Worthy of Praise

 Matthew 17    Psalm 96    1 Samuel 11-12

Jesus took his three closest disciples, as he frequently did, off by themselves. We find that Jesus invested most heavily in only a few. Today we see this intimate group experience one last time with Jesus where God speaks to them reminding them that this is His loved son. This confirms what we saw in the previous chapter when Peter declares Jesus as the son of God. This is one of those times that God and Jesus is preparing the disciples for a time ahead that they cannot see yet. Jesus tells them to hold on to this vision until after the Son of God has risen from the dead. We cannot forget that they still didn’t know that was the experience they would have in the coming days.

There is an interesting story here where a son is brought to Jesus and we sense both he father and the disciples are frustrated because they couldn’t bring healing to the boy. Jesus heals the boy and then the disciples ask why they couldn’t do the same. I am always encouraged by Jesus response her, ‘the littleness of your faith. If you have even the faith of a small seed, you can move a mountain, and nothing will be impossible for you.” I find this encouraging because even those closest to Jesus still struggle with believing the power of God within themselves. This would include those that had been on the mountaintop with him. If they are still struggling at this point, why do we think it is wrong to struggle today?

The last story today is one about taxes and the separation of faith and government, especially that which is in conflict with our faith and what is believed to be right. I note today that Jesus challenges them not to offend and to meet the expectation and obligation. It is important not to get distracted from the goal of bringing people into a relationship with Jesus.

Today we are reminded in the song that God created all the earth and is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving. We are called to proclaim this to all the nations that all might know the story of our God and the Lord of our lives. When we do the heavens are glad and the people of the earth will rejoice. We are also reminded that he will return to one day judge the earth with a right spirit and the people of faithfulness will have great reason to rejoice.

As Saul begins his rule as King, as the people demanded, he leads them into battle, as they expected, and he gives God the glory. Then Samuel tells the people that he has listened to their voices and given them a king as they wanted. That king is now walking before them and he pleads with them to keep on living as God has called them too. If they fear the Lord and serve Him by listening to his voice and doing what they are called to do they will be blessed, and no one can reign over them.

Samuel also makes it clear that if they choose to abandon the ways of the Lord and rebel against the Lord then the Lord will be against them and it is a battle they cannot win. Failure will not only lead to the king being swept away from power, but the nation would be as well.

Often, we want o to claim the Lord’s promises and blessings without the willingness to follow all his ways and the life he calls us to live. When we seek to live the way of the Lord we will be blessed and enjoy the Lord’s presence, even when things are tough. If we walk away from seeking the Lord and his direction we should expect to be out of the Lord’s favor and rejection. Today we note that Saul started out strongly and enjoyed the Lord’s blessings as well as the nation he led. The same is true today. We will be blessed and enjoy the Lord’s favor as long as we point to Him as the source of our blessings and not take credit for what God has done.