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Today
I am making a rather radical change in titles: "Two marvellous stories of God’s incredible Grace and Mercy”! (9
words!)
The first story is a kind of crazy story about love of power, and
incredible selfishness.
King Ahab wanted Naboth’s farm in Jezreel
because it was right beside his summer palace and he wanted it for a
vegetable garden. He says to Naboth, “I’ll give you the best price for
your land, or I’ll trade you a better piece of land”. And Naboth says,
“No, definitely not, the land is not for sale. This farm is ancestral
land which God gave to my forefathers hundreds of years ago. It’s just
not for sale”!
So when Ahab got home he was sitting around, pouting and downcast,
crabby! His wife, Queen Jezebel, who was quite a piece of work, says “what’s the matter with you”? Ahab, a grown man, sticks out his lower
lip and says, “Naboth won’t sell me his ancestral farm”.
Now Jezebel is used to living with Canaanite kings who simply took whatever land they wanted, tells Ahab that she would get Naboth’s
land for him, and plans a rather devious scheme.
She spreads the rumor that God’s judgement of drought and famine is
because of Naboth’s unrighteousness, and he should be eliminated. She
plans a huge banquet and places Naboth between two scoundrels who
proceed to beat him to death.
Jezebel runs to Ahab and announces to him
that Naboth is dead and that he has Naboth’s land and Ahab says
“Goodie!”
Well, as it says in today’s Psalm, God can’t handle wickedness. He sends
Elijah the prophet to the king’s court and pronounces judgement. “You
have sold yourself to do what is eveil in the sight of the Lord”.
He
tells the king and queen that their blood will flow in the city
marketplace, and that their bodies will be eaten by the crows. Guess what happens: Ahab hears God’s judgement for his greed and
complicity in Jezebel’s murderous plans, and he repents!
And then guess
what happens? He tore his clothes
and put sackcloth over his bare body and fasted before the Lord...and
the Lord tells Elijah that because Ahab has humbled himself He will not bring the disaster upon him in his days.
I often think of the men and women who are in maximum security prisons
across Canada, and I pray for their genuine remorse and their
repentance. For I know that even as God had mercy upon Ahab, even though
people commit the most heinous of crimes, there is mercy and
forgiveness at the foot of the cross.
You may have heard of Katy
Hutchison who lives in Victoria. Several years ago, her then husband was
killed while checking on a teenage house party in Squamish. Determined
not to let this horrible crime leave a legacy of hatred and anger in her
family, she went to see her husband’s killer, Ryan Aldridge.
Through
several meetings in the jail, Ryan came to a place of remorse and
contrition...she forgave Ryan, and he now works with her in presenting
the consequences of teen violence. Such is the incredible love and mercy
of God...far beyond our understanding, and transforming in power and
love.
Story #2 is about two sinners and a dinner party. Simon is a religious
nut and he invites Jesus over for dinner, but soon into the dinner we
get the idea he has a scheme to embarrass and humiliate Jesus. He
intentionally skips the water for Jesus feet, the welcoming kiss, and
there’s no ointment for his head.
But a loving and repentant woman, a prostitute, comes through the
shadows weeping. She began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry
them with her hair, she continued kissing his feet and anointing them
with the alabaster salve. She knew she was a sinner, and she knew Jesus
loved her and had forgiven her and had given her a life of freedom and
hope and joy.
No wonder she loved she loved Jesus so lavishly, and was
forgiven so completely and wonderfully.
No wonder Jesus gave the stingy
minded Simon something to ponder through the rest of the evening...
“Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven;
hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven,
loves little.
“Two marvellous stories of God’s great love and mercy”!
