And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. (Hebrews 11:32-38)
Today’s focus, Samuel and the prophets who did amazing things. They are the ones who conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, etc. If was through them that women received back their dead, raised to life again. They were tortured and killed. In short, the prophets were both victorious and abused.
The thing that most stands out to me in this passage is the author’s statement that the world was no worthy of these people. It tells us that after listing both the victories won and the abuses heaped on the prophets. The world was not “not worthy of them” because of how they treated the world. The world was not worthy of them because of how the world treated them. As I look around, I have to think the world is not worthy of the martyrs who will be killed today in Africa and Asia. The world is not worthy of the people who follow in Martin Luther King, Jr’s steps, refusing to cooperate with laws that are unjust.
I would like to be one of the ones of whom the world is not worthy. That may be arrogant, but I’d like to have that sort of faith. But when I think about the torture, the jeers, and floggings, chains and imprisonment, the death by stoning, being sawed in two, or the sword, I’m not so sure. When I think about the wearing of the clothes of paupers, being destitute, persecuted, and mistreated, I’m less sure. I don’t want to hurt – that’s only natural. It’s also natural to think of those who are victorious as having faith, and those who are persecuted or poor as not having faith. But today’s passage makes it clear that those who are persecuted and poor – specifically, poor because of their faith, not just poor – are just as much a part of the Hall of Faith as the victory winners. What matters is their faith, not their circumstances.
Today’s focus, Samuel and the prophets who did amazing things. They are the ones who conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, etc. If was through them that women received back their dead, raised to life again. They were tortured and killed. In short, the prophets were both victorious and abused.
The thing that most stands out to me in this passage is the author’s statement that the world was no worthy of these people. It tells us that after listing both the victories won and the abuses heaped on the prophets. The world was not “not worthy of them” because of how they treated the world. The world was not worthy of them because of how the world treated them. As I look around, I have to think the world is not worthy of the martyrs who will be killed today in Africa and Asia. The world is not worthy of the people who follow in Martin Luther King, Jr’s steps, refusing to cooperate with laws that are unjust.
I would like to be one of the ones of whom the world is not worthy. That may be arrogant, but I’d like to have that sort of faith. But when I think about the torture, the jeers, and floggings, chains and imprisonment, the death by stoning, being sawed in two, or the sword, I’m not so sure. When I think about the wearing of the clothes of paupers, being destitute, persecuted, and mistreated, I’m less sure. I don’t want to hurt – that’s only natural. It’s also natural to think of those who are victorious as having faith, and those who are persecuted or poor as not having faith. But today’s passage makes it clear that those who are persecuted and poor – specifically, poor because of their faith, not just poor – are just as much a part of the Hall of Faith as the victory winners. What matters is their faith, not their circumstances.
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