Comments for July 8

v.8 - We have language here which mirrors that of the time recorded in Gen.47:29 when Jacob called Joseph to him to ask him not to bury him in Egypt. The phrase 'deal kindly [and truly] with ..." seems to be reserved for just these special type of occasions: Gen.24:49, Josh.2:14, Ruth 1:8.

v.6 - There were three times in the year when all the males had to go and present themselves before Yahweh. [Deuteronomy 16:16] There are only three times in the whole of Scripture where 'yearly sacrifice' occurs. [1Samuel 1:21 2:19 20:6] We must conclude that it is one of the three main feasts.

v.2 - Jonathan speaks with insight here when he says 'God forbid, thou shalt not die'. If nothing else he knew that David had been anointed to be king but had not yet taken up that office. We see a number of occasions in Jonathan's life that show him to be a man of faith.

20:1 The way in which David asks Jonathan why his father is seeking to kill him indicates that even though David told Samuel all that Saul had done unto him (1 Samuel 19:18) Samuel had been unable to satisfy David's questioning. We should realise that our Spiritual mentors do not have all the answers. Samuel certainly did not.

chs 19 and 20 - UNDIVIDED LOYALTY
Jonathan was in a tough position. He loved David with all his heart, yet he also loved and respected his father, King Saul. But Saul and David were enemies. Whose side should Jonathan take? If he took David's side he would either have to flee with David or Saul would kill him. If he too Saul's side he would be forced to give David up and break the oath of friendship they had sworn.
There are times when we find ourselves in similar positions where two of our best friends become enemies and both use us as the sounding board. What do we do?
Jonathan did not side with either. He was loyal to the end to both Saul and David. How did he do it? Jonathan's principles and foundations were pure. His life did not resolve around people - either David or Saul, but on the principle of doing the right thing. His job as the crown prince was to be loyal to king Saul - and he stayed loyal. He stuck with Saul right to the bitter end. He also loved David right to the end, stood up for him and remained faithful. Jonathan remained true to his principles and it is that that got him through. When we are in the same situation we must pray for strength to remain true to our principles and ask God to open our eyes to the right way and let him direct our paths.

David is becoming more and more estranged from all those he loves and trusts. He has fled from home 1Sam 19:11-12. Samuel could not answer his questions 1Sam 19:18  for David, if Samuel had provided answers, would not have had to ask Jonathan and it is claer that Jonathan did not seem to appreciate Saul' murderous intent 1Sam 20:1-2.

THE MARKS OF FRIENDSHIP

One of the most beautiful friendships in the Bible is that between Jonathan and David. There are three things in this chapter that show this friendship so special.

David needed to know how Saul, Jonathan's father, really felt about him. Did Saul want to kill David, or not? As David explained the situation to Jonathan, Jonathan showed the response of a true friend for whom nothing would be too difficult. He said, "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do for you." It was an attitude of self sacrifice, love and humble service.

Another mark of the friendship between Jonathan and David was in their covenant of friendship. Both Jonathan and David made promises to each other that they would be friends for ever, whether separated or together.

The third binding fact that held both Jonathan and David together was their love for the LORD. Both were dedicated to the LORD, and loved and trusted him with all their hearts. The LORD was the witness to their friendship.

May we show the qualities of true friendship in our lives, loving others as ourselves, serving one another in love, and in unity with the LORD.

20:25 In saying Saul sat 'by the wall' we  are being presented with detail which may seem irrelevant to the narrative. But consider this. Saul has been told  that he will lose the throne and he is paranoid that David will take his position. So Saul sits with his back to the wall lest anyone could come up behind him and kill him - so little did he understand David.

V.27 " where cometh not the son of Jesse" The question was asked, as it were, casually, and with as great an air of indifference as he could assume. Jonathan having replied that David had asked and obtained his permission to attend a family anniversary at Bethlehem,( V.6) the pent-up passions of the king burst out in a most violent storm of rage against his son.  

David was indeed blessed.  He had Samuel (as we noted yesterday), and he had Jonathan.  True friends understand each other.  When they parted they bound themselves under an oath of friendship, wherever they might be.  Their last meeting is recorded in 1Sam 23:16, where Jonathan "strengthened David's hand in God."

V.5 A celebration had been instituted every month, at the time of the new moon (Num 28:11-15).  Trumpets were blown to herald this feast (Num 10:10; Psa 81:3). 

V.6 At the time of this new moon festival David excused himself, through Jonathan, on the pretext that his family was holding an annual feast at Bethlehem.  He, obviously, wanted to avoid contact with an enraged Saul. 

V.24 The annual family feast excuse was a lie as David was in the field at the new moon and not in Bethlehem. 

V.42 And after he said his farewell to Jonathan, David went to Nob, not to Bethlehem (1Sam 21:1).  Is this an example of an acceptable lie - in this case for the preservation of life?

Jonathan's faith in God was unshakable. Jonathan's earthly calling was to be the next king after Saul. Saul reminded him of this in 1Sam 20:31. Jonathan, however, had no intention of establishing his own throne, knowing that the purpose of God was with David (v15). It took great faith to resist that temptation, especially since he was rather better suited to the role than his father was.

Jonathan's faith caused him to look into the future where he knew David would be crowned king. At this moment in time David was about to go into exile, and his future looked very bleak indeed. Jonathan had the faith to see that God would establish David no matter what, and that it was in fact God's will that David should go away (v22).

This type of faith can be very helpful to us if we can develop it. It is virtually the same as looking into the future. We know that God's purpose is with a heavenly kingdom and not an earthly one. Therefore, we know that we will never be truly established in our present state. We ought to mull this over, like Jonathan did, and allow the clear vision it gives us to stop us clinging onto vain hopes of earthly glories. Our kingdom will come soon enough, along with Jonathan's, when we sit together with the LORD's anointed on his throne, and reign together with him.

20:30    Saul would have been more accurate if he had described Jonathan as the son of a perverse and rebellious father! Saul, seemingly, did not see his problems.

20:8 Notice the covenant that David and Jonathan made which is recorded in 1Sam 18:3 – was made before God. It was not simply an agreement between two friends.

MUD SLINGING
 
There comes a time for every one of us when we are involved in an argument or dispute of some sort. I find it interesting listening to debates of the people around me. Often it seems one person is able to stick to the topic of the discussion and to debate it in a logical and not so heated way. But when the other debating party realises that they will not get anywhere by logic and reason, their side of the argument can often turn to mud slinging, finger pointing and character slander, attempting to knock the other down in order to make themselves look good.
 
When Saul wanted to kill David (for no good reason), he could not stand against the questions and reasoning that Jonathan put to him. So instead of humbly apologising and changing the way he thought, Saul turned dirty. He got angry. He shouted at Jonathan "You are the son of a perverse and rebellious woman!" Then he said, "Don't I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you?" (1Sam 20:30) Saul ended up flinging his spear at Jonathan to kill him.
 
People like Saul are easy to observe and also easy to imitate. When we find ourselves in an argument, let's collect ourselves, our emotions, and our thoughts. Then we should humbly accept that what we say may need more thought. Let's not stoop so low that we end up slinging mud at someone else.

David was aware that there was no safety being with Samuel. Samuel's influence over Saul would only last for a limited amount of time. Even though David realized that God was with him, and had promised him the throne, but he also knew that he must not presume on this, but use every available right means for his safety. 

V.30 The enraged Saul had cursed out Jonathan for his love of David. Saul's language is ironic in crudely bringing Jonathan's mother Ahinoam into the rant (1Sam 14:50). David also married an Ahinoam (1Sam 25:43). Ahinoam means my brother is gracious - a description that would be appropriate for the passion that David and Jonathan had for each other.

V.42 The close bond between David and Jonathan is evident from the record. Their covenant in perpetuity capped this special relationship. 

20:4  Jonathan’s commitment to David is seen in his promise – an open ended commitment to David. Do we ever feel this way toward our brethren and sisters?

20:3 Despite Jonathan’s words to David we see David a man troubled and uncertain about what is going to happen and sensing a trap in the words of Jonathan. So we see David becoming more distanced from his family and friends.

20:2 One might imagine that Saul was willing to tell Jonathan his plans about David despite his knowledge of Jonathan’s delight in David because Jonathan, being the next in line for the throne, might have changed his mind about David. Saul clearly did not know his son!

1Sam 19:11 - Like Christ, David was watched for an opportunity to kill him. His bride's name, Michal (4324) means "who is like God" and those married to the beloved are to emulate Christ who manifests God. 1Sam 20:28 - Bethlehem mentioned for both David and Christ. 1Sam 20:30 - there were false accusers of Mary too. 1Sam 19:12 - The beloved (let down from a room) not unlike Christ who was in an upper room. 1Sam 19:24 - we have the king with his clothes stripped off not unlike Christ at the crucifixion. 1Sam 19:20,21,23 - we have prophesying and even the king prophesying not unlike the prophecies of and by Christ. 1Sam 20:2-3 - we have mention of the father not doing anything without telling first which is like our heavenly Father not doing anything without first revealing it to the prophets; we have the beloved being told he won't die though David noted he was a step from death not unlike Christ who was dealt a wound to the heel not head and didn't have his body corrupted. 1Sam 20:31 - in fear of David Saul says, "he must die" somewhat echoes the cries of "crucify him". 1Sam 20:6,29 - we have mention of a sacrifice made for all his family. 1Sam 20:16 - a covenant was made that the beloved's friend [Jonathan (3083) means "God has given" (perhaps echoing those God has given to Christ to be in his kingdom)], who loved the beloved as himself, would not be cut off from the house of the beloved and that the enemies of the beloved would receive God's vengeance (echo of judgment day?). 1Sam 20:19 - the beloved was stayed three days and then mention of being hid by the stone "Ezel" (237) which means departure and was a memorial stone between Ramah (7414) which means hill and "Nob" (5011) which means "high place" echoing perhaps how Christ was hid by a stone and departed from it to a high place. 1Sam 20:20-22 - one of many mentions of three involved the arrows [(2671) derived from (2686) which can mean to pierce or chop into] which were likely in part wood and the message was the Lord had sent the beloved away not unlike Christ who was pierced on the wooden cross obedient to the Lord's will and sent away.1Sam 20:26 - the mention of the beloved being thought unclean perhaps echoes the mortal flesh of Christ tempted to sin (Heb 4:15).  1Sam 20:27 - we remember Christ at the memorial table awaiting his return and he won't eat or drink till he returns. 1Sam 20:32 - it was asked what Christ had done to deserve death also.  1Sam 20:34-35,41-42 - on the morning after the second day of the month (i.e. the third day) there were three people present not unlike the three at Golgotha; the beloved arose (NIV indicates from the stone) and departed but the covenant between their seeds was binding forever (Gal 3:29). 1Sam 20:39 - perhaps the boy represents those who don't understand the Gospel message like the thief on the cross who was not converted.

20:12 Was Jonathan talking to David or God? For he says ‘O Lord God of Israel ...;, Clearly he was talking to David but making an oath before God.

20:4-8           So Saul is once again evil disposed towards David. However Saul’s son Jonathan is still loyal to the upcoming king David. And clearly David has utmost trust and confidence in him. Oh that we would always put loyalty to our king before family considerations!

20:1-42      This time when David was with Samuel in Ramah is the last recorded time we see them together before the death of Samuel. 1Chron 9:22 tells us that David and Samuel organised labour in the temple that Solomon was to build. Whilst we are not told when this co-operation between Samuel and David took place it had to be long before David came to the throne as Samuel died whilst Saul was still on the throne. Maybe this meeting in Ramah provided the opportunity for the planning. If so we see that David was still focused on the temple even when he was being pursued by Saul. How focused are we on the things of the kingdom when our life takes a turn for the worse?

20:17 It might be thought that two good friends would not need to make an oath to assure that they would keep their words. In fact David and Jonathan did not need an oath to guarantee that they would keep their word. Rather the oath was a confirmation of their commitment to each other. 

20:32-33        It seems that it was not until Saul threw a javelin at Jonathan that Jonathan realised that Saul really did want to kill David. From this time Jonathan’s relationship with his father must have been very difficult. ON the one hand he had to “honour him – Exo 20:12 – and on the other hand he had to respect David as the Lord’s anointed because it is unthinkable that David had not told him about what Samuel had done 1Sam 16:13. Maybe the fact that Jonathan gave David his clothes and weapon – 1Sam 18:4 – was a consequence of learning of David’s anointing.

20:31  Saul saw David as a hindrance to Jonathan becoming king. In speaking thus to Jonathan Saul showed that he did not realise that Jonathan was happy to be passed over with respect to the kingdom in favour of David. Doubtless he did not know or had not thought about the significance of Jonathan giving things to David –1Sam 18:4

20:34     Jonathan trod a hard course in the time of David’s fugitive years. He had an obligation to honour his father – Exo 20:12 whilst yet recognising that his father was doing wrong to

20:35 This is one occasion when Jonathan meets with David even though Saul and his servants did not know where they might find him.

20:41-42 The plan was that David, on hearing bad news would flee. But he and Jonathan take this opportunity for fellowship before David flees for what was to turn out to be many years as a fugitive.

20:11 At this time it seems that Jonathan was unaware of Saul’s murderous intent even though David knew it. Consequently, possibly, there was tension between David and Jonathan. In order to restore the friendship Jonathan takes the initiative here. Notice in the subsequent verses the way that Jonathan is the one with the ideas.

20:42 Saul of Tarsus, who was of the tribe of Benjamin, had spiritually been the son of King Saul, also a Benjamite, for he persecuted Christ just as King Saul persecuted David. But after his conversion he became like Jonathan. In that sense, Saul, the apostle Paul, was a spiritual descendant of Jonathan and the fellowship he had with Christ, the seed of David, was a fulfilment of Jonathan’s words: “Yahweh be … between my seed and thy seed for ever”. 

20:11 At this time it seems that Jonathan was unaware of Saul’s murderous intent even though David knew it. Consequently, possibly, there was tension between David and Jonathan. In order to restore the friendship Jonathan takes the initiative here. Notice in the subsequent verses the way that Jonathan is the one with the ideas.

20:1 the events in this chapter flow on from the previous chapter. The chapter division is totally artificial.  David’s downward state continues.

20:2 David is alienated from Saul. He saw in Jonathan a “soul mate”, hoverer that friendship is now sorely tested. David knew Saul’s evil intentions. Jonathan did not believe his father was thinking to kill David. So as David is fleeing from Saul his friend doubts David’s understanding!

20:8 Even though – 19:1 – Saul had told Jonathan that he wanted to kill David it appears that Jonathan did not really grasp his father’s intentions. Maybe he, knowing of Saul’s mood swings, saw the threat as a passing phase that would never be implemented.

1Sam 20:20-22 This is not the first time Jonathan has used a sign like this. For one of Jonathan's greatest acts of faith came in 1Sam 14:8-10 when he used the Philistines reaction to determine whether they would be victorious or not.

1Sam 20:26 This concept was from Lev 7:21 and was foreshadowing to Judas being present and unclean at a fellowship meal Luke 22:21

v. 1,2 - The suggestion here is that God himself might be revealed as he was at Sinai in Exo.19-20, so that, as the people then were terrified, so the ungodly might be. This will be fulfilled in the return of Jesus to the earth. Will there be this heat that causes the earth to flow at that time. Peter says so [2Pet.3:10], and goes on to make the point that the heat will indeed purge the earth of wickedness, hence the question he goes on to ask in v.11,12.

v.4 - Whereas man has sought to know what Yahweh planned as the solution to the consequences of Adam’s transgression we have been shown. [1 Corinthians 2:8-9] What a wonderful privilege.

v.4 - Some of what God has in store for us is beyond our comprehension - and it all is if we cannot develop the eye of faith with which to see it, but through the Spirit much is revealed - 1Cor.2:9,10

64:1 Is this our prayer? Or are we happy with the way things are in our lives and so would rather delay the day of the coming of the Lord?

:6 That man will 'fade as a leaf' returns to a theme Isaiah has already spoken of (40:6)

64:8 The willingness of Israel to respond to the potter contrasts markedly with how they were not responding ( 45:9)

V.8 The clay is clay. If it ever becomes anything of worth, it is by virtue of the Potter, not of the clay. It is only when this fact is acknowledged that the clay finds itself upgraded into ceramic.

V.10 we are told in Isa 52:1 that Jerusalem is "the holy city"  What does the plural "holy cities" then mean? Is it saying that all Judea was holy to God? or are Zion and Jerusalem (the one city) the answer to "the holy cities"?

V.6 If we ever become puffed up with pride we would do well to reflect on this verse.  This is our true position in the sight of Yahweh.  We must humble ourselves, and only then will Yahweh elevate us from our lowly position (1Pet 5:6). 

There’s a very interesting comment in 1Cor 2:9,10 about today’s chapter.Isa 63:4 states that people haven’t heard or seen the wonders which God has prepared for us in the Kingdom.  But Paul’s comment on this is that “God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit.”
How much therefore we do need both the Old and the New Testaments, together!

64:1  rend the heavens’ - Acts 10:11

:5 Worketh righteousness Acts 10:35

Shows that Isaiah is speaking of the call of the gentiles in this chapter.

64:5 The working of righteousness is seen – Acts 10:35 – in the preaching of the apostles.

V.6 Sometimes we might become self-satisfied in our walk, thinking that we are doing OK. Yahweh reminds us that, in His sight: all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. Unpalatable as it might seem, filthy rags is a reference to material soiled by menstruation (see Lev 15:19-27).

64:4 Of course man cannot know what God has in store unless He reveals it. – Ecc 3:11 but so often we try to use our own reasoning to anticipate world events. It is only through the details of Scripture, properly reviewed, that we can have any idea about His purpose in the world.

64:5 Working righteousness is ‘doing the word’ – James 1:22. Not simply reading it but putting its teaching into practice in our daily lives.

V.1 In this verse, there is an allusion to Mt. Sinai (Exo 19:18; Judg 5:5; Psa 144:5).

V.4 See 1Cor 2:9.

V.8 See Jer 18:1-6.

V.10 Jerusalem will one day be the capital of the world.  Then, she shall be adorned with beauty (Isa 52:1).

V.11 In the Kingdom, a new temple will be built to allow the mortal population to worship Yahweh (See Eze 41).

At the time of Isaiah (see 1:1) the temple had not been laid waste or burned with fire (v11). So this prophecy could be entirely future. But if we look closely, it possibly has its basis in the desecration of Ahaz in 2ki16. There he erected an Assyrian altar (2Kin 16:11-16) and cut up or removed parts of the temple used for the offerings (2Kin 16:17-18). He used this new altar to replace burned offerings (2Kin 16:15). And by the time of Hezekiah, his son, the temple had been closed up, was filled with rubbish, and offerings had ceased completely (2Chron 29:3,5,7). So in effect God had ceased to be worshipped at all, hence in v5-7 their sins weren't being taken away by the daily sin offerings.

But even though the days of Ahaz's antagonism were over, the awful truth revealed in v7 is that the people couldn't be bothered to re-establish the correct offerings and continual burning of the lamp before God. The ESV is "rouses himself" and AV/NKJV "stirs himself up". So how about us? Do we have the energy to rouse ourselves from slumber to approach God in prayer to ask for forgiveness daily?

64:4 This verse is quoted in 1Cor 2:9 to speak of God’s work in Christ. Paul continues by telling us that the things Isaiah speaks of have been revealed to us.

64:6 The ‘filthy rags’ were to be removed from God’s faithful servants as is seen after the exile in the words of Zech 3:3-4

Isa 64:8

“But now O LORD (Yahweh), thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

One of the oldest and most familiar trades is the work of the skilful hand of the potter. “Potter” is the Hebrew word, yatsar, Strong’s # <3335>, and means: “to mould into a form.” Our heavenly Father is revealed as the Master Potter desiring to shape us into His mould. The clay must be suitable clay, soft and malleable, submitting to the moulded pattern of His righteousness and holiness. The apostle Paul admonishes us in Rom 12:2: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-make you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed. Thus you will prove in practice that the will of God is good, acceptable to him and perfect” – J.B. Phillips.

Moulding ourselves according to the fashion of the world may be easier on us, but as the wise Mammy in Gone with the Wind said, “Miz Scarlett, you and me can give ourselves airs and get ourselves all slicked up like racehorses, but we are still just mules in horse harness and everybody knows it.” Adam and Eve tried to hide behind fig leaves, Jezebel had her eye makeup, Scarlett O’Hara had her fancy dresses to hide behind, while some prefer to hide behind nothing with “Naked Sunday” gyms now available to those who like to huff and puff in the buff!

Psalm 32:8-10 reads: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go… Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding…” God wants to shape us, teach us and guide us. Do you want to be made "whole," our faith being the determining factor, or just remain a clump of clay? We are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of the Master Potter that we may become His master creation exulting us in due time (1Pet 5:5-6).

64:10 Seeing Jerusalem ‘a desolation’ is rather like Psa 79:1 – remember we saw another echo of Psalm 79 in Isaiah 63.

64:1     The plea to God to “rend the heavens” and “come down” is fulfilled at the baptism of Jesus – Mark 1:10

Isa 64:4.

64:7   God had hidden His face from Israel because of their sins. Jesus came to reconcile man to God. So it is noteworthy that when the woman with the issue of blood touched Jesus he – Mark 5:30 – turned him about (to face the woman) thus indicating his work as the remedy to Israel’s separation from God. 

64:12  On seeing the sorry state of Gods land and His people the prophet challenges God to act. Are we complacent about the wickedness in the earth and the desolation, spiritually, of Israel? Or is it a concern to us that prompts us to implore our Father to intervene and send His son?

1. Isaiah 64 is a continuation of Isa 63:15 (there should be no chapter break), the prophet's prayer runs to the end of Isaiah 64.

2. Isa 64:1-2 - God had already repeatedly promised through Isaiah that this would happen in the latter days; V1 this happened at Sinai with Moses (Exo 19:18,20), this happened with the New Testament spirit on Jesus (Mark 1:10), and this will happen when Jesus returns again (Acts 1:9-11;Zech 14:3,4,9,16); V2 (esp. RV) - perhaps this reminds us of the glory of God in the burning bush (Exo 3:1-6) as well the glory of God in Jesus (1Cor 2:8-10); V2 your name to be known to adversaries such as Pharoah (Exo 9:16).

3. Isa 64:3-5 - seems to be connecting the past with the future; V4 KJV "since the beginning of the world<5769> (i.e. of old, or ancient times)...what he hath prepared...(V5) in those is continuance<5769>, and we shall be saved (i.e. age to come)".

4. Isa 64:4 - quoted in 1Cor 2:9 and in the context of 1Cor 2:7-10 (past Ecc 3:11); V4 similar to Exo 20:18-19 (not hearing and let not God speak with us).

5. Isa 64:5 - KJV "Thou (i.e. the Lord) meetest him that rejoiceth and walketh righteousness"; Moses like Christ was in Egypt, left, returned to Egypt to save/deliver the children of Israel; future (Isa 26:8;Isa 25:9).

6. Isa 64:6-7 - (Zech 3:3-4;Jude 1:23) "our iniquities" perhaps refer to the iniquities of the pious frauds of the nation who professed righteousness but practiced iniquity (Matt 7:24,26;Isa 30:1;Isa 58:2;Isa 1:13;Matt 5:20;Zech 3:4-5;Psa 132:9;Rev 19:8); VS 6-7 Hezekiah, Isaiah, Micah, Joel, and Habakkuk, etc., for all their reforming zeal, had little strength against the creeping decadence; V6 "filthy rags" are perhaps not the righteousness of the saints, but may refer to the outward righteousness of the disobedient (Jude 1:3,4,8,10,23;Rev 3:4-5); V6 perhaps this goes back to Adam and Eve not being adequate; V7 "thou hast hid thy face from us" is similar to Deut 32:19-20; V7 no one calls on God's name.

7. Isa 64:8-12 - Isaiah pleads for himself and the nation and despite the wickedness concerning that generation, there has been a righteous remnant in all generations; V8 God is the potter and we are the clay; VS 8,9,12 Isaiah and undeserving people (of Isa 64:5-6) may claim God as a Father because He is happy to accept repentance and righteousness, the New Testament refers to some currently unclean but who in some cases are to be saved (Rom 9:21;Eph 2:8-10); V9 a plea for forgiveness; VS 10-11 Zion and other cities in the holy land to be a wilderness, Jerusalem to be a desolation, the temple burned with fire; VS 10-11 is this a prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar, Rome in 70 AD, or both? V12 asking God to refrain from afflicting His people.

64:11  The lament of the prophet is that of the Psalmist – Psa 79:1

64:4      When Peter speaks of Cornelius – Acts 10:35 - as one who works righteousness he is alluding to what Isaiah says here.

64:5    The word translated “meetest” could be translated “sparest” – So there are two meetings. One for judgment against those who oppose Him and the other – a spearing of those who serve God. Truly a dividing between the wicked and righteous.

Isa 64:4

“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.”

Our world is a very harsh place, and sometimes barely seems survivable. Civilizations were crushed, families were crushed and peace wiped out by war, famine, disease, or crime. It was so then, it is so now, and so it was and is impossible sometimes to imagine anything different. Unlike the idols Israel served, their God was able to do what Israel failed to imagine God would do for them through His Son.

It is nice to think on what a loving God has prepared for those that love Him (1Cor 2:9); for those who are faithful to Him. What would we do at the Judgment as we stand before Christ, and what lies beyond it for us? It is nice to imagine, because we know the day is coming when we will no longer have to imagine, for we will know and it will be revealed to us in its fullest by our Father through His Son, our Saviour.

I Can Only Imagine – lyrics by MercyMe

“I can only imagine what it will be like

When I walk by your side

I can only imagine what my eyes will see

When your face is before me

I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory

What will my heart feel

Will I dance for you, Jesus

Or in awe of you be still

Will I stand in your presence

Or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah

Will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes

And I find myself standing in the Son

I can only imagine when all I will do

Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

When all I will do

Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine.”

64:2       Quoted in Rom 10:21 we learn of God’s mercy shown towards Israel. Mercy which they simply ignored.

64:9 The call to God to not remember their sins is like the Psalmist writes – Psa 74:1-2.

64:1The wray that God would “come down” to bring salvation for that is what 64:4 is speaking of – the opening up of the gospel to the gentiles – 1Cor 2:9-10 – is one area of the way that God would be manifested to men which is behind the way in which Jesus speaks of having come down from heaven in John 3:13, 6:38,51

64:6 We should appreciate, against the background of the one who saves us, that we are truly unable to save ourselves. We should also remember our frailty that ultimately will end in our death. It is only when we recognise our position that we can truly appreciate what God has done for us. Consider the statements in Rom 3:23-24.

-64:1 Whilst God did rend the heavens at the baptism of Jesus there is still a time to come when he will “rend the heavens” and send Jesus back to the earth.

It is our earnest prayer that He will do just that? It certainly was the prayer of the prophet here.

v8 To see ourselves as clay moulded by the Potter's hands is the essence of child-like faith. A child is impressionable, malleable and thinks his father is the source of all direction and protection. A non-childlike faith is like the stubborn stiff-necked teenager who looks down upon his parents believing them to be out of touch, contemptible and irrelevant.  

64:1-2 There are two aspects of the heavens being rent and God coming down. For the redeemed it will be a time of joy and rejoicing. For the wicked it will be a time of great trouble. So we should not be surprised if we see a world in chaos before Jesus returns. Jesus styles it as a time of great fear amongst mankind – Luke 21:26.

v.2 - It is quite clear from this and many other scriptures that healing is available only to those who have faith. This must be true of spiritual healing too. We cannot expect grace at all, but we know we will not be granted it without faith.

v.6 - The man sick of the palsy who has his sins forgiven is found in [Matthew 9:6 Mark 2:7 10 Luke 5:21 24] There is only one other occasion in the gospels where Jesus forgives sins. [Luke 7:48] First we must realise that Jesus' mission was to reconcile man to God. It is our sins and not our sickness that separates us from Him. Therefore if Jesus was not able to provide the forgiveness of sins then his mission would be of no lasting benefit. [Isaiah 61:1] Predicts the work of Jesus [Luke 4:18.] Notice that he is to bring 'the opening of the prison' - this is reconciliation to God through the forgiveness of sins. That his work could achieve this had to be seen in his ministry. Therefore he, on the occasion of the man sick of the palsy, forgives sins. The animosity of the leaders at this shows that they did not understand the work of Jesus. They are correct, of course. Only God can forgive sins. However Jesus says [John 5:36]

9:1 Jesus' 'own city' is Capernaum - see John 2:12 - indicating that by this time Jesus had relocated from Nazareth to Capernaum.

:2 In saying 'thy sins be forgiven thee' Jesus is taking upon himself the responsibility of God (Isaiah 43:25) as the leaders said, however this is why he did it - to confirm his position, not to usurp God's authority.

In verses 2, 22, and 29, Jesus calls our attention to the fact that people were healed in accordance with their faith. The first instance is interesting because it was the faith of the friends, rather than the sick man himself, that allowed him to be healed. Does this apply to us today? James 5 seems to suggest that this is in fact the case: "and the prayer of faith will save the sick". It is noticeable that prayer was the agent through which the elders would heal, and not the holy spirit gift of healing. It would seem, then, that we have immense capacity to effect the healing of our brothers and sisters through prayers of faith.

9:11,14 Notice the contrast. When the Pharisees wanted to fault Jesus they came to his disciples. When John’s disciples wanted to know about Jesus they went directly to him.

Matt 9:9  The simple words FOLLOW  ME  akoloutheo 190 "be in the same way with"  This was the calling that Christ made. Matthew accepted the call, as others did. Matt 4:18-22.  Others were not prepared to pay the price. I.E. The rich man. Mark 10:21-22.  The call to-day is still the same, and like it was then, a few accept, but the majority decline. (How short sighted they are.) 

9:2,22 Like we saw in January, there is a link between the man sick of the palsy and the woman with the issue of blood. Jesus told them both to be encouraged.

V.9 "Receipt of custom" Matthew, being a tax collector, would have been in the toll house or booth. At this time being by the seaside, Matthew was likely collecting a ferry tax for the transit of people and goods across the lake. 

9:10 They are in Matthew’s house – Luke 5:29

V.20 The woman knew that she would be committing a sin if she touched Jesus (Lev 15:19-27). However, she did touch Him and she was healed (Matt 18:17; 2Cor 5:21).

V.9 Matthew was called by Jesus.  Connecting some dots, we see that Matthew was also named Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27).  Being the son of Alphaeus probably connects him to the apostle James as a brother or half-brother (Matt 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13). 

Matthew's job was to collect transport taxes.  He would sit in his place (a toll booth would be the modern equivalent) and exact taxes from locals taking their goods to market and from caravans hauling their wares to distant markets.  Highways were comparatively few at this time and could easily be monitored by tax collectors. 

Matthew would have a keen understanding of the value of goods of all kinds, weight, and monetary exchange rates.  He would be competent in several languages.  He would collect these taxes for his Roman overlords and keep a percentage for himself. 

These publicans (an older term for tax collectors) were hated by the Jews for two reasons: firstly, they worked for the occupying Romans; and secondly, tax collectors had the reputation of becoming wealthy by overestimating the value of goods to boost their commissions.  Another notable tax collector, in the Bible, is Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2).   

9:13   Here Jesus advises the Pharisees to go and read Hos 6:6. Later – Matt 12:7– he observes that they did not understand what it means, indicating that they had not gone and read it with understanding.

9:8 Whilst Jesus’ critics did not see beyond  his actions and words the multitude did, recognising that Jesus’ actions were ‘of God’.

V.2 Palsy (KJV) is a word which is contracted from paralysis. Paralysis cane be described as: the loss of sensation, or the power of motion, or both, in any part of the body.

V.13 See Hos 6:6.

Vs.16,17 The New Covenant cannot operate with the Old Covenant.  Later, Judaizers would try to force members of the early ecclesia to be circumcised and to obey the Law of Moses.

Vs.29,30 Compare Jesus’ different treatments to the blind.  Some He did not touch.  Others, Jesus touched in different ways (Mark 8:23-25; 10:51,52).

V.34 See Matt 12:24. The Pharisees assigned the power of God to Beelzebub.  Beelzebub literally means Lord of the Flies.  Flies gather where there is garbage and human waste.  No contrast, between Yahweh and effluence, could have been greater.

9:18 It was the ‘rulers’ who were opposed to Jesus but here we see one seeking Jesus’ help. Doubtless all the rulers recognised that Jesus was doing God’s work. Most of them chose to ignore what they knew. This man had a personal need and so that over rode any prejudice against Jesus that he might have had.

Why do you think Matthew, the sinner, is all of a sudden introduced in this chapter about healing? Could it be that the writer wishes us to see that the healings were only a prelude to the real purpose of Jesus - to forgive sins? This seems likely, because in v5-6 Jesus states clearly that the miracles were there to prove he could forgive. Forgiveness is an invisible attribute. We have to take it on faith. So Jesus was saying: "if you need demonstration that I have the power to forgive (or heal) sins, you can see it in the fact that I have the power to heal physical problems.

9:25    In telling us that Jesus ‘took her by the hand’ we see that the record is emphasising the Jesus was the fulfilment of Isa 51:18. Jesus was the ‘son’ that was brought forth because there was no son naturally born.

9:16-17            Jesus’ message was not a slight modification to what the Jewish leaders had been speaking – though it was what God had always been teaching. Therefore there was no way in which slight alterations to the way in which the leaders taught would work. It required a complete change in the way of thinking.

9:12    Jesus’ observation about “the whole” not needing a physician should inform us about not being partial or selective in our preaching.

9:24     Here and on three further occasions -Matt 8:3,15, 20:34 – Jesus is presented as touching to heal.

THE RIGHT TIME

There was a ruler that had a very sick daughter. She was so sick, she was about to die. With no other hope, he rushed off to find Jesus, and to his relief, Jesus got up and began to follow the ruler to his house, in order to heal the daughter.

Crowds and crowds of people thronged around them, which, I assume, made the progress painfully slow for worried ruler.

Then, all of a sudden, the procession stopped. Someone had touched Jesus, and he wanted to know who it was - a particular someone in all that crowd. Just at the time that a sick girl needed his attention, Jesus took time to find and bless a sick woman in the crowd. The precious minutes ticked by. The intensity of the worry for the ruler must have increased by the second, while Jesus took his time with a woman who also needed him.

By the time he got to the rulers house, the girl was dead. The hopes of her father had been dashed. I'm sure he thought that if only Jesus had not stopped for so long with the woman in the crowd, the child could have been saved.

Jesus went into the room with the girl, healed her, and raised her up.

Jesus is never too busy for us. What he does, he will do in his time, not according to our plans. But he will do what is right and best for us. No matter how busy we think he might be, he always has the right time, and the right way for those who need him.

9:27   In calling Jesus “son of David” we see a phrase which is used more in Matthew’s gospel than in all the other gospel records combined. You might care to look for the others. There are three occasions when people healed called Jesus “son of David”.

Lessons for Ecclesial Life

In every example of healing in this chapter, there is an ecclesial lesson for us all. 

Notice how in Verse 2, Jesus comments on 'their faith' - not just the man's faith. He was a paralytic and relied on others to carry him about. There would have been a time when he asked to be taken to Jesus, or perhaps they had heard of the healings as they went about their daily duties in the town and believed that Jesus was the Messiah come to take away the burdens of the people. What an amazing act of faith and fellowship! They returned to the paralytic, taking time out collectively to help someone in need. Let us strive to be like these believers in our own ecclesias - not only offering to share our cars so those unable can getto the meeting, but also to help others on their walk of faith also. 

Then in verses 20-22, the woman was healed. Even though the crowds were gathered about them and even though she could see Jesus was busy trying to get through in order to resurrect the ruler's girl who had just passed away, she still had enough faith to touch the hem of his garment in the hope of being healed. At that time, Jesus stopped and talked to her. He gave her encouragement. We too should give encouragement to those in our ecclesias who are ill. We should take time out of our lives, no matter the pressure or how busy we may be, to stop and take care of those who so desperately need to be taken care of. There is also the lesson here that even though Jesus was attending to the ruler's daughter, he put this sick woman ahead of him. We shouldn't therefore take precedence based on stature. 

In verse 24, the ruler's daughter had died and was laying in the house. Despite this though, Jesus put away the crowd, entered the house and with a simple touch of the hand, the girl came back to life. Could there be an application here to those who we haven't seen in the meeting for a long time? Perhaps a member hasn't come along for a couple of weeks. Perhaps they are in spiritual danger or have fallen away, and are therefore spiritually dead. Much like Jesus, we should make every effort to visit these people, put away the distractions of this world, and offer them comfort. There's a reason why people fall away and oftentimes people don't feel comfortable admitting the reasons. We should strive to be like Christ and offer comfort to those who could be spiritually dead.

In verse 27, we have the blind men who were healed. If we see a member doing something wrong, we should make every effort to help them - to make them see the issue we see. Of course, we should be careful of not falling into the trap of judging - as Jesus warned us against at the beginning of Matthew 7.  

In verse 32, the mute man was healed. We should encourage one another to talk about our faith not only within the ecclesia but also outside of the ecclesia also. We should strive to preach and exhort one another daily (Heb 3:13). 

The lessons from these examples of healing and faith are to encourage one another and help one another as much as possible with love and care, for this is the greatest gift of all (1Cor 13). 

9:23   One wonders what the ruler thought when Jesus’ journey to his house was interrupted by the woman with the issue of blood. Maybe he felt that his needs were such that Jesus should have hastened to his house. We can learn from this. Whilst we may think our needs are great there are others with needs also. Sometimes we need to hold back whilst others are supported.

JUST SLEEPING

It was probably one of the most unusual requests Jesus ever received."A ruler came and knelt before him and said, 'My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her and she will live.'" (Matt 9:18).

Jesus had done plenty of healing and miracles, but always for people who were alive. Now he was being asked to heal a girl who had been alive, been sick, and had already died. Most of us would have thought there was no hope. However, Jesus took the trip to the home of the ruler where he was greeted by the sights and sounds of mourning - crowds, flutes and noise. As he entered the house, he dismissed the mourners, saying, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." (v.24). The mourners knew the difference between dead and asleep, and they knew without a doubt that the girl was dead. But in the presence of Jesus death is really only a sleep. "He went in and took her by the hand, and she got up." (v.25).

Just as Jesus was so confident in the life of this young girl, even though she was dead, we can be just as sure of our lives and the lives of those we love if we belong to Christ. "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep ... for as in Adam all die, so in Christ will all be made alive." (1Cor 15:20,22).
 

9:37       That there were few labourers was a very sad reflection on the Jewish leaders. They should have seen Jesus for who he was and joined in the work. However, because of pride and self-interest, they stood aside and criticised instead.

9:35   We have many miracles recorded in the gospels. However they clearly are not all the miracles that Jesus performed as indicated here. What is recorded is for us to help to identify Jesus as Messiah – John 20:30-31

9:18,25  Notice that whilst Jairus requested that Jesus laid his hand on his daughter Jesus did not do that. He took her by the hand instead. The significance is the taking by the hand was a fulfilment of a promise about Messiah – IIsa 51:18

9:32-34         The dumb possessed by a devil represented the Jewish leaders. They were “possessed” with their own importance and could not speak God’s word faithfully. By contrast when healed the man “spoke”. The next thing we learn is that the Pharisees spoke – but their words were a condemnation of God’s work through Jesus.

Matt 9:18 We know from the parallel records of this miracle that the “ruler” is Jairus –Mark 5:22.

TO BE LIKE JESUS

Our aim as Christians is to become like Jesus. Even though we live in different cultures, have different life paths and careers, we should still be doing the sort of things that Jesus did. Two chapters in Matthew give us a good snapshot of the sort of things Jesus did in his day to day life that are possible for us to follow and do the same. After all, we do want to be like him.

Matthew chapters 8 and 9 tell us how Jesus...

- Was willing to help those in desperate need (Matt 8:3).
- Used every-day life lessons to teach and encourage others (8:10-12).
- Used his abilities to help others (8:16).
- Turned cursing into blessing (8:28-32).
- Forgave sins (Matt 9:2-6).
- Spent time with those who needed his help (9:10-13).
- Showed mercy (9:13).
- Came to bring joy (9:15).
- Had time for others even when he was busy with other things (9:19-23).
- Grew faith in others (9:29).
- Prayed (9:37-38).

It may be that the big miracles are not our place, but we can be willing to help, show compassion, give grace, show forgiveness, and to pray. In doing these, we will be living like Jesus.
 

9:8 The people’s amazement was that “authority” – the meaning of the word translated “power” in the AV – had been given to a man should cause us to stop and think about Jesus’ authority. If, when he was a man he had such authority what do we think about him now?

Surely enough reason for us to appreciate that we are to bow (submit) before him – Philippians 2:10. If we are not willing to submit to him and his teaching now we will not benefit from God’s grace in giving us a place in His kingdom.

9:3 The scribes had not come to learn. Rather they had come to find fault. So their inward thoughts were negative rather than positive thoughts. A thoughtful man would have wondered why Jesus said and did what he did, looking to see if the Old Testament spoke of Messiah doing the things Jesus was doing. Do we give thoughtful attention to his recorded words?

vv 18-26 Imagine the scene in the synagogue each Saturday after the little girl had been given her life back and the woman with the issue of blood had been healed and accepted back in to the synagogue. They would be greeted profusely.  There would be great joy that these two people were cured by Jesus. They represented two memorials of who Jesus was and to whom he came to save.

We have two memorials each Sunday that should equally bring us excitement that we who were dead and excluded are now recipients of God's favour. Despite our uncleanness (a dead person and a person with  an issue of blood rendered unclean anyone who touched them) Jesus touched us and removed our uncleanness.  The bread and the wine should bring us excitement.

9:8  Notice that the multitude glorified God whereas the scribes had thought Jesus blasphemed. The one judged according to what they could see, the other on their erroneous assumptions. How do we judge matters?