1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
Poor old Samuel. This bloke had slogged his guts out serving Israel and guiding them for pretty much his whole life and yet, when he dies, he doesn’t even get as much as one whole verse devoted to him. There is almost as much detail about Saul relieving himself in the cave as there is about Samuel’s death. I guess it is a good job that neither he, nor we, live for earthly glory. Nabal did though. What a miserable sod he was. He happily soaked up the benefits of David’s protection but wouldn’t give even the slightest scrap back and, to really make a point, he suggests he doesn’t even know where David is from. This is the king in waiting, the head of the king’s bodyguard that Nabal is talking about. It was a deliberate slight by a man who seemed to think that his self-made riches set him above anyone else. Sometimes I get a bit like Nabal. Sometimes I like to dismiss others as not worthy of my attention and certainly not deserving of my generosity. It’s a good job Lesley (my wife) is like Abigail. She is an intelligent and beautiful woman who is quick to make peace through giving away her husband’s hard-earned wealth (only joking - sort of). It’s important for us to listen to the Abigails around us for through them the Lord keeps us from bloodshed (physical or spiritual or otherwise). Its also important for us to listen to them so they don’t go off and become other people’s wives but that is a whole different story. God has put people into SWLV who overflow with generosity of spirit and openness to others. They are wonderful people. I want to listen to them and learn to become more like them as they are like the Lord.
John 18:25-40
We have it laid out here plainly - Jesus is a king. People bow to kings. People serve kings. People honour kings and cheer for kings. People look to kings for protection and they look to kings for provision. People look to kings for identity, for missions, for flags and for callings. Jesus is a king. We should treat him like a king. But Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world and that is a less familiar concept. What could that mean? Jesus’ next line is instructive: his kingdom is from another place, not ‘in’ another place but ‘from’ it. His kingdom is intrinsically different to any kingdom that Pilate could know. It was not formed with the same intent as kingdoms of this world. It is not about acquiring land or wealth or reputation - it has more than enough of all of those things to keep it going till the end of time. That is what I think he means when he says it is not ‘of’ this world. But I think Jesus is clear that his kingdom is ‘for’ this world. And that his kingdom is breaking ‘into’ this world. Jesus is bringing his kingdom to earth not to claim land but to give it away, not to plunder wealth but to sell it, not to build a reputation but to share one. Jesus’ kingdom is about one thing only on this world - it is about people. He came to seek and save the lost, to bring life, to bring true light to enlighten every man woman and child. He calls us as his subjects to share his passions and his method, to bow and to serve by valuing people and by rescuing them. Jesus is our king. And may his kingdom come.
Psalm 68-15-20
Verse 18 is helpfully explained for us by Paul in Ephesians 4:7-10. There is one word that is different in his version though. That’s an interesting one to ponder on...
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