© Matthew Tuel — 2025
Psalms 2:10-11 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
10 So now, you kings, do what is wise;
you rulers of the earth, submit to correction!
11 Serve the Lord in fear!
Repent in terror!
2nd Samuel 23:1-7 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
1 These are the final words of David:
“The oracle of David son of Jesse,
the oracle of the man raised up as
the ruler chosen by the God of Jacob,
Israel’s beloved singer of songs:
2 The Lord’s spirit spoke through me;
his word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel spoke,
the protector of Israel spoke to me.
The one who rules fairly among men,
the one who rules in the fear of God,
4 is like the light of morning when the sun comes up,
a morning in which there are no clouds.
He is like the brightness after rain
that produces grass from the earth.
5 My dynasty is approved by God,
for he has made a perpetual covenant with me,
arranged in all its particulars and secured.
He always delivers me,
and brings all I desire to fruition.
6 But evil people are like thorns—
all of them are tossed away,
for they cannot be held in the hand.
7 The one who touches them
must use an iron instrument
or the wooden shaft of a spear.
They are completely burned up right where they lie!”
Isaiah 60:8 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
8 Who are these who float along like a cloud,
who fly like doves to their shelters?
Matthew 10:5-16 (NET, 2nd Ed.)
5 Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them as follows: “Do not go on a road that leads to Gentile regions and do not enter any Samaritan town. 6 Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9 Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts,10 no bag for the journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals or staff, for the worker deserves his provisions. 11 Whenever you enter a town or village, find out who is worthy there and stay with them until you leave. 12 As you enter the house, greet those within it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or that town. 15 I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!
Persecution of Disciples 16 “I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
With Calvin, we see David charging the earthly rulers with just and good ruling. Ruling how God ordains, not how man pleases.
With Spurgeon we see a warning of the wolves of the world. They exist, and they wish to bring ruin to the Kingdom. They do not serve the same Divine Master, and act accordingly. We are called to be wise, shrewd, cunning, and at the same time, innocent, gracious, merciful. A difficult balance to be sure, but it is our calling nonetheless.