At the King's Table

 

He brought me to the banqueting house and his banner over me was love.

—Song of Songs 2:4

During these days, we hear a lot about a peaceful “transition of power” within our own country. We also observe the destruction that happens in third-world countries when one party stages a coup to overturn an election and forecefully place their party’s chosen government in power. And sadly, we even experience violent resistance from some groups of individuals when power transitions in our own country—in spite of the careful provisions the founders of our nation made in the Constitution of the United States of America.

As we study the Bible, we read of hundreds of transitions of kings, judges, and empires. Never was there a more unusual turnover than when King David began his rule in Jerusalem. Please let me share this background information:

You may recall the stories of King Saul, David’s predecessor, who in jealous rages attempted to kill David on various occasions. Yet David, already anointed by God to serve as king, returned grace for hatred. David did this even though he had several opportunities to retaliate. David had formed a strong bond of deep friendship with Saul’s son, Jonathan, and deeply grieved his death when Jonathan was killed.

After King Saul went against God’s will and eventually died, Saul’s loyal army crowned his son, Ish-bosheth, king. David struggled against this opposition until God eventually gave David victory.

As newly crowned king over all of Israel, David asked this question, as recorded in 2 Samuel 9:1:

“Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

When he was told about King Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, David called him to come. Then, as recorded in 2 Samuel 9:7:

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

This picture of grace should reinforce for all of us the way in which God treats us for the sake of His Son, Jesus. We also have been invited to sit at God’s table all the rest of our lives.

When we consider God’s grace to us, we should rightly worship Him, rejoice in His portion and in His riches that He has given us. And, we should vow to give ourselves in fealty to Him by living in grace toward others—just as He has given His grace to us. The Puritan, George Swinnock, wrote: ¹

The believing soul feasts like Mephibosheth at David’s table continually. In his presence is fullness of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures for evermore … His love is infinitely better than life itself. Exalt him in your heart as your chiefest good, and he will make the gift of himself to you. Here is God, there is the world; here bread, and there husks; here substance, there a shadow; here a paradise, there an apple; here is fulness, there is emptiness; here a fountain, there a broken cistern; here are all things, there is nothing; here is heaven, there is hell; here eternity of pleasure, there eternity of sorrow and pain. Now, is not this an infinite reason to choose God for your portion?

Today, let us meditate on the way God’s abundant grace allows Him to look at us. Though He may see us clearly as unlovely and poor sinners, nevertheless He lavishly bestows us with His presence and His riches, through Christ our Lord. May His kindness demonstrate to us the way in which He would have us show kindness to others.

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1 Swinnock, George (author) and Richard Rushing (editor). Voices from the Past: Puritan Devotional Reading. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2009. p. 270.

Please note that whenever a citation of Copyrighted material is made on a post of this blog, such a citation is given strictly for Educational Fair Use illustration purposes only. All Rights Reserved by the original Copyright Holder.

 

 

The Sharpest Knife

 

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

—Hebrews 4:12

Do you have a favorite kitchen knife? I do. Whenever I want to make quick work of cutting through meat, or bread, or pie, or just about anything, I go to the same reliable knife. I must always keep it sharpened for the next job I require it to do for me.

As we find in the passage of Scripture at the beginning of this blog post, the writer of Hebrews states that God’s written Word, even sharper than a scalpel, penetrates and divides the very inner workings of our body and soul. After reading and meditating on a portion of Scripture, have you ever experienced that kind of inner spiritual surgery?

I remember a few times in my life when sin clearly came into focus through the written Word of God, or from faithful preaching of that written Word. I particularly remember the actual physical reaction I experienced, knowing that I had to confess my sin, or take some other bold step that God was asking me to take. This painful process changed me for the better and brought healing to me.

In our study of the Bible, we can see the difference that the word from God made in the life of the nation of Israel. In the time of King Josiah, the king determined to purify the land and the temple, and he set to repairing it. In the process, one of the priests found a copy of the Book of the Law and the priest read it to the king. Beginning in 2 Chronicles 34:19, we find this account:

When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave these orders … “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book” …

[This is what the Lord says:] “… because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you,” declares the Lord.

Scripture tells another story about the cutting power of the written Word of God. All the people, who had returned to Jerusalem after the exile, had assembled. Then, Ezra the scribe brought out the Book of the Law. Beginning in Nehemiah 8:5 we find this account:

Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up … [the Levites] read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

We see here some of the sharp, effective results that God’s written Word had within the hearts of His people. Do we still hear God’s written Word that way when we read and study our Bibles?

I have a feeling that in our culture, so plentiful in Podcasts and “TED Talks” and conferences with inspiring speakers, God’s favorite knife may have gotten lost in some undisclosed “drawer.” Maybe God is calling us back to the sacred Book, to the pure written Word of the Lord.

Let us pray that in this day of so many voices, we begin to hear again the true Word of God that cuts to the quick, that changes lives, that excises that which only God can see. Let us pray with humility and with sincerity:

“Oh, Lord, help us to find that powerful ‘knife’ that accomplishes the work, which only You can do through Your written Word!”

 

 

Outflanking the Enemy

 

	“Endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
	—2 Timothy 2:3

Most Christians don’t often consider the spiritual battle waged against them. Yes, they would say that Satan exists and prompts evil in the world. But, when it comes to understanding the ceaseless battle Satan wages against their lives, they usually don’t see it. Here’s how Joni Eareckson Tada explains it: ¹

The King’s most trusted officer turns renegade and gathers a powerful army around him to lead a rebellion. Through treachery and deceit, the rebel leader usurps the authority of the King and sets up his own rival government, enslaving the citizens of the kingdom. In order to free the captives, the King sends His own Son into the heart of enemy territory with a battle plan more shocking than anyone could imagine.

Not only does the “rebel leader”—Satan—want to tempt us to sin, he also works hard to defeat us in our Christian walk, and also in our work on behalf of God’s Kingdom here on earth. Satan endeavors to discourage us and tempt us to turn back. Satan generally does everything he can, in any way that he can, to disrupt our lives. When we pray in Jesus’ name against the weapons Satan uses, we can successfully upset his battle plan—we can outflank his attack on us.

Jesus took on this enemy, Satan, at the cross. As Colossians 2:15 tells us:

“… having disarmed the powers and authorities, he [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

And with this overcoming power that Jesus gives to us through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can fight against the war that Satan will continue to instigate against us until Jesus comes back to earth.

God has not left us alone to live defeated lives. Instead, God has armed His people with the weapons we need: prayer and His written Word. Here’s how 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 describes it:

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

When we pray in Jesus’ name, we join with Him in defeating the powers and authorities of this dark world, along with all the spiritual forces of evil. Jesus already disarmed them on the cross. But, when we pray, we appropriate that same power into our own lives.

When we see evil around us and feel it coming at us from every side, we have Christ and His power as our strong defense. He gives us the opportunity to outflank the enemy and win the skirmishes. And one day, our King—Christ Jesus—will return to end the battle with total victory against all evil, utterly and completely.

Praise His name!

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1 Tada, Joni Eareckson. Diamonds in the Dust. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing Company, 2010. Devotional for April 9th. Please note that whenever a citation of Copyrighted material is made on a blog post of this blog, such a citation is given strictly for Educational Fair Use illustration purposes only. All Rights Reserved by the original Copyright Holder.

 

 

Wishy-Washy

 

Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”

—1 Kings 18:20

The Prophet Elijah had the right idea. He was bold, he was always prepared to speak God’s word, and he was always prepared to do God’s business.

In the account found in 1 Kings 18, from which we quote the verse at the beginning of this blog post, we read how Elijah came to the God-fearing Obadiah, servant of the evil King Ahab and Ahab’s wife Jezebel. Both Obadiah and Elijah knew that Ahab intended to kill the Lord’s prophets, in order to set up the thousand or more prophets of Baal, and place those evil prophets over the people of Israel. Elijah came prepared to challenge Ahab. Elijah would do so through Obadiah and through the test that would lead all the people to testify, “The Lord, He is God!” Elijah exemplified strength in the face of a weak and wishy-washy nation.

The people of Israel knew that they belonged to God. Down through the generations they had been taught that God had chosen them out of all the people on earth. Some Israelites even intended to worship only God. But sadly too often, good intentions go awry, causing those who think they will never fall away and bitterly fail in their devotion to God.

The Apostle Simon Peter intended to follow Jesus. Peter said he would give his life for his Master. But, when it came to the test, Peter actually denied Jesus, as the Savior had predicted. You can read the complete account of Peter’s denials “… before the rooster crowed …” as recorded in Matthew 26:69-75.

Similarly, in the Book of Romans, the powerful Apostle Paul admits to a wishy-washy attitude at work in him. We read in Romans 7:21-23:

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

I truly appreciate the way the Puritan writer, Stephen Charnock, puts it: ¹

In the fall, man was wounded in his head and heart; the wound in the head made him unstable in the truth, and that in his heart, unsteadfast in his affections … We waver between God and Baal. While we are resolving, we look back at Sodom … Our resolutions are like letters written on water. With John we love Christ today, and as Judas tomorrow we betray him … How hard it is to make our thoughts and affections keep their stand! Place them on a good object, and they will be flying from it like a bird from branch to branch.

Like the Apostle Paul, we can thank God and fully rest our unstable natures on God’s unchangeable grace. He knows our weaknesses. And, when we acknowledge those weaknesses, like Peter did, we can know God’s forgiveness and His empowering boldness in the face of our inadequacies. Like Elijah, we can surely know God’s power to strengthen us in the face of incredible odds. We have hope because we have Christ! Let us bow, in our weakness, before our Lord Almighty, and pray with the words of hymn-writer Robert Robinson: ²

O, to grace how great a debtor
    daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter,
    bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it;
    prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it;
    seal it for Thy courts above.

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1 Charnock, Stephen (author) and Richard Rushing, editor. Voices from the Past: Puritan Devotional Reading – Volume 2. Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2016. p. 278. Please note that whenever a citation of Copyrighted material is made on any post of this blog, such a citation is made strictly for Educational Fair Use illustration purposes only. All Rights Reserved by the original Copyright Holder.

2 Robinson, Robert. “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Public Domain. Stanza three. Though this hymn is noted to be in the Public Domain, this hymn does appear in various Hymnals. In the case of any organization, publishing company, or other entity claiming Copyright protection of this material, please note that whenever a citation of any Copyrighted material is made on any post of this blog, such citation is made strictly for Educational Fair Use illustration purposes only. All Rights Reserved by the original Copyright Holder.