2 Samuel 3:6-21
My first thought when reading this passage is just how God has worked to bring about David's reign over time. Even before Israel becomes a united kingdom, David is anointed as a young boy. Yet, even before that, God tells Abraham that kings will descend from his line, and prophecies before, during, and after Israel's exile state that a greater Messiah will come from the line of Judah, one of Jacob's 12 sons, to form the 12 tribes of Israel. The passage discusses Saul, the first king of Israel, who comes from the line of Benjamin. I taught in my Sunday school, just how faithful Saul was when he first became king, but his disobedience causes him to lose favor and David is to be the next king. It is not a simple succession, and David's struggle to maintain rule is continual. Yet, this passage already demonstrates David's authority, something Saul lacked for most of his reign.
Acts 16:6-15
My only comment regarding the Book of Acts is to note the various passages where the author includes himself in the action. In the middle of the passage we read "God had called us to proclaim the good news to them." and at the very end, " And she prevailed upon us." There are several of these passages where the author, the supposed St. Luke who writes to a certain Theophilus at the beginning of the Gospel According to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. When you read Acts, think of which of the narrative is Luke including himself, and which ones is he simply documenting. Is Luke traveling with St. Paul? Is he staying somewhere else?
Mark 6:30-46
This is one of my favorite passages in the New Testament: "As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things." (Mark 6:34)
I love this passage because people are always willing, ready, and eager to flock to something that ignites a certain kind of energy inside of us. People were ready to see a black man elected as president. People have been screaming for rock stars since Elvis rocked his pelvis. If Steve Jobs was handing out free iPads in the dead of winter, I'm sure offices would shut down. DOWN. People ran to meet Jesus, and they came in the thousands (as it says in Scripture). Yet, Jesus has compassion on them because he knows their hearts. We're all looking for something in our lives. We all want fulfillment, appreciation, and love. Without someone to guide us, lead us, or sometimes carry us in our brokenness, we put our hope in the wrong things. We put our faith in things that do not satisfy and do not bring real fulfillment. When the compassion of Christ lives inside of us, we're turned into beings of healing. The miracle of feeding five thousand hungry souls in the middle of a "solitary place" (verse 32) is not to show how awesome Jesus is... (though I don't deny his awesomeness ever), but it's to show God's love.
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