Preaching

Readings for today: Nehemiah 8-10

Why do we preach? Why is preaching one of the central elements of Christian worship services all over the world? Why do billions of people gather each week to hear a preacher? I get asked these questions all the time and they are good ones. Especially in a world where so much information is right at our fingertips. Just about everyone carries around a supercomputer in their pocket. They can access video content from anywhere in the world. They can see the top speakers and top communicators in any field. They can watch online worship at spectacular venues. So why do so many still gather every Sunday, watch someone get up, open a Bible, and listen to them preach?

The Book of Nehemiah gives us one of the clearest pictures of the roots of modern preaching. In Nehemiah 8, Ezra (yes, the same Ezra who has a book named after him in the Bible) stands before the gathered assembly of the people of Israel and opens the book of the law. This is what passed for a “Bible” in those days. It was the same book God had given Moses on Mt. Sinai. No New Testament as of yet obviously. Some scholars argue he read the entire Torah, the first five books of the Bible, while others argue he read from Deuteronomy. Regardless, the scene feels very familiar to anyone who has ever darkened the door of a church. He speaks from an elevated platform so everyone can see him. He reads God’s Word to the people and then explains it along with many of the Levites so the people could understand it. He finishes by charging them to keep the statutes and commands written in the book and to celebrate all God has done for them in bringing them back to Jerusalem and rebuilding both the Temple and the wall. Isn’t this what we do Sunday after Sunday as well?

Christian worship has always been driven by two things…Word and Sacrament. In fact, many of the Protestant Reformers in the 17th century argued that the church only existed where the Word was rightly preached and the sacraments rightly administered. As we gather to hear the Word of God proclaimed and participate in the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, we are engaged in an ancient liturgy. One that connects not only with the early church but the people of God down through the ages. Yes, worship has taken different forms over the centuries. We gather in all kinds of diverse places. We sing all kinds of diverse music. We pray all kinds of diverse prayers. But the common thread that holds us all together is the preaching of the Word of God.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Social Justice

Readings for today: Nehemiah 5-7

The gospel is the power of God. It’s the power of God to save both Jew and Gentile alike. But it’s not just “fire insurance.” It’s not just a “get out of hell free” card. It’s not just a way for individuals to get into heaven. The power ripples out from the human heart into the world. It impacts systems and structures in society. It holds all kinds of political and social implications. It levels the playing field, defying the worldly categories that often divide us and keep us apart. It eliminates any distinction between poor and rich, elite and ordinary, old and young, slave and free, male and female, Jew and Gentile. All of us become one in Christ Jesus. All of us have an equal share in Christ. All of us are given a place at His Table.

This is why Nehemiah was so angry with his fellow Jewish leaders. They had used their power and wealth and status to enrich themselves. They exploited their poor countrymen for their own gain. They engaged in all kinds of corrupt behavior, creating a taxation system that ended up putting their own people into slavery. And this on the heels of God’s miraculous deliverance from the exile in Babylon! So Nehemiah confronted the “nobles and officials.” He called out the political and social leaders of his day. He challenged them to repent and turn back to God by returning all they had stolen from the people and setting them free. Thankfully, those leaders responded to Nehemiah’s challenge. They promised to do all he commanded them to do. And the entire assembly praised the Lord.

Then Nehemiah took it one step further. For the entire twelve years he governed Judah, he refused to exercise his right to his official food allowance. He refused to place any additional burdens on the people. He willingly relinquished his ration of food and wine and even silver because he feared the Lord and had a desire to serve not be served. His officials followed suit. In addition, he took shifts working on the wall and refused to use his position to acquire property. He paid for all the provisions he used out of his own allowance. He did all this in order to set a godly example.

What about us? What kind of example are we setting as Christians in the world? Do we take advantage of our position or influence or power in society to enrich ourselves or do we willingly relinquish everything to serve others? Do we abuse the trust given to us by the people we serve or do we faithfully exercise our duties in the fear of the Lord? What’s your heart posture when you wake up each morning? Is it to serve or be served? Is it to give or take? Are you more focused on self or on God and others? Do you like Nehemiah use your power to advocate for the poor and powerless in our society?

Readings for tomorrow: Nehemiah 8-10

Confession

Readings for today: Nehemiah 1-4

The Bible makes it clear that sin is both individual and corporate. There are the sins I commit on a daily basis by the way I think, the way I speak, and the way I act. I am fully responsible for those sins and must confess them before a holy God so that I might receive forgiveness. But then there are the sins that I participate in - wittingly or unwittingly - that arise out of the “systems” in which I am embedded as a human being. For example, I am part of a family system. I have a spouse and children and I come from a family of origin that can often create all kinds of issues. So much of the counseling work I’ve done personally and professionally with others is focused on helping identify the generational sins that get passed down and how to break those patterns before they repeat themselves. In addition to a family system, I am part of a local social system in my community. We somewhat affectionately call it the “Parker bubble” and it impacts the way I think about life in both good and bad ways. I am also part of a political and economic system in the United States that frames my thinking both positively and negatively. And the list goes on and on. As a participant in these systems, I am at least partially responsible for propping up the system by the way I vote, spend money, participate and/or not participate in civic activities, etc. And therefore it is fully appropriate for me to confess the ways in which I contribute to a sinful, broken system and ask for forgiveness. This, by the way, is exactly what Nehemiah does in our passage for today.

“Lord, the God of the heavens, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands, let your eyes be open and your ears be attentive to hear your servant’s prayer that I now pray to you day and night  for your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins we have committed against you. Both I and my father’s family have sinned. We have acted corruptly toward you and have not kept the commands, statutes, and ordinances you gave your servant Moses. Please remember what you commanded your servant Moses: “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples. But if you return to me and carefully observe my commands, even though your exiles were banished to the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place where I chose to have my name dwell.” (Nehemiah‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Clearly, Nehemiah wasn’t personally responsible for the sins of his people. He wasn’t around when they rebelled against God and were exiled. He is generations removed from when the people followed Moses out of Egypt and into the wilderness. He isn’t even living in Jerusalem and participating in the current sins being committed by God’s people which we read about in Ezra. He’s in Babylon. He’s answered God’s call on his life to serve the king faithfully as cupbearer. He’s clearly got a tender heart for his people and conditions they find themselves living in. His heart is broken for the things that break God’s heart. He’s open to being used by God to change those conditions. Why then does he feel the need to confess? Why does he feel the need to confess the “sins of the People of Israel?” Nehemiah understands that sin has both an individual as well as corporate dimension. He understands he is personally responsible for his own sinful thoughts, attitudes, and actions AND he is responsible for participating in a communal system - the nation of Israel - that has collectively rebelled against God’s authority. He is not an island unto himself. In fact, Nehemiah probably didn’t think of himself as an individual first and part of a community second. Most people throughout history and even around the world today think far more communally than individualistically about life. And this is why he intercedes not just for himself but for his people.

What about us? How do you think about sin? When you spend time in confession before the Lord, do you include a confession of corporate sin? Perhaps it’s the sin of your family system going back generations that continues to have a ripple effect in your life today. Perhaps it’s the sin of your church family or your local community or our country. All of us are impacted by the sinful systems of the world around us and all of us participate and contribute to the perpetuation of those systems in some way, shape, or form. This is why our confessional prayers must include both individual and corporate dimensions and thankfully God is faithful and just to forgive individuals but entire communities and people groups as well.

Readings for tomorrow: Nehemiah 5-7

Fasting and Prayer

Readings for today: Ezra 7-10

The mission of God is impossibly large and complex. It is global. It is universal. It’s reach spans the centuries. God will never rest until the gospel has been preached in every tongue to every tribe in every nation. He will never rest until all have the opportunity to come to a knowledge of His truth and be saved. He will never rest until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that He is Lord. And perhaps most amazingly of all, He entrusts this great work to His church. His people. Now, if you are like me, the task seems overwhelming. Where do we even begin? How can I even begin to marshal the resources and wisdom and strength to accomplish this mission? I am so weak. I am so small. I am so insignificant. Where can I go to find what I need to do what the Lord has called me to do?

Much like Ezra, I begin with fasting and prayer. “I proclaimed a fast by the Ahava River, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us, our dependents, and all our possessions…So we fasted and pleaded with our God about this, and he was receptive to our prayer.” (Ezra‬ ‭8‬:‭21‬, ‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Fasting and prayer have been part of my life for many years now. The discipline of fasting reminds me of how empty and weak I am. It reminds me of my deep need for God. It makes me hungry for more of Him. More of His Word. More of His Spirit. The discipline of prayer is my connection to God. It is the ongoing conversation between my soul and God’s Spirit from which I draw so much wisdom and strength.

God has promised so much to His people. He promises to feed those who are hungry. He promises to quench the thirst of those who seek Him. He promises to give wisdom to those who ask and strengthen those who are weak. He encourages us to cast all our anxieties on Him and to lay our worries at His feet. He loves to listen to our needs and wants and desires. He is a good and loving Father who does not give a stone to those who ask for bread or a snake to those who ask for fish. He wants us to seek. He wants us to ask. He wants us to knock. And He promises He will be found. He promises He will respond. He promises He will open the door to anyone who humbly comes before Him.

Why then is fasting and prayer a last resort for us? Why is it not the first step as it was for Ezra and his people? Why do we wait until we’ve exhausted our own strength and wisdom and effort before coming to God in fasting and prayer? Why do we try so often to go it alone? Is it pride? Is it fear? Is it selfishness? Is it a desire to prove ourselves? To demonstrate our independence? Maybe some combination of all of the above? God invites us into His presence. God invites us to draw on Him for all we need in this life. God invites us to taste and see His goodness and His glory. God invites us to lay hold of His power for His mission in this world. Take the first step today. Spend time fasting and praying and asking the Lord to show you His will and His way.

Readings for tomorrow: Nehemiah 1-4

Pure Worship

Readings for today: Malachi 1-4, Psalms 50

God doesn’t grade on a curve. He will never be satisfied with leftovers. He will never be content to take second place. He will not allow us to take Him for granted or treat Him with disdain. God is a refining fire. A purifying fire. A cleansing fire. Malachi testifies to the fact that when the great Day of the Lord comes and Jesus returns in all His glory, all that is evil and arrogant and corrupt in this world will be burned by fire. All that is sinful and impure and ungodly in our lives will be set ablaze. The gold will be refined. The silver purified. Only that which is of the Lord will endure.

“For look, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and everyone who commits wickedness will become stubble. The coming day will consume them,” says the Lord of Armies, “not leaving them root or branches. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall. You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the Lord of Armies.” (Malachi‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬)

It’s a sobering vision. One that should challenge and convict us as it did the people of Israel. They had taken their relationship with God for granted. They were not giving their best to God. Their offerings were polluted. The animals brought for sacrifice represented the worst of their flocks. Blind. Lame. Broken. Bruised. They simply didn’t measure up to the worship God deserves. The priests refused to honor God’s name. They would not listen to His Word. They were unfaithful to the covenant God had established. Therefore they fell under God’s judgment and it was terrible. “You, on the other hand, have turned from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of Armies. “So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people because you are not keeping my ways but are showing partiality in your instruction.” (Malachi‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬)

What is pure worship? Malachi is clear, “My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense and pure offerings will be presented in my name in every place because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord of Armies.” (Malachi‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬) God will be glorified. His name will be lifted up. He will be worshipped by the nations of the earth. The people He loves will honor Him by giving Him the full devotion He deserves. They will burn incense. They will bring pure offerings. The best of their flocks. The best of their fields. They will not just go through the motions but with full hearts come to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth.

God expects no less from us. We who have been saved by Jesus Christ have seen His glory. The glory of the One and Only Son come from the Father. As such, more is demanded from us. More is expected. God desires our full worship. God desires our full devotion. He will never rest until He has the highest place in our lives. And it doesn’t matter what’s happening in the world around us. It doesn’t matter how difficult life’s circumstance may be. It doesn’t matter what barriers may exist or what inconveniences we have to endure. God deserves our worship. Now more than ever we have the opportunity to come before Him and give Him praise.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezra 7-10

Mordecai

Readings for today: Esther 6-10

My favorite parable of Jesus is the one where He talks about the etiquette when one receives an invitation to attend a great feast. Don’t take the place of highest honor when you enter the room lest someone greater than you arrive and you be asked to move down the table to your shame. Instead, take the place of lowest honor and let the master raise you up. Let the Master raise you up. This has been one of my life verses for a long time now. Rather than striving for position or influence or authority, I have found much greater joy and fulfillment when Jesus Himself raises me up. Rather than focus on titles or degrees or compare myself with others, I have found much greater contentment and peace in simply offering my life in service to my Master and letting Him dictate where I go and what I do.

Mordecai is a great example of what Jesus is talking about. When you read the Book of Esther, you never get the sense that he schemes for position. You never get the sense that he strives against Haman. You never get the sense that he’s interested in achieving any particular power or authority. He simply remains faithful. He is faithful to honor only God even though it put him at great risk. He is faithful to save the life of the king from a conspiracy even though he could just as easily let it go. He is faithful to advise and serve Esther when she becomes the wife and queen of a pagan king. And because of his faithfulness, God raises him up to the second most powerful position in the empire. God uses him and Esther to deliver His people from genocide. God grants him great favor and authority and position and wealth because He knows Mordecai is humble enough to handle it and not let it go to his head.

As Americans, we struggle with contentment. It’s the reason so many feel anxious. We are always striving. Striving for more success. Striving to make more money. Striving for greater position and power and influence. We play the comparison game all the time. We compare ourselves with what we see on social media. Compare ourselves to our neighbors and friends. Compare ourselves to our co-workers. And we rarely measure up. At least in our own minds. So we redouble our efforts. We work harder. We push harder. We try harder. But even when we are successful and make it to the top, we still feel like we’ve fallen short. It’s never enough. God offers us a better way. Trust in Him. Place your life in His hands and let Him raise you up. Fix your eyes on Jesus rather than on those around you and you will experience deep contentment and peace. This is His promise.

Readings for tomorrow: Malachi 1-4, Psalms 50

Set Apart

Readings for today: Esther 1-5

The people of God have always been set apart. They are set apart by their worship. The Romans believed them to be “atheists” because they had no images or idols of their God. They believed the early Christians were “cannibals” because they ate the body and blood of Christ. The belief in one God was baffling to the pagan world. Why limit oneself? The belief in a sovereign God was unique among the tribes of Canaan. After all, everyone knew each people group had their own patron god. The belief in a resurrected God remains an enigma to so many even today. And it’s not just worship that sets us apart. It’s our laws and customs as well. We believe God’s law supersedes any human law. We believe God’s ways are higher and better than our ways. We believe our highest allegiance is not to any human king or ruler or authority but to God Himself. This sets us apart. It makes us different. And it often makes us a target.

“There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom, keeping themselves separate. Their laws are different from everyone else’s and they do not obey the king’s laws. It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.” (Esther‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬) It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. This statement holds true down through the ages. Because the people of God have always been set apart, they are perceived as different. And people don’t like difference. They don’t understand difference. And they often persecute difference. The Jewish people have suffered under so many different regimes. Persia. Rome. France. Germany. Italy. Russia. America. The Middle East. Tragically, the church has often been at the forefront of those attacks. Christians too have faced persecution in many different places. Rome. India. China. The Islamic nations of North Africa. The rise of secularism in the West. Yes, even in “Christian Europe” where Christians attacked other Christians simply because they belonged to a different sect. It’s brutal and heartbreaking.

But still the call remains. To be set apart. To live as God’s chosen people. Citizens of the Kingdom of heaven scattered among the kingdoms of this world. Mordecai refused to bow the knee to Haman. He refused to compromise his faith. He would not “go along to get along.” He remained faithful to God though he knew it might cost him his life and it might cost his people everything. What about you? Where are you being challenged today to live out your faith? To make decisions that will set you apart? Make you different? Challenge the status quo? Will you be faithful or will you bow the knee to the kings and kingdoms of this world?

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Simple Things

Readings for today: Zechariah 8-14

Why are the simple things so hard for us? We know what we need to do in order to thrive so why do we make it so difficult? Wake up. Pray. Get ready for our job or school. Put in the work. Be friendly and kind to everyone we meet. Control what we can control which is our attitude and effort. Come home. Take the kids to their activities. Cheer them on. Listen to your spouse. Hang out with friends. Eat well. Exercise. Spend time in the sunshine. Play with the dog. Thank God for the day. Get a good night’s sleep. Why is even this basic routine such a challenge?

Take it down a layer. The Lord says, “These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; make true and sound decisions within your city gates. Do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love perjury, for I hate all this - this is the Lord’s declaration.” (Zechariah‬ ‭8‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Sounds simple enough. Basic enough. Be honest. Make the best decisions possible. Don’t make plans that would hurt your neighbor. Do not cover for your sins. To this one could probably add other admonitions like the Ten Commandments. Honor God. Honor His Name. Honor His Sabbath. Don’t murder or steal or lie or commit adultery. Don’t begin to covet what you don’t have. Don’t let jealousy or envy cause division between you and your brother or sister. Treat each other with compassion and grace. Walk in integrity. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The list goes on and on but it’s not complicated. It’s not confusing. So why do we find it so hard to do?

Sin. Original sin. Sin corrupts who we are and, by extension, what we say and think and feel and do. We cannot escape sin. We are born into this condition. We are born with a heart defect. We are born needing life-saving heart transplant surgery. We are born needing the Great Physician to step in and save our lives. Without Him, we are lost for our condition is terminal and always fatal. And this is what makes the “simple things” so hard for us to do. We keep getting in our own way. We simply cannot stop ourselves from being selfish and prideful and greedy and deceitful. Not as individuals and not as a species.

Only the Holy Spirit can perform the regenerative work our hearts so desperately need. Only the Holy Spirit can purge our corruption and give us a new heart and a new spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can sanctify us down the deepest recesses of our beings and transform us from the inside out. This is what the Bible calls being “born again.” It’s nothing less than new creation. And once this new creation has taken hold, the simple things become more clear. Life becomes more abundant and free. Joy and peace fill our hearts as we become the people God created and called us to be.

Readings for tomorrow: Esther 1-5

Memory

Readings for today: Zechariah 1-7

I love the book of Zechariah. Probably because it includes some of the most glorious promises ever given to God’s people. The name “Zechariah” literally means “Yahweh Remembers.” It’s an appropriate name when one considers the main message of the book. Despite all that has happened to Israel, Yahweh has not forgotten her. He has not forgotten her in her Exile. Not abandoned her to destruction. Not left her to start over with another people group. He is still her God and she is still His people.

Zechariah most likely returned from exile with his grandfather Iddo and father Berechiah. He came from a lineage of priests and in addition to this leadership mantle, was called by God to serve as a prophet alongside the much older Haggai. Whereas Haggai’s prophetic message had a convicting tone, Zechariah’s was more encouraging. Listen again to just a few of the passages we read for today…

“This is what the Lord of Armies says: Return to me - this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies - and I will return to you, says the Lord of Armies.” (Zechariah‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

“The Lord replied with kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me. So the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim: The Lord of Armies says: I am extremely jealous  for Jerusalem and Zion.” (Zechariah‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

“Therefore, this is what the Lord says: In mercy, I have returned to Jerusalem; my house will be rebuilt within it - this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies - and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem. Proclaim further: This is what the Lord of Armies says: My cities will again overflow with prosperity; the Lord will once more comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.” (Zechariah‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

“Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you”, this is the Lord’s declaration. “Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day and become my people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the Lord of Armies has sent me to you. The Lord will take possession of Judah as his portion in the Holy Land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem.” (Zechariah‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬)

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Armies. ‘What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. And he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it!” (Zechariah‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬)

“This is what the Lord of Armies says: Here is a man whose name is Branch; he will branch out from his place and build the Lord’s temple. Yes, he will build the Lord’s temple; he will bear royal splendor and will sit on his throne and rule. There will be a priest on his throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two of them.” (Zechariah‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬)

These promises speak of honor and blessing and restoration. They refer to the rebuilding of the Temple. The restoration of the priesthood. The glory of the worship that will once again fill the Lord’s house. God is raising up political leaders like Zerubbabel and religious leaders like Joshua to guide and direct God’s people to carry out the work God has planned for them. They will again be a light to the nations and will bless the people of the earth. Every obstacle that might rise in their path, God Himself will lay low. Most of all, God’s name will once again receive the glory it deserves.

It is easy at times to feel forgotten. It is easy at times to believe God has somehow abandoned us. When we experience pain and hardship. Suffering and struggle. Trials and temptation. It is easy to lose sight of God in the midst of it all. Zechariah reminds us God never forgets. God never abandons or forsakes us. He never leave us on our own. He is always with us. He will complete the work He began in us. He bring to pass the plans He has for us. He never fails. He is always faithful. No matter what you may be facing today, God is with you. The Lord of hosts is on your side. Trust Him. Believe Him. Lean on Him for strength.

Readings for tomorrow: Zechariah 8-14

Money

Readings for today: Haggai 1-2

“Well, the God I believe in isn’t short of cash, mister.” - Bono

Why does God care about our money? Why does He care about how much we make and how much we give? Why does God care about what each individual does with his or her wealth? Why does God care what the nations do with their wealth? Surely He doesn’t need it. Surely our currency holds no value in His Kingdom where the streets are literally paved with gold. Surely gold, silver, coins, and cash are worthless in a place where there is no need or lack or want. So why does God talk so much about money throughout the Bible? Why does God say things like He does today in our reading from Haggai, “The silver and gold belong to me, this is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.” (‭‭Haggai‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬‬)

God cares about money because He cares about us. He cares about what money and wealth does to our hearts. He cares about what happens to us when we acquire too much, too quickly without having the spiritual maturity to handle it. He cares about us clinging to it. Trusting in it. Finding our safety and security in what we make or what we save or what we own. The love of money is one of the primary competitors to the love of God which is why the Bible calls it the “root of all kinds of evil.” The people in Haggai’s day delayed the rebuilding of the Temple because of a perceived lack of resources. God, however, knew better. Listen again to what He says, “The Lord of Armies says this: “These people say: The time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.” The word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” Now, the Lord of Armies says this: “Think carefully about  your ways: You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to be happy. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it.” The Lord of Armies says this: “Think carefully about your ways.” (Haggai‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬) The people in Haggai’s day had put the proverbial cart before the horse. They tried to provide for themselves rather than rely on God. They put their physical needs before their need to worship. They built fine homes and ate fine meals and drank fine wines while the work on the Temple languished. The problem was not a lack of resources but mixed up priorities.

We face the same struggle in our own day and time. The human heart hasn’t changed much over the years. We are still so easily tempted to fall in love with money. To place our trust in our own resources. To find our security in our wealth. This is especially true in a capitalistic society which prizes the pursuit of wealth and the accumulation of resources above just about everything else. Again, the issue isn’t money per se nor is it wealth per se, it’s what the accumulation of these things does to our hearts that puts us in grave spiritual danger. And this is why God is so quick to remind us that He owns it all. He owns all the silver and all the gold. He owns all the money and all the stock and all the bonds and all the banks on the earth. He is the one who holds all the resources of creation in His hands. When we adopt this understanding, we are set free. Free to give generously and sacrificially of all we have to help those around us. Free to offer all we have in service to the Lord for the expansion of His Kingdom.

Readings for tomorrow: Zechariah 1-7

Credit

Readings for today: Ezra 4-6

Who gets the credit for the good things that happen in your life? The good things that happen in our nation? The good things that happen in our world? Is it human beings or is it God? Consider what takes place in our reading today. Zerubbabel is building the Temple. Things are going so well that even the enemies of Israel want to join in. Cyrus is mentioned again in the text as the king who initiated this building project. The prophets Haggai and Zechariah join forces to spur the people on even in the face of royal opposition. Darius gives the order to resume rebuilding after finding Cyrus’ original decree in his archives. Even offers to pay for it! But at the end of the day, who gets the credit for the completion of the work? God. The people of Israel see His sovereign hand at work even in the midst of all the trials and struggles and opposition. They recognize that the completion of the building project and the resumption of true worship could only have happened through the Lord’s miraculous work. “They observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the Lord had made them joyful, having changed the Assyrian king’s attitude toward them, so that he supported them in the work on the house of the God of Israel.” (Ezra‬ ‭6‬:‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

I don’t know about you but I don’t always give God enough credit. Sometimes it’s because things aren’t going well and I lose sight of Him. I start to argue and complain and question His good plan for my life. I blame Him for all the bad things that may be happening to me or to my family or to my community or in our world. It’s easy, especially when you see some of the horrific things I’ve seen, to wonder where God is in all the suffering. On the flip side, I sometimes forget to give God credit when things are good. I start to take credit myself for the affirmation I receive from those I love and serve. I start to believe my own hype. I start to trust in my own strength and wisdom. I start to enjoy how it feels to be the center of attention. In fact, one of the things I try to do is evaluate myself on how quickly I give thanks to God for the opportunities He’s given me like when I preach on a Sunday morning or teach a seminary class or lead a particular ministry. My goal is always to give God all the glory He rightfully deserves and take none of the credit for myself.

As you think about all that’s happening in your life today, have you stopped to thank God for all He’s done for you? When you think about all that’s happening in our nation today, have you stopped to thank God for the ways He’s working? Even though it may not always be obvious? When you think about all that’s happening in our world today, where do you see God’s hand? Have you given Him the credit? Have you placed your trust in His sovereign will and plan? It makes me think of one of my favorite worship songs. Give it a listen and let it lead you into a prayer of appreciation and gratitude to the Lord.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJCV_2H9xD0&list=RDiJCV_2H9xD0&start_radio=1

Readings for tomorrow: Haggai 1-2

Layers

Readings for today: 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Ezra 1-3

“The Bible was written for us but it was not written to us.” This fundamental principle, reinforced by scholars like John Walton, reminds us to pay attention to the many different layers we encounter when we read Scripture. It’s not as simple as “The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it.” Consider the decree from Cyrus that we read about today. “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: The Lord, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has appointed me to build him a temple at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord his God be with him.” (2 Chronicles‬ ‭36‬:‭23‬ ‭CSB‬) In our modern, Western way of thinking, the most important question here is did this actually happen? Was there an actual decree? Did Cyrus issue it? Did the Jewish people return and rebuild their Temple? How did that return take place? Was it a trickle over time or did it happen all at once? Was Ezra a real person? These are all important questions to be sure but they wouldn’t have been the most important to an ancient Hebrew. The ancient Hebrews would have asked a much different, more theological question. What is God doing here? How is God fulfilling His covenant promises to His people? What role does this pagan emperor play in fulfilling God’s plan?

Modern biblical scholars and historians love to debate the historicity of the Bible. They approach the text with a “hermeneutic of suspicion” and demand the Bible support itself through archeological evidence. Of course, the archaeological record more often than not proves the Bible to be true which only frustrates many of those scholars who have built entire careers and reputations off of attacking the veracity of the Scriptures. I encountered this over and over again in my own academic career both at Princeton Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary where I studied. I had the privilege of learning from some of the top scholars in the world. Recognized experts in their fields. Men and women who had published innumerable books and articles on the Bible. However, what I so often discovered was that their scholarship was simply a projection of their own biases. Furthermore, the glaring weakness in their approach is that they rarely took the perspective of the ancient Hebrew into account. They privileged their own modern, Western scholarly perspective over that of the very people to whom the text was written. Though unspoken, the bottom line is they considered the ancient Hebrews to be superstitious and ahistorical and biased while they themselves were objective and historical and unbiased. It was pure chronological snobbery.

However, if we aren’t careful, all of us can fall into this trap. We can read the Bible superficially. Looking only for information that might be relevant to our personal lives or looking for a flash of insight that might help us meet our day to day challenges. It’s why you so often see individual verses appear on coffee mugs or t-shirts. Ripped from their context, we treat them like we do fortune cookie wisdom but this misses the point entirely. Yes, the Bible does often speak to us in our circumstances and give us wisdom to tackle the challenges of our daily lives but it also draws us into a wider, bigger story. One that’s been unfolding since the beginning of time. The story of God in search of man as one rabbi put it. The story of God’s desire to have a relationship with His people and dwell with them on earth. This is the story the ancient Hebrews believed they were part of and it’s why they saw God’s hand in everything that took place from the initial conquest of the Promised Land to the Exile to their Return. And it’s meant to remind us of God’s hand in our own lives, carefully orchestrating the good, the bad, and even the ugly, to bring about His sovereign plan for us.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezra 4-6

End of Days

Readings for today: Daniel 10-12

In my line of work, I get sent all kinds of things. YouTube videos of so-called prophets predicting the end. Chain emails suggesting I need to focus more on the end times. Free books by obscure authors telling me they’ve cracked the code and know the time and date of Jesus’ return. One of the things that strikes me most about all of this is the utter lack of fear and trembling and humility. These modern-day prophets claim to have seen all kinds of divine visions and dreams but don’t fall on their faces in fear. Rather than grieve, they seemingly take delight in calling for the destruction of the world. They arrogantly proclaim their “interpretation” and refuse to acknowledge when they get things wrong…which they always do. It’s nuts to me.

When God gave visions and dreams to His prophets in the Old Testament, they all fall on their faces in awe before the Lord. They tremble in fear at His coming. They are overwhelmed by what they see and cannot comprehend what God is telling them until an angel of the Lord reveals it to them. They are humble. They grieve over the judgment they know is coming. They fast and pray until their bodies are weak from hunger. Listen again to Daniel’s experience as he receives his final visions from God, “Only I, Daniel, saw the vision. The men who were with me did not see it, but a great terror fell on them, and they ran and hid. I was left alone, looking at this great vision. No strength was left in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. I heard the words he said, and when I heard them I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me shaking on my hands and knees.” (Daniel‬ ‭10‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB) Now contrast his example with what we hear from those who claim to be prophets in our day and age. It could not be more different.

It’s a fearful thing to receive a vision of the future from God. Such knowledge is far too wonderful and complex for our minds to comprehend. It overwhelms the senses. It forces us to our knees. It leaves us gasping for breath. Human beings simply aren’t designed for such things which is why every single one of the Old Testament prophets is driven to the point of death by the experience. Even Jesus Himself claimed He couldn’t know the timing of the end. He had to trust His Father for that knowledge.

Every human being worries about the future. We worry about tomorrow or the next day or the next month or the next year. We worry about our jobs. We worry about our livelihoods. We worry about our children and grandchildren. For many around the world, they worry about what they will eat or where they will find water. Many believers worry about the end. They look around the world today with all its suffering, violence, hatred, anger, injustice, and oppression and they wonder when God will return to bring these things to an end. Rather than focusing so much on trying to predict it all or figure it out, I think the final words of the Book of Daniel point us in the right direction. “But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, and then you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.” (Daniel‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Dominion

Readings for today: Daniel 7-9

Martin Luther once said that we interpret Scripture through prayer, meditation, and the “tensions of life.” I thought about that last phrase as I read through the chapters from Daniel today. Certainly it’s not hard to see the rise of beasts and kingdoms and evil forces around the world today. The assassinations of political leaders like Charlie Kirk and Melissa Hortman. The attempted assassinations of President Trump and Governor Josh Shapiro. The deadly shootings at schools and churches. The random violence on mass transit systems and in our inner cities. We live in a terrifying world and it’s tempting to read Scripture through the lens of our fear and despair.

Daniel, however, points us a different direction. He certainly is a man well-acquainted with fear. He has seen death and destruction up close and personal. He suffered terribly as he was taken into exile. He has been imprisoned. He has been threatened with death on numerous occasions. He’s been persecuted for his faith. He has spoken God’s truth to pagan kings and emperors at great personal cost. And now he finds himself tormented by dreams of future death and destruction. The visions are so terrifying, Daniel is often incapacitated for days. But even in the midst of those dreams, Daniel is given a vision of hope. The Ancient of Days sitting on His throne. One like the Son of Man coming on the clouds. Unlike all the other kingdoms, His Kingdom will be an everlasting Kingdom and He will reign forever.

It’s worth reading again. Especially in light of recent events. “As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. I watched, then, because of the sound of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued watching, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to the burning fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but an extension of life was granted to them for a certain period of time. I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a Son of Man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve  him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” (Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Friends, Jesus is the Son of Man. The Ancient of Days has given Him dominion and glory and a kingdom so that people every tribe, tongue, and nation will serve Him. His dominion is everlasting. His Kingdom cannot be destroyed. No matter how dark things may get, look to Jesus and let your hopes rise again!

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 10-12

Prayer

Readings for today: Daniel 4-6

Daniel was given a powerful position within Babylonian society. He had the ear of the king. He was known for his wisdom and godly character. He never sought personal gain. Never used political maneuvering for his own personal benefit. Never sought power or privilege or higher status. His allegiance was to a much higher authority. He lived for God alone and this made his position unassailable. When his political enemies came after him, they found nothing to pin on him. They dug up no dirt. They found no one who would speak against Daniel. Daniel’s deep faith led to true freedom. He was free to speak God’s truth to Nebuchadnezzer. Free to confront him on his pride and arrogance. Free to give him the bad news about the meaning of his dreams. Daniel was free to call Nebuchadnezzer to repent which he eventually did.

“King Nebuchadnezzar, To those of every people, nation, and language, who live on the whole earth: May your prosperity increase. I am pleased to tell you about the miracles and wonders the Most High God has done for me. How great are his miracles, and how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation…But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified him who lives forever: For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and he does what he wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can block his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”…Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of the heavens, because all his works are true and his ways are just. He is able to humble  those who walk in pride.” (Daniel‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭3‬, ‭34‬-‭35‬, ‭37‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

Where did Daniel find such freedom? Prayer. He humbly presented himself before the Lord multiple times a day. He came before the Lord with praise. He confessed his sins. He lifted up his needs and the needs of his people. And I am convinced Daniel prayed fervently for the kings he served like Nebuchadnezzer. Sometimes it is tempting to think we have it bad in our country. To think our leaders have reached a level of corruption that places them beyond the grace of God. Especially in the wake of political violence. But nothing could be further from the truth! Nebuchadnezzer was one of the world’s great tyrants. When Peter and Paul talked about honoring and praying for the emperor, they were talking about Nero of Rome. Christians throughout the centuries and throughout the world today suffer under the harshest of regimes and still they pray for their leaders. Can we do any less?

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 7-9

Daniel

Readings for today: Daniel 1-3

Daniel is one of my favorites. He is a great example, perhaps the pre-eminent example, of how to live a life of faith in a hostile land. Though the book doesn’t say it, Daniel must have suffered terribly. Dragged from his homeland as a teenager. Force marched to Babylon. Drafted into the service of a pagan king. He was confronted with all kinds of challenges, everything from the food he ate to the prayers he prayed. He could easily have compromised his convictions along the way. Gone along to get along. But Daniel remained faithful. He could easily have lashed out at his captors. Sought to undermine their authority. Rebelled in small but subtle ways. But Daniel never wavered in his commitment to serve God in a foreign land. The result? Daniel set an example that would impact generations. In fact, many scholars believe the wise men who went searching for Jesus were heavily influenced by ancient Jewish prophecies handed down, perhaps even by Daniel and his colleagues themselves.

I find myself going back to Daniel over and over again. Especially as Western culture seemingly grows more hostile to Christianity. Many who share my faith believe we should take a more forceful posture. They always seem spoiling for a fight. They seem to enjoy calling down judgment on those who do not share our faith in the public square. They believe the reason Christianity is failing in the West is because many Christian leaders are cowards. I wonder what they would say to Daniel if he were alive today? Would they accuse him of being a collaborator? Would they call him a coward? Would they suggest he should have called for armed rebellion against his pagan overlord? I honestly don’t know. I imagine they would argue that they simply look to other examples from Scripture to meet the demands of this cultural moment. For my part, I prefer Daniel’s example. It’s why I always try to serve as a good faith partner with our local, state, and national government officials. I have had the privilege over the last five years especially to engage leaders at all levels of government as we navigated COVID, balanced anti-discrimination laws with First Amendment religious freedoms, advocated for a more Christian approach to public policy when it comes to issues like abortion, gender and sexuality, immigration, and criminal justice. It’s not been easy. But “easy” is not what I signed up for. And every time I find myself getting discouraged, I try to remember to turn to Daniel.

Fundamentally, Daniel understood a deep and profound truth. This world is not our home. It didn’t matter whether he was serving in Jerusalem or Babylon. It didn’t matter whether he lived in the Promised Land or in exile. It didn’t matter whether he served in his home culture or a hostile, pagan culture. His faith in God remained the same. He knew God was sovereign. He knew God was faithful. He knew God would protect him and provide for him and sustain him. Most of all, he knew God could use him. Use him to bring light to darkness. Hope to the hopeless. Wisdom to those who were lost. Just like God can use you and me today.

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 4-6

Water of Life

Readings for today: Ezekiel 45-48

In a few weeks, I will land in Entebbe, Uganda. As we drive north to our assignment, we will spend time on the shores of Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria is the world’s largest tropical lake and the second largest freshwater lake. It is a huge natural resource for three different countries - Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. As the world’s largest freshwater fishery, it sustains millions of people. I have taken tours of this lake. I’ve seen the fishermen with their nets. The birds that nest in the trees along its banks. The sheer abundance of life it produces. I have seen the underwater springs that form the headwaters of the Nile River, another body of water that provides life for millions of people. It’s incredible.

I have also been in desert places where there is no water. I have seen drought conditions that created starvation and famine. I have spent time with people who survive in these places, living off the small amounts of seasonal rainfall that take place every year. The population in these places is scarce. There is so little to sustain life. No animals. No birds. No trees. Nothing much grows from the ground. It’s a hard life. Perhaps that’s why I love the vision given to Ezekiel in our passage today. A life-giving river flowing from the Temple into the Arabah which is another word for desert place. The water starts as a trickle, much like the Nile starts as a spring, but soon becomes a river so deep and so wide, it cannot be crossed. This river flows down into the Dead Sea, turning what was once toxic into freshwater. Water that can produce and sustain life. Trees begin to spring up along its banks, bearing fruit and offering healing. It’s a beautiful picture of what God wants to do in our world.

The key to this vision lies in the restoration of the Temple. For several chapters now, God has been showing Ezekiel what will happen when true worship is restored in Israel. The Temple will be rebuilt. The priesthood purified and restored. The sacrificial system renewed. The people of God will worship God with a new heart and a new spirit and a new desire to follow His commands. As this happens, a river will begin to trickle out from the Temple. It will rise and soon turn into a flood, overwhelming all the death and destruction and devastation. The same holds true for us today. The same holds true for the church today. When the church worships God in spirit and in truth, life begins to flow into the community where it is planted. Fruit is produced. Healing takes place. Restoration and renewal takes root in the desert places where death once reigned.

Readings for tomorrow: Daniel 1-3

Presence

Readings for today: Ezekiel 41-44

There is nothing like experiencing the glory of the Lord’s presence in your life. Unexpected times when He makes Himself known to us through a sunrise or on a hike in the mountains or at the shore of a pristine lake or powerful ocean. Tender times when He makes Himself known to us in our weakness and vulnerability. The loss of a loved one. A fearful diagnosis. The breakdown of a close relationship. Redemptive times when He makes Himself known to us in our failure and sin. A mistake that costs us dearly. A fall that causes all kinds of pain. A self-destructive choice that ripples out into our lives. This is true for us not only personally but collectively as well. Powerful times of worship with God’s people. Seasons of revival in life when entire churches and communities experience the power of His presence. I’ve even witnessed entire villages and regions bowing the knee to Jesus Christ as He makes Himself known through miraculous signs and wonders. It’s amazing.

As Ezekiel’s visions come to a close, he sees the glory of the Lord firsthand and it brings him to his knees in awe and wonder and worship. It reminds him of earlier times in his life when he saw the glory of God destroy the city or visit him down by the Chebar River. This vision, however, is different. God is returning to His city. God is returning to His Temple. God is returning to His people. It’s a vision of hope. A vision of a future where God’s people will be purified and sanctified and made holy. A vision of a time coming when they will serve the Lord with all their hearts and cast aside their idolatry. It’s a vision of national revival. The renewal of a nation. The return of Israel from exile. It was overwhelming. And it serves as a great reminder to us that all is never lost. Not with God. Even in the darkest moments of our lives, He is with us and He is working out His plan for us.

I recently came across the account of a pastor who lived in Europe during the Second World War. His community had become the epicenter of a great battle between the Allied Forces and Nazi Germany. One evening as the sun was setting over the horizon, both armies pulled back to regroup. A great silence fell over the battlefield. He looked up in the waning daylight to see the spire of a church still standing tall despite the shelling that had taken place that day. It gave him hope. All of a sudden, a lone artillery shell came out of nowhere and blew the spire apart. A flock of birds happened to be resting on that spire and as the shell came in, they simply lifted up above the destruction, and once the dust had settled, nested back down in the ruins. The pastor later wrote, “It felt like the glory of God to me. Rising above all the chaos and tumult of our world and then resting back down with us in the ruins.” I think that’s about right.

We do not place our hope in anything built by human hands. Not Temples. Not churches. Not great cities or empires. All of them will eventually come crumbling down. The only hope we have is God. And the only way we will taste that hope is to experience His presence. And the only way we will experience His presence is by cultivating a deep, abiding awareness of Him in our daily lives through prayer and worship and meditation on His Word. Friends, God promises to make Himself known to all who seek Him with their whole heart.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 45-48

Return

Readings for today: Ezekiel 37-40

The people of Israel represent one of history’s great anomalies. There is no human reason they should continue to exist. There is no earthly reason why there should be a nation of Israel today. She has faced extinction level events so many times throughout her history. So many nations have sought her destruction over the centuries. Egypt. Canaan. Assyria. Babylon. Those are just the ones mentioned in the Bible. In modern times, one only has to look at the pogroms in Europe or Russia or the Middle East. The fact that she not only has survived but also thrives is truly a miracle. A sign of God’s great love and faithfulness. A sign that God’s covenant endures forever.

Does that mean Israel never errs? Of course not. The Bible is honest about her many failings. It’s why God withdrew His protective hand when the pagan nations around her attacked. It’s why God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed. It’s why God sent His people into exile in Babylon. He judged them in righteousness for their idolatry, corruption, greed, injustice, and oppression. He never gives them a pass. He doesn’t have a blind spot when it comes to His people. He sees all. He knows all. And He refuses to let their sin go unpunished. By the way, this is as true today as it has ever been for God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

However, having said all that, it is equally clear God’s ultimate goal for Israel is restoration. Even while they are in exile, He works tirelessly for their return. He gives Ezekiel visions of dry bones coming together into living, breathing bodies. Two sticks with the names of Judah and Joseph upon them. God shows the prophet a vision of a new Temple and even takes him on a virtual tour of the building so he can see all God will one day do when He brings His people home from exile. It’s a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness to Himself, His promises, and His people. Listen again to Ezekiel’s description. “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have compassion on the whole house of Israel,  and I will be jealous for my holy name. They will feel remorse for their disgrace and all the unfaithfulness they committed against me, when they live securely in their land with no one to frighten them. When I bring them back from the peoples and gather them from the countries of their enemies, I will demonstrate my holiness through them in the sight of many nations. They will know that I am the Lord their God when I regather them to their own land after having exiled them among the nations. I will leave none of them behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel. This is the declaration of the Lord God.” (Ezekiel‬ ‭39‬:‭25‬-‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

I will restore Jacob and the whole house of Israel. I will bring them back from the countries of their enemies. I will regather them to their own land. I will leave none behind. I will no longer hide my face. I will pour out my Spirit. This is the declaration of the Lord. These are incredibly powerful words that will be fulfilled when Ezra returns to rebuild the Temple and Nehemiah returns to rebuild the wall. Not only that but we see the same dynamic taking place throughout history as God preserves and protects His people, refusing to let them be finally destroyed. The Jewish people have endured so much over the centuries. They have been harassed and attacked and targeted by almost every society on earth. Blamed for all kinds of terrible things. Cast as the nefarious subjects of all kinds of crazy conspiracy theories. And still they survive when other people groups and cultures have come and gone. Where is Babylon today? Where is Assyria today? Where are the Canaanite tribes today? Still Israel remains. Why? Because God is faithful.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Redemptive Justice

Readings for today: Ezekiel 29-32

Many years ago, I had a long discussion with a dear friend. Someone I loved and respected. A fellow clergy person, though he was a Muslim and I was a Christian. For months we debated the nature of God’s justice. We probed the differences between Islam and Christianity. We wrestled over the problem of evil in the world and why God allows it. It was a wonderful discussion that challenged both of us. At the end of the day, I am not sure we moved the needle much for each other but we definitely came to a more clear understanding of how each of our respective faith’s define the justice of God.

I found myself thinking of my friend as I read these passages from Ezekiel. He would have appreciated them. For him, they describe God’s retributive justice perfectly. God deals with evil by sending it to hell. He deals with those who commit great evil by punishing them and sending them to the underworld. All those who attacked God’s people get their due. All the pagan nations finally meet their fate. God gives none of them a pass. He refuses to relent until he has utterly broken them. There’s something deep in all of us that can appreciate what God does here especially when we consider some of the horrific crimes committed against humanity throughout history.

God, however, is not in the business of retributive justice, even for the enemies of His people. What God wants is redemptive justice. A justice that restores rather than destroys. A justice focused more on rehabilitation than on punishment. A justice that expiates the guilty rather than condemns them. This is where Christians part ways with our Muslim friends. Islam has no mechanism for redemptive justice. All justice is ultimately retributive unless Allah decides - arbitrarily - to show mercy. Christianity, on the other hand, offers Jesus as a substitute in our place. Jesus makes atonement for our sin by enduring the full measure of God’s righteous judgment on sin and evil. He suffers the just penalty for sin by dying the death we deserved.

In today’s reading, the seeds of redemptive justice are sown. Over and over again, throughout this section, we see the purpose behind God’s judgment. “Then they’ll realize I am God.” God wants the nations to acknowledge His Lordship. He wants them to set aside their idols and submit to His rule and reign. He wants them to bring an end to oppression and abuse and greed and exploitation and instead, walk in His ways. He wants the same for us as well.

Readings for tomorrow: Ezekiel 33-36