March 11

Journey-through-the-Bible-with-us

READING FOR MARCH 11, 2025: 1 SAMUEL 9, MATTHEW 27, PSALM 18:20-30                            1 SAMUEL 9 Before we meet Saul, we meet his father Kish. As we can read throughout the Bible, family appears to be a larger element in lives than in the present time. Thus, we are often puzzled by the long genealogies found in the Bible. Saul had the external characteristics the people likely valued for a king and what we might prefer in a leader: youth, good looks, and height. We know, however, that God has a different value system: “God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).  Just as God used the unimpressive donkey to bring the Messiah into Jerusalem, he used wandering donkeys to bring Saul into contact with Samuel and hence into the kingship. In order for this meeting to take place, Saul had to be obedient to his father’s command to find the wandering donkeys and he had to be open to a good idea from his servant to approach Samuel for help. These are two acts of good judgment. So far, so good. God can achieve amazing results using ordinary events and our willingness to perform our everyday duties with common sense.

Saul and his servant found a group of women at the town well, which throughout the Bible serves as a gathering place for women, even through the time of Jesus (John 4). The two men asked and followed directions from the women concerning Samuel’s whereabout, confirming that it is biblical for men to stop and ask directions. Samuel had already been prepared by God to receive Saul as the future king. He confirmed his prophetic abilities by letting Saul know that the missing donkeys were on their way back home.  He hinted at Saul’s coming kingship by describing Saul as the object of Israel’s desire. He also gave Saul his first taste of kingly trappings by offering him specially reserved meat and a seat of honor at the table. The chapter concludes without a clear indication given to Saul about his future, but with a request from Samuel to have a private conversation without his servant’s presence.  Guess the topic.  

MATTHEW 27 This chapter provides the details of the crucifixion, part one of the most important two-part event in human history. The passage does not extensively discuss the cross’s theological significance, although this will be addressed below. Rather it mostly describes the action and provides revealing glimpses into those involved. Let’s explore some of their stories. They might provide insight about how we and others today respond to Jesus.   

Judas. It seems that Judas did not expect his actions to lead to Jesus’s execution (vs. 3). He regretted his sin, proclaimed Jesus’s innocence, tried to give back the money, and hung himself. This paints a more nuanced picture of Judas. Note, though, the text does not say his remorse led him to seek forgiveness or place his faith in Jesus. Many may regret their sins, but that is not the same as being saved. Also, consider how, like Judas,we can disastrously underestimate the eventual consequence of our sins. BE HOLY BECAUSE GOD IS HOLY. 

READINGS FOR MARCH 11, 2024 Continued: Matthew 27, Psalm 18:20-30                                 Religious Leadership. Their response to Judas (vs. 4) proves they had no interest in the truth. They acknowledged they understood all along that Jesus had predicted his resurrection (vs.62-63), not His destruction and rebuilding of the temple as they earlier alleged. Even Pilate, the Roman governor, knew their motive was envy (vs. 18). They used positions of trust to shape public opinion to call for Jesus’s execution. They took no pity on the innocent Jesus even while He hung on the cross. Instead, they mocked His seeming inability to save Himself as He was dying to pay the price for their sins. This is a gross example of how the desire to hold power can seduce even religious leaders to heights of injustice. WE ARE ALL SUSCEPTABLE.

Roman Soldiers. The behavior of the Roman soldiers described in verses 27-37 was disgusting. It was in the tradition of military abuses displayed in more recent times during the Bataan Death March and at the Abu Ghraib prison. That said, they were eyewitnesses to how Jesus died and all the accompanying dramatic events:  three-hours of darkness, an earthquake, saints coming out of their tombs, and the veil in the temple tearing from top to bottom. They responded with the clearest statement of the truth of Jesus: “Truly this was the Son of God.”  As we keep learning, DON’T ASSUME OTHERS WILL NEVER BELIEVE THE TRUTH OF JESUS. 

Theological Implications for us: 

  • The tearing of the temple veil from top to bottom shows how Jesus’s atoning death fully paid for our sins. The sacrificial system only pointed to this result. ACCESS TO GOD IS NOW ONLY THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS, not a priest making annual sacrifices. Christians are now the temples of the Holy Spirit. 
  • As Jesus hung on the cross, He quoted from Psalm 22: “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  Some believe Jesus did not really feel forsaken because the Psalm in its totality eventually voices confidence in God’s goodness.  Others just cannot accept the Father would treat Jesus this way. Still others believe that the Father did have to turn His back on His Son so that He would experience the full weight of God’s wrath on the sins of the world. Part of that wrath included separation from the Father. Of course, Jesus knew the eventual result would be positive: bringing those who believe into eternal relationship with God. But looking back to His plea in the Garden to avoid the cross, if possible, we cannot dismiss the fact that His death was unlike any other: bearing the full wrath for the world’s sins as He separated from the Father. JESUS WAS FORSAKEN BY THE FATHER IN OUR PLACE! 

PSALM 18:20-30 This is a Psalm David spoke after God delivered him from his enemies. As we saw from the first 20 verses, David was over the top in His praise to God for rescuing Him. No one could accuse him of thinking he achieved this result on his own. These next verses might make us a little uneasy, though. Is David being a bit too self-righteous?  Here is a perspective from Biblical scholar Dr. R. Herbert: “In the Hebrew Bible the word sedek, which is often translated as ‘righteousness.’ literally means ’straightness’ as opposed to ‘crookedness,’ but it is usually used of the status of relationships rather than as a measure of perfection.” Indeed, sedek is the word used here. David is far from perfect, as will become increasingly clear. He did, however, start out walking with the Lord and here rightly ascribes all credit to God: “For Thou dost light my lamp; the Lord my God illu-- mines my darkness” (Psalm 18:28).  As David did, let’s walk in the light of God’s word. In addition, let’s balance any confidence we might feel from our relationship with God with wisdom from the New Testament: “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:10).