“Now in the time of his distress King Ahaz became increasingly unfaithful to the Lord. This is that King Ahaz. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, saying, ‘Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.’ But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel” 2 Chronicles 28:22-23.
I’m going through the history and Chronicles of the kings of Israel and Judah right now and it’s stunning how dense they can be. Could they not look back on history and directly point to good following them when they followed God and a very severe inverse if they did not? Verses 1-4 outline the basics of King Ahaz’s wickedness and thus verse 5 God responds with, “Therefore the Lord His God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria…” Unbelievably dense to imagine he could do all the wickedness described and expect God to do nothing- the God who brought down plagues to free His people from Egypt, notably after He Himself hardened Pharaoh’s heart, thus showing his power on any spectrum; The God who threw down hail stones to fight off Israel’s enemies when they were too weak; The God who rained down manna and quail to answer Israel’s hunger in the desert for 40 years; The God who did countless other acts; This God, who Ahab surely knew did all these acts, was the one Ahab also didn’t fear. So he mucked about and squandered God’s goodness.
Throughout King Ahaz’s life he was unfaithful although he knew intimately the amazing acts of his nation’s God. Yet starting in verse 22 above, when he became in distress he turned further from God. He turned to the gods of the nations’ who had defeated him and worshipped them. It makes sense, sort of, but didn’t it occur to him that maybe God was angry and thus allowed those nations to win?
But isn’t that exactly like us? Don’t we have the Bible right in front of us? Haven’t we read it, even if only a few of the amazing stories? Don’t we know about Paul’s miracles, Jesus raising Lazareth and the feeding of the 5,000 men not to mention all the happenings Ahaz knew about as well? Isn’t our arsenal of God’s amazing deeds even larger than Ahaz’s?
I find the unfaithful kings of Israel and Judah insolent. How could they lead their people astray? How could they be so ignorant to God’s power and authority? But it seems the characteristics we detest the most in others are the very ones we ourselves portray. I know God; I know His ways; I know His authority and yet I often turn to other gods, or idols, and worship them. I turn to television; I turn to money; I turn to any form of strength and education for survival in this world and cling to it. I run to any version of immediate success and stability I can get my hands on.
The saying is true that hindsight is 20-20. But if I have this strong of a response to Ahaz in hindsight of his grossly incorrect lifestyle choices, why don’t I know that hindsight of my own life will yield the same results if I don’t correct my actions and turn first to the Lord, knowing He will provide? Have we learned nothing from the sins of our forefathers?
Friday, July 22, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Return to Me
“’I also withheld rain from you, when there were still three months to the harvest. I made it rain on one city; I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, and where it did not rain the part withered. So two or three cities wandered to another city to drink water, but they were not satisfied; yet you have not returned to me,’ says the Lord. ‘I blasted you with blight and mildew. When your gardens increased, your vineyards, your fig trees, and your olive trees, the locust devoured them; yet you have not returned to me,’ says the Lord. ‘I sent among you a plague after the manner of Egypt; your young men I killed with a sword, along with your captive horses; I made the stench of your camps come up into your nostrils; yet you have not returned to me,’ says the Lord. ‘I overthrew some of you, as the Lord overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand plucked from the burning; yet you have not returned to me,’ say the Lord. ‘Therefore, thus will I do to you Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel! For behold, He who forms mountains, and creates the wind, who declares to man what his thought is, and makes the morning darkness, who treads the high places of the earth—the Lord God of hosts is His name’” Amos 4:7-13.
This is a rather long passage but worth printing. We have a jaded concept of God’s wrath and bad things happening in our world. And ironically, it’s not always what an outside observer might think.
Throughout history one could easily draw the connection to what we consider bad things happening on this earth and God. After all, if He’s the judge-figure who sits up on the throne of Heaven spending His leisure time condemning people, He’d spend His active time smiting them surely. Particularly in ancient Israel, when bad things happened it was typically, if not practically always, because the Israelites had gone off course, disobeyed God and needed to refocus on serving only Him. It was essentially a jolt of “Hey you, remember me? Yeah, you’re going to need to get back to the straight and narrow or else.” Do good = good earthly blessings; do bad = bad things. But over time and in cases with nations outside of God, this general rule adjusted.
In today’s culture, this occurs sometimes but often we in the church think it rarely the case. Those outside the church may see a smiting God, but those inside the church usually see the Jesus with the lamb on His shoulders. But as the Psalmist lamented over evil men prospering, so we too see this principle lived out today. But what if it still happens much, much more than we realize? He’s the same God, isn’t He?
In the above passage of Amos’ writing, God over and over gave Israel little warnings. But because of their continued disobedience He sent them into destruction and bondage time and time again. What if our world is similar? When a bad thing happens to us like job loss, marriage trouble, a car wreck or something else tragic, what if we first reconciled our hearts to God and sought Him wholeheartedly? It may not be the case, He may not be punishing or correcting you, He may be using you to further make His name known through your pain. But just in case, what if we first, without anger or feelings of betrayal and indignation, first came to God and prostrated ourselves before Him and sought His favor and guidance. Would He relent? I think if you know God and read the scriptures even a little you can answer unquestionably, yes.
This is a rather long passage but worth printing. We have a jaded concept of God’s wrath and bad things happening in our world. And ironically, it’s not always what an outside observer might think.
Throughout history one could easily draw the connection to what we consider bad things happening on this earth and God. After all, if He’s the judge-figure who sits up on the throne of Heaven spending His leisure time condemning people, He’d spend His active time smiting them surely. Particularly in ancient Israel, when bad things happened it was typically, if not practically always, because the Israelites had gone off course, disobeyed God and needed to refocus on serving only Him. It was essentially a jolt of “Hey you, remember me? Yeah, you’re going to need to get back to the straight and narrow or else.” Do good = good earthly blessings; do bad = bad things. But over time and in cases with nations outside of God, this general rule adjusted.
In today’s culture, this occurs sometimes but often we in the church think it rarely the case. Those outside the church may see a smiting God, but those inside the church usually see the Jesus with the lamb on His shoulders. But as the Psalmist lamented over evil men prospering, so we too see this principle lived out today. But what if it still happens much, much more than we realize? He’s the same God, isn’t He?
In the above passage of Amos’ writing, God over and over gave Israel little warnings. But because of their continued disobedience He sent them into destruction and bondage time and time again. What if our world is similar? When a bad thing happens to us like job loss, marriage trouble, a car wreck or something else tragic, what if we first reconciled our hearts to God and sought Him wholeheartedly? It may not be the case, He may not be punishing or correcting you, He may be using you to further make His name known through your pain. But just in case, what if we first, without anger or feelings of betrayal and indignation, first came to God and prostrated ourselves before Him and sought His favor and guidance. Would He relent? I think if you know God and read the scriptures even a little you can answer unquestionably, yes.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Ancient Adornment
“In that day the Lord will take away the finery: The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; the headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; the perfume boxes, the charms, and the rings; the nose jewels, the festal apparel, and the mantles; the outer garments, the purses, and the mirrors; the fine linen, the turbans, and the robes” Isaiah 3:18-23.
When France announced their ban on Islamic full veils several months ago it renewed my interest in Islamic and other cultural attire. Several reasons where sighted for the ban including bondage because of customs and ease of terrorist concealment. While both are fairly valid reasons in my opinion, I also struggle with the interference of government in religion.
Throughout history is seems the exact opposite occurred: religion controlled government. It may be somewhat of a stretch to make this statement so overtly but religion of a people played a vital role in authority and control. Whatever gods or things a particular sect of people worshipped they usually separated themselves from other bands of worship. Of course, several people groups began over history to break this system down, most noteworthy the Roman Empire. But even Rome, ancient Israel, Great Britain and others who have come close to controlling the world had limits on worship and personal dedication to things other than prescribed. I supposed one could argue religion and government share a rather mutually beneficial, exclusive and at the same time destructive relationship throughout history.
But I particularly wonder, and maybe I’ll just look it up, how Christianity lost its fervor for traditional dress. Islam, a much younger religion than Judaism and Christianity, continues to pass along its traditional garb as a custom and necessity to true pilgrims. Christianity, however, focuses more on inner faith and less on rules and regulations. Freedom. We hear that word a lot in Christianity. But it makes me wonder if we’ve used that freedom to truly be better for it.
Have we utterly lost the customs of the past like in Ancient Israel? Are any still valid and need revitalizing in our world? In Isaiah 3 they clearly abused their power and because of their greed and need for more they turned aside longing after the wrong things. They let their worldly customs dig too deep into their souls. I think we modern Christians can totally relate to this. But it also makes me wonder how we’ve let ancient, pure customs slip through our fingers in the name of freedom and independence. We no longer adorn ourselves with bangles, veils, ankle bracelets or traditional garments. We dress for work better than we dress to enter the sanctuary of the Lord.
Clearly there are customs we should have and did abandon. But are there customs we should embrace once again? Are there customs that actually reside within the freedom of Christ and strip away our concept of freedom? Freedom is certainly not free and it’s not freedom to this world. Freedom is freedom in Christ and what of the sacred is He calling out and imploring us to embrace?
When France announced their ban on Islamic full veils several months ago it renewed my interest in Islamic and other cultural attire. Several reasons where sighted for the ban including bondage because of customs and ease of terrorist concealment. While both are fairly valid reasons in my opinion, I also struggle with the interference of government in religion.
Throughout history is seems the exact opposite occurred: religion controlled government. It may be somewhat of a stretch to make this statement so overtly but religion of a people played a vital role in authority and control. Whatever gods or things a particular sect of people worshipped they usually separated themselves from other bands of worship. Of course, several people groups began over history to break this system down, most noteworthy the Roman Empire. But even Rome, ancient Israel, Great Britain and others who have come close to controlling the world had limits on worship and personal dedication to things other than prescribed. I supposed one could argue religion and government share a rather mutually beneficial, exclusive and at the same time destructive relationship throughout history.
But I particularly wonder, and maybe I’ll just look it up, how Christianity lost its fervor for traditional dress. Islam, a much younger religion than Judaism and Christianity, continues to pass along its traditional garb as a custom and necessity to true pilgrims. Christianity, however, focuses more on inner faith and less on rules and regulations. Freedom. We hear that word a lot in Christianity. But it makes me wonder if we’ve used that freedom to truly be better for it.
Have we utterly lost the customs of the past like in Ancient Israel? Are any still valid and need revitalizing in our world? In Isaiah 3 they clearly abused their power and because of their greed and need for more they turned aside longing after the wrong things. They let their worldly customs dig too deep into their souls. I think we modern Christians can totally relate to this. But it also makes me wonder how we’ve let ancient, pure customs slip through our fingers in the name of freedom and independence. We no longer adorn ourselves with bangles, veils, ankle bracelets or traditional garments. We dress for work better than we dress to enter the sanctuary of the Lord.
Clearly there are customs we should have and did abandon. But are there customs we should embrace once again? Are there customs that actually reside within the freedom of Christ and strip away our concept of freedom? Freedom is certainly not free and it’s not freedom to this world. Freedom is freedom in Christ and what of the sacred is He calling out and imploring us to embrace?
Thursday, July 07, 2011
It Makes No Difference
II Chronicles 14
“Asa [King of Judah] had an army of 300,000 men out of Judah…and 280,000 out of Benjamin…There came out against Judah Zerah the Ethiopian with a host of a million [that is, too many to count] …Asa cried to the Lord his God, O Lord, there is none besides You to help, and it makes no difference to You whether the one You help is mighty or powerless. Help us, O Lord our God! For we rely on You, and we go against this multitude in Your name. O Lord, You are our God; let no man prevail against You! So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled” II Chronicles 14:8-12, selected parts.
I love the Old Testament. There’s something about the utter dependence and ignorance of the people in Old Testament Israel that I resonate with. They had a huge disadvantage from us, sure, because of several things. For one, they didn’t have the permanency of the Holy Spirit- no inner guide. They didn’t have the level of individual belief and subsequent works like we do today; it was much more communal worship and belief. Sadly, if a King went astray, odds were good the entire nation fell as well, or likely God took vengeance on the nation because the leader acted wickedly and many followed. Jews lacked individual purpose and direction for the most part and relied very heavily on prophets to point them in God’s direction and the King to point them in everyday life directions. But the more Israel and Judah went astray, the fewer prophets were around to be called upon for guidance.
But I love the fact that even in the Old Testament some people understood the fact that God desired intimate communion and communication with them. He desired praise and reliance; He desired to be a merciful and all-powerful God to His beloved people. But He demanded obedience and undivided hearts. Asa wasn’t a perfect king, but he did a lot of good for the kingdom. He had a lot of soldiers in this scene and I bet he thought he was prepared for most fights. When he heard about the number of Ethiopians however, he quickly changed his tune. Fear crept in. The Hebrew word for million here means the Ethiopians had so many soldiers you couldn’t count them all. At least double for sure, probably a lot more than that. Judah was way, way up a creek and in trouble.
Then Asa cried to the Lord his God, O Lord, there is none besides You to help, and it makes no difference to You whether the one You help is mighty or powerless. This mighty king, reigning over all in his land, humbled himself and cried before the Lord. And in his cry he acknowledged a rather odd fact to me. We often limit God’s power to the logical. We rationalize situations and talk to God once we have an agenda and game plan that makes the most sense. We bring order back to our chaos and then inform God through prayer what we wish. And while God clearly does desire for us to pray boldly He also doesn’t need permission or guidance on how to handle anything. He has ultimate power and authority over everything, absolutely everything. He doesn’t care even a tiny little sliver what the situation looks like. If He wants to bring something about, He can. That idea is striking to me- it makes no difference to God whether the person He helps is mighty or powerless; if it did, it would mean God has a limit on His power.
We can’t explain away our issues or problem solve enough to figure out a successful life. Successful lives are built on a Godly foundation where He leads and guides. He doesn’t care if you’re mighty or powerless; He can and will use you exactly how He made you. We just have to trust with every part of our beings that God will fight for us if we rely completely on Him. And the ways we fall short, as we so often will, may we pray that God would intercede and increase our faith to believe He can and He will.
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