Scripture Verse that caught my attention today: 1 Samuel 27:1 David said in his heart, “I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines; then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.”
Observation: David achieved fame as a young boy when he killed Goliath who was fighting for the Philistines. Now we’ve come full circle and David wants to seek refuge from them.
Application: It has been said that one shouldn’t burn bridges. I think that is very true. One never knows how things will turn out in the long run in terms of who will need us and who we will need. The marvel of Easter, however, is that even though humanity tried its level best to burn every trace of a bridge with Jesus (“his blood be on us and on our children” chanted the crowd to Pilate on Good Friday as they demanded his crucifixion; and the disciples all either denied him or fled), nevertheless Jesus used his body and blood to rebuild the bridge. By Easter morn divine reconciliation was in the air.
Prayer: Lord, in Jesus’ case we were lucky…he personally rebuilt the bridge humanity tried to burn. For that we can only give you thanks and praise. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 1 Samuel 27, Psalm 141, 1 Chronicles 9, Matthew 10)
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
The Good Friday Advantage
Scripture verse that caught my attention today: 1 Samuel 26:12 So David took the spear that was at Saul’s head and the water jar, and they went away. No one saw it, or knew it, nor did anyone awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.
Observation: David had every opportunity to kill Saul, but chose to refrain, even though Saul had been seeking his life.
Application: There are times when it is noble and right to refrain from using the power/opportunity presented to us. Put another way, just because we can do something doesn’t necessarily mean we should do something. The Apostle Paul said as much in the New Testament; “All things are lawful,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).
Today is Good Friday. It is a day when Jesus could very well have used his power to avoid being crucified. He could have, but he didn’t. Was it a missed opportunity? For him, maybe. But then again, he was focused on seeking our advantage and not his own.
Prayer: Lord, the words ‘thank you’ seem totally inadequate. But it’s what I have to offer in response to what you have so graciously done. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture readings today included: 1 Samuel 25-26, Psalm 63, Matthew 9)
Observation: David had every opportunity to kill Saul, but chose to refrain, even though Saul had been seeking his life.
Application: There are times when it is noble and right to refrain from using the power/opportunity presented to us. Put another way, just because we can do something doesn’t necessarily mean we should do something. The Apostle Paul said as much in the New Testament; “All things are lawful,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).
Today is Good Friday. It is a day when Jesus could very well have used his power to avoid being crucified. He could have, but he didn’t. Was it a missed opportunity? For him, maybe. But then again, he was focused on seeking our advantage and not his own.
Prayer: Lord, the words ‘thank you’ seem totally inadequate. But it’s what I have to offer in response to what you have so graciously done. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Scripture readings today included: 1 Samuel 25-26, Psalm 63, Matthew 9)
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The People We'll Meet in the Kingdom
Scripture verse that caught my attention today. Matthew 8:11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,
Observation: I’ve never thought that much about potentially meeting Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Application: When I think of the kingdom of heaven I usually think of maybe seeing loved ones and, certainly, Jesus. I’ve thought about maybe meeting the apostles, especially Paul. Moses would be fun to meet too, plus Miriam and Aaron; it would be interesting to see how those three siblings get along. I’d like to meet some of the famous women in the Bible; Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Rahab, Deborah, Lydia, the woman at the well, and the women that followed Jesus to name a few. Not only would I like to learn what their personalities were like but, honestly, I’m also curious as to what they looked like. I’d like to meet that thief on the cross, the demoniacs, and Nicodemous. So there’s lots of people referenced in the Bible that I’d love to meet in the kingdom of heaven. But for some reason Abraham and Isaac and Jacob haven’t been at the top of my list even though they are mentioned often in the Bible and, in this case, by Jesus himself. Guess I’ll have to make some adjustments since, according to Jesus, we might well be sharing meals together!
Prayer: Lord, thanks for all the faithful witnesses throughout the ages. And help me, in my own way, to be one of them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: 1 Samuel 24, Psalm 57-58, 1 Chronicles 8, and Matthew 8)
Observation: I’ve never thought that much about potentially meeting Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Application: When I think of the kingdom of heaven I usually think of maybe seeing loved ones and, certainly, Jesus. I’ve thought about maybe meeting the apostles, especially Paul. Moses would be fun to meet too, plus Miriam and Aaron; it would be interesting to see how those three siblings get along. I’d like to meet some of the famous women in the Bible; Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Rahab, Deborah, Lydia, the woman at the well, and the women that followed Jesus to name a few. Not only would I like to learn what their personalities were like but, honestly, I’m also curious as to what they looked like. I’d like to meet that thief on the cross, the demoniacs, and Nicodemous. So there’s lots of people referenced in the Bible that I’d love to meet in the kingdom of heaven. But for some reason Abraham and Isaac and Jacob haven’t been at the top of my list even though they are mentioned often in the Bible and, in this case, by Jesus himself. Guess I’ll have to make some adjustments since, according to Jesus, we might well be sharing meals together!
Prayer: Lord, thanks for all the faithful witnesses throughout the ages. And help me, in my own way, to be one of them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: 1 Samuel 24, Psalm 57-58, 1 Chronicles 8, and Matthew 8)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Eyes Have It
Scripture verses that caught my attention today: Matthew 6:22-23 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Observation: Makes sense, but seems almost impossible.
Application: I’m curious as to what it would be like to have truly ‘healthy’ eyes. Does anyone really have them?
The concept of beauty comes to mind. Most eyes are drawn to beauty, however that might be defined. It seems to me that a ‘healthy’ eye would see everyone as beautiful in his or her own way. Sadly, that’s seldom, if ever, the case. As an example, I have a remarkably honest colleague who told me some 20 years ago that, whether he wants to or not, the first thing he does when he sees any woman is to take a nanosecond and analyze her from the standpoint of sexual attractiveness. That doesn’t sound like a very ‘healthy’ eye. But I suspect it’s often how many, if not most, eyes work.
This is but another reminder of why recalling the events of this Holy Week is so important. In Jesus we find one whose appearance was despised and rejected. Instead of wanting to be NEAR him, the crowds shouted “AWAY with him…let him be crucified.” Their eyes, much like ours, were full of darkness. They couldn’t recognize the beauty of the one before them. One of the ancient church Fathers called it the “sweet exchange” and put it this way: “O the sweet exchange, O the incomprehensible work of God, O the unexpected blessings, that the sinfulness of many should be hidden in one righteous person, while the righteousness of One should justify many sinners!”
Prayer: Lord, thanks for your ways of literally bringing light to all darkened lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: 1 Samuel 22, Psalm 17 and 35, Matthew 6)
Observation: Makes sense, but seems almost impossible.
Application: I’m curious as to what it would be like to have truly ‘healthy’ eyes. Does anyone really have them?
The concept of beauty comes to mind. Most eyes are drawn to beauty, however that might be defined. It seems to me that a ‘healthy’ eye would see everyone as beautiful in his or her own way. Sadly, that’s seldom, if ever, the case. As an example, I have a remarkably honest colleague who told me some 20 years ago that, whether he wants to or not, the first thing he does when he sees any woman is to take a nanosecond and analyze her from the standpoint of sexual attractiveness. That doesn’t sound like a very ‘healthy’ eye. But I suspect it’s often how many, if not most, eyes work.
This is but another reminder of why recalling the events of this Holy Week is so important. In Jesus we find one whose appearance was despised and rejected. Instead of wanting to be NEAR him, the crowds shouted “AWAY with him…let him be crucified.” Their eyes, much like ours, were full of darkness. They couldn’t recognize the beauty of the one before them. One of the ancient church Fathers called it the “sweet exchange” and put it this way: “O the sweet exchange, O the incomprehensible work of God, O the unexpected blessings, that the sinfulness of many should be hidden in one righteous person, while the righteousness of One should justify many sinners!”
Prayer: Lord, thanks for your ways of literally bringing light to all darkened lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: 1 Samuel 22, Psalm 17 and 35, Matthew 6)
Monday, April 18, 2011
For the Persecuted
Scripture passages that caught my attention today: Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
AND
1 Samuel 19:11-17 Saul sent messengers to David’s house to keep watch over him, planning to kill him in the morning. David’s wife Michal told him, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” 12 So Michal let David down through the window; he fled away and escaped. 13 Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed; she put a net of goats’ hair on its head, and covered it with the clothes. 14 When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.” 15 Then Saul sent the messengers to see David for themselves. He said, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” 16 When the messengers came in, the idol was in the bed, with the covering of goats’ hair on its head. 17 Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this, and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go; why should I kill you?’”
Observation: David had all sorts of issues to deal with.
Application: I couldn’t help but reflect on the story of 1 Samuel 19-20 (part of today’s reading) after reading Jesus’ reflections on persecution as found in Matthew 5 (also part of today’s reading). We normally think of David as a great king and leader in the Old Testament. That’s true. But he also had an almost daily weight hanging over his head in the form of his father-in-law Saul who wanted to kill him.
It’s a reminder that almost all people have issues with which they need to deal. We tend to admire people in supposedly ‘high’ positions. But I’ve been in close-enough proximity with a lot of those kinds of people over the years to know that, regardless of their position/responsibilities, they also have daily challenges not all that different from anyone else…and sometimes even more so. Imagine being the anointed king and needing to spend much of your life in hiding and working out ‘signals’ for secret communication. Lots of things in this world are not easy and lots of people in this life (both of high and low estate) do not have an easy life.
Thankfully, this week offers opportunity to be especially mindful of another servant of God who experienced persecution—Jesus. It’s Holy Week…the week that includes the big three days for people of the Christian faith: Maundy Thursday [when Jesus: 1) demonstrated service by washing feet, 2) instituted the Lord’s Supper/Communion, and 3) was himself betrayed], Good Friday [when Jesus was crucified unto death], and, of course, Easter [when God raised Jesus from the dead]. In Christ we have someone who can easily relate to our various situations and still provide hope. Like they said long ago, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Prayer: Lord, in all that we face in this life, let us draw strength and encouragement from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: 1 Samuel 19-20, Psalm 34, and Matthew 5)
AND
1 Samuel 19:11-17 Saul sent messengers to David’s house to keep watch over him, planning to kill him in the morning. David’s wife Michal told him, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” 12 So Michal let David down through the window; he fled away and escaped. 13 Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed; she put a net of goats’ hair on its head, and covered it with the clothes. 14 When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.” 15 Then Saul sent the messengers to see David for themselves. He said, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” 16 When the messengers came in, the idol was in the bed, with the covering of goats’ hair on its head. 17 Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this, and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go; why should I kill you?’”
Observation: David had all sorts of issues to deal with.
Application: I couldn’t help but reflect on the story of 1 Samuel 19-20 (part of today’s reading) after reading Jesus’ reflections on persecution as found in Matthew 5 (also part of today’s reading). We normally think of David as a great king and leader in the Old Testament. That’s true. But he also had an almost daily weight hanging over his head in the form of his father-in-law Saul who wanted to kill him.
It’s a reminder that almost all people have issues with which they need to deal. We tend to admire people in supposedly ‘high’ positions. But I’ve been in close-enough proximity with a lot of those kinds of people over the years to know that, regardless of their position/responsibilities, they also have daily challenges not all that different from anyone else…and sometimes even more so. Imagine being the anointed king and needing to spend much of your life in hiding and working out ‘signals’ for secret communication. Lots of things in this world are not easy and lots of people in this life (both of high and low estate) do not have an easy life.
Thankfully, this week offers opportunity to be especially mindful of another servant of God who experienced persecution—Jesus. It’s Holy Week…the week that includes the big three days for people of the Christian faith: Maundy Thursday [when Jesus: 1) demonstrated service by washing feet, 2) instituted the Lord’s Supper/Communion, and 3) was himself betrayed], Good Friday [when Jesus was crucified unto death], and, of course, Easter [when God raised Jesus from the dead]. In Christ we have someone who can easily relate to our various situations and still provide hope. Like they said long ago, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Prayer: Lord, in all that we face in this life, let us draw strength and encouragement from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: 1 Samuel 19-20, Psalm 34, and Matthew 5)
Friday, April 15, 2011
A Lesson From David and Goliath
Scripture passage that caught my attention today: 1 Samuel 17:48-49 When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.
Observation: The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Application: This, of course, is the story of David and Goliath. During a trip to Israel a few years ago our tour guide pointed out the place where, tradition says, the battle of David and Goliath may have taken place. Nearby there is also a heap of stones beneath which, again according to ‘tradition,’ the bones of Goliath lay. Whether or not these are the actual places of the battle and/or subsequent burial makes no difference to me. More ‘striking’ (pun intended!:)) is the fact that size and might alone do not necessarily determine who will experience victory and who will experience defeat. The same is true today. While it is true that size in many contexts has its advantages, it also tends to produce, as in the days of old, excessive pride and a corresponding larger target.
Prayer: Lord, these days it’s easy to identify with David when in fact we often times are more like Goliath. Help us to see the difference and take it to heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 1 Samuel 17, Psalm 9, and Matthew 2)
Observation: The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Application: This, of course, is the story of David and Goliath. During a trip to Israel a few years ago our tour guide pointed out the place where, tradition says, the battle of David and Goliath may have taken place. Nearby there is also a heap of stones beneath which, again according to ‘tradition,’ the bones of Goliath lay. Whether or not these are the actual places of the battle and/or subsequent burial makes no difference to me. More ‘striking’ (pun intended!:)) is the fact that size and might alone do not necessarily determine who will experience victory and who will experience defeat. The same is true today. While it is true that size in many contexts has its advantages, it also tends to produce, as in the days of old, excessive pride and a corresponding larger target.
Prayer: Lord, these days it’s easy to identify with David when in fact we often times are more like Goliath. Help us to see the difference and take it to heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(Readings today included: 1 Samuel 17, Psalm 9, and Matthew 2)
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Ways of God then vs now
Scripture verse that caught my attention today: 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said,
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed than the fat of rams.
Observation: This verse is popular, but its context is somewhat cringe-worthy. Saul was told “go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” He did kill the people and most of the animals, but spared the best animals (to use for a sacrifice to the Lord) and the king (who was later killed), thus prompting Samuel to offer the words cited above. Saul’s exceptions to the Lord’s command were considered an act of disobedience and became the beginning of the end of Saul’s kingship.
Application: There are many reasons why I’m glad I live in this day and age and not back then, and the seeming lack of these kind of commands from the Lord these days is one of them. What would I do if I received a command from the Lord to go attack all the people of my local town and not spare any person or animal? Honestly, I couldn’t do it.
To be fair, the command to attack the Amalekites was to be an act of revenge for how they had previously wronged the Israelites. And the command was also in a completely different social context than we have today, one is which such attacks would not seem so obscure. Nevertheless, in those days God was understood to be extremely particular about complete obedience and allegiance. God also wanted them to rely on ‘him’ and not to rely on themselves (Saul probably considered the animals he kept to be a form of provision which God considered a personal assault).
These days the ways of following God/Jesus are, thankfully, much less brutal though no less difficult. Complete allegiance is, frankly, impossible as a mere mortal. Fortunately, the crucified and risen one was sent to make up for our lack.
Prayer: Lord, your ways are so often not our ways. But help us to at least consider your ways in the world in which we live. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: 1 Samuel 15-16, 1 Chronicles 5, Matthew 1)
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed than the fat of rams.
Observation: This verse is popular, but its context is somewhat cringe-worthy. Saul was told “go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” He did kill the people and most of the animals, but spared the best animals (to use for a sacrifice to the Lord) and the king (who was later killed), thus prompting Samuel to offer the words cited above. Saul’s exceptions to the Lord’s command were considered an act of disobedience and became the beginning of the end of Saul’s kingship.
Application: There are many reasons why I’m glad I live in this day and age and not back then, and the seeming lack of these kind of commands from the Lord these days is one of them. What would I do if I received a command from the Lord to go attack all the people of my local town and not spare any person or animal? Honestly, I couldn’t do it.
To be fair, the command to attack the Amalekites was to be an act of revenge for how they had previously wronged the Israelites. And the command was also in a completely different social context than we have today, one is which such attacks would not seem so obscure. Nevertheless, in those days God was understood to be extremely particular about complete obedience and allegiance. God also wanted them to rely on ‘him’ and not to rely on themselves (Saul probably considered the animals he kept to be a form of provision which God considered a personal assault).
These days the ways of following God/Jesus are, thankfully, much less brutal though no less difficult. Complete allegiance is, frankly, impossible as a mere mortal. Fortunately, the crucified and risen one was sent to make up for our lack.
Prayer: Lord, your ways are so often not our ways. But help us to at least consider your ways in the world in which we live. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(readings today included: 1 Samuel 15-16, 1 Chronicles 5, Matthew 1)
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