THE LORD SPOKE (April 18)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: Ruth 3-4

We’re under no obligation to defend Ruth’s honor. Going perfumed to the threshing floor after dark has only one interpretation. Boaz’ honor shines through and, in the end, God is honored by what happens on the outskirts of Bethlehem.

Boaz, probably an older man himself (Ruth 3:10), apparently had no heir. Ruth, a poor foreigner, had little or no home. Naomi, a destitute and childless widow, had lost heart a long time ago (Ruth 1:11-13, 20-21). But God....

But God.... Don’t you love those words? They always come at just the right moment. In our greatest extremity, He is there to redeem our life from the pit. He is there to cheer and to guide. He is there to abide.

• Gen. 50:20 - But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
• Ps. 49:15 - But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me.
• Rom. 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
• 1 Cor. 1:27 - But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty....
• Eph. 2:4-9 - But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved); and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

We may not be in the blood line of the Messiah like Ruth (see Ruth 4:18-22 with Mat. 1:3-6) but we’ve been bought by the blood and given life in the Messiah, our Kinsman-Redeemer. Glory be to God that a rural story from a barley field in Bethlehem can impact all of eternity! Only He can do such a thing.

Up Calv’ry’s mountain, one dreadful morn,
Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn;
Facing for sinners death on the cross,
That He might save them from endless loss.

Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!
Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree;
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading,
Blind and unheeding - dying for me!

Oh, how I love Him, Savior and Friend,
How can my praises ever find end!
Through years unnumbered on heaven’s shore,
My tongue shall praise Him forevermore.

Avis B. Christiansen


New Testament: Acts 19

If it weren’t for a level-headed city clerk there might have been a lynching that day in Ephesus. A riot ensued when Demetrius the silversmith pointed out that Paul was teaching “that man-made gods are no gods at all” (Acts 19:26). Imagine that! It wasn’t hard for the local businessmen to imagine what was going to happen to their pocketbooks if the great goddess Artemis was discredited.

Ephesus had a good thing going. According to legend an image of Artemis (the Greek equivalent to the Roman goddess Diana) had fallen from heaven and they had built a magnificent temple to house the image (Acts 19:35). Magnificent temple? It was 425' long and 220' wide with 127 white marble columns 62' high, spaced every 4' apart. It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and people came from far and near to see it.

And to buy a replica of the image of Artemis! She was depicted with several rows of breasts on her torso to depict the mother goddess of fertility. Several reproductions have been found in excavations at Ephesus and elsewhere. Paul had the audacity to undercut “the good income from this business” (Acts 19:25-26).

Gaius and Aristarchus were drug into the theater (which still stands in marvelous preservation at Ephesus). Paul wanted to go to their rescue but other friends dissuaded him (Acts 19:30-31). A Jew named Alexander was pushed forward, presumably to strengthen the case against these Christians, but when the crowd remembered that Jews didn’t recognize Artemis either, he was shouted down.

The frenzy carried on for two hours until the city clerk was able to gain control. He was the most important local official and liaison officer between the city and the Roman authorities. Fearful of serious repercussions (Acts 19:40), he reminded them that Rome could shut down their commerce just as quickly. Was it with tongue-in-cheek that he told the idol-worshipers that their “facts were undeniable” (Acts 19:36)?

It finally grew quiet that day. But not for long. Paul founded one of the most dynamic of all the first-century churches right there at Ephesus. Today the Temple of Artemis lies in dusty-ruins but the Gospel has continued to sound out from that place (and others) for 2000 years.

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.