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?

THE LORD SPOKE (April 27)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Samuel 18-19

H.G. Wells said about one of his characters, Mr. Polly, "He was not so much a human being as a civil war." That surely fits King Saul. David's success caused Saul to give him "a high rank in the army" (18:5) but when everyone was talking and singing David's praise, "Saul was very angry... [and it] galled him.... And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David" (18:8-9). It became a self-destroying obsession for him. During a Churchillian "black dog" day, he tried to kill David - twice (18:10-11). Look what else he did in just these two chapters:

18:13 - gave David an army but then tried to make him disappear
18:15 - withheld the daughter he'd promised (Merab) as David's wife
18:20-21 - knowingly gave David a bad wife (Michal) to ensnare him
18:25 - tried to set David up for an easy Philistine kill
19:1-2 - no longer even tried to hide his murderous motives from others
19:6 - lied with an oath
19:10 - attempted murder
19:15 - plotted murder
19:18-21 - sent out a hit squad (3x!)

This man was putting in lots of overtime on his twisted job! Contrast David's actions throughout this same time period:

18:1-4 - began a deep friendship with Jonathan
18:5-7 - remained faithful and enjoyed success from the Lord
18:10 - remained faithful in trying to minister to Saul
18:18,23 - remained humble
18:27 - went beyond the call of duty and did more than was expected of him
19:7ff - received and followed through on wise counsel from a friend
19:18 - sought wise counsel from a spiritual mentor

The obvious conclusions are drawn out for us in Scripture (18:12-16): "Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.... In everything [David] did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns."


New Testament: Acts 28

As the book began, so it ends. In Acts 1:3 we’re told that during His last days on earth, Jesus “spoke about the kingdom of God”. From his Roman imprisonment at the end of the book, Paul “preached the kingdom of God” (Acts 28:31). At the end of his life, it was also among the last words he ever penned. Paul was confident that the Lord would “bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom” (II Tim. 4:18).

That last phrase in Acts has an additional point that must not go unnoticed. The preaching of the kingdom of God is best done when we “teach about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:31). That’s exactly what Paul was actively doing during his time in Rome. Enjoying certain liberties because of his “house arrest” (Acts 28:16,30), Paul was able to engage the Jewish community which came to hear him “in large numbers”.

From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. (Acts 28:23b)

All the Bible is occupied with the clash of kingdoms. God’s kingdom vs. Satan’s kingdom. There is no fence to sit on between the two. Either you’re on one side or you’re on the other. Being on God’s side means that you’ve “heard and understood”, you’ve “seen and perceived”, and you’ve “understood and turned” to God’s salvation (Acts 28:26-28; from Isa. 6:9-10).

It involves studying the Scriptures (the “Law and the Prophets” of Acts 28:23). When you are fully convinced about Jesus it floods your soul with delight. “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Ps. 34:8).

Pagan King Nebuchadnezzar was brought to his knees to realize that “the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men” (Dan. 4:25,32) and came to declare, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just” (Dan. 4:37).

THE LORD SPOKE (April 25)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Samuel 15-16

The prophet Samuel tells Saul, "Listen now to the message from the Lord (15:1)."

This was why I chose the title for this blog/email. I thought about calling it "The Lord Spoke to Me" but it's not about me. I need to seek the Lord every day and journaling is a good way to stay on track. It's also a good way to look back and see where I've been and what the Lord is doing in my life. But, it was with some trepidation that I decided to share it with others. It would be too easy to look at the text for what I think others need to hear, to get professional at it, to not be using this time to listen to the Lord for myself. So, sorry if this doesn't fit you right now. Tuck it away and maybe it will at a later day.

"Stop...let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night (15:16)." Those are the three goals I have in writing these daily reflections. I want them to be (1) personal - "to me", (2) fresh - "last night" - in my case, this morning, and (3) applicable- "let me tell you". Saul, much like Peter had to be told, "[Shut up, for a change, and] listen to him!" (Mat. 17:5).

Did you notice Saul's self-revealing blooper in attempting to defend himself? Three times in talking to Samuel he says, "the Lord your God" (vs. 13, 21, 30). One would hope that he would say, "the Lord my God". Samuel pointedly asks him, "Why did you not obey the Lord?" (vs. 19). After all, the Lord had spoken to him at the beginning and anointed him and given him a mission (vs. 17). His insincere, "I have sinned" (vs. 24), is boldly confronted by the faithful prophet (vs. 26) and a second attempt with even worse motivation (vs. 30) brings the crushing conclusion of the chapter: "the Lord was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel" (vs. 35).

This is a depressing chapter but there is relief coming just around the corner. Be sure not to miss the connection between 11:6 and 16:13.


New Testament: Acts 26

Walter Kaiser has called it “promise theology”. It’s found repeatedly in both Testaments as one of the key themes of Scripture. It’s significant that when Paul presents his defense he turns his whole case on the question of God’s promise. Three times Paul refers to hope - both his and that of all Jews - in that Promise. In fact, it has become the hope of all those who believe, both Jew and Gentile.

It is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. (Acts 26:6-7)

This is the “root” that Paul speaks of in Romans 11. The Abrahamic Covenant is the foundational Promise that God made first with Abraham and his descendants. Abraham’s physical descendants who do not believe are cut off from that root. We, Gentile believers, have been grafted in so that hope in the Promise has become our hope. We “share in the nourishing sap from the olive root” (Rom. 11:17) because we’ve been grafted in. That’s also the significance of Paul’s concluding statement in that passage. Those Jews who come to faith...

If they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. (Rom. 11:23)

Paul’s argument before Agrippa turned on his trust in God’s promise. He emphasizes that yet more clearly near the end of his discourse when he says, “I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen” (Acts 26:22). That Promise regarded the Christ who would suffer and die and then rise from the dead. Resurrection was the issue! Paul began his defense with that question, “Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8). Indeed,

If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.... If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. (I Cor. 15:14,17)

THE LORD SPOKE (April 24)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Samuel 14

Jonathan was a leader touched by God. His inspiring words, "nothing can hinder the Lord from saving whether by many or by few" (vs. 6) helped to check the downward spiral of Saul's leadership. When a leader demonstrates his trust in God like that, notice what the people's response will be (vs. 7). It happened with Joshua against the Canaanites (Josh. 10), with Gideon against the Midianites (Jud. 6), with Jehoshaphat against the Moabites and Ammonites (II Chron. 20), and with many others who trusted the Lord (Heb. 11:32-34).

Notice though the uncertainty involved in following God. Joshua looked for a sure signal from the Lord that what he was doing was right (vs. 10). He was determined to press on only if he was sure it was the Lord's leading. Notice again the follower relationship that flows from that kind of leadership (vs. 14).

One more thing: compare Jonathan's "ministry goal" (vs. 6) with Saul's (vs. 24 - "before I have avenged myself ") and you'll see why they obtained such different results: Jonathan (vs. 13) - "the Philistines fell before Jonathan"; Saul (vs. 37) - "but God didn't answer him".

God is bigger than any human leader and, ultimately, He will have His way. In spite of Saul's failures, God delivered the people through him (vs. 46-48). Aren't you glad we serve such a great God?


New Testament: Acts 25

Three chapters; three trials. Each one quite different. Felix (Acts 24) was looking for a bribe and concerned not to offend the Jews. Festus (Acts 25) was the kind that liked to get things crossed off his lists, run a tidy court, and clear up unfinished business. Agrippa (Acts 26) was more philosophical in his interests, liked to get to the bottom of a matter, and weighed the issues.

The charge sheet had some things listed on it but it was anything by tidy. Festus wanted to clean it up before sending it to a higher court. It would reflect badly on him if the case wasn’t more clearly stated. He had four main points but none of them would stick and he knew it. Paul responded to all four (Acts 25:8,10):

1. I have done nothing wrong against the Law of the Jews
2. I have done nothing wrong against the Temple.
3. I have done nothing wrong against Caesar.
4. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews themselves.

If he hadn’t appealed to Caesar, Festus would have had no choice but to throw the whole case out of court. The suggestion to move the venue to Jewish Jerusalem held promise but higher courts don’t bounce things down to lower courts and besides, Paul saw quickly through that tactic. It would be a lynching trial there. Agrippa’s visit provided a welcome opportunity to shift the responsibility. Now, if he could just come up with some appropriate wording for the charge sheet....

Festus was really getting nervous by the end of the trial. He tried to silence what appeared to be contempt of court on the part of Paul (Acts 26:24). When the judges returned to their chambers (Acts 26:30-31) the feeling must have been, “Just who is on trial here?” They were feeling conviction themselves. Paul’s words, under the Holy Spirit’s direction, brought them to weigh guilt - their own!

It really does boil down to one ultimate question, “Do you believe?”

THE LORD SPOKE (April 23)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Samuel 11-13

This section of the historical record begins with the spotlight on SAUL.

I Sam. 11:6 - "the Spirit of God came upon him in power"

I Sam. 11:15 - "so all the people...confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the Lord"

I Sam. 11:18 - "so all the people stood in awe of the Lord and of Samuel"

It was Saul's reconfirmation day but did you notice how the limelight shifted from Saul to SAMUEL? Can you figure out why? Look at Samuel's heart:

I Sam. 12:23 - "...Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right."

I Sam. 12:24 - "Consider what great things he [the Lord, not Saul] has done for you."

Saul set out to show the people the great things he could do for them. Samuel turned their eyes to see what great things He (the Lord) had done for them. And that was the beginning of Saul's end.

I Sam. 13:11 - "I saw [i.e. notice what great insight I have]...[but] you did not come [i.e. you're such a failure Samuel]"

I Sam. 13:13 - Samuel says, "you acted foolishly...You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you." Did you notice? The Lord spoke!

And here's a concluding reminder we all need to remember:

I Sam. 13:14 - "The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart."


New Testament: Acts 24

“A ringleader of the Nazarene sect.” It was calculated to incite a negative reaction against Paul and he immediately responds. First of all, a “ringleader” implies someone who is conniving and fostering sedition. Paul says, they “did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else”.

As to the charge of “the Nazarene sect”, Paul goes back to the same terminology that was used prior to his own conversion (Acts 9:2) when he speaks of them as followers of “the Way”. He quickly defines that as solidly Bible-based (“everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets”) and founded on “the hope in God” regarding resurrection from the dead.

Felix was no stranger to “the Way” (Acts 24:22). Drusilla, his Jewish wife, also had an interest and came to the trial several days later (Acts 24:24). She was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I (the one who killed James and put Peter in prison) and the sister of Herod Agrippa II (the current king and the one before whom Paul will give his defense in Acts 25-26).

Though Paul was allowed to speak “about faith in Christ Jesus... [including] righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come” (Acts 24:24-25 - imagine that in a Roman court of law!), the listeners didn’t let themselves go too far. Their’s was an interest of convenience with dollar signs floating in the background (Acts 24:25-26).

And so, two years passed. Paul had some freedom to receive visitors and we know that Dr. Luke was one of them. Luke probably also used this time to interview eyewitnesses and gather material for his Gospel and the book of Acts (Lk. 1:1-4). Paul himself had just recently written Romans and was soon to write Ephesians so it’s not too hard to imagine what themes were occupying his thoughts. You could almost reconstruct his Bible study during those two years by looking at the OT passages he quotes frequently in Romans and Ephesians.

One thing is for sure - Paul used the time well. No moldering in jail for him. In fact, his brilliant defense in the next two chapters is another indication of where his mind was during those two years. It was a valuable timeout for one of God’s most effective servants.