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July 4: How God’s election can provoke man’s rejection

June 27, 2021 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

Delicate white-petalled bramble flower surrounded by a cluster of buds
Image credit: Ian Greig

TLW26B for Sunday, July 4

Welcome to The Living Word Bible study for Sunday, July 4 (TLW26B). This non-denominational study lets the Bible explain the Bible, without leaning to any church’s practice or preferences. We recommend that you read the whole passage first and let the Holy Spirit begin speaking to you through it, then go deeper with the verse by verse commentary and reflections. Bible readings are from the Revised Common Lectionary which many different churches and chapels share as their common framework and we’re using NIV text © Biblica.


Theme: No dishonour from man can cancel the anointing of God

OT: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 — After years of dishonour, David is crowned and all the tribes tribes come  under one monarch

NT gospel: Mark 6:1-13 — After dishonour in the town where Jesus grew up, He empowers the Twelve to minister in pairs to the villages

NT letter: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 — Paul’s heavenly encounter has made him especially reliant on God’s grace in the face of opposition

  • See also this week’s linked article Cancel culture has ancient roots
  • And this week’s introductory video, Pushbacks for us, glory for God

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 — After years of dishonour, David is crowned

Now the northern tribes are brought into unity under one monarch

1-2 All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’ ” 

“Hebron” — the burial place of the patriarchs, a city of rich history for Israel.

• For further study, see Genesis 23:2; 25:9; 35:27-29; 49:29-33.

“Your own flesh and blood” —  despite a separation between Judah and the northern tribes, they still had a strong sense of kinship. Now under David, they come together.

3 When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 

David had been made king over Judah by his tribe, 2 Sam. 2:4, and over Jerusalem by conquest. His kingship over the northern tribes came by covenant, or treaty. This was the third time David was anointed.

4-5 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

“When he became king” – David had been anointed by the prophet Samuel as a youngster, 15 or more years earlier. Now, his God-fearing leadership had been seen by all. Jesus was thirty years when He entered His ministry.

9-10 David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces  inward. And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

“Residence in the fortress” — David has gone north to Jebus, a terraced area below the rock, or stronghold, that became the rebuilt City of David, Jerusalem. It was a strategic move:  central, naturally fortified by cliffs on three sides, and situated between Judah and the northern territories. It would become the site of the temple, Jesus was crucified there, and will come again there, Zechariah 14:4.

Reflection

SUMMARY  David was anointed for high office as a teenager, and then had to hold that call faithfully in his heart while being publicly treated with dishonour, even as an outlaw. It was many years before even his own tribe recognised his leadership in Judah. This passage concludes the longer wait before he could bring the northern tribes into unity — in God’s perfect  timing.

APPLICATION  The lesson for us is that our loyalty and trust of God will be tested through difficulty and waiting. He allows this testing to be like a blacksmith’s heating and hammering, to forge strength and reliance on Him.

QUESTION  What long-term, strategic prayer have you prayed, that has seemed to be having the opposite result? What would David say about that?


Mark 6:1-13 — Jesus is dishonoured in the town where He grew up

The Twelve are empowered and sent out in pairs to minister in the villages 

1-3 Jesus left there and went to His home town, accompanied by His disciples. When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed.

 “Hometown” — Nazareth, Mark 1:24; Matt. 2:23, 21:11; Luke 4:23.

“Many… were amazed” — this is probably the same event as Luke 4:16-30 where Jesus reads the beginning of Isaiah 61: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor…”

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given Him? What are these remarkable miracles He is performing?

“Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us?” And they took offence at Him.

“Isn’t this the carpenter?” – people had known Jesus in His ‘ordinary life’ prior to His baptism. To them, He is just a person who works with His hands, like them, and even, “Mary’s son”, of illegitimate birth, unlike his brothers and sisters. 

“Took offence” – in Luke’s account the crowd hustled him to the edge of the town hill and tried to push him over.

4-6 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. 

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

“Without honour” – this rejection in Nazareth (the last time in the Gospel where Jesus is associated with a synagogue) is a small version of the much greater rejection to come in Jerusalem. The dishonour shown to him results in a lack of fruit there.

“Could not do any miracles there” — “except”… “heal” a few sick people. His power to heal was not lacking but the faith to receive it, was.

7 Calling the Twelve to Him, He began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.

“Two by two” — the OT requirement for ‘authority’ was two witnesses, Numbers 35:30, Deut. 17:6, 19:15, Matt. 18:16. Spiritual authority over spiritual iniquity  or “impure spirits” would be needed.

“Authority over impure spirits” – the proclamation of God’s kingdom comes in actions and deliverance, including healing, not just words (vv.12-13 below).

• For further study see Matthew 10:1, 5-15; Luke 9:1-6.

8-11 These were His instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

“Will not welcome… or listen” — Nazareth proving to be hard-hearted and scornful was a lesson to the disciples, to discern which people were open to God, by seeing who would welcome and receive them.

12-13 They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. 

“That people should repent” – as the disciples started their own mission in the name of Jesus, their message was identical to His, Mark 1:15. Proclaiming and showing the goodness and grace of God results in willing change of hearts and lives – repentance – among those who receive the Good News.

“Anointed… sick people with oil” — commonly used for medicinal purposes but here a symbol of consecration.

• For further study, see Exodus 30:30, 40:13, 15; 1 Samuel 10:1.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Even with the “wisdom that had been given  Him”,  Jesus is still amazed at the rejection and lack of faith He experienced in His home town. He both demonstrated and explained who He was — the signs of the kingdom in His ministry left little doubt of that — but those who had known Him as a carpenter/builder were scornful, and wanted to regard Him as just a regular working man like them. 

APPLICATION  Those who we would naturally expect to be affirming us, can present the most difficult opposition. Becoming a Christian by asking Jesus into our lives does change us and does make us seem different — progressively more like Him! And that can be threatening to others. 

QUESTION  If Jesus gave His first disciples authority over evil spirits, what is our spiritual perspective of someone whose life has been made miserable?


2 Corinthians 12:2-10 — Paul says public dishonour reveals Christ’s power

His heavenly encounter has made him especially aware of his reliance on God

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know — God knows.

“Third heaven” — not the atmosphere where birds fly, and not the higher ‘heaven’ of sun, moon and stars, but the unseen realm of God’s uncontested presence, the place of blessedness where God dwells, referred to in the NT as paradise, Luke 23:43, Rev. 2:7. Jesus is “exalted above the heavens”, Hebrews 7:26.

3-4 And I know that this man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows — was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.

“This man… heard inexpressible things” — this was a vision or visions of such unusual intensity that Paul was reluctant to talk about his experience.

5-7a I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. 

“A man like that” — using the third person as a way of avoiding appearing boastful about something that was God’s initiative.

7b-9a Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 

“Thorn in the flesh” – the meaning of this is disputed. Many commentators explain this by a physical affliction like malaria or migraine attacks. However, the phrase is used in the OT of a personal enemy, Numbers 33:55, Ezek. 28:24 and Paul experienced persistent persecution, the context of vv.9-10 below — and he often quoted the Hebrew Scriptures, or as we would say, the OT).

“Three times” – like Jesus’ threefold prayer, Mark 14:32-41, a way of saying that he has prayed through to completion and received his answer.

9b-10 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

“My weaknesses” — The Corinth church had a problem with self-appointed and self-congratulatory leaders, who considered their oratorical style superior to the plain teaching of the small, bald Jewish man who had introduced them to Christ. Paul, by contrast, wouldn’t let anything, any ‘success’ of man, get in the way of his utter focus on Jesus as Lord.

Reflection 

SUMMARY  As if the blinding vision on the Damascus road wasn’t enough… Paul’s point is that it is all about God and not about him, all about what God does, not what he does, and all the dishonour and difficulties simply serve to beat down any sense of  human pride and self-sufficiency

APPLICATION  God needs a clear channel for His grace to flow — clear of human pride. His way of clearing that channel seems less unreasonable when it is seen that way. Divine power only finds its expression in our recognising our human weakness and dependence on the Lord’s empowerment. Paul is forthright about his need of this help, a lesson to guide any form of ministry today.

QUESTION  Can you think of a time when you admitted you didn’t have the strength or skill — allowing God’s hand to be seen?

PRAYER  O Lord God, our heartfelt desire is for Your glory to be seen, and for many in our communities to repent  and believe in Jesus and come to personal faith and new life. We know the enemy of our souls will not give up his control without a struggle. Like David, we may have to wait out conflict, like Jesus we may be dismissed by those closest to us, and like Paul, we will experience opposition. May we know and rely on Your grace and love to be greater than all these kinds of testing situations — as we pray this through the honour and glory of Jesus. Amen.


Psalm 48

1 Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, His holy mountain.

2 Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King.

3 God is in her citadels; He has shown Himself to be her fortress.

4-5 When the kings joined forces, when they advanced together, they saw her and were astounded; they fled in terror.

6 Trembling seized them there, pain like that of a woman in labour.

7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind.

8 As we have heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord Almighty, in the city of our God: God makes her secure forever.

9 Within Your temple, O God, we meditate on Your unfailing love.

10 Like your name, O God, Your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

11 Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of Your judgments.

12-13 Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation.

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.

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PRINT EDITION  You can download a PDF of the print edition from the link below. It prints on A4 paper to produce a four-page Bible-size folder. Permission given to copy for your own use, for your Bible study or home group, or for inclusion with your church bulletin.

TLW26B-July-4-final-BookletDownload

Filed Under: Pentecost to Advent, Year B

God’s grace releases our generosity

June 20, 2021 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

Growing wheat with full green ears and a hint of yellow
Image credit: Ian Greig

Welcome to The Living Word Bible study for Sunday, June 27 (TLW25B). This non-denominational study lets the Bible explain the Bible, without leaning to any church’s practice or preferences. We recommend that you read the whole passage first and let the Holy Spirit begin speaking to you through it, then go deeper with the verse by verse commentary and reflections. Bible readings are from the Revised Common Lectionary which is the common source for many different churches and chapels.

Theme: Knowing and sharing God’s grace

2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 — David shows God’s grace in honouring the good of his former persecutor

Mark 5:21-43 — Healing miracles highlight God’s gracious favour to two very different people

2 Corinthians 8:7-15 — Corinthians rich in gifts are urged to echo God’s grace by being generous to others

And also read: Psalm 130

• See also this week’s linked article A Story of Three ‘Opposites’


2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 — David’s gracious forgiveness honours Saul

He shows emotional maturity in remembering the good of his former persecutor

1:1 After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.

“After the death of Saul” — in the battle of Mount Gilboa, where Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua were killed in the Philistine pursuit, and Saul, critically wounded, took his own life, 1 Samuel 31:1-4. 

1:17-18 David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan, and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):

“Book of Jashar” — mentioned in Joshua 10:13, probably an Israelite epic poem of exploits, now lost, and in verse form like the “lament of the bow”, sung during drill with Israel’s weapon of choice.

19-20 “A gazelle lies slain on your heights, Israel. How the mighty have fallen!

“Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.

“Gazelle” — could be rendered ‘splendour’, here used for Saul and Jonathan. “Heights” refers to Mt Gilboa where the warriors died, 2 Samuel 1:6.

• For further study, see 1 Samuel 31:1-6

“Proclaim it not” — Gath to Ashkelon was the expanse of Philistine territory. For them to celebrate Israel’s defeat would bring reproach to the name of the Lord.

21-22 “Mountains of Gilboa, may you have neither dew nor rain, may no showers fall on your terraced fields. For there the shield of the mighty was despised, the shield of Saul — no longer rubbed with oil.

“From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.

“May no showers fall” — David calls for a withholding of blessing on the place where Saul and Jonathan perished.

“No longer rubbed with oil” — the shield no longer maintained, no longer needed.

23 “Saul and Jonathan — in life they were loved and admired, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

“Not parted” — Although Jonathan’s friendship with David defied Saul, he fought to defend Israel and gave his life beside his father.

24 “Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet and finery, who adorned your garments with ornaments of gold.

“Scarlet” – associated with prosperity.

25  “How the mighty have fallen in battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

26  “I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.

“Your love for me was wonderful” – no sexual connotation here: Jonathan’s commitment to David, at personal risk, seeing him as God’s choice to succeed his own father, was a truly remarkable bond.

27  “How the mighty have fallen! The weapons of war have perished!”

“Weapons of war” — meaning Saul and Jonathan.

SUMMARY  When David hears the news that King Saul ,and his close companion Jonathan, have both been killed while retreating from the Philistines, he composes a lament to honour them in every way he can think of. David had kept his heart clean from resentment for many years, and now he could allow God’s grace to flow and override human emotions.

APPLICATION  It is an example for us to choose not to respond to injustice and betrayal, but to love our enemies by allowing the Holy Spirit to bring His flow of grace to our hearts.

QUESTION  Why did Jesus say it was so important for us to forgive without condition? Think of the Lord’s Prayer…


Mark 5:21-43 — Two healing miracles highlight God’s gracious favour

Two very different people show desperation in approaching Jesus

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around Him while He was by the lake.

“The other side” – He had been on the eastern Gadara and Decapolis side of the lake, and now crossed back to the Capernaum and Galilee side.

22-24 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet. He pleaded earnestly with Him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around Him.

“Synagogue leaders” – people of wealth and status, often Pharisees. Each synagogue had one who presided over the synagogue elders.

25-26 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.

“A woman was there” – but was considered ceremonially unclean owing to her condition.

27-29 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch His clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

“Touched His cloak” — by the law, Leviticus 15:19-23, she renders Jesus ceremonially unclean. However, He demonstrates that He is greater than purity laws by healing her, and therefore making her clean.

30 At once Jesus realised that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31 “You see the people crowding against you,” His disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

“Who touched Me?” – He senses a spiritual transaction distinct from the nudges of the crowd.

32-34 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at His feet and, trembling with fear, told Him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

“Trembling with fear” — from the perspective of the law her presence was shameful. Mark depicts how her fear turned to faith and awe, and shame turned to acceptance.

“Daughter” – not shunned outsider, part of the family of God.

“Healed” – the word sozo has a broader meaning encompassing healed, delivered, saved.

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?”

“Why bother” — implying that Jesus can heal the sick but not raise one who is dead.

36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

“Don’t be afraid” – as Jesus says to us in many circumstances, ‘Do not fear, but believe’. Fear is the true opposite of faith, but in exercising the will to regard Jesus, faith rises to dispels fear — a test for Jairus.

37-40 He did not let anyone follow Him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at Him.

After He put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with Him, and went in where the child was.

“People wailing loudly” – family and community mourners.

“Peter, James and John” – early days of the ministry and a small room, so a call to the ‘senior apprentices’ only.

“They laughed at Him” – the unbelieving crowd created an unbelieving spirituality.

41-43 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

“Talitha koum” – Mark’s fast-paced gospel includes references to the vernacular that Jesus and the disciples customarily used.

“Not to let anyone know” – Jesus was never self-promoting. He was a Galilean with fast-growing popularity in his own region. This was attracting hostility from religious leaders and risking premature crisis, before His work was complete.

SUMMARY  Two events are intertwined here. In a culture of male privilege and unequal deservedness, a woman with an embarrassing ailment and a little girl both ranked low in significance — but not to Jesus, who went out of His way to heal them. The word sozo makes no separation between spiritual and physical salvation.

APPLICATION  These are stories which highlight God’s grace as well as mercy. His love flows out to connect with humbly-expressed need, demolishing our wrong perceptions of entitlement.

QUESTION  One approached Jesus pleading earnestly, the other trembling with awe. What does this teach us about how we pray in apparently hopeless situations?


2 Corinthians 8:7-15 — God’s grace is echoed by believers generosity

Corinthians rich in gifts are exhorted to be earnest in their giving

7 But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

“Since you excel” — a key verse in Paul’s teaching on Christian giving. They have a reputation for public debating and their richness of spiritual gifting. Now Paul challenges them to be known for their giving.

8-9 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

“Not commanding” – telling people they ought to give, often has the opposite effect. This is a different appeal which invites them to test the sincerity of their love. Less well-off Macedonian churches like Philippi and Thessalonica had shown their love, giving beyond their means at a time of severe trial and poverty. Would Corinth have the same heart?

“You know the grace of our Lord” – here in the sense of God’s love shown in saving action for undeserving mankind.

10-12 And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

“Eager willingness… is there” – the point is that God looks for faith and joy in giving which is part of our worship of Him. We can encourage each other to give more freely, willingly and joyfully, but to expect people to give more because they ought to, is unbiblical.

13-15 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

“Your plenty will supply” — The Greek ethos of friendship was equality and sharing things in common — and Corinth was a generally prosperous city.

“Too much… too little” – quoting from Exodus 16:18 which refers to the Israelites gathering manna in the desert, illustrating the kind of equality he has in mind. Like giving out of duty, giving as a kind of religious penance is not the willingness and Spirit-led enthusiasm that God is seeking.

SUMMARY  The Corinthians were early to respond when news of the need in Jerusalem reached them; false teachers may have put a stop to this. But, as Paul says, God loves a cheerful giver, the kind that counts it a way of celebrating God’s provision, and shares it willingly and joyfully. 

APPLICATION  Church treasurers who model faith have often found that a generous spirit in outreach, including sharing resources, is a big help to the church budget, not a hindrance. Sharing in faith and grace is a principle which discovers the Lord’s supply.

QUESTION  In what ways can you worship God in your freedom to give and meet needs for others?

PRAYER  Dear loving Father, once again we are challenged to measure our ideas of entitlement and reward, against Your incomparable grace and generosity. We are awed by David’s generosity of spirit towards a jealous man who tried to kill him, and Your love shown first to the least and last, in the healing miracles. We hear the challenge to be joyful, worshipful givers and share our plenty with those who need it. May we be released by the Spirit of Jesus, the ultimate Giver, to show and share His generosity as You direct us. In His name we pray, O God. Amen.

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PRINT EDITION  You can download a PDF of the print edition from the link below. It prints on A4 paper to produce a four-page Bible-size folder. Permission given to copy for your own use, for your Bible study or home group, or for inclusion with your church bulletin.

(Link to file)

Filed Under: Pentecost to Advent, Year B

June 20: God has got this!

June 14, 2021 by Ian Greig Leave a Comment

Colourful red and green fields with bright yellow rape against hill
Image credit: Ian Greig

Welcome to The Living Word Bible study for Sunday, June 20 (TLW24B). This is a non-denominational study which lets the Bible explain the Bible, without leaning to any church’s practice or preferences. We recommend that you read the whole passage first and let the Holy Spirit begin speaking to you through it, then go deeper with the verse by verse commentary and reflections. Bible readings are from the Revised Common Lectionary as shared by many different churches and chapels.

Theme: Learning to rely on God’s providence in life

OT: 1 Samuel 17: 32-49 — Teenager David trusts in God being with him, and goes out to slay a giant armoured warrior

NT gospel: Mark 4:35-41 — With a sudden storm swamping the boat, Jesus commands wind and waves to be still, and teaches about trusting God’s providence

NT letter: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 —  For Paul and his companions, coming through severe difficulties proves God’s providence and call

Also read: Psalm 9:9-20

• See also this week’s linked article Help! Learning to trust God in sticky situations

• And this week’s video How to Trust God in Sticky Situations


1 Samuel 17:32-49 — God’s providence for when you’re vulnerable

Teenager David trusts God and goes out to slay a giant armoured warrior

Background — The Philistine giant Goliath, more than nine feet tall and massively armoured, presented a terrifying spectacle as he taunted the Israelite army to put up their best warrior to take him on in single combat. Young David, not part of the army but on an errand to deliver supplies, hears Goliath repeat his daily challenge.

32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

“Let no one lose heart” — Saul was fearful, 1 Sam. 17:11 but David has the courage of faith, v.37 below.

33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

34-35 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.

“When a lion or a bear came” — lions and bears were common in Palestine in this period.

36-37 “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

“The Lord who rescued me” — David had practised with the sling, and knew it was the Lord who gave him the ability to take on such dangerous predators.

Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

38-39 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off.

40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

“From the stream” — the opposing armies were separated by a valley and a stream.

41-42 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield-bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.

“Glowing with health” – ruddy-faced, the word emphasising David’s youth and inexperience.

43-44 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

“Come at me with sticks” – David appeared weaponless, apart from his staff.

“The Philistine cursed…” – By contrast, David praised. Victory of Goliath would demonstrate God’s victory over Dagon, chief god of the Philistines. 

45-46 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

47 “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”

48-49 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

“He slung it” — David’s sling would have been a leather cup with two thongs to whirl it. Loosing one thong at the right time released the projectile which stunned Goliath so that David could decapitate him. With practice, this could be a highly accurate weapon.

Reflection

SUMMARY  The contest between the young David, unarmed apart from his faith in God’s covenant and his trusty sling, and the heavily-armoured and huge Goliath, is one of the best-known stories in the Bible. It is also one of the most graphic pictures ‚ because it is about inequality, opposites — and resolute faith as David speaks out his faith in God securing the victory. 

APPLICATION  The ‘Goliaths’ we meet are not these days in single combat, but usually in the mind — situations where we feel overwhelmed and helpless. However, this is our spiritual enemy’s work and it is characterised by fear and intimidation. It also shows the way to disarm that fear by declaring our trust in God’s love.

QUESTION  Someone in your friendship circle or home group is facing a frightening difficulty. How do you help them to speak to God about it?


Mark 4:35-41 — Jesus commands wind and waves and calms the storm

With water swamping the boat, Jesus teaches about faith in God’s providence

35-36 That day, when evening came, He said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with Him.

“In the boat” — a 26ft boat big enough to hold 15, dating from this first century period, was recovered in 1986 from mud that had preserved it.

37-38 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

“A furious squall” – the Sea of Galilee is 200m below sea level and surrounded on three sides by mountains, giving rise to strong downdraughts. It is known for sudden windstorms in the evenings.

“Sleeping on a cushion” – probably one of the bags of ballast sand used to stabilise the boat. The Son of God was fully human and needed rest.

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

“He… rebuked the wind and… waves” — Jesus’ exercise of authority over the natural power of wind and waves demonstrated who He was, the Messiah. See v.41 note.

40 He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

“Do you still have no faith?” – the disciples had seen Jesus’ authority in action many times but still lacked faith. The Holy Spirit was to transform their faith and confidence later.

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!”

“Wind and waves obey” – in their Scriptures, God commanded wind and waves.

• For further study on the OT emphasis that God alone controls the sea, see Exodus 14-15; Job 12:15, 28:25; Psalms 65:7, 89:8-10, 107:25-30.

• For further study on Jesus’ authority witnessed by the disciples, Mark 1:21-34, 1:40-45, 2:1-12, 3:1-5.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Another well-known story from the Bible concerns Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee in his fisherman friends’ craft, which looks as if it is about to be lost with all hands in a sudden storm. Jesus uses the power of words, speaking in His authority to rebuke the wind and command the waves to be still. He uses this as a lesson in exercising practical faith for the disciples.

APPLICATION  God’s providential care of us is linked to our faith or trust in Him — and there are times when He expects us to exercise that. This affects how we pray. We pray in Jesus’ name, meaning we pray the prayer we believe Jesus would pray. The teaching that comes out of this story is that there are times when we should have faith to seek to impose Jesus’ order in His authority — a step beyond asking Him to do it.

QUESTION  If we believe in God’s providence over our lives, what are different ways of expressing it? How does praise connect with God’s provision?


2 Corinthians 6:1-13 — Opposition reveals God’s providence

The way God has undertaken for Paul and his companions testifies to their call

1-2 As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, “In the time of My favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

“Not receive God’s grace in vain” – by continuing to live independently from God, not living as having been saved. Paul appeals to the disaffected believers at Corinth to listen to him and Timothy, and as those receiving God’s grace, to be gracious.

“Time of My favour” – Paul, by quoting Isaiah 49:8, is putting it to his accusers that reconciliation with him (Paul) would follow their acceptance of the Good News.

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.

“Now is the time” – God is starting to bestow blessings of the age to come and this is a time of particular favour, between Jesus’ first and second comings, to turn to God by receiving Jesus.

3 We put no stumbling-block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

“Not… discredited” — Paul and his companions’ character were always being questioned. It seems that various charges had been brought, perhaps out of jealousy of the success of his ministry.

4-7 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left…

8-10 …through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

“Dishonour, bad report…regarded as imposters” — Paul and his companions were of impeccable character but Satan’s attempt to discredit them through people vulnerable to his deceptions, brought slanderous attacks. There was continual opposition from false leaders who were self-serving and self-promoting. By contrast, the suffering Paul and his team endured, and their “yet we live on” determination to follow God’s call, showed them to be genuine.

• For further study, the nine hardships listed (and see 2 Cor. 4:7-18) are detailed in Acts 14:5-6, Acts 14:19-20, Acts 16:19-24, Acts 21:30-36. Imprisonments are mentioned in Acts 16:3, Eph. 3:1, Phil. 1:13-14, Col. 4:18, 2 Tim 1:16, Philemon 1.

11-13 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange — I speak as to my children — open wide your hearts also.

“Opened wide our hearts” — Paul’s enemies had sowed the suggestion that he did not really love them; however, he had always been completely open and sincere with them, 2 Cor. 1:12-14, 4:2.

Reflection

SUMMARY  Paul writes to a city church which he loves, but which has not always loved him, where some have gained influence and used it to ‘brief against’ Paul and the founding apostles. Those opposing him have had their own gain in mind. Paul’s list of hardships show the genuine apostles’ commitment to their call, and God’s commitment to them, despite the gravest difficulties.

APPLICATION  There is no easy territory in Christian mission; the enemy does not surrender control without a fight. But it is through danger and difficulty, trusting in God’s provision, that His goodness is experienced most memorably.

QUESTION  A common question, a misgiving people have about trusting God through faith in Christ, is why bad things happen to ‘good’ people. How do you think Paul would answer that?

PRAYER  Father God, when we take the decision to trust Jesus, we know You and belong to You — and Your providence for us and for the situations we get into, is an important part of that covenant relationship.

May we learn to trust You to see us through grave danger, as David did, and make the response Jesus would have us make when we are tempted to panic, as He demonstrated.

May we find rising in us the rejoicing praise of You, which was Paul’s focus whenever it seemed his world was falling apart.

Fill us with Your Spirit, who grows in us joy in the face of affliction, confident hope to answer the enemy’s threats and thankfulness for our experience of salvation daily as well as eternally.

To the honour and glory of Jesus we pray, Amen.

///////

PRINT EDITION  You can download a PDF of the print edition from the link below. It prints on A4 paper to produce a four -page Bible-size folder. Permission given to copy for your own use, for your Bible study or home group, or  for inclusion in your church bulletin.

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  • About TLW print edition
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    • Inexpressible and glorious joy
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Welcome to The Living Word

You get a lot more out of the Sunday service readings if they are already speaking to you. TLW is about reading and re-reading these Scriptures with some commentary to bring out what is hidden and make connections with cross references. This is different from liturgy because it is a Bible study, putting the Bible passages in sequence from OT, through the NT gospel era, and then through the lens of the post-resurrection, early church in the power of the Spirit. Enabling this progressive revelation points to a theme.  The translation used is the readable and widely-used 2011 edition of the New International Version (NIV) Bible. Commentary is drawn from a wide range of sources and is Bible-centric and theologically neutral. As we read and reflect and allow the Holy Spirit to help us hear God through His word during the week, we prepare ourselves to hear afresh and receive the Sunday sermon in church or chapel.

For convenience, use the ‘Subscribe’ box below to receive a short email with the Bible passage and notes for each weekday (and that’s all!).

Unsubscribing is just as easy.

A little about me and my vision for The Living Word

I live in the Marches, a green and beautiful expanse of hills between England and Wales where churches and chapels share duty to the Christian faithful in every valley, and churchgoing is still part of the community life. However, there are few Bibles to be seen in these buildings, and home-based groups for fellowship and Bible study are rare.

I want to encourage Sunday worshippers in churches and chapels to enjoy reading the Bible during the week, to get used to hearing God for themselves through His word, and to be  spiritually prepared for the message they will hear on Sunday from the lectionary readings they all share. It is no substitute for meeting and worshipping together, nor for Holy Spirit-inspired preaching. It supports both by encouraging the personal growth of church and chapel members of any denomination. It offers faith encouragement for those no longer able to, or no longer wanting to take part in, formal physical church.

My background is not in churches that use the lectionary and I bring a breadth of tradition and spiritual understanding to the writing.  I have pastored a number of churches and been involved in a variety of other missional initiatives with a ‘kingdom of God’ agenda.

As well as The Living Word and its weekly video I also post regularly on www.freshbread.today and www.thelivingword.substack.com with a podcast as well as video and written content. There is also a Facebook page at fb.com/TLWbiblestudy

Revd Ian Greig BD (Hons), DPS

SEE ALSO other Living Word Publications

Substack newsletter and podcast (free subscription) — audio podcast, video and written content all in one place

Fresh Bread Today — the freshest bake, with a bit of a tang, unpackaged and uncut. His word to live by, today.

Believe the Good News – finding the good news and encouragement all through the Bible

GLOW – God’s Love Over Weobley, encouraging prayer and spiritual fellowship. With a local flavour for this NW Herefordshire village.

 

 

 

 

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