Judgment approaches; choose where you'll stand!

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching the blog archives for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. As you read, I encourage you to record any reflections or comments you may have. The entries here serve best as the first remarks in a conversation.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Devotions: Ps 55, 74; Lam 2:1-9; 2 Cor 1:23-2:11; Mk 12:1-11

Hear and answer me, Lord! I am distracted and troubled by the enemy. I’m jittery, ready to bolt. But I’ll stay put and trust You to take care of my enemies—and my false friends. God alone is to be trusted, though all are to be loved. I cast my burden on YHWH, and He will sustain me; He will never let the righteous be dislocated. God will cast down my enemies and exalt me as I trust in Him! God, remember Your congregation. Your enemies have sought to desecrate Your sanctuary. And God’s prophets fall silent; Lord, why hold back? Strike them down, and set us free! I will remember God, and He will remember me. He will keep His covenant, and keep us, His flock, from devastation. Let God strike and silence His enemies.

God has put Israel and her beauty under a cloud; He has destroyed the habitations of the sons and daughters of Jacob, and cut down the might of Israel. His fury flames; we cower before His indignation. God has scorned His leafy shelter; He has scorned His altar and disowned His sanctuary. He lays in ruins the walls and habitations of His people. Zion’s gates sink into the ground; her bars and walls are broken; there is no vision from YHWH in hearts of her prophets. Lord, have mercy!

Paul calls God as Witness to support his claims: he didn’t visit Corinth on his way to Macedonia because he didn’t want to have a painful visit with them. If he hurt his one source of joy, he would be sure of pain without consolation. He assures the Corinthians that they have not hurt him, but themselves; and their response to the incestuous sinner in their midst is sufficient, in his judgment. It is time, Paul writes, to turn and forgive and comfort the sinner, lest he be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow and shame. Paul begs that they reassure him of their love. Paul says he has also forgiven the offender, in Christ’s very presence, to keep Satan from gaining an advantage, as is his insidious intent.

Jesus taught by parables, speaking in the Jerusalem temple. ‘A man planted a vineyard, set a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and leased the whole facility out to tenants. Then he departed to another country. At the appropriate time, the landlord sent a servant to collect the owner’s share of the vineyard’s fruits. But the tenants seized and assaulted the servant and sent him away empty-handed. The owner sent another servant, and the tenants wounded his head, and treated him shamefully. The owner persisted; the next emissary was murdered; and so on with a succession of the owner’s servants: some were beaten, some were killed. Finally, the owner sent his own son; he thought surely the tenants would respect his son. But they saw this as a decisive opportunity: "Let’s kill this heir and we’ll own the vineyard and winery." So they murdered the son and cast his body out of the vineyard.’ Jesus then asked, ‘What will the Owner do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. Consider what you have read in scripture: “The very stone the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our sight.”’ This teaching enraged the Jewish authorities, who redoubled their efforts to destroy Jesus.