Fasting

Readings for today: Isaiah 58-60, Psalms 119:153-176

For years, I have practiced the discipline of fasting. I fast most days, typically eating one solid meal. In the past, I have fasted for 24 hours. 48 hours. Even a week or more on occasion. Typically, my fasts involve abstaining from food. I think that’s how most of us think about it. However, today’s reading introduces a new idea to the mix. Fasting from wickedness. Fasting from injustice. Fasting from unrighteousness. Fasting from the self-centered life. In the same way fasting from food makes us more aware of our need to depend on God for our daily bread, fasting from wickedness makes us more hungry and thirsty for righteousness.

Why do I fast? It’s a question I often get asked. Honestly, because it feels good. My mind is more sharp. My emotional health is more regulated. My physical body is more healthy. When my doctor does my blood work, he often remarks at how good the numbers appear. However, far more important is the condition of my soul and that’s where “fasting from wickedness” comes in. When I identify sinful thoughts, attitudes, and actions and begin to address them in my life through intentional fasting, I find myself drawing closer to God. Sin erects a barrier between us. It alienates and creates emotional and spiritual distance. It hardens the heart and callouses the soul. This is why God is so passionate about repentance. He knows the damage unchecked sin can do to a person.

Isaiah calls us to fast from the sin that so easily entangles us as human beings. In addition, he calls us to take up those disciplines and practices that lead to life and blessing not only for us as individuals but for the entire community. Listen to what God says again through His prophet, “Isn’t this the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh and blood? Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard. At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer; when you cry out, he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you get rid of the yoke among you, the finger-pointing and malicious speaking, and if you offer yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted one, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. The Lord will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose water never runs dry. Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the foundations laid long ago; you will be called the repairer of broken walls, the restorer of streets where people live. If you keep from desecrating the Sabbath, from doing whatever you want on my holy day; if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, seeking your own pleasure, or talking business; then you will delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride over the heights of the land, and let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭6‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

I have to say that all of the promises of God listed in this passage have come true for me. As I have dedicated my life to breaking the chains of wickedness and setting the oppressed free, sharing my bread with the hungry and helping the poor and powerless; the light of Christ has shined brighter and brighter in and through me. I have met strangers who have heard of the work I have the privilege to be involved in both locally and globally. And God’s glory has protected me in so many ways. God has always strengthened me, even in hard times. He has always been there, even when I’m struggling. He has used me to help rebuild ruins and restore foundations. My life is an absolute testimony to His grace. Does this mean I get everything I want? No. Does it mean I never have a care or worry in the world? Absolutely not true. Does it mean I have been given great wealth and influence and power? Not at all. I’m just a guy. Just an ordinary, everyday person trying his best to be faithful. I make more than my fair share of mistakes but God is faithful to use me despite myself and my sin. Trust me when I tell you He wants to do the same with you.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 61-64, Psalms 120

Communion

Readings for today: Isaiah 55-57, Psalms 119:129-152

When I was in seminary, I had the privilege of getting to know Tom Gillespie. Tom had been the President of Princeton Theological Seminary for almost twenty years when I first met him. As you might imagine, he carried a lot of responsibilities and found himself pulled in many different directions as he navigated fundraising, administrative and academic leadership, and stewarding the influence and reputation of one of the top theological institutions in the world. One of the things I appreciated most about Tom is he always made time to teach as well as preach and lead worship in chapel. I took several classes from him and got to know him pretty well. He became a mentor and friend. Most of all, I loved how he led our weekly communion service on campus.

Tom always used the words of Isaiah 55 to invite us to the Lord’s Table. “Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the water; and you without silver, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without silver and without cost! Why do you spend silver on what is not food, and your wages on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and you will enjoy the choicest of foods. Pay attention and come to me; listen, so that you will live.” (Isaiah 55:1-3a CSB) It was a beautiful invocation that called all kinds of images to mind. He reminded me of my thirst for living water. He reminded me of the blessed state of my spiritual poverty. He reminded me of my hunger for righteousness. Not only did he remind me of my needy condition but he pointed me to the only place where I could be filled…the Table of the Lord. There God presents us with the choicest of foods…the body and blood of His only Son. There Christ is spiritually present to us in the bread and the wine. There all are welcome to find new life in Him.

One of the things I found most compelling about Tom was his deep trust in the faithfulness of God. Despite all the challenges he faced and the anxieties he had to manage and the conflict both inside and outside the seminary over the future of the church and seminary education, Tom never wavered. I asked him one time why he could maintain such a sense of calm in the midst of so much uncertainty. He smiled, looked at me, and said, “Doug, God has preserved His church for 2000 years. Do you honestly think He’s at all challenged by what’s happening here at Princeton?” We both shared a chuckle at the truth of his wise words. Tom encouraged me to read the rest of Isaiah 55 and lay hold of the promises of God. “I will make a permanent covenant with you on the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David. Since I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples, so you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the Lord your God, even the Holy One of Israel, has glorified you. Seek the Lord while he may be found; call to him while he is near. Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do. You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided; the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will come up, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will come up; this will stand as a monument for the Lord, an everlasting sign that will not be destroyed.” (Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭13b-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬) God has a plan for this world. God has a plan for His people. God has a plan for His church. God has a plan for my life. I simply need to humbly walk with open hands before Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 58-60, Psalms 119:153-176

The Cost of Reconciliation

Readings for today: Isaiah 52-54, Psalms 119:97-128

I am extremely blessed to be friends with a man named John Rucyahana. John is a retired Anglican bishop who chairs the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Rwanda. For almost thirty years, he has been engaged in helping his country recover from the horrific genocide in 1994. As such, he has wrestled deeply with the question, “Where was God as over one million people were being slaughtered?” And here is his answer in his own words, “Where was God when a million innocent people were being butchered? Where was God when priests and pastors helped massacre the people in their churches? I’ll tell you where God was. He was alongside the victims lying on the cold stone floor of the cathedral. He was comforting a dying child. He was crying at the altar. But He was also saving lives. Many were saved by miracles. God does not flee when evil takes over a nation...God is the giver of eternal life, and He can bring great good out of any situation. He raises the dead; He can also raise the broken. He can restore their hearts and minds and lift their spirits to renewed life. In my country God is doing this today by the thousands. There is so much pain here, so many real tears, and so much guilt that our ministry is like preaching hope from the top of a pile of bones. From atop a mountain of mutilated bodies, we are stretching a hand upward to proclaim a message of transformation and recovery.” (The Bishop of Rwanda ) 

I cannot fathom the journey so many in his country endured. The horror. The pain. The suffering. It’s immense. Indescribable. Beyond words. And yet, I would argue the forgiveness and reconciliation they have found is equally, if not more, profound. When I visited the country several years ago, I asked a woman if she was ethnic Tutsi or Hutu. “Neither” was her reply. “Here we are all Rwandan.” She went on to describe some of the hell she and her family had been through and the freedom they had found through forgiveness. Only Jesus could provide such grace. Only Jesus could give them such strength. How can I be so sure? Because Jesus knows the depths of human suffering. He experienced the absolute worst this world has to offer. He knows evil intimately and through his death defeats it once and for all. Listen to how the ancient prophet Isaiah describes the suffering of Jesus, some hundreds of years before His death and resurrection…

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed...He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth...Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand...Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah‬ ‭53:3-5, 7, 10, 12‬)

The same God who bore the sins of many. The same God who makes intercession for transgressors. The same God who loved His enemies so much He died for them is the same God who is alive and active in Rwanda. Bringing about reconciliation through forgiveness. Preaching hope from atop a pile of His own bones. From atop His own mutilated body, He is stretching a hand upward to proclaim a message of transformation and grace. It’s truly incredible and it is available to all who would place their trust in Him. Friends, if God can bring about reconciliation between the victims and perpetrators of genocide in Rwanda can He not accomplish the same in our lives as well? Can He not bring together husband and wife on the verge of divorce? Can He not bring back together children and parents who’ve been estranged? Can He not help Democrats and Republicans find common ground? Can He not heal the racial tensions in our own country? These are just a few of the problems we face that only the gospel can solve. 

What is required? Repentance. Confession. Truth-telling. Courage. Faith. Humility. Most of all, a deep and abiding and enduring trust in the power of the gospel. 

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 55-57, Psalms 119:129-152

The Compassion of God

Readings for today: Isaiah 49-51, Psalms 119:65-96

There are some who struggle with a God who feels. A God who expresses deep emotions. A God who suffers with and alongside His people. They are uncomfortable because they want to protect God’s unchanging nature. They want to guard against anything that might threaten God’s immutability. They want to make sure God isn’t driven or influenced by anything or anyone outside of Himself. I get it. I really do. And yet I reject this understanding of God because it simply is not Biblical.

God clearly reveals Himself as a God of compassion. A God who cares deeply for His people like a mother does a child. A God who loves His people dearly and who will never let them go. A God who binds Himself to His people in an unbreakable covenant forever. God freely chose this path. He freely chose to define Himself as the God of Israel. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. From beginning to end, God makes it clear that He will be our God and we will be His people. He walks with us in the Garden of Eden and He dwells with us in the New Jerusalem. Along the way, He provides Tabernacle and Temple as places where heaven and earth meet and now, after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, He provides His Spirit to come and live in our hearts. This is who God is. This is who God has revealed Himself to be. He has shown Himself to be this kind of God and no other.

Listen to how Isaiah describes it in our readings for today. “This is what the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, says to one who is despised, to one abhorred by people, to a servant of rulers: “Kings will see, princes will stand up, and they will all bow down because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel  — and he has chosen you…This is what the Lord says: I will answer you in a time of favor, and I will help you in the day of salvation. I will keep you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to make them possess the desolate inheritances…Shout for joy, you heavens! Earth, rejoice! Mountains break into joyful shouts! For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted ones…Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the child of her womb? Even if these forget, yet I will not forget you. Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me…This is what the Lord God says: Look, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. Kings will be your guardians and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down to you with their faces to the ground and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who put their hope in me will not be put to shame…Then all humanity will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49‬:‭7‬-‭8‬, ‭13‬, ‭15‬-‭16‬, ‭22‬-‭23‬, ‭26‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

I am not sure why we are so afraid to take God at His Word. I am not sure what makes us so uncomfortable with a God who feels so deeply. I get that God is “wholly other” and understand the need to make sure we aren’t remaking God in our own image but God is the only One who gets to define Himself. He is in charge of His own self-revelation. And He clearly makes Himself known as a God of compassion.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 52-54, Psalms 119:97-128

The Sovereignty of God

Readings for today: Isaiah 45-48, Psalms 119:33-64

I recently was talking to a friend about my desire to plant churches in some of the hardest to reach places on earth. Places that are dangerous. Places that are full of darkness and violence and life-threatening poverty and despair. Places where it’s hard to get a visa to travel. Places where the US State Department has issued a “Level Four” travel advisory which essentially means “do not go.” Places where safety and security are not guaranteed. My friend works on anti-poverty issues on a global level and he knows these places. He’s been to some of these countries. And he knows some of the leaders there personally. He was sharing with me how some of these leaders have begun to have visions and dreams from God. They are being called to open their doors to Judaism and Christianity in order to bring the three great Abrahamic faiths together. They are asking him how it can happen. It’s a powerful reminder of God’s sovereignty over the nations of the earth.

In today’s reading, God declares His sovereignty over Cyrus the Great. Cyrus believes he is conquering the world through his own strength. Cyrus believes his own god is giving him great success as former empires like Babylon fall before him. Cyrus believes his military genius and exceptional leadership ability is winning the day. Isaiah looks at all that will happen and sees a different power at work. Though Cyrus doesn’t know God, God knows him. God is using him to bring about His judgment on Babylon. God will use him to bring his people from exile back home. God will give Cyrus what he needs to be successful though he has not earned it and does not worship the true and living God. God will do this for the sake of His beloved Israel. “I will go before you and level the uneven places; I will shatter the bronze doors and cut the iron bars in two. I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches from secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord. I am the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. I call you by your name, for the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen one. I give a name to you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God but me. I will strengthen you, though you do not know me, so that all may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is no one but me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make success and create disaster; I am the Lord, who does all these things.” (Isaiah‬ ‭45‬:‭2‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

It’s hard for us to look around the world today and see God’s sovereign plan at work. We have this false notion that if God is good then He will relieve all suffering. He will protect us from all pain. He will heal every heartbreak. He will cause every war and act of violence to cease. At the same time, we refuse to bow the knee to Him. We refuse to submit to Him. We do not want Him to control our lives or tell us what to do. We want to be free to make our own decisions and choose the course of our lives. Friends, we cannot have it both ways. The Bible is clear. God is working His sovereign will out on the earth. He will bring His plans to pass. “By myself I have sworn; truth has gone from my mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to me, every tongue will swear allegiance.” (Isaiah‬ ‭45‬:‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬) But He will do this through His people. He will accomplish this in spite of our sinfulness and rebellion. He will achieve His perfect ends through imperfect vessels like you and me. He will use even those who do not know Him to bring about His will on the earth. “I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.” (Isaiah‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

God is not limited by us in any way. God is not subject to our fleeting desires or ever-changing feelings. He is not at the mercy of our weaknesses nor is He threatened by our vulnerabilities. God is God. He rules and reigns above it all. He is more than able to bring to completion the good work He has begun. His plan will come to pass. He will do His will. The question is how soon will we submit to Him?

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 49-51, Psalms 119:65-96

Ask the Right Question

Readings for today: Isaiah 39-41, Psalms 118

Over the last two weeks, I had the privilege of spending time with some of the great men and women of the faith. Men and women who put their lives on the line every single day to preach the gospel. Men and women who risk it all as they seek to expand the Kingdom of God on earth. They give up homes. They give up families. They give up livelihoods. They leave their communities and go to far away places. They cross tribal and language barriers. They lay it all on the line for Jesus. I long ago stopped asking why. The answer is obvious. Jesus is more than enough for them. Lately, I’ve been asking how. How can they do these things? Where do they find the strength? Where do they find the courage? Where do they find the hope to endure the persecution and hardship and suffering? Today’s passage from Isaiah gives us the answer.

It begins with the call of God to every single man and woman of faith. Not just pastors. Not just church leaders. Not just gifted evangelists. Every single man or woman who calls on the name of Jesus and places their faith in Him is called by God to share the gospel with those around them. And as we do, the power of God Himself works through us to lift up every valley, tear down every mountain, and make straight every path so those who do not yet know God may come to faith in Him. “A voice of one crying out: Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain. And the glory of the Lord will appear, and all humanity together will see it, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

This call comes with a promise. We are not alone in this work. God goes with us and before us and will accomplish it through us. Listen to all the promises He makes in Isaiah 41. “Who has stirred up someone from the east? In righteousness he calls him to serve. The Lord hands nations over to him, and he subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, like wind-driven stubble with his bow….Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand….You will look for those who contend with you, but you will not find them. Those who war against you will become absolutely nothing….See, I will make you into a sharp threshing board, new, with many teeth. You will thresh mountains and pulverize them and make hills into chaff. You will winnow them and a wind will carry them away, a whirlwind will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the Lord; you will boast in the Holy One of Israel…I will open rivers on the barren heights, and springs in the middle of the plains. I will turn the desert into a pool and dry land into springs. I will plant cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees in the wilderness. I will put juniper, elm, and cypress trees together in the desert, so that all may see and know, consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.” (Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭2‬, ‭10‬, ‭12‬, ‭15‬-‭16‬, ‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Over and over again, God promises to protect. Promises to provide. Promises to guide. Promises to work miracles through His people all for His glory. God is making His name known throughout the earth. God will not rest until every corner of the globe has heard the name of Jesus. God is working even now to make sure every knee bows and every tongue confesses to the glory of God the Father. This is His great plan and He invites us to be part of it!

We get so caught up asking God, “Why?” I want us to shift our question. Instead of asking “why”, ask God “how?” How can I do your will? How can I accomplish what you desire for me? How can I proclaim this gospel to my family, friends, neighbors, co-workers? How can I do what you’ve called me to do right now, in this moment, even today?

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 42-44, Psalms 119:1-32 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Motivation

Readings for today: Isaiah 36-38, Psalms 117

The southern kingdom of Judah didn’t stand a chance. Assyria was the greatest empire of her day. Sennacherib, her greatest emperor. Her armies blitzed through the Middle East conquering nation after nation. No one could stand against them. They had the only standing professional army of the time outfitted with the best tech human civilization had developed. They were literally undefeated everywhere they went. And now they stand outside the gates of Jerusalem. 185,000 strong. Hezekiah has no army to put in the field. Not even two thousand soldiers to ride a horse. They are helpless. Hopeless. All is lost. Except for God. When things are at their darkest, Hezekiah cries out to God for help. He cries to God for salvation. He cries out to God on behalf of his nation. And God answers him. Delivers him. Saves him. It’s a powerful story and one of the great miracles in human history.

Sadly, what’s often missed is Hezekiah’s motivation. “Now, Lord our God, save us from his power so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are God  — you alone.” (Isaiah‬ ‭37‬:‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Note that he doesn’t cry for God to make Judah great again. He doesn’t call on God to be faithful to the people He loves. He doesn’t give God a list of reasons as to why Judah deserves to be saved. He doesn’t talk about their righteous worship or righteous deeds or point to their illustrious history. No, at the heart of Hezekiah’s prayer is a desire for God to get all the glory. A passion to see God’s name lifted high. Hezekiah prays for this miracle - not so much so that Judah will be saved - but so all the world will know Judah’s God stands above all other gods. It’s an evangelistic prayer. Hezekiah wants all the nations of the earth to know the Lord and this is what drives him to his knees on behalf of his people.

We too are living through a time of great social unrest. Our country is more divided than ever. More at odds than ever. Our national leaders are at each other’s throats. Different groups have taken to the streets to protest for sweeping cultural change. They take over college campuses, creating atmospheres of hate. Some of those groups are violent. They burn. They tear down. They destroy. There are political forces in play vying for influence, power, and control. Each with a different vision for the future of our country. Each claiming God is on their side. Many believers I know are praying for our country. They long to see God work a similar miracle in our day like He did for Hezekiah. But are we praying with the same godly motivation?

I pray for our nation every single day. I pray for humility. For repentance. For transformed hearts. I pray for our leaders. I pray they will forsake their wicked, sinful ways. I pray they will lay aside their ambitions and greed and lust for power and instead have a heart to serve the Lord. I pray for an honest reckoning of the sins of our past. I pray for a renewed passion for justice and compassion. I pray grace to replace anger. Mercy to replace vengeance. Love to replace hate. I pray God will do all these things for His glory not our own. I pray He will do these things for the sake of His great name not our own. I pray God will do these things to declare His greatness not our own. In short, I am trying to pray with the same motivation as Hezekiah for it is our only hope as a nation.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 39-41, Psalms 118

The Results of Righteousness

Readings for today: Isaiah 31-35, Psalms 116

One of the misconceptions I run into a lot is how too many people equate “righteousness” with “restrictions.” They see God’s plan as the quickest way to suck all the fun out of life. They perceive God to be a cosmic kill-joy. They believe the old canard that God sits on His throne and spends His days devising all kinds of ways to squash everyone’s joy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Listen to how the prophet Isaiah describes the impact of righteousness on a nation. Isaiah 32:1-2 CSB, “Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice. Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.” That sounds pretty good, right? Especially if you are living in the desert regions of the Middle East? Keep reading. Isaiah 32:17–18 CSB, “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Again, doesn’t that sound wonderful? Isn’t that what we all hope for in our lives? Peace? Quietness? Trust forever? Don’t you want to dwell in a peaceful habitation? Safe and secure? I was just in northern Ethiopia where they are recovering from a civil war and I can tell you things like safety and security and peace are at the top of their list. Let me give you one more. Isaiah 33:5-6 CSB, “The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. There will be times of security for you - a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.” What a beautiful picture of what God has in store for those who will fear Him, those who will follow Him, those who will worship Him. He is the source of all righteousness and justice in the world. And if one wants to experience the blessings of righteousness, one must seek to dwell in God’s presence for they are a byproduct of a life-giving relationship with Him.

So, have you changed your mind about righteousness? Do you find yourself longing for the more righteous life? Do you want the blessings of righteousness in your own life or community or nation? Don’t fall for the enemy’s lies. Don’t believe his falsehoods. Don’t let him deceive you. Your Heavenly Father knows what’s best for you. Your Heavenly Father loves you. Your Heavenly Father has good gifts He wants to give you. Trust Him. Believe Him. Submit to Him. Follow Him. Let justice flow into your life and righteousness be an ever-running stream in your soul.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 36-38, Psalms 117

Covenant of Life

Readings for today: Isaiah 28-30, Psalms 115

The heart of the reading for me today is Isaiah 28:15-18. There God confronts His people with a powerful Word. ““For you said, “We have made a covenant with Death, and we have an agreement with Sheol; when the overwhelming catastrophe passes through, it will not touch us, because we have made falsehood our refuge and have hidden behind treachery.” (Isaiah‬ ‭28‬:‭15‬ ‭CSB‬) I think about our own culture. The covenant we too have made with death. Abortion on demand. Suicide. Euthanasia. I think about the lies we believe. Our seeming inability to sift through what’s true and false. Our tendency to naively accept whatever fits our ideological worldview rather than pursue honesty and transparency. I grieve our propensity towards violence. School shootings. Racially-motivated hate crimes. Sexual abuse. I grieve our morbid fascination with self-destruction. Legalization of marijuana and other harmful substances. Addiction to opioids and other pain-killers. All in an attempt to numb our pain. I grieve the fact that we continue to seek refuge in the lies we tell ourselves and in the falsehoods we cling to at all costs. If I were not a Christian, I would despair. 

But then I read these words, “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable. And I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the mason’s level.” Hail will sweep away the false refuge, and water will flood your hiding place. Your covenant with Death will be dissolved, and your agreement with Sheol will not last.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Once again, I am overwhelmed. God does what I cannot do. God does what we cannot do. God does what no government or business or church or non-profit agency - no matter how pure and righteous their motives - can do! He annulls the covenant we made with death! He sets aside our agreement with Sheol! He lays a foundation in Zion. A sure foundation built on tested and precious stone on which we can build our lives! He doesn’t ask us to rescue ourselves. He doesn’t ask us to clean up our act. He doesn’t expect us to find a way out of the mess we’ve made. He simply steps in. He restores justice. He restores righteousness. He sweeps away all the lies and falsehoods. He destroys death. He robs the grave. And He grants His people new life...abundant life...in Him!

Will we still sin? Yes. Are we still a rebellious people? Absolutely. Will we still run from God? Crawl off the altar? Try to build our lives on shifting sand? All that and more. But thankfully God is patient with us. “Therefore the Lord is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the Lord is a just God. All who wait patiently for him are happy.” (Isaiah‬ ‭30‬:‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬) And because God is faithful, we can be sure a day is coming when we will weep no more. We will see Him face to face. We will know His ways and walk in them. We will tear down every idol in our lives. Our brokenness will be bound and our wounds healed. We will sing a new song in the night. We will keep the holy feast. We will witness the victory of the Lord our God.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 31-35, Psalms 116

The Honor of God

Readings for today: Isaiah 23-27, Psalms 114

One of the great privileges of my life is to spend about a month in Africa each year. I’ve been almost twenty times at this point and I’ve learned an incredible amount from the cross-cultural interactions I have with my brothers and sisters across the globe. They have helped me understand the Bible better. They have helped me understand God better. They have taught me much when it comes to faith. Perhaps the biggest lesson has to do with the dynamic of honor and shame that shows up throughout the Scriptures. The world tends to equate humility with shame and pride with honor but the Bible inverts this matrix. According to Scripture, pride ultimately produces shame and humility is the path to genuine honor. This dynamic holds true not just for individuals but for tribes, cities, and even nations.

What was the great sin of Tyre and Sidon? Two of the great commercial trading centers in the ancient near east? Pride. Tyre saw itself as “the bestower of crowns, whose traders are princes, whose merchants are the honored ones of the earth?” (Isaiah‬ ‭23‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬) Sidon enjoyed tremendous wealth and privilege. “And on many waters your revenue was the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile; you were the merchant of the nations.”(Isaiah‬ ‭23:3‬ CSB) In their pursuit of worldly honor and riches and power, they forgot the Lord. They dishonored God. And they paid the price. “Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your haven has been destroyed… Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken...” (Isaiah‬ ‭23:1, 4‬ CSB) 

But it’s not just Tyre and Sidon who make this mistake. The whole earth has forgotten God. The whole earth pursues wealth and power and honor and glory apart from God. The whole earth seeks to exalt itself rather than humble themselves before their creator. Therefore, the Lord will bring His righteous judgment. No one shall escape. “Look, the Lord is stripping the earth bare and making it desolate. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants: people and priest alike, servant and master, female servant and mistress, buyer and seller, lender and borrower, creditor and debtor. The earth will be stripped completely bare and will be totally plundered, for the Lord has spoken this message.” (Isaiah‬ ‭24‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬) And why does the Lord speak such a harsh word? Why does the Lord render such a harsh judgment? Because the Lord is jealous for the glory of His Name. He is jealous for His own honor. He will not rest until the whole earth sings His praises. “They raise their voices, they sing out; they proclaim in the west the majesty of the Lord. Therefore, in the east honor the Lord! In the coasts and islands of the west honor the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. From the ends of the earth we hear songs: The Splendor of the Righteous One.” (Isaiah‬ ‭24‬:‭14‬-‭16‬a ‭CSB‬‬)

Human beings were made for one glorious purpose...to bring honor to their Creator. To enjoy God and to worship Him alone forever. To praise God for all eternity. This is the great work we were designed for. This is the great work we were made for. And it is to our abiding shame that we neglect this great task and forget our God. It is to our great shame that we “exchange the truth of God for a lie and worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” (Romans‬ ‭1:25 CSB‬) We pursue worldly honor and worldly wealth and worldly power to our own destruction. Because we have turned away from God and gone our own way, He has “given us up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. We become filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. We are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.” (Romans‬ ‭1:28-31 CSB‬) And God simply will not allow such evil to stand. So He brings judgment. He lays low the proud. He shames the arrogant. He dishonors the honored among all the earth. “The Lord of Armies planned it, to desecrate all its glorious beauty, to disgrace all the honored ones of the earth.” (Isaiah‬ ‭23‬:‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

This is why we must consider carefully the priorities of our lives. Why do we do the things we do? What drives us? What gives us purpose and fulfillment? Are we truly seeking to honor God in all we say and do? Or are we trying to steal a bit of that honor for ourselves? Are we truly seeking to glorify God in our homes, neighborhoods, schools, and places of work? Or these just means we are using to justify our own ends?  

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 28-30, Psalms 115

The Gospel of the Old Testament

Readings for today: Isaiah 18-22, Psalms 113

Egypt. The land of slavery. The land of oppression. The land of attempted genocide. For hundreds of years, the people of Israel labored there under the whip. Beaten. Abused. Dying young. Their children born to a life of hard labor. Powerless. Helpless. Hopeless. It was a life of constant pain. Constant torment. Constant suffering. Even after they were delivered by God, Egypt continued to be a thorn in their side. Invading. Killing. A perpetual threat on their southern border. It’s tough to overstate the hatred and enmity between these two nations. And yet, God loves the Egyptians.

Assyria. One of the most powerful and brutal empires in the ancient world. They fielded the world’s first professional army. Developed advanced technology like iron weapons and war chariots. They weaponized terror as a military tactic. And they were absolutely ruthless when it came to putting down resistance. They would sack cities. Displace entire people groups. Employed horrific public torture as a means of psychological warfare. Israel hated them. Israel feared them. It’s why Jonah ran to Joppa rather than go to Nineveh. He simply couldn’t stomach the sight of his enemies. And yet, God loves the Assyrians.

The Book of Isaiah is often called, “The Gospel of the Old Testament” and today’s passage is a good reason why…“On that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the center of the land of Egypt and a pillar to the Lord near her border. It will be a sign and witness to the Lord of Armies in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the Lord because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and leader, and he will rescue them. The Lord will make himself known to Egypt, and Egypt will know the Lord on that day. They will offer sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the Lord and fulfill them. The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing. Then they will turn to the Lord, and he will be receptive to their prayers and heal them. On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Assyria will go to Egypt, Egypt to Assyria, and Egypt will worship with Assyria. On that day Israel will form a triple alliance with Egypt and Assyria — a blessing within the land. The Lord of Armies will bless them, saying, “Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance are blessed.” (Isaiah‬ ‭19‬:‭19‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

This is an incredible passage pointing to an even more incredible reality. The unconditional nature of God’s grace. It comes to us all. Jew and Gentile alike. Egyptian, Assyrian, and Israelite alike. Republican and Democrat alike. Progressive and conservative alike. Black, white, and brown alike. It is no one’s possession. No one has a right to claim it for their own. No one is more privileged than another in the eyes of God. All have sinned and fallen short of His glory and all stand in need of His grace. This is why Jesus gives us this command…”Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons and daughters of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew‬ ‭5:43-48‬ CSB) Jesus knows there are no “enemies” in His Kingdom. No “enemies” beyond His reach. No “enemies” beyond His salvation. Jesus knows there is not a single person or single power on this earth who can stand before His love. Jesus holds the power to turn mortal enemies into family. Jesus holds the power to overcome hate and anger and the desire for vengeance with mercy and forgiveness. Jesus holds the power to transform even the hardest hearts. The question is…do we believe Him? Do we trust Him? And do our lives and our conduct and our speech and our interactions reflect this deep and glorious truth?

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 23-27, Psalms 114

God’s Vision for the World

Readings for today: Isaiah 9-12, Psalms 111

I am wrapping up my time in Ethiopia. It has been so good to be back with the people I love. The men and women I get to serve while I am over here are some of the most inspiring you could ever meet. You won’t see their names in the news. They don’t have large followings on social media. They will never be recognized by the world. But they will be great in the Kingdom of God. They will sit at the right hand of Jesus when He comes again. I am humbled just to know them.

One of the real challenges in this country is tribal violence. Ethnic conflict. Extremist groups from different regions engaging in guerilla warfare against the federal government. The reaction has been swift and harsh. Suspension of civil liberties. States of emergency. Homes invaded. People imprisoned. Loss of any kind of due process. It’s heartbreaking to witness. I have dear friends over here who have experienced these things simply because of their ethnic identity. They happen to belong to the wrong tribe and live in the wrong place at the wrong time. This kind of thing is not unique to Ethiopia, of course. We see it all over the world. We see it in the Middle East. We see it in Russia and Ukraine. We see it in America. No matter where one goes, human beings seemingly have this innate, sinful tendency to divide. And sadly, our divisions are rarely peaceful.

Thankfully, God has a different vision for the world. One He casts in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Isaiah. “The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf will be together, and a child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle. An infant will play beside the cobra’s pit, and a toddler will put his hand into a snake’s den. They will not harm or destroy each other on my entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea is filled with water.” (Isaiah 11:6-9 CSB) When the Messiah comes in all His power and glory, the world will finally know reconciliation. The world will finally know peace. True shalom. The end of all division and violence and hatred and enmity.

How do we know this to be true? Because of what God did on the cross. There He tore down every dividing wall of hostility that exists between us and He gave us His Spirit to bring unity. The church is therefore called to live in such a way that we give the world a picture of what life will one day look like in the Kingdom of God. Imagine the power of the witness we could have if God’s people would embrace Isaiah’s vision? Imagine a church unified across political, ethnic, tribal, economic, generational, and theological divisions? Imagine a church that took seriously the commands from Psalm 133 and John 17? It’s actually not all that hard to imagine if we take seriously the call to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus and seek to follow the example He lays down in Philippians 2:5-11.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 13-17, Psalms 112 (No devotionals on Sundays)

A Prophet’s Call

Readings for today: Isaiah 5-8, Psalms 110

There are many today that claim the title “Prophet.” They claim to hear messages from the Lord. They claim to have special revelations from God. They speak in all kinds of riddles. They string together all sorts of meaningless phrases. They pluck verses out of context from the Bible to predict the future. I see them all over YouTube. I see them all over social media. Many that I know and love have been taken in by them. They are grifters. They are con men and women. They use the Bible to exploit the vulnerable and weak and helpless. I believe God will judge them harshly when He comes again. How do I know? Because their supposed “prophecies” never come true. They always fail. And the Biblical test of any prophet is whether or not what they have to say actually comes to pass. If it doesn’t and they prove false, the command is clear. Execute them. Stone them to death for claiming to speak for God.

Biblically speaking, prophecy has more to do with “truth-telling” than “future-telling” though I readily admit it can be both. Prophets in the Old Testament were called to speak truth to power and confront the leaders of God’s people in an effort to turn them away from sin and back to God. It was a challenging call. It often put their lives at risk. They sacrificed much for the call. They were more often than not, discouraged and depressed by the lack of response to their message. Listen to how Isaiah describes his own call, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me. And he replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. Make the minds of these people dull; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed. Then I said, “Until when, Lord?” And he replied: Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants, houses are without people, the land is ruined and desolate, and the Lord drives the people far away, leaving great emptiness in the land. Though a tenth will remain in the land, it will be burned again. Like the terebinth or the oak that leaves a stump when felled, the holy seed is the stump.” (Isaiah 6:8-13 CSB)

Woof. Thanks but no thanks. Speak to a people who will not listen? Go to a people who are blind? Preach to those whose hearts are actively being hardened by God against your message? Until their cities lie in ruins and the people are in exile and death and destruction reign in the land? That’s the call? Are you serious, God? And yet, Isaiah obeys. He does exactly what God calls him to do. And God uses him to preach powerful messages of repentance to His people.

I don’t know about you but I believe we are living in a time similar to that of the ancient prophets. The church in North America, once so vibrant and full of life, has fallen on hard times. She seems more concerned with herself than with the mission God has entrusted to her. She seems more consumed with her own comfort than in sacrificing for the Lord. She seems more focused on building up herself rather than building up the Kingdom. What we need now are prophets who will speak God’s truth no matter the cost. Prophets who will challenge God’s people to push beyond personal preferences, move outside their comfort zones, and offer all they have in service to God. God won’t accept anything less. Nor should we. When I read Isaiah, I find myself deeply convicted. I find myself falling on my knees before the Lord and asking Him to show me how I can give more, serve more, offer more of myself back to Him. I know whatever I ask of God’s people must begin in my own heart. So this is my prayer.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 9-12, Psalms 111

The Will of God

Readings for today: Isaiah 1-4, Psalms 109

What is the will of God for my life? It’s a question I field all the time. I hear it from young and old alike. New believers and mature believers have it in common. We all want to know what God wants from us. Typically, when we ask the question, we want to know something specific. What is God’s will for my family? What is God’s will for my future vocation? What is God’s will as I hit my golden years? What is God’s will with the years I have left? Who should I marry? How many kids should I have? These are the kinds of questions we often associate with “God’s will.” But what if God’s will were bigger and grander than we have ever imagined? What if God’s will had less to do with the actual events of our lives and more to do with the kind of people we become? (Let me hasten to add, I believe His will involves both.) That’s what Isaiah the prophet was wrestling with in the first chapter of his book.

“Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause…Zion will be redeemed by justice, those who repent, by righteousness.” (Isaiah 1:16-17, 27 CSB)

The people of God were engaged in all the “right” activities. They were bringing all the “right” sacrifices and worshipping at all the “right” seasons. But they were just going through the motions. Their hearts were not in it. They were too busy chasing their own desires and following their own dreams. The reign of King Uzziah was one of great wealth and power and prestige. It was a golden age of sorts. And yet the seeds of Judah’s destruction were already being sown. The people had abandoned their God. They tolerated injustice. Their leaders were corrupt. As a result, God brought judgment upon them. Warfare. Violence. Suffering. Pain. God exposed them to the consequences of their sin with the hope they would return to Him. “Why do you want more beatings? Why do you keep on rebelling? The whole head is hurt, and the whole heart is sick. From the sole of the foot even to the head, no spot is uninjured  — wounds, welts, and festering sores not cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil.” (Isaiah 1:5-6 CSB)

And what would a return to God look like? It would look like repentance. Confession of sin. Turning from wickedness. Learning to do what was good. Pursuing justice and righteousness. Defending the defenseless. Rising up against the oppressor. In short, it was about seeking God first in their lives and aligning their hearts with His will. Nothing has changed over the centuries. God’s will remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has clearly revealed in His Word what He wants for our lives. He wants us to live justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him. He wants us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He wants us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves. As we do these things, He promises to bring blessing to us and through us to the world.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 5-8, Psalms 110

Past the Point of No Return

Readings for today: 2 Kings 23-25, Psalms 108

Eventually we run out of chances. Eventually we do reach the point of no return. Eventually the bill for our sin does come due. I think of the addicts I’ve known and counseled over the years who relapse and relapse and relapse. Eventually their families do run out of patience. Eventually their broken promises to change ring hollow. Eventually they have to face the consequences of their decisions. I remember one young man who was in his thirties. His family had supported him for years despite constant deceit and manipulation. His mother reached her breaking point which is when she came into my office for help. I suggested finally and completely cutting him off financially. It was the toughest decision she had ever had to make but it was the right one. I think of the many people I know who pursue all kinds of unhealthy habits. They refuse to exercise. They don’t eat well. They don’t get enough sleep. Eventually, their bodies break down. Their mental health suffers. And sometimes the damage is permanent. These are just a few examples I could cite that illustrate what happens when we refuse to walk in the way of the Lord.

Now expand this idea to a macro level. Consider the nation of Judah. For decades they have been led by evil kings who lead them into all kinds of idolatry and sin. It piles up year after year. And though God sends them prophets and preachers to call them back to faithfulness, they ignore His Word and, in some cases, kill the very messengers God has sent. Eventually they run out of chances. Eventually things reach the point of no return. Eventually the bill for their collective, national sin comes due. Even the radical reforms of Josiah are not enough to stem the tide of God’s righteous judgment. The people of God will now have to experience the consequences of their decisions over the years. Warfare. Destruction. Exile. It’s heartbreaking and painful to read.

Now think about your own life. Think about our life together as a nation. Think about the communities you live in or the family systems you are part of. Think about the sins - both individually and collectively - that we are currently engaged in. Do we think we are immune to the consequences? Do we think we will somehow escape God’s judgment? Do we think we can continue living a life of rebellion before the Lord without reaching a point of no return? Friends, God will not be mocked. He loves us too much to let us persist in sin. The Scriptures say He disciplines those He loves in an effort to bring them to repentance. Make the time today to take stock and take whatever steps are necessary to turn from your sin and embrace Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 1-4, Psalms 109

What Drives You?

Readings for today: 2 Kings 20-22, Psalms 107

I’ve often wondered what drives the kings of Israel and Judah. What drives some like Hezekiah and Josiah to be faithful to the Lord and what drives others like Manasseh and Amon to be unfaithful? What drives some to tear down the high places and what drives some to rebuild them? What drives some to love and serve Yahweh with all their heart and what drives others to chase after other gods? Frankly, we probably will never know but at the same time, human beings are human beings. We are creatures driven by desire who react in all sorts of ways to the feelings our circumstances engender.

In our reading today, it’s clear the kingdom of Judah is surrounded by enemies. The nations surrounding them are ascending while they are descending. They are slowly but surely encroaching on their borders. Picking off one town after the next. Even invading as we saw with the Assyrians. This creates all kinds of political and social pressure to which the kings must respond. I imagine that’s at least one factor in why some kings responded with faith and others with fear. There was no such thing as separation of church in state in the ancient near east. Kings and emperors, tribes and nations, all believed their gods were intimately involved in their daily lives. When the nation experienced blessing, it must mean their god was pleased and exercising his power on their behalf. When the nation was struggling, it must mean their god was angry and withholding his power from them. Not only that but when nations came into conflict, the battle wasn’t just waged on earth. The gods clashed in the heavens as well. This is why Sennacherib boasted about defeating the gods and not just the nations. Israel, however, was different or at least they were supposed to be. They knew Yahweh was Lord of heaven and earth and had no rival among the gods. The nations around them worshipped empty idols so when those same pagan nations defeated them, it wasn’t because Yahweh was weak or defeated, it was because they had sinned. Typically their sin involved treating Yahweh as if he were just another pagan god. This is what “doing evil in the sight of the Lord” was all about.

You and I are often tempted to treat God the same way. Every time we try to bargain with Him or make some kind of deal with Him. Every time we try to be “good enough” to earn His blessing and favor. Every time we treat Him like a first responder, only to be called upon in case of emergency. We are treating Him like a pagan god. God wants to be involved in every moment of every day. God wants to be part of your day to day life. God wants a relationship with you. He wants you to trust Him. Believe in Him. Submit to Him because He knows what’s best for you. So what drives you? Is it faith or fear? Is it belief or doubt? Is it trust or anxiety? And how do you respond to the ever-changing circumstances of your life? Do you respond like Hezekiah and Josiah or do you respond like Manasseh and Amon? Place your trust in the Lord. The Maker of heaven and earth. The One who holds all authority in heaven and on earth in His hands.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 23-25, Psalms 108

Trust

Readings for today: 2 Kings 18-19, Psalms 106

Trust is the most important currency when it comes to leadership. If one trusts a leader, one will be willing to do just about anything for them. If one doesn’t trust a leader, they will do as little as possible. It’s been said that organizations move at the speed of trust. Families depend on trust. Friendships are built on trust. Trust is everything.

One of the most striking parts of the story we read today is the trust God’s people have in King Hezekiah. The Assyrians were one of the most fearsome and brutal empires of the ancient world. Sennacherib was one of their greatest kings. Assyria had already wiped out the northern kingdom of Israel. They had taken the people into exile, scattering them in different places so they would never rise up in rebellion. This was Assyria’s standard operating procedure. Now it was the southern kingdom’s turn to feel their wrath and come under their control. They brought a massive army to the gates of Jerusalem and laid siege to the city. There was no hope of fighting back. No chance of escape. The sight must have been completely demoralizing. To add insult to injury, Sennacherib sends his envoy to the city to call for their surrender. He cites the litany of victories his king has won. He talks about all the so-called gods who have fallen before them. He even claims divine sanction for his mission of violence. The whole point of this exercise is to shake the faith of the people in Hezekiah. But the people refuse to respond. Their trust in Hezekiah is absolute and well-founded. Hezekiah turns to God for help and the Assyrians are destroyed.

It’s an incredible testimony to the power of trust. Trust in God. Trust in godly leadership. Trust in one another. And such trust doesn’t rise in a vacuum. It was built on years of faithful leadership from their king. Hezekiah turned the hearts of his people back to God. He tore down the high places. He destroyed all the idols. He prospered in all sorts of ways because he trusted God. And because Hezekiah trusted God, his people trusted him. They believed in him. They followed him. Even in the face of insurmountable odds, they never lost their faith in Hezekiah’s leadership.

Now consider your own life. All of us lead in all sorts of ways in all kinds of situation. We lead in our families. We lead in our places of work. We lead in our churches. We are all given influence on some level. We are all given a certain amount of authority. What do we with it? Do we seek to build trust among those we lead by serving them? By doing all we can to make them successful and set them free? Or do we cling to our power and influence in order to control others? When we are able to trust one another, God can do great things in and through us. When trust is lost, life becomes a struggle. Where do you find yourself today?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 20-22, Psalms 107

Sins of our fathers

Readings for today: 2 Kings 12-14, Psalms 104

“Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.” As someone formally trained in history, I have seen this pattern quite a bit. It’s amazing how much history tends to repeat itself. I’ve also seen this as a pastor in the lives of those I serve. People who struggle to acknowledge the issues from their families of origin often find those same issues impacting them as well. No matter whether we are talking about history on a macro or micro level, there is a great truth to the idea that we tend to repeat the mistakes of our past. We tend to repeat the failures of our past. We tend to repeat the sins of our past.

This was definitely true for the nation of Israel. When God tore the kingdom in two in judgment, He gave Jeroboam the larger part. But Jeroboam struggled to trust God. He was fearful he would lose the people’s allegiance if they returned to Jerusalem on a regular basis and worshipped at God’s Temple. It makes sense from a human perspective. Solomon had built the Temple. It represented a golden age in Israel’s history when the line of David rested securely on the throne of a united kingdom. So Jeroboam set up his own temple system with his own priests and shrines and idols. In so doing, he broke the first three commandments. This was a grievous sin that broke the heart of God and sets in motion a series of events that will eventually lead to the northern kingdom’s destruction. Tragically, the kings who followed Jeroboam - even Jehu - refused to repent of the sins of their past and continued to repeat them. It’s why you see the refrain, “but they did not turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit” over and over again. It represents the heart of God’s indictment on His people.

Take some time and reflect on your own life. Where are you repeating the sins of your past? What issues from your family of origin do you struggle to acknowledge, much less face? How are you intentionally repenting over the generational sin in your family? Unless these things are honestly and authentically laid before the Lord in true confession, they will continue to trip you up. Now broaden it out a bit. What about the historic sins of your community or nation? There’s not a single nation on the earth that doesn’t have skeletons in their closet. Issues from their past that need to be brought into the light of day so they can be dealt with. The longer we wait to fully address the “sins of our fathers”, the more we’ll struggle and suffer in this world. I think of a friend of mine who leads the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Rwanda. He is actively trying to address the sin of ethnic hatred that resulted in the horrific genocide in 1994. Once a full and truthful confession is made, forgiveness and reconciliation can be accomplished and the nation healed. It’s a process but it is bearing great fruit. Imagine what could happen if we engaged in a similar process in our country?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 15-17, Psalms 105 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Biblical Justice

Readings for today: 2 Kings 8-11, Psalms 103

Today’s reading raises an incredibly important point when it comes to reading the Bible. There is such a thing as Biblical justice but it always gets mediated through a particular cultural context. What I mean by that is that justice is an “objective” reality but how it gets meted out is “subjective.” For better or for worse, God has chosen to bring His will to pass through sinful human beings. He always speaks to them in ways they can understand and He works through the cultural norms of the day. In the ancient near east, justice often looked like what Jehu does to Ahab’s entire family. The goal in these situations is to eliminate any possibility of a blood relative seeking vengeance on behalf of their family who was killed. This is why Jehu doesn’t just kill Ahab but his wife and children and anyone connected to him by marriage such as Ahaziah. He kills all the prophets of Baal and destroys their centers of worship in an effort to wipe out any possibility of future insurrection. Yes, it is done in the name of the Lord. Yes, it is done at the command of the Lord. Yes, it is done to purify and sanctify Israel and it doesn’t make much sense to us in the 21st century. Then again, our forms of justice wouldn’t make much sense to the people living in ancient times either.

So what do we learn from such events? What’s our takeaway when the cultural distance is so great and the chasm that exists between us so broad? Well, first and foremost, we learn God is serious about sin. He is holy and awesome and just and fully within His rights to do what He did to Ahab and his family. The sins of Ahab’s family were legion. Idolatry. Murder. Sexual immorality. Greed. Oppression. Extortion. Exploitation. Ahab was the most evil king in Israel’s history, a despot who deserved what he got. The same is true for his wife Jezebel and all their family. They sealed their own fates. Second, we learn God is merciful. He doesn’t wipe out Israel for her sin. He gives them a chance to repent under the leadership of a new king. A king who cleanses the land of idolatry and Baal-worship, at least partially. A king who, though not perfect, at least restores some semblance of true faith to the region. Finally, we learn God is consistent. Jehu doesn’t follow God with his whole heart so God begins to whittle away at Israel’s territory. He raises up enemies to come against her as yet another sign of His righteous judgment. The goal in all of this is to get them to turn away from sin and back to Him.

What about you? What about your life? God is still speaking to us through His Word in ways we can understand. God is still at work in our world through the cultural norms of our day. I am currently in northern Ethiopia where the culture is vastly different than our own and yet God is moving powerfully. I spend time with many of my Indian friends who share their experiences of God with me from a cultural context that is very foreign to me. And I see God at work in my own community and country and culture, always bringing about His justice and His righteousness and His salvation. Thanks be to God!

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 12-14, Psalms 104

Loving our Enemies

Readings for today: 2 Kings 4-7, Psalms 102

The kingdom of Aram in the Bible was essentially a collection of city-states, the most prominent of which was Damascus. Though they never became an empire per se, their influence dominated the region. In fact, Aramaic will become the lingua franca of the area for centuries, extending even to the time of Jesus. Israel had a contentious relationship with Aram as we see in our passage today. There was conflict. There was war. The Aramaeans were their enemies. And yet the great prophet Elisha seems to have as much love for them as he does for his own people.

When the great general of Aram, who surely had led armies against Israel came to him for help, Elisha healed him of his disease. When the armies of Aram surrounded Dothan in an attempt to capture and kill Elisha, he asked God to strike them blind and then led them to Samaria where he encouraged the king to throw a feast for them. When the king of Assyria fell sick, it was Elisha who went to visit him. These are strange acts for a holy man of God. Why in the world would he extend such love and grace to Israel’s enemies? To pagan idolators? To a nation who caused so much suffering for his own people?

Friends, God loves the nations. God’s desire is for the nations of the earth to come to saving faith in Him. The vision we get from the closing pages of Revelation is of the nations bringing their gifts to the New Jerusalem to offer them before the Lord. The leaves of the trees in the eternal city are for the healing of the nations. This has always been God’s heart. It’s why He sends the nations prophets like Elisha and Jonah in the Old Testament and it’s why He sends the nations His church in the New Testament. God looks forward to a time when all wars will cease. All weapons will be beaten into instruments of peace. All enemies will dwell in peace together. Listen to how the prophet Isaiah puts it, “The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf will be together, and a child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle. An infant will play beside the cobra’s pit, and a toddler will put his hand into a snake’s den. They will not harm or destroy each other on my entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea is filled with water.” (Isaiah‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

It’s a beautiful picture and one I get the chance to see face to face today. I am currently training church planters in a region where they recently had a civil war. Tribal conflict in this part of the world has been going on for centuries and yet these brave men and women have set aside their historic enmity and thirst for revenge and instead dedicated themselves to reaching even their enemies with the good news of the gospel. Friends, this is what it means to pray “God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When we pray such prayers, we are asking God to bring about His will and His vision for the world in our time.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 8-11, Psalms 103