Posts

Posted on

The Time For Faith

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 7 Listen: (4:26) Read: Revelation 16 Listen: (3:17)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 8-9 Listen: (4:51) Read:  Revelation 17 Listen: (3:19)
Read: 2  Samuel 10 Listen (3:19) Read: Revelation 18 Listen: (4:48)

Scripture Focus: Revelation 16.10-15

10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. 12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. 15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

Reflection: The Time For Faith

By John Tillman

Revelation’s bowls of wrath are comparable to the plagues of Egypt.

Moses targeted plagues at the Egyptian rulers, economy, and gods. The angels target bowls of wrath at the empire of the beast, its economy, and the beast’s worshipers.

Egypt’s people and leaders had the opportunity to repent with each plague. Some did. They joined Israelite families and left Egypt with them. Some encouraged Pharaoh to give in long before he did. Others, including Pharaoh, hardened their hearts, refusing to submit to God despite demonstrations of his power. The bowls of God’s wrath will have the same effect. People will know, beyond a shadow of doubt, that God is real, powerful, and righteous, but will still refuse to repent.

Many sincerely make this claim: If God proved he existed, I’d believe in him. They want indisputable proof. Some might say an audible voice would do it. For some, an appearance of Jesus, a miracle, clouds spelling out a message, or a “feeling” in their heart. Then, they claim, they’d believe, submit, and call him “Lord.”

But would they, though?

Many people who see evidence still refuse to believe. The guards and religious leaders saw the empty tomb and knew what happened, yet they not only refused to believe, they manufactured lies to prevent others from believing. (Matthew 28.1-15) Festus heard the evidence of Paul’s changed life and knew about Jesus because, “these things were not done in a corner.” Yet he refused to believe and wrote Paul off as mentally ill. (Acts 26.24-29) In Revelation, indisputable proof is revealed, yet many stubbornly refuse to repent and be saved.

Searching for evidence with an open mind is good. Tim Keller called this “active doubt.” “Passive doubt” uses the lack of perfect clarity as an excuse. Passive doubters want God to, in effect, make them believe. They put the problem of their doubt on God. It’s his fault.

God does not and will not “make” people believe. God sends prophets, preachers, scriptures, his Spirit, and even miracles. The Bible itself is a miracle you can read and touch. God is sensitive to doubters and holds out his hands to appeal to them, but salvation comes by faith, not by proof. (Isaiah 65.1-2; Romans 10.10-21)

At the end of history, there will be no doubt in any human heart about God’s existence or righteousness. But at that point, faith will be impossible. The time for faith is now.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus taught us, saying: Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man. — Luke 21.34-26

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Revelation of Love

Christ’s apocalyptic second Advent is about releasing God’s love and about releasing us to be received by God’s love.

Revelation of Love :: Love of Advent
Consider Supporting Our Work

Our work needs more donors—ones just like you. Support ad-free content that brings biblical devotionals to inboxes across the world.

Supporting our Work
Posted on

Long For the Day of the True King

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 6 Listen: (3:34) Read: Revelation 15 Listen: (1:29)

Scripture Focus: Revelation 15.1-8

15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:

  “Great and marvelous are your deeds,

    Lord God Almighty.

  Just and true are your ways,

    King of the nations.

  4 Who will not fear you, Lord,

    and bring glory to your name?

  For you alone are holy.

  All nations will come

    and worship before you,

  for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

5 After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Reflection: Long For the Day of the True King

By John Tillman

What a contrast from the stumbles, errors, and sins of Israel’s kings from Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles to Revelation’s images of God as king.

God is a king with no mixed motives. This King takes no half-measures with evil. This King is not stingy with the wealth and blessings of the kingdom. This King pours out his wrath on wickedness. This King mercifully welcomes the repentant respondents to his voice.

God, the King of Heaven, is not like the kings of the earth. Even the best of them cannot approach God’s majesty. Even the most righteous of them wears robes filthy with wickedness. Even the most generous of them is a miserly grinch compared to God’s magnanimous beneficence. Even the wisest of them covers his mouth, lest foolish blather spill forth in the presence of God’s wisdom. Even the strongest of them cannot rise from the floor. Even the boldest of them dare not raise their eyes.

Stand in awe of God, the King of Heaven, today. Compare God, King of the Cosmos, to earthly kings who command fealty to their confederations of dust. Compare God’s wisdom to human kings’ foolishness. Compare God’s strength and honor to their fragility and desperation. And do not forget to compare God to the monarch nearest to us, the emperor of self, sitting on the throne of our hearts.

We, like the kings of our past and present, are undone in the presence of God. Like Isaiah, we know we are unclean of lips, heart, and actions. Yet we are called, purified, and made part of the throng of God’s people. We are armed with harps rather than weapons and readied for worship rather than warfare.

Revelation shows us the scene. The Temple of God’s covenant is opened, ready for his people. The wrath of God is carried from the Temple and poured out, never to return. The Temple is filled with the smoke of the Lord’s presence. One day, we will enter it.

Every year, my longing for that day is greater. Every time an earthly king disappoints (including the despot of my own heart), I long for that day. Every time an atrocity shakes the ground, the sky, and the news cycle, I long for that day.

Let your longing for that day grow. “…we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4.17b-18)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. — Psalm 85.9

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Kingly Qualifications

You are the king. These principles are for you. The reason our leaders don’t match them is decades of us not matching them.

Kingly Qualifications
Read more: Dethroning Kings and Powers

The regime change we need is to dethrone the sinful powers in our hearts…drag them out…the seed of Eve will crush their heads under his feet.

Dethroning Kings and Powers

Posted on

The Bad Timeline

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 4-5 Listen: (7:10) Read: Revelation 14 Listen: (3:51)

Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 4:10; 5:3

10 “When someone told me, ‘Saul is dead,’ and thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and put him to death in Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news!”

3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

Reflection: The Bad Timeline

By Erin Newton

This is the bad timeline. This phrase has been used recently regarding the never-ending “breaking news” cycle—filled with stories of war, corruption, suffering, genocide, health crises, financial turmoil, and various other events.

I get the same feeling reading through these first chapters of 2 Samuel. The book opens with the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. War breaks out between the two houses. Joab murders Abner. The sons of Rimmon murder Ish-bosheth.

Once David becomes king, another battle swiftly follows. Jerusalem is captured. David takes more women into his house as concubines and wives, granting him more children over the years. Another war breaks out with his former allies, the Philistines.

In the middle of these chapters, we have the anointing of David—a glimmer of positive news showing that God’s promise was being fulfilled.

God promised David that his rule would never end. For that to be true, David would need a royal title, land to govern, and heirs to inherit the throne. Chapters 4–5 reveal the fulfillment of such a promise. David is crowned. David secures Jerusalem as the center of Judah. David has many children who will be heirs.

But the timeline still looks bad, especially from our contemporary point of view. It is surrounded by, nearly drowned in, death and deceit and warfare. It is not really a pleasant chronology to follow. And for many of us, it’s uncomfortable.

We see God working in the life of David through events that are shrouded in evil motives. We see God working through people who have less-than-ideal resumes.

It is perplexing and frustrating. We might prefer God to work through perfect people in ways that are not covered in the corruption of sin. Let us not forget: He has.

The picture of Jesus should be set against this narrative of David. It is not a crown gained through the mafia-style killing of one’s opponent’s household. It is not a story of succumbing to the temptation, “All this I will give you … if you bow down and worship” (the devil). It is not a story of using one’s power and authority to gather women to him.

Jesus is the suffering servant, crowned with everlasting authority because he is divine. He rules over the creation he made through word alone. He gathers unto him a bride who has chosen to follow him.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling;

That I may go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy and gladness; and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God. — Psalm 43.3-4

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: David—He’s Obnoxious

We should name sin for what it is. Call it out. David was wrong. This is inexcusable. Somehow, in God’s strange working, sinners are still used in God’s plan

David—He’s Obnoxious
Read more: Abishai or Abigail?

Examine your relationship to violence and the ethics of power. Whose mindset do we have? Abigail’s or Abishai’s?

Abishai or Abigail?

Posted on

Beware Opportunistic Power Brokers

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 3 Listen: (6:35) Read: Revelation 13 Listen: (3:20)

Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 3.9-10, 17-21

9 May God deal with Abner, be it ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the Lord promised him on oath 10 and transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and establish David’s throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.

17 Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “For some time you have wanted to make David your king. 18 Now do it! For the Lord promised David, ‘By my servant David I will rescue my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.’ ” 19 Abner also spoke to the Benjamites in person. Then he went to Hebron to tell David everything that Israel and the whole tribe of Benjamin wanted to do. 20 When Abner, who had twenty men with him, came to David at Hebron, David prepared a feast for him and his men. 21 Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once and assemble all Israel for my lord the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David sent Abner away, and he went in peace.

Reflection: Beware Opportunistic Power Brokers

By John Tillman

When Abner slept with Rizpah, one of Saul’s former concubines, it justifiably raised eyebrows.

Sleeping with a king’s concubines, as demonstrated during Absalom’s coup against David, was ethically and politically offensive. It insulted the king’s memory and implied taking the king’s place. Abner’s relationship with Rizpah may or may not have been consensual and may or may not have been a political move. Abner could have been attempting to have an heir, through Rizpah, to replace Ish-Bosheth.

Given this, Ish-Bosheth was not overreacting to question Abner’s intentions. When challenged, Abner reacted angrily. He claimed loyalty to “Saul’s house” but then immediately pledged to betray that loyalty.

Threatening Ish-Bosheth to his face, Abner revealed that he knew about Samuel’s prophecy that God would give the kingdom to David. (1 Samuel 15.28) Abner may have been standing there when Samuel said it, or Saul may have told him. Nevertheless, he knew Samuel’s words. This means that Abner knew David was God’s rightful king, yet threw his political acumen and influence behind Ish-Bosheth and spilled blood to challenge David’s position.

Abner left Ish-Bosheth and went from resisting God’s will to working to bring it about. However, this wasn’t a “Damascus road” experience similar to Paul’s conversion in the New Testament. Abner didn’t see God as Paul saw Jesus. He just got caught in an embarrassing scandal and sought political cover with his enemies. Abner wasn’t converted to faithfulness to God. Abner was an opportunist and a power broker. He was just being faithful to himself and nursing a grievance.

Many, like Abner, attempt to align themselves with God’s kingdom for the sake of their own grievances, whether personal or political. We live in a cultural civil war that we pray will not become an actual civil war. Recent political tides pushed culture war issues to the top of everyone’s social media timelines, news broadcasts, and article headlines.

Grievances abound. Some culture warriors (both conservative and liberal) have sought out the church to defend their politics. Let us be cautious not to mistake those seeking Jesus’ support for their politics for those submitting their lives to his rule and reign. However, even opportunistic power brokers can be converted. Just ask Paul. (Philippians 3.4-7)

Let us check our own motives and confess our own grievances and grudges. Let us welcome all who come, regardless of motivations, and seek to convert all seekers of truth to join Christ’s kingdom.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus taught us, saying: If I were to seek my own glory, my glory would be worth nothing; in fact, my glory is conferred by the Father by the one of whom you say, “He is our God,” although you do not know him. But I know him, and if I were to say, “I do not know him,” I should be a liar…But I do know him and keep his word. — John 8.54.56

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Our Opportunistic Opponent

Resist Satan and he will flee. But just as when Satan left Jesus in the wilderness, he is only waiting for an opportune time to return.

Our Opportunistic Opponent
Listen to: Dealing with Joab

As I look more clearly at Joab that I see that he didn’t reverence God. He reverenced David.

Posted on

Who’s The King?

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 2 Listen: (5:07) Read: Revelation 12 Listen: (2:58)

Scripture Focus: 2 Samuel 2.4-8

4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. When David was told that it was the men from Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul, 5 he sent messengers to them to say to them, “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him. 6 May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. 7 Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them.”

8 Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, had taken Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim. 9 He made him king over Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel.

Reflection: Who’s The King?

By John Tillman

Who’s the king now?

Following the crushing military defeat that led to Saul and Jonathan’s deaths, many tribes must have been in disarray and at least partly under Philistine control. There was a leadership crisis.

One tribe, Benjamin, led by Abner, anointed Saul’s son, Ish-Bosheth, king. One tribe, Judah, led by Joab and other “sons of Zeruiah” anointed David king. Which was the rightful ruler?

Who anoints kings or brings them down? Scripture says God does, but it’s not that simple. Sometimes God acts directly for or against rulers, but usually God sovereignly allows humans (or uses them) to raise up and throw down kings.

Who are the “kings” we have anointed over us or our tribe? This could include governmental leaders, but think beyond political “kings.” Friends, co-workers, bosses, advisors, or family members can be our “kings.” We can set up ideologies, cultural norms, or desires as “kings” over us. Who have we raised up? Who should we throw down?

Humans often choose kings for sinful reasons of fear, pride, and vengeance. Fear demands protection, pride demands power, and vengeance demands the punishment of enemies. Even if we choose the “right” king, we can go wrong. For example, Joab served the rightful king with a sinful heart that brought betrayal, destruction, and death.

David was a better king than Saul and many other biblical kings. However, David ultimately was not the king God truly wanted. God’s anointing of David was not about David anymore than his promise to Eve was about Eve. God promised Eve a snake-crushing seed. God anointed Jesus as that snake-crusher through David. Jesus is the anointed one. David is just his flawed human forerunner.

God seems comfortable working through long lines of broken and tragic humans. We aren’t. We want pretty myths with quick answers and uncomplicated heroes or villains. This drives a tendency towards extremes. We either clean David up, pretending he was worthier than scripture testifies or call him a villain and ignore moments in which God’s heart shone through him. We do the same thing with human or other kings.

Every king is a mixed bag. We must tell the whole truth, good and bad, about them. We must root out any sinful motivations for our earthly allegiances. Whoever God raises up or casts down, we owe no king but Jesus unswerving loyalty.

Serve the rightful king in a righteous way.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Bless God in the congregation; bless the Lord, you that are of the fountain of Israel. — Psalm 68.26

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Conflict’s Aftermath

Polarized. This word is the constant summary of our life lately. Every area seems to be weighted down in conflict.

Conflict’s Aftermath
Read more: Blocking the Way of Wickedness

We don’t always have a choice about working with or living among wicked people, but we can choose how we respond.

Blocking the Way of Wickedness