Psalms 8:1, 16:1-2, 31:1-3

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures with last night’s message holding my thoughts captive. Evangelist Paul Abbott is being used of our Lord to stir our hearts toward revival, even if he has not directly addressed that specific topic. Last night, he spoke to us from Matthew 15:21-31. The Spirit engaged my mind on several very excellent observations the Evangelist made from the text, and I won’t take the time here to address them.

One thing stood out almost from the moment the message began:

Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Understanding God’s ways is as helpful when He behaves in a manner that puzzles us as it is when someone we know and love does. We pause to consider the behavior in light of what we know about their character. From what we know about “God the head of Christ” we can say with confidence the behavior of our Lord as recorded by the Spirit here does not describe an aloof, arrogant, dismissive, attitude toward a woman in distress.

We ask, whom does God resist? The Spirit answers, the proud (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). To whom is God attracted, and to whom does He give grace? The Spirit answers: “the humble” (to the two Scriptures given above add Isaiah 57:15).

The woman in this story was a Canaanite; her child was possessed by a devil (Matthew 15:22; see Mark 7:26 informs us she was Greek, and her nationality  Syrophoenician).

The Canaanites despised the Jews then like the so-called Palestinians despise, nay, hate, the Jews today. I think we must assume this distressed Canaanite mother of a child possessed of a devil was prideful, but her need humbled her to seek relief from a Jew.

From His response to her, it seems to me she had in her past expressed her disdain for the Jews. But now she is coming to the king of the Jews for relief.

Along the still waters, I thought of how like this story is to the encounter Jesus had with another prejudiced Jew despising woman, this one of Samaria (John 4). I remembered how pointed He was with her on the point of her prejudicial resentment of the Jews: “Ye worship ye know not what: we [identifying Himself as a Jew] know what we worship,” ouch, that had to sting. But the next clause must have been a right cross to the jaw of her bitter prejudice against the Jews: “Salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22).

Jesus, more than once, emphasized the role of Israel in the earth, and in this world. “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). He instructed His disciples: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5-6). His lament concerning the general unbelief of Israel to whom He was sent is testament to His belief about the place of the Jews in the world.

Christians who despise the Jews as a people and a nation are not aligning with Christ. Even in His rebuke, you see witness of His love (Revelation 3:19; see Hebrews 12:5-8 with Proverbs 3:11-12). Consider this when you contrast His severe rebukes upon the Pharisees and Scribes, and His near lack of engagement with the heretical Sadducees.

Are some Jews despicable? Are some Gentiles despicable? Are some whites despicable, some blacks, some browns some of every color and shade? Are not despicable people found in every class and color? Jesus offered the kingdom to Israel, and He has promised that the throne of David will be lifted up over all the rulers of the earth.

But the primary devotional thought Jesus gave me this morning was that much of what we experience in this life in the way of trouble, or blessing, is intended by God to humble us (1 Peter 1:7; Romans 2:4). He said to us, “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness is the meeting place between God and man: He has separated Himself to us, and calls us to separate ourselves to Him. Since holiness is about identifying with and drawing near to Him, and He resists the proud, there is no true holiness without humility.

We must remember Who He is when we contemplate what He does that we don’t understand.

In the valley, shadowed by His Cross, I knelt in surrender to His will Who surrendered His will on my behalf (Luke 22:42; see Philippians 2:5-11 with John 17:5—Selah!). He spoke: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, my Head, and the Chief Shepherd anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup to overflowing, intermingled with His grace. Goodness and mercy appeared at my side, and fell in behind me as we walked together into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v7fu7sw-shepherds-pasture-jew-hating-christians-dont-love-jesus.html