Isaiah 53 - Jesus Died For The Sheep Who Had Gone Astray

We typically hear the reading of Isaiah 53 every year during Lent, on Good Friday, along with verses beginning at verse 13 of the 52nd chapter of Isaiah.

It is a reminder of why Jesus had to die. That is, for us, because of our own sinful ways... "We all, like sheep, have Gone astray, each of us has turn to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isa 53:6 NIV)

Jesus took upon himself our pain and he bore our sufferings. He was crucified for our transgression and for our iniquities. It is by his wounds that we are healed. It is by his sacrifice for us that we are made whole!

We may hear this lesson on Good Friday, but I am reminded of it often. For, I, like all of you, often act like a sheep that has gone astray. Whenever I mess up big time (that is sin), God's gentle Spirit reminds me why Jesus had to suffer persecution and such a cruel death. He died bearing our sins, those sins we commit today and will commit tomorrow. Through faith in him, our sins (of even today and tomorrow) were crucified with him.

May God help us to more faithful to the one who was and is faithful to us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Don't forget to read Isaiah 53 - you will recognize it immediately if you've ever attended at Good Friday Service at Zion or most congregations anywhere.

2 Samuel 3 - Truce is Over

OK.. Truce is over and a long war ensues between the house of Saul and the house of David. Ishbosheth (Saul's heir)insults Abner, the commander of his troops, over a woman, a concubine. Abner's a little irritated, so he figures he's going to show Ishbosheth who really has the authority and power and it's not Ishbosheth. After all wasn't it Abner who set Ishbosheth up as a king in the first place? Abner goes to David proposing a covenant. Now that he helped to divide the people, Abner's going to bring them together under David this time. They strike a bargain again verifying that what Abner wants or orders is what Abner gets. Abner promises to ensure that David is finally accepted as king over all people of Israel and he gets him his wife Michal (Saul's daughter) back as well - much to the disappointment of her new husband.

The annointed King David and Abner, the commander of Saul's house, make peace and Abner departs.

Well, there is another commander to contend with and he's been out on a raid while David and Abner were conferring. He's been left out of the negotiations. Joab is not happy! Abner had killed Joab's brother and now it is Joab's time to avenge his brother. He kills Abner.

David's angry and curses Joab. But, with all this war and peace and war and peace, I can't help but wonder what David's motivation for being angry with Joab really was.
1. Was it really because Joab struck Abner in a time of
peace?
2. Was it because David recognized Abner's power and
authority with the people and needed him so that he
could win over all the people and be genuine king?
3. Was it because of sentiment, because of Abner
delivering his wife, Michal, whom he loved, back to
him?
Lots of stuff go into the decision making process of a leader. Abner was surely loved by many, but there are just too many factors to make me think that all of David's grieving over Abner was because of his love of Abner. Rather, I think he knew deep down that it was politically advantageous for him to grievously grieve for Abner, in order to win Abner's followers to him. For this great man, Abner, had in fact divided the house of Israel. Abner had led an army against David and David's followers killing many, including the brother of David's commander, Joab.

Politics and war and peace... notice that this whole mess is pretty much about politics and not faith. It seems to me that God has been conspicuously quiet lately. It is about what men want and not so much about what God wants and it is a mess. When men (and women) start manipulating others to get what they want - to show their power and authority - it usually ends up in a mess.

Not our will, Lord, but yours be done on earth as it is in heaven.