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Sunday, January 13, 2019

Joshua 2: Redeemed!

Presented to Alberni Valley Ministries, 13 January 2018 by Captain Michael Ramsay

Over the next few weeks we are looking at Joshua. Last week Tim gave us a brief overview of the book and gave us an introduction to Joshua himself I believe. Today, we are going to look a little bit at the conquest of Jericho and specifically Rahab (Joshua 2&6, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25).

First, what do we know about Jericho? Jericho was this great fortified city. It was near the Jordan River. There was wonderful farmland all around. Its population was giants! It must have had some special significance for Joshua too. This isn’t the first time that Joshua had been over the Jordan River. Do we remember Joshua’s first encounter with the Promised Land? Remember that Joshua was one of the 12 spies Moses sent to check out Jericho 40 years before and at first how all of them except Caleb came back afraid to claim their inheritance. Joshua then quickly took Caleb’s perspective but the rest of that generation were afraid to enter the Promised Land before it was too late and so God in essence said ‘fine’ and the Hebrews wandered around the desert until everyone in that generation – except Caleb and Joshua - died.

Now in our text today the Hebrews have returned to Jericho and the Promised Land and Joshua is sending out the spies. He picks 2 young men and he sends them out just like Moses had sent him out 40 years before. These two young guys are on their first assignment in all probability and their first time away from their family Israel and their first time in the big city. So these two teenage boys or young twenty-somethings, where do they go when they get to the city? They go see the local prostitute! (Now we don’t know if they went there to give her some business or if they just thought that this would be a good place to blend in while they were spying on the town. We don’t know whether it was their idea or Joshua’s idea that they wind up at the home/business of Rahab the prostitute but here they are at Rahab’s house.

What do we know about Rahab? Every September the Salvation Army highlights those who are trafficked. Many of the people trafficked today in Canada are prostituted. While there is no evidence that Rahab was trafficked: her family was close to her; they lived in the same town as her (Jericho) and she went out of her way to save their lives when the opportunity arose (Joshua 2:12-13, 18; 6:23);[2] she was a prostitute [3] and though Shrine/religious prostitution was not uncommon in that area, we know, because of the specific language used to describe her work, Rahab was not a shrine prostitute. She was a secular prostitute not unlike those in our own time in this country.[4] And prostitutes then, like prostituted peoples today, were often outcasts from society.

It is significant that she is often referred to by her profession but another significant thing about Rahab of course was that she repented of her allegiances - when these young spies showed up at her door she, a probably young, marginalized prostitute was smart enough to see what was happening and she changed to support God (Joshua 2,6) and she was redeemed - James recognizes her for both her faith and her works (James 2:24-26). Rahab was saved and the author of Hebrews even records her as one of the heroes (heroines) of the faith. Hebrews 11:31: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” Rahab, the prostitute, was saved.

Now today when we hear the name Rahab, we often think of this lady whom the LORD used to save the spies and deliver Jericho into the Hebrews’ hands. Does anyone know what the name ‘Rahab’ literally means? It - translated from Hebrew- means ‘fat’, ‘broad’, or ‘large’ and in common usage it refers to ‘fierceness’, ‘insolence’, and ‘pride’.[5] In the Bible, the country of Egypt is sometimes derogatorily referred to as a Rahab. Rahab is an insult word used of one of the Hebrews’ off again / on again enemies, the Egyptians.[6] Egypt - according to Isaiah and according to the Psalms – Egypt is a fat, insolent, Rahab (Psalm 89:10, Isaiah 51:9; cf. Psalm 87:4, Isaiah 30:7). Rahab in our story today was a prostitute. But Rahab is saved and Rahab is redeemed.

Many of you know some of our own personal history. Susan, the girls and I were soldiers with 614 in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside prior to being commissioned as Officers in The Salvation Army. And since then we have served the LORD and the Army in Saskatchewan, in Winnipeg downtown and at Stoney Mountain Penitentiary. And of course we spent the previous few years in downtown Toronto. We made more than a few friends in these environments who –like Rahab- were relegated to the margins of society by circumstances, their choices, and/or someone else’s actions. We had friends in our Bible studies, church services, and/or staying in our very home (we ran a transition residence in Vancouver) who were prostituted peoples, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and suffering everything else common to those environments.

We have had more than one friend, for whom our hearts still break, overdose, convicted of murder, and other such things – some even since knowing the Lord. Sometimes we fall back but even still I have seen God transform many lives: sometimes once, sometimes twice, sometimes thrice, or even more as need be. There are many more people still relegated to the margins of our society even here in our community - they (we) are not unredeemable; they (we) are as ready for redemption as anyone. During the many years we lived and worked in Saskatchewan between Nipawin, Tisdale, Carrot River, Maple Creek and Swift Current, I spent many hours sitting with my friends in the courts, speaking with our friends in the courts, speaking on behalf of friends in the courts, praying with friends in the courts. There are many people we knew there and in Toronto and Vancouver and that we are getting to know even here who wind up on the margins of our society by either circumstances, their choices, and/or someone else’s actions. They can be redeemed. We can be redeemed.

There are many of us in The Salvation Army who at one time or another have found ourselves outcast like Rahab. Rahab in our story today, Rahab was a prostitute. Rahab was a Canaanite. Rahab was marginalized. Rahab was an outcast. And Rahab is saved! And Rahab is redeemed! We can be saved! We can be redeemed!

I have been involved with AA at various times in my life and ministry and at AA we speak about a how a higher power, God, can deliver us. And God can redeem us and God can save us. And God offers salvation not only from alcohol; not only from addiction; not only from a horrible, storied past of abuse and other things; but from all else as well. There is one name by which we all can be saved not only for the here and the now but forever (Acts 4:12). That Name, that One is Jesus. Jesus has died and he rose again from the grave so that we don’t need to be trapped in our addictions; we don’t need to be trapped by our prejudices; we don’t need to be trapped in our sins; we don’t need to be trapped in our struggles. Jesus rose from the grave conquering sin and death so that even those of us most caught by sin and by circumstance can be saved. Rahab was prostituted in a doomed pagan city. Rahab is saved and Rahab is redeemed. We, no matter who we are and what we have had done to us what we have done, we can be saved. We can be redeemed (TSA docs. 6&10).

After Rahab’s faith and deeds were used by God to save the Hebrew spies and deliver Jericho over to the LORD, do you know how the Lord transformed her life? According to Jewish tradition, she became the ancestor of eight priests (Tal Megillah 14b). She is listed as one of four women of surpassing beauty (Tal Megillah 15a; the others were Sarah, Abigail, and Esther).[7] Rahab may mean ‘broad’ but this Rahab is a beauty. The Bible tells us Rahab married Salmon, one of the princes of Judah (Ruth 4:21, 1 Chronicles 2:11, Matthew 1:5). We remember too the wealthy landowner, Boaz, who married the Moabite Ruth of the book of Ruth; this rich, prominent Boaz was Rahab the Canaanite’s son. Ruth was Rahab’s daughter-in-law. Ruth and Boaz had a child, Obed, Rahab’s grandson. His son, Rahab’s great grandson was Jesse and his son, Rahab’s great great grandson... do we know who that was? Who was Jesse’s most famous son? He was King David from whose line is God’s promised Salvation; A Dominion to be established for ever! (Matthew 1:5-6; cf. 2 Samuel 7). This Dominion is of course accomplished through another descendant of Rahab the redeemed prostituted Canaanite – that is Jesus, the Redeemer himself, the Messiah! (cf. Matthew 1:16).

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” – and God chose to send His only begotten son through the ancestral line of the redeemed life of Rahab.

Scholar Richard Hess tells us that, “the story of Rahab confirms God’s welcome to all people, whatever their condition. Christ died for all the world and the opportunity is available for all to come to him through faith, even the chief of sinners [like you and like me] (1 Timothy 1:15)...Rahab exhibits faith and understanding of the God who saves her. She becomes part of the family line that leads to the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:5) and [she is] a model of faith for all Christians” (Hebrews 11:31).[8]

Rahab, who was once a prostituted Canaanite on the margins of society now stands redeemed, saved, holy, cleansed, and as one of the heroes of the faith. You and I here today, no matter what we done, no matter who we have been, no matter what has happened to us, we too can be saved from it all. Jesus died on the cross so that we could die to our sins and He rose from the grave so that we can live out a holy, redeemed life (cf. Romans 10:9-13). It is my prayer that today each of us would - like righteous Rahab - take God up on His offer of His Salvation and of His Redemption.

Let us pray.

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Thursday, July 27, 2017

1 Samuel 24, 26: Respect: The Torn Cape.

Presented to 614 Warehouse afternoon service, 30 July 2017 by Capt. M Ramsay

1 Samuel 24:6: He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.”

1 Samuel 26:9-11: But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.

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Have you ever had a bad leader? A politician? A boss? A pastor? Headquarters? What would you about it if you had a chance and some impunity? David was in this spot. Neither would David strike his leader NOR would he let people under his authority act against the Lord's anointed. David wouldn't do or say anything against his boss the king. We believe God still raises up our political leaders and anoints our religious and spiritual leaders to this day. As such, just like David, we need to respect those who God Himself places in authority over us.[1]

We know about King Saul, the one to whom David needed and did offer respect and to whom he did submit. King Saul was jealous of David: going back to 1 Samuel 17 and the David and Goliath episode – remember the people said that Saul had killed his thousands and David had killed his tens of thousands…Saul didn’t like that much. But David refused to say anything bad about him.

On another occasion, King Saul, being upset with David tried to trick David into getting killed. He told David that he could marry Saul’s daughter (as he was already promised when he defeated Goliath in battle) if he brought him 100 of their enemies', the Philistines, foreskins (1 Samuel 18:25-27). Saul didn’t think that David would live to pull this off (or all 100 of these!) But he, and his comrades, did.

Saul then tried to pin David to the wall with a spear and twice tried to kill his own heir and eldest son in the same manner when Prince Jonathan supported David.

Now in our stories today, King Saul has taken three thousand chosen and skilled warriors and has headed off in pursuit of David with the express goal of killing him. This is David's boss, whom, David - in full knowledge of this - 1 Samuel 24:6: He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to [my boss] my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.”

Have you ever had an enemy? Have you ever had someone who attacked you at every opportunity? Have you ever had someone who hated you? ...who spread lies about you? ...who wanted you dead? What would you do if you had a chance to get them off your back? What would you do if you had a chance to say something bad about them or have someone beat them up or get them arrested or get them banned from some place? Would you let it pass? Now imagine that they are your boss or your pastor or DHQ. This is David’s situation.

In Samuel 24, David’s friends are telling David to be done with Major, I mean, King Saul. Like the devil in the Gospels, they even quote Scripture to pressure him into it (cf. Matthew 4, Luke 4). Saul, after all, has done all that stuff we’ve talked about: not only turning people against David and choosing 3000 people to attack him but he has actually tried to kill David more than once and is trying to kill him right now. All those who have an axe to grind with Saul are surrounding David (1 Samuel 22:2). All those who owe Saul's supporters money and don't want to pay them back, all those who are grumbling for this or for that. They point out that God has delivered Saul into David's hands.[2] They surround David; he becomes their Captain and they attempt to tempt David (some maybe unwittingly) with the poison chalice of self-righteousness, spite and revenge. David’s friends in Chapter 24 encourage David to betray and even kill Colonel, I mean, King Saul. And in Chapter 26, they even volunteer to finish off Captain, I mean King Saul for him. 1 Samuel 26: 8ff:

Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.

This response reminds us of Arc Angel Michael's response to Satan when the devil tries to draw him into an argument. Michael refuses to engage but rather leaves the rebuking to the Lord (Jude); remember too how our Lord Jesus Christ responds when Peter chops the ear off a soldier who is coming to arrest Jesus in order that Jesus can be killed. How does Jesus respond? He heals the soldier's ear and goes with him willingly (John 18). These responses: David's, Michael's, Jesus' should be ours;[3] but have you -like David- ever had a friend who offered revenge on your behalf?

Have you ever had someone offer to get someone back for you? Have you ever had someone, out of misplaced loyalty, gang up on someone else? Have you ever acted out towards someone because of what you THINK they have done to a someone else? If the person you are provoking or letting others gang up on is in a position of authority then you have committed the sin that David’s friends -and all the grumbling discontent people- are trying to tempt him to do.[4]

In The Salvation Army, Susan and I are the pastors, the Captains, and the local bosses here at 614 and Warehouse. In some respects we are in the pace of Saul. In other respects we are in the place of David. We have our bosses - AC, DC, TC - and if we have a difference with them, if we have a problem with them; if we encourage you to call headquarters or if we turn a blind eye when you do then we are acting out in a bad way towards our bosses and we are acting in a bad way towards God. When we betray, provoke, or otherwise rebel against our God-appointed leaders, we are committing the sin that David here - who is in a much more pressing situation than any of our corps and any of us have ever been - is refusing to commit.

David's men have a list of grievances against their current leadership –the leadership is trying to kill David for one; their leader is jealous, envious of David; the leader’s leadership is going in a different direction from God even; David has been anointed! He is chosen to lead his people and his people want David to lead. They know what has to be done – in their opinion - and they want it done now!

This is not unlike our own experiences, many churches' experiences, many work place experiences, and many Salvation Army experiences. I admit when I was younger I got caught up in this more than once - believing that I was right and those in authority must be complained against and otherwise resisted, evaded, or deceived. I grew up in a church much larger than any in our Salvation Army. I must admit that I sinned more than once by starting a petition or forming a faction or a clique or speaking about someone instead of speaking to them. I have been a part of movements that have tried to force our own agenda opposed to those in authority. That is sin against our Lord.

There have even been times when I have spoken poorly of Officers or pastors and –because of that- the devil has been able to use me to cause problems. I admit even as an Officer I myself a long time ago may have utter those ill-advised words, "then call DHQ". There was a time and a place when I even knew people were writing to a DHQ and THQ and I at best sat back giving it my tacit approval (reminiscent of Acts 7:58 and Saul watching the coats for people who were killing the Christian, Stephen) or worse I have fanned the flames of rebellion myself. In my recent memory I have even erred by listening to people's rebellious complaints about my bosses and not set people straight. If I have reinforced the grumbling of anyone who is here, I really do apologize. These experiences are equivalent to if David had tried to kill or maim King Saul in the cave or while he slept.[5] That is wrong; that is sin. That is what we do when we disrespect, complain about, or try to undermine those God has raised up as our leaders.

If we have a problem with those in authority over us we are never supposed to undermine them. If we have a problem with those in authority over us we are never supposed to complain about them secretly to others. If we have a problem with those in authority over us we are never supposed to go over their heads. If we have a problem with those in authority over us we are never supposed to go behind their back. If we have a problem with those in authority over us we are never supposed to gossip, slander, malign, or even THINK bad things about our bosses, pastors, our bosses’ bosses or our pastor’s pastors (remember as well the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7). If we have a problem with those in authority we are never supposed to even listen to those who try to undermine them. That is disastrous to a church. If you attack a pastor, a Captain, a Major, a Colonel, a leader in that way; you may actually be a part of the ruin of the whole church. It really is pushing the self-destruct button. If I get drawn into the trap of complaining about my boss to my employees, my parishioners, or as bad or worse – to his or her boss, I am holding a grenade to my soul and that cannot end well. If you get drawn into the trap of complaining about your pastor to our employees, our parishioners, or as bad or worse – to my boss, then you are holding a grenade to all of our souls and that cannot end well for the church or for any of us.

The Apostle Paul, who writes much the same things about respecting authorities in his letter to the Romans and elsewhere: Romans 13:1-7, Colossians 3:18-4:1, Ephesians 5:21-6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:28, Titus 2:9; likewise Luke in Luke 2:51; 10:17; and James, the brother of Jesus, in James 4:7; 3:1-2. Paul and Peter receive martyrs' crowns via a state execution and en route to their death they still refuse to disrespect the authorities God placed over them (cf. Acts 23:1-5). Peter writes, 1 Peter 2:13-15, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.”

Submit ourselves to the leaders of the places we are citizens -both on earth and in heaven - and in the church where God has called us. If someone gossips or complains to you, refuse to listen to them! By doing this good, as the scriptures say, you will silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. And my friends –if any of us are indulging in complaining, make no mistake, it is ignorant and we need to be silenced.

However, as we refuse to take part in these behaviours the darkness and troubles around us will really turn into light and life.[6] I promise. Leo Tolstoy, a couple of hundred years before 'pay it forward' wrote a book called 'The Forged Coupon'.[7] This book starts with one person giving into a little temptation and then it spirals way out of control with lots of people down the road creating lots of serious problems -even death -for others. But then at a mid-way point of the book, the story reverses. One lady refuses to partake in selfishness and her act of goodness reverses the trend and is the first in a series of blessed events that sees all the characters, instead of spreading darkness, shining the light of Christ into the world.

It is the same with us. If the next time someone complains to you about The Salvation Army of which you by your very presence are a part, if the next time someone complains to you about HQ, if the next time someone complains to you about these Captains or those Majors, if the next time someone complains to you about someone at 614 or the Warehouse, if you refuse to listen to it and counter by saying something good about that person and direct the complainant -with a smile - to speak to the person instead of about him/her; if you pray for him/her and refuse to gossip or even listen to her/him then you can be that turning point which God uses to transform a whole community from darkness to light.

However, if we choose to complain ourselves or listen to others gossip. grumble and complain then we are feeding the darkness. Today the choice is ours, like Saul (both NT and OT), we can hunt down our enemies on a seemingly righteous campaign and spread darkness and death or, like David in today's stories, we can love and support those in authority over us; we can love and support our neighbours, refusing to repay evil with even a bad thought. The choice is ours. We can choose the light of salvation or darkness and death. It is my hope that we will choose the light and love of God, for as we do we will see the whole world changed, our churches changed, and indeed we will see our very own souls transformed.

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

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[1] Gbile Akanni and Nupanga Weanzana, Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), ' 1 Samuel 24:3-6: a test for David's heart': God may have done this to test David's heart: Humility is the understanding of the boundaries we need to observe in relation to anyone to whom God has given authority.

[2] Gbile Akanni and Nupanga Weanzana, Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), '1 Samuel 24:3-6: a test for David's heart': God may have done this to test David's heart

[3] But cf. Ronald F. Youngblood, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:1 and 2 Samuel/Exposition of First Samuel/III. Establishment of Monarchy in Israel (16:1-31:13)/A. The Rise of David (16:1-28:2)/12. Sparing Saul's life (24:1-22), Book Version: 4.0.2: David may have sinned in cutting the robe; he did repent publicly.

[4] Gbile Akanni and Nupanga Weanzana, Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), '1 Samuel 24:7-16: The Power of the Spoken Word', 367

[5] Gbile Akanni and Nupanga Weanzana, Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), '1 Samuel 24:7-16: The Power of the Spoken Word', 367

[6] cf. Bruce C. Birch, 'The First and Second Books of Samuel' in The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. 2, ed. Leander E. Keck, et el. (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1998), 1160.

[7] cf. Leo Tolstoy, The Forged Coupon

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FURTHER QUESTIONS:

David honours God and Saul (1 Sam 23-26) July 30,2017

“The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” - 1 Samuel 24:6

Group 1

I. Life

1. What is something you noticed about God this week?

II. Text

Re-read 1 Samuel 24

1. What happened in this story?

2. Who raised up and anointed King Saul? Who raise up our leaders in church and society (both those better than Saul and, if possible, those who aren’t)?

3. King Saul, David’s boss, was trying to kill him; the spirit of the Lord had left him; people who hated David’s boss surrounded him and told him that God had given him this opportunity to be rid of his boss. David would not strike King Saul nor would he let anyone else; why?

4. Theologians GbileAkanni and Nupanga Weanzana write, "Are we not called to work for righteousness in the church and society? We are, but we must not speak so much of the evils with the leadership of the church and society that leaders become objects of scorn. Those who listen to such talk will come to despise all leadership and will not grow in holiness and humility. The Lord must teach us how to use words that can restore the church and society"
a. David did not allow anyone to attack his leader. Why must we avoid the temptation to speak of the evils of the leadership in the church and society? What is a better way to affect change?

b. Gossip and speaking bad about our leaders and others is one of the most destructive things to the church and we Christians; words are powerful: what should we do if someone attacks another in our hearing? How can we use words to build each other up instead of tearing each other down?

5. How can we each replace a spirit of discord in our own society or church community? Are you willing to commit to not listen to things about our leaders (pastors, bosses, etc) and others?

6. This week when you hear someone say something negative about someone, I invite you to say something nice about them instead. Please take turns saying something nice about your pastor (and/or HQ), your boss and then someone else in the circle; then pray for them.

Group 2

I. Life

1. What is something you noticed about God this week?

II. Text

Re-read 1 Samuel 26

1. What happened in this story?

2. Who raised up and anointed King Saul? Who raises up our leaders in church and society (both those better than Saul and those who aren’t)?

3. 1 Samuel 26:9-11: "…David said to Abishai, 'Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the LORD lives,' he said, 'the LORD himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”David would not strike King Saul nor would he let anyone else; why?

4. James 3:5,9&10: “…the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark....With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Words are power." David did not allow anyone to attack his leader. Why must we avoid the temptation to speak evil of our leaders in the church and society? What is a better way to affect change?

5. Gossip and speaking bad about our leaders and others is one of the most destructive things to the church and Christians; words are powerful: what should we do if someone attacks another in our hearing? How can we use words to build each other up instead of tearing each other down?

6. How can we each replace a spirit of discord in our own society or church community? Are you willing to commit to not listen to things about our leaders (pastors, bosses, etc) and others?

7. This week when you hear someone say something negative about someone, I invite you to say something nice about them instead. Please take turns saying something nice about your pastor (and/or HQ), your boss and then someone else in the circle; then pray for them.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Devotion 2.55/107: 2 Corinthians 9:7 Volunteers

Presented to Volunteer Appreciation BBQ, 7 July 2017

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-9

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”

Staff and management and Officers, we receive a paycheque or a living allowance for the work we do. We are blessed by God as we serve Him and others.

Volunteers are a double blessing. You help without any payment. If there is no money to pay for the work to be done, God still uses you to do His work. It is only because of you that any of the work here is able to be done at all.

You come out to help at the times that you help, on the days that you help, in the seasons that you help not under any compulsion, like our scripture today says. God really does love you as you are a cheerful giver of your time. Everyday that you come to help, you are a blessing to God, to us, and to those who we help in Jesus’ name. As it is written, you who have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, your righteousness endures forever. God’s righteousness endures forever. And for all of that and all you do, we are very thankful and I praise the Lord.

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

Monday, June 12, 2017

1 Samuel 17:46-47:The Battle belongs to the Lord

Presented to The Salvation Army: Nipawin and Tisdale Corps on July 6, 2008; Swift Current Corps on May 2, 2010; Warehouse Mission Corps, Toronto on July 17, 2016; 614 Warehouse Regent Park, Toronto, June 11, 2017. By Captain Michael Ramsay

This is the 2016-17 Toronto version; to view the earlier Saskatchewan versions, click here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2008/07/1-samuel-1746-47-battle-belongs-to-lord.html

So I played a bit of sports growing up. I won a few soccer trophies. I tried baseball – my team won a trophy once for winning the season. I tried basketball too. Now given my great height and size in general (5’7”), one would think that by rights I really shouldn’t be any good at basketball. But you know what? … I’m not. I tried out however for the grade six team…and I was one of ONLY two kids in my whole class - NOT to make the team.

One day when I was in university, we went down to the park to play some basketball. Now my friends – they were really good at basketball. Some of them actually made the teams growing up. Because they were all good sports and had a certain degree of patience, they would actually take the time to explain to me that hip checks, slide checks and nose tweaking were not acceptable defensive manoeuvres. Who knew?

After most of guys had gone home, I was left with a few of the more serious players and they decided to have a bit of a competition to see who was the best shot. How this would work was that one player would try to pick a tricky shot and if he could make it, all the rest of us would have to make it too – or we would be knocked out of the competition. So they would be doing these reverse lay-ups, shots from the three-point line and the like and due to the grace of God, I was actually able to keep up but then came my turn…

So for my turn - I clarified that I could do any shot that I wanted – I clarified that if I made the shot that they would have to do exactly the same thing – so I would make up the most elaborate shooting routine that I could think of: I would do things like roll on the ground eight times, while singing a children’s song and then throw the ball with my back to the net. Or at one point I think I bounced the ball in off another player after tripping and falling over myself. And – guess what - by the grace of God, the ball actually found the net; so here were all these too serious, too skilled players trying to concentrate on these shots while laughing and not being able to concentrate at all and - at the end of the competition - I was indeed the last man standing. /// It was weird but in life there are times when we can’t really rely on our own skills and abilities to carry us through. After all is said and done we must confess that the battle is not to the strong and the race is not to the swift (Eccl. 9:11). The battle -as 17:47 says- the battle belongs to the Lord.

Now we all know the story of David and Goliath that we read about today (1 Samuel 17), about how a young inexperienced soldier toppled a professional fighter and we know that the battle belongs to the Lord but instead of this – the fact that the battle belongs to the Lord - we often concentrate, when retelling this story, on how a person with just a sling can topple a well-armed soldier.

While it is true that Goliath is painted as a giant of a man, somewhere between 6’9” and 9’9” tall (depending on your translation: MT or LXX, 1 Samuel 17:4) and it is true that he is portrayed as having the most advanced weaponry of his day and age. Remember that the Israelites did not have any iron technology at all (1 Samuel 13:19). Remember that the Philistines forbade them from defending themselves– and remember that after they disarmed them then they attacked them - much like the USA in the second Iraq war or today with some countries and nuclear technology where they are doing their best to make sure that they are the only ones who will use these weapons. Here in our text today, Goliath has his century’s version of the depleted uranium bombs NATO dropped on Yugoslavia: Goliath has an iron spearhead that ways about 600 sheckles of iron (17:7). He is a formidable foe with superior technology…nonetheless the battle belongs to the Lord.

That being said, sometimes in playing up Goliath we play down David a little too much – remember that David is already referred to as a warrior in 1 Samuel 16:18 and, as a shepherd, he has a lot of experience with his weapon of choice – the sling. And you’ll note also that his weapon of choice is a real weapon that real soldiers really did use in battle. They could fire a rock from a sling at over 100 km/hr. and an expert could be deadly accurate. IT WAS LIKE A GUN SHOT (2 Ki 3:25, 1 Chr 12:2, 2 Chr 26:14): Judges 20:16 says that some men who were left-handed could even sling a stone at a hair at a distance and not miss. This is not a child’s toy; it is a pretty powerful weapon that David chooses to bring into the battle.

David is not just a child; he is a pretty powerful tool that the Lord chooses to bring into battle. So then part of the miracle of the Lord’s victory in this battle here is NOT the fact that David is good with a sling but part of the miracle could be that the Lord apparently conceals this sling from Goliath’s sight until the contest begins (notice that in his taunts of 16:43 there is no mention of the sling – only of the David’s rod) so it appears then that Goliath and his shield-bearer – even with their superior superpower class technology - are ill-prepared to face their opponent and why? … Why? Because the battle belongs to the Lord. Goliath and David’s speeches make that quite clear (17:43-47). This isn’t a contest of two men who serve different gods; this is a contest of two gods (one real and one imagined), who have chosen as their weapons/armour different men. This is a significant difference (repeat). The battle belongs to the Lord.

IT ALWAYS REMINDS ME OF THIS CLIP FROM INDIANA JONES.

THE BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD.

In our own lives, this is true too and I think that we too often forget that indeed the battles we have before us actually do belong to the Lord as well. I have been involved with a couple of different AA (alcoholics anonymous) groups in my time.

You should hear some of the testimonies in these different AA / NA groups. Steps 1-3 of AA’s 12 step programme confess that we are powerless over our foe, that only a power greater then ourselves can restore us, and that we need to turn our will and our lives over to God. This is true. When they forget that in AA it is not pleasant. When we forget that in our life it is not pleasant but when we remember it…when we remember it, all of a sudden the seemingly insurmountable can be surmounted because really life’s battles do belong to the Lord. They are not ours to fight.

What about us here? What do we do when we are faced with life’s conflicts? King Saul set up monuments to what he saw as his own accomplishments. Are we any better than Saul? Do we set up monuments for ourselves by taking credit for what God does through us? Do we set up monuments to ourselves in our minds by thinking that we are the reason that we won this or that we got that or that this worked out okay for us? Do we think that we have anything to do with the price of tea in China or the price of groceries or anything else here or do we remember that the battle belongs to the Lord?

When we are faced with life’s battles, do we just strap on the amour that society offers us - our education and experience - like the amour that Saul offered David and try to fight on our own strength? When we are faced with life’s battles, when we are deciding what to tell a friend, what to do with our cheques, what jobs to take; when we are faced with the battle of deciding what to do with the time and money we have been entrusted with– do we ask God? (really) Do we pray? Do we read the Bible when we are faced with challenges (like this one from Goliath)? Do we, like David, realise that the battle belongs to the Lord. Or, instead do we try to face life’s challenges purely on our own strength (cf. 1 Samuel 15)? God has given us our experiences, and our education and they are indeed as formidable as a stone in David’s sling but only if we remember that it is the Lord’s battle. We need to seek Him because, indeed, life’s battles do belong to the Lord.

In our text today that is made very clear in verses 46 and 47. David says to his foe, “This day the LORD will hand you over to me…and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

It is not by the sword or the spear that the Lord saves. This is the same in our world. We can have an education that is the equivalent of the king’s armour. If we don’t use it for God it really is useless. We can have as much money as a superpower spends on weapons. It means nothing if we don’t submit to the Lord.

So I know that life sends us many struggles. Everyday, some are facing a new Goliath. I know many people who are struggling with addiction. I know many friends who are struggling with serious health and family concerns. I know that there are those here that have real decisions to make about their home, their future, their children and their life.

As this is true, as this is all true, I invite you; I implore you to remember that the battle belongs to the Lord. So then let us load up our slings with the stones of effort, education, experience, talent, and know how but let’s do so in faith. Remember, no matter how difficult life’s challenges are; no matter how big are the Goliaths in front of us; no matter what seemingly insurmountable difficulty we are facing today – as we turn to Him, as we turn to our Lord, through prayer and Bible study – as we turn to Him, He will be successful for indeed the battle belongs to the Lord.

www.sheepspeak.com

[1] Ronald F. Youngblood. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Pradis CD-ROM:1 and 2 Samuel. The death of Goliath (17:1-58), Book Version: 4.0.2: The purpose of such contests was "to obviate the necessity of a general engagement of troops which would spill more blood than necessary to resolve the dispute" (Harry A. Hoffner, Jr., "A Hittite Analogue to the David and Goliath Contest of Champions?" CBQ 30 [1968]: 220). Whether this kind of radical limitation on warfare is ever sincerely accepted by either side remains in itself a matter of dispute (for a nuanced treatment of the issue, cf. George I. Mavrodes, "David, Goliath, and Limited War," Reformed Journal 33, 8 [1983]: 6-8). It is clear, however, that contests of champions (to be carefully distinguished from duels, which are individual combats not representing larger groups) such as that between David and Goliath or between Menelaus and Paris (Homer Iliad bk. 3) were not uncommon in ancient times (for additional examples, see Hoffner, "A Hittite Analogue," pp. 220-25).

2 Ibid.: By any standard of measure, the Philistine champion was a giant of a man (v.4). Some LXX MSS give his height as "four cubits and a span" (so also 1QSama; Jos. Antiq. VI, 171 [ix. 1]), others "five cubits and a span." The MT reads "six cubits and a span" (thus NIV mg.), making him "over nine feet tall." Other comparable heights in the OT are those of "an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall" (1 Chronicles 11:23) and Og king of Bashan, whose size is not specified but whose bed/sarcophagus was "more than thirteen feet long" (Deut 3:11). The MT account of Goliath's height is paralleled in modern times by reports concerning Robert Pershing Wadlow, who was eight feet eleven inches tall at the time of his death on July 15, 1940, at the age of twenty-two (Insight [18, 1985]: 51).

3 There is much debate as to whether chapters 16 and 17 are placed chronologically in order or even if they both originate from the same source or were both originally about the same people for that matter.

4 This may have contributed as well to David’s great speed in battle as he was not as encumbered with defensive amour as was Goliath. David was the light infantry as it were.

5 AA 12 Steps: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

6 ^{http://renewnetwork.blogspot.com}

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Deuteronomy 6:1-12: Children's Songs

Presented to 614 Warehouse Mission, 30 April 2017, Alberni Valley Ministries, 23 October 2022, by Major Michael Ramsay

This is the original 2017 Toronto version. To view the 2022 Alberni Valley version, click here: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2017/04/deuteronomy-61-12-childrens-songs.html

The other week my teenagers and I went to the Bon Jovi concert. It was a great show. Jon Bon Jovi performed in a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey the night right after they made the play-offs. It was a lot of fun. Probably the best parts of the concert were the songs that I knew - the old ones. I didn't always care so much for the newer songs; some of these 'newer songs' were over 30 years old, mind you. The encore was especially good because that is when they played most of these old songs I knew. You could tell the band was made up of experienced showmen too because of the way they ran the performance. You could also tell because the original band members all had grey hair. And it was funny: by the time he had finished the encore at about 11pm or so it looked like Jon Bon Jovi just wanted to go to bed.

It was a good show and the best part of the experience, like I said, was the memories attached to the songs and the opportunity to share those memories with my kids. It meant a lot. Later this year we have tickets to GNR, Deep Purple, and Alice Cooper. Alice Cooper by the way is an outspoken Christian and the son of a preacher. I actually saw Alice Cooper in concert when I was 17 years-old and now I am going with my 16 and 15 year-old daughters. This sort of thing is what our text today is about: sharing our memories with our kids so they can experience all the joy we did and so we can add even more to those memories together. This may even be exactly what is happening in our text today, Moses might be bringing the Deuteronomy generation to hear the same Ten Commandments play at Mt Sinai that the Exodus generation had heard before them.[1]

The part of the Scriptures we are reading from today takes place when Moses is probably reminding the children of the children of Israel who left Egypt about the 10 Commandments.[2] He is reminding them about the time he came down the mountain to their parents and originally shared these commandments. We remember that scene don't we? I think some of the women's group even watched the move, '10 Commandments' with Charleston Heston this past Tuesday. The only problem is... I think that movie is 20 hours long - okay maybe 4 hours, but still it is a very long show. That is as long as some people’s work shifts.

In our Scriptures today Moses is talking to the children of the people he received the 10 Commandments with. It is important that children are reminded of, remember and participate in their parents’ experiences. It is important to remember what the Lord has done. When we fail to remember our culture, we lose it; when we fail to remember our past, we lose our future; when we fail to remember what defines us as a people then we cease to be a nation;[3] and when we fail to remember our salvation with our children, then we will find that future generations are not experiencing that salvation anymore (Deuteronomy 8:19-20).[4] This is what is happening in Canada today. This is what Moses is driving home with this next generation of Israelites. This is important. Don't just hope that our children will learn something from a teacher, preacher, or priest. Don't just hope they'll learn life's lessons by accident. Sharing our faith history is our responsibility. Our very survival depends on what we remember from the past and how we carry that into the future.[5]

In our world today, songs are a great way to bring memories and knowledge and experiences forward to a new generation. I am going to list some songs and see if you can tell me who sang them for one generation or the next [Answers in footnote below]:[6] (1) Cats in the Cradle (2) Signs (3) You're so Vain (4) California Girls (5) Knocking on Heaven’s Door (6) Live and Let Die (7) Landslide (8) Johnny B Goode

I remember turning on the radio a few years ago now and... There is this old Irish folk song – generations old – called 'Whiskey in the Jar'. I don’t know if anyone here knows that song or not. Susan knows all kinds of these old folk songs. She really likes some of those old fashioned numbers and so as a result I was familiar with it. Well, I got in the car one day, turned on one of the local radio stations in the town where we were living at the time and – I don’t know if anyone here is familiar with Metallica, they are a contemporary heavy metal band – I heard them doing a heavy metal rendition of this old Irish folk song. I was sort of in shock. I was struck by it as I began to think of all the remakes of songs that I have heard over the years. Many times the remakes were my first exposure to the song and it got me thinking. When the words of an old song are put to a new tune they become accessible to a new generation. As we continue to sing these same songs in new ways, we remain faithful to their intent, passing it onto our children and to our children’s children. This is like our personal testimonies and conversations about the Lord. When we put the gospel message of salvation into our own words, in our own tune and share it with our own children then we are indeed passing that eternal truth of salvation down from one generation to the next.

Similarly when Krys (Warehouse Mission Band) here writes new lyrics to old tunes, all of us can hear the gospel expressed in music that resonates in our hearts and souls and hopefully every time we hear that familiar, sometimes timeless tune we can remember what the Lord has done for us, with us, through us and in us.

This is what our Scripture today sees Moses doing with the Deuteronomy generation.[7] God, through Moses, says of the lyrics of the 10 Commandments (Deuteronomy 6:7-9):

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Moses wants the people to remember even more than just the words to these 10 Commands, of course. The Bible says God remembered Israel when they were in slavery. Now, will they remember Him when they are free? God remembers us when we are struggling. Do we remember Him when we are free? We may turn to God when things are bad; do we turn away from Him when we feel free to live our life for ourselves?[8] Do we remember what God has done for us as we are delivered from our problems? Do we remember how God saved those alongside us? Do we remember how God saved our family members before us? Do we remember how God saved the founders of our country? Do we remember how God saved the Israelites?

Do we remember the things that God did for the Israelites before he brought them out of Egypt? How did God reveal himself to Pharaoh? Remember the Passover? Remember the plagues (Exodus 7-12)? When Sarah-Grace was 12 or so we hit the road with an excellent sermon she preached about the plagues.[9] I still have it. Maybe one day she can share it with us here. Do we remember the plagues God used to save the children of Israel? What were they? Snakes, blood, frogs, gnats, flies, cows (dead livestock), boils, hail, locusts, darkness, death of the first born. God wants Israel to remember their salvation from, in and through these plagues. God wants them to remember how they were saved as death passed them over. And God wants us to remember also how generations and a testament later, Jesus won the ultimate victory over death so that we all might live. This is what Easter and Good Friday are all about.

We have just come out of the Lenten season. Lent is when we are invited to give up something for the Lord. When I was a kid, Catholics would give up meat - except for fish - every Friday, not just during Lent. Fish Friday: I worked in a fish and chip shop for a very short time as a teenager and I still remember Fish Fridays.

When we invite our children and grandchildren to participate in Lenten services in preparation for Easter and Advent services in advance of Christmas; when we bring friends and family to Christmas and Easter pageants, when we invite people to a church service here with us, we are carrying on that salvation tradition and experience.

When we bring our children and grandchildren to church we remember and experience corporate worship and salvation together as a family. When we read our Bibles with our children and grandchildren and friends, we pass along the stories of salvation from one generation to the next - we show them what is important by what we do with each other; and as we read the Bible together, as we each experience our glorious personal salvation we can see how that fits in with salvation history and how we are included in the salvation of the whole world.

When we say grace with future generations before dinner - whether at home or in public - we are teaching others the importance of prayer. When we say grace, when we pray in public, we may even be unknowingly encouraging even strangers to be faithful. They might see us and then remember that indeed they prayed with their parents as a kid and then head home and pass on that marker and catalyst for that same salvation relationship with their own children; and then they may experience that same access to all the power, mercy, grace and glory of God.

So, as Hebrews 10:25 extols us, let us not stop meeting together as some are in the habit of doing. Let us not stop singing our songs of salvation to new tunes for new generations, let us not stop adding those timeless words of salvation to songs that resonate in our hearts and souls as we do here every week. Let us always read the stories of Noah, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jesus Christ with our children, our children's children, our friends, and our family. This week, let us resolve to take the Good News of Salvation and share it with everyone we meet so that they and we may experience the fullness of God's love today and forever more.

Let us pray.

www.sheepspeak.com

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[1] Cf. Thompson, J. A., Deuteronomy: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1974 (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries 5), S. 128

[2]Cf. Captain Michael Ramsay, 'Deuteronomy 8: The Next Generation Thanks The Lord' (Sheepspeak.com: Swift Current, 09 October 2011). Available on-line:http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2011/10/deuteronomy-8-next-generation-thanks.html

[3]Cf. Thomas E. McComiskey, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, PradisCD-ROM:Amos/Introduction to Amos/Theological Values of Amos/The doctrine of election in Amos, Book Version: 4.0.2; cf. also Willy Schottroff, “To Perceive, To Know,” in Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament, Volume 3 eds. Ernst Jenni and Claus Westermann (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997),516.

[4]Deuteronomy 8:19-20: “If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God.”

[5] Luciano C. Chianeque and Samuel Ngewa, '6:10-25: The Importance of Remembering', Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), 222.

[6] Cats in the Cradle (Harry Chapin, Ugly Kid Joe), Signs (Five Man Electrical Band), You're so Vain (Carlie Simon, Faster Pussy Cat), California Girls (Beach Boys, David Lee Roth), Knocking on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan, GNR), Live and Let Die (Paul McCarthy, GNR), Landslide (Fleetwood Mac, Smashing Pumpkins), Johnny B Goode (Chuck Berry, Elvis, Judas Priest, AC DC, Motorhead, etc).

[7]Cf. Ronald E. Clements, The Book of Deuteronomy, (NIB II: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon Press, 1998), 355.

[8] Cf. Luciano C. Chianeque and Samuel Ngewa, '6:10-25: The Importance of Remembering', Africa Bible Commentary, (Nairobi, Kenya: Word Alive Publishers, 2010), 222.

[9] Sarah-Grace Ramsay, Plague Pops – Salvation only comes from God (Exodus 7-12). Presented to Maple Creek Corps of The Salvation Army, 10 August, 2014 and Swift Current, 17 August 2014, available online: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2014/08/plague-pops-salvation-only-comes-from.html

Friday, March 17, 2017

John 9: OUC12.

Presented to TSA Warehouse Mission, 19 March 2017 by Captain Michael Ramsay

9:1-3 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.

Corporately through tradition, the scriptures and experience we have seen future generations of societies suffer significant consequences related to previous generations' actions.[1] Christian debates around war, the environment and immigration relate to this – if we don’t have a large enough population, we can’t provide income for our retirees and disabled and if we don’t have an environment, it doesn’t matter because we’re all dead anyway. Those with Jesus here seem to have been trying to either stretch or reduce this concept to a one-to-one correspondence.[2] If you do good, good will happen to you; if you do bad, bad will happen to you.[3] Jesus tells them this is wrong. A person is NOT blind because he (or his parents) are bad people and this particular person was born blind for a GOOD purpose. The wrong idea, the heresy (particularly common in the USA and South Korea apparently) that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people has a name, do you know what it is…? The prosperity gospel. Jesus quickly dispatches this error and chats about what he in going to chat about here. Jesus says,

9:4-5 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Much of the Gospel of John is about light. Here we have a man born blind, who can only see dark and thus Jesus speaks about light. He says we must all work when it is light out because it will soon be too dark to see. As long as we are with Jesus we can still see because He is the one makes the light in the world. Then Jesus reinforces his message about light and darkness through a miracle: he lets light shine in this man’s life.[4]

9:6-8: When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?"

Jesus replaces the darkness in his life with light and everyone who knows this man notices. Who wouldn’t notice? Many of us know Randall – a good faithful man who comes to soldier classes, Bible study and prayer walk, and who plays his instruments for us at every opportunity. Randall, maybe like this man, was born blind. Do you think we’d notice if Randall showed up here for church of for lunch today and he could see?

9:9 Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man."

Again thinking of our friend Randall: Can you imagine how frustrating this would be… some of us who know him would vouch for him but others who don't know him may not and still others unkindly may have fun at his expense. And some people who don't know Randall at all, who don't know us, and who don't know Jesus might even deny either that this is Randall or else that Randall was ever blind in the first place because., quite simply, the blind do not just open their eyes and see one day.

9:10-13 But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?"

He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight."

They said to him, "Where is he?"

He said, "I do not know."

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.

So this is interesting...they keep asking him questions trying to figure out how a blind man can suddenly see. He tells them that someone spit on the ground and rubbed mud in his eyes. This doesn’t sound right. Is this supposedly once blind man mocking them? Who was the man that spit on dirt and rubbed it on your face to make you see? He tells them the name of the man and all the relevant information that he can recall. They aren't satisfied - I assume it isn't his friends here who aren't satisfied; I assume it is people who never really knew the gentleman in question. When he tells them Jesus healed him and he doesn't know where Jesus is, whether they believe him or not, they figure they should go to the Pharisees.

So who are the Pharisees and why would they bring this man to them? They’re not doctors. Who were the Pharisees? The Pharisees were a religious group of Judeans. The Apostle Paul was a Pharisee and so was Nicodemus in the Bible. The Pharisees were known as a moral evangelistic holiness movement. At their best they were probably like a much earlier John Wesley or John Calvin and at their worst they were probably like a much earlier Oliver Cromwell or today's Westborough Baptist. At any rate, these people want a religious opinion on what has just happened. They run and ask the pastors, priests, the captains, the Pharisees to see what they think.[5]

9:14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.

This is important. Saturday is the Sabbath and to this days Jewish worshippers, to varying degrees, aren’t supposed to do things on the Sabbath but this is certainly a miracle so they think they should get some more information as to whether it is okay or not: when and how this healing happened.

9:15-16 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see."

Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided.

It seems that their questioning gets them nowhere. There is a moral judgement to make here and the religious authorities are divided.[6] Some say that God commanded the Sabbath to be made holy and so anyone who would profane the Sabbath by doing something on Saturday that could easily be done on Monday would be disobeying or even insulting God; so how could Jesus come from God if he did this? Others argued that he performed the will of God on the Sabbath by restoring or granting sight to a man. This is not disrespecting God; this is a miraculous sign from God. The religious leaders are divided.

9:17 So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."

This really doesn’t settle anything. I imagine those that already came to this conclusion agreed and those that didn’t, didn’t. They must really be getting into this debate and they must think this is really important because they go to great effort to try to resolve this.

9:18-23 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"

His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

So this is an interesting exchange with his parents for a few reasons. 1) The parents do confirm that he is their son and that he was born blind 2) they are intimidated by this whole thing – I know if I was called before a whole bunch of my bosses, who could throw me out of the church, my work, and my life; I would be nervous too and 3) This man is an adult. He can speak for himself. The parents say – why are you asking us? We weren’t even there. Ask him yourself. Now, I don’t know if those Pharisees who decided earlier that this man was of God have left or not but those that remain seem more than a little antagonistic. They start provoking and arguing with the man.

9:24-26 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner."

He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."

They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"

This is a great comeback that the man has. They accuse and ask him AGAIN, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes…?"

9:27 He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?"

That would be the last thing they want!

9:28 Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from."

The man has undoubtedly had enough now; I guess he figures if they are going to throw him out of church they have already made up their minds to do so.[7]

9:30-33 The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."

The Pharisees are totally backed into a philosophical corner here with nowhere to turn – and they know it - so they fall into the trap of the prosperity gospel; the heresy that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. Instead of addressing this man and responding to the requested theological interpretation of the events that God performed in this man’s own life, they insult him. They choose to be wrong rather than to admit that they were wrong.[8] If they had believed this heresy than none of this conversation would ever had taken place in the first place. They can’t actually believe it but still…

9:34 They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.

How many times do we do that? How many times do we know what is right but defiantly lash out wrongly instead?

Now Jesus enters the story again. It appears that news of this encounter had gotten out and so Jesus was seeking him out.

9:35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

Do we know what the ‘Son of Man’ is? He is the Messiah. He is the leader who is going to deliver God’s people from exile and oppression and establish his kingdom here. Jesus said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

9:36-38 He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him."

Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he."

He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him.

This man has found his salvation and this is extremely important for this man and for everyone else but this story is about much more than his personal salvation. The gospel of John has a much larger story to tell about the whole world and light and darkness and seeing and not seeing. You see, salvation is not just offered to this man; salvation is offered to us all.

9:39-41 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind."

Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?"

Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

There are some of us who have never seen the light, like the man in this story and when he finally does, he basks in it. He lets the love and the light of Jesus fill his whole being. If that is you, Jesus wants you to see and feel what you have been missing – the access to joy in the midst of troubles.

Sadly, however, even when we have felt or heard of the light, some have chosen the darkness of separation from God’s comfort and grace; we claim we can see quite well enough without him in our lives (cf. Mark 3:29).[9] We claim that we know, do, and can explain things well enough; we don’t need to be enlightened by Jesus. Some of us in our blindness claim we have gone to school or we have gone to the school of hard knocks so we know how the world really works;[10] some of us continue to walk in the darkness of self-reliance or something else rather than in the light of Jesus and this is sad because this does not need to be.

Jesus has come into our life and our world to lead us all in his light; those who are in darkness; we who have so much going on that we can’t see any way out, we who can’t see any relief for our predicament; God is here to shine His light in our own life so that we might find relief from pain and so that we may experience the joy of His life eternally. If you haven't done so yet, if you are still walking in the dark, I invite you to step into the light of God's love and experience His Salvation today.

Let us pray.

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[1] Cf. William Hendricksen, John (New Testament Commentary: Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, Michigan: 2007), 72.

[2] Cf. N.T. Wright, John for Everyone Part 1 (Louisville, Kentucky, USA: WJK, 2004), 134.

[3] Apparently some Rabbis thought some babies could sin in the womb; cf. Cf. William Hendricksen, John (New Testament Commentary: Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, Michigan: 2007), 73.

[4] Cf. Andrew T. Lincoln, The Gospel According to Saint John (Black's NTC: Hendricksen Publishing, Peabody, MA, USA: 2006), 279-80 for a discussion of John 8:12 pertaining to light and darkness in the man's life.

[5] Pharisees could have been acting on behalf of the Sanhedrin; cf. William Hendricksen, John (New Testament Commentary: Baker Academic: Grand Rapids,

Michigan: 2007), 79

[6] For a good discussion of the Syllogisms A and B, cf. William Hendricksen, John (New Testament Commentary: Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, Michigan: 2007), 82-93

[7] Gail R. O’day, John. (TNIB 9: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon Press, 1996), 660.

[8] cf. Bultmann, The Gospel of John, 337, referenced from Gail R. O’Day, John. (TNIB 9: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon Press, 1996),660

[9] Rodney A. Whitacre, John (IVP Academic: Downers Grove, Illinois: 1999), 251. He likens it to Mark's 'blasphemy against the Holy Spirit'

[10] Cf. Gerard Sloyan, John, (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1988), 123. Our own religious rules and regulations can cause this same blindness if we let it.

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Sunday, January 13, 2019

Joshua 2: Redeemed!

Thursday, July 27, 2017

1 Samuel 24, 26: Respect: The Torn Cape.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Devotion 2.55/107: 2 Corinthians 9:7 Volunteers

Monday, June 12, 2017

1 Samuel 17:46-47:The Battle belongs to the Lord

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Deuteronomy 6:1-12: Children's Songs

Friday, March 17, 2017

John 9: OUC12.

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