THE LORD SPOKE (April 28)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Samuel 20-22

You might say Saul had Jonathan "in his pocket". In spite of his miserable recent actions, he still had the loyalty of his son. Jonathan told David, "...My father doesn't do anything, great or small, without confiding in me" (20:2).

Scripture tells us that "Jonathan became one in spirit with David" (18:1). He "made a covenant with David" (18:3) and "spoke well of David to Saul his father" (19:4). Herein lies the reason for Saul's duplicity with his own son. Saul saw Jonathan's loyalty as his way to get at David (20:3). Now Saul plays his second card. He was adept with the spear. Notice how often and against whom he uses it:

18:10-11 - he hurls it at David twice
19:9-10 - and then again
20:33 - then he hurls it at his own son, Jonathan
22:6 - it's close by his side while he plots against David and issues the order to kill the priests at Nob
26:7,11-12,16,22 - again it's nearby while he hunts down David who removes it from him in self-defense and as a lesson to both Saul and General Abner
II Sam. 1:6 - it's still with him (Saul) at the moment of his death

That would be quite some piece for the Antiquities Museum of Heaven! Do you want to have some fun? Trace out the references to David's sword (remembering chapter 17) starting at 20:9-10.

How different this all could have been if Saul had just acknowledged his sin and asked God to forgive him. He was, after all, the one God had chosen to be the first king. Certainly, God would have been quick to forgive him and he could have still been useful as the King of Israel. I once heard Warren Wiersbe say, "It's not the weapon in your hand, but the integrity in your heart that God honors and uses." That was what Saul lacked. How is it with me?


New Testament: Romans 1

The description of sins at the end of Romans 1 sounds just like any normal day’s programming on TV. The paragraph concludes with the condemnation of those who approve of such practices. Wouldn’t watching them repeatedly constitute some form of approval? At the very least, that’s what keeps them on the air.

When we continue in such practices, we run the risk of falling under the judgment of God similar to another example in this chapter. Three times regarding sexual depravity, it says, “God gave them over” to their sin (Rom. 1:24,26,28). When we stay fixed on a sin or sins, we push God’s grace to the limit. There comes a time when God says, “Enough! Have it your way.” God will allow sin to run its course.

It’s not only the heathen who are “without excuse” (Rom. 1:20). True, there is just basis for their condemnation in the fact that they have all the necessary evidence to respond properly to God. The evidence of the created world is sufficient to know two things: (1) that there is a God, and (2) that He is all-powerful, i.e. I must bow before Him.

But willful ignorance of God is no worse than willful abandonment of the ways of God. Knowing God’s righteous standard and willfully turning away from it, or worse, applauding those who do, leads to a depraved mind (Rom. 1:28,32). That depravity will manifest itself in the ugly litany of sin found listed in Romans 1:29-31.

There’s hope. If you peek ahead to the next chapter, you read that “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance (Rom. 2:4).

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?