You can discuss today’s passage below.

David wrote this psalm after Nathan the prophet confronted him about what he did with Bathsheba and what he did to Uriah (2 Sam 12). While it was, for David, deeply personal, it is also of use to the whole church.

The psalm opens with a request for God’s undeserved mercy (v.1-2), asking for washing and cleansing, images of ceremony and ritual reflecting a desire for inner, spiritual change. David recognised that God is a God of mercy, love and compassion; and he asks not just to be made a bit better, but to be completely clean, that God would not see His sin any more.

In verses 3-5, David freely acknowledges his sin; not just recently, but throughout his life. Verse 4 should not be taken to minimise what he did to others, but do reflect that God is the ultimate judge.

Verses 6-13 ask for restoration and renewal, the joy of God’s salvation, a new, clean heart and a right. spirit, that it would lead to worship and testimony, and people returning to God (14-7). David didn’t just ask to be forgiven, he asked to be changed. He knew that if God washed him, he would be completely spotless, whiter even that snow. We know that if we confess our sin, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness – we know that He will make us more like Jesus, who was without sin.

Isaiah 53:6 – ”All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

More resources:
video: Teaching by Bill Hybels on Psalm 51, March 2011.

Music for contemplation:

Prayer in response:
Thank you Father that you are a God of justice, mercy, love and compassion. Thank you that you have promised to forgive us if we turn to you, turn from our sin and confess it to you. Thank you Jesus that you have made it possible for us to be clean. Create in us new hearts by faith, and make Your joy overflow from us into the lives of others, for Your name and Your Kingdom.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

Today we move on to Psalm and Proverbs, with this well-known Psalm of David. The text is rich in imagery and meaning. There is much more to take from the text than will be considered here; feel free to add your own observations below. Some of the meaning is lost in the English translations; “paths” for instance refers to winding, meandering paths rather than straight, roman roads. The point is not that we wander from the straight way, but that we can’t always see where we’re headed; nevertheless, if we follow God’s, we will walk in ways which please him and mean we can enjoy a right relationship with him. The paths lead to righteousness – God is therefore our moral compass, we are to compare our actions with His standards, trusting that He is right, not the other way round. Hopefully the following will introduce you to the psalm and encourage you to carry out some research. There is much more to be found!

The Psalm starts with a metaphor, often used in the Bible, of the Lord being a shepherd. This is because the Lord guides and protects, provides and comforts. The hearers of this passage would have understood what the role of a shepherd was, and so the texts helps them understand more of God through their own culture. God is the shepherd who is responsible for the whole ‘flock’.

Not only is the Lord a shepherd, but David wrote the Lord is my shepherd. He had appropriated God’s leadership for himself. God also cares for each individual ‘sheep’, and David accepted God’s guidance. He saw, felt, recognised and declared the benefits of submission to God personally. In this way, the psalm speaks of his relationship with God and to God. In doing so he communicates not only God’s goodness but he expresses his own joy and thanks to God for the goodness which David sees in his own life. It sometimes may seem cold and academic to say “God cares for people” – that is true, and tells of God’s character. But how much more powerful to say with great joy, “God cares for me!”

David begins telling others that the Lord is his shepherd, “He leads me”. Quickly however, he changes his audience and directs his comments to God, as if oblivious to those around him. His mind is engaged fully on the amazing goodness of God and he offers his own personal worship, saying “you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.” (my emphasis.)

Look at how Jesus describes himself in John 10:1-18, and John 17:12. How does David’s description of God reflect what Jesus says about himself? What does this say about Jesus? What does it say about how Jesus cared for his disciples; and how he cares for you?

The scene changes. David writes that in the midst of troubles, even surrounded by His enemies, they are powerless to stop God; and David rejoices in God who prepares a banquet, gives good things, and satisfies the hunger in our souls. Even when the worst happens, we can trust God.

A number of years ago, Chris Bennett suggested those of us a study group consider our own metaphors for God, in a modern day psalm. Think of some of the attributes of God, some of his qualities, or some of the things he does. To what in our context can we relate God (even if only in part)? A couple of examples from our study group:

• a satellite navigation system – if we follow His instructions, we’ll get to the correct destination even when we don’t know the way
• a personal trainer – God comes alongside us, gives us strength and develops and trains us as individuals

You may find this exercise helpful later for talking other people about who God is to you and what He has done for you in ways which are easy to understand; a simple, effective testimony; much as David himself was doing through this Psalm.

Music for Contemplation:

• The Lord’s My Shepherd – Stuart Townend (Spotify)
• Requiem: Psalm 23 – Herbert Howells, performed by the Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge
• Psalm 23 – Chant by C. Hylton Stewart – performed by the Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge

A prayer in response, by Nicky Gumbel (http://www.htb.org.uk/one-year-bible/read/2011-02-19):
Lord, thank you that you are my shepherd. Thank you for the way you have led and guided me. Thank you that with your presence we do not need to fear any evil. Thank you that you are with me. Lord, I pray that you will guide me today and into the future, for your name’s sake. Thank you, Lord, that each day you invite us to your banquet. We come to you to have our spiritual hunger and thirst satisfied by your presence and your love. Thank you that ‘you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows’ (v.5b). Thank you for your goodness and love that follow me all the days of my life. Thank you that we can look forward to dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. AMEN.

Venue: Parish Centre

Holywood Parish and Jubilate together with Roger Jones present a musical, ROCK – The Story of Simon Peter. Tickets are priced at £10, or £5 for students, and include a finger buffet and wine.

Please contact the Parish Office for more information and to let us know if you’re attending.

Join us in the Parish Centre on the Saturday, 11th June 2011 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm as we meet to worship, pray and explore another of the prayers of the apostles.

You are welcome to join us for five minutes or the whole two hours, as you prefer.

Roger teaches on Isaiah 6 at Worship etc

You can discuss today’s passage below.

It was around 586 B.C. What Solomon had prophesied came about. The Temple which was opened with feasting, rejoicing and offerings, was ransacked, the people taken into captivity. God is all-powerful; he allowed, oversaw the destruction of His own temple and the exile of His own people. Why? Israel did not obey God; Solomon turned to worship other gods, Jereboam led the people of northern Israel to worship manufactured idols (1 Kings 12), and sin grew in Judah.

God remained ready to forgive the people when they repented, as Solomon had prayed (1 Kings 8:46-51), and the passage ends with a note of hope, that the royal line has not come to and end (v. 27-30).

Psalm 74 was written by Asaph while in captivity. He remembered “But God is my King from long ago; He brings salvation on the earth.” Sometimes God uses difficult, shocking, seemingly tragic situations for good; He remains in control. Jesus has promised never to leave us (Matthew 28:20). It’s good to memorise God’s promises and think about His nature and characteristics, so that when hard times come we call on and cry out to God in faith – He is near the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). It should also help us to live with more trust and courage, to dare more and go further for God’s Kingdom.

Song for contemplation:

Prayer in response:
Father, we acknowledge our failings, and we accept that sin is a very serious matter. Thank you for your mercy in not treating us as we deserve but in doing everything for us to know you and be with you for ever. Thank you for the gift of your Son. Thank you for being with us in difficult circumstances; let us not be afraid of any circumstances but know that you are with us and will be with us. Thank you for always being ready for us to come back to you. Thank you for knowing each one of us by name, that our names are written on Your hands; you never leave, abandon or forget us. Lord, comfort the brokenhearted, save the crushed in spirit. AMEN.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

Ahab was King over Israel, but He worshipped Baal (16:31). In contrast, Elijah, the prophet, remained faithful; God took care of him (17:5-6), and paid back to the widow many times what she gave to Elijah, saving her and her son from starvation (17:8-16). There follows an extraordinary scene, where God hears Elijah’s prayer and restores the widow’s son to life; this prefigures Jesus’ miracles of restoring and healing. The widow’s response was accurate, 17:24. She sees the power of the real living God, who provides and gives life.

In stark contrast to the powerful, good, generous God, the prophets of Baal and prophets of Asherah are shown to be worshipping something lesser. Elijah makes fools of them as they carry out their gruesome prayers and rituals (18:27-8.) Elijah makes his point clear – the 450 prophets of Baal fail to get any response to their prayers. Elijah suggests their ‘god’ is asleep, away relieving himself, or gone on a journey – in short, not God. Elijah makes his task to set light to the offering impossible, drenching it in water three times. He offered a simple, spoken prayer, that the people would know He is God; and the “fire of the Lord fell” (18:38).

Ahab, blind to his own errors, called Elijah the “troubler of Israel” (18:17). Sometimes we aren’t aware of what we’re doing which harms us and dishonours God.

After such a great display of God’s power, Elijah heard Jezebel’s threat to kill him, “and he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life”, before sitting down under a tree and asked God to take away his life. God had other plans, however – he a season of food and rest for Elijah before calling him to further service. God asked Elijah, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Where are you in your walk with God? Have you strayed? Are you showing less courage and boldness than you used to? “What are you doing here…?”

Song for reflection:

Prayer in response:
Father, thank you that you have revealed yourself as the true, powerful, living, God; supreme, in all places, seasons and times. Thank you that you provide, you restore, and give life. Thank you that you repay many times what is given to you. Thank you for giving courage and boldness as well as seasons of rest. Thank you for showing us that other gods, idols, are powerless and worthless; thank you for leading us in lives which have purpose and value. Give us courage, boldness and steadfastness in our lives of faith. We are sorry for wandering or gazing on idols. Bring us back to your ways, Lord, and help us to speak your words into the lives of those around us. AMEN.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

The ark symbolised God’s presence. Israel was now established; rather than it being housed in a tent – mobile, and temporary – the Temple was new permanent structure where the Ark could be placed, where Priests could minister and intercede, where offerings could be given to God. This was a huge occasion, 8:5-6, the start of a whole week of festivities (8:66), with much feasting and rejoicing in what God had done. God blessed the temple with his presence, so that even the priests couldn’t minister, 8:10-1. In a church service or meeting, is your focus on those ministering, or on the God to whom they serve and to whom they point?

Solomon’s prayer is startling, by comparison with our own society. Rarely would one expect a public leader other than (in the church) to give unscripted praise and glory to God, or to acknowledge publicly God’s greatness and one’s own infinitesimal comparative smallness (8:27), or to offer prophetic prayer for the people (8:46-53.) Which was more important – the permanent building, or godly leadership?

The passage ends with a warning from God not to turn aside. Despite Solomon’s effort and achievement (perhaps) in the new temple and in interceding for his people, it remains important to finish well, ‘running the race’ to the end, and not giving up.

Prayer in response:
Father, thank You that we do have freedom to meet together in places where we worship; thank You that we can know You better and worship You; thank you that through the Holy Spirit you dwell in us and we can meet with you and minister to and pray for others anywhere at any time. Thank You that the temple curtain is torn down. Thank You for Your amazing presence: capture our hearts with a bigger vision of You. Help us to honour You, please You and do Your will. May we never abandon You; thank You Jesus that You go after the sheep who has wandered off. We rely completely on Your grace, Your mercy and Your goodness. Thank You Father that You finish the good work in us of making more like Jesus. Help us, then, God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to finish well, for our peace and joy in fulfilling Your purposes for our lives, and for the sake of Your Kingdom and Your Glory.

In today’s passage, we read of the death of David, and of the succession to the throne by his son Solomon, his second son by Bathsheba who had been Uriah’s wife.

Solomon was asked by the Lord in a dream “Ask what I shall give you”. Solomon asked for wisdom – understanding and discernment – in discharging the duties of leadership upon him. Solomon didn’t ask for something for personal gain, but to be equipped to govern the people better, to meet the responsibilities placed on him; in particular, in upholding justice, which the Lord loves. This pleased God, who granted the request, as can be seen in the example of a judgment in 3:16-28.

If you were asked by God the same question, “Ask what I shall give you”, how would you respond? What is your motivation? Is it pleasing to God?

Prayer in response:
Lord, thank you for your perfect rule over all the Earth. Thank you that you are ultimately in charge, and you love justice; thank you that you see even the secret places where people wrong and harm others away from the scrutiny of others. We pray for those who live in countries where there is no good governance, where there are unjust secret police forces, bad leaders; where wrongs are not investigated or are excused or approved. Let your justice be known over all the Earth. Show us how to perform and show justice in our lives; that we would uphold the rights of others, stand up for the ill-treated and oppressed. Help us to show your justice and mercy too when others wrong us. Give us wisdom in exercising our responsibilities, help us to be strong and show that we are men and women of God. Examine our hearts, see what our deepest desires are; may they be to know, love and serve you more, King Jesus. AMEN.

Songs for contemplation:

Jim teaches on Romans 8 at Worship etc

Jim teaches on Romans 8 at Worship etc

Join us in the Parish Centre on the Saturday, 7th May 2011 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm as we meet to worship, pray and explore another of the prayers of the apostles.

You are welcome to join us for five minutes or the whole two hours, as you prefer.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

This passage tells of a low in David’s reign. Note how one error leads to another. The passage opens stating it was the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab but he remained on his couch in Jerusalem, spending his afternoon idly. One of his servants or advisers told him about the woman he espied – giving her name, identifying her father and her husband. The effect of this should have been to emphasise to David she was a person, not a commodity; she was someone’s daughter, to be honoured; and she was someone else’s wife – Uriah’s. But David ignored the advice, so he tried to cover up Bathsheba’s pregnancy. Uriah was a man of honour (in contrast with David, at this stage), who refused to enjoy comforts of home while the other men in the army were roughing it in an open field. David got Uriah drunk, and that didn’t work either, so David put in place a plan to kill Uriah (11:15.) When news came of Uriah’s death, David was unrepentant and cold when he ought to have grieved at the loss of an honourable soldier (11:25). Bathsheba did lament, however (11:26).

God was displeased, and sent Nathan to challenge David; his tale seems to be asking the king for a righteous judgment against a rich man who took a sheep from a poor man. David was angry at the ‘news’, not realising his words were directed at himself (12:5-6). God reminded David of all that He had done for him; making him king, giving him wives, delivering him from his enemy.. God says the stunning line “And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more”. He is saying, ‘I’ve done all of this for you!, why have you then thought it to little? I would have given you more. Why did you despise and dishonour me?’ God was merciful, and put away David’s sin (12:13 ); nevertheless there are consequences of our actions (12:10-14). Bathsheba lost her son, having already lost her husband Uriah. The passage ends with hope, however; she gives birth to a son, Solomon, whom the Lord loved.

Prayer in response:
Father, we see in this passage how sin easily entangles and enslaves us; how even a man after Your heart can fall and fail. Set us free from what enslaves us to be slaves to righteousness. Lead us in your ways, and let us leave our own ways behind. Thank you for your mercy. Thank you for not giving us what we deserve. Show us all the good things you have given us, and give us thankfulness and extreme joy for your goodness. Amen.

The official finish times are recorded as:

• 4 hours, 39 minutes, 8 seconds – that’s one minute, 53 seconds behind last year’s fastest, but two minutes 50 seconds faster than in 2009
• 4 hours, 50 minutes, 19 seconds
• 4 hours, 50 minutes, 19 seconds

In addition, it seems one team lost their timing chip somewhere along the last leg of the route – we are told this team’s time was 4 hours 45 minutes, and we’ll have to take his word for it!

Also running and walking the entire course were Deirdre, and Peter and Sharon. We’ll post their results as soon as we get them.

We’ll let you know the final totals raised for charity soon.

If you’re inspired by their achievements, there is still time to donate, just talk to any staff member. Or, get training for next years teams!

You can discuss today’s passage below.

Before setting out against the Philistines, David asked God “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” (5:17). Twice David sought God’s directions. Seeking God isn’t an excuse to sit and do nothing, but do you seek God’s guidance, and obey his commands?, or do you turn to Him first if and when things go wrong?

Compare the celebration before and after the ark was brought to the city with David’s anger at God (6:8 ). Why was David angry? Why was God angry with Uzziah? Who was right; and what is the defining characteristic of David’s relationship with and to God?

David celebrated before the Lord in front of the people. Michal, Saul’s daughter and one of David’s wives, thought this undignified. Perhaps she was comparing David’s kingship to that of her father. Look at David’s reaction. Whose opinion mattered more to him? Do you spend more time thinking about what other people think of you, or about God’s view?

Prayer in response:
Father, help us to be good leaders, listening and pointing to You. Thank you for your patience when we are angry with you. Give us guidance as we seek You and your ways. Let us be men and women after your heart; help us to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, strength, body and will. Let your worship be seen before all the people that they would come to know You and give You glory.

Song of response:

• We Will Dance (For Your Glory) – remix; Ben Cantelon, Soul Survivor.

On Friday 13th May 2011 at 7:30 p.m, BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year finalists GROSVENOR, directed by Edward J. Craig present “In The Beginning…” – An evening of the finest choral music to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible.. This promises to be a stunning evening of choral music with a varied repertoire. The choir will be joined by guest soloist Mark Chambers and organist Stephen Hamill.

Tickets will be available from the Parish Office, priced £10 or £25 for two adults and two children. Proceeds from the evening will go to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Video:

Critical acclaim for GROSVENOR:

“…somehow manage to capture the warmth of [Northern Ireland]… an enormous amount of preparation and rehearsal”  – Howard Goodall

“…manage to get deep inside the music; and the technical requirements to do that effectively are enormous.. you were able to paint and caress the text” – Suzi Digby

You can find out more about the choir, watch videos and hear samples of their recordings at www.grosvenor-ni.org

You can discuss today’s passage below.

In today’s passage we see clear differences in the characters of David and Saul. Saul, you will remember, started off well, chosen and anointed by God; but he had stopped listening to and obeying God, preferring to do his things his ways.

David is pursued by Saul, who aims to besiege and capture him. The Lord warned David, however, (23:11), and did not give him over to Saul but protected him (24:14).

Jonathan, David’s friend and Saul’s son, takes an extraordinary risk in visiting David. He doesn’t warn David of an oncoming danger, rather the tells him not to fear, he “strengthened his hand in God”. He also says “..and I shall be next to you.” We have a great opportunity to give others encouragement in God who is immovable, strong, powerful, mighty, just, merciful and compassionate; what an honour and joy it is to do so. We should primarily encourage others in faith in God, building one another up in Him. And, secondly but importantly, we should make ourselves available to one another (in as much as we are able), even if it means risk or loss to ourselves. By the church family of God mutually giving and receiving encouragement, time, sharing wisdom, we may used by God to build His church and His Kingdom. Who can you encourage, whose hand can you strengthen in the Lord?

In a dramatic scene, Saul and his men were on one side of a mountain, while David and his men were on the other side. Saul almost had closed in on David when word reached Saul that there was an attack on the land by Philistines, and David escaped. (23:28 ) David gots an unexpected opportunity to kill or capture Saul (24:3). Instead, he cut off part of Saul’s robe (23:5) but his conscience struck him, see 24:6. After Saul left the cave, David went after him admitted to Saul what he had done – that he had the opportunity to kill Saul, but he had not, and nor would he: “my hand shall not be against you” (24:13). Saul acknowledged that David was the better man (24:17), and that the Kingdom of Israel would be David’s (24:20). When faced with a chance to get revenge or get an advantage over your enemies, how do you react? How do you treat colleagues at work when there is a possible promotion? When there is a disagreement with someone in church, how do you react? Has someone treated you badly recently, or been ‘out to get you’? How did you react?; how does David’s reaction compare or contrast?; which response is more pleasing to God?

Prayer in response:
Father, thank you for your great protection. Thank you for warning David about what was to come. Thank you that you have warned us about the future if we reject Jesus. Keep us on the path towards You. Please forgive us for the times over the last week we have wandered off stupidly in our own ways: ______________. Thank you, Jesus, that you have revealed yourself as the true, righteous King. May we have greater faith in you as the Lord over all. Help us to encourage one another in You and to offer ourselves to you and our time and gifts to one another in Your service. AMEN.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

Today’s passage introduces the coming king, David. Saul hadn’t kept God’s commands, and so God “sought out a man after his own heart” (13:14), who would be a better king than Saul (15:28).

Samuel anointed David before he became King. The Spirit of the Lord was with him (16:13), but not with Saul who was tormented by a harmful spirit (16:14-5). David was the youngest son of Jesse, from Bethlehem. Samuel was impressed by the height and good looks of his elder brothers, but God told him “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him” (16:7); the reason was that God looks at the condition of people’s hearts. While it turned out that David was “ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome”, that was not the reason God chose him, as 13:14 and 16:7 make clear. Consider your own heart, and how it may appear to God who knows everything. Talk with God about it.

When the story of David and Goliath is taught, David is often presented as a boy, lacking strength or ability. In fact, David was introduced to Saul as someone who was not only a skilful musician (16:16), but also “a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the Lord is with him.” (16:18) David left his shepherding for Saul’s service (16:21) – as a shepherd, he had protected his sheep from lions and bears, by force (17:34). David accredited his success to the Lord, “who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear” (17:34). When facing the challenge of Goliath and the Philistines, he reacted out of his experience, and his faith (17:34-7). Unlike his brothers who stood idly by making accusation (17:28), David was confident God will defend his own honour, and defeat Goliath; he was willing to battle for God’s people and for God’s honour. God had found a man who trusted him, and would act accordingly. David trusted in the Lord whom he believed would deliver him (17:45-7); he had no need for armour, which only restricted him (17:39). He didn’t even have a sword (17:50). Instead, he used what he had and he knew – his shepherd’s sling. And God gave him the victory. Do you trust God with what you have? Are you willing? Do you complain and throw accusation when you know you should be acting, or do you advance for God’s service readily?

Jonathan was Saul’s son. Experience might suggest that he may see David – favoured by his father, young, admired, able and willing – as a potential threat. Instead, the text states that “the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (18:3). This is remarkable, powerful language. Thus begins one of the greatest friendships of the bible. Rather than envying David, Jonathan gives him great gifts, at great cost (18:4), and made a covenant with David (18:3.) It is easy to draw comparisons between Jonathan taking off his expensive outer robe, and Jesus who humbled himself and gave everything for us. Jesus also gives us his armour, and he is our closest friend. God also calls us to be good friends like Jonathan was to David. Is there someone more able, or in a higher position than you? Everyone can benefit from a loyal friend who supports them even at their own loss. You can be that kind of friend. If you earnestly desire that kind of friend yourself, consider Jesus. No one loves you more than he does.

The passage ends with Saul becoming jealous of David, and “very very angry” (18:8 ) at David’s success in battle being compared to his own victories. Saul began attempts to kill David, personally by a spear (18:11) or by sending him to battle (18:13). The text states that this was because Saul knew that God’s spirit had left him, but was with David. Saul’s primary concern was for himself, not for God’s people; at the same time, he ought to have expected that God who is able would protect David from the Philistines and not let him come to harm. Does your life speak of worry, anger, self-centredness and jealousy? Or of a concern for others, faith, and trust? Put your faith in the Lord, and seek to look beyond yourself, lest you become like Saul, trapped by fear and insecurity.

Music for reflection

• Great in Power – Reuben Morgan, Hillsong
• Great Reward – Shane & Shane
• The King of Love My Shepherd Is

Prayer in response:
Father, thank you for honouring your name and protecting your honour. May your name be hallowed, kept holy and revered. Thank you for equipping David, training him in his youth and giving him Your Spirit of power, to do your work. Thank you for giving us gifts to use in your service. Help us to see what you have given us. Let us not envy others for what they have, nor be too impressed by their outward appearance. Instead, help us to meet our calling humbly and gladly. Work in our hearts, Lord, that like David would be more like yours, and that we may be described as men and women after your own heart. May we not act out of selfish desires or conceit, but humbly count others as more significant and valuable than ourselves. Help us to take care for others and protect others from harm as far as we can; give us the courage and selflessness to act for their welfare and your honour. Help us to be good friends, and help us to know the love, care and presence our greatest friend, our King Jesus. AMEN.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

Like Eli, Samuel’s sons didn’t follow God’s commands (8:2). Rather than having bad judges, the people wanted a king (8:5). The people of Israel had been set apart with God their deliverer and protector, but they wanted to be “like all the nations.” Its easy to want to conform and be like others, and forget that everyone we see is imperfect, instead of looking to our perfect example in our deliverer, protector and King Jesus.

God told Samuel to do what the people wanted – they hadn’t rejected Samuel, but had “rejected [the Lord] from being king over them.” 8:8 shows God’s amazing patience with the people of Israel, and he is allowing Samuel to share in His emotions at the people He loves turning away from him continually. Samuel, as God directed, gave the people a solemn warning (8:10-7) as to how they would be ruled, so that the decision would be theirs, fully informed of the consequences; but the people are unrepentant. They want their king “to go out before [them] and fight [their] battles” for them, just “like all the nations. Nevertheless, God still heard the people’s cries (9:16).

Chapter 9 introduces Saul, as the story shifts to a seemingly unconnected farming scene. God had told Samuel that He would sent to Samuel a man from the land of the tribe of Benjamin who Samuel was to anoint to be prince (9:15). Saul arrived with his servant, looking for his father’s donkeys. Saul had good potential for leadership, being easily admired and followed due to his height and youthful handsomeness. Saul also shows humbleness (9:21), like Gideon had, saying that he was from the humbles clan of the least of the tribes of Israel. Samuel invited Saul to eat with him; Saul was served the animals leg, reserved for the priests (see Exodus 29:27), demonstrating the sacredness of Saul’s impending appointment.

Samuel anointed Saul with oil privately, (10:1), near or at the outskirts of the city, Saul’s servant having been sent on (9:27). Samuel told Saul that he would reign over the people and save them from their enemies, as a sign that God had anointed him to be price (1:2). Not only is Saul anointed with oil, he received a new heart (10:9); the Spirit of God rushed upon him (10:10), he was turned into another man (10:6), that is, he was equipped with God’s power to perform new roles, of prophet (10:10) and King, serving God’s people. Most of all, God was with Saul (7:8).

While the Old Testament rarely describes the Spirit of the Lord rushing upon someone (from the Judges, up to King David), today God’s Spirit has been poured out on all believers; God is with us; we also are made into new people, with new hearts inclined to God’s commands. While Christians still are sorely tempted by sin, our deepest desires are to know, love, serve and follow their King Jesus who is with us always.

Saul having been been anointed, he is publicly chosen by lot (10:20-21), showing that the choice of Saul was made by God, not just Samuel. Saul chose to hide himself among the baggage (10:22); the people “ran and took him from there.” It is likely this shows a certain reluctance on Saul’s part, or perhaps a sudden sense of fear of the great responsibility or of the crowd of people. Despite being unable to hide from God, the method of choice by lot together with Saul’s appearance and Samuel’s remarks make the people glad to accept Saul as their King, all of them shouting “Long live the King” (10:24.)

With the new role, their was the need for some new constitutional document outlining the responsibilities and duties of the new king. Samuel prepared this in a book (10:25) which was set before the Lord, in a sanctuary, both for safe-keeping and again in recognition of seriousness of the role and divine appointment. Thus, Saul was king, and went to his home along with “men of valour” who God had moved to join their king (10:26). The chapter ends with a note of dissent from “some worthless fellows”, but observes that Saul held his peace as King, not rising to the unmerited challenge to his leadership presented by those who despised him.

Who is your great example, what leader(s) do you seek to emulate? What is the state of your heart towards the people God has entrusted to your leadership? What gifts has God given you to serve His people for their joy and His glory? Are you aware of the Holy Spirit’s guidance through prayer and reading God’s word? How does this affect how you lead, or what you prioritise? Do you show wisdom in the face of opposition?

Prayer in response:
Thank you, King Jesus, for your perfect leadership, and your great example of humble service of God’s people and your love and compassion even on your enemies. Thank you that you are with us every day. Thank you that you never leave or forsake us. Thank you that you are good, just and merciful. We look forward to your glorious return, and living in your presence under your rule and reign. May your Kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. AMEN.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

In this passage we read of Samuel becoming a prophet, who will guide Israel through transition from a period of leadership in in the judges to a Davidic monarchy.

Hannah was loved by Elkanah her husband; Peninnah (his second wife) taunted and provoker Hannah for not having any children, a source of shame in the society, and it caused Hannah great distress which Elkanah couldn’t comfort (1:8). Her distress went very deep (1:15), and she chose to “pout our [her] soul before the Lord”, not hiding from God, not pretending everything was ok, but seeking Him and His favour. God heard and granted her request (1:20), and she gave birth to Samuel.

Samuel was dedicated to God’s service (1:22) in the House of the Lord in Shiloh, where Eli was priest. Eli’s failed to discipline his sons, who treated the Lord with contempt (2:17). Eventually he did speak out (2:22-5) but it was too late for them to take any notice by this stage.

By contrast, Samuel ‘continued to grow in stature and in favour with the Lord’, and he continued serving God (3:1), but he didn’t yet have a personal relationship with God (3:7), and so he didn’t recognise God’s voice (3:4, 3:6, 3:8.) God’s first word to Samuel was calling him by his name, demonstrating a personal interest, a direct communication and relationship. His message was one of judgment against Eli for his sons blaspheming God. Samuel was afraid to tell Eli what God had said to him, but a prophet’s job is not just to listen to God and have inside knowledge but also to speak God’s words in a timely, complete and accurate manner; which is just what Samuel did (3:18). Eli humbly accepted God’s judgment. This marks the decline of Eli’s house and priesthood and the ascendance of Samuel’s ministry and prophecy, which the text confirms observing that ‘Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.’ Samuel was faithful to God and grew physically, maturing as a man, he grew in fame, being known as a prophet, and he grew in his relationship with his Creator, Revealer God (v. 21).

Songs for contemplation

Speak, O Lord, Stuart Townend and Keith Getty.

Prayer in response

Thank you, Father, that you don’t stay far off but you call us by name and make yourself known to us. Thank you for the joy of a deep, real and personal relationship with you. Restore and renew our relationships with you where we have become cold or hard hearted. Thank you that you care, and that we can pour our souls out to you. Thank you your mercy, generously and lovingly answering Hannah’s prayer. Thank you that you hear our prayers too. Grow us in faithfulness, service and holiness, mature us in character and discipleship. Help us to hear your voice and your will clearly, and help us to obey you faithfully and completely. Help those of us and our friends and community to be good parents and train our children to live as men and women of God in Christ. May we continue, Lord, to live with you all our days until we see You face to face. AMEN.

Key passage: Matthew 21:1-11

Also referenced: Matthew 22:37-40; Matthew 23:23-36; Matthew 24:4-13; John 12:25-26; Matthew 21:31; Matthew 22:8-10; Matthew 21:33-46; Matthew 26: 1-2; Matthew 26:6-13; John 12:23; John 27:27-36.

Video: Jim closed his talk with this video.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

The story opens in a setting of famine in the land. Elimelech and his wife Naomi left Bethlehem for Moab in search of food. Their sons Mahlon and Chilion married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. Mahlon, Chilon and Elimelech have died, leaving the three women. Word travels to Naomi that the famine has ended, and she can return to her hometown.

As you read the story of Ruth, think about the following:

• What strengths of character does Ruth display?
• How do Ruth’s character and decisions differ from Orpah’s?
• What is her family background?, and what is her family future? Compare her predecessors with her descendants. What does this say about God’s care for Israel and the non-Israelite population?
• What strengths of character does Boaz show?
• Where is kindness evident?
• Look at the theme of redemption running through the story. What are its effects, in the short and long term?
• Is Ruth someone you would expect to find in King David and Jesus’s family tree? What does this say about God’s plans?

Video – Roger teaches on kindness, from the story of Jacob and Isaac.

Music for contemplation:

• There is A Redeemer, Choir of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor
• Salvator Mundi, from Cantiones Sacrae, published in 1575, by Thomas Tallis, performed by The Sixteen
• Kindness, Live from Austin Music Hall, Chris Tomlin
• Faithful, Mercy, Eoghan Heaslip

Prayer in response:

Lord, thank you for this example of loyalty, kindness and faithfulness. Help us to be a church and community where our loyalty, kindness, faithfulness and love are evident to all. Thank you for the promise of redemption in Christ and all that it brings. Help us to lead upright lives as Your light shines in us and through us. Help us to reject sin and to redeem good things for your glory and our joy. AMEN.

On Saturday 9th April 2011 at Music for a Spring Evening the Parish Choir and Jubilate performed the première of a work commissioned for the church, The Bells of St. Philip and St. James, with words by Jake Gallagher and music by Philip Stopford. The choirs were accompanied by Roo Stewart and directed by the composer.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

Audio: Drop the Dead Donkey – Judges 14-16, by Chris Bennett, from July 2009.

Key passage: Matthew 16:13-28

Key readings: Deuteronomy 5:1-22; Matthew 5:21-26.

Key readings: Deuteronomy 5:1-22; Matthew 5:21-26.

Sunday 17th April

Palm Sunday

8:00 a.m. – spoken Holy Communion, in church
9:45 a.m. – contemporary Family Service, in church
11:30 a.m. – traditional Morning Prayer, in church
5:30 p.m. – traditional Evening Prayer, in church
7:00 p.m. – contemporary Worship etc, in the Parish Centre

Monday 18th April

8:00 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion, in church
7:00 p.m. – a traditional Evening service for Holy Week

Tuesday 19th April

8:00 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion, in church
7:00 p.m. – a traditional Evening service for Holy Week

Wednesday 20th April

8:00 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion, in church
10:30 a.m.  – traditional Holy Communion and prayers, in church
7:00 p.m. – A Taizé service

Thursday 21st April

Maundy Thursday

8:00 a.m. –  traditional Holy Communion, in church
7:00 p.m.  - an Agape Meal (bring and share), with contemporary Holy Communion service, in the Parish Centre

Friday 22nd April

Good Friday

8:00 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion, in church
10:00 a.m. – contemporary Family Service for Good Friday, in church
12:00 noon – An Hour at the Cross – a contemplative service of music, readings and prayers, in church
7:00 p.m. – Good Friday Devotion for Choir and Congregation

Sunday 24th April

Easter Sunday

8:00 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion, in church
9:45 a.m. – contemporary Family Communinion, in church
11:30 a.m. – traditional Holy Communion, in church
5:30 p.m. – traditional  Holy Communion, in church
7:15 p.m. – contemporary Worship etc service, in church

You can discuss today’s passage below.

The people had once more done what was evil, and God again allowed them to be oppressed (6:1) until they cried to Him for help (6:6). Through the prophet, God made His nature and the reason for oppression clear to the people (6:7-10).

Note the first words spoken by the Angel of the Lord to Gideon in 6:12. God told Gideon to “Go in this might of yours” (6:14) which seems surprising, humorous and ironic. The might of course was God’s “do not I send you?” (6:14), though at first Gideon misses that point (6:15).

Nevertheless, Gideon responds with an acceptable offering to the Lord (6:19-20), anxious that he not depart while it was prepared. When the Angel of the Lord disappeared, Gideon realises whom he has seen, 6:22. His response is not unique among people who have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face – see also Isaiah 6. The Lord however declared peace, and in His honour Gideon built an altar calling it Jehovah-shalom, God our peace.

This passage reflects throughout that Gideon was not the most courageous. He lacked what we might call self-confidence or self-assurance. He was afraid to tear down the altar to Baal in the day time, but was obedient to do so at night (6:25-27). He requested several signs of God’s presence (6:36-40); God knew this and was pleased to oblige; He gave instructions to arise against the Midianite camp (7:9) but also gave a way of assuring Gideon (6:10). God made it clear through selecting only 300 of 22,000 men that He wanted everyone to know He was saving the people, not they themselves; he prepared the way in the Midianite’s hearts (6:13-14). Again though God involved the people, calling them to fight in His battle, with His strength, in His way. Likewise, we are involved in spreading the gospel through God’s power, in His strength, with his equipment (Ephesians 6:10-17). This should inspire us to follow Him and do what He asks in spite of our insignificance, lack of self-confidence; it should call us to reconsider any image of ourselves we hide behind, and acknowledge that His strength and might are truly great; all we require is a heart that is open to listen, trust and act accordingly.

How does Gideon’s response to God differ from Barak’s, of which we read last day? Look at the conditions attached to obedience. Which response is better?

Songs for contemplation:

• Great Reward, Everything is Different, Shane & Shane, 2009 Waiting Room Records.

• Be Thou My Vision, John Rutter, The Cambridge Singers, 2005 Universal Classics & Jazz.

Prayer in response:
Lord thank you that you use us knowing our weaknesses. Thank you for providing your might, power and Holy Spirit. Thank you for equipping us to do your work. Thank you that even though we are like empty jars, having nothing special of our own to offer, we can let your light shine through us into the dark places of the world, as you bring your hope, light, life and freedom. Move us to care and act for others. Thank you Jesus that you are our peace in any battle you call us to face, and you are our great reward. Just as the trumpets were sounded, so may we boldly proclaim the victory of your gospel. AMEN.

In today’s passage, we read that the people of Israel had done “what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (4:1), and God allowed them to be cruelly oppressed by Jabin, the King of Canaan. They could have avoided the 20 painful years by simply being faithful to God. The people cried to God (4:3). He heard and called Barak, a military leader, to rise up with 10,000 against Jabin’s army. God had promised that he would give Barak success. (4:7). Instead of doing as he was commanded, however, Barak either lacked courage or faith in God. Maybe he had heard that Jabin’s army had 900 iron chariots (4:3) – the  equivalent of tanks of their day. Some may have had knives attached to their wheels (as you may have seen in the current film release The Eagle). The only hope Israel had was if God gave them success.. but He had. It wasn’t enough for Barak to accept God’s word; he would only go if Deborah the Judge, God’s earthly representative and Israel’s leader, would go with him (4:8 ). Deborah shows faithfulness by speaking reliably for God, and her strength derives from putting faith in Him (4:9). Her response in verse 9 suggests that it will be shameful for Barak or at least to his discredit, having forfeited the glory that would have been his had he trusted and obeyed, saying that “Lord will sell Sisera [the leader of Jabin's army] into the hand of a woman”. The success of the 10,000 will now be incomplete, limited. Deborah doesn’t mean that she will lead the army instead of Barak – 4:10 makes it clear that Barak still lead, and Deborah accompanied.

When the day came, Deborah had again to encourage Barak to act, and remind him again of God’s presence (4:14). And, as warned, Sisera escaped; only to be fooled and killed (in a rather dramatic fashion – 4:21) by Jael, “the wife of Heber the Kenite” (4:17). The Kenite tribe had been an ally of Israel; Heber allied himself with Jabin, but Jael didn’t.

We aren’t called to murder. We can safely say though that passages show that God will use anyone He pleases to fulfil His purposes – young or old, man or woman; nor is God limited by our race, ethnicity, language.. (see Joel 2:29-9; Revelation 7:9). The questions then for us are: are we listening to God through His word and Holy Spirit?; are we doing what we know He is asking us to do?; do we remember His promises, and put our trust in Him – or do we fear other people more than we trust God? Are we relying primarily on God’s promises and His presence (and living in community and fellowship with other Christians, encouraging one another) or are we relying more on family or close friends, who we maybe believe have a closer relationship with God than we do, than on God himself? Note that as for the ‘glory’, Jael and Deborah may be the heroes of the story, even Barak did what he should albeit with a significant amount of hand-holding from Deborah, but it is worth noting that the text credits God with subduing Jabin (4:23).

Songs for contemplation:

• A Mighty Fortress, Christy Nockles, Passion: Awakening
• We Must Go, Tim Hughes, Happy Day Live, 2009 Survivor Records

Key passage: Matthew 3:13–4:11

Join us in the Parish Centre on the Saturday, 16th April 2011 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm as we meet to worship, pray and explore another of the prayers of the apostles.

You are welcome to join us for five minutes or the whole two hours, as you prefer.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

Today we skip forward to the next book, Judges. Joshua and his generation have died. Some of the Canaanites and other people’s remained in the land. Rather than keep themselves holy, however, the Israelites worshipped the pagan gods Baal (the god of rain and storms) and Ashtoreth (the goddess of love, war and fertility.) This was a grave and direct breach of the first two of the Ten Commandments. God had demonstrated to the people how he was in control of the earth, and was mighty in battle, yet the people went after sensuality and immoral behaviour. The people forgot their God, and paid the price (2:15). They found the surrounding people’s attractive, and intermarried (3:6) leading to an acceptance of the false gods. They lost their distinctiveness and their holiness.

Nevertheless, God was angry but merciful; hearing the cries of the people to Him, and raised up judges who feared him. The people were saved and became loyal to God under that judge, but when they died, the people rebelled against God and were overrun by enemy nations. God used those nations to test Israel, to see if any were faithful (2:22). This cycle happened seven times in this period of Israel’s history.

If you have turned from God or are heading that way, its not too late to call on Him to save you and place you back on the path towards Him. If you have children or grandchildren or other young family do you tell them of the one true Creator God, and of Jesus? If this generation doesn’t proclaim the good news of the gospel to next generation, from whom will they learn, and who will they worship? What can you tell others about what the Lord has done for you?

You can discuss today’s passage below.

Jericho was the first city taken in Canaan. Heavily fortified, its walls were up to 25 feet high and 20 feet thick, the city served as a sign of military power and resistance. The commander of the army of the Lord appeared to Joshua (5:13). Just as Moses was instructed at the burning bush, so his successor Joshua is told to take off his sandals, because the ground was holy. His presence shows that the Lord made the city fall – this is further supported by the instructions the Lord gave to Joshua (6:2-5). The procession around the city was to be lead by priests, blowing horns before the ark of the covenant, which was a sign of God’s presence. Obeying God’s instructions would have taken faith that he had indeed already given Jericho over (6:2) – as a military strategy their actions made little sense as a method of taking a city. We know that there had been great fear in the city (see Joshua 2:9), and for the inhabitants the daily processions could have given a sense of increasing tension.

We read that the city was “devoted to destruction” (6:17). This should be taken as a sign of God’s perfect judgment on the Canaanites for their evil and idolatry (see Deuteronomy 20). Rehab however feared the Lord and protected the Israelite spies (see Joshua 2), and she and her family (Canaanites) were saved. The Israelites had to keep themselves holy or face the same fate (6:18 ). It is important to remember that God is love, and He is also just and powerful. The Lord is a warrior, the Lord is His name, and He has ultimate authority to do with His creation as He pleases; however, He desires that none should perish, and has made a way for us through Jesus death and resurrection. The passage therefore points forward to God’s ultimate judgment on all people, and His saving grace for those who believe in Him and correspondingly act according to their faith, regardless of their age, gender or ethnicity.

It is easy to look back on things from which we have repented, or to take on the ways of the world around us again. As believer and followers of Jesus, we are called to be holy just as He is holy, to throw off the sin that so easily entangles and keep our hearts pure by removing any thing which would serve as a reminder of our previous rebellious life.

Music for contemplation:

• Jericho, Ben Cantelon, Running After You, 2009 Survivor Records.

Prayer in response:
Father thank You for showing Your great power. Thank you that no sinful Earthly or Heavenly power can withstand Your mighty hand. We trust that You are good and just, a perfect Judge. We trust that your ways and faultless, even when we don’t understand. Thank you also for Jesus’ perfect sacrifice and resurrection, without which we would be lost. Help us to throw off any sin which ensnares us; bring us back to Your ways. Give us the courage and faith to trust and obey completely even when Your ways seem confusing to us. Thank you for your mercy on those who fear, believe and trust in You. Tear down the walls of sin in the lives of our friends and families; please have mercy and lead them to repentance, perfect freedom and everlasting life.

Key readings: Exodus 20:1-21; Matthew 5:17- 20.

Key readings: Exodus 20:1-21; Matthew 5:17- 20.

Looking through so many pictures of wonderful times with my Papa, I was reminded of fun times that I’d forgotten all about: Christmases and Thanksgivings; time away on holiday together; time spent helping him with a job around the house or garden. Looking at those pictures reawakened memories that I will always cherish and hold on to – and one day even tell my kids about.

Memories are so important. And pictures help us remember, That’s why, when the Israelites crossed over the Jordan and into the Promised Land and God wanted his people to remember his goodness to them, God told Joshua to have the people collect 12 stones, one for every tribe, And after he piled them into a pillar on the shore of the river, Joshua said to them, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, “Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground, For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you, until you had crossed over, The LORD your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us, until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God ” (Joshua 42 1-24)

God has placed memories in all of our hearts, of times he’s helped us and rescued us and delivered us, of how he’s been there for us in the past. And he’s placed pictures, like signposts, all along the way, to help reawaken those memories. Often times, those ‘pictures’ will be people, or places, or things. They might be special verses of the Bible, or sermons or books. They might be churches, or they might be small groups of people with whom you’ve journeyed together through life

As we continue to celebrate our past this year, as a church and as individuals, I hope and pray that God will reawaken memories in all of our lives, reminding us of those times when He’s ‘shown up’ and proven himself to be faithful and good to us, And, as we remember, let us embrace the wonderful hope that the God who has been with us continues to be with us now, and will be with us forever, And, as we embrace that hope, let us also be sure to share our stories of hope with others. Who knows – maybe in sharing our life and our story this year, we’ll become a signpost in someone else’s journey of faith!

 – Jim.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

In today’s passage, we read again of the Israelites crossing a natural body of water by supernatural means. The ark of the covenant signifies God’s presence (3:8 ), and He is the one who opens the way to cross the Jordan. 3:10 shows that the event was was again to be a sign to the people that God was with them. The stones taken from the river (4:3) are to serve as a reminder of a special time of God’s presence and protection, and His power over all creation.

Can you think back to a time in your life when God seemed especially close, or when you were thankful for a particular event in your life? Reflect on it now and give God thanks. If you can’t remember such a time, pray that God would reveal His character to you in a new way.

Music for contemplation:

• Psalm 139, by John Yoder, John Yoder Live, Holywood Parish Church, 2006.

Prayer in response:
Father, thank you for revealing your power. Thank you are our Provider, all good things come from You. Thank You that although you are great, Almighty, You don’t stay far off but have made Your presence available for us and in us today through Your Holy Spirit. Give us a fresh insight into Your character and unchanging nature, and inspire us to worship You more deeply, with love and awe. AMEN.

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You can discuss today’s passage below.

Joshua had been Moses’ assistant. He had accompanied and learned from Moses (Ex 24:13, Ex 32:17, Ex 33:11. He had received blessing and the spirit of wisdom (Deut 34:9). Now it was time for him to continue the task; rather than assuming control, God appointed Joshua. He called him to leadership (v. 2), holiness (v. 8 ) and service. His work would require courage – note the number of times God exhorts Joshua to “be strong and courageous”! It is not an empty, detached command, however, for God says ” I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you” (v. 5) and “Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (v. 9). God promises His strength in achieving the tasks set out (v. 7). Joshua for his part was required to obey God (v. 7), meditate on and speak His commands continually (v. 8), and not to turn left or right from God’s commands (v. 7). Doing so would help him to find courage and strength and the success (in fulfilling his God-appointed tasks) God promised.

Think for a moment about the relationship between Moses and Joshua, and the nature of the succession. Would you benefit from learning from a more mature Christian? Maybe you could help encourage and train someone younger?

Joshua told the people what was to happen in the immediate future, and he commands the officers to ready the people to move (v. 11) and the men to fight (v. 14). They obey (v. 16).

Songs for reflection:

• Give us Your Courage, Tim Hughes, Happy Day – Live, 2009 Survivor Records.

Prayer in Response:
Thank you Lord that you have made Your word so readily available to us. Thank you for the work and dedication of those who have passed it on, written it, translated it, printed it, carried it, and sent it so that we can read it. Don’t let us take it for granted, but may we meditate on it day and night. Call your word to mind to us throughout the day. Give us the grace to be not merely hearers but doers. Help us to be strong and courageous when we’re facing difficult situations and tempted to run rather than face the challenge. Thank you that through Your Son we have a sure Hope set before us. Help us to be ready to declare and demonstrate the gospel to everyone we meet. AMEN.

Key readings: Isaiah 42:1-9; Matthew 5:13-16.

Key readings: Isaiah 42:1-9; Matthew 5:13-16.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

In today’s passage we find that the Israelites need God’s sanctifying work. They break the covenant (Ch. 32); Moses intercedes for them (Ch. 33) and God restores the covenant (Ch. 34).

Between the last passage and todays, “Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do”.” (Exodus 24:3). Again, they said “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” (24:7). Despite this, they get a bit bored or impatient while Moses has his back turned, being up the mountain talking with God, and go to Moses’ brother Aaron and persuade him to make an idol for them to worship (32:1). Its not clear whether they want this golden calf in addition to the Lord (32:5), or in place of him (32:4). However, God is a jealous God (34:14). We worship one God – this is monotheism. “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one“. (We know also that this one God is three distinct persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who are God – as Grudem puts it, in Systematic Theology, “God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God”. This is trinitarian monotheism.) It is easy to see how the people made an idol for themselves, because they did literally and physically that – but we can fall into the same patterns ourselves, placing other things either in competition with or above our allegiance and devotion to God. Nothing compares with God or His promises, yet we are quick to exchange created things for our Creator. Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 10 that we can’t add worshipping pagan gods or sex (for examples) to worshipping God. Jesus said that we cannot serve God and money; to think otherwise is therefore to delude oneself, and exchange truth for a lie. Whether then the Israelites wanted a visible, accessible god in addition or instead of the Lord, the effect is still the same, and it made God angry.

Moses pleads for the people, (32:11), but when he sees things for himself he too is angered (32:18). He threw down the tablets (on which were written the Commandments), breaking them. More than just a fit of pique, his anger mirrors God’s, and breaking the tablets illustrates what the people have done. Aaron’s answer to Moses, however, is somewhat lacking, as if to say ‘Oh, you left them with me, and you know they’re evil, and they said some things. I just thew their jewellery in the fire, and it came out as this calf!’ as if he had done nothing (cf. v. 4).

In chapter 33, Moses intercedes for the people that God would go with them. Verse 13 seems somewhat circular. Nevertheless, Moses asks if he has found favour in God’s sight, and he aligns himself with the people God gave him to lead. God agrees therefore to go with them, (33:17). Moses wishes to be shown God’s ways (33:13) and God’s glory (33:18). In agreeing, God says “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” This is to be read with God’s proclamation to Moses in the next chapter (34:6-7).

Note that Moses sees God’s glory, but this is not simply for his own benefit. With newly inscribed tablets and having heard God’s new covenant, he goes back to the people with his face shining (34:35) – a sign to all that it was the Lord he had been speaking with. Another reminder of God’s glory, holiness and presence.

Prayer in response:
Father, thank You for having mercy on us, bringing us to You through the gift of faith in Your Son. We know that worshipping other things and following other ways makes You angry. Show us where we are going astray and turning against You, give us the grace to repent, and lead us back to You. May we think those things rubbish in comparison to knowing You. Thank you for the amazing description of how You talked with Moses “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Help us to discover or to continue in such a deep and real fellowship with You. We want to love You, serve You, and draw close to You today.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

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Come See, Go Tell!

It’s interesting how certain experiences can change your life. When I was younger, I enjoyed surfing when I got the chance. But although I had lived by the beach nearly all my life, and had given surfing a stab now and again, I was never really that good at it. Not until I met a guy who came to be one of my best friends, named Greg. Greg made surfboards for a living. For him, surfing wasn’t just a hobby. It was a passion. I found out about his profession when I was home from university one summer, and I wanted to know more. And in order to show me what he did, one day he invited me to go out surfing with him. It was rather comical at first. We were riding long boards, 9’6 in length. I’d only ridden short boards before, and I had a hard time getting used to it. But Greg taught me, both through instruction as well as example.

If you had been on the beach watching me that day, you’d have had a good laugh. I think I spent most of my time under water. But it wasn’t long before I began to get the gist of it. Over that summer my friendship with Greg went from strength to strength as we spent time together, surfing most days. While surfing for me began as just a hobby, as I spent more and more time doing it over the summer an interesting thing began to happen. The more I surfed, the more I looked forward to paddling out in the morning in order to feel the sea breeze on my face as I waited out in the line up. The more I came to enjoy the thrill of riding the waves. Out on the water, I felt free, and energized, and alive. And interestingly, what had originally started as a hobby had become a passion. When I wasn’t surfing, I was looking forward to when I could get out again.

What had originally begun as Greg’s inviting me to come and see how fun surfing could be led me to actually encountering first hand the reality of how fun surfing really is. And over time, it led to this transformation in my life from being an onlooker – just occasionally testing out what surfing was like – to being a fully committed surfer, who lived to surf as much as I could. In fact, I became so excited about surfing that I began telling my friends back at university about surfing, and I even arranged trips to the beach to teach them how to surf as well. And as a result, some of them became surfers too.

I want to compare my experience of surfing with another life changing encounter we read about in the Bible, and finally show how all this relates to reaching out and being a missional people, which is the next topic in our series of Christian Fundamentals. The second life changing encounter that I want to tell you about tonight comes from Matthew 28:1-10.
Now, being new to Anglicanism, I realise that looking at this text at the start of Lent is probably like ‘illegal’ or something, but with the umbrella of grace over us this evening I want to turn here because I feel it has so much to tell us about what it means to be missional. You see, when we talk about mission most often the text that gets referred to is the one at the end of our passage – the great commission (read vv 18-20). But we need to roll back the clock to understand the full picture and the power behind this statement made by Christ before he returns to the Father.

So, here we find the story of Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph – two women who happened to be last to the cross, but first to come to visit the grave of Jesus on the day of his resurrection. As they set out that Sunday morning, so long ago, they headed for Jesus’ tomb. But when they arrived, they didn’t exactly find what they’d expected. What were they looking for? Mark and Luke elaborate and say that they’d brought spices to anoint and prepare Jesus’ body, a procedure that appears to have been cut short by the Sabbath. Unlike Mark and Luke, though, Matthew leaves much to the imagination. He just says they went to look at the tomb. They went to see.

And this is significant. It’s Matthew’s way of beginning to emphasise and testify to the resurrection, which is really the focus of our passage this evening. We can only imagine what it would have been like when those women arrived at the tomb. Needless to say, these women were in for the shock of their lives. Perhaps even greater than the shock they’d received only 2 nights before when Jesus was crucified. Because instead of being greeted with a peaceful tomb on their arrival, Matthew’s gospel records that they came face to face with an angel of the Lord who had miraculously rolled back the huge stone that covered it.
Not only that, but accompanying the Angel’s appearance was this violent earthquake, which interestingly is spoken of only here in Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew’s inclusion of it here is yet another pointer to the fact that God was at work. This sense of what was happening as being an act of God is only heightened when Matthew continues and describes the angel, verse 3: ‘His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow’. At the sight of him, it says the guards were so afraid of him that just like the ground in the earthquake, they too shook and ironically became like dead men.

I say ironic, because in recording these events, Matthew is leading up to sharing with us the absolute highlight of his gospel, which is found next in the angels words to the women: ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.’ And there it is. The good news of Jesus Christ, wrapped up in these 7 words: ‘He is not here; he has risen.’ This is the climax of Matthew’s gospel. ‘He is not here; he has risen.’ Indeed, this has been the glorious message of the Church ever since. The good news of Jesus Christ, the one who bore our sin, conquered death, and rose from the grave victoriously and now offers us new life through him.

Well, I’m sure at that stage those women must have just been staring in disbelief. But in order to testify to the fact of Jesus resurrection, and deepen their faith in their risen Christ, listen to what the angel says next – and this is the crux of what I want to think about tonight: Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’

Come and see, the angel said. In order to remove any doubts, the angel says, come and see for yourselves! Come and experience for yourselves that he’s risen! Experience it. Look in the tomb. Smell the fresh air. Look at the discarded grave clothes. Christ isn’t here. He’s risen! Of course, as the passage continues we discover that these women had the opportunity to see not only the empty tomb, but the risen Christ himself. And when they did it changed their lives forever. So much so, that it was then no problem to fulfil their second task and go and tell the others about the risen Christ.
See, the thing is, they had known Jesus for some time. They’d followed him and experienced something of his ministry in their lives, of the hope that he brought people, of the love that he blessed people with. And to an extent, they were devoted to him. But I think that it wasn’t until he died, and was buried and was raised again, and they saw the empty tomb and they spoke with him face to face – it wasn’t until then that everything he’d ever done or said was confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt. Perhaps this is the first time that they’d actually worshipped him, as their Lord and Saviour. Indeed, from what we read here, it’s clear to me that if there was any question before, there is none now. That was the morning they became fully devoted, passionately sold out followers of Christ. That was the day they took Christ’s message first to the disciples and then with the disciples to the whole world.

Interesting, isn’t it? First of all, that God would send that message of the good news of his resurrection first to women. I mean, don’t get me wrong. Gals, I adore you. But back then, in the Jewish context, the testimony of women was seen as questionable at best. As one commentator points out, how striking it was, then, that ‘women became the custodians of this message and thus the first proclaimers of this key element of the [gospel]. The absent disciples . . . at first [had to] rely on the testimony of women.’

Which all goes to support the historical reality of this passage. ‘No invented story in that culture would have given the women such prominence and entrusted the first proclamation of the resurrection, and indeed the initial witness of it, to such questionable witnesses.’ Yet another beautiful affirmation of the words that come only a few moments later, ‘Go into all the world, and make disciples of all the nations.’ This gospel is for everyone. And its potency, its power crosses gender, ethnicity, race, denomination and any other line of demarcation we might try to use today. And it’s a message entrusted to people like you, and me to come, and see it, and then go and tell it to all who will listen.

And this is just what those women did. You see, it’s impossible to come and see, and experience the risen glorified, majestic Christ and not go and tell others out about it. That’s because it changes your life. When you experience the power of God working in your life, bringing you new life and the relief of forgiveness and peace with God, a new relationship with him for now and eternity – when you experience that kind of life giving, hope filled relationship, it changes your life, to such an extent that you want to give your whole life to him, and pass it on. Having come and having seen, you’ll want to go and tell.

The reason I wanted to think about these two women’s encounter with the risen Christ tonight, is that the message it puts across is the same message that’s at the heart of what we’re trying to be about as a church, and even what we’re trying to do tonight. Ours is a church that invites people – all kinds of people – to come and see and experience the reality of the risen Christ, and how he changes lives. To encounter Christ not only through the teaching, but also through spending time with God’s people in community. We want to be a church that allows time and space for people to see the difference Christ can make in their lives, through the way they see others living out what it means to be a true follower of Christ, as well as how they themselves are challenged to do the same.

Not only that, but as people come and see Jesus Christ and experience him for themselves, we also want to be equipping them to go and tell others about the Jesus they’ve encountered as well, about how he’s changed their lives too. And this is so important. Because of these two life-changing encounters I’ve mentioned tonight, between the surfing and these two women meeting the risen Christ, it’s only this second one that will ever really change your life. Surfing is fun, but now that the beach seems so far away and the water is just freezing cold, somehow it’s lost its appeal. The only thing in my life that’s been consistently worth living for is my Lord and my God, Jesus Christ. And it all goes back to an encounter I had with him 34 years ago.

What about you? Have you encountered the risen Christ in your life tonight? If so, what are you doing about it? Preparing the way for Christ’s great commission, the angel told the newcomers, come see, go tell. You see, the mission to which God calls us starts right here where we are. And then it goes out to the ends of the earth – that’s what happened in our passage, and then in the book of Acts that follows. And to be successful on that mission we have to first have encountered the risen Jesus and been changed by him. Then individually, and as a church, living out lives that reflect the love and beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ we go and tell others the good news we have.

You know, maybe it’s good that we’ve skipped to the end, so early on in Lent. Because sometimes we need to be reminded of just how good the message we have really is! And as we think about how good the message is, perhaps we can be challenged to think about how we are going to share that message with others this Easter. We have about 40 days until our celebration. Who might you invite or tell about the good news of Jesus or invite to one of our services? Let’s think about how we as individuals and as a church can be missional and show Christ’s love to a dying world. The one thing we can’t do is, if having experienced the amazing gift of Jesus Christ, we don’t share it and pass it on to our friends and neighbours and loved ones. Come, see, go tell. Being missional people is as simple as that.

– JIM CHESHIRE

Key readings: Isaiah 61, Matthew 5:1-12

Key readings: Isaiah 61, Matthew 5:1-12

You can discuss today’s passage below.

God guides the Israelites day and night (13:21-22). He knows they aren’t yet very brave, and they don’t yet trust Him (13:17). Rather than leading them into battle, God leads them to the edge of the sea, telling Moses He will get glory over the Egyptians who will pursue them (14:4). Pharaoh and his army did just that, using the numbers and technology at their disposal. The people cried out to the Lord (14:10), but while Moses was faithful to God, the people were quick to blame him – ‘What have you done to us? Didn’t we tell you to leave us alone and let us get on with serving the Egyptians?’. Being in leadership and faithfully obeying God won’t necessarily make a leader popular. Some in high-profile positions are quick to claim they are hurt, to gain sympathy and divert attention, even when the criticism is valid, rather than listening and evaluating humbly. Moses knew what was going on; he didn’t moan back, instead he addressed the real issue, exhorted them to stand firm, and trust God who would fight for them (14:13-14). Moses shows strength in calling the best out of the people he has been entrusted to lead.

God used a great wind to blow a path through the sea (14:21); He connects this with Moses lifting his staff which God had used previously as a sign of his power and promise. Moses played his part, raising his hands and staff; God did the work. Through the events in this passage, then, God is showing that He will guide them, fight for them (and, later, through them), has and will use great power, and has appointed and blessed Moses as their shepherd, leader. The people respond, “by [fearing] the Lord, and they [believe] in the Lord and in his servant Moses” (14:31).

Prayer in response:
Lord, thank you for your guidance. Thank You that Your word is a lamp for our feet. We are sorry for the times we doubt you when things get difficult and we lack faith. Thank You for showing Your great power, You are greater than any other. Give us and our leaders wisdom in the face of criticism and in the pressures we face, reveal when we’ve made mistakes and help us to take courage to follow the right path. Thank You for involving us in Your plans – take us and use us. AMEN.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

Today we read of the final plague, the death of the firstborn in every household, where God “execute[d] judgments” on “all the gods of Egypt” (v. 11) for its stubborn rejection of the Lord, His infinitely greater power and His love for His people, its oppression of the Israelites and its idolatry. God was again showing that He is the Lord (v. 12).

For Israelite families to be spared, a lamb had to die as a sacrifice, an innocent substitute – its blood would be a sign (v. 13); the lamb was to be eaten as a holy meal, “It is the Lord’s Passover”, (v. 11), which may explain why nothing was to be left. It was to be eaten in a quick manner, dressed and ready for flight (v. 11), for the people would be driven out in haste (v. 33) and the meal was a sign that their lives and freedom were brought through the death of a lamb. There would not even be time for the people to wait for dough to rise, or prepare any provisions for the time ahead (v. 39); this was not a problem, for the Lord would mercifully provide for the Israelites. The feast of the Passover was set as a reminder, in much the same that that Holy Communion is today for Christians. The passover lambs point toward Jesus, the Lamb of God. The instructions that none of the lamb’s bones were to be broken (v. 46) was fulfilled in Jesus also, (John 19:33) and as Paul writes that Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Music:

• In the Cross / Worthy is the Lamb / Crown Him with Many Crown, Travis Cottrell, Unasahmed Love, 2003 Integrity Music.
• Before the Throne, Shane & Shane, Pages, 2010 Waiting Room Records.
• My Song is Love Unknown, by Francis Pott, sung by Tenebrae, 2005 Signum Records.
• Crucifixus, 8-part by Antonio Lotti, sung by Tenebrae, 2006 Signum Records.

Prayer in Response:
Thank you Lord that you were willing to be our Passover lamb, to lay your innocent life down for the guilty. Thank you that your blood is sure protection for us. Thank you that all the hopes of a messiah, all the prophesies and all the signs of the kingdom point towards You and were fulfilled in You and by You. Thank you that You are Lord. Help us to know you better and share your love with others. AMEN.

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For more information, see www.ywamthai.org

You can discuss today’s passage below.

Through today’s reading, we see several gradual progressions.

The first plague is entirely noticeable, a high-profile event; fish did die, but it’s a bit inconvenient, requiring water to be sourced elsewhere. The second plague would have been much more inconvenient. By the fifth plague, the cost is getting high; by the seventh and eighth together there is a dramatic loss of resources; in the ninth, normal life stops for three days.

At first, Pharaoh’s magicians are able to replicate the signs and plagues; this causes Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened (7:13), which seems to relate to his pride, self-assurance and refusal to obey God, thinking himself either more powerful and authoritative. By the fourth plague, however, the magicians were not able to replicate gnats from dust, and they begin to acknowledge God’s power, (7:19). By the eighth plague, Pharaoh’s servants suggest that he let the men go to serve the Lord their God (10:7).

Pharaoh, however, remains hard of heart – each time there is a respite he seems to think “well, that’s over” and carries on, despite the increasingly great cost to Egypt. He gives increasing concessions to Moses; after the fourth plague he says “I will let you go to sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only you must not go very far away” (8:28). After the seventh plague, he says “This time I have sinned; the Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong… I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer” (9:27) though he reneges on this as soon as the hail has ceased (9:34). He seems to recognise his sin, but as soon as the immediate threat is lifted, he goes straight back to his sin. Letting the men go was not enough; Pharaoh presumed to impose his own rule and conditions on Israel, exalting himself over God and God’s people (9:17) over what God has said. Letting all the people go but keeping their livestock wasn’t enough either. Only unconditional and complete obedience will suffice – as Pharaoh showed, partial repentance is no repentance. Those who did not fear and obey the Lord perished (9:20-21) – it wasn’t enough simply to hear God’s word, it required action. Those who feared the word of the Lord responded sensibly, and they, their servants and livestock were saved (in the eighth plague). God loves us, and it is his desire that none should perish but all should reach repentance.

Note that through the plagues, God displays his power and complete authority over everything in creation, which Pharaoh challenges and refuses to acknowledge. The purpose of the first plague was that “By this you shall know that I am the Lord” (7:17). The fourth plague was so that “you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth” (8:22) and to “put a division between my people and your people” (8:23). By the seventh plague, God tells Pharaoh that he could have killed all the Egyptians already, had be wanted to; instead he preserved them and gave them signs so that they would know “there is none like me in all the earth” (9:13), and “to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth” (9:16). God reveals himself not just to Egypt but also to Israel (10:2), that they would know and trust Him. God the Father has revealed his nature and shown his power through his Son Jesus; not just as a light for Israel (or us) but for people of every tribe and language and people and nation.

Prayer in response:
Father, we acknowledge that you have all power over the entire universe and everything in it. Jesus, you are the Lord of Lords, and you have all authority. Thank you for laying down your life humbly on the cross; thank you for the freedom you have achieved for whosoever trusts you. Thank you for the gift of repentance. Thank you that you want us to be free from guilt, addiction, slavery to sin; free to love, worship and serve you. Thank you that you have said “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed“. Help us to live in your freedom. Help us to give up our pride, and instead to obey you, as we acknowledge your authority over our lives. Help us and move us to live out your command to go and make disciples; open the minds and hearts of those who hear your word today that they would not perish but instead have everlasting freedom and life. AMEN.

You can discuss today’s passage below.

Today we read about God appearing to Moses, and calling him to lead God’s people out of Egypt.

Note that the place God appeared was a bush in the wilderness in Midian – there wasn’t anything particularly important or extraordinary about the location. What then made it ‘holy’ (v. 5)? Moses was told to take off his shoes, as an act of reverence. God is our friend; but He is also the King of Kings, the Lord over all things. What is your attitude towards Him?

God identifies himself as the “God of Abraham”, bringing to mind his promise and covenant with Abraham. God reminds Moses of his faithfulness through these generations before him.

God identifies himself with ‘his people’, (v. 7), and he tells Moses to say to Pharaoh that He is “the God of the Hebrews”, (v. 18) that is, the God of the people Pharaoh (who was considered to be a god) had made slaves and had (it seemed) complete power over. God says that Moses will bring his people out of Egypt. Moses understandably says “Who am I?”; God doesn’t answer this question directly. Instead, he says “I will be with you.” We read previously that the Lord was with Joseph; it wasn’t Joseph’s strength or ability to interpret dreams that gave success but rather God blessing his work, giving him the interpretation. In the same way, God is saying to Moses, ‘I will do it, you just have to play your part.’

Moses asks God what His name is. God says “I AM WHO I AM”. This name suggests several things: God pre-existed everything else; he is eternal; He doesn’t depend on anything for his existence, unlike everything else which is finite and limited; He created and sustains everything else; and he is the unchanging, being the same yesterday, today, and forever.

God promises (v. 17) that He will bring the people out of Egypt to “a land flowing with milk and honey”. Not only that but the ‘victory’ would be like that of an army plundering (v. 22) the defeated. Rather than taking by force, however, the women would simply ask her neighbour for jewellery. This wasn’t going to be a military exercise, but God would stretch out his hand (v. 20).

God gives Moses a sign of his power and promise, his staff (4:2) which he would have used for shepherding, turning it into a snake. His second sign (4:6) further shows God’s power over all creation. Notwithstanding, Moses lacks confidence in his ability to speak eloquently; despite God’s assurances that He will be with Moses’ mouth and give him the words to speak, Moses asks God to send someone else to speak. God was angered by this, but says that He will use Aaron as Moses’ spokesman. Even with this concession, God makes it clear that He would be with Moses’ mouth and Aaron’s mouth, “I will put the words in his mouth, and I will be with.. his mouth and teach you both what to do.” Aaron alone, who could speak well, wouldn’t be enough either. It wasn’t then that God reproved Moses for lacking self-confidence, but in lacking faith in God who had said He would be enough for Moses to do the task appointed to Him. We do not need faith in ourselves to live as disciples; it is fleeting and will fail us. Faith in the One who has sent us, however, is paramount if we are going to do His will, and it is in Him that we should take courage and confidence.

Music for contemplation:

• Give us Your Courage, Tim Hughes, Happy Day (Live), 2009 Survivor Records.

Prayer in response:
Father, thank you for revealing yourself; holy, unchanging, faithful, just and merciful. Thank you for hearing the cries of the oppressed; open our ears to the broken, the oppressed and those suffering injustice. Give us your courage to go where you call us; be our strength. Thank you for providing others in your Church to work alongside. Help us to live and work for your praise and glory. AMEN.

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You can discuss today’s passage below.

We’ve completed our series of readings from Genesis; today we begin the next book, Exodus. In the first section of today’s passage, we read how Joseph’s generation died, and the people of Israel continued to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ (1:7) in Egypt, so much so that the new Pharaoh was afraid that they would be too powerful (1:9). Pharaoh attempted forced labour and servitude (1:11), but he found that “the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad”.

In light of this, Pharaoh attempted genocide first covertly (1:16) and then overtly (1:22). Today these acts could constitute crimes against humanity. Killing Israelite boys would have had the effect of leaving only women for perhaps as long as a generation, because it would be some years before the newborn boys would have been of age to fight. The intention wasn’t simply then to weaken Israel as a potential military force. Arguably it goes much further; even beyond mass murder, it was calculated to destroy in whole or in part the entire Israelite population. We read previously that an Egyptian could not eat with a Hebrew man for that was an abomination to Egyptians, so it was not the intention that the female Israelite population would become assimilated through marriage with Egyptians (which in itself would constitute genocide). Instead, they would have no-one to marry, and correspondingly no children. This was a direct threat to God’s promise to Abraham.

The people of God, however, feared God (1:17) – they loved and obeyed Him above their earthly ruler. While the Israelites had submitted to hard work as slaves, the midwives refused to kill Israelite newborn boys (1:18). They protected themselves and the children in their response to Pharaoh (1:19).  The text doesn’t name Pharaoh, but it does name the midwives, who are commended for their faith and their actions (see also Acts 5:29). Pharaoh then ordered everyone – not just the midwives – to kill all Hebrew newborn boys.

It is in this context that Moses was born. His mother was shrewd, hiding her boy for three months to protect him, then placing him in a basket in reeds (so as to avoid him being washed away) in the river at a place she must have known the Pharaoh’s daughter would come to bathe and walk (2:5). The plan worked, he was brought up by his mother (2:9) and then adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter (2:10).

Moses ended up feeling for his life, however, after he killed an Egyptian man who was beating one of the Hebrew people, “one of his people.” (2:11, emphasis added) Despite his adoption and position, then, Moses had kept a keen sense of his identity as an Israelite. But having been seen, Moses was fearful, and became alienated not only from Egyptian society but the Israelite people as well. Moses fled to Midian, where he protected and assisted the daughters of the priest of Midian (2:17), called Reuel, one of whom was later given in marriage to Moses and bore him a son (2:21-22)

Back in Egypt the people remained under heavy oppression and slavery. They groaned and cried out for help (2:22); God heard their groaning, he “remembered” them (2:24). As we read previously, when God ‘remembered’ Noah, he was about to take action…

Prayer in response:
Father, thank you for caring for us as children; even before we are born you know us and knit us together. Thank you that you are stronger and have more power and authority than any earthly ruler. Thank you for hearing us then and now; thank you that you listen to the cries of your people, that you remember your children. Give us the faith and courage to obey you in all circumstances; and give us the wisdom to act shrewdly and protect others from harm. Amen.

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As we read last day, Joseph has just heard his brother lay down his life in place of Benjamin, to keep his word to their father Jacob/Israel. Today’s passage continues.

Today’s reading is full of emotion, of weeping, joy, and relief. Joseph knew intense emotions. As you read, pause to think what it must have been like for Joseph, the brothers and their father. If you can, think of times in your life that relate.

Joseph, overcome with emotion at everything that has happened, says to them “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” (v. 3). He doesn’t say, “how could you do that do me?”, he doesn’t blame or complain, he simply asks, ‘how is dad?’. Note that the brothers are “dismayed” (v. 3) when Joseph reveals that it’s him. Consider everything that had happened in Joseph’s life – being thrown in a pit, sold as a slave, taken to a foreign country, falsely accused, thrown in prison, forgotten about… and look at Joseph’s astounding response: “Come near… I am your brother… Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves…” (vv. 4-5). Joseph had every reason to remind his brothers of their sins, we might think; instead, he totally forgave his brothers. If someone gives you a heartfelt apology, do you say “yeah, and remember the time you ____”? or like Joseph do you say “I love you; I forgive you, don’t feel bad”?

Rather than dwelling on all the bad things, Joseph looks to what God has done – ”God sent me before you to preserve life” (see also Genesis 50:15-21). Joseph realises that God was using him to save the lives of many Egyptians, and his family; he was put in a position where he was able to bless and to save others.

If Judah points to Jesus giving his life for ours (what we call substitutionary atonement), then Joseph points to Jesus’ work of salvation and reconciliation. God sent Jesus ahead of us to save lives. After Jesus rose from the dead, he spoke to Mary Magdalene and told her “go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God [John 20:17, emphasis added]” Jesus didn’t say, ‘go to those people and tell them I’m really disappointed with them that they all deserted me’. Instead, he called them his brothers; he said that his Father is now our Father; that he was going to prepare a place for them and for us through faith, just as Joseph prepared a place in Goshen where his family would live and be provided for.

Songs and Hymns for contemplation:

• Clinging to the Cross, Tim Hughes, Holding Nothing Back (2007) Survivor Records.
• Everything, Tim Hughes, Holding Nothing Back (2007) Survivor Records.
• My Song is Love Unknown, Choir of King’s College Cambridge, Best Loved Hymns (2001) EMI.

Prayer in response:
Father, thank You for the example of Joseph. Thank You for being with him throughout his life; thank You for providing for him and his family. Thank You for a reconciled family. Thank You that we can be part of Your reconciled family through our amazing big brother, Jesus. Help us to forgive others totally. We’re sorry for the times we still doubt you, when we moan and grumble and complain. Give us faith like Joseph that enables us to take heart and work to bless others despite our troubles. Thank You for Your extraordinary rescue plan – move us to share this great news with people who don’t yet know You.

Complete your reading of the life of Joseph
Genesis 46:8-50:26

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Here’s the link to the BBC News item Roo mentions.

Adults! Join us in the Parish Centre at 19:30 on Thursday 17th March for Deck Chair Cinema.

Bring suitable, comfy seating such as a deck chair if you have one, and something to drink. This month’s film is Waking Ned.

Movie trailer:

More resources:

Video : Amazing Grace, at Worship House Media

More resources:

Video : Amazing Grace, at Worship House Media

The 30th annual Belfast City Marathon is taking place on Monday 2nd May 2011. This year we will be running again, to support Asha and the Asra Hawariat School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Details of the relay route can be found at http://www.belfastcitymarathon.com/

Last year we raised almost £2,000 for Asha; you can read more about our relay efforts in 2010 and 2009.

Registration to run with HPC has now closed. Look out for ways to support the runners – information coming soon!

Photos from 2010 :

Holywood Parish Church presents Music for a Spring Evening as we welcome back local school choir, the Sullivan Singers, on Saturday 9th April 2011 at 7:30 pm.

The evening will feature the premiere of  ”The Bells of St. Philip and St. James“, a new three-movement work commissioned for the church, composed by Philip Stopford.

The programme will also include John Rutter’s Magnificat.

Tickets priced £10 are available from the Parish Office.

The event is kindly supported by John Gray & Co.

The famine continued, and the food the brothers (minus Simeon) had bought ran out, so Jacob/Israel tells them to go buy some more. Judah reminds him that ‘the man’, Joseph, said to bring Benjamin next time (v. 3-5). Up to this point, Judah has a terrible record (see Chapter 38, which we omitted, and 37:26 where Judah had the idea of selling Joseph as a slave). Now however his attitude is remarkably different. Unlike Reuben who said ‘If we fail, you can kill my sons’, Judah takes responsibility, saying ‘I’ll see that Ben’s ok, dad, and if he’s not, I’ll take the blame personally.’ (v. 8-10). This is amazing. In effect he’s saying ‘you know I’ve messed up really badly before, I’ve been a terrible brother, terrible son, terrible father. But there is something good that needs done, and I’m going to see that its done, I’m not afraid of the consequences of getting it wrong. I’m going to be responsible. From now on, I’ll be trustworthy.’ So often we want prestige and power, but refuse to take any responsibility for the things God has already entrusted to us. This day was an opportunity for Judah, and he stepped up. If you’ve failed and bear the weight of past mistakes, today is an opportunity for you. Admit your mistakes to God and ask Him to show you where He wants you to take responsibility for yourself or others today and resolve to obey Him.

Joseph, seeing Benjamin from afar, releases Simeon and tells his servant to prepare a great feast. They don’t eat at the same table, as an Egyptian wouldn’t do such a thing (v 32) and Joseph is still undercover. Joseph meets his brother Benjamin for the first time in many years, and its too much for him – he feels compassion, love and deep affection for Benjamin, and maybe missed him a lot over the years; and now he can see him with his own eyes, in his house, though his brother doesn’t know who he is.

Joseph still needs to test his brothers, to see if they are trustworthy, to see if they’ve changed. When his father treated him better than the others, the brothers plotted to kill Joseph. Note that all the brothers are at the feast – they’re all blessed – but Joseph has Benjamin served five times the amount the rest receive (v. 34). Would the rest be jealous? He tells his servant to put the brothers’ money in their sacks again, just as last time, and this time to put Joseph’s silver cup in Benjamin’s sack (44:2). Joseph had forgiven his brothers – he blessed them, gave them grain for free, gave them a great meal; but they still needed to earn his trust back, and it would take time. Joseph wants to see how the rest will react – will they blame Benjamin, and leave him for dead like they had Joseph?

When challenged, the brothers are confident that none had stolen anything – though they go a little far, as in 44:9, saying that whoever had stolen it (believing no-one had) could be killed and the rest would become slaves. The steward agrees, but only to the extent that whoever has it will become a servant, and the rest can go free. When the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, look how the brothers react in verse 13. They don’t gloat, they all tear their clothes – they all mourn deeply, and feel regret. Joseph reiterates that only the person with the cup should stay, the rest can go (v. 17) – he gives them every opportunity to repeat how the treated him. But this time its very, very different.

Judah pleads with Joseph to listen. He tells Joseph the family situation – in effect, that Jacob, their father, would die from grief if he lost a third son, Benjamin, whom he loves (v. 20). Judah was recognising his father’s love for Benjamin, and was pleading with Joseph for his father’s benefit. He had taken on responsibility, and he really cared about his father. In the course of explaining to Joseph why Jacob would take it so badly he tells Joseph that Jacob believes Joseph is dead (v. 28). Maybe Joseph had wondered why if his dad loved him so much he had never come to get him, never come to rescue him from slavery or prison. Now he knows why – the brothers lied to his dad.

Judah begs Joseph (44:33) to let let Benjamin go, Judah will take his place as a slave. He had given his word, and he was sticking to it. This is a huge change for Judah – previously he had said “sell him as a slave” to get rid of a brother, not caring what his father thought. He’d then lied about Joseph, saying he’d been killed by animals. For over twenty years the brothers had kept this lie going. Any time they had seen Jacob grieving or sorrowing over the loss of his son they had kept quiet. Now Judah said, take me instead, let him go. His heart is totally different. God has changed his heart so that now he really cares what his father thinks, and he wants to honour his father, as we see in v. 34b, “I fear to see the evil that would find my father.” He knows what sorrow it would bring to Jacob to lose Benjamin, and he’s prepared to give up everything to avoid that. Judah had a bad past, but he became a great man of God, laying down his life for his brother. Rather than see Benjamin die, he says ‘I’ll take his place’.

This is what Jesus did for us. Our perfect older brother honoured the Father, accepted the consequences, fulfilled the responsibility of the huge burden placed on him and gave up everything so that we could be saved. Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Just as Judah had said ‘take me instead of him’, Jesus said ‘I’ll live a sinless life for you. I’ll take your blame, I’ll take your punishment, I’ll take the torture and beating for you, I’ll be shamed for you, I’ll shed blood for you; the Father will turn away from me, and I’ll give up my spirit for you and die for you. I’ll take it all. You can go free.’

Prayer in Response:
Father, thank you for your patience with us. Thank you that you do what we cannot do – you work in our hearts, and you change us. Thank you for changing Judah’s heart, teaching him to accept responsibility gladly, teaching him to care for others. Teach us to be like him in accepting responsibility and to be worthy of trust.
Thank you, Lord, that you see and know the pain of broken families; and you rejoice at repentance and reconciliation. We pray for all who through their own sin or the sin of others today face broken families. Be with them, Lord, in their grief, pain and regret. Thank you that no matter how deep they have fallen Your hand reaches further to catch them. Thank you that you reach down to heal and restore and correct and teach.
Thank you that you can change our hearts to care more for others than ourselves. Lord, we give you our hearts, to shape and change as You want. Thank you for our brother, King Jesus. Help us to realise more and more what He has done for us, and to respond more and more, and may we be prepared to give up everything for him. AMEN.

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Today we continue the story of Joseph from where we left off last Thursday. Joseph is vizier in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. Its the second year of seven of famine, and the Joseph’s brothers in Canaan are sitting doing nothing, so dad (Jacob, Israel) tells them to go buy food in Egypt so that they won’t die. Jacob still has a favourite son – Rachel’s other son, Benjamin – and he was worried what would happen to him (but was ok with harm coming to his other sons?), so he kept Benjamin at home while the other ten go to Egypt (v. 4).

The brothers arrive, and bow down before him (v. 6) just as Joseph had dreamed (37:6, 42:9). They don’t recognise Joseph (v. 8), whom they haven’t seen in 21 years – he looks older, he’s dressed like an Egyptian, has a haircut, is speaking Egyptian, and they converse through an interpreter (v. 23). Besides which, the last time they saw each other, he was sold as a slave – they absolutely would not have expected to see him, still less as a vizier.

Joseph doesn’t blow his cover immediately. Instead, he treats them as strangers (v. 7). The brothers say the are all brothers, aren’t spies but are honest men (v. 11 – which we know not to be entirely true.) Joseph decides to test them (v. 15). Last time he saw them, they had treated him extremely badly, and had plotted to kill him; while we are called to forgive freely, trust takes longer to be earned again. Given how he’d been treated, he may have wanted to ensure Benjamin was ok, and that they hadn’t killed or sold him too. So Joseph puts them in jail for three days (v. 17), probably to establish and reinforce his authority. While sending all but one (Simeon) away with grain, saying to return with the youngest brother (Benjamin) as proof of their honesty, he overheard them speaking in Hebrew. Reuben is still thinking of what they did to Joseph 20 years ago (v. 22). It must have been at least partly restorative for Joseph to hear regret for what they did – at any rate, he finds it deeply moving (v. So, perhaps as a gift, being generous and blessing, he instructs a servant to replace their money in the sacks. They get the food free. Joseph means the brothers to return with Benjamin – the only brother who shares Rachel as mother – when he’ll let Simeon (bound in the meantime) go free; he knows the grain won’t last for the next 6 years, so this plan opens up the way for them to continue to trade (v. 34) with Egypt for the remainder of the famine. Joseph doesn’t necessarily trust his brothers, and while he keeps a distance and hierarchy for now he is willing to bless his brothers and do them good. No matter where Joseph is – slavery, prison or preeminence – he looks for ways to bless others, even his enemies.

The brothers got as far as a lodging place (probably that night) before one discovers the money in his sack. They interpret this as God doing something to harm them – they don’t know what God is saying to them (but they don’t ask Him), and they fear Him paying them back for Joseph’s life. So much time had gone by but still their consciences plagued them. There is only one way to deal with sin. Do you fear God, expect his retribution for past mistakes, or do you confess sin and ask in faith for forgiveness? Do you ask God what he is teaching you today?

When they get back home, they discover the other nine sacks also have the money, and the brothers and Jacob fear. They have to go back to get Simeon, but are now fearful what will happen. To a third party, they would look like spies and thieves. Look at how Reuben tries to reassure Jacob in verse 37 – “Dad, if I fail you, you can kill my two sons!” Clearly he still has some way to go. Jacob doesn’t take him up on this deal, however, for if something happened to Benjamin the grief would be too great for him (v. 38.)…

That’s the end of today’s passage – so be sure to check back on Thursday for the next part of the story!

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We encountered a problem editing the video this week – so please skip to 3:28 for the video to start. Hopefully we’ll get this fixed shortly.

The passage today is three short chapters telling of Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt. The consistent theme of these chapters is “The Lord was with Joseph“.

While working as a slave, the Lord was with Joseph (39:2) and blessed what he did, Joseph was successful in working for his Egyptian master, Potiphar (39:2). As a result, Potiphar put him in charge of everything (39:4, 39:9), and the Lord blessed Potiphar’s house for Joseph’s sake (39:5).

Joseph inherited his mother Rachel’s good looks (compare 39:6b and 29:17), and unfortunately Potiphar’s wife began to lust after him (39:7) – she was aggressive, manipulative and demanding. Unlike his brother Reuben (35:22) and Judah (38:15-18), Joseph was a man of integrity, and he refused her advances, recognising that to lie with her would be great wickedness against Potiphar who trusted him with everything (39:9) only holding back his wife; and would be a sin against God who had blessed him greatly. Joseph’s refusal to compromise and his commitment to the Lord is linked with God’s presence and blessing. Joseph didn’t hang about in danger – he ran! (30:15). C.H. Spurgeon considered that

“In contending with certain sins there remains no mode of victory but by flight… it is true that I may be an apparent loser by declining evil company; but I had better leave my cloak than lose my character.

– Morning and Evening, morning of 25th July

Potiphar’s wife however, spurned and furious, used his garment to lie about what happened (just as his brothers used his robe to deceive their father). Joseph was thrown into prison. But even there, “the Lord was with Joseph” (39:21). And just as Joseph was put in charge of everything in Potiphar’s household, so the keeper of the prison put him in charge of all the prisoners (22:23) – just as Potiphar trusted him with everything and left it all to him (39:6) so the prison keeper paid no attention to anything Joseph was in charge of (39:23). The text makes it clear that it wasn’t so much that Joseph was particularly good at organising or skilled in some way (though he may have been), but more so he was faithful and committed, and the Lord was with him. Joseph didn’t make things succeed, the Lord did (39:23). Are you facing tasks that seem menial or hopeless? Note Joseph’s example of diligence, and see how God used his faithfulness and blessed what he did.

Joseph’s interpretation of the prisoners’ dreams prepared the way for him to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Look at the answer he gave the baker. When people ask, do you tell the truth even if its difficult? Which is more important – giving a nice ambivalent  (or even false) answer that makes people feel good, or telling them the truth? Joseph was faithful in his answer.

At this point, it’s worth remembering, Joseph’s brothers hated him, plotted to kill him, threw him in a pit, sold him as a slave and told their dad he was dead; Joseph worked diligently for 11 years as a servant, faithful to God and his master, gets falsely accused and unjustly thrown in another hole in the ground with no hope of a trial, works hard and is faithful to God and the jailer, helps the other prisoners, and gets forgotten about. He’s young (around 28), strong, good-looking, hard-working and is faithful to the Lord, but he owns nothing, earns nothing, has no freedom, no family, is spending the best years of his life in jail with no opportunity. God hadn’t forgotten Joseph; Joseph hadn’t forgotten God either.

Pharaoh had a dream which his magicians couldn’t interpret. These were the most spiritual men in the most powerful country in the world at the time. They should have been the experts – but they didn’t know God. There are insights, signs, healing and wonders (even today, in Northern Ireland – how many shops selling spiritual ephemera, events have you heard of recently?) that aren’t from God – and they lead only to darkness and death; not to God, not to his truth, light and blessing, not to everlasting life.

When Pharaoh asks for an interpretation from Joseph, he responds clearly and unambiguously, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favourable answer” (41:16). Joseph doesn’t trust in his own ability or knowledge in interpretation, but acts with and through God, publicly acknowledging this (40:8b). The most powerful man on earth asks Joseph for help, and Joseph says “I can’t do anything for you – you need God, and He is good and will help, so lets ask Him.” Joseph not only interprets the dream but goes further and outlines to Pharaoh a plan to deal with the oncoming famine, and save millions. This impresses Pharaoh, who ascribes his ability to the Spirit of God (41:38), declaring him the most discerning and wise; so Pharaoh makes him vizier, to govern everything in Egypt – only Pharaoh would have authority over Joseph. Pharaoh gives him his ring to signify his authority, dresses Joseph and gives him transport worthy of his role (41:42-43.) Joseph’s Egyptian name (41:45) and wife (the daughter of a priest of Ra, the sun-god) show the level of his acceptance and integration into the Egyptian society as well as autocracy. Note that he was 30 when he became vizier; he was sold as a slave when he was 17; so Joseph spent 11 years as a slave, and two years in prison. God’s timing may be rather more long-term than our restless impatience demands, and while it is difficult to overcome, commit your ways to the Lord, honour and serve him where you are that you would make the most of where He has placed you today.

Joseph’s interpretation proves correct, and through planning and careful use of resources over the seven years of plenty, when the famine hit Egypt Joseph was able to sell the stored grain to Egyptians and trade with people from other countries. Thus, not only was Egypt able to survive the famine but through Joseph’s faithfulness  it was able to prosper in a time of hardship. Egypt was a powerful, spiritual country that didn’t know God, it was full of false gods, false priests and false. Yet God was graceful and loved it, served it, and spared it the future that it was headed for through one man. It even became a blessing to all the countries and bad people around it. God was good even when the people were bad. Do you go to your school, university, job, or whatever you do knowing that Jesus loved and served you, allowing yourself to be guided by the Holy Spirit to bless and serve others?

Note that Joseph didn’t get the title and then sit about enjoying his new status – he got on with the job straightaway, inspecting the lands personally. (41:46.)

“Place hunters seldom try to make themselves fit for the situation, but crave the position whether they are fit for it or not… The Lord was with [Joseph], therefore he did not think of the honour to which he had been promoted, but of the responsibility which had been laid upon him, and he gave himself wholly to his great work. That is what you and I must do if we are to give practical proof that God is with us.”

– C.H. Spurgeon, preaching on 24th July 1881

Prayer in response:
Father, help us to run when we face temptation to fall into sin. Thank you for your provision of food, water and shelter. Help us to bless others with the things you have given us. Help us to serve you and others faithfully no matter where we find ourselves. Help us to focus more on our fulfilling our responsibilities and serving well than on getting what we want. Give us wisdom and godly advice to offer to others, and may the people who meet us know that we are people in whom is the Spirit of God. AMEN.

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