Psalm 119:105-112; Acts 5:33-42

OK, I think I'm ready to get back on track here...sort of...as much as I am ever on track!

Psalm 119:105-112
I've been thinking some over the holidays about the theme of darkness and light. It's actually a common theme in all literature, including the Bible. Darkness usually symbolizes negative things such as sadness, danger, or evil. Light usually makes us think of positive things such a joy, safety or good. And so when we look at this passage, we might imagine an unfamiliar and uneven path on a dark night. If we had no light to guide us, we would likely proceed very slowly with uncertainty. We might even trip and fall. This is how it is with our lives, each of which is an uncertain and uneven path. We encounter ruts and bumps and traps in the road. That's why we need God's word as a lamp to guide our feet and light our paths.

Acts 5:33-42
When the Jewish leaders realized they could not silence the apostles, that they were determined to preach about Jesus, and that the people sympathized with them, they determined to kill them. However, a respected Pharisee named Gamaliel reasoned with them reminding them of various leaders who had gathered a few followers and then passed off the scene. He said they should just leave these apostles and followers alone. "If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find your selves fighting against God!"

The Jewish leaders accepted Gamaliel's advice, beat the apostles and ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

vv. 41-42 tell us that the apostles "left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: 'Jesus is the Messiah.'"

This is pretty amazing if you think about it. It would seem that their first response would have been to go underground, but this is not what happened. You have to admire their faith and determination.