Trusting God Leads to Rejection by People

 Matthew 27     Psalm 65     2 Samuel 5-6

The most powerful religious leaders and laity gathered together against Jesus to destroy him. When Judas realizes he has been used to cause far more damage than he anticipated he wants to go back but it is too late. The wheels have been set in motion and now are out of control. Not only does Judas see the danger but so does Pilate, the Roman Governor. Both look for a way to disassociate themselves from what is happening now that the damage is going to be far greater than they thought. One because he thought he could gain more power and the other so that he could maintain the power he had. Both would realize what they were getting was likely to cost them even more.

Those that feared and hated Jesus the most had the opportunity to celebrate, mock and destroy the one that stood between them and their maintaining power. They crucified him while continuing to mock him and challenge his way of handling adversity. I am reminded that just a few hours earlier, when they came to arrest him and there were those that wanted to fight, he told them that he could call legions of angels fight for him but that this was the way that fulfilled the Word of the Lord and they should trust God.

When he was dead, they thought they had won and silenced him. It was at the moment of death that some began to realize that they had participated in an evil event while others celebrated a victory. A rich man that has followed him gave him a grave to use. There were those that feared him still and wanted the help of Pilate, but he told them to deal with their actions themselves. They had done what they wanted and now it was time to be responsible for it.

David sings the praise of God and his willingness to trust the mercy and judgement of God. God is worthy of praise and singing them in detail is a great act of worship.

When Israel makes David king it unites the north and south together and makes it a powerful nation. David begins by seeking out the Lord’s advice as he expands the territory under his control. He destroys the people and their idols before him. There is a great celebration and after David realizes the power of having the ark in their midst, he carefully transports it and makes it the center of worship for Israel.

When David’s wife, Saul’s daughter, mocks him for praising the Lord exorbitantly he declares that God is worthy of his praise because all he has is because of God.

Today we have seen that putting God first leads to blessings that lead to jealousy and anger. The result is rejection by those that want the glory for themselves.