24 June 2011

Psalm 102; 1 Samuel 9:1-14; Acts 7:17-29; Luke 22:31-38

We meet the man who would be king. We are told that he was tall and handsome, the perfect physical specimen to be the icon of the nation. His father has sent him to look for his lost donkeys and Saul, it seems, is persistent, willing to extend himself on behalf of his father in searching for the donkeys. When he gets to Zuph, however, he is ready to give up the search because he presumes his father will give off worrying about the donkeys and now will be worrying about his son. Saul’s servant, however, has another idea. The man of God (Samuel) lives here and surely if they give him some money or other offering he will tell them where the donkeys may be found. What, however, will the seer “see”?

“We have two swords!” What, indeed, were they thinking? What did Jesus mean by saying that if you had no sword you should buy one? Based on what comes next, clearly Jesus did not mean that they should arm themselves more heavily. Jesus was preparing them for the events that were coming, things were going to change, instead of the welcome and victory they experienced when He sent them out, now they would see opposition and defeat. There would now be violence directed at Him and at them in the future. The times they are a’changing.

Today’s lessons all leave us hanging. Stephen continues his sermon on the history of Israel with the story of Moses. Moses is the true story that fiction cannot match. His birth, salvation by a princess of Egypt, growth to manhood as a prince of Egypt, and subsequent decision to act as deliverer of his people stand as an amazing story of God’s providence and provision. Moses, however, had been educated to think like an Egyptian and not in the way of the Lord. He, like Jesus, was rejected by the people of God as their deliverer and yet, unlike Jesus, got a second chance. He was not to be a man of violence, but a man of intercession and peace who allowed God to do all that was necessary to deliver His people and then to shepherd this people in their sojourn in the wilderness. He needed His own time in the wilderness as a shepherd in order to prepare him for God’s service. We all need to allow God to work in us to change the way we understand the world and our place in it as we have all imbibed of the world’s wisdom, we need to see things as He does and act accordingly.

Lead on, O King eternal,

The day of march has come;

Henceforth in fields of conquest

Thy tents shall be our home.

Through days of preparation

Thy grace has made us strong;

And now, O King eternal,

We lift our battle song.

Lead on, O King eternal,

Till sin’s fierce war shall cease,

And holiness shall whisper

The sweet amen of peace.

For not with swords’ loud clashing,

Nor roll of stirring drums;

With deeds of love and mercy

The heavenly kingdom comes.

Tune