Acts 2:14-36

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, Peter’s first speech, this one to the Pentecost crowd. A quick clarifying note and a bit of “theological geography” – in verse 14 Peter speaks to “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem…” We celebrate today’s reading as the feast of Pentecost. The root word, “Pente” refers to five or its multiples. So Pentecost is fifty days after the Passover, after Jesus’ Resurrection. It was one of three major feasts in Israel, where Jews from nearby and from afar came to Jerusalem to celebrate the “Ingathering” or “First Fruits”. Peter may not have known of the geographic disparity of the crowd described in verses 9-11. But he probably knew that the crowd recognized him and his colleagues as Galileans (v. 7). Their Galilean identity would have been recognized by the “locals”, more so than by those from distant lands, so he addressed his speech to “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem…”

My Study Bible pointed out some general Acts speech items that we will see again in similar fashion in chapters 3, 10, and 13:

1. An explanation of events
2. Jesus’ life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension
3. An exhortation to repentance and baptism/salvation.

It’s a good pattern for us to follow in sharing our faith with unbelievers, especially (2) and (3).

I’m always amazed at how well Peter and Paul and Philip (Acts 8:26-40) and Jesus! knew their Old Testament prophets and psalms and could quote them word-for-word (Acts 2:17-21, 34-35). No doubt this was part of their upbringing in Jewish families. Their home-schooling was more Scripture than math and rhetoric. In addition, I’m guessing that Jesus used these Scriptures to explain His own death and Resurrection, both before and after His Resurrection, so He built into the apostles even more familiarity with specific psalms and prophecies.

Finally, Peter speaks, but does not explain a fundamental theological point, “But God raised Him from the dead, … since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.” (v. 24, NASB) We could go deep into sin and death, but Paul says it most simply, “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) As a completely innocent human being, Jesus did not deserve to die. His Resurrection undid that wrongful death, never to die again. As we say every Sunday, “By His Resurrection He broke the bonds of death, trampling Hell and Satan under His feet.” Our liturgy. Sweet!

Blessings!

Acts 2:1-13

Dear RTB’ers,

The Holy Spirit makes His presence known! Get the full sense of His arrival. The eleven (or more) who were gathered together were hearing a sound from heaven like a mighty wind (v. 2), seeing tongues like fire on everyone’s head (v. 3), and speaking in different languages (v. 4). Put yourself into that story. Hear that sound from heaven, a sound like you’ve never heard before. See those tongues like fire on your friends’ heads, like the story of Moses and the Burning Bush! Then feel yourself speaking in a language that you’ve never heard. You are bursting with wonder, with joy, with power from on high! Then you recall what Jesus had said, “…you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:5) and “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8). His words. His Holy Spirit. Your new life. GLORY!!

Blessings!

Acts 1:12-26

Dear RTB’ers,

Continuing in Acts 1. Many writers refer to the formal name of this book as  “Acts of the Apostles”. [NOTE: This name was first used by Irenaeus in the late 2nd century. It is not known whether this was an existing name for the book or one invented by Irenaeus; it does seem clear that it was not given by the author…] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_of_the_Apostles. However, others like to call it the “Acts of the Holy Spirit” (myself included). I recall that the Holy Spirit is mentioned 47 times in the book of Acts. In chapter 1 we see “Holy Spirit” mentioned four times (Acts 1:2, 5, 8, 16); the first three reflecting Jesus’ words. Today’s reading is the first occurrence of the apostles using this term. Watch for it (Him!) more as we continue reading in this book!

Blessings!

Acts 1:1-11

Dear RTB’ers,

One of the men in white clothing speaking, “This Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” (v. 11) The angels tell the disciples that Jesus will return in the same way that He left. To me, initially, that means He will come in a “cloud”, somehow (Acts 1:9b). Or thinking further, maybe not a cloud, but an “emerging appearance”, seen by everyone in the entire world, simultaneously. I try to picture that and put myself into that picture. And I’m blown away!! Every Sunday we say together, “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.” And almost every time I hear emphasis on the word “will”. It’s a belief that we hold, that the apostles and Paul held strongly in those first years after Jesus ascended, that Jesus WILL return. Have you put yourself into that picture?

He presented Himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days… (v. 3a) Paul expands on the information that Luke provides, “…that Christ died …, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day …, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive …, Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me.” (I Corinthians 15:3b-8) In the next verses Paul goes on to explain the importance of Jesus’ Resurrection and His many post-Resurrection appearances. (I Corinthians 15:12-19) I have my own summary statement for that later paragraph, “If Christ is not raised from the dead, we are, of all people, the most to be pitied.” But Jesus is raised and WILL come again!! Foundational, fundamental beliefs. GLORY!!

Blessings!

Psalms 11-12

Dear RTB’ers,

I have seen over and over again in Scripture, both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, that God has a special place in His heart for the poor and needy. I had a lot to say yesterday about other stuff and did not focus on David’s comments in Psalm 10 about the poor, the needy, the afflicted. But take a look: …He does not forget the cry of the afflicted. (Ps. 10:12b); and For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. (Ps. 9:18); and O LORD, You hear the desire of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline Your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. (Ps. 10:17-18) Today we see that focus again, with action on the Lord’s part, “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” (Ps. 12:5)

I agree with the psalmist that the Lord remembers the poor, the needy, the afflicted. But my difficulty is with His people, with us – His church – and our remembering (or not remembering) the poor, the needy, the afflicted. There is huge income inequality among people in the industrial nations and between the industrial nations and the lesser developed peoples; wealth inequality is even more dramatic! We have a poverty rate in the United States of 13.4 percent, one in every 7.5 people living in poverty. Almost one-third of those living in poverty are children under the age of 18 – and they can’t do anything about it! Global poverty is even worse; I’ll not trouble you with those statistics. I’m encouraged that the Lord remembers the poor, the needy, the afflicted. I’m troubled that the wealthy (us!) don’t do more. But I don’t have any reasonable answers short of wholesale national and global changes.

My apologies for such a sobering post.

Blessings!

Psalms 9-10

Dear RTB’ers,

A header in my NASB translation referred to Psalm 9 as “Thanksgiving for God’s Justice”. And when we see wickedness and righteousness set against each other in Psalm 9 (much like yesterday’s Psalm 7), then that sounds like a good title. The header for Psalm 9 is followed up by my NASB header for Psalm 10, “A Prayer for the Overthrow of the Wicked”. Given that these two Psalms are one in the Septuagint (as noted in STS), thanksgiving for justice followed by the overthrow of the wicked seems appropriate! Pray for justice, then watch the results!

I’m always surprised / confused by what seems (to me) to be David’s excessive focus on the wicked and on his enemies. We have seen it already quite a bit in earlier Psalms, then today in Psalm 9 (Ps. 9:3, 5b-6, 15-17) and an entire passage in Psalm 10 (Ps. 10:2-11). The focus on the wicked and his/her/their deeds is strange (again, to me) in that most of us don’t see these people or their deeds in our everyday lives. We read articles in the newspapers and magazines. We see horrible behaviors – violence, lust, corruption, etc. – in movies and on television. But we tend not to see these behaviors ourselves unless our jobs or our volunteerism take us there. Presumably, King David actually saw these people and their behaviors. Because of his position he had evildoers in and around his throne, although certainly not of his making or his desire! All that, yes, but to be fair David’s concern for wickedness today is overwhelmed by his praise to the Lord for His goodness and His deliverance (many, many verses in both Psalms). In spite of wickedness, God’s righteousness overwhelms.

I was especially touched by David’s personal motivation for deliverance, “Be gracious to me, LORD … so that I may tell of all Your praises, that … I may rejoice in Your salvation.” (Ps. 9:13-14) His focus is on praising the Lord. It should be clear to us that when David is finally delivered, that his first action will be thanksgiving and praise. Even yesterday I noted David asking the Lord not to die, for how could he praise God if he were dead?

David closes today’s combined Psalm with his consistent confidence in the Lord’s working: O LORD, You hear the desire of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline Your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. (Ps. 10:17-18) Justice. Done.

Blessings!

Psalms 7-8

Dear RTB’ers,

No doubt the authors of Search the Scriptures spent thousands of hours poring over the books and chapters and verses of the Bible as they plotted a three-year journey through these Scriptures. Still, one wonders at their choice of putting Psalms 7-8 together on the same day, especially after two days of stand-alone Psalms 5-6. These two Psalms, 7 and 8, could hardly be more different.

Psalm 7 seems to be in the same genre as Psalm 6, something like a lament, but not fully so, with a lot of verses concerning David’s pursuers / enemies (Ps. 7:1-2, 4-6) and the wicked (Ps. 7:9a, 14-16), set apart by verses of praise, confidence and thanksgiving (Ps. 7:3, 7-8, 17).

Psalm 8, by contrast, is one of my favorites, especially (for me) those few words, What is man that You are mindful of him…? (Ps. 8:4a). David has begun and ended this Psalm by ascribing glory and majesty to his (and our) Lord (Ps. 8:1-2, 9). In between he reviews the magnitude of the heavens and sees mankind as such a small bit of God’s creation. But God looks down on this small bit of His creation, each and every one of His created human beings and has …crowned him with glory and honor… (Ps. 8:5b) and set him above everything else in all creation. It is such a humbling thought, that of all the glory that is God’s creation, that God looks down on mankind in a special way.

And if all that is not awesome in itself, because of His love for all of humanity and to rescue His human creation from the depths of their sin, He sent Jesus to die for us and His Holy Spirit to live in each and every one of us – each and every one of us, personally! …what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Awesome!!

Blessings!

Psalm 6

Dear RTB’ers,

Today’s Psalm 6 reads like a lament. I mentioned a few days ago of something I learned from our trip through the Psalms two years ago – synonyms for commands / commandments that helped me appreciate the Psalms more and understand them better. Today another item came up from 2022 – understanding laments. One of my Study Bibles two years ago listed the elements of a lament. We have three of those today: a cry for help (Ps. 6:1-3); the psalmist’s situation (his foes, Ps. 6:7-8); and an expression of confidence in the Lord’s deliverance (Ps. 6:8b-10).

Two other elements of a classic lament are missing (or hidden) in Psalm 6 – the psalmist’s protestation of innocence or prayer for vindication; and thanksgiving or grateful recognition for God’s help. I suppose it could be argued that verse 4b is something like David proclaiming his innocence or seeking vindication, but I see it more as a cry for mercy, …save me for the sake of your steadfast love, a recognition that he can do nothing without God’s help. Finally, surprisingly, I do not see thanksgiving in Psalm 6. I see a great deal of complaining and a lot of confidence in God’s help, but no real prayer of thanks.

Verse 5 is interesting, For in death there is no remembrance of You; in Sheol who will give You praise? David is “arguing” with God for his deliverance with an appeal to logic – if he’s dead, there is no “gain” for God, no one to praise Him, so God should deliver him. Interesting!

So, an introduction to laments. We’ll see quite a few more of those as we read on.

Blessings!

Psalm 5

Dear RTB’ers,

Sorry for the delayed post – morning medical appointments…

Psalm 5, again “A Psalm of David”. Today I noticed David’s castigation of the wicked (Psalm 5:4b-6, 9-10) contrasted with his prayers for the righteous (Psalm 5:7-8, 11-12).

Interrupted! Gotta go…

Blessings!

Psalms 3-4

Dear RTB’ers,

Today’s Psalm 3 begins with a header notation, “A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.” The title is associated with an incident reported in II Sam 15:13-17, when King David is on the run from his son, Absalom, who has attempted to usurp the throne from his father. Surprisingly, before he became king, David also spent many years fleeing from King Saul. So both before his reign and during his reign we see David fleeing for his life. But even as King David is fleeing from his son, I find that he has confidence in God’s deliverance: I cried aloud to the LORD, and He answered me from His holy hill. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. (Psalm 3:4-5) His sleep does not appear to be one of fitfulness, restlessness, anxiety. Rather, he seeks the Lord’s deliverance and is confident in the answer that he receives. A good lesson for us! Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The confidence that David shows in Psalm 3 is reflected again in Psalm 4: But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him. (Psalm 4:3) And we see again David’s restful sleep: In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8) A good lesson for us!

Blessings!