Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Apr 22 2020 - Acts 19:21-41 – Preaching threatens trade

Paul’s preaching caused a riot at Ephesus. The city was famous for its temple devoted to the goddess Artemis (or Diana), and this fame had created a lucrative trade for those who made religious icons for visitors to the city. Paul’s preaching that there was only one God, who made heaven and earth and did not dwell in temples made by hands was viewed as a threat to this trade, particularly as, not only in Ephesus, but throughout Asia, people were coming to believe Paul’s message. Incidentally, it’s interesting that these silversmiths did not feel able to diversify into Christian trinkets – silver crosses, statues of Jesus and the like. Religious iconography formed no part of early Christian worship.

So Paul’s preaching prompted a riot which turned the whole city into confusion and uproar. It was only quietened when the chief clerk reminded the crowd that all the world knew that Ephesus was the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from heaven. He seems to suggest that this undeniable truth would outlast the current fuss about this man Jesus.

Two thousand years later, about one third of the inhabitants of the world worship the Lord Jesus Christ. How many today worship Artemis?

The gospel has power not only to transform the lives of individuals; it has power to transform society. It banishes superstition (see Acts 19:19), and brings freedom. It was the gospel that empowered the abolition of slavery, the provision of universal education and abolition of child labour, the creation of hospitals and other charitable institutions, recognition of the dignity and rights of women – to name just a few. The gospel calls people to follow Christ and to live well with one another in lives of mutual service and mutual benefit rather than exploitation, injustice and oppression.

Sadly, Christians have not always lived up to the transformative call of the gospel – they have not always followed Christ. However, in the early centuries of the Christian church, Christians found favour among their neighbours for their generous treatment of those in need and their respect for women and children (see particularly, Rodney Stark’s The Rise of Christianity.) The traders in religious icons might have been angered by Paul’s preaching but Paul and the young Christian community seem to have commended themselves to many in the city; “the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honour” by both “Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus” (19:17). Even the city authorities seemed well disposed towards Paul, seeking to protect him from the power of the mob (19:31). One way or another, the good news about Jesus was making an impact on the life of practically everyone in the city.

Is our preaching and witness to Christ having similar effects upon our own communities? Or have we lost confidence in the relevance and importance of the gospel? Pray that the gospel will break out of our Christian ghettos and have a similar impact on our own society, threatening the economic viability of the sex trade, gambling industry and the like but bringing freedom, acceptance and hope to the oppressed. And then be ready for the reaction. 

Father God, we want to change the world through the message of the gospel and the power of the risen Christ. Help us not to provoke unnecessary conflict, but equally, keep us from toning down the message so that it loses its edge and fails to challenge the evils and falsehoods of our day. Use us for the furtherance of your kingdom. Above all, help us so to conduct ourselves that those around us may recognise that the message of Jesus is good news, bringing life, blessing and healing to a wounded world.

Apr 22 2019 - 1 Samuel 3 – The call of Samuel

We are told that the word of the Lord was rare in the days of Eli. It seemed as if God had given up speaking to a people who would not listen to him. So when the Lord called to Samuel he did not realise who was speaking and ran to Eli, thinking it was the old priest who was calling to him. The narrative then takes on the character of a pantomime with Samuel dashing to and fro until Eli realised that it was the Lord calling to Samuel and told him to respond by saying, "Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening" (1 Samuel 3:9).

The word of the Lord to Samuel echoes the word previously spoken to Eli by an unnamed prophet (2:27-36). God's judgment is about to fall on Eli's family in such a dramatic fashion that all Israel will hear of it and be startled. Samuel passed on the message to Eli only with great reluctance and when forced to do so. This word from God seemed dark and negative, but the Lord will have much more to say to Samuel in the days ahead and much more to do through him, for we read, "The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word" (vv. 19-21).

Samuel is the last of the judges, but, unlike most who had gone before him, he is no localised leader. The whole of Israel (from Dan in the North to Beersheba in the south) is united under his rule. So the nation is being prepared for the arrival of a king.

The Lord Jesus is not only our king and priest (as we saw in our last passage from Samuel), he is also our prophet. He is the one through whom God has most fully revealed his heart and mind. He is the Word made flesh. He is the one in whom all that God has previously said now finds its focus and its great 'Yes!' The writer of the letter to the Hebrews makes this point when he writes:

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Jesus is continually addressing us through his word and by his Spirit. He calls us to hear his voice and to follow him. If we do not listen to his call to follow him, we may find that he ceases to speak to us; "How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation" (Hebrews 2:3). The word of the Lord will become rare in our hearing so that we soon cease to recognise his voice at all. "Deafness" towards God is surely inviting him to respond in judgment.

Father God, we thank you that you are not a God who remains silent. You have revealed yourself through your word and especially in the Lord Jesus Christ. You have shown us the glory of your grace rather than the severity of your judgment. And you continue to speak to us by your Spirit as he writes your word upon our hearts and prompts us to respond. Help us always to be ready to hear your voice. May we have the same spirit as young Samuel who said, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." Keep us from closing our ears to you. May we let nothing of what you have to say to us fall to the ground. Help us rather to proclaim the good news that we have heard to others that they also may hear and believe.

Peter Misselbrook