Bible Study with Fred # 549, Exodus 33:7-11; the LORD talked with Moses

Matthew, chapter 22, comments

 

Matthew 22:1 ¶  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7  But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

 

This parable could be a reference to the promised marriage supper of the Lamb in Heaven where the bride of Christ, the church, the body of believers, is called.

 

Revelation 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God..

 

As Paul refers to the church as Christ’s bride.

 

2 Corinthians 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

 

This union with Christ was offered to the Jews first but they refused. As the passage here in Matthew underscores they even murdered some of the prophets God sent.

 

John 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 

And the call to enter into God’s kingdom was extended to the farthest reaches of the earth.

 

Matthew 8:11  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

In this passage we see God’s wrath on those who would reject His offer of amnesty.

 

John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

 

We also possibly see a reference to the tares, the false Christians, who will be rooted out of God’s kingdom at the end which we saw in the previous parable of the tares and the wheat. Please look over the parable of the tares and the wheat in Matthew, chapter 13.

 

First, Christ is our righteousness;

 

1 Corinthians 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

 

Note this verse in Revelation;

 

Revelation 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

 

This person who is not clothed properly is either a type of the false Christian or a type of the Beast of Revelation, as some say. I think it is a reference to the false Christian. But, it also could be a reference to Judas as a false follower of Christ, as some would put it. I’m sticking with a type of the false Christian who will be ripped out at the end.

 

For verse 14 there are several references that bear investigating. Note the contexts of the following;

 

Matthew 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 

Matthew 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

 

I had noted in my comments on that passage;

 

“Some are called in youth and some at various stages of life but all are called, and few will receive Christ and everlasting life. Those who will are chosen. God’s foreknowledge knows everyone that will accept Christ as their Saviour and God chooses those who will. On one side of heaven’s metaphorical door it could say, ‘whosoever will’ and on the other side, ‘Chosen from the foundation of the world.’”

 

In this context, though, it appears to be Christ choosing only the genuine convert and not someone just mouthing a 1-2-3 repeat after me prayer with no root of belief and faith in their heart of hearts.

 

Matthew 22:15 ¶  Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16  And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17  Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19  Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20  And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21  They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. 22  When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

 

The Pharisees, the religious conservative elite, want to trip Christ up so that He can be lawfully taken out of circulation. The Herodians were a pro-Herod and his dynasty political party. They seem be in concord with the Pharisees in their wish for Jewish independence from Rome. Taking a piece of money minted by the state and bearing Caesar’s image they attempt to trick Christ into some seditious speech against Rome suggesting independence.

 

This obvious ruse doesn’t faze Christ in the least. This money belongs to Caesar even though it is used in transactions. God separates the things of this world from the things that He wants from His people as He divides the spiritual Day from the Night even before the sun was created in Genesis, chapter one. In chapter 17 He used supernatural methods to provide tax money to pay to the Romans. “Render unto Caesar,” has become a phrase we use to delineate the differences between our civic responsibility to the state, as in government, and our religious responsibility toward God.

 

Notice how the Herodians call Him Master, as if they were disciples of His. Master can mean teacher or Rabbi.

 

Malachi 2:12  The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.

 

John 1:38  Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

 

Coming up, Jesus will say;

 

Matthew 23:8  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

 

We know that all money, as all things, belong to God. But the point being made here by Jesus is that He calls His people to spiritual things. Don’t elevate the temporal to that level.  In America, founded on the principle that the people are king, it is our government that prints the money but the money is ours to do with as we see fit. Still we are under laws of taxation which we would do well to obey all the while fighting for a just tax system, which we don’t have at the present. We give freely to support God’s work but we also must understand that what He wants from us is more important than money.

 

Jesus amazed His questioners with His wisdom and careful speech. There is another scene where Jesus denies that He is the civil authority.

 

Luke 12:13 ¶  And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14  And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

 

Jesus is not a revolutionary. He is confirming what the Father wanted from His people all along. He is not in competition with a king or an emperor. God’s authority over us and the king is absolute but we are called to honor earthly rulers in their due.  Read Romans 13 to see our responsibility and the limitations of governmental authority. Understand that our calling is greater than mere obedience to the state.

 

Acts 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

 

But, when He returns He will assume control over all kingdoms and nations.

 

Revelation 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

 

Remember though, for now;

 

John 18:36  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

 

Matthew 22:23 ¶  The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24  Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25  Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26  Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27  And last of all the woman died also. 28  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31  But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 33  And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

 

The essence of God’s marriage for mankind, on a purely physical level, is a man and a woman uniting together for life to produce and raise children through the act of sexual intimacy. Any other definition of marriage might be civil or lawful but has no part with the God who created us. What Jesus states here is that there will be no need for sexual intimacy in Heaven. Most likely what we experience in Heaven as we spend eternity with our God will be much more fulfilling and intense than any earthly demand from our flesh.

 

Genesis 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

 

Anthropologists call the cultural custom where a widowed woman is married by her dead husband’s brother or brothers a Levirate, if I remember correctly. This is to carry on the dead husband’s line within his family.

 

Genesis 38:8  And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

 

The sect of the Sadducees follow the Herodians and the Pharisees in trying to trip Jesus up. These liberal people that comprised the ruling elite only believed in God for this life, not in the resurrection or in angels or any other unseen thing.

 

Acts 23:8  For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

 

Jesus makes an important point here in that a resurrection, which the Sadducees do not believe in, is absolutely essential because God is a God of the living.

 

Exodus 3:6  Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

 

Matthew 22:34 ¶  But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35  Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36  Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38  This is the first and great commandment. 39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

 

Here is a great summation of the Law given to Moses. Here, God in the flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ gives this lawyer the essence of God’s intention for the Law. This makes it so simple to understand that it is an amazing set of verses. Love God with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself. This is something we most certainly all fail at. This will stun the Pharisees as Christ has dealt with all parties, political and religious, that He is facing. What God expects from His people is unquestionable.

 

Deuteronomy 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

 

See how the Holy Spirit substitutes one word for understanding with mind and might indicating that this is a spiritual command. In no way could one confuse this with killing anyone in the name of Christ.

 

Again, I do not want to make this a harmonization of the gospels so we won’t compare the gospels. They each have their unique memories and takes on the things Jesus said that are worth studying in context. I thought this was interesting in Mark, chapter 12.

 

  Mark 12:28 ¶  And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32  And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou

hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33  And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34  And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

 

And then from Luke;

 

Luke 10:27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

 

Notice also further instruction in Deuteronomy on this subject.

 

Deuteronomy 10:12 ¶  And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

 

Deuteronomy 30:6  And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

 

Verse 39 is also a reference to the Law;

 

Leviticus 19:18  Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

 

James 2:8 ¶  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

 

Luke, chapter 10, shows us that whomever we come in contact with, even one of those we don’t approve of, is our neighbor in God’s eyes. This is very troubling for us. Think about what it means to be like Christ.

 

Matthew 22:41 ¶  While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42  Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43  He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44  The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45  If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46  And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

 

The Pharisees are tripped up when asked who Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah is. They call him the Son of David, a name of the Messiah who is in the lineage of David. Jesus refers to a verse in Psalms,

 

Psalm 110:1  «A Psalm of David.» The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

 

They viewed the Messiah as a man coming in triumph to restore the kingdom of Israel to its former glory but how could He be a mere man, the son of David, when He was God in the flesh? How could David call his descendant, his son, Lord? This is the mystery of being fully God and fully man which Jesus was. They couldn’t answer His question and they stopped asking Him questions. This exact question plagued the Eastern Roman Empire hundreds of years later and was important in the establishment of the religion of Islam. The question of the full divinity and full humanity of Christ, though answered at councils drove a wedge between Christians in that part of the world and resulted in a fierce religion of conquest, Islam, a subject not for this venue. 

Bible Study with Fred # 548, Exodus 33:1-6; the Promised Land

1Samuel, chapter 16, comments

 1Samuel 16:1 ¶  And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2  And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3  And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4  And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? 5  And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

 

God tells Samuel to stop mourning for Saul. He’s finished. Now, Samuel is to anoint a person who will become king, one of the sons of Jesse the Bethlehemite. Read Ruth, chapter 4, to see that this will be David, a descendant of Ruth and Boaz, who are his great-grandparents.

 

Samuel is afraid that Saul will have him killed if he finds out and God allows for his all too human fear by disguising this anointing as a sacrifice. The elders of Bethlehem are also afraid. Samuel is getting up there in years and his coming to their town suggests something very significant is about to happen. I am reminded of reading a book by a Black American who lived through the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s who said his family were concerned when Civil Rights activists were supposed to come to their town. They had an uneasy relationship with local Whites that, although not ideal, was something they could live with and did not look forward to anyone upsetting the proverbial apple cart. They knew someone was coming that was important to their future but they were afraid of what would happen when those people left.

 

1Samuel 16:6 ¶  And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him. 7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 8  Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 9  Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10  Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11  And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12  And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 13  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

 

Apparently, to show Samuel and us something about God’s way of looking at things He starts with one of Jesse’s sons after another disapproving of each one to be the king God is going to have Samuel anoint. The youngest, the most unlikely one, has already been chosen by God and is now revealed to us. God does not choose using the same standards we do. His ways are not our ways.

 

Isaiah 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

 

We like physical perfection as established by Greece thousands of years ago but God chooses the heart.

 

These brothers had more than one name, like most of us, and there will be variant spellings of the same name. See 2Samuel 13:3 and 1Chronicles 27:18 for examples. I talked about people having different names and spelling variants in my discussion of Genesis.

 

David the youngest kept the sheep.

 

Psalm 78:70  He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: 71  From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

 

Notice how God’s Spirit comes on David from that day forward, through all of his triumphs and failures, and God never leaves him because he is faithful to God, a man after God’s own heart.

 

1 Samuel 13:14  But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

 

1 Samuel 16:14 ¶  But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 15  And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 16  Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 17  And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. 18  Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. 19  Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. 20  And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. 21  And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. 22  And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. 23  And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

 

Saul is now plagued by an evil, malicious, disembodied mind rather than the beneficial Spirit of Jehovah God. His servants understand that he is being oppressed by an evil spirit. It is sent by God Himself. Yes, God can and will disrupt someone’s mind who is following his own path rather than the one God set for him. They recommend music therapy and the result is, as you can see from the text, David’s introduction to court. This recommendation by Saul’s servant is interesting;

 

18  Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

 

a mighty valiant man, and a man of war suggests that David may have participated in Saul’s war against the Philistines as discussed previously, as one of the chosen 3,000 in 1Samuel 13:2 or at some other time. This servant of Saul knew David by his talents, bravery, and fighting skill even being so young.

The Spirit that gave Saul prophecy, fortitude, courage, an understanding of how to run a government as executive, legislator, and judge, all were gone from Saul. It is only through David’s ministry of playing the harp that he finds any relief.

 

 

 

Bible Study with Fred # 547, Exodus 32: 30-35; Moses pleads for his people

Bible Study with Fred # 546, Exodus 32: 15-29; Aaron's lie

Bible Study with Fred # 545, Exodus 32: 7-14; Moses pleads for his people

Bible Study with Fred # 544, Exodus 32: 1-6; the Hebrews turn to idols

Bible Study with Fred # 543, Exodus 31: 12-18; the Sabbath

Bible Study with Fred # 542, Exodus 31: 1-11; Bezaleel

Psalm 39 comments

 Psalm 39:1 ¶  «To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.» I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. 2  I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. 3  My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, 4  LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 5  Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. 6  Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

 

This is very impressive from David, as a declaration and a challenge for us. He will guard his tongue before the wicked. So many times we are tempted to speak our mind when the best thing that can be said in front of the wicked is nothing.

 

James 1:26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

 

James 3:2  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3  Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

 

Amos 5:13  Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

 

He had said something like this just before.

 

Psalm 38:13  But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

 

In this we have a picture of Christ.

 

Isaiah 53:7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

 

Matthew 27:12  And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13  Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14  And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

 

Notice some other similar sentiments expressed in verse 3.

 

Jeremiah 20:9  Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

 

Ezekiel 3:14  So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

 

Luke 24:32  And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

 

David laments at wanting to know his future, a future only God can know. Here are some other similar thoughts.

 

Psalm 90:12 ¶  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

 

Psalm 119:84 ¶  How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

 

Job 14:13  O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

 

David laments also the shortness of his life in comparison to the infiniteness of God.

 

Psalm 90:4  For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. 5  Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up…9  For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. 10  The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

 

James 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

 

This is also a recurring theme in Ecclesiastes as Solomon comments on life.

 

Finally, this thought in the last verse of the passage is repeated later.

 

Psalm 49:10  For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

 

 

Psalm 39:7 ¶  And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. 8  Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. 9  I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. 10  Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand. 11  When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah. 12  Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 13  O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

 

David acknowledges that his hope is only in the Lord. Later in Psalms it will be noted;

 

Psalm 130:5 ¶  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6  My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

 

Jacob declared in his prophecies regarding his sons;

 

Genesis 49:18  I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.

 

He had said before;

 

Psalm 25:11  For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great…18  Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.

 

While in verse 2 David held his tongue before the wicked here in verse 9 he is silent before God’s rebuke. Look at verse 10.

 

Job 9:34  Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

 

Job 13:21  Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.

 

Recall Psalm 38;

 

Psalm 38:1 ¶  «A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.» O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2  For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. 3  There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. 4  For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5  My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. 6  I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. 7  For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8  I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

 

See how David pleads for God’s mercy for his sins lest he die. Job said in his confusion and pain;

 

Job 10:20  Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, 21  Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

 

These are prayers that speak to each of our hearts if we are honest. 

Bible Study with Fred # 541, Exodus 30: 17-38; the laver

Bible Study with Fred # 540, Exodus 30: 11-16; a ransom

Bible Study with Fred # 539, Exodus 30: 1-10; an altar for the incense

Bible Study with Fred # 538, Exodus 29: 38-46; the tabernacle of the con...

Bible Study with Fred # 537, Exodus 29: 1-37; Aaron and sons consecrate...

Bible Study with Fred # 536, Exodus 28: 40-43; linen breeches

Bible Study with Fred # 535, Exodus 28: 31-39; the ephod of blue

1Samuel, chapter 15, comments

 

1Samuel 15:1 ¶  Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. 2  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 3  Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 4  And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5  And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley. 6  And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7  And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. 8  And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9  But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

 

Samuel gives a direct order to Saul to destroy everything that Amalek has, both human and animals. Read Exodus, chapter 17, starting in verse 8. Here Amalek refers to the descendants of the king who fought against Israel.

 

Exodus 17:16  For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

 

Saul separated the Kenites from the Amalekites due to their past kindness to Israel. Moses’ father in law was a Kenite.

 

Judges 1:16  And the children of the Kenite, Moses’ father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.

 

As was the slayer of Sisera.

 

Judges 4:17  Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.

 

Judges 5:24  Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.

 

But Saul disobeyed Samuel and did not destroy every animal and person even sparing Agag the king of the Amalekites.

 

1Samuel 15:10 ¶  Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, 11  It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night. 12  And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal. 13  And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. 14  And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15  And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. 16  Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. 17  And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? 18  And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 19  Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? 20  And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. 22  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

 

What is repenteth as used in this context. Let’s go back to my comments in Genesis.

“Genesis 6:6 ¶  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

What does the idiomatic expression, it repented the Lord, mean?

Judges 2:18  And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

Something is presented to God that, by His very nature, He will not ignore, even though He knew, by virtue of His omniscience, that it would happen. The wickedness of mankind grieved God at His heart and demanded a certain path which He had prepared in His foreknowledge. Because the expression, it repented the Lord, like most idiomatic expressions, has a meaning that goes beyond simply the definitions of the individual words strung together it requires us to use our reasoning ability, something we do not like to do when someone is willing to spoonfeed us their own careless reading.

By the context the creation of mankind repented the Lord because it grieved Him at His heart and His purpose is to erase the life He created, not just man, because it repented Him.

The word repent clearly in other contexts in the Bible means to turn from something or to change one’s mind about something. Here, as part of this expression it means more than that. By viewing this context we see that the Lord was grieved by mankind’s wickedness as the definition of how the Lord was repented by something. The Lord did not repent or change His mind or turn from something He planned. Something repented Him with the Lord being the object of the phrase and not the subject, as mankind’s wickedness caused Him to grieve. We all understand this. We have known something sickening was coming in our minds but still were sickened by it when it came to pass and we required ourselves to go to the next action. I know my child is going to fall down but he must learn. Still, it anguishes me when it happens. I know I must grow old and weak, if I am to live, but it is not an easy thing to experience. Man has disappointed God, but He knew He would. It doesn’t make the experience any more comfortable. From before the foundation of the world God knew He would come to live in a body and be tortured and murdered on the cross at Calvary but that foreknowledge didn’t make it any more pleasant.

Ephesians 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Luke 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

We must understand that God is not a disinterested bystander to our affairs. He dearly loves His creation and loved all mankind, even the most wicked, at the cross of Calvary. What we do affects Him profoundly. If it were not so He would not have let us so much as touch Him.”

So here God was grieved that He had made Saul king by Saul’s disobedience but that is something He had to know would happen due to his omniscience, His knowing all things past and present.

 

In verse 13 Saul makes the claim that he has obeyed, a claim many Christians make, when neither he nor they have done any such thing.

 

Verse 22 says….Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

 

This is a bold statement that we can take to our own hearts. When we disobey God it is akin to witchcraft and idolatry. As you and I study the books of the New Testament and see what God has called us to do and to think and to believe as Christians we have to understand that our rejection of what God calls for Christians to do and not to do is linked to witchcraft and idolatry, something we usually don’t think of.

 

Starting with loving God if we will not follow the precepts and admonitions given to us no amount of tithing or church attendance will erase that blot on our Christian life. We will and sometimes do quench the Holy Spirit’s influence as the very mind of God within us is ignored, much to our dismay and misery, if we indeed are saved.

 

Samuel declares that Saul’s kingship is doomed and will come to an end. God has rejected him from being king.

 

Finally, notice how Saul blames the people like Adam blamed Eve for his disobedience and Aaron blamed the Hebrews for his idolatrous behavior.

 

1Samuel 15:24 ¶  And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25  Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. 26  And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. 27  And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 28  And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. 29  And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. 30  Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. 31  So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.

 

Saul seems to be repentant and while that may have saved his soul from Hell it does not help him retain the kingdom because he has proven himself untrustworthy. Saul’s paranoia and enormous ego will be his downfall, added to his willingness to disobey God.

 

I think it is important to say that while you might forgive an employee who steals from your cash register or a teacher or preacher who is caught in some immoral act you would be a fool to restore them to their former position of trust as they have proven themselves unworthy. I can be in prison and ask honestly for forgiveness but understand that I may never be let out early as I have proven that I am untrustworthy. A plea for pardon is not a guarantee of a changed life, habits, or attitude. The adulterer may be forgiven, be pardoned by God, but never be trusted again with the sacred pledge of marriage. Your behavior reveals your character.

 

Verse 29 is very interesting. Although I’ve discussed in the previous passage how something repented God, this verse makes it clear that God doesn’t change His mind like men and women do. His repenting is based on His will and His foreknowledge of what mankind would do. Mankind’s repentance is based on regret and fear and self-disgust even. Here God is called by a name the Strength of Israel with the S capitalized.

 

Samuel grants Saul a respite from total humiliation in front of the elders of Israel by worshipping the Lord with him, something even enemies can agree to do if they believe in God.

 

1Samuel 15:32 ¶  Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. 33  And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. 34  Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 35  And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

 

Samuel does Saul’s part for him by slaying the king of Amalekites. The wicked Agag thinks he has cheated death. But he is sorely mistaken. Agag is the ancestor of Haman, the villain of the book of Esther.

 

Esther 3:1  After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

 

It is important to note here that Samuel mourns for Saul. Remember that God does not take pleasure in the destruction of the sinner. This is a recurring theme in Ezekiel.

 

Ezekiel 33:11  Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?