THE LORD SPOKE (August 19)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 78-79

Psalm 78:70-72

They Smell Like Sheep. That’s the title of a book written for pastors. Actually, it recommends spending some time with sheep so the pastor gets the smell of sheep on himself. It’s the pastors that “smell like sheep”. Not very flattering. But then, have you ever spent some time around sheep? They’re not easy to flatter. They stink. They’re terribly dumb. They spook and scatter easily. They never seem to go where you want them to go. When they’re frustrated or missing something they just stand there and say, “baaaa.....” (translation: whine). So when it says, “all we like sheep...” it’s not really a commendation.

On the other hand, Jesus had a lot to say about His love for sheep:

• “I know my sheep” (Jn. 10:14)
• “feed my sheep...take care of my sheep” (Jn. 21:15-17)
• “go to the lost sheep” (Mt. 10:6)
• “I lay down my life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:15)
• “other sheep I have, them also I must bring” (Jn. 10:16)

Here in Psalm 78:70-72 we find reference to one of the greatest O.T. pictures drawn from sheep and shepherding. David was taken from his job as shepherd boy (I Sam. 16:11-13; II Sam. 7:8) to become a shepherd king. God took him from the sheep pens of Jesse to care for “the sheep of Jacob”, a reference to the twelve tribes of Israel descended from Jacob. And he did a good job! Despite his all-too-human failures, Scripture records that “David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them” (vs. 72).

What is “integrity of heart” and how can it be said that David had it? He was a murderer, an adulterer, and he lost his temper on more than one occasion. Maybe we should start by saying what integrity of heart isn’t. It isn’t sinlessness. It isn’t perfection. In fact, neither of those even exist!

The Hebrew word translated “integrity” is tome. The lexicons define it as “completeness, fullness, innocence, simplicity”. Perhaps it’s those last two descriptors that help us understand the word here. It involves transparency, honesty, and humility. David sinned but David was quick to repent of his sins and to do what he could to correct them. No one is above sin but to live with “integrity of heart” means to be transparent, honest, and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). Here are some other biblical examples of men who acted with tome/integrity:

• Genesis 31:39 - Jacob in taking care of Laban’s property
• Genesis 39:6-10 - Joseph in resisting Potiphar’s wife
• Numbers 16:15 - Moses in taking nothing from the Israelites for his services (likewise Samuel in I Samuel 12:4)
• Ezra 8:24-30 - the priests who received the offerings for rebuilding the Temple under Ezra
• Daniel 6:4 - Daniel in maintaining uprightness of character under difficult circumstances

Can it be said of you?


New Testament: I John 1

Koinonia. It’s not the name of an Alaskan fishing village. It’s not a wild fixation on money. It’s not even (originally) the name of a Sunday School class.

It’s a Greek word meaning “fellowship” and has to do with sharing with someone a common experience that draws you together. Joint participation in an activity that knits your soul with another person will result in a fellowship or comradery. But fellowship can often take place vicariously. It’s possible to share experiences verbally and thus be drawn closer together.

That’s how John starts this little epistle. As an eyewitness of Jesus Christ, he wants to tell his experience so that we can fellowship with him in it. Here’s one who saw and heard the Lord Jesus personally - touched Him even! He tells us what it was like so that we may participate vicariously in that experience. But then he amplifies it, pointing out that ultimately this leads to fellowship with the Father and the Son. Koinonia is a shared experience with no less than God Himself. This results in pure joy.

John illustrates this with the analogy of light and darkness. Stumbling about in the darkness is replaced by walking in the light when we are in fellowship with God. These represent two very contrasting lifestyles. You have a choice before you. You can walk in the light (“as he is in the light”) or you can continue to walk in darkness. Walking in the light is a purifying experience. It makes you clean! The light reveals your stains and you ask Him to take them away. As that happens, the fellowship you have with God grows and grows.

Why would you ever want anything else?

‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus;
Just to take Him at his word,
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

Yes, ‘tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.