No, I’m not confused about either the content of Genesis 1-5 or where the Ten Commandments are located in Scripture! But as I read Genesis 1-5, I note that the basis for most of the Ten Commandments are established in these chapters that teach us about the beginning of our world and the beginning of the human race.
1. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2-3
Genesis 1 clearly establishes the authority of God through his creation. It establishes the power and creativity of God as well. Genesis 3 establishes “who” is to be listened to and obeyed above all. Eve and then Adam made the mistake of listening to Satan rather than God. What are “other gods” besides voices – temptations to not obey what God is saying to us? Sometimes we make actual physical idols and call them our gods, and sometimes we make ‘virtual’ idols – ideas built on false teachings or understandings.
2. “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” Exodus 20:4
In Genesis 2, God establishes the responsibility of the human race to care for the creation they live in. First he tells Adam that he is to work the ground and take care of it. Then he gives Adam the responsibility to “name” the creatures. Man is responsible to care for the world we live in. We are not subject to the plants and animals, but they are subject to us. Making idols in the forms of things we are responsible to care for doesn’t make sense!
3. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.” Exodus 20:7
At the end of Genesis 4, after Adam became the father of Seth and Seth became the father of Enosh, we are told that “at that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.” Genesis 4:26b While profanity is a primary way that we can misuse the name of the Lord, there would certainly be other misuses such as trying to make God into our ‘fairy godmother’ or ‘Santa Claus’ by making our prayers into long lists of “I wants”’ and “do this or do that” and ending “in the name of Jesus” and expecting him to do whatever we demanded without the loving relationship that he desires to have with us.
4. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 20:8
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating he had done.” Genesis 2:2-3 God made the Sabbath holy and we are asked to keep it holy. I have been wondering a lot about what exactly this means for me today in the culture I live in. Is Sunday more holy than other days? Can I maintain a Sabbath on another day of the week? Is it okay to shop on Sunday’s, to eat out, to buy gas, to shop on the Internet? What does it mean for me to keep the Sabbath holy? Jesus clearly was not impressed with the Sabbath laws that had been established by the religious leaders over the generations and it became one of his most obvious points of contention with them. In fact, he said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27
At the end of each day of creation, God said that it was good. On the seventh day he rested. It seems to me that keeping the Sabbath holy has to do with reflecting on God’s creation, his authority, our place in the scheme of things and our need for rest. I believe rest means more than sitting in an easy chair with our feet up or taking an afternoon nap. I believe true rest comes from faith – believing God is who he says he is and has the power and authority to control even our daily circumstances when we allow him that honor. A true Sabbath rest comes from me giving up my need to control things and allowing God to be God of my life.
5. “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12
Throughout the early books of Genesis, the first genealogies are established. The family structure is set up. It appears that they were in no rush to leave home and get married as the sons named in the genealogies are born when the parent is around 100 years old! Of course, that is mere adolescence when you realize that they lived to be 7-900+ years old. God shows us how to be a Father worthy of honor and respect. Since we are made in his image, we would be expected to be parents worthy of honor and respect.
6. “You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:13
The story of Cain murdering Abel in Genesis 4 quickly establishes how quickly things can go downhill when we choose to not honor and obey God. Cain’s first mistake is not honoring God – he “brought some of the fruits” of his labors (Genesis 4:3), not his first fruits, not his best fruits. His second mistake was comparing himself to his brother Abel and being angry with Abel because God looked with favor on Abel’s offering of the firstborn of his flock. His third mistake was not obeying the voice of God when God instructed him about doing what was right and warned him about “sin crouching at your door” (Genesis 4:7) His fourth mistake was letting his jealous rage have control rather than letting God have control which led to the murder of his brother. Murder doesn’t ‘just happen’. It comes from a series of movements away from God.
7. “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14
Genesis 2 establishes the basis of marriage. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 As we become one flesh in marriage, the family is established. To commit adultery is to tear apart what God has put together. It leads to destruction of family rather than construction of family. Just as God warned Cain about “sin crouching at your door,” so he warns us through this commandment. Cain became separated from God when he let ‘sin’ have control. So it is with adultery. It not only separates what God has put together, it also leads to separation from God.
8. “You shall not steal.” Exodus 20:15
Eve had not been given permission to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. She listened to Satan’s lies amidst his half-truth and took what did not belong to her. She invited Adam to take as well and he did. It didn’t seem like a big thing at the time. But it became the downfall of the human race!
9. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16
As we watch the story of the temptation and the taking of the forbidden fruit, we see one sin leads to the next sin leads to the next sin… When God calls to them, they hide – just like a child today who swipes a cookie and hides behind the big chair in the living room so Mom doesn’t see him or her. Then the blaming begins. Adam blames Eve (and God who gave her to him) and Eve blames the Serpent who deceived her. They were all trying to get someone else in trouble rather than take responsibility for their own actions. The Serpent lied - gave false testimony against God - but Eve made a choice and Adam made a choice and pointing the finger at others didn’t undo the poor choices they had made.
10. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17
The first murder occurred because Cain coveted the favor of God his brother Abel had gained. He wasn’t willing to do what it took to gain the favor, but he wanted God to show him favor. Cain could have nipped this one in the bud by humbling himself before God, honoring him and seeking his favor through giving his first fruits, not his leftovers. But he let the coveting consume him and cloud his judgment until it led to murder and separation from God and his family.
Suddenly, the Creation account and the story of the human race leading up to the Exodus comes together in a new light. Genesis is the basis for the Law of Moses. God didn’t spend 40 days on the mountain with Moses chiseling out those Ten Commandments. He could have done that in a flash of lightening. I believe that he talked with Moses about how the people had gotten to the point of needing these Ten Commandments in order to come back into right relationship with God, their Creator. He established his authority and his honor and the importance of these laws through sharing with Moses the history of creation and the early genealogy of the human race.
The Ten Commandments aren’t just rules to be followed. They are the short version of Genesis – God’s relationship with the human race from the beginning of time.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Following to Lead
Nehemiah was taken captive and made to serve Artaxerxes as the cup bearer. And somehow, he found a way to do it joyfully even though his heart yearned for home and to return to Jerusalem. I wonder if he felt a bit jealous of those who had been left in the city – the remnant who were not exiled to another country but allowed to remain behind. I wonder if he dreamed about how fortunate they were that they could still worship in the temple and could enjoy the fruits of their labors. I wonder if he hoped and prayed he would be allowed to return and join them. How uncomfortable it must have felt to be in the service of a foreign king day after day.
Yet, it would appear that he maintained a good spirit about him and had built relationship with the king because when his brother Hanani returned with others and reported on the distress of the people and Nehemiah wept and mourned, the king took notice of his sadness and asked him why he was sad. This was a very dangerous moment for Nehemiah. The king could order him put in prison or executed depending on how he answered or even before he answered – just because he appeared sad in the king’s presence. But Nehemiah had prepared himself for this moment. He had been fasting and praying. Still, when the moment came, Nehemiah felt fear. As I read Nehemiah, the book of Esther is running through my mind. There are great similarities…
Lesson 1: Good leadership is not the absence of fear, but the preparation of the heart and the courage to move forward regardless of the potential consequences. Both Nehemiah and Esther fasted and prayed before going on behalf of their people into the very dangerous situation before the king.
As Nehemiah shared his personal pain regarding the state of Jerusalem with the king, he was praying. King Artaxerxes responded with tenderness. “What is it you want?” Nehemiah 2:4 And Nehemiah forged ahead through his fear, praying for God’s wisdom and protection even as he spoke to the king. Nehemiah obviously had given some thought to this while he was fasting and praying. He asked for some very specific things and they were way out of line for his position! “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city of Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.” Nehemiah 2:5 And, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors… safe conduct… timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel… and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” Nehemiah 2:7-8 Obviously, God went before him and the king granted his requests and even more.
Nehemiah went with the king’s blessings and provisions, but more importantly, he went with God’s blessings and provisions. He was clearly called by God to a place of leadership with the people. And he called on God’s wisdom and assurance throughout the process. Before he even took the first step, he humbled himself before God in repentance for the sins of the people and for his own sin of disobedience in the past. He reminded God of his covenant with the Jewish people, particularly the part about “if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.” Nehemiah 1:9
Lesson 2: Good leadership grows out of a vision that comes through humbling ourselves before the Lord and seeking his face. It is not our will, but his to move forward. Our part is obedience to him.
This would be a great place to say, “And they lived happily ever after.” But just as that often isn’t true today, it was not true for Nehemiah. Not everyone was happy with his plan to rebuild and it was not long before opposition came in the form of threats, taunting, intimidation and slander. But Nehemiah did not bend to the fear. Rather, he encouraged the people and equipped them to deal with the opposition. “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day at night to meet this threat.” Nehemiah 4:9 He organized the people to work side by side, and equipped them with weapons to carry with them as they worked. He taught them to trust God and keep working.
Lesson 3: Good leadership is aware of the problems and encourages and equips the team to pray to God and work together remembering the goal.
Apparently, the nobles and officials in Jerusalem thought they were more special than the common people and were taking advantage of them, becoming wealthy at their expense. When this was brought to Nehemiah’s attention, he pondered it and then using what he knew from the Law and knew that they knew from the Law, he charged them saying, “You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!... What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?... Give back to them immediately [what you have taken from them]” Nehemiah 5:7, 9, 11 And the nobles and officials decided to do as Nehemiah said. His wisdom, which was God’s wisdom, made sense to them. He led by example, not using his position to gain more wealth, but rather to share with others from his own provisions. (Nehemiah 5:14-18)
Lesson 4: Good leadership does not favor the wealthy and powerful over the poor and needy but is concerned with true justice for all. It does not use the position of power to gain more wealth, but rather shares the wealth with all.
Nehemiah continued to lead the people through all the difficulties until the project was completed. Then he appointed the priests and Levites to their duties and replaced the provision for them by the offerings of the people. He shared the leadership at this point as they brought together the people and instructed them in the Law once again. As they read and instructed the people, they were overcome by tears of repentance and then joy. They continued to learn about their traditions and the meanings of those traditions which led to a great celebration. “From the days of Joshua son of Num until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.” Nehemiah 8:17
Lesson 5: Good leadership passes the torch and celebrates meeting the goals and fulfilling the vision.
Nehemiah is full of great teachings on prayer, humbleness, justice, obedience, and more. But today, leadership came to the fore in the reading of this book. Nehemiah led by following God. I wonder how many opportunities I have had to lead by following God that I missed because I didn’t see myself as a leader, because I wasn’t listening to what God was saying, or because I allowed fear to stop me before I even began.
Maybe the most important principle hasn’t even been said yet: Good leadership grows out of obedience – to God, to his Word, to his Spirit within us.
As I humble myself before God, he provides the vision, the courage and the means to fulfill his will for my life and for the ministry he desires to accomplish through me. May I listen more closely for his voice and humbly respond in obedience as Nehemiah did.
Yet, it would appear that he maintained a good spirit about him and had built relationship with the king because when his brother Hanani returned with others and reported on the distress of the people and Nehemiah wept and mourned, the king took notice of his sadness and asked him why he was sad. This was a very dangerous moment for Nehemiah. The king could order him put in prison or executed depending on how he answered or even before he answered – just because he appeared sad in the king’s presence. But Nehemiah had prepared himself for this moment. He had been fasting and praying. Still, when the moment came, Nehemiah felt fear. As I read Nehemiah, the book of Esther is running through my mind. There are great similarities…
Lesson 1: Good leadership is not the absence of fear, but the preparation of the heart and the courage to move forward regardless of the potential consequences. Both Nehemiah and Esther fasted and prayed before going on behalf of their people into the very dangerous situation before the king.
As Nehemiah shared his personal pain regarding the state of Jerusalem with the king, he was praying. King Artaxerxes responded with tenderness. “What is it you want?” Nehemiah 2:4 And Nehemiah forged ahead through his fear, praying for God’s wisdom and protection even as he spoke to the king. Nehemiah obviously had given some thought to this while he was fasting and praying. He asked for some very specific things and they were way out of line for his position! “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city of Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it.” Nehemiah 2:5 And, “If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors… safe conduct… timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel… and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?” Nehemiah 2:7-8 Obviously, God went before him and the king granted his requests and even more.
Nehemiah went with the king’s blessings and provisions, but more importantly, he went with God’s blessings and provisions. He was clearly called by God to a place of leadership with the people. And he called on God’s wisdom and assurance throughout the process. Before he even took the first step, he humbled himself before God in repentance for the sins of the people and for his own sin of disobedience in the past. He reminded God of his covenant with the Jewish people, particularly the part about “if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.” Nehemiah 1:9
Lesson 2: Good leadership grows out of a vision that comes through humbling ourselves before the Lord and seeking his face. It is not our will, but his to move forward. Our part is obedience to him.
This would be a great place to say, “And they lived happily ever after.” But just as that often isn’t true today, it was not true for Nehemiah. Not everyone was happy with his plan to rebuild and it was not long before opposition came in the form of threats, taunting, intimidation and slander. But Nehemiah did not bend to the fear. Rather, he encouraged the people and equipped them to deal with the opposition. “But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day at night to meet this threat.” Nehemiah 4:9 He organized the people to work side by side, and equipped them with weapons to carry with them as they worked. He taught them to trust God and keep working.
Lesson 3: Good leadership is aware of the problems and encourages and equips the team to pray to God and work together remembering the goal.
Apparently, the nobles and officials in Jerusalem thought they were more special than the common people and were taking advantage of them, becoming wealthy at their expense. When this was brought to Nehemiah’s attention, he pondered it and then using what he knew from the Law and knew that they knew from the Law, he charged them saying, “You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!... What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies?... Give back to them immediately [what you have taken from them]” Nehemiah 5:7, 9, 11 And the nobles and officials decided to do as Nehemiah said. His wisdom, which was God’s wisdom, made sense to them. He led by example, not using his position to gain more wealth, but rather to share with others from his own provisions. (Nehemiah 5:14-18)
Lesson 4: Good leadership does not favor the wealthy and powerful over the poor and needy but is concerned with true justice for all. It does not use the position of power to gain more wealth, but rather shares the wealth with all.
Nehemiah continued to lead the people through all the difficulties until the project was completed. Then he appointed the priests and Levites to their duties and replaced the provision for them by the offerings of the people. He shared the leadership at this point as they brought together the people and instructed them in the Law once again. As they read and instructed the people, they were overcome by tears of repentance and then joy. They continued to learn about their traditions and the meanings of those traditions which led to a great celebration. “From the days of Joshua son of Num until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.” Nehemiah 8:17
Lesson 5: Good leadership passes the torch and celebrates meeting the goals and fulfilling the vision.
Nehemiah is full of great teachings on prayer, humbleness, justice, obedience, and more. But today, leadership came to the fore in the reading of this book. Nehemiah led by following God. I wonder how many opportunities I have had to lead by following God that I missed because I didn’t see myself as a leader, because I wasn’t listening to what God was saying, or because I allowed fear to stop me before I even began.
Maybe the most important principle hasn’t even been said yet: Good leadership grows out of obedience – to God, to his Word, to his Spirit within us.
As I humble myself before God, he provides the vision, the courage and the means to fulfill his will for my life and for the ministry he desires to accomplish through me. May I listen more closely for his voice and humbly respond in obedience as Nehemiah did.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Make Love, Not War
The slogan rang out in the late 60s and early 70s as the young adults in America tried to convince the government to pull out of Viet Nam. They were tired of the brutal war that was taking the lives of their friends. They feared being sent to die as well. And while the slogan was the beginning of a sexual revolution that took our country into a huge slide when it came to respect of others, and strength of marriages and families, it was not totally void of being a good idea. It was just that the love was focused in the wrong direction.
When Hezekiah became king of Judah, he immediately set out to teach the people to focus their love on God. He followed his father Ahaz who had been one of the worst kings Judah ever had. The country was in shambles because he had desecrated the temple and followed after other gods, even sacrificing his own sons in the fires as he worshipped other gods. The king of Aram and the king of Israel had pilfered his country and taken prisoners (though Israel did return the prisoners at the request of Obed, the prophet). (II Chronicles 28) But Hezekiah set out immediately to turn things around and get rid of the idolatrous worship and turn the people back to the one and only true God.
While other leaders would have begun to rebuild the infrastructure of the country and try to fight the countries who had invaded their land, Hezekiah “opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them. He brought in the priest and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side and said, ‘Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your fathers. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. Our fathers were unfaithful; they did evil… turned their faces away from the Lord… This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.’” II Chronicles 29:3-11
Hezekiah demonstrated godly leadership. The first thing he did was get the temple of the Lord cleaned up and got the priests and Levites back into position doing their duties. It took them 16 days to clean out and purify the temple again, but they stuck with it and got the job done. The very next morning king Hezekiah was there with offerings and sacrifices. “He stationed the Levites in the temple of the Lord with cymbals, harps and lyres in the way prescribed by David and Gad the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet… As the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel. The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the singers sang and the trumpeters played. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed. When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped… they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped… So the service of the temple of the Lord was reestablished.” II Chronicles 29:25-30; 35
Once he had the priests and Levites functioning again, he invited all the people in Judah and Israel to come and celebrate the Passover together. He not only invited his own nation of Judah to return to the Lord, but extended the invitation to Israel (who had just raided their nation a short time ago). “ People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. Do not be like your fathers… do not be stiff-necked… submit to the Lord… for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.” II Chronicles 30:6-9
While many from Israel scoffed at him, some did come and join in the celebration. “Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.” II Chronicles 30:12 Through praise and worship of God, the people were united again.
I imagine that at the beginning of Hezekiah’s reign, the people were disheartened, wounded by the invasions that had taken some of their loved ones into captivity and taken the treasures of the land. Hezekiah, with God’s wisdom, first ministered to the hurts of the people and taught them to worship God again. After four years of rebuilding and refocusing the spirits and the minds of the people, they were threatened by Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Now came the time of testing to see how deep their love for God had grown. Would they trust God to meet their needs or cave under the taunting from Sennacherib? Would they trust Hezekiah’s leadership?
I wonder what Hezekiah was thinking at this time. He had spent four years telling the people to trust in God and God would take care of them. But it appeared at the moment, God was not taking care of them. They were under siege. II Kings 18-19 tells the story in more detail how Hezekiah laid out the words written by Sennacherib before the Lord and asked for God’s mercy and protection and how God wiped out the army of Sennacherib. The people of Judah did not have to do anything but worship God. They loved the Lord their God and worshiped him rather than war with their enemies. God took care of them.
As I read the stories of the different kings, I find that those who were able to humble themselves before God and trust in him were the ones who were successful kings. Those who were full of pride and were self-seeking were the ones who led their nation to destruction.
I wonder if I can learn from this… Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 Lord, may I remain humble before you and trust you completely with my life that I may experience your goodness and mercy as I follow you.
When Hezekiah became king of Judah, he immediately set out to teach the people to focus their love on God. He followed his father Ahaz who had been one of the worst kings Judah ever had. The country was in shambles because he had desecrated the temple and followed after other gods, even sacrificing his own sons in the fires as he worshipped other gods. The king of Aram and the king of Israel had pilfered his country and taken prisoners (though Israel did return the prisoners at the request of Obed, the prophet). (II Chronicles 28) But Hezekiah set out immediately to turn things around and get rid of the idolatrous worship and turn the people back to the one and only true God.
While other leaders would have begun to rebuild the infrastructure of the country and try to fight the countries who had invaded their land, Hezekiah “opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them. He brought in the priest and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side and said, ‘Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your fathers. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. Our fathers were unfaithful; they did evil… turned their faces away from the Lord… This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.’” II Chronicles 29:3-11
Hezekiah demonstrated godly leadership. The first thing he did was get the temple of the Lord cleaned up and got the priests and Levites back into position doing their duties. It took them 16 days to clean out and purify the temple again, but they stuck with it and got the job done. The very next morning king Hezekiah was there with offerings and sacrifices. “He stationed the Levites in the temple of the Lord with cymbals, harps and lyres in the way prescribed by David and Gad the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet… As the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel. The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the singers sang and the trumpeters played. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed. When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped… they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped… So the service of the temple of the Lord was reestablished.” II Chronicles 29:25-30; 35
Once he had the priests and Levites functioning again, he invited all the people in Judah and Israel to come and celebrate the Passover together. He not only invited his own nation of Judah to return to the Lord, but extended the invitation to Israel (who had just raided their nation a short time ago). “ People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. Do not be like your fathers… do not be stiff-necked… submit to the Lord… for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.” II Chronicles 30:6-9
While many from Israel scoffed at him, some did come and join in the celebration. “Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.” II Chronicles 30:12 Through praise and worship of God, the people were united again.
I imagine that at the beginning of Hezekiah’s reign, the people were disheartened, wounded by the invasions that had taken some of their loved ones into captivity and taken the treasures of the land. Hezekiah, with God’s wisdom, first ministered to the hurts of the people and taught them to worship God again. After four years of rebuilding and refocusing the spirits and the minds of the people, they were threatened by Sennacherib, king of Assyria. Now came the time of testing to see how deep their love for God had grown. Would they trust God to meet their needs or cave under the taunting from Sennacherib? Would they trust Hezekiah’s leadership?
I wonder what Hezekiah was thinking at this time. He had spent four years telling the people to trust in God and God would take care of them. But it appeared at the moment, God was not taking care of them. They were under siege. II Kings 18-19 tells the story in more detail how Hezekiah laid out the words written by Sennacherib before the Lord and asked for God’s mercy and protection and how God wiped out the army of Sennacherib. The people of Judah did not have to do anything but worship God. They loved the Lord their God and worshiped him rather than war with their enemies. God took care of them.
As I read the stories of the different kings, I find that those who were able to humble themselves before God and trust in him were the ones who were successful kings. Those who were full of pride and were self-seeking were the ones who led their nation to destruction.
I wonder if I can learn from this… Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18 Lord, may I remain humble before you and trust you completely with my life that I may experience your goodness and mercy as I follow you.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Truth or Consequences
When I step back a few steps from Ezekiel and look at the book, it seems to be a picture of God making a great attempt to call his people back out of their sin to a holy relationship with him. When I step into the heart of Ezekiel in chapters 22-23, I begin to wrestle with what it means to step away from the heart of God and get bogged down in the world’s wisdom – or the lack thereof. I want to know where these people went wrong so I don’t go down the same path they took. I want to understand God’s holiness and his judgment on the nations.
God is using a picture of prostitution when speaking of Samaria and of Jerusalem. The people begin to look to the wealth and military protection of other nations to take care of them rather than looking to God to take care of them. Their trust was no longer in God. He became an empty religion to them. They went through the rituals, the celebrations, feasts, and sacrifices, but their hearts were not in it. Along with their sacrifices to God, they were making sacrifices to the gods of the other nations and one by one breaking all of the commandments – “See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood. In you they have treated father and mother with contempt; In you they have oppressed the alien and mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths… shedding blood…commit lewd acts…violate women… commits a detestable offense with his neighbor’s wife… accept bribes… make unjust gain from your neighbors by extortion… commit robbery… oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice…. Ezekiel 22:6-29
“I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30 God’s heart seems to be weeping for his children who have chosen to walk away from him. He has so much to offer them, but they chose the cheap trinkets, dangled before them, seduced by the nations who would become their enemies.
Finally, God says, “Enough! I will no longer protect you, but turn you over to the consequences of your sins.” (Ezekiel 23:48-49 – my paraphrase) So often, God is accused of enacting violence on his people. But it is not God’s character or will to hurt his people. Rather, he withdrew his protection at their request and allowed them to suffer the consequences of their decisions to follow the wealth, power and wisdom of this world. God knew that it would turn on them and destroy them. He tried to talk them out of it many times. But they closed their ears to him and in their own selfish and stubborn ways, chose to follow after that which God had tried to protect them from.
So I wonder… Am I being seduced by the wealth and power in this world? Am I placing my trust in other people, nations, wealth, doctors, etc. rather than in God? When difficult things happen, do I look to the world to fix it or do I look to God to use it to his honor and glory?
I am grateful that we live in a different time. We do have someone to stand in the gap – Jesus Christ. I am grateful because I know that even when I try my hardest and am at my very best, when I stand next to a Holy God, I don’t look too good. Yet, Jesus was willing to stand in the gap, forgiving my sins and shortcomings, allowing me to come into the presence of God’s holiness, encouraging me to see him as my Father – my “Daddy” who loves me and cares for all of my needs and covers me with his protection and has a glorious eternity planned for us together.
And as I enjoy this special relationship, ‘hanging out’ with God, I begin to become more like him in character – loving others in ways I could not before, being concerned for the weak, the poor, those who suffer at the hands of injustice and desiring for others to come into his presence and understand they are loved by him as well. My personal pride, self-esteem, etc. becomes less important because it is no longer me, but “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Thank you Jesus! I choose your Truth over the consequences of my sin.
God is using a picture of prostitution when speaking of Samaria and of Jerusalem. The people begin to look to the wealth and military protection of other nations to take care of them rather than looking to God to take care of them. Their trust was no longer in God. He became an empty religion to them. They went through the rituals, the celebrations, feasts, and sacrifices, but their hearts were not in it. Along with their sacrifices to God, they were making sacrifices to the gods of the other nations and one by one breaking all of the commandments – “See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood. In you they have treated father and mother with contempt; In you they have oppressed the alien and mistreated the fatherless and the widow. You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths… shedding blood…commit lewd acts…violate women… commits a detestable offense with his neighbor’s wife… accept bribes… make unjust gain from your neighbors by extortion… commit robbery… oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice…. Ezekiel 22:6-29
“I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30 God’s heart seems to be weeping for his children who have chosen to walk away from him. He has so much to offer them, but they chose the cheap trinkets, dangled before them, seduced by the nations who would become their enemies.
Finally, God says, “Enough! I will no longer protect you, but turn you over to the consequences of your sins.” (Ezekiel 23:48-49 – my paraphrase) So often, God is accused of enacting violence on his people. But it is not God’s character or will to hurt his people. Rather, he withdrew his protection at their request and allowed them to suffer the consequences of their decisions to follow the wealth, power and wisdom of this world. God knew that it would turn on them and destroy them. He tried to talk them out of it many times. But they closed their ears to him and in their own selfish and stubborn ways, chose to follow after that which God had tried to protect them from.
So I wonder… Am I being seduced by the wealth and power in this world? Am I placing my trust in other people, nations, wealth, doctors, etc. rather than in God? When difficult things happen, do I look to the world to fix it or do I look to God to use it to his honor and glory?
I am grateful that we live in a different time. We do have someone to stand in the gap – Jesus Christ. I am grateful because I know that even when I try my hardest and am at my very best, when I stand next to a Holy God, I don’t look too good. Yet, Jesus was willing to stand in the gap, forgiving my sins and shortcomings, allowing me to come into the presence of God’s holiness, encouraging me to see him as my Father – my “Daddy” who loves me and cares for all of my needs and covers me with his protection and has a glorious eternity planned for us together.
And as I enjoy this special relationship, ‘hanging out’ with God, I begin to become more like him in character – loving others in ways I could not before, being concerned for the weak, the poor, those who suffer at the hands of injustice and desiring for others to come into his presence and understand they are loved by him as well. My personal pride, self-esteem, etc. becomes less important because it is no longer me, but “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Thank you Jesus! I choose your Truth over the consequences of my sin.
Monday, October 4, 2010
More than Satisfied
Sometimes problems arise in our lives that seem insurmountable. It would be easy to move from hope to despair. But Jesus didn’t come to bring despair. He did not throw up his hands and say, “There is nothing that can be done,” or “There is no way out of this one.” Nor did he just fix it and walk away. He took opportunities as they came and taught those who would be taught more and more about the loving heart of God and his ability to supply all of our needs.
The crowds had been following Jesus listening to him teach and watching for miracles. Jesus sat down with his disciples and looking out over the crowd said, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” John 6:5 Just prior to this comment, John notes that, “The Jewish Passover Feast was near.” John 6:4 I wonder if they were thinking about food and where they would be eating the Passover. Any guests would be invited to participate in the Passover with their host family. Is it possible Jesus was jarring their thinking and even suggesting that these people in the crowd were their guests and they would be responsible to come up with food for them all? The first step to solving a problem is to recognize that you have a problem. Quite possibly, the first point of Jesus’ lesson with his disciples was that God’s heart is tender and notices when people are in need.
“Philip answered him, ‘Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’” John 6:7 Step two in this lesson plan seems to be that we need to evaluate the magnitude of the problem. We need to be sure we know what we are dealing with.
“Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’” John 6:8 Step three in this lesson plan appears to be to look at what we do have to put towards solving the problem. This is a hard place to be to see the magnitude of the problem and the lack of resources to solve it. It is where many people in ministry find themselves almost daily – so much need all around us and so few resources (time, talent, and money) to minister to the needs.
But this does not need to be the end of the story. Andrew’s bringing what he could find and giving it to Jesus was an act of trust. He didn’t say thanks to the kid and sit down and eat his lunch. He gave what there was to Jesus – every bit of it. Step four in this lesson plan might be to give everything we have and trust that God can use it, however little it is, to his honor and glory.
“Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” John 6:11-13 Step five in this lesson plan would appear to be that when we give what we have toward a problem of great magnitude, God will take it and use it to completely satisfy those who are in need.
I wonder sometimes how what little I have can solve the world’s problems. I’m overwhelmed just thinking about it. How can one little person make any impact on this huge problem? There are whole countries going hungry. But God doesn’t tell me to take what I have and feed them all. He tells me to take what I have and give it to him and he will feed them all. Research says that there is enough food in the world to feed everyone. No one needs to go hungry. The problem is that some are not even aware others are starving, some who are aware are ‘shut down’ by the recognition of the immensity of the problem and feel helpless, and many don’t recognize that God can multiply what little we have to bless many.
I wonder, do I trust God enough to give him what little I have? In this lesson plan, the end result is that the needs of everyone are satisfied. The little boy who shared his food, the disciples and the crowd were all fed. And there were more leftovers than the original food Jesus started out with. When we give what we have to God, we are not just satisfied. We are more than satisfied!
Lord, help me to share freely what you have blessed me with so that you can multiply it and everyone can be more than satisfied.
The crowds had been following Jesus listening to him teach and watching for miracles. Jesus sat down with his disciples and looking out over the crowd said, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” John 6:5 Just prior to this comment, John notes that, “The Jewish Passover Feast was near.” John 6:4 I wonder if they were thinking about food and where they would be eating the Passover. Any guests would be invited to participate in the Passover with their host family. Is it possible Jesus was jarring their thinking and even suggesting that these people in the crowd were their guests and they would be responsible to come up with food for them all? The first step to solving a problem is to recognize that you have a problem. Quite possibly, the first point of Jesus’ lesson with his disciples was that God’s heart is tender and notices when people are in need.
“Philip answered him, ‘Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’” John 6:7 Step two in this lesson plan seems to be that we need to evaluate the magnitude of the problem. We need to be sure we know what we are dealing with.
“Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’” John 6:8 Step three in this lesson plan appears to be to look at what we do have to put towards solving the problem. This is a hard place to be to see the magnitude of the problem and the lack of resources to solve it. It is where many people in ministry find themselves almost daily – so much need all around us and so few resources (time, talent, and money) to minister to the needs.
But this does not need to be the end of the story. Andrew’s bringing what he could find and giving it to Jesus was an act of trust. He didn’t say thanks to the kid and sit down and eat his lunch. He gave what there was to Jesus – every bit of it. Step four in this lesson plan might be to give everything we have and trust that God can use it, however little it is, to his honor and glory.
“Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” John 6:11-13 Step five in this lesson plan would appear to be that when we give what we have toward a problem of great magnitude, God will take it and use it to completely satisfy those who are in need.
I wonder sometimes how what little I have can solve the world’s problems. I’m overwhelmed just thinking about it. How can one little person make any impact on this huge problem? There are whole countries going hungry. But God doesn’t tell me to take what I have and feed them all. He tells me to take what I have and give it to him and he will feed them all. Research says that there is enough food in the world to feed everyone. No one needs to go hungry. The problem is that some are not even aware others are starving, some who are aware are ‘shut down’ by the recognition of the immensity of the problem and feel helpless, and many don’t recognize that God can multiply what little we have to bless many.
I wonder, do I trust God enough to give him what little I have? In this lesson plan, the end result is that the needs of everyone are satisfied. The little boy who shared his food, the disciples and the crowd were all fed. And there were more leftovers than the original food Jesus started out with. When we give what we have to God, we are not just satisfied. We are more than satisfied!
Lord, help me to share freely what you have blessed me with so that you can multiply it and everyone can be more than satisfied.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Deceiving Spirits and Lying Tongues
When it comes to guarding my heart from deceiving spirits and lying tongues, I’m in. I am going to read and study God’s Word, pray and meditate, go to church and do all the ‘right’ things because I don’t want to be deceived. I wonder then, where will these deceiving spirits come from. Surely, they will be in bars and on the streets where crime happens. Maybe they will be in the secular news or college and university campuses.
“The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.” I Timothy 4:1-3
Well, that about brings my mind to a skidding halt! These deceiving spirits are not coming from the streets of crime or the universities, but from within the church itself. And they are coming through people “whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” They are coming from people who have decided what their ‘conviction’ is and are trying to force it on others. I’m shaking my head to try to clear my brain.
In Romans 14, Paul has more to say about how we handle our convictions within a fellowship of believers. “The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:3-4 “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way… If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died… For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” Romans 4:12-18
It seems then, that Paul is asking us to not only be aware of our own convictions, but also be aware of when our convictions may cause someone else to doubt theirs. His bottom line is whether or not we are acting out of love. Can I give up a freedom Christ has given me in order to not cause a fellow traveler in this life to stumble and/or fall? I wonder does that make me a hypocrite if I don’t always act on my beliefs and freedoms. Or does it make me a compassionate, loving servant to my community of faith.
What if I am one who has strong ‘convictions’ with a lot of ‘don’t do this’ and ‘don’t do that’ in my belief system? These rules help to keep me from sinning against God. How do I know when to confront another’s behavior based on my convictions and when to keep silent because my convictions are my convictions and they may not apply to them?
Now I Corinthians 13 is ‘gonging’ loudly in my ear. If I speak the most wonderful convictions and acts of God I know without love in my heart for the hearers of my words, “I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” I Corinthians 13:1 If I am extremely intelligent and have great theological knowledge and wisdom, “but have not love, I am nothing.” I Corinthians 13:2 If I am a very gracious and giving person and take care of all the poor around me with my wealth, “but have not love, I gain nothing.” I Corinthians 13:3
So back to I Timothy… I wonder what these deceiving spirits are and how they are misleading and misguiding believers. I wonder could it be that they are the very people among us who are the most vocal about their convictions – who have memorized many passages of Scripture and use it for rebuking regularly? Could it be the most giving people we know who give out of their wealth and quite possibly keep the recipients at arm’s length, groveling in continued need of love and friendship? Could it be that they are those who are lacking in their own knowledge of God’s love and mercy in their lives and, therefore, judge cruelly speaking harsh words of ‘conviction’ to others rather than speaking God’s love into the lives of those around them?
Oh that my understanding of God’s love for me would be greater so that I would not be caught deceiving others by withholding God’s love from them.
“The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.” I Timothy 4:1-3
Well, that about brings my mind to a skidding halt! These deceiving spirits are not coming from the streets of crime or the universities, but from within the church itself. And they are coming through people “whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” They are coming from people who have decided what their ‘conviction’ is and are trying to force it on others. I’m shaking my head to try to clear my brain.
In Romans 14, Paul has more to say about how we handle our convictions within a fellowship of believers. “The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:3-4 “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way… If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died… For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” Romans 4:12-18
It seems then, that Paul is asking us to not only be aware of our own convictions, but also be aware of when our convictions may cause someone else to doubt theirs. His bottom line is whether or not we are acting out of love. Can I give up a freedom Christ has given me in order to not cause a fellow traveler in this life to stumble and/or fall? I wonder does that make me a hypocrite if I don’t always act on my beliefs and freedoms. Or does it make me a compassionate, loving servant to my community of faith.
What if I am one who has strong ‘convictions’ with a lot of ‘don’t do this’ and ‘don’t do that’ in my belief system? These rules help to keep me from sinning against God. How do I know when to confront another’s behavior based on my convictions and when to keep silent because my convictions are my convictions and they may not apply to them?
Now I Corinthians 13 is ‘gonging’ loudly in my ear. If I speak the most wonderful convictions and acts of God I know without love in my heart for the hearers of my words, “I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” I Corinthians 13:1 If I am extremely intelligent and have great theological knowledge and wisdom, “but have not love, I am nothing.” I Corinthians 13:2 If I am a very gracious and giving person and take care of all the poor around me with my wealth, “but have not love, I gain nothing.” I Corinthians 13:3
So back to I Timothy… I wonder what these deceiving spirits are and how they are misleading and misguiding believers. I wonder could it be that they are the very people among us who are the most vocal about their convictions – who have memorized many passages of Scripture and use it for rebuking regularly? Could it be the most giving people we know who give out of their wealth and quite possibly keep the recipients at arm’s length, groveling in continued need of love and friendship? Could it be that they are those who are lacking in their own knowledge of God’s love and mercy in their lives and, therefore, judge cruelly speaking harsh words of ‘conviction’ to others rather than speaking God’s love into the lives of those around them?
Oh that my understanding of God’s love for me would be greater so that I would not be caught deceiving others by withholding God’s love from them.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Pride Goeth Before a Fall
Proverbs 16:18 is often quoted [paraphrased] by gloating people watching a haughty person go down. But it is also at the heart of the story in I Chronicles 21. “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.” I Chronicles 21:1 I used to read over that verse quickly and once in a while wonder what a census had to do with anything. But the chapter seemed to be about the choices God gave David and the fact that David chose to have Israel punished by the plague for three days because he would rather be in the hands of God then in the hands of men. However, as I read it today, it seems to be about David and pride.
Why would David take a census and what would be wrong with that? As I read the Old Testament, it seems that kings rise and fall based on the man power of their armies and how many chariots and horses they have. But David was different. His strength came from God and he knew it. He won battles that, by human standards, he should not have won. He conquered territories that he should not have been able to. But in taking that census, he turned his eyes away from God and began to look at how big his army was and would it be big enough to meet his next goal. He was becoming proud of the army he could muster and thinking that he was a great leader who could win any battle he put his mind to. That is when God sent Gad to David with the message of choices.
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Take your choice: three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord – days of plague ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer one who sent me.’” I Chronicles 21:11-12
David chose the plague. I wonder why he didn’t say to God, “It was my sin. Why should the people be punished?” But he didn’t. He was still operating out of pride. Even his choice was prideful. To be chased by the sword of other armies would make him look incapable of leading his army to victory and famine would make him look incapable of providing for his people. But no one would expect him to be able to control a plague. It was also the shortest of the punishments – only three days rather than three months or three years.
Only after 70,000 people died from the plague did David finally admit his guilt and responsibility. “David said to God, ‘Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? O Lord my God, let your hand fall upon me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.’” I Chronicles 21:17 David finally accepted responsibility for the situation and that is when God stopped the plague.
I wonder how many times the pride of leaders in the church has caused injury to the ‘sheep’ through the generations. And I wonder how many times my pride has caused injury to others in my sphere of influence. It gives me great comfort to know that God forgave David even for sins that harmed other people. And it spurs me on to understand what it means to be humble before God. When I get in trouble, it is pretty much always because of my pride in myself and wanting things my way. When I am humble before God and allow myself to be less and God to be more, good things happen – others are blessed and drawn closer to God’s heart.
Lord, keep my humble before you. Open my eyes to see when I am destroying others because of my pride. Forgive me and bring healing through your power, your mercy and your love. Amen.
Why would David take a census and what would be wrong with that? As I read the Old Testament, it seems that kings rise and fall based on the man power of their armies and how many chariots and horses they have. But David was different. His strength came from God and he knew it. He won battles that, by human standards, he should not have won. He conquered territories that he should not have been able to. But in taking that census, he turned his eyes away from God and began to look at how big his army was and would it be big enough to meet his next goal. He was becoming proud of the army he could muster and thinking that he was a great leader who could win any battle he put his mind to. That is when God sent Gad to David with the message of choices.
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Take your choice: three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies, with their swords overtaking you, or three days of the sword of the Lord – days of plague ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should answer one who sent me.’” I Chronicles 21:11-12
David chose the plague. I wonder why he didn’t say to God, “It was my sin. Why should the people be punished?” But he didn’t. He was still operating out of pride. Even his choice was prideful. To be chased by the sword of other armies would make him look incapable of leading his army to victory and famine would make him look incapable of providing for his people. But no one would expect him to be able to control a plague. It was also the shortest of the punishments – only three days rather than three months or three years.
Only after 70,000 people died from the plague did David finally admit his guilt and responsibility. “David said to God, ‘Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I am the one who has sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? O Lord my God, let your hand fall upon me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people.’” I Chronicles 21:17 David finally accepted responsibility for the situation and that is when God stopped the plague.
I wonder how many times the pride of leaders in the church has caused injury to the ‘sheep’ through the generations. And I wonder how many times my pride has caused injury to others in my sphere of influence. It gives me great comfort to know that God forgave David even for sins that harmed other people. And it spurs me on to understand what it means to be humble before God. When I get in trouble, it is pretty much always because of my pride in myself and wanting things my way. When I am humble before God and allow myself to be less and God to be more, good things happen – others are blessed and drawn closer to God’s heart.
Lord, keep my humble before you. Open my eyes to see when I am destroying others because of my pride. Forgive me and bring healing through your power, your mercy and your love. Amen.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Genealogy and Faith
As I read through names, “___ son of ___ son of ___,” my eyelids begin to droop. But wait, what is that name? Jabez? Why is his prayer in the middle of a genealogy? David, on the other hand, is listed as one of Jesse’s sons with no other comment. What’s with that?
There are many faith stories in the Old Testament. Maybe the prayer of Jabez is there because it is a faith story and there was no other good place to put it. Short and sweet, he is praying for his territory to be enlarged, for God’s hand to be on him, and to be free from pain. And it tells us God granted his request. (I Chronicles 4:9-10) Today, this is a well known prayer thanks to Bruce Wilkenson and the book he wrote regarding it. Unfortunately, it is an often misunderstood prayer. It has become a ‘mantra’ for many people thinking that if they pray this prayer, God will give them all the earthly pleasures they desire, totally missing the part of the prayer about God’s hand being on them. I wonder what Jabez meant when he asked for God’s hand to be on him and keep him from harm.
In order for God’s hand to be on him, they would need a pretty close relationship – God and Jabez. I wonder what God was doing with Jabez at that time. I wonder how much influence Jabez had on others as he related to God closely. And I wonder what was about to harm him that he was praying to be kept from harm.
And then there is David, who in the genealogy is simply a name. Yet because of other writings in the Old Testament, we know a lot about David. And the first story any of us learn about David is his fight with Goliath, the Philistine giant. One small stone placed in a slingshot, aimed and released at the giant’s head, a fallen giant who then is decapitated by his own sword. Great victory for the Israelites – gruesome story for the tender of heart.
It occurs to me that this faith story of David can also be my faith story – in a spiritual war where the giants of science and intellect are taunting me. The stone I place in my slingshot is the nugget of truth found in God’s Word. The slingshot is the conversation, writing, prayer, or speech with others. Carefully aimed at the giant, the nugget of truth knocks him off balance and he falls. I grab my sword, God’s Word (Ephesians 6) and cut off the head so the giant will not rise again. Another victory!
God helps me take down one giant at a time and enlarges my sphere of influence as I have more experiences and meet more people. As I experience victory, I am energized to keep going. Now I have a faith story to tell. It won’t show up in Chronicles. It probably won’t even make the local newspaper. But as I tell my story, others will be encouraged and will begin to pick up their nuggets, put them in their slingshot and go after the giants in their lives. And the kingdom will grow – God’s kingdom. He will expand our territory when we become his servants, fighting to help more people find their way back to God, their Creator and lover of their souls.
May God’s hand be on me and enlarge my territory and keep me from harm so his kingdom will come here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
There are many faith stories in the Old Testament. Maybe the prayer of Jabez is there because it is a faith story and there was no other good place to put it. Short and sweet, he is praying for his territory to be enlarged, for God’s hand to be on him, and to be free from pain. And it tells us God granted his request. (I Chronicles 4:9-10) Today, this is a well known prayer thanks to Bruce Wilkenson and the book he wrote regarding it. Unfortunately, it is an often misunderstood prayer. It has become a ‘mantra’ for many people thinking that if they pray this prayer, God will give them all the earthly pleasures they desire, totally missing the part of the prayer about God’s hand being on them. I wonder what Jabez meant when he asked for God’s hand to be on him and keep him from harm.
In order for God’s hand to be on him, they would need a pretty close relationship – God and Jabez. I wonder what God was doing with Jabez at that time. I wonder how much influence Jabez had on others as he related to God closely. And I wonder what was about to harm him that he was praying to be kept from harm.
And then there is David, who in the genealogy is simply a name. Yet because of other writings in the Old Testament, we know a lot about David. And the first story any of us learn about David is his fight with Goliath, the Philistine giant. One small stone placed in a slingshot, aimed and released at the giant’s head, a fallen giant who then is decapitated by his own sword. Great victory for the Israelites – gruesome story for the tender of heart.
It occurs to me that this faith story of David can also be my faith story – in a spiritual war where the giants of science and intellect are taunting me. The stone I place in my slingshot is the nugget of truth found in God’s Word. The slingshot is the conversation, writing, prayer, or speech with others. Carefully aimed at the giant, the nugget of truth knocks him off balance and he falls. I grab my sword, God’s Word (Ephesians 6) and cut off the head so the giant will not rise again. Another victory!
God helps me take down one giant at a time and enlarges my sphere of influence as I have more experiences and meet more people. As I experience victory, I am energized to keep going. Now I have a faith story to tell. It won’t show up in Chronicles. It probably won’t even make the local newspaper. But as I tell my story, others will be encouraged and will begin to pick up their nuggets, put them in their slingshot and go after the giants in their lives. And the kingdom will grow – God’s kingdom. He will expand our territory when we become his servants, fighting to help more people find their way back to God, their Creator and lover of their souls.
May God’s hand be on me and enlarge my territory and keep me from harm so his kingdom will come here on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
When Leadership Fails
Jeremiah is often called the ‘weeping prophet’ because of the terrible message he had to give to the people of Israel. His heart was torn because no matter what he said, how emphatic he was or how much he shared with the people about what God was about to do, they would not repent and turn their hearts back to God.
As I read the book of Jeremiah, it becomes clear that the people ‘think’ they are honoring God. They go to the Temple, they celebrate the feasts, they make their sacrifices, and some of them even fast. But as they leave the Temple, they go on sinning, they go to their high places, make sacrifices to other gods, and even throw their children into the fire as sacrifices to other gods. Over and over, Jeremiah tries to call this to their attention and get them to turn around before it is too late.
Periodically, throughout the prophecies of Jeremiah, he addresses the leadership – the kings, the priests and teachers of the Law. “The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.” Jeremiah 10:21 “Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?... But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion.” Jeremiah 22:15 & 17 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” Jeremiah 23:1 “’Both prophet and priests are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness,’ declares the Lord. ‘Therefore their path will become slippery; they will be banished to darkness and there they will fall. I will bring disaster on them in the year they are punished,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:11-12
Several things become clear as I look at Jeremiah, the leadership and the people. Jeremiah was a lonely man. He had a very difficult and strong message to give to the leadership and to the people. The leadership had failed miserably in keeping the people’s hearts turned toward God. Their own hearts had become hardened and unable to hear God’s voice. They and all the people had absorbed the sinful practices of the people groups around them, little by little, probably not even noticing how much they had changed over the years. Jeremiah tried to remind them where they had come from and show them how much they had fallen. But he also tried to remind them that they had a loving and forgiving God and that if they would turn their hearts and their faces back to God, he would be there for them.
God shows his tender heart over and over in his concern for the ‘scattered sheep’. “’I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:4
“Then the Lord asked me, ‘What do you see,’ Jeremiah? ‘Figs,’ I answered. ‘The good ones are very good, but the poor ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.’ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. But like the poor figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the Lord, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah, king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt. I will make them abhorrent and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, an object of ridicule and cursing, wherever I banish them. I will send the sword, famine, and plague against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave them and their fathers.’” Jeremiah 24:3-10
God holds leadership responsible. I wonder, then, what causes leaders to fail? I wonder what causes some people to advance as leaders? Leadership carries with it things like popularity, money, power, and control. Popularity is kept alive by saying and doing what the people ‘think’ they want. More money comes in when popularity is kept alive. Position gives power and control. When we experience money, power, and control, we want more and more. That is the human state.
Godly leadership looks very different than worldly leadership. Godly leadership is humble, drawing wisdom from God, not concerned with gaining more wealth, power, or control, but understanding that God is their wisdom, God is their strength, and God is in control. Godly leadership looks more like a servant – like a shepherd caring for the flock entrusted to him/her. That means leading them to good food and water, binding their wounds, and keeping evil wolves and lions and bears away so they are not harmed. When leaders forget that they are a servant and believe they are a king, parading in fine clothes and showing off their gains, that is when they fail. And when they fail, many people are hurt. And so we find God stepping in over and over to rescue his people. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14
If I am called to be a leader, the most significant thing I can do is keep my heart in tune with God’s heart. I need to put blinders on to the world’s enticements and keep my eyes on my heavenly Father. He will show me whose wounds need binding and whose hearts are ready to be taught to follow him. False humility won’t cut it. Only true humility, knowing who my God is and what he has done for me and where my righteousness comes from, will keep me from failing as a leader.
Lord, please help me to keep my eyes on you, to live as your humble servant. You are my King. I give my life in service to you. Amen.
As I read the book of Jeremiah, it becomes clear that the people ‘think’ they are honoring God. They go to the Temple, they celebrate the feasts, they make their sacrifices, and some of them even fast. But as they leave the Temple, they go on sinning, they go to their high places, make sacrifices to other gods, and even throw their children into the fire as sacrifices to other gods. Over and over, Jeremiah tries to call this to their attention and get them to turn around before it is too late.
Periodically, throughout the prophecies of Jeremiah, he addresses the leadership – the kings, the priests and teachers of the Law. “The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.” Jeremiah 10:21 “Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?... But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion.” Jeremiah 22:15 & 17 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” Jeremiah 23:1 “’Both prophet and priests are godless; even in my temple I find their wickedness,’ declares the Lord. ‘Therefore their path will become slippery; they will be banished to darkness and there they will fall. I will bring disaster on them in the year they are punished,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:11-12
Several things become clear as I look at Jeremiah, the leadership and the people. Jeremiah was a lonely man. He had a very difficult and strong message to give to the leadership and to the people. The leadership had failed miserably in keeping the people’s hearts turned toward God. Their own hearts had become hardened and unable to hear God’s voice. They and all the people had absorbed the sinful practices of the people groups around them, little by little, probably not even noticing how much they had changed over the years. Jeremiah tried to remind them where they had come from and show them how much they had fallen. But he also tried to remind them that they had a loving and forgiving God and that if they would turn their hearts and their faces back to God, he would be there for them.
God shows his tender heart over and over in his concern for the ‘scattered sheep’. “’I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:4
“Then the Lord asked me, ‘What do you see,’ Jeremiah? ‘Figs,’ I answered. ‘The good ones are very good, but the poor ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.’ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. But like the poor figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the Lord, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah, king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt. I will make them abhorrent and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, an object of ridicule and cursing, wherever I banish them. I will send the sword, famine, and plague against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave them and their fathers.’” Jeremiah 24:3-10
God holds leadership responsible. I wonder, then, what causes leaders to fail? I wonder what causes some people to advance as leaders? Leadership carries with it things like popularity, money, power, and control. Popularity is kept alive by saying and doing what the people ‘think’ they want. More money comes in when popularity is kept alive. Position gives power and control. When we experience money, power, and control, we want more and more. That is the human state.
Godly leadership looks very different than worldly leadership. Godly leadership is humble, drawing wisdom from God, not concerned with gaining more wealth, power, or control, but understanding that God is their wisdom, God is their strength, and God is in control. Godly leadership looks more like a servant – like a shepherd caring for the flock entrusted to him/her. That means leading them to good food and water, binding their wounds, and keeping evil wolves and lions and bears away so they are not harmed. When leaders forget that they are a servant and believe they are a king, parading in fine clothes and showing off their gains, that is when they fail. And when they fail, many people are hurt. And so we find God stepping in over and over to rescue his people. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14
If I am called to be a leader, the most significant thing I can do is keep my heart in tune with God’s heart. I need to put blinders on to the world’s enticements and keep my eyes on my heavenly Father. He will show me whose wounds need binding and whose hearts are ready to be taught to follow him. False humility won’t cut it. Only true humility, knowing who my God is and what he has done for me and where my righteousness comes from, will keep me from failing as a leader.
Lord, please help me to keep my eyes on you, to live as your humble servant. You are my King. I give my life in service to you. Amen.
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Path of Least Resistance
Hitler and his army moved into one country after another. They threatened, intimidated, and made examples of people and people bowed in fear. As we look back in history, we say, “Why didn’t they stand up to him right from the beginning? Why did they let him have control? What were they thinking?”
As I read Isaiah’s version of Sennacherib and Assyria threatening Hezekiah and Jerusalem, it sounds very familiar. Sennacherib shouts to the leaders of Jerusalem in the language that the people can understand in order to intimidate them. But he coats it with honey. “Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’ Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says; make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, until I come and take you to a land like your own – a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.’” Isaiah 36:15-17
It sure looked tempting – not too sure about the resettling in another land – but at least it would be without bloodshed. The people had been under siege for some time and were getting hungry and in need of supplies. Sennacherib knew this. What he didn’t know was that God had a better plan for Jerusalem at that time. Hezekiah called for Isaiah to come and asked God for wisdom. Isaiah told Hezekiah’s envoy, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard – those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Listen! I am going to put a spirit in him so that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.’” Isaiah 37:6-7
Hezekiah laid out Sennacherib’s threats before God and asked God to save them. He put all his trust in God and not in the words or history Sennacherib put out before him and his people. Through Isaiah, God told Hezekiah, “I will defend this city and save it for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!” Isaiah 38:35 And God did save them by sending an angel to put to death 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib withdrew and was killed while worshiping his god Nisroch.
We know the end of the story and we assume it was easy for Hezekiah and the people to follow what God said at that time. But when you have an army of 185,000 camped outside your city threatening to destroy you if you don’t give in to their demands, it would be easy to give in. The easy way to peace would be to not fight it. I imagine Hezekiah was in anguish when he went to the Lord and asked him to save them from the Assyrians. He had to decide if he would trust Isaiah’s words and God or if he would take the easy way out and cave in to the demands of Sennacherib. He was responsible for all the people in his kingdom as well as he made that decision.
Where did Hezekiah get the strength to stand up to Sennacherib and the Assyrians? I think it started in the early years of his life. II Chronicles tells us that his first official action as king was to open the doors of the temple of the Lord and repair them. He restored the priests and Levites to positions in the temple and taught the people from the wisdom of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. He led them in rededication of themselves to the Lord. He invited them all to celebrate Passover and remember what God had done for them. (II Chronicles 29-30) It is from that basis, then, that Hezekiah could stand up to Sennacherib in spite of all Sennacherib had done to other nations. Hezekiah had rebuilt the relationship between his people and God. He trusted God in the good times and he trusted God in the hard times.
I wonder how many times I take the path of least resistance and miss what God is ready to do for me. I wonder how many times I listen to the false wisdom of Sennacherib’s in my life and miss the true wisdom of God. Lord, please help me to keep seeking your wisdom and discern the times when you are destroying the Sennacherib’s in my life. I put my trust in you. Help me to hear your voice.
As I read Isaiah’s version of Sennacherib and Assyria threatening Hezekiah and Jerusalem, it sounds very familiar. Sennacherib shouts to the leaders of Jerusalem in the language that the people can understand in order to intimidate them. But he coats it with honey. “Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’ Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says; make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, until I come and take you to a land like your own – a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.’” Isaiah 36:15-17
It sure looked tempting – not too sure about the resettling in another land – but at least it would be without bloodshed. The people had been under siege for some time and were getting hungry and in need of supplies. Sennacherib knew this. What he didn’t know was that God had a better plan for Jerusalem at that time. Hezekiah called for Isaiah to come and asked God for wisdom. Isaiah told Hezekiah’s envoy, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard – those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Listen! I am going to put a spirit in him so that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.’” Isaiah 37:6-7
Hezekiah laid out Sennacherib’s threats before God and asked God to save them. He put all his trust in God and not in the words or history Sennacherib put out before him and his people. Through Isaiah, God told Hezekiah, “I will defend this city and save it for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!” Isaiah 38:35 And God did save them by sending an angel to put to death 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib withdrew and was killed while worshiping his god Nisroch.
We know the end of the story and we assume it was easy for Hezekiah and the people to follow what God said at that time. But when you have an army of 185,000 camped outside your city threatening to destroy you if you don’t give in to their demands, it would be easy to give in. The easy way to peace would be to not fight it. I imagine Hezekiah was in anguish when he went to the Lord and asked him to save them from the Assyrians. He had to decide if he would trust Isaiah’s words and God or if he would take the easy way out and cave in to the demands of Sennacherib. He was responsible for all the people in his kingdom as well as he made that decision.
Where did Hezekiah get the strength to stand up to Sennacherib and the Assyrians? I think it started in the early years of his life. II Chronicles tells us that his first official action as king was to open the doors of the temple of the Lord and repair them. He restored the priests and Levites to positions in the temple and taught the people from the wisdom of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. He led them in rededication of themselves to the Lord. He invited them all to celebrate Passover and remember what God had done for them. (II Chronicles 29-30) It is from that basis, then, that Hezekiah could stand up to Sennacherib in spite of all Sennacherib had done to other nations. Hezekiah had rebuilt the relationship between his people and God. He trusted God in the good times and he trusted God in the hard times.
I wonder how many times I take the path of least resistance and miss what God is ready to do for me. I wonder how many times I listen to the false wisdom of Sennacherib’s in my life and miss the true wisdom of God. Lord, please help me to keep seeking your wisdom and discern the times when you are destroying the Sennacherib’s in my life. I put my trust in you. Help me to hear your voice.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Whose Church Is It?
I wonder, why do we go to church on Sunday? Is it to see friends? Is it to hear a good sermon? Is it because we have responsibilities to lead worship or teach Sunday School? Is it to keep a good image among friends and acquaintances? Is it because that’s what we’ve always done? What do we expect to happen on a Sunday morning in church?
The Israelites had Sabbath rituals and routines. They continued these even as they worshipped other gods. “’The multitude of your sacrifices – what are they to me?’ says the Lord. ‘I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations – I cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.’” Isaiah 1:11-14
The Israelites thought they were keeping all the Sabbath laws and ‘honoring’ God with their festivals as they were set up back in the days of Moses. But God does not sound very happy with them. “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” Isaiah 29:13 It seems that God isn’t so interested with what we do as to where are hearts are at when we are doing it. It is not the gift or sacrifice that pleases God, but rather it is the giving and sacrificial heart of the giver that pleases him. It is not the person who attends a worship service, but the person who comes to worship with all his/her heart that pleases God.
With that understanding of God in my mind, I begin to wonder about our churches today. I wonder if God is weary of our Sunday morning routines. We compete with sports, water parks, and picnics, and in order to keep people coming, we have become a consumer oriented church – providing programs for children, teens and adults. We provide show – I mean worship bands to lead us in singing. We hire charismatic speakers who tell people all the wonderful things God will do for them if they put their money in the offering plate.
Isaiah said of the people, “These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!’” Isaiah 30:10-11
I wonder if that is what we are telling our pastors. “Don’t teach us from Scripture – that is too boring or out of date.” Or, “Don’t make us too uncomfortable with our wealth or our lifestyles.” And if a pastor crosses the line and begins to challenge people to change, he or she may soon be looking for a new position since they are paid positions and can be voted out just as easily as they are voted in.
Are we any different from the Israelites? Are we trying to follow the ways of the world while pretending to worship and honor God?
“’Woe to the obstinate children,’ declares the Lord, ‘to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit.’” Isaiah 30:1
“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it… Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:15 & 18
I wonder if I listen more closely for God’s voice, if I will hear him saying, “I’m weary of all your going through the motions. I want your heart. I want all of you!” And I wonder how I will respond when I hear that voice? Will I drop all my pretenses and come to God’s altar to honor him with my life? Will I sing joyfully as I praise the gracious and compassionate God who saves me? Will I give freely – even sacrificially – because he has blessed me so much and I know that he will supply my needs – I don’t have to hold on to things so tightly?
May God continue to shape my heart into one that loves and honors him with my life and with all that I have.
The Israelites had Sabbath rituals and routines. They continued these even as they worshipped other gods. “’The multitude of your sacrifices – what are they to me?’ says the Lord. ‘I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations – I cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen.’” Isaiah 1:11-14
The Israelites thought they were keeping all the Sabbath laws and ‘honoring’ God with their festivals as they were set up back in the days of Moses. But God does not sound very happy with them. “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” Isaiah 29:13 It seems that God isn’t so interested with what we do as to where are hearts are at when we are doing it. It is not the gift or sacrifice that pleases God, but rather it is the giving and sacrificial heart of the giver that pleases him. It is not the person who attends a worship service, but the person who comes to worship with all his/her heart that pleases God.
With that understanding of God in my mind, I begin to wonder about our churches today. I wonder if God is weary of our Sunday morning routines. We compete with sports, water parks, and picnics, and in order to keep people coming, we have become a consumer oriented church – providing programs for children, teens and adults. We provide show – I mean worship bands to lead us in singing. We hire charismatic speakers who tell people all the wonderful things God will do for them if they put their money in the offering plate.
Isaiah said of the people, “These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord’s instruction. They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!’” Isaiah 30:10-11
I wonder if that is what we are telling our pastors. “Don’t teach us from Scripture – that is too boring or out of date.” Or, “Don’t make us too uncomfortable with our wealth or our lifestyles.” And if a pastor crosses the line and begins to challenge people to change, he or she may soon be looking for a new position since they are paid positions and can be voted out just as easily as they are voted in.
Are we any different from the Israelites? Are we trying to follow the ways of the world while pretending to worship and honor God?
“’Woe to the obstinate children,’ declares the Lord, ‘to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit.’” Isaiah 30:1
“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it… Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:15 & 18
I wonder if I listen more closely for God’s voice, if I will hear him saying, “I’m weary of all your going through the motions. I want your heart. I want all of you!” And I wonder how I will respond when I hear that voice? Will I drop all my pretenses and come to God’s altar to honor him with my life? Will I sing joyfully as I praise the gracious and compassionate God who saves me? Will I give freely – even sacrificially – because he has blessed me so much and I know that he will supply my needs – I don’t have to hold on to things so tightly?
May God continue to shape my heart into one that loves and honors him with my life and with all that I have.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Choosing God's Best
As Moses neared the end of his life, he gathered the people and gave them one last strong encouragement to follow God. He laid out the covenant between Israel and God before them including all the blessings and all the curses depending on the choices they made. Moses had given nearly his entire life to leading these people. He put himself between God’s wrath and their foolishness imploring God to give them another chance. Now, as he was about to die, he gave them all the wisdom he had gathered through the years of leading them. He wanted so much for them to experience God’s blessings, yet he was aware they would make wrong choices and experience God’s judgments on them.
“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20
While this is a direct covenant between Israel and God, I wonder if there may also be wisdom for me today. I wonder how many times I have walked away from God’s blessings – his best for me – because I was distracted by other things. Every day I make a ‘kazillion’ choices. First thing in the morning I choose if I will take time to read and meditate on God’s Word before getting into the business of my day. I choose whether I will take time to pray, send a note of encouragement to someone I know is struggling, spend time with and/or do something special for my spouse, make a phone call, send a check to an agency serving the poor and needy among us, or go myself and serve the poor and needy among us. And all of those choices may occur in my first waking hour of the day.
How do I know if I am making the right choices? What wisdom guides me? I don’t have a Moses standing before me telling me what to do. Ah, but I do have the Holy Spirit within me guiding my thoughts if I am open to that. And I do have the ‘Big Ten’ recorded in Scripture as well as the teachings of Jesus regarding those commandments. As I gather all this wisdom together and apply it to my day, it may change the focus and what determines success at the end of the day.
It would be easy to say that I had a good day if I was able to check everything off my ‘to do’ list. And it is easy to kick myself around if I don’t accomplish my list. But what about God’s list for me on any given day? When I get to the end of my day, what does God count as a successful day? “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
As I have pondered and meditated through Deuteronomy, I have found a God who is concerned with what wisdom we are following. He is concerned for the poor, the fatherless, the widow – those who are vulnerable in society around us. It seems that he blesses us in order for us to share his blessings with others, not for us to horde it all for ourselves. He is concerned with justice, yet he shows mercy to us when we fall short of living holy lives. It seems that he wants to delight in us and give us everything we could desire – a land flowing with milk and honey – yet, we are so quickly ‘spoiled’ by his goodness and turn to serving ourselves instead of others.
And I wonder, when will I get it? When will I understand that this God who wants to delight in me will provide everything I need and more if I turn my heart to him and follow his wisdom? When will I get over my selfish desires and my self-centered ways and become his ‘adopted child’ who desires to be like him. I am, in Moses’ words, a stiff-necked people. And I wonder how many blessings I miss because I am focused on ‘saving myself’ instead of trusting God’s wisdom and leadership to save me.
It seems Moses understood all of this and he left this world with these words, “Choose life!” Today, Lord, I choose life! I choose to love you and to follow you. Open my eyes to see your agenda, not mine, and to give freely to others because you have given so freely to me, whether it is financial, emotional, or just time. Amen.
“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20
While this is a direct covenant between Israel and God, I wonder if there may also be wisdom for me today. I wonder how many times I have walked away from God’s blessings – his best for me – because I was distracted by other things. Every day I make a ‘kazillion’ choices. First thing in the morning I choose if I will take time to read and meditate on God’s Word before getting into the business of my day. I choose whether I will take time to pray, send a note of encouragement to someone I know is struggling, spend time with and/or do something special for my spouse, make a phone call, send a check to an agency serving the poor and needy among us, or go myself and serve the poor and needy among us. And all of those choices may occur in my first waking hour of the day.
How do I know if I am making the right choices? What wisdom guides me? I don’t have a Moses standing before me telling me what to do. Ah, but I do have the Holy Spirit within me guiding my thoughts if I am open to that. And I do have the ‘Big Ten’ recorded in Scripture as well as the teachings of Jesus regarding those commandments. As I gather all this wisdom together and apply it to my day, it may change the focus and what determines success at the end of the day.
It would be easy to say that I had a good day if I was able to check everything off my ‘to do’ list. And it is easy to kick myself around if I don’t accomplish my list. But what about God’s list for me on any given day? When I get to the end of my day, what does God count as a successful day? “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
As I have pondered and meditated through Deuteronomy, I have found a God who is concerned with what wisdom we are following. He is concerned for the poor, the fatherless, the widow – those who are vulnerable in society around us. It seems that he blesses us in order for us to share his blessings with others, not for us to horde it all for ourselves. He is concerned with justice, yet he shows mercy to us when we fall short of living holy lives. It seems that he wants to delight in us and give us everything we could desire – a land flowing with milk and honey – yet, we are so quickly ‘spoiled’ by his goodness and turn to serving ourselves instead of others.
And I wonder, when will I get it? When will I understand that this God who wants to delight in me will provide everything I need and more if I turn my heart to him and follow his wisdom? When will I get over my selfish desires and my self-centered ways and become his ‘adopted child’ who desires to be like him. I am, in Moses’ words, a stiff-necked people. And I wonder how many blessings I miss because I am focused on ‘saving myself’ instead of trusting God’s wisdom and leadership to save me.
It seems Moses understood all of this and he left this world with these words, “Choose life!” Today, Lord, I choose life! I choose to love you and to follow you. Open my eyes to see your agenda, not mine, and to give freely to others because you have given so freely to me, whether it is financial, emotional, or just time. Amen.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Engaging in Battle
Deuteronomy begins with a quick summary of the Israelite’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. When they began their journey, God told them, “You need only to be still. I will fight the battle for you.” Exodus 14:14 paraphrased. They were a defeated people at that time. They had been enslaved to the Egyptians for some time and were weary and confused. God was strengthening their faith and their trust in him and the leadership of Moses.
Now, after many years wondering in the desert and the passing of the older generation, God has a different message for them. As they are about to enter the Promised Land, he says, “Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle.” Deuteronomy 2:24. God says, “I have given,” but you need to “begin to take possession.”
Suddenly, I wonder if this is just the history of Israel or if there is more here in understanding how God works. Might this message be for us today? In the Old Testament, we see a physical battle of Israel taking possession of the land God has given them. In the New Testament, we see a spiritual battle as the Kingdom of God comes lead by King Jesus. I wonder then, since I am part of this Kingdom since I am a follower of King Jesus, am I being told to look around me and notice the ‘sphere of influence’ I might have in my surrounding community? I wonder if God might be saying, “I want you to engage in the spiritual battle in this community you live in. I have already given it to you. You need to engage in the spiritual battle for the souls of those around you.”
This sounds very much like I need to be doing something – not just sitting around waiting for God to do it all. And if I need to be doing something, I am going to do far better if I am tuned into God’s wisdom. God gives the Israelites his wisdom as they set out. “Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” Deuteronomy 4:1-2 He goes on to tell them, “Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’” Deuteronomy 4:6
As I engage in the spiritual battles around me, my wisdom comes from obedience to God’s commands. In living a life that honors my Commander in Chief, others will take notice and will be drawn to his wisdom and understanding as well. And as they choose to come under the Kingship of Jesus and as they learn to become obedient to his commands, they will influence those around them, and the Kingdom of God will continue to grow.
It is an interesting battle we are engaging in. The war is already won. Jesus made sure of that when he died on the cross and rose again. But we are to engage in battle – in the spiritual warfare that is occurring around us – with those who ‘didn’t get the memo’ and continue to act as though there is no God or the battle hasn’t been won.
Our marching orders have been given. Go forth! Engage in the battle and take possession of the land God has given you!
Now, after many years wondering in the desert and the passing of the older generation, God has a different message for them. As they are about to enter the Promised Land, he says, “Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle.” Deuteronomy 2:24. God says, “I have given,” but you need to “begin to take possession.”
Suddenly, I wonder if this is just the history of Israel or if there is more here in understanding how God works. Might this message be for us today? In the Old Testament, we see a physical battle of Israel taking possession of the land God has given them. In the New Testament, we see a spiritual battle as the Kingdom of God comes lead by King Jesus. I wonder then, since I am part of this Kingdom since I am a follower of King Jesus, am I being told to look around me and notice the ‘sphere of influence’ I might have in my surrounding community? I wonder if God might be saying, “I want you to engage in the spiritual battle in this community you live in. I have already given it to you. You need to engage in the spiritual battle for the souls of those around you.”
This sounds very much like I need to be doing something – not just sitting around waiting for God to do it all. And if I need to be doing something, I am going to do far better if I am tuned into God’s wisdom. God gives the Israelites his wisdom as they set out. “Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” Deuteronomy 4:1-2 He goes on to tell them, “Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’” Deuteronomy 4:6
As I engage in the spiritual battles around me, my wisdom comes from obedience to God’s commands. In living a life that honors my Commander in Chief, others will take notice and will be drawn to his wisdom and understanding as well. And as they choose to come under the Kingship of Jesus and as they learn to become obedient to his commands, they will influence those around them, and the Kingdom of God will continue to grow.
It is an interesting battle we are engaging in. The war is already won. Jesus made sure of that when he died on the cross and rose again. But we are to engage in battle – in the spiritual warfare that is occurring around us – with those who ‘didn’t get the memo’ and continue to act as though there is no God or the battle hasn’t been won.
Our marching orders have been given. Go forth! Engage in the battle and take possession of the land God has given you!
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Sign of Jonah
When the Jewish people asked for a sign, Jesus referred them to Jonah: “As the crowds increased, Jesus said, "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.” Luke 11:29-30
What is this sign of Jonah? We tend to gravitate toward the idea that just as Jonah was three days inside the whale and then was returned to land, Jesus would be three days inside the tomb and then returned to life bringing salvation to all who repent. It is easy to go there and stay at the three days because from little on up, we are taught the story of Jonah as the miracle of his surviving three days in the belly of a great fish or whale. We tend to skim over the rest of the story. But I wonder if Jesus had more in mind than the three days comparison.
First, it is helpful to understand that the Ninevites were the worst of the worst people in the minds of the Jews. In Jonah’s day, they were a very threatening power to be reckoned with. Later, they gained even more power over the Jews which the Jews in Jesus’ time would have experienced as their history. After the time of Jonah, Assyria attacked and took captive Israel. Then they threatened Hezekiah and the kingdom of Judah. But God came to their rescue and sent and angel to kill the army of Sennacherib and freed Jerusalem from his siege. “So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.” II Kings 19:36
Jonah was asked to go to the people of Ninevah and preach against their wickedness. It is no wonder that he refused. He tells God why after God changes his mind when the people of Ninevah repent. “But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.’” Jonah 4:1-2
Is it possible, then, that the sign of Jonah is that God is a compassionate and gracious God, forgiving even his enemies when they repent? Just as it was a hard pill for Jonah to swallow, it also was a hard pill for the Jews in Jesus’ day to swallow. If Jesus was their Messiah, surely he would get rid of their oppressors and their enemies and return the splendor of David’s and Solomon’s kingdoms to them. For Jesus to say that even their enemies were included in God’s compassion was unthinkable!
Yet, Jesus instructed them and us to, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44 “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Luke 6:35
Since I am not oppressed by a foreign government, it is easy to say I have no enemies. So this seems to either be an easy instruction to follow or it doesn’t apply to me. But if I open myself to God’s scrutiny on this one, he begins to point out to me people that I don’t like to be around. We might not shoot guns at each other or even throw punches, but we may shoot comments, tell others how terrible each other is, and avoid each other. Those may be the very people God is calling me to ‘love’ and ‘do good to’. I find that when I become willing, God softens my heart toward those people in my life. Sometimes it is a whole group of people that I classify as undesirable. And God graciously helps me to get to know individuals that fall into that class and softens my heart toward them. As I spend more and more time with my Father, he teaches me how much he loves others and teaches me to love them and have compassion for them as well.
So for me today then, the Sign of Jonah is that God is love, that he is a compassionate God who loves even the wicked, and that he forgives all those who repent. And he wants me to learn to be like him – to love my enemies, be compassionate to even the wicked, and forgive just as he forgave me.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Lessons from the Hummingbirds
As I sit in my quiet place watching hummingbirds come to the feeder and the plants nearby, God speaks to me. “Consider the hummingbirds…” And as I consider them, I see that the feeder has three feeding stations and that there are three hummingbirds all wanting to eat. But instead of each sitting at a station and eating, they fight. One hummingbird thinks the food is hers and no one else is to have any. The problem is that even as she chases the others away, she has to be on her guard all the time. She can’t enjoy the food because she is either chasing others away or she is worried they will come again.
I sit here and say, “Silly hummingbirds! There is way more food where that came from and I will keep the feeder filled. Please, all of you, share! Sit, eat and enjoy. There is plenty to go around for all.”
And there, with the quite hum of their wings interjected periodically with a loud buzz and chirping as they fight, God speaks to me. “Yes, it is like that for me as well. I can provide for you everything you need, and yet you hoard things and worry about retirement accounts. Relax! Share! Enjoy the life I have given you. I have blessed you so that you can share, not so that you can hoard.”
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes… how much more valuable are you than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?... And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:22-34
I wonder how far I am to take this… Should I own nothing? Jesus once said, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.” Luke 12:33 Are we all supposed to do that?
I wonder if it is a matter more of the heart… how tightly do I hold on to things. The tighter I hold things, the more ‘stuff’ I have to manage and keep track of. If I travel lighter, I have more time to give to others because I am not spending so much time managing so much. If I need less, I have more to give to those in need.
I wonder if it is a matter more of the soul… how free am I to share the knowledge and wisdom and experience I have regarding God’s mercy, love and grace? Do I hoard it for myself and bask in my blessings? Or do I find needy souls around me and let God’s goodness flow through me and feed hungry souls? That would mean letting go of my precious time and listening to others – maybe even seeking them out when I know they are hurting or in need of my Master’s mercy. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48
“God is kind [even] to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Luke 6:35 If I am truly a follower of Christ, can I do any less? And if I am expected to be kind to the ungrateful and wicked, how much more so to those I call my friends and neighbors. And when I give, I am promised rewards both now and in eternity. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
Silly hummingbirds… Share! Silly humans… Share!
I sit here and say, “Silly hummingbirds! There is way more food where that came from and I will keep the feeder filled. Please, all of you, share! Sit, eat and enjoy. There is plenty to go around for all.”
And there, with the quite hum of their wings interjected periodically with a loud buzz and chirping as they fight, God speaks to me. “Yes, it is like that for me as well. I can provide for you everything you need, and yet you hoard things and worry about retirement accounts. Relax! Share! Enjoy the life I have given you. I have blessed you so that you can share, not so that you can hoard.”
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes… how much more valuable are you than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?... And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:22-34
I wonder how far I am to take this… Should I own nothing? Jesus once said, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.” Luke 12:33 Are we all supposed to do that?
I wonder if it is a matter more of the heart… how tightly do I hold on to things. The tighter I hold things, the more ‘stuff’ I have to manage and keep track of. If I travel lighter, I have more time to give to others because I am not spending so much time managing so much. If I need less, I have more to give to those in need.
I wonder if it is a matter more of the soul… how free am I to share the knowledge and wisdom and experience I have regarding God’s mercy, love and grace? Do I hoard it for myself and bask in my blessings? Or do I find needy souls around me and let God’s goodness flow through me and feed hungry souls? That would mean letting go of my precious time and listening to others – maybe even seeking them out when I know they are hurting or in need of my Master’s mercy. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48
“God is kind [even] to the ungrateful and the wicked.” Luke 6:35 If I am truly a follower of Christ, can I do any less? And if I am expected to be kind to the ungrateful and wicked, how much more so to those I call my friends and neighbors. And when I give, I am promised rewards both now and in eternity. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
Silly hummingbirds… Share! Silly humans… Share!
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