December 25

Dec 25 - Today from Proverbs 25 we look at verse 25
"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land."

Proverbs for the king and those who dealt with the king. This was the purpose for which Hezekiah's aids collected the proverbs of chapters 25-31. Today they remain just as relevant for leaders and those who aspire to leadership. Leadership in God's economy is servanthood. Great leaders are to be great servants. Think of the greatest leader of all. . . the Lord Jesus.
We all enjoy hearing good news. In the midst of the realities of a fallen world and all of the pain and corruption caused by the fracturing effects of sin (self-serving ways), good news is indeed as refreshing as a glass of cold water to a parched thirst in a dry and weary place. Good news from a distant land intensifies the refreshing. In the beginning of the war in Iraq we experienced the incredible ability to follow battlefield events in real-time as we had TV reporters imbedded with the troops and broadcasting the war in Iraq live from multiple locations. Even today, we get updated reports of events as they happen.
In contrast, in the days in which the proverbs were written, communications came by way of runners. There was no 'real-time' news of events. As the battles raged, the peoples of the nations involved would wait with great anticipation to see the figure of a runner on the horizon. Kings and leaders would often try to anticipate what the news would be in accordance with the number of runners or the character of the runners. If the news was favorable, the military leaders would usually send a favored runner, as the runner would often be rewarded. If the news were unfavorable, the runner chosen would be of lesser importance - perhaps even expendable if the news were bad enough. We can see the cultural reality of this in 2 Samuel 18 were the battlefield news of the death of Absalom, David's rebellious son, was to be delivered to king David in Jerusalem. Commander Joab knew how the news would affect David, so he sent a Cushite to run. A favored runner, Ahimaz, thought David would be delighted with the victory over the rebel, and desperately sought to be the runner. Joab says, "My son, why do you want to go? You don't have any news that will bring you a reward." Ahimaz thought he had some 'fresh water', but Joab knew that the water was tainted with bitterness.
"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'" (Isaiah 52:7). Great leaders are great servants. As believers in Christ, we are chosen and called to be a Royal Priesthood (2 Peter 2:9). We are to be runners for Christ the King, and our message is to be in the spirit of the priesthood; to intercede for sinful man on behalf of a gracious God. We live in a world of 'weary souls'. Weary from trying to please self, weary from trying to please others, weary from trying to please God. It's maddening. We have the best news possible; that God made peace with us through Jesus Christ. "Peace on earth, good will toward men." That is our message. We bring it from a distant land - from the home of the Father. It is a matter of perspective. It is really the lost who are in the distant land, and we bring the news to them from the heart of God; "God loves you and offers you immunity from your sin through the death of His own Son." Only this time there is no bitterness in the Father's heart, for the Son lives! He was resurrected and lives to restore all who will believe on His Name. Indeed, "Our God reigns!"
Today we celebrate the first coming of Messiah, Jesus Christ. The world celebrates Christmas, but they do not celebrate Christ. It is a great opportunity for the Church. We must stop bearing an attitude of 'serve us', and develop the attitude of 'service'. He came to redeem - and to set an example unto the redeemed. Let us faithfully carry His message through our service.