Day 26 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day twenty-six of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible. We are now into 2 Kings (11 down, 55 to go) If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 26 Readings: 1 Kings 16:21-2 Kings 4:37

One of the classic ways to formulate Jesus' ministry was that of Prophet, Priest and King.

Up to this point in our readings we have seen a fair bit of the priestly office starting with Aaron and the Levites. They tended to the sacrifices for sin offerings and thank offerings. They helped to determine if things were holy or not and give appropriate counsel. The drew near to the Lord on behalf of the people and made intercession.

The two books that our reading for this day straddles are all about the kingly office starting (against God's counsel) with Saul then David then Solomon then fairly quickly it gets pretty diverse and complicated. The king offered some social structure and laws (see Luther's writings on the left hand of the kingdom of God) and means to maintaining order. The worthy king was to have a heart completely for God and a servant love (agape?) for the citizens. Some did this much better than others.

Now we see the prophets really coming to the fore in Elijah and Elisha. They were able to discern and articulate God's will to the people. They stood their ground in the face of strong opposition. Sometimes God intervened on their behalf with powerful and miraculous demonstrations confirming who they were and what they said.

Jesus did all these things but even more so.

As Priest he became the sacrificial offering, the scape goat, the Passover lamb. He was as close to the Father as one could be and he beckons us to join him.

As King he defeated all other false contenders for the throne. He did that with the kind of love we see in John 3:16 (agape)--he did that on the cross. His heart was fully for God.

As Prophet he knew God's will intimately (although he pushed against it at times, see Gethsemane) He stood his ground staring down the cultural, religious and military leaders of the day. God often worked great deeds in him and through him and on his behalf.

One of the functions of these accounts of kingdoms gone poorly, miraculous feedings and lives restored, laws fulfilled, etc., etc. is to set the forms that Jesus will bring to completion. The parallels and the foreshadowings are there for those who have eyes to see.


God, thank you for sticking with us through our wandering and at times, lackluster, walks of faith--as people and as cultures and as individuals. Thank you for Jesus who does what we cannot so we can be with him and you. Amen.