Commuter Bible

In our last episode, Israel asked an aging Samuel to appoint a king over them before his death. Samuel warned them about what a king would demand from them, but the people urged him all the more. Ultimately, the concern is not so much that they want a king, but that they were looking to the role of king as a source of strength, protection, and provision. All along, God had been their strength, their protection, and their provider, but they failed to trust in Him. As Samuel installs Saul as king in today’s reading, take note of Samuel’s heart for his people and for the glory of God.

When Israel went to battle against the Philistines they assumed that they could bring out the ark of the covenant to the battlefield, and that it’s presence would either oblige God to win the battle for them or that the object itself had some kind of mystical power. They were sorely mistaken, and the Philistines captured the ark. The Philistines assumed that their victory was a victory over Israel’s God, and so they place in Dagon’s temple. Time and again, however, the Lord silently causes anguish for the Philistines wherever the ark is taken, until finally, they become desperate to send it back.

The instructions that the Lord has given to Israel concerning justice, holiness, and priesthood have all been shattered in the time of the judges. It seems like all is lost for Israel, but even here we can see foreshadows of Christ who has yet to come. There is a woman incapable of having children who is faithful to the Lord. In His providence, kindness and mercy, the Lord raises a prophet and priest from the barren womb of this woman, who had promised the Lord that her son would serve God all the days of his life. This young boy is at home in the Lord’s service and eventually replaces sinful men and intercedes between God and His people. One day, Samuel will usher in a new kingdom, though he himself will not be king.

Consider for a moment that, in the extravagant grace of Christ, you have been raised to a status that you did not earn or deserve. You have gone from death to life, from poverty to riches, from orphan to adopted, from having nothing to inheriting a kingdom with Christ. Knowing this, Paul encourages the church to live worthy of this calling. Though we may often fail, we should make it our aim to grow into maturity. As you hear today’s reading, take note of the ways in which you might grow in maturity, humbling yourself before King Jesus and submitting to His kingdom order.

As we open Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus it becomes immediately clear that Paul is overflowing with joy in Christ. The source and origin of this joy is Christ Himself, whom Paul notes as the one who is responsible for our salvation. Take note of how often Paul uses the phrase “In Him” or “In Christ” and you might be surprised at what you find. He goes on to make clear that it is not our works that bring such blessing and righteousness, but free grace through faith. Let no man boast in Himself. Instead, may we find our boast in the Lord.

It seems like so much has been lost in the time of the judges, but the author of Ruth gives us a glimmer of hope. In a season of drought, a family leaves Israel and moves to Moab hoping to find relief, but instead they find sorrow. The wife, Naomi, becomes a widow without family to help her. Her daughter-in-law, a foreigner, commits to love her and care for her, returning with her to the people of Israel. There, she meets Boaz, a family redeemer who honors Ruth, cares for her, and in obedience to the Lord, redeems her into his own family. Ruth is part of a bigger story of redemption, as her lineage will include not only King David, but Jesus the Christ.

The call to love one another continues as Paul encourages church members not to quarrel over opinions. Different Christians have varying convictions about what is acceptable concerning dietary restrictions or celebration of particular days, and Paul says that’s OK. Let each one be convinced without quarreling with one another. Moreover, if your actions make another brother or sister stumble, you shouldn’t let your preferences take precedence over the good of your brother or sister. Paul ends by sending affectionate greetings to specific members he knows.

With all this talk about the Gentiles being accepted by Israel’s long-awaited Messiah, you might think that Paul was beginning to turn on the Jewish community, but that notion is far from the truth. On the contrary, he wants the Gentiles to realize that they have been grafted into Israel. Without Israel, they wouldn’t be sustained by the promises of God. Paul goes on to teach the Roman church how they should act and operate, serving one another with humility and grace.

When we hear words like “predestination” or when we consider that God “hardens hearts,” our minds may try to conceive of a defense for God or fight against the idea that the Lord would direct our steps in such a way. Even so, Pauls asks, “Is there injustice with God?” Absolutely not! For if there is anything we have earned, Scripture says that it is only the wages of sin and death. We praise God that He has mercy on anyone, for what we deserve is death and separation from a holy God for rebelling against Him. The free gift, that which is entirely undeserved, is to be made right before God the Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

True righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ, not by the works of the flesh. Paul masterfully explains that Abraham is the father of all who come to faith in Christ, both Jew and Gentile, as by faith he received the promise before the institution of circumcision and then received circumcision as a seal of that faith. Moreover, while Adam’s sin brings death to all, Christ’s obedience brings life to all who trust in Him. In this new life, we called to offer up every part of our being to God, rejecting sin at every turn.