Today’s Reading

First Chronicles 20-22; John 10:22-42

Selected Verses

Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed.  1 Chronicles 22:12-13

Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’?  If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—  do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” John 10:34-36

Reflections

David advised his son, Solomon, who would succeed him as king.  He told him that the Lord would be the One giving him charge over Israel.  Solomon needed to understand that he was a vassal, a steward of the kingdom of God’s people, not his own autonomous boss.  Furthermore, David emphasized the need for discretion and understanding to keep and to observe carefully God’s law if Solomon were to prosper.  Solomon did not hold to the Law of God fully to the end of his life and the consequences were devastating.

The Jews continually questioned and criticized Jesus during His years of earthly ministry.  It only got worse, and, of course, concluded with the arrest, trial, and crucifixion.  In the incident mentioned in John 10, He used Scripture to defend His reference to God as His Father and His claim to be the Son of God.  In a parenthetical comment, He says, “Scripture cannot be broken.”   He frequently showed His trust in the veracity of the Bible.  Here the Lord makes a strong and clear claim about the nature of God's Word--that it cannot be broken.  He knew the Word, used the Word, and applied the Word to real life situations and questions.

Think about it

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Do you hold God’s Word in high esteem?   Are you convinced that Scripture cannot be broken?  Do not consider it wasted time that you invest in the careful reading, studying, and obeying of the Bible.  Stay with it.

© 2017 John A Carroll  Used by permission