THE LORD SPOKE (August 25)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Psalm 105-106

It’s not a pretty picture. When Israel’s story is told, they don’t come out looking very good. This dual narrative of the exodus from Egypt and the years wandering in the wilderness leave you wondering why on earth God didn’t just have done with them and pick someone else. Take a look at some of the distressing descriptions of the chosen people:

105:28 - “they...rebelled against his words”
106:7 - “they gave no thought to [his] miracles, they did not remember [his] many kindnesses”
106:13 - “they soon forgot what he had done”
106:14 - “they gave in to their craving”
106:20 - “they exchanged their Glory for an image”
106:21 - “they forgot the God who saved them”
106:24 - “they did not believe his promise”
106:28 - “they yoked themselves...to lifeless gods”*
106:39 - “they defiled themselves by what they did”
106:43 - “they were bent on rebellion”

Were we any different we could cluck our tongues, wag our heads, and turn away in disgust. But Israel’s story is our own. The only difference is that we have their miserable example to learn from, and still we don’t. Happily, Israel’s God is also our own. In stark contrast to our unfaithfulness, look at what God does:

105:8 - “he remembers his covenant forever”
105:24 - “the Lord made his people very fruitful”
105:43 - “he brought out his people with rejoicing”
105:42 - “he remembered his holy promise”
106:10 - “he saved them from the hand of the foe”
106:43 - “many times he delivered them”

With joy we can join the psalmist and praise Jehovah (“LORD” in English) in saying:

Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD.

________

* God’s name is not “Allah” and we don’t know him through Mohammed. The god of the Koran is not the one true God, whose name is “Jehovah” (16x in these two psalms). He revealed himself to Abraham, with whom He made an eternal covenant, and through Abraham to Isaac (not Ishmael) and to Jacob (105:6).


New Testament: III John

Gaius is commended (III Jn. 1-8). He was a faithful man and it brought joy to John’s heart to see his progress. He was generous and hospitable, helping the missionaries who came through his area. He was known for his “faithfulness to the truth” and walked in a “manner worthy of God”. Maybe the highest commendation that John gives him is that his “soul is getting along well”. How’s your soul getting along?

Diotrephes, on the other hand is condemned (III Jn. 9-10). Condemned for his high-handed treatment of others. He was a malicious gossiper. Condemned for his dictatorial attitudes. He wielded power as if the church was his own little kingdom.

So Gaius is exhorted (III Jn. 11) to be different. We do well to steer clear of the bad example of those who practice evil. They can’t show us the way to God because they’ve never seen Him themselves. Instead we need to look for and imitate godly examples of how to conduct our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Demetrius is held up as a good example (III Jn. 12). Everyone recognized his sterling character and John was happily able to hold him up as an example worthy of being followed. Is your life worthy of being followed? Can people see something that is different about you? Does that difference lead them to God?

From a distance, John is doing what he can to build up his good friend Gaius. No doubt, this little word of encouragement went a long way in strengthening Gaius’ resolve to stay the course. It’s one of the postcards of Scripture and is given to us as an example of how a little word fitly spoken can bring such refreshment to a weary soul.

Who should you write to today? Do it now.