Repent and Believe in the Gospel!

The Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God
(Mark 1:1-15, Preaching: Pastor Nathan Snyder, September 24, 2017)

[1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [2] As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, [3] the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” [4] John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [5] And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. [6] Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. [7] And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. [8] I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

[9] In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. [11] And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

[12] The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. [13] And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

[14] Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, [15] and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Into this world lost in sin and under the dominion of Satan entered the Son of God.  His name is Jesus, which means “Yahweh is salvation.”  He is called the Christ, which means “the Anointed One,” for he is the one anointed by God’s Spirit to reign as King, toppling the kingdom of Satan and establishing with permanence the kingdom of God.  His rule brings God’s salvation for all who repent and believe.  One day, it will mean the restoration of all things.  All this is in fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel.  In God’s perfect timing, he set about accomplishing through Jesus what he had promised.  This is the gospel, the good news, the wondrous proclamation that God reigns and has come in power to work salvation for his people (cf. Isa. 40:9-11; 52:7-10).

Mark wrote this short book to proclaim this message.  He introduces the book with the words, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”  Unlike Matthew and Luke’s gospel accounts, Mark does not begin with a record of Jesus’ lineage, or an account of his birth.  Unlike John’s account, he does not begin with a theological reflection on the eternal origin of the Word made flesh.  Instead, Mark begins by quoting from Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3.  Both verses foretold that God would send a messenger to prepare the way for the Lord’s coming.  Mark shows that this was fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist, who prepared the way by proclaiming that the Jewish people should be washed with the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  Gentile converts to Judaism during this time period were often baptized, but John was calling the Jews themselves to do so.  This was preparing the people of Israel for the coming of their King.  They could not think that simply because they were God’s chosen people, they did not need God’s grace and forgiveness.  As long as they had this self-righteous attitude, they would not be ready to receive the coming Christ.  They needed to confess that they themselves were sinners, and renounce those sins, turning from them and receiving the symbolic cleansing of baptism in the river Jordan.  John also prepared the way by proclaiming that he was only getting people ready for the coming of one who was far mightier than he, the straps of whose sandals he was unworthy to untie.  John baptized with water, but the one coming after him would baptize with the Holy Spirit.  Of course, it was the Christ of whom he spoke.  John was preparing people for Jesus.

Have you ever received Jesus?  If not, what is getting in the way?  The preparatory ministry of John the Baptist is applicable in a sense to you.  His message is to repent.  Lay aside whatever barriers you have raised in your life, in your heart, in your mind, to receiving God’s own Son and living in the joy of his kingdom.  Do you think that you don’t need a Savior because you have tried to live a good life?  Repent!  We are all unworthy sinners in the holy sight of God.  Do you think that some sin you are holding onto is worth more than God’s eternal kingdom?  Repent!  All sin against God leads only to emptiness and death, but God is offering through his Son the promise of forgiveness and eternal joy in his kingdom.   This need to repent is also true for those of us who have been believers in Christ for years.  There is always the need to confess our sins to God, receiving afresh his mercy to us in Christ.  As the apostle John writes, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:8-9).

Mark next tells us of Jesus himself coming from his hometown of Nazareth down to the Jordan to be baptized by John.  Mark does not record, as Matthew does (Mt. 3:13-15), how John protested this, saying that he instead should be baptized by Jesus.  Nor does Mark record Jesus’ statement of why he should be baptized by John, namely to “fulfill all righteousness.”  Rather, Mark focuses on what came out of the heavens at this moment.  The heavens were torn open, the Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove, and the voice of God spoke from the heavens.  “You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (cf. Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1-4; Mk. 9:7).  Mark is recording the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Here God himself declares Jesus to be his Son.  And God is totally enthralled with his Son.  He is pleased with him.  He delights in him.  Jesus is beloved of his Father.  He is treasured above all else.  God for all eternity has delighted in his Son with infinite, endless love.  He loves his Son with the totality of his being, because the Son is the pure image of all God’s perfections.  He is the very radiance of the Father’s own glory.  When the Father looks at his Son, he sees nothing but loveliness.  Perfect wisdom, perfect strength, perfect holiness, perfect justice, perfect mercy, perfect love.  And the Son submits to his Father and to his Father’s will.  His perfect obedience delights his Father’s heart.  It is this beloved Son whom God has sent in the anointing of the Holy Spirit to reclaim sinners, to overturn Satan, and to establish God’s kingdom.

Since Jesus was to overturn Satan’s rule, God saw fit by his Spirit to drive his Son into the wilderness for forty days where he was tempted by Satan.  Mark mentions the wild animals, which highlights the darkness and danger of these wilderness days.  This was not a vacation.  This was a trial Jesus had to overcome.  Israel, which God had also referred to as his son, though not in the same way as Jesus, had been tested in the wilderness for forty years, and had failed many times.  Yet God’s Son Jesus did not fail.  Jesus is the only man who withstood the full onslaught of Satan’s temptations and never once yielded (cf. Mk. 8:33).  This was necessary if he was to save us from Satan’s power.  He alone has overcome, and we can only overcome through his strength.

Mark goes on to summarize the message of Jesus as he began his public ministry in Galilee, after John the Baptist had been arrested by Herod.  Jesus himself proclaimed the gospel of God, saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.”  God had planned and promised this moment, and now it had come.  God’s kingdom had come.  Jesus was the King bringing in that kingdom.  Jesus also proclaimed the response we must have in order to receive this kingdom, and be received into it.  We must repent and believe in this good news.  There it is again, the message to repent.  This is clearly important.  Also, we must believe.  The words of God in Isaiah 30:15 come to mind: “In repentance and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength.”  I love this verse because it makes clear that repentance is not a burdensome task that God has laid upon us and is now waiting to see if we will buck up and just do it.  Repentance includes turning away from all attempts to save ourselves.  It is turning from all idols, all sin, all false hopes, all false promises of salvation in anything other than God, and all thought that we can save ourselves from our idols and our sins.  The Son of God is the one anointed in the power of the Spirit to save.  Believing in the gospel is believing in him, and resting in his saving work.  So we turn from sin and turn to Jesus in faith.  Jesus Christ, the Beloved Son of God, is our only hope.

What happened to King Saul of Benjamin?

The Lord's Amazing Providence Regarding Saul and David

(1 Chronicles 9:35-10:14, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, September 17, 2017)

[35] In Gibeon lived the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, and the name of his wife was Maacah, [36] and his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, [37] Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth; [38] and Mikloth was the father of Shimeam; and these also lived opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. [39] Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. [40] And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal fathered Micah. [41] The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz. [42] And Ahaz fathered Jarah, and Jarah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. And Zimri fathered Moza. [43] Moza fathered Binea, and Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. [44] Azel had six sons and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.

[1] Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. [2] And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. [3] The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was wounded by the archers. [4] Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. [5] And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died. [6] Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together. [7] And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them.

[8] The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. [9] And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. [10] And they put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. [11] But when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, [12] all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

[13] So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. [14] He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

Saul's Genealogy Revisited

Saul's Genealogy, which was already given as part of the story of the tribe of Benjamin, is now repeated to begin the narrative section of the book that will quickly get us to the reign of King David. Many of the details of Saul's life were well known by the time that 1 Chronicles was written, and it was not the Chronicler's purpose to review that account. Instead we go only to the story of Saul's death and to an assessment of what went wrong.

The Death of Saul and Jonathan

There was a long-standing military contest between the Jews and the Philistines. Saul had been for a time a very powerful leader against these enemies who came originally from across the Mediterranean sea and eventually settled on the coastal territories of the Promised Land. We are told that on this occasion “the men of Israel fled before the Philistines.” In their retreat, Israel suffered the loss of both Saul and his son Jonathan, as well as some other sons of Saul.

Saul was “wounded by the archers” of the Philistines, and as his life was drawing swiftly to a close, he commanded his armor-bearer to kill him. The man refused, and although there is more to this story, those details are not of primary interest to the Chronicler in writing this volume. What is noted is Saul's desire that his body not be left to the “uncircumcised” Philistine soldiers who might “mistreat” him. The other fact that is mentioned in this brief and tragic account is that both Saul and his armor-bearer had a part to play in their own deaths. Not only was the battle a horrible defeat for Israel, but all those of Saul's family who were there that day “died together” on Mount Gilboa. The loss led to an abandonment of the border cities which were then taken over by the Philistines.

Dagon and Jehovah

This battle was not only between two people groups. It was a contest between their gods. The soldiers treated the bodies of the famous dead leaders of Israel with great indignity as part of their triumph over a rival religious system. They carried “the good news to their idols and to the people.” They also took Saul's head and fastened it as a trophy in the temple of Dagon.

It is striking how little we know about Dagon compared with the revelation that we have concerning Yahweh. Dagon is associated with fish, wheat, and fertility. He was one among many, a leading god in a pantheon including scores of other deities. There remains such a foundation of ignorance concerning Dagon that in the last few centuries people have debated about whether or not Dagon was a merman—half man and half fish, or whether that identification with fish was not a part of the original Dagon idea at all.

In contrast to this confusion, we have the Old and New Testaments, and especially the arrival of Yahweh in the flesh, Jesus Christ. His death tells a much better story than the death of Saul and Jonathan. It has been plainly proclaimed all over the earth together with His resurrection and the promise of His return with the fullness of a glorious kingdom.

Back to our gruesome story about Saul, the men of Jabesh-gilead “heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul.” They took the remains of Saul and his sons and gave them a respectful burial. They “fasted seven days” as an expression of their mourning.

Saul, David, and the Lord

Was Saul's life and death God's failure? Not at all! We are not left in mystery regarding the takeaway from Saul's death. Saul “died for his breach of faith.” He “did not keep the command of the Lord.” He also turned to prohibited occult practices rather than “seek guidance from the Lord.” Therefore the Lord “turned over the kingdom” to a better man, “David the son of Jesse.”

The covenant people of God in all ages are called to a Lord's Prayer life of relationship with God and the obedience of faith in a world of religious diversity. Our greatest aid in living the good life is to have a righteous King leading us in spiritual battle. We have a perfect Leader in this strange warfare in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is both Son of David and Son of God. Who is this Jesus? While He is certainly the Jesus of our ancient creeds and also the Jesus of true religious experience, He is especially the Jesus of the entire Scriptures, and the Jesus of our salvation.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 28 – Our Saving Refuge

Gospel Reading—Matthew 9:18-26 – Matthew 9:18-26

[18] While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” [19] And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. [20] And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, [21] for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” [22] Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. [23] And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, [24] he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. [25] But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. [26] And the report of this went through all that district. 

The Glory of Coming Back to God's Gift

Coming Back – These Lived in Jerusalem Again

(1 Chronicles 9:1-34, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, September 10, 2017)

[1] So all Israel was recorded in genealogies, and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their breach of faith. [2] Now the first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants. [3] And some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem: [4] Uthai the son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, from the sons of Perez the son of Judah. [5] And of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons. [6] Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their kinsmen, 690. [7] Of the Benjaminites: Sallu the son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah, [8] Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, Elah the son of Uzzi, son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah; [9] and their kinsmen according to their generations, 956. All these were heads of fathers' houses according to their fathers' houses.

[10] Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin, [11] and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God; [12] and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer; [13] besides their kinsmen, heads of their fathers' houses, 1,760, mighty men for the work of the service of the house of God.

[14] Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari; [15] and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph; [16] and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

[17] The gatekeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their kinsmen (Shallum was the chief); [18] until then they were in the king's gate on the east side as the gatekeepers of the camps of the Levites. [19] Shallum the son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his kinsmen of his fathers' house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent, as their fathers had been in charge of the camp of the LORD, keepers of the entrance. [20] And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the chief officer over them in time past; the LORD was with him. [21] Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the tent of meeting. [22] All these, who were chosen as gatekeepers at the thresholds, were 212. They were enrolled by genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel the seer established them in their office of trust. [23] So they and their sons were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, that is, the house of the tent, as guards. [24] The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south. [25] And their kinsmen who were in their villages were obligated to come in every seven days, in turn, to be with these, [26] for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted to be over the chambers and the treasures of the house of God. [27] And they lodged around the house of God, for on them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning.

[28] Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they were required to count them when they were brought in and taken out. [29] Others of them were appointed over the furniture and over all the holy utensils, also over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices. [30] Others, of the sons of the priests, prepared the mixing of the spices, [31] and Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with making the flat cakes. [32] Also some of their kinsmen of the Kohathites had charge of the showbread, to prepare it every Sabbath.

[33] Now these, the singers, the heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, were in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night. [34] These were heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, according to their generations, leaders. These lived in Jerusalem.

All Israel

When the call of God came from God to go back to the Promised Land and to rebuild the temple and the city, it must have been very exciting to be among the first to return—exciting, but also very difficult—a proper adventure to tell your grandchildren. “All Israel” had been recorded in genealogies by tribe in previous generations. Now the day had come for many to return home, and they would have the thrill of connecting their lives with the life of Israel prior to their exile to foreign lands.

Breach of Faith and Exile

It was great, though difficult, to do the hard work of coming home, but what went wrong in the first place that led to God's covenant people being sent so far from the land that the Lord had given to them? The Chronicler tells us that “Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their breach of faith.” God's people in every age are called to what the New Testament calls the “obedience of faith.” (Romans 1:5, 16:26)

James teaches us that true faith is displayed through works of obedience. Of course, outright idolatry was a significant problem in ancient Israel. Yet even those who professed to believe in the Lord showed their breach of faith when they disobeyed the Ten Commandments. God's gift of the Land to the Jews was conditional upon their continuing in the life of faith. After many centuries of unbelief and disobedience, the curse of the covenant came upon them.

The first to dwell again in their possessions in their cities were Israel

But what an opportunity now in the days of the Chronicler to be “Israel” again! By God's providence through the decree of Cyrus, some few hundreds of people would go back to “their possessions in their cities” after decades of being away. Any people group would have strong and conflicting emotions about such a homecoming. Think of hurricane victims or Christians in war-torn lands finding a way back to their villages today. Yet there was something different happening here. This was God's special land and His chosen people. To be “Israel” again in the actual place that God had established for His Old Testament people would be in a class by itself.

And some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem

Not every Jew would make it back home. The book of Esther tells us the story of those Jews from 147 provinces of the Persian empire who did not go home. The story of the dispersion was even bigger than that, extending to what would eventually be African and European lands, setting the stage for the establishment of synagogues all over the world that would be so important for the spread of the gospel in the early decades after the resurrection of Jesus. But some Jews did go home, and their story was very important in God's plans for what would lead to the death of Jesus outside of the gates of Jerusalem as an Atoning Sacrifice for sinners associated by birth with every people group on the face of the earth.

Regarding the few refugees that came back to Jerusalem, they were largely from just a few tribes, Judah, Benjamin, and Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. What they faced in the city of God was much opposition from the locals and many difficulties even from Jews who were there. Again, it was quite an adventure, as we learn in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah.

The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, and other temple servants

One other tribe was represented, the tribe of priests, worship singers, and other temple servants and gatekeepers—the Levites. They would be essential for the reestablishment of Old Testament worship. Future generations of priests and Levites would be witnesses of the coming of the Messiah. Some of their descendants would be among those who condemned Jesus to death. Many others would eventually embrace Him as the Christ. They would be at the center of the controversies of Jewish and Christian life in Jerusalem and beyond that would lead to the clarification in Acts 15 that people would not need to be Jews in order to be saved.

Jesus and the first ones in various people groups to enter the New Jerusalem

We should be inspired by those who responded to God's call to reestablish Jerusalem. How much more impressive are the gospel accounts of the mission of Jesus, the Leader of the New Jerusalem. Many amazing men and women throughout the centuries have been the first to hear the gospel of grace and to bow the knee to Jesus. Others have worked hard for the kingdom after a time of great spiritual confusion. The faithful New Testament believer worships and lives in the company of heroes who cast their crowns before the perfect Servant of the Lord.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 27 – One thing have I asked of the Lord

Gospel Reading—Matthew 9:14-17 – [14] Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” [15] And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. [16] No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. [17] Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

Better than Benjamin

The Complicated Heritage and Destiny of Benjamin

(1 Chronicles 8:1-40, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, September 3, 2017)

[1] Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, [2] Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. [3] And Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud, [4] Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, [5] Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. [6] These are the sons of Ehud (they were heads of fathers' houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried into exile to Manahath): [7] Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, that is, Heglam, who fathered Uzza and Ahihud. [8] And Shaharaim fathered sons in the country of Moab after he had sent away Hushim and Baara his wives. [9] He fathered sons by Hodesh his wife: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, [10] Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers' houses. [11] He also fathered sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal. [12] The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns, [13] and Beriah and Shema (they were heads of fathers' houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who caused the inhabitants of Gath to flee); [14] and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth. [15] Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, [16] Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were sons of Beriah. [17] Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, [18] Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. [19] Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, [20] Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, [21] Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. [22] Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, [23] Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, [24] Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, [25] Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. [26] Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, [27] Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham. [28] These were the heads of fathers' houses, according to their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem.

[29] Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and the name of his wife was Maacah. [30] His firstborn son: Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, [31] Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, [32] and Mikloth (he fathered Shimeah). Now these also lived opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. [33] Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal; [34] and the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal was the father of Micah. [35] The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. [36] Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri fathered Moza. [37] Moza fathered Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. [38] Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. [39] The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. [40] The sons of Ulam were men who were mighty warriors, bowmen, having many sons and grandsons, 150. All these were Benjaminites.

The heritage of the tribe of Benjamin

When little Benjamin was born, the youngest son of Israel and the only full brother of Joseph, his mother Rachel died in childbirth. “And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni;” (son of my sorrow or son of my strength) “but his father called him Benjamin” (son of my right hand). (Genesis 35:18) When Benjamin and his brother Joseph were reunited in Egypt after so many years, there was no denying the special affection that the older brother had for the younger. (Genesis 43:30, 45:14)

At the end of Israel's life, Jacob's blessing of little Benjamin was not particularly tender. “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.” (Genesis 49:27) Centuries later, Moses, before his own departure, gives this blessing to the tribe of Benjamin: “The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.” (Deuteronomy 33:12) Moving forward many years again, the book of Judges records the tribe's inability to take Jerusalem from the native Jebusites, but also the great courage of the Benjaminite judge, Ehud (noted in 1 Chronicles 8:6), and his rather vivid execution of the overweight Moabite king, Eglon. By the end of the book, the tribe of ravenous wolves has no hint of nobility, at least in the city of Gibeah, the place from which the most famous Old Testament Benjaminite, King Saul, descended. (Judges 1:21, 3:12-30, 19:14, 19:1-21:25)

A very clear contrast is given between the depravity of Saul's city, Gibeah of Benjamin, and the city of David, Bethlehem of Judah, particularly in the family of Boaz and Ruth. Both Saul and David were anointed by the great man Samuel. Saul has descendants, but his dynasty ends, David's continues through the coming of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Bejaminites forever identified with Jerusalem and David

Though Benjaminites lived in a variety of towns inside and outside of Israel, the best of their heritage will forever be associated with Jerusalem and with a man of another tribe, David of Judah. Note 1 Samuel 18:3-4 and the story of Jonathan and David: “[3] ... Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. [4] And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.”

Interesting turn of events that Saul, Jonathan's father, wanted to kill David, but Jonathan had a heart of devoted love for David and his coming dynasty. Jonathan initiated a covenant with David and gave his own emblems of royalty to the son of Jesse. Now David's greatest descendant, King Jesus, has made a covenant with all who will believe in Him as the Messiah. We have been clothed with the robes of His perfect righteousness and He has taken away the stains of our filthy sins. We no longer need to walk in shame, because we are sons of God.

The story of one more Benjaminite

The New Testament tells the story of one more Benjaminite who went from wanting to see the followers of Jesus persecuted and even killed to being the one man who arguably gave more than any other follower in his suffering for the Name of Jesus.

The man once known as Saul of Tarsus, the apostle Paul, was “a member of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1). This “Hebrew of Hebrews” once considered it to be a badge of honorable zeal that he was “a persecutor of the church” (Philippians 3:6) His perspective was changed by God's amazing grace. “[8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—[10] that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8-11)

The account of the tribe of Benjamin is full of struggle. Despite their favorite son's madness in His relationship with David, there was yet within the tribe a Jonathan who loved the true king. It is the privilege of every Christian to receive the grace of almighty God, whatever our background may be. God calls us to turn away from the instability of idolatrous loyalties and to see Jesus for who He is. May the Lord take away the blindness of millions and grant us clarity of sight, calling sinners to a life of dignity as agents of the mercy of Jesus.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 26 – Without Wavering

Gospel Reading—Matthew 9:9-13 – [9] As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. [10] And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. [11] And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [12] But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. [13] Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”