April 28th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Second Chances

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Opening Prayer

Mighty God, You are great beyond my imagining, wise beyond my understanding, loving beyond my deserving. All praise to You.

Read Acts 13:21-37

[21] Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. [22] After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ [23] “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. [24] Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. [25] As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ [26] “Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. [27] The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. [28] Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. [29] When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. [30] But God raised him from the dead, [31] and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. [32] “We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers [33] he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’ [34] The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ [35] So it is stated elsewhere: “‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’ [36] “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. [37] But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear…he will also provide a way out” (1 Cor. 10:13). How wonderful a promise that is!

Think Further

Paul’s sermon on salvation history (17-41) hurries along until reaching Israel’s desire for a king (21). Paul slows here, his intent being to show that the Messiah must come from the royal line of David and that Jesus fulfills this prophecy. But let’s step back a little, because Paul chooses not to explain that the monarchy arose from a failed priesthood.

God’s holy nation was supposed to be a theocracy. Although Moses anticipated that the people might desire a king (Deut. 17:14-20), they should not have needed one. God dwelled with them. In the tabernacle, the priests could approach God and ascertain his will. God’s rule should have been enough but the priesthood was human and vulnerable (as, indeed, would be the kings). To mediate God’s will demanded that they maintain purity of life. The trigger for the people’s request for a king was the corrupt priesthood of Samuel’s sons (1 Sam. 8:1-5). Samuel felt rejected until God assured him that it was not he but God whom they were rejecting (1 Sam. 8:7). Samuel still tried to talk the people out of it until God told him to let them have their way (1 Sam. 8:10-22).

The lesson here is deeply significant. Failure is not final. God responds by opening a new path. The priests could have remained faithful to God as the nation’s leaders but when they did not, God permitted the monarchy, incorporating it into his salvation plan. His Messiah would embrace kingship as well and be born from the royal line of David. God is in control! His ultimate plans cannot be thwarted by human failure, but along the way he shows willingness to respond to our failures in new and unexpected ways.

Apply

Think back to those times when God gave you a second chance, a new beginning. Thank him and renew your vows of devotion to him.

Closing prayer

Lord, I’m sorry for my failures. Thank You for not rejecting me and for opening up new paths. Help me to discern and follow them.

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