Vinegar and the Lamb

Vinegar and the Lamb

In this Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, speaker Matthew Vander Els delves into the depths of Psalm 69 and draws a powerful contrast between the responses of King David and Jesus (Yeshua) to suffering and persecution. The central theme revolves around understanding how followers of Jesus are called to respond to their enemies, not with vengeance as seen in David's reaction, but with the selfless love and forgiveness exemplified by Jesus on the cross. This teaching encourages believers to embrace a "lamb-like" approach in the face of adversity, mirroring Jesus's actions rather than the world's natural inclination towards retaliation.

Understanding Psalm 69

Psalm 69 is identified as a psalm of lament, attributed to David, where he cries out due to persecution arising from his devotion to God. The psalm details his suffering at the hands of his enemies and includes a significant portion where he expresses anger and calls for justice, even imprecations or curses, upon those who oppose him. Notably, Psalm 69 is one of the most frequently quoted psalms in the New Testament, appearing throughout the gospel accounts and the book of Acts. These New Testament references highlight its prophetic significance in relation to the life and suffering of Jesus.

Psalm 69 and the Life of Jesus

The Gospel of John, in particular, makes three specific references to Psalm 69 in its account of Jesus's ministry. The first instance is in John 2:14-17, where Jesus cleanses the temple by driving out merchants and overturning tables. The disciples remember the scripture, "My zeal for your house will consume me" (Psalm 69:9), recognizing Jesus's passionate devotion to God's house. However, the teaching emphasizes that while David's zeal was focused on the physical temple, Jesus's zeal was for building a greater, spiritual temple where God's Spirit would dwell among His people.

The second reference is found in John 15:25, where Jesus states, "They hated me without a reason." This echoes Psalm 69:4. In this context, Jesus is preparing his followers for the hatred they will face because of their association with him, reminding them that the world's animosity towards them is a continuation of the hatred directed at him. This highlights a key aspect of following Jesus: aligning oneself with a kingdom that is not of this world often leads to opposition from those who prioritize earthly kingdoms.

The final and perhaps most crucial reference to Psalm 69 in John occurs during the crucifixion in John 19:28, where Jesus says, "I am thirsty." This fulfills Psalm 69:21, which speaks of the psalmist being given vinegar (sour wine) to drink. The teaching draws a stark contrast between David's response in Psalm 69 after receiving the vinegar and Jesus's response on the cross. David, after drinking the vinegar, unleashes a series of intense curses and desires for vengeance upon his enemies, praying for their utter destruction and exclusion from God's favor. However, Jesus, in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), responds to his tormentors with the words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

The Inverted Kingdom: Vinegar and the Lamb

This contrast is central to the teaching's message. While Psalm 69 might seem to predict a vengeful Messiah, the gospel writers present Jesus as fulfilling it in an inverted way. Instead of enacting the curses described by David, Jesus takes the curse upon himself for his enemies. This demonstrates the fundamental difference between the kingdoms of this world, which operate on principles of power, force, and retaliation, and the kingdom of God, which is characterized by love, forgiveness, and selfless sacrifice.

The speaker introduces the concept of "Vinegar and the Lamb" to encapsulate this difference. The world teaches us to respond to aggression with greater aggression, to seek retribution and ensure our enemies suffer for their actions. This is likened to the behavior of the "beasts" described in Daniel's vision (Daniel 7), representing kingdoms that operate on self-interest and oppression. Even historical examples like the Maccabees (Hasmoneans) illustrate this pattern, where victory through worldly means eventually led to greater corruption.

In contrast, Jesus, the "Son of Man" from Daniel's prophecy, confronts the "beast" not by overpowering it with force, but by allowing it to exert its power upon him, ultimately defeating it through his death and resurrection. This "backwards waging of war" is the example Jesus leaves for his followers. The Apostle Peter echoes this in 1 Peter 2:21, stating that believers are called to follow Christ's example in suffering. Paul also encourages imitation of his own life as he imitates Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1-2). His refusal to retaliate against Roman authorities and his ultimate martyrdom demonstrate this principle of choosing the way of the Lamb over worldly power.

Living as Lambs in a World of Jackals

The teaching challenges believers to examine their own responses to conflict and persecution. Are they choosing to live like "violent beasts in lamb's clothing," or are they genuinely embodying the selfless love and forgiveness of Jesus? The battle for Christians is not ultimately against flesh and blood, but against sin, darkness, and death, the very things that enslave their enemies. Therefore, the call is to be ambassadors of Jesus, demonstrating a better way to live, a way that rises above oppression through the power of the Spirit.

Revelation chapter 5 provides a powerful image of Jesus not as a conquering lion in the initial vision, but as a "little lamb as if it had been slain," who is worthy to receive power and glory. This imagery underscores that God's strength is made manifest through weakness in the upside-down kingdom of heaven.

Application for Everyday Life

• Respond to insults and offenses with gentleness and forgiveness, remembering Jesus's prayer on the cross rather than David's curses.
• Bear with the failings of others, especially fellow believers, following the example of Christ who did not please himself but endured insults.
• Prioritize the needs of others before your own, reflecting Jesus's selfless sacrifice.
• Recognize that your enemies are often enslaved by the same forces of sin and darkness that you have been freed from, fostering compassion rather than hatred.
• Be an example of a different way of life to the world, demonstrating the power of love, mercy, and self-sacrifice.
• Do not seek vengeance or retribution, trusting in God's justice and the ultimate victory won by Jesus on the cross.
• Pray for your enemies, following Jesus's example of forgiveness.
• Embrace suffering and persecution as opportunities to model Christ, understanding that this is part of the calling for believers.
• Check your attitude in the face of conflict, ensuring it aligns with the character of the Lamb rather than the ways of the world.
• Live without fear of the future, present, or past, knowing that victory over evil and death has already been secured by Jesus.

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Ultimately, the teaching encourages believers to pray Psalm 69 not with a desire for their enemies' destruction, but with a heart of frustration, repentance, and passion, recognizing that Jesus has already died for those they might consider their enemies. The goal is to be equipped by the Holy Spirit to live out a lamb-like life, reflecting the strength found in gentleness and the power of mercy in a world that often chooses violence and hatred.

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