07/25

July 25

Acts 25

Festus travels to Caesarea in Judea, where Paul is imprisoned. The Jews approach Festus as their new leader, since Felix didn’t do anything, and urged him to move Paul to Jerusalem. They had a plot to ambush Paul on the way to Jerusalem to kill him. Festus questions Paul, and Paul, as a Roman Jew, appeals to Caesar Augustus, so Festus sends Paul to Rome.

Then King Agrippa comes to visit Festus. King Agrippa is the son of Herod Agrippa and great-grandson of Herod the Great. King Agrippa ruled over Palestine. He came with his sister, Bernice. Bernice and Druscilla, Felix’s wife, were also sisters. In verse 23, the king comes in with great pageantry. This is a lot of political power with whom Paul is in contact.

King Agrippa wants to hear Paul’s case. Agrippa found Paul had done nothing worthy of death. Let’s remember that God told Paul that He wanted him to be a witness for God in Rome. Rome is a huge Empire at the time. It is no accident that Paul interacts with these great politicians. This is God’s plan.

Whatever God is calling you to do, know that He will get you before the right people in the right time. We just need to put our trust in Him and be obedient to the instructions He gives to us.

Psalm 44-46

Psalm 44 is one of many psalms written by the sons of Korah. These were psalmists who descended from Korah, the Levite who gathered 250 men in a revolt against Moses, God’s chosen leader (Numbers 16, Jude 1:11). Exodus 6:24 lists the sons. They are Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These three did not write the psalms, but the descendants of these men did. Those descendants are Heman, Asaph, and Ethan (or Jeduthan). Ethan and Aspah write prophetic songs.

Psalm 44 is a poetic lament. It laments or expresses sorrow for those who suffer defeat at the hands of evil men because of the dishonor of the people of Israel. The song writer claims he is innocent, but he suffers along with the nations because of those who choose evil (verses 17-21). In verse 17, he says, “All this has come upon US.” Our choices for our life will affect others. We don’t occupy this planet by ourselves. When we make our decisions, let’s make sure we don’t just consider ourselves in the moment, but our family, our community, our church, and our nation.

Psalm 45 is about the Messiah and His love for His people. This psalm is believed to be prophetic of Christ and His bride, the church. We find verses 6 and 7 in Hebrews 1:8-9, confirming this is speaking of Jesus, the Son of God. In verse 10, the bride is told to leave her father’s house to be joined to the King. Similarly, Christians have to turn away from the world in order to be in union with Christ. In verse 11, it says the King will desire her beauty. Jesus thinks we’re beautiful, a bride worth coming to the world and dying for. The Word says that we should worship Him for being our Lord, our King, our authority. Submission isn’t about control; it’s a response to loving authority!

Psalm 46 has a familiar verse in it. Verse 10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” This psalm is about God being a refuge for His people. His power is so great that He is not only bigger than our problems; He is exalted over all the nations! Let’s put our trust in Him!

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