Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring calamity on Absalom. (2 Samuel 17:14, NASB)
King David’s son Absolom decided that he would succeed his father as king of Israel. He started by acting like the king. He developed a large following of supporters. Ahithophel was his chief advisor. King David, along with his supporters, escaped from Jerusalem and across the Jordan River to the east. Hushai was one of King David’s supporters, but was sent back to Jerusalem to act to thwart Absolom.
God doesn’t like it when we go against His plan. God’s will was that a different son of David, who was Solomon, would succeed him, build the Temple, and begin a perpetual line of kings culminating with King Jesus, Who will reign forever! Hence the statement, “For the Lord had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring calamity on Absalom.”
We’re either FOR God or we’re AGAINST Him. We get to choose. Those of us who’ve trusted in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, are for God. We’ve trusted in His plan of salvation. We’ve trusted in His infinite mercy. Those who have not received Jesus are still in rebellion against God. It’s our choice: Trust or treachery!
Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23, NASB)
In the Bible passage above, the Prophet/Judge Samuel is berating King Saul. God’s instructions to Saul, through Samuel, were to wage war against Amalek, and to “utterly destroy” all the people and their animals. (The Amalekites had refused passage of the Israelites during their 40-year journey through the wilderness) When Saul had completed his mission, he “captured Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.” (1 Samuel 15:8-9, NASB)
Thus God’s ire against Saul, and Samuel’s corresponding diatribe against him. Saul used the excuse that the people kept the animals to use as sacrifices to the Lord. But God and Samuel would have none of it. The bottom line is that Saul disobeyed God. And the consequence? “Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.” Saul’s disobedience would keep him from the line of Messiah, and pave the way instead for King David to be the ancestor of King Jesus, Whose throne will last forever!
Disobedience to God carries consequences. Our sins result in loss of time that we could have spent with Abba Father. Instead, our obedience yields a sweet time of fellowship with Him! I’d much rather have the fellowship than the separation. This applies from an eternal perspective as well. God expects us to honor the Descendant of King David, Who is Jesus Christ, God’s only Son. To do so, to make Him Savior, is what God expects from us. Our obedience in this matter yields eternal life with Him. To disobey means eternal separation from Him in hell.
Worship: “Gadol Adonai” (“Great Is The Lord”), from Praise to Our God 5 Concert, ft. Sarah Liberman
Tomorrow, 16 April, is the fifth anniversary of my diagnosis for ALS. When I was diagnosed, I had no idea how long I’d live. I’ve heard and read that when people are diagnosed with ALS, they’re typically told that they have two to five years in which to live, and that they should put their affairs in order. I’ve never been told this by anyone, and I think being told this is unfair, as each ALS case is different.
My longevity is a testament to Sue. God has used her to keep me alive for whatever His reasons. Her work is physically, emotionally, and psychologically difficult. Each day I pray that God would give her strength, energy, wisdom, grace, peace, and patience (it’s not easy being married to me even under normal circumstances), and that He would protect her from illness, injury, and burnout. I praise God and thank Him for putting us together all those years ago. He sure gave me a good one!
And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. (Luke 24:25-27, NASB)
Jesus, on the evening of His resurrection from the dead, appeared to two of His disciples (not apostles) as they traveled from Jerusalem to Emmaus, “which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:13) Dr. Luke reports that they were discussing the events of the past few days, specifically the crucifixion of Jesus, and the reports that He had risen from some women who had visited His tomb and found it empty. Angels told the women that Jesus had risen, that He was alive!
Jesus asked the travelers were they were discussing, and wanted to know more about it. Then Jesus lectures them about how the prophets foretold these things. “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Indeed, the Old Testament is full of prophecy regarding Jesus Christ.
The first prophetic words about Jesus: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Genesis 3:15)
The words of Moses: ““The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15)
From King David: “They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.” (Psalm 22:16-18)
“For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.” (Psalm 16:10)
From the Prophet Isaiah: “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.” (Isaiah 53:5-7)
On this Resurrection Sunday, we pause to remember how much God loves us. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to cover our sins. We remember, too, how much Jesus loves us. He suffered unspeakable pain from torture and execution to deliver us from our sins. The above verses are just a few in the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled, and are about the suffering He endured because He loves you and me. In Jesus’ discussion with the travelers on the road to Emmaus, He proved just Who He is. He is God’s Son, sent to the earth to save us, as foretold by the prophets of old!
But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34, NASB)
And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43, NASB)
Tomorrow, 7 April, is Good Friday. We remember how Jesus Christ suffered and died on this darkest of days. He suffered unspeakable torture at the hands of Roman soldiers, and then crucifixion on a wooden Roman cross. But as agonizing as His torture and execution were, He forgave those responsible!
Jesus accomplished His mission for coming to the earth He created: He died a sinner’s death in our place as a substitute for us. Jesus submitted Himself to horrific torture and crucifixion. He did so willingly and He did so for me!
He was scourged with a whip which had either pieces of metal or glass embedded in it. This torture often exposed internal organs, and left the victim either dead or delirious. But Jesus kept on, carrying His cross partway to Calvary. Ann Graham Lotz says that the miracle is not that Jesus was able to continue, but that He submitted to this punishment at all! He could’ve just sent His torturers straight to hell. Such is His love for us!
Then there was the cross. The spikes through His hands and feet. The crown of long, sharp, Palestinian thorns, shoved down, piercing His head. The agony of suffocation. The mocking and insults hurled His way. He endured all of this willingly, and He did so for me!
After this torture, while He was hanging on the cross, Jesus forgave His executioners. They truly didn’t know what they were doing! They were killing God! The Man Jesus was dying to save their very souls from the wrath of God, for a chance to spend an eternity in heaven with Him.
The two thieves on either side of Him threw insults at Him, cursed Him, and dared Jesus to save Himself and them. Then one thief had a change of heart. He asked Jesus to “remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” I think the thief figured out Who Jesus is. Jesus forgave him, and the thief became the first recorded man who entered heaven saved by Jesus!
Jesus forgave those responsible for His torture and execution, and one of the men who just a few minutes earlier, had delivered the most vile of insults at Him. If He forgave these, He can forgive us. All we have to do is ask Him!
Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee. (Matthew 21:8-11, NASB)
Yesterday, 2 April, was Palm Sunday. We remember Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Earlier, He had told two of His disciples to go and fetch a donkey and her colt from their owner. He even told them what to say to the owner. How did Jesus know where to find the animals? Jesus is God! The Bible verse above tells what happened when Jesus entered the city.
It would be a momentous week for Jesus. By Friday, He would fulfill His mission for coming to the earth He created: He would die! On Spy Wednesday, Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples and closest friends, would meet with the Temple authorities, and conspire to betray Him. On Thursday, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples with a Seder meal, known to us as the Last Supper. Later that night, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was arrested and brought to the authorities, where His trial would begin. Then there was the horror of Friday.
His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is a contrast to the way the week would end up. First, we have the people shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” By the end of the week they would be shouting, “Crucify Him!” “Hosanna” means “Praise God!” Quite a difference from “Kill God!” But the people didn’t understand just Who He was. They thought the Messiah would come to deliver them from under the thumb of their Roman oppressors. Instead, Jesus came to save them from their sins. He came to save US from OUR sins!
Worship: “Hosanna” by Hillsong Worship
Mustache March is over. As soon as Sue took this picture, she shaved me.
“If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 21:22-23, NASB)
The book of Deuteronomy is largely Moses recounting God’s laws to the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan River to the Promised Land. In the passage above, Moses, the man of God, tells of the statute that deals with putting a man to death. For a crime worthy of death, if the man is hanged from a tree, “his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day.” Further, Moses explains that, “he who is hanged is accursed of God.” The reason a man who is accursed is not left on the tree overnight is “so that you do not defile your land” which God will give to Israel. Jesus Christ became so accursed for us on that Friday long ago. Many sources, hymns and Bible verses, equate the Roman cross to a tree. When Jesus was hanged from the cross, He was accompanied by two criminals, who were crucified on either side of Him. Remaining on the cross overnight was compounded by the problem of the Sabbath, on which no laborious work was to be done. The Sabbath would begin at sunset, and Jesus died at around 3pm. The criminals were still alive. Now the cause of death during crucifixion was usually suffocation. Hanging from that position made it difficult to breathe. The person being crucified would support himself on the spike driven into his feet. To hasten death, they would take a sledgehammer, and break his legs, which is what happened to the criminals.
In order to comply with the Law of Moses, Joseph of Arimathea received permission from Pontius Pilate to take Jesus’ body down from the cross and lay Him in the tomb. Thus the Law of the Sabbath and the ordnance for the dead person were complied with.
Jesus became accursed for you and me, which He was only too happy to do, because He loves you and me. By hanging on the tree, He took the death sentence we all deserve for our sins. In this Lenten Season, let’s remember the sacrifice He made for us. He did so willingly, and He did so for me!
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:3-8, NASB)
In his letter to the church at Philippi, the Apostle Paul uses Jesus as an example to us of how we should treat others. As we continue to Resurrection Sunday, we remember Christ ‘s ultimate sacrifice, when He died in our place. His was the highest form of selflessness, and one which Paul says we should emulate.
Paul says we should “do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than [ourselves].” Further, “do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Paul is calling us to be selfless. Then he uses Jesus as our example.
Jesus, “although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped.” He came to the earth “in the form of a bond-servant.” What other god would do that? But our God did! He came to the earth to die, to love us into His Kingdom. To what extent would He go to win us over? “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Yes, Christ Jesus loves you and me so much that He endured the punishment and death that we all deserve.
Paul’s point is that Jesus is the example we should follow in how to treat other people. He was humble, and even though He’s God, He treated others as more important than Himself. He loves you and me so much that He was willing to die for us. On this journey through life, we are to learn to become more like Jesus. Paul gives us a glimpse here of how to do this.
Worship: “At the Cross (Love Ran Red),” by Chris Tomlin
So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. (Exodus 24:13, NASB)
Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. (Deuteronomy 34:9, NASB)
“No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. (Joshua 1:5, NASB)
In the setting for the first verse above, God had been telling the sons of Israel of His laws and precepts. He had just told Moses to climb up Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, written in stone by the finger of God. The verse is the first mention of Joshua, and identifies him as Moses’ “servant.” The Bible doesn’t specifically say this, but Moses and Joshua had a mentor-protege relationship. I think Moses was the ultimate mentor. He’s identified in various places as “servant of God”; “man of God”; and “friend of God”. Who wouldn’t want to follow Moses and learn from him? As near as I can figure, Joshua was the ancient example of what we would consider as a military aide-de-camp to Moses.
In the second verse above, Moses had just died. God had appointed Joshua as Moses’ successor, had commissioned him, and he’s “filled with the spirit of wisdom.” Joshua’s mentor had “laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to [Joshua] and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.” The third verse is God speaking to Joshua. The Lord promises Joshua, “Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.” Not bad for Moses’ protege!
Two people who are mentors to both Sue and me, both spiritually and professionally, are PK and Reta Robinson. He’s a 1962 Air Force Academy graduate, became a fighter pilot, served two tours in Vietnam, was shot down in his F-4, and spent several months as a POW. Hero!
Speaking of Mustache March . . Well, we are now. Reta Robinson sent us this picture:
Then-Captain PK Robinson is at the upper right in this picture. Not bad for a fighter pilot ‘stache, eh?
I first met PK as a young captain A-10 pilot at Davis-Monthan AFB at Tucson, Arizona. He was the wing commander, and I was assigned as his instructor pilot (IP) as he checked out to be an IP. Later I interviewed to be his executive officer, and in one of the few mistakes of an otherwise stellar Air Force career, he selected me! Meanwhile, PK and Reta invited us to their church, Christ Community Church. I noticed people carrying their Bibles into church. I’d always been suspicious of people taking Bibles to church, because they were there in the pews. Not to be outdone, I brought my King James Bible that I received as a boy when I was confirmed. Reta noticed, and bought us a New American Standard Bible, and told us that we’d understand this one better. Besides, the pastor taught from this version. It was there that I learned the true meaning of salvation: It doesn’t matter how good you think you are, we all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. We all have to kneel before the cross of Christ, and ask God to forgive us. Sue went on a women’s retreat one weekend, and came back saved. We had the honor one Sunday night of watching as Reta was baptized. Reta did volunteer work at the church, and taught Bible study.
Sue and I left Tucson for Nellis AFB, where I flew the F-117. The Robinsons were assigned there sometime later. PK’s assignment was as the vice commander of the USAF Tactical Weapons Center. Sue and I got to return the favor, inviting PK and Reta to our church, the Las Vegas Bible Church. While at Nellis, I was honored to have PK and Reta attend my promotion ceremony to major, and we had the privilege to attend PK’s retirement ceremony.
The Robinsons have played a major role in Sue’s and my life. They were, and are, inspirational to us, and to many other people. I praise God and thank Him for putting Godly mentors like these into my life! We’re proud to call them “friends”!
The Robinsons in St. Louis, where Reta is from.
Worship: More Than You’ll Ever Know,” by Watermark
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation . . . as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:6-11, 21, NASB)
Did you know that we were once enemies with God? That’s what the Apostle Paul says in this passage from his letter to the Roman church. But the blood of Jesus can make friends out of us who were once His enemies. You’re ether a friend of God or you’re His enemy. I sure don’t want to be on God’s bad side!
Paul says, “while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” God’s timing is perfect. He gave us the Law of Moses to show us how lost we are, how no one could meet God’s standard of holiness. We were helpless in our sins. There was nothing we could do to be reconciled with God. But Paul says that Jesus died for the ungodly, and that’s us before we acknowledge our sins, and ask Him to be the Lord of our lives.
Paul goes on: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” We are born sinners. Christ died for us. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to take the punishment we deserve, and to die in our place. Once we accept Jesus’ sacrifice, and call Him “Lord,” “we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Paul says we should praise God and thank Him for this reconciliation we’ve received through Jesus Christ.
Finally, as we were once dead in our sins, being “lost” for eternity, and separated from God, “even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” It’s only through God’s grace that He made His plan of salvation, and it’s up to us to either accept it, or reject it. If we accept God’s gift of salvation, then we will be friends with God; but if we reject His gift, then we are His enemy. We get to decide our eternal destinies!
Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. (Romans 4:23-25, NASB)
The “he” in the first line of the passage above refers to Abraham. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Roman church, discussed Abraham as an example of justification by faith. Abraham and his wife Sarah were advanced in age, yet God promised them they would have a son, and through that son, Abraham was to be a father of many nations. In short, Abraham believed God.
Paul says that it’s not only Abraham who was justified (made just before God) but “for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” If we believe in God, and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, then we will be saved!
Further, Jesus “was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” Jesus’ mission was to die. That was His sole purpose for coming to earth. God’s plan of salvation was to send His Son to die as our substitute to take the punishment we deserve, and to die in our place. God raised Jesus from the dead so that we might be made right, or just with God. We must accept Jesus’ sacrifice for our justification.
I praise God and thank Him for His plan of salvation, and for my salvation!
Worship: “Jesus Paid It All,” by Kim Walker – Smith
I recently finished “reading” “Saving My Assassin” by Virginia Prodan on Audible. Mrs. Prodan was raised in communist Romania under the brutal dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaucescu. She became a lawyer. A colleague invited her to church, and she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. Christianity was frowned upon in Romania by the regime. She represented fellow believers and churches against false charges, which the government and secret police didn’t like. One day a man showed up in her office and said he was going to kill her. Can you guess what happened next? The title is a great spoiler alert, but there’s much more to the story. I saw the author on The 700 Club, and I had to read her book!
