and light in the darkness, to cling to that which is not meant to satisfy but rather to destroy.
The bottom line is that to cherish or pursue or give your self to anything other than Christ is to waste your life on what is empty, and as a result, will leave you empty as well.
However, as Samuel warned the Israelites, there is another way! Verse 20 – “Serve the Lord with all your heart.” A heart given to the Lord will never turn up empty! Jesus is an infinite well of life, joy, peace, and satisfaction! Embrace Him and He will never leave you empty!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Collecting gods - 1 Sam 5-8
At the time when the ark was returned to Israel, Samuel was also judge. God had wreaked havoc on the Philistines and their idol-god for taking the ark. It was a disaster and a day of gloom when the ark was stolen. But now, the Lord’s presence was back. It was time to repent.
Samuel issued this demand to Israel in 1 Sam 7:3, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only...” The striking realization about Samuel’s demand is how similar it is to Joshua’s demand issued just a few generations earlier. Joshua says in Joshua 24:23, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
Two truths of fallen nature are apparent from this continued call for Israel to put away foreign gods. First, collecting gods is simply insanity! Jehovah has proven himself above other gods through the Exodus. He has proven himself sufficient through the wilderness. He has proven himself as provider through the conquest. Why give any thought to other gods? But Israel did, and so do we! Second, collecting gods reveals the darkness of our hearts. Turning to other gods reveals a lack of faith toward God and a lack of love toward God. Collecting gods reveals that we do desire other loves. Israel did, and we do too! This is why each time Joshua and Samuel called for Israel to put away foreign gods, they also called them to turn their hearts toward God. Just throwing out our collection will not solve the problem. We must repent, we must do away with our god collection, but most of all, we must seek God’s grace to change us so that we love Him above all!
Samuel issued this demand to Israel in 1 Sam 7:3, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only...” The striking realization about Samuel’s demand is how similar it is to Joshua’s demand issued just a few generations earlier. Joshua says in Joshua 24:23, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
Two truths of fallen nature are apparent from this continued call for Israel to put away foreign gods. First, collecting gods is simply insanity! Jehovah has proven himself above other gods through the Exodus. He has proven himself sufficient through the wilderness. He has proven himself as provider through the conquest. Why give any thought to other gods? But Israel did, and so do we! Second, collecting gods reveals the darkness of our hearts. Turning to other gods reveals a lack of faith toward God and a lack of love toward God. Collecting gods reveals that we do desire other loves. Israel did, and we do too! This is why each time Joshua and Samuel called for Israel to put away foreign gods, they also called them to turn their hearts toward God. Just throwing out our collection will not solve the problem. We must repent, we must do away with our god collection, but most of all, we must seek God’s grace to change us so that we love Him above all!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Prophet and Priest - 1 Samuel 1-4
In reading Deuteronomy one discovers that part of the Messianic prophecy is that the coming Messiah would function in the office of prophet. Deut. 18:15 says, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you.” In Acts 3:22 it is revealed that the apostles understood Jesus to have fulfilled this prophecy. Jesus was the prophet like Moses who was to come. Peter says, “Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.” Jesus was THE coming prophet. He was the FINAL coming prophet. He spoke the words of God to us.
Now in 1 Samuel one discovers another component of Messianic prophecy. The coming Messiah would also function in the office of priest. In 1 Samuel 2:35 the Lord says, “And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.” Hebrews 4:14 reveals Jesus is our final, eternal High Priest. “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”
What is the function of a priest? A priest intercedes before the Lord on behalf of the people of God. A priest mediates between a holy God and a sinning people. A priest offers the sacrifice that atones for sin and ushers in forgiveness and reconciliation. This is exactly what Jesus has done and is doing for us! He intercedes for us (Heb 4:15-16). He is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5). He offered himself as the final sacrifice for sin (Heb 10:1-18). Jesus is Prophet and Priest!
Now in 1 Samuel one discovers another component of Messianic prophecy. The coming Messiah would also function in the office of priest. In 1 Samuel 2:35 the Lord says, “And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.” Hebrews 4:14 reveals Jesus is our final, eternal High Priest. “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”
What is the function of a priest? A priest intercedes before the Lord on behalf of the people of God. A priest mediates between a holy God and a sinning people. A priest offers the sacrifice that atones for sin and ushers in forgiveness and reconciliation. This is exactly what Jesus has done and is doing for us! He intercedes for us (Heb 4:15-16). He is the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5). He offered himself as the final sacrifice for sin (Heb 10:1-18). Jesus is Prophet and Priest!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
God is Still in Control! Ruth 1-4
What if the OT ended with the book of Judges? That would be a pretty miserable, depressing ending. Remember the last words of Judges in 21:25? “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
The book of Judges is an example of what happens when people forget God. Society loses all moral clarity. This is the best that man can do, fend for himself and make up his own self-absorbed rules. When Judges ends, Israel’s future and hope looks fairly dim.
Then there’s the little book of Ruth. This little book has a big message: God is still in control! In the middle of the chaos of Judges, God is still sovereignly working out his redemptive plan. While Israel is rebelling, God is actively putting the pieces together to provide salvation for His people!
Judges ends with Israel desperately needing a king. The last word of the book of Ruth is “David.” David is a descendent of Ruth and Boaz. David will be king. Not just any king though. This is the king God will provide. This is a king after God’s own heart. This will be Israel’s greatest king. David’s rule will foreshadow the rule of the final king, King Jesus!
And all of this is happening, unseen and unknown, right in the middle of Israel’s moral down-spin and idolatry! For sure, there are many more lessons to “glean” from Ruth. This is a wonderful, beautiful story. The essence of it though is that God is orchestrating events in such a way as to provide a “kinsman redeemer” at just the right time! When Ruth ends, Israel DOES have hope because God is in control!
The book of Judges is an example of what happens when people forget God. Society loses all moral clarity. This is the best that man can do, fend for himself and make up his own self-absorbed rules. When Judges ends, Israel’s future and hope looks fairly dim.
Then there’s the little book of Ruth. This little book has a big message: God is still in control! In the middle of the chaos of Judges, God is still sovereignly working out his redemptive plan. While Israel is rebelling, God is actively putting the pieces together to provide salvation for His people!
Judges ends with Israel desperately needing a king. The last word of the book of Ruth is “David.” David is a descendent of Ruth and Boaz. David will be king. Not just any king though. This is the king God will provide. This is a king after God’s own heart. This will be Israel’s greatest king. David’s rule will foreshadow the rule of the final king, King Jesus!
And all of this is happening, unseen and unknown, right in the middle of Israel’s moral down-spin and idolatry! For sure, there are many more lessons to “glean” from Ruth. This is a wonderful, beautiful story. The essence of it though is that God is orchestrating events in such a way as to provide a “kinsman redeemer” at just the right time! When Ruth ends, Israel DOES have hope because God is in control!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Where Relativism Ends - Judges 19-21
Judges 17:6 and the very last verse of Judges, 21:25, say the same thing. “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This construct would indicate that the material found in between these verses are the story; the beginning verse and ending verse are something like a title.
The first sentence is a hint of what is to come. Israel will soon conclude that their problems are the result of not having a king. The second sentence provides a summation of the nature of Israel’s problem. They have forgotten the will of the Lord. Because the Law of the Lord is not the law of the land, morality is up for grabs. People have to come up with their own standards of right and wrong and justice. Therefore, what we find in between 17:6 and 21:25 is a collection of examples that prove there is no moral standard. Micah’s self-made religion, the Danites’ might-makes-right mentality, Gibeah’s treatment of the concubine, and the sordid way Israel decided to provide wives for Benjamin. To say the least, society is a mess!
That’s the point. When transcendent truth is denied, there is no alternative save individual opinion. Everyone argues for some sense of morality. Everyone has a moral line that he feels no one should cross. The chaos enters when it becomes apparent that everyone has different moral lines. So who is to choose? In a relativistic society, no one can select a morality over another, for that would be intolerant! Therefore, society eventually loses all unity and connectivity. Society becomes unwound! This is the end of relativism, and the only answer is to restore a universal moral code. Thus, Israel needs a king! Their real need, however, was to return to the Lord!
The first sentence is a hint of what is to come. Israel will soon conclude that their problems are the result of not having a king. The second sentence provides a summation of the nature of Israel’s problem. They have forgotten the will of the Lord. Because the Law of the Lord is not the law of the land, morality is up for grabs. People have to come up with their own standards of right and wrong and justice. Therefore, what we find in between 17:6 and 21:25 is a collection of examples that prove there is no moral standard. Micah’s self-made religion, the Danites’ might-makes-right mentality, Gibeah’s treatment of the concubine, and the sordid way Israel decided to provide wives for Benjamin. To say the least, society is a mess!
That’s the point. When transcendent truth is denied, there is no alternative save individual opinion. Everyone argues for some sense of morality. Everyone has a moral line that he feels no one should cross. The chaos enters when it becomes apparent that everyone has different moral lines. So who is to choose? In a relativistic society, no one can select a morality over another, for that would be intolerant! Therefore, society eventually loses all unity and connectivity. Society becomes unwound! This is the end of relativism, and the only answer is to restore a universal moral code. Thus, Israel needs a king! Their real need, however, was to return to the Lord!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Relativism is Not New - Judges 15-18
Relativism is the philosophy that each individual decides for himself what is right for him. Relativism extols tolerance and condemns any unwanted religious demands. Relativism says “I will decide what I want to believe and that will be truth for me.” Relativism has exploded in our generation, but it is now a new philosophy. Relativism has been around ever since God’s law has been around. Sinners will always choose to do things their way instead of God’s way until by grace he writes his law on their hearts!
Judges 17:6 – “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Relativism. The man Micah was a good example of what this verse means. Micah did things his way. He made himself a shrine, ephod, and household gods. Then he secured a Levite to be his own personal priest. Everything was in place now right in his own home. The only problem being that none of this is acceptable to God. In fact, all of it is against God’s will! Here he sits at home with gods on the mantle, and look how ridiculous his relativistic reasoning becomes! He says, “Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.” He actually thought that if something about his self-made religion resembled God’s pattern for worship (there was a Levite in the mix), then God would prosper him. So he does want God’s favor, but he also wants to bow down to some idols once in a while! Relativism.
Notice the Bible prefaces this widespread relativism by saying that Israel had no king. That is, no one was in charge who would keep reminding them and requiring them to follow the Lord. Our King is Jesus! When Jesus is Lord of our lives, there is no room for relativism, only room for worship unto the Lord! We must bow the knee to him, not our own household gods!
Judges 17:6 – “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Relativism. The man Micah was a good example of what this verse means. Micah did things his way. He made himself a shrine, ephod, and household gods. Then he secured a Levite to be his own personal priest. Everything was in place now right in his own home. The only problem being that none of this is acceptable to God. In fact, all of it is against God’s will! Here he sits at home with gods on the mantle, and look how ridiculous his relativistic reasoning becomes! He says, “Now I know that the Lord will prosper me, because I have a Levite as priest.” He actually thought that if something about his self-made religion resembled God’s pattern for worship (there was a Levite in the mix), then God would prosper him. So he does want God’s favor, but he also wants to bow down to some idols once in a while! Relativism.
Notice the Bible prefaces this widespread relativism by saying that Israel had no king. That is, no one was in charge who would keep reminding them and requiring them to follow the Lord. Our King is Jesus! When Jesus is Lord of our lives, there is no room for relativism, only room for worship unto the Lord! We must bow the knee to him, not our own household gods!
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