Keep Trusting the Lord

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, where I introduce myself and the blog.

Thursday, July 16, 2009
Devotions: Ps 37; 1 Sam 20:24-42; Acts 13:1-12; Mk 2:23-3:6

Don’t fret over the wicked; keep trusting YHWH and doing good; delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desire! He will vindicate you. So be still and wait for Him to act. Refrain from anger; forsake vengeance; fretting is sin. Watch God requite the wicked; they’ll be cut off! The meek and humble will triumph, by God’s own hand. Prosperity is God’s sovereign blessing. Better to have little in faith than to be wealthy and wicked. God upholds the righteous; He gives us eternal life, while the wicked perish in His time. Be generous; what you have belongs to God—share it! When trials come, and they will, move on with God; He will not let you perish altogether. In all my long years, I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread. God will not forsake His saints. As I wait on Him, I will witness the downfall of the arrogant wicked. There is a future for the peaceful disciple of God; He is our Refuge and Deliverer.

David and Jonathan enacted their plan to test Saul’s intentions. The second day that David was absent from his place at the king’s table, Saul asked where David was. Jonathan said that he had given David leave to attend a family sacrifice in Bethlehem. Saul was enraged at his son, and vowed that David would die. He even threw his spear at Jonathan. So Jonathan stalked out of the king’s presence, and fasted as he grieved for David, because Saul had disgraced Jonathan and their household. The next morning, Jonathan went out to the field where David was hiding and acted out the signal they had arranged. They commiserated, and Jonathan blessed David: ‘Go in peace, since we have sworn in YHWH’s name. The Lord will remain between us, and between your descendants and mine, for ever.’ David departed, and Jonathan returned into the city.

In the vibrant Antioch church were several anointed prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (a member of Herod’s court), and Saul. As the church worshiped and fasted, the Holy Spirit told them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for God’s special work. After they had fasted and prayed, the elders laid hands on the two and sent them forth. They proceeded from Antioch to Seleucia, then Cyprus, then Salamis, where they proclaimed the gospel in the Jewish synagogues. John Mark was with them. At Paphos, they encountered a false prophet, a Jew called Bar-Jesus. He was in the service of the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul summomed Saul and Barnabas and sought to hear their message. The magician, also known as Elymas, sought to withstand them and turn the proconsul from faith. But Saul, now known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at the magus and said, ‘You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy: will you not stop making crooked the Lord’s straight paths? Behold: the Lord’s hand is upon you now, and you shall be blind for a time.’ Immediately, mist and darkness fell upon him, and the magician wandered about seeking people to lead him by the hand. The proconsul believed, seeing all this, and was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

One Sabbath, Jesus and His followers were passing through grain fields; as they proceeded, His disciples began to pluck heads of grain. Pharisees noticed and challenged Jesus: ‘Look! Why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’ Jesus said, ‘Haven’t you ever read about what David did, when he was in need and hungry—he and those with him? He entered God’s house when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which is unlawful for any but priests. Pay attention: the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; so the Son of man is Lord, even of the Sabbath!’ Again, Jesus entered the synagogue; a man was there who had a withered hand. His critics were watching, to see if Jesus would heal the man on the Sabbath, so they could accuse Him again of violating their law. Jesus spoke to the man with the withered hand: ‘Come here.’ Then He said to the critics, ‘Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm—to save life or to murder?’ His enemies were silent; as Jesus looked at them, He was angry and grieved at their hardness of heart. He spoke to the man: ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did this, and his hand was restored. Immediately, the Pharisees left and held counsel with the Herodians, considering how they might destroy Jesus.