Psalm 38; 1 Samuel 20:1-23; Acts 12:18-25; Mark 2:13-22
David and Jonathan are in a covenant relationship with one another. We have little of the sense of that relationship in our culture today. They have sworn oaths to one another and not only that but they have and will continue to their respective deaths, kept faithfulness to one another in this relationship. Such relationships were not entered into or held lightly in this time nor should they be today. At our church we have put into place something called covenant membership where we as a church make promises to new members to provide all that they need to grow in Christ, to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him. We also have a leadership covenant that spells out how we will work together as leaders. Jonathan was willing to risk his life for David, his covenant partner, even against his own father. He sought from David a promise that if anything happened to Jonathan that David would keep covenant with his children and David did this very thing.
As Jesus begins to fill out the group that will form his inner circle of disciples, he makes a controversial choice in bringing Matthew into this group. The others have to wonder what is going on when a tax collector is allowed to be a member. The scribes and Pharisees come to the home of this tax collector and whisper in the disciples’ ear asking why their master eats with tax collectors and sinners. Surely this is designed to divide the group against Jesus. “Aren’t you glad you chose to follow this guy, look at the wonderful new company you’re keeping.” No class of people was more despised by the Jews that Jews who were tax collectors, they were similar to those in the concentration camps who cooperated with the Germans. Jesus is going against the grain in all that He does, choosing His disciples as He desires and announcing that He is more important that the regulations concerning fasting. He is the bridegroom and cause for feasting? Is the group strong enough to withstand the attacks that will come against it? The same question could be asked of the church, we best be certain we know the tie that binds.
The Lord takes care of the enemy of the church. Paul was an enemy of the church but he was willing to receive correction and be converted, Herod was far too arrogant for that to be his way. Herod reminds me of Nebuchadnezzar in that he thought himself to be more than a mere man and was willing to receive the praise and glory of men as though he were indeed a god. We don’t know how much time elapsed between Peter’s arrest and Herod’s demise, but the Lord works on His own timetable. He is our covenant partner, and our lives are dear to Him, so much so that He died for us. We are able to trust Him in all things and we know that indeed all things work together for good for all those who are called according to His purpose. Here, after Herod’s demise we see the word of God increasing and multiplying. We should always choose covenant partners wisely.
Frail as summer’s flower we flourish,
Blows the wind and it is gone;
But while mortals rise and perish
Our God lives unchanging on,
Praise Him, Praise Him, Hallelujah
Praise the High Eternal One!
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