July 28, 2010

Judges 11

Have you ever stopped to consider the importance of a vow before the Lord? Vows are extremely important to the Lord. But does he expect us to keep a rash vow? Vows are a reflection of our character. They reflect faithfulness and truth. If we do not keep vows then it reflects upon how faithful and true we are. But what if we make a vow without understanding its implications? Does God expect us to keep it then? What if that vow, made without understanding its implications, would lead us, if we fulfilled it, to do something that is morally reprehensible? Is there a line where it is not morally reprehensible enough such that we do it anyway? When have we crossed that line? Why does the Lord care? He cares because He is faithful and true. He cares because He created us to reflect what He is like. Would He want us to do something morally reprehensible in order to carry out a vow made when we did not understand its implications?

Jepthah made a vow to sacrifice the first thing that he saw coming out of his house when he returned from battle if the Lord would make him victorious. The Lord made him victorious. His daughter was the first thing that he saw coming out of his house. Would the Lord expect such a morally reprehensible act to be carried out? Yet the Scripture remains silent on whether or not God wanted Jepthah’s daughter to be sacrificed. Or does it? Twice in the book it is recorded, “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” In Deuteronomy 12:8, Moses warns the people to not do what was right in their own eyes. Proverbs 12:15 says that the way of a fool is right in his own eyes. Did God want Jepthah to sacrifice his own daughter or give her over to permanent virginity? (Both interpretations are set forth.) I don’t think God wanted or demanded either option. So to argue which option that He wanted is rather pointless.

So what did God want? Here is a prime example of a man doing what was right in his own eyes instead of looking at the glory of the Lord. Yes, God wants us to keep our vows. It keeps us reflecting His justice, faithfulness and truth. But there come times when He wants us to reflect mercy and grace. Had Jepthah brought His dilemma to the Lord, I believe that the Lord would have given him an option that would have reflected justice, faithfulness, truth, mercy and grace all at the same time. After all, is that not what He has done for us in the Lord Jesus Christ? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john

Acts 28,

This is church planting at its most amazing. And it is so because Jesus designed it from beginning to end. He didn't stop the storm! I wonder if Paul asked him to stop it. He wrecked the ship! He did warn Paul that everything would be all right. He allowed a deadly viper to bite Paul! He prevented the bite from harming Paul. The father of the magistrate of the island lay sick and had dysentery. In those days people frequently died with dysentery. Paul prayed for him, and the Lord raised him up. Do you think anyone on the Island believed? I am sure that Paul left a young church behind.

Paul was delivered over to the captain of the guard. This is probably Afranius Burrus, who judged the cases for Nero. For two years Paul was under house arrest. Soldiers of the Praetorian Guard (the personal troops of Caesar) watched him constantly. He had a constant captive audience. Do you think Paul witnessed to them? I am sure he did. Do you think any of them gave their lives to Christ? I am sure a few did. The letter of Philippians was probably written from Rome. Philippi was a Roman colony in Macedonia. Listen to what Paul tells them in 1:12-14 (the word palace refers to the Praetorian):

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

The leaders of the Jews came to him. He proclaimed Jesus to them. Some believed; others rejected the message. Paul concludes with quoting Isaiah on the obstinacies of His people and saying, "Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!" We began the book of Acts with Jesus telling His disciples that they would be witnesses to the ends of the earth. They were near a city on the outer reaches of the Roman Empire. Outside of a 200 mile radius, almost nobody had ever heard of Jesus. Less than the 30 years later, the Gospel has traveled to the very heart of the empire to Rome itself and is becoming embedded in Caesar's own guard. Tens of thousands, if not hundreds, have embraced Christ. The Gospel is spreading like wildfire! Why? Because His disciples are filled with His Holy Spirit and they speak the glories of Christ! Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor John