Reading the Bible in 90 Days
I’d like to say after a lot of prayer and contemplation, God spoke to me and told me to take on the challenge of reading the bible in 90 days. In actual fact it was Mr Isaacs following me around with a paper and pen, asking if he could add me to the list of participants, had I gone from a maybe to a right on definite! So I said yes, why not, I’d read the bible before, so doing it in 90 days, how much of a challenge could that be!
Well, I started two days behind everyone else, then got three days ahead (smugness, not a virtue the big guy likes us to have! and I am talking about God here not Mr Isaacs!). Then I fell by the wayside and trailed behind by nearly four days at one point! But as always God removed many obstacles from my path (smugness been one of them!) and sure enough I finished the book of Revelation right on time not a minute too soon or a minute too late!
Many lessons were learned along the way, discipline and time keeping were two of the practical ones; God demonstrates both of these to perfection and with absolute love for his people. The evidence for this is overwhelming throughout the bible, especially in some of the old testament books, let’s face it in the book of Exodus, he sets his people free from slavery, meets their every need and what do they do? Whinge! Wow, does that sound familiar!
During my big catch up on the readings I had missed, I was mistaken for a homeless person, (those of you who know my dress sense might think an easy mistake to make!) Seriously, I was sitting in the sunshine on a park bench, somewhere in Brussels, shoes off, legs crossed, reading my bible on an Amazon kindle! (I do have to add, I had just bought some cheap looking silk flowers for a work project and they were strewn across my knee!) When a very sweet lady walked passed and popped money into my shoe! I tried to explain I wasn’t begging but she insisted I keep the money. Many other people of course had walked by me that day. I felt very humble indeed!
So, what were the benefits of reading the bible in 90 days, I hear you ask, well it is just a fantastic way of soaking up God’s word, it can bring up some interesting questions and situations and it absolutely makes you find time for God. We all like to think we do that anyway and it doesn’t have to be done in 90 days, but the sad truth is most of us don’t! The joy for me has been the passion and desire to keep soaking up this wonderful book, because 45 minutes reading a day, is really very doable and reaps a multitude of benefits! I even found myself interested in the book of Numbers, now if that’s not God working in me what it is!
So next time you see Mr Isaacs with a list, ask what it is first before you head for the nearest exit!
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Monday, 7 March 2011
Day 66 - Jonah and a 1 verse summary of the Old Testament
It is both a good thing and a bad thing that Jonah is so well known for having been swallowed by the big fish. A good thing in that practically everyone has heard of Jonah, even if some people think he doesn't exist. He is referred to in 2 Kings 14:25, so his existence is better attested to than some of the other prophets. The bad news is that as a result, it seems harder to get beyond the fish.
This is a shame as Jonah is a very interesting prophet. Told to go the very headquarters of the most evil and ruthless empire the world had seen, not surprisingly he legs it the other way as far as he can go. What is more interesting is the justification Jonah gives. it is not out of fear that he runs away, but because he knew that God wanted to forgive the Assyrians, and he wanted God to destroy them instead (Jonah 4:2).
In Jonah's prayer in chapter 2, there is a good 1 verse summary of the consequences of our decision on whom to worship:
Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
Can I also recommend this 50 minute radio programme with Michael Card, Buddy Greene and Jeff Taylor talking about Jonah.
This is a shame as Jonah is a very interesting prophet. Told to go the very headquarters of the most evil and ruthless empire the world had seen, not surprisingly he legs it the other way as far as he can go. What is more interesting is the justification Jonah gives. it is not out of fear that he runs away, but because he knew that God wanted to forgive the Assyrians, and he wanted God to destroy them instead (Jonah 4:2).
In Jonah's prayer in chapter 2, there is a good 1 verse summary of the consequences of our decision on whom to worship:
Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
Can I also recommend this 50 minute radio programme with Michael Card, Buddy Greene and Jeff Taylor talking about Jonah.
Friday, 4 March 2011
Day 61 - Ezekiel's vision of the Temple
Ploughing through the very detailed description of Ezekiel's temple at the end of the book, I was struck by the question - why didn't the returning exiles use this design when they came back to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel?
I think the simple explanation is that they chose to use the same dimensions as for Solomon's temple. I guess this is understandable. Would they have recognised Ezekiel's prophecy? If they did, how would they have reached the decision to prefer Ezekiel's vision to the temple they were mourning?
Am I correct in thinking that the design for the temple came from David and is not set out in scripture, unlike the Tabernacle?
Questions, questions? Can anyone shed any light on this?
I think the simple explanation is that they chose to use the same dimensions as for Solomon's temple. I guess this is understandable. Would they have recognised Ezekiel's prophecy? If they did, how would they have reached the decision to prefer Ezekiel's vision to the temple they were mourning?
Am I correct in thinking that the design for the temple came from David and is not set out in scripture, unlike the Tabernacle?
Questions, questions? Can anyone shed any light on this?
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Day 54 - Isaiah 66:19 - Jeremiah 10:13: Let me boast in this
Jeremiah 9:23-24:
This is what the Lord says:
“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord
who demonstrates unfailing love
and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
This is what the Lord says:
“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,
or the powerful boast in their power,
or the rich boast in their riches.
But those who wish to boast
should boast in this alone:
that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord
who demonstrates unfailing love
and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,
and that I delight in these things.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Day 45 (Valentine's Day) - A verse about money
This verse leapt out from our reading today -
Proverbs 3
9 Honour the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.
I know that some people are frustrated that there has been so much talk at St Paul's recently on the extremely worrying financial position of the church. Indeed, it would be fair to say that noone is more frustrated at having to mention it that Chris, because he wants us to look focus on everything God is doing in and through his people in Tervuren. However, the reality is that we are currently looking at a critical shortfall, which potentially could mean that we are unable to meet our commitments.
How to respond? Do we grumble and groan that they are banging on about money yet again? Do we harden our hearts as we and all of God's people are prone to do (Ps 95:8)?
Or do we instead turn and repent of our greed and idolatry and seek to honour God with our wealth, with the best part of our produce? Surely this is the correct response - as we offer up ourselves daily to be a living sacrifice, as we seek to renew our minds daily, to take up our cross daily, as we seek daily to become more like Jesus, shouldn't we seek to honour God every day with our wealth, with the best of what we have.
Proverbs 3
9 Honour the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.
I know that some people are frustrated that there has been so much talk at St Paul's recently on the extremely worrying financial position of the church. Indeed, it would be fair to say that noone is more frustrated at having to mention it that Chris, because he wants us to look focus on everything God is doing in and through his people in Tervuren. However, the reality is that we are currently looking at a critical shortfall, which potentially could mean that we are unable to meet our commitments.
How to respond? Do we grumble and groan that they are banging on about money yet again? Do we harden our hearts as we and all of God's people are prone to do (Ps 95:8)?
Or do we instead turn and repent of our greed and idolatry and seek to honour God with our wealth, with the best part of our produce? Surely this is the correct response - as we offer up ourselves daily to be a living sacrifice, as we seek to renew our minds daily, to take up our cross daily, as we seek daily to become more like Jesus, shouldn't we seek to honour God every day with our wealth, with the best of what we have.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Days 36-38 - Thoughts on Job
I know this is slightly out of sequence, but I have been mulling over Job for a couple of days now. One of the points that I had in mind when starting Job was to try to be clear what is was that Job's friends said about God that was inaccurate.
My impression is that they had a very simplistic, almost binary view of God and God's law - if everything was fine and you were healthy and wealthy, you must be righteous; if you were suffering it was because you must have sinned. Yet at the beginning of Job, God pronounces that Job is righteous (1:8). Indeed we can only be righteous in God's sight, if God imputes His righteousness to us. 2 Cor 5:21 tells us that God does this through Jesus and his death for us on the cross. The basic truth is that we cannot earn the status of righteousness through our own actions. As Elihu says in Job 35:6-8:
6 If you sin, how does that affect God?
Even if you sin again and again,
what effect will it have on him?
7 If you are good, is this some great gift to him?
What could you possibly give him?
8 No, your sins affect only people like yourself,
and your good deeds also affect only humans.
The point is God is God and we are not. This and this were quite helpful in this.
There were a few verses which stood out for me:
Job 9:33-35 -
33 If only there were a mediator between us,
someone who could bring us together.
34 The mediator could make God stop beating me,
and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.
35 Then I could speak to him without fear,
but I cannot do that in my own strength.
Also 16:21 - "I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends."
Compare that with1 Tim 2:5, "For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus".
Job 13:16 - "But this is what will save me - I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before him".
Compare this with 2 Tim 2:11-13
11 This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
12 If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
But the one verse I have taken away with me is 19:25-27, which gives a clear a statement of believe in the resurrection as anything in the Old Testament:
25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
and he will stand upon the earth at last.
26 And after my body has decayed,
yet in my body I will see God!
27 I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!
My impression is that they had a very simplistic, almost binary view of God and God's law - if everything was fine and you were healthy and wealthy, you must be righteous; if you were suffering it was because you must have sinned. Yet at the beginning of Job, God pronounces that Job is righteous (1:8). Indeed we can only be righteous in God's sight, if God imputes His righteousness to us. 2 Cor 5:21 tells us that God does this through Jesus and his death for us on the cross. The basic truth is that we cannot earn the status of righteousness through our own actions. As Elihu says in Job 35:6-8:
6 If you sin, how does that affect God?
Even if you sin again and again,
what effect will it have on him?
7 If you are good, is this some great gift to him?
What could you possibly give him?
8 No, your sins affect only people like yourself,
and your good deeds also affect only humans.
The point is God is God and we are not. This and this were quite helpful in this.
There were a few verses which stood out for me:
Job 9:33-35 -
33 If only there were a mediator between us,
someone who could bring us together.
34 The mediator could make God stop beating me,
and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.
35 Then I could speak to him without fear,
but I cannot do that in my own strength.
Also 16:21 - "I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends."
Compare that with1 Tim 2:5, "For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus".
Job 13:16 - "But this is what will save me - I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before him".
Compare this with 2 Tim 2:11-13
11 This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
12 If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
But the one verse I have taken away with me is 19:25-27, which gives a clear a statement of believe in the resurrection as anything in the Old Testament:
25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
and he will stand upon the earth at last.
26 And after my body has decayed,
yet in my body I will see God!
27 I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!
Day 40 - Psalm for the day
Reading through the bible as we are doing presents particular difficulties when reading the psalms, as the tendency is to want to linger over each of them. I have no obvious suggestion to offer on this, but to try and enjoy them as much as time allows. One psalm struck me today in our times of uncertainty, particularly verse 7. Enjoy!
Psalm 39
For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 I said to myself, “I will watch what I do
and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue
when the ungodly are around me.”
2 But as I stood there in silence—
not even speaking of good things—
the turmoil within me grew worse.
3 The more I thought about it,
the hotter I got,
igniting a fire of words:
4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude
6 We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from my rebellion.
Do not let fools mock me.
9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.
10 But please stop striking me!
I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
11 When you discipline us for our sins,
you consume like a moth what is precious to us.
Each of us is but a breath. Interlude
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cries for help!
Don’t ignore my tears.
For I am your guest—
a traveler passing through,
as my ancestors were before me.
13 Leave me alone so I can smile again
before I am gone and exist no more.
Psalm 39
For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 I said to myself, “I will watch what I do
and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue
when the ungodly are around me.”
2 But as I stood there in silence—
not even speaking of good things—
the turmoil within me grew worse.
3 The more I thought about it,
the hotter I got,
igniting a fire of words:
4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude
6 We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from my rebellion.
Do not let fools mock me.
9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.
10 But please stop striking me!
I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
11 When you discipline us for our sins,
you consume like a moth what is precious to us.
Each of us is but a breath. Interlude
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cries for help!
Don’t ignore my tears.
For I am your guest—
a traveler passing through,
as my ancestors were before me.
13 Leave me alone so I can smile again
before I am gone and exist no more.
Friday, 4 February 2011
Day 35 - Nehemiah
Yesterday at the end of the book of Ezra, we read how the people shivered in the rain as they gathered in the square before the temple. Today I walked up to the plaza in front of the western wall in the pouring rain, and it was very cold. My feet have yet to thaw out.
The passage from today's reading that stood out to me was the further repetition in Nehemiah chapter9 of the history of God's people - how they have been showered repeatedly with God's blessing, and how when God has delivered them from trouble, they trun away as the comforts and luxury of life in peace and security crowd out out awareness of our need for God.
Walking toward the Old City, there are plenty of new buildings being put up - shops, top of the range housing, offices - and these are all a reminder how God moves and shapes the affairs of men in allowing His people to return to the land He promised them. The stonework in these buildings is beautiful, a glorious light-honeyed yellow, almost as transluscent as Minas Tirith in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings. And the awareness that this city is special because God chose to allow his temple to be built here is everywhere here. And yet.... It is very easy to be so overwhelmed by the sights and miss the reason they are here, the living God. It is not a new problem either. Mark 13:1-2, "As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”
Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
One thing that is very obvious is sabbath. All the shops shut at 3, and even the cafe we were in for lunch threw us out then. If you are not going to worship, or celebrating with family and friends, this can seem lonely, long drawn-out and even oppressive. Yet, if you have those things, it is wonderfu to have worshipping God as the sole focus of activity for the day. This is something that I have never had that sense of before.
Nehemiah is a man of action, not naive to the be unaware of the ruses and oppostion of those trying to prevent him completing his task, but above all, the image I take away from Nehemiah is of a man of prayer. It is prayer that bookends the story, gives him clarity of vision, boldness of action and a humility before the God who makes all things possible. He is not a bad example to follow.
The passage from today's reading that stood out to me was the further repetition in Nehemiah chapter9 of the history of God's people - how they have been showered repeatedly with God's blessing, and how when God has delivered them from trouble, they trun away as the comforts and luxury of life in peace and security crowd out out awareness of our need for God.
Walking toward the Old City, there are plenty of new buildings being put up - shops, top of the range housing, offices - and these are all a reminder how God moves and shapes the affairs of men in allowing His people to return to the land He promised them. The stonework in these buildings is beautiful, a glorious light-honeyed yellow, almost as transluscent as Minas Tirith in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings. And the awareness that this city is special because God chose to allow his temple to be built here is everywhere here. And yet.... It is very easy to be so overwhelmed by the sights and miss the reason they are here, the living God. It is not a new problem either. Mark 13:1-2, "As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”
Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
One thing that is very obvious is sabbath. All the shops shut at 3, and even the cafe we were in for lunch threw us out then. If you are not going to worship, or celebrating with family and friends, this can seem lonely, long drawn-out and even oppressive. Yet, if you have those things, it is wonderfu to have worshipping God as the sole focus of activity for the day. This is something that I have never had that sense of before.
Nehemiah is a man of action, not naive to the be unaware of the ruses and oppostion of those trying to prevent him completing his task, but above all, the image I take away from Nehemiah is of a man of prayer. It is prayer that bookends the story, gives him clarity of vision, boldness of action and a humility before the God who makes all things possible. He is not a bad example to follow.
Day 34 - 2 Chronicles and Ezra
I am typing this while sitting on the plane flying to Israel, where I shall be staying in Jerusalem. The European Friends of Israel have organised a policy conference with more than 80 MEPs and over 300 assorted hangers-on (staff such as myself) also being flown out. So numerous are we, that we are being split into 5 separate flights, and a tremendous amount of organisation and preparation has been carried out. In this light, the careful listing and counting and enumerating of people and objects that we read in Ezra seems an early variant of this trip that I am on.
One thing that strikes me in reading Ezra was that the very people one would expect to be most committed to carrying out God's plan to its fulfilment - the 'professionals', the priests and the Levites - were the least committed on the event. Ezra has to beg for some Levites to come along with them.
This was also the case when Josiah wants to go about the restoration of the temple. He gives the instruction, but the professionals drag their feet.
One small detail that I found intriguing. 2 Chr 35:3 talks about Josiah telling the Levites to put the ark of the covenant back in the sanctuary and not to keep moving it around. Why were they moving it around? The ark was placed in the Holy of Holies in the temple by Solomon, and was not moved. So what has happened? Nick Page has written a book which deals with the question of what happened to the ark, but this focuses more on the exile to Babylon. Intriguingly, Lynn Austin's novel Among the Gods posits a theory that the ark was smuggled out of Jerusalem during the reign of the evil king Manasseh and moved to a community of Jews on Elephantine Island in the Nile. Remarkably, there is archaeological evidence that such a proposition cannot be dismissed out of hand.
That is really nothing more than an interesting digression. The main point is that God fulfilled his side of the covenant, His people did not, even though His mercy has been shown time and time again. With the impinging of the rise of world empires on the land of Israel, we can see how God is the mover in the great tides of history, something we should remember when considering what is happening in the Arab world at the moment.
One thing that strikes me in reading Ezra was that the very people one would expect to be most committed to carrying out God's plan to its fulfilment - the 'professionals', the priests and the Levites - were the least committed on the event. Ezra has to beg for some Levites to come along with them.
This was also the case when Josiah wants to go about the restoration of the temple. He gives the instruction, but the professionals drag their feet.
One small detail that I found intriguing. 2 Chr 35:3 talks about Josiah telling the Levites to put the ark of the covenant back in the sanctuary and not to keep moving it around. Why were they moving it around? The ark was placed in the Holy of Holies in the temple by Solomon, and was not moved. So what has happened? Nick Page has written a book which deals with the question of what happened to the ark, but this focuses more on the exile to Babylon. Intriguingly, Lynn Austin's novel Among the Gods posits a theory that the ark was smuggled out of Jerusalem during the reign of the evil king Manasseh and moved to a community of Jews on Elephantine Island in the Nile. Remarkably, there is archaeological evidence that such a proposition cannot be dismissed out of hand.
That is really nothing more than an interesting digression. The main point is that God fulfilled his side of the covenant, His people did not, even though His mercy has been shown time and time again. With the impinging of the rise of world empires on the land of Israel, we can see how God is the mover in the great tides of history, something we should remember when considering what is happening in the Arab world at the moment.
Friday, 28 January 2011
Day 28 - The end of the kingdoms
So what do we make of all that? We have arrived at the point where the judgmement of God falls on both kingdoms and they are carried off into exile. The northern kingdom (Israel) is never to be heard of again, but the remnant of Jesse, the branch of David will remain and God will bring his people back from Babylon. All this remains for us. In fact we have a slight hiatus as we start on Chronicles and its genealogies tomorrow.
I am very aware that I have not been able to keep up with the level of blogging that I had hoped, but please don't let this stop any of us from contributing and sharing your thoughts.
On today's reading, my appreciation of chapters 16-21 was greatly heightened by having read Lynn Austin's Chronicles of the Kings series. The series opens with Hezekiah witness his elder brother being sacrificed in the fire to the idol Molech, and the horror of that brings an extra vividness to the brief reference there. The books are novels, but they do give a portrayal of the time that both made me want to return to the scripture, but more importantly worship the one true God, who alone can sustain these small kingdoms, surrounded by all manner of foes.
I was thinking about time in all this - the northern kingdom lasts slightly more than 200 years, while the southern kingdom lasts the best part of 350. During this period there are long periods where things are set in their ways - under good kings like Asa, or bad kings like Manasseh. Yet while these period would have seem very long drawn up to those living, in God's timeline these are mere semi-quavers. It is a salutary reminder that God's world is so much wider than just our little bit, yet He cares for us and sustains us through times of immeasurable stress.
Miriam had a very interesting observaton about Elijah. She said that when Elijah wanted to give up because he felt it was too difficult to carry on, God immediately gave him an assistant, telling him to go an anoint Elisha. This was a very different type of conversation from the one God had with Moses, where God seemed constantly to be chivvying him along to get job's work done. Here, although Elijah still did a lot afternoon, God provided others to help shoulder the burden.
I particularly like the episode in 2 Kings 6 where Elisha prays for his servant to see the reality of the strength of God's forces. If we only could understand God's power and dominion, we would worry less, as Charlie told us last Sunday.
I am very aware that I have not been able to keep up with the level of blogging that I had hoped, but please don't let this stop any of us from contributing and sharing your thoughts.
On today's reading, my appreciation of chapters 16-21 was greatly heightened by having read Lynn Austin's Chronicles of the Kings series. The series opens with Hezekiah witness his elder brother being sacrificed in the fire to the idol Molech, and the horror of that brings an extra vividness to the brief reference there. The books are novels, but they do give a portrayal of the time that both made me want to return to the scripture, but more importantly worship the one true God, who alone can sustain these small kingdoms, surrounded by all manner of foes.
I was thinking about time in all this - the northern kingdom lasts slightly more than 200 years, while the southern kingdom lasts the best part of 350. During this period there are long periods where things are set in their ways - under good kings like Asa, or bad kings like Manasseh. Yet while these period would have seem very long drawn up to those living, in God's timeline these are mere semi-quavers. It is a salutary reminder that God's world is so much wider than just our little bit, yet He cares for us and sustains us through times of immeasurable stress.
Miriam had a very interesting observaton about Elijah. She said that when Elijah wanted to give up because he felt it was too difficult to carry on, God immediately gave him an assistant, telling him to go an anoint Elisha. This was a very different type of conversation from the one God had with Moses, where God seemed constantly to be chivvying him along to get job's work done. Here, although Elijah still did a lot afternoon, God provided others to help shoulder the burden.
I particularly like the episode in 2 Kings 6 where Elisha prays for his servant to see the reality of the strength of God's forces. If we only could understand God's power and dominion, we would worry less, as Charlie told us last Sunday.
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Day 23 - through to near the end of 2 Samuel
Today was the third day we have spent reading about the life of David, and I think it is fair to say it is the least impressive so far. Yesterday, we finished by reading about the affair with Bathsheba, and the murder of her husband Uriah the Hittite. Today, we read about the consequences that followed from that. Here are a few of my musings from the last couple of days:
i) the nature of the bible - this is no hagiography, no whitewashed account. Here we get an honest and graphic account of the failings of this man after God's own heart;
ii) the dangers of imitation and hero-worship - looking at David's later period as king, we see a listless, often passive figure, who sometimes doesn't even seem to recognise who his friends or enemies are. We remember, rightly, David the faith-filled, fearless slayer of Goliath, David the writer of psalms, but there are other sides we read about that should give pause for thought. A man who fathers more than a dozen children by a dozen different mothers would be more likely to feature on the front page of the Daily Mail than be held up as a role model for God's people. Equally, as we shall read next, on his deathbed none of his wives were to be found to comfort him in his old age.
iii) all our experiences should turn our thoughts to God. Having dissed David in the previous point, the balance should be maintained by looking forward to reading David psalms. As we shall see, several of the psalms have superscriptions indicating when psalms were written in response to which episode (Pss 34, 51, 54, 56, 57, 59, 60). In these times of distress, David turned to God for comfort and strength (1 Sam 30:6b). In those times of difficulties, his focus remained of God, content to wait for the outworking of His plan, and not trying to chivvy it along, but striking down the Lord's anointed.
I heard Don Cole, a wise old pastor, talking about psalm 23 on an episode of Michael Card's radio show a couple of years back. He said that while we do not know when David wrote the psalm, it is not the psalm of a young man. He then encouraged us to enter in with our imagination to the life of David and see the experiences which could have led him to write it. He then drew us to 2 Sam 17:27-29, where David is fleeing from Absolom. Away down the valley, David's army can see the camp fires of Absolom's much larger army, when this table is laid for him - a feast in the midst of the most tremendous struggle. "You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies," (Ps 23:4).
I like Andrew Peterson's almost whimsical take on David reminiscing.
These are disparate thoughts, which I shall not attempt to draw together in a neat simple thread. If I were to attempt to, it would be to reflect that we serve great David's greater son. As Peter said on Pentecost, you can go and see David's tomb (I went there a couple of years ago), but the tomb of the great king of the line of David is forever empty, for He is risen indeed. He has conquered sin and death and now reigns of high. Hallelujah Risen Lord Jesus!
i) the nature of the bible - this is no hagiography, no whitewashed account. Here we get an honest and graphic account of the failings of this man after God's own heart;
ii) the dangers of imitation and hero-worship - looking at David's later period as king, we see a listless, often passive figure, who sometimes doesn't even seem to recognise who his friends or enemies are. We remember, rightly, David the faith-filled, fearless slayer of Goliath, David the writer of psalms, but there are other sides we read about that should give pause for thought. A man who fathers more than a dozen children by a dozen different mothers would be more likely to feature on the front page of the Daily Mail than be held up as a role model for God's people. Equally, as we shall read next, on his deathbed none of his wives were to be found to comfort him in his old age.
iii) all our experiences should turn our thoughts to God. Having dissed David in the previous point, the balance should be maintained by looking forward to reading David psalms. As we shall see, several of the psalms have superscriptions indicating when psalms were written in response to which episode (Pss 34, 51, 54, 56, 57, 59, 60). In these times of distress, David turned to God for comfort and strength (1 Sam 30:6b). In those times of difficulties, his focus remained of God, content to wait for the outworking of His plan, and not trying to chivvy it along, but striking down the Lord's anointed.
I heard Don Cole, a wise old pastor, talking about psalm 23 on an episode of Michael Card's radio show a couple of years back. He said that while we do not know when David wrote the psalm, it is not the psalm of a young man. He then encouraged us to enter in with our imagination to the life of David and see the experiences which could have led him to write it. He then drew us to 2 Sam 17:27-29, where David is fleeing from Absolom. Away down the valley, David's army can see the camp fires of Absolom's much larger army, when this table is laid for him - a feast in the midst of the most tremendous struggle. "You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies," (Ps 23:4).
I like Andrew Peterson's almost whimsical take on David reminiscing.
These are disparate thoughts, which I shall not attempt to draw together in a neat simple thread. If I were to attempt to, it would be to reflect that we serve great David's greater son. As Peter said on Pentecost, you can go and see David's tomb (I went there a couple of years ago), but the tomb of the great king of the line of David is forever empty, for He is risen indeed. He has conquered sin and death and now reigns of high. Hallelujah Risen Lord Jesus!
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Justice, cause for praise and thanksgiving and a challenge
Last night I was at a dinner hosted by International Justice Mission. IJM is one of the mission organisations which we at St Paul's support, with our contribution going to the work of the office in Bangalore, where the focus of the work is to secure the release of slaves, often from brick kilns, by bringing the cases to the local law enforcements authorities, assisting in preparing and executing raids to free the slaves, bringing convictions against the perpetrators and arranging safe aftercare for the former slaves. In 2010, the work of the IJM secured the release of 217 slaves, 139 were formally categorised as labourers. It is wonderful to see how God's people have carried out God's work of freeing the slaves.
Gary Haugen, the founder and president of IJM, explained how IJM has come about, and explained the four emphases of the work - victim relief, perpetrator accountability, victim aftercare and bringing structural transformation. In little more than 13 years, IJM employs 400 workers in 18 field offices, all of whom are committed Christians, standing up against violence and injustice.
One part of his presentation really struck me. He put up three circles:
- faith: evangelism and discipleship
- mercy: relief and social engagement
- justice.
In the faith circle, he showed the names of various organisations who were active in evangelism and discipleship, and the circle was full. In 2007, he quoted a figure that these organisations wer spending $1.3billion (for North America).
In the mercy circle, a whole host of names filled the circle, and the figure for 2007 was $2.6bn.
The justice circle? This was empty. He said that IJM was far and away the largest organisation in this area, and its budget was $25million.
Why does this matter? He quoted two verses - Micah 6:8 - He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. / And what does the LORD require of you? / To act justly and to love mercy/ and to walk humbly with your God.
Matthew 23:23 - What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
These three elements - walking with God (faith), mercy and justice are on God's heart for us to do. They frame our purpose here, and the body of Christ should develop all three elements.
Returning to the circles, Gary Haugen gave a challenge and a word of encouragement. The challenge is to populate the third circle, and bring God's justice to a world which badly needs the kingdom of God. The encouragement was that if you have put up those circles in 1950, the second (mercy) circle would have been just as empty as the justice circle. In the last 60 years, God's people have responded to the stirring of the Holy Spirit to bring mercy to a hurting world.
It is a privilege that we at St Paul's can be a small part of bringing His justice to an unjust world, but perhaps each of us can see if there is something else to which God is calling us.
Gary Haugen, the founder and president of IJM, explained how IJM has come about, and explained the four emphases of the work - victim relief, perpetrator accountability, victim aftercare and bringing structural transformation. In little more than 13 years, IJM employs 400 workers in 18 field offices, all of whom are committed Christians, standing up against violence and injustice.
One part of his presentation really struck me. He put up three circles:
- faith: evangelism and discipleship
- mercy: relief and social engagement
- justice.
In the faith circle, he showed the names of various organisations who were active in evangelism and discipleship, and the circle was full. In 2007, he quoted a figure that these organisations wer spending $1.3billion (for North America).
In the mercy circle, a whole host of names filled the circle, and the figure for 2007 was $2.6bn.
The justice circle? This was empty. He said that IJM was far and away the largest organisation in this area, and its budget was $25million.
Why does this matter? He quoted two verses - Micah 6:8 - He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. / And what does the LORD require of you? / To act justly and to love mercy/ and to walk humbly with your God.
Matthew 23:23 - What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
These three elements - walking with God (faith), mercy and justice are on God's heart for us to do. They frame our purpose here, and the body of Christ should develop all three elements.
Returning to the circles, Gary Haugen gave a challenge and a word of encouragement. The challenge is to populate the third circle, and bring God's justice to a world which badly needs the kingdom of God. The encouragement was that if you have put up those circles in 1950, the second (mercy) circle would have been just as empty as the justice circle. In the last 60 years, God's people have responded to the stirring of the Holy Spirit to bring mercy to a hurting world.
It is a privilege that we at St Paul's can be a small part of bringing His justice to an unjust world, but perhaps each of us can see if there is something else to which God is calling us.
A prayer
Martin Webber has sent this through
Prayer of Origen from Ancient Christian Devotional. A Year of Weekly Readings, edited by C. Crosby, gen. ed. Thomas C. Oden. Downers Grove : IVP Books, 2009 (p. 50)
Lord, inspire us to read your Scriptures and meditate on them day and night. We beg you to give us real understanding of what we need, that we in turn may put them into practice. Yet we know that understanding and good intentions are worthless, unless rooted in your graceful love. So we ask that the words of Scripture may also be not just signs on a page but channels of grace into our hearts.
Prayer of Origen from Ancient Christian Devotional. A Year of Weekly Readings, edited by C. Crosby, gen. ed. Thomas C. Oden. Downers Grove : IVP Books, 2009 (p. 50)
Lord, inspire us to read your Scriptures and meditate on them day and night. We beg you to give us real understanding of what we need, that we in turn may put them into practice. Yet we know that understanding and good intentions are worthless, unless rooted in your graceful love. So we ask that the words of Scripture may also be not just signs on a page but channels of grace into our hearts.
Friday, 21 January 2011
Very excited
Today I am very excited because this evening I am at a dinner with Gary Haugen, the founder of International Justice Mission. Having spent a week at work where the atmosphere was particularly charged with heated debates about the character of our political leaders, both in Strasbourg and now in London, it has been very timely to read about how Israel turned away from God their king and sought to become like everyone else.
I find it interesting that at the end of Judges, we read that all the other tribes of Israel turn against Benjamin. Then when they clamour for a king (and lose their distinctiveness), God gives them someone from this despised tribe. This person, Saul, may look the part, but we see how God judges the heart and the character of people. When the people ask where Saul is, God tells them that he is hiding among the donkeys in the baggage.
Then we see the measure of the man whom God chooses - fearless, trusting, steadfast and zealous for God's glory. That is the character we need from our leaders, and we need to pray for them. That is also the character people like Gary Haugen are trying to develop in obedience to God's call on their lives - sacrificial, undaunted, committed and servant-hearted.
That is the type of leader God is looking for, whether of countries, churches or our homes.
I find it interesting that at the end of Judges, we read that all the other tribes of Israel turn against Benjamin. Then when they clamour for a king (and lose their distinctiveness), God gives them someone from this despised tribe. This person, Saul, may look the part, but we see how God judges the heart and the character of people. When the people ask where Saul is, God tells them that he is hiding among the donkeys in the baggage.
Then we see the measure of the man whom God chooses - fearless, trusting, steadfast and zealous for God's glory. That is the character we need from our leaders, and we need to pray for them. That is also the character people like Gary Haugen are trying to develop in obedience to God's call on their lives - sacrificial, undaunted, committed and servant-hearted.
That is the type of leader God is looking for, whether of countries, churches or our homes.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Is it just me?
I don't seem to be able to escape this advert at the moment. Is it just me, or does this remind anyone else of the Tower of Babel and the hubris of man?
Monday, 17 January 2011
Into the promised land ...
So we're out of the Pentateuch and through Joshua into Judges. Talking to people at church on Sunday, I was really encouraged to hear how many people are up to speed with the reading well into the third week. Indeed, some people are a couple of days ahead!
A few verses have stood out from the reading:
Deut 4:28-29 - "There, in a foreign land, you will worship idols made from wood and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him."
Deut 4:39 - “So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other."
Deut 9:4-6 - " “After the Lord your God has done this for you, don’t say in your hearts, ‘The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people."
All the laws, spelt out at great length and in great detail, emphasise how difficult it is to be right with God. As we heard on Sunday, in our own strength it is impossible. But we serve a God who keeps every single one of his promises in His covenant.
2 Tim 2:11-13
This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
How difficult would it have seemed to conquer this territory, occupied by these different tribes, strong and hostile? It didn't happen overnight, yet God was with them, going ahead of them, giving them the land. How would it have been for the women and children left east of the river, while their fighting men went off to fight for years? Yet God brought them safely home into peace. This was in my mind when I listened to a programme about this organisation. This is where we can see the same character of God today.
A few verses have stood out from the reading:
Deut 4:28-29 - "There, in a foreign land, you will worship idols made from wood and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him."
Deut 4:39 - “So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other."
Deut 9:4-6 - " “After the Lord your God has done this for you, don’t say in your hearts, ‘The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people."
All the laws, spelt out at great length and in great detail, emphasise how difficult it is to be right with God. As we heard on Sunday, in our own strength it is impossible. But we serve a God who keeps every single one of his promises in His covenant.
2 Tim 2:11-13
This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
How difficult would it have seemed to conquer this territory, occupied by these different tribes, strong and hostile? It didn't happen overnight, yet God was with them, going ahead of them, giving them the land. How would it have been for the women and children left east of the river, while their fighting men went off to fight for years? Yet God brought them safely home into peace. This was in my mind when I listened to a programme about this organisation. This is where we can see the same character of God today.
Monday, 10 January 2011
While we were away
Miriam and I have been away in the UK for the last few days, but that doesn't mean that we haven't been keeping up with the reading. How has it been for you so far?
We went to my niece's Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, and I have to say I found the initial part of the service and liturgy really wonderful, being mainly taken from the psalms and the torah. The portion that was read was from Exodus 10-12, dealing with the 9th plague (darkness) and preparations for the last plague.
One interesting point was that the rabbi said that when Pharaoh says the Israelites can go and worship in the desert, Moses replies that Pharaoh will have to provide the animals to be sacrificed. I have never heard that before. Chris, can you shed any light on this?
One other thing that struck me afresh, and was reminded of this morning, was that after the scroll was read, it was covered with a blue cloth. The scroll itself (sefer torah) is covered with a cloth, a metal plate and bells, presumably all of which would have a special significance, other than as a reminder to show reverence to the word of God.
The thing which struck both of us was how for this particular congregation, to be Jewish seemed to be as much about a culture identity, awareness of heritage and the impact that had on your behaviour as it did with meeting with God. This was even more jarring when set against the reading of how God delivered his people and how they were saved to be his special and distinct people by the shedding of blood.
We have whizzed through Leviticus, and I have again been reminded of the enormous rigmarole it would have been to get ceremonially clean, stay that way and make offerings. Yet while we rightly rejoice in how easy Jesus has made it to enter into God's presence, it is all too easy to forget the incredibly host price that Jesus paid in order to make it possible.
Jubilee by Michael Card
The Lord provided for a time
For the slaves to be set free
For the debts to all be cancelled
So His chosen ones could see
His deep desire was for forgiveness
He longed to see their liberty
And His yearning was embodied
In the Year of Jubilee
Jubilee, Jubilee
Jesus is our Jubilee
Debts forgiven
Slaves set free
Jesus is our Jubilee
At the Lord's appointed time
His deep desire became a man
The heart of all true jubilation
And with joy we understand
In his voice we hear a trumpet sound
That tells us we are free
He is the incarnation
Of the year of Jubilee
Jubilee, Jubilee
Jesus is our Jubilee
Debts forgiven
Slaves set free
Jesus is our Jubilee
To be so completely guilty
Given over to despair
To look into your judge's face
And see a Savior there
Jubilee, Jubilee
Jesus is our Jubilee
Debts forgiven
Slaves set free
Jesus is our Jubilee
We went to my niece's Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, and I have to say I found the initial part of the service and liturgy really wonderful, being mainly taken from the psalms and the torah. The portion that was read was from Exodus 10-12, dealing with the 9th plague (darkness) and preparations for the last plague.
One interesting point was that the rabbi said that when Pharaoh says the Israelites can go and worship in the desert, Moses replies that Pharaoh will have to provide the animals to be sacrificed. I have never heard that before. Chris, can you shed any light on this?
One other thing that struck me afresh, and was reminded of this morning, was that after the scroll was read, it was covered with a blue cloth. The scroll itself (sefer torah) is covered with a cloth, a metal plate and bells, presumably all of which would have a special significance, other than as a reminder to show reverence to the word of God.
The thing which struck both of us was how for this particular congregation, to be Jewish seemed to be as much about a culture identity, awareness of heritage and the impact that had on your behaviour as it did with meeting with God. This was even more jarring when set against the reading of how God delivered his people and how they were saved to be his special and distinct people by the shedding of blood.
We have whizzed through Leviticus, and I have again been reminded of the enormous rigmarole it would have been to get ceremonially clean, stay that way and make offerings. Yet while we rightly rejoice in how easy Jesus has made it to enter into God's presence, it is all too easy to forget the incredibly host price that Jesus paid in order to make it possible.
Jubilee by Michael Card
The Lord provided for a time
For the slaves to be set free
For the debts to all be cancelled
So His chosen ones could see
His deep desire was for forgiveness
He longed to see their liberty
And His yearning was embodied
In the Year of Jubilee
Jubilee, Jubilee
Jesus is our Jubilee
Debts forgiven
Slaves set free
Jesus is our Jubilee
At the Lord's appointed time
His deep desire became a man
The heart of all true jubilation
And with joy we understand
In his voice we hear a trumpet sound
That tells us we are free
He is the incarnation
Of the year of Jubilee
Jubilee, Jubilee
Jesus is our Jubilee
Debts forgiven
Slaves set free
Jesus is our Jubilee
To be so completely guilty
Given over to despair
To look into your judge's face
And see a Savior there
Jubilee, Jubilee
Jesus is our Jubilee
Debts forgiven
Slaves set free
Jesus is our Jubilee
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Day 5: Exodus 1:1- 15:18
Reading this today, I found myself imagining what it would feel like to be Pharaoh and wondering if I would have done anything different. On the one hand, we read that it was God's plan to reveal himself and his power through the plagues, particularly the killing of the firstborn and other miracles, and that God made Pharaoh harden his heart. On the other, we read elsewhere in scripture that repentance is possible even for the hardest-hearted, such as the Assyrian king in Jonah. I don't delude myself into thinking I would have submitted to God, nor do I think I would have been an enthusiastic supporter of Moses - the comfortable status quo is alwys much safer and more appealing.
I was reminded of how powerful I found the passover night scene in the animated film, Prince of Egypt, which brought home something of the awfulness of killing of the firstborn (something that left not a single home in Egypt unaffected), as well as the terror of the Israelites, who could do nothing to protect themselves, but were completely and utterly reliant on the power of the lamb that was slain to keep them from death.
We will read plenty ober the coming days of the Israelites grumbling about wanting to go back to their previous lives, even though it was one of slavery. We get an foretaste of this, when the Israelite overseers complain to Moses, telling him they would much prefer if he just left them in their present helpless, but safe situation. It's a reminder of the borderland that I referred to before we started. We need someone to show us how enslaved we are and to deliver us. Fortunately we have a great God who loves us and who does just this.
Editors' note: Been feeling slightly under the weather and will be in England for the next few days, so I am not sure if I will be able to post anything for a little while. Feel free to comment though.
I was reminded of how powerful I found the passover night scene in the animated film, Prince of Egypt, which brought home something of the awfulness of killing of the firstborn (something that left not a single home in Egypt unaffected), as well as the terror of the Israelites, who could do nothing to protect themselves, but were completely and utterly reliant on the power of the lamb that was slain to keep them from death.
We will read plenty ober the coming days of the Israelites grumbling about wanting to go back to their previous lives, even though it was one of slavery. We get an foretaste of this, when the Israelite overseers complain to Moses, telling him they would much prefer if he just left them in their present helpless, but safe situation. It's a reminder of the borderland that I referred to before we started. We need someone to show us how enslaved we are and to deliver us. Fortunately we have a great God who loves us and who does just this.
Editors' note: Been feeling slightly under the weather and will be in England for the next few days, so I am not sure if I will be able to post anything for a little while. Feel free to comment though.
Monday, 3 January 2011
Day 3: Gen 28:20 - 40:11 - Thoughts from Miriam (they are always worth hearing)
Today we returned from our stay in the Netherlands, and Miriam was much more on the ball than I was, so I am summarising her observations here (I may eventually ask her permission).
"Today's reading shows that no matter how godly parents are, there is no guarantee that their children will follow in the right path (In support of this look at Samuel and his ungodly sons - Ed.)
"This shows that God will bless who He wants to bless and it is really not down to us, and can seem to be irrespective of our behaviour. He has a plan and His plan will not be thwarted. Isaac and Jacob were not a patch on Abraham as far as following God closely, yet God chose to bless them and confirm His covenant with them."
---
My thoughts were how Jacob seemed to change in some ways. The deceiver, who tried to turn over a new leaf, becomes indignant when Laban tricks him, yet he willingly tells Esau he will follow him, when he has no intention of doing so. Then we see the changing of name in ch32, which must rank as one of the most surreal episodes in the bible. Michael Card sums it up thus:
He limped away on holy ground awakened from the dream
Having learned his costly lesson from the way of the Nazarine
That pain's the path to blessing love will fight us to be found
and God remains a dream to those who sleep on holy ground
When we read about Judah's antics, it makes you realise what unpromising material God had to work with, and yet He still stays faithful to His word. This is an encouraging thought.
"Today's reading shows that no matter how godly parents are, there is no guarantee that their children will follow in the right path (In support of this look at Samuel and his ungodly sons - Ed.)
"This shows that God will bless who He wants to bless and it is really not down to us, and can seem to be irrespective of our behaviour. He has a plan and His plan will not be thwarted. Isaac and Jacob were not a patch on Abraham as far as following God closely, yet God chose to bless them and confirm His covenant with them."
---
My thoughts were how Jacob seemed to change in some ways. The deceiver, who tried to turn over a new leaf, becomes indignant when Laban tricks him, yet he willingly tells Esau he will follow him, when he has no intention of doing so. Then we see the changing of name in ch32, which must rank as one of the most surreal episodes in the bible. Michael Card sums it up thus:
He limped away on holy ground awakened from the dream
Having learned his costly lesson from the way of the Nazarine
That pain's the path to blessing love will fight us to be found
and God remains a dream to those who sleep on holy ground
When we read about Judah's antics, it makes you realise what unpromising material God had to work with, and yet He still stays faithful to His word. This is an encouraging thought.
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Day 2 - Genesis 17:1 - 28:19
I hope you enjoyed today's 'Happy Families' instalment - and imagine what the scriptwriters on Eastenders would say when given some of the plotlines in today's portion! As well as the vivid details, we see some of what Nick Page describes as the big themes emerge:
- the change of name
- the unexpected child
- the older supplanted by the younger
- God's eternal promises.
Throughout these chapters, I was struck by the way in which is was the promise of God, set out through the covenant, that animated the people we read about. And it was not just to Abraham that the promise was given and re-affirmed, but also Isaac, Jacob and even to Sarah. It was this knowledge that God had bound Himself to them in a covenant, that it was their responsiblity and obligation to keep, that gave their lives meaning and pattern.
Chapter 22 leaves me awestruck, especially when I consider that the lamb that God provided for me was his own Son. This video moves me to tears, while this one from Michael Card is very haunting.
2 verses from today really struck me - 24:1 and 24:40 - and the causality between them:
"Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way... The Lord, in whose presence I have lived."
Living in God's presence, remembering the eternal covenant and receiving the blessings God has promised us.
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Day 1 - Genesis 1:1-16:16
Well, we've started and from these very familiar passages, three trains of thought strike me:
1) God changes his plans for his world as our sin destroys his original intentions. We see this in Eden, the way Cain is forced to wander as the earth will no longer provide him food, the flood, the mixing of the languages. It makes you wonder what would have happened if we had not sinned.
2) Is God a spoilsport? Living as we do in an age where we flatter ourselves by thinking that reason in everything, where we can map the human genome, the idea that God should stop us from doing what we want is anathema (3:22, 11:6). How should we respond to this?
3) We think of Abra(ha)m as a great figure of faith, who left his home and believed this great promise (15:6). Yet, in 15:2-3, we get an insight into how difficult is all was for him. He may have been hugely wealthy (how many people do you know could raise a regiment of 318 soldiers from their own household?), militarily successful and respected internationally, but his whole existence seemed meaningless without an heir. Yet he sought God and trusted him and the promise is not just repeated, but spelt out in greater depth. Seeing isn't believing - believing is seeing, and obedience is the beginning of insight.
1) God changes his plans for his world as our sin destroys his original intentions. We see this in Eden, the way Cain is forced to wander as the earth will no longer provide him food, the flood, the mixing of the languages. It makes you wonder what would have happened if we had not sinned.
2) Is God a spoilsport? Living as we do in an age where we flatter ourselves by thinking that reason in everything, where we can map the human genome, the idea that God should stop us from doing what we want is anathema (3:22, 11:6). How should we respond to this?
3) We think of Abra(ha)m as a great figure of faith, who left his home and believed this great promise (15:6). Yet, in 15:2-3, we get an insight into how difficult is all was for him. He may have been hugely wealthy (how many people do you know could raise a regiment of 318 soldiers from their own household?), militarily successful and respected internationally, but his whole existence seemed meaningless without an heir. Yet he sought God and trusted him and the promise is not just repeated, but spelt out in greater depth. Seeing isn't believing - believing is seeing, and obedience is the beginning of insight.
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