[Table of Contents]
[Previous] [Next]		 Arthur Pigdon
Seeds of the Spirit (2001)

 

 
MARCH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
 
 
 
EASTER
Good Friday Easter Saturday
Easter Sunday
 

 

MARCH 1

    Judges 2:6-14


    Another genera-
    tion grew up, who
    knew neither the
    Lord nor what he
    had done for Israel
    . . . They forsook
    the Lord, the God
    of their fathers.

 


 

Moses had foreseen this possibility and commanded the people to teach their children all of God's instructions. (See Deuteronomy 6.) If their children did not know what the Lord had done for Israel it was because their parents had neglected to tell them. Christian parents must live their faith and teach their faith so that their children will also serve the Lord. There were two problems that worked against the continued observance of Israel's religion. First, they worshipped an invisible Spirit and were forbidden to make any physical images to represent this eternal Spirit, whereas the religions around them had visible images to represent the spirits they worshipped. Secondly, since God's law had come by divine revelation it was not a way of life that could be known without instruction. It had to be taught afresh to every generation. It has been truly said of the church that it is always just one generation away from extinction. The obligation to pass on faith in the invisible Spirit whom we worship rests on the parents. They must do this by example as they faithfully and joyfully observe God's commandments and also by instruction so that the next generation learns and understands God's words.

 


 

God had commanded the Israelites to drive out the Canaanites but when they failed to do so he used them to test Israel. This is an interesting statement indicating God's deliberate policy of testing his people's ability to be faithful when living in the midst of unbelievers and idol worshippers. It throws further light on the temptation of Jesus. In Hebrews 4:15 we are told that Jesus was tempted 'in every way, just as we are'. In his last prayer to the Father; Jesus said, 'My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.' (John 17:15) So God's plan for Israel then, and for Christians today, is not to withdraw from society and live a monastic kind of life but to remain faithful and live holy lives in the midst of unbelievers in the market place of life. It is by rejecting the pagan lifestyle that surrounds us and being true to our God in the face of opposition and the temptation to live for the pleasures and the profit of the moment that we become strong in our faith. Hebrews 12:1-12 reminds us that the temptations of life are normal and also necessary for our mature development.
MARCH 2

    Judges 2:16-23


    'I will no longer
    drive out before
    them any of the
    nations Joshua left
    when he died.
    I will use them to
    test Israel.'
   

 

 

MARCH 3

    Judges 6:11-17, 36-40


    The Lord turned
    to him [Gideon]
    and said, 'Go in
    the strength you
    have and save
    Israel out of
    Midian's hand.'
   

 


 

There are a number of lessons to be learned from this story of Gideon. (1) God, as usual, initiates action. His angel comes to Gideon with the simple statement, 'The Lord is with you.' (verse 12) (2) God often works through an individual who is asked to do something nobody else is doing. (3) God attests his power by a miracle. (verse 21) (4) Gideon is instructed to destroy the altar of Baal. False worship must be challenged. (5) He does it by night because he is afraid to do it by day--but he does it. It takes courage to oppose authority and risk death. (6) His bold action rallies support to his cause. (7) He accepts a leadership role. (8) He needs assurance that God is with him and he seeks confirmation of his inner guidance--he uses the famous fleece and dew test to be doubly sure. Gideon defeated the Midianites with those 300 men. Be sure to read chapter 7 where God reduces Gideon's army from 32,000 to 300 so that they will know it was God who gave them victory. Note how Gideon's faith grew as he took each new step. Our faith grows only by experience as we 'go out on a limb' in obedience to the instructions and guidance of the Lord.

 


 

The loyalty of Ruth to Naomi, her mother-in-law, in her time of bereavement has come down in history as a noble example of faithfulness. Ruth was not an Israelite, she was a Moabite, but to be a companion and support to Naomi she became an Israelite. All the world honours those who live unselfishly and make sacrifices for others rather than following their own interests. The decision of her sister-in-law to remain with her own people was not wrong, in fact it was the more normal course in the circumstances, but Ruth did more than was expected of her. She gave up her normal rights for the sake of another. But she was well rewarded. She married an Israelite and bore a son, Obed, who became the grandfather of King David. Thus she has earned her place in history. A labour of love and incalculable unselfishness always bring their own reward even if we spend our lives in obscurity. Ruth's greatness came from the simple loyalties of family life. It is in the day-to-day family relationships that our characters are shaped. There is a proper priority of loyalties and our first responsibility must always be to those within our family circle.
MARCH 4

    Ruth 1:8-17


    Ruth replied,
    'Where you go I
    will go, and where
    you stay I will
    stay. Your people
    will be my people
    and your God my
    God.'

 

 

MARCH 5

    1 Samuel 1:9-18


    'I will give him to
    the Lord for all the
    days of his life.'
   
   
   
   
   

 


 

Hannah was unfulfilled because she could not bear children. She prayed earnestly for a son and made a vow that if she had one she would devote him to the Lord. Her pledge that he would not shave his head was one of the conditions for a Nazarite--one who was consecrated to God. God answered her prayer and she called her son Samuel. Out of a woman's sadness a vow was made and a son was born and devoted to be a man of God. After the confusion and disorganisation of the era of the judges, Israel needed a man of God to unite the tribes and give spiritual leadership instead of the military rule of the judges period. It has been said that when God needs a leader he first chooses a mother and begins with a baby. God does not do things on the spur of the moment. He plans well ahead. (See Galatians 4:4.) Samuel was the first of the prophets, a uniquely Israelite role independent of both the priesthood and the military. They were called by God to speak his words to the nation. God still needs people who fearlessly and faithfully speak God's word to their own generation. When a mother dedicates her children to God she enhances their chance of godliness.

 


 

1 Samuel 3:1 tells us that the word of the Lord was rare in those days. Throughout history there have been periods of spiritual barrenness followed by times of spiritual revival. Revival is the result of God's initiative and our receptivity. It is not God's revelation that is withheld, but our suitability. God will only speak to, and work through, holy and godly persons who seek him. He has to wait for such a person to arise before spiritual renewal can take place. The other important truth in this story is the reality of God's communication with chosen persons. We generally call such people prophets. A prophet is one who receives a message from God and declares it to their generation. Judaism and Christianity are not humanly devised religions. They have arisen as a result of God speaking through his prophets. The Bible is the record of God's revelation and people's response. A prophet does not need to hear God speak in an audible voice. God speaks to our heart about the issues that are relevant to our generation. The time to speak out is when we can no longer remain silent. (See Jeremiah 20:8-9.)
MARCH 6

    1 Samuel 3:1-14


    The Lord came
    and stood there,
    calling as at the
    other times,
    'Samuel! Samuel!'
    Then Samuel
    said, 'Speak, for
    your servant is
    listening.'

 

 

MARCH 7

    1 Samuel 8:1-9


    'You are old, and
    your sons do not
    walk in your
    ways; now appoint
    a king to lead us
    such as the other
    nations have.'
   

 


 

This was an important turning point in Israel's history. The central purpose God had for Israel was that they were to be different from other nations. They were to be uniquely God's own, a chosen, covenant people living under God's laws and government. But they did not want to be different, they wanted their own king, appointed from among themselves, who would make his own laws. They were, in fact, rejecting God's kingship. This dependence on an earthly king instead of on God's kingship led to their downfall. This is still the temptation that every Christian has to face. Jesus calls us to be his disciples and his way of life is a narrow way, not the broad way of society where anything goes. God said to Israel, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.' To be holy means to be set apart, to be God's people, living by his laws. We must decide whether God is going to be our King and Jesus our Master, or whether we are going to be our own master and follow the lifestyle of non-Christian friends. Jesus alone can lead us into the Kingdom of God and eternal life. The state has a necessary role, which Jesus and the apostles recognised, but our higher loyalty is to God.

 


 

Rebellion against the express commands of God and a stubborn spirit of self-will are seen by God as sin and idolatry. Saul had been commanded to destroy the Amalekites and their sheep and cattle, but the people spared the flocks for themselves on the pretext that they were going to offer them as a sacrifice to God. God wanted obedience, not sacrifices, and he condemned the spirit of disobedience and stubbornness shown by the people and permitted by King Saul. Their king was leading them in an act of rebellion. God could not permit this so Saul was rejected as king. We all tend to do what is in our own interests and then rationalise and justify our behaviour to ourselves and to God. Frequently God, speaking through the prophets, called Israel 'a stiff-necked people'. This unusual description apparently indicates an unwillingness to bow the neck in an attitude of submission, and indicates a proud and defiant posture. God desires trust, humility and obedience, for these attributes lead to blessing, but pride precedes a fall. There is great scope for human initiative in Christian work but it must lie within explicit biblical guidelines. Heresy and apostasy grow from an accumulation of small deviations from the word of God.
MARCH 8

    1 Samuel 15:7-23


    'To obey is better
    than sacrifice, and
    to heed is better
    than the fat of
    rams.'
   
   
   

 

 

MARCH 9

    1 Samuel 16:1-13


    'Man looks at the
    outward appear-
    ance, but the Lord
    looks at the heart.'
   
   
   
   

 


 

These well-known words were God's explanation to Samuel when he rejected all of Jesse's sons except the youngest one, David, as the future king to replace Saul. This is a revealing statement as it shows how difficult it is for us to judge worthiness in a person. We tend to be influenced by physical appearance and attractiveness. We need to look for evidences of a person's character and nature. In seeking a partner socially, in business, or in marriage we need to pray for guidance from the Lord. In electing people to government or positions of office in the church, we must look beyond physique and attractive personality to the character of the person. In evaluating ourselves we need to ask not what other people think of us but what God thinks of us. God's statement that he does not consider our outward appearance but evaluates us according to our character, or heart, is an encouragement to most of us, for few of us are satisfied with our physical appearance. A good self-image is important. We cannot change our outward appearance but we can become beautiful people by the transforming power of God's Spirit.

 


 

God promised David that he would be the founder of a dynasty that would rule Israel. This promise is restated in 1 Chronicles 17:3-14 and amplified in Psalm 89:19-37, where God's promise to David is called a sworn covenant that will endure as long as the moon and stars. At the Babylonian captivity the line of rulers was broken but it was never replaced. In Isaiah 11:1-10 this promise was expanded to include the spiritual ruler who came to be known as Messiah (anointed one). He was to be a shoot or branch that would grow from the root of David's line after the tree [the ruling king] had been cut down. In Jeremiah 23:5-6 and 33:14-21 further reference is made to the branch from David's line. In Ezekiel 21:25-27 it is predicted that the crown would be removed from Israel's king 'until he comes to whom it rightfully belongs'. God's promise to David was fulfilled in Jesus, Israel's Messiah. (Luke 1:32-33) These would be some of the passages Jesus referred to on the walk to Emmaus. (Luke 24:27) Belief in this promised Messiah is still a strong element in Judaism today and a number of Jews are coming to recognise Jesus as the promised Son of David.
MARCH 10

    2 Samuel 7:4-17


    'Your house and
    your kingdom will
    endure forever
    before me; your
    throne will be
    established forever.'
   
   

 

 

MARCH 11

    2 Samuel 13:1-14


    He grabbed her
    and said, 'Come
    to bed with me,
    my sister'. 'Don't,
    my brother!' she
    said to him.
    'Don't force me.'
   

 


 

Uncontrolled passion is the cause of much human suffering and has effects far beyond the persons concerned. Absalom, David's favourite son, took Tamar's side and killed Amnon. As a result his life was threatened and he fled from Jerusalem. He saw that his slaying of Amnon had lost him the chance to succeed David on the throne so he planned a rebellion against his father and David had to flee from Jerusalem with his loyal supporters across the Jordan to Mahanaim. Absalom and his army fought against David's army and although David had given instructions that Absalom's life was to be spared he was slain by Joab, the commander of David's army. David loved Absalom and he wept, saying, 'O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you.' (2 Samuel 18:33) Amnon's unrestrained lust led to his death and the death of David's favourite son, Absalom. It was the underlying cause of the rebellion and battle. Whatever we do affects other's lives. Sexual sins have far-reaching effects and bring sorrow to many. As in this instance, this is generally a male problem. It is the men who need to control their lustful thoughts.

 


 

This chapter tells the story of the opening and dedication of the first temple at Jerusalem and records the words of Solomon's great prayer of dedication. The presence of God, called 'the glory of the Lord', was an actual spiritual presence that was manifested by the cloud. In the wilderness God's real presence had been symbolised by the pillar of cloud that went before them. At his transfiguration Jesus and his three disciples were enveloped in a supernatural cloud. There could be an actual physical reason why God's presence was manifested by a cloud. Clouds are formed by water vapour when hot and cold air interact. God's presence is often manifested in scripture by fire, which is an evidence of energy. This could produce a fog or cloud. This is only speculation but in recent times people who have prayed and experienced healing often speak of a strange warmth in their bodies. It is encouraging to know that when God's people sincerely worship they are in God's real presence. He is there. By manifesting his presence at the opening of the temple God gave his approval to the use of a building set aside specially for worship, however humble it may be.
MARCH 12

    1 Kings 8:1-11


    And the priests
    could not perform
    their service
    because of the
    cloud, for the glory
    of the Lord filled
    his temple.
   

 

 

MARCH 13

    1 Kings 8:12-21


    'Because it was in
    your heart to build
    a temple for my
    Name, you did
    well to have this
    in your heart.'
   
   

 


 

David's love for God was his outstanding feature. It was his desire to replace the worship tent, called the tabernacle, with a solid building, a temple, located at Israel's capital, Jerusalem. He had built a house of cedar for himself and he wanted God to have a house of worship that would be superior to any human dwelling. God did not permit him to build it but accepted David's suggestion that a permanent temple should replace the portable tent and declared that David's son, Solomon, would build it. The Lord honoured the thought by saying, 'You did well to have this in your heart.' Often people are not able to achieve their dreams in their lifetime. Sometimes life is cut prematurely short and much remains unfinished. If we fail to achieve the good we hoped to do through lack of discipline or procrastination it is no credit to us. But when our heart's desires are thwarted by circumstances or a lack of resources or time, God accepts and approves our intention the same as if we had achieved our objective. Intention is very important in God's sight. He does not judge us by results as people do. Those with some unfulfilled ambition can take encouragement from today's text.

 


 

Christian denominations often develop their own postures of prayer and worship and tend to resist any other form. Some kneel, others sit or stand, some stand with hands upraised. Any who deviate from the accepted practice tend to be thought strange. Solomon had no precedent to follow except Moses' hands raised in intercession when Israel fought their first battle. Surely all physical postures are acceptable to God. In times of great intensity some people prostrate themselves on the ground before God. Let us never judge fellow worshippers on the posture they assume before God in prayer. It should be normal in a congregation that some kneel, some sit, some stand with eyes closed and yet others stand with arms and face lifted high in the ecstasy of worship, adoration and petition. Sometimes those who adopt a posture in prayer or worship that is different from the usual are considered to be causing division--but those who resist any change from the normal are equally at fault. Would Solomon's posture be accepted in your church? We should exercise tolerance and allow liberty of expression in worship and prayer.
MARCH 14

    1 Kings 8:22-30, 54-61


    When Solomon
    had finished all
    these prayers and
    supplications to
    the Lord, he rose
    from before the
    altar of the Lord,
    where, he had been
    kneeling with his
    hands spread out
    towards heaven.

 

 

MARCH 15

    1 Kings 9:1-9


    'If you or your
    sons turn away
    from me . . . and go
    off serve other
    gods and worship
    them, then I will
    cut off Israel from
    the land I have
    given them and
    will reject this
    temple.'

 


 

It is important to distinguish between the permanent elements of God's covenant with Israel and the conditional elements. The two permanent, unchangeable features were (1) Israel was to be God's covenant people forever and (2) the land of Canaan was to be theirs forever. But prosperity and adversity were the conditional aspects that would be decided by their faithfulness or unfaithfulness to God and his commands. In Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 Moses had already predicted the sorrows that would come on the people if they forsook God. Now God reminds Solomon on the occasion of the opening of the temple that worship must be accompanied by obedience for blessing to follow. In Isaiah's time God rejected their formal worship because they were not living in obedience to him and in love towards one another. (Isaiah 1:12-20) God's warning was not heeded and both Solomon's temple and Herod's temple were destroyed. When the worshippers rejected God's ways he rejected their place of worship. If a denomination drifts away from the teachings of Jesus, God will no longer bless its activities and its future must be in doubt.

 


 

Solomon compromised himself by his marriages. His marriages may have been political alliances or affairs of the heart but in either case they were a violation of God's law. God had said, 'Do not intermarry with them . . . for they will turn your sons away from following me to some other gods.' (Deuteronomy 7:3-4) In the New Testament Paul advises us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Many still reject this advice and frequently it becomes a struggle, if not impossible, to continue to practice one's faith. Today's gods are not idols but pleasure, money, sex or even just hard work, but all of these can be substitutes for God and crowd him out of the life of the believing partner and the children. It is very important for believers to marry someone who shares their faith so that their own faith will be nurtured and a Christian home and family life will be possible. Those who have married unbelievers should love them but hold on to their own faith. It is not wise to pester the unbelieving partner to attend church. It is better to strive to be such a loving, caring, uncritical partner that the unbeliever will be attracted to the faith you follow.
MARCH 16

    1 Kings 11:1-11


    As Solomon grew
    old, his wives
    turned his heart
    after other gods,
    and his heart was
    not fully devoted
    to the Lord his
    God.

 

 

MARCH 17

    1 Kings 11:26-33


    'I am going to tear
    the kingdom out
    of Solomon's hand
    . . . I will do this
    because they have
    forsaken me and
    worshipped
    Ashtoreth, the
    goddess of the
    Sidonians.'

 


 

This did not happen in Solomon's lifetime but when he died Jeroboam led ten of the tribes in a rebellion against Solomon's son and successor Rehoboam. The ten tribes, being the larger group retained the name Israel and the two tribes Judah and Benjamin were called Judah, for David was a descendant of Judah. This was the tragic permanent division of Abraham's descendants. The name 'Jews' is derived from Judah. Jeroboam established his kingdom in the north of the land and made Samaria his capital. He established his own humanly devised form of worship and appointed his own priests. (See chapter 12.) This was why the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans in Jesus' day. The division was a direct result of Solomon's marriages and the introduction of their pagan religions and practices. Error creeps insidiously, slowly, and often unnoticed into our lives and it will divide and destroy God's people if it is not opposed or rejected. We need to guard against compromise in our personal lives and in our churches. The old saying that evil flourishes when good men remain silent holds true in religious matters. God judges those who tolerate error in silence.

 


 

Verse 16 adds a tragic postscript to the divine sentence 'And he will give Israel up.' We learn from this that if we depart from God and exalt other gods and lifestyles we step out of the blessing God has promised and we bring God's judgment on ourselves. Asherim is the plural form of the goddess Asherah, who was called Ishtar in Babylonia and Assyria. She was the supreme female deity and the personification of the productive principle in nature. She was worshipped as the mother and creatress of mankind and as such was served by immoral rites by both male and female temple prostitutes. In Greece the cult was dedicated to Aphrodite (hence the word 'aphrodisiac') and in Rome to the goddess Venus. We have our modern equivalent in gay festivals, where sexual desire and deviation are worshipped and celebrated. To participate in these festivals is the same as the Israelites worshipping the Asherim. Although these are minority festivals it is possible that God's judgment could come on us because neither our governments nor the media have stood against them.
MARCH 18

    1 Kings 14:7-16


    'He will uproot
    Israel from this
    good land that he
    gave to their
    forefathers and
    scatter them
    beyond the River,
    because they
    provoked the Lord
    to anger.'

 

 

MARCH 19

    1 Kings 16:25-33


    Ahab son of Omri
    did more evil in
    the eyes of the
    Lord than any of
    those before him.
   
   
   

 


 

Ahab was the son of Omri, the commander of Israel's army, the founder of the city of Samaria. Omri was an idol worshipper and so we see the importance of a father's influence. It is not surprising that Ahab married a pagan princess, or that Jezebel influenced Ahab to support and promote the worship of Baal. Baal was the supreme god of the Canaanites. He was a sun god and to avoid drought human victims were sacrificed to appease him. The victims were usually the first-born, and were offered to Baal as a burnt offering, euphemistically called 'passing the victim through the fire'. Jezebel supported 450 prophets of Baal and that made Baal the national god, thus his worship was synonymous with loyalty to the king. This worship spread over the boundary into Judah and in Israel's territory displaced the worship of Israel's covenant God. Jezebel's influence shows the importance of choosing a wife who shares our faith. Unbelievers are often more zealous missionaries than believers. It also reminds us that wives, although holding no office themselves, can be a powerful influence for good or bad. We need a life partner who will support us in our faith, not one whose unbelief will oppose our worship.

 


 

Elijah confronted Ahab the king and announced that there would be neither rain nor dew until he commanded it. This message from the Lord was a direct challenge to the sun god Baal. Elijah would show that the Lord controlled the weather, not Baal. Jezebel had all the prophets of the Lord killed except Elijah, God hid Elijah and provided for him until the day he arranged a public showdown in the challenge on Mount Carmel. The prophets of Baal could not create fire to consume their sacrifice but the Lord answered Elijah's prayer and set fire to the sacrifices. The people cried, 'The Lord--he is God! The Lord--he is God!' The prophets of Baal were slain, just as they had slain the prophets of the Lord and the worship of the Lord was restored. The kind of boldness that Elijah showed is a divinely given boldness born of an inner certainty that God has revealed his will. This kind of boldness is only given to those who are totally committed to the Lord and who are filled with the Holy Spirit. The apostles and some Christians of every generation have also experienced this boldness. It is imparted by God to those who wait upon him in prayer.
MARCH 20

    1 Kings 18:20-40


    Elijah . . . said,
    'How long will
    you waver between
    two opinions? If
    the Lord is God,
    follow him; but if
    Baal is God,
    follow him.'

 

 

MARCH 21

    1 Kings 19:1-13


    [Elijah] went a
    day's journey into
    the desert. He
    came to a broom
    tree, sat down
    under it and
    prayed that he
    might die.

 


 

After Elijah's great victory at Mount Carmel Jezebel sent a message to him saying she would have him killed within twenty-four hours. He was afraid and fled to the mountains of Sinai where he justified his flight to the Lord by saying, 'I am the only one left and now they are trying to kill me too.' His fear contrasts strongly with his fearlessness at Mount Carmel. Christians can suffer a depressive reaction after they have experienced a time of confrontation. But the Lord was there in the wilderness of Sinai and revealed himself, not in the cyclonic windstorm or in the earthquake and fire that followed, but in a quiet, small voice, which Elijah probably heard within himself, that asked without condemnation, simply, 'What are you doing here?' The Lord knows our moods and deals with us gently. He encouraged the self-pitying Elijah by telling him that he was not the only faithful one but there were seven thousand others who had not bowed to Baal. We never stand alone for God. Discouragement is a powerful force that works in Satan's favour. The best cure is to quickly become active in some work for the Lord.

 

The following three readings are for use at Easter, a moveable date in our calendar. The Jewish year follows the lunar calendar of thirteen months and the Passover is celebrated on the evening of 14 Nisan. A Jewish day is from sunset to sunset and as the Passover lamb was not slain until after sunset the Passover anniversary is on 15 Nisan. To correlate this with our calendar Easter Sunday must fall on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the equinox, which occurs about 21 March. By our calendar the Last Supper was on the Thursday night and Jesus was crucified on the Friday. A part of a day was counted as a day in Jewish reckoning so Jesus' body was placed in the tomb late on Friday and he rose on Sunday fulfilling his prediction that he would rise again on the third day. The following three readings for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Easter should be used in place of, or in addition to, the listed readings on these three days.

    EASTER

 

  GOOD FRIDAY  

    Matthew 27:11-26


    He had Jesus
    flogged and
    handed him over
    to be crucified.
   
   
   
   

 


 

It was not a coincidence that Jesus was crucified on the anniversary of Passover. Paul says, 'Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.' (1 Corinthians 5:7) By taking the Passover bread and the wine cup, which symbolised redemption, and making them symbols of his own death, Jesus identified himself with the Passover theme. By his death he offers deliverance to people of all nations who long to be free from the sin that enslaves them and desire to be counted among the people of God. As members of the human race we shrink in horror and guilt as we recall the events of that infamous day--Judas' betrayal, the disciples' desertion, the Sanhedrin trial where they spat on Jesus, slapped his face and punched him, the soldiers mocking his claim to kingship with the scarlet robe, the crown of thorns and the staff of kingship with which they repeatedly hit him over the head and finally being stripped naked and nailed to the cross through his hands and feet and left to die the cruellest possible death. Yet he was innocent of any crime and incredibly was able to say 'Father, forgive them.' How can anyone remain indifferent to this son of man and Son of God? Jesus deserves our passionate devotion and unqualified love.

 


 

The pessimistic philosophy Solomon presents in Ecclesiastes shows that Judaism had no hope of life after death at that stage. Job asked, 'If a man die shall he live again?' but there was no answer. God promised only earthly prosperity to Israel as a reward for righteousness, nevertheless the Pharisees believed in future resurrection. It is not surprising that the disciples did not expect Jesus to rise again, despite his promise to do so. It is important to note that Jesus' physical body did in fact die. The soldiers pronounced him dead. His body was wrapped in a linen cloth and laid in the tomb. The entrance was sealed and a guard of soldiers was posted to prevent the body being stolen. The earthquake opened the tomb, not to let Christ out but to reveal that his body was no longer there. It was never found. In the next forty days Jesus assumed a physical or a spiritual dimension at will, fulfilling his promise, 'No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again'. (John 10:18) At death Jesus' spirit was freed from the limitations of a physical body.
  EASTER SATURDAY  

    Matthew 27:57-66


    Joseph took the
    body, wrapped it
    in a clean linen
    cloth, and placed it
    in his own new
    tomb.
   
   

 

 

  EASTER SUNDAY  

    Luke 24:1-12


    'Why do you look
    for the living
    among the dead?
    He is not here; he
    has risen!'
   
   
   

 


 

The angel's statement to the women started a panic of excitement. Mary Magdalene ran to tell the disciples and Peter and John ran to the tomb to see for themselves. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, then to Peter, then to the Emmaus disciples, then, that same night, to the apostles. Other appearances followed over the forty days before his ascension. It took the empty tomb, the angel's message and Jesus' appearances to turn the disciples' despair into the glorious realization that their Master was still alive in a new and wonderful form. Then the full implications of his resurrection dawned on them for he had promised them eternal life also saying, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.' (John 11:25) This was the revolutionary message they were to take to the whole world; death had at last been conquered. It is no wonder that they could not be silenced. The resurrection has changed all our values, life is no longer futile but has eternal meaning. This resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith. By raising Jesus from death God gave his seal of approval to his claims and teaching. Being the greatest miracle possible it makes all the other miracles credible.

 


 

It is unwise to have preconceived ideas about how God should act. Naaman was finally persuaded to follow this unusual and apparently useless ritual of dipping seven times in the Jordan River and his leprosy was cured. The water and the dipping did not cure him--God did in response to his obedience. God often appears to act in irrational ways. Jesus healed a blind man by anointing his eyes with mud, the persecuting Saul was converted by being struck blind and the Roman centurion was confirmed as a disciple by praying in tongues, which many consider irrational behaviour. We must let God be God. He treats no two persons or circumstances the same. This incident shows that there was great value in the simple testimony of a servant girl. We never know who our testimony will influence. It also shows that God was willing to bless an enemy of Israel. There are many Naamans in our midst who need healing. Baptism is similar to Naaman's experience and is a ritual that symbolically cleanses us from the leprosy of sin. Jesus humbled himself by his baptism in the same Jordan River. Some, like Naaman, are reluctant to be baptised but it opens the door to much spiritual blessing.
MARCH 22

    2 Kings 5:1-14


    'I thought that he
    would surely come
    out to me and
    stand and call on
    the name of the
    Lord his God,
    wave his hand
    over the spot and
    cure me of my
    leprosy.'

 

 

MARCH 23

    2 Kings 6:15-23


    'Don't be afraid,'
    the prophet
    answered. 'Those
    who are with us
    are more than
    those who are with
    them.'
   

 


 

Circumstances often appear to be overwhelmingly against us but if God is with us our resources are greater than the circumstances. We must reckon on the reality of the unseen spiritual forces God can use to give us deliverance. In this siege and the one in chapter 7:5-7 Samaria was saved by miraculous intervention. In the second siege the Lord created a sound like the sound of a great army of horsemen and chariots rushing towards the Syrian army and they fled leaving everything behind. Israel did not have to fire an arrow or raise a sword. The empty enemy camp was discovered in the morning by some lepers. We are reminded of the time when Peter was closely guarded in prison and an angel came and released him and led him through the locked gates to safety. God is not restricted by our human limitations. Sometimes he permits his servants to suffer and perhaps die but we need to know that our God is able to deliver us. We must be willing to leave the outcome to him. Sometimes it seems that we are surrounded by the evil of this modern world and the Christians are vastly outnumbered. But the future belongs to the people of God. We are on the winning side for God is with us.

 


 

The kingdoms of both Israel and Judah had forsaken the God of their fathers and the worship God had given them through Moses and had adopted the pagan rites of their neighbours. Ahaz, king of Judah, had offered his son as a burnt sacrifice to the pagan deities. The judgment God had predicted for such apostasy soon fell. The Assyrians invaded Samaria and took the people away as slaves. The Assyrians then brought other captured people and settled them in the cities of Israel. (2 Kings 17:24) These foreign peoples brought their own pagan gods and worship practices into the former Samaritan cities. This was a major national tragedy. To this day historians have not positively identified these 'lost' ten tribes. The population of the northern kingdom, known by its capital, Samaria, was not pure in either its blood line or its laws and worship. The southern kingdom of Judah thereafter regarded the Samaritans as heretics and refused to associate with them. Even though we may begin by entering into a covenant with God we must be true to that covenant or, like Northern Israel, we may drift so far from God that we are no longer part of God's covenant people. Yet, despite their apostasy Jesus included the Samaritans in his ministry.
MARCH 24

    2 Kings 17:5-8, 24, 29-33


    In the ninth year
    of Hoshea, the
    King of Assyria
    captured Samaria
    and deported the
    Israelites to
    Assyria.
   

 

 

MARCH 25

    2 Kings 22:8-13


    Hilkiah the high
    priest said to
    Shaphan the
    secretary, 'I have
    found the Book of
    the Law in the
    temple of the
    Lord.'

 


 

The Jews had so neglected God's law that the Book of the Law had been lost. When the temple was being restored it was rediscovered. Its rediscovery led the godly king Josiah to institute a revival of the true God-given worship. The written word of God has always been the fountain from which spiritual renewal has sprung. It was the translation, printing and distribution of the scriptures that brought about a reformation of the church. The scriptures are still the fountain of individual and church renewal. 2 Kings 23 tells the story of the thoroughgoing reforms of Josiah. Because of his obedience God's judgment on the nation was withheld during his life, but because of their national rejection of God and his laws, God foretold their defeat. Two generations later the Babylonians captured Jerusalem, and the kingdom of Judah was destroyed and the people taken captive to Babylon. As we read through these daily Bible readings we are rediscovering the will of God for ourselves and the world. This will result in spiritual renewal that could have far-reaching consequences.

 


 

The Lord will not tolerate false worship and evil practices even in his own chosen and covenant people. First Israel, then Judah, together with Jerusalem and the temple, were not spared rejection and punishment. Their sins are listed in previous chapters and included human child sacrifices to pagan gods, male and female prostitutes as part of pagan religion, occult practices including mediums communicating with the dead and the spirit world, astrology, sun and moon worship, plus shedding of innocent blood. (See chapters 21 and 23.) False worship resulted in false morality and injustice. Jehovah is a good and holy God loving justice and showing care and concern for all people. We become like the object of our worship. To improve the standard of morality and justice we must begin with a people's religion and the things that are central in their lives. Religion and prosperity are intimately connected. Whenever the worship of God declines, whether by unbelief or alternative worship, the prosperity of individuals and the nation is threatened. Today, economic prosperity is considered the measure of success but the true health of a nation should be measured by the level of righteousness of its citizens.
MARCH 26

    2 Kings 23:21-27


    So the Lord said,
    'I will remove
    Judah also from
    my presence as I
    removed Israel,
    and I will reject
    Jerusalem, the city
    I chose.'

 

 

MARCH 27

    1 Chronicles 29:1-3, 9-14


    'Everything comes
    from you, and we
    have given you
    only what comes
    from your hand.'
   
   
   

 


 

These words are from a prayer of David after he and the leaders of the people and the people themselves had made generous offerings for the building of the first temple. David humbly acknowledged that all the wealth of the nation was in fact God's provision and therefore only held in trust by the people. They were returning to God that which was originally a blessing from his hand. This is a tremendously important principle. We should never view our possessions as ours to use only for ourselves, but rather as a property held in trust for which we are answerable to God. This cuts at the root of one of the great evils in this world--greed. Greed sets people in competition with each other and makes the acquisition of property an end in itself and a source of personal power. Since we are accountable to God for the way we use the resources at our disposal we need to give careful thought to how we spend money and we should be generous in our support of the Lord's work. Perhaps the most significant feature of this chapter is the joy with which David and the peoples made their gifts. They gave 'freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord' saying that it came from God's hand, and all of it belonged to him.

 


 

This famous passage is the classic formula for God's blessing on his people and his church. It is addressed to God's people, not unbelievers. It applies to those who wear God's name and by their own confession are 'his people'. The formula is simple and direct. It consists of three steps: (1) prayer, (2) seeking God, (3) turning from sin. God's response is threefold. He will: (1) hear, (2) forgive, (3) heal or bless. We have to turn Godward and seek his will for our lives and inwardly listen to the Spirit as he puts his finger on the things that are wrong in our life and our church. There must be a willingness to acknowledge our faults. We must humble ourselves before God. This is the first step towards renewal and revival and the hardest to face up to. All spiritual growth is dependent on a humble, teachable spirit. This implies that confession will follow the conviction of sin and that there will be a change of life in conformity with God's revealed will. In verse 15 God promises, 'My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.' God is jealous for his name and his honour. He will not bless his people until their behaviour brings honour to his name.
MARCH 28

    2 Chronicles 7:8-16


    'If my people, who
    are called by my
    name, will humble
    themselves and
    pray and seek my
    face and turn from
    their wicked ways,
    then I will hear
    from heaven and
    will forgive their
    sin and will heal
    their land.'

 

 

MARCH 29

    Ezra 7:1-10


    For Ezra had
    devoted himself to
    the study and
    observance of the
    Law of the Lord,
    and to teaching its
    decrees and laws
    in Israel.

 


 

The Babylonians captured Jerusalem and destroyed the temple, taking many people captive to Babylon. In due time God moved Cyrus, king of Persia, to support the return of the captives and the rebuilding of the temple. But the return to the land was of secondary importance. The primary need was the return of the people to God. Ezra the scribe was the leader in this spiritual restoration, which was based on the laws and ordinances God gave through Moses. Every spiritual revival has followed this pattern of a Bible-based restoration and renewal. Whenever God's people set their hearts to study the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach it a spiritual renewal follows. This involves sacrifice. Ezra says, 'So we fasted and petitioned our God.' (8:23) 'Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God.' (10:1). 'All the people were sitting in the square . . . greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain.' (10:9) They took God's word seriously. The church needs people who will devote themselves to the study of God's word so that they can preach with conviction and bring about spiritual renewal.

 


 

Ezra led the spiritual restoration and Nehemiah led the restoration of the city wall and the temple. Spiritual renewal and physical building must always go hand in hand. If the spiritual renewal and vitality of a church does not keep pace with property expansion the congregation will fall away leaving the buildings a half-empty shell. Nehemiah attributed the success of the rebuilding to three things. (1) The people worked with all their heart.' The majority of the people must support any rebuilding project for it to succeed. (2) They depended on God. 'We prayed to our God.' Any church building project must be prayed over until there is a conviction that it is God's will at the time. (3) 'We posted a guard day and night.' In addition to prayer we need to exercise common-sense precautions. We should not expect God's protection unless we exercise normal care within our power. The church is the spiritual Jerusalem and we are the builders. If we keep the spiritual and the physical in balance we will build well. But let us never forget the impermanence of all physical structures. Remember Jesus' prophecy about the temple at Jerusalem.
MARCH 30

    Nehemiah 4:1-9


    So we rebuilt the
    wall . . . for the
    people worked
    with all their heart
    . . . But we prayed
    to our God and
    posted a guard day and
    night to meet
    this threat.

 

 

MARCH 31

    Esther 4:1-14


    'And who knows
    but that you have
    come to royal
    position for such a
    time as this?'
   
   
   

 


 

The life of Esther has all the appearance of divine guidance and forward planning. God had promised Abraham that those who cursed him and his descendants would be cursed. It was God's responsibility to preserve his people from the evil intentions of Haman. Had Haman's plan succeeded the Jewish people would have been wiped out. It was no coincidence that Esther was in a unique position to save her people. She accepted the risk involved saying, 'If I perish, I perish.' In some degree we are all in a unique position to serve God and to minister to people right where we are. Christians sometimes have the feeling that to serve God they need to do theological training or become a missionary. This is not so. We can live for God and serve our Saviour right where circumstances have placed us. If we do not live for Christ in our present situation we are not likely to live for him in Christian leadership elsewhere. Note that Esther acted with wisdom and careful planning to make the most of her privileged position. There are still many Hamans in the world who are racist and anti-Christian. Genocide is a terrible fact of life and it is most dangerous in political leaders. It is totally evil and must never be tolerated in today's world.

 

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Seeds of the Spirit (2001)
Copyright © 1997, 2001 by Arthur Pigdon