For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Gal. 1
What problem in the Galatian churches was Paul addressing? Why was his story important in addressing that problem? I mentioned in an earlier post on Romans 1 that the word “gospel” refers to good news specific to a kingdom. So the gospel of Jesus Christ preached by Paul and the other apostles is the good news of God’s Kingdom, which came to us in the person of Jesus. Paul solidified this point by stressing the fact that he received this gospel message not from man but directly from Jesus Himself. Straight from the horse’s mouth, if you will.
This distinction about the word “gospel” makes it clear why Paul said the “different gospel” that the Galatians were turning to was “really no gospel at all.” (Gal. 1:7a). Everything in the Old Testament is a promise of God’s coming Kingdom. None of it – not Abraham, not Moses and the law, not the prophets – actually brought God’s Kingdom to us. Only Jesus did that. Jesus is the only means by which we are able to be made right with God and become a part of His Kingdom. And His is the only Kingdom where we find life. This good Kingdom news is the only true gospel. To put your trust in anything else is to put your trust in the “non-gospel” of some “no-god.”
2 Sam. 17-18
Why was Ahithophel’s advice rejected? Why did he end his life? How do you feel when your advice is ignored? Ahithophel intrigues me. He strikes me as a man who God blessed but who, like so many others, eventually let the blessing become greater to him than the God who gave it. Ahithophel was David’s counselor, but both David and Absalom trusted him. The writer says of him, “Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God.” (2 Sam. 16:23a). Because we know that wisdom comes from God, I can’t see how somebody could give such wise and trusted advice unless God blessed them to do so.
In spite of being David’s counselor, however, Ahithophel willingly went with Absalom when he conspired to take the kingdom. Why? My guess is that Absalom wooed him, along with the general population. Therefore, Ahithophel believed he was placing his bet with the winning team. That, to me, is the first clue that his position and reputation had become his god. What seals that thought for me is that he went and hanged himself when his advice wasn’t followed.
I’m sure the rejection of his advice was new to Ahithophel. So maybe this was the ultimate pity party because he didn’t know how to handle it. But I suspect that Ahithophel knew he had made a BIG mistake. Not only did his effort to maintain his position and reputation fail, but he also may have realized that God had stood against him. Though he still had the wisdom of God, he no longer had God’s favor. He had betrayed God’s chosen one and thus lost what he had tried to keep. It seems even wise Ahithophel could have learned from the simple soldier who was wise enough to say that even for a thousand shekels he would not go against the King’s desire.