[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 357 – 1 Peter 1-5; Luke 16 summary!]
Today, we turn to 2 Samuel. In the first chapter, David learns of Saul’s death. The account of Saul’s death is slightly different than we read it in 1 Samuel. An Amalekite came and told David about Saul’s death. He said he had killed Saul at Saul’s request, because Saul was mortally wounded, but hadn’t died. David responded to the report by mourning, having the Amalekite killed for killing Saul, and then pronouncing a poem of praise in memory of Saul and Jonathan. We see David’s honor once again. He didn’t gloat at the death of the man who had attempted to kill him on numerous occasions and hunted him as if he were a wild animal. Instead, he carried out justice against Saul’s “killer,” and honored the memory of Saul and Jonathan.
In 2 Samuel 2, David was anointed King of Judah, but Abner, King Saul’s body guard proclaimed Ish-Bosheth one of Saul’s son as king over the remainder of Israel. The two armies went out against each other, and twelve men were selected from each side to battle in hand-to-hand combat. With one move each man killed his opponent, so all twelve were dead. This led to more fighting and at one point, Asahel, one of three brothers who were David’s right hand men: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, chased after Abner. Abner told him to turn aside from chasing him, but Asahel would not, so Abner killed him. Then Joab and Abishai chased after Joab. Finally, Joab called for a “cease fire,” and everyone went home. This would not be the end of the conflict, as God had Samuel anoint David as king over Israel many years before, and that anointing meant one day David would rule over the entire nation.
In 2 Samuel 3 Abner saw the LORD was with David and decided to go over to his side. David welcomed the gesture, but when Joab heard about it, he called Abner to a private meeting and killed him in retribution for killing Asahel. David made it clear to everyone that Joab had acted on his own and mourned for Abner. This pleased all the people of Israel and made David’s position as king secure. In 2 Samuel 4, two men decided to do David a “favor,” and killed Ish-Bosheth. When they brought his dead body to David, David responded by pointing out he had avenged Saul’s death, and how much more would he avenge the death of an “innocent” man. So, he had his men kill Ish-Bosheth’s murderers. As we read through these chapters, we see much killing both in the battles with foreign nations, and through infighting among the Israelites themselves. Many see this as an indication that the “God” of the Old Testament is a different God than that of the New Testament, who we see through Jesus. It is not a different God. There is only one, true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As we have pointed out on a number of occasions, thus far, God was establishing a nation. It was to be a holy nation. While some of the killing we see was not God’s justice, and would be condemned by God, we cannot miss the truth that sometimes people died because of God’s judgment on their lives.
As we return again to Mark 8, remember this is the turning point in Mark’s gospel. It starts with the record of Jesus feeding the 4,000. Then it moves to a confrontation with the Pharisees–nothing new there. This time it was over the Pharisees wanting Jesus to show them a sign. He had just fed thousands of people with a small amount of food. What was that? Then Jesus healed a blind man. The turning point comes when Jesus asks His disciples who the crowds said He was? After they responded to that question, Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?” That is the question, isn’t it? Who do you and I say Jesus is? Peter got the right answer and immediately after that Jesus told the disciples He was going to be handed over to the religious leaders and be crucified, but He would rise again. Peter took Jesus on over that statement. He didn’t expect the Messiah to die. His plans didn’t include it, and undoubtedly, he had grown used to Jesus’ supernatural powers and presence in his life. Jesus made it clear Peter’s plans were not from God, but from Satan. He then turned to the crowd and reminded them (and us!) of the cost of following Him. From this point forward in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is heading toward Jerusalem and His appointment with His destiny-dying on the cross to pay the penalty for human sin and rising again to show He had conquered sin and death.
Day 357 – 1 Peter 1-5; Luke 16
Today we turn to Peter’s first letter to the Church at large. Peter wrote two letters, and each was intended to encourage, challenge and correct. Peter’s pastoral side comes out in the letters, and he wanted to encourage those who were suffering for their faith in Jesus to persevere and to expect Jesus’ rewards for their faithfulness. We see he might be coming to consider Jesus’ return as something that won’t happen as quickly as the apostles and other believers thought originally.
In 1 Peter 1, Peter tells us he was writing to those who had been dispersed because of their faith throughout the known regions of the world. He encouraged them to maintain the hope of the faith, because as those who were born again to a new hope, they were assured of their ultimate rescue through Jesus. Peter also emphasized we are called to be holy, that is set apart for God’s purposes in our lives. While our “flesh” is temporary, we can be assured of our futures, because they are tied to God’s eternal word.
In 1 Peter 2, Peter calls the people “living stones,” and just as Jesus, the true living stone, caused offense, but ultimately overcame, so will we. Peter then moves to exhorting his readers to submit to authority. He mentions submission to the emperor and governors first and speaks of submitting even when it means suffering. Next, Peter challenges slaves to submit to their masters, even when they were treated improperly. Peter also points out there is blessing for suffering when you are doing right, but not when you suffer for doing wrong.
In 1 Peter 3, Peter continues his conversation about submitting, by telling wives to submit to their husbands. He reminds the wives their faith might be the means by which their husbands come to know the Lord. Peter tells husbands to live with their lives in and understanding way, and to treat them well. Otherwise, their prayers might not be answered. Peter closes out the chapter by reminding his readers to be willing to suffer for doing good, and always to be ready to give an explanation for the hope they have in Jesus. He reminds them Jesus also suffered for doing right, and in so doing brought them salvation!
In 1 Peter 4, Peter reminds his readers they are stewards of God’s grace and must not misuse it. He continues to write about the importance of being willing to suffer for doing right, and to remember when we have suffered in the flesh, we are done with temptation. The chapter helps us to recognize the world will not agree with our lives when we put Jesus first, and thus, we can expect some discomfort.
In 1 Peter 5, Peter exhorts the elders, pastors and overseers, who are all one group of people, to lead the people effectively and humbly. Peter reminds all of them to live in humility and to remember the devil is roaming around like a hungry lion seeking to devour them. The good news is when we trust in the Lord and live in His will, the lion has no opportunity to devour us.
As we return to Luke 16, Jesus tells an odd parable. It is odd in the sense that Jesus affirms a “shrewd” manager who was going to be fired, who used his master’s debtors as a means of finding a new job. He did it by cutting deals with each of them, so one of them might consider hiring him, because of his efforts on cutting their debts toward his master. Jesus’ point is the people of the world are wiser in using money that we are, so we need to be wiser in this area. Jesus closes the chapter with the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Both died and the rich man, who had never helped Lazarus who was poor, or thought of anyone but himself was sent to hell, while Lazarus went to heaven. The rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus across the chasm between heaven and hell to give him a drink. Abraham responded it wasn’t possible. Then the man begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his brothers about their need to change. Again, Abraham said it wasn’t possible. Even it was possible, Abraham pointed out the brothers had Moses and the prophets to lead them to God. If they wouldn’t respond to that truth, sending someone back from the dead wouldn’t either. What a great blessing it is we have the word of God, and the words of Jesus to instruct us about the matters of our life and salvation!