17 August 2010
Psalm 121, 122, 123; Judges 18:1-15; Acts 8:1-13; John 5:30-47

The Danites were prevented from occupying their inherited portion of the land by the Amorites. Their position was tenuous as they were between the Amorites and the Philistines and they sought out another place where they could live securely. They first came upon this “Levite priest” (a contradiction in terms as Levites were not of the line of Aaron, the only line who qualified as priests) on their way to spy out the land and he assured them that they would be successful. They found the people of Laish occupying a very advantageous land, so secure that they had no defense structure built for their own protection. They were protected by mountains and had also an excellent water source. They would surely be easy pickings and the Danites made their way back to take the land. On the way, the spies had an “aha” moment, remembering that there were priestly vestments and a would-be priest set up nearby. Everybody ought to have their own clergy person for good luck or God’s blessing, right?

Jesus says that they have enough witness to know who He is and to form right judgments about Him but they are unwilling to do so. John has testified of Him as has Moses and the Scriptures but they refuse to see as these reveal. He does not rely on those testimonies for and about Himself, He has the testimony of the Father to assure Him. They have become accustomed to the way things are and the way things are done and those ways are working for them at a level that provides security and comfort, never mind the Romans. Jesus has come to offer so much more but they are satisfied with the way things are and they are satisfied with their own righteousness and their satisfaction precludes their seeking after more. Like the Danites, they are willing to settle for any old priest when the real high priest is here in their midst.

For the first time the apostles take their mission on the road, but not willingly. Persecution forced them out of Jerusalem. They were supposed to remain there until they were clothed with the Holy Spirit (power from on high) and then they were to go into the world, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. They had settled in Jerusalem and it was only in this persecution that they were scattered. Surprisingly the first apostolic missionary success was not through an apostle but through a deacon, Philip, who went to Samaria and proclaimed the Word through word and the power of the Holy Spirit working through him as it had worked through Jesus, healing people and delivering them from demons. The power working through Philip was greater than the power working through the magician of the area and it was sufficient to convert this man as well. In our day there are many counterfeits posing as healers and the church seems to give short-shrift to healing. Do we neglect to minister in the full counsel and power of God and thereby fail to be as effective as we ought to be?

To you I lift up my eyes,
O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
As the eyes of servants
look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid
to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
until he has mercy upon us.