July 15, 2012
Scripture:
This morning’s thoughts have been about looking. I would like to refer to two different looks in Genesis 13. In vv.10 - 14, we have the first look. In vv. 14 - 18, we have the second look. Here we have two men and 2 very different looks. Lot looked and saw the well-watered plain of Jordan. Maybe Lot didn’t realize it, but those cities in the plains were very wicked. That was contained in Lot’s choice. He pitched his tent toward Sodom; and later, we hear he was living in it. Abraham lifted up his eyes and God gave him all the land. What did he have? Just a tent and an altar. Abraham’s thoughts were upward. Lot’s were earthly. May we be more like Abraham: he chose the Lord’s things. As we make choices, let us look at Abraham as an example. We have been gazing on the Lord this morning. How wonderful to praise and worship when we realize that he took the anger of God for us. May we desire, more and more, the things of heaven.
Hymn 341 - Jesus bids us shine, with a clear, pure light
Prayer
We have been reading about King Solomon. It was the desire of king David, Solomon’s father, to build a temple for God, but it was God’s will for Solomon to build it. Last time, we read about Solomon building the temple. After Solomon built the temple, he built himself a beautiful house. In today’s story, we’re going to read about a visitor of king Solomon’s, who came on a train of camels.
1 King 10:1 - 13
This was not any ordinary visitor: it was the queen of Sheba. She had heard about Solomon’s fame and wisdom and had come to see it for herself. The queen also came to ask Solomon some questions. Since Solomon is a picture of the Lord, this reminds us that we can go to the Lord with our questions and ask for guidance and direction,
Proverbs 20:11
Solomon was known for his great wisdom. Are we known for right and pure actions? May we each be known for doing what is right! We have just sung, “Jesus bids us shine.” We can be known for being a bright light for the Lord Jesus.
The queen told Solomon all that was in her heart. We, too, can tell the Lord what is on our hearts and He loves to hear it. She also noticed how happy Solomon’s servants were, as they worked in his house and in the temple. This was too much for the queen: she said that the half had not been told to her. She probably had heard about Solomon by his servants when they had been in her country. They probably told of his wisdom and majesty, but seeing these things in person blew her away.
So at the end of her visit, the queen gives Solomon gifts, and he did the same for her. We don’t need to bring gifts to the Lord. We can go to the Lord for wisdom and He will never run out of it. May we each go to the Lord for answers to the hard questions of life.
Luke 13:18-35
These types of the kingdom follow the story of the woman that had an infirmity eighteen years. That story really shows grace because the woman didn’t ask to be healed; the Lord just did it. And He didn’t just speak the word, He touched her too. It shows His tenderness and love. The ruler of the synagogue, however, rebuked Jesus for working on the Sabbath. Jesus in turn rebuked the ruler. If they could untie their animal and lead it to watering on the Sabbath; didn’t He have the right to release a daughter of Abraham, a friend of God, who had been bound by Satan, on the Sabbath? At this His adversaries were ashamed, and the people rejoiced.
As the people rejoiced, it seems that there was an expectation that the kingdom would now come in with power and glory. Here was the King! However the kingdom didn’t come in with power and glory, and the king was eventually rejected. Jesus did give them characteristics of the kingdom of God today in these types, though. They give us a picture of Christendom which has now come in and become one of the world systems.
First we get the story of the mustard seed. It’s amazing what can grow from tiny seeds. Huge oaks grow from acorns, and a great tree grew from the tiny mustard seed. The tree was great, but the birds came and lodged in it’s branches. Christianity is now great, but there are evil powers that lodge in it. That is why we must be separate from the system of christianity. In many ways it denies the Christ it claims to uphold.
Next we get the leaven that the woman hid in three measures of meal. The three measures show that there is a limit to which the kingdom can be affected. Leaven represents evil doctrine. The mustard tree warns us to be separate from outward aspects of untruth, while the leaven warns us to be careful of inward wrong doctrine. The mustard tree shows an outward difference, while the leaven shows an inward difference that you can’t see until you probe deeper inside.
Early in Acts the church was formed. It is said that at Pentecost God got a house and Christ got a body. Those two should have grown together, but the house eventually got bigger than the body. You can’t be part of the body without the Spirit of God, but many people build rooms onto the house and pretend to be part of Christendom - now a “great house”. We need to be separate from these people.
The history of the church is similar to that of Israel. The glory days of Israel were in the time of Solomon, and things went down hill from him until the captivity. Then there was a revival with Ezra and Nehemiah, and that continued to peter out until the Lord came. In the same way the “glory days” of the church were the days of the Apostles. Departure was creeping in at the end of Paul’s life, and he warned about it. Many churches sprang up over the years until there was finally a revival and a separation from the “tree” with Mr.Darby and others. Now we live in the days of Malachi and Jude.
After Jesus finished His discourse, He continued through the cities and villages, heading toward Jerusalem. Our blessed Lord knew where He was going and what He was going to do; and yet He still went toward the cross. May His heart of love motivate all of us.
Hymn 234 - Saviour lead me lest I stray
Prayer