pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: idols


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Clear Outcomes

Readings: 2nd Chronicles 21, 2nd Chronicles 22, 2nd Chronicles 23, 2nd Chronicles 24

2nd Chronicles 24:20 – “Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you!”

Jehoram succeeds Jehoshaphat. He does evil in God’s eyes. Edom and Libnah rebel, weakening Judah. Jehoram builds shrines and leads Judah astray. Via letter Elijah confronts Jehoram and predicts a family downfall and a deadly illness. Both occur quickly. In verse 21:20 we read, “No one was sorry he died.” He is not buried with the other kings of David’s line.

Ahaziah rules next, for one year. He allies himself with Israel’s King Joram. This brings him into the path of Jehu’s decimation of Ahab’s family. Ahaziah’s mother, Queen Athaliah, quickly seizes power. This evil queen kills all but one member of the royal family. Jehoash (or Joash) is hidden away and then raised in the temple for six years. Jehoiada, the priest, organizes a successful coup. Jehoash is crowned and Athaliah is killed. For a season, Judah returns to God. The priests are reassigned. Temple worship resumes. The temple tax is collected – the people give gladly and generously. The temple is restored to its glory days. And then Jehoiada dies. His leadership is honored by the people as he is buried with the kings of Judah.

Under the influence of Judah’s leaders, Jehoash abandons the temple and Judah again worships idols at the sacred poles. An angry God sends Zechariah. He declares, “Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you!” He is then stoned to death. Aram once again invades and defeats Judah. Jehoash is injured and then is finished off by his own officials. He is also not buried with the kings of David’s city.

Today we again see the clear outcomes of being faithful to God or of being disobedient to God. May these insights guide us well.

Prayer: Lord God, lead us to walk in your ways. When evil voices speak and when other temptations arise, raise up the voice of your Holy Spirit. Remind us of our call to faith and trust. Empower us to walk the long road with you instead of against you. Amen.


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Down, Down, Down

Readings: 1st Kings 12, 1st Kings 13, 1st Kings 14, 1st Kings 15, 1st Kings 16

1st Kings 14:8 – “I tore the kingdom from David’s house and gave it to you. But you haven’t been like my servant David.”

In today’s five chapters we see the unfolding of God’s judgment against Solomon’s house and against Israel. Rehoboam follows Solomon and has an opportunity to begin well. But immaturity leads to a split in the kingdom. Jeroboam becomes king of Israel, the ten northern tribes. Rehoboam rules Judah – made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Egypt attacks a weak Judah and carries off all of the wealth that Solomon had gathered.

In the north Jeroboam sets up two places of worship – alternatives to Jerusalem – each with its own golden calf. He appoints his own priests and sets up his own religious festivals (that mirror the traditional festivals.) A man of God comes to him and warns him of the outcome of his sin, twice demonstrating God’s power. The man of God is tricked by another prophet and he dies a tragic death. Jeroboam continues in his evil ways. His son gets sick and he sends his wife, in a disguise, to the prophet Ahijah. He tells her the son will die and he tells her that all of Jeroboam’s house will die too.

We then shift back to Judah, where Rehoboam is doing evil in God’s eyes. They worship foreign gods and engage in illicit sex with the cultic prostitutes. Rehoboam dies and his son Abijam rules three years, doing evil in God’s eyes. His son Asa rules next. Asa is our one bright spot. He removes the prostitutes and the idols. He even removes his grandmother from her position as the queen mother. She was an idol worshipper. But he allows the shrines to remain and he forms an alliance with Aram.

We shift back to Israel as Nadab rules. After two years Baasha kills him and all of Jeroboam’s house. He rules 22 years, doing evil in God’s eyes. Jehu the prophet comes and warns him of his downfall. Things do not change. Zimri assassinates Baasha and then kills all of his household. Zimri rules for seven days. Omri the general leads next, for 12 years. Evil increases under Omri. His son Ahab rules next. Ahab does even more evil than anyone before him. He worships Baal and Asherah. The stage is set. The low point has been reached in Israel. It is time for God to return to the scene in full force.

Prayer: Lord God, one after another after another do evil in your eyes. Down, down, down goes Israel and Judah. A moment of light and hope comes, then Israel goes further down the slope. Yet we know the end of the story. Thank you for that. It’s needed with readings like today’s. Amen.


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Do This So That…

Readings: Deuteronomy 13, Deuteronomy 14, Deuteronomy 15, Deuteronomy 16

Deuteronomy 14:29b – “Do this so that the LORD your God might bless you in everything you do.”

Chapter 13 concludes the laws that pertain to unpacking the first two of the Ten Commandments. This chapter is aimed at prohibiting the inclusion of foreign gods. If a prophet or even if a relative tries to lead you or others into worshipping a foreign god, they are to be executed. And if a town is led astray and begins to worship a foreign god, all people and animals are to be killed and everything is to be burned. God is serious about no other gods or idols. Imagine if we were 1/100th as serious when others (or ourselves) tempt us with wealth or power or status or…

The third and fourth commands of the Ten Commandments are the focus of chapters 14 and 15. Keeping God’s name holy includes avoiding local religious rites for the dead. It involves eating only food that is holy or clean. These dietary laws also function as a way to differentiate Israel from its neighbors. In verse 22 we shift to the fourth commandment. The main idea here is that the Sabbath is not exclusive to just one day. The same is true for us: we are not Christians just for that one hour on Sunday morning. Our faith, as it was with the Hebrews, is to permeate all of our days and lives. Generosity is the defining characteristic in this passage. Yearly give one-tenth to God. Every three years give a tenth at the city gates for the Levites and for the poor. Cancel debts and free your servants every seven years – if it is a fellow Hebrew. This is an adaptation of what was given in the Law in Exodus. Running throughout chapter 15 is a concern for the poor and vulnerable. Generosity and a right spirit are essential to this care. It is at the end of chapter 15 that we find the overarching “why” – “Do this so that the LORD your God might bless you in everything you do.”

In chapter 16 we shift to the three yearly festivals. To remember what God has done is a part of worshipping the Lord, of living out the Sabbath. Our regular festivals – Easter, Christmas, communion… – they too remind us of who and what God is and of who and what we are called to be. In verse 18 the focus shifts to the fifth of the ten commandments. Here the idea of honoring father and mother is extended to include justice and honor for all people. Justice and care for the vulnerable is a core characteristic of God. May it be so for you and for me as well.

Prayer: Lord God, open my heart and my hands to those that you open your heart and hands to. Create in me a spirit of generosity and a sense of fellowship and community with all people. In all that I do and in all that I am, may everything be an act of worship that brings you glory. Amen.


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Relationship

Readings: Exodus 19, Exodus 20, Exodus 21

Exodus 20:1 – “I am the Lord your God.”

Photo credit: Robert Linder

As the Israelites travel on in the wilderness they arrive at Mount Sinai. Moses goes up the mountain and God speaks to him. Through Moses, God invites the people into relationship – obey me and stay true to the covenant. To accept means that Israel will become “my most precious possession… a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” The people accept the invitation, paving the way for the giving of the Law. In order to be ready to receive God’s law, the people prepare themselves, becoming ritually clean.

God descends on the mountain, filling the people with fear. They are warned to stay off of the mountain while God is present. Then Aaron joins Moses as they go up the mountain. In chapter 20 God begins to give Moses the Law. It begins with the Ten Commandments. These well-known verses begin with this foundational statement: “I am the Lord your God.” The “I am” echoes who and what God is. This was God’s name that Moses brought with him when he first went to Egypt.

The first four commandments are about us living in right relationship with God – no other gods or idols, no using God’s name carelessly, honor the Sabbath to covenant with God. The last six deal with our relationship with one another. They cover how to treat each other. An interesting side note – the last one, the one dealing with coveting, is the only one against inward thoughts. One can look at the last as a summary too. Coveting leads to the actions covered in commandments five through nine.

Today’s readings close with instructions that apply these relationship rules to some specific situations: slavery and animals. While many of these do not apply to us anymore, there is value in understanding their spirit. John Wesley’s simple rules “do no harm” and “do good” convey this same spirit. They are about treating and loving each other as God loves and treats us. May this be the spirit that we live by.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for taking the time to define, to explain, to invite us into faithful living with you, our covenant God. Fill us with your Spirit and empower us to live as your witness to love, grace, and mercy. Amen.


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Lift Our Praises!

Reading: Psalm 96

Verse 7: “Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!”

Psalm 96 begins with a call to sing to the Lord, to praise his name and to declare his glory. This call fits well with this season of Advent. In our carols and praise songs we find much joy in our singing this time of the year. The next stanza is a reminder. The psalmist warns of the idols of other nations. This too is a good reminder in this season when we can overspend and overindulge.

In verse 7 we read, “Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!” To ascribe is to “regard a quality as belonging to.” Glory and strength, splendor and holiness – certainly qualities that are central to God’s character. It is always a good thing to praise God for these qualities and to offer our thanksgiving for the ways that we can reflect these to the world. This too is an act of worship and praise.

The remainder of the Psalm mostly focuses on rejoicing and praising the Lord who reigns. The heavens, the earth, the seas and all in them, the fields, the trees – they all join in the celebration and worship. All of creation joins the chorus! Tucked within these last four verses are also reminders of God’s judgment. Yes, one day God will judge us all in equity and truth. These things too are part of the Advent season.

This day may we lift our praises to God. May we rejoice in our God who reigns over all of creation!

Prayer: Lord God, we praise you first because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We rejoice in your goodness and grace, in your love and mercy. Guide us to live these out today and every day as one of our acts of worship. Amen.


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Serve the Lord

Reading: Joshua 24:1-3a and 14-15

Verse 14a: “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness.”

Photo credit: Einar Storsul

Having crossed the Jordan and entered into the Promised Land, Joshua gathers the leaders and the people together. They present themselves before God. It is time to decide how to move forward. As Joshua begins to speak he reminds them of their roots: of how God took Abraham and brought him to Canaan and of how God made them into a great nation. It is good to remember our roots, our foundations. Whether through a day like All-Saints’ Day or through a family gathering, whether through Sunday worship or a coffee house conversation, it is important to remember who and whose we are. That is what Joshua is doing with the Israelites. This conversation continues in verses 4-13.

Joshua reminds Israel of who and whose they have been so that he can call them to who and whose they should be moving forward. Telling stories and remembering the past is often how we decide our next steps as we consider our lives and our faith journey. It is at this point that Joshua issues this challenge: “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness.” Revere and respect the Lord. Be faithful to God alone. As he continues, Joshua challenges them to “throw away” the gods that they’ve added along the way. The call to ‘throw away’ these false gods underscores how useless they are. At the core of this challenge, in essence, is a call back to one God and to loving God with all of one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength. “One” and “all” are the key conditions here.

This challenge, this call – it is as relevant today as it was the day Joshua spoke it. It is easy to pick up false gods as we journey through life. Early on we’re taught that success, competition, beauty… are things to seek. Soon enough we’re taught that wealth, status, power… are things to seek. Pride, ego, lust, jealousy… come along with these things we chase. These false gods present a challenge to having one God and they become barriers to loving God with all that we are. Against these gods we must take a stand. In the last verse of today’s passage Joshua declares, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, oh how many gods the world lifts up over you! The world values so much that runs counter to or becomes a barrier to fully loving you with all that we are. Turn my heart, my mind, my will, and my desires to you alone, O God. There I will have all that I need. Amen.


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A New Covenant

Reading: Jeremiah 31: 31-34

Verse 33: “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people”.

Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema

In Jeremiah 31 we see that God is a covenant God. Our passage opens with God promising a new covenant. In verse 31 we read, “The time is coming…” The Lord then references the last covenant – the one given as God led them out of slavery in Egypt. Here the covenant relationship takes on the husband-wife analogy. God led the Israelites to freedom as a husband would lead his wife, gently taking her by the hand and walking with her. During the time in the wilderness God was a constant companion to the Israelites. God guided and protected and provided for Israel. Despite this intimate and personal relationship, Israel wandered soon thereafter. They worshiped other gods, forgetting all that God had done for them.

Instead of breaking the relationship and moving on from Israel, God declares that he will make a new covenant, a better covenant. Instead of writing the covenant on stone tablets, God declares, “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people”. The covenant will shift from external to internal. God’s ways will be in our mind and on our heart. The new covenant will be mediated through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will internalize God’s ways in heart and mind and soul.

Even with such an extraordinary gift, we too can become like the Israelites at times. We forget our true love and chase after the gods and idols of this world. We allow other things to supplant our primary relationship with God. Yet our covenant God remains, continuing to say ‘I love you’ over and over. Instead of allowing the distance that we create to define the relationship, God pursues us, draws us back into relationship. No matter our response, God still says, ‘I love you’. God remains our God. We are his people. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Covenant God, you love me far beyond what I can even begin to comprehend. Your love goes on and on and on. My love for you is fragile, tenuous, limited. Yet you love me without reserve, without condition. What a wonderful example you give me to follow. Lead me in your love, O God. Amen.


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Holy, Just, Loving

Reading: Joshua 24: 14-25

Verse 18: “We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God”.

I closed yesterday’s writing with Joshua’s declaration that he and his house would serve the Lord. The words of this verse still echo in my mind as a song that was frequently sung at Promise Keepers events. It has been 12 or more years since I attended a PK event, but the song is still fresh in my mind. For me, this powerful song was like the unofficial official PK song. From Joshua’s personal declaration for God, he hears the people respond, “We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God”. Recognizing the mighty acts of God found in their exodus stories, the people commit to the Lord. But was it like that old PK song – thousands of men joined in because others were singing?

In response Joshua tells them, “You are not able to serve the Lord”. Huh? These words from Joshua must have been confusing. He goes on to explain his thinking: “He is a holy God… a jealous God”. This is one of those “are you sure?” moments. Joshua reminds them of who God is: holy and just. He reminds them that God will “bring disaster” on them if they forsake God and turn to idols. The people reiterate their pledge to serve the Lord – not once but twice more in our passage. The days ends with Joshua making a covenant and drawing up the law. Both are intended to help the people fulfill their pledge of faithfulness to God.

This pledge is made with the deepest sincerity possible. The people really, really intend to follow God faithfully. This scenario probably sounds familiar. It is my pledge every morning. Is it yours too? We are just like the people of Israel in this sense: we mean to do our best to faithfully follow the Lord each day. We really, really do. Some days we do follow the Lord faithfully – living out our faith well for almost the whole day. And some days we struggle. 2020 had a few more of those days for many of us. God is still holy and just. So why doesn’t he “bring disaster” on us? Why don’t lightning bolts rain down from heaven each time one of us sins?

Well, because of love. Love came and walked among us. And when Jesus returned to heaven, he left us grace and mercy and atonement for our sins. Day by day, sometimes even moment by moment, we live in his grace. Confession and repentance are always as close as our next breath. As we speak these words with a sincere heart, over and over, we are washed clean and made new again, over and over. Then we are ready to again declare our faithfulness and to renew our journey with our holy and just and loving God. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord of love, thank you for your love. It is a love that keeps calling me back into right relationship with you. No matter how many times I fail. Thank you for your grace. It is a gift that always says your love is greater than my sin. No matter how great my sin. Thank you for the atonement paid for me. Through Christ, disaster is averted because the price has already been paid. Talk about love. Guide me today, Lord, as I seek to serve you alone. Amen.


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Healing and Freedom through Trust in God

Reading: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1

Verse 22: “Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people”?

Much of Israel is in exile. They are living in a foreign land. The people want to be restored, they long for freedom. Jeremiah pleas with God to “listen to the cry of my people”. The people feel as if God were no longer there. Jeremiah mourns and cries right alongside the people. Today many people feel trapped and long for freedom. The things that enslave are many and are quite varied. Some feel that the systems of the world are entrapping them. For example, those struggling with the poverty of the inner cities and reservations cannot see hope. Those dealing with addictions live often with a sense of hopelessness. Those who return to the same sin over and over question God’s presence and power. No one wants to live in these valleys. All want to be restored. Every one longs for freedom and a future with hope.

The people that Jeremiah is serving want freedom, but are still being influenced by and are still clinging to the world around them. God remains angry because the Israelites are still worshipping foreign idols. They say they want God to free them but they are still holding onto those idols with one hand. We fall into this trap too. We pray to God to intervene or give guidance or direction and then we blast out the door to do our own thing. We ask God to help while still keeping one hand on the steering wheel. When we fail to allow God to be the one in control, when we take matters into our own hands, when we still trust at least partly in our abilities or in the ways of the world, we too will end up asking, “Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people”? Tears in heaven are shed because we cannot quite turn it all over to God.

Jeremiah sees this in the people and he mourns as horror grips him. He wishes his head were a spring so that he could cry more tears. In heartfelt prayer Jeremiah longs to pour out his heart and his sorrow to God. We too mourn at times. It may be for ourselves, for one we love, for our church, or for events in the world. When we do mourn, may we be like Jeremiah, asking God with all that we are, trusting in God alone to bring the freedom and healing that is so needed. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, my heart grieves for those hurting and for those who feel alienated. My heart pours out tears for the church. Help me to put my trust in you alone to lead and guide us. It is only through your love and power that we have a future with hope. O great Jehovah, make me fully yours. Amen.


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Provider and Defender

Reading: Psalm 81: 15-16

Verse 16: “You would be fed with the finest wheat; with honey from the rock”.

Most of Psalm 81 laments Israel’s most recent choice to worship idols instead of the God who did so much for them. In today’s passage, the last two verses of the Psalm, we hear the “if only” of the writing. The enemies of Israel would cringe and receive punishment and the Israelites “would be fed with the finest wheat; with honey from the rock” if only the people would turn again to the Lord their God.

The Promised Land has always been that special place set aside for God’s people. Ever since Abraham received the promise, it has been seen as the “land flowing with milk and honey”. As the Israelites finally entered it at the end of the exodus, there was an abundance of crops and resources that simply became theirs to reap and harvest. The land could not have been any better for a people who had been roaming the desert for forty years.

The bounty of the land is just one symbolic way that shows God’s love for the Israelites. God’s offer to protect them from their enemies is one more example of God’s love and care. Many years later, when Jesus taught the disciples to pray, these two ideas were included. Jesus taught to ask God to “give us this day our daily bread”. This reminds us that God is our provider. Later on in the prayer we pray, “and keep us from temptation”. Keep Satan, our biggest enemy, from us, O God. This reminds us that God is our defender.

We, like the Israelites, have our times when we wander off from God. Although it could be for forty years, let’s hope not. No matter how long it is or how quickly we seek to return to God, God is always there, always quick to grant mercy and to extend forgiveness. Some things never change – God still desires a personal relationship with each of us. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord God, for being my provider and my defender. In all that life and the evil one brings, you are my only hope. Thank you for walking every day with me. You’re an awesome God! Amen.