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)

 The kingly attributes that are cultivated in the seasons of preparation in 1 Samuel come to the fore and are tested in 2 Samuel. 

  

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 Warrior-King he captures the stronghold of Zion, taking possession of Jerusalem, driving out the Jebusites and striking down the Philistines (2 Sam 5; 8:1)

·         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. (John 13:1)

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

www.newlife.org

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

New Life Fine Arts

"Theater you can believe in."

www.newlifefinearts.org

THE BOOK OF RUTH: A BEACON OF LIGHT IN THE MIDST OF A DARK NIGHT

TODAY’S READING IN THE ONE YEAR BIBLE: 

MAY 5  Judges 21:1-25; Ruth 1:1-22; John 4:4-42; Psalm 105:1-15; Proverbs 14:25

The last chapters of the Book of Judges remind us of some of the worst aspects of the human nature and the unthinkable crimes against humanity that take place every day. Israel had broken its covenant relationship with God. No longer would they submit to their King. No longer would they heed their Shepherd. This reflects the current state of humanity as stated by the prophet Isaiah:

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;” (Isaiah 53:6)

Not only do we turn aside from the government of God, but by our poor examples we turn others aside.

The last words of the Book of Judges are:

“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)

This is the fourth repetition of the phrase, “There was no king in Israel” (17:6; 18:1;19:1;21:25).

It is important to have this background information if we are to understand God’s plan of redemption. The human heart has been turned aside from its intended function of fully loving the Lord our God and loving our neighbor as ourselves.  It cannot find its way back. It cannot heal itself.

You see the consequences of apostasy in the final dark chapters of the Book of Judges- Self-seeking, self-justification, self-indulgence, leading to constructing gods in our own image.  We subscribe to our own preferred therapeutic priesthoods, mediators, healers, and new age practitioners, instead of coming to the Tabernacle (which represents God’s plan of salvation centered in the person and work of His Son).  Micah’s idolatry is passed on the tribe of Dan. The Danites follow their heart’s desire for their preferred future. They slaughter all the inhabitants and burned to the ground, the town of Laish, whose dwellings and lifestyles they had once coveted (18:27). They set up a graven image there and hired a descendant of Moses as their priest, forsaking the worship of the true God that was available at the Tabernacle at Shiloh (18:31).

The most abhorrent crimes of Chapters 19 and 20 show the moral degeneracy: sexual immorality, fornication, prostitution, adultery, drunkenness, emotional, physical and sexual abuse, sloth, gluttony, prejudice, lack of hospitality, lust, rape, homosexuality, callousness, murder and dismemberment. 

The revenge taken in chapter 20 leads to war and genocide (the near extermination of the tribe of Benjamin). In Chapter 21 the Israelites compound their sin with the further slaughter of the people of Jabesh Gilead and by encouraging the abduction of their virgins by the Benjamites.

Against the dark background of what was occurring nationally during the period of Judges comes the bright light of a love story, A ROMANCE OF REDEMPTION that took place in Bethlehem Judah during this time.

THE BOOK OF RUTH

Like the Book of Judges, the Book of Ruth was written after the monarchy had been established in Israel. The Book provides the details concerning the link in the dark period of the Judges for the genealogy of the Messiah.

The prostitute, Rahab who hid the spies in Joshua chapter 2, marries Salmon and becomes the mother of Boaz, who will be the kinsman-redeemer for the household of Elimelech by marrying Ruth, the Moabitess. Their son, Obed, becomes the father of Jesse, who is father of David, a man after God’s heart who is one day anointed king. God makes a covenant with David promising that the Messiah would be one of His descendants and His kingdom would last forever. In the Gospel of Matthew we see how this fits into the big story of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, who becomes our kinsman redeemer.

Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. ^[6] Jesse was the father of David the king.  David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah.  (Matthew 1:5-6)

Both the genealogy of Mary, the mother of Jesus and Joseph, her husband, are linked to David. It is generally concluded that the genealogy recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matt 1:1-25) follows the line from David to Joseph and the one in the Gospel of Luke records the genealogical line that leads from David to Mary (Luke 3:23-38).

While the Book of Judges highlights the lawlessness of the age, the Book of Ruth records how the provisions of the mercy in the law of God, and the mercy in the heart of Boaz, were being applied in the redemption of the lost inheritance of the household of Elimelech, Boaz’s next of kin, through his marriage to Ruth, a Gentile bride.

The Book of Ruth is more than history; it is a prophetic picture of the gospel.  The Book of Exodus records the story of God bringing the Jews out of their bondage in Egypt and into a covenant relationship with Himself. The Book of Ruth records another ‘exodus’ in which God brings a Gentile bride out from her bondage in Moab to be grafted into a covenant relationship with both the God and people of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

THE REDEMPTION OF A LOST INHERITANCE

The Holy Spirit employed the writer to record the history in such a way that we can get a good look at God’s redeeming grace that is offered to us through a greater Boaz, a greater Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus Christ. We see how there is a provision that satisfies the requirements of the law and releases mercy to those born outside the covenant.

The story opens with the record of a Fall.  The household of Elimelech (literally. “My God is King’) had been positioned as an Ephrathite (lit. to be ‘fruitful’ ‘fruitbearing’) in Bethlehem-Judah (‘house of bread’ and ‘praise’). He and his wife are tested. There is a famine. There appears to be little bread in “the house of bread”, little fruit in “the place of fruitfulness”. For those who walk by sight and not by faith, there is little praise in the place of “praise”.

Instead of living in the light of their covenant relationship with God, Elimelech (‘My God is King’) moves from his first estate to Moab where Chemosh is worshiped. He takes with him his wife Naomi (‘pleasant’) and their two sons (Mahlon-lit. ‘sickness’ and Chilion, meaning ‘pining away’).

The emigrants are in Moab for ten years. The number ten is an expositional constant in Scripture connoting judicial completion. The net result of their forsaking the covenant and the land of their inheritance is death. Elimelech (My God is King), Mahlon (Sickness) and Chilion (pining away) die. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). 

Before Mahlon and Chilion die, they take Moabites for brides, Ruth (‘friendship’ or ‘association’) and Orpah (‘neck’, also translated ‘became stubborn’). Neither couple produce an heir to claim the lost inheritance of Elimelech’s household.  Naomi, now a childless widow, refuses to answer to her former name, ‘Naomi’ (pleasant) but insists on being called ‘Marah’ (‘bitter’)

While Naomi is in the far country of Moab she receives the good news from home. God has provided bread in the ‘house of bread’ (Bethlehem), and fruit in the’ land of fruitfulness’ (Ephratah)(Ruth 1:6). So she decides to return to Bethlehem Judah with her two daughters in law. As Naomi considers the difficulty her daughters-in-law might face as Moabitesses in Judah (Deut. 23:3), she advises them to stay in Moab where they can marry among their own people and raise their families there. Orpah (stiff necked) returns to Moab while Ruth (‘friendship’ or ‘association’) identifies with Naomi.

Naomi at first seeks to discourage Ruth from following her.

But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. ^[17] "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me." (Ruth 1:16-17)

When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go and identify by faith with her people and her God, she said no more to her.

When they return to Bethlehem Judah, “all the city is stirred because of them.”

The townspeople were filled with questions: Is this Naomi? What happened to her? Where is her husband and where are her sons? And who is this foreign woman with her? How will Naomi be fed? Where will they stay? What future will she have as a widow? What will happen to the lost inheritance of Elimelech? How are we to treat our sister and this foreigner who have nothing to live upon but the charity of others?

We will read more tomorrow and see how God’s provision in the law and the willing heart of Boaz will make a way when there was no way!  What a great picture of the gospel we have in the work of the Kinsman Redeemer!

 (Pictures from New Life Fine Arts' Original Adaptation of the Classic Story of Love and Redemption:"Ruth", the musical)

PRAYER FOR THE NATIONS

(from the Prayer Guide “OPERATION WORLD”)

We recommend the Book which can be purchased at www.operationworld.org

TODAY- CUBA

Cuba

Republic of Cuba

Caribbean

See Prayer Information

Geography

Area: 110,861 sq km

The largest island in the Caribbean.

Population: 11,204,351    Annual Growth: 0.02%

Capital: Havana

Urbanites: 76%

HDI Rank: 51 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Answer to Prayer

The Church has continued to multiply at impressive rates. Growth from the 1990s continues and, while slowing, remains strong. Praise God for a dynamic and expanding Church.

Challenge for Prayer

Cuba faces a difficult future. Pray for the following needs:

a) Political. This last bastion of Communism in the West defies fundamental change through the continued influence of Fidel Castro, his President brother, Raúl Castro, and “old guard” Party leadership. Pray for their salvation and for wise leadership that governs in the best interests of its people.

b) Economic. The current model is simply unsustainable in the long term, despite substantive assistance from Venezuela, China and Bolivia. While the Castro family sits on a personal fortune, endemic poverty has led to a thriving black market where crime, drugs and prostitution (including sex tourism) are widespread. Black and mulatto Cubans suffer greater deprivation with fewer opportunities than whites. Only Haiti and the Dominican Republic are poorer in the Caribbean region. Pray for sensible reforms and economic freedom, and that structural sins might be overcome by good.

c) Demographic. Cuba has a top-heavy population, with large and increasing numbers of aged dependent on too few in the younger generation for support. This demographic time bomb will place further stress on an already fragile economy.

d) Ideological. The wounds inflicted by Marxism need healing. More than 500,000 have been imprisoned for ideological reasons and over one million have become ideological or economic refugees, many in Florida, USA. Both the USA and Cuba have used refugees as a weapon of war. Pray that forgiveness might abound among all Cubans, and that relations might improve between Cuba and the wider world.

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

www.newlife.org

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

New Life Fine Arts

"Theater you can believe in."

www.newlifefinearts.org