Old Testament reading: Psalm 90-94
Psalm 90 is attributed to Moses. Some dispute Mosaic authorship because of verse 10 and the age limitation placed on men, when Moses, Joshua and others lived well beyond 100 years. However, one should remember this Psalm was written during the wilderness wandering. From the beginning of that journey, no one over 20 years old had more than 40 years to live. The majority of adults would have been between 20 and 50. Thus, few could expect to live beyond 70 or so years. Also, it is reasonable to assume everyone over 20 would have to die over a large period of time, lest there be a massive die-off just before the entrance into Canaan. Who could imagine Israel having to bury hundreds of thousands of people in the final days or weeks of the wandering? Another error is often associated with this text, and that is that man can expect to live 70 or 80 years. Only recently has life expectancy in Europe and the West begun to approach 70 or 80. In most of the world, life expectancy is closer to half that. Understanding the text in light of its context is a great preventative for misuse. (Many thanks to my good friend and faithful preacher Drew Kizer for his insight on this text. TC)
New Testament reading: Acts 5-6
“They could be right, but let’s beat them anyway.” I have always wondered about the mindset that considers the validity of Jesus and the apostles’ claims, but acts in a way that denies it. So it was with Gamaliel and the Jews in Acts 5:33-42. If Gamaliel’s advice was sound, and it was, then why pursue a course of punishing the apostles? The high priest and his fellow Sadducees intended to kill the apostles (v 33). However, it was a Pharisee who withstood them and presented a more reasonable course of action. Yet, they still decided to beat the apostles and forbade them from speaking in the name of Jesus. If the doctrine of Jesus was of man and would eventually come to nothing, why bother? If it was of God, neither beating nor threats could stop it. We should take care that our own actions are consistent with what we confidently affirm to be true, namely, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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