10/03/10 “Lessons From the Fiery Furnace”
Martyrdom is becoming more and more a reality in the collective experience of the modern church. Even in America where Christianity is still well represented, we see an alarming erosion of religious freedom. Those who read the Lomontville Gazette have been exposed to a relentless series of reports from around the globe, but especially from Muslim controlled countries as well as China, of Christians who have been murdered, unjustly incarcerated, whipped, disenfranchised and tortured. The magazine, “The Voice of The Martyrs” is a must read for Christians who wish to know more and do something about this alarming trend both here and around the world. In the Bible we have many stories of people who forfeited their lives rather than give in to pressures to deny their faith. Hebrews 11:35-38 gives a stirring summary of the sacrifices of these heroes and heroines. I just quote here a portion of that passage:” Some faced jeers and flogging while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They (were) destitute, persecuted and mistreated - the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.” And many of these saints drew strength and inspiration from the three Hebrew men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were willing to be incinerated in a fiery Mesopotamian smelting furnace if needs be rather than bow down to a statue of a Babylonian god, probably Nabu. We read about this in Daniel 3.
The Babylonian dictator and megalomaniac, Nebuchadnezzar, had a huge golden statue built and ordered all the officials in his kingdom to bow face down on the ground in worship of Nabu and in fealty to the god’s viceroy, the King. All the officials except the three Hebrew men, obliged the Babylonian tyrant. It was that or be thrown like fire wood into a fiery Mesopotamian smelting furnace. The Hebrew’s “insubordination” was reported to the king and they were paraded before him and questioned. They were not disrespectful of the ruler of the land but admitted their “disloyalty.” They were warned of their impending doom but they refused to budge. They assured the King that their God was very able to rescue them but then they said words that have encouraged countless people of God through almost three millenniums: “But even if (God) does not (rescue us), we want you to know, Oh king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up (Dan. 3:18).” This story is well known and obviously, their lives were miraculously saved as an astounded Nebuchadnezzar gawked at their unsigned forms and the spectacle of a fourth man, no doubt an angel (although, it is interesting that the NKJV translates the Hebrew here to read, “...and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
My generation (I am 74 years old) of Americans may not experience martyrdom, but there is no telling what will happen in the future as the web of persecution continues to expand and even is beginning to touch Americans some of whom are losing their jobs and freedom of religious expression. But all Christians can learn from the example of the three brave Hebrews that (1) God gives grace to those who endure persecution and special grace to those who are martyred. That, persevering grace grows within as we walk in communion with God and when pain and death confront us we are given special grace to endure even unto the end; (2) satan will challenge our advancement in the Kingdom as well as our success in mundane pursuits (the three Hebrew men had recently been promoted), so we need to be walking in faith if we are to ward off “the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16).” More can be added here but I’ll close with this third observation, namely, that God intends for us to go through the heat of persecution, even the pain of sickness and personal loss rather than look for the nearest exit. True, we are not to seek calamity and it is our purgative to seek healing and deliverance, but if relief or rescue are not given, we can learn obedience and trust as we let God take us through the fire. So, as things continue to heat up, we should not bury our heads in the sand, for we are called to endure hardship for the cause of Christ like good soldiers ever ready to do battle. See II Timothy 2:3-5.
9/26/10 "Which Way Are You Going?"
I have often heard people say that Christianity doesn't work because they have not noticed any significant changes in their life or their prayers haven't been answered. Some use this to drop out of church or they continue coming for a variety of reasons except what really matters. This is an alarming phenomenon in the church which needs to be addressed (so called "user friendly" churches have had to grapple with it) and in bringing it up I fully understand that a short piece about it here is not THE answer. But neither can we ignore it even in such a limited venue as this. The church must be educated and challenged in a variety of ways to come to full terms with this attitude that somehow Christianity must "work" or it has no relevance even if all its claims are true.
First of all we need to examine the meaning of "work" or the "utilitarian" view of religion. Those with this spiritual orientation expect Christianity to be some sort of self help exercise in feeling good or that which facilitates enjoyment of a self centered lifestyle. The idea that Jesus Christ calls us to a radical repentance that brings major changes in how we live or who we are is conveniently overlooked. The thought that we need to wholeheartedly seek to please God and conduct our lives in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord (even if it hurts) is alien to anything that these utilitarians know. The mind set that we are accountable to God or that he must be at the center of our lives is also hard to grasp and even if understood it is sidestepped as being too boring, uncomfortable or excessive.
In our scripture lesson for this piece, I would like to focus on the life of a little known Old Testament man who understood who he was and thrived in his obedience and wholehearted love of God. This powerhouse of a man was a mighty warrior, a brave defender of the Truth and a heavy hitter when it came to providing leadership for the people entrusted in his care. That man was Caleb,who at 85 years old, was still ready to do whatever God challenged him to do even if it meant going up against a race of people who were known for their imposing stature, great strength, and mighty feats on the battle field. Forty-five years earlier Caleb and his "side kick" Joshua had encountered these "giants," called the Anakites, when they went on a mission to assess the size and strength of the Anakites and the rest of the Caananite peoples who occupied what later became known as Palestine. Joshua and Caleb risked their lives in giving a minority report (see Numbers 13) that the enemy could be beaten no matter how unlikely that seemed to the great majority. Well, Caleb, and Joshua had to wait for forty more years before their dream of conquest could begin to be realized. Even then, however, Caleb needed to occupy his tribe's portion of the conquered land which necessitated conquering the formidable Anakites. His tribe, Judah, under his leadership, defeated and dislodged the Anakites, they took over their land and made slaves of any surviving enemies. This was the judgment of God on a people who obstinately refused to repent and insisted on going their own way, And what was the secret to Caleb's success?"
It says in Joshua 14, three times, that Caleb followed the Lord wholeheartedly. He had endured years of hardship and self denial in the wilderness of the Arabian Peninsula and then in the "killing fields" of Caanan while the enemy was being subdued but in all this he learned obedience and a wholehearted commitment to the Lord who was his shield, protector and provider of that winning edge that carried Caleb even in old age to victory. Joshua 14 ends with the statement that the land finally had rest which can also be stated that Caleb and his people had rest. Unlike a certain departed crooner, Caleb did not "do it his way." but he let God have His way. Which way are you going?
9/19/10 "Have you encountered a burning bush lately?
Sermons and sermon topics are often generated out of the flow of happenings in the church and relationship dynamics that are formative for the life of the church. As a Pastor I have a pretty good feel for the spiritual temperature in my church. My great passion is for the people of God to be in partnership with our Lord and our God. With this in mind, I am greatly blessed when I see my fellow brothers and sisters passionately seeking to please our Heavenly Father. So how does this come about? My generation (I am 74 as I write this) spoke often about the need to be on fire for God-to be full of faith and the Holy Spirit like Stephen (see Acts 6:5,8; 7:55). I think it begins when the Lord really gets our attention. There comes a moment when we are called away from the frenzied pace that so many of us are engrossed in and we are drawn to a place of quietness and retreat. At least this is what happened to Moses, the great emancipator and law giver who casts a giant shadow throughout the Old Testament and beyond until the coming of the Great Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Although Moses was well placed in the highest echelons of Egyptian society, he could not overlook the suffering of his own Jewish people. He may have grown impatient with God’s “indifference” and so decided to take matters into his own hands. In effect, Moses tried to do God’s work in his own strength. All the details are not given but we know from Exodus 2 that he killed one Egyptian who was beating up on an Israelite slave and he tried to settle a heated dispute involving two of his Jewish brethren. One of the “combatants” told Moses to bug off and shocked Moses with his knowledge that Moses had taken an Egyptian’s life. It dawned on him that he had been found out and if Pharaoh had gotten wind that Moses was taking up common cause with his Jewish brethren against their Egyptian oppressors, then Moses would be hunted down and arrested for treason. So Moses’ experiment with doing “God’s work” for God came to a crashing halt as he skipped out of town. He ended up in the no mans land of the Arabian Peninsula and hung out with the Midianites until he married into a Midianite family and settled down. 40 years later he was still “in retreat” and any thought of being his people’s champion were far removed from his mind.
Then one day, Moses, the shepherd, is on one of his dull excursions with his sheep to the far side of the desert, and arrives at Mount Horeb (also called Mount Sinai where Moses later received the tablets containing the Ten Commandments). It was there that he saw this strange but startling sight of a burning bush that was not being consumed by the fire. Moses decided to move in close to better see this amazing spectacle. It was then that he was stopped dead in his tracks by the Angel of the Lord who called out his name and ordered him to take off his “shoes” because he was standing on Holy Ground, designated as such by the abiding presence of the Lord and God of Moses’ fathers. The rest is history as Moses reluctantly accepts God’s call to be the agent of Israel’s emancipation from the clutches of their Egyptian oppressors (see Exodus 3 especially verses 1-7 which is my immediate focus here). We learn much from this segment of the saga of Moses the now reluctant champion of his people.
For starters, there is the long period of retreat. Forty years sounds like an awful long time, but in God’s judgment it took that long to get Egypt out of Moses’ system so he could be the instrument for bringing Israel out of Egypt. We get so bogged down with mundane and pedestrian concerns, even legitimate ones, that we lose perspective and even a sense of mission in our lives. It’s important that we make a strategic retreat from the noise and hysteria of modern life and for a season (OK, maybe not 40 years) spend time alone with God. Have you ever felt the inner desire to just get away and be uninvolved and unavailable for a while? By all means listen to that yearning and do something about it. You may be amazed by what God reveals to you about yourself and his plans for you especially if you consider God’s plans more desirable than your own. Second, when God gets our attention ( hopefully, not through acute adversity which often happens to those who can’t get off life’s merry-go-round), we need to move from “mere” curiosity about His inner workings in our lives to a place of humble submission and worship. Our pagan culture has such a dulling effect on our sensitivity to God’s holiness and awesome presence. Needless to say, without reverence there is no revelation. In short, we are in danger of reducing God to our own level and treating him like any other person competing for our time and affection. That is a very dangerous trend in contemporary church life. Fifteen minutes here and there just won’t get it done. We literally have to plan for a season of earnestly seeking his face with no distractions and no excuses. People of my generation and before often used such times of extended retreat to seek the Baptism in the Holy Spirit along with a commission to do something new and awesome for God. Third, we need to constantly remember that God transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. The burning bush which Moses encountered was typical of the kind of common plant life that dotted the desert environment of Moses but it contained the kind of wood (acadian wood) that was later used to build the ark of the covenant with its two golden cherubs and sacred mercy seat on which the High Priest spilled the blood of atonement. As I finish typing this piece our Jewish neighbors are beginning to observe “Yom Kipper” or the very sacred Day of Atonement. Is there a burning bush waiting to startle you?
9/5/10 "Do You Talk a Good Game or Play a Good Game?"
I was reading about Christian maturity or what it means to be a mature Christian, written by John Stott in his book, “The Radical Christian,” (IVP, 2009). This little book will, no doubt, become a classic. Stott believes that Christian maturity is all about Jesus Christ and our full commitment to him. His main text is Colossians 1:28,29; which reads as follows:
The marks of maturity are seen in how Paul conducted his ministry among the churches he founded and those he had contact with (e.g., the Roman and Colossian churches). A sample passage illustrating Paul’s manner of life among his church brethren is I Corinthians 4. Paul had written to this highly charismatic but woefully immature church in order to set them straight on Christian doctrine (e.g. CHS. 12-15). , church polity (CH. 11), personal piety and love for one another CH.13). They were in danger of cutting each other to pieces (even suing each other in court, see chapter 6) and boasted about their spiritual gifts while they exhibited a party spirit (see Chapters 1-3 and especially 3:1-9). There were rivalries and quarrels among those who claimed allegiance to Paul or Apollos and even Peter (see 3:22). In Chapter 4, Paul displays his maturity in that he reminds his readers that there are no celebrities in the church including himself. Everyone in the church including the leaders are servants of Jesus Christ. In verses 1-7 Paul makes it clear that the time will come when God will reveal all the secrets of men and give recognition to those who have served Him faithfully. He says that whatever we have (that is good or notable and by implication whatever we have accomplished) has been given to us by the Lord. Therefore there is no room for boasting. The mature saint boasts in the Lord (see especially II Corinth. 10:17,18) Boasting about our so called achievements causes us to have inflated egos that can easily be provoked when “our reputation” is impugned.
Paul then alludes to the sacrifices he and others have made in order to spread the gospel (verses 8-13). He reminds the Corinthians that the cause of the gospel can even demand from us “blood, sweat and tears.” But he does not remind them of this in order to shame them so much as he is warning them that it is crucial for them to follow his example of dedication to the cause of Christ. One is reminded here of Christ’s own admonition that no servant is greater than his Lord (John 13:16). Paul elsewhere says that if we suffer with Jesus we shall also reign with him (II Tim. 2:12 KJV). So the mature saint is not all about reveling in his “press clippings” but he is all about bearing the “marks” of Jesus (Gal. 6:17) in his desire to model for others what it means to follow Jesus. Paul wants the Corinthians to be followers or imitators of him even as he is a follower of Christ (see I Corinth. 4:16, as well as 11:1 and Phil. 3:12-15). In short, the mature saint inspires others to be like Christ.
Finally, in I Corinth. 4:18-21, Paul tells us that us that the “Kingdom of God is not about talk but of power.” Talk is cheap, but the mature saint is a powerful witness to the effectiveness of the gospel to change people’s lives. The challenge to us is whether we talk a good game or play a good game. See I Corinth. 9:24-27.
“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy,which so powerfully works in me.”As Stott says, the word “perfect” does not mean sinless perfection or complete maturity. We continue to grow continuously throughout our lifetime. (See Philippians 3 especially verses 12-15). Another point that Stott considers to be of major significance is that Paul is seeking to disciple “everyone” in his sphere of ministry; so that they all may become mature in Jesus Christ. No one gets a “free pass.” Everyone is called to maturity. Some have more potential than others but everyone is called to be all we can be in Jesus Christ. We should also observe that Paul as a mature saint works hard (no shortcuts for him), but he does labor in the strength of the Lord.
The marks of maturity are seen in how Paul conducted his ministry among the churches he founded and those he had contact with (e.g., the Roman and Colossian churches). A sample passage illustrating Paul’s manner of life among his church brethren is I Corinthians 4. Paul had written to this highly charismatic but woefully immature church in order to set them straight on Christian doctrine (e.g. CHS. 12-15). , church polity (CH. 11), personal piety and love for one another CH.13). They were in danger of cutting each other to pieces (even suing each other in court, see chapter 6) and boasted about their spiritual gifts while they exhibited a party spirit (see Chapters 1-3 and especially 3:1-9). There were rivalries and quarrels among those who claimed allegiance to Paul or Apollos and even Peter (see 3:22). In Chapter 4, Paul displays his maturity in that he reminds his readers that there are no celebrities in the church including himself. Everyone in the church including the leaders are servants of Jesus Christ. In verses 1-7 Paul makes it clear that the time will come when God will reveal all the secrets of men and give recognition to those who have served Him faithfully. He says that whatever we have (that is good or notable and by implication whatever we have accomplished) has been given to us by the Lord. Therefore there is no room for boasting. The mature saint boasts in the Lord (see especially II Corinth. 10:17,18) Boasting about our so called achievements causes us to have inflated egos that can easily be provoked when “our reputation” is impugned.
Paul then alludes to the sacrifices he and others have made in order to spread the gospel (verses 8-13). He reminds the Corinthians that the cause of the gospel can even demand from us “blood, sweat and tears.” But he does not remind them of this in order to shame them so much as he is warning them that it is crucial for them to follow his example of dedication to the cause of Christ. One is reminded here of Christ’s own admonition that no servant is greater than his Lord (John 13:16). Paul elsewhere says that if we suffer with Jesus we shall also reign with him (II Tim. 2:12 KJV). So the mature saint is not all about reveling in his “press clippings” but he is all about bearing the “marks” of Jesus (Gal. 6:17) in his desire to model for others what it means to follow Jesus. Paul wants the Corinthians to be followers or imitators of him even as he is a follower of Christ (see I Corinth. 4:16, as well as 11:1 and Phil. 3:12-15). In short, the mature saint inspires others to be like Christ.
Finally, in I Corinth. 4:18-21, Paul tells us that us that the “Kingdom of God is not about talk but of power.” Talk is cheap, but the mature saint is a powerful witness to the effectiveness of the gospel to change people’s lives. The challenge to us is whether we talk a good game or play a good game. See I Corinth. 9:24-27.
8/29/10 "War and Peace"
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 contains the blueprint for Kingdom living. Some erroneously thought that Jesus was giving his instructions on how to live and conduct one’s life during the supposed short period between his first coming and the imminent establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. It was supposed to be an emergency lifestyle that would prepare His disciples like Peter and John, etc. for the glorious immediate future. Then when it became apparent that the literal or actual eschatological kingdom was being indefinitely delayed (see II Peter 3), the Sermon on the Mount was presumably rendered obsolete. But there is nothing in the sermon itself that warrants such an interpretation. It is jam packed with proven wisdom that was meant for all seasons. The beatitudes that are at the beginning of the sermon tell us what a child of God is like. They tell us who we are in Christ. As we become more like Christ i.e. pure in heart, merciful, hungry for truth and righteousness and sensitive to the suffering of others, we become more likely to display the awesome behaviors featured in the rest of the great sermon.
One of the beatitudes which became most illuminating to me this week was, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 (NIV). Any church is blessed when it has peacemakers among the body of believers. We live in troublesome times when people including Christians are under a great deal of pressure. Money is tight, jobs are less and less available, natural disasters and man made disturbances seem to be on the increase, families are in crises and conditions like these put people on edge. This can cause tension in the church when vulnerable people, even our closest friends, feel they have been slighted or abused. It is then that Jesus’ call for peacemakers becomes especially needful. What are the characteristics of a peacemaker?
The peacemaker keeps his ego in check. She does not fight fire with fire but looks to diffuse a potentially volatile situation or one that has already gotten out of hand. Friendship is put before ego. Humility is offered instead of hateful reprisals. Risks are taken in order to restore community, The peacemaker is ready to assume responsibility for the slightest of improper behavior and he refrains from minimizing the pain of those she offends. The peacemaker springs into action rather than wait until they are proven to be “justified.” He does not condemn but she spreads healing balm on another’s wounds and does this in the spirit of truth and reason, that is, evil is not condoned but a process is put in motion which frees everyone concerned including the peacemaker(s) from the shackles of evil. Peacemaking is love in action. It is the stuff out of which reconciliations are forged and unity in the church is preserved. In short, the peacemaker overcomes evil with good. See Romans 12:9-21 as well as I Corinth. 13:4-7. Can you make peace when every primitive instinct in you wants to wage war?
One of the beatitudes which became most illuminating to me this week was, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 (NIV). Any church is blessed when it has peacemakers among the body of believers. We live in troublesome times when people including Christians are under a great deal of pressure. Money is tight, jobs are less and less available, natural disasters and man made disturbances seem to be on the increase, families are in crises and conditions like these put people on edge. This can cause tension in the church when vulnerable people, even our closest friends, feel they have been slighted or abused. It is then that Jesus’ call for peacemakers becomes especially needful. What are the characteristics of a peacemaker?
The peacemaker keeps his ego in check. She does not fight fire with fire but looks to diffuse a potentially volatile situation or one that has already gotten out of hand. Friendship is put before ego. Humility is offered instead of hateful reprisals. Risks are taken in order to restore community, The peacemaker is ready to assume responsibility for the slightest of improper behavior and he refrains from minimizing the pain of those she offends. The peacemaker springs into action rather than wait until they are proven to be “justified.” He does not condemn but she spreads healing balm on another’s wounds and does this in the spirit of truth and reason, that is, evil is not condoned but a process is put in motion which frees everyone concerned including the peacemaker(s) from the shackles of evil. Peacemaking is love in action. It is the stuff out of which reconciliations are forged and unity in the church is preserved. In short, the peacemaker overcomes evil with good. See Romans 12:9-21 as well as I Corinth. 13:4-7. Can you make peace when every primitive instinct in you wants to wage war?
8/22/10 "The Cross or the Switchblade."
If one were to anticipate reading a piece on the challenge of Jesus to all of us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him (Matthew 24:16), the chances are that Ruth 1:1-22 would not be the expected text from which to develop this theme. But I have chosen this portion of scripture because it not only illustrates what I think Jesus expects of us but it also has something to say about the meaning of tribulation and suffering as they relate to the cross. There is a bit of overlap between bearing our crosses and enduring tribulation; but they are also different in that one happens to us without our “permission” while the other is something we choose to take on although both involve pain and suffering.
Ruth was a Gentile who lived in Moab which bordered on the south-eastern side of Israel near the Dead Sea. She and her sister Orpah had been married to Jewish men who along with their parents had immigrated to Moab during a time of famine in Judah. Their mother-in-law’s name was Naomi. The two boys married these Gentile girls after their father had died. For ten years all went well for Naomi and her family but then her sons died thus leaving all three women without a male presence in their lives. In Biblical times that was not a good thing. The culture and economy was male dominated and the prospects for the women were dim. So Naomi decided that she ought to go back to Israel and try to reconnect with whatever family she had and the girls said they would like to follow her. Naomi courageously would hear none of this and she actually convinced Orpah to stay in her own land and seek a new life among her own people; but Ruth insisted on staying with her mother-in-law. She spoke with a great sense of urgency that is a gem of Biblical verse; she said to Naomi: “...Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried... (see Ruth 1:16-18).” In so doing she chose an uncertain future in a potentially hostile environment (Jews and Gentiles did not mix well) and embraced an elderly woman who really had nothing to offer but “blood sweat and tears.” Naomi herself was not a very encouraging fellow traveler because she felt God had abandoned her.
When the two women crossed the border and arrived in Bethlehem of Judea, “the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, ‘Can this be Naomi?’ Don’t call me Naomi she told them, call me Mara (which means bitter) because the Almighty has made my life very bitter-the Lord has afflicted me, the Almighty has brought misfortune on me (Ruth 3:20-22). Naomi was lonely and very discouraged because of circumstances in her life which made her feel miserable. She did not choose this “tribulation”, it was thrust upon her. To say her faith was being tested is an understatement. While Ruth had no clue regarding her glorious future, she, nevertheless, chose a path that didn’t seem to show much promise. The “smart money” was on Orpah who could remarry in her own land and culture and settle down to a reasonable life. I think Ruth was a young woman of faith who was being led by the Lord to a destiny which even she could not have imagined until, of course, she married a rich relative of Naomi’s and actually became part of the bloodline that produced the Messiah, the Son of God (see Matthew 1:5). And in time, Naomi found out that her name really was “pleasant” (the meaning of her name, NIV Study Bible text note for verse 20) instead of “bitter.” So Ruth had denied herself a more promising life in Moab, took up her cross of supporting her morose Mother-in-law, and indeed followed Naomi wherever she went and wherever she stayed.
Every cross seems to be a challenge beyond our capabilities, but when we choose our cross in faith, God promises us a more certain destiny that is far better than being cut to pieces by the enemy of our soul who would prefer to have us choose a life of “contented worldliness,” to borrow a phrase from C.S. Lewis’ “The Skrewtape Letters,” chapter 5. So it’s the devil’s “switch blade” or the Lord’s call to make of us the men and women we were created to be. The cross we are offered should we choose to accept it in faith may include much suffering but it is the stuff out of which saints are made.
Ruth was a Gentile who lived in Moab which bordered on the south-eastern side of Israel near the Dead Sea. She and her sister Orpah had been married to Jewish men who along with their parents had immigrated to Moab during a time of famine in Judah. Their mother-in-law’s name was Naomi. The two boys married these Gentile girls after their father had died. For ten years all went well for Naomi and her family but then her sons died thus leaving all three women without a male presence in their lives. In Biblical times that was not a good thing. The culture and economy was male dominated and the prospects for the women were dim. So Naomi decided that she ought to go back to Israel and try to reconnect with whatever family she had and the girls said they would like to follow her. Naomi courageously would hear none of this and she actually convinced Orpah to stay in her own land and seek a new life among her own people; but Ruth insisted on staying with her mother-in-law. She spoke with a great sense of urgency that is a gem of Biblical verse; she said to Naomi: “...Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried... (see Ruth 1:16-18).” In so doing she chose an uncertain future in a potentially hostile environment (Jews and Gentiles did not mix well) and embraced an elderly woman who really had nothing to offer but “blood sweat and tears.” Naomi herself was not a very encouraging fellow traveler because she felt God had abandoned her.
When the two women crossed the border and arrived in Bethlehem of Judea, “the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, ‘Can this be Naomi?’ Don’t call me Naomi she told them, call me Mara (which means bitter) because the Almighty has made my life very bitter-the Lord has afflicted me, the Almighty has brought misfortune on me (Ruth 3:20-22). Naomi was lonely and very discouraged because of circumstances in her life which made her feel miserable. She did not choose this “tribulation”, it was thrust upon her. To say her faith was being tested is an understatement. While Ruth had no clue regarding her glorious future, she, nevertheless, chose a path that didn’t seem to show much promise. The “smart money” was on Orpah who could remarry in her own land and culture and settle down to a reasonable life. I think Ruth was a young woman of faith who was being led by the Lord to a destiny which even she could not have imagined until, of course, she married a rich relative of Naomi’s and actually became part of the bloodline that produced the Messiah, the Son of God (see Matthew 1:5). And in time, Naomi found out that her name really was “pleasant” (the meaning of her name, NIV Study Bible text note for verse 20) instead of “bitter.” So Ruth had denied herself a more promising life in Moab, took up her cross of supporting her morose Mother-in-law, and indeed followed Naomi wherever she went and wherever she stayed.
Every cross seems to be a challenge beyond our capabilities, but when we choose our cross in faith, God promises us a more certain destiny that is far better than being cut to pieces by the enemy of our soul who would prefer to have us choose a life of “contented worldliness,” to borrow a phrase from C.S. Lewis’ “The Skrewtape Letters,” chapter 5. So it’s the devil’s “switch blade” or the Lord’s call to make of us the men and women we were created to be. The cross we are offered should we choose to accept it in faith may include much suffering but it is the stuff out of which saints are made.
8/15/10 “Are You a Fool or a Wise Guy?”
I Samuel 23 tells us about one of the fascinating episodes in David’s years of avoiding the relentless pursuit of King Saul, who like a mad dog was looking to capture David and kill him. During this roughly thirteen year period, David functioned like history’s first Robin hood in that he was keeping one step ahead of “the Sheriff of Nottingham” (King Saul, himself) while at the same time he was helping his countrymen and even rescuing them from their enemies. In the text above, we read about David responding to the plight of the people of Keilah (located about 10 miles southwest of Jerusalem) who had been attacked by the Philistines, the “Bad Boys” of that period in Israel’s history.
Before getting involved in this rescue mission, David consulted with the Lord. At that time, the high priest by default, now Abiathar, (because his father had recently been killed by Saul, see I Sam. 22) used his ephod to assist David in inquiring of the Lord. This ephod was an ornamented vest worn by the High Priest in performing many of his functions including inquiring of the Lord. The ephod contained the mysterious (to us) gemstones called the Urim and Thummin which apparently functioned like coins or dice which had to land upright or upside down (when thrown?). No one knows exactly how this worked except that it worked like a system of casting lots whereby “yes” or “no” answers would be given to questions asked of God (See “Baker’s Encyclopedia of the Bible,” edited by W.A. Elwell, Vol... 2, p. 2117). In addition to our Text (I Sam. 23:1-12), see I Samuel 30:7-11, and Exodus 28:15 for some other references to the Urim and Thummin and their use.
Through this “yes and no” process David determined God’s will regarding the rescue of the city of Keilah. He was given the green light to engage the more powerful Philistines and “kicked them out of town.” But when Saul learned that David was in Keilah he started to zero in on David. David again inquired of the Lord and was told to “get out of town” quick (see I Sam. 23:11f). There are other instances where David sought the Lord’s guidance and demonstrated his resolve to know and be in harmony with the will of the Lord. It was the defining characteristic of his lifestyle-this sense that he was to conduct his affairs within God’s counsels. He was not by any means perfect (lest we forget Bathsheba) but he never deviated (unlike Saul) from any direct order given to him by God whether through prophetic word or by means of the divinely ordained Urim and Thummin. He made it his business to seek God’s counsel before he acted. As such he stands as a model for all of God’s people.
Peter tells us that the “(Christian) does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God (I Peter 4:2)” James is even more emphatic when he says that we should never project into the future apart from God. Bragging or boasting (James 4:16) about what we will do, what we will try to accomplish, or what treasures we well seek without taking account of the will of God is sheer foolishness. It really is a matter of Whom we are consulting. The saying goes that if I am personally trying my own case in court then I have a fool for a lawyer. If I am a fool for acting as my own lawyer, then I am a bigger fool if I try to run my life apart from God’s counsel. Are you a fool or a wise “guy.”
Before getting involved in this rescue mission, David consulted with the Lord. At that time, the high priest by default, now Abiathar, (because his father had recently been killed by Saul, see I Sam. 22) used his ephod to assist David in inquiring of the Lord. This ephod was an ornamented vest worn by the High Priest in performing many of his functions including inquiring of the Lord. The ephod contained the mysterious (to us) gemstones called the Urim and Thummin which apparently functioned like coins or dice which had to land upright or upside down (when thrown?). No one knows exactly how this worked except that it worked like a system of casting lots whereby “yes” or “no” answers would be given to questions asked of God (See “Baker’s Encyclopedia of the Bible,” edited by W.A. Elwell, Vol... 2, p. 2117). In addition to our Text (I Sam. 23:1-12), see I Samuel 30:7-11, and Exodus 28:15 for some other references to the Urim and Thummin and their use.
Through this “yes and no” process David determined God’s will regarding the rescue of the city of Keilah. He was given the green light to engage the more powerful Philistines and “kicked them out of town.” But when Saul learned that David was in Keilah he started to zero in on David. David again inquired of the Lord and was told to “get out of town” quick (see I Sam. 23:11f). There are other instances where David sought the Lord’s guidance and demonstrated his resolve to know and be in harmony with the will of the Lord. It was the defining characteristic of his lifestyle-this sense that he was to conduct his affairs within God’s counsels. He was not by any means perfect (lest we forget Bathsheba) but he never deviated (unlike Saul) from any direct order given to him by God whether through prophetic word or by means of the divinely ordained Urim and Thummin. He made it his business to seek God’s counsel before he acted. As such he stands as a model for all of God’s people.
Peter tells us that the “(Christian) does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God (I Peter 4:2)” James is even more emphatic when he says that we should never project into the future apart from God. Bragging or boasting (James 4:16) about what we will do, what we will try to accomplish, or what treasures we well seek without taking account of the will of God is sheer foolishness. It really is a matter of Whom we are consulting. The saying goes that if I am personally trying my own case in court then I have a fool for a lawyer. If I am a fool for acting as my own lawyer, then I am a bigger fool if I try to run my life apart from God’s counsel. Are you a fool or a wise “guy.”
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