Sowing and Reaping!!!
Psalm 112
1 Praise the Lord.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Reflections: Like yesterday, today’s psalm is an acrostic poem, in which each first letter in the Hebrew corresponds to a praise of God. Today we see all the benefits of those who trust in God and fear and obey His commands. We see the lifestyle of trusting in God, which is evidenced by in all of our affairs God’s provision and eventual fruit bearing. Importantly when one commits their way to the Lord they have no fear and have a sense of security. They can live with the refrain, “If God is for me who can be against me?” Do you live with this sense of certainty in God’s promises?
1 Samuel 19:8-20:17
8 Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.9 But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre, 10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape. 11 Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.” 12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped. 13 Then Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats’ hair at the head. 14 When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said, “He is ill.” 15 Then Saul sent the men back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so that I may kill him.” 16 But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goats’ hair. 17 Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away so that he escaped?” Michal told him, “He said to me, ‘Let me get away. Why should I kill you?’” 18 When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. 19 Word came to Saul: “David is in Naioth at Ramah”; 20 so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s men, and they also prophesied. 21 Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Seku. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” “Over in Naioth at Ramah,” they said. 23 So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. 24 He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Reflection: Two things are for sure as we read this passage. The evil spirit which came upon Saul caused intense jealousy toward David to the point where he wanted to kill him with the spear. Whereas once David’s playing the harp brought Saul healing, now it brought enmity. This reminds us that things of the Spirit are foolishness to those who don’t have the Spirit. But then an interesting thing happens. As David escapes to be with Samuel the priest, every contingent that Saul sends at David ends up prophesying. Meaning instead of carrying out the plan to take out David, they are met by the Lord and end up prophesying by the power of the Spirit. Even when Saul comes after many tries, the Spirit of God comes upon Him as well. So we see how the power of God is so much greater than the power of the evil one, even when the evil one has hold of a person. This is why we don’t need to be afraid of our enemy if we are filled with the Spirit and operating with His power not our own.
Meanwhile David and Jonathan make a covenant with each other to do good to each other no matter how Saul treats David. Much is made out of the relationship with Jonathan and David, but it is clear that these are two men that love each other very much and have covenanted to do good to each other their whole lives. What a joy it is for us to have a brother or sister in Christ that we can covenant with, to pray for each other, and keep each other accountable for what God is doing in our lives. Do you have one? Pray for God to bring a person into your life who will sharpen you as iron sharpens iron.
John 4:27-38
The Disciples Rejoin Jesus
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
Reflection: As Jesus finishes his discourse with the Samaritan woman, the disciples are a little confused why he is interacting with her. Meanwhile she goes back to the town to testify about the man who knew her inside and out. She exclaims, “Could this be the Messiah?” The disciples are concerned that Jesus needs to eat something, and this prompts Jesus to remind them of another kind of food that as yet they don’t know about. The disciples are still operating in the natural, and Jesus is clearly not. Jesus begins to open their eyes to his true mission, using the same agricultural metaphor of the harvest and reaping and sowing. He tells them to look unto the fields that are ripe for the harvest!
Sometimes in the church we get so focused in the natural, that we forget to see what God is doing in the supernatural. Or, we get so focused on what is going on inside the church, that we forget that the fields are white unto harvest. There are still many like the Samaritan women who thirst for the living water that only Jesus can provide in and outside of our communities. There is a harvest out there and the one who reaps will enjoy eternal blessings for being part of God’s harvest plan. The laws of sowing and reaping not only work in nature, but in God’s field too.
As we sow God’s Word the seeds of eternal life, God will provide the harvest and there will be times of reaping what we have sowed. Sometimes our focus is on sowing. At other times it is on reaping. God provides the growth and the harvest, but we get to be a part of it! Like the disciples we sometimes get so caught up on getting our own food that we forget we have food we don’t know about. As we seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness all we need will be provided? Where can you sow seeds this week? Are there any seeds that are ready to be harvested? Pray for God to help you discern what season you are in and what fields need to be developed.
Even the stork in the heavens knows it’s times; and the turtledove, swallow, and crane observe the time of their coming; but my people do not know the ordinance of the Lord. Jeremiah 8:7
Jesus said, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46
How often do we give mere lip service to you rather than simply obeying and trusting you, Lord Jesus? Before you come in power and glory, grant us the wisdom to seek your face and to do your will. Serving you all the days of life, may we be found ready on that great day. Amen.
1 Praise the Lord.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Reflections: Like yesterday, today’s psalm is an acrostic poem, in which each first letter in the Hebrew corresponds to a praise of God. Today we see all the benefits of those who trust in God and fear and obey His commands. We see the lifestyle of trusting in God, which is evidenced by in all of our affairs God’s provision and eventual fruit bearing. Importantly when one commits their way to the Lord they have no fear and have a sense of security. They can live with the refrain, “If God is for me who can be against me?” Do you live with this sense of certainty in God’s promises?
1 Samuel 19:8-20:17
8 Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.9 But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre, 10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape. 11 Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.” 12 So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped. 13 Then Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats’ hair at the head. 14 When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said, “He is ill.” 15 Then Saul sent the men back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so that I may kill him.” 16 But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goats’ hair. 17 Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away so that he escaped?” Michal told him, “He said to me, ‘Let me get away. Why should I kill you?’” 18 When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. 19 Word came to Saul: “David is in Naioth at Ramah”; 20 so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s men, and they also prophesied. 21 Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Seku. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” “Over in Naioth at Ramah,” they said. 23 So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. 24 He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Reflection: Two things are for sure as we read this passage. The evil spirit which came upon Saul caused intense jealousy toward David to the point where he wanted to kill him with the spear. Whereas once David’s playing the harp brought Saul healing, now it brought enmity. This reminds us that things of the Spirit are foolishness to those who don’t have the Spirit. But then an interesting thing happens. As David escapes to be with Samuel the priest, every contingent that Saul sends at David ends up prophesying. Meaning instead of carrying out the plan to take out David, they are met by the Lord and end up prophesying by the power of the Spirit. Even when Saul comes after many tries, the Spirit of God comes upon Him as well. So we see how the power of God is so much greater than the power of the evil one, even when the evil one has hold of a person. This is why we don’t need to be afraid of our enemy if we are filled with the Spirit and operating with His power not our own.
Meanwhile David and Jonathan make a covenant with each other to do good to each other no matter how Saul treats David. Much is made out of the relationship with Jonathan and David, but it is clear that these are two men that love each other very much and have covenanted to do good to each other their whole lives. What a joy it is for us to have a brother or sister in Christ that we can covenant with, to pray for each other, and keep each other accountable for what God is doing in our lives. Do you have one? Pray for God to bring a person into your life who will sharpen you as iron sharpens iron.
John 4:27-38
The Disciples Rejoin Jesus
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
Reflection: As Jesus finishes his discourse with the Samaritan woman, the disciples are a little confused why he is interacting with her. Meanwhile she goes back to the town to testify about the man who knew her inside and out. She exclaims, “Could this be the Messiah?” The disciples are concerned that Jesus needs to eat something, and this prompts Jesus to remind them of another kind of food that as yet they don’t know about. The disciples are still operating in the natural, and Jesus is clearly not. Jesus begins to open their eyes to his true mission, using the same agricultural metaphor of the harvest and reaping and sowing. He tells them to look unto the fields that are ripe for the harvest!
Sometimes in the church we get so focused in the natural, that we forget to see what God is doing in the supernatural. Or, we get so focused on what is going on inside the church, that we forget that the fields are white unto harvest. There are still many like the Samaritan women who thirst for the living water that only Jesus can provide in and outside of our communities. There is a harvest out there and the one who reaps will enjoy eternal blessings for being part of God’s harvest plan. The laws of sowing and reaping not only work in nature, but in God’s field too.
As we sow God’s Word the seeds of eternal life, God will provide the harvest and there will be times of reaping what we have sowed. Sometimes our focus is on sowing. At other times it is on reaping. God provides the growth and the harvest, but we get to be a part of it! Like the disciples we sometimes get so caught up on getting our own food that we forget we have food we don’t know about. As we seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness all we need will be provided? Where can you sow seeds this week? Are there any seeds that are ready to be harvested? Pray for God to help you discern what season you are in and what fields need to be developed.
Even the stork in the heavens knows it’s times; and the turtledove, swallow, and crane observe the time of their coming; but my people do not know the ordinance of the Lord. Jeremiah 8:7
Jesus said, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?” Luke 6:46
How often do we give mere lip service to you rather than simply obeying and trusting you, Lord Jesus? Before you come in power and glory, grant us the wisdom to seek your face and to do your will. Serving you all the days of life, may we be found ready on that great day. Amen.
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