THE LORD SPOKE (June 19)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Chronicles 23-24

As far as we know, my Dad's last words on earth were, "I sure wish we could make it through II Samuel." Cancer had so sapped his strength that Mom held the Bible and read to him that last night at the hospital. By now he's had 32 years (in our time) to talk to King David and find out more about his story.

In our passage today we read about David's final concerns. When he "was old and full of years" (I Chron. 23:1) he gave his last efforts to organizing and providing for the Levites. "According to the last instructions of David..." (I Chron. 23:27) they were numbered and divided into groups (I Chron. 23:3-6). Then the many duties were distributed (I Chron. 23:28-31) and responsibilities established "for the service of the temple of the Lord" (I Chron. 23:32). Right up to the last minute David was thinking about:

• providing instruments for those who ministered through music (I Chron. 23:5)
• helping the smaller families and giving them a sense of their importance (I Chron. 23:11)
• maintaining the historical continuity with Aaron and Moses so people didn't forget their heritage (I Chron. 23:13-14)
• relieving people of outmoded jobs (I Chron. 23:26) so they could serve with renewed vigor
• restating the job description so that people could refocus on what was most important (I Chron. 23:28)

To what will you give your final days? Is it a job worth doing? Will it leave people remembering just you or thinking about the Lord more and serving Him better?


New Testament: Ephesians 2

Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, used the same phrase. Gentiles were called “those who are far off” (Acts 2:39) because the Promise was given to the Jewish nation. Here in Ephesians 2, Paul makes the distinction even more pronounced by making several other comparisons. In vs. 17 he speaks of Jewish believers as “those who were near” and of Gentile believers as “you who were far away”. Because of the shed blood of Christ both have access to the Father by one and the same means. The Spirit takes those who were dead (vs. 1) and makes them alive in Christ (vs. 5).

Paul uses several phrases throughout this chapter to illustrate our former condition (note vs. 11 and what follows):

Formerly we were “separate from Christ”, that is, not participants in the Messianic promise,
But now we are “brought near through the blood of Christ”.

Formerly we were “excluded from citizenship in Israel”,
But now we are being joined together and built up in the same “holy temple in the Lord”.

Formerly we were “foreigners to the covenants of the promise”,
But now we have been grafted in and made participants as Abraham’s spiritual children.

Formerly we were “without hope”,
But now we have reason for great joy and expectation.

Formerly we were “without God in the world”,
But now we have become His “workmanship” (Greek poiema = “work of art”, from which we get our word “poem”).

Formerly we were “uncircumcised”,
But now we have experienced the genuine “circumcision of the heart” which cleanses and marks us as belonging to Him.

Formerly we were on the wrong side of a hostile wall,
But now that wall has been broken down and we have free access to the Father.

Formerly we were at enmity, cut off, and utterly disconnected spiritually,
But now we have been reconciled to God by means of the cross.

Formerly we were “foreigners and aliens”,
But now we are “fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household”.

No wonder Paul calls this relationship “the incomparable riches of his grace”. This is not something we can pull off ourselves (“not by works”). It is entirely by God’s grace. Formerly we were dead but now we have been given life.