The Heaton File

Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.” ‘ ” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. (Matthew 26:17-19)

The Final Passover Of Jesus

It is impossible to know the emotions of Jesus as he faced the cross. Great emphasis is placed upon His suffering of crucifixion and the incredible pain inflicted by the executioners and rightfully so as it was intense. What must not be lost are the events leading up to Golgotha. The entry into Jerusalem the week before was highlighted by the people spreading their clothes on the road and many cutting down branches from the trees and spreading them across the road. As Jesus rode a donkey into the city of David, the people cried out, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.” On Thursday, the day before His death, Jesus tells Peter and John to prepare for the Passover. He instructs them to go into the city and they will find a man carrying a pitcher of water. They were to follow him and tell the master of the house to prepare the large room for Jesus and His disciples. Jesus knew He was preparing for His final Passover.

The Passover was one of three principal feasts of the Law of Moses. Passover took place on the 14^th day of the first month (Abib or Nisan), followed by the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. The feast hearkened back to the final night the Hebrews were in Egypt and the night of the death of the firstborn in Egypt. It was a night of death and salvation. God told the Hebrews to sacrifice a lamb and put his blood on the doorpost and lintel of their homes. When the Lord passed over and He saw the blood, He would “pass” “over” and not bring death to that home. The homes of the Egyptians did not have blood on a slain lamb on their door, including the house of Pharaoh. Every firstborn (including animals) died in a home where there was no blood.

God instructed the Hebrews to take a lamb without blemish, kill it, put its blood on the door and the flesh was to be roasted and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. No bone of the animal was to be broken. Jesus had seen for many years the sacrificial lamb sacrificed during the feast of the Passover. It is probable Jesus would have helped Joseph prepare the offering for their family and, after Joseph died, carry on the work as the older brother. Now Jesus prepared to take on His final Passover and He knew it. The lamb killed that night was unsuspecting. Jesus was not. He was fully aware of what was to take place in less than 24 hours. He would become the lamb sacrificed for the sins of all humanity.

The Passover was a very emotional feast with the singing of the Hallel psalms, eating the unleavened bread and drinking the fruit of the vine. No alcoholic wine was used as all leaven had been removed from the feast. Jesus would later refuse the drink offered by the soldiers to deaden the pain. When Jesus tasted the bitter herbs, did His mind leap forward to the bitterness of the cross He was about to bear? As the lamb was prepared, could Jesus see Himself as the lamb offered by His Father? Could He have comfort knowing none of His bones were to be broken? It would be little consolation considering the horror one faced in crucifixion. The Passover was the last time the Lord would celebrate on earth before becoming the Passover for all men.

It seemed almost idle words for Jesus to tell Peter and John to prepare for the Passover. The disciples did not know what was to occur that night in Gethsemane. Did they see Jesus become reflective during the feast and wonder why? Jesus washed their feet and there can be little doubt the emotion on Jesus’ face was unmistakable. After the resurrection and Jesus ascending to the Father, did Peter and John reflect upon that day Jesus told them to prepare for the Passover and see the glory of Jesus in a clearer light? How often did the eleven share with fellow disciples during the weekly celebration of the Lord’s Supper the story of Jesus and the Passover? Jesus went to the upper room and shared the Passover with His disciples – including Judas. Sadly, Judas would never tell the story of Jesus. The Lord knew it was His last Passover, and He learned obedience by accepting the will of His Father. With the thoughts of His final Passover on His mind, Jesus breathed His last and died. The Lamb of God slain. Passover.

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly, a great tempest arose on the sea so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:23-27)

Trusting Jesus In The Storm

Traveling by boat was a quick way to cross the Sea of Galilee, but it came with its danger. Sudden squalls would appear without warning causing the sea to boil like a cauldron. Winds from deep gullies on the eastern side of the lake came crashing down upon the small boats common at that time. Waves crashed over the decks filling the ship with water. In a violent storm, the boat would be battered about, creating peril in the hearts of its occupants. It was a harrowing experience for the seasoned boatsman.

A storm suddenly came upon the boat where Jesus and His disciples had entered to cross the sea. At least four of the disciples were veterans of the sea from their days fishing with their fathers. This storm brought fear to their hearts and greater fear to the remaining disciples. Buckets were furiously filled with water from the boat as the men sought to keep their ship afloat. Peter, Andrew, James, and John worked hard against the wind and the water. The storm continued beating against the small boat filling it with water. Fear gripped the disciples as they thought they were going to die. After Jesus and His disciples entered the ship and began their journey, the Lord lay down and fell fast asleep. As the storm raged and the disciples frantically tried to save the boat, Jesus continued to sleep. Finally, in desperation, the men came to Jesus and woke Him. They feared dying and knew they would all perish from the storm.

Faith comes in many forms. The disciples had entered the boat with Jesus as followers and disciples. It was a beautiful day and the sea was probably a gem of sparkling, clear water with the smell of the sea filling the lungs of the men. Jesus told His disciples He would rest on the journey and lay down, falling fast asleep. As the ship continued its eastern course, suddenly, the clouds turned black and the wind blasted across the water in a violent storm. Quickly, the ship was in peril. The disciples worked hard against the storm, but it seemed useless. As the men fought the storm, no one seemed to take notice that Jesus remained asleep. Their Lord had not risen to help the men but enjoyed his slumber and rest.

In a final act of desperation, the men wake Jesus from His sleep begging Him to save them. That should have told them something. Why could Jesus sleep through such a violent storm? The disciples should have remembered what they had seen from Jesus before this day. Jesus had healed all kinds of sicknesses and diseases among the people. This included the demon-possessed, the lame, blind, deaf, and dumb. Lepers were healed. A young girl was raised from the dead as well as the widow’s son in Nain. Jesus had given the power of God to the twelve to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Why would a storm on the Sea of Galilee bring fear to anyone who knew the power of Jesus? If Jesus slept, there was nothing to worry about because the Son of God could calm the storm – and He did.

The wind and the wave obeyed Jesus because He was the Son of God. There was nothing that any man should fear when they are with Jesus. The disciples had to wake Jesus to calm the storm. If faith had been as courageous as it should have been, the men would realize that if Jesus were asleep, there was no danger of perishing. They could let the winds and waves batter the ship, but with Jesus, there was nothing to fear.

Life can be like a storm on the Sea of Galilee. The lifeboats that traverse the great sea of life face sudden and unexpected storms. Fear fills the heart as the fierceness of life’s challenges seems to overwhelm the most skilled boatsman. Hope is found when one looks to Jesus and sees that He is not afraid, so why should the disciple. The difference now is that Jesus is not asleep. He is fully aware of the struggles and seeks to comfort the child before calming the storm. Some storms bring death, but that is not to be feared either. Paul said that death is being asleep in Jesus. It is then that Jesus wakes the faithful disciple in eternity and says, “Welcome home.” Do not fear. Have faith. He who calmed the storm now reigns.

In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham, king of Judah, began to reign. Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord his God, as his father David had done. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel; indeed he made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree. (2 Kings 16:1-4)

The Walk Of Ahaz

Ahaz was the twelfth king of Judah, following more than a century of good kings who sought to follow the will of the Lord. The northern kingdom of Israel had suffered under the hand of kings that rejected the word of God, filling the land with ungodliness, immorality, and the stench of idolatry. Ahaz was the son of Jotham, who reigned over Judah for 16 years and he did what was right in the sight of the Lord like his father, Uzziah, had done. A great legacy of good kings preceded Ahaz, but he did not heed the instructions of his predecessors. Pekah and Hoshea were the final kings of Israel who reigned when Ahaz became king. Some scholars date the fall of the northern kingdom during the reign of Ahaz. The rule of Ahaz rejected the example of the previous kings of Judah plunging the nation into the ungodly nature of idolatry.

The kings of Israel influenced Ahaz to seek after the desires of the flesh and sensual pleasures of idolatry. The abomination of idolatry included the sacrifice of children to the idol gods. Ahaz burned his children in the fire. He made molded images for the Baals and burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom. If it were not bad enough to worship idols, Ahaz destroyed various articles from the Temple. He closed the doors of the Temple and did not allow anyone to worship there. Jerusalem was filled with altars to pagan gods. All the towns of Judah had altars to worship Baal.

During the reign of Ahaz, Syria and Israel came against Judah. One hundred and twenty thousand mighty men of Ahaz died in battle in one day with two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters taken captive. Israel would return the captives. Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah were prophets of the Lord warning Ahaz and the people to repent and return to the Lord. The words of the prophets went unheeded. The brief reign of Ahaz lasted sixteen years and he died at the age of thirty-six. His legacy remains as a testimony of those who seek to walk in the paths of the world instead of the way of righteousness. The son of Ahaz, Hezekiah, would take his place and pattern his reign after the word of the Lord.

Ahaz walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He followed the example of the northern kings. His father was a righteous king, but Ahaz chose to live like the kings of the north. What a difference the rule of Ahaz was from other kings of Judah. When he grew to manhood, he took the influence of the ungodly kings of the north as his pattern of life. All the kings of the north were evil. Some scholars date the reign of Ahaz to the final days of Israel when Assyria destroyed the nation with great cruelty. Did Ahaz not see the proverbial handwriting on the wall to see the path of ungodliness was the wrong way? Of all the examples to follow, Ahaz chose the worst to mold his life after. In the end, he suffered as all the kings of the north died in disgrace and without honor. He was buried in Jerusalem and like Jehoram and Joash, Ahaz was not buried in the tombs of the kings. He wasted his life seeking after the pleasures of the world, walking in the ways of the evil kings. A man’s walk is the measure of his life. How a man walks is determined by what he uses as a guide. There are many today like Ahaz who walks after the world, enjoying the passing pleasures of sin. They will not be buried in the tomb of the King of Kings. When judgment comes, it will be a terrible and eternal fearful day. What is your walk? Who guides your steps?

Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4)

A Scoffers Folly

One of the great ironies of scripture is found in how those who scoffed at the teachings of Peter are viewed in the modern context of time. The early church preached that Jesus was resurrected from the dead, ascended to the Father, and would return one day. It seems clear in the early days that the saints believed firmly that the revelation of Christ would come in their lifetime. A central theme was the imminent return of Jesus and the glorification of the saints. It did not happen. The first-century passed into the second century and Jesus did not return. When the third century came and went, Jesus had not returned. The scoffers were more emboldened to deny the return of Jesus. The irony of those who scoffed at the preaching of Jesus is that two thousand years have passed and Jesus has yet to come.

A scoffer is someone who derides or scornfully rejects the teaching of Jesus Christ. The scoffer is not just someone who disagrees, but they actively mock and scorn those who believe in the resurrected Christ and the promise of the coming of Christ in the clouds. Walking in the lust of their own desires, scoffers ridicule ‘religion’ and the Bible as ridiculous and obsolete. God is mocked, the church is ridiculed, and the holy life of the Christian is laughed upon as frivolous. A ‘woke’ society of scoffers gain power and seek to destroy every vestige of religion and persecute those who challenge them. They proudly wear the name of scoffer as they ask for proof of Jesus Christ and the evidence of God. Nothing they find can show them the truth.

The philosophy of the scoffer is to look at the time and say that what was said two thousand years ago has yet to happen – so there is no God. Jesus said He would return and He has not. The world has continued with each day the sun rising and setting. Life is normal. Everything about the earth continues. For the scoffer, life is a full day of squeezing out every ounce of fun and frolicking to the enjoyment of the flesh without fear of consequence. Scoffers go for all the gusto of life. There is no fear in their hearts. Life is good and tomorrow will always come. And that is the scoffer’s folly.

Two thousand years have rolled by since Peter warned the early saints of those who would scoff at the gospel. It seems that if two thousand years have gone by, why would Jesus come now? The rationale is foolish because, if anything should be clearer, today’s date is closer to the reality of the coming of the Lord than at any time in history. Scoffers believe they will live forever – until the day they die. One of the characteristics of those who scoff at God is to think they are taller than God. They laugh that God is bigger than their power and their might. That is why they are called scoffers because they are fools. Death is a great reminder of the foolishness of men. It also serves as a testimony that Jesus is coming back. Denying death does not stop death. Refusing to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and His return is imminent does not change the fact that He is and He is coming. Scoffers are fools. Saints are looking. Which are you?

And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:47b)

Why The Church Is Important

It was near Caesarea Philippi in the final year of the ministry of Jesus, the Lord promised to build His church. He asked the disciples whom men said that He was and the answers varied from John the Baptist, to Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Jesus asked them who they thought He was and Peter declared Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. The foundation of the ministry of Jesus was to declare Himself to be the Savior of the world, to bring all men to the Father, and to bear the sins of humanity. His work was drawing to a close and in less than a year, Jesus would suffer the cruel agony of the cross. It was at that time Jesus directed His attention to speak of something that would happen after He returned to the Father. The church of Christ would be established.

Ten days after the ascension of Jesus to the Father, the apostles were gathered in the city of Jerusalem when they were endued with power from the Holy Spirit. This was in fulfillment of the words of Jesus that they were to remain in Jerusalem and from the city of David, the gospel would be proclaimed throughout the world. As the twelve apostles were given the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the multitudes gathered together to hear the Galileans preach the redeeming message of Jesus Christ. Peter spoke up to explain what was happening as many were puzzled, amazed, and some scoffed. He showed from the prophet Joel that the coming of the Spirit was God’s eternal plan and that the name of Jesus was to be proclaimed that day as the Son of God. Peter convicted many that Jesus was the Christ and the man they killed nearly seven weeks earlier was the Messiah.

Out of the multitude of devout men gathered from every nation under heaven, three thousand heeded the word of God and were baptized for the remission of sins. The long-promised kingdom had come to reality and the age of the New Testament church had begun. It was a day of glory and praise for the grace of God to offer sinful men the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. Redemption was found in the waters of baptism. Luke records that God added to the church those who were being saved. These are those who were baptized for the remission of sins. The church and redemption are eternally connected.

Many in the religious world decry the importance of the church. If the church is not essential, why did God add the saved to the church? The church is essential because that is where the saved are. Jesus promised to build His church and it is in the church the redeemed are added. The church is the grace of God as the ark was grace to Noah. It mattered whether Noah and his family were in the ark when the flood came. When the judgment day comes, only those in the church will be saved. All others who are outside will perish.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

It Takes The Whole Armor

The Imperial Roman Army was one of the most feared armies in the history of mankind. James Lloyd writes, “The Roman army, famed for its discipline, organization, and innovation in both weapons and tactics, allowed Rome to build and defend a huge empire which for centuries would dominate the Mediterranean world and beyond.” The early Christians were well versed in the presence of the Roman Army as it extended throughout the known world. Soldiers filled the streets and garrisons dotted the landscape. Jesus preached the kingdom of God and the early church spread the gospel of the kingdom of Christ. The spiritual battle between righteousness and unrighteousness was depicted as a war and its participants, soldiers. Paul wove the imagery of the Roman soldier into the fabric of New Testament doctrine as a defining means to show the nature of the child of God.

War was common in the Roman Empire. Rebellions were frequent, uprisings and disturbances spread throughout the empire and the Roman Army was tasked with keeping the empire’s sovereignty together. Describing the warfare of the Christian, Paul uses the armor of the Roman soldier as an example of the spiritual character needed for those who fought on the side of Christ. Steeped in Old Testament language, the apostle shows the armor of God with waist girded with truth, wearing a breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel and with the sword of the word of God in one hand and the shield of faith in the other; the soldier of Christ will defeat the wiles of Satan. Wearing the helmet of salvation assures the victory over the rulers of the darkness of the hosts of wickedness. The armor of God is a complete set of defensive and offensive weapons to destroy Satan. With it, no evil can subdue, but without it, evil will gain the victory.

When a soldier engages in combat, he knows to take all of the things prepared for him to engage the enemy and while remaining safe from the actions of those who oppose him, to strike death to all who seek his life. The armor of God is of little value if it is not taken as a whole unit. If a man seeks to go into battle without his sword, how can he expect to win the battle? Without a breastplate of righteousness, no one will survive the onslaught of evil that is thrown before them. All of the elements of the armor are necessary. Paul says to take up the whole armor of God. He wants the brethren to put on all the armor so they can stand firm against the wiles of Satan. The logical conclusion is when the Christian goes into battle undressed, he will die.

God designed each part of the armor for its own unique function. Truth is necessary to battle the lies of Satan. The body armor of all that is right protects the body’s vital organs. There is a right and wrong and wearing righteousness deflects the false teaching of Satan. The gospel of Jesus Christ is so powerful that Satan has no response. The devil knows how immense the influence of the good news of Jesus will be on the heart and fears its presence. Faith shields the heart from the fiery arrows of Satan constantly sent to destroy. The helmet of salvation encompasses the mind knowing all the promises of God are true. The soldier needs to have a clear mind when he fights the adversary. With the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, the Christian soldier defends against falsehood and attacks the lies of Satan with what is true.

The whole armor of God is required to fight the devil. No one piece is exclusive to the other, but every part depends on the other. Going to war takes training to know how to use the equipment created to fight the foe. Fighting Satan requires the teaching of God’s word on how to put on the armor and how to use the armor. The kingdom of Christ is at war. Through the victory of Jesus Christ, the victory has already been given. Satan knows he has lost the war. He is now trying to take as many of the soldiers of Christ with him to perdition as he can. His task is not to win the war. The work of Satan is to destroy the soldiers of Christ. Paul said to put on the whole armor of God. Put it on Christian – all of it. Never leave without all your armor.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Exaltation Comes After Humility

Pride is the harmful product of a heart that seeks to exalt itself above its Creator. The folly of pride is the ant who brags. What is man compared to the immensity of the Almighty God who created the universe? Humanity’s greatest accomplishment in the thousands of years of existence is microscopic at the atomic level to the majesty of God’s creation. When a man fills his heart with pride, he loses the greatest opportunity for true happiness and worth. All men seek to have worth in life. Children crave attention as a need to know they are of value. Life is measured by the accomplishments gained in the life experience. Trying to find the answers to what a man’s worth is apart from the will of God is foolish. Exaltation comes only when the man learns to humble himself.

The mighty hand of God is so immense and powerful, it cannot be fully understood; yet it is so tender that it can be embraced by the heart seeking peace. Nothing compares to the hand of God, whether in creation or in the divine wisdom revealed through His word. The Lord has never left the world without the knowledge of the love of God. From the beginning of time, the Lord has shown man the path of peace and prosperity in the covenant of His word. The reason misery has overshadowed the world is men change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man. Ants fall down and worship themselves to the dismay of their Creator. Pride destroys their hearts. Peace never comes. Joy is lost. True exaltation will only be found when men humble themselves before God and obey Him.

Humility is viewed as a weakness. This is a favorite tool of Satan, convincing proud men to never bow down to anyone or anything. The irony is the devil knows full well the power of subjection because the power of God limits him, yet he convinces the creation of God to lift themselves in pride and arrogance to their destruction. There has never been joy in a proud heart. When a man humbles his heart to the power of the Lord in a willing subjection without question, he finds peace. Submitting to the will of Satan will destroy the soul because the devil does not care for men. He knows he is damned to Hell and he wants to take as many of God’s creation with him. Exalting self ends in destruction.

Learning to submit to the will of God brings praise and honor. Humility creates peace because through the joy of submission, all the worries and cares of life can be given to God. Only the Father cares for His children and will nourish and care for their needs. God loves His children. When a man submits himself to the word of God in obedience, he will be lifted up to the glories of the eternal by a God who loves him so much and cares for him. There is no greater exaltation than the joy found in the love of God. Humility is where true peace begins. Submission to the mighty hand of God trusts in the will of the Father as right and purposeful. Godliness is the measure of a heart guided by the word of righteousness and truth. If you want to know the joy of exaltation, submit to the will of God and He will lift you up – and how high that lifting up will be. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord.

Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:22-25)

Man And Woman; Husband And Wife

Solomon wrote three thousand years ago that nothing was new under the sun that has not already been in ancient times. Immorality may come in a different language, but it remains fundamentally the same from the days of Noah when the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Sin does not change. Whatever version of the Bible is read, sin is defined the same way. Truth does not change. Denying truth does not make false the wisdom of God. Exchanging the truth of God for the lie does not change the truth.

What the Lord established in creation cannot be changed. The sun rises without the power of humanity. All of the stars remain in the night sky because God ordained them. The habitation of man is determined and he cannot go beyond the boundaries established by God. Men can explore the oceans and the vast universe of space, but they cannot abide there. They are creatures of terra firma. In the beginning, God created male and female. That has not and cannot and will not change. The immoral nature of humanity has changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image to their own liking according to the lusts of the flesh. Still, it has not changed what was established in the beginning.

God made a man from the dust of the ground and He formed a woman from a rib of the man. The woman is defined as a noun that “connotes one who is a female human being regardless of her age or virginity” (W. E. Vine; Old Testament Words). Husband and wife come from the same derivation. When God took the woman out of man, he defined the man as the same word as a husband and the woman as the female. In the thousands of years the earth has existed, men and women have lived upon the face of the earth having babies because that is the natural order of God’s creative plan. Nothing can and will change that creative pattern.

When a man calls another man his husband or a wife calls another woman her wife, it does not change what God created. Abraham Lincoln employed a brain teaser to make a point to constituents. He would ask, “How many legs would a sheep have if you called his tail a leg?” Naturally, they would meekly respond, “Five.” “You are mistaken,” replied Lincoln. “The sheep would still have just four legs. Calling something a leg doesn’t make it so.” God defines a man and woman and establishes the marriage covenant where a husband (a male) and a wife (a woman) are joined together. Men make fools of themselves by calling a marriage anything else. They also deny God and stand before the wrath of God for the perversion of the truth.

Refusing to define what is a man or woman is the height of foolishness and ignorance. God defined the terms long ago. Trying to create a family of the same sex is also foolishness and ignorance. God defined what a family is long ago. The law of the land will change to accept the agenda of those who deny God and worship themselves as their god. Every attempt at changing the creative law of God is like holding back the tide or making the sun stand still for a day. God can do that but not man. Sadly, those who deny the truth of God will one day realize that man and woman were created by the power of God to be husband and wife – and it will be eternally too late. What God has established cannot be changed by the will of men.

He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. (Psalm 18:34-35)

The Bow Of Bronze

David was the psalmist of Israel, writing thousands of psalms extolling the power and majesty of the God he served faithfully. He faced great trials in life as a shepherd to his father and a leader for the people of God. Sadly, he was sought by King Saul, who tried to kill David because of intense jealousy. Enemies were surrounding David during his life. The Lord prohibited David from building the Temple because he was a man of war and shed much blood. His life was filled with violence. There came a day when the Lord delivered David from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He was at peace. The God he served brought peace and safety. His life rested on the promises of the Lord to keep him safe.

The victories of David were not by the power of his own might or wisdom. Facing Goliath, David told the Philistine he came in the name of the Lord. As God had delivered him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, the victory would be to the glory of God. Everything in the life of David was measured by the trust in the might of the Almighty. After many years of conflict, David reflected on the power of the Lord in his life. The rock of David was the Lord. He was the fortress, deliverer, strength, and the shield and horn of his salvation. God had enabled David with the power to have victory over all his foes as a man would bend a bow of bronze.

Bows were an early instrument of war. The tribe of Benjamin was legendary for the use of the bow. David declares through the power of God; he is able to bend a bow of bronze. This takes extraordinary strength as if he were able to break a bow made of metal. He could not do this without the power of God. The victories David had in life he attributes to the power of God. Many times, it seemed hopeless to David, but his continual trust and devotion to the Lord gave him the victory. Attributing the power of God to the force of bending a bow of bronze shows the heart of David trusting not in his own wisdom but in the grace of God.

The same power David extols in his psalm is the same power given to the saints of God in the kingdom of Christ. There is a striking parallel between the psalm of David and Paul’s description of the armor of God to the Ephesian church. With the armor of God, the Christian can stand against the wiles of the devil. There is nothing in the wisdom of men that can defeat Satan. No power in the arsenal of human strength can defeat the forces of the rulers of the darkness of this age. Standing against the spiritual hosts of wickedness can only be done through the power of the armor of God. With the strength of the Lord, any Christian can bend a bow of bronze and stand against the fiery darts of the wicked one. Bending a bow of bronze is the strength that comes from God. By God’s might, the forces of Satan and Satan himself are defeated. There is no greater victory than that which is given by the power of God.

Bending a bow of bronze takes faith and courage. Through prayer, the bow is bent. By faith, the arrows of righteousness fly from the bow of bronze. No power can withstand the strength of a bow of bronze. God has equipped His army with the greatest power known to men. David knew the feel of a bronze bow. He had used it many times to defeat the foes of his God. No Christian should awaken the day without the bow of God by his side. Through the power of the word of God, the bronze bow can be used to gain eternal victory. The joy of Heaven is when the archers of the Lord stand before their king, ready to lay their bows of bronze at the feet of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Like David, the saint will find rest from all his enemies. Let’s go to war with our bows of bronze.

And they were all amazed at the majesty of God. But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying. Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. (Luke 9:43-46)

Centered On Self

Following the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain, a man brought his son to Jesus for healing of a terrible spirit that convulses the boy so that he foams at the mouth. The boy was in a terrible way with the evil spirit and when the man sought help from the disciples of Jesus, they could not heal him. It disappointed Jesus. His disciples lacked the faith to heal the boy. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. While everyone rejoiced at the boys recovering, Jesus turned to His disciples and warned them of those who were plotting to kill Him. A dire warning of the betrayal of their Lord needed to sink deep in their hearts. The Father did not reveal all the plans of how Jesus would be betrayed and killed because the disciples would not be able to comprehend the eternal consequence of the need for Jesus to die. But the disciples understood enough that they were afraid to ask Jesus about what He said.

When Jesus tells His disciples of His betrayal, He wanted them to let the words sink down into their hearts to think about the difficult days that were to come. Jesus had shown Himself to be the son of God with miracles such as the healing of the young child. He walked on water, raised the dead, fed thousands of people, and taught with authority. No one could imagine how soon the life of Jesus would turn tragic as He would be arrested suddenly, tried without cause and killed almost without warning. The disciples would be stunned at the speed at which Jesus would be killed. They went into hiding, fearful of the Jews. While they did not understand the words of Jesus, there should have been some sympathy or compassion for what was to happen to Jesus.

Remarkably, the fickle nature of the human heart is seen in Jesus telling His disciples He is about to be betrayed into men’s hands, and they begin disputing among themselves which of them will be greater. The full impact of the betrayal of Jesus was hidden from them, but they knew something of importance was going to happen and were afraid to ask Him about it. Instead, they were more concerned for themselves and who would be on the right hand and left of Jesus. Self-importance took precedence over Jesus being betrayed. The disciples’ minds were tuned to their own needs rather than the object of the mission. After spending many hours listening to the teaching of Jesus, watching Him deal with His supporters and critics, and witnessing every miracle, the disciples were concerned for themselves.

It is easy for disciples of Jesus to be consumed with their own lives; they forget the mission of God. There is a temptation to serve the needs of self rather than the cause of Christ. Disputing among the disciples is a sign of disregard for hearing the word of God and seeking to understand its meaning. They had more concern for something that was never taught by Jesus and sought after something that would bring them no closer to God. Jesus died to save men from sin. Like the disciples of old, hearts are often more concerned for self than the mission of helping others come to Christ. It’s all about the me story. Jesus healed a young child and it became common for the disciples. The Lord tells His disciples of His betrayal and they argue about which of them will be the greatest. It sounds like the spirit of the disciples is alive and well in religion today.