Brent Weightman - Sunday, 25 September 2022
Jesus - The Defender of the Faithful
Scripture References: Psalms 56:1-13, Luke 23:44-49, Daniel 6:1-22
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ClosePsalms are the hymnbook- prayerbook even – of God’s people. Put together after God’s people return from Exile, they offer songs and prayers that capture the heart of God’s people as they muddle through life as God’s people. As we read them, we recognise so much that is current. Just take today’s Psalm, 56... Written by David as he was captured in Gath (read 1 Samuel 21:10-15), it captures the heart of a man completely alone, but knowing that God is for him, that God knows his tears and predicament, and that God is trustworthy – just look at his words! All of that resonates with us – but we must proceed with care... before we sing this song, we must see how Jesus IS this Psalm for us. And all of Jesus’ life speaks to the truth of this Psalm: the great-descendant of David IS this Psalm in the flesh. Because Jesus IS this Psalm, we can sing it.
Scripture References: Psalms 56:1-13, Luke 23:44-49, Daniel 6:1-22
Related Topics: Psalms | More Messages from Brent Weightman | Download Audio
Andrew McClenaghan
Psalms 24:1-10
Brent Weightman
Psalms 56:1-13
Jesus has finally made it to Jerusalem. As Matthew prepares us for His entry into Jerusalem, he helps us confront Jesus’ authority, and the way in which it restores the concern of God for the outsider, and confronts the insider. This is the start of the Passover week. Jerusalem is a roiling maelstrom of religious and political fervour. And Matthew organises the narrative of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem around displays of His authority, rooted in recognition of His ‘old power’ – four Old Testament quotations structure the passage. As we come face-to-face with Jesus’ authority, three truths stand out. First, Jesus’ authority is extensive and all-encompassing. Second, Jesus’ authority is for the outsider, and rooted in God’s deep commitment to bring the outsider inside His kingdom. And, third, Jesus authority confronts the insider, and urges them to repentance. Come and meet Jesus, the King, in all His authority, as He enters Jerusalem!
What is greatness? In particular, what is greatness in the kingdom of God? That is the question addressed in the passage from Matthew today. Jesus is approached by two different groups. First, the family of Zebedee: James and John and their mother. Second, two blind men. Jesus asks both groups the same question “What do you want me to do for you?” What they request is quite revealing. And so is Jesus’ response to their requests. The Zebedees request position, status, reward for effort. The blind men request mercy, for their eyes to be open. Which request lines up with Jesus’ teaching previously? Which request do we tend to go to ourselves?
The Department of Home Affairs has an Australian Values Statement on its website. Visa applicants for residency/citizenship must sign this. And one of its key principles is that we are a ‘fair-go’ country. We would all agree with that. I suspect, too, that we would summarise our ‘fair go’ culture by stating that ‘you get what you deserve/what you work for’. In fact, many of us have established our relational, social and work ethics on this very principle. But is that what the ‘kingdom of heaven is like’? What is its value statement? What is the hallmark of such a kingdom, and its ruler, even its citizenship? Today, after Jesus has assured his disciples that the dependent will be provided for by their king, he now uses the same ideas to issue with them a warning not to abuse, misuse, ignore or become entitled in the face of the kingdom of heaven hallmark—which is grace.
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