What’s The Point?

In the familiar words of Paul we’re told that:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim 3:16-17).

In this passage, the apostle Paul tells us that the target audience of Scripture are people like ourselves. At least we certainly hope that we fall under the category of “the man of God’. We realize, of course, that here “man’ stands for both men and women.

The apostle also states the objective of Scripture: that we might be acceptable to God, that is:

• by being equipped to all good works,
• by proper understanding of doctrine,
• by being critical of ourselves,
• by being instructed in what God wants in terms of behavior, worship, and attitude.

So let’s have a look at the readings for October 26 and see if there are some points, contained with these passages, of doctrine, reproof, correction or instruction which we can apply to ourselves.

2nd Chronicles 23: Saving the line of Messiah

We find here the account of Jehoiada the priest, and his wife, Jehoshabeath, re­storing the line of David to the throne. In looking at these events, we readily see some quite instructive exhortations.

To set the context we need to back up to the preceding chapter:

“But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. But Jehoshabe­ath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land” (2Chron 22:10-12).

Note particularly what we read about Jehoshabeath in these verses. First we learn she was sister of Ahaziah who has been killed by Jehu. Verse 10 tells us the mother of Ahaziah was the exceedingly wicked Athaliah. Thus Jehoshabeath, the heroine who rescued the line of David, was Athaliah’s daughter! She had acted in direct defiance of her powerful and fanatical Queen-mother.

We’re also told that Jehoshabeath is wife of the high priest, Jehoiada. It’s thus her husband who is the one who organizes the coup to overthrow and kill Athaliah, her mother. Why was it so important to get rid of Athaliah and preserve the Da­vidic line? Because of God’s promise to David that the great savior of Israel, the Messiah, would come from David’s seed.

We’re reading about an extraordinary woman who firmly believes in the promises of God to David and puts God first in her life.

It’s not hard to see three exhortations for ourselves in the events described here:

1. Childhood trauma does not have to destroy us: Jehoshabeath’s refusal to follow in the wicked path of Athaliah is a dramatic example that we don’t have to follow the pattern of our parents or let childhood trauma destroy us. Just imagine the horrible influences of Jehoshabeath’s childhood. She was raised by a mother who was a fanatical idolater. She would have been surrounded by the wicked practices of the worship of Astarte — the fertility goddess. She was probably personally subjected to some of this iniquity. But somehow Jehoshabeath was able to break the pattern, reject the example of her parents and keep what she experienced from destroying her life. As we know from our own lives, or from the experiences of others, that’s not easy, but Jehoshabeath is a great example that it can be done.
2. One person can do a lot: Another “instruction in righteousness” is the ex­ample seen from the impact this one couple had on the nation. 2 Chron 23 puts significant emphasis on Jehoiada’s leadership (which was made possible by his wife’s rescue of Joash):

• 2 Chron 23:1: And in the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds…
• Vs 8: And the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded…”
• Vs 9: Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains…
• Vs 11: And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him…
• Vs 14: Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds…
• Vs 16: And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD’s people. e) Vs 18: Also Jehoiada appointed the offices…

3) We can easily shy away from seeking to accomplish any change because we’re just one person or one couple. But look what this one couple accomplished in Judah. Through their actions the line of David was saved and was once again restored to the kingly throne.

4) Much can be accomplished in our older years: Jehoiada’s actions are seen to be all the more remarkable when we recognize he was a very old man when he took such powerful initiative. 2 Chron 24:15 tells us that he was 130 years old when he died. From 2 Chron 23:1, we see that Joash reigned 40 years. Since Joash was still on the throne when Jehoiada died, this means Jehoiada had to be at least in his early nineties when he took on the great reformation early in the reign of Joash.

We need to remember that at this point in history a normal life span was considered to be 70 years (Psa 90:10). People were not living to 900 years or even 175 as did Abraham. It’s evident the average life time was much like it is today. So Jehoiada was a very old man when he was taking the lead on this great reformation. The exhortation to us is obvious: We can accomplish great things when we are old.

Daniel 4: The humiliation of Nebuchadnezzar

This chapter proclaims the great doctrine that God rules in the kingdoms of men and sets up over them whomever He wills. Therefore we can watch with great interest even today as God works out His plan to implement His kingdom.

Nebuchadnezzar’s dominion was very great in his day: “…thou , O king, are grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth” (Dan 4:22). At the time of Daniel, Nebuchadnez­zar had more power, authority and influence than any president, prime minister or dictator of our own day. But he was to learn “that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Dan 4:17).

This same declaration of God’s control over the nations is repeated in vs. 25 and 32. And when Nebuchadnezzar recovers his sanity he proclaims: “I praised and honored Him…who doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou?” (Dan 4:34-35).

The point of emphasis in the chapter is unmistakable and is a great doctrine for us to remember. For decades, believers have seen signs of our Lord’s return happening before our eyes. Yet where is the Lord Jesus? We are to take heart from this chapter. God rules in the kingdom of men. He is overseeing events through our Lord Jesus and the mighty angels. When necessary He is actively controlling what happens. Therefore we are to patiently wait on Him, for the LORD does according to His will among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay His hand.

Acts 2: Major first principles are declared

Here is Peter’s great speech given on the day of Pentecost as the Christian, the ecclesial era, is about to begin. In addition to the dramatic events of this day, we see some of our fundamental Christadelphian doctrines clearly confirmed.

What’s the point of this chapter? It reassures us we’ve got it right as a community and should hold fast to our fundamentals.

Peter makes it clear that the Lord Jesus Christ is a human being, not part of a Trinitarian godhead. One would almost think that he is refuting the great heresy which has become so entrenched in the theology of the apostasy.

The great Messiah is “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God…” (Acts 2:22) not a pre-existent part of a triune godhead. It is this man “Him” who was “crucified and slain” (vs 23). It is this man “Whom God hath raised up” (vs 24). In Psalm 16, David was speaking concerning “him”, the man of Nazareth who relied fully upon his God (vs 25).It was “This Jesus…” whom God raised up (vs 32). “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (vs 36).

Peter has plainly stated the great doctrine: it was the man of Nazareth who is the Lord, the Messiah. He is no part of a godhead made incarnate in the womb of Mary. He is a human being, born in due time, approved of God, crucified, raised from the dead and exalted to the Father’s right hand. Right from the start, the apostles make clear a central teaching we are blessed to understand, and which we hold as a pillar of our faith.

A second great fundamental is woven into Peter’s words: we don’t go to heaven when we die. “For David is not ascended into the heavens” (vs 34). And the Lord Jesus, even his “soul” did not go to heaven at death but to the grave: “his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption” (vs 31). In these words, Peter confirms the singular teaching of Scripture from Genesis onward: “dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return” (Gen 3:19).

There is another first principle here as well. Baptism is essential for the forgive­ness of sins. Upon the response of the people: “What shall we do”, the answer is clear: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (vs. 37-38). Again we are blessed to have ingrained in our com­munity teaching the necessity of intelligent immersion as a requisite to salvation.

In addition to being good “for doctrine” the chapter is good for exhortation as well setting out the essentials of our lives in Christ. They are summarized in vs 42:

• Doctrine — the blessing of understanding the Truth is vital to our lives and our worship.
• Fellowship — from greatly varied backgrounds we are drawn together by the bond of our common convictions.
• Breaking of bread and prayers — in this fellowship we rejoice together in the memorial remembrance in which we are now participating.

What’s the point? of the Scriptures we have read: instruction, encouragement, and inspiration that we might be equipped unto all good work. It’s a good question to ask ourselves as we read the inspired word. What a blessing that we have it so readily available as we do this day. Amen.