16 June 2010
Psalm 119:97-120; Num. 11:24-35; Rom. 1:26-2:11; Matt. 18:1-9

(I have to point out that the lectionary leaves out two verses today. The omission is Romans 1.26-27. Yesterday’s lesson ended at verse 25 and today’s actually begin at verse 28. The omitted verses condemn homosexual behavior as a perversion of God’s plan for humankind and as evidence that when we deny God and His orderly creation we seem bound to turn to sex as a substitute and there is no textual problem with the passage, it is omitted simply for the reason that it does not suit the agenda of those who put together the lectionary.)

The craving for meat had consumed the people and in their craving they had turned from God their savior and provider. The craving for meat had become more important to them than their desire for God. The Lord gave Moses helpers, the seventy elders on whom He placed His Spirit plus two who did not come forward. His sovereignty is shown in these two, Eldad and Medad. In all our work on His behalf it is important that we recognize His sovereignty, we need to remain humble about all we think we know. Moses had this kind of humility in dealing with this situation. It wasn’t his desire to hoard leadership but rather that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh, that they would all know the Lord.

Everyone wants to be great and to know what it takes to be great. Rarely does anyone want to be lowly in the kingdom and yet that is exactly what Jesus says is required to be great. We like recognition and acclaim, it was a constant issue with those close to Jesus throughout their time together and yet He showed that real glory to God comes in taking up the cross. We come to Him as children in humility and faith and trust and then, suddenly, we want to be great. Luke tells us that Peter’s first reaction upon receiving revelation was “Go away from me Lord, I am a sinful man.” It didn’t take long, however, before he would be lecturing Jesus on what a proper Messiah would do and say.

It is interesting that we have no problem saying that the behaviors in Romans 1.29-31 are evidence of a debased mind and things that should not be done but the behavior in verses 26 and 27 are no longer considered in the same way. What if a society should choose to value craftiness or faithlessness? Would that mean that God no longer cared about such things? Paul says that if we judge others for these things and do them ourselves we will be judged as well. When he writes of God judging deeds it is not a return to legalism, he speaks of deeds in the context of obedience to the revelation. Our deeds, works, lives are a sign of obedience to what we know of Him and are evidence of faith, the faith that recognizes the distinction between creator and created, and the humility to submit to Him.

Your decrees are my heritage for ever;
they are the joy of my heart.
I incline my heart to perform your statutes
for ever, to the end.