2002-01-01
Good Morning Faithful Readers,
In the course of discussing Abraham’s obedience in offering Isaac on the altar when commanded to do so by God, it struck me to ask: how did Abraham come to the conclusion he should confidently take such a step? I realize that coming up with exactly what was in Abraham’s mind so long ago is impossible, but the question still nagged at me. Our quest to better understand how our covenant relationship with God transcends generations seemed to demand that we look into this. HE 11: 17-19, “It was faith that made Abraham offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice when God put Abraham to the test. Abraham was the one to whom God had made the promise, yet he was ready to offer his only son as a sacrifice. God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that you will have the descendants I promised.’ Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaac from death-and, so to speak, Abraham did receive Isaac back from death.” RO 8: 31-31, In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? Certainly not God, Who did not even hold back His own Son, but offered Him for us all! Since He gave us His Son-will He not also freely give us all things?” These two citations help to unlock the mystery of what propelled Abraham’s faith in this matter. In case the question still nags about Abraham’s view of God bringing back Isaac from death, we need only look at the story of Christ raising Lazraus [JN 11: 43-44] to see proof of God’s ability to do this.
Whatever remains of the answer to our question about how Abraham could have this kind of faith must come from God Himself. I believe He has the power to give people He chooses the ability to have faith. Our Abba has a long history of revealing much to people He holds in esteem. His revelation of the Seventy Weeks given to Daniel in DN 9: 24-27 and His revelation of our future [the book of Revelation] given to the apostle John back in 98 AD during John’s imprisonment on the Isle of Patmos are shining examples of this. I have also said often that the appearance of Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration [MT 17: 3] is evidence that esteemed persons are given remarkable blessings and knowledge by God. It is also my belief that God gives us just enough knowledge to allow us to make the choices necessary to further our sanctification. That includes Abraham, Daniel, and John too.
It is now time to turn our discussion of how a covenant made with God transcends generations to the series of events that followed that very significant covenant made between David and Saul’s son, Jonathan, and, of course, God. As I have said before, I came to my study of the Scriptures many years ago very judgmental and inexperienced. Nowhere was this more evident than my initial attitude toward David. I simply couldn’t understand how a man who had committed adultery, murdered his paramour’s first husband, and had the blood of war on his hands could be so loved and respected. That was before I had read the Psalms and had done a detailed analysis of 1 SAM. It was also before my loving Abba had completed bringing me to brokenness to break through my pride and arrogance. I had a lot to learn, something that was pretty shocking for a Jew who had been brought up on the OT and came from a family of intellectuals. Needless to say, God has done a lot of hard work on my attitude since then, and I thank and praise Him for that. To refresh your memory of the covenant between David and Jonathan, reread 1 SAM 18: 1-5,10 if you feel the need. We’ll begin looking at these events today and will continue in tomorrow’s message. This delicious story is too fascinating to give it short shrift.
Once the evil spirit took control of Saul that was mentioned in 1 SAM 18: 10 took effect, Saul became both jealous and afraid of David. 1 SAM 18: 12-16, “Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with David but had abandoned him [Saul]. So Saul sent David away and put him in command of a thousand men. David led his men in battle and was successful in all he did, because the Lord was with him. Saul noticed David’s success and became even more afraid of him. But everyone in Israel and Judah loved David because he was such a successful leader.” This sets the stage for a series of most remarkable events which I will share in tomorrow’s message. David is subjected to years of persecution and danger at Saul’s hand, and his responses to this situation are enough to melt that icy heart against him that I surely had. The real lesson in all of this for us today is the protection, guidance, and blessings that each of us gets from shouldering the challenges to our faith with courage and tenacity. God takes His covenant agreements with us very seriously, and we should do the same as David did. As the events I will share unfold, notice how the protection and blessings extend to both David’s and Jonathan’s descendants who are themselves faithful. Meditate on how this principle applies today in our own personal lives. We must ask ourselves: exactly what are our responsibilities in teaching our children and grandchildren about keeping their covenant agreements with God? How can we be most effective in doing this?
PRAYER: O Lord, it is so remarkable how difficult questions can be answered by looking at them from the Scriptures. You make it so clear to us, if we will only open our hearts to You, that they are truly Your words and the truth. You have given us a great blessing when You called us to study these wonderful words as a part of our covenant relationship with You. What You say to us through them and through prayer is nothing short of an amazing manifestation of Your love for us. What makes this so remarkable and what makes You so deserving of our trust and obedience is the long-standing patience and compassion You show us every day of our lives. We never deserved these blessings, yet You are eager to give them to us anyway. Abraham’s faith is not only important to him and his immediate descendants, but it matters greatly to us too. That is because it shows us what we can experience in our own relationships with You if we will be humbly faithful. The long series of events that followed David’s covenant with Jonathan impacted their descendants in ways the average person would never have imagined. So many lessons and so much love, that is what You give us each day! We are undeserving and grateful beyond measure. For that and so much more, we dedicate ourselves to making You the Lord of our lives and to being obedient to Your commands. We humbly offer You our adoration, worship, loyalty, diligence, glory, honor, trust, obedience, praise, and utmost thanks. In Christ’s name, amen.
As promised, I am led to continue discussing the events that followed the making of the covenant between David and Jonathan. We will see together their ultimate impact on the life of Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s crippled son. There are many wonderful lessons from God in these events. We are so privileged to be God’s children and to receive the benefits of His profound love for each of us every day of our lives when we are faithful. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn