THE LORD SPOKE (January 31)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Exodus 22-23

If you have 300 crooks and 1 policeman, who’s right? Truth or righteousness is not determined by the size of the crowd or by the loudness of their cry. Majority rule can only be taken so far. There is a Standard to which all else must be submitted.

So when our text says, “do not follow the crowd in doing wrong” (Ex. 23:2), there’s a good message there for us. It’s not just the whining junior higher who says, “But Mom, everybody else is doing it or wearing it, or going to it” that needs this message. I need it whenever I’m swayed by public opinion or by politically correct thinking to go against any teaching of Scripture. Do not follow the crowd!

In what follows, God gives instructions to the Israelites to help them follow His way and not the way of the crowd.

Ex. 23:2-9 - laws regarding justice and mercy

Perversion of justice is a detestable thing because it is so contrary to God’s own character. Several quick statements in this section are right on target for our society today: do not show favoritism, do not deny justice to the poor, do not acquit the guilty, do not accept a bribe, do not oppress an alien. [Maybe we should hurry on to something else....]

Ex. 23:10-13 - keeping the Sabbath

[Ah, that’s better.] A day off so we can work some more. We even work at our play. We rarely, if ever, take a shabbat - a cessation of our normal activities in order to rest and restore our energies. A day belonging to the Lord. One day in seven that puts us back on an even keel, that slows down the frantic pace of our squirrel cage, that lets our soul catch up to our body again.

Ex. 23:14-19 - the Pilgrim Festivals

Three special annual holidays were intended for instruction and remembering God’s wonderful intervention in our lives in the past. Every year Passover (Pessach), Pentecost/First Fruits (Shavuot), and Tabernacles (Sukkot) were God-ordained memorials, given to provide the fathers an opportunity to instruct their children in God’s ways. Nothing will help more in teaching them how to not follow the crowd.

Ex. 23:20-33 - entering the Land

God’s guiding hand (in this case an angel - vs. 20) is always there to show us the way. Sometimes it’s “a still, small voice”. Sometimes it’s circumstances. Always it’s found in Scripture. He shows us the way to remain in His presence and enjoy Him. Just as the Israelites were led into the Land with definite and clear instructions, we’re shown what God expects of us.

Are you listening to Him?


New Testament: Mark 3

It’s interesting that the first reason given for why Jesus’ chose twelve disciples was “that they might be with him” (Mk. 3:14). In part, that was so they could have some time with Him but it’s also very true that He wanted to have time with them. They were His friends. Can we say He needed them? Later in the Gospel story we’ll see that Jesus had many more disciples. At one point He appointed seventy-two (Lk. 10). Many more than that followed Him also. But He had a group of twelve who were “with Him” continuously during the last 3+ years of His life on earth. He poured Himself into them but He also drew strength from their company. You’re not much of a teacher if you don’t have anyone to teach and these were His talmidim. The Hebrew word for “disciple” is today the primary word for “student”.

But it goes beyond that. Among the Twelve, Jesus had an “inner circle” of three. Jesus had an “inner circle”?? Doesn’t that smack of favoritism? Yes, maybe it does. But none of the other nine were ever made to feel inferior to these three. Each of the Twelve knew he had Jesus’ ear whenever he wanted to speak. Each knew he could lean on Him completely. Each felt he was very special to Him.

In a sense, it’s like your own children. Do you remember that burning love you had for your firstborn? It was so strong that you were just a little afraid when the birth of number two came along. Would you ever be able to divide your love so you could love that one too without diminishing your love for the first one? You could never love that one any less. But then you found that you didn’t “split your love” between two. Love expanded to include both without diminishing one whit for either. Jesus loved all His disciples and each one no doubt felt that he was the special object of His love.

In that inner circle of Peter, James, and John there was one disciple who was known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. John occupied a special position in Jesus’ affections. Yet even when the disciples argued among themselves about who was the greatest (Mk. 9:33f - by the way, notice how they’re still at it in the next chapter - 10:35f), there’s no indication that John won the title handily. Each of the disciples thought he was in the running and had a good chance at being chosen as Top Dog. Ah, doesn’t that just illustrate the incredible love of Jesus for us all?

But let’s go back to that first thought. Jesus, though He is God, needed His friends. We’ll never fully understand it this side of Glory but He still needs our love and friendship too. Aren’t you glad? Don’t you love Him?!