[NOTE: For those who are continuing the 1-year Bible reading plan we started on April 1, 2018, just go to the end of this entry and you will find the Day 356 – James 1-5; Luke 15 summary!]
Today, we come to the end of 1 Samuel. Chapters 29-30 record the Philistine leaders’ rejection of David as a participant in their battle against Israel. While Achish believed in David’s faithfulness to him, the rest of the leaders saw the battle as the perfect opportunity for him to turn against them and regain the favor of the Israelites. So, Achish sent David and his men home.
When they returned to Ziklag, they found their wives and children had been taken and their goods stolen. The men were so angry and sad they decided to stone David. Of course, it wasn’t David’s fault, but the men needed someone to blame in their state of anguish. In that moment, we are told “David strengthened himself in the LORD.” I have always loved that verse. David didn’t make excuses. He didn’t attempt to run. He turned to the LORD for strength, and the LORD gave it. He turned to Abiathar, the priest, and asked whether they ought to pursue those who had taken their families and their possessions. The LORD responded, “Yes, go.” Eventually, they found out it had been Amalekites who took their families. They caught up with them and defeated them. As they were traveling to find the Amalekites, 200 of David’s men had become too tired to continue. They stayed behind with the baggage. When the rest returned with their families and the loot from defeating the Amalekites, the men wanted to give the 200 their families, but no share of the spoils. David vetoed that idea and established a principle that those who stayed with the baggage would receive the same share as those who fought in the battle. This is one more sign of David’s sense of fairness, and one more reason he was a great leader.
In chapter 31, King Saul and the Israelites engaged the Philistines in battle. As the apparition had predicted, Saul was defeated. As he was dying from a mortal wound from a Philistine archer, Saul told his armor bearer to kill him, so the Philistines wouldn’t have the honor of doing so. The armor bearer refused, so Saul fell on his own sword and died. Three of Saul’s sons also died in the battle and the troops of Israel scattered. When the Philistines found Saul and his sons, they cut off Saul’s head, and hung his body and the bodies of his sons on display. Some valiant men from Jabesh-Gilead went and got the bodies and burned them to end the desecration by the Philistines. 1 Samuel ends there. The Israelites are in disarray. Their king is dead. The Philistines are pre-eminent in the area. All seems gloomy. But as we will see, this is the beginning of Israel’s golden age, because now David will ascend to the throne, and their future holds great promise. Many times in the history of God’s people, and in our lives as His followers, the present moment seems hopeless. Always remember: Hopeless is not a Christian word. As long as God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in control of the universe hope remains.
As we return to Mark 7 once again, Jesus is in another disagreement with the Jewish religious leaders. This time they are upset Jesus’ disciples didn’t follow the rituals of ceremonial washing. Jesus reminded them and everyone that it isn’t the outside of our bodies that matters, but the inside. Our hearts determine whether we are “clean” or “unclean,” not whether there is dirt on our skin. Jesus made a big deal about this, because the Jewish culture of Israel in that day had become so focused on the external observances of the Jewish faith, rather than their relationship with the LORD. The two other aspects of the chapter demonstrate Jesus’ healing power. As we have seen throughout Mark’s gospel, while Jesus’ teaching is part of the gospel record, Mark is much more concerned with Jesus’ actions. This time He provides healing for the daughter of a Syro-Phonecian woman, which was a rare time when Jesus healed someone who wasn’t an Israelite. He also healed a deaf man, which shows us nothing in the realm of physical healing was too difficult for Him. As we face the various physical challenges that come to us, it is always good to remember to turn to Jesus first. There’s nothing wrong with turning to medicine or other medical solutions, but remember Jesus is the Great Physician, and He cares for our needs.
Day 356 – James 1-5; Luke 15
Today we turn to the Book of James. James was the half-brother of Jesus. Many have pointed out James becoming a believer and follower of Jesus is strong evidence of the resurrection. After all, when Jesus was living, James and Jesus’ other brothers didn’t believe He was the Messiah. To be honest, if any of my brothers were ever to convince me they were the Messiah, they would have to rise from the dead, too! Anyway, James wrote his letter to challenge the believers who were scattered because of the persecution of the church in his time. The book is practical and focused on the good works we must do as Jesus’ followers. The heavy emphasis on works, even caused Martin Luther, the great German reformer to call it an epistle of straw. He emphasized the grace of Jesus much more strongly than the works we do, but James offers a helpful reminder that faith without works is dead. We aren’t saved by our works, but salvation always issues in good works.
In James 1, James reminds us when trials come our way, we ought to consider it “joy,” because the testing of our faith refines it. James also reminds us God is always ready to give us wisdom, and He is the author of every good gift we receive in life. James reminds us how important it is to have faith when we pray and not to be “double-minded.” James concludes the chapter by reminding us true and genuine religion before the Lord consists of caring for widows and orphans in their distress and keeping ourselves unstained from the world.
James 2 offers us to clear admonitions: the first is not to show partiality to believers. James reminds us it is often those who are wealthy who tend to subject us under themselves. The second admonition is to remember faith without works is dead. James reminds us that Abraham’s faith was reckoned because he “believed” God, which James saw as an action. He also uses Rahab as an example of righteous action when she saved the Israelite spies during the period of the Judges. We need to remember our faith willissue in action when it is genuine faith.
James 3 offers an admonition that not many of us ought to be teachers, because we’ll be held to a higher standard. It also reminds us of the importance of reigning in the tongue, which is a difficult challenge for us all. It also reminds us we all need the wisdom from above that is the only solution to all the challenges our sinful natures bring us.
James 4 offers warnings against worldliness, and James acknowledges the challenges of worldliness originate with the devil. He offers us the solution to the devil’s work in our lives: humble ourselves, draw near to the Lord and resist the devil. When we take these actions the devil will flee from us. Notice, we must humble ourselves. That is key. Humility is not natural to fallen human beings, but when we humble ourselves and draw near to God, when we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, our lives are transformed and the devil runs away. James also reminds us not to boast about what we are going to do, but when we make our plans to say, “If the Lord wills…” Boasting comes from the devil, but when we start our plans with the Lord’s will, we do well.
James 5 offers admonitions to the rich not to abuse their wealth or how they use it with people. James reminds us all to be patient in suffering, which is such a vital reminder for us, because we live in a world that wants to medicate all suffering out of our lives, or avoid it at all costs. Sometimes suffering comes to us when we obey God, because the world isn’t in favor of God’s ways. The chapter and the book close with some powerful reminders about the importance and effectiveness of prayer. James tells us prayer can bring physical healing as well as wholeness from our sins when we confess the to one another. James closes out the book by reminding us Elijah was a man like us, but his prayers changed the world of his day.
As we return to Luke 15, we return to Jesus’ telling of three powerful parables that let the tax collectors and other “sinners” realize how much God loves them and wants them to be “found.” Jesus told parables about a lost sheep, a lost coin, and two lost suns. In each the point is God is looking for us and waiting for us and won’t stop looking or waiting as long as we have breath. The celebration in heaven is great when we are found. I have always loved these three stories, because of how they demonstrate the depth of God’s love for us and His desire for us to be with Him.