Hebrews

Introduction

What is brotherly love?

How would you describe it?

brotherly love - a kindly and lenient attitude toward people

charity

benevolence - an inclination to do kind or charitable acts

supernatural virtue, theological virtue - according to Christian ethics: one of the three virtues (faith, hope,and charity) created by God to round out the natural virtues

New Living Translation 1 Samuel 18:1–16

Saul Becomes Jealous of David

After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. 2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. 3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.

5 Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.

6 When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.* 7 This was their song:

“Saul has killed his thousands,

and David his ten thousands!”

8 This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” 9 So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

10 The very next day a tormenting spirit* from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, 11 and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.

12 Saul was then afraid of David, for the LORD was with David and had turned away from Saul. 13 Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.

14 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the LORD was with him. 15 When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.

Illustration # 1

We’ve all done it: Flashed our own lights at an oncoming vehicle which has yet to turn on its own lights, or to warn of upcoming poor road conditions like standing water or a lane obstruction. But when it comes to flashing our lights to warn oncoming traffic of a speed trap, we have cause for pause. Maybe we’re afraid to intervene because the warning is considered illegal in many states. Or maybe we think the guy speeding toward us deserves to get caught–it would serve him right!

Either way, a federal court in Missouri has now ruled that penalizing drivers for the headlight flash violates their First Amendment right to free speech. “The order,” reports the Associated Press, “stems from a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri on behalf of Michael Elli. On Nov. 17, 2012, Elli flashed his headlights to warn oncoming vehicles of a radar set up by Ellisville police.”

So what’s so wrong about warning drivers of impending consequences? Well, if you’re the police, the warning may rob you of meeting your quota for speeding tickets. If you’re the municipality in which the warning takes place, you may be robbed of your income from the offender’s fees and fines. But if you’re the offender who receives and heeds the warning, you have everything to gain.

The Missouri judge, in his ruling, said that the flashing of headlights was essentially a good thing, sending “a message to bring one’s driving in conformity with the law — whether it be by slowing down, turning on one’s own headlamps at dusk or in the rain, or proceeding with caution.”

Application:

What’s your excuse for not warning a brother or sister of impending consequences for their reckless behavior. Maybe you’re simply afraid to intervene–afraid of getting involved in a sticky situation. Or maybe you think they deserve what’s coming–it would serve them right!

Maybe we should all approach a fair warning to an erring brother like the federal judge in Missouri, considering a warning essentially a good thing, sending a message to bring another’s behavior into conformity with God’s law, sparing them and others of the harmful consequences. In the end, when we help others safely and cautiously navigate the roads of life, we all have something to gain.

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself” (Galatians 6:1, NLT).

New Living Translation Romans 12:10

10 Love each other with genuine affection,* and take delight in honoring each other.

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New Living Translation 1 Thessalonians 4:9

9 But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other,* for God himself has taught you to love one another.

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New Living Translation Hebrews 13:1

Concluding Words

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.*

New Living Translation 1 Peter 1:22

22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters.* Love each other deeply with all your heart.*