Folly

David’s folly shows us plainly all have sinned. Even God’s friend some times falters, and not even a little. David shows himself an adulterer, a murderer and a plotter. So many times he sang of those who would snare him, and he does the same to Urijah. What folly lurks in the heart of men!

David correctly sings in Psalm 14, “The LORD looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God. They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one.” Not even David himself. He prays, “O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.”

Paul joins David in prayer. To the Ephesians he writes, “I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” O that we knew what it was to be grounded in the Love of Christ, to live his love toward each other, to experience and be messengers of the Deliverance from Zion!

God feeds his people

It should be no wonder to the multitudes that Jesus is able to feed them. Remembering God’s provisionfor his people throughout history, the disciples should not have been surprised that Jesus asked them to feed the people.

After all Elisha had fed a hundred with a few loaves offered to God. What they might learn is that their teacher was a hundred-fold greater than Elisha.

They shouldn’t be surprised that God would send them nourishment. He sent them manna in the wilderness. The psalmist declares,

“The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.”

Faith is made of this. They ought to be singing the praise of God, seeing every weakness and need as an opportunity for God to glorify his name. They might learn as they munch their bread that the bread of life is before them. That this God who has never withheld his bounty has not withheld his Son.