I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
Joab convinces David to go against his better judgement and bring Absalom back from exile. When Absalom returns from exile David refuses to see him until Absalom finally convinces Joab to convince David to see him. This appears to have been a set up on Absalom’s part to begin his attempt to usurp David’s throne, because no sooner does David meet with Absalom than Absalom begins the process of convincing the people of Israel that they would be better off with him as king than with his father on the throne. When Absalom decides that the time is right, he declares himself king and raises an army. As soon as David hears of Absalom’s usurpation, he gathers his men and flees Jerusalem. A group of men from Gath, which probably means Philistines, join David as he leaves Jerusalem. David tries to convince them to return to Gath rather than join him, but they refuse.
I do not see a lot of lessons in this particular passage today. However, I see two things. First is continued evidence of how David had failed to teach Absalom to behave in a godly manner. The second is that Absalom gains power by using his good looks and charisma and by promising people what they want to hear. The people did not consider whether what Absalom said made good sense or reflected the thoughts of a good leader for the people. Instead, they were flattered by his apparent concern for their wants and needs and thus gave him their support for shallow reasons.
After Jesus concluded the teachings at what we now know as the Last Supper He led His disciples to a place where they often went to pray and meditate. A place that Judas was familiar with and had reason to expect to find them at. When Judas arrives with the troops he has been given to arrest Jesus, Jesus steps forward and confronts them. When they declare that they are looking for Him, He responds with the divine I AM. This is important because there are many people who claim that Jesus never claimed to be God. From what we know of first century Judaism, and from the reactions recorded in the Gospels, there can be little doubt that those who heard Jesus use the expression “I am” the way He does here, and at several other places in the Gospels, fully understood Him to be saying that He was God. There can be multiple explanations for the reaction of those coming to arrest Him. I believe that it is the result of two things. First, they were familiar with the miracles He had performed and were expected this to presage some kind of miraculous intervention preventing them from arresting Him. Second, they probably expected that failing that His disciples would attack them ferociously. Before they can draw themselves up again, Jesus again asks who they are looking for and when they reply surrenders Himself into their hands. Peter attempts to prevent Jesus from being arrested and attacks one of the men, but Jesus tells him to put up his sword.
After His arrest, Jesus is taken to the house of the father-in-law of the high priest. Peter and an unnamed disciple follow along. The unnamed disciple is known to the high priest and is thus able to gain admittance to the house. He then arranges for Peter to be admitted as well. When Peter is asked if he was one of Jesus’ followers, just a short time after being willing to go to battle to protect Jesus, Peter denies that such is the case.
Inside, the high priest asks Jesus what He has been teaching His disciples. Jesus replies by saying that He has taught openly, they should ask those who heard Him. I think there is an important point that Jesus is making here. He did not have any secret teachings. There were several religious cults in that day that had secret teachings that were only revealed to those who were initiates into the cult. In addition, by the time John wrote this Gospel, there was a rising movement that claimed they were heirs to Jesus’ secret teachings that people could only learn from them. John here was dispelling that very notion by quoting Jesus at His trial.
Today we have two more stanzas where the psalmist speaks of how following God’s commands will bring good things into our lives. The psalmist makes a claim that I desire to be able to echo when he says:
I think about them all day long.”
Certainly I can come closer to truthfully saying that since I have started writing this blog as my daily devotion. As I try to write my thoughts about the scripture I read each day, I find that scripture has more meaning to me than ever before. In the past there were occasions where I could echo this refrain from the psalmist:
they are sweeter than honey.
But now I find that to be true more of the time than ever before. I am still working on determining a system whereby I resume memorizing scripture, something I have not done for years. I will close this section with this prayer from the psalm:
and a light for my path.
…
Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart’s delight.
I am determined to keep your decrees
to the very end.”
Today I can find little to add to the words of the proverbs themselves.
than to be rich and dishonest.
We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps.”
I know I said I can add little, but, as would come as no surprise to those who know me, I find I cannot leave it at that. This proverb is a reminder that no matter what we plan, the results will be what God wills. If our plans are contrary to God’s will they will come to naught, to our loss. If we seek to align our plans with God’s will, He will guide us in making our plans and as our plans align with His will they will bear fruit to our betterment and joy.