Fasting and the Bridegroom

~~~1 Samuel 15:16-23 ~~~ Psalm 50 ~~~ Mark 2:18-22 ~~~

Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission than the fat of rams.

Samuel reprimands Saul for not being completely 

obedient to the will of God.

Saul has only partially carried 

out the task set before him from God.

He lets greed take hold of his heart.

Saul selectively carried out the wishes of the Lord.

Keeping for himself some of the best from the city.

He and his troops spared Agag and the best of the 

fat sheep and oxen, and the lambs. 

They refused to put under the ban 

anything that was worthwhile, destroying 

only what was worthless and of no account. 

Later he is so full of pride for his victory 

he erects a statue to honor himself.

When God sets us out to complete a task he expects 

us to complete the task in his name.

He does not give us permission

 to make exceptions for our personal satisfaction.

Saul is so blinded by his own accomplishments

 that he looses sight of his directive from God.

Jesus speaks of himself as the bridegroom in this chapter of Mark.

Fasting was common in among the local people at that time.

Of course Jesus knew of the prescribed fasting custom;

 he intentionally ignores it.

Instead he gives an analogy of the bridegroom,

which seems out in left field

It is true that when you are attending a wedding celebration

 few if any people would be fasting.

Jesus tries to present a different picture of the bridegroom;

namely himself. He is the bridegroom who will be leaving.

When he leaves it will be because he has been crucified.

His death and crucifixion will be the cause for fasting...

a fasting representing mourning.

But the days will come when the bridegroom

 is taken away from them,
and then they will fast on that day.

Today we are encouraged by the our church

 to practice fasting during Lent and especially on Good Friday.

Fasting puts us in a better state to hear the Lord speaking to our hearts.

Food is no longer a distraction...our prayer life and our 

relationship with God takes on a deeper meaning.

...new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.

Jesus is the new wine. Everything about his way

 is in contradiction with the elders.

Jesus in effect is saying...whatever you thought 

you knew about God, you were so not right.

Jesus makes all things new...

even when we do not know anything needs to be changed.

It is so easy to just keep on doing what we have done for years.

Habits, good or bad, become a part of who we are.

They often reflect our system of beliefs.

Begin taking an internal assessment of your heart.

What needs to change? Ask God to help you see 

the ways you have held on to the old.

He wants to replace the old with the new;

but first you must identify the old.

We cannot change what we cannot claim as ours.

Blessings in having the courage and faith

 to look within for what needs to be removed.

Make room for the new wine.

Peace!