For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
2 Cor. 13
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.” (2 Cor. 13:5a). I think that is something we should all be doing daily, and all the more when conflict arises. Is our concern with being right or with the truth? Do we feel the need to defend and rationalize our actions? Or do we, as Paul exhorted, “Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” (2 Cor. 13:11b)? Of course, it is important to remember that we must live in peace with God’s truth first and foremost. If we are able to set aside our differences and still do that, we should. But if not and the other party insists on turning away from God, we can no longer remain in close fellowship with that person. We can and should, however, continue to extend God’s love and truth to them.
1 Sam. 13-14
What is Saul’s failure here, and what did it cost him? What do you learn from this story about Jonathan? His armor bearer? Saul? Saul did something that we see many times in the Bible and that never ends well. He took things in to his own hands. He knew that he was to wait for Samuel. Yet he let fear cause him to lose faith and he broke God’s command.
One could argue that Saul’s son, Jonathan, likewise took things into his own hands when he and his armor-bearer took on a detachment of Philistines on their own. But I see some critical differences in the motives and behavior of father and son. Unlike Saul, Jonathan had not received a specific command from God. In addition, Jonathan was acting on faith, not on fear as his father had. Saul did not trust God to save when he saw his men fleeing. Finally, Jonathan left room for God to close the door on his act of faith. Then, when the door swung open wide, Jonathan and his armor-bearer boldly trusted that God was with them and took appropriate action.
I also see differences between Jonathan’s trusting faith and Saul’s faithlessness in how they responded when they were called out for their disobedience. Though Saul had knowingly and willfully disobeyed God’s command, rather than admitting his failure, he tried to rationalize his actions. And he didn’t just try to defend himself. He laid blame on Samuel and attempted to frame his own actions as godly. Jonathan, on the other hand, disobeyed his father unintentionally, as he wasn’t aware of the oath. Yet when he was called out by oath he simply stated the truth with no attempt to defend his actions. It is pretty clear to me which of these two men passed the test of faith that Paul mentioned. It seems it was clear to God as well, as He spared Jonathan and declared an end to Saul’s kingdom.
Ps. 54
Trace the movements of David’s prayer. Use these same steps as you pray about your troubles. When David was in trouble, he always sought God first. He laid out his case before God, then declared his trust in God’s faithfulness to save. Finally, he sealed his faith by praising God with thanksgiving for the deliverance that was yet to come. Complete and humble reliance on God may not give us the results we expect, but it will never fail.