13:21,22
The people wanted a king, against God’s command. But God let them have Saul. Saul proved to be a bit of a disaster. God then removed Saul and David became king, “a man after God’s own heart”. So Saul was the result of Israel’s choice and proved to be a disaster. David was the result of God’s choice and was a good king. Man chooses his way but it leads only to death. God chooses His way and it leads to life. So what should we choose? Man’s way or God’s way? Israel was putting herself forward as the way to follow, and so rejected God’s choice. The gospel was, and is, God’s idea. In modern debates look at the issues, and we will see time and time again that it is a choice between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom. Today this is most poignantly clear in issues like transgenderism and homosexuality. Man’s wisdom or God’s wisdom. One way leads to death, the other way leads to life.
13:23
David was the great king of Israel, the one who united the nation. He was chosen by God, and the Messiah is referred to as the “son of David”. Jesus’ human descent could be traced back to David, in accordance with Scriptural promises. So Paul is establishing Jesus’ credentials. They were waiting for a Messiah, at some point the Messiah had to actually come, and this had now happened. In the same way, the second coming will happen one day, maybe even in our day. At that point it will no longer be a matter for academic debate, but one of present reality. The Jews, along with all mankind, needed to face up to the reality that the Messiah has come.
No comments:
Post a Comment