October 9, 2011
Scripture:
Ministry:
Prayer
Let’s turn back to John 12; it’s important to realize the timing of this event. Previously, Mary had been sitting at the feet of Jesus, learning from Him. That was not the time to anoint the Lord. Also, when Lazarus died was not the right time either.
Here, Martha is making the Lord a supper. They are all gathered around the Lord: this was the right time. As a result, the house was filled with the beautiful odour.
The Lord made it possible for us to be around this table this morning. We are not here to learn of Him, or to think of our sorrows. We are here to bring Him worship, to remember what He did for us on the cross. He wants us to bring Him our devotion. But if we are to remember him, we must do it as He has asked us to: with one loaf and one cup. How precious to be able to keep His word, and remember Him as He wants to be remembered. He loves us so much, and longs to be loved in return. Here is one place we can do that.
Then, read Song of Solomon 1: 12: “While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.” This is what happened in Bethany. What fellowship, what joy! For Mary, it was in a box; for us, it is in our hearts and souls. Surely, there is nothing more precious being gathered before the Lord, at His table. May we offer to Him he odour He longs for!
Hymn 369 - I claim for my own a King on a throne
Prayer
1 Samuel 1
In the last chapter of 1 Samuel, Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, died. We are going to start 2 Samuel today. In the first chapter, we’ll be looking at two hearts. In scripture, your heart represents your character or emotions.
David and his men had just fought with the Amalekites. While they were there, the Philistines and Isrealites were fighting on Mount Gilboa. While David was resting in Ziklag, a man came from the battle. This man’s clothes were all ripped and torn. David inquired about the battle, but the news wasn’t good: the man told David that all the people had fled from the battle and that Saul and Jonathon were dead. David asked how he knew this. The man told David about how he had been on Mount Gilboa and how Saul called out and asked the man to kill him with his sword. He explained that he had done so. He had even brought the royal crown and bracelets to David.
This story isn’t what we are told in 1 Samuel 31. It seems that the Amalekite was lying. Why do you think that this man would have wanted to lie? He must have thought that he was helping David, and expected to receive a reward. That Amalekite had a selfish heart: he was only thinking of himself. Read 1 Corinthians 13:5: charity, or love, “seeketh not her own.” Love looks out for others, and not just for itself.
The rest of the chapter is about how Daivd mourned over Saul and Jonathon. Saul was the one that chased David and wanted him dead. But now, Saul is dead and David is mourning for him. David had a long-suffering and patient heart. He overlooked all that Saul had done to him.
David also mourned about Jonathan. David loved Jonathan so much he said that their love surpassed that of women.
So let us learn from the Amalekite not be selfish, and from David, to love our enemies.
Luke 7:36-50
Once, in the old hall in Rockway, Mr. McIntire was visiting, and was going to take the evening gospel. He didn’t preach the gospel very often, but he told Brother Norman, “I wish that every time I preach the gospel I could preach from Luke 7.” It’s a precious chapter that brings before us the forgiveness of sins.
Last time, we talked a bit on v35; “But wisdom is justified of all her children.” This implies a couple of things. First, it implies that wisdom is a person; and then it implies that wisdom is a woman, with children. Some say that there are five marks of wisdom’s children (starting with forgiveness) and others say that there are fifteen. The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about wisdom. In some places it is said to be a personification of the Lord (who is made wisdom to us - 1 Corinthians 1:30); but in other passages it is personified as a woman.
Proverbs 7:4-5; 8:1-5; 9:13-15. All three of these women have a message. Which voice are we listening to? It should be the voice of Wisdom. She is crying out and we should be listening.
But how do we relate this to the Lord? God personified each of these messengers as women on purpose. One writer says: “That the one who calls is a female need not stumble us: whenever a female is used in the types it is to set forth divine principles in their subjective character.” In Scripture, we have objective truth and subjective truth. Here we have wisdom calling. Well, in Romans we find out that we are all saints by calling. That’s an objective truth. Nothing there depends on anything I have to do, and I can’t change it no matter what I do. Then we have subjective truth with Wisdom. Here we have a call to do something; it is truth that we need to be subject to.
So Wisdom is calling, and God (personified as Wisdom) can justify all His children three ways (all mentioned in Romans): by blood, by grace, and by faith. We’ve been accounted righteous. This is more than just forgiveness; God has taken our sins and given us righteousness instead. We can justify God - say that He has done right - because He justified us on the basis of the work of Christ.
This woman was justified. She was forgiven, but justification is so much more. Most people came to Jesus with a physical problem, but this woman was different because she came with a spiritual problem. When Adam and Eve sinned, they knew that they had a spiritual problem and tried to hide. In contrast, this woman came to the Lord in repentance. Romans tells us that it’s the “goodness of God” that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Luke portrays Jesus as the Son of Man dispensing grace. And He gave grace to this woman, who didn’t hide but instead came to Him so that they could have communion.
Simon the Pharisee didn’t think he needed Christ. He probably invited the Lord to his house out of curiosity. This woman came and condemned herself; showing her need of the Lord. She was a child of wisdom. She came with an alabaster box of ointment. This morning we saw this as a type of worship, and it could be the same here. Mary had also brought an alabaster box of ointment; but she had sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. This woman hadn’t.
Both this woman and this Pharisee had heard of Jesus, and had heard Him teach; but they had two totally different approaches to their needs. Simon didn’t even offer the Lord the common courtesy of the day; but the woman washed, wiped, anointed, and kissed His feet. All she did showed her love for the Lord. It’s the same today; people either reject or accept our Lord.
Simon thought to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He wouldn’t let this woman touch Him. She’s a sinner”, as if he weren’t! Again, we find the same thing today. People just don’t see their need of the Lord.
So we see three hearts here: the Pharisees’, the woman’s, and the Lord’s.
Hymn 345 - Jesus loves the little children
Prayer