For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
1 Thes. 2
We read yesterday about how Jehoiada took a bold stand against the evil of Athaliah. Paul did the same thing in his ministry. Paul and his co-workers faced heavy opposition, most everywhere they went. In spite of this, they continued to boldly preach the gospel and live God’s truth before all. The reason? Paul said, “We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.” (1 Thes. 2:4b). Their faithfulness to God set the example for the Thessalonians, who likewise stood fast in the face of strong opposition.
My desire truly is to be faithful, even when things are hard. I want to be bold for God even when it’s scary. Pleasing God needs to be goal number one. I see more and more that I can’t do that in my own strength. It is far too easy to get caught up in the emotion of the moment and revert to the ways of my human nature. That is why it is so important to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41).
2 Kings 13-14
What reason does the author give for Israel’s prolonged oppression by Aram? Israel’s faithlessness to God is obvious. They routinely followed in the same ways and committed the same atrocities as the nations God drove out before them. While God was no more favorable of the behaviors when committed by Israel, He repeatedly chose to give them mercy. When Jehoahaz sought God’s favor, God gave it. Even while under oppression at the hand of the king of Aram, God was gracious and compassionate toward His covenant people, Israel. Though he had committed other nations to destruction, He was unwilling to destroy Israel or even to banish them from His presence. Instead, the LORD saw their suffering and stepped in to help, even though they did not deserve it.
Once again, I see all of this as a picture of what God did for us. We all like sheep have gone astray. We are all lost in our own sin. But God made a promise, and He is bound to keep that promise. So, while we were still lost in our sin, He saw our suffering and He stepped in to help by sending us a Deliverer. And now, though we still get it wrong like all the other people around us, we are covered by His great mercy.
Ps. 70
“Hasten…come quickly…do not delay.” Where in your life do you feel the need for God’s timely help and deliverance? Hasten…it so rarely seems like God moves quickly. We love some instant gratification, don’t we? But God loves patience, trust, endurance, and steadfast faith. And so He often makes us wait. We need to know, though, that God isn’t guessing at the right time to act. Because He is not bound by time, He knows. So we can trust that, no matter how delayed it feels, God’s help is always timely.
With that thought, I read verse 4 two ways. “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, ‘The LORD is great!’” (Ps. 70:4). The obvious interpretation is that this is a prayer for God’s action. We will rejoice, be glad, and praise His great name because He stepped in to save. And I believe this is true! However, the less obvious interpretation is that this is a prayer for our trust. It is a prayer that we will rejoice, be glad, and praise His great name even before He acts because we know His help will come at just the right time.