A Way of Return

Posted on May 20, 2014 by Pete

Ok . . . so I don’t know if it is appropriate to say this sort of thing or not . . . but it occurs to me that, just as I have my favorite portions of Scripture, I probably have a few that are my “least favorite” passages. This morning’s reading in 2Samuel is one of those. It’s a few chapters of God’s word that I would just as soon exclude from my reading plan. This morning I read 2Samuel chapters 13 through 15. Yuck! What a downer . . . what a mess.

A daughter of David violated . . . the life of a beautiful young girl ruined. And nothing is done about it for two years. And then her brother, Absalom, takes vengeance for his sister’s disgrace into his own hands. And now there’s murder. Absalom flees into exile . . . and David’s a mess. Three years later, David finally calls for Absalom and eventually has a reconciliation of sorts but then Absalom determines to overthrow his father and take the throne . . . treachery . . . treason. David now has to “get out of Dodge” and leaves his throne empty for Absalom to fill. And that’s not all of it . . . I know more distasteful and heart-wrenching stuff is yet to come. Talk about your dysfunctional family . . . dysfunctional with a capital D. And it is so not what I would want to see in the family life of a man who has a heart after God’s own heart.

It really is kind of depressing. So much sin packed into so few chapters. Ego . . . selfishness . . . weakness . . . lives ruined . . . lives lost . . . bad choices . . . poor discernment. You brood over this passage and the sky goes grey . . . not much sunshine here. Such a stark reminder that the wages of sin is death . . . physical death . . . emotional death . . . death of a family . . . heavy sigh!!!

But in the midst of this gloom . . . in the midst of this brokenness . . . there is a gem which shines bright.

We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and He devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.    (2Samuel 14:14 ESV)

God devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast! Praise God!

Yes, the wages of sin is death for everyone who sins . . . and that’s everyone. We are all like water spilled on the ground. But God’s desire is not to take away life. He is not willing that any should perish (2Peter 3:9). Instead, God makes a way of return . . . so that those banished by sin might not remain an outcast.

This morning I also read of that way of return in Galatians 3. The way back is the way of Abraham who “believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness” so that “those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Gal. 3:6, 9). The way back, the way of reconciliation, is the gracious way of God’s redemption. Christ having redeemed the outcast from the curse of the law by becoming, Himself, a curse of us (Gal. 3:13). He restores those damaged by their sin, having, once for all, taken the wages of their sin upon Himself.

Yes, sin is an ugly reality. The Law was designed to reveal it for what it is . . . the dysfunction . . . the destruction . . . the determined offense against a holy God. But the law was also designed to be “our guardian until Christ came” . . . leading us to the One who would make possible our justification by faith (Gal. 3:22-24). And despite the mess, despite the wretched condition, God’s desire is that none would be permanently estranged from Him. In fact, for all those who, by God’s grace, accept the way of the cross as the way back, He declares that they are, in Christ Jesus, children of God through faith . . . “baptized into Christ” . . . “one in Christ” . . . “heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:26-29).

Sometimes you have to read those least favorite passages, and be reminded of the depressing realities of a sin-damaged world, in order to glory afresh in the magnificence and wonder of the love and grace of God. Sometimes you have to be reminded how far the soul can stray, in order to rejoice in how far God has gone to make a way of back.

A way of return. Only by the grace of God . . . only for the glory of God.

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In the Congregation

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Pete

As I head into a new week, I’m not ready to “let go” of the weekend. It began with hanging out with a band of brothers at a retreat and ended doing sermon reflection with my small group at our place. In between those, I gathered with my church family where I worshiped with the saints and was fed with the flock. And as I savor the “aroma” lingering from this weekend, I can’t help but be thankful that I’m “in the congregation.”

Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.    (Psalm 111:1 ESV)

There is something about gathering with the people of God. There is something about coming together as a company of those who have shared in the revealed mysteries of the kingdom of God. There is something about coming together as a body of believers with a common desire to lift up the name of the LORD and to thank Him with all our beings. There is something about being in the congregation that is found nowhere else.

Reading Psalm 111 this morning, the songwriter describes a dynamic whereby, when “the upright” assemble together, the praise of God is ignited. Though diverse in their backgrounds, their “day jobs,” and in their personalities, the tie of this gathering is their common determination to focus on the greatness of the works of the LORD, “studied by all who delight in them” (v.2). Their common delight is in plumbing the depths of the fullness of “splendor and majesty” found in the works of God (v.3). And in so doing, their common desire is to know more fully the nature of the God behind the works.

As He moves His people to remember His wondrous deeds (v.4), they are reminded that God is gracious and merciful (v.4) . . . that He is faithful and just (v.7) . . . that He remembers His covenant forever (v.5, 9) . . . that He has sent redemption to His people (v.9). And at some point, the waters of reflection burst the dam of restraint and the company of the upright declares in one voice, “Holy and awesome is His name!” That’s life in the congregation.

Sure, I can meditate and reflect on my own . . . and I should. I can worship God on my own . . . and I should do that too. But there is something about God’s people coming together in God’s presence to offer God praise that is not matched by any other “spiritual discipline.”

It is when the redeemed are gathered . . . when the company of the upright meet . . . not “upright” because of who we are or what we’ve accomplished, but upright “in Jesus” because of who He is and what He has done through His death on the cross and by the power of His resurrected eternal life . . . it is when we come together as “the congregation” that we experience the sweet dynamic of reflection, renewal, and rejoicing.

His praise endures forever (v.10). May it be so in the congregation.

By His grace . . . for His glory.

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Like One of the King’s Sons

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Pete

He really had no business being there. First, it’s not like he was family or anything . . . no blood connection . . . no obligation to include him. What’s more, it’s not as if he were included because of his accomplishments or might. In fact, he was lame in both feet . . . a cripple, since he was a young child . . . with no ability to contribute to the strength of the royal court. And finally, it’s not as if he intrinsically provided some strategic advantage through his presence. Instead, he was the grandson of a defeated rival . . . heir to a competing royal line who once occupied the throne. If anything, this stranger, cripple in both feet, might be considered an enemy, a threat.

But there he was occupying a seat of privilege . . . eating at the king’s table . . . just like one of the king’s sons.

The story of Mephibosheth (2Samuel 9) never ceases to move me. David, having secured his hold on the throne . . . king over all Israel . . . conqueror over Israel’s enemies . . . determines that he wants to show kindness to any survivor of Saul’s house, “for Jonathan’s sake” (2Sam 9:1).

Jonathan, the son of King Saul, himself an heir to the throne, had been David’s friend. He had been David’s number one cheerleader right from the beginning. He recognized David as God’s anointed and, as such, submitted to David his claim to the throne (1Sam. 18:4). He even put his own life on the line for David, protecting David from the jealous rage of Saul. When David was in a most desperate situation, Jonathan had gone to him and encouraged him in the Lord (1Sam. 23:16). By David’s own declaration, the love shown him by Jonathan was “extraordinary” (2Sam 1:26). But their friendship was cut short when Jonathan was slain in battle.

And so, for the sake of Jonathan . . . for the sake of another . . . David desires to show kindness.

Enter Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son . . . lame in both feet since age 5 . . . dropped by his nurse as they fled after the defeat of King Saul and the death of his dad (2Sam. 4:4). Could have been a somebody . . . ended up being a nobody. Grew up without a father . . . grew up without a future. He who might have been royalty, was destined to be, at best, a recluse. And then, a king determines to show kindness to him for the sake of another. Can anyone say, “Grace!”

Though a natural enemy to his throne, David instead spares his life . . . that would have been favor enough! But the favor didn’t stop with just granting him life. Next, David restores to Mephibosheth an inheritance, giving him all the land once owned by the family of Saul. Mephibosheth is set for life. But there’s still more. Beyond any expectation of a lame man with little to offer the throne . . . beyond any imagination of man from an enemy lineage to the throne . . . Mephibosheth hears David say, “And you shall eat at my table always” (v.7). No way!!!

Yes way . . . that’s kind of how grace works.

Enemies, deserving of death, given life. Impoverished beggars, incapable of helping themselves, bequeathed an inheritance beyond imagination. Those of inconsequential bloodlines, undeserving of even gazing upon royalty, invited to eat at the king’s table.

So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. (2Samuel 9:11b ESV)

Received like one of the king’s sons. That’s how grace works . . . I should know. I too have been invited to dine at the King’s table. Not because of who I am . . . not because of what I bring to the table . . . despite that I was once an enemy. But because He, in His Sovereign purposes, has determined to show abundant kindness to this guy who’s “lame in both feet” . . . and has seated him at the table.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:5-7 ESV)

Seated at the table . . . seated together with Christ in the heavenlies . . . like one of the King’s sons.

All because of grace . . . all for His glory!

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To Be More Like David

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Pete

It’s not what you’d expect. Given what seems to be David’s circumstance, you just wouldn’t expect this song of his to begin this way. But it does.

My heart is steadfast, O God!
     I will sing and make melody with all my being!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
     I will awake the dawn!
I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the peoples;
     I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For Your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
     Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
     Let Your glory be over all the earth!    (Psalm 108:1-5 ESV)

Given what appears to have been going down around David, I’m thinking that he would have gone to bed at night anxious and with a heavy heart. And, as is often the case with me, I’d expect that he’d wake up the same way. Instead, he awakes the dawn with harp and lyre . . . giving thanks to the LORD among the peoples . . . singing praise to his great God among the nations . . . acknowledging afresh the out-of-this-world steadfast love of God . . . declaring anew the heights of God’s faithfulness.

Even though David’s in need of deliverance from his enemies (v.6) . . . even though God is not going out with David and his armies (v.11) . . . even though it feels like God has rejected their cause . . . even while he asks for help against his foes (v.12) . . . David still begins his lyrical meditation, and apparently his day, desiring, above all, that God would be exalted . . . that God’s glory might be known over all the earth.

And I sit back and pause. Unbelievable! When all else fails, worship. When things are the most desperate, sing praise. When you don’t know what else to do, desire the glory of God to be known. O to have a heart like this man who had a heart after God’s heart (Acts 13.22).

So where did the praise come from? In what was the worship sourced? It was in believing the promises of God. David’s offering of praise is founded on what “God has promised in His holiness” . . . that David would rule over his people and triumph over his enemies (v.7-10). And so David awakes to the day’s desperation with an abiding confidence.

With God we shall do valiantly; it is He who will tread down our foes.    (Psalm 108:13 ESV)

Faith, by the grace of God . . . plus the promises of a holy and faithful God . . . result in worship for the glory of God.

O’ . . . to be more like David.

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Embracing the Thorns

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Pete

I don’t really like operating from a position of weakness. There’s something about feeling like your in control . . . or engaged in something for which you believe you are competent . . . that allows you to keep both feet on the ground. I really try to avoid “getting in over my head” . . . and I can get really frustrated when I’m doing something — or something’s doing me — for which I really haven’t the knowledge or skill. Welcome to Paul’s world!

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  (2Cor. 12:7-8 NIV)

Paul was a pretty capable guy . . . well educated . . . pretty good thinker . . . hard worker . . . oh yeah, and He met Christ face to face, even spending time being groomed in heaven itself (2Cor. 12:2-4) . . . (what a trip that would have been). To say Paul had “all the tools” would be an understatement. But . . . and it’s a big “but” . . . he was constantly working from a position of weakness. Whatever that thorn in the flesh was, it was a tormenter — something Paul pleaded repeatedly for the Lord to remove from him. The NKJV translates it as a messenger of Satan sent to “buffet” him . . . literally “to strike with the fist, give one a blow with the fist; to maltreat, treat with violence and contumely.” Whatever it was, it was abusive . . . always trying to set Paul back on his heals . . . struggling to push Paul’s head underwater. And yet, apart from this passage, in what is Paul’s most personal letter in the New Testament, we’d never have guessed that, in addition to all the overt persecution that Paul suffered, he had to contend with this demon as well. How come?

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamites.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.   (2Cor. 12:9-10 NKJV)

We often glory in “amazing grace” that saves . . . but what of the “sufficient grace” that sustains?

Do we recognize that operating from a position of weakness is often exactly where God wants us in order “to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” (2Cor. 4:7)?  I say that I want to know the filling and enabling and empowering of the Holy Spirit . . . maybe I need to more aware that you fill that which is empty . . . that you enable that which is disabled . . . that you empower that which is without power. Paul got it. He was no masochist . . . he pleaded for the henchman of Satan to be removed . . . but when God said, “No,” Paul looked to the grace and power of God to sustain and enable. He saw it as the opportunity for God to increase and for Paul to decrease as the power in Paul’s life was clearly of the Lord . . . that it was from Him whom the man desired to magnify and not from the man himself.

Honestly, I’m not looking to get any “weaker” than I am . . . sufficient is the frailty of this man for God to manifest His power. But perhaps I need to embrace my “thorns in the flesh” more as they afford God’s strength to be made perfect in my weakness . . . that His amazing grace which saved me might also be seen as the sufficient grace which sustains me . . . that the power of Christ may rest on me . . . for when I am weak . . . then I am strong . . . and God get’s the glory.

Amen?

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Heaven Is Real, He Is To Be Exalted

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Pete

I haven’t been one to pay a lot of attention to the recent “Heaven is Real” parade. Not that I don’t believe heaven is real. It’s just that I’m not too sure how the books written in the last couple of years line up with Biblical teaching on death and heaven. Can’t say that I’ve read them . . . or plan to . . . just that, as I’ve read about them, something in me is uneasy. Uneasy with some of the claims I understand they make and, maybe more importantly, uneasy with the celebrity status these books are making of some of those who have “gone and come back.” That’s what came to mind as I was reading 2Corinthians 12 this morning.

There I read of another man . . . a man “in Christ,” one who bowed the knee to Jesus on earth . . . who had some sort of out of body experience. He was caught up to “the third heaven” . . . caught up to “paradise.” Not because he was near death, but because he was to be a steward of the words of life. And, as he recalls the experience, he’s not sure whether he was “in the body of out of the body.” All he knew for sure was that “he heard many things that cannot be told, which man may not utter” (2Cor. 12:2-4).

He was a student at Paradise U. A graduate of an intense “Master’s” program. And, though he had some stuff to talk about . . . a good story to tell . . . he refrained “so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me” (12:6). Having returned, instead of talking about his experience, he boasts of his weakness.

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.    (2Corinthians 12:7-9 ESV)

Seems like kind of an unexpected “reward” for making it to heaven and back . . . a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, something so debilitating that this man would plead three times for its removal. But that’s what he was given to balance out his out of body experience. Otherwise, he says, he might have become over impressed with himself.

The NKJV translates “conceited” more literally . . . “lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations.” The man was given a thorn in the flesh so that he would not be raised up . . . so that he would not get caught up in his own press clippings . . . so that he would not consider himself a somebody. But, having been beyond and back, he is weakened in the flesh so that any power he might display would the power of Christ in and through him.

The revelation was for his preparation. Being caught up to the third heaven wasn’t for his glory, but for his gifting. What he experienced in that time–“whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows”–was to be expressed in dependence upon the all sufficient grace of the living Christ.

I don’t know enough about these books to be critical . . . not my intent. And I can’t claim to having any experience with the third heaven and Paradise U. But I do have a little experience, though not as some others, of knowing weakness and asking for it to be removed. And more importantly, the reality of the power of Christ manifest in His all sufficient grace. And in that, I too know that heaven is real . . . and that He alone is to be exalted.

I will boast in my weakness . . . because of His grace . . . and for His glory.

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The Boasting Game

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Pete

Paul had been drawn into a game he didn’t want to play . . . but he was, in a sense, desperate. He had done the original “matchmaking” and it was truly a “match made in heaven.” He had brought the good news to Corinth . . . and through him the Spirit had wooed lost souls to the Savior. The little church was established and grew. Watered with abundant grace, these believers were a local representation of the Bride of the Christ . . . and as such, Paul, in effect, had betrothed them to one Husband and desired to present them before Him as “a pure virgin” (2Cor. 11:2). But, just as the serpent deceived Eve with good sounding words and convincing arguments of apparent wisdom, so too, the betrothed of God were being “led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (11:3).

And so, contending for the bride, Paul was drawn into a game he didn’t want to play. For at the core of these charlatan’s arguments were their “pseudo-credentials.” Was Paul a scholar? They were even more. Was Paul a minister of good news? They had better news. And how valuable was Paul’s good news anyway if he brought it free of charge. They, on the other hand, were “selling tickets” . . . and came with books and t-shirts and wrist bands. Surely, the degree to which they prospered was an indicator of the value of what they preached. Did Paul consider himself an orator? Sure, if you want to call it that, but they were eloquent of speech such that Paul’s presentation paled in comparison. Was Paul an apostle? Maybe, but they were “super-apostles” (11:5).

And so they boasted . . . and so Paul was forced to respond.

And he starts matching credential for credential (11:22). A Hebrew? Check. An Israelite? Me too. Offspring of Abraham? Check. Servant of Christ? Let me tell you about that, says Paul.

And here is where Paul pulls away from the pack. Imprisoned . . . countless beatings . . . often near death. Scourged multiple times . . . beaten with rods . . . stoned . . . shipwrecked . . . encountering life threatening dangers on all sides (11:23-27). Not exactly the stuff that screams, “Successful!” But the stuff that points to a Savior who is worth living for . . . even if it means dying.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.    (2Corinthians 11:30 ESV)

And though Paul’s drawn into a game not of his choosing, he leaves his opponents in the dust as he “boasts” of being a servant of Christ. His servitude intended to magnify the Master. His deficiencies a testament to the Savior’s all sufficiency. His weakness pointing to the glory of the King’s power. His life poured out that His Lord might be lifted up.

That’s the stuff to boast of. That’s the way to play the game. My weakness . . . His power. My need . . . His grace.

Not to us . . . but to Your Name be the glory!

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A Second, Second Chance

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Pete

You read Psalm 106 and it’s like reading a rap sheet . . . a long, long rap sheet. It’s the history of the songwriter’s people . . . held up against the unfailing grace of the songwriter’s God. And it’s bookended with a call for thanksgiving . . . with an exhortation to praise God. For He is the God of the second, second chance.

Most of the song is an historical narrative.  Its major theme being found in verse 6, “Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we’ve done wickedness.”

The “intro” to the song chronicles their deliverance from Egypt . . . which is soon followed by their rebellion at the Red Sea. And God patiently shows Himself powerful on their behalf . . . saving them from the hand of the foe . . . redeeming them from the power of the enemy (v.10). And the people believed again . . . and they sang His praise again. “But they soon forgot His works . . . they had a wanton craving in the wilderness . . . and put God to the test in the desert” (v.13-14).

And so is established the song’s meter. The people rebel. Their sin provokes their God to respond with wrath, in accordance with His holy character. Then a mediator, chosen by God, intervenes . . . standing in the breach between sinful man and holy God. First, Moses intercedes to turn away God’s wrath away from destroying His people who “exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox” and “forgot God, their Savior” (v.20-23). Then, it’s Phineas who stands up to stay the plague which broke out after God’s people “yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor” and “provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds” (v.28-30). But they sin again . . . and again . . . and again

And the dirge goes on. Of their seemingly incessant murmuring because that had “no faith in His promise” and it’s dire consequences (v.24-25, 32-33). Of their infidelity towards their God playing “the whore in their deeds” as they refused to separate themselves from the nations around them and thus, “served their idols, which became a snare to them” (v.36).

And it goes on and on and on. But then we get to the song’s crescendo . . . we get to the bridge which interrupts the repetitious verses and chorus . . .

Nevertheless, He looked upon their distress,
   when He heard their cry.
For their sake He remembered His covenant,
   and relented according to the abundance of His steadfast love.   (Psalm 106:44-45 ESV)

O, blessed “nevertheless!” O, blessed promises! O, blessed abundant steadfast love! O, blessed God of the second . . . and third . . . and fourth . . second chance!

God could relent because His Son would one day take upon Himself all the wrath justly demanded for sin by a holy, holy, holy God. God could respond to their cry, again and again, because He knew the cry of His Son, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). God could release the floodgates of abundant grace for their sake, because He was determined to fulfill His covenant for His own glory . . . even to providing the Lamb of God to take away sin once for all . . . even to raising up His Son as an eternal mediator to intercede for His people.

A second, second chance. Not that I presume upon it . . . but that I thank God for abundant grace which covers all my sin . . . and praise Him for being a God who, because of His great love and great provision, “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9).

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
   from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, Amen!
   Praise the LORD!                           (Psalm 106:48 ESV)

 

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Abigail

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Pete

There are at least 3 or 4 sermons wrapped up in 1Samuel 25. There’s the sermon of the stupid man. Then, there’s the sermon of the cranky king-to-be who goes over the top ’cause he’s hungry. And, there’s the love story sermon where cranky king-to-be determines to wipe-out stupid man, girl intervenes for stupid man, king-to-be meets girl, girl calms down king-to-be, stupid man dies, king-to-be proposes to girl, girls say yes, king-to-be marries girl — you know, one of those everyday, happy ending, Hallmark love stories. There are lessons to be learned in each of these story lines. But there’s a at least one other story here, that for some reason, absolutely grabs me this morning . . . the sermon of the beautiful lady.

If I were to ask a group of Bible students who the great women of the Bible were, I’m guessing the initial responses might be Mary or Ruth or Esther or the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. Maybe some would recall Deborah the “judgette.” But would anyone blurt out “Abigail?” I don’t think I would have . . . she’s not one that would come to top of mind. But there is something about the quality of character of this woman that just jumps off the page this morning . . . something that looks beyond her.

Abigail, the wife of Nabal (aka the “stupid man”), is a woman who was “discerning and beautiful” (1Sam. 25:3 ESV). So, she’s a looker . . . but in the Holy Spirit’s summary of Abigail, that she is described as beautiful is listed second . . . her preeminent quality is that she was discerning or, of “good understanding” as the NKJV says. Both the NASB and NIV say she was “intelligent,” but to read that and conclude that she was just really smart would be coming up short. The idea in the original language seems to be that of insight, or good sense, or wisdom. Abigail was a woman of good understanding, of discernment. She knew what her husband was like . . . she knew how to take action to avert disaster by David’s hand (aka the “cranky king-to-be”). And take action she did.

Not only was she insightful . . . she was compassionate, and bold, and resourceful. Technically, she had nothing to worry about . . . David’s “over the top” determination was to kill Nabal and all his male servants (1Sam. 25:22) . . . see how being really hungry can make a guy really cranky . . . and a bit crazy? So Abigail, being a woman in Nabal’s house, didn’t have to worry about her own skin. But you sense that this woman of God wasn’t wired to think just about herself. When one of Nabal’s young men gets wind of what David’s plotting he runs to who? He runs to Abigail. She hears . . . she fears . . . she springs into action. She loads up the donkeys with food and heads out to persuade David to change course of action. And check out, how she does that!

With humility she falls on her face and bows before David (25:23) . . . and then she says, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt” (25:24). What bravery . . . what humility . . . what true beauty! With face to the ground she pleads with David to see her as the failing point and to allow her to attempt to atone for it. It was her fault, she says, that she was not there when David’s men arrived looking for lunch and thus had to deal with Nabal. So she says, “Please forgive the trespass of your servant” (25:28). And though she humbles herself before the one she knows is the “king-to-be,” she also boldly reasons with him . . . suggesting that, should he fulfill his desire to avenge himself on Nabal by killing him and his male servants, he would eventually regret it — it would bring grief and inflict on his conscience “the staggering burden of needless bloodshed” (25:31 NIV).

What a woman! Really almost incidental that she had outward beauty. It’s the beauty of her character that bursts forth like glorious rays of the sun peeking over the hills at dawn! She is wise . . . she is insightful . . . she is compassionate . . . she is resourceful . . . she is articulate . . . and above all, she is humble. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10) Isn’t that the essence of true beauty . . . for a male or female . . . authentic humility?

She humbles herself . . . and she is exalted. God is David’s avenger . . . God is the judge of Nabal’s selfish and arrogant behavior. When Nabal realizes how close to disaster he came, he has a heart attack and eventually dies (25:37-38). David recognizes God’s protecting hand on him . . . that it was God who used this woman of God to prevent David from doing something really dumb. And the beauty of Abigail attracts David . . . the inner beauty of this classy lady connects with this “man after God’s own heart” . . . and he proposes to her . . . and, in true Abigail fashion, she bows her face to the earth and says, “Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” (25:41)

And there it is!!! That’s the something in Abigial that looks beyond her. Who else do I know who was willing to be a servant and wash the feet of others? Who else was willing to assume the guilt for another? Who else brought an offering to avert wrath? Who else possesses wisdom and exuding beauty? That’s why this lady stands out! That’s what attracts my attention to her this morning. In Abigail I see glimpses of the Savior.

I read about Abigail . . . I think about Jesus. O’ Lord, Your’e beautiful!

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A Heart Jesus Can Touch

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Pete

This morning’s reading in the gospel of Mark was just seven short verses . . . but man, some pretty serious food for chewing on here. An encounter between a scribe and a Savior . . . a seeker of truth and a Speaker of truth . . . a King and someone not far from the kingdom. It’s a question and answer period . . . an attempt to take the profound and make it simple — and in doing so, lose none of its profoundness . . . all the commandments boiled down into just two. And in the end, I find myself learning not just from the answer, but also from the questioner.

A scribe, a teacher of the law, has been listening to Jesus debate the Pharisees about the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar. He’s been following closely Jesus’ teachings to the Sadducees concerning the resurrection (Mark 12:13-27). And then, he too approaches Jesus. Like the others who had confronted Jesus, it seems from Matthew 22:35 that he intended at first to trap Jesus with his question . . . but from the Mark account you also sense that his heart is more open than Jesus’ previous questioners as he recognizes that Jesus has “answered them well” (12:28). And I’m thinking that’s all the Lord needs in a heart. Even if motives might not be pure, a heart that is at all seeking truth is a heart Jesus can touch.

And so this expert in the law asks him a simple question, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

What a great question . . . “Boil it down for me. What’s at the heart of following God? I’m not bright enough to remember all the commandments . . . I’m not disciplined enough to follow all the commandments. So give it to me in a nutshell . . . which is the first commandment?” And Jesus gives him more than he asks for. In effect, the Lord says, “Your question is a good one, but it comes up short . . . there isn’t just one, but two commandments that are at the heart of God’s law . . .

“‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”   (Mark 12:29-31 ESV)

There it is! Good questions set the stage for great answers. Succinct . . to the point . . . but oh, how far-reaching the implications.

But great truth won’t have great impact if it doesn’t have a great response. Cue the scribe’s response:

“You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that He is one, and there is no other besides Him. And to love Him with all the heart and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”   (Mark 12:32-33 ESV)

Bingo!!! Home run!!! This teacher of the law is willing to become a student . . . this debater of truth has a heart that is also seeking truth . . . this tester of Jesus is on his way to becoming a follower of Jesus. By God’s grace, and through the power of the Living Word, he’s getting it.

And so this morning, it’s not just Jesus’ answer that challenges me . . . it’s the scribes openness to Jesus’ answer which has me thinking. Because of the scribes sincere desire for truth, though he may have been antagonistic at first, when he hears truth, he embraces it. Although Jesus may not have lined up with his preconceived ideas of what Messiah should look like . . . although Jesus teachings may have been challenging his biases . . . when he heard truth, he received truth. And so, Jesus says, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (v 34).

Oh, how I can learn from this scribe. I’ve done some studying . . . I’ve developed some views of Scripture’s teaching . . . I’ve formed some level of theological conclusions on different matters . . . but, how I need to continue to listen for the Master’s voice and be ready to hear His truth. How I need to keep asking the questions . . . seeking the truth . . . desiring wisdom and understanding . . . and then, willingly receive it . . . even when it might not align with my agenda. How I need to continue to be a student and humbly look to Him as the Teacher. How I need to resist the temptation to think I’ve got it all figured out, but continue to seek His voice . . . and when I hear it, to respond, “Well said, Teacher!” How I need a heart Jesus can touch!

By His grace . . . for His glory.

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