Month: July 2016

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1 CHRONICLES 2:18-4:4 | ACTS 24:1-27 | PSALM 4:1-8 | PROVERBS 18:16-18

These next few chapters continue with the chronological genealogical records of the tribes of Jacob, i.e., Israel.  There is some focus on the tribe of Judah from where the line of David came forth.

Turning next to our story of Paul, we find that there is a trial of sorts underway with the Governor Felix presiding. 

The Jewish delegation headed by the high priest, Ananias, has come to personally level charges against Paul, and this is his opening statement:  ⁵ “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect ⁶ and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. ^{[7] 8} By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.” 

The trouble-making that Ananias is referring to is concerning Paul’s preaching about Jesus being the Messiah, his death on the cross, and his resurrection.  This belief was gaining currency among some as “The Way,” while it was viewed by the Sanhedrin as blasphemy.  Therefore, it was essentially on charges of blasphemy that Paul had been arrested, imprisoned, and was now being tried.

Paul’s response to Felix and the others is this: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. ¹¹ You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. ¹² My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. ¹³ And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. ¹⁴ However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, ¹⁵ and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁶ So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. ¹⁷ “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. ¹⁸ I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. ¹⁹ But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— ²¹ unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

The text tells us that despite this clear defense that Paul offers, Felix allows Paul’s imprisonment to continue for a period of two years, and he leaves office with Paul still inside prison.  It is to be seen how and when Paul might be released, if at all.

Turning now to our reading of the psalms, we find one that David has penned with all the emotion of a man who is in need of help beyond that which any mortal man can offer.  His plaintive cries in the opening verse are ones that are timeless:

¹ Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

But by the end of the psalm, David seems to be at peace in the knowledge that God will indeed take care of things.  The closing verse of this psalm is as follows:

⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

Finally, one verse from the book of Proverbs for which we have already seen an illustration in the passage above concerning Paul:

¹⁷ In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

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1 CHRONICLES 1:1-2:17 | ACTS 23:11-35 | PSALM 3:1-8 | PROVERBS 18:14-15

We have finally closed the last chapter on the second book of Kings, and we now enter a new book called the first book of Chronicles. 

The first couple of chapters offer a long and detailed genealogy—from the very beginning of time, and going down all the way from Judah, one of the sons of Israel, to David, one of the greatest kings of Israel.  Later, we will see how from the line of David, a young man and woman by the name of Joseph and Mary have descended, and it is through these two young people that the God of this universe chooses to present himself as God incarnate.  These historical records are indeed fascinating!

Turning next to our reading in the book of Acts, we find that there is a serious plot among the Sanhedrin to kill Paul.  The Sanhedrin wants blood, just like they did many decades earlier with another Jew by the name of Jesus.  And this time, there is a band of forty men who vow to not eat until they have succeeded in killing Paul.  And so, Paul is sent off to Caesarea to be tried by Governor Felix, the Roman consul there. 

The Roman commander in Jerusalem who holds off the mob from killing Paul also sends a letter to the Governor bearing these words:  27 This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. 28 I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. 29 I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him.

We turn now to our reading in the book of Psalms, and find one that was evidently penned by David, king of Israel, when he was being pursued by his own son Absalom.  Running for his life, the words that he writes are most likely the words that Paul himself might have taken comfort in when he was pursued by the large crowds calling for his death.  David says:

3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me,

   my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

4 I call out to the LORD,

   and he answers me from his holy mountain.

5 I lie down and sleep;

   I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

6 I will not fear though tens of thousands

   assail me on every side.

Finally, a couple of verses from the book of Proverbs that serve as food for thought:

14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,

     but a crushed spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,

     for the ears of the wise seek it out.