pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Mirror, Mirror

Readings: 2nd Kings 14, 2nd Kings 15, 2nd Kings 16, 2nd Kings 17

2nd Kings 14:3-4 – “He did what was right in the LORD’s eyes, but… the shrines weren’t removed.”

Chapters 14-16 cover the kings of Israel and Judah. In just over 100 years there are 11 kings in total. Some reign a long time – 52 years – and some are barely on the throne – 6 months and 1 month for two kings. Within these readings we see a general pattern. For the first three kings of Judah, each one has this description: He did what was right in the LORD’s eyes, but… the shrines weren’t removed.” For all of the seven kings of Israel, they did evil in God’s eyes. Some are worse than others but together they lead Israel into exile.

In Judah, to the south, Amaziah defeats Edom and reestablishes that border. Azariah reigns next and for the longest, but his is isolated due to a skin disease. His son Jotham runs things. He rules next and rebuilds a temple gate. Ahaz rules next and he begins the slide. He does evil in God’s eyes. Worshipping a foreign god, he burns his sons and daughters alive. Aram attacks and Ahaz cries out to Assyria. They rescue Judah, but at a cost. Ahaz worships like the Assyrians, further removing God from Judah.

In Israel of Samaria, there is much evil and frequent assassinations. Zechariah is the last of Jehu’s line. Menahem attacks Tiphsah and guts all the pregnant women. Assyria comes and he buys peace with tribute. During Reka’s reign Assyria captures some outlying towns and takes the people into exile. Hoshea reaches out to Egypt for help, which brings a full scale Assyrian assault. All of Israel falls and is hauled off into exile.

In chapter 17 there is a summary of Israel and Judah’s failure to be faithful. The chapter ends with the new settlers of Israel being punished by God. The Assyrian king sends a priest back to teach the new inhabitants to worship “the local god.” They learn to worship God. And they continue to worship their false gods too. They mirror what Israel had become.

Prayer: Lord God, how this downward decline must’ve broken your heart. I’d apologize for my ancient ancestors, but I recognize that I too sin, that I too create hurt in your heart. Yet I also recognize that you’re still here. You haven’t given up on humanity. Thank you for your love, for your grace, for your plan. Help me to love you more fully. Amen.


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Both… And

Reading: John 3: 19-21

Verse 19: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness”.

Today’s verses from John 3 speak of light and darkness. John uses the analogy that has been used since the creation story found in Genesis 1. From the dark and chaotic God brought forth light and called it “good”. Since the beginning, light has stood for God and goodness, dark for Satan and evil. Often in scripture this tension is represented as an either/or proposition. Our reality is that it is both/and.

In verse nineteen John writes, “This is the verdict”. There is an implied choice here. Choices have been weighed on a balance. John observes that men prefer the darkness. Humanity is by nature selfish, concerned with success and pleasure. If left without God it is hard to imagine what the world and humanity would degenerate into. We are not left without God. At the very minimum, all are born with the spark of the divine within. In some folks that is snuffed out and in others it us pushed so far down that it appears to be non-existent. In most of humanity the light of God remains present. And in most of us, the light of God is ever competing with the darkness of the world. This is the both/and reality that Christians live in.

In the season of Lent we are invited to look within, to see and root out the darkness in our hearts and in our lives. We are called to bring the sinful or evil parts into the light. There we see ourselves as we truly are. Depending on where we are on the light-darkness spectrum we either drag them into Christ’s presence and we seek to die to self or we quietly slide that part of us back into a dark corner so that the flesh can visit it again.

Light and dark exist in all of us. Deepening our faith and our connection to God draws us increasingly into the light. This is the hopeful final destination of our journey of faith. As we continue to seek to be in the light may we rejoice in verse 21. May we each “see plainly that what has been done has been done through God”. All that we are in Christ has and will be done through God alone. It is not through our own efforts or by our works. Faith is a gift from God. Thanks be to God for this gift.

Prayer: Lord God, each day we find ourselves at places along the spectrum of light and darkness. At times pride or some other manifestation of self rises up, drawing me towards the darkness. In those times, send the Spirit of truth, calling me back towards the light. Help me to walk each day more in the light. Amen.