Tuesday, January 4
Compare 1 Samuel 8:19, 20 and Hebrews 2:14-16. What did the Israelites look for in a king, and how were these wishes fulfilled in Jesus?
The Israelites wanted a king to be their judge and their leader in battle because they forgot that God was their king. The complete restoration of God’s rule over His people came with Jesus. As our King, Jesus leads us in the battle against the enemy.
Hebrews 2:14-16 describes Jesus as the champion of weak human beings. Christ faces and defeats the devil in a solo combat and delivers us from bondage. This description reminds us of the battle between David and Goliath. After being anointed as king (1 Samuel 16), David saved his brethren from slavery by defeating Goliath. The terms of engagement determined that the winner of the combat would enslave the people of the other party (1 Samuel 17:8-10). Thus, David acted as a champion of Israel. He represented them.
Read Isaiah 42:13 and Isaiah 59:15-20. How does Yahweh describe Himself in these passages?
Hebrews 2:14-16 alludes to the notion that God would save Israel in a solo combat. Note this passage from Isaiah: “But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: For I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, And I will save thy children” (Isaiah 49:25).
As Christians we often think that we are engaged in a solo combat with Satan. When we read Ephesians 6:10-18, we see that yes, we are in combat with the devil. But God is our champion, and He goes to battle before us. We are part of His army; that is why we have to use His armor. Also, we do not fight alone. The “you” in Ephesians 6 is plural. We as a church take the armor and fight together behind our champion, who is God Himself.
What does it mean to put on the armor of God? That is, in our daily struggles with self, temptation, and so forth, how can we avail ourselves of the power that enables us through God’s strength to be faithful?
