Justin Houtz

1 Samuel 11, Romans 9, Jeremiah 48, Psalm 25

DateVersionReading Plan
@August 19, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

1 Samuel 11

1 Samuel 11:12–13 (ESV) 12 Then the people said to Samuel, “Who is it that said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring the men, that we may put them to death.” 13 But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”

Following the defeat of the Ammonites at the leadership of Saul, the people wanted to put to death those who had questioned his rule. Saul responded that no man shall be put to death and credited the LORD for working salvation in Israel. In his first significant campaign against an enemy as king, Saul demonstrated God-centered, virtuous character by saying there was no need for further loss of life because the LORD had granted them victory. Matthew Henry provides helpful insight on the Spirit’s role in Saul by saying, “When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon men, it will make them expert, even without experience. When zeal for the glory of God, and love for the brethren, urge men to earnest efforts, and when God is pleased to help, great effects may speedily be produced.“

Romans 9

Romans 9:21–23 (ESV) 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—

Paul exposits God’s work among the righteous and the wicked by using the illustration of a potter and clay. As the potter has full right to create vessels from one lump for both honorable and dishonorable use, so God has full right in creating humans. Paul furthers his explanation by rhetorical question that God shows his wrath, makes known his power and endures with much patience the vessels prepared beforehand for destruction to make known the riches of His glory for vessels mercy. Among all mankind, God chooses some to demonstrate His wrath while choosing others to demonstrate His mercy and all of this is within the domain of God’s sovereign choice. This is a very difficult doctrine to grasp as finite humans, but one we must embrace in gratitude that God would be so gracious as to show any His mercy.

Jeremiah 48

Jeremiah 48:38 (ESV) 38 On all the housetops of Moab and in the squares there is nothing but lamentation, for I have broken Moab like a vessel for which no one cares, declares the LORD.

Similar to the previous reflection on Rom. 9, Jeremiah’s oracle on the destruction of Moab describes the nation as being broken like “a vessel for which no one cares”. The NAC says that, “Moab was beyond hope, unwanted and useless like a jar that has been broken and tossed away (cf. [Jer. 22:28], where the same figure describes Jehoiachin).” Again, we see God’s ultimate reign and dominion over the nations in dedicating to wrath those whom He will.

Psalm 25

Psalm 25:14 (ESV) 14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

Furthering the day’s theme of election and reprobation, David speaks of friendship of the LORD as reserved for those who fear Him. This is not a dreadful fear but one of reverent trust and adoration. It is to these that the LORD makes known His covenant, having given them eyes to see and ears to hear through the work of His Spirit. In His abundant grace, God has granted salvation and knowledge of Himself through His Son, vanquishing our separation from our Creator and placing within us a new heart of faith and desire for obedience in order that we may call Him friend.

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