2 June 2010
Psalm 119:49-72; Eccles. 3:1-15; Gal. 2:11-21; Matt. 14:1-12

To my generation, the baby boomers, this passage begins with a song by the Byrds. I wonder how many people know they were quoting Ecclesiastes? Solomon here gives a brief meditation on time and how we pass the time. In all things, God is sovereign, even over time. There are times appointed for all things and all times are as one, in the “experience” of God, nothing is past, present or future, all is present. It is fascinating to work through these few verses and in them see the mind of Solomon working out the issues of time and our lives with almost breath-taking brevity and clarity. All that we do is meant to be pleasure-giving and yet in all these things we are not to take primary or ultimate pleasure as they are themselves given us by God for pleasure. He is the source of pleasure and knows what is good for us. In all things we are to stand in awe of Him for His omnipotence, omniscience and love for us in that He provides all that we need to enjoy life and all things were arranged so that they come to pass for us just as planned.

Herod proves to be a man whose pleasures are more important than his principles. He had a problem, he had married his brother’s wife who had ambition and a beautiful daughter. Her ambition was to be fully accepted as the wife of the ruler but who had a problem in that John wouldn’t give them peace but confronted sin. Herod enjoyed the dance of the daughter so much he was willing to offer nearly anything in return, and that desire cost John his life. As we see in the news on a regular basis, men with power and position often are brought down by their desires. Surely Herod could have said no to this request but didn’t in spite of his misgivings, he wanted people to see him as a man of his word. John was only the beginning of Herod’s problems.

This is an important passage from Galatians, it speaks of justification by faith in Jesus and by no other means. We see that the problem of this other gospel must be a return to Judaism and the law. Paul takes great offense to such a suggestion and speaks of confronting Peter on the matter of the Gospel. Peter apparently was attempting to curry some sort of favor or be found acceptable in Jewish company by living a life of hypocrisy and Paul says even his companion Barnabas fell into this hypocrisy. In doing so, the preaching of the Gospel of grace had become confused and Paul will not have anyone confusing the Gospel. He sees clearly that he is a sinner and will not have any attempts at works righteousness as it is a failed system, it failed to produce what it intended. It is a remarkable thing for a man like Paul to say, I have been crucified with Christ, taking on the shame of acknowledging his sin in such a way as to identify with it so that the old man is no more, but Paul again and again speaks of all that has gone before as filthy rags. What they now embrace he has rejected and will not go back. Like Solomon, he has been there and done that and now it is simply his aim to allow Christ to live through him.

Remember your word to your servant,
in which you have made me hope.
This is my comfort in my distress,
that your promise gives me life.