Lord To Whom Shall We Go????
Psalm 118:15-21
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
Reflection: Yesterday King David reflected on the authority that came as he did things in “the name of the Lord”. Today he uses the phrase, “the Lord’s hand has done might things”. The Lord’s hand has not only worked in delivering him from his enemies, but at times also chastened him. Meaning there were times that David had to receive the Lord’s rebuke for his own behavior. But in this discipline he was not given over to death, and it only made him stronger. Though we would like to live entirely dependent both on the name of the Lord and the hand of the Lord, there are times we take things into our own hands (control) and in our own name (pride). These are times which we will not see any fruit and possibly even be rebuked for our arrogance. Yet, God delivers those who He loves and disciplines them as well. This is a good reminder for any of us hoping to advance God’s kingdom through His name and hand.
2 Samuel 3:1-34
Joab Murders Abner
22 Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace. 24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! 25 You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.” 26 Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died. 28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.” 30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) 31 Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also. 33 The king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner have died as the lawless die. 34 Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before the wicked.” And all the people wept over him again.
Reflection: We see the continued struggle between the house of David and Saul, as reflected in the Joab and Abner story and its bloody end. Joab thinks Abner is trying to deceive David and still wants to avenge the death of his brother Asahel. We see David believed Abner was sincere in changing his alliance from Saul to David. Abner senses that David is God’s anointed and changes his allegiance accordingly. Joab is so bent on revenge for his own brother’s blood, that he doesn’t see the big picture and his family will forever suffer for his bad choices. Some like Josephus, the Jewish historian, have said that Joab was acting more to protect his status as general, but the text says he did it to avenge the blood of his brother. Interestingly David will use Joab later in the book to stop his son Absalom’s rebellion. And because David didn’t want to do it, Joab eventually killed David’s son, Absalom (2 Samuel 18). We see again this is rather dark time in Israel’s history, as they not only fought against the nations, but against each other. They are still seeing the consequences of choosing an earthly king over the King of Heaven.
John 6:60-71
Many Disciples Desert Jesus
60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
Reflection: As Jesus begins to reveal the true nature of who He is as the unique Son of God, and what it means to come to the Father through Him, the disciples start to grumble. They had their preconceived notions of who He should be, and it wasn’t fitting their expectations. In a word it was offensive to them when he said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” The one who feeds on me will live because of me.” And to be honest if we were there and were good Jews, this teaching might have been a little offensive to us too. This is unless, of course, we understood the nature of Messiah from Isaiah the prophet as the suffering servant, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Then, Jesus gives the key words, “No one can come to me unless the Father enables them.” Jesus didn’t worry about approval because He knew He was living out the Father’s will for him. And He knew that no one would understand truly who He was as the Messiah, unless God revealed it to them in the power and illumination of the Holy Spirit.
This is why we shouldn’t be surprised that as we share the Good News that God became one of us, died for us, and rose again, that some people will be offended. I didn’t ask Jesus to die for me I have heard some say. All we can do is proclaim the Good News and live it out in word and deed, and God will bring in the harvest of those who He has called to eternal life. Notice this doesn’t abrogate us of our responsibility to go and make disciples of all nations, knowing that we do it in Jesus’ name and His authority and He is with us until the end of the age. But it is a sobering reminder that God is in control at it His plan and in His timing!
I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13
Jesus took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” Mark 5:41
Great Physician, you speak to us in many ways, bringing both comfort and challenge. Healing God, comfort us, heal us and encourage us. May we share your blessing with others this day. Amen.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
Reflection: Yesterday King David reflected on the authority that came as he did things in “the name of the Lord”. Today he uses the phrase, “the Lord’s hand has done might things”. The Lord’s hand has not only worked in delivering him from his enemies, but at times also chastened him. Meaning there were times that David had to receive the Lord’s rebuke for his own behavior. But in this discipline he was not given over to death, and it only made him stronger. Though we would like to live entirely dependent both on the name of the Lord and the hand of the Lord, there are times we take things into our own hands (control) and in our own name (pride). These are times which we will not see any fruit and possibly even be rebuked for our arrogance. Yet, God delivers those who He loves and disciplines them as well. This is a good reminder for any of us hoping to advance God’s kingdom through His name and hand.
2 Samuel 3:1-34
Joab Murders Abner
22 Just then David’s men and Joab returned from a raid and brought with them a great deal of plunder. But Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, because David had sent him away, and he had gone in peace. 23 When Joab and all the soldiers with him arrived, he was told that Abner son of Ner had come to the king and that the king had sent him away and that he had gone in peace. 24 So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you let him go? Now he is gone! 25 You know Abner son of Ner; he came to deceive you and observe your movements and find out everything you are doing.” 26 Joab then left David and sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern at Sirah. But David did not know it. 27 Now when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into an inner chamber, as if to speak with him privately. And there, to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel, Joab stabbed him in the stomach, and he died. 28 Later, when David heard about this, he said, “I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the Lord concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 29 May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.” 30 (Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) 31 Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and walk in mourning in front of Abner.” King David himself walked behind the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb. All the people wept also. 33 The king sang this lament for Abner: “Should Abner have died as the lawless die. 34 Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. You fell as one falls before the wicked.” And all the people wept over him again.
Reflection: We see the continued struggle between the house of David and Saul, as reflected in the Joab and Abner story and its bloody end. Joab thinks Abner is trying to deceive David and still wants to avenge the death of his brother Asahel. We see David believed Abner was sincere in changing his alliance from Saul to David. Abner senses that David is God’s anointed and changes his allegiance accordingly. Joab is so bent on revenge for his own brother’s blood, that he doesn’t see the big picture and his family will forever suffer for his bad choices. Some like Josephus, the Jewish historian, have said that Joab was acting more to protect his status as general, but the text says he did it to avenge the blood of his brother. Interestingly David will use Joab later in the book to stop his son Absalom’s rebellion. And because David didn’t want to do it, Joab eventually killed David’s son, Absalom (2 Samuel 18). We see again this is rather dark time in Israel’s history, as they not only fought against the nations, but against each other. They are still seeing the consequences of choosing an earthly king over the King of Heaven.
John 6:60-71
Many Disciples Desert Jesus
60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
Reflection: As Jesus begins to reveal the true nature of who He is as the unique Son of God, and what it means to come to the Father through Him, the disciples start to grumble. They had their preconceived notions of who He should be, and it wasn’t fitting their expectations. In a word it was offensive to them when he said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” The one who feeds on me will live because of me.” And to be honest if we were there and were good Jews, this teaching might have been a little offensive to us too. This is unless, of course, we understood the nature of Messiah from Isaiah the prophet as the suffering servant, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Then, Jesus gives the key words, “No one can come to me unless the Father enables them.” Jesus didn’t worry about approval because He knew He was living out the Father’s will for him. And He knew that no one would understand truly who He was as the Messiah, unless God revealed it to them in the power and illumination of the Holy Spirit.
This is why we shouldn’t be surprised that as we share the Good News that God became one of us, died for us, and rose again, that some people will be offended. I didn’t ask Jesus to die for me I have heard some say. All we can do is proclaim the Good News and live it out in word and deed, and God will bring in the harvest of those who He has called to eternal life. Notice this doesn’t abrogate us of our responsibility to go and make disciples of all nations, knowing that we do it in Jesus’ name and His authority and He is with us until the end of the age. But it is a sobering reminder that God is in control at it His plan and in His timing!
I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13
Jesus took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” Mark 5:41
Great Physician, you speak to us in many ways, bringing both comfort and challenge. Healing God, comfort us, heal us and encourage us. May we share your blessing with others this day. Amen.
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