Deuteronomy 19, Acts 10

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Deuteronomy 19 describes the cities of refuge, places that Israelites could flee after accidentally killing someone. There were initially 3 cities designated on the west side of the Jordan (Bezer, Ramoth-Gilead and Golan). After Israel conquered the Canaanites on the east side of the Jordan, 3 more cities were assigned as cities of refuge (Hebron, Shechem and Kedesh). These are listed in Joshua 20v7-8.

The cities of refuge provided protection, but only under specific circumstances. The accidental murderer had to flee immediately, since relatives of the now dead person could pursue them and avenge the death at any time that the accidental murderer was outside the city of refuge. This process is a shadow of salvation offered through the sacrifice of Christ. There is a specific method (“no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”), and we are to remain in Christ for our whole lives. Through Christ, God offers grace and mercy that the Law did not – God is not waiting outside to murder us when we sin and temporarily leave the covering of Christ.

In Acts 10, Peter explains to Cornelius the incredible covering offered through Christ. “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power… to him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name”. Peter also explains that this incredible gift is available to all, “God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him”. What an amazing God we serve!

Acts 9

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In Acts 9 we read of the conversion of Saul, a dramatic change of focus. While on his way to persecute believers in Damascus, Saul is blinded and rebuked by the words of Jesus. A dramatic but familiar story. His campaign against Christians had begun with the stoning of Stephen, and had escalated to Saul approaching the high priest for authority to persecute believers.

Saul was blind for 3 days until he was healed by Ananias, during which time he fasted. As soon as his sight was restored, Saul was baptised. He didn’t wait to have a meal, starting a new direction in life was the top priority for him. After being baptised and eating, Saul remains in Damascus, proclaiming in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God. He was encouraged by the bewilderment people expressed at his change in message, and “confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ”.  It affected them so much they plotted to kill him.

I think the lesson for us is the passion Saul demonstrated in whatever he was doing. Once zealously persecuting believers, then when redirected he zealously preached the gospel, “preaching boldly in the name of the Lord”. We too should be passionate and zealously proclaiming the hope of the gospel, and the great message of hope it offers.

Ecclesiastes 7, Acts 5-6

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Solomon writes “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” The crucial part of serving God is not the lack of sin, but rather the attitude towards it and the way we act after it has happened. Solomon had set out “to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness”, and discovered that “God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes”. Solomon had tried to gain wisdom through his own intellect, but discovered only the vanity of life. “I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me”.

In Acts 5-6, Jesus’ disciples were sharing true wisdom, without care for their own safety. Despite being “strictly charged… not to teach in this name”, Peter and the apostles answered “We must obey God rather than men”. They risked their lives to spread the gospel message that God had exalted Jesus, “to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins”. They even rejoiced“that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name… they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”

Such passion and zeal is an encouraging example to us in a world filled with apathy. The 12 disciples resolved to “devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word”. Let’s follow their example, and make God’s word the most important thing in our lives.

Ecclesiastes 5

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Ecclesiastes 5 offers some advice on the importance of listening. “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools”. James quotes this in James 1v19, “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger”.

Amongst all the advice we’re given, listening carefully doesn’t feature prominently, but the way we listen is a good indicator of our relationship. With someone we barely know, listening is very superficial, their words soon forgotten. But we pay careful attention to the words of someone we know well or want to know better. The same applies to our relationship with God – listening carefully is an important aspect.

Jesus used the phrase “he who has ears to hear, let him hear”. A bit of hyperbole, since we all have ears, but attentive listening can easily be neglected in today’s busy world.  Unlike Israel, who “with their ears they can barely hear”, we have the chance to really hear and understand, “blessed are… your ears, for they hear”. So let’s take the time to “draw near to listen”, both to the needs of each other, and also the “wisdom from above”.

Deuteronomy 10-11, Acts 1

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In Deuteronomy 10-11, Moses continues to summarise the history of the Israelites. He describes the way he received the 10 commandments, and alludes to the idolatry the Israelites were committing while Moses was in the mountain. Yet Moses says, “The Lord was unwilling to destroy you. And the Lord said to me, Arise, go on your journey at the head of the people, so that they may go in and possess the land, which I swore to their fathers to give them”.

Despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, God was going to keep His promises to the forefathers. God was looking for a response from the Israelites, “to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul… you shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge.” Moses goes on to describe the promised land, the benefits of serving God, and the punishment for turning aside to other gods. This warning needed to make an impact, “therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and your soul”.

God’s love was demonstrated in a more perfect way through Christ, who, although currently in heaven, “will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven”.

Deuteronomy 8-9, John 20-21

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Moses reminds the Israelites that it was God that had cared for them throughout the 40 years in the wilderness. He provided them with food, ensured their clothing didn’t wear out and their feet didn’t swell. He was giving the Israelites the land of Canaan because of the wickedness of the current inhabitants, not the righteousness of the Israelites.

This is a good lesson for us to remember. God hasn’t offered us salvation because of anything we’ve done. It is a gift, offered to us just as Canaan was offered to the Israelites. We’re constantly cared for and provided for, offered an incredible hope. We are among those “who have not seen and yet have believed” in the work that Christ did in order for us to have this hope.  It is up to us to respond to Jesus’ invitation to “follow me”, confident in the grace of God, trusting in His care, reflecting His glory to those around us.

Ecclesiastes 1, John 17-18

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In John 17-18, we read a prayer Jesus gave on behalf of his disciples, knowing that his crucifixion was fast approaching. “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one… I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word… that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them”. This prayer was for all disciples, including us, that God would keep and love them. This thoughtfulness at a time of immense pressure really demonstrates Jesus’ true character and love for others.

This care for others even extended to those present at his trial, as Jesus patiently explains to them his purpose in life, “for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice”.

Such a stark contrast to the way Solomon viewed the world, “All is vanity.” We have a hope, thanks to the love that God showed to Jesus, and Jesus showed to us, something more than vanity, a relationship with God.  Even when “all things are full of weariness”, that hope remains. Let us cling to that hope, allowing it to strengthen and motivate us, just as it did for Jesus.

Deuteronomy 4, John 15-16

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Moses reminds Israel in Deuteronomy 4 that God was close by and ready to listen, “for what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” God is unique and all powerful, “the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other”.

This special relationship with God is something that Jesus talks about in John 15-16, as he prepares his disciples for the time when he is no longer with them. These chapters are filled with the ideas of God’s love and Jesus’ love. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love… that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”  Later on, Jesus says to his disciples, “the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God… I am not alone, for the Father is with me.” Just like Jesus, we are never alone; God is with us, ready to hear when we call upon Him.

John 13-14

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In John 13-14 we see Jesus’ love for his disciples, even at a time “when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father”. These chapters continue to show insight into Jesus’ thoughts and character, rather than merely recounting events that occurred during Jesus’ ministry.

John comments “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end”, and Jesus demonstrated that love by washing the feet of his disciples. Jesus uses this opportunity to reinforce his teaching about the importance of service, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet”.

Jesus explains that love for others is a defining characteristic of discipleship. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” We’re called upon to follow Jesus’ example, “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do”, and by so doing we demonstrate our love for Jesus, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me”.

John 12

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Jesus continues his metaphor about light and darkness in John 12. In the context of explaining to the crowds at the Passover feast about his impending death, Jesus says “the light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you… believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Later, Jesus said “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness”. Darkness is not just the opposite of light, it is the absence of it. Without the light of the gospel message, we are without hope, without understanding of the future, as Jesus also points out, “The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going”.

Paul picks up on some of these ideas, exhorting the Ephesians to “walk as children of light”, since they were “at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord”. As children of light, our future is clear. It is up to us to share that hope with those around us.