2 Samuel 17; Psalm 116; John 1

 June 17: As Ecclesiastes 7:29 says, “God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” (The word is used for weapons of war.) We find, if we are unwilling to humble ourselves and seek God’s face, that all we’ve done is aim our catapults at ourselves. Why did Adam and Eve cover and hide? Why did Cain flee from God’s presence? Why did Ahithophel choose the death of one accursed of God, the death of Haman and Judas? (Deut. 21:23) Why did Jonah oppose God but then turn and repent? The promise of God is clear: the worst of sinners can humble themselves, seek God’s face, turn from our wicked ways and call on His name, be healed and find rest.


2 Samuel 17: Why does Ahithophel so quickly lose hope? He was wise, but not faithful. He was bitter and unforgiving over David’s great fall, because it was a personal offense and a great shame, for he was the father of Eliam, the father of Bathsheba, (2 Samuel 23:34, 11:3). He was wise enough to see the hand of the LORD in the defeat of his excellent advice, (2 Samuel 17:14), but not trusting enough that the Lord would still receive his cry for deliverance.

Psalm 116: Is this poetic hyperbole? How hopeless can it seem, and the opportunity to call on the LORD is still open to a man? Jonah seems to be referencing Psalm 116:3 in Jonah 2:1-3, and, like the Psalmist says, he was delivered and walked in the land of the living. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved. Any time there is that opportunity, it is the day of salvation.

John 1:1-34: I find the Pharisees’ line of questioning to John confusing, if they were so dead-set on opposing Jesus. Why are they so eager to find out if John is the Messiah, but so opposed to Him when He is revealed as John had promised? It’s bound to be something connected with John’s identification of Himself with Isaiah 40: he was there to prepare the “…way of the LORD, to make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 40:4-5) It’s a message they were unwilling to receive, for, in a way, they were the “mountains” of their time.

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