THE LORD SPOKE (April 17)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Ruth 1-2

It’s a slice out of ordinary daily life. Other than the messianic connection, there’s not really a lot that is unique in the story of Ruth. Famines weren’t rare and foreigners were always there. Men died and left widows. Women cried and were bereft of the will to go on. Beit-Lehem (“the house of bread”) was empty and pleasure (the meaning of “Naomi”) had turned to bitterness (“Mara”). There wasn’t much reason or will to carry on.

But Naomi received a wonderful boon - the friendship of her daughter-in-law. Ruth’s declaration of love and support has inspired us through the ages (but please don’t let it be sung again at a wedding, unless it’s by the bride to her mother-in-law):

Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. (Ruth 1:16-17, KJV)

Returning to the Judean Hills in April/May at the time of the barley harvest, the stage is set for a beautiful romance of redemption. When he sees her for the first time, Boaz’ response is “Wow! Who’s damsel is this?” (slightly revised from the KJV in Ruth 2:5). When he finds out who she is, he determines to make her his own. Or, as Naomi puts it later, “the man will not rest until the matter is settled” (Ruth 3:18).

That’s what’s unique about this book. The love story that illustrates how our Kinsman-Redeemer pursued and finally won us for Himself is portrayed so beautifully. Love so amazing, so divine, is not a common thing.

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Frederick M. Lehman


New Testament: Acts 18

Apollos’ creed! It’s found in the last verse of Acts 18. “Jesus is the Messiah.” He argued it (1) vigorously, (2) publically, and (3 from the Scriptures (Acts 18:28). If you go back a little in the chapter you also find that he did so (4) with great fervor, (5) accurately, and (6) boldly (Acts 18:25).

His most impressive characteristic was his thorough knowledge of the Scriptures (Acts 18:24). Coming from Alexandria in Egypt, he brought a high level of learning to the table. Alexandria was second only to Rome in the empire and had a large Jewish population. Some 250 years earlier they had produced the Septuagint - a superb translation of the Hebrew Old Testament into the Greek language. The city had become famous for the un-equaled library that had been assembled there. Scholars came from everywhere to study and debate in Alexandria.

That was Apollos’ background but his knowledge of the Gospel was faulty. He knew the OT Scriptures very well and, from that, he “taught about Jesus accurately” (Acts 18:25) but he was missing some important ingredients. Until Priscilla and Aquilla found him! They took him into their home “and explained to him the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26). Talk about being “apt to teach”. That Aquilla and Priscilla Team gives us a model to follow! Inviting him into their home (like Paul before him - see Acts 18:3), they graciously helped this man to be a better teacher. You wouldn’t think that tentmakers would have much to offer a world-class scholar but they played a vital role in encouraging another servant of God.

Apollos began at Ephesus (Acts 18:24) but was sent to Corinth (Acts 18:27; 19:1). Later he returned to Ephesus but apparently maintained a teaching ministry at both places (I Cor. 16:12). It must have been a great delight to Aquilla and Priscilla to sit in on his classes whenever they could. They enjoyed the rich dividends God paid on their initial investment.