To Encourage You

1 Kings 4:7 “Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for one month in the year.”

It’s so interesting that the Bible makes mention of King Solomon’s eating habits.  We are told of his sumptuous meals and the means whereby he acquired them.  He surely enjoyed some wonderful feasts, as did all who were a part of his household.  They all knew what it was to have meals fit for a king.

But did you know that in all of this there is a shadow of a much greater King?  In John 4 we have the account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.  We have here a picture of Jesus’ humanity, for just like us, He was tired, He was hungry, and He was thirsty. We are told that His disciples had gone into the city to buy food.  Jesus waited for them sitting by this well. It was then that the well-known account occurs where the woman came to the well and Jesus asked her for a drink.  He then turned the occasion to talk to her about the living water that only He could give her.  She was obviously taken aback by this, for her mind was on the physical.  It was then that Jesus told her the following famous words: “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  As the conversation takes this spiritual turn, she asks Jesus, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” At this point Jesus tells her to first go and get her husband. She tells Him that she had no husband, to which Jesus responds, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” Not surprisingly, she tries to change the subject. But Jesus reins her in. As the conversation turns to what it means to properly worship, Jesus tells her that to properly worship God, she must worship Him in spirit and in truth.  The woman then says, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” And to this Jesus replies, “I who speak to you am he.”  And the woman believed. Overcome, she runs into the city to tell everyone about Him.

It’s at this point that the disciples return with food.  Knowing Jesus was hungry, they urge Him to eat.  And then this exchange: “’I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Has anyone brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, “There are yet four months, then comes the harvest”? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.’”

Here we see a picture of what truly satisfied Christ’s soul – and it wasn’t physical food.  What satisfied Him, what thrilled Him, was to do the work the Father had sent Him to do, namely, to seek and to save the lost.  It is in this exchange with the Samaritan woman that the joy of Christ is revealed. It was this that brought Him satisfaction. Here was “food” to eat that His disciples, at that point, knew nothing about.  But the fact is, it is this very thing that thrills the heart of God, and it is this very thing that will thrill the hearts of those Who follow and obey Him as well. 

We see another picture of this in the story of the Prodigal Son. It is only when the wayward son is starving that he is moved to return to his father in whose house was abundant food.  As He turns in repentance and seeks the father’s forgiveness, we are told that “while (his son) was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:20-24). It was in this parable that Jesus was conveying the truth that “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).

In Revelation 19:6-9 we are told the following account of the feast of all feasts that is awaiting all those in the family of God. It is among the wonderful visions that the apostle John saw on the island Patmos. Listen to John’s words: “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure’— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel saidto me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God.’”

So, do you want to be there? Do you want to exult in the exaltation of all the saints as they are gathered to this great feast of God? As I now read this and consider the Scriptures above, it occurs to me that this feast isn’t about the physical food any more than Jesus’ interest was in physical food or water at that well in Samaria. Rather, it is the thrill of knowing Christ, of being with Him, and in realizing the truth that the lives we have lived, the things we have said, the prayers we have prayed, the ways we have reached out to those in need, and the gospel we have preached, has been used of our God to, wonderfully, bring people into His kingdom. Although now we see through a glass darkly, at that time we will see Jesus face to face and know as we are known.  The secrets will be revealed. The glorious results of what God has called us to will be seen by everyone.  It will be the glory of all the ages. It will be the glorious crown of knowing God.

So, are you thinking about such things? Are you involved in God’s great call? For, you see, it will be worth it all when we gather with all the saints to celebrate the wonderful marriage supper of the Lamb!