Listening to the Word

1 Samuel 25-26; Psalms 63; Matthew 9   “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and ‘sinners’ came and ate with him and his disciples…On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” Matthew 9:10, 12, 13 The tax collectors of Jesus’ day were seen in the same category of uncleanness as the prostitutes. The betrayal of collecting taxes from fellow Jews for Roman occupiers was compounded by their abuse of this position of authority to demand even more and personally enrich themselves. To eat in a tax collector’s home was forbidden for an observant Jew. Yet Jesus defined this kind of social interaction as the focus of his ministry. He came to call sinners, the unclean, to the good news of the kingdom. However, this approach to ministry and life would require “mercy not sacrifice.” Are we living wit...

1 Samuel 24; Psalms 57-58; 1 Chronicles 8; Matthew 8 “’See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion…’” 1 Samuel 24:11 Saul’s robe represented his authority and covering. David was conscience-stricken at cutting off a piece of Saul’s robe because he understood what that represented. When Saul desperately grabbed for Samuel’s robe (authority), it tore. This act symbolized God’s removal of the kingdom from Saul (1 Samuel 15:27).   Are we grasping at authority, or cutting it away from others the Lord has put in place? It is the Lord who provides the covering (robe), or authority, and calls us to serve under his authority for our own protection. When Jesus declared he had been given all authority in heaven and on earth, he, too, was reminding his disciples that he was in submission to the Father. It was because of his submission and obedienc...

1 Samuel 23; Psalms 31, 54; Matthew 7 “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence, you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.” Psalm 31:19, 20 David found refuge and relief, not in a physical retreat center, or a fortified castle, but in the presence of the Lord. In God’s presence, David experienced God’s goodness, his protection, and his favour. However, it was up to David to seek the presence of the Lord no matter where he was physically. While fleeing Saul, David lived as a hunted fugitive. Betrayal was a potential fate every day. Who could he trust? The words of those around him were like arrows of accusation. Only in the presence of the Lord did David find relief. Worship and meditation on the promises of God restored the strength and peace of his heart. David lived with an audience of one, ...

1 Samuel 22; Psalms 17, 35; Matthew 6 “Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’” Psalm 35:1-3 David processed his feelings and response to Saul’s campaign against him in his prayer journal. David believed that God literally would be a warrior contending with those who sought to kill him.   In our tests, do we look to fight flesh and blood? Or do we, like David, call on the Lord to deliver us and fight our battles for us? David relied on the inner voice of the Holy Spirit speaking salvation to him. This inner peace was based on the reality of God’s presence in David’s life. David’s humility released God to come to his aid. Will we, too, humble ourselves before God and in conflict, forgive and release others, and ask the Lord to fight our battles for us? When we process our feelings in pr...

1 Samuel 20-21; Psalms 34, Matthew 5   “I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears…The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them…Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.” Psalm 34:4, 7, 9 Fear of man is a snare that traps us and keeps us from the freedom Christ has won for us. The fear of the Lord is the key to walking in wisdom and understanding. The fear of the Lord is a reverence for God’s presence and a commitment to walk in God’s ways. As David fled the presence of King Saul, he wrote about the fears he was fleeing from. However, David’s greater focus was his fear of the Lord and his desire to honor God in how he lived, even as a fugitive. David did not return evil with evil. Instead, he determined to “keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:13, 14). When we fear God, we trust him to deliver us from our fe...

1 Samuel 19: 1 Chronicles 7; Psalms 59, Matthew 4 “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God!’” Matthew 4:4 Jesus’ response to Satan’s temptation to turn stones into bread to satisfy his physical hunger was to quote Deuteronomy 8:3 and Moses’ words to Israel regarding their hunger in the desert. God humbled Israel, causing them to hunger in order to reveal to them their need for daily bread/manna which only he could provide. We, too, share the same need to be satisfied by God alone. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread…,” he was speaking about more than food. He was speaking about manna and the provision of life which we can only find from God. Listening to the Word - every word that comes from the mouth of God - is a privilege for the sons and daughters of God. We were made to listen and obey God’s Word and in doing so, find our life comes from him. Listening to the Word i...