April 19, 2012

"They Shall Share Alike" (4/19)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Samuel 28-31; Psalm 18.

When David pursued the Amalekites, he left “two hundred who were too exhausted” and carried on with the remaining four hundred men who were with him (1 Samuel 30:10). After they were victorious, they returned to the men who had been left behind.

“When David came to the two hundred men who were too exhausted to follow David, who had also been left at the brook Besor, and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him, then David approached the people and greeted them. Then all the wicked and worthless men among those who went with David said, ‘Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away and depart.’

“Then David said, ‘You must not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike’” (1 Samuel 30:21-24).

On one hand, it is not hard to see where these wicked men were coming from. The two hundred men did not fight; therefore, they should not share in the spoil. But David said they would all share in the spoil. Why? Notice again what David said:
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March 17, 2012

Rules for Kings (3/17)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Deuteronomy 17-20.

God knew the nation of Israel would one day be ruled by kings. Even though God saw this as a rejection of His sovereignty over the people (1 Samuel 8:7), He gave instructions here in the law for these future kings.

“Moreover, he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never again return that way.’ He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.

“Now it shall come about when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel” (Deuteronomy 17:16-20).

Notice briefly some of the rules God established for one in this position of civil authority:
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March 10, 2012

Equal Justice Under the Law (3/10)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Numbers 35-36.

The cities of refuge were given as a provision in case anyone killed another man unintentionally (Numbers 35:6-28). If this happened, the one who took the life of his neighbor could flee to one of the cities of refuge to escape the slain man’s avenger. While there, the manslayer would be safe until he stood trial. If he was found to be not guilty of murder, he would remain safe if he remained within the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Only then could he leave and return to his home.

After these rules were given, the Lord was explicitly clear that these rules would apply to all the people.

“If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the evidence of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. You shall not take ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to live in the land before the death of the priest” (Numbers 35:30-32).

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