Bible Reading Reflection from Matthew 1-7

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟙:𝟚𝟙

“And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name 𝕁𝕖𝕤𝕦𝕤 for He will save His people from their sins.”

What a name is our God! Named because that was the reason for His incarnation: God became man to save man because it's man who must die because it's man who sinned against God.

When we hear the name of "Jesus," it reminds us how sinful we are, and how God views sin seriously. Yet, many pervert people would say "Jesus" as a cuss word! Their own words have demonstrated the glory of God in condemning them!

May we honor The Name of Jesus!

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟚:𝟙𝟛

“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.’”

The coming of Jesus into the life of Joseph and Mary was not a peaceful one. It was a matter of trouble, violence, homelessness, disgrace, fear, and attacks. The good news is that they knew God was in charge.

And how often do we think God should orchestrate everything in our life to run smoothly, especially because we follow Him. God does not promise to prevent us from trouble. God does not promise to protect us from trouble. God does not promise to preserve us in trouble.

What He promises us is eternal life if we remain faithful. What He promises us is joy in all circumstances if we put our trust in Him. And above all, He has sealed us with the Holy Spirit, never to leave us.

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟛:𝟙-𝟚

"Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’"

The message of John the Baptist is "Repent." It's not, "God loves you and will fill your heart with peace." Jesus came into the world to call sinners to repentance. In fact, in chapter 10, He also said that He didn't come to bring peace, but a sword. Let's take our spiritual walk more seriously. Let's not love the world or the things of the world.

—Repent—

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎. 𝟜:𝟙𝟟

“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

The first gospel message preached by Jesus is the same that John the Baptist preached. It is the same that Jonah preached. It is the same message Jesus preached to the blind man, to the adulterous woman. It's the same message He confronted Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman.

Sin is Real. He came to save us from our sins. If there's no calling of sin, there's no gospel, no salvation, no Christ. If we are indifferent to sin, we are indifferent to the Gospel and Jesus Christ. If we don't mend our way and still cling to our sins, the gospel nor Christ is in us.

𝓛𝓸𝓻𝓭, 𝓢𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓬𝓱 𝓜𝓮, 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓪𝓵 𝓜𝔂 𝓢𝓲𝓷𝓼, 𝓒𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓮 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓶, 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓕𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓜𝓮 𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓟𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻 𝓞𝓯 𝓨𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓲𝓽 𝓣𝓸 𝓐𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓦𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓘𝓷 𝓨𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝔂𝓼!

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟝:𝟚𝟡:𝟛𝟘

"But if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ‘And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.’"

The main point I learn is: Sin is serious. Do anything to avoid it. Sin is hazardous. It's worse than being maimed and lame. It's worse than blindness, muteness, and dumb. Trade anything but sin. Trade everything even your body parts to get rid of sin.

We love to joke, "I have to sell my kidney to buy that." Jesus called us to trade away even hands and eyes, etc. to get rid of sin if needed.

Discipline. Avoidance. Set Rules. Boundary. Principles. Punishment. Accountability.

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟞:𝟙𝟡-𝟚𝟙

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The greatest investment is not in the stock market. It's not in Bitcoin or any Cryptocurrency. It's not in the bank, nor in insurance, or “marup,” or pigs, or shops. It's not even in your kids, in your careers, or in your assets (lands and houses).

The greatest investment is in heaven, where it shall last for eternity, and where it is risk-free. And its return (profit) is 30fold to 100fold. And if my math is correct, that means 3000% to 10,000% interest rate, not just 2% or 5% or 20%

How much have you invested already? How many hours have you taken to understand how to invest in lands or any business? Would you take time to think through how to invest in heaven too? It's not that simple nor that difficult. It takes careful thinking!

 

𝕄𝔸𝕋𝕋ℍ𝔼𝕎 𝟟:𝟞

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."

I am glad that this is written in Scripture. Even if it's not in the Scripture, I think it's written in our human conscience to affirm and practice this.

We can't afford to let people trample on things we hold dear. Years ago, my dad trimmed my hair. And I don't know whether it was neatly done or not, and I wouldn't let anybody mock my father if it wasn't as great as a professional barber. So, when people asked me who cut my hair, I told them it was my brother. And to my surprise, they commented that it was looking better than the works of the professional barbers.

We protect what we value. If a sinner doesn't want the holy things of God, we aren't giving them, not because we hate them, but because we love holy things enough not to be trampled under.

There are some books I love to read, some people I love to listen to, some places I want to go, some YouTube channels I love to listen to, some principles I love to practice, but I don't advertise or offer to everyone all the times. I must have mentioned it once or twice, and no more. That's because I love to protect and cherish what I value, I don't want people to dishonour it.

I think that's true in marriage proposals too. They love themselves too much that they cannot afford to be rejected. Therefore, they are careful when to propose and not to propose often.

Bible Reading Reflection from 2 Samuel 17-24

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟟:𝟚𝟛

"Now when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and arose and went to his home, to his city, and set his house in order, and strangled himself; thus he died and was buried in the grave of his father."

David had written many Psalms against this betrayal mentioned in this chapter. His own counselor had taken pleasure to kill him.

And look at the irony. Ahithophel suggested striking dead the king alone (v2), and indeed, ironically, Ahithophel killed only one person, himself.

Imagine yourself in the presence of the king. Ahithophel walked in with that suggestion. Then Hushai walked in. Ahithophel must be very curious knowing this wise formidable secret opponent. And after Hushai had spoken, he knew better than everyone that his game was over. So, he went and hanged himself. Another betrayer, Judas Iscariot hanged himself. Jesus, BTW, used David's Psalm to talk of His betrayal.

Don't devise evil schemes against your neighbor or your friend. You never know they may work against you.

A story is told about a man who wanted to kill his neighbor's son. He kept a poisoned fruit in the barn of his neighbor. Unfortunately, his own son visited that barn and ate the fruit, and died. And so, our Rongmei proverb goes, "Wishing to kill somebody's son will lead to the death of your own son"

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟠:𝟙𝟜

"Joab said, "I will not waste time like this with you." And he took three javelins in his hand and thrust them into the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak."

Joab was a man of no mercy, selfish, breathing only revenge. He killed Abner the commander of Israel, and Absalom, the King's son.

David still associated with him because he was a brave warrior. But is that a good reason? Actually, Joab hid the sin of David at least once. Joab must be blackmailing David or taking advantage of David in many areas, who knows?

In the end, David commanded his son to kill Joab.

What a strange relationship? Also, Joab and Absalom were friends, still, Joab killed him. David and Joab were friends, still, David killed Joab. It's like a mafia movie!

Maybe one of your friendships is exactly like these, partnering only in unrighteousness!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟡:𝟝

"Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, "Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who today have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines."

Let's be quick to forgive David in this story. Yea, he was wrong, he was selfish, he wasn't wise.

Instead of thanking God for delivering the kingdom, he was mourning. Instead of commending the soldiers who laid down their lives, he was silent. On and on...

But this is what human often does.

Let's learn to be thankful to God and others.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟘:𝟙𝟘

"But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab's hand so he struck him in the belly with it and poured out his inward parts on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba the son of Bichri."

David, the King himself couldn't do anything. Joab was a 'necessary evil' for his kingship. v22, Joab was welcomed like a hero. And he became commander again in v23. Under whom? The man after God's own heart!

Now, when politicians have hitmen, you may slander them like they are worse than any people. But perhaps they were as hapless as David. And if we compare against David, no one will say he is worse than us!

I heard from my friends that Tamenglong's DC Armstrong is demoted, transferred, and removed from his DC job after the murder of Athon Abonmai by NSCN-IM, a few weeks ago. And many police personnel were suspended.

UPSC aspirants seem to think cracking UPSC exams and becoming DC is everything. Well, IAS Armstrong couldn't do anything, rather he was removed.

Don't put your trust in a man, not even godly people. They are human. Put your trust in God.

And don't play God, we aren't. We will always fail.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟙:𝟞

"Let seven men from his sons be given to us, and we will hang them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD." And the king said, "I will give them."

This is not easy to understand, except that Justice shall be served, and keeping [respecting] Covenant matters to God.

In recent years, I have become more aware that some people are really good at not keeping their words. Keep your word!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟚:𝟠-𝟡

"Then the earth shook and quaked, The foundations of heaven were trembling And were shaken, because He was angry. ‘Smoke went up out of His nostrils, Fire from His mouth devoured; Coals were kindled by it.’"

Have you ever spoken of God like this?

Have you ever said a prayer (publicly or privately) like this?

Have you ever pictured God like this? Thought like this?

People who are far from you think you are cool. The online profile of almost everyone is cool. I can even look handsome with Photoshop.

But those who live in our house know our not-so-cool stuff.

Those who know God know not only the lovely stuff but also His wrath against sinners.

Up your knowledge of God!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟛:𝟙

“Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse declares, The man who was raised on high declares, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel.”

4 descriptions of David, his legacy, how he is remembered:

1. The son of Jesse

2. Who was raised on high

3. The anointed of the God of Jacob

4. The sweet Psalmist of Israel.

How would people remember us after we die? Somebody said most people cease to exist 30 years after their death. How many of you know the names of your great great great grandfather? If the family members do not know, nobody knows.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟚𝟜:𝟚𝟜

"However, the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God which cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."

I am glad when people admire what I do, but I am gladder when they imitate what they think is good at what I do: Moving beyond Appreciation to Imitation. Apostles Paul and John had the same exhortation on this.

We all love David. We love to even narrate this very chapter and verse about how David offered to the Lord. We need to imitate him, and start applying this truth in our lives.

Offering to God must cost us, right?

Stretching the application: it's reasonable to spend money for your auto fare to go to church. It's reasonable to "waste" your time in the fellowship of the saints. It's reasonable to risk your health [covid fear] in going out for a church program. Even following Jesus is costly. It costs us everything. Let's live like that.

We Indian love freebies and goodies. David on the other hand was a generous man.

Bible Reading Reflection from 2 Samuel 9-16

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU) as a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟡:𝟙

"And David said, "Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

So, David, when he became king, remembered his friend Jonathan.

Somebody said, "Be kind to people on your way up because you will be meeting them on your way down." David indeed had his down moment. Mephibosheth no doubt would have met the king, but Ziba, his servant cheated him.

A movie, Cinderella (2015) has a captivating line, "Have courage and be kind." David exemplifies this!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 1𝟘:𝟝

"When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly humiliated. And the king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards grow, and then return."

Man seeks glory for himself. He will do great things to receive glory. If he cannot do those, he will humiliate others to exercise glory over the oppressed ones.

Why do we do anything? Think.

Seeking glory can be godly and sinful like a knife can be used to slice an apple or stab a man. When our seeking for glory is aligned with God’s seeking for His glory, it's godly. When it's not, it's sinful. Simple as that!

Why about glory? Because we find humiliation in the quest for glory. Hanun exercised his glory over David and his messengers by humiliating them.

Or substitute with "hurt". Man wants to hurt others. That's why you shout when you get angry—to hurt others. That's why they kill [more than hurt]. Some hurting led to humiliation, others to death!

Let's reduce the way of hurting and humiliation in our quest for glory.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝕒𝕞𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟙:𝟚𝟟

"When the time of mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house and she became his wife; then she bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD."

Perhaps the blackest chapter in David's life! Yes, the whole episode recorded in this chapter is.

What a contrast of characters: David, an undisciplined human, and Uriah, a disciplined human even when he was forced to get drunk; Uriah, a true defender of Israelites, David a traitor.

Is there anything David can boast of? Is there anything any man may boast of (for that matter)? Your sins are really your sins, but your godliness from the least to the greatest is of God.

David would have lived in such type of sin forever, if not by the grace of God. See, how he moved from one sin to a chain of a greater sin. It's God who restrains a sinner. It's God who grants repentance. It's God who brings a change of heart towards God. Or else, David's destiny would have been no better than Saul’s.

Also in the New Testament, Peter was no better than Judas Iscariot. Jesus prayed for Peter and granted him faith and repentance, and entrusted him to be the leader. As Steve Lawson says, "The perseverance of the saints is the perseverance of the Saviour in the saints"

We will not fail. We will not be lost. We will not be cast away. Because it's Him who holds us. We are too incompetent even to run away from God. Breathe the Grace of God!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟚:𝟙

"Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said, "There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor."

This is one of the most helpful, relevant, and powerful parables in the Old Testament. I can find and see the reality of this parable almost every day.

This kind of injustice is everywhere. But what can we do!? Only God knows how to judge righteously and He does! So, be cool, relax!

I have been treated this way many times, and I'm sure (unfortunately) I must have treated others as well. And I don't think anyone is morally superior to you or me when it comes to this. We all have done this to some extent.

I had only 100 rupees for my monthly expenditure. My roommate had thousands, being richer. He lived eating whatever he wanted whenever he liked. While I had to live by a budget, not by my desires. There were times he asked me to lend him some money to buy something because he didn't have cash, and he never paid back. Yeah, Stephen Leacock’s story, My Lost Dollar comes to mind.

I, a poorer man never owed him anything. Never borrowed anything from him. Never needed his help. I knew how to live my life comfortably with whatever I had. He, a richer guy, owed me, often borrowed from me, never returned. This rich friend of mine lived in debt to poorer me!

Another illustration

I wanted to charge (up) my phone but didn't trust the plug. There was a younger guy (btw, most young guys are always poor, being unemployed) with a cheaper phone. I suggested, "Hey, your phone is cheaper than mine. Let's try first with your phone before I plug in mine."😂😬

David, a rich man was robbing a poor man whose only means of joy was that lamb.

John Wick's wife [a Hollywood movie scene] was dead. His delight was only the dog that his wife gave him. Somebody killed that dog! And there you have Nathan's parable even in Hollywood! 😂😂 Eagerly waiting for John Wick 4 BTW. May we look out for the interests of others too!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟝

"Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, "Get up! Go!"

Have you ever loved someone more than others, and then at some point of time, you began to hate that person?

Over the years, I have increased my understanding of this verse, but still, I don't understand enough how love can turn into hatred.

Well, there is one girl whom I liked to text often, but now, I don't want even to have her number! 😂 So, I think, I understand, now!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟜:𝟛𝟘

"Then he said to his servants, "See, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants set the field on fire."

Absalom was totally desperate, and he decided to do what would really catch Joab’s attention. Are you ever desperate like that?

Well, sometimes, I want God desperately that I told God (confessed) that “if I know where God's field is, I will set it on fire that He may listen to me.”

Well, Absalom was manipulating Joab and David, instead of repenting. He was successful but of course, led him to his early death later on.

But, desperate for God, for God's blessings, for God's mercy, for deliverance is good. Psalter is full of that. Even Jacob wrestled with God till the daybreak. The Syrophoenician woman was arguing with Jesus about the crumbs under the table.

BTW, nobody can manipulate God; one can (may, must) only beg, ask, and wait on Him.

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟝:𝟚𝟞

"But if He should say thus, 'I have no delight in you,' behold, here I am, let Him do to me as seems good to Him."

David didn't want to see Absalom anymore, but Absalom manipulated the situation by burning down the field of Joab.

In the case of David, when God had chastised him, by removing him away from the throne, he would not manipulate the situation. He just submitted to the will of God.

The Greater King, Christ Jesus submitted Himself to the will of God in the garden of Gethsemane! Bearing punishment, not His but of His people!

Christian Living is submission to the will of God. David suffered for his sins; Christ suffered for the sins of others. Whether we are righteous or not, suffering is inevitable. All in the good purpose of God. Let Him do whatever seems good to Him!

 

𝟚 𝕊𝔸𝕄𝕌𝔼𝕃 𝟙𝟞:𝟚𝟚

"So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel."

Alas! What a horrendous thing! But God allowed so. Actually, God planned so, because Nathan prophesied of this as a punishment upon David.

What had those ladies done to deserve this? According to the narrative, It was David's sin. Ahithophel suggested this, possibly, partly as revenge on David for committing adultery with his [Ahithophel's] granddaughter, Bathsheba.

Elsewhere, as a punishment, God made the disobedient Israelites eat their own babies, and let the enemies rip off the pregnant women. And yet, many people want to rescue God and defend God. Well, who made the world bad, was it not God? He cursed the woman to be rebellious, He cursed the man to be abusive and live in suffering. He cursed the ground and so there are calamities.

Viruses, Floods, Violence, Bloodshed, Rape, Diseases everything bad and evil are the instruments of God. Nothing is random, nothing is accidental, everything is planned.

So, in conclusion, God is the solution for all things. David knew that. So, he didn't even kill Shimei, the dead dog in the words of Abishai. David let himself and his men be cursed, abused, stoned because he knew ‘it’s God who is in the background’ (v10, 12) And God was pleased to exalt David again.

Imagine walking along with David, and Shimei, throwing stones and pebbles and dust upon you all. Not just the insult, but you really have to cover your head from the stones. Maybe David was hit once or twice as well! 🤔