Made Known the Way of Life

Psalm 16, Acts 2:14, 22-32

Our scripture readings for this week are quite interesting since they shows Peter in the New Testament Acts quoting David in the Old Testament Psalms.

David wrote what has become known as a refugee song. It is a plea for protection and pledge of loyalty. David contrasts two communities associating himself with the cohort of the holy ones. He tells how the Lord is his chosen portion. The word portion refers to a spiritual inheritance, allotment, or share. It is as if he is saying, “God is my source of happiness and blessing.”

Then comes the part that Peter somewhat quotes in our Acts passage. “The Lord is always before me.” Due to this David will not be moved since his body rests secure. Then he says, “You show me the path of life.” He tells how in God’s presence there is fulness of joy and in God’s right hand there are pleasures forever.

The Act’s account takes place at Pentecost after the tongues of fire of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. When they are accused of being drunk Peter speaks out. After proclaiming that the Lord has poured out his Spirit, he goes on to tell them of God working through Jesus deeds, Jesus’ crucifixion, and Jesus’ resurrection. Peter speaks then to the Jewish crowd quoting David’s psalm.

You will note that some of the words are different since both were translated from two different languages: David’s from the Hebrew and Peter’s from the Greek. Instead of saying “I will not be moved,” Peter says “will not be shaken.” David says “You show me the path of life “while Peter says, “you have made known the way of life.”

Christ’s work on the cross has brought the salvation David craved and claimed. So, it goes beyond just being shown to, now with the power of the Holy Spirit, God has made known the way of life. This way of life is not just eternal life after death but a way of living the journey which brings full joy. It involves trusting God as a refuge and treasure resulting in guidance, security, and a joyful, purposeful life that continues into eternity.

May we live this life that has been known to us. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God’s Love Poured into our Hearts

  John 16:12-15, Romans 5:1-5 In John 16 Jesus tells his disciples about the Holy Spirit who is to come. The Spirit is referred here as the Spirit of Truth since it will guide them into all truth. The Spirit will glorify Jesus since it will take what Jesus is and declare it to them. Where did Jesus get this truth? He got it from the Father. So, in a roundabout way Jesus receives it from the Father, the Holy Spirit receives it from Jesus, and we receive it from the Holy Spirit. Romans 5 goes on to tell us another wonderous thing the Holy Spirit does. The Spirit will pour God’s love into our hearts. It tells us also what we have received through Christ. We have peace with God due to Christ’s work on the cross and our faith which has justified us. We have also obtained access to grace. This is what Paul stood firm in so he could boast in his afflictions. He has been guided into this truth by the Holy Spirit. He basically reframes the sufferings he is enduring by telling of the b...
Read more

Disquieted Souls

  I Kings 19:1-15, Psalm 42 Elijah has had his life threatened, so he runs for his life. He feels like a failure as a prophet. The Israelites have forsaken God’s covenant, thrown down the altars, and has killed God’s prophets. This failure is felt so deep that he asks the Lord to take his life. The Lord’s answer? God sends an angel to feed the fatigued Elijah. Talk about super food! After he eats and rests two times he has enough energy to last a forty-day journey to Horeb where he comes to a cave to rest. It is then the word of the Lord comes to him asking him, “What are you doing here?” To which Elijah voices his complaint, basically: “I’m the only faithful one left and they are seeking my life.” In response God tells him to stand on the mountain before the Lord since God will pass by. Then comes the wonderful passage of where Elijah finds God. It is not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but in the sheer silence. In this silence God directs him to return to the wild...
Read more

Healing of Flesh and Heart

II Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30 The great man and commander of Aram’s army, Naaman, could conquer anything except his skin disease. When he hears from a young girl captive that the prophet in Israel could heal him he sends money to the king of Israel with the message that he might cure him. But alas the king tears his clothes knowing he can’t do it, scared this might cause a quarrel between the countries. But when Elisha hears of this he sends a message to the king saying, “Let him come to me so that he can learn there is a prophet in Israel.” So, he goes to him with great fanfare – horses and chariots but Elisha doesn’t bother to greet him but sends a messenger with directions of what he must do to be healed. Naaman becomes angry at Elisha for not greeting him and performing what he was expecting. Instead, he gives strange but simple instructions. Naaman goes away in a rage but the servants again come to his rescue. If he was asked to do something difficult wouldn’t he have done it, how...
Read more