King Solomon is usually thought of as a wise ruler who ruled over Israel at the peak of its power.Certainly this is part of the story, but the full reading of these chapters leaves a great deal of ambiguity regarding Solomon.
Sibling rivalry between Solomon and Adjoniah quickly leads to a bloody suppression of an apparent plot against Solomon.Adjoniah’s requests to marry Abishag, who was a female companion of David’s.Solomon views this request as a claim on his throne.Solomon uses this event to eliminate many power players in the kingdom.The military commander Joab is executed right beside the Ark!Pretty brutal realpolitik recounted in the early part of Solomon’s reign.
Then Solomon, whose ancestors were slaves in Egypt, marries a daughter of Pharaoh.This marriage was a great move by worldly power standards but very questionable from the view of keeping proper relationship with God.
Even in the midst of this, God makes an offer to Solomon: “Ask what I should give you.” (v 3:5)And Solomon asks for “an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil.” (v 3:9)It is interesting that Solomon does not clearly ask for wisdom, as we so often think.Even the story of justice regarding the two mothers and the baby contains both good and bad aspects.Looking at this text from the top of society versus the bottom of society can open a different view to this celebrated story.
Question for thought: what would you answer, if God asked “what should I give you?”
David the hero shows a different side today.God’s chosen one commits the great sin of adultery followed by a cover-up which leads to multiple murders (when you consider more than Uriah died in the trumped up attack).The story is a warning against the lure of power and how it can lead to creating a self-affirming world in which actions are justified, well, simply because one has power.Does this sound all too familiar?
Just to remember, David had multiple wives, at least eight before Bathsheba, and an untold number of concubines.In addition note how David, the warrior, now stays at home and leaves the fighting to others.How often do we see the same situation today?This story drips with power as an engine of sin.Again, we don’t have to read too far in the paper to find events displaying the same combination of power, lust, and violence.
We also see a warning about the danger of sin.One act leads to sin, which leads to another cover up.The death spiral of spin starts far too easily.
The events are also about damasking sin and admission of guilt.The interaction of Nathan and David is one of the most exciting confrontations in all of scripture.Note how David admits his guilt.Many think Psalm 51, the great Psalm of confession, is based on words David spoke at this moment.We’ll read it next week…
God does forgive David, but not without consequence.The child born of David’s sinful action will die.David will experience everything mentioned by Nathan, as David’s son Absalom will start a civil war against his father.
Interestingly, though, another son born to David and Bathsheba, Solomon, will succeed his father on the throne.This relationship created in the midst of sin, will be part of Jesus’ bloodline.
This passage is one to come back to again and again to remind us of the power of sin and death as well as the stronger power of God’s love for us and the live we receive from God.
2 Samuel 7 may be the most important chapter of the entire Deuteronomistic History (see earlier post on that) and is arguably one of the most important in the entire Old Testament.
But before we look at that, a review of the skipped events is helpful (and interesting).First, Saul and his son (and beloved friend of David) Jonathan are killed during a battle with the Philistines.The southern tribe of Judah recognizes David as king, while the rest of the tribes recognize another son of Saul, Ishbaal, as king.(We can date this to approximately 1005 BC.) A civil war breaks out and David finally takes over after Ishbaal is murdered.
David takes several important steps after he takes over the unified Israel.First, he conquers Jerusalem.Soon David moves the capital to Jerusalem and the city becomes known as the City of David.Both the person at the center of God’s plan, David, and the place at the center of God’s plan are brought together.David’s decision to reside in Jerusalem is shrewd, as it borders the territories of the north-south division of Israel (soon to reappear) and is neutral because the city belonged to neither side.There are some similarities with how the District of Columbia developed as the capitol of our own country.
David then brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.Jerusalem will become the center of not only political power but also religious power.
We now reach the heart of this day: Chapter 7.In this chapter God makes a covenant with David.As with the other covenants, God initiates the action.In fact God rejects David’s bid to initiate action by building a temple.Instead God makes this promise to David:When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. When he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human beings. But I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever. (2 Sam 7:12-16)
This promise has a great impact on the rest of Jewish story.First, they become somewhat arrogant and complacent: How can something bad happen to Jerusalem and the kings who descend from David?After the destruction of Jerusalem and the apparent end of the reign of David’s descendents, a large amount of thought goes into trying to explain this seeming inconsistency in God’s promise.In fact much of the Old Testament achieved its final form with an eye on this very issue.How can God’s unending faithfulness include this action?I won’t give you the various answers provided to this question in the Old Testament. For us, we see Jesus as the answer to this conundrum as well.
Let us not be comfortable, like the inhabitants of Jerusalem, as we enjoy the unearned unconditional grace received through Jesus, the center of God’s fulfillment of the covenant with David.
The last chapters of 1 Samuel focus on the troubled relationship between David and Saul.Saul is still king but the mantle of God’s choice has shifted to David.Saul knows his days are numbered.So an armed struggle breaks out between the two men.
David clearly has acumen and wisdom as he escapes from Saul’s attempts to capture him.David, in addition to his skilsl, turns to God over and over for advice.(1 Sam 23:10-12)The events of this chapter show a perfect merger of God and David working together.This is a good example for us as well.How do we seek God’s will and use the skills we are given by God?
Then we have this incident when David could have killed Saul but instead seeks reconciliation.The temptation to finish Saul must have been strong, yet David stays the hand of his soldiers, sparing Saul.How often do we try to use the power of violence to solve a problem rather than seek reconciliation with those with whom we disagree?
David is introduced today, well actually introduced through three different stories.I’d like to point out a couple of items regarding David.His youth seemed to hide his potential from human eyes.How often do we overlook the youth of the church?Certainly they may not have experience, but they are the future and we would do well to include them in planning and decisions.Second, we see in the event with Goliath that David relied on God, not on tools from the world.How often do we forget to rely on God?
Finally, just as a comment, as you read about David over the next few days, note the God given gift of charisma which David must have had in spades.It is noted over and over that he is loved by just about everyone he encounters and even Jonathan, who had the most to lose with his father Saul’s toppling, loves David.
Also, congratulations we are 1/3 of the way through the readings!!!!
Today’s reading has an interesting trajectory.The Israelites face a problem.The tribes are a covenant community, loosely allied together under the overall direction of God.They are facing military threats from all directions, especially from the coast dwelling Philistines.They are also facing internal chaos:Samuel is old and his sons are lacking in leadership qualities (see 8:3).So the Israelites, enduring years of problems, decide to go in a more worldly direction.They want a human king over them, copying the “successful” peoples around them.Samuel points out that this is a clear rejection of God and will lead to servitude.Yet God will accede to their desire.Possibly God hopes this learning experience will transform them. Once again God shows grace to the rebellious Israelites.Have you ever noticed God’s transforming work on you during rebellion?
A second great point to ponder from this event:How often does the church look to the world for an answer to its problems, importing “successful” techniques into the life of the faith community?Does this ultimately work? Should we not instead export our values into the world?Are we to transform the world or is the world to transform us?
We then have Samuel anointing Saul with oil.This is a central event and is related to the terms messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek).Both of these terms mean theanointed one.We often miss the political overtones which ancient listeners must have recognized when they heard this term used for Jesus. Clearly Jesus was not interested in political power, but this helps us see why many had that expectation, for anointing was connected to kingship.
Then we have an almost embarrassing incident involving the selection of Saul.Clearly the use of lots allows for God to pick rather than some local leader running roughshod to gain this new opportunity to rule the Israelites in a more centralized manner.We see a common motif here: God’s chosen one running from his vocation.Yesterday’s sermon discussed “Get off the bench and onto the playing field.”Maybe the term “Quit hiding behind your baggage.” could be a title from this incident.How often do you run from God’s plans for you?
Day 31 – Samuel Listens to God – 1 Samuel 1:1-3:21
Three main people inhabit the pages of the Book of Samuel: Samuel, Saul, and David.Each will have a one day introduction.Today is Samuel’s turn.Samuel is a priest, judge and prophet.So he is a transitional figure, with one backward looking role (judge) and one forward looking role (prophet).
The events open in the period of chaos as described in the final chapters of the Book of Judges.This plays out in the story of Eli’s sons who are in charge of the temple at Shiloh, yet engage in profiteering and sexual misconduct.God tells both Eli and Samuel that the future of Eli’s sons is death.This reminds us that God’s grace also comes with the precursor of God’s judgment.Why would we need grace if judgment did not exist?The story of Eli’s sons reminds depicts Paul’s words from his letter to the Romans: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)We often avert our eyes from the first part of this statement, but how often does sin lead to death in life.More often than we care to admit.
Of course Samuel’s mother Hannah is a wonderful example of faith in this passage.New life from no life, hope from hopelessness, despair turned into thanksgiving.We see all this play out for Hannah.We also read the great words of her own song (much like Mary’s song) which make the personal promises fulfilled for her take on a wider message of hope to all those on the bottom in society.What do you see as hope for you or for those facing difficulties in society as you read Hannah’s story and her song?
By the end of this passage, Samuel is in place, although many more problems lie ahead.Some we will read, many we will miss in this annotated reading of the Book of Samuel.As a side note, 1 & 2 Samuel are really one book.The split originated in issues related to the large scroll size needed, in case you need to answer this in a trivia game.
We read the entire Book of Ruth today.This is a story of unexpected fidelity from a foreign woman, Ruth, to her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi.The story uses the word redemption many times to describe Naomi and Ruth’s movement from destitution and grief to blessing. How does this story give you hope?What may need redemption in your own life?
I also wanted to point out a few items of interest.First and foremost, this story contains the tension of having a foreign woman, in fact a Moabite, who were enemies of the Israelites, as the main actor.Even more interesting, Ruth, the non-Israelite, is an ancestor of David and therefore Jesus.Non-Israelite blood runs in the veins of David and Jesus.
We also see details of the society of the time such as the vulnerable position of women, particularly those with no male relatives.We glimpse how this vulnerability was dealt with through marriage to other family members of the deceased man, if possible.We see the institution of leaving wheat which is dropped during the harvest behind for the poor to pick up. This device is the welfare system of the time.We also see how legal matters were handled.The book contains some fascinating insights into early Israelite society.
Day 29 – Samson Defeats the Philistines - Judges 13:1-16:31
The story of the last judge is full of odd adventures and continuous failings as a leader.Samson is never really a leader of the people as much as a one man wrecking crew.Even as you read of his sinful acts and placing his trust in the wrong people (seriously wouldn’t you be suspicious of Delilah after her fourth request regarding the source of your power?), ultimately God who has chosen him, stands by him, and grants his final request.In some manner, Samson’s story is the story of Israel, and our own as well.No matter where we may go, God never leaves us.Of what comfort is this to you?
Samson is the final judge.We will not read the final chapters of Judges but they contain raw depictions of a society completely out of control.As I mentioned earlier, the final line of this book is:“In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.” The writer is referring not as much to a human ruler, as God as king.Possibly a line for us to ponder for our own time
Day 28 – Gideon Defeats the Midianites - Judges 6:1-7:26
Gideon is the judge involved in today’s passage.We see a leader who is hesitant and asks for a sign from God over and over again.God, ever full of grace, provides these signs.It is interesting that God even takes the step of providing the proof of the upcoming victory, “But if you fear to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah;” (v. 7:10)Gideon, of course, does fear, and heads down to the camp.One of my great privileges as a pastor is to see and point out God’s power at work in situations.I am truly amazed. How often do we fear rather than see the signs of God’s power at work?
Another interesting aspect of Gideon’s life is God’s desire to show that victory does not come through Gideon or the Israelites.God states:Israel would only take the credit away from me, saying, ‘My own hand has delivered me.’We will skip over the later part of Gideon’s life.But as Gideon becomes more self-reliant, his relationship with God turns sour, leading to disaster.How often do we forget God’s blessing of our skills and abilities, forgetting to heed God?And is this when problems strike our own life?
My guess is not many have read this story before.Here we see God intervene through a committee: Deborah, the female leader of the Israelites, Barak, her general, and a non-Israelite female, Jael.This unexpected group is used by God to bring victory.Certainly the events are gruesome and in the Hebrew even more graphic.
We often think of God acting in individuals.Here we see God acting through a group of people.Is God calling you to act not just on your own, but with a group?
Note how the story is told two different ways.First we have a narrative story in Chapter 4.Then we have a poetic telling of the story in Chapter 5.The poem is especially fascinating as this, along with Exodus 15, is considered some of the oldest written Hebrew we have.
The imagery used for God in the poem presents him as the Divine Warrior, which is a common theme in the Old Testament.As in this case, God as the Divine Warrior is the defender of the weak and powerless against the forces of oppression, death, and rebellion against God.Does this image of God as Divine Warrior comfort you or bother you in any way?
First, I recommend that everyone take a look at the previous post which describes the background for the Books of Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 &2 Kings.
One theme of these books regards the possession of the Promised Land.If the Israelites are obedient and worship God alone, they will possess the land.If they worship other gods, God will take away the land from them.We see this play out between the Books of Joshua and Judges.Joshua is very obedient to God, so the Israelites are successful during his leadership.After him, the Israelites go through approximately 200 years of disobedience.We see the decline of the Israelites over this time to the point that the final words of Judges are: “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.”(Judges )This is a reference to not only a human king, but that God was not king.Sound familiar to our own society?
Here is some background about the judges.In general they are military leaders who are chosen by God to deal with particular crisis. Once these crises pass they disappear back into obscurity, often falling through sin.In addition we should recognize that the Israelites were not unified during this time.Loyalty to a united Israel was not high on the priority list.Family, clan and tribal ties were more important.So the judges often did not rule over the entire people, but only a portion of the tribes.We see hints of this in Deborah’s victory song (Judges -17).
In this introduction to this book we see several important issues for us as well.There is a reference to the rise of a new generation who did not know the Lord (v. ).How well do we do in our role of nurturing disciples?Each of us pledges to support those who are baptized.How well do we do with these vows as parents and as members of a congregation?
While we don’t usually have an idol of another god in front of us, we are often guilty of idolatry.What pressures, values, and enticements of our own culture may demand our time, energy, resources, and loyalty to the point that God is pushed to the background?This is also idolatry.What may be an idol in your own life?
I should have posted this a week ago before we started Joshua, not after we finished Joshua.Some background information regarding these books is useful to reading them and gives a deeper understanding to their message.
The Books of Joshua, Judges, 1 &2 Samuel and 1 &2 Kings form one literary unit, known as the Deuteronomic History (Dtr).Most of this material was written in its final form during the reign of the great reforming king, Josiah (640-609 BC).(An addition was added to cover the decades leading up to Jerusalem’s destruction in 587 BC.)
In many ways, this history looks through a theological lens at the history of the time from the entry of the Israelites into the Promised Land around 1250 BC to the loss of the Promised Land in 587 BC.This group of books is actually known as the Former Prophets in the Jewish Canon.This is helpful to know, for it points us toward the focus of these books, which is less about history as we may think of history and more to these books as a retelling, through prophetic critique, the relationship between Israel and God.
1 & 2 Kings for example, focus quite a bit on the lives of two great prophets, Elijah and his successor Elisha.On the other hand, kings who ruled for decades may have a small paragraph written about them.Another book which we do not have, the Book of the Kings of Israel & Judah is often referenced as having the historical details of these kingly reigns (see for example, 2 Kings , for this comment regarding King Joash.)
So what is the overall message of this set of books?It seems to settle around three issues.First, possession of the Promised Land depends upon Israel’s obedience, specifically with regard to worshipping God alone.Second, this worship must take place at Jerusalem, not at other sites in the Promised Land.Finally, God has made a covenant with David.We will look at this covenant in some detail, but essentially a promise is made by God to David.This promise is that his lineage will reign forever.Obviously there is tension between these themes, as the first theme appears to be conditional, while the third theme is not.And clearly the second and third themes mesh together, as David’s lineage ruled from Jerusalem, the center of worship.
We will cover 600 years of history in three weeks consisting of fifteen readings. Much is left out in this type of approach.Hopefully this will raise some interest to look further into these issues, which do have great meaning for us today.I should note that the Sunday Parlor Class continues to cover many issues in the Old Testament (They are in the Book of Joshua right now.)
The fall of Jericho is the first step in the account of Joshua’s campaign of conquest.On the one hand this is a fairly simple story: obey God, even act in a manner which seems odd, and God will deliver.It is clear that God is the actor here, not the Israelites.This is a simple place to stop, especially for a blog.
But I can’t help but mention that violence in scripture is a complex issue, far beyond what can be discussed here.Unfortunately this is exactly the type of passage used to justify violence against “others”.We have enough instances of ethnic cleansing, terrorism and violence all being justified by spurious interpretations of religious documents.
Within the Reformed Tradition, we have a set of guidelines for reading scripture.One of the guidelines is called the rule of love.This is based on Matthew 22:36-39: Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He [Jesus] said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Our Confessions support this as well.One example is from a section of the 2nd Helvetic Confession, written in 1561: “We hold that interpretation of the Scripture to be orthodox and genuine which agree[s] with the rule of faith and love, and contributes much to the glory of God and man's salvation.”
In the midst of our own violent world, may we pray for peace.
We have the final bookend to the Israelite’s forty year journey from Egypt.The waters of the Jordan are stopped while they cross over into the PromiseLand.Several places in the text point to this event as an affirmation to the people that Joshua is their leaders appointed by God to lead them.
In your own life, what could you use God’s presence and help?
Good luck to those who have read the “in-between” chapters over the last four weeks.Today we skip over three entire books.Even if you read all night you probably could not read everything!The Book of Leviticus describes all of the religious rules regarding the Jewish religion. The Book of Numbers contains further rules along with the description of the forty year journey of the Israelites through the Sinai.Many interesting events of continued disobedience toward God are contained in this account.The Book of Deuteronomy places the Israelites on the border of the Promised Land, where Moses gives a series of final instructions to the group.
Joshua takes the helm of leadership from Moses. He was Moses’ right hand man, so the succession is expected.Joshua is presented in the Book of Joshua as someone who has observed Moses and learned from the good and bad of the journey. He is just about perfect in following God’s will.
The invasion into the Promised Land is about to begin.This is a time of great anticipation and fear.So God speaks great words to the people:“Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)These are powerful words of promise for us as well!Where can you use this promise in your own life?
This is another day full of more material than we can really discuss in detail or even attempt to cover.My guess is that for many who even have some familiarity with the Bible, with today’s reading new, territory is entered.
The chapters have an overall pattern: Sin (ch. 32), negation with God, with Moses as the intermediary, and God taking the initiative to redo the covenant with the Israelites.While this is occurs as a community (and I think we must not forget the communal focus of scripture, for our individual based society) this is a pattern which we can relate to in our own lives.The good news is that we have Jesus as the intermediary as God brings us into the covenant.
As you read this note how the people quickly give up.Note Aaron’s attempt, using the greatest excuse of possibly all time to cover his actions:“you know the people, that they are bent on evil … So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off’; so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”(Ex. 32: 22-24) How often do our own excuses sound as feeble to our ever loving God?
Despite these terrible sin, God is the faithful one, promising to still give the Promised Land to the people.God once again takes the initiative: “I hereby make a covenant.”(Ex 34:10)The rest of this covenant, as revealed in Exodus 34, reminds us that grace is not cheap for us either…
I also recommend spending some time with Ex 34: 6-7.Great words are used to describe God:merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, faithful, keeping steadfast love and forgiving.The Hebrew is even more spectacular and in some ways beyond translation.The word we translate for steadfast love for example has entire books written just for this one Hebrew word, and probably my very favorite: hesed.Take some time to think about these words.
This reading is extensive in content.We have the theophany or God’s appearance to the Israelites.We also see that Moses is the mediator of this meeting between God and the people.This Mosaic Covenant formed at this time will be the basis of God’s relationship with humanity for the following 1200 years or so.Jesus will fulfill this covenant from both God and humanity’s side.While some attribute are very different than our relationship with God today, it is still worth reading.Particularly for its manifestation of God’s holiness, which as I’ve mentioned earlier, we seem to forget.The meeting on the mountain reminds me of Annie Dillard’s statement form her book, Teaching a Stone to Talk:
"On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside of the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no-one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake some day and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return."
What do you think about her statement?What do you expect in worship
I also want to comment about the Ten Commandments.We see the Commandments less as a tool of condemnation than as a teaching tool.For us, the commandments are more markers of a life in which the Holy Spirit is at work.But we really limit their meaning if we woodenly follow them without really delving into them.
I’d like to share some of John Calvin’s approach to the Ten Commandments.I will use a simpler one for the example: “You shall not murder.”(v. )Sounds simple, but difficult enough.First Calvin notes we need to expand the meaning.For example, do we, in our heart wish ill on someone, do we gossip, do we deal with others through anger, etc.Do we provide opportunities for others to sin, placing their eternal life in jeopardy?Becomes a little tougher!Then Calvin says we need to reverse the meaning.In other words, do we take actions to save life?Do we provide food and shelter?Do we ensure safe conditions?Do we uplift people nurturing them in the faith, to ensure they know of Jesus?Calvin takes a holistic view of murder both physically and spiritually.He also takes a broad view of both our individual responsibilities but our responsibility to wider society as well.
Well there is so much more I’d like to discuss: idolatry as more than worshipping a golden idol.Not many golden idols around but what do we place in front of following Jesus as a disciple?These are idols.Or what about keeping the Sabbath.If God could takes a rest for a day, why do we find it so difficult today?And as the commandments point out, our actions on the Sabbath affect others.When we go out and do something, we force others to work, whether they may want to or not(I know some of you are on the “receiving” end of this.)Thus this commandment always talks about rest for servants.
I hope we start to think about the Ten Commandments in more than just a wooden list of behaviors, and more about how they are a starting point, not the ending point, for living out the words: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)
Day 20 – Crossing the Red Sea - Exodus 13:17-14:31
Pharaoh has a change of heart and pursues the Israelites.In this entire chapter God is the actor, even with Pharaoh:“I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, so that I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” (v. 14:4)As with the plagues, God takes action so that Egypt, the most powerful country in the world, knows who is really in control.Egypt relies on military power to control a wide swath of the Middle East.What do you have in your own life that God may want to reveal as a powerless idol?
I think the most intriguing verses of this reading are the probably overlooked verses -14.The Israelites, in this early stage of freedom, face a crisis.The response is to desire to return to the past, even as terrible as it was: “…For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”(v. 12) They will express this desire over and over as they travel toward the Promised Land.It is amazing, even after seeing miracle after miracle, and receiving God’s sustenance, the mass of Israelites will declare a desire to return to servitude rather than life in God’s freedom.How often do we stick with the tried and true, even if we know it is wrong, or simply comfortable, rather than trust God to move us in a new direction?What are you holding onto, or possibly return to over and over, rather than move forward in the direction God desires for you?
Moses’ response is a great model for all of us:“Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”(vv. 13-14)As we face difficulties, we try to over function, rather than step back and allow God to act.It is a very difficult thing to do, especially for those of us who are Type A’s and have a great set of God given skills!How often do we “fix” something, rather than let God act and bring a much deeper restoration to the situation?
The battle with the Egypt ends.The mighty empire is no match for God.
I know some of you are reading the “in-between” sections.I highly recommend Chapter 15, as this poetic retelling of the escape is considered some of oldest written Hebrew we have.
We reach the culmination of the battle between God and the gods of the most powerful worldly empire at that time.Remember that Pharaoh himself was considered a god.After the Passover, Pharaoh finally allows the slaves to depart.The nation of Israel is born.Of course things are not always easy and Pharaoh will once again try to intervene, but that is tomorrow’s reading.
The reading is a mix of narrative with instruction for holding the Passover festival into the future.Actually the passages we skip between today and tomorrow delve much deeper into the later aspect.
The Passover is the most important festival for Jews from this time forward.The entire festival is designed to remind them of their origins and that God is responsible for their freedom.
For Christians the Passover celebration becomes the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.In three of the four Gospels, Passover is also Jesus’ last meal (the Last Supper) with his disciples.(John has a slightly different timing, and places Jesus’ death at the exact time when the lambs are killed for the evening supper, obviously identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God.)Part of what the Lord’s Supper is also designed to do is for us to remember our origins and that God is responsible for our freedom from sin and death as well.
Both have more to them, forward looking elements:Passover as a reminder to the Jews that no matter the situation they face, which was typically not good, God freed them once and will do so again.For us, the Lord’s Supper also has forward looking elements as we also look for to the return of Jesus Christ.
As you read about the Passover, how does this event influence your understanding of the Lords’ Supper?
How does the recounting of the liberation of the Israelites affect your understanding of God’s concern for your present situation, whatever it may be?
Yul Brynner versus Charlton Heston.Not really!But if you are above a certain age, it may be hard to not picture them as you read this.
We see a battle of sovereignty play out here between the imperial power, Egypt, and an enslaved people fighting for freedom.On another level this reveals a great question: who is in charge of creation, the false gods of Egypt or Yahweh?
This is a long reading, so I won’t say too much.Just an amazing set of events.
Oddly enough, watching the events in Egypt occurring over the last week or so, we see how the powerful cling to power today. Things have not changed as much as we think.
