31 December 2009
Psalm 46, 48; 1 Kings 3:5-14; James 4:13-17;5:7-11; John 5:1-15

Solomon proved that he already had a gift of wisdom by his prayer. He knew the Lord had been with David and he knew enough to know what made a good king. He began so well. Solomon knew that if he was to be a good king he would need wisdom to discern how to rule. God was pleased and promised him all that he could desire or dream of having and in fact we know that Solomon indeed possessed all these things and great, supernatural wisdom. The promise even included lengthened life but that part of the promise was contingent on walking in the ways of the Lord, and here Solomon did not keep his end of the bargain.

The Sabbath police get their man. Jesus does an incredible work of healing a man who had been an invalid for 38 years and their concern is that the man is now carrying a mat. He was doing so in obedience to Jesus’ command and Jesus had to know the Sabbath restriction. He could simply have told him to get up and walk but included the command that became the focus of attention, proving their priorities were out of order. This man is very different from the man born blind in John 9. This one seems to be interested in assigning blame, chasing back to the Jews to let them know that Jesus was the one who was responsible for his Sabbath breaking.

It isn’t wrong to make plans for tomorrow but we need to be humble about them and hold them lightly. Are we able to take things as they come or are our plans more important? Jesus always seems to have been gentle with people who interrupt Him. When they come seeking healing or when they follow Him when He was seeking solitude He never blew them up or blew them off. He acted as though people were more important than plans. The patience and endurance of which James speaks are born out of the reliance on God he encourages regarding long-range planning. A farmer has to do some long-term planning in order to have a crop, James doesn’t tell him not to plant a crop, but to be patient as it grows by the Lord’s will and provision of all that is necessary for it to grow. Imagine how James would speak to our society today that barely has the patience to microwave popcorn.

We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
As your name, O God,
so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with righteousness.