John 19:25-27 ~ standing by the cross of Jesus

Joseph of Arimathea, granted permission to take down the body of Christ. John the Apostle, Nicodemus and two servants lend a hand. Christ's feet are resting on Mary Magdalene’s shoulders. The woman in blue is Mary, Mother of Christ.

Descent from the Cross painted by Peter Paul Rubens

John 19:25-27

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. Jesus dying on the Cross, comforts His mother. Why would Jesus give His mother a new son? Taking her out of her family Mark 3 tells us of?

Jesus was seeking healing and a new purpose for them both. This is a perfect hope for us as the Easter people who are, because of Jesus Christ, Children of the Most High God. We are officially part of the family of Jesus the Christ, our Lord.

The Compassionate Friends are a group who support parents who have lost a child. They have guidelines for parents, and friends of parents, who have lost an adult child. (In the article below, let's look at this not only as reasons why Jesus gave Mary a new son, but also how to comfort people in our lives who have this loss.) Mark 3:31-35And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.” Just as Jesus' sacrifice enabled men from all nations to be grafted into the family of God - Jesus created a new family for Mary - those doing the will of God. Jesus' brothers are recorded in the New Testament praying, teaching and traveling to tell people the Good News of Jesus Christ - God's Son. Acts 1:13-14 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 1 Corinthians 9:5 Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Galatians 1:18-19 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. Father God, You tell us both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said men and women doing Your will are Your Family. You tell us in truth, whatever we do for one of the least of these brothers of Yours, we've done for You. We wait expectantly for You. "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." You will always keep Your promises to us. Help us to see clearly what You would have us to do each day. There will be a day we behold Your face, in Great Joy. To You be the Honor and Glory, in Your Great Mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. <>< (As a Scripture parallel - this is not completely perfect to the siblings of Jesus - yet it is a profound analogy to us being grafted into God's Family as John was. It may be a fairly good analogy to the beginnings of the Spiritual awakening of Jesus' sibling as missionaries for Him. James, brother of Jesus, is recorded in the Scriptures specifically as being one of the 500 to see Jesus resurrected.)

Romans 11

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible
 

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

7 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8 as it is written,

“God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”

9 And David says,

“Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; 10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.”

11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

25 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; 27 “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

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Death of an Adult Child - article written by Compassionate Friends - Support Group for Bereaved Parents 

 

The death of any child, regardless of cause or age, is overwhelming to parents, who can never be fully prepared for their child to die before them. Parental grief is intense, long-lasting, and complex.

The grief and the healing process contain similar elements for all bereaved parents, but for those whose adult child has died, there are additional factors that may affect their grief.

Discounted Grief

If an adult child dies as a result of an accident or illness, parents are frequently told by friends or family that they should be grateful their child lived as long as he or she did.

Mary, at first, would have been told by the people surrounding her, her Child was a criminal and she was better off. I am sure this would be repeated in some places. John, having lived as a disciple of Jesus, would not allow this doubt to be expressed to her without his care enfolding her. He could address her sorrow of her loss as well as seeing the great evil of seeing God crucified. John's Scripture writings reveal in many places how permanently shaken he was to witness such evil and could address this in compassion with Mary. (The portions written in blue are additions to the Compassionate Friends article - written by me - for Scripture for Today Blogspot.)

Many parents have observed that their relationship with their adult child had evolved into one of friendship. Not only do they feel they have lost their child—they have lost a friend, often their best friend, as well.

Parents who have loved, reared, and encouraged their child’s development into maturity and a full life of their own, feel a sense of pride and accomplishment as the adult child completes his or her education, establishes a career, and develops adult relationships.

John knew Jesus as Lord - helping Mary see Jesus fulfilled God's Great Purpose.

By the time a child has reached adulthood, parents have made an immense emotional and financial investment in this person. When that life has not run its anticipated span, there is often a sense of abandonment combined with total futility. Parents often question their own purpose in life, since everything they invested in their child now seems for naught.

Discounted grief also occurs when the adult child dies from a cause that makes others uncomfortable or judgmental.

John would never judge Mary because they shared standing at the Cross of Jesus together. It would be difficult for us to fully grasp the magnitude of that moment having been His mother and his most loyal friend.

Guilt

Most bereaved parents experience guilt for having outlived their child. When adult children die as the result of suicide, drug use, driving drunk, AIDS, or other causes that carry a social stigma, many parents often experience an even more intense sense of guilt for not having realized that their child was having serious difficulties. Parents often wonder what they could have done differently to prevent the situations that may have caused their child’s death.

John would help Mary past her guilt. Mark 3:20-35. Perhaps Mary's guilt was to have been somewhat spiritually blind to Jesus' life significance during His life - Mary was fully human, even though chosen as the Mother of God.

Judgmental statements from others indicating that the child died as the result of his or her own actions only add to the intense pain and sense of isolation and defeat felt by the parents. When suicide is involved, others may ask why no one saw it coming, causing the parents to feel they should have been able to see something often hidden deep within their child that not even experts in the field can always foresee.

John would remember Mary tried to intervene with Jesus' brothers and sisters - but rejoice with Mary for Jesus willingly to open His arms on the Cross to take the sins of the world away.

Many times adult children live in a different area from the parents and will have become established with their own homes, families, and careers. Thus, the parents have already dealt with the separation and adjusted to the changed routine or the empty nest syndrome. However, those who have not fully accepted the child leaving home, or the circumstances of their leaving, may find their grief greatly intensified. Some parents were supporting their adult child due to a physical or mental illness, or when suffering difficulties with drugs or alcohol. This son or daughter may have become the focus of their lives, and the death leaves a huge void in the daily routine, which adds to their grief and feeling of loss.

John would take Mary out her environment and give her new focus on the impact of Jesus' Heavenly eternal life and the shape of the world quickly coming to see the need for her Son's salvation.

Other Issues Often Faced by Parents When an Adult Child Dies

• *If the adult child was married or had a family, the focus will usually be on the grief of the child’s immediate family and not the parents.

• *If the child was unmarried, there will be property, finances, estate, wills, and other legal issues with which the parents must contend.

• Grandchildren need comforting as the surviving spouse is usually exhausted physically and emotionally and may be unable to comfort the children, who are also grieving.
• Mary, after enduring the terrible shock of Jesus' violent death, the Universal and Eternal change, needed to be cared for and not the grief counselor of her family. John would stand in that stead. Particularly in that era that widow's were not considered to be a high standing part of society. John would physically protect Mary in a new place away from immediate government, Temple danger.

• *Depending on the marital status of the child, his or her parents may have the job of notifying an employer, friends from high school, college, church, the neighborhood, and others who have come to know the child.

• *Parents eventually may have to handle the emotions that will arise when the spouse dates or remarries.

• *Parents, especially those who are elderly or whose only child has died, may experience fears and concerns regarding who will take care of them in later years or in the case of failing health.

• *If the parent has been financially or emotionally dependent upon the adult child, decisions must be made regarding where to turn for support.

Facing the Future

What Jesus said from the Cross, was a personal way forward for Mary and for his disciple, whom He loved. He provided a way for healing for them both and for his siblings. The Scriptures are quite clear Jesus had siblings. This unique gift from Jesus' cross is also a reminder to us who love Him, we are His Family.

Parents may feel they have nothing to live for and thus think about a release from the intense pain. Many parents do feel this way, but be assured that a sense of purpose and meaning does return. The pain does lessen. One of the most demanding challenges you will face is to refocus your life. The loss of purpose and the thought of living the rest of your life without your child can be frightening.

Reexamining priorities and even questioning belief structures is not abnormal. If you are working outside the home, concentrate on arranging additional time off from work and plan ahead how you will handle special days such as anniversary dates and holidays. Often the day is easier than the dread that usually leads up to it.

Mary and John both would have different priorities to know a new life together. It would be difficult to explain other than say, in dramatic times at a hospital, sometimes the strength of a outside friend helps shore up the niceties of polite behavior. This decreases chaos and gives focus in extreme situations.

With remaining family, talk about the death, the loss, and the pain. Revisit the good memories of your child, and not just the immediate memories of the death. Try to understand that every person within the family will be grieving in their own manner. It is better to express feelings than to internalize them; crying has been proved to be healthy and therapeutic.

The memories Mary and John would share would be helpful to them.

Allow friends to help. When they ask what they can do for you, don’t be afraid to tell them of your needs. This will also help them.

While professional help may be needed, many parents do turn to The Compassionate Friends for support, finding hope and comfort by sharing their story with others. In this way they may gain insights into their reactions and learn ways to cope. Sharing also eases loneliness and allows expression of grief in an atmosphere of acceptance and understanding.

Bereaved parents often want to do something constructive in memory of their sons or daughters. Many have established memorial funds, created scholarships, made donations to special charities, given books to libraries, planted trees, and become involved in helping others. For many, such acts keep the memories of their children alive and vibrant, giving them and others opportunities to feel the beauty of the life and love of their child. Not only are these activities a wonderful tribute, but they can also be very healing while providing a sense of purpose to the parent.

Jesus was seeking healing and a new purpose for them both.

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Matthew 10:5-15 ~ let your peace come upon it

Matthew 10:5-15

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, ⁶ but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

⁹ Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, ¹⁰ no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. ¹¹ And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. ¹² As you enter the house, greet it. ¹³ And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Painting by James Tissot, Jesus Teaching from a Ship

This is Jesus sending His disciples out. Immediately. After making them His disciples. Chapter 12 is when they are reunited. Jesus went on to preach and teach in other cities, evidently, without the disciples in Chapter 11.

Matthew's 10th Chapter goes on to say, as Jesus sends them out to be who they are and to preach the Good News in the power of the Holy Spirit, He says:

Matthew 10:24
"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.

Very similar, would be these words and the meaning of God:

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Can you imagine Jesus sent these raw recruits on their way? To do ... God's work. Jesus trusts them to go to it.

~ 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.

The very next statement is Jesus repeating twice. The healing is a gift of God. Do not seek pay. Human nature is to find advantage in every situation. Jesus says be a gift. The grace of God is a gift. He doesn't say in this passage to travel to foreign lands and be a missionary. He says God expects us, as untrained theologians, if we believe in Him to do Kingdom work and not to look for the advantage for ourselves.

Okay. The word of God is for us. Today.

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Look around. This is the mission field.

Father God, here are my hands. Here I am. You will send opportunity, You will send Your Holy Spirit. It is not all up to me. You. Send me as You would like. You do not promise we will have miracles in all of our endeavors to bring forth Kingdom work. You promise You are with us through it all. You help us to shake off the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and go forward, in hope of You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Matthew 10:5-15

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, ⁶ but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

⁹ Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, ¹⁰ no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. ¹¹ And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. ¹² As you enter the house, greet it. ¹³ And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Painting by James Tissot, Jesus Teaching from a Ship

This is Jesus sending His disciples out. Immediately. After making them His disciples. Chapter 12 is when they are reunited. Jesus went on to preach and teach in other cities, evidently, without the disciples in Chapter 11.

Matthew's 10th Chapter goes on to say, as Jesus sends them out to be who they are and to preach the Good News in the power of the Holy Spirit, He says:

Matthew 10:24
"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.

Very similar, would be these words and the meaning of God:

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Can you imagine Jesus sent these raw recruits on their way? To do ... God's work. Jesus trusts them to go to it.

~ 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.

The very next statement is Jesus repeating twice. The healing is a gift of God. Do not seek pay. Human nature is to find advantage in every situation. Jesus says be a gift. The grace of God is a gift. He doesn't say in this passage to travel to foreign lands and be a missionary. He says God expects us, as untrained theologians, if we believe in Him to do Kingdom work and not to look for the advantage for ourselves.

Okay. The word of God is for us. Today.

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Look around. This is the mission field.

Father God, here are my hands. Here I am. You will send opportunity, You will send Your Holy Spirit. It is not all up to me. You. Send me as You would like. You do not promise we will have miracles in all of our endeavors to bring forth Kingdom work. You promise You are with us through it all. You help us to shake off the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and go forward, in hope of You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Psalm 21 ~ he asked life of YOU; YOU gave it to him

Psalm 21

O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,

and in your salvation how greatly he exults!

2 You have given him his heart's desire

and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah

3 For you meet him with rich blessings;

you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.

4 He asked life of you; you gave it to him,

length of days forever and ever.

5 His glory is great through your salvation;

splendor and majesty you bestow on him.

6 For you make him most blessed forever;^{[a source of blessing forever]}

you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

7 For the king trusts in the Lord,

and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

8 Your hand will find out all your enemies;

your right hand will find out those who hate you.

9 You will make them as a blazing oven

when you appear.

The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,

and fire will consume them.

10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,

and their offspring from among the children of man.

11 Though they plan evil against you,

though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.

12 For you will put them to flight;

you will aim at their faces with your bows.

13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!

We will sing and praise your power.

Who wouldn't like to meet David? I hope to. In God's Kingdom.  David who sat and thought of all of God's deeds in his father's flocks. Making those thoughts of God imprinted in his memories.


1 Samuel 16
And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ¹¹ Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” ¹² And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” ¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.

1 Samuel 17

³³ And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” ³⁴ But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, ³⁵ I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. ³⁶ Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” ³⁷ And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

 1 Samuel 18

 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,

“Saul has struck down his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands."

1 Samuel 21

⁸ Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.” ⁹ And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.”

 ³ So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. ¹⁴ Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? ¹⁵ Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?

1 Samuel 23

 Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” ² Therefore David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” ³ But David's men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” ⁴ Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” ⁵ And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah

1 Samuel 25

³² And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! ³³ Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! ³⁴ For as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.” ³⁵ Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition.”

1 Samuel 27

 Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” ² So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. ³ And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow

1 Samuel 30

Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire ² and taken captive the women and all^[a] who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. ³ And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.

¹⁷ And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day, and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. ¹⁸  David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken, and David rescued his two wives. ¹⁹ Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken. David brought back all. ²⁰ David also captured all the flocks and herds, and the people drove the livestock before him, and said, “This is David's spoil.”

2 Samuel 1

  ⁸ And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ ⁹ And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ ¹⁰ So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

¹¹ Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. ¹² And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. ¹³ And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” ¹⁴ David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?” ¹⁵ Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. ¹⁶ And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord's anointed.’”

2 Sameul 2

⁸ But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, ⁹ and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. ¹⁰ Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. ¹¹  And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

2 Samuel 3

 ¹ Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner.” And King David followed the bier. ³² They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.

2 Samuel 5

  When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁸ Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁹ And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” ²⁰ And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.^{[c] 21} And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

2 Sam 6

  ⁹ And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” ¹⁰ So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. ¹¹ And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

¹² And it was told King David, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. ¹³ And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. ¹⁴ And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. ¹⁵ So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

2 Samuel 7

 ¹²  When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³  He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴  I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, ¹⁵  but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. ¹⁶  And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.^[c] Your throne shall be established forever.’” ¹⁷ In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.

8 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. 22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making himself a name and doing for them[d] great and awesome things by driving out[e] before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods? 24 And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O Lord, became their God.

2 Samuel 8 

 After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

 

²  And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.

³ David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to restore his power at the river Euphrates. ⁴  And David took from him 1,700 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses but left enough for 100 chariots. ⁵  And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. ⁶ Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. ⁷ And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.

⁹ When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. And Joram brought with him articles of silver, of gold, and of bronze. ¹¹  These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued, ¹² from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. ¹⁴ Then he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

¹⁵ So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people

Some of the overlooked aspects of David's life are that of a mercenary carrying Goliath's spear for hire in countries outside of Israel.  His 22 year journey from anointed to King. The king appointed after Saul and before David. David's willingness to let bygones be gone as men flocked to him to be part of his reign. David's awe struck wonder at being chosen to be blessed by God forever. And asking for a confirmation upon that Blessing of the LORD! And David's willingness to ask God for more and trust in Him for it to appear.

Blessed are the eyes that did not see this, and yet, Believe.

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Job 4 ~ the roar of the lion

Job 4

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:

2 “If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?

Yet who can keep from speaking? 

3 Behold, you have instructed many,

and you have strengthened the weak hands.

4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling,

and you have made firm the feeble knees.

5 But now it has come to you, and you are impatient;

it touches you, and you are dismayed.

6 Is not your fear of God your confidence,

and the integrity of your ways your hope?

7 “Remember: who that was innocent ever perished?

Or where were the upright cut off?

8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity

and sow trouble reap the same. 

9 By the breath of God they perish,

and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.

10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,

the teeth of the young lions are broken.

11 The strong lion perishes for lack of prey,

and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

12 “Now a word was brought to me stealthily;

my ear received the whisper of it.

13 Amid thoughts from visions of the night,

when deep sleep falls on men,

14 dread came upon me, and trembling,

which made all my bones shake.

15 A spirit glided past my face;

the hair of my flesh stood up. 16 It stood still,

but I could not discern its appearance.

A form was before my eyes;

there was silence, then I heard a voice:

17 ‘Can mortal man be in the right before God?

Can a man be pure before his Maker?

18 Even in his servants he puts no trust,

and his angels he charges with error;

19 how much more those who dwell in houses of clay,

whose foundation is in the dust,

who are crushed like the moth.

20 Between morning and evening they are beaten to pieces;

they perish forever without anyone regarding it.

21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them,

do they not die, and that without wisdom?’

David fought a lion. Solomon used several of them along his throne. When his kingdom was divided, lions came out for the first time in a long time and devoured men. And C.S. Lewis created a beautiful story in Narnia about Aslan. I've been partial to lions since I was quite small and dreamed of Africa so many times.

Eliphaz the Temanite, should be called Eliphaz the friend of an almost destroyed Job. Job had trusted in his own righteousness for a long time. And Eliphaz is a good man, a good friend, willing to sit with Job and discuss the Good News of God. As well as his own still small voice about God. Eliphaz sounds like Cotton Mather. The problem is Eliphaz goes on for a long time and is judgmental of Job's soul. Like we all are. And we have to be, because we live upon our experiences to go forward.

Elijah heard the still voice of God and was encouraged. Perhaps we are learning more of what God would say to Eliphaz and not to Job. However, we would be wrong to hurry past what Eliphaz the Temanite would say. God takes Eliphaz and his words into account when He speaks to Job about His Power, His Glory and the hope Elijah, and all of us, including Eliphaz, should have in God.

Our own judgments roar within in us and war. We want to look up and be part of something so much more than we could ever be, "splendid, ancient, Powerful" (Max Lucado) and yet we don't have the patience to keep believing.

Eliphaz is giving hope in one hand and death in the other. We all get so tired of each other.

It is only in Jesus Christ that JOB became Job. The man he was uniquely created to be. Job is probably argued about more than anyone else in the Old Testament. Was it fair for God to treat Job thusly. And what if God were to do that to us. If the LORD decides we are going to be JOB, we are fortunate indeed, Job is about learning to HOPE, to lean. Not on to our own perfect reasoning. But to be grateful for the tools God gave us for the day. To not make a judgment that each day tells us of the next. To gather hope, gratitude and to trust the LORD.

It is more than endurance. It is about putting up with the ones we love with love. And putting ourselves out there again. If we are the one impatient. Or the one who fears the impatience of others.

The last passage has Eliphaz has asking about wisdom but giving an opinion in this Chapter., it just isn't necessarily Gospel. And we must look beyond ourselves to the Scriptures to determine not someone else's view of right and wrong, but lean unto God for His understanding. We cannot make our loved ones our gods. We must walk in the LIGHT of God. Eliphaz pushes the Mercy of God down in judgment, yet we are not to pick up worship of family and loved ones as our new gods.

…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5

Jesus Christ, Son of God. Our Redeemer.

…I am the Light of the World. John 8:12 …

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

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Psalm 113 ~ He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law

Psalm 113 

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!

2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the Lord is to be praised!

4 The Lord is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Perhaps you have read or seen "In the Name of the Rose"  it provides a look at some of the dour phases of Christianity.  And I am certain in growing ourselves, as eternal spirits in the promises of Jesus Christ, we actually should be able to look back at Christian growth in our very lives and be able to see ourselves. To be mature enough to say, yes, the Church has done such and I have forgiveness myself.


"The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett was a best seller in the 1980s and a mini-series, and was recently brought to my attention by the sequel. I didn't enjoy the sequel it was just too much political correctness of our era placed in the middle ages. Pillars stirred me in the strivings of Prior Phillip, working to build up the Body of Christ. Perhaps it was the constant play of blessing and struggle.

It is constant theme of God's. 

+ Genesis 12 has Abraham lying to Pharoah and protecting his own hide by the half-truth and truth of Sarah being his sister.

+ The midwives lied to Pharaoh about the birth of the Hebrew boys.

+ Rahab lied to the servants of the King of Jericho to protect the men of God.  David's great-grandmother.

 + Jesus told the mourners of the Synagogue's Ruler - his daughter was sleeping. Jesus was doing two things - encouraging the father of the girl and moving the mourners and scoffers out of His way. 

Paul also wrote of the Freedom of being in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 

²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹ To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 3:2

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.

It would be HIGHLY doubtful God would have enjoyed seeing Abram lie to Pharaoh - who turned out to act more godly than Abram (who heard the Lord).  The midwives helped create a Nation chosen by the LORD.

Exodus 1:20

So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Romans 2:29
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Jesus refused to adhere to the Law when He healed on the Sabbath. Each day Jesus proclaimed mercy and sacrifice over Law. He was teaching the appropriate Spirit of the Law versus hiding behind appearance to sometimes inflict unkindness and the evils of having a heart merely for show.

Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?

It is GOD, who sees us with Mercy. Giving us His Son. Asking us to sit with HIM. Eternally. That is quite something.

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Romans 13:11-14

Romans 13:11-14

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

This is a serious story.

There is this "thing" on the internet.....It is in the realm of okay during the day, giving you something like 45 seconds of seeing people use their screens to do something like skype and see. It is well know in the teen years and college years.

Daytime is fairly good, as I said. People love to see each other. Night time is far from good. A lot of homosexual graphic acts.  And it all out there. This is what internet porn can be - forming a picture in your mind you will not be able to erase and speak of in years to come. These acts are meant to Shock or to lead into Temptation.  One night, 20 people drink quite a bit and gather in a dorm room. And they place 10 on once side and 10 on the other. And the man takes off his clothes to be nude. He takes his male anatomy and makes a gaffe. Like 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil'..... but there is not a gaffe like they use in transvestite bars, but it is tucked up. And still there is hair there. And he arranges his face to be very sensual.. The viewing people do not know if he is male or female. The people at his sides look just pleasant and very pleased by design. And the faces of the people watching are HORRIFIED. Because they started very early in the evening.

We have worked in Youth Ministry a long time, we've seen and heard lot.  And we are not easily shocked, sometimes to the sadness of Father GOD.  Our young friend said, well the parts were tucked in. We said. What. That is the Most Horrible Thing ever. Our friend said it was a prank. We said there is a name for that. What. LOW LIVING.

How do you mean, our friend, was a little puzzled.  You know people who want to be in the room with that and it was nudity as well as something else.  There were women in the room.... They thought it was funny. No, my friend, that is beyond being not funny.You should imagine what the Noble Generation, fighting World War II would say. They would throw up. That is called a terrible crowd.

That ended the conversation with a thud. There is a time to quit listening and respond.

As the seasons changed, I heard from our friend.  This young person had gone to Lake Travis with 25 or so friends. I was wary of the conversation.  And asked with trepidation,  and a desire to run away, if fun had occurred.

"Well, we rented a huge boat and everyone went in about $40 for a birthday. And there was something that happened I want to discuss with you. "

(.................Great.........) "Okay. Tell me, I'll listen."

"Well, the girls got loaded. (Oh, here we go.) And the wilder girls were going to get top nude and flash people. (Terrific). And so they got all ready to go. (.........) And. The wilder girls got ready to spring it on the next boat. (Ok,  next.) And the boat came nearer. And then we saw they had a Pirate flag."

"You mean what?"

"We didn't know what it meant. And.... Well it was men. (Ok.) And they were gay......... yes......... they flashed us. And it was.... BAD. And very....... graphic."

"Oh, how awful for you."

"It Was Awful."

"I bet." I said with real understanding.

Our friend went on to say, "The girls, were still dressed, but put on their tops and everyone got very quiet."

"Oh."

And the voice on the phone said," It was the best possible outcome. Right, it made people think. And I didn't want the girls to do it, they were skanks anyway, but it made it all in perspective....". It was the first time for that discussion to be understood about boundaries. And behavior. And homosexuals. You don't have to be mean about boundaries.

So God took something wrong and made it sweep up. 

The young people went in after the other boat laughed uproariously and darted off.

So. Father God, we give You this generation, the expense of college, the willingness of some professors to use their classes to spread disdain for boundaries. The need for affordable education. The shock a friend found in a college apartment as they moved their child in for a first year (or any year). And the need for the adults who used to participate in dorms and fraternity and sorority houses. We lift up the need to educate our country. And a Congress willing to educate the people without crippling debt. In the name of Jesus Christ, the LORD, sort us out Father GOD. Amen.

Amen.

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