The Lord proposes to use Assyria as His judgment against His
people. Here, in particular, He is
speaking of the southern kingdom of Judah as the northern kingdom has already
been removed and assimilated into the nations.
His word is that as this people have committed the same sins as those
other tribes, should He not punish them as well. Although He chose Assyria as His instrument
to accomplish judgment, they remain under judgment themselves. No one is innocent simply because they do not
know Him. They, too will be judged by the
Lord after their time of conquest is complete.
Judgment will be based on their arrogance in believing in themselves
rather than recognizing that this is the result of His giving the people and
the spoil into their hands. They will
know His power one way or another.
Is John questioning whether Jesus is Messiah? If you read ancient commentary, that is never
suggested. If you read modern commentary
it is almost always the interpretation. Ancient
commentators say that John was never in doubt and that he was sending his disciples
to Jesus from confidence and a desire that they should see for themselves that
indeed Jesus was the One. Modern commentators
say that John’s own situation caused him doubts. If he was right, why was John under Herod’s
judgment. Jesus’ answer included high
praise of John but also a statement about the kingdom itself. The kingdom moves forward but not without
opposition that is forceful and violent.
Those who would obtain the kingdom, however, are those who know they are
unable to do so, those who humbly rely on Him for all things. The kingdom isn’t advanced by force or
military might, not by strength or power, but by the Holy Spirit convicting of
truth. We must always be aware of our
need of Him and our utter powerlessness.
Our attitude is to be, all things come of Thee, O Lord.
Peter is remembering Jesus’ teaching about driving out a
demon without replacing it with something else.
The demon searches for another home and then returns with friends to
find an accommodating place to reside in its former place. Peter says, “whatever overcomes a person, to
that he is enslaved.” His concern is
that if the one who has been overcome now gains victory over his sin, and then
returns to it, his new situation is worse than before. Where have you made progress in the past but
now find yourself struggling with the same thing? What is overcoming you and enslaving
you? Confess your weakness in the face
of this temptation and ask for His strength.
It’s your only hope. It always
is. Don’t boast in your strength, boast
in His.
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