Psalm 101, 109; 2 Samuel 14:21-33; Acts 21:15-26; Mark 10:17-31
Absalom is a strange mixture of the impetuous and the patient. He waited two years to get his revenge on his brother Amnon, waited in Geshur and then waited in Jerusalem for two years before attempting to see the king. When he acted, it was boldly, murdering his brother and here setting fire to Joab’s field in order to get the commander to come to his home. For whatever reason, his orders were obeyed by his men each time. Here, he has been allowed back to Jerusalem but because of his earlier actions, David has refused to allow him into his presence. When Absalom gets his face-to-face with Joab, he pleads his innocence, believing himself to be without guilt, he has only acted to defend his sister’s honor, as her redeemer. The situation seems to be like that of David’s descendant Jacob whose daughter Dinah was raped by the Shechemite in Genesis 34 and whose sons were the ones to gain revenge on this man and his people. Why did David not act against his son Amnon after the rape of Tamar? When he finally allows Absalom back, David weeps with joy over this son who is restored.
“What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Interesting question, inherit being a key word. What must I do to inherit anything? Someone must die and I must be in the will. This rich young man claims to have kept all the commandments from youth and yet he is aware perhaps that there is something missing. Jesus says essentially it isn’t a matter of doing, it is a matter of the heart. Does he love the Lord with all his heart or does he love his possessions more? Are we working to gain more stuff of earth or more eternal reward. This young man seems to want earth and heaven and Jesus tells him that he can’t have both, he has to choose and the choice is made, he had great possessions and couldn’t leave them to receive eternal life. We aren’t all faced with that choice, but Jesus saw to the heart of the matter, this man valued his earthly inheritance more than an eternal one. We must always keep this valuation question in mind, showing in our lives what we truly value. How do we use our time, talent and treasure? Which kingdom are we building?
Why does Paul agree to this proposal by James and the Jerusalem elders? It seems to have been a compromise that benefited all sides. Paul has brought a collection from the Gentile churches to benefit the Jerusalem church and the apostolic leaders are concerned about accepting this offering because it might upset the thousands of Jews who have accepted Jesus as Messiah but who are also “zealous for the law” and who have heard that Paul is an anti-nomian, a man who opposes the law of Moses. Their offer is that they will accept the offering and therefore tacitly align themselves with the Gentile churches if Paul will accompany four men who have fulfilled a Nazirite vow (see Numbers 6) and therefore tacitly identify with those who are still aligned with Judaism. It seems a win-win situation, bringing both sides into alignment and maintaining the integrity of the Jerusalem council’s decision we saw in Acts 15. Like the situation with Absalom, it won’t work out well. There has to be a break with the law.
Blessings abound wherever He reigns;
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains;
The weary find eternal rest, And all the sons of want are blessed.
Where He displays His healing power,
Death and the curse are known no more:
In Him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.
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