This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of student teacher Chris Dilley’s exposition of Samuel 16-23 given on Sunday, October 27, 2008.

These chapters present a monumental section in the process of redemption history as Saul is rejected and David becomes the anointed king. Here we find the surprising selection of a shepherd boy to be the leader of all of Israel. The Lord did not choose the more prominent sons of Jesse, who like Saul only offered a veneer of leadership. Rather in God’s wisdom, He chose the small and seemingly insignificant son. Anointed by Samuel, the Spirit of God departs from Saul and he immediately becomes the prey of an evil spirit. In order to relieve the torment he faces, Saul ironically has David come and play music to calm his spirit. This spiritual warfare gains David uneasy favor in the eyes of Saul.

Chapter 17 brings us to a familiar passage providing the account of David versus Goliath. Traveling to Israelite armies frontline to bring food to his brothers, David finds a giant who taunts the Israelites and defiles the name of the Lord. David, who focused directly on the glory of God, becomes the only Israelite who is willing to go forth and fight the Philistine giant. Showing his royal incompetence, the great king of Israel cowers in his tent, rather than leading his people into battle. By contrast, David’s reckless abandon towards the purposes of the Lord demonstrate spiritual strength and skull-crushing power. This is evidenced by how David is willing to speak through this account, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God (v. 26),” “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head (v. 46),” and finally, “For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand (v. 47).” These words show who is the true leader of Israel—David God’s anointed king.

With chapters 18-23 we see how the transition from Saul to David is beginning to take place. Even though those in Saul’s own family see what is happening and begin to align themselves with David, Saul becomes enraged as he sees the kingdom slipping from his hand. Throughout these chapters, Saul pursues David and seeks to take his life and in the process many others loose their life at the hand of King Saul, including the temple priests at Nob. Throughout these episodes David escapes death and continues to rely upon the provision of the Lord.

The story of Saul and David is the story of two kingdoms: one of the flesh, one of the spirit. In Saul, the Word of God depicts an ignominious king controlled by the flesh, while in David, the Spirit displays the power of God in the life of his beloved ruler. As we read these royal accounts, may we grieve over our own failures of the flesh when we attempt to grasp for God’s kingdom; and may we be all the more encouraged to live in a manner like David, pursuing the glory of God in the power of the Spirit regardless of the worldly outcome, knowing the battle is already won by the Lord!

~ds

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of 1 Samuel 8-15, given on Sunday, October 19, 2008.

As the narrative of Samuel continues from its earlier chapters it is evident that Hannah’s prayer is being fulfilled (1 Sam 2:1-10). Samuel succeeds Eli as priest and judge over Israel. As 1 Samuel unfolds, we see a transition in chapter 8 to begin a new story – “Tale of Two Kings.” This lesson is about the first king. Israel demands for a king to rule over them like the rest of the nations – a people’s king (8:4). Here we see failure in the leadership of Samuel, who, though he has ruled wisely, raised wicked sons as Eli had done before, sons who “took bribes and perverted justice” (8:3b). This was also a failure on behalf of a nation who did not want God as king but rather insisted upon a king like the rest of the nations (8:5b)

When Samuel goes to the Lord in prayer, God answers in saying, “they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them” (1 Sam 8:7). This raises the questions, “Was it ever God’s intention for Israel to have a king?” Considering Deuteronomy 17:14-20 it is evident that God makes provisions and guidelines for a king of Israel. Samuel warns the people the consequences of having their desires met. “In that day you will cry out because your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day” (1 Sam 8:18). Nevertheless, Samuel’s warning falls on deaf ears; they want their king.

Of all the tribes of Israel God chooses Saul from Benjamin (1 Sam 9:16). Remember that this is the same Benjamin that in Judges 19-20 was almost wiped out because of their Sodomy. Saul from Benjamin is a foreshadowing of his future failure. From the perspective of the people, Saul is handsome and head and shoulder above all the rest (1 Sam 10:23). Saul is anointed by Samuel, the Spirit of God rests upon him (11:6), and Saul defeats the Ammonites (11:1-11). With Israel’s enemies defeated and kingdom renewed it would seem as though getting a king was a good idea. Would God honor Israel’s disobedience?

Samuel reconfirms God’s covenant with his people and their king. The instructions were simple: fear God and serve him will all your heart (1 Sam 12:24-25). If Israel should fail, then they and their king will be swept away. In a matter of days, Saul and his army are going to war against the Philistines. Samuel’s instructions were to wait for the seventh day so that he could make a burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. Saul, impatient and unconfident that Samuel would come takes matters into his own hands and makes the sacrifice himself. Though Saul’s disobedience was rebuked by Samuel, he showed no signs of repentance. This act of disobedience would be the first of many failures for Saul. As a result of Saul’s rule, Israel did not know peace but only war with their enemies (14:47-48). Both king and country had failed at obeying God’s covenant.

This lesson serves as a warning for us both corporately and individually. Corporately, we should be wise in whom we choose to place our confidence and trust in leadership. Recognize Israel’s identity crisis for what it is. This not only applies to us as Americans choosing a president but most importantly as a church and whom we serve. We belong to the Lord. Let us not be guilty of fellowshipping together and worshipping together under any other name than the name of Jesus Christ. Individually, we must consider Samuel’s words, “to obey is better than sacrifice.” We are reminded of our failures and the pains of personal disobedience to Lord, but more importantly what it means to repent. Let us not be guilty of disobedience without repentance (Hebrews 4:7). The failures of Saul remind us of our own obstinate failures.

Let us not forget that we have a great high priest who has gone before us and whose body and blood were sacrificed for our disobedience and in whose resurrected life there is righteousness. Be encouraged this week that, in Christ, we have our king who is faithful, a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and a righteousness that cannot be taken away.

~Ryan Helfenbein

~ds

Below are excerpts taken from Chapter 1 of Let the Nations Be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions by John Piper.

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exist because doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.

Worship, therefore, is the fuel and goal in missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white-hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God. ‘The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!’ (Psalm 97:1). ‘Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy!’ (Psalm 67:3-4).

But worship is also the fuel of missions. Passion for God in worship precedes the offer of God in preaching. You can’t commend what you don’t cherish. Missionaries will never call out, ‘Let the nations be glad!’, who can not say from the heart, ‘I rejoice in the Lord…I will be glad and exult in thee, I will sing praise to thy name, O Most High’ (Psalm 104:34; 9:2). Missions begins and ends in worship.” -pg. 11

Piper goes on to address specifics:

“The zeal of the church for the glory of her King will not rise until pastors and mission leaders and seminary teachers make much more of the King. When the glory of God himself saturates our preaching and teaching and conversation and writings, and when he predominates above our talk of methods and strategies and psychological buzz words and cultural trends, then the people might begin the feel that he is the central reality of their lives and that the spread of his glory is more important than all their possessions and all their plans.” -pg. 38

Here is part of Piper’s summary of chapter one:

“God is calling us above all else to be the kind of people whose theme and passion is the supremacy of God in all of life. No one will be able to rise to the magnificence of the missionary cause who does not feel the magnificence of Christ. There will be no big world vision without a big God. There will be no passion to draw others in to our worship where there is no passion for worship.

‘Great and wonderful are your deeds,
O Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are your ways,
O King of the ages!
Who shall not fear and glorify your name, O Lord?
For you alone are holy.
All nations shall come and worship you,
for you judgments have been revealed.’ (Revelation 15:3-4)” -pg. 40

Do we share the gospel often and does the frequency of our witnessing reflect for better or worse the intensity of our passion for God and his glory in our own lives?

I pray that the Spirit would help us to examine ourselves in light of these points with the end result being a greater love for and worship of God in our lives and a heightened effort to see him worshiped and glorified among all the peoples of the earth!!

~Nick Miersma for the Missions Team

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of Dr. Wellum’s overview of the book of Samuel given on Sunday, October 12, 2008.

The narrative of I and II Samuel continues the story of Israel following the book of Judges. Israel is in spiritual decline as “everyone was doing what was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 21:25). While God brought forth judges to appropriately lead Israel at times, there was no king in Israel. The book of Samuel traces the plot movement from the judges to the kings, where Samuel is the last judge, Saul, the people’s king, and David, “the man after God’s own choosing.” Other themes such as worship associated with the tabernacle—later temple—are included as well. Moreover, Hannah’s prayer functions as prophecy for the whole book, unfolding the main themes with particular emphasis on God’s sovereign reversals.

I Samuel opens with the story of Hannah, the barren wife of Elkanah. She is in distress not only because of her barrenness, but because she is provoked by Peninnah, another wife of Elkanah. Nevertheless, God reverses Hannah’s situation and remembers her by granting her a son after she had prayed to offer her child back to God as a Nazirite (1 Sam 1:11). Hannah keeps her word and when her son Samuel is of age, the child is brought to Eli, the priest. God has worked a reversal on behalf of Hannah. Her poetic prayer (1 Sam 2:1-10) speaks of other reversals that the Lord will accomplish. Hannah extols God in vv. 1-3, while vv. 4-8b point to the future where God will break the bows of the mighty, but strengthen the feeble. He will fill those who now hunger, while making the full go hungry. Verses 8c-10 draw attention to God’s rule and judgment over the earth and his exaltation of the horn of his anointed – clearly a reference to David and ultimately Jesus.

Elements of Hannah’s prayer are picked up through the narrative. While Eli’s sons sinfully abuse the sacrifices offered to the Lord and commit sexually immoral acts, Samuel, in stark contrast, grows in stature and favor with Lord (1 Sam 2:26, cf. Luke 2:52). God judges Eli’s priestly house, but Samuel is established as a prophet-priest-judge. Another reversal will occur with Saul. While the warrior-king is tall and ostensibly mighty, his true colors will be shown as a fearful and arrogant imposter. God will humble him and exalt David, the unexpected shepherd of Israel.

Tumultuous times characterize Israel at this time period as they battle the Philistines, but fail to see that God must fight for them. They place their trust in the ark of the covenant (1 Sam 4) instead of the Lord himself. The ark is captured and the glory of the Lord has departed from Israel. Nevertheless, God’s sovereign purposes will come to pass. The ark is recovered and Samuel, God’s faithful mouthpiece, begins to lead in his prophetic role (1 Sam 7).

We too live in uncertain times marked by economic catastrophes, persecutions, and wars. But God is in sovereign control and he rules from his throne. He is a God who reverses the expectations that people have. The world looks to men who boast in their capabilities to lead and produce positive change to such challenging circumstances. But the Lord is the one who humbles the strong and the powerful, while unexpectantly exalting the weak, the barren, and the poor. As believers in Christ, we can have confidence in him, because just as God exalted the one who took on the form of a bondservant, so too he will exalt us. God has chosen the weak and foolish to shame the powerful and the strong (1 Cor 1:26-27). May we place our confidence in him no matter what circumstances arise.

~Brent Parker

Listen to the audio here.

~ds

CNN reports today: “Gunmen killed a Christian businessman and wounded his nephew in a drive-by shooting in Mosul, police said Monday…At least 900 Christian families have fled in recent days, reportedly frightened by a series of killings and threats by Muslim extremists ordering them to convert to Islam or face possible death, Iraqi officials said.”

As I sit here in my Seminary apartment writing this, with a glass of sweet tea and some pistachios at my side and the NLCS on the TV, I think of the Psalm I read this morning and what a drastically different perspective it takes on tonight as I think of our brothers and sisters in the Middle East: “I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever” (Psalm 145:1-2a). And, then I read v. 4 and think of what this Christian businessman’s nephew might tell his kids one day: “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”

Friends, let’s be faithful to pray for our family in Iraq - that they will, even now, bless the Lord’s name, that their faithful witness in the face of this persecution would win many a Muslim to Christ, and that these trials may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

With our sweet tea and pistachios and you fill-in-the-blank, let’s not allow the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches to choke away our consistent devotion.

~Adam Graig for the Missions Team

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of Dr. Wellum’s overview of the book of Samuel given on Sunday, October 5, 2008.

With the Psalter now in our rearview mirror, we come to study the book of Samuel. In approaching any book in the Bible we must recall the best way to approach our reading of a particular book. Therefore, we must take the text for what it is, God’s Word through human authors delivered over a specific period of time (cf. Heb. 1:1-2). This presents us with three questions: What is God saying in this book? What is the author communicating to their particular audience? And where does this fit canonically? These questions help to frame how we view Samuel textually, epochally, and canonically. Samuel is framed by two prayers, the prayer of Hannah and the prayer of David, both of which take aim at highlighting its grand subject—king David.

Originally in the Hebrew canon the book of Samuel is placed in the former prophets, which provide a history of Israel. It is significant that we look at the shape of the Hebrew Old Testament to see the flow of how the story of Israel was presented. By following this particular ordering we are able to see the Israel’s history and the progression that ultimately leads us to Christ. There are five sections of the Hebrew Bible:

1. Pentateuch: Genesis-Deuteronomy
2. Former Prophets: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings
3. Later Prophets: Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, the Minor Prophets
4. Writings: Ruth, Psalms, Job, Song of Songs, Lamentations, & Wisdom Literature
5. Prophets: Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and Chronicles

Ultimately, in light of these considerations, we must always ask: how does this contribute to God’s unfolding plan, and what is this teaching us today? Using this overview will help us prepare for YHWH’s unfolding kingdom in our two month study of Samuel. Let me encourage you to begin reading through the first seven chapters of the book with your family this week, and to consider the wisdom of God in this royal book.

Listen to this week’s lesson: Samuel

~ds

Well, friends, Ramadan has come to an end, and as we continue to lift up the Muslim world, let us now turn our immediate attention to the large Jewish community that is here in Louisville. Last week, several students at Louisville Collegiate School were allowed an excused absence from school to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. This Wednesday, Jewish students will also be excused from classes, and teachers are not allowed to assign homework, as the Jewish community celebrates Yom Kippur, or the “Day of Atonement.”

Yom Kippur is comparable on some levels to the Christian celebration of Christmas. It is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holy days. Most secular Jews, who may not strictly observe other Jewish holy days, will fast and attend synagogue on Yom Kippur, where the number of worshippers attending is typically double or triple the normal attendance.

The biblical rites for the Day of Atonement are given in Leviticus 16. The themes of substitutionary atonement and repentance are among the central themes in the text.

So, Wellum’s Couples, as many of our neighbors gather this week to observe this holy day, may we – partakers of the blood of the new covenant – remember those whose eyes have not yet been opened to the One who has atoned for all sin and called every man to repentance.

~The Graigs for the Missions Team

Trent and Kristi Hunter, Wade and Rebecca Mathis, Ryan Bishop, Eric and Jessica Sosebee, Brice Land, Trent Sligh, Dave and Wendy Schrock, Robert and Jennifer Patterson, Ryan Perz, Nick Miersma, and Dr. Wellum all spent Saturday, August 16th at the Clark County Detention Center. No, it’s not what you might think. They volunteered to spend time with the detainees, hoping to spread the good news of Christ.

Parking lot fellowship until everyone else arrives…

Group prayer…

Bring on the food and games!

Here’s the whole gang waiting to get into the detention center. No cameras were allowed beyond this point. All in all, the volunteers said the visit was a success. Many God-centered conversations took place, and the cookout was a huge hit. Thanks to Dave Schrock and Danny Willems for their leadership in putting this outreach together. Also, thanks to Trent Hunter for the pictures and Kory Kapps for opening our eyes to a local ministry need so close to home. To hear the audio from Kory’s visit to our class (featuring testimony from former detainee, Danny), please click here.

This week’s “Wednesday Word” is a summary of an exposition of Book 5 from Dr. Wellum given on Sunday, September 28, 2008.

This week as we turn our attention to Psalm 107-150, Dr. Wellum provides us with an overview and conclusion to the final book of the Psalter. Therefore, following Dr. Wellum’s breakdown we shall look at the flow and various points of emphasis found throughout book 5.

Psalm 107: Introduction to Book 5. As book 4 concludes, we are left with the psalmist cry, “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.” From this plea for deliverance, Psalm 107 begins with the people of Israel praising the Lord for bringing them out of exile. Graphic images of deliverance are captured in Psalm 107.

Psalm 108-110: The Future Davidic King. Now that they have been brought out of exile, Psalms 108-110 point the people of Israel to look for the Davidic king. It becomes clear that the editor of the psalms is not speaking of a return of David as king but one who will be greater than David will come to rule. Book 2 presents the end of the psalms of David, while books 3-5 project the Davidic messiah. This coming king is the Lord of David who will extend his mighty scepter from Zion, to rule over the nations (cf. Gen. 3, Pss. 2, 8, 45, 72). This will be the new day that is starting, and will bring forward the royal priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Psalm 111-118: Psalms of Ascent. In these psalms, we see a reflection back to many of the preceding psalms such as Psalm 1, where the blessed man is the one who fears the Lord. We also find in these psalms repeated themes, which are emphasized in the short Psalm 117 saying, “Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 119: The Great Psalm. This presents the longest psalm in the entire Psalter. Psalm 119 presents a lengthy composition of praise where the psalmist delights in the law of the Lord and lauds Him as the one who has been faithful to his people. We are directed here to see the excellence of the Lord as he has provided all things and is righteous and just.

Psalm 120-137: Zion Psalms. These particular psalms emphasize themes stemming from the prophets like, Isaiah 2, which claims that all people will flood to Zion. Within this section we see how this greater David will fulfill the words of the prophets.

Psalm 138-145: Davidic Psalms. The Davidic Psalms again point us to see and expect the one to come who will be greater than David. David speaks with surety that God will install his king who will rule the nations.

Psalm 146-150: Hallelujah Psalms. As the Psalter draws to a close the psalmist directs all people to praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6 climaxes, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” This imperative is answered throughout the New Testament in passages such as Philippians 2 and Revelation 4-5.

Conclusion: What we find in the Psalter. Following our study of the Psalter there are many things we are able to deduce. The psalms show the way of wisdom begins with holy fear and knowing his word. God has been faithful in keeping his promises and has done so by bringing a king greater than David, who will rule over all nations. In the fullness of time, we see Jesus Christ embody and fulfill the promises and praises of the Psalter. Like his father David, he has gone from suffering to glory. Though we glimpses of Christ in the Psalter, we like the ancient Israelites, still await our final exodus; and until He returns we laud Him with praises and warn others of his impending return.

May we continue to look to the glorious day when the king of glory will come again (cf. Ps. 24).