Month: September 2026

From Shame to the King’s Table

On By TimIn 2 Samuel 9, Jesus, Redemption1 Comment

Now there was a servant from the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So they summoned him to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”
He replied, “I am your servant.”
The king said, “Is there no one else from the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?”

2 Samuel 9:2–3a

I set out last night to dutifully read the next daily portion of the chronological reading plan. I am about a year behind. I was basically just reading to mark the checkbox. I read through all of 2 Samuel 8 and how David is blessed by God, and everything he sets out to do happens favorably for him.

Reading of David’s derring-do is epic. But chapter 8 was just a synopsis of things with little detail. Then I start chapter 9.

David remembers his friend Jonathan and desires to do right to his remaining family, if any exist. One is found… Mephibosheth.

This intruding thought enters my mind: “What do you think those names mean?”

It was followed by another; you could just ask AI to rewrite it with the meanings of the proper nouns replacing the names.

I did that. I used Perplexity. Usually there is a few-second delay as Perplexity collects consensus. When I put in the six to seven verses, the response was immediate.

“Statue responded to the king, ‘There is still a son of Yahweh Has Given who is crippled in both feet.’
The king said to him, ‘Where is he?’
Statue told the king, ‘He is at the house of Sold son of My Kinsman Is God, at No Pasture.’
So King Beloved sent for him and brought him from the house of Sold son of My Kinsman Is God, from No Pasture.
From the Mouth of Shame—the son of Yahweh Has Given, the son of Asked For—came to Beloved, fell facedown, and bowed. Then Beloved said, ‘From the Mouth of Shame,’ and he replied, ‘Here is your servant.’”

The first thing to catch my attention was the meaning of Saul’s name… Asked for. Saul was the king that Israel asked for. David’s name is beloved. It goes far deeper than Israel, and I have to sort out what is here.

Saul is a typification of the adversary, or Satan as we think. God had given dominion of creation to Adam and Eve. By disobedience and taking what was not theirs, they asked for a new king. Because of the disobedience of this king, God anointed another Beloved One.

Just as David’s life goes, shortly after being anointed, he is sent to his brothers in the presence of Saul. He encounters the blasphemy of Goliath. We know the tale: he subdues the enemy of the people and the king and takes his head.

But it would be a long time before Saul is actually deposed and David takes his rightful throne. And that comes with civil war in Israel.

Think about how God had selected another King for the people of the world. He was sent at just the right time to defeat the enemy of the people and God. That enemy was death. Jesus did that at Calvary.

Calvary, from Latin, meaning skull. Jesus was crucified at the place of the skull… Golgotha. Say it out loud. Could it be Goliath of Gath, the place of the skull?

When David slew Goliath, he brought the giant’s head back to Jerusalem. Dead bodies made one unclean; therefore, the skull would remain outside the camp… Even though Jerusalem was a Jebusite city at the time. There are some who think that David set up Goliath’s skull as a trophy and warning to the Jebusites occupying Jerusalem. The place of that skull is thought to be the very same place where Jesus was crucified.

There is another typification of Jesus in what David did. Remember Genesis 3:15: the seed of the woman bruises the head of the serpent. David beheaded the giant, thought to be the seed of fallen angels. I will let that sit with you to ponder.

That is like a high-level concise view of Earth, and a partial view into the Gospel.

Ziba responded to the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan who is crippled in both feet.”

2 Samuel 9:3b

There is one son of Jonathan found. His name is Mephibosheth. He was crippled. He would have difficulty standing.

Think about that. Is not that our position before a Holy God… Being unable to stand?

The king said to him, “Where is he?”
Ziba told the king, “He is at the house of Makir the son of Ammiel at Lo Debar.”

2 Samuel 9:4

Mephibosheth is in the house of Makir at Lo Debar. Mephibosheth means from the mouth of shame. Makir means sold. And Lo Debar means no place. What does David do?

So King David sent for and brought him from the house of Makir the son of Ammiel, from Lo Debar.

2 Samuel 9:5

Beloved sent for him from the mouth of shame. He was crippled and had difficulty standing. He was summoned to the house of Sold, which had no place.

Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul came to David and fell upon his face and bowed down. Then David said, “Mephibosheth,” and he responded, “I am your servant.”
David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will certainly show you kindness on account of Jonathan, your father. I will return to you every field of Saul, your father, and you will eat at my table perpetually.”

2 Samuel 9:6–7

This destitute person is restored and has a perpetual seat at the table of the king.

He bowed low and said, “What is your servant that you should be concerned for a dead dog like me?”

2 Samuel 9:8

What is it that the God of the universe should be concerned with a dead dog like me?

The king summoned Ziba the servant of Saul, and he said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house, I have given to the son of your master. You will work the ground for him—you, your sons, and your servants. You will bring in the produce so that the son of your master will have food to eat; but Mephibosheth, the son of your master, will always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Ziba said to the king, “Everything that my lord the king has commanded his servant, your servant will do.” So Mephibosheth ate at the table of David like one of the sons of the king.

2 Samuel 9:9–11

The one from shame, sold, and no place was summoned by the king. He had one obligation… To respond to the summons or not.

Listen, in those times, it would be acceptable for the new king to kill all of the household of the deposed king. I can imagine hesitation to respond. But either way, in that mindset, Mephibosheth was as good as dead. He came to David and humbled himself.

David raised him up; he was treated as a son of the king.

If you see Jesus here… That is exactly the point. He summons all of the ashamed to His presence… Not for condemnation that we may be afraid to approach Him. He calls us to lift our heads and gives us a place at the table to be treated like children of God.

That is the Gospel.

The true Light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, He gave the power to become sons of God, to those who believed in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:9–13

Like Mephibosheth, you and I have to respond to the summoning of the King to have a perpetual place at His table.

Revisiting the Sign of Jonah

On By TimIn Israel, Matthew 122 Comments

But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. And now One greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And now One greater than Solomon is here.

Matthew 12:39–42

It is a common understanding that the sign of Jonah is resurrection after death. But… What if there is another aspect of that sign. Resurrection itself is a powerful thing to leave as a sign to Israel. Yet Jesus expands on the idea that the Ninevites readily responded to the preaching of Jonah.

Could the entire narrative of Jonah be an outline of the failure of Israel to share God with the entire world?

There were some in the nation who believed Jesus when He came to Earth. Before leaving, He left instructions to go to all nations and preach. He even had to give Peter a dream to prod him.

The voice spoke to him a second time: “What God has cleansed, do not call common.”

Acts 10:15

While Peter was wondering what that could mean, three men called for him. They said they served Cornelius, a Gentile centurion. He sent them to summon Peter to Him at the prodding of an angel.

Peter was astonished at what happened. While he was preaching to the house of Cornelius in Caesarea, all who heard were given the Holy Spirit. That is, Gentiles received the same salvation and gifting from God as Israelis.

The aftermath of the event reached far and wide. And Peter was challenged by religious authorities for what had happened.

The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised disputed with him, saying, “You went in and ate with uncircumcised men!”

Acts 11:1–3

Peter explained how God had worked in his meeting with Cornelius. He recounted how it was he who entered the house of a goyim. He also recounted what had happened when he spoke.

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as He fell on us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?”

Acts 11:15–17

It is not hard to discern the resistance of Jewish folk sharing with Gentiles. Especially when it comes to sharing their God to Whom they assumed exclusive rights. Keep in mind the reluctance of both Peter and the council in Jerusalem, and how it changed.

When they heard these things, they were silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then God has granted to the Gentiles also repentance unto life.”

Acts 11:18

I have questions. Did not these apostles know the account of Jonah?

Did they not know that the Ninevites responded to Jonah’s preaching?

Jonah had the same cultural reluctance. Even though God orchestrated both things, it is Jonah’s response afterward that needs to be understood.

Now this greatly displeased Jonah, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is this not what I said while I was still in my own land? This is the reason that I fled before to Tarshish, because I knew that You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in faithfulness, and ready to relent from punishment. Therefore, Lord, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Jonah 4:1–3

I mean, can you imagine that bitterness?

God sought to teach Jonah a lesson. He caused refreshing shade to fall on Jonah, for which he was happy. Then God took the plant that brought the refreshment away. Jonah played martyr and declared it was better for him to die rather than live.

The Lord said, “You are troubled about the plant for which you did not labor and did not grow. It came up in a night and perished in a night. Should I not, therefore, be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people, who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?”

Jonah 4:10–11

What if that anger and reluctance to share God with Gentiles is part of the sign of Jonah?

Could that provoke jealousy to the Jewish folks?

It has been almost 2,000 years since the Temple was destroyed and Jerusalem trampled over.

Today… The word of the Lord is heard worldwide. Jonah pouted that Gentiles got saved. He tells God that is why He sought repentance from His call to go to Nineveh. He did not want them to know God is merciful. His anger was so bad, he even waited around to see what would happen… Would God judge them finally?

The issue with Jonah was unresolved. Could that be part of the sign?

What did God do with Jonah… And what is God going to do with Israel?

It is like Jonah was jealous over how God treated Nineveh. It seems like jealousy of God, who is seeking the salvation of the world through Christians, would be part of the seemingly unresolved close to the account of Jonah.

For I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I may make my kinsmen jealous and may save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

Romans 11:13–15

Must the Sword Consume Forever?

On By TimIn 2 Samuel 2, SinLeave a comment

Abner called to Joab, “Must the sword consume forever? Do you not understand that a bitter taste will result in the end? How long will you refuse to command the people to withdraw from chasing their brothers?” 2 Samuel 2:26

Saul had perished, and Ish-Bosheth his son arose to the throne to rule Israel. Hod had already chosen the line of David to replace Saul. This would be forever.

The two factions went to war. Abner installed Ish-Bosheth as king and led the Benjamites, and Joab led David’s valiant men. The bloodshed was real. The fighting intense among Israelis… Brothers.

Joab pursued Abner. Abner stopped and his men assembled on a hilltop. This would be the last stand. Abner asks three seeming normal questions.

Must the sword consume forever?

No. The point was that this fighting would destroy all until it was gone. This question also has a practical application. Jesus came just to ensure that the aword, that is death, would not consume forever.

For since death came by man, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward, those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end when He will deliver up the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He will reign until He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:21–26

Death is the last enemy to be defeated.

Abner continued… Do you not understand that a bitter taste will result in the end?

Yes. There would be bitterness for the families who lost loved ones. Abner would end up with 18 times more casualties more than David. This has echoes back to the previous account where all of Israel pursued and almost wiped out the tribe of Benjamin. All of the tribe of Benjamin would understand the bitterness of the devastating casualties.

Yet as before, this question has a broader scope of application in the answer. Death would consume the entirety of Adam’s race. Death would bring judgment, and all condemned in it.

Jesus has defeated death by giving the gift of eternal life to anyone who wants it. For those who have not availed themselves of this free gift, that bitter taste will come when standing before the judgement of Jesus as an infidel. Knowing He is King and this is regrettably the consequences of your own choice.

As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this comes the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to save those who eagerly wait for Him. Hebrews 9:27–28

It does not have to be that way.

Abner finally asked… How long will you refuse to command the people to withdraw from chasing their brothers?

The questions caused Joab to call off the not-so-civil war.

Abner had just as much culpability in the fight as Joab and his brothers. But Joab was hotly pursuing Abner to avenge the brutal death of Asahel. Joab would not have stopped pursuit of judgment.

Again, the answer has a practicality that transcends the time and place. Joab could have rightly pursued judgment, but to what end?

It could not replace what was already lost. That is the same futility every human has when they understand the perfection required to gain eternal life with God. No amount of obedience can rectify past disobedience.

If you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as sinners. For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point is guilty of breaking the whole law. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not kill.” Now if you do not commit adultery, yet you kill, you have become a lawbreaker. James 2: 8–11

Abner sought mercy from certain death. Joab relented. Just as is necessary for any human to seek mercy from the justice due for sins… Death. Sin pursues, bringing the bitterness of death. God offers mercy from that judgment.

Just as the brother of Jesus wrote… There is another way.

So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For he who has shown no mercy will have judgment without mercy, for mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:12–13

Just as we have been granted mercy, we should freely give it to others.

Be like Abner, seek mercy.

Be like Joab, freely give mercy.

Foreskins, the Bloody Bride Price

On By TimIn 1 Samuel 18, RedemptionLeave a comment

Saul said, “Thus will you say to David, ‘The king does not desire any dowry but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’ ” But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Now the days had not expired; therefore David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins and they gave them in full to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife.

1 Samuel 18:25–27

This is just downright weird. Why is this in the Bible?

I get that Saul was working on an intrigue to have David destroyed. Certainly, getting the foreskins within a time limit would put David in extreme danger. 100 foreskins would require the death of 100 Philistines. They would then serve as proof of David killing those enemies of the king and allow David to be a part of the royal house. Philistines were uncircumcised and would serve as a certain sign of who had been killed. It would also humiliate them. Think about it: instead of carrying 100 heads, this was much more efficient. Though nothing is written of how these trophies were carried back to Saul, carrying the foreskins could have made it a public spectacle. Nevertheless, the Philistines would know what had been done to their fallen. But I get ahead.

Knowing the late Dr. Michael S. Heiser… When it comes to the Bible, if it is weird, it is important.

David brings back twice the required payment to acquire Michal as his bride. This had to upset Saul, as David did not fail. But then, that is my impression.

Who is the Bride of Jesus?

This whole account prefigures specific things about Jesus. The foreskins are figurative of a blood price because the Philistines would have had to die for David to acquire them. This dowry necessitated a purchase to be made with bloodshed.

Now, this is a bit controversial. The idea of Jesus taking a bride is real; the question comes to the identity of that bride. Much is inferred from multiple places.

For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He shall be called the God of the whole earth.

Isaiah 54:5

Redemption of Israel comes with the language of betrothal. Betrothal is a covenant pledge and a legal seal. Once the bride price is satisfied, the bride is consecrated; that is, she is set apart exclusively for the groom.

I will take you for My wife forever. I will take you for My wife in righteousness and in justice, in mercy and in compassion. I will take you for My wife in faithfulness, and you will know the Lord.

Hosea 2:19–20

Jehovah promises betrothal to Israel. What of the church?

Paul used betrothal language coupled with redemption as the pattern that the Tanakh holds.

I would to God you could bear with me a little in my folly. Indeed, bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy. For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:1–2

Paul tells the Corinthian church that they were bought with a price.

You were bought at a price. Do not be the servants of men.

1 Corinthians 7:23

What is That Price?

For you know that you were not redeemed from your vain way of life inherited from your fathers with perishable things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

1 Peter 1:18–19

I think that is more than sufficient evidence to determine that Jesus gave Himself as the bride price. It was His blood. Like David paid a blood price to set aside his betrothed… What does that make you and me if not betrothed?

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to the entire flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Acts 20:28

The important thing to note is Jesus purchased a bride with His blood. Just as David did.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, and that He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:25-27

I think I have satisfied any question as to the identity of the bride of Christ. As well as the dowry set.

But Why 200 foreskins?

To answer this, one needs a copy of 1 Enoch. (Find an online version here.) In it, there is a clear reference to the number 200. Like David’s father-in-law Saul who had enemies, 200 refers to enemies of God.

And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.’ And Semjaza, who was their leader, said unto them: ‘I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin.’ And they all answered him and said: ‘Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.’ Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. And they were in all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. And these are the names of their leaders: Samlazaz, their leader, Araklba, Rameel, Kokablel, Tamlel, Ramlel, Danel, Ezeqeel, Baraqijal, Asael, Armaros, Batarel, Ananel, Zaqiel, Samsapeel, Satarel, Turel, Jomjael, Sariel. These are their chiefs of tens.

Enoch 6:1–8

Note that this has a parallel passage in Genesis 6. This provides a bit more detail and would have been a familiar theme to Israeli folk of the time. This is the account of the giants. The gods came down to live with man. This was the fabled Golden Age. (Yes, they are trying to revive that Golden Age; that’s why it is in today’s political speeches.)

They Are Numbered.

And they were in all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon.

Enoch 6:6

Asd to the fallen realm, Enoch names names and numbers them. Now things turn a bit more macabre.

And all the others together with them took unto themselves wives, and each chose for himself one, and they began to go in unto them and to defile themselves with them, and they taught them charms and enchantments, and the cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants. And they became pregnant, and they bare great giants, whose height was three thousand ells: Who consumed all the acquisitions of men. And when men could no longer sustain them, the giants turned against them and devoured mankind. And they began to sin against birds, and beasts, and reptiles, and fish, and to devour one another’s flesh, and drink the blood. Then the earth laid accusation against the lawless ones.

Enoch 7:1–6

Some Golden Age this is. Angels seeking strange flesh with humans and doing that which was not ordained by God. Yes, the detestable crime was sexual and produced progeny. The writers of your Bible were very familiar with the book of Enoch.

Likewise, the angels who did not keep to their first domain, but forsook their own dwelling, He has kept in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day. Just as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the surrounding cities in like manner, gave themselves to immorality and went after different flesh, they serve as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.

Jude 1:6–7

Be careful how you work forward to the future. There’s really nothing new under the sun.

As Enoch retells, these were heavenly beings that fell in a very specific way. They perpetrated a unique kind of evil on humanity. Could David’s trophy collection of 200 foreskins indicate that Jesus destroyed even these?

Let’s make one more stop…

I have said, “You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you,
but you all shall die like men,
and fall like a man, O princes.”

Psalm 82:6–7

Something far deeper in this psalm. The “gods” here are most likely not human judges. Human judges die, like all men. This is obviously a judgment on spiritual beings that do not die like men, but God consigns them to death. Judgment looms for these fallen ones; is that why they tremble even though they believe in Jesus?

Perhaps. Look at what Paul tells us of what was accomplished at the cross.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has resurrected together with Him, having forgiven you all sins. He blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us and contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed authorities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 2:13–15

You were bought with more than just sufficient blood price… Exceeding the demand.

When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:30

Having disarmed authorities and powers… Making a public show of them. Just as David did to the Philistines by taking their foreskins… 200 of them.

Does the Church Fulfill the Promises to Israel?

On By TimIn Church, Israel, Psalm 105Leave a comment

O offspring of Abraham, His servant,
O children of Jacob, His chosen ones.

Psalm 105:6

Supersessionism cannot be true. I know that is going to irk some. Yes… The New Testament does call believers as the seed of Abraham… And the seed of Isaac. But it never calls all believers the seed of Jacob it Israel.

It is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel, nor are they all children because they are descendants of Abraham, but “In Isaac shall your descendants be called.” So those who are the children of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. For this is the word of promise, “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.”  Romans 9:6–9

Psalm 105:6

Descendants of Jacob also descend from Isaac and Abraham. But not all who call Abraham and Isaac as fathers can call Jacob the same. Just as Jewish folk descend from Judah who came from Jacob.

Gentiles are not the children of Jacob, physically nor spiritually. This is important to grasp. Jacob is called Israel by God… Abraham is not Israel, nor is Isaac.

I am going to split hairs even further… The term Jewish derives from Judah and is not synonymous with Israel. Judah is a son of Israel, and Jewish people are a subset of Israelis. Not all Israelis are Jewish.

The Psalmist helps us to grasp this very important point.

He remembers His covenant forever,
the word that He commanded, to a thousand generations,
that covenant He made with Abraham,
and His oath to Isaac,
and confirmed to Jacob as a decree,
and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion of your inheritance.” Psalm 105:8–11

Psalm 105:6

The promise was made to Abraham. But not all of his descendants inherited Canaan. The promise was extended to Isaac. But not all of the descendants of Isaac inherit the Land. The promise was confirmed to Jacob. Only those from Jacob inherit the Land.

Again, this means that not all of the descendants of Abraham are Israeli. Nor are all of the progeny of Isaac. Only Israelis are descended from Jacob.

What does that mean?

Well… There is yet a future for Israel. Because the promises to Jacob have not yet been fulfilled. And the universal church does not qualify to fulfill them. As the Psalm rightly declares, the inheritance of Israel is the land.

Understand, Christians are heirs of God, too. We are co-heirs with Jesus Christ. God’s inheritance is His people Israel. (See Deuteronomy 32:8–9.) A Christian’s inheritance is not earthly., either.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does not fade away, kept in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3–5

Psalm 105:6

There is a distinct purpose for the church, to prevail against the gates of Hell. Tuis is an offensive posture, meaning the enemy is defeated and we work to reclaim creation for God. If you are a Christian, rejoice that God wants you to work with Him in reaching the world.

The universal church does not supersede Israel. It does not replace Israel. The church is not “spiritual Israel.” It is not the fulfillment of Israel or their purpose. Even though no distinction exists between Jews and Greeks. Any can be saved and be a part of the Church, but that does not make one Jewish or Israeli.

The distinct purpose for the church is to go into the world and make disciples. There will be a time when that mission is complete. There will no longer be a need for the Gentile church. What happens then?

The time of grace through mercy is gone… And grace through judgment comes upon the whole world. Do not wait to get right with God, mercy is available now. Judgment comes swiftly… And there may be no respite from it as there is now.

Be Perfect

On By TimIn 2 Samuel 1, ExhortationLeave a comment

Second Samuel begins with a war worn refugee coming to David with news of what happened when Saul fought the Philistines. David asked for a report. The man said Israel had been defeated. David’s best friend Jonathan was dead, as was his father Saul.

The man spoke of all that occurred. Saul had been mortally wounded and asked to be dispatched by the man as the enemy was approaching. The man killed him. He removed Saul’s crown and armlet and brought them to David

All present rent their clothes to mourn. David inquired of the man’s origin. He was an Amalekite refugee. The account then takes a turn…

David said to him, “How is it that you did not fear raising your hand to destroy the anointed of the Lord?”

2 Samuel 1:14

Before the man could answer David called for the man’s execution. Though the act was merciful, it also demanded a blood price. The Tanakh is replete with the idea that the blood and ground cry out for justice when blood is spilled.

Yeah, that was way back in the days when fealty to the crown was part of righteousness. What can we learn?

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Romans 13:1–2

Wait… What? Resisting the government authorities comes with judgment?

Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil works. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from him, for he is the servant of God for your good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain, for he is the servant of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him who practices evil.

Romans 13:3–4

Remember, Paul wrote this under Roman rule. Romans were ruthless when it came to sedition. Contemporarily, for US citizens, we have the right to redress our grievances against governing authorities.

Listen, I hate politics. It is often a slanderous game of personal hatred. It is so common, many do not even balk at the grossness anymore. Instead of a marketplace on the merits of ideas, we have been taught to despise others in a created dilemma of this or that. It is designed to trap the mind. And for Christians, unwary participation can become a bit unseemly.

Many unwittingly join in the chorus of cursing politicians. That is, they vote for who they like or dislike… Not the ideas offered. Worse, many wear the dislike of these as some sort of merit badge. Listen, I do not care if you like someone or not… But you give yourself over to the dialectic. That dislike of any person clouds proper discernment.

Now I know that reading this, there may be names of politicians coming to mind. Some may even experience some profound emotions with that. And there is where the problem lies. Emotions tend to marginalize and even exclude clear thinking and proper discernment.

Selfishly, when one does not like someone, it becomes easy to dehumanize and marginalize them. Yes… It is selfish as a personal subjective experience. What happens is that the persons disliked become enemies. Ones that arise as figments of the mind.

Listen… As Christians, we do have real enemies. They are not humans and they are not imaginary. People are not ever to be enemies. At least we should not make them that. It is the antithesis of what is written that love is in 1 Corinthians 13.

This is a clear principle… Dislike leads to exclusion. Exclusion is persecution. What then, is the better stance?

Jesus tells us:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

Matthew 5:43–47

If one proudly telegraphs their dislike of people, are they not flagrantly rebelling against Jesus’ instructions?

Furthermore, what of the next requirement?

Therefore be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

Jesus is saying be perfect. No, this is not moral perfection. The instruction is to be mature. He is saying… GROW UP!

The wanton immaturity gap in Christian circles is startling.