What fascinating thought challenging readings we have today! First, in Genesis we have the judgement of the Creator on the godlessness of Sodom and Gomorrah and how God sent angels to deliver Lot, his wife and family. We read how his sons-in-law scoffed and his wife lingered, her faith was inadequate.
Our thoughts go back to the verses in the 2nd letter of Peter we read last month that “Sodom and Gomorrah” were “condemned … to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly” but God “rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked.” [2 v.6,7]
Do you recall what we read in ch. 11 in Matthew yesterday? The people of Capernaum were seeing remarkable miracles by Jesus, and he tells them, “if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.” [v.23] And today, the world is conscious of the incredible natural world that surrounds them and how it all fits in to wonderfully operate together. But nearly all blindfold their minds into believing it all happened by chance; that there is no Creator.
But we read today that Jesus said, “whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” [Matt. 12 v.32] What wonders has God’s Spirit power created – everywhere humans look!
We also read David’s remarkable Psalm 22. We do not know what challenging circumstances caused him to pen these words, but the historic records describe situations in which they could have occurred as King Saul hunted to try to find him.
In some particularly stressful situation David struggles to find and re-establish the relationship he surely had with God when he went out to meet Goliath. In this Psalm he reflects on how “our fathers trusted …. and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.” [v.4,5]
But David is overcome by some circumstances that now surrounded him, is depressed and says, “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him” [v.6-8] In reading these words we see how this part of the Psalm is a remarkable prophecy of the events surrounding the sacrifice of our Lord. This led us to recall what we read in Revelation last month – and the promise of Jesus, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” [2 v.10] And what wonders that “crown” will embrace!
Finally, note what David now writes, “those who seek him shall praise the LORD! May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.” [v.26-28]
David’s faith and those who also hold it – are often “scorned by mankind” today – but we must hold fast – and then we will surely be there!
