God's sovereign wisdom

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, in the archives.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Devotions: Ps 78; 1 Sam 1:21-2:11; Acts 1:15-26; LK 20:19-26

Listen! I’m going to speak of things we seldom consider—the wondrous works of YHWH our God. Our young people need to hear this! God established His testimony among the children of Israel, so that His people should set their hope in God and keep His commands. But many fell away: Ephraim turned back from battle. Our God divided the sea and delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt, establishing His authority over the gods and king of the land. In the wilderness, He fed and watered a great multitude; He led them every step and protected them—yet they multiplied sins and unfaithfulness toward Him. They tested God and demanded even more. God kept them alive, but visited His anger on them. Their hearts were not steadfast toward God; they did not keep covenant with Him. Yet God, compassionate, forgave their iniquity and did not abandon or destroy them. God took human mortality and frailty into consideration. He brought them finally to the land He had promised Abraham; God drove out nations before them and apportioned each tribe its patrimony. Yet they continued to test God; they worshiped other gods; they made and praised graven images. So God rejected the shrine at Shiloh and the tribes of Joseph, and chose Judah and Mount Zion; He chose David as His servant and led His people by David’s hand.

When Hannah had weaned her son Samuel, she took the child and a sacrifice up to Eli at YHWH’s shrine at Shiloh. She told Eli, ‘Because God granted my prayer, I have lent my son to the Lord for as long as Samuel lives.’ Hannah exulted in prayer: ‘My heart and strength are lifted up in the Lord; I deride my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. There is none holy like YHWH! No rock like our God! Let no arrogance be expressed before YHWH, the God of knowledge. He breaks the bows of the strong and strengthens the feeble. The well-fed now work for their food, and those who starved now cease to hunger. The barren woman rejoices seven-fold, and she is forlorn who had many children. YHWH kills or brings to life; He sends to Sheol and resurrects; He makes poor or rich, He brings low and exalts! He is Master and Keeper of all the world. He will guard the ways of His faithful ones and cut off the wicked in darkness. God’s enemies will be shattered; He will strengthen His king and exalt the power of His anointed!’ Hannah and Elkanah returned home to Ramah, while their son Samuel remained at Shiloh, in the presence of Eli the high priest.

While the apostles and followers of Jesus remained in Jerusalem, awaiting the promised Holy Spirit, Peter addressed the Christian assembly: ‘Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled concerning Judas: “Let his habitation become desolate; let there be no one living in it” and “Let another take his office.”’ (By this time, Judas was dead, disemboweled in Akeldama, the Field of Blood, purchased with the bribe Judas was paid to betray Jesus.) Peter went on: ‘We must add to our number the witness of one of the men who have been with us from the beginning, from Jesus’ baptism by John right through His resurrection.’ Two men were nominated, Joseph Barsabbas Justus and Matthias. The Christians prayed for God’s sign, cast lots, and selected Matthias, who was enrolled with the eleven remaining apostles.

The scribes and chief priests sought means to incriminate Jesus, so they could deliver Him to the Roman governor for execution. They sent spies who tried to get Jesus to speak or act in ways that would engage the Roman authorities against Him. They asked Jesus: ‘Teacher, we know you speak and teach righteously; You show no partiality and truly teach the way of God. So: is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?’ Jesus perceived their craftiness; He said, ‘Show me a coin.’ They gave him a denarius, and He asked, ‘Whose image and inscription are these?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they responded. ‘Then render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what belongs to God.’ The spies realized they had been bested, and marveling, fell silent.