Having finished 1 Samuel we are going to continue tracking through Israel's history and move right on to 2 Samuel, which is a book entirely about King David, his life and his reign. We'll also take a break from Psalms and read the book of Job. In my notes today we won't have so much of a devotional thought as a few introductory comments to help us understand Job as we go along. So...
Read Job 1
Read 2 Samuel 1
The Lutheran Study Bible provides some notes to help us understand Job as we go through it: "The accusations of Job's friends seem minor when compared with the accusation of Satan, who asks the central question in the Book of Job and sets the theme: 'Does Job fear God for no reason?'...In other words, why should Job or any other person fear, love, and trust in God? Satan wants to show that a person only serves God because He rewards obedience or punishes disobedience. Job's three friends take up this understanding - our relationship to the Almighty is simply a matter of punishment for disobedience or reward for obedience - and they argue with Job about this issue for most of the Book (cf chs 3-31).
"However, Job understands that something greater is at work between God and humanity. Job confesses faith in a redeemer, that the Lord is his Savior...; he has learned true wisdom from the Lord, which comes from 'fear' and repentance." (TLSB p. 779).
There are more helpful comments in the The Lutheran Study Bible, and I highly recommend owning a copy.
But today we see how Job suffers greatly though he had done no wrong. In this way he is very much a Christ figure (though not the Christ himself, obviously). This will be helpful to remember as we read the book.
In our other reading, David (also very much a Christ-figure) mourns the death of Saul and Jonathan. David did not rejoice that Saul was killed. Though Saul was out to kill David, David maintained a pure heart before God and men.
What incredible examples of faith before us today: David with his undeserved love toward Saul, David with his great compassion and love for his friend Jonathan, and Job who would not curse God though everything was taken from him!
May we also live for the Lord in such a way. We can only do this through the forgiveness of Jesus, won on the cross, and by the power of the Spirit, gifted to us through the means of grace. Help us so to live, O Lord!
Pray:
Pray from your heart today regarding all that is weighing on your heart and mind. Then also ask God for strength today to live a holy life, as we see Job and David live today.
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
So do you think the 2 Samuel 1:9-16 verses are a good defense against assisted suicide/mercy killing?
ReplyDeleteI think we could make a case for that, yes. What complicates this is that the story of the Amalekite and the end of 1 Samuel don't exactly match up. So either 1 Samuel left out some details of Saul's death (which I doubt; I think it is clear that Saul committed suicide and died) or the Amalekite found Saul dead, took the crown and armlet, and made up this story thinking that David would reward him for killing David's competition to the throne. In the end, I like to think that the Amalekite was lying, and his own greed brought him down to execution.
ReplyDeleteI think more than commenting on suicide or mercy killing it comments on David's character. David loved Saul, and David had great respect for the Lord and his anointed one. David was not going to take Saul out of power so he could rule. He was going to wait for God to act.
That's my take on it anyway. But who says I have all the answers?