Devotions in Matthew #30

We are but at the end of chapter 2, and Matthew has made use of much of the Old Testament prophets. So who is he quoting in 2:23, “So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene”? It isn’t Isaiah, or Hosea, or Micah or Jeremiah – all of whom he’s quoted before. Nor is it Ezekiel, or Daniel or Zephaniah – or any of them actually. In fact, if you do a word search, the idea of Nazareth does not come up till this point in the New Testament.  This fact alone tells us that what Matthew is saying the prophets referred to is not Jesus’ geographic hometown, but an idea associated with the place.

Well respected scholar DA Carson puts it this way, “Nazareth was a despised place (John 7:42, 52), even to other Galileans (cf. John 1:46). Here Jesus grew up, not as “Jesus the Bethlehemite,” with its Davidic overtones, but as “Jesus the Nazarene,” with all the opprobrium of the sneer. When Christians were referred to in Acts as the “Nazarene sect” (24:5), the expression was meant to hurt. First-century Christian readers of Matthew, who had tasted their share of scorn, would have quickly caught Matthew’s point. He is not saying that a particular OT prophet foretold that the Messiah would live in Nazareth; he is saying that the OT prophets foretold that the Messiah would be despised.”^[1]

We all have our backstory – the place and people we grew up around. For the few, backstory is pedigree – it speaks honor and privilege into their lives.  For most, it means little or nothing, it is just a fact. But for some, it is a hinge on which hangs much discrimination and prejudice, a weight around our necks we wish we could let go but cannot.

God directed Joseph to pick Nazareth for his young family. In so doing, He purposed that Jesus would grow up in the flesh on the ‘wrong side of the tracks’ so to speak. Christ would need to overcome inequity and bias right from the get go. This was His mark of privilege. It would provide the greatest contrast. In later years, God would be so obviously upon Him, that His birthplace would add to the wonder at all He became and did.

What looked like a random choice by one

What looked to the many like a matter of scorn

Was actually a blessing to all who see

It was for the honor of The One.

·      Praise God, He ultimately makes every obstacle into a help.

---

^[1] Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 97). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House. “(cf. Pss 22:6–8, 13; 69:8, 20–21; Isa 11:1; 49:7; 53:2–3, 8; Dan 9:26). The theme is repeatedly picked up by Matthew (e.g., 8:20; 11:16–19; 15:7–8)”.

Devotions in Matthew #29

The common things God speaks to all people are forever written down for us. But the individual things God speaks to us – that are just for us – are also part of His Word to our lives. Matthew records this as happening over and over again to Joseph son of Jacob. In 1:20, Joseph has a dream where an angel counsels him to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife. The angel returns in a dream in 2:13, telling him to escape to Egypt. While they are gone, the Massacre of the Innocents takes place, and at some point Herod dies. Now the angel comes again to Joseph, and God speaks to him in a dream once again after that.

“After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth.”^[1] The angel tells Joseph he should return to Israel. No doubt glad for the end of his personal Egyptian exile, Joseph does return. But there is a problem. Although “the land of Israel” includes the whole, some parts are significantly more dangerous than others.

Herod’s will had appointed his son Archelaus – a fact disputed by Herod Antipater (Archelaus’ brother). While these matters were in the process of being sorted, Archelaus ordered the army into the temple to quell a minor uprising started in Herod’s last days over the installation of a gold eagle on the temple. History tells us that ~3000 people were killed in the resulting chaos. Caesar Augustus later confirmed Archelaus, although Caesar gave him the title Ethnarch instead of king. This limited his territory and authority, but nevertheless allowed Archelaus to rule the very people he now despised. In God’s very great grace to Joseph, He redirects him from Judea to the north, easing his fears and fulfilling prophesy at the same time. “So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.” ^[2] 

Joseph and his young family have had to endure the social stigma of Mary’s pregnancy.  They’ve had to make the difficult journey to Bethlehem. They had to make another traumatic journey to live in exile in Egypt to avoid a massacre. Finally able to return to Israel, they find they will not be able to start a new life in Judea, where no one was aware of the circumstances of Jesus’ birth. They will have to begin in Nazareth. Although such continuing drama and circumstance is less than ideal, God’s care for Joseph, Mary and Jesus is evident.

·      Praise God, He cares for you and guides you, even during and through difficult circumstances.

---

^[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Mt 2:19–23). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[2] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Mt 2:23). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Devotions in Matthew #28

God is our healer, a very present help in times of need. We all know that. Yet there are some hurts that are too great to be easily dismissed through the normal spiritual relationship fallen mankind has with creator God. Such a hurt forever marks us. It is carried from day to day as a great wound – like a missing part of our heart. Healing will no doubt come, but we can know that full restoration is a lifetime away. The scar will show all our lives.

Herod’s harsh order to kill all the infant boys in greater Bethlehem has been carried out.  The people have suffered a great loss. Their grief is not limited to the walls of their homes. It echos through the streets and reaches the highest heaven, as though part of their collective soul has been ripped out. Such pain is not inconsequential. Such mourning does not go unnoticed - God in heaven hears their cries. “Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”[1]

Read carefully how He notes what He hears, “a voice is heard” – “weeping” – “great mourning”.  God is keenly aware that people have suffered loss. More than that, “Rachel weeping.” The Lord knows the sufferer by name.

Is it that God has not even tried to comfort them? No. In His quiet way, He has spoken to them, by His Spirit He has affirmed His love to them, yet, Rachel remains “refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” The situation continues. Rachel’s grief is so great, that the still small voice of God cannot be heard over her sobs.

The next words in Matthew’s account are therefore all the more poignant, “After Herod died.” 

Evil – even evil incarnate – has but a season. Though it seems to last a long time, it is eventually brought to an end and dismissed forever to perish in the fires of hell. God’s elect have no such restriction – we were made for eternal relationship with our eternal God. Our pain is heard in glory for that reason, and God moves to end our pain. Evil’s time closes. Healing and restoration await us.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.

But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.” ^[2]

Your suffering is not unnoticed – you are God’s elect.  Praise Him for His faithfulness to us, His planned restoration for us, and His judgment of the wicked

---

[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Mt 2:17–18). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[2] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Ps 55:22–23). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Devotions in Matthew #27

Herod has heard that the Magi (who he purposed to manipulate into showing him where the new King of the Jews would be born) have outwitted him. He orders the death of every male toddler/baby in the greater Bethlehem area. At this point we come to Matthew 2:17-18. To date, Matthew has quoted Isaiah (1:23), Micah (2:6) and Hosea (2:14).  Now he quotes Jeremiah: “Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”[1]

There is no doubt that many families were – and this is surely a tremendous understatement - greatly distraught at the outcome of Herod’s order. For what could be more upsetting than soldiers barging through your doors and killing an innocent child?  Your innocent child? Your son – on whom you had the greatest of hopes? Your own son, who was in all likelihood born in an answer to prayer? And now, in a moment, he is lifeless. A soldier’s sword having been plunged through his helpless body while you were held back. What mother would not have been hysterical? What father would not be heartbroken? What family would not have wondered where their God was at that moment? Indeed, where was God while this horror was being carried out?

Matthew quoted Jeremiah – a prophet who lived and ministered and spoke this Word of God ~600BC. That means that for 600 years, God was aware this day would come. What Herod decided in an instant of anger was known by God Most High, generations prior. More than that, it means that for 600 years God was cognizant of this day’s emotional damage to His people.

In our most tragic moments, God is not far off or unaware. He knew the day would come, He knew the pain you would feel. He has been thinking about that pain for a very long time. Your suffering is part of the reason Jesus died on the cross. In fact, it could be said that it was in consideration of your pain that Jesus was sent to the cross.  For apart from the cross, there is no freedom from such pain, only more and more grief, suffering and pain to be endured. All of it – like Rachel’s weeping – is part of His story, the story of overcoming His enemy, the same who whispered such a wicked thought into Herod’s ear in the first place. But now, the day is coming, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ^[2]

·      God was and is aware of your hurt because of the injustice of others. He has already addressed the root cause of that injustice by the sacrifice of Christ. Praise God for His grace and mercy to us, that we will see His face and our pain will be no more!

---

[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Mt 2:17–18). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[2] The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1984). (Re 21:4). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.