14 July 2011

Psalm 37:1-18; 1 Samuel 20:24-42; Acts 13:1-12; Mark 2:23-3:6

Saul admits to his son, Jonathan, why he is so angry with David. So long as David lives, Jonathan’s kingdom will not be secure. Why would Saul assume that the kingdom would be Jonathan’s kingdom? Typically, kingdoms are inherited by sons from fathers and yet there was no reason for Saul to assume this would be so in Israel, particularly after Samuel’s words concerning Saul’s sin with the Amalekites. Jonathan keeps the covenant with David to his own detriment. He now knows what is at stake in this friendship, a kingdom, if there had ever been doubt, and yet he acts on David’s behalf to keep him safe from Saul’s anger. David surely knows what his friend has done and what it will eventually cost him. Is that why David weeps the most?

What an amazing thing that the religious leaders were angry with Jesus over healing this man on the Sabbath, angry enough to plot with the Herodians to destroy Him. There was natural antipathy between the Pharisees and Herodians, the Herodians were Jewish accommodationists who had accepted the reality of Herod’s reign over them and had made the most of the situation in a temporal way. They had curried favor with the regime and had benefitted from their friendship economically. The two groups, however, had a common enemy, Jesus. Both groups enjoyed their positions in society, the Pharisees as the leaders of a tolerated religion were respected in that society although the larger Roman society may not have thought highly of them and the Herodians were respected in Roman society but looked at as traitors within the religious society. Jesus threatened to upset both their worlds by drawing the people to Himself and away from both the Temple and the emperor. They each had kingdoms to protect.

Bar-Jesus or Elymas is protecting his turf. He is with a leading government official and has gotten this status by deception or magic. He is afraid of what will happen if the proconsul, a man of intelligence, is exposed to the real thing in Paul and Barnabas. He has reason for fear and Paul knows that the power within him, the Holy Spirit, is greater than what is in Elymas. The Word of God cannot be stopped and Paul speaks a word of curse against the man. The situation is similar to that of Pharaoh’s court magicians in the Exodus, the power of the man of God is superior to that of the magicians. The demonstration of power here brings the official to faith. He knows enough to follow the stronger power.

Angels, help us to adore Him;
Ye behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.

Tune