Day 82: 2 Chronicles 19–24; Obadiah; Jonah 1–4; 2 Peter 1–3
As I enter the home stretch and begin the count down for completing the 90 Day Bible Blitz, I am aware that the great count down toward the Day of Judgement is hinted at and spoken to in these later books. It's no surprise that prophets speak of doom and reckoning as payment for sin and rebellion. It's no surprise that unfaithful kings find themselves warned and meet their deaths. What is surprising is Peter making so strong an appeal about the end of all things. We know the New Testament has Revelation, but do we hear the warnings given by the writers throughout? It is there in every corner if you don't skip over it. Jesus speaks about it in all the gospels. Paul speaks about it in his letters. Hebrews makes the prophetic warnings (2:2-3; 12:26-17). James also reminds the church (4:12; 5:3). And now Peter talks about the end which is near. We don't really know when the count down will reach zero day. The clock just keeps ticking.
2nd Chronicles gives more details on the kings of Judah and less on the kings of Israel. It's history told by priests or levitical scribes about the kings and prophets of Judah. We learn of Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram who has a measly 9 verses written about him in 2 Kings 8:16-24, but a chapter of 20 verse telling his story in 2 Chronicles 21. Jehoram is wicked, but we learn it is because of how closely allied he is with the house of King Ahab of Israel. He was married to Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, the wicked queen of Samaria. Apparently he was bad enough to get a letter from Elijah the prophet, who was prophesied against Ahab in the north! It is the only writing we have of Elijah that is direct from him.
Jehoram's son Ahaziah was no better, poorly counseled by the idolatrous Queen Mother Athaliah (2 Chr. 22:3). When Ahaziah is killed by God's punisher Jehu in Jezreel, Queen Athaliah takes the throne and murders all the royal family who might contest her power. Only the baby son of Ahaziah, Jehoash is saved by his aunt Jehoshabeath. She was married to a righteous priest Jehoiada. They kept the baby hidden in the temple complex for seven years, then orchestrated a coup to anoint Joash as rightful king. They execute Athaliah.
Joash under Jehoiada's supervision repairs the temple and takes up a temple tax as was prescribed by Moses to pay for the work. But Joash is corrupted by the rulers of Judah after the priest Jehoiada dies. They compel him to lead Judah back to worshipping Asherah poles and idols. They abandon the temple that Joash had repaired. During this time Zechariah, son of the priest Jehoiada, prophesied in the Spirit.
"This is what God says: 'Why are you transgressing the LORD's commands and you do not prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, He has abandoned you (2 Chr. 24:20).' "
They stoned the priest to death. This event was referred to by Jesus when he confronted the hard hearted priests and scribes at the temple. He told them they always kill the prophets God sends them. The blood of Abel (Cain's brother) to the blood of Zechariah will be on their heads (Lk. 11:51).
Obadiah rails against the Edomites for joining in kicking Jerusalem while they were downed by the Babylonians (Edomites rebellion against Jehoram in 848 BC, depending on whose dating you believe). He says the days are counting down.
"the Day of the LORD is near,
against all the nations.
As you have done, so it will be done to you;
what you deserve will return on your own head (Obd 1:15)."
Jonah is called to prophesy against the Assyrians at Nineveh, a wicked city. God wanted Jonah to announce their coming destruction. Jonah didn't want to go, not because he was afraid of the Assyrians, but because he was afraid they would repent and God would not destroy them.
Jonah has the famous fish story in which Jonah is swallowed by a great big fish. He spends three days in the belly of the fish and prays to Yahweh.
As my life was fading away,
I remembered the LORD.
My prayer came to You,
to Your holy temple.
Those who cling to worthless idols
forsake faithful love,
but as for me, I will sacrifice to You
with a voice of thanksgiving (Jon. 2:7-9b)."
After this horrifying deliverance from certain death in a storm at sea, Jonah does preach at Nineveh in obedience to God. And as he feared the Assyrians repent in sack cloth and ashes. Even the cows repent! That's too funny! So God has mercy and rolls back the clock. Nineveh is spared for the time being until Babylon comes on the scene. This story is a wonderful depiction of how God cares about all people, not simply Israel His chosen. Jonah's chosen status makes him a servant to his enemy because God cared about Nineveh too.
If Hebrews 11 reads like a Hall of Fame, 2nd Peter chapter 2 reads like the "Hall of Infamy." Rebellious angels thrown into Tartarus, the mythical prison that holds the Titans are on the roll. The wicked who perished in the great flood at the time of Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, Balaam
Peter encourages the church to stay alert and pursue a growing fruitful faith. And he instructs them about the proper way to wait for the end. For some among them had been scoffing a the idea of a second coming.
Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, following their own lusts, saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep,all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation (2 Pet. 3:3-4)."
But the faithful should see things from God's perspective. Time means nothing to an eternal being with no beginning or end. God is not slow in coming. The wait for the Day of the Lord means salvation. It is a sign of God's patience for He doesn't want "any to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9b, 15)."
How often well intentioned preachers and Christian authors try to frighten with stories of the Day of the Lord. They tell horrific stories of the end of this age in hopes they the frightened will repent. It certainly was a tactic used by the Old Testament prophets. Jesus too used this prophetic tool when he told parables about the end when the unrepentant and ill-prepared will find themselves outside the kingdom of heaven "where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; Lk. 13:28)."
But Peter's description of the end points to our great hope in that Day. It is a Day we are to earnestly desire its coming. It will be a Day of cleansing fire burning away all that is destructible to make way for the new indestructible earth and heaven (2 Pet. 3:10-13).
But based on His promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell (2 Pet. 3:13).
Our fallen world is due for a cleansing. Peter speaks of the torment the righteous experience when witnessing so much wickedness (2 Pet. 2:7-10). It wears you down. I am counting down the days for our home together with God, a place where righteousness is at home forever and evil is no more.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Seek the Lord
Day 81: 2 Chronicles 13–18; Amos 7–9; 1 Peter 4–5
2 Chr. 13-18 gives insights into the kings of Judah with more detail than the narratives withing 2 Kings. It also portrays the Judean kings in a more positive light. In the story of Abijah, Asa and Jehoshaphat there is a recurring theme. They cried out to the Lord. They sought the Lord. They lead the people to seek the Lord.
Abijah gives a resounding speech as He faces down Jeroboam I with words of faith and conviction.
"Don't you know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt. (a reference to an ancient custom where parties of an agreement taste salt together as a sign of preserving their words)
But as for us, the LORD is our God. We have not abandoned Him; the priests ministering to the LORD are descendants of Aaron, and the Levites [serve] at their tasks. They offer a burnt offering and fragrant incense to the LORD every morning and every evening, and [they set] the rows of the bread [of the Presence] on the ceremonially clean table. They light the lamps of the gold lampstand every evening. We are carrying out the requirements of the LORD our God, while you have abandoned Him (2 Chr. 13:5, 10-11)."
When the battle ensue the Judeans cried out to the Lord. They were ambushed and greatly outnumbered, but God gave them the victory.
Asa walked in the ways of the Lord and lead the people to Seek Yahweh (2 Chr. 14:4). When Cush (Lybia) threatened them with a massive army, Asa "cried out to the Lord" and God gave him victory (2 Chr. 14:11-13).
Asa reformed Judah when inspired by the prophet Azariah, son of Oded. "The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you (2 Chr. 15:2)." Judah experienced peace for many years.
But late in Asa's 41 year reign, he made a treaty with Aram for fear of Israel's King Baasha. Rather than follow his faith and cry out to the Lord, Asa paid tribute to Aram's King Ben-hadad. This brought rebuke from Hanani the seer. Aram later would turn on Judah.
Jehoshaphat followed in Asa's footsteps and was a good king. But he too had his weaknesses. He married the daughter of Israel's King Ahab, one of their most evil kings. This alliance put Judah in harm's way. Jehoshaphat fought along side Ahab at Ramoth-gilead against the Arameans. King Ahab in his usual selfishness has Jehoshaphat fight in his royal robes. This drew the battle away from Ahab, as he fought in regular soldier's attire. Ahab died anyway. Jehoshaphat survived.
As a side note, I've always wondered about the phrase "jumping Jehosaphat." It is apparently a way of exclamation without using God's name. Much in the same way we today exclaim, "Oh My God!"...this was a way to speak of great excitement by exchanging Jehosaphat for Jehovah or Jesus. According to wikipedia the phrase first surfaced in "the 1866 novel The Headless Horseman by Thomas Mayne Reid.[5] The longer version "By the shaking, jumping ghost of Jehosaphat" is seen in the 1865 novel Paul Peabody by Percy Bolingbroke St. John.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehoshaphat)
But to read Jehoshaphat's story is to see a king who jumps from seeking Yahweh to seeking the grace of neighboring kings and back to Yahweh again.
Amos confronts the sins of Israel and they tell him to stop prophesying at Bethel, the king's temple, and go home to Judah (Amo. 7:12). Amos will not stop speaking and warning because that is what God called him to do. He was tending sheep and sycamore figs in Judah beforehand. But now the tender of fruit and flocks must tend to the concerns of Yahweh in Israel. He proclaims their destruction.
People will stagger from sea to sea
and roam from north to east,
seeking the word of the LORD,
but they will not find it. (Amo. 8:12)
And as always, God promises a remnant to survive through whom restoration will occur. Like a basket of picked summer fruit, the time of harvest has passed (Amo. 8:1). There is no way for the fruit to reconnect to the tree or the vine from which it was harvested. New life comes through the fruit being devoured and the seeds spat out of God's mouth onto the ground. The seeds will have a chance to take root and begin growing a new vine for new fruit.
Peter ends his first letter encouraging the church to suffer in the flesh as a means to finding complete freedom from sin (1 Pet. 4:1). The Christian who is "finished with sin" attracts ridicule from those who are still stuck in sinful living. They "are surprised that you don't plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation (1 Pet. 4:4)."
Real transformation occurs for the Christian who learns to seek the Lord's strength through every temptation and trial. They learn the truth of Paul's encouragement when he wrote, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, Peter also say that if we resist the devil, He flees from us (1 Pet. 5:8). We resist the devil by knowing his sinful temptations only lead to our destruction. The devil wants to devour us. But the Christian stand firm in faith, trusting in God's grace to deliver us from each and every snare.
Peter encourages the church suffering through difficult trials and persecutions to "cast all anxiety upon the Lord" knowing that the Lord cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).
It seems to me that we can learn from the kings of Judah and Israel. They at times listened to the judgment of the Lord announced through the prophets and repented. They reformed their nation to worship Yahweh and Him alone. Then at other times they ignored the prophets, told them not to speak and went on practicing idolatry and greedy living.
But the person who learns that the chastisement of the Lord is meant for our good begins to be glad to hear the word of the Lord and His correction (Heb. 12:7-11). For His ways lead to life. No other voice will lead us to the source of everlasting life.
"For the time has come for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God (1 Pet. 4:17)?"
May we all learn to appreciate and willingly accept the discipline of the Lord as a means to share in His holy nature (Heb. 12:10). May we come to understand that judgment on God's house is not a bad thing. His house. His rules. He rules. Will you allow God to rule your hear and life? May we all seek the Lord more and more, learning to lean on His grace so that we might be made perfect after the image of Jesus Christ.
Seek the Lord and be transformed by His grace.
I end with Peter's final greeting in his first letter to the church.
"Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal gloryin Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.To Him be the dominion forever. Amen."
2 Chr. 13-18 gives insights into the kings of Judah with more detail than the narratives withing 2 Kings. It also portrays the Judean kings in a more positive light. In the story of Abijah, Asa and Jehoshaphat there is a recurring theme. They cried out to the Lord. They sought the Lord. They lead the people to seek the Lord.
Abijah gives a resounding speech as He faces down Jeroboam I with words of faith and conviction.
"Don't you know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt. (a reference to an ancient custom where parties of an agreement taste salt together as a sign of preserving their words)
But as for us, the LORD is our God. We have not abandoned Him; the priests ministering to the LORD are descendants of Aaron, and the Levites [serve] at their tasks. They offer a burnt offering and fragrant incense to the LORD every morning and every evening, and [they set] the rows of the bread [of the Presence] on the ceremonially clean table. They light the lamps of the gold lampstand every evening. We are carrying out the requirements of the LORD our God, while you have abandoned Him (2 Chr. 13:5, 10-11)."
When the battle ensue the Judeans cried out to the Lord. They were ambushed and greatly outnumbered, but God gave them the victory.
Asa walked in the ways of the Lord and lead the people to Seek Yahweh (2 Chr. 14:4). When Cush (Lybia) threatened them with a massive army, Asa "cried out to the Lord" and God gave him victory (2 Chr. 14:11-13).
Asa reformed Judah when inspired by the prophet Azariah, son of Oded. "The LORD is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you abandon Him, He will abandon you (2 Chr. 15:2)." Judah experienced peace for many years.
But late in Asa's 41 year reign, he made a treaty with Aram for fear of Israel's King Baasha. Rather than follow his faith and cry out to the Lord, Asa paid tribute to Aram's King Ben-hadad. This brought rebuke from Hanani the seer. Aram later would turn on Judah.
Jehoshaphat followed in Asa's footsteps and was a good king. But he too had his weaknesses. He married the daughter of Israel's King Ahab, one of their most evil kings. This alliance put Judah in harm's way. Jehoshaphat fought along side Ahab at Ramoth-gilead against the Arameans. King Ahab in his usual selfishness has Jehoshaphat fight in his royal robes. This drew the battle away from Ahab, as he fought in regular soldier's attire. Ahab died anyway. Jehoshaphat survived.
As a side note, I've always wondered about the phrase "jumping Jehosaphat." It is apparently a way of exclamation without using God's name. Much in the same way we today exclaim, "Oh My God!"...this was a way to speak of great excitement by exchanging Jehosaphat for Jehovah or Jesus. According to wikipedia the phrase first surfaced in "the 1866 novel The Headless Horseman by Thomas Mayne Reid.[5] The longer version "By the shaking, jumping ghost of Jehosaphat" is seen in the 1865 novel Paul Peabody by Percy Bolingbroke St. John.[6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehoshaphat)
But to read Jehoshaphat's story is to see a king who jumps from seeking Yahweh to seeking the grace of neighboring kings and back to Yahweh again.
Amos confronts the sins of Israel and they tell him to stop prophesying at Bethel, the king's temple, and go home to Judah (Amo. 7:12). Amos will not stop speaking and warning because that is what God called him to do. He was tending sheep and sycamore figs in Judah beforehand. But now the tender of fruit and flocks must tend to the concerns of Yahweh in Israel. He proclaims their destruction.
People will stagger from sea to sea
and roam from north to east,
seeking the word of the LORD,
but they will not find it. (Amo. 8:12)
And as always, God promises a remnant to survive through whom restoration will occur. Like a basket of picked summer fruit, the time of harvest has passed (Amo. 8:1). There is no way for the fruit to reconnect to the tree or the vine from which it was harvested. New life comes through the fruit being devoured and the seeds spat out of God's mouth onto the ground. The seeds will have a chance to take root and begin growing a new vine for new fruit.
Peter ends his first letter encouraging the church to suffer in the flesh as a means to finding complete freedom from sin (1 Pet. 4:1). The Christian who is "finished with sin" attracts ridicule from those who are still stuck in sinful living. They "are surprised that you don't plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation (1 Pet. 4:4)."
Real transformation occurs for the Christian who learns to seek the Lord's strength through every temptation and trial. They learn the truth of Paul's encouragement when he wrote, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, Peter also say that if we resist the devil, He flees from us (1 Pet. 5:8). We resist the devil by knowing his sinful temptations only lead to our destruction. The devil wants to devour us. But the Christian stand firm in faith, trusting in God's grace to deliver us from each and every snare.
Peter encourages the church suffering through difficult trials and persecutions to "cast all anxiety upon the Lord" knowing that the Lord cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).
It seems to me that we can learn from the kings of Judah and Israel. They at times listened to the judgment of the Lord announced through the prophets and repented. They reformed their nation to worship Yahweh and Him alone. Then at other times they ignored the prophets, told them not to speak and went on practicing idolatry and greedy living.
But the person who learns that the chastisement of the Lord is meant for our good begins to be glad to hear the word of the Lord and His correction (Heb. 12:7-11). For His ways lead to life. No other voice will lead us to the source of everlasting life.
"For the time has come for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God (1 Pet. 4:17)?"
May we all learn to appreciate and willingly accept the discipline of the Lord as a means to share in His holy nature (Heb. 12:10). May we come to understand that judgment on God's house is not a bad thing. His house. His rules. He rules. Will you allow God to rule your hear and life? May we all seek the Lord more and more, learning to lean on His grace so that we might be made perfect after the image of Jesus Christ.
Seek the Lord and be transformed by His grace.
I end with Peter's final greeting in his first letter to the church.
"Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal gloryin Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.To Him be the dominion forever. Amen."
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Heal Our Land
Day 80: 2 Chronicles 7–12; Amos 4–6; 1 Peter 1–3
In the days and months following the 9/11/01 attacks by Arab terrorists a verse from 2 Chronicles kept popping up all around town on signs and floating about the Internet.
"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land (2 Chr. 7:14)."
Of course this implies a perspective that this attack on America was in part God's doing. At very least, in the minds of those who hold this view, God allowed the horror to occur to the USA because we as a nation have turned away from God.
While it may be true that the USA has fallen away from a former adherence to faith in Christ, I don't believe God's covenant with Israel is His covenant with the USA. The covenant with Israel is passing away because Christ has fulfilled all its requirements. Non-Jews can choose to live by the former covenant. There are synagogues all over our great country to join the people of the Law of Moses. But we have already seen in Hebrews that a greater salvation is now ours through faith in Christ. What humanity was unable to do through the law, are now enabled to do through grace, the working of God's power through the Holy Spirit in us.
Don't misunderstand me. I am certainly aware that America is not the nation it once was. Statistics I remember from studying in American Religious History shows that during the Revolutionary years in the late 18th century church attendance was only observed by 10% of the population. When America had it's major wars, church attendance went up drastically. Post WW2 marked America's highest church attendance records at near 70% of the population peaking in 1968. Since then church attendance has declined steadily until now attendance is as lows as 28% with projections for more depletion.
So in point of fact America has never been fully committed to church. We have always been open to other faiths by nature of our laws protecting religious freedom. We protect the freedom to practice faith as we each desire or no faith at all. At what level are we bound to God's promise to Solomon at the consecration of the first temple? Does the formula work? If we are covenant keepers as a nation and repent and make sacrifices to atone for our sins, will God protect America, bless America?
As Christians the simple understanding of the covenant in Christ's blood is that if we believe in Jesus ans trust in Him as Lord and Savior, we will go to heaven when we die. This simple understanding has only the responsibility of belief. Remember James warned us that "faith without works is dead (Jms. 2:26)."
A mature faith in Christ understands that our faith leads to the transformation of our very nature. The old person ruled helplessly by sin and destined for destruction is transformed through faith in Christ into a new person empowered by grace to live in righteousness. But this righteousness is at first passive, like the restored righteousness of a sinner who is made clean after a priest offers a sacrifice for him at the temple. But when he walks away and sins again he needs to go back to the altar and make another sacrifice. But in Christ the sacrifice has been made once for all. No more blood needs to be shed.
But the grace given the Christian believer is the same power that gave Christ victory over sin and raised Him from the grave. There is a new possibility for Christians that was impossible for humanity before this. Now through grace we have divine power to resist every sinful passion and temptation. This takes work to train our minds, hearts and bodies to obey the Spirit and find that He is faithful to deliver us from every entanglement.
Like Paul admits, I have not reached the goal or have already been made perfect (Phil. 3:12). I know that everyone sins. Everyone falls short of God's glory. And even under grace we are not free from sin's temptation. We can fail. My habits of sin are deeply ingrained in my body/spirit system. But the possibility to find freedom from these sinful habits and patterns of thinking is something we strive for by cooperating with the Spirit within.
2 Chronicles continues the story of Solomon and succeeding sons of David, the split with Northern Israel under Jeroboam and the drift away from covenant faithfulness. We have covered this ground before. Much of the narrative is the same as 1 Kings.
Amos uses a repetitive phrase in his next set of confrontations with Israel: "yet you did not return to Me." Regardless of famine, drought, pestilence, mildew and blight, sickness, and war...no matter what measures God used to correct Israel in hopes to bring them to repentance...Israel would not return to Yahweh worship. Baal was a lot more interesting to them.
Woe to those who are at ease in Zion
and to those who feel secure on the hill of Samaria—
the notable people in this first of the nations,
those the house of Israel comes to.
They drink wine by the bowlful
and anoint themselves with the finest oils
but do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
Therefore, they will now go into exile...(Amo. 1, 6-7a)
I don't need to spell out the parallels with American luxuries and what our society prizes. But then again, we aren't truly a Christian nation.
Amos wrote searing words to the wealthy women of Israel.
Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan
who are on the hill of Samaria,
women who oppress the poor
and crush the needy,
who say to their husbands,
"Bring us something to drink."
The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness:
Look, the days are coming
when you will be taken away with hooks,
every last [one] of you with fishhooks.(Amo. 4:1-2)
The image is of wealthy women growing fat on luxury and ease, the pleasures of drinking wine and becoming a bloated cow. Their wealth is at the expense of caring for the needs of the poor among them. The very people blessed with the resources to help the needy, spend it on themselves. Their destruction is announced, but they do not repent. They ignore the warnings.
The apostle Peter writes his first letter to Christians in the area of modern day Turkey. Peter refers to Christians as "temporary residents." We are those who live here on earth for a short time in the eyes of eternity. We have an eternal home that is waiting for us that is "imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading (1 Pet. 1:4)." This mortal life is only a temporary situation.
But some mortals are "set apart" for "obedience" through the new covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:1-2).
"Therefore, get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined, and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy (1 Pet. 1:13-16)."
From Peter's perspective, the apostle to the Jews, Christians are called to holiness as the Jews before them. Peter sees that Christians are purified by obedience to the truth of the gospel. What the gospel has placed in the hearts of believers is "imperishable (1 Pet. 1:23)." This imperishable seed planted in us by the gospel enables Christian communities to get rid of " all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander." But like any seed, it must grow into a fruit bearing plant, that for which it was created.
The community of Christ is a spiritual house, a new temple, made up of living stones who are following the Messiah, the stone rejected by Israel. Our conduct before others, under the authority of the government where we live, in our homes and in our workplaces, and especially in the church, is to be the same as Jesus' conduct. His Spirit dwells in us. His grace is given to all who call upon the Lord.
If you are like me, you realize you need to grow up into salvation. I need more and more to learn how to live under this new reality as a man filled with the grace of God. Every sinful error is an opportunity to return to the Lord and seek grace to heal, to learn and grow into the holy man He created me to be.
I don't know what America's covenant with God is, but I know mine. I am a citizen of a better land, the kingdom of heaven. While I live as a temporary resident in America I will obey its laws, respect its leaders and pray for them as Peter urged the early Christians to do for the Roman Empire. For this nation of resident aliens, the church of Jesus Christ, is like yeast in the dough. If we live holy as God is Holy by obeying the Holy Spirit, our communities will changes lives and bless the nation where we live. It's a very similar calling as Israel's, but it is through a grace empowered life in Christ, where love it the law.
Perhaps if the church practiced obeying God's call to love, to forgive and to make peace; if we lift the burdens of others, and learn to be happy with what we have in rejoicing praise to the Lord; then we might actually be a source of healing on this land.
Lord God, I join others in praying "God bless America." Help Your church in America to live holy as loving, forgiving, giving and righteous. Only through the grace of Christ can we pray in hopeful expectation. Lord Jesus, make us a blessing to Your name and to America and America to the world.Amen
In the days and months following the 9/11/01 attacks by Arab terrorists a verse from 2 Chronicles kept popping up all around town on signs and floating about the Internet.
"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land (2 Chr. 7:14)."
Of course this implies a perspective that this attack on America was in part God's doing. At very least, in the minds of those who hold this view, God allowed the horror to occur to the USA because we as a nation have turned away from God.
While it may be true that the USA has fallen away from a former adherence to faith in Christ, I don't believe God's covenant with Israel is His covenant with the USA. The covenant with Israel is passing away because Christ has fulfilled all its requirements. Non-Jews can choose to live by the former covenant. There are synagogues all over our great country to join the people of the Law of Moses. But we have already seen in Hebrews that a greater salvation is now ours through faith in Christ. What humanity was unable to do through the law, are now enabled to do through grace, the working of God's power through the Holy Spirit in us.
Don't misunderstand me. I am certainly aware that America is not the nation it once was. Statistics I remember from studying in American Religious History shows that during the Revolutionary years in the late 18th century church attendance was only observed by 10% of the population. When America had it's major wars, church attendance went up drastically. Post WW2 marked America's highest church attendance records at near 70% of the population peaking in 1968. Since then church attendance has declined steadily until now attendance is as lows as 28% with projections for more depletion.
So in point of fact America has never been fully committed to church. We have always been open to other faiths by nature of our laws protecting religious freedom. We protect the freedom to practice faith as we each desire or no faith at all. At what level are we bound to God's promise to Solomon at the consecration of the first temple? Does the formula work? If we are covenant keepers as a nation and repent and make sacrifices to atone for our sins, will God protect America, bless America?
As Christians the simple understanding of the covenant in Christ's blood is that if we believe in Jesus ans trust in Him as Lord and Savior, we will go to heaven when we die. This simple understanding has only the responsibility of belief. Remember James warned us that "faith without works is dead (Jms. 2:26)."
A mature faith in Christ understands that our faith leads to the transformation of our very nature. The old person ruled helplessly by sin and destined for destruction is transformed through faith in Christ into a new person empowered by grace to live in righteousness. But this righteousness is at first passive, like the restored righteousness of a sinner who is made clean after a priest offers a sacrifice for him at the temple. But when he walks away and sins again he needs to go back to the altar and make another sacrifice. But in Christ the sacrifice has been made once for all. No more blood needs to be shed.
But the grace given the Christian believer is the same power that gave Christ victory over sin and raised Him from the grave. There is a new possibility for Christians that was impossible for humanity before this. Now through grace we have divine power to resist every sinful passion and temptation. This takes work to train our minds, hearts and bodies to obey the Spirit and find that He is faithful to deliver us from every entanglement.
Like Paul admits, I have not reached the goal or have already been made perfect (Phil. 3:12). I know that everyone sins. Everyone falls short of God's glory. And even under grace we are not free from sin's temptation. We can fail. My habits of sin are deeply ingrained in my body/spirit system. But the possibility to find freedom from these sinful habits and patterns of thinking is something we strive for by cooperating with the Spirit within.
2 Chronicles continues the story of Solomon and succeeding sons of David, the split with Northern Israel under Jeroboam and the drift away from covenant faithfulness. We have covered this ground before. Much of the narrative is the same as 1 Kings.
Amos uses a repetitive phrase in his next set of confrontations with Israel: "yet you did not return to Me." Regardless of famine, drought, pestilence, mildew and blight, sickness, and war...no matter what measures God used to correct Israel in hopes to bring them to repentance...Israel would not return to Yahweh worship. Baal was a lot more interesting to them.
Woe to those who are at ease in Zion
and to those who feel secure on the hill of Samaria—
the notable people in this first of the nations,
those the house of Israel comes to.
They drink wine by the bowlful
and anoint themselves with the finest oils
but do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
Therefore, they will now go into exile...(Amo. 1, 6-7a)
I don't need to spell out the parallels with American luxuries and what our society prizes. But then again, we aren't truly a Christian nation.
Amos wrote searing words to the wealthy women of Israel.
Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan
who are on the hill of Samaria,
women who oppress the poor
and crush the needy,
who say to their husbands,
"Bring us something to drink."
The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness:
Look, the days are coming
when you will be taken away with hooks,
every last [one] of you with fishhooks.(Amo. 4:1-2)
The image is of wealthy women growing fat on luxury and ease, the pleasures of drinking wine and becoming a bloated cow. Their wealth is at the expense of caring for the needs of the poor among them. The very people blessed with the resources to help the needy, spend it on themselves. Their destruction is announced, but they do not repent. They ignore the warnings.
The apostle Peter writes his first letter to Christians in the area of modern day Turkey. Peter refers to Christians as "temporary residents." We are those who live here on earth for a short time in the eyes of eternity. We have an eternal home that is waiting for us that is "imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading (1 Pet. 1:4)." This mortal life is only a temporary situation.
But some mortals are "set apart" for "obedience" through the new covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:1-2).
"Therefore, get your minds ready for action, being self-disciplined, and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance but, as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy (1 Pet. 1:13-16)."
From Peter's perspective, the apostle to the Jews, Christians are called to holiness as the Jews before them. Peter sees that Christians are purified by obedience to the truth of the gospel. What the gospel has placed in the hearts of believers is "imperishable (1 Pet. 1:23)." This imperishable seed planted in us by the gospel enables Christian communities to get rid of " all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander." But like any seed, it must grow into a fruit bearing plant, that for which it was created.
The community of Christ is a spiritual house, a new temple, made up of living stones who are following the Messiah, the stone rejected by Israel. Our conduct before others, under the authority of the government where we live, in our homes and in our workplaces, and especially in the church, is to be the same as Jesus' conduct. His Spirit dwells in us. His grace is given to all who call upon the Lord.
If you are like me, you realize you need to grow up into salvation. I need more and more to learn how to live under this new reality as a man filled with the grace of God. Every sinful error is an opportunity to return to the Lord and seek grace to heal, to learn and grow into the holy man He created me to be.
I don't know what America's covenant with God is, but I know mine. I am a citizen of a better land, the kingdom of heaven. While I live as a temporary resident in America I will obey its laws, respect its leaders and pray for them as Peter urged the early Christians to do for the Roman Empire. For this nation of resident aliens, the church of Jesus Christ, is like yeast in the dough. If we live holy as God is Holy by obeying the Holy Spirit, our communities will changes lives and bless the nation where we live. It's a very similar calling as Israel's, but it is through a grace empowered life in Christ, where love it the law.
Perhaps if the church practiced obeying God's call to love, to forgive and to make peace; if we lift the burdens of others, and learn to be happy with what we have in rejoicing praise to the Lord; then we might actually be a source of healing on this land.
Lord God, I join others in praying "God bless America." Help Your church in America to live holy as loving, forgiving, giving and righteous. Only through the grace of Christ can we pray in hopeful expectation. Lord Jesus, make us a blessing to Your name and to America and America to the world.Amen
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Temple
Day 79: 2 Chronicles 1–6; Amos 1–3; James 4–5
1 Chronicles 3:1 tells us that the site where the temple was built was on Mount Moriah was the same place that David sacrificed on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, But Mount Moriah is also the place where Abraham bound Isaac his son in obedience to God's command for him to sacrifice his son. Of course a ram life was exchanged fro Isaac's. Today the Muslim's have an eight century mosque over the same site (traditionally speaking), the Dome of the Rock.
The two pillars at the entrance to the temple were named Jachin (He will establish) and Boaz (Fleetness or "Strength is in Him") for God had established Israel in His promised land and established Solomon as king over them and strengthening him with wisdom to govern.
much less this temple I have built (2 Chr. 6:18)."
This temple of Yahweh is not only for His chosen people Israel. It is also a place for the foreigner to came and pray because of the great Name of Yahweh (2 Chr. 6:32-33).
God so identifies with His people Israel that an attack or a dishonoring of Israel is an attack or dishonoring of Yahweh. God sends the prophet Amos to speak an oracles decrying the attacks and abuses of Aram in Damascus, Philistines in Gaza, Sidonians in Tyre, Edomites in Teman, Ammonites in Rabbah, and Moabites in Kerioth. There are six surrounding nations accused and warned of destruction. But God's wrath is also pronounced upon Judah and Israel, His sons. His word to His chosen is exactly the same as His word to the gentile nations, "I will not relent from punishing..."
The two pillars at the entrance to the temple were named Jachin (He will establish) and Boaz (Fleetness or "Strength is in Him") for God had established Israel in His promised land and established Solomon as king over them and strengthening him with wisdom to govern.
 |
| The Rock Where Abraham Bound Isaac and God Spared him |
It is interesting to note that Solomon's political alliance with Hiram, king of Sidon, was instrumental in the construction of the temple. Hiram sent at Solomon's request the cedar and the stone cutters and the chief architect. Huram-abi (or simply Huram) was the son of a Danite woman and a Sidonian father. This points to the hope for gentiles, but it also points to some unconscionable. A man of mixed blood, and a gentile built the temple of the Holy God. According to 1st Kings 6:7 Solomon took pains to keep the work on the temple holy. The chiseling of the stone was carried out at the quarries so that the sound of hammers would not desecrate the holy place. So why would Solomon agree to a Sidonian in such an instrumental position? God is silent on the issue. Perhaps it's no issue at all, but didn't the Spirit of the Lord enable Bezalel to do all the ornate work on the original tabernacle at Mt. Sinai? Is the Lord no less able to empower a pure blooded Israelite to carry out this work? Of course! So why does Solomon entreat the Sidonians for this skilled work? It is because Solomon sees their fine work in their temples and public works and wants to have the same look and feel of grandeur they inspire in him. It reveals to us the weakness in Solomon to go after other gods which will lead to Israel's eventual downfall.
And yet the glory of the Lord fills the temple in mysterious cloud so thick the priests can no longer minister before the Lord with singing and musical instruments. This is hope for gentiles for even the Holy God will accept the work of gentile hands on His holy place and choose to dwell there. It can be argued that a man is seen as an Israelite if his mother is a Jew which would make my points here mute.
In any case, whether pure Jew or mixed bloodlines handled the building of the temple, Solomon recognizes God's holy nature and condescension.
"But will God indeed live on earth with man?
Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built (2 Chr. 6:18)."
This temple of Yahweh is not only for His chosen people Israel. It is also a place for the foreigner to came and pray because of the great Name of Yahweh (2 Chr. 6:32-33).
God so identifies with His people Israel that an attack or a dishonoring of Israel is an attack or dishonoring of Yahweh. God sends the prophet Amos to speak an oracles decrying the attacks and abuses of Aram in Damascus, Philistines in Gaza, Sidonians in Tyre, Edomites in Teman, Ammonites in Rabbah, and Moabites in Kerioth. There are six surrounding nations accused and warned of destruction. But God's wrath is also pronounced upon Judah and Israel, His sons. His word to His chosen is exactly the same as His word to the gentile nations, "I will not relent from punishing..."
Judah' sin is not keeping his covenant and following the lies of their ancestors into idolatry (Amo. 2:4). Israel's sin includes idolatry, but they are also guilty of oppressing the poor, greed and sexual immorality (Amo. 2:6-8). Because of these sins only a remnant will survive the coming destruction like a shepherd only rescues two sheep's legs and part of an ear from the mouth of a lion (Amo. 3:12).
God will demolish the altar at Bethel where Jeroboam placed a golden calf calling it the God who brought you out of Egypt. God's temple is in Jerusalem where there is to be no graven image.
James writes at time when the temple is understood by Christians to be within themselves. God has moved from high heaven to Mt. Sinai to the ark of the covenant in the tabernacle to the temple into exile with Judah and back into the second and third temples and now into the hearts of those who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.
And just as the Spirit of the Lord is jealous of His people worshiping false gods, the Spirit that lives in the church is jealous of a love for worldly things. The temple is to be kept holy and undefiled by the common and profane. James says it so clearly,
"Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy. Or do you think it's without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit He has caused to live in us yearns jealously (Jms. 4:4-5)?"
Jms. 4:9). He calls for humility and the practice of justice (Jms. 5:4-5). Rather than being greedy for wealth, the Christian should wait patiently on the goodness of the Lord.
This righteous community will be heard by God in prayer when they repent of their sins and walk in humility before Him and each other. Just as Solomon prayed that the Lord would hear from heaven the prayers of the people at His temple and act, James promises that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (Jms 5:16b).
Lord, if Elijah the great prophet, who worked amazing miracles, was a human like us, perhaps You might also work miracles in our ministries. Fill Your church, the hearts of Your believers, with Your Holy Spirit that we might be enabled to live righteous lives that please You. Then when we pray, You will hear and act by Your mighty hand to bring glory to Your name. In Christ I pray, Amen!
Spirit
Day 78: 1 Chronicles 26–29; Joel 1–3; James 1–3
The prophet Joel tells of the great Day of the Lord, a day of vengeance. And then after that Day of the Lord a pouring out of His Spirit on all flesh. Pentecost, the 50th day after Eater, is coming soon and my end of the 90 Day Bible Blitz. It was on Pentecost that first year after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection that the disciples experienced a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy about the outpouring of the Spirit. I have a keen sense that if it were not for the Spirit and for the way the Spirit works through me, I would not be writing this blog.
The Spirit nudges me out of bed in the morning to read and write. The Spirit reminds me I haven't yet posted to the blog. Sometimes I obey and other times I resist. I resist when tired and my mind is sluggish. Lately there's been a resistance to write because the narrative portions and the prophets are repetitive for the most part. It's getting more difficult finding connecting themes about which to write.
The Spirit is gentle and He is persistent. And when I do comply with His direction, I find blessing. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. And my flesh can speak louder than my willing spirit. But the believer is not left to her own limited resources. She is empowered by the Spirit of God.
During readings today in 1 Chronicles and in James I felt His presence, warm and life giving as the Word of God inspired me. The word of God is God breathed. Paul told Timothy, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16)..."
The chroniclers tell of all David's preparations for building the temple. It reminds me of Moses preparing to build the tabernacle. Even David mentions he had a vision and a plan for the temple which He gave to Solomon (1 Chr. 28:12, 19). The footnote to 1 Chr. 28:12 in the Holman Christian Standard Bible says an alternate translation to "had in his mind" could be "he received from the Spirit." Moses was given a vision and plan for the tent of meeting on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 25:1, 8-9).
David also commissions his son Solomon to build this envisioned temple with all the organizational plans for the Levites and priests doing the work of the temple. He does so using the same words Moses spoke to Joshua and God later directly to Joshua. "Be strong and courageous (Deut. 31:6-7; Jos 1:6-9)."
Then David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He won't leave you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the LORD's house is finished (1 Chr. 28:20)."
David then makes known his personal offering for the building of the temple. It is vastly generous (1 Chr. 29:3-4). The leaders of people respond by also giving generously. It is important to note they gave willingly. This reminds us of the people giving willingly for the building of the tent of meeting under Moses (Ex. 25:5, 21, 29). David is overcome with joy as he watches the joyous outpouring of generous gifts for the the glory of God.
"LORD our God, all this wealth that we've provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand; everything belongs to You. I know, my God, that You test the heart and that You are pleased with uprightness. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You. LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of Your people, and confirm their hearts toward You (1 Chr. 29:16-18)."
Prayers like this move God and God's people. It certainly moved me. Or should I say the Spirit filled me at the reading of David's prayer? For a time the people enjoyed peace and prosperity under Solomon. But as we know Solomon did not keep his heart fully dedicated to Yahweh. His many foreign wives drew him into pagan worship.
Joel is one of many prophets who warned Israel and Judah of God's intent to punish their idolatry and sin. His words are frightening. The Day of the Lord is a shaking of the cosmos! It is as the plagues of the Lord upon Egypt with locusts laying everything barren. Terrible famine, war and grief will be Israel's future unless they repent. Joel urges them to call a sacred fast and to tear their hearts in grief over their sin, not simply their clothes.
"Even now—
[this is] the LORD's declaration—
turn to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Tear your hearts,
not just your clothes,
and return to the LORD your God.
For He is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, rich in faithful love,
and He relents from sending disaster.
Who knows? He may turn and relent
and leave a blessing behind Him...(Jl. 2:12-14a)"
An act of national repentance would make God "jealous for His land and spared people (Jl. 2:18)."
God promises to restore them from famine war and pestilence. God will pour out His Spirit on all humanity (JlJl 2:30-31; 3:2, 14).
Renewal comes through God's mercy to the repentant sinner and His Spirit blesses and keeps them holy. That is the prophet's hopeful vision. Once restored Jerusalem and Judah will remain holy and a source of blessing for all the world to see and enjoy for God is with them (Jl. 3:17-18). But the enemies of God and His people will be laid to waste. Such is the vision for the great and terrible Day of the Lord.
The letter of James to the dispersed church throughout the Roman empire is decidedly Jewish in tone, written for Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians who know the Jewish scriptures and customs. James is the earthly brother of Jesus. According to John's gospel and to Mark's, Jesus' brothers did not believe in Him as Messiah (Jn 7:5; Mk. 3:21). But after Jesus' resurrection James is made the leader of the church in Jerusalem. We never hear of his conversion, like we do of the Pharisee Saul of Tarsus who becomes Paul the apostle of Jesus Christ to the gentiles.
I get the sense that the Jewish Christians, formed by a millennium of custom had to place an earthly son of David over them. IN some sense James serves as the king of the new kingdom of Christ. Though all knew Jesus was the eternal King of Kings, James would be His earthly representative. This is how kings and emperors were understood, divinely appointed, anointed, and authorized to govern in God's name. They were sons of the gods.
James mentions Jesus only once in his letter to the church in his brief greeting. The letter is filled with exhortation, words designed to instruct, correct, encourage and build up. There is very little Christian theology in this letter, not of the kind of the apostle Paul's. Instead the letter could be written by a law keeping Jew given to encourage law keeping Jews. There is only one reference to "the Spirit who lives in us (Jms. 4:5)."
But there is a Christian worldview in James. It is not spelled out in detail, but briefly referred to at times James references the return of the Lord (Jms. 5:7) in addition to the verse about the indwelling Spirit. James also mentions "new birth" and the metaphor of "firstfruits" to describe the community of Christ (Jms. 1:18). And what is this new birth? It is the gift of the Spirit as proclaimed by Joel and promised by Jesus. And what are firstfruits? It refers to the very first harvested souls from God's new creation. We Christians are the first in the in-gathering of fruit from God's vineyard. It is through the "message of truth" that we become so (Jms. 1:18). Paul taught that "faith comes by hearing" the gospel (Rom. 10:17). Is not James pointing to this same belief?
Faith opens us up to be filled with the Spirit. All those who believe the gospel are therefore in relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Their hearts are made new. Whether that be a felt experience or not is immaterial. "All who are in Christ are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:7)."
From James perspective the moral behavior of the church is based on their friendship with God, their undoubting faith and their habit of leaning of grace to endure trials. James shares great wisdom with the church. the benefits of life in the Spirit is learned through endurance and endurance leads us to maturity not lacking a thing (Jms 1:2-4)!
If we would learn to lean on the greater grace that God gives to those who humble themselves before Him, they would find the new creation is a reality in themselves. The would learn to control their tongue. They would learn not to judge others. They would learn to treat the poor with dignity and mutual affection. They would do the word of God and not simply hear it. They would come to love their neighbor as themselves. Their faith would not be dead with a lack of godly action. Instead their faith would come alive through good works. Faith without works is dead just as a body without the spirit is dead. How much more alive is he Christian whose faith fills their bodies with the Holy Spirit of the Eternal One?
Yes those who learn to face trials with the power of the "greater grace" will find themselves growing toward maturity, abundance and Life!
"Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him (Jms. 1:12)."
Lord God, we love You and ask You to live in us through Your Spirit. Help us to keep our minds, eyes, and hearts in love and friendship with You. Keep us from idolatrous and unfaithful love of the things of this world. Help us to grow in our ability to live by the greater grace You give to the humble.
In Jesus name, Amen.
The prophet Joel tells of the great Day of the Lord, a day of vengeance. And then after that Day of the Lord a pouring out of His Spirit on all flesh. Pentecost, the 50th day after Eater, is coming soon and my end of the 90 Day Bible Blitz. It was on Pentecost that first year after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection that the disciples experienced a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy about the outpouring of the Spirit. I have a keen sense that if it were not for the Spirit and for the way the Spirit works through me, I would not be writing this blog.
The Spirit nudges me out of bed in the morning to read and write. The Spirit reminds me I haven't yet posted to the blog. Sometimes I obey and other times I resist. I resist when tired and my mind is sluggish. Lately there's been a resistance to write because the narrative portions and the prophets are repetitive for the most part. It's getting more difficult finding connecting themes about which to write.
The Spirit is gentle and He is persistent. And when I do comply with His direction, I find blessing. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. And my flesh can speak louder than my willing spirit. But the believer is not left to her own limited resources. She is empowered by the Spirit of God.
During readings today in 1 Chronicles and in James I felt His presence, warm and life giving as the Word of God inspired me. The word of God is God breathed. Paul told Timothy, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16)..."
The chroniclers tell of all David's preparations for building the temple. It reminds me of Moses preparing to build the tabernacle. Even David mentions he had a vision and a plan for the temple which He gave to Solomon (1 Chr. 28:12, 19). The footnote to 1 Chr. 28:12 in the Holman Christian Standard Bible says an alternate translation to "had in his mind" could be "he received from the Spirit." Moses was given a vision and plan for the tent of meeting on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 25:1, 8-9).
David also commissions his son Solomon to build this envisioned temple with all the organizational plans for the Levites and priests doing the work of the temple. He does so using the same words Moses spoke to Joshua and God later directly to Joshua. "Be strong and courageous (Deut. 31:6-7; Jos 1:6-9)."
Then David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He won't leave you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the LORD's house is finished (1 Chr. 28:20)."
David then makes known his personal offering for the building of the temple. It is vastly generous (1 Chr. 29:3-4). The leaders of people respond by also giving generously. It is important to note they gave willingly. This reminds us of the people giving willingly for the building of the tent of meeting under Moses (Ex. 25:5, 21, 29). David is overcome with joy as he watches the joyous outpouring of generous gifts for the the glory of God.
"LORD our God, all this wealth that we've provided for building You a house for Your holy name comes from Your hand; everything belongs to You. I know, my God, that You test the heart and that You are pleased with uprightness. I have willingly given all these things with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You. LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of Your people, and confirm their hearts toward You (1 Chr. 29:16-18)."
Prayers like this move God and God's people. It certainly moved me. Or should I say the Spirit filled me at the reading of David's prayer? For a time the people enjoyed peace and prosperity under Solomon. But as we know Solomon did not keep his heart fully dedicated to Yahweh. His many foreign wives drew him into pagan worship.
Joel is one of many prophets who warned Israel and Judah of God's intent to punish their idolatry and sin. His words are frightening. The Day of the Lord is a shaking of the cosmos! It is as the plagues of the Lord upon Egypt with locusts laying everything barren. Terrible famine, war and grief will be Israel's future unless they repent. Joel urges them to call a sacred fast and to tear their hearts in grief over their sin, not simply their clothes.
"Even now—
[this is] the LORD's declaration—
turn to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Tear your hearts,
not just your clothes,
and return to the LORD your God.
For He is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, rich in faithful love,
and He relents from sending disaster.
Who knows? He may turn and relent
and leave a blessing behind Him...(Jl. 2:12-14a)"
An act of national repentance would make God "jealous for His land and spared people (Jl. 2:18)."
God promises to restore them from famine war and pestilence. God will pour out His Spirit on all humanity (JlJl 2:30-31; 3:2, 14).
Renewal comes through God's mercy to the repentant sinner and His Spirit blesses and keeps them holy. That is the prophet's hopeful vision. Once restored Jerusalem and Judah will remain holy and a source of blessing for all the world to see and enjoy for God is with them (Jl. 3:17-18). But the enemies of God and His people will be laid to waste. Such is the vision for the great and terrible Day of the Lord.
The letter of James to the dispersed church throughout the Roman empire is decidedly Jewish in tone, written for Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians who know the Jewish scriptures and customs. James is the earthly brother of Jesus. According to John's gospel and to Mark's, Jesus' brothers did not believe in Him as Messiah (Jn 7:5; Mk. 3:21). But after Jesus' resurrection James is made the leader of the church in Jerusalem. We never hear of his conversion, like we do of the Pharisee Saul of Tarsus who becomes Paul the apostle of Jesus Christ to the gentiles.
I get the sense that the Jewish Christians, formed by a millennium of custom had to place an earthly son of David over them. IN some sense James serves as the king of the new kingdom of Christ. Though all knew Jesus was the eternal King of Kings, James would be His earthly representative. This is how kings and emperors were understood, divinely appointed, anointed, and authorized to govern in God's name. They were sons of the gods.
James mentions Jesus only once in his letter to the church in his brief greeting. The letter is filled with exhortation, words designed to instruct, correct, encourage and build up. There is very little Christian theology in this letter, not of the kind of the apostle Paul's. Instead the letter could be written by a law keeping Jew given to encourage law keeping Jews. There is only one reference to "the Spirit who lives in us (Jms. 4:5)."
But there is a Christian worldview in James. It is not spelled out in detail, but briefly referred to at times James references the return of the Lord (Jms. 5:7) in addition to the verse about the indwelling Spirit. James also mentions "new birth" and the metaphor of "firstfruits" to describe the community of Christ (Jms. 1:18). And what is this new birth? It is the gift of the Spirit as proclaimed by Joel and promised by Jesus. And what are firstfruits? It refers to the very first harvested souls from God's new creation. We Christians are the first in the in-gathering of fruit from God's vineyard. It is through the "message of truth" that we become so (Jms. 1:18). Paul taught that "faith comes by hearing" the gospel (Rom. 10:17). Is not James pointing to this same belief?
Faith opens us up to be filled with the Spirit. All those who believe the gospel are therefore in relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Their hearts are made new. Whether that be a felt experience or not is immaterial. "All who are in Christ are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:7)."
From James perspective the moral behavior of the church is based on their friendship with God, their undoubting faith and their habit of leaning of grace to endure trials. James shares great wisdom with the church. the benefits of life in the Spirit is learned through endurance and endurance leads us to maturity not lacking a thing (Jms 1:2-4)!
If we would learn to lean on the greater grace that God gives to those who humble themselves before Him, they would find the new creation is a reality in themselves. The would learn to control their tongue. They would learn not to judge others. They would learn to treat the poor with dignity and mutual affection. They would do the word of God and not simply hear it. They would come to love their neighbor as themselves. Their faith would not be dead with a lack of godly action. Instead their faith would come alive through good works. Faith without works is dead just as a body without the spirit is dead. How much more alive is he Christian whose faith fills their bodies with the Holy Spirit of the Eternal One?
Yes those who learn to face trials with the power of the "greater grace" will find themselves growing toward maturity, abundance and Life!
"Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him (Jms. 1:12)."
Lord God, we love You and ask You to live in us through Your Spirit. Help us to keep our minds, eyes, and hearts in love and friendship with You. Keep us from idolatrous and unfaithful love of the things of this world. Help us to grow in our ability to live by the greater grace You give to the humble.
In Jesus name, Amen.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Changes
Day 77: 1 Chronicles 21–25; Hosea 12–14; Hebrews 11–13
One of my favorite artists is David Bowie. He has a song called "Changes."
I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
He goes on to challenge the older generation "Where's your shame?" who have left their children "up to their necks in it" ...the world post WW2. The children are trying to change the world for the better. It speaks of the generation gap that ripped across families and communities, that reached fever pitch in places like London, Chicago, Kent State University in Ohio, New York, Washington, LA and San Francisco. Change was in the air. For good or for worse, change was coming.
David made great preparations for the building of the temple and told his son Solomon to build it for the Lord. We hear from the chroniclers something new. David told Solomon that he could not build the temple for the Lord because he was a man of bloodshed.
"You are not to build a house for My name because you have shed so much blood on the ground before Me (1 Chr. 22:6b)."
God is going to move into a fixed location on the former threshing floor of Ornan/Araunah where the sacrifice that saved Jerusalem from the destroyer angel was made (1 Chr. 21:25-22:1). This meant organizing the Levites and the Priesthood to do the work of the temple. No longer would the Levite families carry the ark of the covenant on poles as they had since Mt. Sinai. Now God is taking up permanent residence in Jerusalem. God is settling down with His settled people. God will rest from His wars against the nations for He has given rest to Solomon on every side. Solomon will not be a man of war, but a man of rest...of sabbath. He is therefore worthy to build the house for Yahweh.
David decreed what this meant for the lives of the Levites. God moving into a permanent location , meant changes for them.
"For David said, "The LORD God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He has come to stay in Jerusalem forever. Also, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service" —..."but their duty will be to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the LORD's temple, being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God's temple—(1 Chr. 23:25-26, 28)..."
Changes come sometimes over a long course of time like God settling Israel in the promised land. It took from 1406 BC at Joshua's crossing of the Jordan River to 966 BC when Solomon built the temple. That's 440 years. Still when the announcement that the Levites would no longer carry the ark on poles came through David, that meant the end of near 480 years of tradition. What would that mean for the Levites self identity? They would no longer come close the the ark of the covenant. They had time to prepare. It took Solomon 7 years to build the temple, even more time to adjust from David's decree.
But some changes come in an instance. Samaria the capital of Israel is under siege by the Assyrains (Hos. 13:16)! The life of prosperity they once reveled in now comes to an abrupt halt (Hos. 12:8). They tremble. They hunger and thirst. They die. Those who survive the siege are dragged away in chains to a land they do not know. The change is abrupt and violent. How can they adjust? Do they have any other choice? With nothing left but slavery and hardship under the oppression of Assyria in their future, God says to them...
I have been the LORD your God
ever since the land of Egypt;
you know no God but Me,
and no Savior exists besides Me.
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.
I will redeem them from death.
Death, where are your barbs?
Sheol, where is your sting? (Hos. 13:4, 14)
In times of change it is wisdom to remember that God's promises are certain. God does not change in His righteous and holy character. While God may have a change of heart, change His mind, or change a plan by establishing a new covenant, God remains true to His work to establish His righteous reign in the hearts of humanity, to the Jew first, then the Gentile (Rom. 1:16).
Hebrews tells us of many faith filled witnesses in the history of Israel. Reading chapter 11 is like reading the rolls of a Hall of Fame museum. Yet none of these saints saw the fulfillment of what was promised, in what they had faith. Yet they remained steadfast in their pursuit of "the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11:9)."
I can tell you that change in churches comes slow. It takes a great deal of faith and faithfulness to persevere. We get so attached to our buildings, our ways of doing things, the traditions of our mothers and fathers, that we often will not budge past them...even when God is shouting, "change or die!"
Imagine how hard it was for the Jews to change. Even reading the book of Hebrews and the claims of the superiority of Christ and the new covenant causes me some distress knowing how it must have been heard (and is still heard today) by Jews faithful to the laws and customs of their fathers. But when change is leading to a fuller expression of what God is doing in the world, why would we resist it?
We resist because change means discomfort. Change causes grief. It means letting go of the old to embrace the new. It causes us fear and sadness. And if we believe the change is unnecessary or leading us in the wrong direction, we even fell angry and hostile.
The writer of Hebrews pleads with the Jewish listeners and to us today. He tells of how God spoke at Sinai and the mountains trembled and the people were terrified. He then says,
"See that you do not reject the One who speaks; for if they did not escape when they rejected Him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven (Heb. 12:25)." "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe;for our God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:28-29)."
He encourages them to remain faithful to what they have learned from the apostles and not fall away from Christ. Though the customs are changing, though the old covenant is fading away, there is One who never fades. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb.13:8)!
Lord, help us to face the strain of changes with faith in You. Remind us always that You will always be faithful to Your promises, Your work of salvation in the world until we can all come tot he heavenly city and rejoice with the countless angels and saints in everlasting praise. Keep us ever faithful by Your grace. Amen
One of my favorite artists is David Bowie. He has a song called "Changes."
I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
He goes on to challenge the older generation "Where's your shame?" who have left their children "up to their necks in it" ...the world post WW2. The children are trying to change the world for the better. It speaks of the generation gap that ripped across families and communities, that reached fever pitch in places like London, Chicago, Kent State University in Ohio, New York, Washington, LA and San Francisco. Change was in the air. For good or for worse, change was coming.
David made great preparations for the building of the temple and told his son Solomon to build it for the Lord. We hear from the chroniclers something new. David told Solomon that he could not build the temple for the Lord because he was a man of bloodshed.
"You are not to build a house for My name because you have shed so much blood on the ground before Me (1 Chr. 22:6b)."
God is going to move into a fixed location on the former threshing floor of Ornan/Araunah where the sacrifice that saved Jerusalem from the destroyer angel was made (1 Chr. 21:25-22:1). This meant organizing the Levites and the Priesthood to do the work of the temple. No longer would the Levite families carry the ark of the covenant on poles as they had since Mt. Sinai. Now God is taking up permanent residence in Jerusalem. God is settling down with His settled people. God will rest from His wars against the nations for He has given rest to Solomon on every side. Solomon will not be a man of war, but a man of rest...of sabbath. He is therefore worthy to build the house for Yahweh.
David decreed what this meant for the lives of the Levites. God moving into a permanent location , meant changes for them.
"For David said, "The LORD God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He has come to stay in Jerusalem forever. Also, the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the equipment for its service" —..."but their duty will be to assist the sons of Aaron with the service of the LORD's temple, being responsible for the courts and the chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of God's temple—(1 Chr. 23:25-26, 28)..."
Changes come sometimes over a long course of time like God settling Israel in the promised land. It took from 1406 BC at Joshua's crossing of the Jordan River to 966 BC when Solomon built the temple. That's 440 years. Still when the announcement that the Levites would no longer carry the ark on poles came through David, that meant the end of near 480 years of tradition. What would that mean for the Levites self identity? They would no longer come close the the ark of the covenant. They had time to prepare. It took Solomon 7 years to build the temple, even more time to adjust from David's decree.
But some changes come in an instance. Samaria the capital of Israel is under siege by the Assyrains (Hos. 13:16)! The life of prosperity they once reveled in now comes to an abrupt halt (Hos. 12:8). They tremble. They hunger and thirst. They die. Those who survive the siege are dragged away in chains to a land they do not know. The change is abrupt and violent. How can they adjust? Do they have any other choice? With nothing left but slavery and hardship under the oppression of Assyria in their future, God says to them...
I have been the LORD your God
ever since the land of Egypt;
you know no God but Me,
and no Savior exists besides Me.
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.
I will redeem them from death.
Death, where are your barbs?
Sheol, where is your sting? (Hos. 13:4, 14)
In times of change it is wisdom to remember that God's promises are certain. God does not change in His righteous and holy character. While God may have a change of heart, change His mind, or change a plan by establishing a new covenant, God remains true to His work to establish His righteous reign in the hearts of humanity, to the Jew first, then the Gentile (Rom. 1:16).
Hebrews tells us of many faith filled witnesses in the history of Israel. Reading chapter 11 is like reading the rolls of a Hall of Fame museum. Yet none of these saints saw the fulfillment of what was promised, in what they had faith. Yet they remained steadfast in their pursuit of "the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Heb. 11:9)."
I can tell you that change in churches comes slow. It takes a great deal of faith and faithfulness to persevere. We get so attached to our buildings, our ways of doing things, the traditions of our mothers and fathers, that we often will not budge past them...even when God is shouting, "change or die!"
Imagine how hard it was for the Jews to change. Even reading the book of Hebrews and the claims of the superiority of Christ and the new covenant causes me some distress knowing how it must have been heard (and is still heard today) by Jews faithful to the laws and customs of their fathers. But when change is leading to a fuller expression of what God is doing in the world, why would we resist it?
We resist because change means discomfort. Change causes grief. It means letting go of the old to embrace the new. It causes us fear and sadness. And if we believe the change is unnecessary or leading us in the wrong direction, we even fell angry and hostile.
The writer of Hebrews pleads with the Jewish listeners and to us today. He tells of how God spoke at Sinai and the mountains trembled and the people were terrified. He then says,
"See that you do not reject the One who speaks; for if they did not escape when they rejected Him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven (Heb. 12:25)." "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe;for our God is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:28-29)."
He encourages them to remain faithful to what they have learned from the apostles and not fall away from Christ. Though the customs are changing, though the old covenant is fading away, there is One who never fades. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb.13:8)!
Lord, help us to face the strain of changes with faith in You. Remind us always that You will always be faithful to Your promises, Your work of salvation in the world until we can all come tot he heavenly city and rejoice with the countless angels and saints in everlasting praise. Keep us ever faithful by Your grace. Amen
Your Strong Willed Children
Day 76: 1 Chronicles 16–20; Hosea 9–11; Hebrews 8–10
The chroniclers record their version of King David bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem and making plans for a temple made of cedar. It is very similar to the 2 Samuel version.
Comparing 1 Chronicles 21 with 2 Samuel 24 there are some vivid details that set the chroniclers account apart. The chapter each deal with David's census which was considered to be a sinful expression of arrogance (look at me and all the people I have at my command) or fear (I need to be sure I have enough fighting men to prepare for any foreign attack). The reason it is seen as sinful is unclear. What is clear is that in 2 Samuel, the Lord's anger with Israel (again for unknown reasons) is what leads God to stir us David to do this sinful census. But in 1 Chronicles 21 it is Satan who stands against David and incited David to count the people.
It should be noted that by the time of this writing, the word "satan" simply means "adversary." The early Hebrews did not think of evil as personified in an anti-god named Satan or Lucifer or Beelzebub, the Lord of Flies. Instead they understood the adversary to be a part of God's heavenly host, a servant of God uses by the Lord for testing and sifting the good from the evil in people (Job 1:6-12; Lk. 22:31) . So the text could be rendered, "an adversary stood up against Israel and incited David to count the people. The adversary is unknown, but God's displeasure is clear, although we have to struggle to know why.
One of the best interpretations of God's anger is that a census usually involved taxation and forced labor or military service. You remember the Christmas story. "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed (Luke 2:1 - KJV)." Some ancient records describe men running for the hills to hide from those taking the census. This explains Joab's response to King David's order for the census. "Why should he (King David) bring guilt on Israel (1 Chr. 21:3b, 6)?"
Some suggest that David's census was an attempt to fill the temple coffers to appease God's anger. David may be very aware of the reason for God's wrath, but this tax on he people is an abuse of power. Still, as a leader of a nation, David's choices affect everyone. God's wrath for sin, whether known or unknown, intentional or unintentional, are an affront to the Holy One of Israel. If God is to dwell among them, they must be holy. The sacrifice at Ornan's threshing floor (Araunah in 2 Sm. 24:16-24) is a prefiguring of what will take place in this same site, the temple. Priests will offer sacrifices for the peoples unintentional, unknown sin, to make the people holy again. These atoning sacrifices will be offered yearly covering over the sins of the people and making them holy again (Heb 9:7).
The details about the angel slaying 70,000 of the people by way of plague reminds us of the angel of death slaying the first born of Egypt on that first Passover. Yet here the angel is seen by David and by Ornan the Jebusite and his frightened sons. It makes the transaction to purchase the threshing floor much more exciting. To visualize a massive angel with drawn sword hovering over Jerusalem "between earth and heaven" is a creepy image. When Ornan offers the threshing floor for free, it feels more like a desperate plea, "Take it (1 Chr. 21:23)!"
David was described as a man after God's own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). And God relates to the sons of David as his own son (2 Sam. 7:14; 1 Chr. 17:13). This tender image is also communicated in Hosea as God speaks of His relationship with His son little Israel.
God is displeased with His wayward Ephraim (Northern Israel). He found little Ephraim like finding wild grapes in the desert (Hos. 9:10). But on their threshing floors they practiced pagan worship to the Baals. And they became arrogant in the wealth God had showered upon them by trusting in their "own way and in their large number of soldiers (Hos. 10:13b)." God of course confronts them through the prophet with prophecies of disaster. Judah will harness Jacob (Ephraim) like oxen and plow. The prophet urges them to sow righteousness and reap faithful love instead of sowing wickedness and reaping injustice (Hos. 10:11-13).
But they did not so destruction is decreed, a break with Yahweh. But then the tone of tenderness returns in chapter 11. It is the tenderness of a brokenhearted Father over a wayward son. God loved Israel as a little child when they were only 70 going down to Egypt. And when Israel had grown, He called His son out of Egypt. But the more He called, the more His son ran away. God taught Israel to walk, fed him, healed his wounds and lead him with cords of love. But sadly,
"My people are bent on turning from Me (Hos. 11:7a)."
God's heart is torn over the destruction He has decreed, the days of punishment He has unleashed (Hos. 9:7).
"How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I surrender you, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
I have had a change of heart;
My compassion is stirred (Hos. 11:8)!"
So God looks beyond His son's rebellion toward a hopeful future. "They will follow the Lord...I will settle them in their homes (Hos. 11:10a, 11b)."
If God spared Jerusalem because of how He felt about His children watching the horror of the plague from the angel of death, then His compassion reached its fullest in the One who truly met all the holy requirements who was slaughtered like an unblemished sacrificial lamb for our sakes. The sword is sheathed once for all because the perfected Son of God entered the true holy of holies in heaven and gave Himself as an atoning sacrifice (Heb. 9:11-14).
To treat this once for all sacrifice with contempt through unbelief or falling away from the transformation given through the presence of the Holy Spirit, is like recrucifying Jesus. The writer of Hebrews makes it sound like it's impossible to be restored to God if we once believed, once tasted of the life to come and turn away (Heb 6:4-8). If we sin deliberately, there is no sacrifice that can atone for such rebellion. That is a hard pill to swallow.
In comparing what happens to rebels in the law of Moses to the new covenant, the cost is death, how much more the punishment for rejecting the Christ you on followed and trusted for salvation (Heb. 10:26-31)? This is a harsh word. It is akin tot he harsh pronouncements of Yahweh through His prophets. There is a finality to it. But just as the Lord has a change of heart in Hosea 11:8, the writer of Hebrews looks beyond the current trespasses of a frightened and sluggish church and speaks words of hope (Heb. 6:9-12).
"we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life (Heb. 10:39)."
It is always difficult to know when to interpret words of scripture literally and when the text itself is metaphorical and rhetorical polemic that pushes to extreme to gain attention and deliver an exhortation tot he alarmed crowd. I read the words of Hebrews like I read those of the prophets. It a message from God using rhetorical tools to shake up the people of God so that the people of God will truly live as they are in fact His.
Lord, for all Your strong willed children, I pray for Your endless patience, compassion and mercy. May you continue to use Your church and Your messengers to shake them out of their slumber and into Your embrace. Trusting in Christ's all sufficient sacrifice and all powerful grace to salvage our weak lives, Amen.
The chroniclers record their version of King David bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem and making plans for a temple made of cedar. It is very similar to the 2 Samuel version.
Comparing 1 Chronicles 21 with 2 Samuel 24 there are some vivid details that set the chroniclers account apart. The chapter each deal with David's census which was considered to be a sinful expression of arrogance (look at me and all the people I have at my command) or fear (I need to be sure I have enough fighting men to prepare for any foreign attack). The reason it is seen as sinful is unclear. What is clear is that in 2 Samuel, the Lord's anger with Israel (again for unknown reasons) is what leads God to stir us David to do this sinful census. But in 1 Chronicles 21 it is Satan who stands against David and incited David to count the people.
It should be noted that by the time of this writing, the word "satan" simply means "adversary." The early Hebrews did not think of evil as personified in an anti-god named Satan or Lucifer or Beelzebub, the Lord of Flies. Instead they understood the adversary to be a part of God's heavenly host, a servant of God uses by the Lord for testing and sifting the good from the evil in people (Job 1:6-12; Lk. 22:31) . So the text could be rendered, "an adversary stood up against Israel and incited David to count the people. The adversary is unknown, but God's displeasure is clear, although we have to struggle to know why.
One of the best interpretations of God's anger is that a census usually involved taxation and forced labor or military service. You remember the Christmas story. "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed (Luke 2:1 - KJV)." Some ancient records describe men running for the hills to hide from those taking the census. This explains Joab's response to King David's order for the census. "Why should he (King David) bring guilt on Israel (1 Chr. 21:3b, 6)?"
Some suggest that David's census was an attempt to fill the temple coffers to appease God's anger. David may be very aware of the reason for God's wrath, but this tax on he people is an abuse of power. Still, as a leader of a nation, David's choices affect everyone. God's wrath for sin, whether known or unknown, intentional or unintentional, are an affront to the Holy One of Israel. If God is to dwell among them, they must be holy. The sacrifice at Ornan's threshing floor (Araunah in 2 Sm. 24:16-24) is a prefiguring of what will take place in this same site, the temple. Priests will offer sacrifices for the peoples unintentional, unknown sin, to make the people holy again. These atoning sacrifices will be offered yearly covering over the sins of the people and making them holy again (Heb 9:7).
The details about the angel slaying 70,000 of the people by way of plague reminds us of the angel of death slaying the first born of Egypt on that first Passover. Yet here the angel is seen by David and by Ornan the Jebusite and his frightened sons. It makes the transaction to purchase the threshing floor much more exciting. To visualize a massive angel with drawn sword hovering over Jerusalem "between earth and heaven" is a creepy image. When Ornan offers the threshing floor for free, it feels more like a desperate plea, "Take it (1 Chr. 21:23)!"
David was described as a man after God's own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). And God relates to the sons of David as his own son (2 Sam. 7:14; 1 Chr. 17:13). This tender image is also communicated in Hosea as God speaks of His relationship with His son little Israel.
God is displeased with His wayward Ephraim (Northern Israel). He found little Ephraim like finding wild grapes in the desert (Hos. 9:10). But on their threshing floors they practiced pagan worship to the Baals. And they became arrogant in the wealth God had showered upon them by trusting in their "own way and in their large number of soldiers (Hos. 10:13b)." God of course confronts them through the prophet with prophecies of disaster. Judah will harness Jacob (Ephraim) like oxen and plow. The prophet urges them to sow righteousness and reap faithful love instead of sowing wickedness and reaping injustice (Hos. 10:11-13).
But they did not so destruction is decreed, a break with Yahweh. But then the tone of tenderness returns in chapter 11. It is the tenderness of a brokenhearted Father over a wayward son. God loved Israel as a little child when they were only 70 going down to Egypt. And when Israel had grown, He called His son out of Egypt. But the more He called, the more His son ran away. God taught Israel to walk, fed him, healed his wounds and lead him with cords of love. But sadly,
"My people are bent on turning from Me (Hos. 11:7a)."
God's heart is torn over the destruction He has decreed, the days of punishment He has unleashed (Hos. 9:7).
"How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I surrender you, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
I have had a change of heart;
My compassion is stirred (Hos. 11:8)!"
So God looks beyond His son's rebellion toward a hopeful future. "They will follow the Lord...I will settle them in their homes (Hos. 11:10a, 11b)."
If God spared Jerusalem because of how He felt about His children watching the horror of the plague from the angel of death, then His compassion reached its fullest in the One who truly met all the holy requirements who was slaughtered like an unblemished sacrificial lamb for our sakes. The sword is sheathed once for all because the perfected Son of God entered the true holy of holies in heaven and gave Himself as an atoning sacrifice (Heb. 9:11-14).
To treat this once for all sacrifice with contempt through unbelief or falling away from the transformation given through the presence of the Holy Spirit, is like recrucifying Jesus. The writer of Hebrews makes it sound like it's impossible to be restored to God if we once believed, once tasted of the life to come and turn away (Heb 6:4-8). If we sin deliberately, there is no sacrifice that can atone for such rebellion. That is a hard pill to swallow.
In comparing what happens to rebels in the law of Moses to the new covenant, the cost is death, how much more the punishment for rejecting the Christ you on followed and trusted for salvation (Heb. 10:26-31)? This is a harsh word. It is akin tot he harsh pronouncements of Yahweh through His prophets. There is a finality to it. But just as the Lord has a change of heart in Hosea 11:8, the writer of Hebrews looks beyond the current trespasses of a frightened and sluggish church and speaks words of hope (Heb. 6:9-12).
"we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life (Heb. 10:39)."
It is always difficult to know when to interpret words of scripture literally and when the text itself is metaphorical and rhetorical polemic that pushes to extreme to gain attention and deliver an exhortation tot he alarmed crowd. I read the words of Hebrews like I read those of the prophets. It a message from God using rhetorical tools to shake up the people of God so that the people of God will truly live as they are in fact His.
Lord, for all Your strong willed children, I pray for Your endless patience, compassion and mercy. May you continue to use Your church and Your messengers to shake them out of their slumber and into Your embrace. Trusting in Christ's all sufficient sacrifice and all powerful grace to salvage our weak lives, Amen.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Return
Day 75: 1 Chronicles 11-15; Hosea 5-8; Hebrews 5-7
Come, let us return to the LORD.
For He has torn [us],
and He will heal us;
He has wounded [us],
and He will bind up our wounds.
Hosea 6:1-2 reflects an early indicator as to what God had planned. Remember how the Lord opened the scriptures to the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24: 27, 32)? It was certainly with a text like this and many others.
Hosea continues confrontational rhetoric with Israel and Judah as to their sin and idolatry, but then gives this beautiful invitation to repentance. To return to the Lord is to leave behind the idols, our attachment to the things made by our hands, and toward faithfulness to God's will as revealed in the law of Moses and fulfilled in a life filled with God's love through faith in Jesus Christ. Love fulfills the law (Rom. 13:10).
Paul speaks of this return as dying to the old self ruled by the flesh (sinful desires) and rising to the new creation ruled by grace. We die with Christ and to sin and rise with Christ to love in Him and for Him (Rom 6:1-11).
The review of David bringing the ark of the covenant from Kiriath-jearim, where it had been kept since the Philistines returned it, is more detailed than in 2 Samuel 6 (1 Sam. 6:21). The focus is one the levitical ordinances on handling the ark of the "LORD of Hosts who dwells [between] the cherubim (1 Chr. 13:2b)."
The authors would have us understand why the ark's presence among them caused both plague and blessing. It all has to do with keeping the commands, laws and ordinances of the covenant. There are clearly defined procedures for whom shall come near the ark and how those Levites will do so. David was not careful to inquire of the Lord on His will (2 Chr. 15:11-13). Once David repented, turned from carelessness about God's will and returned to a careful keeping of the covenant which includes religious regulation of this nature about revering what is holy unto the Lord, then blessing came to Jerusalem.
The writer of Hebrews is speaking to Jewish believers who may be in danger of falling away from Christ and back into the old covenant under Moses. He depicts Jesus as our High Priest making atonement for our sin. But Jesus is not a descendant of Aaron of the tribe of Levi who are the only ones who can serve as priests before the Lord as prescribed in the law of Moses. But Jesus is more akin to a different priestly order...the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews is very bizarre in this handling of Melchizedek because He only makes an appearance in tow places in the Bible. In Genesis Melchizedek is the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest of God Most High (Gen 14:18-20). He blesses Abraham after Abram and his men had rescued the captives taken by the kings who came up against Sodom and the other cities of the valley. Then there is a mention of the Jebusite priest in Psalm 110:4. The reference there is simply to say to the Davidic king that he will carry out his rule in a priestly manner, interceding for his people and making atonement for their sins. Just as Melchizedek was priest and king, so shall the king who sits on the throne of David.
The Jebusites held Jerusalem until David won the city. They Canaanites that God wanted dislodged, driven out and even exterminated. However Jebusites do not always show up ion the classic lists of the seven nations God wants driven from the land. So it is odd that Melchizedek is revered so by the writer of Hebrews. Melchizedek has a mythical quality with no beginning or end (Heb. 7:3).
Scholar theorize that there may have been other texts, now lost to history, available to the writer of Hebrews and the audience would also know the person of Melchizedek from these texts. Others feel that the writer is simply taking liberties in interpretation, a technique known as "midrash." It was not uncommon for a rabbi to take a scripture text and interpret a fresh new meaning that is not what was originally intended, but rather speaks to the concerns of the contemporary audience.
In any case Jesus, as a Davidic king, is presented as High Priest in the order of Melchizedek as a means to convince the Hebrews to turn away from the old covenant which is diminishing and to the new covenant in Jesus Christ (Heb. 8:6, 13). In essence the Jews/Hebrews are being called to repent, to turn away from Moses and Levi and turn to Christ Jesus who is superior since He is the eternal Son of God and High Priest. He is forever interceding for us not in an earthly temple, a shadow or mere representation, but in the truest holy place...in heaven's throne room at the right hand of the King of the Universe. Jesus' sacrifice is not temporary atonement with the blood of bulls, but eternal atonement with His own blood, "once for all."
This new covenant in the blood of Christ is superior, to the old covenant. God found fault and promised a new covenant. It is God's will for the Hebrews to repent of law keeping righteousness and turn to God's revealed will in Jesus Christ into a righteousness that comes through faith, trusting in God's mercies through Jesus.
Amen
Come, let us return to the LORD.
For He has torn [us],
and He will heal us;
He has wounded [us],
and He will bind up our wounds.
He will revive us after two days,
and on the third day He will raise us up
so we can live in His presence. (Hos. 6:1-2)
and on the third day He will raise us up
so we can live in His presence. (Hos. 6:1-2)
Hosea 6:1-2 reflects an early indicator as to what God had planned. Remember how the Lord opened the scriptures to the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24: 27, 32)? It was certainly with a text like this and many others.
Hosea continues confrontational rhetoric with Israel and Judah as to their sin and idolatry, but then gives this beautiful invitation to repentance. To return to the Lord is to leave behind the idols, our attachment to the things made by our hands, and toward faithfulness to God's will as revealed in the law of Moses and fulfilled in a life filled with God's love through faith in Jesus Christ. Love fulfills the law (Rom. 13:10).
Paul speaks of this return as dying to the old self ruled by the flesh (sinful desires) and rising to the new creation ruled by grace. We die with Christ and to sin and rise with Christ to love in Him and for Him (Rom 6:1-11).
The review of David bringing the ark of the covenant from Kiriath-jearim, where it had been kept since the Philistines returned it, is more detailed than in 2 Samuel 6 (1 Sam. 6:21). The focus is one the levitical ordinances on handling the ark of the "LORD of Hosts who dwells [between] the cherubim (1 Chr. 13:2b)."
The authors would have us understand why the ark's presence among them caused both plague and blessing. It all has to do with keeping the commands, laws and ordinances of the covenant. There are clearly defined procedures for whom shall come near the ark and how those Levites will do so. David was not careful to inquire of the Lord on His will (2 Chr. 15:11-13). Once David repented, turned from carelessness about God's will and returned to a careful keeping of the covenant which includes religious regulation of this nature about revering what is holy unto the Lord, then blessing came to Jerusalem.
The writer of Hebrews is speaking to Jewish believers who may be in danger of falling away from Christ and back into the old covenant under Moses. He depicts Jesus as our High Priest making atonement for our sin. But Jesus is not a descendant of Aaron of the tribe of Levi who are the only ones who can serve as priests before the Lord as prescribed in the law of Moses. But Jesus is more akin to a different priestly order...the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews is very bizarre in this handling of Melchizedek because He only makes an appearance in tow places in the Bible. In Genesis Melchizedek is the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest of God Most High (Gen 14:18-20). He blesses Abraham after Abram and his men had rescued the captives taken by the kings who came up against Sodom and the other cities of the valley. Then there is a mention of the Jebusite priest in Psalm 110:4. The reference there is simply to say to the Davidic king that he will carry out his rule in a priestly manner, interceding for his people and making atonement for their sins. Just as Melchizedek was priest and king, so shall the king who sits on the throne of David.
The Jebusites held Jerusalem until David won the city. They Canaanites that God wanted dislodged, driven out and even exterminated. However Jebusites do not always show up ion the classic lists of the seven nations God wants driven from the land. So it is odd that Melchizedek is revered so by the writer of Hebrews. Melchizedek has a mythical quality with no beginning or end (Heb. 7:3).
Scholar theorize that there may have been other texts, now lost to history, available to the writer of Hebrews and the audience would also know the person of Melchizedek from these texts. Others feel that the writer is simply taking liberties in interpretation, a technique known as "midrash." It was not uncommon for a rabbi to take a scripture text and interpret a fresh new meaning that is not what was originally intended, but rather speaks to the concerns of the contemporary audience.
In any case Jesus, as a Davidic king, is presented as High Priest in the order of Melchizedek as a means to convince the Hebrews to turn away from the old covenant which is diminishing and to the new covenant in Jesus Christ (Heb. 8:6, 13). In essence the Jews/Hebrews are being called to repent, to turn away from Moses and Levi and turn to Christ Jesus who is superior since He is the eternal Son of God and High Priest. He is forever interceding for us not in an earthly temple, a shadow or mere representation, but in the truest holy place...in heaven's throne room at the right hand of the King of the Universe. Jesus' sacrifice is not temporary atonement with the blood of bulls, but eternal atonement with His own blood, "once for all."
This new covenant in the blood of Christ is superior, to the old covenant. God found fault and promised a new covenant. It is God's will for the Hebrews to repent of law keeping righteousness and turn to God's revealed will in Jesus Christ into a righteousness that comes through faith, trusting in God's mercies through Jesus.
Amen
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