Restoring Sight to the Blind

46 And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. – Mark 10:46-52 ESV

Jesus and the disciples continued their journey to Jerusalem. James and John must have been demoralized by Jesus' response to their request that He grant them positions of authority in His new Kingdom. They hoped for key roles in His royal administration, but instead received a lecture on servanthood. He told them the path to glory was through humility and sacrifice, which was not what they had hoped to hear.

The disciples struggled to understand what Jesus was trying to tell them. They were suffering from spiritual blindness, an incapacity to comprehend all that was taking place around them. It seems that no matter what Jesus said or did, their spiritual eyesight remained darkened by doubt and false perceptions. What happens next drives home their need for enlightenment.

As they passed through Jericho, Jesus and the 12 disciples encountered a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. Both Matthew and Luke provide their versions of the same event, but with slightly different details. Mark is the only one of the three who notes the beggar’s name, even telling us who his father was. Matthew reports two blind beggars, while Mark and Luke mention only one. But their stories share a common link: it took place not long after Jesus revealed for the third time that He was going to Jerusalem to die.

“Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.” – Luke 18:31-33 NLT

All three gospel authors note that the disciples struggled to comprehend the significance of Jesus’ announcement.

But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about. – Luke 18:34 NLT

This wasn't the first time the disciples found Jesus’ words hard to understand. In chapter 8, Mark records Jesus trying to warn them about the leaven of the Pharisees. But while Jesus was talking about the pervasive and dangerous nature of the Pharisees’ teaching, the disciples misunderstood and thought He was upset with them because they had failed to bring bread. This led Jesus to rebuke them for their hard hearts.

“Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” –Mark 8:17-19 ESV

On that occasion, Jesus followed up their display of spiritual blindness with a miracle of healing. He met a blind man in the town of Bethsaida, and “he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly” (Mark 8:25 ESV).

Now, as Jesus entered Jericho, He had another “chance” encounter with a blind man. This was no coincidence; it was a divinely timed opportunity to give the disciples one more living object lesson. As if to prove this was a real story about a real person, Mark gives us the man’s name: “Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus” (Mark 10:46 ESV). If any of Mark’s readers ever passed through Jericho, they could look the man up and hear his story firsthand.

But Bartimaeus, upon hearing that Jesus had come to Jericho, began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47 ESV). This physically blind man could “see” something about Jesus that many sighted individuals had failed to comprehend. He called Jesus the Son of David, acknowledging His royal lineage and verifying His legal right to inherit the kingdom of His forefathers. The Jews used the title, “Son of David,” to refer to the coming Messiah. This long-anticipated Savior of Israel was to be a descendant of King David, fulfilling God's promise to David.

“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.…And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” – 2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16 ESV

While this prophecy was partially fulfilled by David’s son, Solomon, his kingdom was far from everlasting; it ended in disappointment. Solomon failed to remain faithful to God, worshiping the false gods of his many wives and concubines. So, after Solomon’s death, God divided his kingdom. Ten tribes formed the nation of Israel in the north, and two tribes formed the kingdom of Judah in the south. Most of the kings who reigned over these two kingdoms would also prove unfaithful. Eventually, God punished both kingdoms by causing their defeat at the hands of their enemies and sending their people into exile.

But this blind man could see Jesus for who He really was. He believed Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, the Son of David, and the rightful heir to the royal throne. He cried out, begging that Jesus might show him mercy, but “many rebuked him, telling him to be silent” (Mark 10:48 ESV). Luke indicates that “those who were in front” tried to silence him, and this group likely included some of the disciples. I can imagine Peter being one of the first to silence this poor beggar. After all, Peter was the one Jesus had blessed when he rightfully confessed, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16 ESV). Peter wasn’t about to share his glory with some disheveled blind beggar living in the middle of nowhere.

But Bartimaeus refused to be silenced. As they tried to stifle his cries, he called out even louder. He would not allow this opportunity to pass him by. The Messiah was nearby, and he longed for his sight to be restored. So, when Jesus called for Bartimaeus, he responded as quickly as he could, despite his disability. Then Jesus asked the blind man a question with a seemingly obvious answer.

“What do you want me to do for you?” – Mark 10:51 ESV

Jesus did not ask this question because He was unaware of the man’s problem. He gave Bartimaeus an opportunity to express his desire and, in doing so, reveal his faith. And Bartimaeus did not disappoint.

“Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” – Mark 10:51 ESV

Bartimaeus addressed Jesus as rhabbouni, which means “Lord and master.” He believed Jesus could restore his physical blindness. He longed to regain his sight and knew that Jesus was his only hope. And Jesus graciously fulfilled the man’s request and expectations. But before Jesus healed Bartimaeus, He gave him a command:

“Go your way; your faith has made you well.” – Mark 10:52 ESV

The Greek word Mark used is hypagō, meaning “to depart” or “to go away.” It is the same word Jesus used when speaking to Satan during His temptation in the wilderness. When Satan offered Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” (Matthew 4:9 ESV), Jesus responded, “Be gone (hypagō ), Satan!” (Matthew 4:10 ESV).

Jesus commanded Satan to leave, and Matthew records, “the devil left him” (Matthew 4:11 ESV). But when Jesus told Bartimaeus to “depart,” the blind man did just the opposite. Mark reports that, with his sight miraculously restored, Bartimaeus “followed him on the way” (Mark 10:52 ESV). He had what he longed for: restored sight. At that point, he could do whatever he wanted. No longer hampered by blindness, Bartimaeus could have gone anywhere, but he chose to follow Jesus. Just imagine the distractions that appeared before his eyes. For the first time in a long time, he could see the sun, the trees, and the long-forgotten faces of friends. Yet, when Jesus told him to go, Bartimaeus chose to follow.

Now, consider the disciples. They were also following Jesus to Jerusalem, but somewhat reluctantly. They were not thrilled by Jesus’ reports of what awaited Him in the royal city. They couldn’t see the benefit of going to Jerusalem if it meant that Jesus was to be arrested, tried, and killed. But Bartimaeus, his sight newly restored, got in line behind Jesus and gladly followed the one who had delivered his life from literal darkness.

You almost expect to see Jesus turn to His disciples and ask them again, “Having eyes, do you not see?” His journey to Jerusalem was a necessary part of God’s divine plan to bring healing to the nations. In time, the disciples would have their eyes opened as well, allowing them to see the true nature of Jesus’ mission. While the announcement of His pending death shocked and saddened them, the day would come when the message Jesus spoke in the synagogue in Nazareth would all make sense.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” – Luke 4:18-19 ESV

Bartimaeus’ blindness had been healed by the Messiah, but his real problem wasn’t physical; it was spiritual. Even with his restored sight, Bartimaeus remained spiritually blind. He believed Jesus was the Messiah, but he knew nothing about Him being “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:19 ESV). He would have been shocked to know that Jesus was headed to Jerusalem, where He would be arrested, tried, and crucified. Like the disciples, that narrative didn’t fit his understanding of the Messiah’s role. 

Even John the Baptist, the one who called Jesus “the Lamb of God,” struggled to understand who He was and what He had come to do. When he found himself in prison, he sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (Matthew 11:3 NLT). Jesus replied: “The blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor” (Matthew 11:5 NLT).  John, Bartimaeus, and none of the disciples understood that the good news had a dark side. Jesus was the Messiah, but He had not come to set up an earthly kingdom. Yes, He could restore sight, cure diseases, and even raise the dead, but His mission had a more long-term objective. 

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep…The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” – John 10:11, 17-18 NLT

Jesus would continue to tell His disciples, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28 BSB). That was the mission. Restoring sight to the blind and making the lame to walk might be impressive, but they did nothing to change one’s spiritual condition. They were simply meant to demonstrate Jesus’ authority and power. 

“Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” – Mark 2:9-11 NLT

Jesus came to provide forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation with God, and it required His death and resurrection. The disciples were still blind to that reality, but one day they would see the truth and rejoice.  

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

How Long?

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” – Mark 9:14-29 ESV

The next day (Luke 9:37), when Jesus, Peter, James, and John rejoined the other disciples, they found chaos and confusion as a large crowd encircled the other nine disciples, who were in a heated argument with the scribes. But as soon as Jesus arrived, He became the focus of attention, drawing the crowd like moths to a flame.

Like a father coming home to find his children in an unexpected predicament, Jesus tried to discern the cause of the trouble. It didn’t take Him long to discover the conflict involved His disciples. The rest of the crowd were like rubberneckers at an accident, drawn by the spectacle and curious to see what would happen next. When Jesus asked what was causing the argument, a man in the crowd spoke up.

“Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid.” – Mark 9:17-18 NLT

This father came expecting to find Jesus, but instead he encountered the nine disciples Jesus had left behind. In his gospel account, Matthew describes the man kneeling at Jesus' feet, showing his high regard for Jesus and his belief that Jesus could help him. He brought his son to Jesus for healing, but when he discovered Jesus was gone, he turned to the disciples for help. However, they weren’t up to the task.

“I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” – Mark 9:18 NLT

Disappointed that he couldn't find Jesus, the anxious father turned to the disciples for help. The text makes it clear that these men made a valiant effort to cast the demon from the man’s son, but without success. Their failure is so significant because Jesus had given all the disciples authority to cast out demons (Mark 3:15). When Jesus sent them out in pairs to preach, teach, and heal, they had successfully demonstrated that authority. Mark reports that “they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them” (Mark 6:13 ESV).

Yet, on this occasion, their efforts fell short. The argument that ensued must have begun when the disciples started making excuses for their failed attempts to exorcise the demon. Perhaps they began to question whether this man or his son had broken a particular Mosaic law, and whether that violation had caused the boy’s condition. They were clearly frustrated by their inability to exercise authority over the demon and were trying to figure out what was standing in their way. When all the dust settled, they even asked Jesus, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” (Mark 9:28 NLT).

The scribes may have been dragged into the argument to explain the Mosaic Law and give their opinions on the boy’s condition and the demon’s persistent power over him. The whole scene had quickly devolved into a shouting match, with each side pointing fingers at the other. All the while, the boy remained demon-possessed.

Then Jesus, the one who calmed the wind and waves, entered this storm of confusion and chaos and proved He alone could bring peace and calm. Jesus, disappointed by the sordid scene before Him, voiced His frustration.

“O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” – Mark 9:19 ESV

To fully appreciate Jesus’ words, one must recall the transfiguration that Jesus had just experienced on the mountaintop. For a brief moment, Jesus was transformed into His future, glorified state. Two of the great patriarchs of the Hebrew people, Moses and Elijah, joined Him, and they discussed His coming “exodus,” or departure, from this life. It was a much-needed reminder that His days on this earth were coming to a close and that He would soon return to His Father’s side. But when He descended from the mountain, Jesus encountered a scene of faithlessness and spiritual apostasy.

This recalls a similar scene from hundreds of years earlier. Moses, the great deliverer of the Hebrew people, had just spent 40 days and nights atop Mount Sinai, where he had enjoyed intimate communion with God and received the Ten Commandments. But when He descended from the mountain, he found the people of Israel worshiping a false god. He returned to chaos and confusion, brought on by the faithlessness of God’s people.

After descending from the mountain of transfiguration, Jesus witnessed a similar scene. Faith was in short supply, and the enemy was having his way among God's people. The disciples’ inability to cast out the demon had left the boy still possessed and persecuted. More importantly, their lack of faith left the people in doubt and uncertainty.

But Jesus stepped into the darkness of the moment and focused His full attention on the boy's condition. The father provided Jesus with a blow-by-blow description of his son’s condition, explaining in detail how relentlessly the demon had tormented his child. You can sense his growing desperation as he begs Jesus for help.

“But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” – Mark 9:22 ESV

At this point, he is unsure if Jesus can do anything about his son’s condition; he is losing hope. But Jesus gently rebukes the man’s timid, half-hearted faith by repeating the father’s doubtful statement, “If you can!” One can almost sense Jesus’ exasperation at the faithlessness around Him. As always, His primary concern was the 12 men He had chosen as His disciples. This whole situation resulted from their lack of faith. So when Jesus said, “All things are possible for one who believes” (MRK 9:23 ESV), He was addressing the boy's father, but also His disciples. Jesus was saying that it wasn’t a matter of whether He could heal the boy, but whether He would. This was less an indictment of the man’s faith than an exposure of his misunderstanding of who Jesus was.

The father, anxious to see his son healed, cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 ESV). He desperately wanted to believe that Jesus could heal his son, but he had seen the disciples try and fail. He remained hopeful but apprehensive and asked Jesus to remove all doubt by casting the demon out of his son. And Jesus did just as the man wished. Addressing the demon directly, Jesus commanded, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again” (Mark 9:25 ESV).

Convulsing the boy one last time, the demon obeyed and left him in a catatonic state that made it appear as if he were dead. But Jesus raised the boy, restoring him to full health.

Jesus turned this entire scene into a primer on faith. But His focus was not on the father; He was exposing His disciples' faithlessness. Matthew records that after Jesus exorcised the demon, the disciples asked why they had failed. His response must have left them stunned and confused.

“Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:20 ESV

Jesus had told the father, “All things are possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23 ESV). Jesus emphasized His own faith, not the father's. Jesus fully believed He had the power and authority to cast out the demon, and He proved it by doing so. He knew who He was and what He could accomplish with the power God had given Him. But the disciples were another matter; their belief had proven insufficient. But the problem wasn't the amount of their faith; it was their inability to understand the true source of their power. According to Jesus, even the smallest faith, combined with God's power, could “move mountains.” Faith is not a resource we possess or produce; it is confidence in God's power. 

Their ability to cast out demons did not reside in themselves; it was not a power they possessed, but it was meted out to them by God. That is why Jesus told them that “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer” (Mark 9:29 ESV). They had failed to understand that their earlier experience of casting out demons had been authorized by Jesus and made possible by God’s power, not their own. But they mistakenly assumed they personally possessed that power; that it was permanently resident within them.

In trying to cast out the demon, they had put their faith in themselves. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, the disciples ended up worshiping a false god: themselves. They thought they possessed power, but discovered they were powerless. So, Jesus reminded them that even the smallest faith in God's power could produce the greatest miracles. Jesus believed He had authority over the demon because He had God's power and authority at His disposal. His life proved that “All things are possible for one who believes.”

The transfiguration was a mountaintop experience for Jesus. He had communed with His Heavenly Father and two of the great patriarchs of the Hebrew faith. But when it was over, He received a stark reminder of the spiritual darkness He had come to dispel. That is why He said, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?” (Mark 9:19 NLT). During His brief stay on the mountain, He, Elijah, and Moses had discussed His coming death and departure. His mind was focused on His God-ordained mission to sacrifice His life on behalf of sinful men. He knew His death was imminent and imperative because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22 ESV). As long as He remained on earth, He knew the people would continue to struggle with doubt, fear, and faithlessness. Even His disciples would continue to wrestle with His identity and misunderstand His mission because they lacked the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus knew His disciples were operating at a deficit because they were operating in the flesh. Their faithlessness was a byproduct of their own impotence. That is why Jesus later told them, “I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven” (Luke 24:49 NLT). After His resurrection and before His ascension, Jesus promised them,  “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…” (Acts 1:8 NLT). 

The Holy Spirit was the missing element. Without Him, the disciples would remain powerless and faithless. But when He came, they would be radically transformed and equipped for service.

“…when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” – John 14:29 NLT

“And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.” – Luke 12:11-12 NLT

In the meantime, Jesus continued to teach and model what dependence on the Spirit looked like. He carried out his entire ministry in the power of the Spirit. From the moment He came up out of the waters of the Jordan, Jesus was “led by the Spirit” (Matthew 4:1 ESV). Having set aside His divine privileges, Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit's power throughout His earthly ministry. He modeled the Spirit-filled life that every believer would experience after His death and resurrection. The disciples would have to wait to experience that kind of life-transforming power, but it wouldn’t be long, as Jesus would soon make clear.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Eyes to See, Ears to Hear

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

27 And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. – Mark 8:22-30 ESV

In this passage, Mark combines two incidents from Jesus' life to convey an important truth. In the first, Jesus performs the second miracle that Mark records in his gospel. Chapter 7 records Jesus healing the deaf man who also suffered from a speech impediment. And there will be some similarities between these two miraculous healings.

Jesus and His disciples had traveled from the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee to the town of Bethsaida, located not far from the sea’s northernmost tip. This was not the first time Jesus had been to Bethsaida. In fact, Matthew reports that Jesus delivered a stinging indictment against the city for its inhabitants' stubborn refusal to repent.

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse.” – Matthew 11:20-21 NLT

This rather harsh statement from Jesus provides insight into the miracle Jesus performed. When Jesus arrived in Bethsaida, a group of people brought a blind friend in need of healing. Mark says that these compassionate friends “begged him to touch the man and heal him” (Mark 8:22 NLT). What Jesus did next was both interesting and insightful.

To fully appreciate Jesus' actions, one must consider everything that had happened up to this moment. Earlier that same day, Jesus transformed seven loaves of bread and a few fish into a meal that fed thousands. He had followed up that miracle with a warning to His disciples about the “leaven of the Pharisees.” After seeing His miracle of the loaves and fish, the religious leaders demanded a “sign from heaven” to prove His claim to be the Messiah. These prideful, arrogant men were blind to all that Jesus had done, refusing to accept His miracles as proof of identity. So Jesus warned His disciples not to let the Pharisees' teaching influence them. The unrepentant hearts of these self-righteous men caused them to reject Jesus and encourage others to do the same. Like yeast spreading through a batch of dough, their unbelief was beginning to permeate and influence the people of Israel. But the disciples failed to understand the meaning behind Jesus’ warning, thinking instead that He was upset that they had failed to bring enough bread. So, Jesus addressed their inability to comprehend His words.

“Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all?” – Mark 8:17-18 NLT

Notice the last thing Jesus said to His disciples before they left for Bethsaida: “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:21 ESV). All of this sets up what happens next and reveals God's sovereign hand behind everything Jesus did. It was no coincidence that a blind man was brought to Jesus. His lack of sight symbolized the disciples’ lack of understanding. The way Jesus chose to heal the man was intentional and purposeful. First, He isolated the man from his well-meaning friends by leading him outside the village. Once they were alone, Jesus spit on the man’s eyes and touched him. But why? Couldn’t Jesus have simply commanded the man to see? Did this healing require spit and human contact? The text also seems to show that Jesus’ first attempt to restore the man’s sight failed.

…spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?”

The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” – Mark 8:23-24 NLT

Jesus’ methodology seems odd, and its outcome appears less than successful. But everything Jesus did was intentional. Unable to see what Jesus was doing, the blind man could hear Jesus spit and feel it on his eyes. He could sense Jesus's hands gently touching his eyes. Yet, when he opened his eyes, his sight was only partially restored. He could see, but not clearly; everything was fuzzy and indistinct. He describes men as looking like trees walking about.

This man had gone from complete blindness to partial sight. His condition, though much improved, was not what he had hoped for. Blurred sight was far better than no sight at all, but it was still not ideal.

Earlier, Jesus had healed a deaf man by restoring his hearing. This time, He restored the sight of a blind man. Both hearing and seeing are metaphors for the human capacity to understand. That is why Jesus had said to His disciples: “You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?” (Mark 8:18 NLT).

They had seen Him heal the deaf man and heard His warnings about the Pharisees. Yet, they still did not fully understand, just as the blind man did not fully see. But Jesus did not intend to leave the man with imperfect sight.

Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. – Mark 8:25 NLT

Jesus finished what He began. He didn’t leave the man with slightly improved sight; He completely restored his vision so he could see everything clearly. This two-part healing provides an important lesson. It reminds us that Jesus came to restore far more than physical sight or hearing. He came to open the eyes of the spiritually blind so that they might see the glory of His presence. He came to open the ears of the spiritually deaf so they might hear the good news. But what they see and hear must include the full scope of God’s redemptive message.

The disciples thought they understood who Jesus was. They saw Him as their long-awaited Messiah. They had high hopes that He would set up His Kingdom on earth and reward them with places of honor and prominence in His administration. But when they heard Jesus speak, they became increasingly confused by what He said. When He began to talk of His pending death in Jerusalem, they struggled to comprehend and accept His words.

The apostle Paul reminds us that God's plan is far greater than we can understand. Much of what we experience in this life appears out of step with our understanding of God’s will. We are like men with partially restored sight, viewing everything through distorted lenses that give an imperfect image of reality.

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. – 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

The disciples didn’t fully comprehend who Jesus was and what He had come to do. But Jesus was gradually opening their eyes to the truth of His ministry and mission. In time, they would see clearly. But as Paul reminds us, we will not fully understand God's ways until His plan of redemption is complete.

After telling the newly sighted man to avoid returning to the village, Jesus and His disciples went north to Caesarea Philippi. On the way, Jesus struck up a conversation with His disciples and asked, “Who do people say that I am?” (Mark 8:27 ESV). He wanted the disciples to wrestle with the various rumors concerning His identity. In a sense, Jesus asked them to reveal who people thought He was. When they saw Him perform miracles, what did they conclude? When they heard Him speak, who did they think they were listening to? The disciples revealed that the people had all kinds of opinions.

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” – Mark 8:28 NLT

The people were like the man with partially restored sight. They could see, but not clearly. Their view of Jesus was incomplete and inconclusive. Notice that no one mentions Jesus being the Messiah. When the people looked at Jesus, it was like they were viewing Him through distorted lenses; He appeared indistinct and blurry.

This prompted Jesus to turn to His disciples and ask them the same question: “But who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29 ESV). Since deciding to follow Jesus, these men had spent their every waking minute with Him. They had witnessed all of His miracles and heard every one of His messages. They enjoyed intimate access to Jesus and the privilege of hearing Him explain some of His more cryptic parables. So, who did they understand Him to be? And the ever-impulsive Peter was the first to respond, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8:29 ESV).

In his gospel account, Mathew records that Peter added the further description: “the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16 ESV). Speaking on behalf of all the disciples, Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. His words revealed a level of understanding and insight that the rest of the people did not share. But Matthew lets us know that Peter did not come to this conclusion on his own.

“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 16:17 ESV

God had revealed this insight to Peter. In that moment, his partially blinded eyes opened, and he saw the truth of who Jesus was. Peter's statement was like an epiphany. Even as the words came out of his mouth, Peter must have wondered whether he truly believed them. He would later reveal that his understanding of who Jesus was and what He had come to do was still cloudy and indistinct. He would continue to wrestle with the weight of his words and the expectations of his heart. But the time would come when he and his fellow disciples would see everything clearly and distinctly.

It is one thing to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah; it is another to believe it. It will become increasingly vital that the disciples understand the Messiah's God-given role. Their expectations must take a back seat to God’s will. They envisioned the Messiah as a conquering king who would reestablish the kingdom of Israel. Their hopes were based on a flawed and incomplete understanding of the Messiah’s role. But Jesus did not come to rule and reign; He came to suffer and die. Even at His trial before Pilate, He said, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36 NLT). 

Jesus was the Messiah, and He was also David’s son and heir to his throne. But before He could wear the crown, He had to bear the cross. Which is why He told Pilate, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true” (John 18:37 NLT). And Pilate, blind to the reality of Jesus’ identity, calmly replied, “What is the truth?” (John 18:38 NLT). 

The answer to that question is simple, yet difficult to understand. The spiritually blind can’t perceive it, and the spiritually deaf can’t hear it. But Jesus clearly articulated it:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” – John 14:6-7 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Fixated On the Physical

11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” – Mark 8:11-21 ESV

After dismissing the crowd that had benefited from His miraculous transformation of the bread and fish, Jesus and His disciples sailed across the Sea of Galilee to Dalmanutha, in the region of Magadan (Matthew 15:39). It seems likely that the disciples had stashed in the bow of the boat the 7 baskets of leftover bread and fish they had gathered. Mark offers no insight into the conversations these men may have had as they sailed to their next destination, but it makes sense that they would have discussed that day's events, including the miracle Jesus had just performed.

As soon as their boat touched the shore, another contingent of Jewish religious leaders met them. Matthew records that, on this occasion, the Pharisees were accompanied by Sadducees.

“. . . the Sadducees were a wealthy, conservative party concentrated in Jerusalem. Their members were from aristocratic families of patrician and priestly stock. They refused adherence to the tradition of the elders and advocated a rigorous application of the law of Moses to the life of the nation. In general, they espoused a political and religious policy, including cooperation with Rome, aimed at preserving the status quo.” – Kingsbury, J. D., Conflict in Mark: Jesus, Authorities, Disciples. Minneapolis: Fortress
Press, 1989

Both the Pharisees and Sadducees had representatives who sat on the 70-member Sanhedrin, the high council of the Jews. But these two powerful, highly influential religious sects were not on friendly terms. While they shared a common belief in God and held the Hebrew Scriptures in high regard, they differed on many issues, including the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees rejected the idea of an afterlife, arguing instead that the soul simply perished at death. So, they rejected the whole concept of resurrection and a system of rewards and punishments after death. They also rejected any notion of a spiritual dimension populated by demons and angels, and these beliefs put them at odds with the Pharisees. Yet these two opposing parties were willing to set aside their differences to take on their common enemy: Jesus.

Mark indicates that these men confronted Jesus, “seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him” (Mark 8:11 ESV). They were not interested in seeing Jesus perform a miracle; they had already witnessed many of His more spectacular displays of power. They demanded a “sign from heaven”, some kind of celestial proof that would verify His claims once and for all. They had refused to accept any of His many miracles as evidence of His divine calling. Instead, they accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan (Mark 3:22). As Mark states, this latest encounter was nothing more than a test, an attempt to force Jesus’ hand and expose Him as the fraud they believed Him to be.

Exasperated by their stubborn refusal to receive Him as their Messiah, Jesus “sighed deeply in his spirit” and responded, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation” (Mark 8:12 ESV).

Jesus exposed their true intentions. Nothing He could have done would have satisfied their demand because they were already convinced He was a charlatan, and no sign or celestial manifestation would change their minds. Mark indicates that Jesus simply walked away, leaving these men with neither a sign from heaven nor the definitive proof that He was a fraud. But, in his gospel, Matthew adds an important detail to this same scene. He reports that Jesus confronted these men about their inability to recognize the obvious.

“You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!” – Matthew 16:2-3 NLT

They could predict the weather based on “the signs” in the sky, but they couldn't recognize the Messiah despite the overwhelming evidence around them. According to Jesus, everything He had said and done was more than enough proof of His claim to be the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah. He would not give them any other “signs” besides “the sign of Jonah.”

“Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” – Matthew 16:4 NLT

This wasn't the first time Jesus used this kind of language with the religious leaders. Matthew records an earlier encounter in which Jesus said the very same words and added, “For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights” (Matthew 12:40 NLT). Jesus used the well-known story of the Old Testament prophet Jonah to predict His own pending death, burial, and resurrection. The Jewish religious leaders would have been familiar with Jonah's story but would not have understood the connection Jesus was making.

Jesus condemned these men for their stubborn refusal to accept Him as their Messiah. Jonah had been “resurrected” from the belly of the great fish and had taken God's message to the people of Nineveh. As a result, they believed and repented. But Jesus reveals that even His death, burial, and resurrection would not be enough to make these stubborn religious leaders believe. He even predicts the outcome they will face for their unbelief.

“The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here—but you refuse to repent.” – Matthew 12:41 NLT

The Ninevites Jonah preached to were Gentile pagans, yet when they heard the message from God's prophet, they repented and were saved. But the Jewish religious leaders refused to receive the message from the lips of the Son of God, choosing instead to remain unconvinced and unrepentant.  Unwilling to debate further, Jesus and His disciples got back in the boat and sailed away.

What happens next reveals much about the men Jesus had chosen as His disciples. Mark records that they got back in the boat and then adds, “they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat” (Mark 8:14 ESV). So they hadn't brought the seven baskets of leftovers after all. We’re not told what they did with all that food, but only that they brought a single loaf of bread to share among 13 hungry men. Perhaps they thought Jesus could multiply that loaf too, so they decided to travel light and left the rest behind.

Whatever the thought process behind their decision, Jesus used the moment to teach a valuable lesson. His response to their oversight was a warning.

“Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” – Mark 8:15 ESV

Confused by Jesus’ words, the disciples immediately assumed He was upset with them for failing to bring enough bread. They likely began casting blame, each accusing the other for this obvious lapse in judgment. Jesus had to remind them that the quantity of bread wasn't the issue; He wasn't talking about literal bread at all.

“Why are you arguing about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Have your hearts been hardened? Though you have eyes, don’t you see? And though you have ears, can’t you hear? Don’t you remember?” – Mark 8:18-19 NLT

Had they already forgotten what He had done? Were they so hard-hearted that they couldn’t recall how He had miraculously fed thousands of people on two separate occasions with nothing more than a few loaves and fishes? Their problem wasn’t a lack of bread, but a lack of faith. Despite all Jesus had said and done, they still struggled to accept Him as the Messiah. Matthew adds that Jesus confronted them for their deficit of faith. 

“O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread?” – Matthew 16:8 ESV

They were fixated on the physical realm, arguing over who was responsible for their lack of bread. But Jesus was warning them about the teachings of the religious leaders. These men posed a serious threat because their prominent positions allowed them to propagate dangerous doctrines that could keep others from hearing and accepting Jesus as their Messiah. Jesus later condemned them for the infectious, deadly nature of their influence.

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!” – Matthew 23:13-16 NLT

Jesus posed a rhetorical question to His disciples: “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:21 ESV). He knew the answer and was well aware that only after the Holy Spirit came would the disciples comprehend all He had said to them while He was with them. But He would continue to use His confrontations with the religious leaders as prime teaching opportunities to instruct His 12 disciples. He wanted them to keep believing, regardless of what the Pharisees and Sadducees might say.

The morning after Jesus had fed the 5,000, they showed up expecting another free meal. When Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven’ (John 6:32 NLT), they responded, “Give us that bread every day” (John 6:36 NLT). They missed the point. Their physical appetites prevented them from grasping the spiritual truths Jesus was trying to convey, and Jesus’ disciples suffered from the same problem. Despite their close relationship with Jesus, they were struggling to understand His identity as the Son of God. His miracles amazed them and His words confounded them, but they remained fixated on the physical realm.  

Their greatest need was not physical; it was spiritual. Jesus had proven He could provide bread, but they really needed the Bread of Life. They remained focused on the temporal, but Jesus kept exposing them to the eternal, just as He did with the Samaritan woman. He gave her a similar message. 

“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” – John 4:13-14 NLT

The woman’s response was immediate and predictable.

“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” - John 4:15 NLT

Jesus didn’t rebuke the woman for her lack of understanding; instead, He confronted her about her sinful lifestyle. He exposed that the real source of her problem was not physical but spiritual. She needed living water. Yet, when the disciples returned and saw Jesus talking with this woman, they were shocked. Yet John records that she “left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?’” (John 4:28-29 NLT).

When Jesus exposed the depth of her sinfulness, His ability to discern the darkness of her life shocked her, but His willingness to offer her eternal life amazed her. She believed and was saved, along with many of her neighbors. She forgot all about the well, the water, her past sins, and her less-than-stellar reputation in her community. She met the Messiah and was changed — for eternity. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Incomparable Power and Compassion

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. – Mark 6:30-44 ESV

After a brief diversion to inform his readers about John the Baptist's fate, Mark brings the focus of his narrative back to the 12 disciples. Jesus had sent them in pairs to preach the gospel of the Kingdom and call the people to repentance. To validate their message, He gave them the power to perform miracles. Mark gives no hint of the length of this missionary journey, but simply states, “The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught” (Mark 6:30 ESV). 

This anticlimactic description of their return leaves much to the imagination. There is no sense of excitement, and Mark reveals nothing about their exploits. But we can assume these men had stories to tell and were eager to share them with one another. Luke provides an idea of the kinds of reports these men would have given to Jesus upon their return. He recalls another occasion when Jesus sent out 72 additional disciples and gave them the same instructions He had given the 12.

“Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” – Luke 10:9 ESV

When these disciples returned from their mission, they eagerly shared what had happened with Jesus. The focus of their report reveals much about their takeaway from their experience:

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” – Luke 10:17 ESV

They mentioned nothing about the message of the Kingdom or the peoples’ response to it. They were blown away by their ability to cast out demons, just as Jesus had done. They focused on the more sensational aspect of their mission. But to bring their egos back to earth and refocus their attention on what was truly important, Jesus responded, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20 ESV).

So, when the 12 disciples returned from their missionary journey, they likely shared similar stories about casting out demons and healing the sick and the lame. Recognizing that these men were excited yet worn out from their journey, Jesus led them to a remote place where they might get some much-needed rest. But isolation and alone time were difficult to come by for Jesus and His disciples. Everywhere they went, they encountered large crowds and constant attention, and this time would be no different.

Mark indicates that they crossed the Sea of Galilee by boat and headed to a desolate area near the town of Bethsaida (Luke 9:10). But the crowds watched their every move. So, as Jesus and His disciples made their way by boat, the people ran along the shoreline, trying to guess where they were headed. When the boat reached shore, Jesus and the disciples found themselves surrounded again. The weary disciples were probably frustrated by this turn of events. They had just returned from a long, arduous trip and looked forward to some much-needed R&R, but it was not to be. Mark indicates that Jesus saw the crowd and “had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34 ESV).

This statement sets up a subtle contrast between Jesus and His disciples that becomes clearer as the story unfolds. Jesus was moved by the people's helpless, hopeless state. The very fact that they kept following Him revealed their desperate desire for leadership and direction. There were people in the crowd who were hurting emotionally and physically. Others were poor and needy, lacking the resources to meet basic necessities. Luke indicates that Jesus “taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick” (Luke 9:11 NLT). 

It’s interesting to note that Jesus did for these people exactly what He had commanded the disciples to do on their recent missionary excursion. Yet the text doesn't mention the disciples teaching the people or performing any acts of healing. It is almost as if they were taking the day off. They had done their part, and now it was time to relax. One can almost sense their eagerness to bring this long day to a close in what they said to Jesus.

“This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.” – Mark 6:35-36 NLT

Those words show little compassion. The disciples were ready for the crowds to disperse so they could finally get the rest they so richly deserved. Their feigned concern for the people's well-being was nothing more than a way to get rid of them. Yet Jesus, always aware of what was on the hearts and minds of those around Him, simply said, “You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37 ESV).

The ludicrous nature of this command is easy to miss because we don't know how many people Jesus is actually referring to. Mark doesn't reveal the crowd's size until later in the story. But the disciples could see the problem with their own eyes. As they heard Jesus speak those words, the disciples stared at thousands of men, women, and children. And don’t forget that when Jesus sent these men on their missionary journey, He told them to “take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money” (Mark 6:8 NLT).

They had just returned and had no resources to fulfill Jesus' command, and you can sense their confusion and frustration in their sarcastic response.

“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!” – Mark 6:37 NLT

They estimated it would take at least 200 denarii to buy enough bread to feed a crowd that size. A denarius was a day’s wage for a common laborer. Their quick calculation was meant to show how impossible Jesus' request was; they didn’t have those resources. In fact, they were broke. To expose the true nature of their insufficiency, Jesus had them take an inventory of the food on hand.

“How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” – Mark 6:38 NLT

Don’t miss what happened next. Jesus sent the men among the crowd, just as He had sent them into the towns and villages of Galilee. But this time, they came back with a less-than-thrilling report. After canvassing the crowd, the disciples returned with a miserly five loaves of bread and two fish. It was not good news.

But Jesus was nonplussed. As the disciples watched, He told the people to sit in groups of 100 or less. This would have required some organizational planning on the disciples' part. When their work was complete, Jesus “took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. He also divided the fish for everyone to share” (Mark 6:41 NLT).

It seems the disciples acted as waiters, distributing the food to the various groups of people. As Jesus broke the bread and fish, the disciples kept returning to find more food to hand out. They brought back an empty basket, only to be handed another full of bread and fish. To stress the truly miraculous nature of this scene, Mark holds off the most important detail until the end.

A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed. – Mark 6:44 NLT

Even that large number is a bit misleading. It is safe to assume many of those men were married, and their families had at least one or two children. So, the actual number of people fed that day was likely twice what Mark reported; it could have been as many as 15,000. Yet, as Mark makes clear, “They all ate as much as they wanted” (Mark 6:42 NLT). No one remained hungry. No one went without or left wanting, including the disciples.

But the truly amazing fact is that when the crowd had dispersed, the disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftovers. They had shown up that day with no food, but each man walked away with a basket filled to the brim with bread and fish. It is no coincidence that when Jesus had sent them on their missionary journey, He had told them to “take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts” (Mark 6:8 ESV). 

These men, who lacked compassion for the people, received a once-in-a-lifetime lesson in God’s power to provide for the needs of the helpless and hopeless. When Jesus looked at the crowd, He saw sheep without a shepherd. But the disciples saw only a problem with no solution, and sadly, they had no desire to find one. Despite their success in casting out demons, healing the sick, and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, these men failed to learn the most important lesson of all: that with God, all things are possible.

The man with whom they had linked their lives was God in human flesh, fully capable of meeting mankind's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Yes, He could provide bread, but He had come to be the Bread of Life. He could fill stomachs, but He had come to satisfy mankind’s hunger and thirst for righteousness. As these men walked away with baskets brimming with bread and fish, their hearts and minds still lacked full assurance of who Jesus was and what He had come to do. But they were learning.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Scandal of Disbelief

1 He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. – Mark 6:1-6 ESV

After healing the woman with a discharge of blood and raising Jairus' daughter from the dead, Jesus and His disciples went to Nazareth. But there is one last thing we need to look at before leaving these two amazing miracles behind. In recording the events of these miracles, Mark provides two details that, at first glance, seem unimportant. First, when describing the medical condition of the woman who touched Jesus’ robe, Mark states that she “had had a discharge of blood for twelve years” (Mark 5:25 ESV). One might assume that he included this detail simply to emphasize the long-term and hopeless nature of the woman’s condition.

But then, just a few verses later, in describing the healing of Jairus’ young daughter, Mark adds another interesting detail.

And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age)… – Mark 5:42 ESV

Why did Mark feel the need to provide the girl’s age? Perhaps he did so to explain her ability to walk when commanded. But why did he think it was important to share her exact age? Even a toddler could have responded when Jesus called out, “Little girl, I say to you, arise” (Mark 5:41 ESV).

Did Mark use these two references to years to connect these two miracles? Consider the fact that the very year the woman’s debilitating medical condition began would have been the same year the young girl had been born. While this woman spent the next 12 years visiting physicians and spending all her financial resources seeking a cure, Jairus's young daughter would have lived a protected, privileged life. After all, her father was a well-respected leader in the local synagogue. For 12 years, the woman’s life would have been marked by pain and suffering, while the young girl most likely experienced a happy and carefree existence. But to the surprise of her family and friends, her young life ended suddenly and tragically in death. No one saw it coming. Although her anxious father sought out the miracle worker Jesus, his efforts proved futile. It was too little, too late.

It would be natural to expect the older woman, who suffered from an incurable medical condition, to be the first to die, but she was spared because she placed her faith in Jesus. Her condition was fatal, and she was close to death; however, she was delivered from death’s door. But the young girl, whose best years were ahead of her, ended up surrounded by mourners grieving her premature and pointless death. But because of her father's faith, Jesus raised her back to life. Upon hearing the devastating news that his daughter had died, Jairus was told by Jesus, “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5:36 ESV). Jesus didn’t tell Jairus why or what he should believe. But the distraught father followed Jesus and witnessed his 12-year-old daughter be miraculously restored to life.

Two women, one old and one young, one sick and the other whole. One anticipated death, and the other was completely surprised by it. And yet, both women were delivered from death by the same man. The one who was near death was prevented from having to experience it. The one who experienced death was brought back from it through the power and authority of Jesus. This reminds us of the words He spoke to Martha just before He raised her brother, Lazarus, from the dead.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26 ESV

When we read the words, “…though he die, yet shall he live,” we should think of the 12-year-old girl. When we read the words, “everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die,” we should think of the woman who had been sick for 12 long years. These two women provide us with living proof of Jesus’ statement. Yes, both would end up dying at some later date. But, in healing them and delivering them from death when He did, Jesus was demonstrating for His disciples that He had power over death and the grave. And, one day, He would prove it with His own death and resurrection.

But back to today’s passage. Jesus and His disciples made their way to Nazareth, the town where He grew up. This is where Mary and Joseph had settled and raised their family. After Jesus' birth, they had additional children who, unlike their older brothers, all chose to remain in Nazareth.

The next Sabbath, Jesus and His disciples went to the local synagogue, where Jesus was honored as a visiting Rabbi or teacher. He was given the opportunity to address the congregation, and what He said that day made a strong impression on those in the room. But His words received mixed reviews.

“Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” – Mark 6:2-3 NLT

Some marveled at His eloquence and His ability to perform such amazing miracles. News of His most recent demonstrations of power had likely reached Capernaum. But others in the crowd that day were unimpressed because they saw Jesus as nothing more than a common carpenter. They knew His family and were probably aware that even His own brothers thought He had lost His mind (Mark 3:21). His own family refused to believe He was the Messiah of Israel (John 7:5). It seems likely that Jesus’ siblings shared their opinions about their famous brother, and this negative publicity appears to have jaded the minds of those who had known Jesus since He was a child. Mark reveals that the naysayers' opinion prevailed that day.

They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. – Mark 6:3 NLT

“‘Offense’ comes from the Greek root word skandalizo. It means a stumbling block that causes someone to sin or to distrust another. Jesus expounds on this theme in Matthew. There, He calls Himself a capstone on God's plan of salvation that the religious leaders stumble on, making it impossible for them to receive Him (Matthew 21:42-46). Luke explains that the people of Nazareth aren't just doubtful; they try to push Jesus off a cliff (Luke 4:28-30).” – https://www.bibleref.com/Mark/6/Mark-6-3

They were “scandalized” by Jesus’ words and actions. They found Him offensive and off-putting, not someone worthy of their belief and trust.  Mark goes on to note that Jesus “marveled because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:6 ESV). Those who knew Him best rejected His message and refused to believe the rumors that He was the long-awaited Messiah. They knew the rumors about His miracles, and when they heard Him speak, they were amazed at His wisdom. But they couldn’t get past the fact that this was the same man whom they had seen running and playing in the streets of Nazareth as a boy. How could the local carpenter's son be the long-awaited Messiah? The old adage, “familiarity breeds contempt,” comes to mind. They knew too much, and their knowledge blinded them to the truth.

Sensing their disbelief and outright rejection of His message and ministry, Jesus said, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family” (Mark 6:4 NLT). Even the Old Testament prophets found it hard to get those who knew them best to listen. Their claims to be spokesmen for God went unheeded, and their calls to repentance fell on deaf ears. Jesus joins the rejected and disrespected prophets of God. He was in good company and experienced the same bad outcome.

Their refusal to accept Jesus as the Son of God prevented them from experiencing God’s power. Jesus' miracles would remain nothing more than rumors. The healings they had heard about would not take place in their community. The sick would find no relief. The demon-possessed would experience no release. The blind would remain sightless and doomed to walk in darkness. The disbelieving citizens of Nazareth would allow the Light of the world to walk away, leaving them wandering in the darkness of their own sin.

Mark paints a pathetic, pitiable picture of the scene as Jesus prepared to leave His hometown.

…because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. – Mark 6:5 NLT

The entire town of Nazareth lacked faith. Despite all they had heard and seen, they couldn’t get past the fact that this was Jesus, the son of Joseph and Mary. He was just a man and no better than them. So, why should they honor Him? Why should they believe Him? Sadly, the Messiah, the anointed one of God, had grown up among them, but their stubborn pride and sin would prevent them from recognizing Him. While Jesus would mercifully heal a few, the rest would be left to die in their sins. Their refusal to believe would have dire, deadly consequences. The real scandal was that the people of Nazareth missed the opportunity to receive new life from the Light of life. Standing outside Lazarus' grave, Jesus told Martha, “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26 ESV). Then he asked her, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26 ESV). 

The two women in Chapter 4 were living witnesses of Jesus’ authority and power, and could testify to His identity as the Son of God. They would have been scandalized by the people of Nazareth’s disbelief. Who, in their right mind, would reject the words and works of someone like Jesus? What could justify such dismissive treatment of the one who could prevent death and restore life? But Jesus, while amazed at the disbelief of His family, friends, and neighbors, was not deterred from His mission. Mark says He “went about among the villages teaching” (Mark 6:6 ESV). He remained committed to His Father’s will and determined to finish what He came to do. The apostle Paul describes Jesus’ unwavering dedication to His Father’s plan. 

Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. – Philippians 2:5-8 ESV

Jesus Himself described how He would fulfill that plan and demonstrate His Father’s love for sinful humanity.

“…the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:14-16 NLT

God showed His love by sending His Son to die for sinful men; that is the real scandal. Choosing to disbelieve that truth is not only shocking but sad. By rejecting Jesus, the people of Nazareth made a fateful decision with eternal implications. The apostle John offers a sobering reminder that disbelief has consequences, but so does belief. 

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. – John 1:10-13 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Peace. Be Still!

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”  – Mark 4:35-41 ESV

It had been a long and event-filled day for Jesus and His disciples, and as it came to an end, they sought to escape the constant pressure of the ever-present crowds. Jesus instructed the disciples to take Him by boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, but Mark indicates that “other boats were with him” (Mark 4:36 ESV). It seems that there would be no rest for the weary. Perhaps these additional boats were carrying home those who had traveled from other towns in the region to see Jesus. Or it could be that when some of those who had been following Jesus saw Him sail away, they decided to continue their pursuit by boat. They wouldn't let Him out of their sight.

Interest in Jesus was at an all-time high. His miracles had clearly attracted many, but His messages about the Kingdom had also proven to be a draw. Rumors were already circulating that Jesus might be the Messiah, and His healing of the man with the withered hand (Mark 3:1-6) prompted some to wonder if those rumors might be true. These same people had seen Jesus heal those possessed by demons and had heard the demons shout, “You are the Son of God” (Mark 3:11) as He had cast them out.

But not everyone believed; His own family members had claimed He had lost His mind (Mark 3:21), and the religious leaders declared that He was in league with Satan (Mark 3:22). The reviews were mixed, yet the crowds continued to show up, day after day. Even as Jesus and His disciples made their way across the Sea of Galilee, some followed in His literal wake.

But something significant happened as they crossed the sea. As Jesus slept in the stern of the boat, “a great windstorm arose” that turned the placid surface of the sea into a boiling cauldron, with waves so high that they washed over the sides of the boats. The unique geography surrounding the Sea of Galilee makes it extremely susceptible to these kinds of sudden and violent storms. These extreme weather conditions often appeared without warning, leaving even the most seasoned fishermen fearing for their lives.

So, even though Simon, Andrew, James, and John were all professional fishermen, they were just as concerned as the other disciples. The boat quickly filled with water, and the risk of capsizing was becoming increasingly likely. Yet, amid the chaos and confusion, Jesus remained in a deep sleep, likely indicating His extreme weariness. But in fear and desperation, the disciples woke Him up and exclaimed, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38 ESV).

Whether they realized it or not, their reaction to the storm and their response to Jesus revealed much about the condition of their faith in who He was. In this moment of uncertainty, they addressed Him as “teacher.” Unlike the demons, the disciples of Jesus didn’t acknowledge Jesus as “the Son of God” or call out to Him as their Messiah. In the middle of a life-threatening storm, they saw Jesus as nothing more than a physically worn-out Rabbi who was sleeping while they were suffering.

But if you read the accounts of this event in Matthew and Luke, it becomes clear that at least a few of the disciples saw Jesus as more than just a Rabbi. In the confusion of the circumstances, the disciples shouted as they tried to make themselves heard over the howling wind and crashing waves. One of them cried out, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing” (Matthew 8:25 ESV). Another one shouted, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” (Luke 8:24 ESV). Those terms, “Lord” and “Master,” indicate only that the men in the boat regarded Jesus as their official leader. They were turning to Him for guidance and wanted to know what He thought they should do about their dire circumstances.

This whole scene began with Jesus' rather innocuous statement: “Let us go across to the other side” (Mark 4:35 ESV). When He said those words, the disciples thought nothing of them. Most of these men had made the same trip countless times, but this time was different. Yet Jesus’ words were more than a suggestion; He pointed to a destination and assured their arrival there. But the unexpected presence of the wind and the waves had caused the disciples to lose hope and to take their eyes off the objective of their trip. They no longer cared where they were going or why they had begun the trip in the first place. All they cared about was their own physical safety.

Mark matter-of-factly states that Jesus “rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’” (Mark 4:39 ESV). Matthew adds, “there was a great calm” (Matthew 8:26 ESV). At Jesus' words, the wind and waves immediately subsided, the storm ceased, and the threat of danger faded away. Chaos and confusion gave way to a great calm. Just picture the scene for a moment. The disciples stood in the boat, drenched to the bone. They breathed heavily from all their efforts to row, bail water, and keep the boat afloat in the storm. But now, they were surrounded by placid waters that gently lapped on the bow of the boat. The crisis was over in an instant.

But these men were also dumbstruck by what they had just witnessed. When they woke Jesus, they had no idea what He would do. They had no preconceived expectations for how He would get them out of their predicament. But He spoke, and the waves and winds immediately ceased. Calamity was replaced by calm.

But Jesus’ next words had the greatest impact. He looked at His disciples and said, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40 ESV). Luke records that Jesus asked them, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25 ESV). This simple question seems to reveal what Jesus was trying to expose. He was addressing a pre-existing condition. The storm had not caused their lack of faith; it had only exposed it. Jesus knew they had struggled with His identity since the day they first met Him. Despite all the miracles they had seen Him perform and the messages they had heard Him deliver, they still questioned His identity. They were filled with doubts and questions. Could He truly be the Messiah? Was there a chance his family was right, and Jesus was nothing but a lunatic? What about the religious leaders? Could these learned men be telling the truth? Had Jesus been doing miracles by Satan's power?

All of these thoughts must have crossed their minds at one time or another. But in the heat of the moment, when the storm pressed in, and their lives were threatened, the disciples began to have serious second thoughts about Jesus. But He was completely aware of the thoughts that had filled their minds as they faced what they believed to be their certain deaths.

After Jesus rebukes them, Mark describes the disciples as “filled with great fear” (Mark 4:41 ESV). The storm was over, but their fear remained; this was a different kind of fear. They were awestruck by what they had just witnessed. With nothing but His words, Jesus had completely eradicated a violent storm. He spoke, and the winds and waves obeyed. This experience left them dumbfounded, but not speechless. Mark records that they turned to one another and said, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41 ESV).

Their response reveals their limited understanding of who Jesus was. Matthew reports that they asked, “What sort of man is this?” (Matthew 8:27 ESV). This man was their Rabbi, teacher, Lord, and master, but He had just done the unthinkable and inexplicable. He had displayed mastery over the forces of nature.  The miracle they had just witnessed was like something from the writings of Moses. It reminded them of the day God parted the waters of the Red Sea so the people of Israel could pass through on dry ground (Exodus 14). It was like the time God delivered the people of Israel by destroying their enemies with hail and prolonging the battle by causing the sun to stand still in the sky (Joshua 10).

What Jesus had done had been God-like; it had God's handprints all over it. But all they could manage to say was, “What sort of man is this?” Was He a teacher, a prophet, a holy man, or could He possibly be who He claimed to be: the Son of God? At this moment, they were still wrestling over who Jesus was, but in time, their faith would grow. Mark later records Jesus asking these same men, “Who do people say I am?” (Mark 8:27 NLT). They responded, “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets” (Mark 8:28 NLT). But when Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29 NLT).

With each passing day, their faith and confidence grew. The more time they spent with Jesus, the more convinced they became that He was the long-awaited Messiah. But centuries of faulty interpretation of God’s promises clouded their understanding of the Messiah’s role. Like their ancestors before them, they were looking for a Savior, but not one who would deliver them from slavery to sin and death. They expected a king who would rise to power, free them from Roman oppression, and restore Israel to power and prominence. If Jesus could still the raging storm, He could certainly defeat Israel’s enemies. At least, that was their hope. But when Jesus said, “Peace. Be Still!” He wasn’t just addressing the wind and waves; He was speaking to the storm raging inside the hearts of His disciples. They were being blown by the winds of expectation. They were storm-tossed by waves of doubt and disappointment. If Jesus was the Messiah, what was He waiting for? Why was He wasting time in Galilee when He should be mustering an army to take the battle to Rome? 

These men were confused and conflicted. They had heard Jesus say, “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34 NLT). But in the garden, when armed guards came to arrest Jesus and Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Jesus said, “Put away your sword…Those who use the sword will die by the sword. Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” (Matthew 26:52-54 NLT).

Jesus was the Messiah, but He had come to His Father’s will, not to fulfill the expectations of His disciples. He was bringing a Kingdom, but it would not be what they longed for. And while they continued to watch, wait, and wrestle over their understanding of who Jesus was, He would quietly say, “Peace. Be Still!”

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Committed to the Cause

1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 ESV

Paul was under constant pressure to defend his apostleship because he was not one of Jesus’ original 12 disciples. However, as Paul points out, he had received his commission to take the gospel to the Gentiles directly from Jesus Christ Himself. But his opponents, of which there were many, questioned the validity of his claim to be an emissary of Christ. So, they attempted to undermine his ministry by raising doubts concerning his authority to speak and the veracity of his message. He was just a man, they claimed; his message was not from God, but was nothing more than the self-delusional rants of a self-appointed apostle.

This forced Paul to constantly validate his ministry and message. In the opening line of his letter to the Galatian church, Paul wrote: “Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father” (Galatians 1:1 ESV). Just a few verses later, Paul told them:

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. – Galatians 1:11-12 ESV

And Paul went on to explain to them how that revelation came about.

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles… – Galatians 1:13-16 ESV

Luke, the author of the Book of Acts, confirms Paul’s description of that event and provides us with further details.

Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. – Acts 9:1-2 ESV

But while on his way to Damascus, fully intending to continue his persecution of the followers of Jesus, Paul had a life-changing encounter.

As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.

And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” – Acts 9:3-6 ESV

Paul (Saul was his Hebrew name), having been blinded by the light and bewildered by this unexpected change in his itinerary, made his way to Damascus. In the meantime, God appeared in a vision to Ananias, a Christ-follower living in the city, informing him to lay hands on Paul to restore his sight. Ananias expressed his reluctance because of Paul’s reputation for animosity against Christians, but God insisted that this was all part of His divine plan for Paul.

“Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” – Acts 9:15-16 ESV

And years later, Paul would stand before King Agrippa and recount the story of his conversion on the road to Damascus. And he would add the words of the message he received when Christ confronted him.

“But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” – Acts 26:16-18 ESV

But what does all this have to do with chapter 2 of the book of 1 Thessalonians? Everything. In this chapter, Paul reminds the believers in Thessalonica of the day when he and Silas had first appeared in their city more than a year earlier. In the interim, and in his absence, enemies of Paul had been spreading rumors and suggesting that he was not what he claimed to be. They had been casting dispersion on both his message and his motives.

Yet Paul reminds them that he and Silas had arrived in their city after having been beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. The city officials in Philippi had forced them to vacate the premises because their presence had resulted in a riot, and Paul reminds the Thessalonians, “But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict” (1 Thessalonians 2:2 ESV).

If Paul had claimed to be an apostle simply to seek fame or fortune, he had been far from successful. His assertion of apostleship had earned him little more than rejection and suffering everywhere he went. He wanted the believers in Thessalonica to know that his only motivation was to declare to them the gospel of God – even in the midst of conflict.

Paul had the same message for the believers in Galatia. If he was simply out to gain the favor of men, he was failing miserably. In fact, if Paul had wanted to win a popularity contest, the last thing he would have done was present himself as an apostle of Christ preaching a controversial message of sin, judgment, and salvation. That’s why Paul told the Galatians, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10 ESV).

And Paul assured the Thessalonian believers that, despite what others were saying, he and Silas had been anything but deceptive or dishonest in their motivation.

For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive… – 1 Thessalonians 2:3 ESV

They had not set out to please men, seek glory, or get rich. But they had been approved by God and entrusted with the gospel message. That’s why, when they had suffered in Philippi, they hadn’t abandoned their mission, but continued their efforts to spread the gospel, even in the face of extreme opposition and personal pain. If Paul and Silas had been in it for what they could get out of it, they would have thrown in the towel a long time ago. But as Paul makes clear, their motivation had been and continued to be heartfelt and God-ordained.

Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else. – 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6 NLT

Paul was anything but a people-pleaser, and his message was far from politically correct. He was an in-your-face, no-holds-barred kind of guy who delivered the message of the gospel unapologetically, making no attempt to water it down or make it more palatable and acceptable.

In delivering the gospel to the Gentiles, Paul had faced opposition from the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, who still questioned the validity of uncircumcised Gentiles having access to salvation. If nothing else, they believed these Gentiles had to first convert to Judaism. But Paul had stood his ground, demanding that the gospel message put no such requirements on Gentile converts. Salvation was based on God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Paul had also faced opposition from the Gentiles, who resisted his efforts to convert their people to this new religion or cult, called The Way. Paul’s message of the gospel was resulting in conversions among the Gentiles, leading these new believers to walk away from their false gods and their old ways of life to serve the one true God. Because the gospel brought about life change, these conversions were having an influence on the local communities and their economies. And, according to Luke, that’s exactly what happened in the city of Ephesus.

Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. – Acts 19:18-19 NLT

The gospel was powerfully transformative; it changed lives. That was why Paul was committed to carrying out his God-ordained mission to share the gospel with both Jews and Gentiles. He was motivated by love and compassion, not greed or fame. And he reminded the Thessalonians that he and Silas had come to them like innocent children, free from guile and with no ulterior motives. They had displayed the same love as a mother who feeds and cares for her children. She does so sacrificially and willingly, and not for what she can get out of it.

Paul assured them, “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too” (1 Thessalonians 2:8 NLT). They gave their lives away. They sacrificed, and rather than demanding payment for their services, they willingly shared all that they had. They risked all for the sake of the gospel and the salvation of the handful of Thessalonians who had heard and received it. And Paul would gladly do it again.

Father, What a picture of commitment to one’s calling. In fulfilling His God-given commission, Paul faced all kinds of opposition and rejection, and, yet, he never gave up. He had his motives questioned, his message maligned, and his ministry undermined at every turn. But, like the Energizer Bunny, he kept going and going and going. He wasn’t out to please men or pad his portfolio. Fame and fortune meant nothing to him. He was sold out to the calling of Christ and determined to tell others about the One who had radically and permanently changed his life. Give me that same passion and desire to make the gospel my highest priority. Keep me from making it about me or allowing the enemy to distract me from the call to make disciples of all the nations. Amen.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Curse of Low Expectations

10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11 He also did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin, but he walked in them. 12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, and the might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 13 So Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14 Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Draw the bow,” and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. 17 And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” 18 And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. 19 Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.”

20 So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. 21 And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

22 Now Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23 But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.

24 When Hazael king of Syria died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place. 25 Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from Jehoahaz his father in war. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel. – 2 Kings 13:10-25 ESV

Keeping up with the revolving door of kings who reigned over Israel and Judah is hard enough as it is, but it becomes even more difficult when two kings with the same name end up ruling at the same time. That’s the case in this particular passage. Jehoash ascended to the throne of Israel after the death of his father, Jehoahaz, and it just so happened that the king of Judah bore the same name. It seems only fitting and a bit ironic that these two nations that shared the same predilection for idolatry and apostasy would end up with rulers who shared the same name. While their reigns would only intersect for a period of about two years, they shared more in common than their name. In the end, both men proved to be ungodly leaders who failed to lead their people back to the worship of Yahweh.

When Jehoash, the king of Judah, received a less-than-encouraging message from God, he ordered the stoning of the messenger. It just so happened that the man he executed was Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest. This was the same Jehoiada who had saved the infant Jehoash from the hands of Queen Athaliah by providing him with sanctuary in the temple for six years. On Jehoash’s seventh birthday, Jehoiada had anointed him as the king of Judah. But years later, after Jehoiada's death, Jehoash began to listen to the counsel of his ungodly advisors and ultimately forsake Yahweh. As a result, Judah suffered defeat at the hands of a much smaller Syrian force. He was wounded in the battle and, while recuperating from his injuries, he was assassinated by two of his own officials.

And the king of Israel, who bore the same name, shared a similar story of unfaithfulness and rebellion. The author sums up his 16-year reign with the words: “he did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit” (2 Kings 13:11 NLT). He, too, forsook the LORD and led the people to continue their love affair with false gods. And it’s interesting to note that the heir to his throne was his son, Jeroboam II, whom he had named after the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel. His admiration for Jeroboam seems obvious but undeserved. After all, Jeroboam had been responsible for leading the Israelites into idolatry. When God split the nation of Israel in two after the reign of Solomon, He gave the ten northern tribes to Jeroboam as his kingdom. But Jeroboam responded to this gracious gift from God by erecting two golden calves and encouraging his people to forsake the worship of Yahweh. Yet Jehoash thought enough of this man to name his own son after him.

But sometime during his reign, Jehoash of Israel received word that the prophet Elisha was on his deathbed. Surprisingly, the king was grieved over this news and made a personal visit to see the dying prophet. While Jehoash was anything but a faithful worshiper of Yahweh, he knew that Elisha had great power and influence. This elderly prophet had proven time and time again that he spoke on behalf of God and was empowered by God. That’s why Jehoash greeted him with the somewhat cryptic statement: “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” (2 Kings 13:14 ESV). Evidently, Jehoash had heard the story of Elijah’s miraculous departure and Elisha’s role in it. Perhaps Elisha had shared with the king the details of that fateful day when God had used a whirlwind to take Elijah from the earth.

…as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. – 2 Kings 2:11-12 ESV

This event followed Elisha’s request that Elijah give him a double portion of his spirit. He was to be Elijah’s replacement, and he felt ill-equipped for the task. It could be that King Jehoash hoped Elisha would pour out his spirit on him as well. He understood that Elisha possessed power and had direct access to Yahweh. With the prophet’s death, all of that might be lost. But rather than pour out his spirit on the apostate king, Elisha commanded him to take his bow and shoot an arrow out the window.

Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” – 2 Kings 13:17 ESV

Next, the prophet told the king to take his remaining arrows and strike the ground with them. Jehoash dutifully obeyed, but when he stopped after the third blow, Elisha responded in anger.

“You should have struck the ground five or six times!” he exclaimed. “Then you would have beaten Aram until it was entirely destroyed. Now you will be victorious only three times.” – 2 Kings 13:19 NLT

In a sense, Elisha had poured out his spirit on King Jehoash. He had placed his hands on those of the king and, together, they had shot the first arrow out the window. He then assured the king of his victory over the Syrians. But the extent of that victory would depend on Jehoash's faith. By limiting the number of times he struck the ground, Jehoash was unwittingly revealing his lack of faith. The first arrow had symbolized the LORD’s victory over the Syrians. When Elisha had commanded Jehoash to take the remaining arrows and strike the ground, he should have done so until the prophet told him to stop. Each blow was meant to symbolize a victory over the enemy. But Jehoash had chosen to limit his expectations. In doing so, he inadvertently limited his chances of success over his enemy.

Having pronounced his last prophetic message, Elisha died. But the author relates a story that reveals one last miracle associated with the prophet of God. Sometime later, the body of a recently deceased man was inadvertently thrown into the cave containing Elisha’s bones. When the body of the dead man came into contact with Elisha’s remains, he was immediately restored to life. Amazingly, the author provides no further details about the story to indicate what happened to this newly resurrected man or how the story came to be known. But its inclusion in the narrative was meant to reveal that, though Elisha was dead,  Yahweh was alive and well. Elisha’s departure was not meant to be mistaken for God’s abandonment of Israel. He was still fully capable of restoring life to the lifeless. The all-powerful God of Israel used the bones of a dead prophet to restore life to a dead Israelite, a clear symbol of His desire to renew those among His chosen people who were marked by spiritual death.

The author reminds his readers that God remained faithful to His disobedient people, refusing to abandon them despite their constant rejection of Him.

…the LORD was gracious and merciful to the people of Israel, and they were not totally destroyed. He pitied them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. – 2 Kings 13:23 NLT

The author also reveals that Yahweh kept His word concerning the fate of the Syrians. Jehoash experienced three separate victories over his enemy, matching the exact number of times he struck the ground with his arrows — no more, no less. God allowed Jehoash to recover some of the territory stolen by the Syrians, but the fighting would continue throughout the rest of his reign. The sad reality is that the same God who raised a dead man back to life was fully capable of restoring a spiritually dead nation. Still, their continued stubbornness and lack of faithfulness would prevent them from experiencing the life-transformative power of Yahweh.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Yahweh’s Divine Tag Team

15 And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him. – 1 Kings 19:15-21 ESV

The last three and a half years had taken their toll on Elijah. He had been living in a God-ordained exile in a remote village in the region of Sidon. While God had miraculously cared for him during that time, he had to live with the knowledge that there was a bounty on his head. King Ahab and his queen, Jezebel, had never forgiven him for the drought he had placed on the land of Israel. Elijah must have woken up every morning wondering if that would be the day God called him to confront Ahab and Jezebel one more time.

When that day finally came, Elijah obeyed God and made his way to Mount Carmel, where he challenged King Ahab to pit his 450 prophets of Baal against Yahweh, the one true God. That battle ended up being a lopsided affair, with Elijah’s God as the clear victor and the false god of Ahab and Jezebel exposed as a fraud and a failure. The dead bodies of his 450 prophets, strewn across the Jezreel Valley, were evidence of his decisive defeat.

But Elijah’s hope for revival in the land was soon replaced by fear for his own life. Jezebel had vowed to kill Elijah for his slaughter of the 450 prophets of Baal. And he responded to this news by running away. The prophet of God seemed to have lost all faith in God. Yet, even in his deep state of depression and despondency, Elijah was ministered to by God. Yahweh met Elijah right where he was, in the midst of his doubt and despair, and graciously provided him with a visual demonstration of His power. However, the wind, earthquake, and fire only frightened Elijah, causing him to take refuge in a cave. But it was the quiet whisper of God that drew him out, and the gentle voice of God asked Elijah to explain his presence there. What was the prophet doing so far from the scene of the recent victory over Baal? Why was he hiding? Elijah’s answer revealed his struggle with a lack of faith and a sense of failure. 

“I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” – 1 Kings 19:14 ESV

Elijah described himself as alone and afraid. He had convinced himself that he was the last man standing, with no one to do battle at his side. In the heat of the moment, he had conveniently forgotten about the 100 prophets that God had used Obadiah to protect and preserve (1 Kings 18:13). Elijah felt alienated and alone, but his feelings were not based on reality. God even informed Elijah that He had preserved a remnant of “7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!” (1 Kings 19:18 NLT). Elijah was far from alone, and God was far from finished with Elijah. But rather than rebuke His wavering prophet, God gave him his next assignment.

“Go back the same way you came, and travel to the wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive there, anoint Hazael to be king of Aram. Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.” – 1 Kings 19:15 ESV

Despite his recent display of faithlessness and fear, Elijah would play a significant role in the next phase of God’s plans for Israel. God gave Elijah three assignments: First, he was to anoint a new king over the Syrians or Arameans. Then, he was to anoint a new king over Israel's northern kingdom. Finally, he was to anoint his own successor. God provided Elijah little in the way of details. Other than the names of the men he was to anoint, Elijah had no way of knowing what any of this meant or how it would all turn out. But God was letting Elijah know that there were plans in the works of which he was unaware. Whether Elijah realized it or not, Ahab’s days were numbered, and the Syrians would end up playing a part in his eventual demise. There would be a new king in Israel one day. God had defeated the false god, Baal, and now He was going to mete out final judgment on the man responsible for Baal’s presence in Israel.

As if to further convince Elijah that he was not alone and that his mission was far from over, God revealed that the three men Elijah was to anoint would carry on the work that he had started at Mount Carmel. Elijah had killed the 450 prophets of Baal, but there were far more who needed to face the judgment of God for their apostasy and rebellion.

“Anyone who escapes from Hazael will be killed by Jehu, and those who escape Jehu will be killed by Elisha!” – 1 Kings 19:17 NLT

Judgment was coming. Yahweh was preparing to purge Israel of all those who had bowed the knee to Baal, and He would start at the top with Ahab and Jezebel. But this divine plan to cleanse Israel would not happen overnight. In fact, it would last long after Elijah was gone. That’s why God informed Elijah that he was to anoint his successor.

“…anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as my prophet.” – 1 Kings 19:16 NLT

God already had Elijah’s replacement identified and a strategy in place to carry on His divine plan for Ahab’s punishment and Israel’s purification. A big reason for Elijah’s dejection was that the revival that started at Mount Carmel had stalled. When he had heard the people cry out, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God” (1 Kings 18:39 ESV), he genuinely believed that God had turned back the hearts of the people, and he expected to see an amazing renewal take place. He may have even thought that Ahab and Jezebel might repent and accept Yahweh as the one true God. But instead, the ever-defiant queen had threatened him with death.

But while Jezebel remained unwavering in her commitment to Baal, Elijah needed to understand that God was unfazed by her actions. As the sovereign, omniscient God of the universe, He had a plan in place to deal with Jezebel, Ahab, and all those who had bent the knee to Baal. And while Elijah might not live to see the final phase of that plan, he would play a decisive role in its implementation.

Revived and encouraged by Yahweh’s news, Elijah made his way to Abel-meholah, located in the Jordan Valley. While God clearly told Elijah to travel to the wilderness of Damascus and anoint Hazael to be king of Aram (1 Kings 19:15), it would appear that this was meant to be his final destination. On his way from Mount Sinai, he had to pass through the Jordan Valley, so it only made sense to stop there first and find the man who would be his replacement. He found Elisha plowing with 12 pairs of oxen in a field. This agrarian scene is significant for several reasons. First, it conveys an image of hope and expectation. After three-and-a-half years of drought, the rain had come, and now Elisha was preparing his formerly sun-baked fields for planting. He was anticipating a fruitful harvest sometime in the future. But Elisha’s presence in the field also reveals that he was a man of the land. He was not an influential figure with great wealth and prominence. He was a nondescript nobody whose only credentials were his calling by Yahweh.

What happens next appears strange to our modern sensibilities. Elijah walked up to this man, placed his cloak across his shoulders, and then simply walked away. What kind of bizarre ritual did this represent? How could Elisha have taken this unexpected action from this unknown stranger? Amazingly, it seems as if Elisha fully understood the significance of Elijah’s symbolic act. The text states that he “left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, ‘First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!’” (1 Kings 19:20 NLT). Perhaps God had already prepared Elisha for this moment, having revealed His plan through a dream or vision. He could have sent an angelic messenger to prepare Elisha for the prophet’s arrival. But whatever the case, Elisha seems to have been unfazed by what transpired and fully aware of what it meant. He immediately stopped his plowing and followed the man of God. His words and actions reveal that he knew who Elijah was and what he was asking him to do. His only request was that he be allowed to say goodbye to his family.

Elijah’s response to his request comes across as rather flippant.

“Go back again, for what have I done to you?” – 1 Kings 19:20 ESV

In a sense, Elijah was simply emphasizing that this had all been God’s doing, not his. He was merely the messenger. Elisha was free to do as he pleased, and the young farmer-turned-prophet demonstrated his commitment to accept the call of God. He took the plow, the symbol of his former occupation, and used the wood to build an altar. Then, on that altar, he offered up the oxen with which he had been plowing. Elisha burned every bridge to his former life. He bid his parents and his past goodbye and “arose and went after Elijah and assisted him” (1 Kings 19:21 ESV).

As Elijah and Elisha made their way from the Jordan Valley, the first phase of the second half of God’s plan began. The revival Elijah had longed for and given up on was coming. Yahweh was not yet done. Elijah had been a key player in God’s renewal plans for Israel, but his part was coming to an end. The LORD had another man ready to take the baton and finish the race. God would use this divine tag team to accomplish His will concerning Israel and usher in a period of much-needed spiritual renewal among His covenant people. The apostle Paul would later explain his understanding of how God uses a team approach to accomplish His divine will. 

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. – 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 ESV

Elijah had planted; now it was Elisha’s turn to water. But the harvest would be the LORD’s.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Why Are You Here?

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” – 1 Kings 19:4-14 ESV

While everything had gone exceptionally well for Elijah on Mount Carmel, he soon found himself disappointed in how things turned out. His challenge of the false prophets of Baal had proven to be successful, and, from the immediate reaction of the people, it appeared that revival had come to the land. This spiritual renewal of the people seemed to be symbolized by the torrential rain that had brought an end to the three-and-a-half years of drought. It appeared as if the nation was headed in the right direction. As a prophet of God, Elijah longed to see the repentance and restoration of the people of God.

But upon his triumphant return to Jezreel, he was met with intense opposition from the very woman who had begun all this trouble in Israel. Queen Jezebel was incensed when she heard what Elijah had done to the 450 prophets of her god. So, she sent Elijah a life-threatening message.

“So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” – 1 Kings 19:2 ESV

She swore an oath to her gods that she would avenge the deaths of the prophets of Baal by killing Elijah. She gave the prophet less than 24 hours to live and vowed to sacrifice her own life if she failed to take his life. Despite the abject failure of her god to defeat Yahweh on Mount Carmel, she was still very much a believer. She exhibited no remorse or repentance but instead warned Elijah that while he had won the battle on Mount Carmel, the war was far from over. She was willing to fight to the death – either his or her own.  And Elijah did not take this news well.

…he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. – 1 Kings 19:3 ESV

The man who had run from Mount Carmel to Jezreel after his victory over the prophets of Baal was now running for his life. But this time, he was powered by fear, not faith. And Elijah didn’t stop running until he had reached Beersheba, the last town of any size in the southernmost region of Judah. Then, leaving his servant behind in the city, Elijah traveled another day’s journey into the wilderness, where he finally stopped to rest. 

In a state of deep depression and disillusionment, Elijah asked God to take his life. Since Ahab and Jezebel remained fully committed to their false gods, Elijah had concluded that his prophetic mission had been an abysmal failure. There would be no revival in Israel as long as those two wielded all the power and influence over the people. They were calling the shots and determining the nation’s religious affiliation.

Elijah had run out of faith and energy. He was physically, emotionally, and spiritually spent. In his despondent state, he cried out to God, saying, “I have had enough, LORD.…Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died” (1 Kings 19:4 NLT). Exhausted, he fell asleep. But he was soon awakened by an angel who commanded him to eat. There beside him was a loaf of bread and a jar of water. Rather than taking Elijah’s life, Yahweh provided his faith-famished prophet with sustenance, miraculously delivered by the hand of an angel. Elijah may have decided that he was done, but God was not done with Elijah. The prophet ate and fell back asleep. 

However, his rest was disturbed yet again by a second visit from the angel, who had brought more food and a message.

“Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” – 1 Kings 19:7 NLT

Elijah’s plan had been to die alone in the wilderness, but Yahweh informed His disillusioned prophet that he had not yet reached his final destination. He had run, but not far enough. When Elijah abruptly fled Jezreel, he did so because he thought his life was over. Since Jezebel had vowed to kill him, Elijah determined to have Yahweh take his life. But the LORD had other plans. He sent Elijah on a 40-day journey further south, all the way to Mount Sinai. The food the angel provided miraculously sustained Elijah for this long and arduous journey.

…the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. – 1 Kings 19:8 ESV

This trip should have taken no more than 15-20 days on foot, but Elijah found himself wandering in the wilderness for 40 days and nights. This number is significant because it corresponds to the 40 years that the disobedient Israelites had spent wandering in the wilderness. When they failed to obey God and enter the land of Canaan (Numbers 13-14), He doomed them to spend the next 40 years in the wilderness of Sinai, until that disobedient generation died off.

So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness for forty years, until the entire generation of those who had done evil in the sight of the Lord came to an end. – Numbers 32:13 NLT

When they had heard the report of the spies that the land of Canaan was full of giants and well-fortified cities, the people of Israel refused to trust God and made plans to return to Egypt.

“If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the LORD taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” – Numbers 14:2-3 NLT

Now, centuries later, Elijah, the prophet of God, had chosen death in the wilderness rather than face the “giants” in his day. He had determined that Jezebel was too big for God. But Yahweh ordered Elijah to go to the very place where He had revealed Himself to the people of Israel. It had been at Mount Sinai that God gave His law to Moses. It had been on Mount Sinai that God displayed His glory and demonstrated His unparalleled power.

So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud over the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. – Exodus 19:16-17 NLT

When Yahweh had safely sequestered Elijah in the recesses of a cave, He asked His doubting prophet a question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9 ESV). He wanted Elijah to explain the motivation behind his most recent actions, and the prophet responded with a pitiful portrait of his Don-Quixote-like quest to defeat the enemies of God. He deemed himself the last man standing, the sole survivor of an ill-fated battle against the forces of evil.

“I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.” – 1 Kings 19:10 NLT

Elijah threw himself a pity party and invited Yahweh to attend, but the LORD was not interested in celebrating Elijah’s accomplishments or validating his woe-is-me mentality. Instead, God instructed His despondent prophet to step out of the cave and into the shadow of Mount Sinai. As Elijah stood at the base of the mountain, God revealed Himself. At first, He displayed His glory in the form of a fierce windstorm so mighty that it blew boulders off the face of the mountain. This dramatic display was followed by a massive earthquake that shook the ground under Elijah’s feet. Finally, Elijah watched as the peak of the mountain was consumed by fire. The pitiful prophet was witnessing the same jaw-dropping spectacle the Israelites had seen. 

Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the entire mountain quaked violently. – Exodus 19:18 NLT

But Elijah was to discover that, while these dramatic revelations of God were impressive, they were not meant to represent His presence. The text clearly states that the LORD was not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire. Yes, they were manifestations of His greatness, but they were not how God was going to speak to His prophet. After the ear-piercing blast of the wind, the earth-shaking rumble of the earthquake, and the roar of the fire, Elijah heard “the sound of a low whisper” ( 1 Kings 19:12 ESV). Evidently, the three previous displays of God’s power had driven Elijah back into the recesses of the cave. But upon hearing the gentle sound of the whisper, he timidly made his way back outside. There, in the quiet of the moment, he heard Yahweh repeat His previous question: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:13 NLT). 

Once again, Elijah gave the same well-rehearsed reply. He reiterated his claim to have zealously served Yahweh and re-emphasized his status as the last faithful Israelite. It was all about him. He alone had zealously served Yahweh. While everyone else in Israel had turned their backs on God, Elijah had remained faithful and fully committed. He was the last line of defense against the forces of evil, and now he was as good as dead.

But where was God? Even after the dramatic displays of divine power on Mount Sinai, Elijah had been unable to get his mind off himself. For some reason, he believed that the future of Israel had been dependent upon him, and he had failed and let God down. Despite his victory over the prophets of Baal, Ahab and Jezebel were firmly entrenched and in charge of the affairs of the nation, or so Elijah thought. From his perspective, all was lost. But God had news for Elijah, and He had plans for Ahab and Jezebel that the defeated prophet knew nothing about.

In a still, small voice, Yahweh was about to whisper His sovereign secret for Israel’s future in the ear of his self-consumed prophet. When God had asked Elijah, “What are you doing here?”, the prophet had given his answer. Now it was God's turn. He would explain the real purpose behind Elijah’s seeming failure and his fear and flight. Elijah thought it was all over, but Yahweh was just getting started. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Fateful Journey from Faith to Fear

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” 45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. 

1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. – 1 Kings 18:41-19:3 ESV

Chapter 18 opened up with the words God spoke to Elijah: “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth” (1 Kings 18:1 ESV). This statement contains a command as well as a promise from God. After his three-and-a-half-year absence, Elijah was to return to Israel from Sidon and confront King Ahab one more time. But while this command would likely involve significant risk to the prophet, his obedience would result in a tremendous blessing on the people. God would end the prolonged drought and restore rain to the land.

It is impossible to know if Elijah was aware of all that would have to happen before the rain returned. There is no indication as to when God divulged the rest of His plan and Elijah’s role in it. But before the physical drought could end, the spiritual drought afflicting the people would have to come to a decisive conclusion that involved a dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal. However, the real battle would be between Yahweh, the God of Israel, and Baal, the god of Ahab and Jezebel.

Yahweh had won the day, displaying His power by sending fire from heaven that “consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38 ESV). This demonstrative exhibition of God’s omnipotence brought the people to their knees in fear and worship. What they had just witnessed left them thoroughly convinced that Yahweh was the one true God, and that newly revived awareness left them crying out, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God” (1 Kings 18:39 ESV). And as if to put an exclamation point on the whole scene, Elijah ordered the capture and execution of all 450 of Baal’s so-called prophets. Their god had remained silent when they cried to him for help. Now the prophet of Yahweh silenced them for good. They would no longer deceive and mislead the people of Israel with fallacious promises concerning their false god.

But there was still one thing missing: The rain that Yahweh had promised. Baal had been discredited, his prophets had been eliminated, and the peoples’ reverence for Yahweh had been rejuvenated. But the land remained under the God-ordained drought that had turned Israel into a dust bowl where water and food were scarce and daily survival was a challenge. The land that God had once described as “flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 33:3 ESV) had become fruitless and lifeless, reflecting the spiritual state of the people who occupied it.

Hundreds of years earlier, long before the people of Israel took possession of the land of Canaan, Moses warned what would happen if they proved unfaithful.

“And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the LORD is giving you.” – Deuteronomy 11:13-17 ESV

Years later, when God’s people continued to display their propensity for unfaithfulness, His prophet, Joel, would offer this promise of divine restoration even in the face of their disobedience.

Surely the LORD has done great things!
    Don’t be afraid, O land.
Be glad now and rejoice,
    for the LORD has done great things.
Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field,
    for the wilderness pastures will soon be green.
The trees will again be filled with fruit;
    fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more.
Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem!
    Rejoice in the LORD your God!
For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness.
    Once more the autumn rains will come,
    as well as the rains of spring.
The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain,
    and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil.

The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost…” – Joel 2:20-25 ESV

That day on Mount Carmel, the people had seen the fire of God fall from heaven, completely consuming the altar, sacrifice, and water. But they had not yet seen or felt His blessing. As Joel stated, “the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness.” Their land was in desperate need of restoration and rejuvenation, and so were they. After three-and-a-half years of spiritual drought, their hearts were parched and hardened. They had lost the capacity for fruitfulness and faithfulness and needed an outpouring of God’s grace and mercy.

Elijah knew what God had in store. So, he informed the shell-shocked king to “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” (1 Kings 18:41 NLT). There was a blessing on the horizon. Despite Ahab and Jezebel’s wickedness, God was about to pour out His goodness on the land.

The fact that Ahab had food to eat is symbolic of his self-centered approach to leadership. His sins had brought God’s curse upon the nation, but while the people suffered severely from the lack of rain, Ahab and Jezebel lived in royal comfort and ease. God would later issue an indictment against the leaders of Israel, warning them of their blatant disregard for the care of His people.

“What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?” – Ezekiel 34:2 NLT

As Ahab was busy satisfying his own needs, Elijah interceded on behalf of the people of Israel. He “climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees” (1 Kings 18:42 NLT). At one point during his prayer, he stopped and sent his servant to look toward the Mediterranean Sea in the east. But the servant saw nothing. This pattern repeated itself five more times with the same disappointing result. But the seventh time, the servant returned with a different report.

“I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” – 1 Kings 18:44 NLT

Out on the distant horizon, the servant saw what appeared to be a glimmer of hope. It was a small and seemingly insignificant cloud, but Elijah knew what it meant. The blessing of God was about to fall and, when it did, it would come in torrents. So, he instructed his servant to warn Ahab to leave immediately, or he may not make it back to his winter palace in Jezreel. When Elijah’s servant looked to the east, he saw only a faint possibility. But through his eyes of faith,  Elijah saw something altogether different. He perceived the imminent arrival of the outpouring of God’s blessing, and before long, that small cloud developed into a massive storm that brought strong winds and torrential rains. As Ahab tried to outrun the storm in his chariot, “the LORD gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel” (1 Kings 18:46 NLT).

Because Jezreel was anywhere from 10 to 20 miles east of Mount Carmel, some commentators attempt to explain this last verse by saying that Ahab’s chariot got caught in the mud and delayed his arrival. Others speculate that Elijah simply took a shortcut over the ridge of Mount Carmel. But everything about this story has been focused on the matchless power of God, and it should not seem out of the question that God might endow his prophet with a supernatural capacity to outrun the chariot of his arch-nemesis. God had defeated Baal. Now, the prophet of God had defeated the benefactor of Baal.

But while Elijah had won the victory at Mount Carmel and the race to Jezreel, he would have little time to celebrate. Upon hearing the unexpected news of all that had transpired on Mount Carmel, Jezebel was outraged and directed all her anger at Elijah.

“May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.” – 1 Kings 19:2 NLT

Despite all that Ahab told her about the day’s events, she remained unconvinced of Yahweh’s power. She even called on Baal and his queen mother, Asherah, to come to her aid so that she might avenge the deaths of the prophets by killing Elijah. She was still putting her hope and trust in her false gods. Even the sudden arrival of long-awaited rain did nothing to diminish her misplaced trust in her lifeless and powerless gods. Baal, Jezebel’s beloved fertility god, had done nothing to eliminate the drought that had plagued the land. 

But even more surprising than Jezebel’s stubborn belief in Baal and her resistance to God was Elijah’s sudden display of fear and doubt. This man, who had called down fire from heaven and had singlehandedly executed 450 prophets of Baal, found himself intimidated by the idle threats of this self-absorbed, idol-worshiping queen. Her vow to avenge her false god should have made Elijah laugh with scorn. Her god had proven himself to be speechless, powerless, and utterly helpless in the face of Yahweh. Yet, the formerly faithful Elijah was suddenly fearful, and this time, rather than running to the problem in the strength of God, he took flight and tried to escape it. He fled for his life, covering the 25 miles from Jezreel to Beersheba, motivated by fear and in the strength of his own flesh. Faced with the threats of Jezebel, Elijah took his eyes off God and took his fate into his own hands. 

This faithful man of God allowed the words of an idol-obsessed queen to dishearten and defeat him. He had bravely faced off against the 450 prophets of Baal, but now, with Jezebel’s words ringing in his ear, Elijah ran all the way to Beersheba, located on the southern border of Judah. From there, he would enter the Judean wilderness, the very same place where the disobedient and doubtful Israelites had wandered for 40 years when they refused to enter the promised land. And, in no time at all, the once faith-filled Elijah would find himself racked by fear and desiring death rather than face the vengeful anger of Jezebel. 

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Drought, Doubt, and Deliverance

1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the LORD came to him: 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the LORD. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah. – 1 Kings 17:1-16 ESV

Almost as if out of nowhere, a new character appears on the scene. His sudden and unexpected arrival seems intended to accentuate the divine nature of his mission. No background story or biographical information is provided, other than his name and the identity of his hometown.

His introduction into the narrative is timed to coincide with the rise to power of King Ahab and his Sidonian queen, Jezebel. With this new power couple ruling over the northern kingdom of Israel, the spiritual state of the ten northern tribes has reached an all-time low. The author ended chapter 16 with an unflattering description of their influence over the nation.

…he [Ahab] took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. – 1 Kings 16:31-33 ESV

To claim that Ahab had managed to anger God more than any of his predecessors is a significant statement. He was following in the footsteps of some world-class, all-star-quality apostates. But when it came to wickedness and unfaithfulness, Ahab set the new gold standard. He became the proverbial poster boy for all that is wicked and ungodly, while his wife managed to earn herself a permanent spot in the spiritual hall of infamy.

In the middle of their sin-fueled and self-absorbed reign, God decides to deliver a message to them, utilizing an obscure and unknown man named Elijah. This will not be the first time God has sent a prophet to deliver a message to a wayward and rebellious king. When Jeroboam had made the fateful decision to replace Yahweh with his own false gods, an unnamed prophet appeared on the scene with a dire message for the king, and he demonstrated God’s anger by destroying one of the altars Jeroboam had dedicated to his false god. Later on, Jeroboam sent his wife to consult with another prophet of God, in hopes of getting a prognosis regarding his young son’s illness. But what he got was bad news. He was told that his son would die and that every one of his male heirs would face the same fate before they could inherit the throne. In other words, any hopes of establishing a dynasty would be destroyed.

As the seventh king to reign over the northern kingdom of Israel, Ahab would not be the first to receive a message from God. But, in his case, the prophet would play a more pronounced and prolonged role in his life. The sins of Ahab and his wife were so egregious that God made his prophet a permanent fixture in their kingdom.

Elijah’s very first encounter with the king and queen was far from favorable. He stood before this powerful couple and boldly proclaimed, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word” (1 Kings 17:1 ESV). That took guts and a fair amount of faith. He was claiming to have the God-given authority to withhold rain from the kingdom of Israel. Any way you look at it, this had to come across as a less-than-veiled threat to Ahab and Jezebel. But before they had time to cut this arrogant upstart down to size, God gave him instructions to get out of town.

“Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.” – 1 Kings 17:3 ES

Elijah had done his job, but now it was time for God to prepare him for the next phase of his assignment. Before sending his prophet back into the mouth of the lion’s den, God planned to equip him for what was to come. He was determined to make Elijah a faithful and obedient messenger, strong enough to handle all the vitriol and violence that was about to come his way. Standing up to Ahab and Jezebel was not going to be easy, so God graciously eased Elijah into his new role with a hands-on experience that would teach him to trust and obey.

While in God’s preparatory school for prophets, Elijah was miraculously fed and cared for; he received a twice-daily ration of bread and meat, delivered to his cave by ravens. And outside the cave was a ready source of clean, pure water. But in time, “the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land” (1 Kings 17:7 ESV). In other words, Elijah’s prediction of drought had come true, and he suffered just like everyone else. Without rain, there was no harvest, so that meant there was no more bread or meat for the ravens to deliver. Elijah’s little oasis in the wilderness had become a death trap. So, God gave him new instructions.

“Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” – 1 Kings 17:8 NLT

This would have been a long and arduous journey under normal conditions, but the presence of drought made it even more so. Interestingly, God sent Elijah to a city in the region of Sidon, the very kingdom over which Jezebel’s father was king. Elijah was being sent to the same place Ahab had acquired a queen and her false god, Baal. Zarephath lay between Tyre and Sidon, two of the most prominent Phoenician cities. But as the story makes clear, the drought had made its way all the way to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

God provided Elijah with scant details about what to do when he arrived in Zarephath. The prophet had no food and received no word from God regarding when and how it would come, if it did at all. So, when Elijah encountered a widow gathering sticks, he decided to throw himself on her mercy. He asked for a drink of water and a morsel of bread. But then he discovered that this woman’s state was worse than his own.

“I swear by the LORD your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.” – 1 Kings 17:12 NLT

The drought had taken its toll, leaving the woman with no food with which to feed herself or her young son.  It shouldn’t be overlooked that Baal, the god of the Phoenicians, was considered a fertility god. He was the provider of bountiful blessings, whether in the form of crops or children. Yet, this woman was living in a drought and watching her young son starve to death. There was nothing bountiful taking place in Zarephath, and Jezebel’s god was nowhere to be found.

Then, God gave Elijah a message to deliver to the woman.

“Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!” – 1 Kings 17:13-14 NLT

While the god of the Phoenicians had failed to provide, the God of Israel would meet her needs and preserve the lives of both her and her son. Even in a time of drought, God would miraculously provide flour and oil in abundance until He decided to open up the skies and end the drought.

The woman faithfully obeyed the word of the prophet, and “There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah” (1 Kings 17:16 NLT). God graciously provided for this Sidonian widow and her son, and He continued to meet the needs of His prophet. But more importantly, God was teaching Elijah that He could be trusted. He was greater than the fertility god of the Phoenicians. He was more powerful than the false deity of Ahab and Jezebel. The brook may have dried up, but the resources of God remained unending and plentiful. The ravens may have stopped showing up, but the miracle-working power of God remained undiminished. Elijah was learning the vital truth that no circumstance is too difficult for Yahweh, and the days ahead would provide further confirmation of that fact.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Caves, Conflict, and Confidence

A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

1 With my voice I cry out to the LORD;
    with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
    I tell my trouble before him.

3 When my spirit faints within me,
    you know my way!
In the path where I walk
    they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see:
    there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
    no one cares for my soul.

5 I cry to you, O LORD;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Attend to my cry,
    for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me!
7 Bring me out of prison,
    that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
    for you will deal bountifully with me. – Psalm 142:1-7 ESV

This song of lament was written by David while hiding in the Judean wilderness in an attempt to escape the wrath of King Saul. At one time, David had been the hero of Israel, having slain Goliath, the Philistine champion, who had taunted the Israelite army and mocked their God. David's unexpected defeat of the giant from Gath not only elevated him in the eyes of the people but also got the attention of Saul. Before long, David was on Saul’s staff and serving as a commander in his army. However, over time, Saul grew disenchanted with David because he feared the young man's growing popularity would ultimately threaten his hold on the throne. The prophet Samuel had already warned Saul that his days as king were numbered. 

“…because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.

“The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else—one who is better than you. And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!” – 1Samuel 15:23, 28-29 NLT

Despite Samuel’s dire warning, Saul was not immediately dethroned and replaced, but his suspicions of David increased rapidly. In time, his paranoia became so pronounced that he attempted to kill David with his own hands. 

Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night. – 1 Samuel 19:10 ESV 

Confused by the king's schizophrenic behavior, David ran for his life and sought refuge among the enemies of Israel. For some unexplained reason, he showed up in the city of Gath, the hometown of Goliath the Philistine, but the reception he received was less than welcoming.

So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men. – 1 Samuel 22:1-2 NLT

From the royal courtroom to the dank confines of a cave, David's fall from grace had been great. Months earlier, David could hear people singing songs about his exploits against Goliath and his victories over the Philistines. Now, he was persona non grata, a social pariah living like a fugitive from justice and surrounded by a ragtag group of disgruntled debtors, rebels, and malcontents. 

It was while living in this less-than-ideal circumstance that David wrote this psalm. 

I cry out to the LORD;
    I plead for the LORD’s mercy.
I pour out my complaints before him
    and tell him all my troubles. – Psalm 142:1-2 NLT

As David sat in the dark recesses of his literal “hole-in-the-wall” home, he poured out his heart to Yahweh, bearing his soul to the only one who could make a difference. He no longer had access to his mentor Samuel. He had been forced to leave his wife and his best friend behind. Jonathan, the son of Saul, had tried to restore the broken relationship between David and his father, but had failed. Now, with no one to turn to except the LORD, David held nothing back. In another psalm, written during the same difficult time, David expressed his need for Yahweh's help.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
    I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
    until the danger passes by. – Psalm 57:1 NLT   

Despite the presence of his family and a committed cohort of 400 men, David felt abandoned and alone. He was confused and unable to comprehend how his world had fallen apart so quickly. As he looked back on his anointing by the prophet Samuel, he must have questioned its meaning. Nothing made sense. His fall from grace had been quick, unexpected, and, from David's perspective, undeserved. On one occasion, David questions his friend and confidant, Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?” (1 Samuel 20:1 NLT). 

However, despite his many questions, David remained steadfast in his belief in Yahweh's sovereignty and providence. 

When my spirit faints within me,
    you know my way! – Psalm 142:3 NLT

David was confident that his all-seeing, all-knowing God was well aware of his predicament and had a plan in place. No matter how dire the circumstances were, David knew Yahweh was in control and would protect and deliver him.

My heart is confident in you, O God;
    my heart is confident. – Psalm 57:7 NLT

However, David’s confidence in God did not prevent him from voicing his concerns. Fear is not always a sign of a lack of faith; it may simply be momentary doubt in the face of mounting pressure. David knew he could be honest with God and expressed his feelings in blunt language meant to convey his confusion and uncertainty.  

Wherever I go,
    my enemies have set traps for me.
I look for someone to come and help me,
    but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
    no one cares a bit what happens to me. – Psalm 142:3-4 NLT

My enemies have set a trap for me.
    I am weary from distress.
They have dug a deep pit in my path… – Psalm 57:6 NLT

David didn't attempt to sugarcoat his doubts with overly optimistic, glass-half-full rhetoric that sounded pious but lacked sincerity. He wasn’t trying to impress Yahweh with his faith; he was calling on Yahweh’s faithfulness. 

Then I pray to you, O LORD.
    I say, “You are my place of refuge.
    You are all I really want in life.” – Psalm 142:5 NLT

I cry out to God Most High,
    to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. – Psalm 57:2 NLT

When facing difficulty and uncertainty, David had learned to turn to Yahweh. The presence of problems caused David to seek the presence and power of God. Long before David took the life of Goliath, he knew he wasn't a giant slayer. He was just a shepherd boy who had learned to face life’s problems by leaning on the power of God. 

“I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” – 1 Samuel 17:34-37 NLT

Even in the darkness of the cave, David could see the light of God’s presence and hope in His deliverance. He was brutally honest about his conditions. 

I am surrounded by fierce lions
    who greedily devour human prey—
whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
    and whose tongues cut like swords. – Psalm 57:4 NLT

But his God was greater than his biggest problem. 

For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
    Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. – Psalm 57:10 NLT

No matter how bad things got, David maintained his confidence in God's goodness, glory, and greatness. For David, problems were an opportunity to witness Yahweh's power on display. That doesn't mean he sought out trouble or welcomed it with open arms, but when it inevitably showed up, he expected Yahweh not to be far behind. He had learned to view difficulty as an opportunity to witness God's deliverance. The Goliaths of life were not a problem for God. Lion, bears, and giants were no match for the God of the universe. 

In another of his psalms, David expressed his confidence in God's constant presence, even in the darkest moments of life.

…even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you. – Psalm 139:12 NLT   

David could hide from Saul in one of the many caves dotting the Judean landscape, but he knew there was nothing hidden from the all-seeing eyes of Yahweh. 

I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!
If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me. – Psalm 139:7-10 NLT

In the cave, Yahweh was there. In the face of doubt and fear, Yahweh was there. Entrapped, surrounded, hunted, and hounded, Yahweh was there. And David knew Yahweh cared. That is why he could confidently say, “Bring me out of prison so I can thank you” (Psalm 142:7 NLT).

Father, I want to trust You more. But I realize that trust is built in those moments where fear raises its ugly head and I doubt Your presence and power. It’s when I can’t see You that I am forced to trust You. It is when the difficulties of this world become overwhelming and insurmountable that I am forced to trust in Your strength and not my own. Help me to see the “caves” of my life as sanctuariies of Your presence; places where I can worship the light of Your goodness and greatness in the darkest moments of my life. I want to say with David, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life” (Psalm 142:5 NLT). Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Power of a Personal Testimony

1 I love the LORD, because he has heard
    my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
    the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
    I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD:
    “O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
    our God is merciful.
6 The LORD preserves the simple;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
    for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling;
9 I will walk before the LORD
    in the land of the living.

10 I believed, even when I spoke:
    “I am greatly afflicted”;
11 I said in my alarm,
    “All mankind are liars.”

12 What shall I render to the LORD
    for all his benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the LORD,
14 I will pay my vows to the LORD
    in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD
    is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, I am your servant;
    I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
    You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
    and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows to the LORD
    in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD,
    in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD! – Psalm 116:1-19 ESV

This psalm reflects the author's personal testimony, describing how Yahweh saved him from imminent death (vs 8). Unlike the previous psalms, this one does not recall a past act of divine deliverance that affected the entire nation. There is no mention of the Red Sea crossing or the conquering of Canaan. He does not recount Yahweh's provision of manna and quail in the wilderness. No, his song of praise is based on his own experience with Yahweh's redemptive power. 

I love the LORD because he hears my voice
    and my prayer for mercy. – Psalm 116:1 NLT

His love for the LORD was not the byproduct of stories of Yahweh's faithfulness he had heard as a child. It flowed from an up-close and personal encounter he had with the living LORD. When faced with a difficult and potentially deadly situation, he called out to Yahweh and learned a life-changing lesson. 

Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live. – Psalm 116:2 NLT

This is far from an academic assessment of Yahweh's power based on a careful study of His past actions. The psalmist isn’t recounting ancient Hebrew history to develop his doctrine of Yahweh's faithfulness; he speaks from personal experience. 

He has saved me from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling. – Psalm 116:8 NLT

While the psalmist provides few details about the nature of his dilemma, he leaves little doubt that it was life-threatening. 

Death wrapped its ropes around me;
    the terrors of the grave overtook me.
    I saw only trouble and sorrow. – Psalm 116:3 NLT

I was facing death, and he saved me. – Psalm 116:6 NLT

…you have freed me from my chains. – Psalm 116:16 NLT

His situation had been dark and foreboding, filling him with anxiety and the very real fear of death. His doubts were many, and he believed his days were numbered, so he took his problem to the only one who could help: Yahweh. 

The way he describes Yahweh’s response is insightful. Though the LORD is invisible to the human eye, the psalmist states that Yahweh “bent down” to listen (vs 2). He describes Yahweh as kind, merciful, and good (vs 5). His depiction of Yahweh is intimate and personal, more like that of a loving father than a distant deity. His God is not aloof or unapproachable, but nearby and always ready to intervene on behalf of His children. 

How kind the LORD is! How good he is!
    So merciful, this God of ours!
The LORD protects those of childlike faith;
    I was facing death, and he saved me. – Psalm 116:5-6 NLT

The LORD cares deeply
    when his loved ones die.
O LORD, I am your servant;
    yes, I am your servant, born into your household;
    you have freed me from my chains. – Psalm 116:15-16 NLT

These are not the words of a religious man; someone well-acquainted with doctrine and well-versed in theology. They are the testimony of someone who has had a personal encounter with the living LORD. And the psalmist doesn't come across as an old man recounting a story from his past. Whatever the situation was, it was recent and had profoundly impacted his life. 

He has saved me from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling.
And so I walk in the LORD’s presence
    as I live here on earth! – Psalm 116:8-9 NLT

He was a changed man, not because he had studied the stories of God’s past acts of deliverance but because he had experienced God's deliverance firsthand. His was a personal and pertinent testimony. Its relevance lies in its relatability. If Yahweh could do this for him, He could do it for anybody. 

But the psalmist's primary point is not that Yahweh is faithful, good, merciful, kind, and able to save. Those should be the natural assumptions of every child of God. he psalmist's message is one of personal heart transformation. He is a changed man because the doctrines concerning Yahweh have moved from his head to his heart. He has gone from knowing much about Yahweh to actually knowing Yahweh. The prophet Isaiah recorded the following indictment that Yahweh leveled against His chosen people.

“These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.” – Isaiah 29:13 BSB

That was the state of the psalmist before he experienced Yahweh's up-close and personal intervention in his life. Suddenly, all the academic understanding of God's power and presence became real. Religion was replaced with a relationship. The God of the Bible became relevant and relatable. As a result of this personal encounter, the psalmist's dedication and devotion to Yahweh were energized, revitalizing his worship and restoring his faith.  

I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
    and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
    in the presence of all his people—
in the house of the LORD
    in the heart of Jerusalem.

Praise the LORD! – Psalm 116:17-19 NLT

Father, You are a personal God who longs to reveal His power in up-close and relevant ways. You’re not just a character in an ancient book, You are the life-giving, love-bestowing, miracle-working Father who longs to meet the needs of His children. Forgive me for relegating Your power to the pages of Scripture. Far too often, I live as if Your miracles are ancient history and no longer relevant today. But You have proven Your power in my life so many times it is difficult to recall them all. But that's part of the problem. I tend to forget and then fail to express the gratitude You deserve. When the next trial appears, I act as if You've never come through before. I doubt and despair. I question and complain. But You have given me ample proof of Your power and Your willingness to use it on behalf. Help me to recognize Your deliverance more quickly and to respond in praise and thanksgiving more frequently. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Obsessed with God

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
    my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
    beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
    my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
    in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
    and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed,
    and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
7 for you have been my help,
    and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to you;
    your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek to destroy my life
    shall go down into the depths of the earth;
10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
    they shall be a portion for jackals.
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
    all who swear by him shall exult,
    for the mouths of liars will be stopped. – Psalm 63:1-11 ESV

David found himself going through another difficult “wilderness” experience that left him unable to access the Tabernacle and the ark of the covenant. The details of his predicament are not provided, but it is clear that he is longing to return to Jerusalem so he can worship God properly through the offering of sacrifices. Feeling isolated and alone, David describes his intense desire to experience God’s presence once again.

O God, you are my God;
    I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water. – Psalm 63:1 NLT

David was experiencing an intense sense of deprivation that impacted every area of his life. He felt like a man who had been deprived of water and was dying of thirst, but his need was spiritual, not physical. His soul was suffering from a lack of nourishment, and he could only satiate his longing for fellowship by reminiscing on his past encounters with God. 

I have seen you in your sanctuary
    and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
    how I praise you! – Psalm 63:2-3 NLT

David’s adverse circumstances only enhanced his longing for God and rekindled his desire to praise God for His goodness and greatness.

I will praise you as long as I live,
    lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
    I will praise you with songs of joy. – Psalm 63:4-5 NLT

As David endured the spiritual deprivations that accompanied his dark night of the soul, he didn’t wallow in self-pity. Instead, he focused his mind on the faithfulness of God.

I lie awake thinking of you,
    meditating on you through the night.
Because you are my helper,
    I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely. – Psalm 63:6-8 NLT

When all looked lost, David disciplined his mind to think about God's reliability. Throughout his life, he had discovered the reality of God’s dependability and sovereignty. Time and time again, the LORD had shown up in the most difficult circumstances, providing David with inexplicable victories and undeniable proof of His power and presence. David had learned that no problem was too big for God. That is why he could boldly state, “Those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth. They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals” (Psalm 63:9-10 NLT).

This rather dark portrayal of his enemies’ fate is actually a statement of faith in God’s sovereign power and sense of justice. David knew he could trust God to do the just and right thing. The wilderness moments of life would come and go. Enemies would appear when you least expected them. Trials would show up at all the wrong times. Feelings of isolation and loneliness would sap the joy from life and leave an insatiable spiritual thirst. But David was determined to keep praising God.

The king will rejoice in God.
    All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,
    while liars will be silenced. – Psalm 63:11 NLT

Verse 6 reveals what set David apart from others. It is part of the reason he is described as a man after God's own heart. He boldly confesses, “I lie awake at night thinking of you, meditating on you through the night” (Psalm 63:6 NLT). Rather than fixating on his problems and lying awake all night, stressing out over his circumstances, David focused his mind on God. He filled his sleepless hours with thoughts about the One who was greater than his biggest problem and stronger than his fiercest enemy.

I wish I could say the statement in the above verse was true of me. But I rarely find myself lying in bed meditating or thinking about God. My sleepless hours tend to be spent focusing on everything I need God to do for me, but that is not the same. I often find myself demanding that God explain my less-than-enjoyable circumstances and give me a timeline for when He will do something about it. But David seems to be saying something completely different. Like a child lying awake in bed on Christmas Eve, anticipating the morning's joys, David finds himself immersed in the greatness and goodness of God Himself.

He says, “My soul thirsts for you, my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1 NLT). David is in the midst of trying times, living in wilderness environment, both literally and figuratively. He is miles from the Tabernacle and far from the presence of his own people. Even though he was surrounded by those who had aligned themselves with his cause, David still struggled with feeling alone and isolated. So he stayed up at night thinking about God’s power, glory, unfailing love, protection, mercy, and ultimate salvation. Even amid difficulty, David could sing about the goodness of God. He focused his attention on God instead of his circumstances. He determined to dwell on God’s character rather than worrying about the cares of the day.

David’s life was anything but easy, as Psalm 63 clearly illustrates. He still had enemies and was forced to deal with unpleasant and unexpected circumstances. He had reasons to worry, doubt, fear, and despair. But rather than let his attention focus on his problems, He set His mind on God. This is the same advice Paul gave the church in Colossae.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. – Colossians 3:1-4 NLT

Paul gave similar counsel to the church in Philippi.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. – Philippians 4:8 NLT

Reflecting on the nature and character of God is the best way to get our minds off the worries of this world. Suffering should drive us to the One who can relieve it. Difficulty should motivate us to turn to the One who can do something about it. Trials should encourage us to turn to the One who can perfect us through them. Rather than lying awake at night worrying, wouldn’t it make more sense to spend our time worshiping the One who has proven Himself trustworthy, faithful, and loving?

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. Help me to cultivate a habit of thinking about You instead of my problems. Teach me to focus my attention on Your goodness and greatness rather than the difficulties in my life. Forgive me for the many times I have lied awake at night worrying over things that unworthy of my attention and no match for Your matchless power. I tend to turn problems into idols, sacrificing my time and attention to them rather than You. Show me how to keep you enthroned on the throne of my mind so you can rule in realm of my heart. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Hope in the Lord

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
    let me never be put to shame;
    in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me;
    rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
    a strong fortress to save me!

3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
    and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
    for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
    you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
    but I trust in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
    because you have seen my affliction;
    you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
    you have set my feet in a broad place.

9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
    my eye is wasted from grief;
    my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
    and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
    and my bones waste away.

11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
    especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
    those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
    I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
    terror on every side!—
as they scheme together against me,
    as they plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
    I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand;
    rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
16 Make your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your steadfast love!
17 O Lord, let me not be put to shame,
    for I call upon you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
    let them go silently to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute,
    which speak insolently against the righteous
    in pride and contempt.

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
    which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
    in the sight of the children of mankind!
20 In the cover of your presence you hide them
    from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
    from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the Lord,
    for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
    when I was in a besieged city.
22 I had said in my alarm,
    “I am cut off from your sight.”
But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
    when I cried to you for help.

23 Love the Lord, all you his saints!
    The Lord preserves the faithful
    but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who wait for the Lord! – Psalm 31:1-24 ESV

Why do we fear? Why do we worry and doubt? When we serve a mighty God who loves us like He does, what would ever cause us to distrust or doubt Him? The simple answer is that we are weak and sinful. In our limited understanding, we know of no one or nothing as strong as God is. We have no experience with anyone as reliable and trustworthy as He is. Yet, we tend to judge God based on human standards and our own limitations. If we truly believed God was all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving, would we fear and doubt dominate our lives like they do? 

Over the course of his life, David had learned to turn his bouts with doubt into opportunities to see God display His power, grace, and mercy. He came to God for protection, salvation, and encouragement. He viewed God as his “rock of refuge” and “strong fortress” (Psalm 31:2 ESV). In times of trouble, David had learned to run to the One who could provide safety, comfort, guidance, and deliverance.

This Psalm seems to have been written amid a time of crisis. David found himself in the middle of a difficult season of life in which some sin he had committed had left him discouraged, despondent, and deeply depressed. He doesn’t elaborate on the circumstances or disclose the nature of his indiscretion, but he painfully describes his troubled emotional state.

Tears blur my eyes.
    My body and soul are withering away.
I am dying from grief;
    my years are shortened by sadness.
Sin has drained my strength;
    I am wasting away from within.
I am scorned by all my enemies
    and despised by my neighbors—
    even my friends are afraid to come near me. – Psalm 31:9-11 NLT

Whatever sin he committed left him feeling attacked from within and without. His guilt weighed heavy on his heart, and the scorn of his friends and enemies deepened his discouragement and despair. The rumor mill had generated all kinds of salacious gossip and motivated his enemies to take advantage of his diminished popularity and weakened position. He was vulnerable and feeling exposed.

But while David was feeling down and out, he didn’t feel abandoned by God. He knew he could find refuge and rest in the arms of his loving, faithful, and all-powerful God.

But I am trusting you, O Lord,
    saying, “You are my God!”
My future is in your hands.
    Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
Let your favor shine on your servant.
    In your unfailing love, rescue me. – Psalm 31:14-16 NLT

David had learned that Yahweh was a reliable and trustworthy source of strength and sustenance to all those who feared Him and placed their trust in Him.

You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
    safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
    far from accusing tongues. – Psalm 31:20 NLT

David could praise God in the midst of the current storm because he had experienced Yahweh’s deliverance in the past. David used God’s track record of divine deliverance to bolster his faith.

He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
In panic I cried out,
    “I am cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy
    and answered my call for help. – Psalm 31:21-22 NLT

Recalling God’s past actions helped to strengthen David’s resolve and led him to declare, “Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!” (Psalm 31:24 NLT).

It seems that a big part of the journey for Christ's followers is to learn to trust God more and to fear life less. In this Psalm, David seems to ebb back and forth between a strong confidence in God and a wavering doubt. He says, “Save me, for you do what is right” (Psalm 31:1 NLT). He calls God his rock and his fortress and talks of His unfailing love and mercy. But then, David seems to change tones because he faces the daily reality of living in a fallen world. He has to confront wickedness and the influence of sinful people who make it hard to live the life of faith. There is a constant battle between trusting God and living amid difficult circumstances, constantly attempting to shake our faith in Him.

Knowing and serving God does not guarantee us an easy road or a life free from difficulty. It promises us a God who loves us enough to care about what is happening to us and is powerful enough to do something about it. David seemed to know that from experience. Despite his difficulties, he turned to God. He knew where the source of his help and hope was to be found — in God alone. David states confidently, “But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, ‘You are my God!’ My future is in your hands” (Psalm 31:14-15a NLT). All David had to do was remember the countless times God had rescued him before. God had proven Himself faithful in the past, and David knew God would prove Himself faithful in the future. He could be trusted because the Lord preserves the faithful.

Father, thank You that You can be trusted. And because You can be trusted, I can be brave and strong. May my courage increase daily as I learn to rely on and trust in You. May I increasingly learn to put my hope in You. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Waiting on God

A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me
    to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
    it is they who stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
    yet I will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will lift me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9     Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
    O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
    O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the Lord will take me in.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord! – Psalm 27:1-14 ESV

David begins his Psalm by acknowledging his unwavering trust in God. Despite the pervasive presence of enemies and the constant threat of difficulties, David knew he could rely upon God. He describes Yahweh as his light and salvation. Amidst the darkest days of his life, David viewed God as the rays of the sun at dawn, eliminating the shadows and uncertainties that accompany the night. The apostle John echoed David’s assessment of God’s illuminating nature.

God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. – 1 John 1:5 NLT

For both men, God was the epitome of sinless perfection. Wickedness and darkness were con-conspirators. Nothing good happens in the dark, which, according to the Book of Proverbs, makes it the perfect metaphor for the wicked.

But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
    They have no idea what they are stumbling over. – Proverbs 4:19 NLT

The apostle John described Jesus as a light shining in the darkness (John 1:5 NLT), but went on to say, “But people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil” (John 3:19 NLT). According to John, those who love evil “hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed” (John 3:20 NLT).

The apostle Paul shared this contempt for deeds done in darkness.

Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. – Ephesians 5:11-14 NLT

It was the light of God’s glory that provided David with a sense of confidence and calm even in the darkest moments of his life. Fear of man was replaced by faith in God.

Though a mighty army surrounds me,
    my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
    I will remain confident. – Psalm 27:3 NLT

But David was realistic. He knew his enemies' threats were real, and God was his only source of hope. Without Yahweh’s intervention and vindication, he could be overwhelmed by their wicked desires. But David wanted more from God than rescue; He desired a relationship. He longed for God to teach him and not just bail him out of trouble. He wanted God to lead him, not just provide him with a trouble-free life. David seemed to understand that the trials of life were there to help him turn to and trust in God. They were opportunities for him to see God work. So he prayed to God. He put his confidence in God. He looked to God as his source of strength and protection. He knew God would provide him with salvation as well as direction. So he was willing to wait patiently on Him. And he could encourage others to do the same. 

Wait patiently for the Lord.
    Be brave and courageous.
    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. – Psalm 27:14 NLT

Prayer and patience are two things that don’t come easily for most of us. We may pray regularly, but we wait impatiently for God’s answers to appear. We don’t like to wait. We have difficulty understanding God’s delays, especially when we’ve already told Him what we want Him to do. What could He be waiting for? Why doesn’t He just fulfill our request just like we shared it? However, David’s confidence in God was based on his understanding of His character. Amid difficulty, David could experience rest and a lack of fear because he knew that God would save and protect him. If he found himself surrounded by the enemy and even under attack, he would not fear but remain confident because he could trust God.

David had learned to take his needs to God. His greatest desire was to spend time in God's presence and experience the light of His glory and grace.

Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
    Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
    And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” – Psalm 27:7-8 NLT

But for David, spending time with God was both inspiring and instructive. He knew that communion with God provided him with insight into living righteously even when surrounded by the unrighteous.

Teach me how to live, O Lord.
    Lead me along the right path,
    for my enemies are waiting for me. – Psalm 27:11 NLT

Waiting on God’s answer had become second nature to David. The circumstances surrounding him were only significant in that they provided him with an opportunity to trust God and spend time in communion with Him. They offered the chance to talk to God personally and intimately. While he waited for his answer, he continued to spend time with God, and he refused to let delays in getting his answer dissuade him from trusting in God’s goodness.

Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
    while I am here in the land of the living. – Psalm 27:13 NLT

God is faithful. Like a shepherd who lovingly holds his sheep in his protective arms, God carries and cares for us. He is our source of strength, safety, security, and salvation from anything and anyone that comes against us. So why should we be afraid? Why should we become impatient?

Father, what a great reminder of who You are. My fear and impatience are nothing more than a reflection of my own doubt and ignorance of who You really are. I see my troubles as greater than You are. I see my circumstances as too much for You to handle. When I fear and doubt, I am casting dispersions on Your love and faithfulness. I am saying You either won’t or can’t save me in my time of need. But You are always faithful and loving. Help me to wait patiently and confidently in You. Help me to be brave and courageous because of the reality of who You are. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

How Long?

To the choirmaster: A Psalm of David.

1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
    light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
    lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me. – Psalm 13:1-6 ESV

Reading David's Psalms can be confusing. It’s almost as if he suffers from a multiple personality disorder. In some of his writings, he comes across as a faithful and fully committed follower of God who boldly declares his allegiance and trust in the Almighty. But there are other times when David seems doubtful about their relationship, questioning God’s presence and seeming apathy or disinterest in his circumstances. But David isn’t schizophrenic, he’s simply being realistic and honest.

As a human being, David suffers from a limited perspective. He is neither omnipresent nor omniscient. Unable to see into the future, David cannot know the outcome of his present circumstances. Incapable of seeing into the throne room of God, he can only guess what the Almighty is doing at any given moment, leaving him to wonder and worry whether his predicament has gone unnoticed. In the heat of the moment, when the pressures of life begin to overwhelm him, David does what every other man does, he begins to question the goodness and greatness of God. He doesn’t stop believing, but he does start to have serious doubts about God’s intentions and seeming lack of activity.

David opens this Psalm with four rapid-fire questions.

O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?

How long will you look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

David isn’t accusing God of being AWOL. These are not questions about God’s nearness but about His seeming delay in providing deliverance. David isn’t denying God’s presence or power; he just wants to know what is taking so long. He is expressing his frustration with God’s promptness.

Four times in the first two verses of Psalm 13, David repeats that question, “How long?” He pleads with God to answer him, to give him some glimmer of hope in the darkness. He desperately wants to see God act so his enemies will stop gloating over his situation. From David’s perspective, their boasting over his defeat is nothing less than a mockery of God’s power. He is grieved that his loss has given them a false sense of superiority because they have bested the LORD’s anointed one.

David cared deeply about God’s reputation. Having been anointed the king of Israel by the prophet of God, David knew his life was meant to reflect God’s glory. He served at God’s behest and had been tasked with the responsibility of shepherding the flock of God.

“I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.” – 2 Samuel 7:8 ESV

He chose David his servant
    and took him from the sheepfolds;
from following the nursing ewes he brought him
    to shepherd Jacob his people,
    Israel his inheritance.
With upright heart he shepherded them
    and guided them with his skillful hand. – Psalm 78:70-72 ESV

David felt a profound responsibility to honor God with his life, and when his enemies got the upper hand, he felt like he had let God down. His failures reflected poorly on God’s name. That’s why he wanted to know why God wasn’t stepping in to remedy the problem. What was keeping Yahweh from proving His power by providing deliverance?

But then David makes a profound admission: “But I trust in your unfailing love” (Psalm 13:5 NLT). Actually, the tense of the verb he uses speaks of a past event, a completed action. In a sense, David says, “But I have trusted in your unfailing love.” David has continually lived his life by placing his confidence in the kindness and mercy of God. That’s why he can say, “I will rejoice in your salvation.”

Because David had trusted God in the past, he knew he could trust God for the future. He knew there was a day coming when God would bring salvation. He didn’t know how or when, but he knew it was coming. He was fully confident that he would have reason to rejoice one day. He would sing for joy. Why? Because God had a proven track record of faithfulness.

The best translation of verse 6 is, “I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.” God's past provision was the basis for David’s future joy. He knew God would come through for him because he had experienced it repeatedly. David’s God was a faithful, consistent, and unchanging God. His God always delivered, always came through, never abandoned, gave up, walked out, or disappointed.

What more does God have to do for you to begin to trust Him? What is it going to take for you to really believe that He knows what is going on in your life and will provide for and protect you, regardless of what you see happening around you? That is the recurring theme of so many of David’s Psalms. David was a man who had his own share of trials and troubles. He may have been a king who enjoyed great wealth and wielded tremendous power, but he was not immune to problems. He faced various difficult circumstances in his lifetime, including the constant threat of enemies, both within and without his kingdom.

At one point, his own father-in-law, Saul, launched a crusade to have David killed. Later on in his life, David would watch as his own son, Absalom, led a rebellion against him and took over his kingdom. The Philistines never forgave him for killing their champion, Goliath. There were times when David felt all alone and alienated from God. He was human and prone to look at his circumstances and question whether God knew what was happening to him. Amid his suffering and struggles, he would ask the same questions we all ask of God: How long? When is this going to stop, God? When will you do something about this situation in my life? Why the delay? What are You doing? Why are You waiting?

From David’s perspective, only a fool would conclude that there is no God (Psalm 14:1). Only a fool would decide that God was not there or did not care. David had seen the hand of God in the past and knew he would see the hand of God in the future. Because of God’s past provision in the face of problems, David knew he would sing, rejoice, and praise God some day – despite all that was going on at the moment.

Father, You have never failed to be faithful to me. So let me trust in Your past deliverance and there find hope for my future restoration. You are always faithful, always loving, and always powerful. Because You have, I can trust that you will. Your character is consistent,  constant, and never changing. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Wait, But Don't Worry

1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
    let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
    and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord.
4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
    all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
5 His ways prosper at all times;
    your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
    as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
6 He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
    throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”
7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
    under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
8 He sits in ambush in the villages;
    in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
9     he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket;
he lurks that he may seize the poor;
    he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
10 The helpless are crushed, sink down,
    and fall by his might.
11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten,
    he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
    forget not the afflicted.
13 Why does the wicked renounce God
    and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?
14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
    that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
    you have been the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
    call his wickedness to account till you find none.

16 The Lord is king forever and ever;
    the nations perish from his land.
17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
    you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
    so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. – Psalm 10:1-18 ESV

The unnamed author of this Psalm doesn’t begin by praising God but, instead, delivers an eloquent and heartfelt plea for justice. In a world filled with wickedness, it can sometimes appear that God is distant or disinterested in the plight of His children. This Psalm deals with the age-old issue of theodicy: If God is all-powerful and loving, why does He allow evil to exist? Theodicy questions God's goodness and omnipotence in light of the existence of evil. In every generation, faithful followers of God have found themselves surrounded by unjust and ungodly individuals who seem to prosper and thrive while the godly suffer.  The world that God created is filled with injustice and inequities. Obedience to God’s laws is often met with fierce opposition. Remaining faithful to Yahweh in a sin-filled world is difficult enough, but the constant assaults of the wicked can make it feel impossible and raises questions about God’s goodness and justice.

The Psalmist begins with his own questions for God.

O Lord, why do you stand so far away?
    Why do you hide when I am in trouble? – Psalm 10:1 NLT

From his perspective, God appears nowhere to be found. Without providing any details surrounding his circumstances, the confused and troubled Psalmist wants to know why Yahweh has not intervened and done something about his predicament. Frustrated by his ongoing plight, he tries to bring God up to speed on the situation and, at the same time, give the Almighty some helpful advice on what to do about it.

The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor.
    Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
For they brag about their evil desires;
    they praise the greedy and curse the Lord. – Psalm 10:2-3 NLT

His view of the wicked is far from flattering. He describes them as greedy, boastful, arrogant, and unabashedly opposed to God. These evil individuals are hostile to God’s people because they reject God’s presence and power. “They seem to think that God is dead” (Psalm 10:4 NLT). They share the viewpoint attributed to the fool in Psalm 14:1.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.

They live as if God doesn't exist or simply doesn't care.

The wicked think, “God isn’t watching us!
    He has closed his eyes and won’t even see what we do!” – Psalm 10:11 NLT

Yet, they prosper. This is the part that drives the Psalmist crazy. He can't understand why God allows the wicked to get away with their blatant disobedience of His laws and arrogant dismissal of His power and justice. They treat God with flippant disregard and no fear of repercussions. David described these individuals in another Psalm.

Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.
    They have no fear of God at all.
In their blind conceit,
    they cannot see how wicked they really are.
Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.
    They refuse to act wisely or do good.
They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.
    Their actions are never good.
    They make no attempt to turn from evil. – Psalm 34:1-4 NLT

Every child of God has had to wrestle with what appears to be the silence or apathy of God when it comes to wickedness. The ungodly get away with murder – literally. They sin against God and never seem to face any consequences for their actions. In fact, they seem to prosper in the process. From a human perspective, justice appears to go unserved. This raises another question: “Why do the wicked get away with despising God?” (Psalm 10:13 NLT).

If God is just, righteous, and all-powerful, why doesn't He mete out justice in a more timely and equitable manner? His apparent delay in delivering well-deserved judgment to the wicked allows them to boast, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us! We will be free of trouble forever!” (Psalm 10:6 NLT). The lack of consequences fuels their conduct and gives them a sense of invincibility. Unscathed by their actions, they begin to view God as either indifferent or impotent.

“God isn’t watching us!
    He has closed his eyes and won’t even see what we do!” – Psalm 10:11 NLT

This mocking statement is meant to minimize God’s omnipotence and sovereignty. It is demeaning and dismissive, and portrays God as a doddering old man who lacks the power or interest to intervene in the affairs of men. That is what causes the Psalmist to cry out, “Arise, O Lord! Punish the wicked, O God! Do not ignore the helpless! (Psalm 10:12 NLT). Like an obnoxious-sounding alarm clock, the Psalmist issues a wake-up call to the Almighty, demanding His immediate intervention and remediation.

It’s clear that the Psalmist has confidence in God’s awareness of the problem and His ability to deal with it. He asserts, “You see the trouble and grief they cause. You take note of it and punish them. The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans” (Psalm 10:14 NLT). It’s the delay that has him confused. His God is capable but, for some reason, has chosen not to act. So, he demands immediate and decisive actions.

Break the arms of these wicked, evil people!
    Go after them until the last one is destroyed. – Psalm 10:16 NLT

The Psalmist closes out his song by expressing his confidence in God’s justice. As the King, God has the authority and power to deal with the wicked and hold them to account.

…you know the hopes of the helpless.
    Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,
    so mere people can no longer terrify them. – Psalm 10:17-18 NLT

But the question remains. When will God bring justice? When will the wicked receive the payback they so richly deserve? The Psalmist wants instant karma that results in the immediate elimination of the wicked and the well-deserved vindication of the righteous. However, David provided a different perspective that requires patience and perseverance. It suggests taking a long-term approach to our short-term difficulties.

Don’t worry about the wicked
    or envy those who do wrong.
For like grass, they soon fade away.
    Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

Trust in the Lord and do good.
    Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Commit everything you do to the Lord.
    Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
    and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
    and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
    or fret about their wicked schemes. – Psalm 37:1-7 NLT

God is in it for the long-haul. Unhindered by the confines of time or space, God knows how the story ends and remains unwavering in His confidence that justice will be served.

For the Lord loves justice,
    and he will never abandon the godly.

He will keep them safe forever,
    but the children of the wicked will die. – Psalm 37:8 NLT

It's not a matter of if, but when. So, while we wait, we are to trust that justice will prevail — in God’s way and according to His impeccable timing.

Put your hope in the Lord.
    Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
    You will see the wicked destroyed. – Psalm 10:34 NLT

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.