The new king did not turn away from the wickedness, apostasy
and idolatry that Ahab had practiced.
Even though God had anointed him through Elijah as king he forsook the
Lord when he was injured to inquire after Baal-zebub (literally the lord of the
flies), sending a messenger to make inquiry for him whether he would
survive. Having witnessed the end of
Ahab how could he have failed to consult Yahweh? Elijah meets the messenger and gives the word
of prophecy the king was seeking, he will not survive but it is because of his
sin not his injury. The king knows who
this man is who has given the prophecy and every detail about the man's appearance
confirms what he already knew. Elijah
will not come down to meet the king because of fear of the fifty soldiers, he
fears only the Lord. It is only when the
third commander asks him to spare his life and come with him that Elijah comes
down at God's command to deliver the word to the king personally. Are we as fearless about truth as Elijah?
The church talks a lot these days about being persecuted
when it isn't. There is real persecution
of Christians in the world but in the United States there is little actual
persecution. We are hated by atheists
and reviled publicly for our opposition to some of the things the world is
currently affirming but that isn't persecution.
Even so, what does Jesus say our reaction to either being reviled or persecuted
should be? Political protest? No, rejoice and be glad. Partnership and friendship with the world
isn't what we are to be seeking, we are to be the voice of God speaking His
truth to the world which means that often we are going to be speaking what
people don't want to hear. The world is
wrong, it isn't what it ought to be but generally it doesn't want to hear what
would fix it is a return to righteousness.
We are to show the world what it looks like to live according to the way
and will of God, to long for the coming of the kingdom in such a way that we
work to see it established in our own lives so that the world will see it. Look what it got Jesus. Even the religious people didn't like it.
What does it mean on a moment by moment basis that I am
God's temple? What was the temple in
Jerusalem? It was a place for the
worship of the one, true and living God who had, as He said, brought them up
out of Egypt, delivered them from the bondage of slavery and given them
freedom. The temple was where sin was dealt
with in the sacrificial system. It was
where thanks and praise of the community were given, the place of encounter
with their God. It was ultimately the dwelling
place of God among men. John tells us of
Jesus, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." In the outpouring of the Holy Spirit God is
enfleshed in us, we are the place that the world should know God's glory
dwells. When those who take His Name,
those called according to His purpose like the king of Samaria, turn away after
other gods, reject Him, they become useless like salt that has lost its
savor. Let us always remember we are His
temple and the place the world can encounter Him and do nothing to defile that
temple or deny others witness to Him.
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