Psalm 55; 2 Samuel 1:1-16; Acts 15:22-35; Mark 6:1-13
Did this young man believe he would be rewarded for killing Saul and bringing the crown and armlet to David? He must have done as he concocted this story out of whole cloth. We just read that Saul’s death was ultimately at his own hand, he fell on his own sword in suicide. What a surprise it must have been to him to have seen David and the others whose lives had been at risk from Saul all these years now mourning his death. David had always believed that Saul was the Lord’s anointed and would not raise his hand against the king and his relationship with Saul’s son, Jonathan, was covenantal. David was a man of extraordinary honor here and this young Amalekite terribly misjudged the situation and it cost him his life.
The people of Jesus’ home make a wrong judgment concerning him, even after considering the evidence. They have heard all that He has done and they hear His teaching and are in awe concerning Him then they fall back on what they “know” concerning Him, His family and the like and they are offended. How ridiculous. Just as yesterday we saw great things happen because of the faith of the woman with the issue of blood and the synagogue ruler, here we see that without faith little is possible, Jesus can only heal a few people. Not a bad day’s work but hardly as dramatic as in other places. After this, Jesus begins to send the disciples out to do the work He has previously done. They have seen with their own eyes what is possible and now they are sent out to do the same things. They are sent out with strict orders concerning what to carry with them, this is a mission that will be fueled by faith, if God doesn’t provide it will be a failure. Indeed, they see success as they walk in faith.
The council sends Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with a letter bearing the council’s decision and also with two other men, Judas and Silas, who will speak for the Jerusalem church on this matter. The people of Antioch will hear it directly from the Jerusalem church, there will be no doubt concerning the issues and in this missive they will hear that they are brothers, not second-class citizens and they will know it by the presence of these two men. It is little wonder that the reception of the church at Antioch was gladness and joy. They are now relieved of the obligation to circumcision and accepting the Jewish law and set free to simply follow Christ wherever He leads. The judgment of James, led by the Holy Spirit, is an amazing thing and makes possible the spread of the Gospel to all people.
Musing on my habitation,
Musing on my heav’nly home,
Fills my soul with holy longings:
Come, my Jesus, quickly come;
Vanity is all I see;
Lord, I long to be with Thee!
Lord, I long to be with Thee!
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