pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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A Sad Saga – Then and Now

Reading: Jeremiah 1-4

Jeremiah 3:11 – “Then the LORD said to me: Unfaithful Israel is less guilty than disloyal Judah.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

Jeremiah begins with context. He ministered to Judah in the years that led up to the exile. The prophet has been claimed since the womb. Even so he tried to evade the call: I’m too young. God says, no, you’ll go where I send you and you’ll say what I tell you. And, don’t be afraid. Prepare for battle, but don’t fear, I’ll be with you. Judah’s sins are laid out. They’ve abandoned God, they worship idols, they think they can save themselves.

In chapter 2 God longs for what could have been. Israel followed God in the wilderness and entered the land of plenty. But they turned away, rebelled, chose Baal over God. Israel forsook the living water and dug wells for themselves – ones that failed, ones that couldn’t hold water. And even though they became skilled at sinning and even though their clothes were stained with the blood of the poor, they still claimed innocence before God.

In response God declared that the prostitute could not return to God. That would be illegal. Jeremiah invites Judah to look at Israel. Her sins led her into exile. Israel has ignored God and received “divorce papers.” Even with this warning and Israel’s example, Judah continued to walk in sin. God declared, “Unfaithful Israel is less guilty than disloyal Judah.”

In chapter 4 God offers mercy to Israel, inviting them to return, to get rid of their idols, to choose truth, justice, and righteousness. God invites Judah to break up the rocky soil of their hard hearts, to dedicate themselves to the Lord. They too refuse. Jeremiah then foresees the coming devastation, recalling the state of earth before the creation. The earth will grieve and heaven will grow dark with sadness. But God won’t change the plan. Desolation is coming. And even then, even with this news, Judah still gets all decked out, looking for another lover, seeking to find help on their own. Sadly, this “lover” will be the one who seeks and takes their life.

Prayer: Lord God, what a sad saga we read today. What a tough road Jeremiah had to walk. What a clear choice Judah had before them. And, alas, things are the same today. We have a clear choice: life through you or death by the ways of the world. The Spirit joins your word and your son’s example. And we can still rebel, still be faithless. Lord have mercy. Lord, strengthen us for the battle. Enrich the soil of our hearts. Walk with us, O God. Amen.


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Sense It

Reading: Isaiah 17-23

‭Isaiah 22:11 – “But you didn’t trust its maker; you didn’t consider the one who planned it long ago.”

Today’s seven chapters hold the remaining oracles against the nations around Judah as well as against Judah itself. Our readings begin with the fall of Damascus and Ephraim. Their attempt at an anti-Assyrian alliance angered God. In response, God will “harvest armfuls at a time.” God then proclaims, “They will be a wasteland because you forgot the God who saves you, and didn’t remember the rock who shelters you.” There is a sadness that we can feel in God’s voice. We can sense it because at times we too create the same sadness.

The oracles against Cush, Egypt, Babylon, Tyre, and even Judah herself follow. The foreign nations will be cut down and pruned, will be naked and barefoot and humiliated, will be defeated and trampled, will be destroyed and prostituted. The consequences for their sin will be great. Judah too will suffer. Judah and its leaders relied on self instead of on God. When God called for prayer and fasting, there was “fun and frivolity.” God declared, “But you didn’t trust its maker; you didn’t consider the one who planned it long ago.” Again, we can sense the sadness in God’s voice. And, yes, it is so because we too fail to trust in God at times.

We also hear words of hope in today’s reading. At the end of chapter 19 Isaiah speaks of God’s blessing on all who “swear loyalty to the Lord.” God will hear their cries and will “send them a Savior and a defender to rescue them.” In response, the faithful will “worship with sacrifices and offerings, making promises to the Lord and fulfilling them.” We can sense the joy for God in this faithfulness. May we too bring this joy to the Lord our God.

Prayer: Lord God, forgive us when we forget your gifts of salvation and shelter. Forgive us when we try to go it on our own, forgetting the one who created and planned our world and our lives. Remind us and draw us once again to our Savior, defender, friend. Thank you, God. Amen.


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A Healthy Fear

Reading: Proverbs 14

‭Proverbs 14:22 – “Don’t those who plan evil go astray? Those who plan good receive loyalty and faithfulness.”

Today’s key verse summarizes the overarching idea of Proverbs. The goal of Solomon and other sages who contributed to this book was to teach naive young men how to walk faithfully with God. To ignore this wisdom is to turn away from God, to “go astray,” to choose death.

The naive have and will always exist. Therefore Proverbs will be ever relevant. The naive think they know it all but can also fall prey to believing anything. Their sphere of thinking is fairly small, usually centered on self. Common sense is in short supply. All of this can lead to lurching forward in awkward ways. The inward focus can lead to things like “despising” those with needs. With wisdom and maturity brings a thoughtfulness to one’s steps, words, and actions. One begins to see beyond self. Care and concern for others becomes a new reality.

As one gains wisdom and maturity, one also begins to understand the heart. Wisdom brings an understanding of our own heart and of the hearts of others. One grasps and grapples with joy and sorrow, happiness and distress. Empathy develops. We read, “Wisdom resides in an understanding heart.” One moves from considering to prioritizing other over self.

Wisdom eventually leads to a revrent fear of the Lord. This guides one’s choices, words, actions. One chooses integrity over the “crooked path.” One develops a strong confidence and trust in God’s care for us and for our families. Wisdom and a healthy fear of the Lord draws us close to the “fountain of life.” There we are guided to seek a continual walk in God’s will and way. May this be our path and our choice.

Prayer: Lord God, on this journey of life we mature in many ways: physically, emotionally, relationally, vocationally, spiritually. All tend to come with age and experience. We can be a part of the process or we can just go with the flow of life. As your disciples, guide us to engage the process, to invest in our lives, especially in our faith. Rooted deeply in you we find strength, compassion, empathy, love. In you we find meaning and purpose. Draw us deeper and deeper into you, fountain of life. Amen.


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Paths Diverge Sharply

Readings: Proverbs 3

‭Proverbs 3:34-35 – “He mocks mockers, but he shows favor to the humble. The wise gain respect, but fools receive shame.”

Today’s reading first invites us to hold onto loyalty and faithfulness, to bind them on our necks, to write them on “the tablet of your heart.” In later years the Jews would write scriptures on pieces of paper and would place these in small boxes that they strapped to their forearms and foreheads. They knew that wisdom came through a relationship with God that was founded on God’s word. These phylactery boxes were visible reminders of God, much like the crosses and tattoos many Christians wear today.

Solomon reminds us, the sons and daughters, that wisdom brings happiness, long life, wealth, and honor. With wisdom, our work and our sleep is pleasant and peaceful. We are encouraged to hold onto sound judgment and discretion. Wisdom gives us the ability to think through things, to make good decisions. Wisdom also builds up in us humility as we learn more and more about trusting in God and not in self. These practices will bring “life” to our “whole being” – heart, mind, body, and soul.

In verses 27-35 we find some warnings followed by the outcomes of choosing evil or of choosing wisdom and of walking in a relationship with the Lord. The warnings: don’t harm your neighbor, don’t accuse for no reason, don’t envy violent people. Those who choose these paths are cursed, detestable, mocked, and shamed. Those who choose the path of wisdom are close friends with God, are blessed, shown favor, and gain respect. The best choice is clear. The two paths diverge sharply. “My son, [my daughter,] don’t forget my instruction.”

Prayer: Lord God, your ways are good, just, right. Your heart is full of love, grace, compassion, mercy. You give provision for those in need, peace for those who are troubled. Lord, fill us with your wisdom so that we too can be these things lived out in the world today. Amen.


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What Promise, What Hope

Readings: Psalms 46-49

‭Psalm 47:2 – “Because the LORD Most High is awesome, he is the great king of the whole world.”

Photo credit: Ricardo Gomez Angel

Our first three Psalms are about trusting God and celebrating God’s power and might. Psalm 49 comes as a warning about trusting in something other than God. While this Psalm is about the danger of trusting in wealth, we could substitute self, status, power, beauty, fame, possessions… There are more than a few false gods that we can worship instead of the one true God.

Psalm 46 celebrates God as our refuge and strength – always. Storms will come. Some are powerful. Life will rain on our parade. Yet God is always there. God won’t crumble. God is our place of safety. This theme is picked up in Psalm 49, except this one is about physical safety. God is in the very walls of Jerusalem. The city is a place of safety and security. Within the walls one also finds God’s righteousness and justice. These too dwell in the city of God.

Psalm 47 celebrates God as “the great king of the whole world.” God subdues the nations and chooses Israel’s inheritance. God will subdue the forces of this world too. God will reign over all those voices that clamor and vie for our attention and allegiance. It is a choice we all must make: to listen or not.

Psalm 49 addresses this choice. The author begins, “Listen closely… rich and poor alike.” He or she offers this wisdom: “Wealth? It can’t save a single person!” By the way, the psalmist says, the wise die too. But those who “do right in their heart” – the psalmist(s) declare, “God will save my life from the power of the grave.” What hope, what promise. May we set our hearts on doing right.

Prayer: Lord God, there are many choices about what or whom to follow, on what to be consumed by. O Lord our God, be our consuming fire. Like a moth to a flame, draw us into your presence. Refine us in your fire. Draw us into the power of your love. It has the power to save. Guide us deep into that love. Amen.


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Power, Revenge, and Other Evils

Readings: Judges 9, Judges 10, Judges 11, Judges 12

Judges 10:13-14 – “You have gone away from me and served other gods, so I won’t rescue you anymore! Go cry out to the gods you’ve chosen.”

In chapters 9-12 we find the stories of two rulers – Abimelech and Jephthah – who rely on self for the most part, who wheel and deal to get what they want, who leave Israel worse off than before they reigned. We also read about five minor judges who rule on either side of Jephthah.

Abimelech is one of Gideon’s 70 sons. He convinces Shechem that one ruler is better than 70. To consolidate power he then kills all of his brothers except Jotham. Jotham proclaims a fable that decrees monarchy and predicts that fire will destroy the unfaithful. Shechem rebels and Abimelech reacts violently, ultimately killing everyone and leveling the city. Fire is used to kill those hiding in the tower of Shechem. Abimelech then moves on to capture Thebez. At their tower a woman drops a millstone on Abimelech’s head, leading to his death. His lust for power and revenge leads to his downfall.

After two minor judges rule, Israel becomes unfaithful, abandoning God in favor of many local gods. The Philistines and Ammonites “bully and beat up” Israel for 18 years. The people cry out to God but God says, “You have gone away from me and served other gods, so I won’t rescue you anymore! Go cry out to the gods you’ve chosen.” The people change, putting away their foreign gods, turning back to God. God is moved to rescue Israel. Jephthah is eventually made ruler of Gilead. He who was spurned is brought back. After a little history lesson for the Ammonite king Jephthah basically says, “Let’s let God decide.” The Spirit of God comes upon him. He then makes a solemn promise to God. Even though God is clearly with him, the wheeler and dealer can’t resist. This promise costs him his only daughter. Jephthah wins an “exceptionally great” victory.

Ephraim feels left out and threatens Jephthah. Civil war follows. 42,000 from Ephraim die. A lust for power and an unwillingness to seek forgiveness leads to this tragedy. Jephthah dies and three minor judges rule next. God is not even mentioned in any of these three accounts. Evil is not far away.

Prayer: Lord God, you call us all to lead in one way or another. In our moments of leadership remind us that you are the one true God, the only one in control. Empower us to keep that perspective when temptation rises up within us. Quell the desires for status, power, control… Guide us to lead well as we follow closely in your footsteps. Amen.


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Holy Living

Readings: Leviticus 19, Leviticus 20, Leviticus 21, Leviticus 22, Leviticus 23

Leviticus 20:26 – “You must be holy to me, because I the LORD am holy, and I have separated you from all other peoples to be my own.”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

Today’s readings are all about living as a holy people. Each of these laws or instructions rest upon the same foundation: God is holy so God’s people need to be holy. This foundation is the ethical, moral, and spiritual standard for living in community with God and with God’s people.

Although chapter 19 can feel like a hodge podge of topics – don’t lie, don’t turn to idols, leave some crops for the needy, no cross breeding, no cuttings or tattoos – taken as a whole, they can be summed up in verse 18: “You must love your neighbor as yourself.” This is half of the shemah, the daily Jewish prayer. We’ll add the other half as we read in Deuteronomy.

The practice of worshipping Molech begins chapter 20. The practice of this Canaanite religion is strictly prohibited. This is followed by sexual prohibitions. In this chapter the practice of idolatry is equated with prostitution and adultery. The root need for these prohibitions is summed up in verse 23: “You must not follow the practices of the nations that I am throwing out.” Instead, for the Israelites, “You must be holy to me, because I the LORD am holy, and I have separated you from all other peoples to be my own.” God is holy so God’s people need to be holy.

Chapters 21 and 22 deal with special laws for the priests. The call to holy living is elevated when applied to the priests. They are set apart from the people set apart. The priests are to be living examples of God’s holiness. This is why priests with imperfections are limited in their service.

Our reading for today closes in chapter 23 with instructions for the holy or sacred times. Note that this section begins with a reminder to keep the Sabbath. This weekly observance is essential to holy living. The yearly events remember and celebrate significant events with God. The Passover and connected Festival of Unleavened Bread celebrate the exodus. The Festival of Weeks begins with thanks for the first fruits and concludes by thanking God for the harvest. The Festival of Booths remembers their time in the wilderness, where God provided again and again. The Day of Reconciliation is also included. This celebrates God’s mercy and grace and forgiveness.

Each day and each festival reminds the people of God’s love and care. They remind the people of God’s holiness and of their call to reflect this holiness. To remember and to celebrate reinforces their faith and their commitment to God. May we too remember and celebrate the ways that our holy God has touched our lives, calling us to be holy as God is holy.

Prayer: Lord God, flowing through these chapters we see again and again the call to holy living and to live as a people set apart from the ways of the world. Strengthen our understanding of these calls and empower us to live holy and faithful lives as people in but not of the world. Amen.


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Changed Hearts

Readings: Genesis 42, Genesis 43, Genesis 44, Genesis 45

Genesis 45:7 – “God sent me before you to make sure you’d survive and to rescue your lives in this amazing way.”

Today’s reading covers the story of the reunion of Joseph and his family. The famine has spread far and wide. Jacob hears that Egypt has grain to sell. He sends 10 of his sons to buy grain, keeping Benjamin home. Joseph’s initial reaction with his brothers is harsh, accusatory, and searching. He sends the 10 “spies” to jail with the charge to decide who goes to get Benjamin. In the morning he states that he will keep just one while the others go. Simeon is put in jail while the others leave to retrieve Benjamin, “proving” they are not spies. Joseph has their grain sacks loaded – and places their silver back in there too. Jacob finally relents and sends Benjamin along with gifts, the original silver, and more silver for more grain.

Upon arrival the brothers confess about the silver to Joseph’s household manager. He dismissed it as a gift of God, stating that he received their silver. Simeon rejoins them at Joseph’s home. Seeing Benjamin overwhelms Joseph for a moment. He invited his brothers to a meal, seating them oldest to youngest. He gives Benjamin a portion five times larger. Joseph eats at a table set apart, as is the custom in Egypt.

The grain sacks are filled in the morning and again the silver is replaced. Plus Joseph’s silver cup is hidden in Benjamin’s sack. They leave for home but quickly Joseph’s servants catch up. The brothers profess their innocence and declare death to the one who did such a thing. Slavery will do fine says the manager. The cup is found in Benjamin’s sack. Returning, Judah steps up, recounting Jacob’s words and offering himself in place of Benjamin. Moved, Joseph clears the room of all Egyptians and weeps loudly, revealing himself to his brothers. He assured them that this was all God, saying, “God sent me before you to make sure you’d survive and to rescue your lives in this amazing way.” Plans are made for Jacob and his whole household to move to Egypt, where Joseph can take care of them. The brothers go home and Jacob is overjoyed to hear that Joseph is alive.

It is quite the end to the story that began with selling a hated brother into slavery. Joseph proceeds with caution when he first meets his brothers, but ultimately sees that their hearts have changed. In grace and love reconciliation is found. May we also be people willing to offer the grace and love that leads to forgiveness and reconciliation.

Prayer: Lord God, open our hearts to be people of grace and love and forgiveness. Help us to see how you have been at work, leading and guiding. Empower us to trust in your good plans. Amen.


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Resisting the Urge

Reading: Exodus 32:1-10

Verse 7: “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.”

Moses was the Israelite’s connection to God. God spoke to Moses and he spoke to the people. The people spoke to Moses and he spoke to God. The speaking sometimes was crying out; it was sometimes grumbling; it was sometimes quarreling. The relationships between God and Moses, between Moses and the people, and between God and the people all had their ups and downs.

Way back in chapter 24 God calls Moses up the mountain after leaving Aaron and Hur in charge. Moses spends 40 days on the mountain, receiving instructions and the Ten Commandments from God. In today’s passage the people approach Aaron. They wonder what has happened to Moses. He has been gone a really long time. Without Moses, the people’s relationship with God has a missing part. So they take matters into their own hands, saying to Aaron, “Come, make us gods who will go before us.” Aaron collects jewelry and makes an idol shaped like a calf. The people worship this idol. Looking down upon the scene, God says to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt.” The Israelites are now “your people.” If they were truly God’s people, there would be no idol, right?

When I’ve gone to God asking for some guidance on a project or for relief from some situation or for healing for a loved one and the answer seems like a long time coming, I want to take matters into my own hands. I want to just fashion my own solution. I can be tempted to think that I know best. I can ponder becoming my own person, not God’s person. In these moments, may we remember today’s lesson. Even though it may not feel like it, God is right there. May we hold onto the relationship, resisting the urge to quickly abandon our God. And may we trust into our relationship with God, leaning even deeper into God’s love and care.

Prayer: Lord God, when I am tempted to elevate self or some other idol above you, remind me of the lesson learned in this Exodus story. Use that to remind me of your constant love and your sure care. Guide me to turn once again to you. Amen.


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Back to Verse 2!

Reading: Exodus 20:12-17

Verse 12…: “Honor your father and your mother… you shall not… you shall not… you shall not…”

Photo credit: Shane Rounce

We began the week with the first part of the Ten Commandments. These first four related to our relationship with God and centered on the declaration, “I AM the Lord your God.” This same declaration arcs over today’s 6 commandments. These deal with our relationships with others.

Verse 12 calls us to “honor your father and your mother.” This 5th commandment is a bridge of sorts. On the surface it calls us to honor, respect, and treat our parent(s) well. This relationship begins with our total dependence on them and this changes as we mature and become more and more independent. The temptation here is to leave them behind, to quit relying on them, or to see them as equals (or less than that during our teen years). This commandment is a bridge because this can be how our relationship with God plays out too. Initially we yearn for God and we have a longing to know God more and more. Quite often, though, that fire cools and we don’t think that we need God as much. We pull out God now and then – as needed.

The remaining 5 commandments all begin with the words “you shall not…” These words come with an implication. They say that we are prone to these things. This is the humanity in all of us. Self rises up and can do so to unhealthy or dangerous levels, leading to murder, adultery… This is why it is so necessary to return again and again to verse 2: “I AM the Lord your God.” This return keeps our relationship with God in the right perspective. This key relationship affects all of our other relationships. When we live daily with the Lord as our God, then we honor not only our fathers and our mothers, but we also honor all of our brothers and sisters too. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, draw me first and foremost to you and to your will and ways. From this connection of love, send me out into the world. Guide me to interact with, treat, and see others as I would treat, see, and interact with you. Amen.