TODAY’S READING IN THE ONE YEAR BIBLE –The Civil War Within; The House of Saul vs. the House of David; Jesus Washes the Feet of His Disciples
MAY 23- 2 Samuel 2:12-3:39; John 13:1-30; Psalm 119:1-16; Proverbs 15:29-30
The Book of I Samuel described the transition from the rule of the Judges to the rule of the kings of Israel. We saw the contrast between a king who did what was right in his own eyes and took matters into his own hands, including his death (King Saul) and a man who sought to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, although ultimately he failed to do so.”
In 1 Samuel 13:13-14 Saul is described as one who did not have supreme regard for God’s commands but David, according to Samuel, was “a man after God’s own heart” (see also Acts 13:22). He had many failings, but He pursued and served the purposes of God.
In 2 Samuel, God removes Saul (representing the first man, Adam) and installs David (representing the second man, foreshadowing the new spiritual man, Christ Jesus, the head of the new creation) on the throne of Israel.
The process of sanctification in our own lives, as believers, is reflected in 2 Samuel 3:1:
Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; and David grew steadily stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker continually.
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts (the strong desires of the self-enthroning patterns of thought and behavior) which wage war against the soul. (1 Peter 2:11; comments in italics))
The holy war and the way of victory are further described in Galatians 5:
But I say, walk by the Spirit (the way of victory, Romans 8:3-4) and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. [17] For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. (Galatians 5:16-17)
THE SEASONS OF PREPARATION
In I Samuel we see David in seasons of preparation.
· As shepherd of his father’s flock (1 Sam 16:11)
· As warrior taught of the Lord to defeat the enemy in the good fight of faith ( Sam 17); As with the greater David, his victory is imputed to his brothers.
· As a keeper of the covenant (with Jonathan; 18:3; 1 Sam 20:16-17)
· As musician extolling the virtues of the Eternal King in the palace of human government ( 1Sam 16:17-23; Ps. 10:16; 24:10; 45:1; 95:3; 98:4; 149:2)
· As a servant of the King in his courts (1 Sam 16:21)
· As the anointed, yet despised and rejected King (1 Sam 19:18- 2 Sam 2:4)
In 2 Samuel David is brought into the position fulfilling God’s purposes for which he was being prepared in 1 Samuel. This position points to what will be ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
· He becomes the Shepherd-King, shepherd of God’s people (Isaiah 40:11; John 10:11,14)
"Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the Lord said to you, 'You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.' " (2 Samuel 5:2)
· As Covenant-Keeping King, David keeps his covenant with Jonathan by taking care of his lame son, Mephibosheth (2 Sam 9:11-13)
· As Worshiping King (2 Sam 6:12-19) David praises the Lord with all his heart and might.
· As the Servant-King, a servant of the Lord (2 Sam 7:19-21, 25,28) and a servant to others as exhibited in his provision for those brought to His table.
· As the King who is anointed before an accepting and united Israel (2 Kings 5:3)
2 Samuel 5:1-3 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. [2] "Previously, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and in. And the Lord said to you, 'You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be a ruler over Israel.' " [3] So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before the Lord at Hebron; then they anointed David king over Israel.
2 Samuel 2 describes the civil war in which the servants of Saul continue to war with the servants of David. 12 from each side are pitted against each other. Each one seizes their opponent by the head and thrusts their swords into their opponent’s sides. Joab’s brother Ashahel, who serves with the servants of David, is killed by Abner, who serves the family of Saul.
The servants of David prevail, but at great cost. Vengeance would devour both sides completely had not Abner called for a truce.
When Abner is wronged by the household of Saul, he comes before David and pledges to bring Israel to full allegiance to him. David sends Abner away in peace. Joab does not know all of this and suspects that Abner is a spy and kills him, punishing him for taking his brother’s blood.
David mourns Abner’s death with fasting, chanting a lament for this skilled military officer who was intent on bringing the northern tribes to accept his appointment as king. Abner’s death could have revived the conflict but David’s display of grief is heartfelt and convinces the people of Israel that David was not approving of his death (2 Sam 3:37). This pleased all the people (3:36).. War is averted and the prospects of a united kingdom are strengthened. David realizes that although he is king, he cannot fully control subjects, such as Joab and Abishai. His trust is in the sovereign hand of God (3:39).
NEW TESTAMENT READING: JOHN 13:1-30
The upper room discourse begins not with words, but actions.
John would recognize that these actions spoke of Jesus’ love.
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (
Jesus shares the Passover Meal with his disciples. The Passover not only commemorates God’s deliverance from Israel’s bondage in the past but prophetically speaks of the work of redemption God was about to accomplish for all people in Jesus’ death on the cross as the atoning Lamb of God. As our Passover, Jesus puts away the sin of the world by fully satisfying God’s law in paying its penalty (John 1:29).
Jesus is in the midst of the Passover Seder ceremony. The word ‘Seder’- means ‘order’ and refers to the ‘order’ or ‘sequence’ in presenting a meal, or telling a story; in this case the order of the meal tells the story!
There is a point in the meal designated for the washing of hands, called ‘Urchatz’. It takes place before dipping the karpas (parsley) into salt water (signifying tears) and partaking of the bitter herbs. John positions the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, ‘urchatz’, just prior to the bitter experience of Jesus being betrayed by Judas.
John 13:2-5 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. [3] Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; [4] so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. [5] After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
The ‘Urchatz’ speaks of cleansing. Even today in the Passover Seder, water is poured into a basin and hands are washed prior to partaking of the meal. Jesus starts with the washing of the feet. It is a picture of His condescension. Jesus puts his normal attire, the robes of His eternal glory, and takes the servants costume of our humanity and washes the feet of the disciples with the towel with which He was girded.
At first Peter resists Jesus’ act of humble service. “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
Jesus explains that his actions have greater meaning that Peter would understand later. Peter still protests that Jesus is of greater honor than to do the lowly task of foot-washing. Jesus explains that unless Peter allows him to wash his feet he will have no part (portion) with Him. Immediately Peter reverses his position and asks to be cleansed all over! Jesus’ response indicates two cleansings. The first cleansing indicates having taken a bath by which one is fully cleansed. This is a cleansing that Jesus said Peter would have no need because had been cleansed by a bath and was being declared fully clean (a picture of justification by faith). The second cleansing indicates the routine washing of feet. It refers to one’s ongoing need for cleansing as we walk in the world ( a picture of sanctification). Jesus would provide the means for doing this through the ministry of His Word, His Spirit and His fellow servants who would humbly submit themselves to doing the same to their brothers and sisters.
PRAY FOR THE NATIONS
(extracted from the Prayer Guide “Operation World” p. 337-339)
FINLAND
Republic of Finland
Europe
Geography
Area: 338,145 sq km
This northern country is 70% forest, 10% lake, 8% arable land.
Population: 5,345,826 Annual Growth: 0.38%
Capital: Helsinki
Urbanites: 63.9%
HDI Rank: 12 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples: 35 (20% unreached)
FInno-Ugric 97.6% Finns of which 5.5% are Swedish speaking, largely in the SouthWest and on Aland islands in the Gulf of Bothnia;
Official language is Finnish. Saami is spoken by .05%; .5% are Russian.
1.5% Immigrant groups, mainly from the Middle East and East Asia.
Economy- Specialized and primarily high-tech, export oriented economy, supported by traditional economy based largely on wood products. Solid economic growth since the late 1990s, but unemployment (especially among minorities) remains a concern.
Politics: Ruled by Sweden for 700 years, then by Russia for a further 100. Independent in 1917. A stable multiparty democracy. Member of EU.
Answer to Prayer
Finland’s strong Christian tradition and geographical location give it a strategic role in reaching the many peoples in the former Soviet Union. Of particular importance is the impact of ministry-oriented Finnish believers on the Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia’s interior, their distant ethnic cousins.
Challenge for Prayer
Humanism, secularism and materialism have strangleholds on most Finns. While the majority (90%) look favorably upon the Church’s social work, only 8% of Finns attend any kind of religious service monthly or more, and only 3% of Lutherans attend weekly. Spirituality has more or less become privatized. Christians may number 84% of the population, but society is effectively a secular one. The last revival occurred during the 1960s. Interest in spiritual things offers some hope, but Islam and fringe religious movements are currently the fastest growing. Pray for a spiritual breakthrough that will cause people to seek the Lord.
There is freedom of religion in Finland, but Evangelical Lutehran and finnish (Greek) Orthodox Church are recognized as national churches.
The large majority still claim affiliation with Lutheranism, but much of it is a nominal or social attachment. Only about 12% of Lutherans would be regarded as evangelical.
The Free Churches, both Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal, are relatively small but spiritually vigorous; charismatic renewal has had a marked impact. These churches are not growing, but they are holding their own in a wide context of decline. These groups are enjoying a greater unity than in years past. Pray for this to continue, for cooperation in evangelism and missions among the various bodies, and between the Free Churches and the Lutherans.
There are many rootless believers who ‘church-hop’ and lack commitment to one fellowship. And many disillusioned believers with genuine faith don’t engage in any fellowship at all. Pray that the Spirit would convict them to integrate more fully into the fellowship of the body of Christ.
Finland has had a strong missionary-sending heritage. This is now under threat. The strength of mission sending has largely been through parachurch agencies or independent movements within the larger Lutheran framework. The churches need to catch a missions vision and become more involved in the sending process, rather than relying totally on agencies.
Men’s ministry is a real need in Finland. Discipling men is difficult in a highly passive and private culture. Pray for ministries that will be able to call Finns into relationships that involve pastoring, mentoring and accountability.
Pray that immigrants and foreign students would have the opportunity to encounter Jesus in a real way.
Pastor David
So, naturally, we proclaim Christ! We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ. (Colossians 1:28, J.B. Phillips paraphrase)
New Life Community Church, Concord, MA 10742
Meeting Sundays at 10:30 AM at the Emerson Umbrella for the Arts, 40 Stow Street, Concord MA
Mailing Address: Post Office Box Five, Concord, MA 01742
Church Offices: 35 Bypass Rd. Lincoln, MA 01773 978-369-0061
Home Office: 978-371-3176
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