As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

Saul's Jealousy of David
6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.[a] 7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,
“Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.
10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

12 Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

David Marries Michal
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord's battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

20 Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.” 22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king's son-in-law.’” 23 And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” 24 And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, 27 David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife.28 But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, 29 Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually.
30 Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

Meditation
Authentic relationship arises from partnership in serving Jesus Christ. Depth of intimacy is found in focusing on God’s greater goal and working together to accomplish the goal. This is true in marriage, families, friendships, and relationships at church. Serving together will lead to personal humility and hunger for God’s glory.

David and Jonathan were knit together in their souls and loved the other deeply (1) because they were both warriors. David had just accomplished a great victory for Israel (1 Samuel 17) and the last time we saw Jonathan was after his great victory over the Philistine garrison. (1 Samuel 14) Passion for the same mission, the advancement of the kingdom and defeat of a common enemy, leads to authenticity in relationship. 

Authentic relationship on mission is marked with humility. Jonathan, the rightful heir to king Saul, does not find identity in position or power. Rather, in humility, Jonathan gives David the robe of the king’s son, his armor, weapon, and resources. Totally vulnerable, Jonathan recognizes David as more significant than himself (2-5). 

Likewise, David is not portrayed as seeking to use the influence from his big victory. David waits for God’s timing for God to make him king, receiving God’s gifts in the passage: Jonathan’s affection, respect from the king’s troops, affections from the general population, and love from Michal. 

The greater goal of God’s purposes brings personal humility and hunger for God’s glory. Authenticity in relationship arises from partnership in serving Jesus Christ.

Richly Dwelling
-Do you want deeper relationships with others? How are you working towards God’s greater mission, the goal of His glory?

-Joining partnership in mission leads to humility toward one another and hunger for God’s glory.  Are your relationships marked more with trust or turf wars? More with competition or collaboration?

-Who is the person(s) you are on mission with? How can you encourage them and seek to deepen mutual participation in God’s mission?

Key Verse
3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas
12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.
Peter Denies Jesus
15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate
28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World
33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Meditation
Believers must stop and see the view offered by the summit of our Savior’s suffering. Between betrayal and brutality Jesus brings clarity on how Christians should engage a central question of our culture, “What is truth?” (38)

Apologists rush to answer Pilate’s question. Ravi Zacharias helpfully states, “Truth affirms propositionally the nature of reality as it is.” This is to say, what we believe must be consistent, not contradictory, with reality.  Interestingly, Jesus never answers Pilate’s question. Instead Jesus allows Himself to suffer and die in the place of a convicted criminal, Barabbas. (39-40) 

Throughout John’s gospel Jesus has answered Pilate with his life and teaching- Jesus is the truth (14:6) and in Him is the fullness of grace and truth. (1:14-17) To see the world THROUGH Jesus is to be on the side of truth. (5:33; 8:40) God’s word is truth (17:17) and Jesus is the Word made flesh. (1:1-3) The Spirit of truth testifies about Jesus, and has from the beginning. (14:16-17; 15:26-26) Knowing and living the truth will set you free. (8:31-32) 

Jesus came to bear witness to the truth (37) and goes silently to die in a scene with people screaming lies. In the face of the question, “What is Truth?” Jesus offers His life to show love, disarming the father of lies on the cross. (Colossians 2:15)

Our world is asking, “What is truth?” Christians know the “proposition affirming reality” and now we must love so the world knows the Person behind the proposition, Jesus Christ.

Richly Dwelling
-Why does Jesus allow Himself to be handed over to die, replacing the criminal Barabbas, when He could have called angels to protect Him? (Matthew 26:53) What does this communicate about the love of God?

-Jesus says that He came into the world “to bear witness to the Truth.” (37) What does His witness show in John 18? Does the life and love of the church bear the same witness? Why or why not?

-How can you bear witness to truth through love, losing for the gain of someone who is lost in lies?

Key Verse
 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”…

And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Meditation
How do we reconcile God’s call for Abraham to bless all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:1-3) with The Lord’s stated purpose in Genesis 18 to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their outcry against Him? How do we understand the clarity of God’s covenant promise and purpose (1-21) in juxtaposition with the destruction of the nations? 

God is not schizophrenic but faithful to His character.  God is wise, faithful, loving, and good so He will always keep His promises. God is holy, righteous, just, and truth so He must punish sin. As the “just judge of all the earth” (25) God must respond to outcries of sin and injustice. God’s people must intercede for mercy, crying out in prayer on behalf of unbelieving people.

Prayer is Abraham’s first step in fulfilling God’s purpose, to bless all the families of the earth. God invited prayer through personal engagement with Abraham, even sharing the potential judgment. Abraham stood before the Lord (22) and drew near,  (23) a technical term for approaching the bench and appropriate language for conversation with the “Just Judge of all the earth.”

Prayer is the practice and praxis of God’s people on mission. How can we grow in our intercession? We must see how God interceded for us through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ intercession on the cross reconciles us so we can intercede on behalf of people who face God’s justice and need to be reconciled by His mercy. 

Richly Dwelling
-Do you pray for unbelievers, people destine for the judgment of God? Why or why not?

-Ask the Lord to help you love what He loves and hate what He hates and discern how this empowers your intercession.

-Take baby steps in intercession for those who are objects of God’s wrath. (Romans 9:22-23) Pray for a friend or family member by name for a week, asking God to have mercy on them. 

Key Verse
22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 

Reflections on irresistible Christianity during the COVID19 crisis: Please visit days 71, 77, 83, 89, or 95 for previous posts in the series. Tomorrow we will resume our daily Scripture readings, meditations, and reflections.  Together we will discover stability in studying Scripture!

Everyone will have pain points from the downstream casualties of the COVID19 crisis and every Christian has a role in leading and loving for restoration and renewal.  Christians must steward the final days/weeks of shelter and stay by listening to God and others, discovering what He is doing through the crisis and how we can join His work. By God’s grace we dare to discover the greatness of our generation by joining God’s work of redemptive restoration. Now is the moment for the abundance of Christian heritage in crisis to form our steps of faith.

The Crisis: The health and economic crisis of the COVID19 global pandemic is fracturing systems in our cities. Today you see headlines of food lines but the coming season will be hard times for many more. Every city will flood with casualties from loss of connection, rising domestic violence, spiking addiction, silent victims of abuse, untreated mental health, exponential rising joblessness, floundering family finances, and diseases of despair such as depression, anxiety, and suicide. Our finest hour will be unifying to “…satisfy the desire of the afflicted” from this season. Dawn will break through the night as our “light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom shall be as noon day.” (Isaiah 58, especially vs 10b)

Addressing the affliction of our cities will require sacrifice and struggle but through the strain we will find renewed life and shine a bright light. This struggle will deepen our identification with Jesus Christ and lead us to rediscover our purpose of blessing families of the earth (Genesis 12:1-3)

Redemptive restoration of our cities- 
God’s call for God’s people (Nehemiah 1-2)
Nehemiah was in exile when he heard about the ruin of Jerusalem (1:3) and his response leads the way to Jesus’ work of redemptive restoration as it compels us to examine our call in this hour. Every Christian will have a role in loving our cities from fracturing to flourishing. Wisdom compels us to wake up with Divine urgency!

Nehemiah felt the pain of the brokenness of his city, weeping and fasting for days after hearing the news. Would Jerusalem flourish again? Yes, redemptive restoration would be brought through God’s people and a pattern of preparation is clear:

1 -Intercessory prayer is the foundation. (Chapter 1) Take time to read Nehemiah 1 and follow the beautiful flow of Nehemiah’s prayer.  Nehemiah’s intercession focuses on the character of God, His covenant faithfulness, confession of sin, claiming covenant promises, petition, and faith. Without intercessory prayer the Church will not care or dare to act in faith, discovering the finest hour for our generation.

2- Inspection is the essential starting point. (2:13, 15) Nehemiah inspects the rubble of the wall compelling Christians to inspect through listening. Christians must listen to God, discerning what He is doing. Christians must listen to the pain points from the fracturing of systems in our cities as we listen to experts who already serve in those areas. The Church must listen to ourselves in order to discern gifts and passion for deployment. Nehemiah’s inspection is so thorough he will use available resources from the rubble to finish the restoration of Jerusalem’s walls in 52 days. God does great things through Christians who takes time to listen and discover.

3- Inspire with vision. (2:17) Nehemiah challenges the people of Jerusalem with a vision- We can rebuild the wall! After listening and discovering Christians must cast vision to activate, daring to act in faith for restoration. What is God’s vision for the flourishing of children, families, neighbors, and neighborhoods in our city? How will we work together to move from fracturing to flourishing? What is your role?

4- Initiate when providentially prompted (2:18) The people in the rubble of Jerusalem heard God’s call and said, “Let us rise up and build.” (2:18) God has prepared the Church today for leading and loving after the storm. The redemptive work of Jesus Christ compels us to be a voice joining the chorus of the people of Jerusalem- Let us rise up and rebuild! Christians must “rise up” in job training, placement, and creation. The Church must “rise up” with holistic health resources including mental, physical, spiritual, and financial. Christians must “rise up” on behalf of children, families, our neighbors, and the neighborhoods of our cities. Every person in every city will feel the affliction of the season. Every Christian has a role in participation in God’s work of redemptive restoration.

Discover Your Role In Rebuilding
By God’s grace the Church will rise up and rebuild. We encourage every person in Christ’s Body to:
-PRAY for God’s mercy, God’s Spirit to work in us, and for His pleasure to take our meager offering, to bless it, and to feed the multitudes with what we offer together.

-LISTEN to God’s Word, leaders in your church, to the pain points of fracturing systems in your city, to leaders working in those spaces, and to the Spirit’s nudging inside of you. 

-DISCOVER the shared purpose we have in running toward the ruin of this season with the hope of God’s redemptive promises and power. God has a role for you.

-EMBRACE the struggle and sacrifice the Spirit of God leads you to make. You will identify on a more intimate level with the person of Christ as you participate in the fruitfulness of His work. You will find life through loss for other’s gain. You will be strengthened when you live with surprising generosity.

-Buckle up for the ride. Keep your hands and feet inside of God’s providence at all times by trusting your heart fully to Him. This will be a long season and, together, we will emerge more full and fruitful than when we entered.

God’s Kingdom come, His will be done, in our cities as it is in Heaven.

Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! 2 From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! 3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.

4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. 5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. 6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. 7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, 9 from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. 10 They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.

11 They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. 12 He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. 13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, 14 from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants. 15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

Meditation
There is a lot of discussion of how and when to re-open society, but what do we really re-open? We desire more than re-opening the economy. We want to re-open life. We long for life.

The Psalmist cries to the Lord, (1) orienting our heart’s eyes to hope in the Lord.  The Lord later defines victory with resurrection in a state of glorification. (15) Those who hope in Him will awaken in His likeness with full satisfaction.

The life we long to re-open rises from a re-opened grave. 

Resurrection is the defeat of death. Glorification is the eternal inhabitation of God’s victory, life without sin, sickness, sorrow, or death. The Old Testament longs for victory (Genesis 3:15) and several people join the chorus in defining victory as resurrection. (see Isaiah 29:16, Ezekiel 37, & Daniel 12:2) Jesus is the first fruit of resurrection as Paul notes, “Christ has risen from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20) Jesus is the resurrection. (John 11:25)
We are awakened by His grace to find life in Him. Re-opening our daily faith will re-open the life we long for. Verses 6-7 teach us to call on the Lord and seek refuge in His wings. Jesus invites His people to find refuge in His wings (Matthew 23:37). 

Psalm 91:4 promises the Lord will cover and protect His people with His wings. When we trust Him we will taste the true desire of our heart, resurrected life- God’s definition of victory. Will you re-open to life in the Lord?

Richly Dwelling
-The language of resurrection in Psalm 17 is becoming “awake.” Where do you need to wake up? This is to ask, where do you need to experience resurrection life?

-The Psalmist models crying out to God in prayer while inviting you to find refuge in Him. Re-opening intimacy with Christ will re-open the life you long for! Take a minute to cry out to Jesus and take refuge under His wings.

-Victory is defined as resurrected life, a reality greater than any open or closed economy. What does it look like for you to live in resurrection power today? Be specific.

Key Verse
15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins. 2 The cities of Aroer are deserted; they will be for flocks, which will lie down, and none will make them afraid. 3 The fortress will disappear from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus; and the remnant of Syria will be like the glory of the children of Israel, declares the Lord of hosts.

4 And in that day the glory of Jacob will be brought low, and the fat of his flesh will grow lean. 5 And it shall be as when the reaper gathers standing grain and his arm harvests the ears, and as when one gleans the ears of grain in the Valley of Rephaim. 6 Gleanings will be left in it, as when an olive tree is beaten— two or three berries in the top of the highest bough, four or five on the branches of a fruit tree,
declares the Lord God of Israel. 

7 In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel. 8 He will not look to the altars, the work of his hands, and he will not look on what his own fingers have made, either the Asherim or the altars of incense.

9 In that day their strong cities will be like the deserted places of the wooded heights and the hilltops, which they deserted because of the children of Israel, and there will be desolation. 10 For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge; therefore, though you plant pleasant plants and sow the vine-branch of a stranger, 11 though you make them grow on the day that you plant them, and make them blossom in the morning that you sow, yet the harvest will flee away in a day of grief and incurable pain.12 Ah, the thunder of many peoples; they thunder like the thundering of the sea! Ah, the roar of nations; they roar like the roaring of mighty waters! 13 The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind and whirling dust before the storm. 14 At evening time, behold, terror! Before morning, they are no more! This is the portion of those who loot us, and the lot of those who plunder us.

Meditation
Between you and me, these judgment passages in the Major Prophets are wearisome to read. To engage God’s word and endure these sections of Scripture I need to see our Maker in the mix.

Last week we passed one month since the first casualty of the COVID19 crisis in San Antonio. We are beginning to come to terms with the reality of the stay and shelter season, understanding the need to change our expectations.  To endure with fruitfulness, emerging stronger on the other side of the storm, we must see our Maker in the mix.

Damascus is facing the storm of God’s judgment for their worship of false gods. God reminds all that hear the oracle that one-day our eyes will be off our troubles and on our Maker. (7) This revelation is grace, inviting us to put our eyes on our Maker in the storms of life today.

When Peter walked on water the circumstances were wavy and stormy. When Peter took his eyes off his Maker he began to sink. (Matthew 14:28-33) Peter could not navigate troubled waters without his eyes of faith on the Maker who was in the mix. Neither could Damascus. Neither can we.

Our Maker is in the mix- One day your eyes will look fully on the Holy One of Israel. Today, by His grace, you can see Him now. Look to your Maker to endure with fruitfulness and emerge from this storm stronger than when you entered.

Richly Dwelling
-Do not grow weary in reading difficult sections of Scripture. The Lord’s Spirit will always give you truth from the passage to meditate on!

-Are your eyes of faith on false hopes or our Maker who is with you in the mix?

-How can you more faithfully fix your eyes on Jesus in the storm, the author of your faith?

Key Verse
7 In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel.