Psalm 119:145-176; 1 Samuel 12:1-6,16-25; Acts 8:14-25; Luke 23:1-12
Samuel chastises the people for their request for a king. His valedictory address is similar, albeit far shorter, than Moses’ address, the book of Deuteronomy but it bears resemblance to that speech. Samuel has a bit of personal bitterness over the people choosing to have a king like the other nations as this was never the Lord’s intention for His people. Saul has not yet become the disappointment he will soon be, and perhaps Samuel is not speaking here of the current occupant of the throne, but the Lord has given him a prophetic word concerning the type king they will have in the future. He does a final sign to them showing that his prophetic words are true and that this thing is a great sin. Although he is angry with them, he finishes his words with a promise to continually pray for them and also the encouragement to continue to follow the Lord and not seek after empty things. He is a good priest in that he is certain about what is sin but also certain that the Lord is merciful and sovereign.
The charge is that Jesus is claiming to be a king and forbidding the people to give tribute to Caesar. Had He done any such thing? When had He forbidden them to pay taxes to Caesar? When had He said He was king? Here He says to Pilate that He is king by agreeing with Pilate’s own statement but remember that the leaders of the people were not present to hear this, they had remained outside so as not to defile themselves by contact with the Gentiles on the eve of Passover. Pilate heard the statement and said he found no guilt. Pilate tried to recuse himself from the trial as Jesus was a Galileean so Herod technically had jurisdiction. Herod had heard about Jesus and hoped that He would perform for him yet Jesus refused even to speak so since He wouldn’t provide entertainment they used Him for their entertainment in the way they saw fit before sending Him back to Pilate. The sin of asking for a king has now reached its ultimate nadir, they are physically rejecting Jesus/ God as king in favor of Caesar.
Simon comes to understand something of the power of the Holy Spirit. He thought of the apostles as magicians like himself and sought to purchase their “trick” from them. He presumed that they could teach him how to do what they had done in imparting the Holy Spirit through the laying on of their hands and then he could do this as well. The impartation of the Holy Spirit, however, is not a parlor trick, it is the work of God through human beings. Peter rebukes Simon for his offer and calls down the judgment of God on Simon for the sin of bitterness and jealousy in his heart. In all three lessons we see people who take God lightly, the people wanting and earthly king to replace their heavenly king, Herod expecting Jesus to do signs for his amusement and here Simon believing the work of God to be a magic trick. Where might we be guilty of diminishing the work of God or the person of God in our lives, our worship, our prayers, our thoughts and our hearts? Let us ask for a vision like Isaiah had in the temple so that He might be restored to the throne and to His majesty, glory and holiness in our lives.
Thus, all my toilsome way along, I sing aloud Thy praises,
That earth may hear the grateful song my voice unwearied raises.
Be joyful in the Lord, my heart, both soul and body bear your part:
To God all praise and glory.
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