About this time each year, I can’t help but think about several things – moving the clocks ahead, the beginning of spring and the Ides of March. We have already moved the clocks ahead yesterday, spring is still about a week away, but the Ides of March are right around the corner. But why is this so important? Well, it has to do with friendship, betrayal and murder…
The Ides of March, the 15th of March, is the 74th day of the year in the Roman calendar and was one of three important days during the month. In fact, in four months of the year (March, May, July and October), the Ides fell on the 15th but the other eight months, the Ides actually occurred on the 13th.
March 15th was the deadline for settling debts in the Roman Empire and it was also a day of celebrations and festivities, including religious celebrations. But in 44 B.C., the Ides of March took on a whole new level of notoriety when Julius Caesar was assassinated by a conspiracy of people including one of his best friends, Brutus. There is much intrigue in the story but the point of the post tonight is to let you know that Caesar was murdered by one of his closest confidants.
Since then, people have been forever reminded that can be difficult to trust people, even the closest of friends. And the phrase, “Et tu, Brutus” is reported to be the last thing Caesar spoke as he turned to address his friend, one of the people who engaged in stabbing Caesar 23 times in total. In fact, before he died, Caesar tried to run away but was blinded by blood in his eyes, tripped and fell, where his attackers continued to stab him until he was dead – right there in the Senate chambers.
Clearly, Caesar didn’t see his death coming – even though he was told by a seer that he could be death before the Ides of March was done. Sadly, that happened. At one point, Caesar even disregarded the warning by noting that the Ides had arrived and he had not been killed. Later that day, the senators assassinated him.
But God is always there – and completely trustworthy. When we worry about day to day stuff, or who we can trust, God is the sure thing that we can count on. Our verse for tonight is from the Proverbs. We are told, in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” My encouragement this evening is that God is looking for the most trustworthy relationship possible with each of us. My prayer is that we will always turn to Him for guidance, help, worship and to share our deepest secrets with the Creator of the universe.
There is no chance – none – that God would ever turn His back on us or do anything other than act in our best interests. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…