January 6, 2013
Scripture:
Let’s turn to Exodus 12:13. It was very simple to put the blood on the doorpost, but through that blood the plague of death was prevented. We just sang, “Thy precious blood shall never lose its power.” His blood saved us from the penalty of death. Israel could rest knowing the blood would save them; we can, too.
Hymn 306 - Like a little wandering lamb
Prayer
1 Kings 22: 51-54
We’ve been following king Ahab, and in this chapter he finally died. His son Ahaziah took his place as King. As we have read, king Ahab did not follow the ways of God: instead of worshipping God, he worshipped the idol Baal. Ahaziah had probably been on Mount Carmel when Elijah displayed God’s power. It is unfortunate to read that Ahaziah followed the ways of his father and did that which was wrong in the eyes of the Lord. In Proverbs 3:15b, we learn that the way of transgressors is hard. This reminds me of a story:
Willie and his sister Ann lived near a pond. During the winter, they enjoyed skating on the pond, and would often slide across it on their way to school. One day in early spring, their mother told them not to slide across the ice, because it would be getting thin. However, when they came to the pond, it seemed to be just as solid as ever. Willie suggested they go across the ice. Ignoring Ann’s reminder of their mother’s words, he started out onto the ice. Ann wasn’t sure what to do, so she followed him. But soon, they heard a big crack. Ann was close enough to the edge to get off the ice, but Willie had gone too far and fell in. Ann called for help and a few men came and were able to get Willie out. They took Willie home and put him to bed. Willie reaped the consequences of his sin: he was bedridden for three weeks and was still quite sick for many months. “The way of transgressors is hard.” Willie was a transgressor, he knew what he was to do and didn’t do it.
2 Kings 1
King Ahaziah followed in the way of his father; and unfortunately, bad things happened to him. First, the King of Moab refused to pay their tax of 100,000 sheep and rams. Then, Ahaziah fell through a lattice and got sick from the fall, just like Willie. Here, Ahaziah made a big mistake: instead of asking God, he sent messengers to the god Baalzebub in Ekron, to ask if he would get better. These messengers never got to Ekron. As they were going, \ they were met by Elijah. He told them that Ahaziah would never get out of bed again, but would die soon.
The messengers returned to the king with the message from God. Ahaziah asked the messengers to describe the man that gave them the message. As they described Elijah to the king, he realized who it was. May others be able to recognize that we are Christians by how we act.
The king sent a group of soliders to summon Elijah. These soldiers came very proudly and Elijah called down fire from heaven upon them. The same thing happened with a second group of soldiers. By the third time, the soldiers came to Elijah humbly and Elijah went with them to the king.
King Ahaziah transgressed the law of God and we have seen what happened because of it. I trust that we have learned today that we shouldn’t transgress God’s commandments.
Luke 19:11-27
Last week we read the parable of the pounds. We are the servants; and we serve, not to become saved, but because we are saved. Jesus is the nobleman, the citizens are either the Jews or the world, and the pounds are opportunities.
A silver talent was equal (back in the day) to 342 British pounds, while the pound was only worth about 3 British pounds. A pound was not much money, but this parable isn’t about increasing money. It tells us that we are to use all our opportunities to bring gain to our Lord. As we said, He was the hated nobleman who left for the far country, and He has given us what we need to increase.
Our Lord will come again. In the mean time He tells us to, “Occupy till I come.” Our lives may be busy, but are we busy in the things that give gain? The Lord hasn’t left us to our own devices, He has given us our pound to increase; and when He comes back there will be a review. How did we live? Did we waste our lives? How much have we gained? This last question we can’t answer; we don’t always know what we have gained. The Lord keeps track, though, and we must live today in light of eternity.
We are to be faithful with the opportunities of service that God has given us, but ultimately He is the One that gives the increase. A person’s coming to Christ may be the result of a number of links—gospel experiences and so on—leading them to God. It’s nice to be the last link in that chain, and see the final result, but we’re not always. We may not know what effect or blessing we had on somebody along the way.
The pounds that these servants had gained were not taken from them. Darby, in his synopsis, states: “That which we gain spiritually here, in spiritual intelligence and in the knowledge of God in power, is not lost in the other world. On the contrary we receive more, and the glory of the inheritance is given us in proportion to our work. All is grace.” What we have gained in this life we still have in the afterlife - and in fact, God increases it. If we are faithful He will say, “You were faithful with your little pound, so I will give you authority over cities.” The Lord could highly value service that might seem small to us. Even a cup of cold water, given in His name, will be rewarded.
One of these servants hadn’t gained anything. He still had his one pound, and he calls the nobleman austere (“harsh” in Darby). He didn’t see the grace of His Lord, but was like the elder brother in the story of the prodigal son. Some writers say that this man represents the Pharisees. The nobleman had graciously given him something to increase, but he hadn’t done anything with it. How do we increase our pound? It might be taking part in the meetings, or a way we live our lives to glorify God, or some service we do for the saints. At the very least we can put it in the bank, and enjoy the thought of our position in Christ.
We are to use what the Lord gives us. Sometimes it may feel that we are doing nothing, but small things are not nothing to God. One day there will be the pay-off, and then “unto every one which hath shall be given” (v.26).
Hymn 361 - There is a happy land
Prayer