Peter Misselbrook's Blog

May 6 2020 - Ephesians 3:1-21 – The unsearchable riches of Christ

Do you remember the story of the Magic Tinderbox? A soldier is returning from the wars when he meets an old lady on a quiet road. She asks him to fetch her tinderbox which, for some reason is in a tunnel beneath the roots of a tree.

The soldier climbs down under the tree and enters the tunnel. There are three doors on the right of the tunnel. He goes into the first and there is a treasure chest and seated upon it a dog with eyes as big as saucers. He lifts the dog down, opens the chest and finds it full of copper coins – but no tinderbox. He stuffs his pockets full of the coins, closes the chest, sets the dog back upon it and leaves.

He then enters the second door. There is another treasure chest and on it a dog with eyes as big as dinner plates. He lifts the dog down, opens the chest and finds it full of silver coins – but no tinderbox. He empties the copper coins out of his pockets and stuffs them full of the silver coins. Then he closes the chest, sets the dog back upon it and leaves.

Lastly he enters the third door. There is another treasure chest and on it a dog with eyes as big as cart wheels. He lifts the dog down, opens the chest and finds it full of gold coins, and there also is the tinderbox. He empties the silver coins out of his pockets and stuffs them full of the gold coins. Then, taking the tinderbox, he closes the chest, sets the dog back upon it and makes his way back to the old woman.

If you want to know the rest of the story you will have to look it up for yourself. I tell you this much because being a Christian is, in one respect, like being this soldier. The Christian life is a wonderful adventure in which we discover more and more of the inexhaustible riches of Christ; we just go on discovering more and more of the riches that are ours in him. And, much better than this story, we never have to throw away what we have already discovered in order to appropriate more of these riches. Here is the sense in which we can say "God wants you to be rich!" He wants you to discover more and more of the riches which are yours in the Lord Jesus.

Paul mentions a few of these riches in the verses that follow, though the whole of his letter is glittering with gold. In 3:10 he speaks of the "manifold wisdom of God" which is displayed in the church and which leaves all heaven amazed. God's wisdom, in all its various sparkling forms has been devoted to our salvation. In verse 12 Paul reminds us that because of Jesus we have the ability to come to God with freedom and confidence. In verse 17 he reminds us that Christ himself has taken up residence in our lives, we have become the palace of a king. In verses 18-19 he expands on the immensity of Christ's love for us, love that is quite beyond our comprehension. In verse 20 he reminds us of the power of God at work in and through us, and that God is able to do more for us and through us than we can ask or imagine.

These are just some of the riches that are ours in Christ Jesus – along, of course, with redemption, forgiveness of sins, adoption into God's family, eternal life... The list is endless. The treasure chest of his riches towards us in Jesus is inexhaustible.

Father God, we are filled with wonder and thanksgiving as we rejoice in the riches you have given us in the Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to discover more of those riches today and to revel in your immeasurable love for us. Powerfully work in us that these riches may spill out of our lives to the blessing of others and the glory of your name.

May 6 2019 - 2 Samuel 6 – The ark brought to Jerusalem

David has made Jerusalem his capital city and has built himself a grand palace that dominates this "city of David" (2 Samuel 5:9). But David does not want his name to mark this city, he wants it to become the centre of worship in Israel, a place where the Lord God of Israel is honoured and worshipped – he wants it to become "the City of God". So David decides to have the Ark of the Covenant brought to Jerusalem. As we have seen, the Ark of the Covenant was the symbol of God's presence with his people, the Lord is spoken of as being "enthroned between the cherubim". David wants to ensure that the Lord is now enthroned in Zion.

But how do you move an ark? David seemed to think that the best means of transport would be a cart pulled by oxen – it's the most efficient way to transport this heavy box from one place to another and was the method used by the Philistines when they returned the ark to Israel (1 Samuel 6). But when the oxen came to the threshing floor of Nakon, uneven ground near the floor made one of the oxen stumble and the cart rocked, threatening to upset the Ark. Uzzah, one of those accompanying the cart, put out his hand to steady the ark and was immediately struck dead by the Lord. Why such an angry response to what was intended to be a helping hand? What is going on here?

God had given instructions concerning the care of the ark. It was not to be touched except by the Levites. If it needed to be moved it should be carried by Levites using the poles that fitted through rings on the sides of the ark. David had ignored the command of God and as a result a man was dead. Do you remember Samuel's words to Saul when he had failed to wait for Samuel's arrival and had taken it upon himself to offer a sacrifice to the Lord? Samuel said, "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22). Obedience to God is more important than religious ritual. Saul's disobedience marked the beginning of him being rejected by God as king over Israel.

David was angry about what had happened (2 Samuel 6:8), but he was also afraid of the Lord (6:9). He was beginning to learn that God cannot be manipulated, nor can the throne of God (see 6:2) be made subject to King David. The Lord God is the King of kings; he is the one to whom kings and all rulers of this world must bow in recognition and obedience.

What of ourselves? Do we understand that Aslan is not a tame lion, our God is a consuming fire? The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

Three months later, David again seeks to bring the ark to Jerusalem. This time the ark is carried as God had commanded and, after a few steps, David offers a sacrifice – perhaps to atone for his arrogance and wrongdoing. The ark then continues on its way to Jerusalem accompanied by a rejoicing crowd shouting and blowing trumpets. David, dressed in a plain linen ephod or tunic, seems to have led the procession, dancing with joy before the Lord.

Michal – David's wife, Saul's daughter – sees David dancing and treats him with scorn. She seems to think that this is not how a king should behave. She comes from a royal family and believes a king should wear fine robes and maintain a dignified and elevated position among the people. David had behaved like a common servant. David's response is to say that he is happy to be humiliated in his own eyes. The Lord has given him a position of honour; he does not need to elevate himself.

Are we concerned for our own dignity and honour or for the glory of God? "Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12).

Holy Father, give me a fresh view of your greatness, purity and power that I may be humbled in my own eyes. Give me also to see the wonder of your grace which lifts me up to sit with Christ in heavenly places. Animate me with your Spirit and fill me with songs of joy.

Peter Misselbrook