I Sam. 4:3, "Why did the Lord let us lose to the Philistines?" and Ps. 77:10, "What hurts me most is that you no longer help us." Both of these two verses from the Old Testament, and from the New--
2 Cor. 8:5, "They did more than we had hoped!" What is there to know about these three verses?
The two verses from the Old Testament show disappointment that the Lord God had stopped intervening in human affairs like God had done in the earlier Old Testament readings. Perhaps God was punishing Israel for not being obedient, or perhaps it was to ready people for a new, stronger faith and trust in God. At any rate, the new Testament letter shows people doing more than what was expected of them, helping out of love, doing that which God could have done and would have done earlier in Israel's history.
It was a new way, Christ's way, God's way in God's new kingdom living. God came, God taught. God calls each of us. So, I must obey and follow, as you must, also. We must be God's hands and feet in the world because we have Christ's Spirit within us.
Father God, Precious Son and Holy Spirit Divine, all in One. It seems so clear now that your teachings have brought us to a new place in You. Grant that we who love you do not forget how far you have brought your people to be more directly yours, and also to see that we are your hands and feet in the world. Amen.
I pray that those who read this are with me all the way!
Jo INMN
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