Psalm 72

This psalm is attributed to king David and noted for Solomon. I wonder if these are some of the last written words of the aged king? I wonder if these words were indeed the last of his psalms. Did he strum out the tune on his trusty lyre or did he hum to tune to the royal musicians and let them further develop the melody and harmony?  There are many, many question I have about the reason for this psalm but I still see the trademark reliance on David in these words. At it is good to see that even in his later years the king still knew the value of dependence on God for the future.
Stuart

Proverbs 30

Agur offers the reader many comparative riddles. But it his request in verses 7-9 that display some of the greatest wisdom. In those verses he reminds us of the wicked tendencies of man. That our desires for more should always be balanced with a truthful understanding of how man works within the liberty and faith of God.
Stuart

2 Samuel 11-13

The corrosive effects of sin tarnish every family. Even the family of David. If the king had not piled high the sins of adultery, murder, and lying would the passion of Amon and Absolom been restrained? Would Tamar have been violated? Would Absolom have rose us in armed rebellion against his father? We cannot know the outcome of what might have been. But we are witnesses to what God accomplished in David's family in spite of those awful transgression. We are the recipients of the grace that came about through the Son of David, the rightful king of the Jews. That victory out of miserable defeat should be an encouragement to all of God's people.
Stuart

2 Samuel 4-7

I wonder if there was a deafening clap of thunder when Uzzah was killed (2 Samuel 6:7)?  There was a lot of commotion going on all around the cart that was carrying the ark of God’s covenant with Israel toward the city of David.  It was a celebration of Biblical proportions.  So I wonder if God wanted everyone to know immediately how Uzzah had disobeyed God?  Was Uzzah gone, or did he simply fall over with no sign of any discipline?  The initial shock shook the king to his core.  He had hoped to have the sign of God’s love close to him but how could he expect to entertain the King of kings if anyone who approached the ark were to be killed?  It took three months for God to teach David that it was not Uzzah’s proximity to the ark that led to his death, but it was Uzzah’s disregard for the command of the LORD in handling the ark.  God had clearly indicated that the ark was to be carried by the Levites wherever it went.  Uzzah must have sought to be expedient, maybe even elevating the value of the ark, by having it ride on the equivalent of a Cadillac.   God doesn’t want fancy.  He wants obedience.  When David realized that truth he completed his plan to bring the ark to be near him; celebrating all the way.

Stuart

2 Samuel 1-3

One of the first things David does in the opening pages of 2 Samuel is to tear his clothes in mourning (1:11).  This was only the first time that David would mourn during his reign.  He was devastated by the sin that had led to Saul’s death.  In the third chapter he mourned Abner’s murder (3:31).  Years later he rent his cloths when rebellious Absalom died (13:31).  Though David was known as a man or war his heart remained tender as he lived through the ravages that sin brought into the heart of Israel. 

Stuart

Proverbs 29

It is sad to think that Solomon may have coined Proverb 29:4. In his early years he ruled in justice. But as his age grew so did his demand for bigger and more elaborate projects. When his son took the throne the people wanted one thing; relief from the financial burden that Solomon weighed on them. In Solomon's eagerness to enshrine his name in history he must have forgotten the wisdom of his own words. Action that ruined the unity of Israel.
Stuart

1 Samuel 29-31

We all come to points in our lives when all that we depended on is taken from us and we are left utterly hopeless. We may wonder why God allows such times to enter our lives. I think they are times of testing in order to strengthen our faith and dependence upon God. In 1 Samuel 30 David went up with his men to fight WITH the Philistines against Israel. But God moved the Philistine leaders to reject David and send him home. At the same time David was ordered to go home Amalekite raiders were capturing the people and animals of Ziklag, David's hide out. David returned to his home in rejection only to find it empty and destroyed. The men with David turned their anger upon each other, especially David. David gave his anger over to God. In doing so God strengthened him (1 Sam 30:6). As God pulled him up out of despair David turned to God for direction. Because of his faith in God David's request for guidance, and eventually deliverance, was provided.
Stuart

Proverbs 28

Justice. We all want to see justice prevail. Sometimes we look at decision through biased eyes and reject a just pronouncement. At other times our biases may call injustice fair. In modern culture the definition of justice seems to be fully defined by each individual and not by society or God. When the Bible speaks of justice the definition is God's right decisions. They are never changing. Proverbs 28:5 declares that those who reject God's definition of justice are evil. To fully understand justice in our lives we must grow in our understanding of the nature of God.
Stuart

1 Samuel 26-28

1 Samuel 26 recounts another situation in which Saul pursues David to kill him. Once more Saul is delivered into David's hand. This time David boldly ventured into Saul's presence and took his spear. When David awoke the king he charged him with not only seeking to kill an innocent man he had separated David from his inheritance (27:19). Saul was violating David's covenant privilege.  Such a situation would not be permitted by God.
Stuart

1 Samuel 23-25

In 1 Samuel 24 we read how Saul and his army relentlessly pursued David in order to kill him. Saul knew only envy and pride and was determined to try and stop God's plan from unfolding. Yet Saul unwittingly stumbled into David's hands. The pursuer could have become the prey but David understood God's idea of community. God had selected a leader and it would be rebellion against God to interfere with God's selection. When David confronted Saul with the explanation of his mercy David turned the situation over to God. In verse 12 David called for God to judge between them. In the hearing of Saul and all of his army David asked for God's deliverance.  Surely there were many ears that day who's hearts sided with David.
Stuart

Proverbs 27

Most of us are familiar with the adage that describes the durability of the character traits we learned in our youth: "You can take the boy out of the country but you can't take the country out of the boy." Proverbs 27:22 lends its support to the truth in that adage. If we are raised as a fool there will be nothing humanly effective in changing our choice of a life devoid of godly wisdom. The good news is that God can make that change in our lives. A message that Solomon's words seldom convey.
Stuart

1 Samuel 16-19

If the order of events in accurate king Saul’s first introduction to David was as his harpist.  When the tormenting spirit from God pestered king Saul David the harpist was called in.  I imagine one of the kings officials walking up the road toward Jerusalem passing by the fields outside of Bethlehem.  He stopped because he heard a captivating melody and voice singing worship songs to God.  Later he reported what he saw to the king.  Saul may not have been impressed with the content of those songs but the soothing melody helped him during the periods of torment.  Yet I wonder if young David did more than sing and play to ease the king’s troubled spirit?  I wonder if David prayed for his disturbed king while he sang those songs of praise?  I wonder if it was David’s enduring focus on God that actually brought peace to the king’s mind?

Stuart

Proverbs 26

Verses 4 and 5 of Proverb 26 carry a similar subject but seem miles apart. They are the two faces of the same coin. They are a guide in dealing with foolish talk. On one hand the unnoticed ranting of a fool should be ignored. There are times when a wise argument on a foolish subject will diminish the presentation of the wiser person. The other side of the coin is that sometimes the words of the fool are tweeted to the world. It is in those times that a discerning person will seek a way to respond that exposes the complete ignorance of the foolish arguments. Knowing the difference between each side of the coin is a gift from God.
Stuart

1 Samuel 10-12

The announcement was made to the crowd of Israel; “Look on your king.”  The words fell on the ears of the crowd and the people took in the sight of the man.  The assembly had never seen a man like this one and they responded with shouts to the introduction.  The Bible tells us of two times that this scene took place.  Most Christians are very familiar with the second time; when Pilate forced the scourged Jesus to stand before a crowd seeking to condemn him.  That time the introduction was intended to be a mockery and the response of the crowd was a call for his death.  But there was an earlier time when the introduction of the king led the people in shouts of jubilation.  In 1 Samuel 10:23-24 the young man Saul, son of Kish, stood next to the prophet Samuel hear the announcement of his name as God’s chosen king.  Both men were chosen to be king by God.  Both were raised up when Israel was under the oppression of an outside force.  Both were preceded by a mighty prophet.  Both men died in disgrace and defeat at the hands of their enemies.  But there is more contrast in the two situations then there are similarities.  Saul claimed an earthly kingdom.  As Saul’s rule increase so did his ego and dependence upon himself.  These things eventually led to the failure of his faith and his rejection by God.  Jesus left his throne to live among the servants.  He never elevated himself but allowed God to humble him repeatedly throughout his life.  Jesus grew less and less dependent upon himself which deepened his faith in God so that he could be raised to an eternal throne as a display of his acceptance by God.  Saul’s death was empty and meaningless.  Jesus’ death brought hope, life, and eternal forgiveness.  For two men who wore the same title their lives were radically different before their God.

Stuart

1 Samuel 7-9

I am guilty of ignoring God.  I know that he is always at work all around me, and yet I don’t look for him at work.  But I know that I’m not the only one who misses God.  In 1 Samuel 9 we are introduced to a young man name Saul.  Saul is on a quest for some escaped donkeys and he is not aware that God is at work either.  But Samuel knew God was up to something.  1 Samuel 9:15 casually explains what God had been doing in the background with the statement, “Now the day before Saul arrived….”.  Samuel needed to know what God was doing.  The day before God instructed Samuel to prepared a banquet fit for a king.  The day before God lead Samuel to set aside a piece of meat befitting a king’s meal.  The day before God guided Samuel to fill a flask with oil in order to anoint a king.  The day before God gave Samuel instructions about a young man, his servant, and some wandering donkeys who had been taken home.    To Saul the entire situation seemed to be a series of events that jumped out of the blue.  The God, and Samuel, they were a rehearsed orchestration of God’s providence and election.  I may miss God at work today, but when he reveals his plan tomorrow I need to make sure I don’t miss it again.

Stuart

Proverbs 25

 The words of Romans 12:20 have passed through a lot of history before being penned by Paul. "If your enemy is hungry, feed him..." was a principle that the apostle surely memorized from Proverbs 25:21. This collection of wisdom was recorded by Hezekiah's scribes but attributed to Soloman. Only one king in Israel ever put this principle into practice. In 2 Kings 6:22 Elisha asked God to blind the eyes of the Syrian army and then led them into Samaria. There the prophet commanded the king to feed this army of his enemies. The result of this ridiculous plan repulsed the Syrian army from Israel.   
Stuart

1 Samuel 4-6

After the Philistines captured the ark of God's covenant 1 Samuel 5:6 says that God attacked the Philistines.  But he didn't use the weapons of a man-made army. God touched the flesh that he had made. God targeted all of the people who dishonored his name. And he was much more effective than any earthly warrior. After two cities had felt his punishment no other king wanted God's ark.
Stuart

1 Samuel 1-3

Hannah sings a worship song after she presents young Samuel to the LORD. In 1 Samuel 2:6 Hannah proclaims the power of God by declaring "The LORD both kills and gives life; he brings down to the grave and raises up." Had anyone ever thought of a resurrection before this time? I find it interesting that God reveals one of his early messages about resurrection to a woman; just like he used a woman to convey to fulfillment of Hannah's praise on Easter morning.
Stuart

Ephesians 1-3

How would I feel if my Christian leader were put in jail?  Would I be troubled that he might turn me in?  Would I be upset at this grave injustice?  Would I be tempted to abandon a faith that can land me in prison?  These are questions I have never had to consider.  When he wrote the Ephesian letter Paul was the leader in jail and he must have discerned or saw that the believers to whom he wrote were in turmoil over this situation.  But Paul challenged their thinking on how to view his situation.  His arrest for being a Christian leader was actually a reason for rejoicing.  The use of the phrase “for you” in Ephesians 3:13  was not the only time he used that in this letter.  In this chapter Paul earlier pointed out that his ministry was “for you” and then he talks about his sufferings “for you”.  It would be easy to fill guilty for his problematic situation but Paul didn’t just have a cheery attitude he saw many ways in which God was working out his will through his times of difficulties.  We need to ask for the same vision.  That we would not get hung up on how the world has won but look for the ways in which God is winning small victories to save many.

Stuart

Ruth

This year I am reading from the New English Translation (NET).  It’s a free copy on my phone, but I’ve found some very interesting translation points so far.  Today I read one of the most unusual.  At the final critical point in the story of Ruth Boaz meets the nearer kinsman-redeemer at the gates of Bethlehem (4:1-12).  The NIV has Boaz call this man “my friend”.  But in the NET Boaz calls him “Mr. John Doe”.  The note on that passage says;

“The expression is not the name of the nearest relative, but an idiom which literally means ‘such and such’ or ‘a certain someone’ which is used when one wishes to be ambiguous (1 Sam 21:3; 2 Kings 6:8).  Certainly Boaz would have known his relative’s name, especially in such a small village, and would have uttered his actual name.  However the narrator refuses to record his name in a form of poetic justice because he refused to preserve Mahlon’s name by marrying his widow.  This close relative, who is a literary foil for Boaz, refuses to fulfill the role of family guardian.  Because he does nothing memorable, he remains anonymous in a chapter otherwise filled with names.  His anonymity contrasts sharply with Boaz’s prominence in the story and the fame he attains through the child born to Ruth.”

So the man who chose to give up all of his inheritance to keep Mahlon’s name alive was not forgotten, but the one who feared such loss of prominence received exactly what he feared.  That reminds me of Jesus’ words; “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

Stuart

Romans 14-16

I wonder what Paul had in mind when used the word "stumble" in 14:21? Surely he did not mean "offend" as in doing something which violated another Christian's opinion.  I don't think he meant to "shutdown" or "cut off" a Christian expressing them self. Without looking up the word I wonder if his intention was along the line of a trap?
Stuart

Romans 12-13

We are called to live like Jesus as his disciples. Paul reminds us of that in Romans 12:18, “Live peaceably with all people.” (NET)  However, Paul had been a Christian long enough to know that some people don’t want to live peaceably with anybody.  Many of those people are outside the fellowship of faith, but not all of them.  So the phrasing that precede this call in verse 18 is important to understand, “If possible, so far as it depends on you,”.  It seems like we will encounter people who thrive on conflict.  Can we be at peace with them?  I don’t know.  Paul must have questioned it as well because he prefaced his statement with “If possible”.  That leads me to think that he felt there were some people with who peace is not possible.  So how do we deal with these people?  The thoughts that precede and follow this call for a peaceful life cannot be any clearer; “Do not repay anyone evil for evil”, and “Do not avenge yourselves”.  We have been charged to live in peace.  But if those who come against us will not grant us peace God has given us a plan B:  Respond without evil and allow God the room to work in your oppressors’ lives.  This is hard because it seems like I never see God give a persecutor justice.  But that is not my call.  My desire should be for peace, not vengeance.  If I know that I can bring about a peaceful resolution then I need to trust in God that he will.  How long will it take?  Beats me!!!  But out God is faithful, and our Lord Jesus isn’t called Prince of Peace for no reason.

Stuart

Judges 19-21

The last three chapter depict a sad time in the history of ancient Israel. The story clearly displays the fragility of our faith, our tendency to violently defend the sins of those closest to us, and our willingness to seek our right regardless of the cost to unity of the body. (Even in the time of Israel the unity of God's children was an expression of their common faith). There is a powerful lesson in the response of the 10 tribes at the decimation of the people of Benjamin: they mourned. They cried for those who died in their sins, who had defended those sinners, and those executed by association. They were also sorrowful because a part of God's people had been wiped out. Israel had not won the day: sin had!  Rightness had been defeated that day by evil. It was no time for joy and celebration; death had conquered the army of the LORD of hosts. I think the sorrow in the people was a reflection of God's heart as well. His people had rejected truth and had fought with weapons of the world along the lines of allegiances of the world; family rather than faith. The book of Judges ends with a statement that is a paradox. From a worldly perspective Israel had no king; so the statement was true. But from an eternal perspective God was established as their king; Israel's rejection of his rule led to the conflict, the consequences, and the crying.
Stuart

Proverbs 19

Verse 11 of Proverbs 19 is troubling as well as challenging. We have given to us a wisdom and glory that have their origins with God. God's wisdom at work in our lives will train us to keep anger in check until the right time. To me that means that we will also have the wisdom to know when to express our anger.  We can display God's glory at work in our life by choosing not to call an offense to someone else's attention. Whether that be the offender or a bystander who witnessed the offense. It might be true to say that we can do neither of these without God's spirit at work in our lives.
Stuart