15 July 2011

Psalm 31; 1 Samuel 21:1-15, Acts 13:13-25; Mark 3:7-19a

David uses deception twice in this passage to keep his life safe. He is, in this respect, like Jacob who was a deceiver. First, David lies to the priest in Nob concerning the reason for his presence there. Was he truly about the king’s business? He was, in fact, running and hiding from the king. He receives sustenance that is normally reserved for the priests by this ruse. It seems morally wrong to have deceived a priest in order to get what you shouldn’t have anyway yet David was the Lord’s anointed. Does this justify falsehood? In addition to the food, David also arms himself with, of all things, Goliath’s sword. This conversation is overheard by one who has the potential for gain in revealing the information, Doeg the Edomite. David chooses next to hide among the enemies of Israel, in Gath, Goliath’s hometown. He knows, however, that the king has something to fear as he recalls the songs that were sung of David’s exploits. This time David pretends to be a madman in order to divert the king’s attention from him and to show that he poses no threat to this king.

Jesus seeks time apart from the crowds and also silences the demons who would bear testimony to Him. We need time apart with the Father and too often we allow ourselves to be busy rather than quieting ourselves in His presence. Ministry pressure requires us to be available yet we are only useful in ministry to the extent that we have been filled by Him. Why would the demons want to testify about His identity? Recall that naming a person implies mastery over them, thinking about Genesis 32 when Jacob wrestles with the man at the Jabbok. His question is “What is your name?” That question is never answered and in the end the “man” gets control of the situation and then re-names Jacob as Israel, which is the “man’s” way of giving His name to Jacob.

The synagogue ruler probably regretted his invitation to Paul to speak. It was customary to invite a visiting rabbi, particularly one from Jerusalem, to share with the congregation in the synagogue as we see Jesus doing on several occasions. Paul took his opportunity here in Antioch to connect Jesus with Jewish history because he was speaking to those who were Jews. His presentation made sense to them since they knew that Messiah was to come from the Davidic line. When he speaks at the Aeropagus, his presentation is to connect Jesus with the best of Greek philosophy. We must always be careful to know our audience just as David did in that first lesson and Paul does here, if we are to bear coherent witness to Jesus in context.

The King of love my Shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never,

I nothing lack if I am His

And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow

My ransomed soul He leadeth,

And where the verdant pastures grow,

With food celestial feedeth.

Tune