Romans 2

WEEK   12                                        Romans 2     

THURSDAY  Reflections

Romans chapter 2 has three key 3 verses. Verse 1 ties together what Paul is saying in chapter 1 with what he is saying in chapter 2 as he goes from looking at the pagans to looking at the lives of the Jews. Paul is clear, you can’t look down on others’ sins and be justified if you yourself are sinning.

 

Verse 11 Paul reminds his reader God is no respecter of persons. Sin will be punished no matter who you are. Just being a Jew won’t save you.

 

Verse 29 Paul defines what makes a true Jew. This Jew is the person who is part of God’s family, not just someone who was born through Abraham’s lineage. This person is someone who has been changed by God or as Paul calls it circumcision of the heart.

Rom 2:1-29
(1)  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
(2)  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
(3)  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
(4)  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
(5)  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
(6)  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
(7)  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
(8)  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
(9)  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
(10)  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
(11)  For there is no respect of persons with God.
(12)  For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
(13)  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
(14)  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
(15)  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
(16)  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
(17)  Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
(18)  And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
(19)  And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
(20)  An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
(21)  Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
(22)  Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
(23)  Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
(24)  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
(25)  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
(26)  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
(27)  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
(28)  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
(29)  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

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Psalm 79

WEEK 12                                             Psalm 79   

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Here in this psalm, a cry of mourning is taking place. The psalmist bewails the death and destruction of Jerusalem and God's people. The psalmist admits to their sins and admits they deserve this punishment but pleads with God to forgive and to give mercy.

 

What stands out about this plea is the reason the psalmist gives. It isn't for their sake but for God and His name that the psalmist cries out. The psalmist reminds God that because His name is associated with Jerusalem, it is His glory which is being demeaned.

 

This causes me to consider how we pray for our churches. Instead of asking God to help our denominations, religious organizations, and our buildings, our focus should be on God and His glory. Shouldn't we want our churches doing well because we represent God, not because grandma donated the stain glass windows? Shouldn't we want God's mercy in our lives when we sin, not because we deserve mercy but because our actions may diminish the name of God? I ask you to consider it.

Psa 79:1-13
(1)  A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
(2)  The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
(3)  Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
(4)  We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
(5)  How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
(6)  Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
(7)  For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
(8)  O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
(9)  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
(10)  Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
(11)  Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
(12)  And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
(13)  So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

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1 Samuel 10

WEEK  12                                           1 Samuel 10

TUESDAY  Reflections

Saul is anointed king and is being prepared for that role. The most interesting aspect of this change is found when Samuel tells Saul that when God's Spirit comes on him he will become another man. If Saul would have kept in God's Spirit things would have ended differently, however, God is giving Saul what he needs to be the king of Israel, Himself.

When we come to the New Testament it is the Spirit which transforms men into children of God. Paul points out in the epistles it is when we walk in the Spirit that we will live above sin. This gives us a picture of what God will do in the New Testament. God will transform us into a new creation.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthian 5:17 NIV)




1Sa 10:1-27
(1)  Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?
(2)  When thou art departed from me today, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?
(3)  Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:
(4)  And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.
(5)  After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
(6)  And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
(7)  And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.
(8)  And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.
(9)  And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
(10)  And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
(11)  And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
(12)  And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
(13)  And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.
(14)  And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.
(15)  And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.
(16)  And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.
(17)  And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;
(18)  And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:
(19)  And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.
(20)  And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.
(21)  When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.
(22)  Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.
(23)  And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
(24)  And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.
(25)  Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.
(26)  And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.
(27)  But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.

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1 Samuel 9

WEEK   12                                         1 Samuel 9 

MONDAY  Reflections

Though Saul was from the smallest tribe of Israel, his appearance and heritage were perfect for a king. God prepared a man to give Israel exactly what they wanted. We will also see that here at the beginning Saul has humility. He, after all, pointed out that his tribe was the smallest/most insignificant. At this point, Saul looks like the perfect candidate for king. He could have been, but we'll discuss what happened as the history unfolds.

 

The lesson for us is just because something looks good or starts out good doesn't mean it will end well. The rabbit looked like it was going to beat the tortoise too. 

1Sa 9:1-27
(1)  Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
(2)  And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
(3)  And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
(4)  And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
(5)  And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
(6)  And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
(7)  Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
(8)  And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
(9)  (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
(10)  Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
(11)  And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
(12)  And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
(13)  As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.
(14)  And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.
(15)  Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
(16)  To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
(17)  And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
(18)  Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
(19)  And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
(20)  And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?
(21)  And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
(22)  And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
(23)  And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
(24)  And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.
(25)  And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.
(26)  And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
(27)  And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

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Jeremiah 21

WEEK 11                                          Jeremiah 21

SATURDAY  Reflections

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” Deuteronomy 30:19

 

"Furthermore, tell the people, 'This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.” Jeremiah 21:8

 

Doing research into Jeremiah 21:8, I wanted to see if what I saw here was generally accepted. I found a quote out of Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers which so matched what I was feeling that I have chosen to quote it.

 

“The words are not unlike those of Deuteronomy 11:26-27; Deuteronomy 30:15; Deuteronomy 30:19, but there is something like a solemn irony in their application here. They obviously present themselves, not with the wide spiritual application with which they meet us there, but are to be taken in their lowest and most literal sense. The “way of life” is no longer that way of righteousness which the men of Judah had forsaken, leading to the life of eternal blessedness, but simply submission to the Chaldæans, and the life so gained was one of exile and poverty, if not of bondage also.” (Ellicott)

 

The people of Israel had so walked away from God that the only thing left was physical life. Yes, as we read Jeremiah there is a hope for the future, but for now, there is only life. All the blessings of the covenant were gone. It is a very sad place. Those who had so much promise are now just living. It seemed a fate worse than death, however, this life was better than what lay in store for most of those who didn’t surrender.

 

Does this relate to us today?

 

I think it does. Those who have had Jesus in their lives but haven’t lived the Christian life may find they end up missing out on God’s blessing in this life and the rewards in the next. Yes, they may be saved through the fire, but they will have nothing to show for it (1 Corinthians 3:15). Yes, they aren’t lost, but that’s it. And this is a sad commentary on a life, the man on the cross who could do nothing for Jesus is better off than a person who has the opportunity to obey and doesn’t.

Jer 21:1-14
(1)  The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,
(2)  Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
(3)  Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:
(4)  Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
(5)  And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.
(6)  And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
(7)  And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
(8)  And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
(9)  He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.
(10)  For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
(11)  And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
(12)  O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
(13)  Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?
(14)  But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.

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 Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers https://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/21-8.htm. Accessed 8-2-18.