Peter Misselbrook's Blog

May 3 2019 - 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 2 Samuel 1:17-27 – Saul dies in battle

We have seen that David had been anointed by Samuel to be the next king over Israel. Although King Saul had been disobedient towards God and had sought David's life, David had refused to raise a hand against Saul. David was content to wait for the Lord to remove Saul before he would take upon himself the role of leader over God's people.

Today we have read of Saul's death. In a battle against the Philistines, the Israelite army had fled and Saul's sons, including Jonathan, had been killed. Saul was critically injured by a Philistine arrow and knows he will soon be captured. Not wishing to be mocked, abused and tortured by the Philistines he tells his armour-bearer to kill him. When the armour-bearer refused to do it, Saul fell on his own sword – taking his own life in a form of Hari-kari and his armour-bearer then does the same. But Saul cannot escape the abuse of his body after death; the Philistines found him and cut off his head which they sent around their cities in triumph. Saul's body was then fastened to the city wall at Beth Shan. The same fate seems to have befallen Saul's three sons.

How does David respond to Saul's death? He takes no delight in the death of the man who had sought his life. We might have expected him to lament the death of his friend Jonathan, but David laments the death of Saul as well. He laments the fact that the mighty ones of Israel have fallen (2 Samuel 1.19); that Israel had been humiliated and the Philistines were gloating over their victory. He grieves for Jonathan who was dear to him and whom he loved as a brother (1:26), but his grief is also for Saul (v.24):

From the blood of the slain,
    from the flesh of the mighty,
the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
    the sword of Saul did not return unsatisfied.
Saul and Jonathan –
    in life they were loved and admired,
    and in death they were not parted.   (vv. 22-23)

David had been content to await God's timing for him to succeed Saul as king. Now that the time had come, he is more concerned to honour Saul than promote himself; he is not anxious to exert his right to be king over Israel but concerned rather to honour Saul and Jonathan who had sought to defend God's people against the enemies who had threatened them.

In this, David sets us an example. Are we concerned to honour those who have sought to defend the people of God and the cause of Christ even when we disagree with them personally, or are we more concerned to advance the cause of our own party and its champions while speaking ill of those of other parties – as we perceive it?

We long for the day when all weapons of war shall perish, the day when all humankind will live under the glorious reign of the Prince of Peace. But we remember that Jesus Christ our Saviour has gained the victory over all the forces that oppose God, his purposes and his people, at the cruel cost of his own life. There, for a while, on that hillside outside Jerusalem it might have been said, "How has the mighty one fallen!" But neither death, nor all the powers of darkness can defeat him. Jesus is our risen and triumphant Saviour; we do not mourn his death but celebrate his saving work.

Father God, we thank you for the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ and that we too are more than conquerors in him. Help us by your Spirit to live for you and to honour all those who have given their lives to defending the cause of the Gospel.

May 3 2020 - Colossians 3:18-4:18 – Devote yourselves to prayer

Yesterday we noted that the resurrection life is to be lived relationally; we are to live well with others and to be mediators of the blessings of God in Christ. Paul underlines this point by mentioning a number of relationships: husband and wife; parents and children; slaves and masters. Paul knows that his readers have to live within the social structures of their own time and culture but he encourages them to transform every relationship through the compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience of Christ. In all that they say and do, Christians are to act as servants of their Master in heaven.

It’s in this same spirit that Paul encourages the Colossians saying, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful" (Colossians 4:2). Prayer lifts our eyes to our heavenly Father so that we see afresh the abundant riches of the blessings he has poured out upon us in Jesus Christ. Prayer feeds a spirit of thankfulness just as thankfulness should find expression in prayer.

And prayer is essential to the resurrection life to which we are called. Jesus told his disciples to "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak" (Matthew 26:41, cf. Mark 14:38; Luke 21:36). The only way to keep a watch over our lives and to stand firm in moments of temptation and testing is through continual prayer. In ourselves we do not have the ability to live consistently and entirely for Christ; we need the enabling that comes from the Spirit of God and from our all-conquering Saviour. Prayer is an expression of dependence and is the source of help and strength. Be watchful in prayer.

Prayer is essential to the life of discipleship; it is an expression both of our need and of God's ability not simply to meet our needs but to bless us beyond our asking or imagination.

But prayer is not just about me – not even just about me and God. Paul goes on to ask the Colossians to "pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should" (4:3-4). Jesus taught us to pray that God's kingdom might come. Prayer is to be kingdom focused even as it must have its focus in King Jesus. Prayer is an expression of the longing and expectation that the kingdom of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ and that he will reign for ever and ever. Prayer is vital to the extension of the kingdom – and not just in a general way, but by praying for specific ministries and specific people.

Paul not only calls the Christians in Colossae to be faithful in prayer, he assures them that others are praying for them. Epaphras, who was from Colossae and had been instrumental in founding the church there “is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured”, says Paul (4:12). And Paul had begun the letter with the assurance that he and his team have not stopped praying for the Christians at Colossae, always thanking God for them and asking God to fill them with his Spirit (see 1:3-12).

It’s a great privilege and joy not only to have access to God in prayer but also to pray for one another. Prayer is foundational to the work of the kingdom and to the growth, maturity and influence of the people of God.

Lord, teach us to pray – teach us to wrestle in prayer. Keep us mindful of one another, constant in prayer and full of thanksgiving as we look for and work towards the coming of your kingdom.

Peter Misselbrook