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| "O, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive?" Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto vi, Stanza 17, Scottish author and novelist (1771-1832) |
Gleanings from Today’s Readings
But God Looks at the
Heart – 1 Chronicles 5 and 6 – The lineages and genealogies continue. Full inheritance rights go to the first
born according to Jewish law, BUT GOD chooses other siblings over the first born for His kingdom work on the earth.
Beginning with Adam’s sons, God has Seth in the lineage of the Messiah –
not Cain or Abel; Isaac is the chosen son, not the firstborn Ishmael; Reuben,
the first born is rejected, then the inheritance goes to the sons of Joseph,
with ultimate blessing going to the tribe of Judah. Jacob takes the birthright
of Esau that the latter sells for a morsel of food; Joseph’s sons have their
inheritance reversed by their grandfather.
The younger receives the greatest blessing. David’s six brothers are passed over by the prophet Samuel. God says His choice is the 7th child, David.
My Lessons /Applications/Contemplations - I think these decisions are summed up in
God’s explanation to His prophet Samuel of His choice of David, the humble
shepherd, above his brothers. “But the Lord said to
Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I
have refused him. For the Lord does
not see as man sees; for man
looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Also, 'And
not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even
by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having
done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might
stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall
serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau
I have hated."' Romans 9:10-13
The Timing and Teaching
of the Tragedy of Ananias and Sapphira – Acts 5 – The early church Christians and
disciples who had spent 3 years with Christ were filled with the Holy Spirit
and as a result were of one accord, sharing all things. This is what makes this tragedy so
instructional to Christians…discerning through the Holy Spirit…boldly exposing…wolves in sheep’s clothing…religiosity and hypocrisy in the midst
of those who had given their all – materially and soulfully for the growth of
the church. There was no compulsion to
sell their land and give the money to the church. Greed…the approbation of men…were the motives – not love of God, not desire to further His kingdom. Exposing this hypocrisy lent further
credibility of the power of the Holy Spirit in Peter and the believers. Note the seeming contradiction of the next
verses: “Yet none of the rest dared join
them…(hypocrites? Men-pleasers…an impressive outward appearance but not a
heart for the Lord?) Note how this
hearkens back to God’s comment to Samuel regarding His choice of David. Then that reluctance to join them is followed by: “and believers were
increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women”, and this
was followed by great miracles of healing.
My
Lessons and Applications – We see so many motives behind a show of religiosity today in the
contemporary church – for social, political, business, financial advantages. Are
these people being exposed for their lies and hypocrisies, or are they being
kow-towed to by the church leadership for monetary or other reasons? Does this
compromise lead to the weakening of the church, of the work of the Holy Spirit
in blessing the Great Commission? Is the local church so
devoted to expository preaching from the Word of God, so attuned to
God’s will and service to the flock, an evening service so Spirit-filled in
worship, praise and the sacred partaking of the Lord’s Supper that hypocrites will be unable and
unwilling to sit under such powerful Ministries of
the Holy Spirit. That was the great sin
of Ananias and Sapphira – not just lying to God, but denying the power of the Holy Spirit,
the very existence of God - His omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence. It was unbelief…the basis of all sin.
“Do not cower at the
sight of superior numbers, shrink from difficulties, or fear what may appear to be impossible. Never flinch at either battle wounds or
death, but strike the enemy with the “double-edged sword of the Spirit”, and
the slain will fall in droves…use the weapons at your disposal, but your
confidence must rest in the Lord alone…for He is the sword and shield of His
people. “Many others fell slain because
the battle was God’s.” 1 Chronicles 5:22
(Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening)
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