Hello, nice people.
Just for the fun of it, I will stick on a photo that represents the fun we had on Tuesday—the first day of Spring—six of us skiing on Mt. Hood. Terrific!
It’s raining out there—nevertheless I’m heading out there in a few minutes to attempt my old man jog. Once again, I’ve robbed here much of my composition from 2012. I wonder if anyone would ever notice if I didn’t submit this disclosure.
Have a blessed day. Ray.
An OATH is a vow or binding promise made with deep feeling and commitment. People regularly make OATHS when they are married, when they borrow money from a bank, or in regards to their faith as when a Christian convert dedicates his life to loving and serving the Lord. The Bible warns that it is a serious matter to make an OATH because God sees and has ways to hold people responsible for the promises they make. See Numbers 30:2 and Ecclesiastes 5:4-6.
We could say that the central conflict in our reading is actually a battle of OATHS. More than 40 men had made an OATH to kill Paul based upon their hatred of anything and anyone who interfered with the comfort zone of their established religious system. What they did not realize, however, was that Paul had also made an OATH. It was an OATH to serve his Savior and Lord—a solemn vow to love Christ and the people He died to save. Nor did these men understand that ONE MAN PLUS GOD ALWAYS EQUALS A MAJORITY. They could not fathom the fact that their contempt was not really directed toward a little loud-mouthed preacher, but toward the Sovereign God. They were seriously bound by deception that resulted in their being bound by this ugly self-destructing OATH. These men made an OATH to kill. Paul made an OATH to give life—the Life abundant that Christ makes possible (John 10:10). These men intended to use the sword of men. Paul employed the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God.
The sad and predictable outcome of this story is that over 40 new graves soon had to be dug for these men who died of dehydration and starvation—unless, of course, they failed to keep their OATH. Paul, on the other hand, went on living and preaching under the protective care of Almighty God.
To be sure, the same battle continues today. And you’re involved. Please do not allow your personal OATH to serve your Lord as an agent of Light and Life to deteriorate. A lot of eternity depends on it.
PS: This quote from Proverbs helps to answer a worthy question: WHY DID THESE JEWS HATE PAUL WITH SUCH PASSION? I believe the best answer has to include the realm of spiritual evil. I also believe that anyone who does not recognize that realm of influence as an explanation for so much irrational hatred against true Christians today is simply out of touch with a healthy Biblical worldview.