Week of 10 Pentecost - Odd
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Podcast Download: Week of 10 Pentecost - Odd
Sunday 10 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 07/23/05;
Podcast: Sunday 10 Pentecost - Odd
1 Samuel 23:7-18 - David Escapes from Saul;
Romans 11:33-12:2 -
Spiritual Riches;
Matthew 25:14-30 - Parable of the Talents;
1 Samuel Paraphrase:
David had been fighting the Philistines at Keilah (just a few miles south of Adullam in the hill country of Judah. When King Saul heard where David was, he thought that David had become trapped in the walled city, and Saul and his army planned to besiege the city. David knew that Saul was trying to kill him, so he asked the only remaining priest, Abiathar for help in seeking the Lord’s guidance. David asked the Lord whether Saul would come to Keilah to capture David and whether the people of Keilah would surrender David to Saul. The Lord affirmed that Saul would come and David would be given into Saul’s custody.
David and his men, who now numbered six hundred, left Keilah and took refuge wherever they could. When Saul learned that David had escaped from Keilah, Saul gave up his plan to besiege the city. David took refuge in the Wilderness of Ziph (the Negeb, southwest of the Dead Sea). Saul sought David constantly, but the Lord did not allow Saul to capture David.
Romans Paraphrase:
The spiritual riches of God are greater than we can measure and his wisdom and understanding are beyond human comprehension. His judgment and his acts are beyond reproach. Who has known the mysteries of God? The Lord has no need for human advice. What could a person give the Lord to repay him? All things have been given by him, through him and belong to him. He is worthy of eternal glory.
Realizing that, we should present ourselves as a living sacrifice (in contrast to the slain body of an animal), as the act of spiritual worship, which is holy and acceptable to God only because of his mercy to us. We must not be conformed to the ways of this fallen world, but transformed by the renewal of our minds [a new understanding of spiritual reality through spiritual rebirth (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Jesus (Romans 8:9b, Acts 9:4-6), who opens our minds to understand God’s Word (Luke 24:45)] so that we come to certain knowledge and demonstration of God’s good, acceptable and perfect will as we apply it in our lives.
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus described this life in the parable (an ordinary experience from daily life to convey spiritual truth) of the talents. The master left his resources in the stewardship of his servants, distributed according to their ability. To one he gave five talents (estimated at a thousand U.S. dollars in 1946;* a lot of money); to another he gave two talents, and to another, one talent. Then the master went far away and was gone a long time.
When he returned, he summoned his servants to account for their stewardship. The servant who had been given five talents had invested it and gained five talents more. The master commended the servant for his faithfulness and rewarded him with greater responsibility and a share in his master’s glory and success. The master likewise commended the servant who had received two talents and had gained two talents more.
The third servant told the master that the servant knew him to be a hard man, who profited from the labor of others, so the servant had buried the master’s one talent and he returned it to his master. The master condemned his wicked servant for his wicked assessment of the master, and for neglecting to exercise the minimum standard of care for his responsibility by investing in the bank where it would have been safe and at least have earned interest. The master took the one talent from the wicked servant and gave it to the servant with the ten talents.
Everyone who recognizes what he has been given and by whom, and uses it responsibly, will be rewarded, but those who do not appreciate what has been entrusted to them and by whom, will lose everything. The master ordered the wicked servant to be cast into outer darkness where people will be in eternal grief and agony.
Commentary:
Saul had been the Lord’s anointed King of Israel, anointed with the kingship and with the Holy Spirit, but had not obeyed God’s Word, so the Lord took the anointing of the kingship and of the Holy Spirit from Saul and gave it to David (1 Samuel 16:13-14). Saul hadn’t listened to the council of Ahimelech, the priest, Saul’s spiritual advisor (1 Samuel 22:13-15). Saul had followed his own worldly goals and ambitions instead of the Lord’s will, and he had killed the priests and destroyed Nob, the “city of God” where the priests lived and the tabernacle, God’s “house,” was located at the time.
In contrast to Saul, David sought the council of the Lord’s Word through the one priest which God had delivered from execution by Saul’s servant, and whom David had offered sanctuary and protection. By the guidance of God’s Word, and by David’s obedience, David escaped from Saul’s plan to capture and destroy David. Saul continually sought to capture and kill David, but was never able to, because God was with David to protect him from Saul’s power.
What is our concept of God? Do we doubt his existence? Do we think God is dead? Do we suppose that he is removed from and indifferent to worldly affairs? Do we visualize him as an old man who can be deceived and manipulated to do what we want? Do we see him as a cosmic policeman who wants to keep us from having success, happiness, and pleasure in life?
Jesus Christ is the illustration, the demonstration, of God in human form; Jesus is fully God in fully human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus came to demonstrate real, spiritual, eternal life, and to die as the only sacrifice acceptable to God, once for all time and all people who trust and obey him, for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God’s will; Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10), so that we wouldn’t have to die eternally (Romans 6:23), and so that we could be “born-again” (John 3;3, 5-8) to eternal life through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit within us, which he gives only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17, 21, 23; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
God is intimately involved in daily life in this world. God is the creator, owner, and sustainer of everything in creation; everything in the entire Universe. God’s plan and purpose for this creation has always been to create an eternal kingdom of his people who will trust and obey him. Jesus Christ, the Savior and eternal King, has been “built into” the very structure of creation (John 1:1-5, 14). This life is a selection process for God’s eternal kingdom, and we get to choose whether or not to accept his offer of forgiveness and eternal life in his Kingdom through obedient trust in Jesus Christ.
He came in Jesus Christ to show us what he’s like, and to show us how to live according to his will. Through the gift of his Holy Spirit he cleanses us from sin, and gives us the knowledge and understanding of his will and Word, and the power to live in obedient trust in his will and Word.
In a sense we are all God’s servants and this earth is his property. The Lord has given us every good and necessary thing. He expects us to be good stewards, realizing the value and the giver of his gifts and his goodness to us. Each of us will be personally accountable for what we have done with the life he has given us on this earth (Matthew 25:31-46).
Saul is an example of worldly rulers and those who live according to the world instead of living in obedience to God. Saul also symbolizes Satan, the supernatural ruler of this present world, who had been expelled from heaven for disobedience of God’s will (Revelation 12:12). Satan constantly seeks to destroy God’s children, but the Lord protects them by his power and Holy Spirit.
Both Satan and Saul have been dethroned and are spiritually dead; they just don’t acknowledge it yet. David is a forerunner and illustration of the Christ (so that we would know what to look for, and recognize the Christ when he came), and Jesus is the Christ, the fulfillment of the promised eternal Savior and King.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
*Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Testament, Matthew 25:14 note "d," Division of Christian Education, of the National Churches of Christ in the United States of America, 1946.
Monday 10 Pentecost - Odd Matthew 25:14-30 - Parable of the Talents;
1 Samuel Paraphrase:
David had been fighting the Philistines at Keilah (just a few miles south of Adullam in the hill country of Judah. When King Saul heard where David was, he thought that David had become trapped in the walled city, and Saul and his army planned to besiege the city. David knew that Saul was trying to kill him, so he asked the only remaining priest, Abiathar for help in seeking the Lord’s guidance. David asked the Lord whether Saul would come to Keilah to capture David and whether the people of Keilah would surrender David to Saul. The Lord affirmed that Saul would come and David would be given into Saul’s custody.
David and his men, who now numbered six hundred, left Keilah and took refuge wherever they could. When Saul learned that David had escaped from Keilah, Saul gave up his plan to besiege the city. David took refuge in the Wilderness of Ziph (the Negeb, southwest of the Dead Sea). Saul sought David constantly, but the Lord did not allow Saul to capture David.
Romans Paraphrase:
The spiritual riches of God are greater than we can measure and his wisdom and understanding are beyond human comprehension. His judgment and his acts are beyond reproach. Who has known the mysteries of God? The Lord has no need for human advice. What could a person give the Lord to repay him? All things have been given by him, through him and belong to him. He is worthy of eternal glory.
Realizing that, we should present ourselves as a living sacrifice (in contrast to the slain body of an animal), as the act of spiritual worship, which is holy and acceptable to God only because of his mercy to us. We must not be conformed to the ways of this fallen world, but transformed by the renewal of our minds [a new understanding of spiritual reality through spiritual rebirth (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Jesus (Romans 8:9b, Acts 9:4-6), who opens our minds to understand God’s Word (Luke 24:45)] so that we come to certain knowledge and demonstration of God’s good, acceptable and perfect will as we apply it in our lives.
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus described this life in the parable (an ordinary experience from daily life to convey spiritual truth) of the talents. The master left his resources in the stewardship of his servants, distributed according to their ability. To one he gave five talents (estimated at a thousand U.S. dollars in 1946;* a lot of money); to another he gave two talents, and to another, one talent. Then the master went far away and was gone a long time.
When he returned, he summoned his servants to account for their stewardship. The servant who had been given five talents had invested it and gained five talents more. The master commended the servant for his faithfulness and rewarded him with greater responsibility and a share in his master’s glory and success. The master likewise commended the servant who had received two talents and had gained two talents more.
The third servant told the master that the servant knew him to be a hard man, who profited from the labor of others, so the servant had buried the master’s one talent and he returned it to his master. The master condemned his wicked servant for his wicked assessment of the master, and for neglecting to exercise the minimum standard of care for his responsibility by investing in the bank where it would have been safe and at least have earned interest. The master took the one talent from the wicked servant and gave it to the servant with the ten talents.
Everyone who recognizes what he has been given and by whom, and uses it responsibly, will be rewarded, but those who do not appreciate what has been entrusted to them and by whom, will lose everything. The master ordered the wicked servant to be cast into outer darkness where people will be in eternal grief and agony.
Commentary:
Saul had been the Lord’s anointed King of Israel, anointed with the kingship and with the Holy Spirit, but had not obeyed God’s Word, so the Lord took the anointing of the kingship and of the Holy Spirit from Saul and gave it to David (1 Samuel 16:13-14). Saul hadn’t listened to the council of Ahimelech, the priest, Saul’s spiritual advisor (1 Samuel 22:13-15). Saul had followed his own worldly goals and ambitions instead of the Lord’s will, and he had killed the priests and destroyed Nob, the “city of God” where the priests lived and the tabernacle, God’s “house,” was located at the time.
In contrast to Saul, David sought the council of the Lord’s Word through the one priest which God had delivered from execution by Saul’s servant, and whom David had offered sanctuary and protection. By the guidance of God’s Word, and by David’s obedience, David escaped from Saul’s plan to capture and destroy David. Saul continually sought to capture and kill David, but was never able to, because God was with David to protect him from Saul’s power.
What is our concept of God? Do we doubt his existence? Do we think God is dead? Do we suppose that he is removed from and indifferent to worldly affairs? Do we visualize him as an old man who can be deceived and manipulated to do what we want? Do we see him as a cosmic policeman who wants to keep us from having success, happiness, and pleasure in life?
Jesus Christ is the illustration, the demonstration, of God in human form; Jesus is fully God in fully human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus came to demonstrate real, spiritual, eternal life, and to die as the only sacrifice acceptable to God, once for all time and all people who trust and obey him, for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God’s will; Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10), so that we wouldn’t have to die eternally (Romans 6:23), and so that we could be “born-again” (John 3;3, 5-8) to eternal life through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit within us, which he gives only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17, 21, 23; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
God is intimately involved in daily life in this world. God is the creator, owner, and sustainer of everything in creation; everything in the entire Universe. God’s plan and purpose for this creation has always been to create an eternal kingdom of his people who will trust and obey him. Jesus Christ, the Savior and eternal King, has been “built into” the very structure of creation (John 1:1-5, 14). This life is a selection process for God’s eternal kingdom, and we get to choose whether or not to accept his offer of forgiveness and eternal life in his Kingdom through obedient trust in Jesus Christ.
He came in Jesus Christ to show us what he’s like, and to show us how to live according to his will. Through the gift of his Holy Spirit he cleanses us from sin, and gives us the knowledge and understanding of his will and Word, and the power to live in obedient trust in his will and Word.
In a sense we are all God’s servants and this earth is his property. The Lord has given us every good and necessary thing. He expects us to be good stewards, realizing the value and the giver of his gifts and his goodness to us. Each of us will be personally accountable for what we have done with the life he has given us on this earth (Matthew 25:31-46).
Saul is an example of worldly rulers and those who live according to the world instead of living in obedience to God. Saul also symbolizes Satan, the supernatural ruler of this present world, who had been expelled from heaven for disobedience of God’s will (Revelation 12:12). Satan constantly seeks to destroy God’s children, but the Lord protects them by his power and Holy Spirit.
Both Satan and Saul have been dethroned and are spiritually dead; they just don’t acknowledge it yet. David is a forerunner and illustration of the Christ (so that we would know what to look for, and recognize the Christ when he came), and Jesus is the Christ, the fulfillment of the promised eternal Savior and King.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
*Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Testament, Matthew 25:14 note "d," Division of Christian Education, of the National Churches of Christ in the United States of America, 1946.
First Posted 07/24/05;
Podcast: Monday 10 Pentecost - Odd
1 Samuel 24:1-22 - David Spares Saul’s Life;
Acts 13:44-52 - Jews’ Jealousy of Paul;
Mark 4:1-20 - Parable of the Sower;
1 Samuel Paraphrase:
King Saul continued to pursue David’s assassination. When he learned that David was in the desert of Engedi, he took three thousand hand-picked troops of the best warriors of Israel to hunt David, and Saul’s men cornered him in front of steep terrain only suitable for mountain goats. Saul came to a cave, and went in to relieve himself. David and his men were hidden in the deepest recesses of the cave.
David’s men saw this opportunity as the fulfillment of prophecy that the Lord would deliver his enemy into David’s hand. David approached Saul stealthily and was able to cut off the fringe of Saul’s robe while Saul was occupied with his toilet. But afterwards David felt guilty. David felt that regardless of Saul’s wickedness Saul had been anointed and installed as king by the Lord, so David prevented his men from using the opportunity to kill Saul.
When Saul left the cave, David came out and called to Saul, acknowledging him as his lord and king. David bowed to Saul. David told Saul not to believe those who said that David sought Saul’s injury. David showed Saul that he had come close enough to kill Saul, by removing the fringe of Saul’s robe, but had spared Saul, because Saul was the Lord’s anointed. Saul should therefore acknowledge that there was no evil or treason in David.
David had done nothing evil to deserve Saul’s punishment. David consigned his vengeance to the Lord. An ancient proverb said that wickedness is the product of the wicked. David could not be considered wicked based upon his conduct, so why was Saul pursuing David, who was no threat whatsoever to Saul? David was content to let the Lord be his judge, his advocate, deliverer and avenger.
Saul was ashamed and acknowledged his wicked intent toward David, in contrast to David’s righteousness. Saul admitted that David’s conduct did not deserve Saul’s enmity. Saul realized that the kingdom belonged to David. Saul asked that when David had become king that David would not destroy Saul’s honor and his descendants. David promised to do as Saul had requested.
Acts Paraphrase:
Paul was on his first missionary trip, with Barnabas, and arrived at Antioch (of Pisidia) in Asia Minor, north of Pamphylia in the Roman province of Galatia (in present-day Turkey). Paul had preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the synagogue, and had been invited to return the following Sabbath. Almost everyone in the city had gathered to hear Paul preach, but the Jewish religious leaders were envious of Paul for the crowd which had gathered to hear him, and they reviled and contradicted Paul publicly.
Paul and Barnabas said that they had fulfilled their responsibility to declare the Gospel to the Jews first, but since the Jews rejected the message and the gift of eternal life they would proclaim it to the Gentiles. Paul quoted the prophecy of Habakkuk 1:5 showing that God had intended the Jewish people to be a source of spiritual enlightenment and eternal salvation to the Gentiles through the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The Gentiles rejoiced and glorified God’s Word and many believed the Gospel and the hope of eternal life. The Gospel spread throughout the region, but the Jews enlisted the support of prominent and influential Jewish men and women and stirred up persecution of Paul and Barnabas, driving them away. But Paul and Barnabas “shook off the dust from their feet against them and went on to Iconium” (southeast of Antioch in Galatia; Acts 13:51; compare Matthew 10:14-15). “The (new) disciples (in Antioch) were filled with joy (of the Lord’s presence and salvation) and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52).
Mark Paraphrase:
Jesus was teaching a crowd on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He was in a boat just offshore (to avoid being trampled by people pressing forward to hear and be healed; Mark 3:9-10). Jesus taught them in parables (examples from ordinary life experience to teach spiritual truth).
In the parable of the sower (one who broadcasts seed) seed fell on various types of soil. Some fell on the path, which was compacted and hard. Birds came along and ate the seed. Other seed fell on rocks where it sprouted quickly but then withered in the heat of the sun because of lack of depth of soil to sustain it. Some fell among thorns, and as it grew the thorns choked the seed and it failed to produce a harvest. But some seed fell in good soil and produced a harvest many times greater than the original seed.
Privately his disciples asked him to explain the parable, and Jesus said that the secrets of God’s kingdom were revealed to his disciples, but that Jesus taught in parables so that people were free to not understand, if they chose. Jesus told them that the seed is the Word of God. The soils represent the hearers. Some, like the soil on the path, hear the Word of God, but Satan immediately takes it from them. Rocky ground represents those who hear and receive God’s Word with joy, but they don’t grow and develop spiritual roots, so at the first taste of tribulation or persecution they fall away. Thorny soil represents those who let worldly cares and pleasures choke out God’s Word so that it doesn’t produce a harvest. The good soil represents those who receive God’s Word and nurture it by applying it in their lives so that they grow to spiritual maturity and produce an abundant harvest of spiritual multiplication beyond their own lives.
Commentary:
What we do reveals who we are and what we believe. Saul was doing what seemed right in his own judgment, without the standard and guidance of God’s Word and God’s Spirit. God’s Spirit had been taken from him, because he did not obey God’s Word, and had been given to David (1 Samuel 16:13-14).
In contrast, David was guided by God’s Word and Spirit, and did what was right in God’s judgment. Wickedness is produced by the wicked. Righteousness is the product of the righteous. David returned Saul’s evil with good and left judgment and vengeance to the Lord. David’s righteousness led Saul to repentance and to Saul’s obedience of God’s will. Saul accepted his replacement by David as the Lord’s anointed.
Paul and Barnabas were examples of righteousness. They were guided by God’s Word and God’s Spirit within them as David had been. In David’s time the anointing with the Holy Spirit was a rare event limited to a few prophets and leaders of God’s people, but since Jesus’ resurrection the Holy Spirit is given to all Jesus’ disciples (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17-18) who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
Paul and Barnabas were trying to share the goodness and blessings of the Gospel of forgiveness and eternal life with their fellow Jews, but the Jews responded with wickedness against them. In response to persecution Paul and Barnabas obeyed the Lord’s Word to shake the dust from their feet and go on to the next town (Matthew 10:14-15). When the Jews rejected the message of salvation and eternal life Paul and Barnabas took the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Some of the Jews were jealous of the popularity of the preaching of Paul and Barnabas. They saw them as rivals for their position and power over the people, like King Saul had regarded David. They stirred up persecution and drove Paul and Barnabas away, but others had been eager to hear the Gospel; they believed and they experienced the blessings and joy of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the assurance of eternal life. The 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).
So many people were coming to Jesus to hear the Gospel and receive healing that he had to preach from a boat to keep from being crushed and trampled. Some were coming only for what Jesus could do for them physically at the moment (see John 6:26-27). Jesus’ physical healing and feeding were intended to show that he is able to feed and heal spiritually which is of benefit now and eternally.
The parable of the sower illustrates the response of various types of hearers of Jesus’ gospel. Only those who hear Jesus’ message and apply it in their lives, who nurture it and allow it to grow to maturity, so that it produces a harvest of eternal life, receive spiritual healing and spiritual life through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
God’s Word is in parables, so that people are free to accept or reject it. God’s Word is not like our word; it is a powerful and actively creative force (Hebrews 4:12). The entire universe was created by God’s Word (Genesis 1:3). The Lord could command us to obey him, but he wants us to be able to choose for ourselves to obey him. He wants us to be able to see but not perceive; to hear but not understand, if we choose. That is why Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man; it is true (he is God, the Son of man, begotten by the Holy Spirit; Colossians 2:8-9; Matthew 1:20-23) and it allows his hearers to decide for themselves who Jesus is (with a hint from Daniel 7:13-14).
When people commit to trust and obey Jesus, their minds are opened to understand the scriptures, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen, ascended Jesus (Luke 24:45; Romans 8:9b).
David, Paul and Barnabas are examples of believers who nurtured God’s Word and allowed it to grow to spiritual maturity, producing the fruit of righteousness; they’re examples of “good soil.” What kind of “soil” are you?
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Tuesday 10 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 07/25/05;
Podcast: Tuesday 10 Pentecost - Odd
1 Samuel 25:1-22 - David and Abigail;
Acts 14:1-18 - Mistaken for
"gods;"
Mark 4:21-34 - Parables of the Kingdom;
1 Samuel Paraphrase:
Samuel, priest, prophet and last of the judges of Israel, died, and all Israel mourned for him. He was buried at his home in Ramah in the hills of Ephraim [about 15 miles west of Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3) where the tabernacle had been located before being moved to Nob (1 Samuel 21:1)]
David went down into the wilderness in the vicinity of Maon (probably the Negeb; in Judah west of the Dead Sea). There was a rich man named Nabal, in Maon, whose business was in nearby Carmel. He owned a large number of sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. Nabal had an intelligent and beautiful wife, but he was vulgar, ill-mannered and surly. He was a descendant of one of the families of the tribe of Judah. David heard that Nabal was in Carmel, shearing sheep, so David sent ten of his men to Nabal with greetings and offering peace in David’s name, asking for a contribution of provisions for David’s men, since they were preserving peace in the region and protecting Nabal’s sheep business.
Nabal claimed he had never heard of David, the son of Jesse, He claimed that there were many servants rebelling against their masters and forming gangs. Nabal refused to give to these men whose origins and motives he didn’t know, provisions he had prepared for his servants. So David’s men reported back to David, and David told his men to arm themselves. David and four hundred armed fighting men went to Carmel, while two hundred men stayed with their baggage.
One of Nabal’s servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife in Maon, that David had sent men to greet Nabal and Nabal had reviled them and treated them rudely, even though David’s men had treated Nabal’s servants fairly and had protected them in the wilderness. Nabal’s servant warned Abigail that trouble was coming upon Nabal and his entire household, and the servant knew that Nabal wouldn’t listen to reason.
So Abigail hurriedly gathered up two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five measures of parched grain, a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of dried figs. This was all loaded on donkeys and she told her servants to go ahead of her and she would follow, going to meet David as he and his army came toward them. She didn’t tell her husband, and they took a route concealed behind a hill which prevented her husband from seeing them. David had vowed that, since Nabal had returned evil for good, David and his men would kill every male of the house of Nabal by the next morning.
Acts Paraphrase:
Paul and Barnabas had been driven from Antioch of Pisidia by persecution by the Jews, but they went on to nearby Iconium, the capital of Lycaonia (a Roman province in Asia Minor; present-day Turkey). Again they preached the Gospel in the synagogue and a great number of both Jews and Gentiles believed, but again Jews opposed and refuted the Gospel.
Paul and Barnabas stayed for a long time, despite opposition, preaching the gospel boldly, which the Lord confirmed by many miracles done through them. But the city was divided between the Jews and the Apostles. When they learned that a group of Jews and Gentiles, and people in authority, planned to stone them, Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra and Derbe (other nearby cities of the province) where they continued to preach the Gospel.
At Lystra there was a man born crippled who had never been able to walk. When Paul saw him, Paul realized that the man had the faith to be healed, so he told the man to stand up. The man did has Paul told him and began to walk.
When the crowd saw what had happened they declared that Paul and Barnabas were "gods" in human form; they called Paul “Hermes” and Barnabas “Zeus.” The priest of the temple of Zeus brought oxen and garlands, and the people of the city prepared to offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.
When Paul and Barnabas realized what was happening, they tore their garments (a sign of ritual mourning) and rushed out into the crowd, telling them that Paul and Barnabas were just mortals, and urging them to turn from the useless worship of idols to worship the true and living God, the creator of everything in the Universe.
Paul told them that in the past God had overlooked spiritual ignorance, but the generous blessings of his creation testified to the goodness of the creator. With this, Paul and Barnabas were barely able to restrain the people from their attempt to offer a sacrificial offering to Paul and Barnabas.
Mark Paraphrase:
Jesus taught the crowds in parables (examples from ordinary life experience to teach spiritual truth). Jesus said that a lamp is not lit and then hidden under a basket or under a bed. Nothing can be hidden that will not be revealed by the light.
Jesus said if one has ears that hear he should use them to listen (and apply what he hears). One must be careful what he hears (what and who he listens to); everyone will be accountable for his own deeds. Those who realize and appreciate what they have will be given more; but those who do not, will lose even what they think is theirs.
Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. He doesn’t have to understand how it sprouts and grows. Native seed will grow without any assistance from man at all, but man can tell when it is ripe and reap the harvest.
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It is a tiny, seemingly insignificant seed when sown, but when it grows to maturity it becomes the largest of shrubs, becoming a shelter and home for birds of the air.
Jesus always taught in parables to the crowds who came to hear him, but he explained the parables to his disciples when he was alone with them.
Commentary:
Nabal is an example of a worldly man who had many blessings: an intelligent and beautiful wife, wealth, success, and authority over many servants, but who did not appreciate that he had been blessed, and did not acknowledge who had blessed him. David was a representative of the Lord, the Lord’s “anointed,” (1 Samuel 16:13-14) who had been given authority from God to govern Israel. David and his men had made it safe and possible for Nabal to accomplish what he had achieved, and yet Nabal had treated David’s servants with great disrespect, and had refused to give any offering of a portion the blessings of protection, peace, and prosperity he had been given.
Nabal thought that he was better and smarter than those who worked for him, but they could see what was about to happen and Nabal was oblivious. There was a time coming soon when Nabal would be accountable to David, and what he thought was his would be taken from him.
The people of Lystra were spiritually ignorant; they worshiped things they had made. They were receptive to hear about God who came to earth in human form, but until Paul and Barnabas came they had never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They mistakenly were ready to worship the messengers, the servants of the Lord, instead of the Lord, but they heeded the teaching of Paul and Barnabas when they were corrected.
The crippled man was healed because he believed the Gospel and he acted on it in faith (obedient trust). The Lord was merciful to overlook their past spiritual ignorance, but now that they had heard the Gospel they were accountable to the Lord for how they responded to it.
The people of Iconium heard the Gospel from Paul and Barnabas and some of them believed the teaching of Paul and Barnabas, but some of them believed the erroneous teaching of those who had rejected the Gospel, who claimed to know God, but who had failed to recognize Jesus as the Son of God and God’s promised Savior and anointed King (Christ and Messiah both mean “anointed,” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively).
Jesus warned that it matters eternally what and who we listen to, and what we do with what we’ve heard. Those who recognize the blessings of the goodness of creation and gift of God of forgiveness and eternal life, through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), will receive more: eternal life in paradise with the Lord and every spiritual blessing in heaven. But those who don’t realize that everything they have is a gift by the love and mercy of God will lose all the material things they think they possess, and also their immortal souls and the opportunity for eternal life.
David is the forerunner and illustration of Christ. Christ has sent his servants to proclaim blessing and peace with God, and to ask for a return of a portion of his blessings and the acknowledgement of his authority. But those who treat his servants with abuse and disrespect and refuse to give him the offering of a tithe of their blessings will face his wrath and judgment on the day of his return, the Day of Judgment.
Jesus warned that there is a Day of Judgment coming, when everyone who has ever lived will be accountable to the Lord for what each has done individually in life, and what they have done with the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the light of the world who will expose the things we think are hidden and that we think will never be found out.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Wednesday 10 Pentecost - Odd Mark 4:21-34 - Parables of the Kingdom;
1 Samuel Paraphrase:
Samuel, priest, prophet and last of the judges of Israel, died, and all Israel mourned for him. He was buried at his home in Ramah in the hills of Ephraim [about 15 miles west of Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3) where the tabernacle had been located before being moved to Nob (1 Samuel 21:1)]
David went down into the wilderness in the vicinity of Maon (probably the Negeb; in Judah west of the Dead Sea). There was a rich man named Nabal, in Maon, whose business was in nearby Carmel. He owned a large number of sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. Nabal had an intelligent and beautiful wife, but he was vulgar, ill-mannered and surly. He was a descendant of one of the families of the tribe of Judah. David heard that Nabal was in Carmel, shearing sheep, so David sent ten of his men to Nabal with greetings and offering peace in David’s name, asking for a contribution of provisions for David’s men, since they were preserving peace in the region and protecting Nabal’s sheep business.
Nabal claimed he had never heard of David, the son of Jesse, He claimed that there were many servants rebelling against their masters and forming gangs. Nabal refused to give to these men whose origins and motives he didn’t know, provisions he had prepared for his servants. So David’s men reported back to David, and David told his men to arm themselves. David and four hundred armed fighting men went to Carmel, while two hundred men stayed with their baggage.
One of Nabal’s servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife in Maon, that David had sent men to greet Nabal and Nabal had reviled them and treated them rudely, even though David’s men had treated Nabal’s servants fairly and had protected them in the wilderness. Nabal’s servant warned Abigail that trouble was coming upon Nabal and his entire household, and the servant knew that Nabal wouldn’t listen to reason.
So Abigail hurriedly gathered up two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five measures of parched grain, a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of dried figs. This was all loaded on donkeys and she told her servants to go ahead of her and she would follow, going to meet David as he and his army came toward them. She didn’t tell her husband, and they took a route concealed behind a hill which prevented her husband from seeing them. David had vowed that, since Nabal had returned evil for good, David and his men would kill every male of the house of Nabal by the next morning.
Acts Paraphrase:
Paul and Barnabas had been driven from Antioch of Pisidia by persecution by the Jews, but they went on to nearby Iconium, the capital of Lycaonia (a Roman province in Asia Minor; present-day Turkey). Again they preached the Gospel in the synagogue and a great number of both Jews and Gentiles believed, but again Jews opposed and refuted the Gospel.
Paul and Barnabas stayed for a long time, despite opposition, preaching the gospel boldly, which the Lord confirmed by many miracles done through them. But the city was divided between the Jews and the Apostles. When they learned that a group of Jews and Gentiles, and people in authority, planned to stone them, Paul and Barnabas fled to Lystra and Derbe (other nearby cities of the province) where they continued to preach the Gospel.
At Lystra there was a man born crippled who had never been able to walk. When Paul saw him, Paul realized that the man had the faith to be healed, so he told the man to stand up. The man did has Paul told him and began to walk.
When the crowd saw what had happened they declared that Paul and Barnabas were "gods" in human form; they called Paul “Hermes” and Barnabas “Zeus.” The priest of the temple of Zeus brought oxen and garlands, and the people of the city prepared to offer a sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas.
When Paul and Barnabas realized what was happening, they tore their garments (a sign of ritual mourning) and rushed out into the crowd, telling them that Paul and Barnabas were just mortals, and urging them to turn from the useless worship of idols to worship the true and living God, the creator of everything in the Universe.
Paul told them that in the past God had overlooked spiritual ignorance, but the generous blessings of his creation testified to the goodness of the creator. With this, Paul and Barnabas were barely able to restrain the people from their attempt to offer a sacrificial offering to Paul and Barnabas.
Mark Paraphrase:
Jesus taught the crowds in parables (examples from ordinary life experience to teach spiritual truth). Jesus said that a lamp is not lit and then hidden under a basket or under a bed. Nothing can be hidden that will not be revealed by the light.
Jesus said if one has ears that hear he should use them to listen (and apply what he hears). One must be careful what he hears (what and who he listens to); everyone will be accountable for his own deeds. Those who realize and appreciate what they have will be given more; but those who do not, will lose even what they think is theirs.
Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. He doesn’t have to understand how it sprouts and grows. Native seed will grow without any assistance from man at all, but man can tell when it is ripe and reap the harvest.
The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. It is a tiny, seemingly insignificant seed when sown, but when it grows to maturity it becomes the largest of shrubs, becoming a shelter and home for birds of the air.
Jesus always taught in parables to the crowds who came to hear him, but he explained the parables to his disciples when he was alone with them.
Commentary:
Nabal is an example of a worldly man who had many blessings: an intelligent and beautiful wife, wealth, success, and authority over many servants, but who did not appreciate that he had been blessed, and did not acknowledge who had blessed him. David was a representative of the Lord, the Lord’s “anointed,” (1 Samuel 16:13-14) who had been given authority from God to govern Israel. David and his men had made it safe and possible for Nabal to accomplish what he had achieved, and yet Nabal had treated David’s servants with great disrespect, and had refused to give any offering of a portion the blessings of protection, peace, and prosperity he had been given.
Nabal thought that he was better and smarter than those who worked for him, but they could see what was about to happen and Nabal was oblivious. There was a time coming soon when Nabal would be accountable to David, and what he thought was his would be taken from him.
The people of Lystra were spiritually ignorant; they worshiped things they had made. They were receptive to hear about God who came to earth in human form, but until Paul and Barnabas came they had never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They mistakenly were ready to worship the messengers, the servants of the Lord, instead of the Lord, but they heeded the teaching of Paul and Barnabas when they were corrected.
The crippled man was healed because he believed the Gospel and he acted on it in faith (obedient trust). The Lord was merciful to overlook their past spiritual ignorance, but now that they had heard the Gospel they were accountable to the Lord for how they responded to it.
The people of Iconium heard the Gospel from Paul and Barnabas and some of them believed the teaching of Paul and Barnabas, but some of them believed the erroneous teaching of those who had rejected the Gospel, who claimed to know God, but who had failed to recognize Jesus as the Son of God and God’s promised Savior and anointed King (Christ and Messiah both mean “anointed,” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively).
Jesus warned that it matters eternally what and who we listen to, and what we do with what we’ve heard. Those who recognize the blessings of the goodness of creation and gift of God of forgiveness and eternal life, through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), will receive more: eternal life in paradise with the Lord and every spiritual blessing in heaven. But those who don’t realize that everything they have is a gift by the love and mercy of God will lose all the material things they think they possess, and also their immortal souls and the opportunity for eternal life.
David is the forerunner and illustration of Christ. Christ has sent his servants to proclaim blessing and peace with God, and to ask for a return of a portion of his blessings and the acknowledgement of his authority. But those who treat his servants with abuse and disrespect and refuse to give him the offering of a tithe of their blessings will face his wrath and judgment on the day of his return, the Day of Judgment.
Jesus warned that there is a Day of Judgment coming, when everyone who has ever lived will be accountable to the Lord for what each has done individually in life, and what they have done with the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the light of the world who will expose the things we think are hidden and that we think will never be found out.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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 07/26/05;
Podcast: Wednesday 10 Pentecost - Odd
1 Samuel 25:23-44 - Death of Nabal;
Acts 14:19-28 - Stoning of Paul;
Mark 4:35-44 - Jesus Calms the Sea;
1 Samuel Paraphrase:
Abigail had been told by her servants that her husband, Nabal, had refused to provide provisions for David and his men, who were providing peace and protection for the region, and that David would come to avenge himself. She prepared a large amount of food and she and her servants went out to intercept David. When she came to David, she bowed and humbled herself before David, and interceded for her husband.
Abigail told David that the character of her husband, whose name means “fool,” was the same as his name. Abigail swore that the Lord was restraining David from committing sin by taking vengeance upon Nabal himself, and she prayed in faith that the Lord would avenge all the enemies of David as he would Nabal. Abigail asked David to accept her gift of provisions and she declared her faith that David was fighting the battles of the Lord, would be protected and preserved by the Lord, and that David would not be found guilty of evil. The Lord would bless and prosper David in his endeavors and would afflict and punish David’s enemies.
David praised and thanked the Lord for sending Abigail to David to keep him from committing sin and taking vengeance into his own hands. If Abigail hadn’t intervened David would have destroyed every male of the household of Nabal. David accepted Abigail’s offering, and granted peace to her household.
When Abigail returned to her home her husband was holding a lavish feast and was extremely drunk, so Abigail told him nothing until the next morning, when he had sobered up. When Abigail told him about her intercession with David, Nabal had a heart attack or stroke and became unconscious or paralyzed, and died ten days later.
When David heard Nabal had died, David praised the Lord for avenging David, for preventing David from sinning in seeking vengeance himself, and for giving Nabal what he deserved. David sent his servants to Abigail to ask her to join David and become his wife, and Abigail accepted, telling them she was unworthy to wash the feet of David’s servants. She and five female servants went to David and he and Abigail were married. David also took another wife, Ahinoam, of Jezreel (in Hebron; between Jerusalem and Beersheba; not in the Plain of Esdraelon in northern Israel). Michal, Saul’s daughter whom he had given to David as wife, Saul later gave to Palti, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Acts Paraphrase:
Paul and Barnabas were on Paul’s first missionary journey. They had been driven from Antioch of Pisidia and Iconium (in Asia Minor; present-day Turkey), by persecution from the Jews. They went to Lystra, in the same region, but Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and stirred up the people and stoned Paul, dragging him from the city and leaving him for dead. The Christians gathered around Paul, who rose up and returned to the city.
The next day Paul and Barnabas went on to near-by Derbe, where “they preached the gospel to that city and… made many disciples” (Acts 14:21). They returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch encouraging the new disciples to continue in faith, telling them that we must endure many troubles in order to enter the kingdom of God. Paul and Barnabas, guided by the Holy Spirit selected and appointed elders to lead and govern each congregation, and “committed them to the Lord in whom they believed” (Acts 14:23).
Mark Paraphrase:
Jesus had been preaching to a huge crowd on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:1-34). That evening he and his disciples left the crowd and took a boat across the sea, with other boats. A great windstorm arose and created large waves which were swamping the boat, but Jesus was in the stern sleeping on a cushion. His disciples woke him and asked him how he could be sleeping when they were about to perish.
Jesus awoke and commanded the wind, saying “Peace, Be still” (Mark 4:39) and the wind ceased and the sea became calm. Jesus asked why his disciples had been afraid; had they no faith? The disciples were amazed and asked among themselves who Jesus must be, that even wind and sea obey him.
Commentary:
Abigail was a servant of the Lord. She recognized that David was leading the Lord’s army and fighting the spiritual battle in the name, power and guidance of the Lord. She had faith that the Lord would bless and prosper David and would punish David’s enemies. She interceded with David to leave vengeance on Nabal to the Lord and the Lord did as she believed he would.
David is an example of a servant of the Lord, and a leader of the Lord’s servants, who is fighting a spiritual battle in this world. The Lord’s servants must learn to not allow personal emotions to cause us to take vengeance into our own hands, but instead to rely on the Lord’s guidance and power. David is also an illustration of a servant of the Lord who, although he has been designated as the Lord’s “anointed,” is willing to listen to reason and to accept correction even from those who are lower in authority than himself.
David also is a forerunner and illustration of the Christ. Jesus is the anointed Messiah and eternal King. He withholds, for now, his anger and vengeance against his enemies, who are fools like Nabal, who refuse to listen to reason. Jesus is King and Lord, and he sends his servants offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world, but those who refuse to accept his peace and forgiveness, who refuse to give him an offering of what he is entitled to receive, and who insult and abuse his servants, will receive what they deserve on the Day of Judgment when Jesus returns in power and glory as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Matthew 25:31-46; See God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Paul and Barnabas are examples of servants of the Lord; they were “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ. They came proclaiming good news of peace, reconciliation with God and eternal life in Heaven, through obedient trust in Jesus Christ. The Jews who opposed the gospel are like Nabal; they refused to listen to reason, and they treated the Lord’s servants shamefully. They tried to stone Paul to death, but the Lord was with Paul, preserved him and prospered Paul’s ministry despite the opposition of his enemies.
Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the gospel with great boldness and courage in the face of great persecution. Paul returned to the cities where he had been persecuted, in order to strengthen the new disciples and organize the young congregations. Paul didn’t seek his own vengeance but trusted in the Lord to protect him and punish his enemies.
Jesus is the Lord of Creation. Jesus is the embodiment and fulfillment of God’s Word (John 1:1-5, 14); he was attendant with God at creation, and has been “built into” the very structure of Creation. When Jesus speaks, his words are the Word of God, with the creative force of God’s Word (Hebrews 4:12; John 14:24).
Jesus could command us to obey, but he wants us to choose to obey him. That is why Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man, so that his hearers could decide for themselves who Jesus is, with a hint from Daniel 7:13 (compare Acts 1:9, 11). Jesus is God, the Son of man (John 20:28; Colossians 2:8-9), conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20-23). Jesus is able and faithful to protect and prosper his disciples in any tribulation or persecution.
Jesus’ disciples had been growing, through constant daily presence with him, in their understanding of who Jesus is. They had witnessed many miracles, and yet were amazed that Jesus’ word could command obedience from the forces of nature. The disciples were forced to re-examine who they understood Jesus to be.
Who do you say that Jesus is? Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Thursday 10 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 07/27/05;
Podcast: Thursday 10 Pentecost - Odd
1 Samuel 28:3-20 - Saul Consults the Witch at Endor;
Acts 15:1-11 -
The Circumcision Party;
Mark 5:1-20 -
The Gerasene Demoniac;
1 Samuel Paraphrase:
Samuel, the priest, prophet and last judge of
Israel had
died, and all Israel mourned
him. He was buried in his city, Ramah (about 5 miles north of Jerusalem). The Philistines were camped at Shunem (on
the north side of the valley
of Jezreel in northern
Israel)
and Saul and his men were camped at Gilboa (on the south side of
the valley). When Saul saw the Philistine army he was very
afraid.
Saul sought guidance and reassurance from the
Lord but the Lord did not reply by dreams, prophets or by sacred
lots (Urim and Thummim). Saul had previously driven mediums and
wizards out of Israel, (because
they were an abomination to the Lord). But now Saul asked his
men to locate a woman who was a medium, and they told him there
was one in Endor (nearby; north of the Philistine encampment).
Saul disguised himself and went to
the woman at night, with two bodyguards. Saul asked the medium
to summon the spirit of Samuel. The medium told him that Saul
had cast the wizards and mediums out of Israel,
and she was afraid his request was a trap to destroy her. Saul
swore on the living God that she would not be punished for doing
what he requested. When the medium saw the spirit of Samuel, she
cried out loudly, realizing that the person seeking her help was
Saul. Saul told her not to be afraid. Saul asked the medium what
the spirit looked like, and was convinced that she had summoned
Samuel.
Samuel asked Saul what he wanted, and Saul told him that the Philistines were about to engage Saul’s army and Saul had not been able to hear a Word from God. Samuel asked why Saul was asking Samuel, since the Lord had stopped answering Saul and had become Saul’s enemy. Samuel told Saul that this was the fulfillment of Samuel’s prophecy to Saul that the Lord would take the kingdom from Saul, because Saul had not obeyed God’s command to completely destroy Amalek (1 Samuel chapter 15). Samuel told Saul that he and his sons would die at the hands of the Philistines the next day, and his army would be conquered. Saul fainted with fear at this prophecy, partly because he had been fasting for twenty-four hours.
Acts Paraphrase:
Paul and Barnabas had returned to Antioch, Syria, from
Paul’s first missionary journey. Some Christian men from Jerusalem came to Antioch and were teaching
that to be saved Gentiles must keep the laws of Moses, including
circumcision. Paul and Barnabas got into a big debate and
argument with them. So the Church delegated Paul and Barnabas
and others to go to Jerusalem
to the Church headquarters to get an official ruling from the
Apostles on the matter. On their way, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria,
reporting the conversion of Gentiles to the Christians along
their route, who rejoiced with them.
At the
council of Apostles and elders in Jerusalem they were
welcomed and they gave a report on what the Lord was doing
through them. But Christian members of the Pharisees (strict
legalistic Jewish party) insisted that Gentiles must be
circumcised and required to obey the Laws of Moses.
After much debate, Peter spoke and reminded them how he had been guided to preach the Gospel to Gentiles (the household of Cornelius; Acts 10:9-48). God had made no distinction between Jews and Gentiles, but gave them the same gift of the Holy Spirit, through whom they were cleansed. Peter asked why the advocates of legalism were trying to test God by making Gentiles bear requirements which Jews had never been able to fulfill, themselves. The Jewish Christians depended for their salvation on God’s grace (free gift; unmerited favor; see Ephesians 2:8-9) and so could the Gentiles.
Mark Paraphrase:
Jesus and his disciples had crossed
the Sea of Galilee to the
eastern shore. When they got out of the boat they were
confronted by a man possessed by a demon, who lived outdoors in
a cemetery, without clothes, like an animal. No one had been
able to restrain him because he broke every rope or chain used
on him. When the Demoniac saw Jesus he ran to him and bowed to
him, and in a loud voice, addressing Jesus by name as the Son of the Most High God, asked what
Jesus intended to do to him.
The demoniac begged not to be tormented. Jesus asked the demon’s name, and the demon replied, “Legion,” for the man was possessed by many demons. The demons begged not to be sent out of the country, but to be allowed to enter a herd of pigs, nearby. Jesus gave them permission, so the demons entered the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand pigs stampeded down a steep bank into the sea and were drowned.
The pig herdsmen fled to the city
nearby and reported what had happened, and the townspeople came
out to see for themselves. They found the demoniac clothed and
in his right mind, sitting with Jesus. When the townspeople had
heard the eyewitness accounts they begged Jesus to leave their
region. When Jesus was getting back into the boat, the man
begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go home and tell
his friends how merciful the Lord had been and how much the Lord
had done for him. Everyone was amazed at what had happened.
Commentary:
Saul hadn’t obeyed God’s Word when
he had good spiritual council and knew God’s Word. Saul wanted
God to save him without requiring Saul’s obedient trust. Because
Saul had not obeyed God’s Word, God stopped answering Saul.
Instead of repenting and returning to obedient trust in the Lord, Saul sought spiritual guidance from demonic forces which he knew were abominable to the Lord. Saul tried to hide his identity but failed. Instead of security and reassurance, he learned of a disaster he was unable to avert. It was too late to change the outcome.
In contrast to Saul’s consultation
with demonic forces, Paul and Barnabas relied on the guidance of
the Holy Spirit and sought Christian council. The same Holy
Spirit that led and enabled Paul and Barnabas also led and
enabled Peter.
The people of the Gerasenes
(Gadarenes; Gergasenes) had access to the teaching and spiritual
healing of Jesus Christ demonstrated vividly for them in the
healing of the demoniac. The demoniac had been a nuisance and
threat to the community for a long time, but instead of
appreciating his healing and their deliverance from this threat,
they were upset by the loss of the pigs, which represented a
sinful occupation to Jews. The loss of the pigs gave the people
of Gerasenes the opportunity to pursue a more legitimate
occupation, but they went right back to raising pigs. They sent
away the Savior who could heal their eternally fatal spiritual
illness, because he interfered with their worldly business.
Friday 10 Pentecost - Odd
First posted 07/28/05;
Podcast: Friday 10 Pentecost - Odd
1 Samuel 31:1-13 - Deaths of Saul and Jonathan;
Acts 15:12-21 - The Apostolic
Decree;
Mark 5:21-43 - Jairus’ Daughter Raised;
1 Samuel Summary
Saul’s army had been encamped on Mount Gilboa facing attack by the Philistines from their encampment at Shunem (the north side of the valley of Jezreel in northern Israel). Saul had sought spiritual guidance from the witch at nearby Endor. The next day the Philistines attacked and overwhelmed the army of Israel. Jonathan, Saul’s son, and two of his brothers were killed and Saul was badly wounded by an arrow.
Saul asked his armor bearer to kill Saul with a sword so that Saul might not be humiliated and tortured by the Philistines, but the armor-bearer couldn’t bring himself to do it, so Saul fell on his own sword. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead the armor-bearer also killed himself by falling on his own sword. When the Israelites in that region saw that Saul and his army had been destroyed, they fled from their homes and villages, and the Philistines occupied them.
The day after the battle the Philistines came to loot the dead Israelites and found Saul and his three sons dead. The Philistines cut off Saul’s head and stripped his armor. Messengers were sent to report the news of victory throughout the land of the Philistines, and Saul’s armor was placed in the temple of Astarte, the goddess of fertility and profane love.
Saul’s and his son’s bodies were displayed on the wall of Beth-shan (a Philistine stronghold between the Valley of Jezreel and the Jordan valley) When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul they went at night and took the bodies to Jabesh, where they cremated them and buried their bones under a tree in Jabesh. They mourned them for seven days.
Acts Summary:
Converts to Christianity from the Pharisees (strict legalistic faction of Judaism) were insisting that Gentile Christians must keep the Laws of Moses, including circumcision. Paul and Barnabas had vigorously opposed them and had been sent to Jerusalem to get a ruling from Church headquarters. Peter, who had been led by the Holy Spirit to convert the first Gentile Christians, Cornelius and his household, had spoken in support of Paul’s and Barnabas’ position (Acts 15:1-11).
The apostolic council listened to Paul and Barnabas report what the Lord had been doing through them among the Gentiles, and then James (the brother of Jesus) spoke. He quoted scripture (Amos 9:11-12; Jeremiah 12:15, Isaiah 45:21) to show that the Lord intended salvation to include the Gentiles. James suggested that Gentiles be required to conform to the restrictions God gave to the sons of Noah: abstention from the pollution of idolatry, unchastity, animals which had been strangled (rather than bled out) and consumption of blood.
Mark Summary:
Returning from the healing of the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20; see entry for yesterday) Jesus was again surrounded by a large crowd. A leader of a synagogue named Jairus came to Jesus and asked Jesus to come to his home and heal his daughter, who was close to death.
On the way, a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years reached out and touched Jesus’ clothing, in faith that by simply touching his clothes she would be healed. As soon as she touched him she knew that she had been healed, and Jesus knew that power had gone forth from him. Jesus asked who had touched his clothing. His disciples thought it was a foolish question; Jesus had just been jostled by the crowd. But Jesus looked around to find who had touched him and the woman came forth and confessed what had happened. Jesus told her that her faith had made her healing possible.
While this dialog was going on, Jairus’ servants came to tell him that his daughter had died, and that he should not bother Jesus further. But Jesus ignored the messengers and told Jairus to believe and not worry. Jesus allowed only Peter, James and John to accompany him to Jairus’ house.
When they arrived, there were mourners weeping and wailing. Jesus told them that the daughter was only “sleeping,” which they thought was ludicrous. But Jesus made them wait outside; taking only the child’s mother and father he went in to her and took her hand and told her to get up. Immediately the girl rose up and walked, since she was twelve years old. The witnesses were overcome with amazement, but Jesus strictly commanded them not to publicize what had happened, and told her parents to give her some food.
Commentary:
Saul tried to circumvent God’s will. He had spiritual guidance and knowledge of God’s will from Samuel, but had chosen to disobey it. Because Saul had disobeyed, God stopped answering Saul, so Saul sought spiritual council from a demonic source (the witch of Endor). The witch was able to foretell Saul’s death, but Saul was unable to avoid it. Saul wound up destroying himself.
In contrast, Paul sought the Lord’s will and chose to obey it, and the Lord was able to sustain and support him. Paul was supported by others who were also guided by and obedient to the Lord’s will and Spirit. It is notable that the Lord strictly forbade drinking blood or consuming meat with its blood, because at that time it was believed that the spirit of the animal was contained in its blood. When the Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper, (Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Eucharist), he declared that the wine was his blood. The Lord wants us to be filled with his Holy Spirit rather than the spirits of demons or animals.
Jairus trusted in Jesus’ words rather than the reports of his servants, and his daughter was restored to life. The hemorrhagic woman believed that Jesus was able to heal her just by touching him, and she was healed. It is important to trust Jesus and to act on that trust.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Saturday 10 Pentecost - Odd Mark 5:21-43 - Jairus’ Daughter Raised;
1 Samuel Summary
Saul’s army had been encamped on Mount Gilboa facing attack by the Philistines from their encampment at Shunem (the north side of the valley of Jezreel in northern Israel). Saul had sought spiritual guidance from the witch at nearby Endor. The next day the Philistines attacked and overwhelmed the army of Israel. Jonathan, Saul’s son, and two of his brothers were killed and Saul was badly wounded by an arrow.
Saul asked his armor bearer to kill Saul with a sword so that Saul might not be humiliated and tortured by the Philistines, but the armor-bearer couldn’t bring himself to do it, so Saul fell on his own sword. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead the armor-bearer also killed himself by falling on his own sword. When the Israelites in that region saw that Saul and his army had been destroyed, they fled from their homes and villages, and the Philistines occupied them.
The day after the battle the Philistines came to loot the dead Israelites and found Saul and his three sons dead. The Philistines cut off Saul’s head and stripped his armor. Messengers were sent to report the news of victory throughout the land of the Philistines, and Saul’s armor was placed in the temple of Astarte, the goddess of fertility and profane love.
Saul’s and his son’s bodies were displayed on the wall of Beth-shan (a Philistine stronghold between the Valley of Jezreel and the Jordan valley) When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul they went at night and took the bodies to Jabesh, where they cremated them and buried their bones under a tree in Jabesh. They mourned them for seven days.
Acts Summary:
Converts to Christianity from the Pharisees (strict legalistic faction of Judaism) were insisting that Gentile Christians must keep the Laws of Moses, including circumcision. Paul and Barnabas had vigorously opposed them and had been sent to Jerusalem to get a ruling from Church headquarters. Peter, who had been led by the Holy Spirit to convert the first Gentile Christians, Cornelius and his household, had spoken in support of Paul’s and Barnabas’ position (Acts 15:1-11).
The apostolic council listened to Paul and Barnabas report what the Lord had been doing through them among the Gentiles, and then James (the brother of Jesus) spoke. He quoted scripture (Amos 9:11-12; Jeremiah 12:15, Isaiah 45:21) to show that the Lord intended salvation to include the Gentiles. James suggested that Gentiles be required to conform to the restrictions God gave to the sons of Noah: abstention from the pollution of idolatry, unchastity, animals which had been strangled (rather than bled out) and consumption of blood.
Mark Summary:
Returning from the healing of the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20; see entry for yesterday) Jesus was again surrounded by a large crowd. A leader of a synagogue named Jairus came to Jesus and asked Jesus to come to his home and heal his daughter, who was close to death.
On the way, a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years reached out and touched Jesus’ clothing, in faith that by simply touching his clothes she would be healed. As soon as she touched him she knew that she had been healed, and Jesus knew that power had gone forth from him. Jesus asked who had touched his clothing. His disciples thought it was a foolish question; Jesus had just been jostled by the crowd. But Jesus looked around to find who had touched him and the woman came forth and confessed what had happened. Jesus told her that her faith had made her healing possible.
While this dialog was going on, Jairus’ servants came to tell him that his daughter had died, and that he should not bother Jesus further. But Jesus ignored the messengers and told Jairus to believe and not worry. Jesus allowed only Peter, James and John to accompany him to Jairus’ house.
When they arrived, there were mourners weeping and wailing. Jesus told them that the daughter was only “sleeping,” which they thought was ludicrous. But Jesus made them wait outside; taking only the child’s mother and father he went in to her and took her hand and told her to get up. Immediately the girl rose up and walked, since she was twelve years old. The witnesses were overcome with amazement, but Jesus strictly commanded them not to publicize what had happened, and told her parents to give her some food.
Commentary:
Saul tried to circumvent God’s will. He had spiritual guidance and knowledge of God’s will from Samuel, but had chosen to disobey it. Because Saul had disobeyed, God stopped answering Saul, so Saul sought spiritual council from a demonic source (the witch of Endor). The witch was able to foretell Saul’s death, but Saul was unable to avoid it. Saul wound up destroying himself.
In contrast, Paul sought the Lord’s will and chose to obey it, and the Lord was able to sustain and support him. Paul was supported by others who were also guided by and obedient to the Lord’s will and Spirit. It is notable that the Lord strictly forbade drinking blood or consuming meat with its blood, because at that time it was believed that the spirit of the animal was contained in its blood. When the Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper, (Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Eucharist), he declared that the wine was his blood. The Lord wants us to be filled with his Holy Spirit rather than the spirits of demons or animals.
Jairus trusted in Jesus’ words rather than the reports of his servants, and his daughter was restored to life. The hemorrhagic woman believed that Jesus was able to heal her just by touching him, and she was healed. It is important to trust Jesus and to act on that trust.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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 07/29/05
Podcast: Saturday 10 Pentecost - Odd
2 Samuel 1:1-16 - David Hears of Saul's Death;
Acts 15:22-35 - The Apostolic
Decree Delivered;
Mark 6:1-13 - Commissioning the Twelve;
2 Samuel Summary:
David and his army had fled from Saul and taken up residence in Ziklag in southern Israel. He had just returned from slaughtering the Amalekites and recovering the wives and children of David and his men who had been carried off by the Amalekites while David and his men were away.
On the third day of his return, an Amalekite came to Ziklag, claiming to have escaped from Saul’s encampment, and reported that the Israelite army had been defeated and that Saul and Jonathan were dead. David asked how the Amalekite knew this and the Amalekite claimed that he had come upon Saul who had been gravely wounded and the Amalekite had given him the “coup de grace” at Saul’s request. The Amalekite had brought Saul’s crown and armlet.
David and his men all tore their clothing (a sign of mourning) and mourned Saul and Jonathan until evening. David questioned the Amalekite further and learned that the Amalekite was the son of a “sojourner,” a long-term resident alien in Israel with limited civil rights. David asked him how he dared to destroy Saul, the Lord’s anointed, and then had one of his men execute the Amalekite.
Acts Summary:
The council of apostles and elders at Jerusalem had reached a decision on the issue of whether Gentile Christians were to be required to keep the Law of Moses, including circumcision. They delegated Judas (Barsabbas; not Iscariot) and Silas to accompany Paul and Barnabas and sent with them a letter certifying their authority and stating the ruling of the council requiring Gentile Christians to abstain only from what has been sacrificed to idols, from consuming blood or meat which contained blood, and from unchastity.
The men returned to Antioch, Syria, where they assembled the congregation and read the letter. The congregation rejoiced at the decision. Judas and Silas were both prophets and they preached and taught (“discipled”) the congregation, and after a while they returned to Jerusalem, but Paul and Barnabas stayed and continued, with others, to teach and preach God’s Word.
Matthew Summary:
Jesus preached in the Synagogue in Nazareth, but the people were amazed at Jesus’ teaching. They wondered how Jesus could have gotten his knowledge and power. They knew Jesus’ parents and family, and they were offended by Jesus’ teachings. Jesus told them that prophets have no honor in their own community, among their relatives and their own families. Jesus healed a few people but was not able to do any great miracles because of the unbelief of the people.
Jesus traveled among the villages of Galilee teaching, and he began sending the Twelve apostles out, two by two, having given them authority over demons. He told them to take no provisions for their journey except a staff; no bread, no money, and no extra clothing. Wherever they were received they were to stay in one house until they went on to the next village. If any village refused to receive them or listen to them, they were to shake the dust from their feet and go on to the next village. The Twelve went, preaching that people should repent, and they cast out many demons, and healed many who were sick.
Commentary:
David was the Lord’s “anointed;” the Lord had taken his anointing away from Saul because Saul had not obeyed God’s Word (1 Samuel 16:13-14). Despite Saul’s persecution, David had continued to honor Saul’s office and fulfilled his promise not to desecrate Saul’s legacy (1 Samuel 24:20-22).
The Amalekite had lied to David (1 Samuel 31:4-6), hoping to ingratiate himself with David, but David had him executed for killing Saul, the Lord’s anointed. The Amalekite was born in Israel as a resident alien, and should have known that Saul was the Lord’s anointed. As the Lord’s anointed, David was led by the Holy Spirit (1 Samuel 16:13) and had been given the power and authority to administer justice in the Lord’s name.
The council of apostles in Jerusalem consisted of the Twelve (minus Judas, the betrayer) who had been discipled and given authority over demons by Jesus, and had been empowered by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13). They were leading the Church from Jerusalem by their understanding of the scriptures and by guidance given by the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:45). They were fulfilling the Great Commission given by the risen Lord to his disciples, to make disciples and teach them obedience to Jesus’ words (Matthew 28:18-20), to be carried out after having received the "anointing" of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).
The people of Nazareth were offended by Jesus’ authority and were unwilling to accept it. They knew his mother and father and thought they knew Jesus so well that he couldn’t possibly be the Lord’s anointed. They thought Jesus was trying to be something he wasn’t. As a result they missed the spiritual healing and reconciliation with God that only Jesus can provide. Jesus gave his authority to his disciples who used it to carry on Jesus’ ministry of repentance and reconciliation with God.
Jesus is the Lord's Anointed. Can we recognize him, or do we think we know so much that we can't believe it? Does his message offend us because we think he's claiming to be someone he isn't? Would anyone be motivated to reject him because it would be more popular to do so?
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
Mark 6:1-13 - Commissioning the Twelve;
2 Samuel Summary:
David and his army had fled from Saul and taken up residence in Ziklag in southern Israel. He had just returned from slaughtering the Amalekites and recovering the wives and children of David and his men who had been carried off by the Amalekites while David and his men were away.
On the third day of his return, an Amalekite came to Ziklag, claiming to have escaped from Saul’s encampment, and reported that the Israelite army had been defeated and that Saul and Jonathan were dead. David asked how the Amalekite knew this and the Amalekite claimed that he had come upon Saul who had been gravely wounded and the Amalekite had given him the “coup de grace” at Saul’s request. The Amalekite had brought Saul’s crown and armlet.
David and his men all tore their clothing (a sign of mourning) and mourned Saul and Jonathan until evening. David questioned the Amalekite further and learned that the Amalekite was the son of a “sojourner,” a long-term resident alien in Israel with limited civil rights. David asked him how he dared to destroy Saul, the Lord’s anointed, and then had one of his men execute the Amalekite.
Acts Summary:
The council of apostles and elders at Jerusalem had reached a decision on the issue of whether Gentile Christians were to be required to keep the Law of Moses, including circumcision. They delegated Judas (Barsabbas; not Iscariot) and Silas to accompany Paul and Barnabas and sent with them a letter certifying their authority and stating the ruling of the council requiring Gentile Christians to abstain only from what has been sacrificed to idols, from consuming blood or meat which contained blood, and from unchastity.
The men returned to Antioch, Syria, where they assembled the congregation and read the letter. The congregation rejoiced at the decision. Judas and Silas were both prophets and they preached and taught (“discipled”) the congregation, and after a while they returned to Jerusalem, but Paul and Barnabas stayed and continued, with others, to teach and preach God’s Word.
Matthew Summary:
Jesus preached in the Synagogue in Nazareth, but the people were amazed at Jesus’ teaching. They wondered how Jesus could have gotten his knowledge and power. They knew Jesus’ parents and family, and they were offended by Jesus’ teachings. Jesus told them that prophets have no honor in their own community, among their relatives and their own families. Jesus healed a few people but was not able to do any great miracles because of the unbelief of the people.
Jesus traveled among the villages of Galilee teaching, and he began sending the Twelve apostles out, two by two, having given them authority over demons. He told them to take no provisions for their journey except a staff; no bread, no money, and no extra clothing. Wherever they were received they were to stay in one house until they went on to the next village. If any village refused to receive them or listen to them, they were to shake the dust from their feet and go on to the next village. The Twelve went, preaching that people should repent, and they cast out many demons, and healed many who were sick.
Commentary:
David was the Lord’s “anointed;” the Lord had taken his anointing away from Saul because Saul had not obeyed God’s Word (1 Samuel 16:13-14). Despite Saul’s persecution, David had continued to honor Saul’s office and fulfilled his promise not to desecrate Saul’s legacy (1 Samuel 24:20-22).
The Amalekite had lied to David (1 Samuel 31:4-6), hoping to ingratiate himself with David, but David had him executed for killing Saul, the Lord’s anointed. The Amalekite was born in Israel as a resident alien, and should have known that Saul was the Lord’s anointed. As the Lord’s anointed, David was led by the Holy Spirit (1 Samuel 16:13) and had been given the power and authority to administer justice in the Lord’s name.
The council of apostles in Jerusalem consisted of the Twelve (minus Judas, the betrayer) who had been discipled and given authority over demons by Jesus, and had been empowered by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13). They were leading the Church from Jerusalem by their understanding of the scriptures and by guidance given by the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:45). They were fulfilling the Great Commission given by the risen Lord to his disciples, to make disciples and teach them obedience to Jesus’ words (Matthew 28:18-20), to be carried out after having received the "anointing" of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).
The people of Nazareth were offended by Jesus’ authority and were unwilling to accept it. They knew his mother and father and thought they knew Jesus so well that he couldn’t possibly be the Lord’s anointed. They thought Jesus was trying to be something he wasn’t. As a result they missed the spiritual healing and reconciliation with God that only Jesus can provide. Jesus gave his authority to his disciples who used it to carry on Jesus’ ministry of repentance and reconciliation with God.
Jesus is the Lord's Anointed. Can we recognize him, or do we think we know so much that we can't believe it? Does his message offend us because we think he's claiming to be someone he isn't? Would anyone be motivated to reject him because it would be more popular to do so?
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? 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)?
