4 October 2010
Psalm 106:1-18; Hosea 14:1-9; Acts 22:30-23:11; Luke 6:39-49

At the time Solomon dedicated the Temple the Lord spoke and foretold the apostasy of the people but also prescribed how to return and receive His blessing. “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chron 7.13-14) This was the same basic message Moses gave the people in Deuteronomy and it is the same message Hosea gives here in this word, calling the people to repent in order to regain the favor of God. They are to turn away from false gods and idols and they are to know that it is the strength of the Lord that wins battles for them, not superior weaponry. We tend to rely on other things and fail to give credit to the Lord for all the blessings of our lives, it is important that we remember “All things come of thee O Lord.”

Jesus gives a set of proverbs for living as a disciple. At the end of the proverbs He enjoins us to do as He has commanded us to do. It is not right to call Him “Lord” when we do not actually allow Him to be Lord over our lives. Embedded in that teaching is a promise that if we will indeed follow Him then we will be founded on a rock. That does not mean that no trouble will come into our lives, it means that when trouble comes we will be able to withstand it. We are called to live according to the teaching of Jesus. In the Great Commission (Matthew 28.18-20) He said to teach those we disciple to obey everything He has commanded. It isn’t just about knowing the Word, it is about doing it.

It seems likely that Paul did not know that Ananais was the high priest, the office changed hands regularly within the family of Caiphas and Paul was not regularly in Jerusalem, he was not here being obtuse or disingenuous. His defense tactic was to divide his enemies against one another. He recognized that there were natural theological divisions among the council along the line of whether they believed in the resurrection from the dead (Sadducees did not) and used Jesus’ resurrection as a wedge against them. It works! After he is removed from the mayhem he has caused, Paul is given assurance in a visitation that he will indeed get to Rome to bear witness. Paul trusted God in all things, he was founded solidly on the rock and believed that whatever His lot, so long as He followed the command of God all would be well as it would be God’s will.

Praise the LORD! O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever!
Who can utter the mighty doings of the LORD, or show forth all his praise?
Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!