John 1

The Word with God in the beginning, who was and is God, by whom all things were made, became flesh and lived with us.  John introduced Him.  We saw Him.  He surpassed Moses in bringing grace and truth, where Moses brought law.  He has revealed God to us.

When they asked John what he was doing, he said he was preparing them for the coming of the Lord, as Isaiah 40:3 said.  "Behold the Lamb of God!" he proclaims, and men begin to follow Jesus.  Andrew brings his brother Simon, and Jesus changes his name to Cephas, or Peter, which means rock (we might say "Rocky").

Jesus heads for Galilee, home of Peter and Andrew, Philip and Nathanael.  Jesus describes where Nathanael was when Philip told him about Jesus - Jesus wasn't there!  Nathanael believes, and Jesus encapsulates His mission: He will be the ladder between heaven and earth that Jacob saw in his dream (Genesis 28:12).


Application

• Our Creator came to live with us.  Those who saw and lived with Him wrote about it here.
• This Word is the source of our life and light, and overcomes darkness within us.
• We need to heed prophets like John the baptizer and John the writer of this Gospel book, as they point us to, and describe, Him.
• Jesus, the Word, as our Creator, knows us and shapes us so much, the name He gives us is better fitting than our current names.
• We are often seeking Jesus for smaller things, when His mission covers the world, and connects with us personally.

2 Samuel 3-5

Chapter 3
Abner decides to change his support from Ish-Bosheth to David.  David welcomes it, but Joab kills Abner without David's knowledge.  David protests this, mourns Abner, and indirectly calls Joab wicked.

Chapter 4
Two of Ish-Bosheth's captains assassinate him and bring his head to David, thinking he will reward them.  But he kills them, for they have done a wicked thing.

Chapter 5
All Israel makes David king.  He conquers Jerusalem, and fortifies it as his own home.
The king of Tyre sends David gifts of building materials.  David is firmly established and powerful as king.  He defeats the Philistines.


How this is about Jesus
He has unscrupulous and violent followers, too, who will be judged.
One day every knee will bow to Him, and even Gentile kings will support him.


Application
Chapter 3 - Leaders are often plagued by key advisors or supporters who are as strong as they but unscrupulous, manipulative or severe.
Chapter 4 - Don't let the reality of politics lead you to do wicked things.
Chapter 5 - Vindication may be long in coming for you, like it was for David.  But by faithfulness and hard work, the Lord will provide it, either in this life or the next.

"These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!” - 2 Samuel 3:39

Luke 24

The women go to the tomb Sunday morning to apply spices to the body.  They are NOT expecting a resurrection, having forgotten Jesus' prophecy of it after 3 days.  The angels have to remind them.  They go tell the apostles, who don't believe them.  Peter goes to the tomb but leaves wondering what happened.

Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus and has them explain why they are sad.  He rebukes them mildly and explains recent events of His from the Scriptures.  In their home, Jesus breaks bread and they recognize Him, but He vanishes right away.  In their excitement, they rush the seven miles back to Jerusalem in the dark to tell the disciples in the upper room.  They are also excited, as Jesus appeared to Peter in the meantime.

Suddenly Jesus is there with them all.  They still have a hard time believing it, but He speaks with them, eats in front of them, then explains all over again from Scripture what the Christ was to do.  He commissions them to be His witnesses - the message is repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name.  He then ascends to heaven.


Application
How patient Jesus is with our slowness of heart to believe!  How frustrating it must have been at the moment of triumph and victory to be met with doubt and fear and confusion, instead of worship and joy.  Still, He gets them over their doubt first, then explains it all.  Our Lord equips us for our calling, to be and make disciples of Himself.


“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen" - Luke 24:5-6

2 Samuel 1-2

An Amalekite comes to tell David of Saul's death, and gives Saul's crown to David.
David mourns for Saul's death, and kills the Amalekite who admits finishing Saul off.
(David begins to assume the kingship, here.  You may not command capital punishment unless you are the king.)

David moves back to Israel, to Hebron, and the elders of Judah anoint him king.
But Saul's commander anoints Saul's son Ish-bosheth king over the rest of Israel.  Uh-oh.
Violence breaks out.  Abner kills David's nephew Asahel, but only 18 others.  Israel loses 360.


How this is about Jesus
His anointing as king of Israel was also challenged.  Violence resulted.
But Jesus did not pick up the sword - His anointing was to a different purpose.


Application
There are times to fight, even with God's people, to maintain God's purpose among His people.  Horrifying and distressing, but also necessary.


"How the mighty have fallen!" - 2 Sam. 1:19

1 Samuel 30-31

Returning home, David and his men find the Amalekites raided and kidnapped their families.  This is a new low, and they talk of stoning him (as Israel did of Moses just before the Exodus).  But He seeks God who promises victory if they go after the raiders.  God grants them victory, and David makes sure the background men are rewarded along with the front line fighters.  He also sends some spoil to Judah.

Saul doesn't fare as well.
The Philistines win the battle, Saul and his three sons all die, and the Philistines take his body, armor and some cities.


How this is about Jesus
To be saved, the old man, the first Adam, our sinful man has to die.  Saul represents this.
David represents the second Adam, Christ raised and exalted to the throne.
Israel not only talked of stoning Jesus, they did it.
David saves physical life of his and his men's families; Jesus rescues souls.

Application
When you are in a fix and discouraged, strengthen yourself in God (30:6).
After a victory it's easy to be hard on others.  Show mercy (30:22-25).
Unfaithfulness will bring you to a bitter and shameful end (31).

What We Know about God

Part Five: the Knowledge of God
Chapter 29 - God and Our Knowledge

Calvin began his Institutes talking of our knowledge of God.  We turn there now, remembering that "any human attempt to know" (698) ought to be done to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

To maintain the Creator-creature distinction, we must affirm that God's knowledge is different than ours.  Ours is derivative from His, limited, reliant on Him, a process of acquisition, and a reinterpretation of facts.  God's knowledge is none of these things.  Our mode of thought is totally different, but we can know the same propositions.

We cannot master God the way we master other fields of knowledge.  But His transcendence doesn't mean He is unknowable.  He accommodates His speech to us, but isn't lying or misleading us.

The reality of God's Lordship affects our knowledge.  So does our ethics.  Obedience yields a certain kind of knowledge of God, while rebellion yields another kind.

Obedience
Knowing God is given by His grace and involves all Three Persons (control).
It is subject to God's authority in our obedience.  Knowing God produces obedience, and obedience leads to knowing God.  To obey, we must know God (Reformed thinkers are good at this part), but it's also true that to know God, we must obey Him.  Obedience and knowledge of God are near synonyms: to obey Him is to know Him.  So obedience is a prerequisite to know Him.  If you want to know if you know God, examine your life as much as your thoughts.  Are you acting like He is there?
Knowing God also involves His presence.  We know facts, skills and people, and this applies to knowing God.  We can know facts about Him, and ought not to disparage that (Exodus 19:1-20:1).  But having skills of relating (prayer, service, etc.), and knowing Him personally are definitive.  Even the demons know Him, and tremble.  We are personally involved as a friend.  The bible even uses the word "know" as a euphemism for sex, that's how closely the idea of knowing is tied to the personal in the bible.  We are ever before Him and have to deal with Him.

Disobedience
Rebels and demons know God, too, but suppress that truth (Romans 1).  The demons tremble, so their knowledge of Him is also personal.  But they have an irrational outlook, trying to stand on their own thoughts apart from God:  irrational rationalism!

1 Samuel 28-29

The Philistines muster against Israel, and Achish insists David fight with him.

Saul is scared, and seeks God, but He doesn't answer.  So Saul seeks out a witch/medium to raise up Samuel.  Samuel tells Saul he'll be dead by tomorrow, and Israel defeated.  She gives them a fatted calf and unleavened bread, hinting this is an anti-Passover. (Not Moses but a medium; not redemption but defeat; not obedience but rejection).

David, meanwhile, is like Moses, raised with the Egyptians/Philistines but escaping from them to fight for Israel instead.  The Philistines are probably right when they protest to their king that David would turn against them in battle.

How this is about Jesus

Unlike Saul, He sought only the Lord when in distress and agony, at His temptation in the desert and in Gethsemane.

God delivered Him from surrounding enemies, unlike Saul.

As usual, people around Jesus are divided about how to respond to Him, as the Philistines were with David.

Application

If God won't answer you, examine and purify yourself.  Do not seek wisdom elsewhere while you wait on Him - there is no plan B that will help.

If you find yourself eating with the wicked while they do or approve of wicked things, you've gone a long way down the road of Saul.  "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers..." (Psalm 1:1).

"Tomorrow you [Saul] and your sons shall be with me [Samuel]" - 1 Samuel 28:19

Luke 23

The Jewish leaders bring Jesus to Pilate to be condemned.  Pilate declares him innocent three times, but they keep pressing for a conviction.  Pilate sends him to Herod, which Herod appreciates, but Jesus says nothing to his questions and Herod sends Him back.  When the Jews threaten to riot Pilate gives in.

While carrying His cross out of the city (!), Jesus warns His mourners that it'll be worse for them when Jerusalem is destroyed.
Once they nail Him to the cross, the people weep, but the rulers dare Him to save Himself.  One of those crucified with Him rails on Him like that, but the other knows Jesus isn't at all like that.
It is dark from noon to 3pm, when Jesus dies.  The supervising Roman declares Jesus' innocence, and many were watching.
A Sanhedrin member, Joseph from Arimathea, asks for His body.  He abstained or voted no for Jesus' condemnation.  He buries Jesus in his own very fancy and expensive tomb.  This is Friday night, and the Sabbath was just beginning.


Application

• The innocence of Jesus is declared repeatedly by most participants and onlookers.  Jesus didn't deserve this - we did, for our sins.
• Our piety tends to focus on weeping for Jesus at His death, but He points us elsewhere - to the suffering we could face in times of judgement.
• Especially at the cross there is a division between those who grieve what is happening, and those who scoff or demand His help selfishly.  All the world responds in one of these two ways.

1 Samuel 24-27

Saul comes back once the Philistine threat is over, and pursues David again.  David gets a chance to kill him in a cave, but David refuses.  He does point it out to Saul, though, once Saul leaves the cave. Saul acknowledges the wrong, and that David will be king, and asks David to spare his family when he is!  David promises, but when Saul leaves, he stays away from Saul.

Samuel dies.  David moves to Nabal's territory in Carmel.  He and his men protect Nabal from Philistine raiders (25:15-16).  He asks Nabal for a little something at a sheep-shearing festival, but Nabal calls him a rebel and wonders why he should give David anything.  David goes to attack him.  But Nabal's men warn his wife Abigail what happened.  She gets a bunch of food ready for David and intercepts him.  She petitions wisely and successfully, and David blesses her.  She tells Nabal the next morning, and God strikes him dead.  David takes her as his wife.

David spares Saul again.  Saul acknowledges it even more than before, blessing David.
David goes to the Philistines for refuge.  They accept him now, seeing how much Saul hates him.  David keeps his distance from King Achish, though, and raids Israel's enemies, not Philistia's.

How this is about Jesus
He used his strength to protect Israel through teaching and miracles.
He was supported by faithful women (Luke 8:1-3).
God built up His ministry through these things, as he built David's house, before his sacrifice, ascension and coronation.


Application

• Like with David, allegiance to Jesus takes precedence over any other loyalty, including a marriage.  Abigail calls her husband a worthless fellow to David, because of his rejection of the King of Israel.
• Don't try to get something for nothing, like Nabal.
• Diplomacy can go a long way to cooling tempers.  A soft answer turns away wrath.

1 Samuel 23

David saves an Israelite town from Philistines and Saul pursues David instead of fighting Philistines. Just as Saul is about to catch David, news comes to Saul that the Philistines have attacked again.  He wakes up and goes to fight his real enemy.


How this is about Jesus
He led by teaching instead of fighting, but the dynamic is the same.  While Pharisees and Sadducees led the people astray into error, compromise and legalism, Jesus gave them real bread.  The Pharisees and Sadducees pursue Him as a result, instead of turning to feed the people better.


Application
Know your enemy.  Although there are weeds in the church or faithful families, avoid infighting whenever possible.  Don't make enemies of God's allies.

Psalms

52.  God is going to cut you down for plotting my destruction, but He will prosper me.

57.  David takes refuge in God when men try to trap him.  He sings and exalts God over Heaven and earth.

142.  I cry out a complaint to God, for no one cares for me.  Deliver me so I can thank You.  I know You will.

54.  Save me, God, for the ruthless seek my life!  You are my helper and have delivered me.

63.  Lord, I long for you like I do for water in a desert.  You satisfy me like rich food.  My enemies will fall, and the king will joy in You.


How this is about Jesus
Read the Psalms as if Jesus were saying them, not just David.
Jesus had enemies, cried out to God in distress, and God delivered him.


Application
This is good reading when we are discouraged or tempted.  God is our refuge.

Luke 22

The leaders want to arrest and kill Jesus, but they can't get at Him.  Judas agrees to betray Him - he can lead them to Him secretly.  Passover is arranged, but Jesus alters the liturgy significantly.  It is about His blood, not lamb's blood from the Exodus.  He won't drink the last cup until the Kingdom of God is consummated.  And someone will betray Him.  The disciples argue about who is the greatest, and Jesus calls them to serve instead, until He gives them thrones from which to judge.  Jesus prays for Peter that Satan not destroy him.  The disciples will be hard pressed soon, unlike before, and must be prepared for it.

They leave the city of Jerusalem (they are sleeping nights on Olive Mt.) and Jesus observes the traditional night of watching (Exodus 12:42).  But again, the liturgy is altered since the fulfillment of the Exodus is at hand.  Jesus asks God to change the plan, if possible, but it isn't, and He is in agony, while His disciples sleep.

Judas arrives with the soldiers to arrest Him, Peter starts to fight but Jesus stops him and rebukes them for their under-handedness.  They take Him to Caiaphas.  Peter skulks behind, and denies knowing Jesus 3 times when he arrives.  They mock and beat Jesus before questioning Him.  Their question is only meant to trap, not discern the truth, to which they are opposed.  Jesus responds that He will be seated next to God very soon, forever.  They condemn Him.


Application

• Jesus has authority to redefine the centuries old Passover service, since He is fulfilling it.  He is the true Passover, sacrificed for us (1 Cor. 5:8).
• Like Peter, we may resolve to fight for Jesus (going down in a flame of glory), but we are more likely to be ashamed to be condemned, arrested and humiliated for Him.
• It's helpful to tell the difference between a sincere question seeking the truth, and questions asked only to mock, entrap or condemn.

1 Samuel 22 - Psalm 56

David hides out from Saul in a cave.  Discontents and debtors flock to him.  Saul is full of self-pity and anger at his advisors.  Doeg rats on David, and Saul unjustly condemns Nob's priests for helping David.  Doeg kills them and their town and families.  One of the priest's sons escapes to David who takes responsibility when he hears of it.

Psalm 56
Men are out to kill David, but he will trust in God.  God is for him, marks all his sorrows and troubles, and will deliver him.


How this is about Jesus
Caiaphas (Saul) unjustly condemns Jesus (Nob priests) and gets Rome/Pilate (Doeg) to kill Him/them.
God delivers Jesus from men out to kill Him, as the Son trusts the Father and does His will.


Application
David's leadership skill must have grown during this time - hard to corral all the discontents!
Saul's leadership is shown to be poor: manipulation by pity and bribery.
Saul blames his advisors when he is mainly to blame.  David accepts responsibility that is barely his at all.

John Owen on the Sinai Covenant

Part III: Anthropology (Man) and Covenant Theology
Chapter 18 - John Owen on Sinai

Owen's view on this can't be categorized so easily.  He didn't see Sinai simply as another administration of the covenant of grace, or as a distinct law covenant subservient to it.

The old covenant spoken of in Hebrews 8 is not Adam's covenant of works, but the redeclaration of the moral commands from that, at Sinai.
The new covenant spoken of in Hebrews 8 only takes effect formally at the death of Christ, so is not synonymous with the covenant of grace administered from Genesis 3:15 onward.
The promises of the covenant of grace were in effect during Moses, but the Sinai covenant did not bring "reconciliation with God nor salvation" (299).  It is added for our sins (Gal 3:19-24), bringing up the futile promise of life and certain curse of death on our way because of them.  But this points us ahead to Christ's work.  So, even though it has some positive aspects (established worship, civil and church government, pictured heaven in Canaan), it is a negative overall compared with the new covenant.

Owen's main concern was exegetical - doing justice to 2 Corinthians 3:6-9; Galatians 4:24-26; Hebrews 7:22; 8:6; 9:15-20.  He could write that there are two covenants we are wrapped up in: Adam and Christ.  But also that the Sinai covenant wasn't synonymous with the covenant of works or the covenant of grace.  Neither was the new covenant (Christ's obedience and death) synonymous with the covenant of grace.  So there are at least 4 covenants/testaments to deal with, that overlap in complex ways.

Owen's view can't be easily dismissed, though it differs with the Westminster majority, given his careful exegetical motivation.

1 Samuel 20-21

Jonathan isn't fully convinced his father Saul is set on killing David, but David is.
Jonathan covenants with David's house, against his father Saul.
At the next feast, David is intentionally absent, to see if Saul will be mad.  He is and takes it out on Jonathan, trying to kill him with a spear like he did David.  Jonathan goes out and keeps covenant with David, telling him of Saul's intent and sending David away.

David flees to Nob, where priests live.  He gets bread from before the ark for his journey, though it is meant only for the priests - an exception can be made for this.  He also takes Goliath's sword.  He flees to Gath (where Goliath was from, with his sword!), but they recognize him as their enemy.  So he acts crazy and useless, and thus gets away.


How this is about Jesus
Israel's leaders sought to arrest Jesus many times, but He escaped.
Prominent Israelites sided with Jesus against the installed rulers, like Jonathan did: Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus of John 3.  They also received anger and threats, as Jonathan did (John 7:50-52).
Jesus refers to David eating temple bread when the Pharisees accuse Him of breaking the Sabbath.  He assumes He is on David's mission, fleeing the bad guys, and He is!  (Matthew 12:1-8)

He remains silent before Gentiles who could kill Him.  Being greater than David, instead of avoiding death in exile, He accepts it and so saves the world (Luke 23:8-11).


Application
Work together with God's people and leaders.  Protect and help each other.
Sometimes good deeds done in the past, help you in the future in yet unknown ways (Goliath's sword).
Enemies can arise from unexpected places (Saul).
When desperate for help, don't be foolish about who you take refuge with (Achish).