A Lying Spirit – 1 Kings 22:19-22

“Then Micaiah said, ‘Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right and on His left.  And the LORD said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.  Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ The LORD said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’  And the LORD said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’”

We know this lying spirit is Satan based upon what Jesus told us “When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”  (John 8:44b)  “Something that we don't often consider is that in a sense, Satan is a servant of God. He is serving God's purposes. That is why God has allowed him to exist. That's why God has allowed him freedom. He is acting in the sphere of his own free will, but yet the controls are ultimately held by God. We have made a tragic mistake in our thinking processes as we think of Satan as an opposite of God. Satan is not an opposite of God.  God is an eternal, omnipotent, self-existent being, whereas Satan is a created being and is in the rank of angels. So if you're looking for an opposite of Satan, you'd have to look at maybe Michael, one of the archangels. There you would have opposites. But in no way is he an opposite of God. No way does he rank even near God. He is existing under the total sphere of God, and though he is opposed to God, he is not an opposite of God in any sense of being an opposite to God Who is God, the eternal, omnipotent God.  Satan is definitely limited in his understanding, in his abilities, in his powers. They are limited by God. God says you can go so far, no further. Satan complained to God the fact of his limitations in the case of Job. "You put a hedge around that guy. I can't get to him." And he was complaining that God had put limitations on what he could do. So Satan is only allowed liberty within a limited spoke. God puts the limitations on him, but he does serve purposes of God. Thus, God can use and often does use Satan or his emissaries to fulfill God's purposes. Here is the case where God uses a lying spirit to fulfill His purpose.”  (Chuck Smith)

It is hard to call Satan a ‘servant of God’ – because that should be our title.  If Satan keeps that title, it should be preceded with words like rebellious, prideful, murderous, hateful, and deceptive.  Maybe the more appropriate way to look at it is that Satan must submit to God, and the things he does, God can use toward good.   Satan is limited, and he hates it.  He hates you.  He is most clever to deceive you.  Do not for an instant think you are more clever.  Oh, but God is gracious.  He will bring you the truth and you must decide.  How many times did God send a prophet to Ahab to give him the truth in these critical decisions?  Up to now, and even now, each time. 

Do you ever notice how some people will say they are seeking God’s counsel, and when you share with them what God’s Word says on the matter, they disregard it, or get mad and argue about it?  That is the thing about deception that makes it much easier for the deceiver.  The person that falls for the deception is already bent toward hearing the lie.  When a person already wants something, it is fairly easy to deceive them.  Ahab believes and wants to proceed with the war, so he is easily convinced of his future victory by the 400 prophets that all counsel him in unison.  “Unity is not always the mark of a true church or a true ministry.” (Matthew Henry) 

Jesus warned us not to be deceived at the signs of the end of the age “And He said: ‘Take heed that you not be deceived.  For many will come in My name, saying ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.’”  (Luke 21:8)  Paul warns us that times will become more perilous, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Timothy 3:13). 

In this story, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah who loved God and His prophets, was unimpressed by the lie of the 400 prophets.  Jehoshaphat spoke up after Ahab’s prophets made their pitch, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of Him?” (1 Kings 22:7)  God does not want His people to be deceived.  Scripture shows us how to discern.  As Paul told Timothy, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God; and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17) 

The passage about Micaiah’s vision should give you pause.  Remember the spiritual warfare around us and about us.  Study God’s Word daily, not for justification of your actions, but to correct your actions.  Pray to seek God’s will, not your own.  Ask God for discernment and wisdom, He will give it to you.  It is the blindness and hardness of the heart that makes us subject to deception.  Through the Holy Scriptures and with the help of God’s Holy Spirit, our hearts will melt and we will discern the truth. 

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Marvelous In My Eyes? – Zechariah 8:6

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, will it also be marvelous in My eyes?’ says the LORD of hosts.”

In the previous chapter of Zechariah, the prophet reproved the people who were disobedient and rejected the truth.  They would, or should, have been left with a deep sense of guilt about the state of their nation and the desolation of their land.  God designs such events, or allows them, to bring people to repentance, but not to despair.  As we see in this chapter, the prophet speaks God’s words of encouragement to the remnant who are willing to be obedient.  He tells them of the restoration of Jerusalem, the richness of the land, that men and women will grow old and children will play in the streets without fear.  He tells them to reform their ways to be ready for these blessings, and he tells them the times of their previously non-ordained fasts will be turned to times mercy when there will be feasts and celebration.  In the midst of this good news, God points out that such a turn of events is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant.

‘Marvelous’ in their eyes (Strong’s 06381) is to “be beyond one's power, be difficult to do, to be difficult to understand, to be wonderful, be extraordinary.”    Well…yes!  For the remnant, ‘these days’ were dark and difficult.  The challenges before them to rebuild the temple, the city walls, and the nation, looked impossible from their perspective of being a small and feeble people.  God described for them a city and society that seemed out of reach.  The news was too good to be true.  How can these things be?  Maybe they marveled as well at the mercy of God.  What had the people done to deserve such blessings? 

God’s ways are not our ways, which is why God shows the contrast: “will it also be marvelous in My eyes?”  With this question, God is pointing out that what He said will transpire is not too difficult for Him, it is not beyond His power.  To consider that something is beyond His ability is a foreign thought to God.  Such a thought must be rejected.  God assures us in His Word of His power over the impossible.  “For with God nothing will be impossible.”  (Luke 1:37)  “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  (Matthew 19:26)

Such good news from God is marvelous in their eyes because they cannot see how it can come to be.  Typically, once the remnant experiences the fulfillment of God’s promises, it is no longer marvelous in their eyes, but a blessing worthy of joyful praise.  But because of their current situation, it is at this point marvelous in their eyes.

There are days in everyone’s life that are dark and difficult.  Whether you are plagued with financial troubles, injury or sickness, relationship problems, legal issues, maybe you are suffering persecution because of your stand for Christ, or you are beginning to think it will be impossible for that friend of yours to surrender to Christ.  Remember that with God all things are possible.  So often we cannot see our way through the troubles, or see a way for that loved one to know the joy of a relationship with Jesus.  But God has a way.  His way is not our way, and that is why we marvel.  God can easily get over the difficulties that seem insurmountable to us.  It is not marvelous in God’s eyes that one day the burdens that now have you buried will be forgotten and all the mourning replaced with “joy and gladness and cheerful feasts” (Zechariah 8:19b). 

“I remember when a boy being taken to see the residence of one of our nobility, and the good friend who took me noticed my astonishment at the largeness of the house. I was amazed at it, having never seen anything like it, and so I said, ‘What a house for a man to live in!’ ‘Bless you, boy,’ said he, ‘this is only the kitchen!’ I was only looking at the servants’ apartments, and was astonished at the grandeur thereof; but the mansion itself was a far nobler affair. Oftentimes when you see what the Lord has done, you are ready to cry out, ‘How can all this be? His goodness, his mercy, is it as great as this?’ Rest assured that you have only seen a little of his goodness, as it were the kitchen of his great house: you have not seen the palace of the Most High, where he reveals his full power and splendor.” (Charles Spurgeon)

However desperate your situation remember that nothing is impossible with God.  He said so!  Take your troubles to Him, talk to Him, trust Him.  It may be marvelous in your eyes now (beyond your power), but soon it will be turned to the reality of joyous praise! 

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Human and the Divine – Mark 12:35

“Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, ‘How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?’”

When Jesus asked a question, he was teaching.  He wanted His hearers to think about a subject that was well known, what the scribes had taught, and then he was going to expand upon it.  He was going to help the hearers understand the Messiah, the Christ, in an entirely new light.  In a way the scribes were lacking.

The title ‘Son of David’ is a Messianic title.  The scribes used this title for the Christ, the expected Messiah, the long awaited for Deliverer.  “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”  (2 Samuel 7:12-13)  This is a prophecy of the anointed one to come, whose kingdom will be forever.

This phrase ‘Son of David’ made it clear to the scribes that the Messiah would be of the lineage of David.  But there was a problem with their singular thought.  There was a prophecy that, due to his sins against God, King Jeconiah’s descendants would not rule on the throne of David, see Jeremiah 22:24-30.  Based upon this curse of the descendants of Jeconiah, it appeared to be impossible for this eternal king to come from the lineage of David.  “If the kingship is passed father to son, but none of King Jeconiah's descendants would rule, then how could the Messiah, the son of David, rule? The answer is that Jesus inherited the throne through Joseph without being a physical son of Joseph, and at the same time was still a son of David through his mother.” (lavistachurchofchrist.org)  Even though Jesus came to earth through immaculate conception, since Joseph and Mary were married prior to Jesus' birth, Jesus is considered Joseph's son.   Joseph is from Solomon’s line of David, as shown to us in the first chapter of Matthew.  Solomon is the royal line.  Mary is from Nathan’s line of David as detailed in chapter three of Luke.

Jesus complicated His question to the scribes by quoting the inspired statement by King David from Psalm 110:1, “The LORD said to my Lord…”  The question from Jesus combined with the quote from David point out a scriptural difficulty for the scribes who looked only for a human fulfillment by the Messiah.  It is not possible for a descendant to have authority over an ancestor, yet David was not mistaken because he was inspired with these words by the Holy Spirit.  If the Messiah is David’s Lord, then the Messiah must be something greater.  This is the point Jesus is making.  The scribes were unable to answer the question due to their limited view of the Messiah.  Jesus was helping the scribes and those in attendance to see that the Messiah had an additional nature:  divine.  Until this point, the scribes’ understanding, and therefore their teaching, was of a Messiah that was less than what the scriptures described.  Mary should have known.  She knew how Jesus came to be, and she was told by Gabriel that the child would be divine: “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David" (Luke 1:32).

To the dismay of the scribes and Pharisees, many people proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah and therefore called Him ‘Son of David.’  “When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, ‘Son of David, have mercy on us!’” (Matthew 9:27)  “And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’” (Matthew 15:22)  “Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, ‘Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!’” (Matthew 20:31) 

“David was promised that one of his offspring would rule forever. Jesus was called the "Son of David" while he was here on the earth. He was born in David's city, Bethlehem. The gospel of Matthew records that various people, on six different occasions, acknowledged Jesus as the Son of David. This is a messianic title. Jesus never denied that he was the Son of David. In fact, on Palm Sunday he received the praise and worship of the people.”  (Don Stewart)

As a result of this teaching, the common people, some of whom had called Jesus the Messiah by referring to Him as the ‘Son of David,’ had a greater understanding of the Messiah.  They had a greater understanding of Jesus.  “…and the common people heard Him gladly.” (Mark 12:37b)  I thank God for this passage, because now we can have a greater understanding of the human nature and the divine nature of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.