Day 35: Nehemiah

Despite being the shortest man in the Bible (sorry, couldn't resist), if you ever need a good guide for leadership, look here.

Nehemiah starts out by seeking God, seeks God in the middle of everything and ends by seeking God.  These stories of the exile are always bittersweet.  They hint of what might have been and what once was for the Israelites.  Instead, what they are left with is the skeletal remains of their city and of their people, but it is still a people of hope.

Nehemiah begins out of grief and a desire to help his people and his homeland.  He wants to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, not for himself, but for his people because they used to be a people set apart by God in this land.  Now they are God's people wandering and forced into exile and ridicule.  Now that there is a chance to rebuild something of what once was, he wants to be a part of that.  He wants it, but Nehemiah still seeks God first.

He is granted the request of his heart and returns to Jerusalem.  Nehemiah returns with the blessing and edict of the king and he also brings with him a smattering of encouragement for his countrymen.  He encourages them to join him because God is with them and indeed, it seems He is.  The people take heart and start building, but like with the Temple, they are soon face to face with opposition.  Nehemiah reports of the courage of his people: "we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their hearts" (Neh 4:6).  Then Israel's enemies plot against them and the pray to God.  They continue the work with Nehemiah's encouragement, "Our God will fight for us!" (Neh 4:20).  They continue to build with half the amount of workers because the other have stands guard with their spears and their swords, but they persevere.

Nehemiah leads his people through hardship, he comes through for them and works just as hard as they do.  When some are being oppressed by their own people, Nehemiah stands up for them and points back to what God says.  They are disobeying God by essentially enslaving their countrymen just so they can stay afloat or even make a profit.  He calls them out and they are humbled.

I think there are a lot of parallels in Nehemiah, especially to today.  How many of us desire a leader to see our toil and fear and frustration?  I know I do.  Nehemiah did because his heart was in the right place.  He sought God and He brought God and His word to the people.  The people were so distraught by this because they realized how far they had fallen short, but this time, Nehemiah doesn't chastise them.  No. He says, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.  This day is sacred to our LORD.  Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  (Neh 8:10)

That's the kind of leader I want.  I want someone who is so passionate after God they can show me the truth and though it might cause me pain, they will yet encourage me when I need it, chastise me when I need it and continue to push me to do what is right in the eyes of the LORD.  Perhaps the leader of our country doesn't fit this profile, perhaps neither does the leader of my church, but I know many who do and who are leaders in my life, in my church, in this country.  I have Ezras and I have Nehemiahs.  Those two were contemporaries of one another, so it's good that I can see and have both who exhibit the qualities of these people after God's own heart.  Thank you Scott and Maxie and Kelly and Rob and Karyn for following God's heart as you encourage us to move forward as well.  Thank you to all of you who follow God's call and push us to as well.

Day 34: Ezra

So I got a bit caught up in the dates of Xerxes/Ahasuerus, Artexerxes and Darius.  Of course, all my Bibles are still packed and well, I'm still not sure.  Sometimes titles are given instead of names and that makes sense, so Xerxes/Ahasuerus is probably not Xerxes the I, but the son of Cyrus and that makes sense as well.  Xerxes is the Greek for Ahasuerus which is the Hebrew for another Persian word which is a title.  Okay, good to know.  I know I said I wasn't going to be all scholarly, but for my peace of mind, I needed to know and that's okay too.

Moving on, Ezra: this is a book of hope, perseverance, obedience and repentance.  Where do I get that?  Well, let's find out, shall we?

Hope: Ezra picks up where Chronicles leaves off and repeats the same decree of Cyrus, but adds "...let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.  And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem."

So they do.  Again, God is concerned with matters of the heart and so it comes across in His word, Ch.1:5, "everyone whose heart God had moved - prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem."  Cyrus also gives them articles from the temple that were taken by Nebuchadnezzar.  I just think God is awesome.  He worked in the King's heart to allow his people to return, just as he promised and he allowed them to save some face as well.  Yeah, He's pretty cool.

Then we have a list of those who return 42,360 plus servants and animals.  That is sad because it truly is only a remnant.  But then there is rejoicing because the first thing they go about doing is building the altar and they celebrate to the LORD, the Feast of Tabernacles and burnt offerings.  Then they lay the foundation for the temple, bittersweet, joyful that the LORD's temple is being rebuilt, sad because it is only a shadow of what it once was.

Next comes the trickiness of it all.  So I'm guessing the "enemies of Judah and Benjamin" are probably the Samaritans who kind of sort of want to worship, have kind of sort of been "sacrificing" to God along with all of their other gods.  I'm pretty sure God said He is a jealous God, so I think it may be safe to say that it's kind of like facebook, they just want to have as many friends/gods as they can get.  The Israelites say no, and then trouble starts.  Eventually it ends with Darius (hence my timeline confusion), but because he does his homework and he too, like Cyrus, recognizes the LORD God.  Again the Israelites go with gusto and the temple is finally finished, Passover is celebrated (obedience), and then enter Ezra.

So even amidst obstacles from neighbors and edicts from kings, the Israelites persevere.  They do put off the building of the temple for a while, but they pick it back up despite the edict not to.  They build, despite fear for their safety.  They press on because God is worth it.

Ezra brings with him more support from the King, a different King again at this time, and the Law.  Ezra's account may seem, perhaps a little pretentious, but it is also transparent.  I believe he really did seek the LORD and encourage the Israelites to do so.  That was his calling, his job.  He was like the high priest, at least descended from him and how many other people could really claim that lineage... just saying.  God was with and he led the people to repentance.  Despite the past sin, God showed mercy and allowed his people, albeit a remnant, to return home.  He also showed them mercy again as they had committed the same sins, marrying the people of the other nations around them.  To try and start things right again, this time, Ezra calls them into account, to obey, immediately, and asks them to do what God had asked them to do from the beginning.  Harsh?  Perhaps, but this path had led them to destruction before.  Ezra is trying to keep them from making the same mistakes.

I think I could use an Ezra, someone to point me toward truth and right and God's way.  Oh wait, I do have Ezras.  I have Dani and Kelly and my mom and Janine and Paula and Kelsey and Kyla and Stacia and Erin and so many more.  Thank you for allowing me to see your example of faith.  Thank you for pushing me to follow, persevere, obey and repent.  Thank you for giving me hope.  May I be that for you as well.  Blessings to you all!

Day 31-33: The Rest of Chronicles

So I decided to take my own advice.  I got a little behind in the reading, so I'm picking up where I left off, the end of Chronicles.  I also am a bit behind on the blogging, but moving, chasing after hormonal teenagers, more moving, falling down stairs and being sick all day will do that to you.

Let's finish up Chronicles then and may I say I really enjoyed this retelling of the annals of the kings of Judah.  It's like reading different versions of the Gospel, you get different perspectives.  It's quite fascinating and I didn't want to mesh too many things into one, so I'll cover the end of Chronicles and move onward to post-exile with Ezra and Nehemiah the next few days.  As always, follow at your own pace and feel free to dialogue with me at any point in your journey.  Don't forget to check out back posts.

1 Chronicles 25 - Check out Asaph.  We'll get to read his and his sons psalms later.  Pretty cool.

If you ever need info in a pinch about genealogies, Chronicles is the place to go.

1 Chronicles 28 David announces that Solomon will follow him and build a Temple for the LORD.  Solomon mentions that in Kings, but we don't really see that by David.  David does give Solomon a charge on how to handle some of his officials, but not the temple.  So now we see that David does give Solomon this charge.

2 Chronicles 5:11-13 - I will always remember this passage from Kid's Praise 7: Psalty's Hymnological Adventure through Time.  Oh memories.  Dani and I sang this in a play for our church, "For He is good and his mercy endureth fore -e -e -ever."  Good times.  I will always remember the names Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun.  I am particularly fond of Jeduthun.

2 Chronicles leaves out Solomon's fall from grace (his lusting after all his wives and building of the high places).  Interesting...

I like the added information, like about Rehoboam, 2 Chron 11:16 "Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their fathers."  I like that, there were still people in all Israel who were devoted to the LORD.

It's so amazing, here throughout what we've read previously and continuing through Chronicles, it still shows you that it is a matter of the heart.  The Israelites turn away, and then they turn back, like in 2 Chron 12 and God hears them, just like Solomon asked in his prayer at the dedication of the temple.  So you get this more intimate look into the lives of the Kings of Judah and how exactly they were and were not devoted to the LORD.  Abijah, Kings says, wasn't fully devoted to the LORD and yet here in Chron we get to see how he was devoted in some way.  For Asa we see how he fully did right in the eyes of the LORD and how he called the people to enter into covenant with him to serve the LORD their God with all their heart and soul (no wonder Jesus said that was the greatest commandment.  It is literally said again and again).  We also see how Asa did not fully seek the LORD toward the end of his life.  Then we have Jehoshaphat (another great name) who wholeheartedly sought the LORD, again until the end when he made an alliance with Israel.  Still we have soooo much more information.  And it goes on and on.

I could summarize forever, but the point is clear.  Just look how many times wholeheartedly or faithfully or seeking the LORD with all their heart, etc. are mentioned.  That's the point.  You can clearly see how things go well for Israel/Judah and its people when they are devoted to seeking the LORD and how things get messed up when they are devoted to seeking everything else besides God.  Too often my heart strays.  I wonder how many amazing blessings I may be missing out on.

I love seeing another side to these kings how good and how bad they were.  Kings hints at these things, but with Chronicles you get a deeper inside look.  At the end we are left with the exile, but hope, for the King of Persia, Cyrus, says: 'The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you--may the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.' (2 Chronicles 36:23)

As for the rest of the events of the Kings of Judah, are they not written in God's Holy Bible?  Check it out!  :)

Playing Catch up: Day 28 The rest of 2 Kings; Day 29 & 30 The Recap that is 1 Chronicles (1-23)

Because these deserve to be divided up.

Day 28: 2 Kings 16-25

So in the end the Israelites get carted off by the Assyrians and Samaria was resettled.  Thus became the hodge podge of combined religions that existed in Jesus' day.  That was really cool for me to kind of understand that a little.  Good foreshadowing and good background for later.

Now into the meat of things.  My favoritist kings are in these verses: Hezekiah and Josiah.  Hezekiah, there was no one like him, either before or after him.  Josiah, I see him as a champion of the LORD.  Both men had hearts that yearned after God, but although Hezekiah did what was right in God's sight and he destroyed the high places and Asherah poles that the kings before him failed to do.  He did some other pretty amazing things too, like bringing water into Jerusalem (I think it was an aqueduct).  So Hezekiah was pretty awesome.  He was also peeps with Isaiah, as in the prophet.  That's not to say that Hezekiah didn't make his fair share of mistakes and his response to the LORD's saying that disaster will come to Israel/Judah was relief that he would be safe.  (I'd probably have the same reaction).  Still it is not perfect, but Hezekiah followed after God without turning from him.  He was faithful, not without fault, but faithful.  On the downside again, he fathered, perhaps the most wicked king Judah would ever know, Manasseh and he did not do what Josiah would do - bring back the Law.

 

So after Manasseh and Amon comes the second boy king, Josiah.  He was eight when he became king.  He brought back the heart to Israel.  He found the Law of Moses and his reaction, I love his reaction.  He tears his robes in absolute grief for not having followed God as he should.  It's the most appropriate response and its sincere.  If only my sincerity for my sin and neglect would be as much.  And then his next response is also wonderful, he inquires of the LORD and what does the LORD say, "I have heard you" (2 Kings 22:19).  

 

It's beautiful.  I may sound rather gushy, but I love the heart of these two kings.  I love how Josiah doesn't just keep the Law to himself, but he calls all the people, "This is what we should be doing!  Let us consecrate ourselves to the LORD anew."  That's his job as king, to set an example and to bring the people closer to their Heavenly King.  Again, that may sound simplistic or trite, but sometimes God is pretty basic.  That's usually all he really wants is the basic things.  It doesn't mean he doesn't want us to question or think, but when it comes down to it, what He wants most is obedience and surrender.  That obedience and surrender is a safe thing because God is good and loving and just and if we share faith in his Redeeming Son, then we have nothing to fear.  

This is why I love the Old Testament.  This is why I love these kings, the good ones; my heart breaks for the ones who follow evil.  They've missed it.  I cheer when Israel is shown mercy and my heart is wrenched when destruction and punishment befall them.  My heart is wrenched, but I know it is also justified because I ultimately trust that God knows so much better than I.

Josiah is the last blazing beacon of hope before Judah falls.  There is redemption, it is a long time coming, but through it all God is faithful.  The rest of the story will only prove this more and more.

 Day 29 & 30 1 Chronicles 1-23

So Chronicles is not the easiest of reads as anyone can attest.  Not only is it chock-full of genealogies, but it is also a retelling of the history of Judah.  It's not a complete repeat of Kings, but it is a retelling of those things dealing with the kingdom of Judah.  So be prepared to hear some things again.

On a bright note, it may add some different insight to what has been said before.  I found out that Joab was David's nephew.  At least that's what I think I can tell from the genealogy (1 Chron 2:13-17).  It's always fun to see where the odd sister is listed.  Makes me smile because I know God appreciates women and their names are there for a reason.  (Like all the kings of Judah listed their mommas.)  

Here we see more of the militaristic exploits, like how many men were exactly with David across the tribes of Israel.  Small but interesting details, at least to me.  Couple of questions though, Elhanan killed Goliath's brother, but 2 Samuel says he killed Goliath.  A copy error or another name for David?  I've heard both explanations and both are plausible.  Neither one takes away from the truth of God's word.  What happened, happened: David killed Goliath.  Perhaps someone else killed his brother or perhaps David had another name.  Seemed to be a lot of that going around: Abram/Abraham, Jacob/Israel, Saul/Paul...  The second question I have, did God incite David or Satan?  Contradiction?  No I don't think so.

Ultimately all things are under God's control, even Satan.  God allows Satan certain freedom, like us.  So, God could have allowed Satan to do what Satan desired, which ultimately achieved God's purpose: David repented and sought the LORD instead (another example would be Job).  God is not evil or vindictive though.  God hardened Pharaoh's heart/Pharaoh hardened his heart.  Either way, God's will was accomplished: by such wonders and divine miracles His people were released from bondage.  Perhaps this is too simplistic for you, but trust me, I spent a lot of time questioning this in the past.  I understand.  Keep asking, keep wrestling, but always point your questions to God and to His people and to prayer.  God will not abandon your seeking.  He did say, you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jer 29:13).  I don't question this as much anymore.  Now it's more of trust.  I still question, but this, I've let it go to God.  I pray that someday you will be able to take whatever is keeping you mired below and release it to Him.  It is freeing.

Enough for now.  Blessings all!

Second Hiatus: Becaus Garth deserves it!

See you in a bit.  Garth, here I come!!!!!!!

Day 27: Lots of Evil and a Little Good (2 Kings 5-15)

So I don't have much to say.  Elisha does his miracle things so check him out.  Quite frankly I prefer Elijah, but that's okay.

Namaan (it's like vacuum, two a's and two u's) puts down his pride and gets healed of leprosy.


The boy king Joash gets help from Jehoiada the priest and takes the kingdom from his mother.  Joash rules in goodness and that starts a stretch of good for Judah, not following in the ways of David, but Joash, which I guess is pretty good.  The high places remain.  He also repairs the temple.  Good for you boy king!  Then we have Amaziah and Azariah/Uzziah - good names, good kings.

In Israel, though, evil reigns.  There is a glimmer of hope with Jehu.  He does the will of the LORD by destroying the evil king of Judah, Ahaziah (not to be confused with Amaziah or Azariah) and the rest of Ahab's family.  We get to read the lovely verses of how Jezebel's blood and body are licked up by dogs with nothing left but her skull, feet and hands.  Oops!  Oh the Bible you are not a delicate read.

I had some hopes for Jehu.  I mean he seemed to want to follow the LORD and the LORD allowed his family to reign for four generations.  That is something in the kingdom of Israel.  However, he still did evil in the eye of the LORD.  He did not worship Baal, but he still followed Jeroboam (as all the Israelite kings do) and he worshiped the golden calves.  Why?  Why when the LORD is clearly in front of you?  I don't know.  Maybe Jehu didn't know either.  Maybe he still didn't trust God.

It takes trust, right?  It's an important thing.  In the end too, we have to be willing to give up control and step into the unknown.  It is kind of an unknown thing, following God, because we are never sure what he will ask.  Whatever he asks though, as hard as it may be or seem, I have found it to always be worth it.  God is worth the risk.  He has never disappointed.  The disappointment usually comes from my own failings.  Forgive me for my unbelief God and help me believe and follow you strongly every day!

Lastly I leave you with this: "So Pekah killed Pekahiah" (2 Kings 15:25).  Oh silly kings of Israel and your names.  :)

Day 26: Do you ever feel alone? (1 Kings - 2 Kings 4); The Kings and Elijah

Do you ever feel alone?  Do you ever feel like you are constantly at odds with everyone around you?

I certainly feel that way many days.  I feel abandoned by the very God who called me.  I feel as if I am one against thousands in this broken and corrupt world and then I read the story of Elijah.  Wouldn't you know?  He felt that way too.

Elijah did amazing things through the power of God.  He brought the widow's son back to life.  He called fire down from Almighty God to consume the sacrifice he had prepared to the LORD God.  He put himself at odds with Ahab and Jezebel time and time again.  And then, it's too much.  He's afraid and he runs for his life, alone, into the desert.

In the desert Elijah prays a prayer I am very familiar with, not because I read this passage a lot (though indeed I am familiar with the passage itself), no it is because I've prayed this prayer in one form or another throughout my life.  "I have had enough, LORD, Take my life; I'm worthless."  I'm paraphrasing a bit here, but the sentiment is powerful and it resonates with me.  "God I'm done.  Just let me die.  I'm alone.  I'm tired.  I'm persecuted.  I'm hopeless."

God's response is simple, "Get up and eat."  God doesn't even address Elijah's self-esteem issues, not here, not now.   God reminds me of my mother right here, "Eat something, you'll feel better."  God knows best.  Elijah gets some strength and courage and goes off to the mountain of God (Mt. Horeb).  There he again encounters God in a profound way, not in fire, not in earthquaking, not in wind, but in a gentle whisper.  Again Elijah brings his complaint and exhaustion and frustration to God and again God responds.  Of course God doesn't coddle or sooth Elijah here either.  He gives Elijah another assignment, because He knows he can handle it and then, as almost an afterthought, God says, "I've reserved 7,000 in Israel who've not bowed to Baal..."

I imagine Elijah's wondering, where are these 7,000?  Seven thousand!  No Elijah, you are not alone and your work is not in vain.  God is doing powerful things through you.  Do not lose heart!

That's a good reminder: when I feel alone and discouraged, I need to remember the the LORD says, "Take heart!  You are not alone.  I have millions the world over who are serving me and doing my will.  Are you not as blessed as they?"  Thanks God.  I needed that.

Day 25: The End of Solomon and Israel as we knew it (1 Kings 8-16)

Perhaps I was a bit prematurely harsh on Solomon.  He didn't actually enslave the Israelites, although they were in a sense still enslaved to him.  He made the Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, etc. actually do forced labor, but the Israelites were still beholden to Solomon.  He was their king.  It wasn't an awful plight like that of the "other nations" but still I don't think it was always a picnic, especially toward the end.

Solomon kind of foreshadows his own doom he encourages and admonishes the Israelites to follow the LORD with all their hearts, fully.  He beseeches the LORD to hear all who repent and cry out to him Israelite and foreigner and God obliges, it's really a beautiful prayer and sentiment (1 Kings 8:22-53), but there is a dark ending.

The LORD appears to Solomon a second time and he encourages and warns Solomon to walk in the ways David did, to not turn from the LORD and serve other gods, and He will bless Solomon.  Solomon was a great king, he was greater in riches and wisdom than anyone else.  His fame was known all over and yet, that did not save him (1 Kings 9:23-25, 1 Kings 11:1-13).  All of those wives, did him in.  They worshiped their own gods and so Solomon worshiped those gods too, because he "held fast to them in love."  His heart was divided, indeed it was blackened and corrupt.  So the LORD took the kingdom from him through his son.

Perhaps I don't like Solomon because I know the ending.  It's sad, especially when he had such promise.  Maybe it's like the Gibeonites and Joshua - I hope that the end is not what it's going to be every time.  Maybe that's how God feels too.

God is a God of chances.  He allows Judah and a man from the line of David to remain, but he gives Jeroboam a chance, but he worships other gods instead of trusting the LORD.  So the kingdom of Israel, the remaining ten tribes minus Judah and Benjamin, is ripped from his son Nadab.  He gives Baash a chance, but the same thing and so the kingdom is ripped from his son Elah.  Then Zimri has a chance, but only 7 days and then things fall to Omri and then his son Ahab.  We'll find out Ahab is all kinds of trouble.

As for Judah, they have 3 kings during the time Israel has 7.  There is a lot less killing for the throne as the kingship remains in the line of David.  Only one of the three, though, follows in the heart of David.  Only Asa worships the LORD with all his heart and stops some of the idol worship that his father and his father's father had started.  He doesn't destroy the high places though and so, ultimately the Israelites will return to their wicked ways.  In the meantime there is a glimmer of hope.  It is a good hope and a bright hope.

I think that's it: David - shining hope.  Solomon - bright star that diminishes to a black hole.  I would rather be on the shining hope end and I pray that I am, LORD.  I think that is my problem with Solomon.

Day 24: End of the Samuels and the beginning of the Kings, Ruin for Israel

I don't get it.  God was angry at Israel at the end of 2 Samuel so he "incited David" to take a census and then he got angry at David for taking the census and punished the Israelites.  I guess I understand the punishing thing, the Israelites already had it coming, but then to blame David for taking the census, I don't get it.  I mean David was no angel, but still...  It's okay though.  God can handle my snarkiness and confusion.

I also don't get Solomon.  I get that David spoiled all his little chilluns so much that they pretty much did whatever they wanted: i.e. Absalom, Adonijah.  They both made passes for the crown.  In the end I kind of picture David as this old withered white haired king, almost completely oblivious (you know like Prince Humperdinck's father in the Princess Bride...), saying, "Okay Solomon, you be king. (Cough, cough, sputter, sputter)"  I get that Solomon asks for wisdom, which I'll give him, that was smart.  God honored him with that.  He didn't ask for selfish things, he could have.  Point for Solomon.  He avenges his father, a little self-seeking (I mean look how it turned out for the Bushes), but I get that.  He mediates between two prostitutes and their live/dead babies (why is that told to children?  They leave out the most fun detail: they were prostitutes!  Bet they didn't know who the daddy was... I digress).  If Solomon was so great and wise, then why was the first wife he married from a foreign country - politically astute, spiritually disastrous.  Then he goes and pretty much enslaves his people by building the temple and his palace.

I'm being really negative, but I feel really negative about Solomon.  Interesting, I'm okay with David and Cain and the Israelites destroying whole nations, but this one guy has got me all in a tizzy.  So that's what I've been struggling with and I just wanted you to know.  God still chose Solomon and maybe he was the best out of all the choices.  Maybe I dislike him so much because, perhaps we have a lot in common.  Solomon was the good ol' boy.  He pretty much followed the rules that his father laid out for him.  What is more, he followed God, for the most part, except, he worshipped on the high places (and married all those foreign women).  See Ch 3 v.3.  As good as I am, there's still that part of me that wanders, that abuses, that takes all the wonderful and beneficial gifts God has given me and leads to destruction.  I'm sorry God.  You loved Solomon and you love me.  Help me not to make the same mistakes he did.  Help me to realize and live in my life now, that you are the most important thing.  May my life reflect that.

On another note, re-reading through the description of the temple, no wonder the other countries pillaged it!  That thing was decked out in GOLD!!!!!  Whooo wheeeee!

Day 23: 2 Samuel 13-23 The Trouble with Children and Wives

I think the gist of these passages can be linked back to Deuteronomy 17:17: [the king] must not take many wives or his heart will be led astray.

Interesting isn't it?  Certainly this applies to Solomon, but it also applies to his father, David.  Here again is the little ideas of sin creeping in.  So I think to myself, I'll just do this one thing, I mean, it's okay in my culture.  I'm not really doing anything wrong.  I can have my cake and eat it too.  I can go out and drink with my friends and it's okay.  God doesn't really say that drinking is wrong and I can be a good witness.  But then I have two drinks and three and four and suddenly I realize I'm not stopping.  Suddenly I realize I'm a mess, but I'm okay, but I'm not.  What kind of a witness am I now?

For David it was women and the children of those women.  He had quite a few wives and so his heart was divided.  Unfortunately those children didn't always get along very well.  One raped another and so the brother of the girl who was raped kills his half-brother...  It's a mess.  David does not punish because he loves his children.  He's said by this event, but he loves his children.  Problems...

So, again his children seek his throne.  Absalom, now he thinks he is all that.  I mean his hair weighed five pounds so maybe he was, I don't know.  However, Absalom observed the glory that David received as king.  He also felt the love of his father, but he doesn't seem to have experienced David's faith and this is perhaps because David was so divided among his family and his faith and his people.  At least, that is my theory.  So Absalom becomes a selfish and self-serving ruler, ousting his father from his throne.  So towards the end of David's life, we see him on the run again as he was at the beginning and the beginning of his kingship.  Talk about deja vu.

So as great as David was, you see how the sin in his life left this deterioration toward the end of it.  Absalom is killed, which makes David weep and David's self-serving general, Joab also finally meets his end.  Then his kingdom is divided again and they try to revolt.  It's a mess.  It eventually all comes back together, but not without heartache and not without destruction.

It makes me wonder sometimes why God puts up with us?  We are awful.  He is patient.  He is kind.  He is abounding in love.  David realized that too.

 ³ my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
       my shield and the horn ^[a] of my salvation.
       He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
       from violent men you save me.

 ⁴ I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
       and I am saved from my enemies.

 ⁵ "The waves of death swirled about me;
       the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

 ⁶ The cords of the grave ^[b] coiled around me;
       the snares of death confronted me.

 ⁷ In my distress I called to the LORD;
       I called out to my God.
       From his temple he heard my voice;
       my cry came to his ears. 

 ¹⁷ "He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
       he drew me out of deep waters.

 ¹⁸ He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
       from my foes, who were too strong for me.

 ¹⁹ They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
       but the LORD was my support.

 ²⁰ He brought me out into a spacious place;
       he rescued me because he delighted in me. 

²⁶ "To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
       to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

 ²⁷ to the pure you show yourself pure,
       but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

 ²⁸ You save the humble,
       but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.

 ²⁹ You are my lamp, O LORD;
       the LORD turns my darkness into light.

 ³⁰ With your help I can advance against a troop ^[g] ;
       with my God I can scale a wall.

 ³¹ "As for God, his way is perfect;
       the word of the LORD is flawless.
       He is a shield
       for all who take refuge in him.

 ³² For who is God besides the LORD ?
       And who is the Rock except our God?

 ³³ It is God who arms me with strength ^[h]
       and makes my way perfect.

 ³⁴ He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
       he enables me to stand on the heights. 

 ⁴⁴ "You have delivered me from the attacks of my people;
       you have preserved me as the head of nations.
       People I did not know are subject to me,

 ⁴⁵ and foreigners come cringing to me;
       as soon as they hear me, they obey me.

 ⁴⁶ They all lose heart;
       they come trembling ^[i] from their strongholds.

 ⁴⁷ "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
       Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!

 ⁴⁸ He is the God who avenges me,
       who puts the nations under me,

 ⁴⁹ who sets me free from my enemies.
       You exalted me above my foes;
       from violent men you rescued me.

 ⁵⁰ Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;
       I will sing praises to your name.

 ⁵¹ He gives his king great victories;
       he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
       to David and his descendants forever."

Day 22: Addendum, David and Bathsheba

So you may have been wondering why I failed to mention this.  Well it just didn't fit with the flow of my previous post, but it is definitely still worth mentioning.

As much as David sought God, he still sinned.  That is very clear.  It's clear that David did not seek God before he had Bathsheba brought to him.  If he did, God would have been silent or clearly said no.  I can understand where David is coming from, though.

David wanted this one thing, which he knew was wrong, of course he knew, but he probably thought, like I've often though, no one will know.  I'll just do this one thing and no one will know and it'll be okay.  These are the lies we tell ourselves when we sin.  We know what is right, but we choose not to do it, making little and big justifications along the way.  Except, David couldn't hide this sin once Bathsheba became pregnant.  So David being king, used his power again.  (Again, he has not sought God, but only the power of David.)  He calls for Bathsheba's husband so that he will go home have sex with his wife and that way he, David, will be off the hook.

But, Uriah is more honorable than David and he refuses to go home to his wife when men are at war and he should be too.  He refuses to go home, when the ark of Israel is in a tent, along with the men of Israel.  David is thinking, stop being so noble and go and sleep with your wife.  He tries to coax Uriah and prod him to go home, but he won't.  So David makes it so that Uriah will be killed and he is.  He again abuses his power.

Often this is the path of sin.  I've known it too well.  David knew it well.  One seemingly small thing becomes bigger and the lie grows and grows and before you know it, it's out of hand.  The only way out is to seek God.  David finally saw that, thanks to Nathan.  Things may get better for a time, but there is always the thought of that thing that you did, that you knew was wrong, hanging over you.  You can let it fester or you can release it, confess it.  Sometimes you can confess to God and then things are all over, but sometimes, when you have wronged another, you have to step out and seek their forgiveness too.  It's incredibly humbling and shameful, but the freedom that you experience afterward... that my friends, is worth it.

David finally sought God and forgiveness and God did just that.  He even gave him another son, a son who would become king, a son who would build the dwelling place of God in Israel.  God is faithful and willing to forgive if we seek him with our whole hearts.

Day 22: 1st Samuel and into 2nd, David is King At Last

These are some interesting historical passages, to say the least, it's not easy becoming king.  So let's touch on a couple of things...

There seem to be two accounts of the death of Saul, at least that's what's been said.  I like to think of it as two sides of the same story.  Whose to say that the Amalekites account isn't true?  Perhaps it just adds further insight into how Saul died.  But, you say, at the end of 1 Samuel it says that the armor bearer saw that Saul was dead and ran himself through.  Well, whose to say that he thought Saul was dead, but alas, Saul really wasn't.  Maybe Saul was just having a really hard time dying.  So then the Amalekite comes along and puts Saul out of his misery.  Makes sense to me, everyone else would have been dead.  But, you say, isn't David overly harsh by killing the Amelikite.  It's been pretty clear that David would not kill Saul when given the chance because Saul was God's anointed.  It seems death is the clear punishment for killing God's anointed, even Saul's own armor bearer wouldn't do it because of that very fact.  If that explanation doesn't work for you, that's okay too.  You can work it out with God, he's pretty cool with that.

I love how throughout these passages we see David inquiring after the LORD as to what he should do.  That is again one of the reasons why God chose David, because he sought to do God's will.  Pretty cool.  It's pretty cool too that God had immediate responses for David.  Perhaps because David had some pretty important things to do for God and His people.  I just wish God would answer my requests as quickly.  Well, maybe he does sometimes, or a lot, but I just don't like the answer.  Maybe too, sometimes, I ask the wrong questions.

The Ark and David dancing: so you also may be wondering why God was so harsh in killing Uzzah for touching the Ark.  David was pretty upset too.  I think for me, I've gotten over it a bit, I used to be really angry.  "God why would you punish this man for trying to make sure your Ark wouldn't fall on the ground!  You are just mean!"  It's okay.  God can handle it.  Now I'm okay with it.  God is God and he gave the Israelites specific instructions on where his Ark was to be kept and how it was to be transported.  We've already seen through earlier chapters and books how the Ark was mistreated and how God punished those who came into contact with this holy, consecrated thing that represented his dwelling with his people.  Indeed God himself dwelt between the cherubim on the Ark.  Pretty scary and pretty amazing!  So, God's a little miffed I think because once again, the Israelites fail to follow his directions, His Will.  So yeah, I think if they were a little bit more careful in seeking to follow God's guidelines, it might have gone better for them.

David danced his heart out, unashamed, unabashed.  It was a celebration, long in coming.  His wife was displeased because she was concerned with the wrong things - outward appearances.  David was excited to praise God with every fiber of his being.  "I will be even more undignified than this and I will be humiliated in my own eyes" (2 Sam 6:22).  Why?  Because it's not about me, or my reputation, it's about God and showing Him honor and bringing Him glory, even if it costs me.  You cannot question David's heart in passages like this.  No wonder in chapter 7 God establishes David's kingdom forever.  This is the line that Jesus will be a part of and bring about that eternal kingdom.  God's pretty cool.  This is not to say that David had it all together.  I mean he kept taking all these wives, pretty sure God already spoke of the perils of doing that.  David will experience that soon.

In the meantime, God, may I be willing to be undignified for you sake.  If I be called a fool in the eyes of the world, so be it as long as I am serving you and doing your will.  Amen.

Day 21: 1 Samuel 16-28, The End of Saul, The Beginning of David

Okay, I know I've said it a lot, but I really think this is my first time really reading the Bible.  I mean I'm reading it without another agenda.  I'm reading it to read it, to see what God has to say.  I'm not reading it for academia or to dissect or even to get out of it what it has for me and my life.  Again, I'm not saying there is anything terribly wrong with those approaches, but there is smackings of selfishness to them and that is what we need to be wary of as we read God's word.  It's like I'm reading anew with open eyes and God being God, He does not disappoint.

So if there were any doubts as to God looking at the heart of a person, just read 1 Samuel 16:7.   ⁷ But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

God chooses David and David in turn chooses God, he seeks him again and again.  The Spirit leaves Saul and he is plagued by an evil spirit from God.  I don't think this says that God is evil, but it does speak to the fact that God is in control of all things, just as God hardened Pharaoh's heart.  Both Pharaoh and Saul also made choices, they chose to harden their own hearts.  Saul chose to disobey God and seek the affirmation of men instead.  That is the difference between Saul and David.

Every time Saul is confronted with the truth of who God is, he recognizes it.  David has opportunity to kill Saul twice, but he knows that is not truly what God wants.  He confronts Saul with this and each time Saul sees the truth and asks forgiveness, and yet, Saul goes back to his wicked ways.  If Saul wanted to truly repent, I think he would have, but the mere fact that he recognizes God is not enough, it must be total transformation.  It is interesting that David is presented with opportunity twice to kill Saul and does not and Saul is presented with the same opportunity and chooses to always seek to kill David.  Interesting...

God gives us many gifts and one of those is deep friendship and community.  David and Jonathan, men who I believe both sought after God's heart.  Jonathan could see the wickedness of his father, but he honored his father, which I think is perhaps what God wanted him to do.  Still he was also faithful to his friend, David and they made a covenant with one another.  This was not a homosexual relationship, but deep and true friendship, which can only be found as a gift of God and blessed by him.  Think about that and disagree with me if you'd like, but I believe it is true, I have experienced it myself.  I've also dishonored those relationships at times by sin and have thus destroyed those relationships.  When they are honored, though, they are a true gift of God.

Lastly, we live in a spiritual world, good and evil are present.  The dead are also still present, just not living with us now.  We need to be aware of those things.  I am not saying this to have people seek out mediums or to have people trying to talk to the dead like the Ghost Whisperer.  Indeed what I am saying is the exact opposite, but we must recognize that there is more to this life than simply what we can see and touch.  God is spirit and that is a completely different realm.  Don't seek out the dead, honor them, remember them, learn from their life that they lived with us.  Seek out the LORD and seek to do his will.

Day 20: 1 Samuel 3-15

I was struck in these passages by the presence of God, the physical, tangible presence of God.  In my community of faith, we've been looking at this idea of how does God communicate with us off and on for quite some time now.

Imagine yourself in the shoes of Samuel, a young child and hearing a voice calling you in the middle of the night.  I think I would be petrified or respond as Samuel did and run to the nearest adult who must be calling me.  Once Eli the priest gets what is going on, he tells Samuel what to do.  At that point I would be terrified.  Who is calling to me?  You mean, God?  I would be frozen in my bed and to add to my fears, the passage says that the LORD came and stood there.  It is no small thing to be in the presence of the Almighty God.  I don't think, I just don't know, would I respond as Samuel did.  I might.  I think I would also respond trembling and afraid.  Come to think of it, that is still my response, trembling and afraid.  God surely you can't mean me.  You're not talking to me.

Let's move on to the second point for a moment.  So the people in their rashness, essentially play with the Ark of the Covenant.  They think that just because they pull it out, God will be with them.  There is no doubt that the Ark represents God's presence and that His presence does dwell in the Ark.  If it were not so, why would the Philistines have suffered so much after they took the Ark and why would the Israelites die after they try to look inside.  Again, this all goes back to the attitude of the heart.  God deals with the Philistines and Israelites according to what they should know.  The Philistines through their encounter with the Ark and knowledge of history acknowledge that this god is powerful, but they don't know him.  The Israelites, they should know better.  They should have sought God before going into battle, perhaps then they wouldn't have lost or even brought out the Ark.  Secondly, you don't play with God.  God was harsh, but I think that is a good reminder for me today.  You don't play around with God because God is the God of the universe.  He is also the God that lives in me.  Awesome and amazing things!

This leads me to my final point, Saul.  The Israelites desperately want a king and so God gives them a king, he warns them, but nonetheless, the cry of their heart is not after the LORD their God, but wanting to be like everyone else around them (sounds familiar).  "Give us a king!"  Samuel anoints Saul as king and as he is chosen, his response is much like those we've heard before, particularly like Gideon in this case - I'm in the least clan in my tribe and my tribe is the least in Israel. This smacks of true humility and in the beginning, I think Saul was truly humble, but then something changed.

Saul clearly received the Spirit of God and he felt that power, and perhaps that power went to his head.  Perhaps Saul thought it had more to do with him then it had to do with the LORD and accomplishing His purposes.  Samuel gives the heart of the message in his "farewell" address to the Israelites, follow the LORD with your whole heart (Ch 12).  It's not just in Deuteronomy 6:4 or Matthew 28, or Mark or Luke.  It's littered throughout the Old Testament, especially as much as I've read so far.  I have no idea how I missed this before.  Of course Jesus would say this is the greatest commandment, it is so obvious.  It's because of this that Saul loses his kingship.  He falls prey to pleasing man, rather than God.  That is at the core.  Saul sacrifices without waiting for Samuel as he's been told (Ch 13) and then he almost kills Jonathan because he makes the man swear a stupid oath, but it's the others who intercede for Saul's son, when it should have been him (Ch 14), and lastly, he does not destroy everything of the Amalekites as he is told and instead claims to have kept the herds to offer as a sacrifice to God (Ch 15).  That is clearly not what God said to do and not what God wanted, but Saul wanted to look good for his peeps.  Samuel's response simply solidifies the fact that it comes down to the attitude of your heart:

²² But Samuel replied:
       "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
       as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
       To obey is better than sacrifice,
       and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

 ²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
       and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
       Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
       he has rejected you as king."

LORD, I've been convicted.  May I treat you as the God of the universe and God of my heart because you are present and you are real and you are here.  May I not be trite in my dealings with you and may I give you honor as you truly deserve.  May I also not be terrified into silence or lack of action, but may my fear be a fear that honors you.  LORD, be the King of my life.  May I be wholly yours.  It's a scary thought, but I'll be safer with you than with my own wishings.

Day 19: Judges Pt. 2, Ruth and a little Samuel

This was heartbreaking to read, but then there were glimmers of hope.  Essentially the second half of Judges is a deterioration of the people of Israel.  I think I can empathize a bit with God here because I had such hopes for the people reading about Gideon and Deborah and Ehud.  I forgot that those are the bright spots.  Then comes Samson.  Samson is a character I've never much like nor respected.  I often ask, why God, why would you use such a man who is clearly only searching after the lusts of his own heart.  Why would you make him leader of your people and bestow on him the gift of your spirit?  I mean, this guy goes after prostitutes, thinks he's got it all and no one can challenge him.  He's cocky and proud and.... not all that different from me, at least in the attitude of our hearts.

Samson thought he had it made, he was chosen by God, a judge, had the power of the Spirit of God, which he mistook for his own and he thought he was rather clever.  Now those are all characteristics I can identify with, completely, and God used Samson to carry out his will.  Now, I'm not justifying Samson, but I think I understand God's perspective, with bleeding heart, He bestows on Samson His Spirit.  In the end, Samson is humbled, by Delilah and the Philistines.  Even then he doesn't fully come to realize that all of this was really about God and not about him.  He begs God one last time for his strength, to avenge the Philistines taking his eyes.  God grants it so that Samson might destroy more Philistines in his death than he ever did in his life.  It's disappointing and humbling at the same time.  God may I truly realize your gifts in my life and seek to follow you with my whole heart and not abuse you and the power of your Spirit.  May my body truly be a worthy dwelling place for your presence within me.

The rest of Judges is heart wrenching as you see just how far the Israelites have fallen.  The last story has to do with the rebellion of the Benjamites (ch. 19-21) and it is a story that is very reminiscent of the tale of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot.  The end is different.  The Benjamites are not wiped off the face of the earth, but instead are put to the sword by their fellow Israelite brothers.  The passages say again and again how the Israelites wept and wailed for their fallen brothers.  I felt like weeping too.  How could you betray the LORD your God so easily and quickly.  Do you not know what he has done for you?  And then I catch myself because it's so easy for me to forget.  It is a good eye opener to say the least and it makes me realize how awful I am to the God who has done such great things.  I seek God only when it's convenient for me.  I lose faith when the slightest thing goes wrong.  I question and I struggle and I stumble and still God is there.  In the end He still shows mercy despite my down falls.  Praise be to you, O God!

Then the stories move upward in hope and healing a bit.  Ruth, which again just shows how God's mercy extends to all people who seek to follow Him with their whole heart.  Now reading as I have been I noticed a few things in Ruth that I might have otherwise overlooked.  Naomi changes her name to Mara, which is a place name for the Israelites when they complained against God because the water was bitter (check out Exodus).  Secondly, the whole kinsman redeemer thing makes so much more sense.  I think Ruth sleeping at Boaz's feet may have to do with the whole sandal thing in marrying a widow of a family member, maybe not, but I like my dreams. :)  However, this whole kinsman redeemer thing is about this law from Deuteronomy 25 dealing with the widow and Lev 25, the act of redeeming another, particularly in your family who has become poor.

It is such a lovely interchange between Boaz and Ruth and the way things work out.  Boaz praises Ruth for not going after younger, more attractive men, which she could have, but instead she honors Naomi and him.  Then he does the right thing, he asks the relative who is closer to Naomi than he if he wishes to redeem Naomi's husband's land and take on Naomi and Ruth.  He'll take the land, but not the women, which Boaz is more than happy to honor both.  I think he's a good guy and Ruth is a humble and wonderful woman, both good examples, I think.  So in the end, it all works out and Ruth gives birth to Obed, who is the father of Jesse, who is the father of David.  God's pretty cool.  :)

Then we end with Samuel.  It is a rather bittersweet story.  What's up with all these barren women?  And polygamist husbands who have one fertile and one non-fertile wife and of course they love the non-fertile one more... I digress.  So Hannah, the wife of Elkanah (who doesn't understand why Hannah needs a child, isn't he enough for her?  Silly man.), pleads with God to let her have a child and she will dedicate him to the LORD.  She does on both accounts.  Again, God honors those who seek him with their whole heart.  Blessed be Hannah and blessed be the LORD who hears our hearts and our troubles and does not abandon us.

She has a son, Samuel, who will be the last judge of Israel.  Samuel, who makes a much better example and loves to serve the LORD as opposed to the priest's corrupt sons.  Samuel, who will usher in the kings of Israel.  And that my friends means there is more to come...

Almost all caught up.  I think perhaps, two posts tomorrow, God willing, and we'll be all squared away.  :)

Day 18: Judges Part I (1-15)

Deborah Under the Palm Tree, Adriene Cruz 

So I was going to do Judges all in one, but you know what?  There's too much good stuff.  So without further ado, here we go.  The beginning of Judges is interesting (I'm feeling a bit fiesty today, so bear with me) it's a little bit of a recap, in the giving of Caleb's daughter to Othniel (who later becomes a judge), fascinating.  Overall, the beginning depicts the big FAIL of the Israelites.  We go through clan by clan and see exactly how they didn't drive out the peoples of the land, whether it was because of chariots, or the people were just really determined to live there, whatever.  So in chapter 2, God calls them out on it, "Uh, I'm pretty sure I told you to drive out all the people of the land, not just the easy ones.  What's wrong with you?  You disobeyed me again and so, you know what?  These people are gonna cause all kinds of mess for you, and you know what else?  That's your deal."  Okay I'm wildly paraphrasing, but the truth is God questions the Israelites disobedience and essentially says, okay you made your bed, now lie in it.

The people weep.  I think I would too if I knew that what I'd done had displeased God so much.  Man I suck!

Thence, the pattern is born.  Israel falls prey to the Baals (pronounced, Bah-ahl) and Ashtoreths.  If you wanna hear a good sermon about these check out the Crash podcast here (High Places Week 3).  Essentially, the people of Israel do evil (worship other gods and prostitute themselves) in the eyes of the LORD, He turns them over to whomever would like to enslave them at that time, the people cry out to God, and Him being the merciful God that He is, sends a Judge anointed with his Spirit to save them.  Then it starts all over again.

Enter the Judges.  They all have their own, not always different, but their own enemies of the Israelites/oppressors to fight.  Othniel, Caleb's son in law/nephew (perhaps the reason for the recap), defeats the king of Aram.  Then comes Ehud.  Now some of the, let's call them, key judges get more press time.  Essentially their stories are longer.  Some judges, all we get is their name and who they defeated, like Shamgar, who came after Ehud.  He gets two sentences.  Now Ehud, he's pretty fun.  I like him, A LOT!  Give a shout out to all my left handed friends, because Ehud is left-handed.  And Ehud frees the Israelites from the very FAT king, Eglon of Moab.  I'm not elaborating here, all of this is in the Bible, which is not a PG rated book.  Ehud, sneakily meets with King Eglon, in his potty room (seriously, check it out), and pierces him through the belly with his sword.  The blade and the hilt went into the King and his fat closed over it.  Ah word pictures are great.  :)

So after Shamgar (previously mentioned), comes another favorite of mine, Deborah.  Crash actually covered a lot of the judges I'm mentioning here, so it wouldn't hurt to listen to those podcasts, check out the Character Gap and Elephants Among Us).  All I'm gonna say is Deborah was legit and she was chosen by God to be both the political and spiritual leader of Israel (check out 4:4).  She was leading Israel, was a prophetess and was married.  She's a pretty busy lady.  She gets to deal with King Jabin of Canaan and through her leadership and trust in the LORD, she helps to bring about freedom and redemption for the Israelites.  Also this really cool girl, Jael drives a tent peg into the Army Commander's temple (4:9-24).  Gotta love it!  God has such a wonderful sense of humor and a wonderful way of picking the people you would be least likely to think would be good leaders...

This of course brings us to Gideon.  I love Gideon too.  First of all, he's hiding.  He's threshing wheat in a winepress to hide from the Midianites who are taking everything from the Israelites.  Secondly, the Angel of the LORD calls him, 'Mighty Warrior."  I think that's rather ironic.  He's hiding and I'm pretty sure Gideon's response was to look around and say, "Where?  Who?  Me?"  Then again, Gideon's response is rather typical (remember Moses), "I can't.  I'm too weak.  I'm the wrong guy."  God's response is ever the same, "You'll be okay because you've got me.  Duh!"  Trust is an issue though, we (humans) don't like to give up our control.  So Gideon builds the LORD an altar, as the LORD says, the Spirit comes upon him and he summons the people.  Then Gideon, just to make doubly and triplely sure the LORD's got his back, he puts out the fleece, not once but twice!  Oh Gideon (shakes head).  That is so much like me though.  God you told me to do this and I know you did and I see evidence of you at work, but could you just do this one more thing to show me that this is you?  So he does.  Could you just....  God is ever patient and ever faithful.  He led Gideon and the Israelites to victory 300 against thousands.  How much more faithful will he be to me with my piddly dilemmas?  Ever so much more.

If you're ever wondering if God keeps his word, if you ever wonder if God can use you to accomplish his will, if you're ever unsure that God is good and merciful, read some of Judges.  I think it will help.  Sure God gets angry, but again, back to matters of the heart, when his people repent and cry out to him, he always brings them back.  He brings them back in the time of Judges, he brings them back later from exile, he brings them back after they've denied him 3 times, he brings them back after they've faltered in their faith, he brings them back when the shout to the sky and question if he really, truly exists (that one was me).  He is a wonderful, loving, merciful God, who is ever faithful and ever patient for those who love Him.  Thank you LORD!

Days 16-17: Joshua

Be strong and of good courage.  Be strong and courageous.  Be strong and very courageous.  Do not be afraid.  Do not be discouraged.  Those are good words to remember.  Words littered throughout this powerful book of the Old Testament.  Joshua's testimony, the people of Israel's testimony of how they entered the Promised Land.  It's not all glitz and glamour.  There are stops and starts, little rebellions and blatant sins, just like before under Moses.  Then, just like before, God assures and reassures his people.  I am with you.  Trust in me.  Trust in my goodness for you.  Do as I have commanded you.  Follow me with your whole heart for I long to bless you.  That's what I see here in Joshua.

There are lots of stories of faith and taking risks, from the the felling of the walls of Jericho, to Rahab's bravery, to the sun standing still, to the battle of Ai, and the list goes on.  I love the picture of the Israelites standing on opposite hillsides, Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, shouting at one another blessings and curses.  God is awesome.

One thing that always bothers me though is the story of the treaty of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9).  It's one of those stories where you read it and the whole time your cringing and hoping, please oh please choose the right thing this time.  It's like when Luke, in Empire Strikes Back is on Dagobah and he is trying to lift the Xwing out of the swamp.  Every time I root for him, as he non-chalantly says, "All right, I'll give it a try."  Ah Master Yoda, "No!  Do, or do not.  There is no try."  But he fails, every time.  So do the Israelites get duped every time by the Gibeonites.  I'm sure Joshua was thinking to himself as they played out their ruse, "I've got a bad feeling about this..."  But he signs a treaty with them regardless.  They, like Luke, fail to seek their Greater Source.  Now I'm going to stop with the Star Wars analogies soon.  That's the point though, Luke failed because he failed to trust the force.  The Israelites enter into a harmful treaty because they fail to seek the LORD their God.

That's a good lesson.  It's a hard one to learn.  Seek God, follow his commands, trust him wholeheartedly.  It means an awful lot of surrender, but it's worth the risk.  Seeking God first, He is the only way that I can be strong and courageous.  I have to put my trust in him.  He is faithful, ever more than me.  That's a good thing.

Do not be afraid.  Do not be discouraged.  Be strong and courageous.  The LORD you God will be with you wherever you go.  An excellent promise that is still good today.

Days 13-15: Deuteronomy and Sharing our Stories

So I'm back and it was a lovely, fun-filled weekend.  In the meantime and even as I was waiting for the fireworks, I was pouring over and in Deuteronomy.  With a cursory glance, one could simply say, this is just a rehashing of Exodus-Leviticus.  That would be trite and incomplete.

Deuteronomy is a retelling, but it's a retelling with a purpose.  It's a retelling so that the Israelites learn for the first time, some of them, and remember what they've been taught.  Remember that the LORD your God brought you up out of Egypt.  Remember that He gave you His law.  Remember that He chose you out of all the other nations and that He set you apart.  Remember that He loves you.  Remember.

Deuteronomy is also a warning.  I see the refrains throughout and it seems that God is almost pleading with them, "You are a stiffnecked people, BUT if you only seek after me with all your heart and all your soul and remember and follow my commands, I WILL BE WITH YOU."  That was the desire of God's heart.  He knew they would forsake Him and prostitute themselves to the other nations and the gods they did not know.  It's heartbreaking.

I go through that with my kids all the time.  This is what I desire for you to seek and follow.  I really want you to follow through with school.  Enroll in college and attend your classes and if you struggle, get help!  They don't, some of them try, but for most of them, it's a lost cause.  So I get that.  I understand a little of what God is probably feeling.

I think Deuteronomy is really the heart of the Pentateuch (first 5 books of the Bible).  Just this simple sharing of stories, it reminds me of how we are so good and not so good at this.  I've gone on many mission trips in my life, but they mean nothing if I don't share those stories.  I've made many mistakes, but it means nothing if I don't share those stories.  I have many friends, but that friendship means nothing if I don't listen and learn from their stories.  I have the Bible, but it means nothing if I don't listen and learn from it's stories.  I have God's heart pouring out before me and I've neglected it for so long.  For that I am truly sorry, forgive me.

As I was reading these passages I was struck by this, how important for us to share our stories and histories, so that we remember.  So often we relegate it to some ancient or tribal cultures.  We think of those nights around the campfire, where the wise ones share their stories.  Well, that's nice, but really, we all need to be doing this so that we remember.  And we don't need to do it in front of a fire or at some secret camp meeting.  It can happen at the lunch table or coffee shop or your friend's couch.  God is a good and AMAZING God, let us not forget all that he has done.  We would not be a nation without our story, part of which many of us experienced in different, but perhaps similar ways this holiday season.  We would not be a nation without the sacrifice of so many who have come before us.  We would not be a nation without Christianity (I'm not saying we're a Christian nation, but our faith has ties to the growth of this country).

I mean, how often do I remember that the God I serve is the God who wrought havoc on the Egyptians, to set his people free and show his might.  I'm very conscious of that recently reading these passages, but on a normal day, don't really think about it too much.  Still it's the same God and he's just as AWESOME.  We have a great history and a great cloud of witnesses who speak to that.  Let us not forget the stories of our faith and the stories of our lives.  My prayer is that we may be strengthened by them, girded up in our faith by them and sent out to share and write more stories.

Little Hiatus

Just wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten the reading, haven't kept up on it all, but I'm taking a break for a little 4th of July funness.  It's wonderful being with people you love.  :)  I will update soon.

Day 12: More Numbers 21-32

So again I don't have too terribly much to say, but these are the passages about donkey.  Okay so maybe not this lovable face that we've come to know and love for the last few years, but the first ever real, live, TALKING DONKEY!!!!

Kinda catchy.  Balaam and Balaak.  I've heard the story before, read it before too, but I realized I don't know who this Balaam fellow is.  So I dug a little deeper.  I didn't totally break my rule.  Most of my theological books are packed and I did not use the luxury of the internet.  I used my study Bible, NIV, NRSV.  So, Balaam was a diviner, which I guess was not uncommon.  It reminds me of the movie Stardust, which I love, but many I know do not, and they naturally called on a diviner to cast lots and tell them where to go (in the movie, so I think this relying on the "spirits" for direction can apply here). 

Why?  Well, people were comfortable with the spiritual and not Tom Cruise spiritual or anything like that, but real spirits, real beings that were not human.  People today still call on witch doctors and things like that.  Most of us Americans just choose to believe in good old science and common sense.  Still there is a spiritual realm and the Israelites and people of that day utilized it.  So Balaam communicates with the LORD, not because he was a follower of the LORD, he doesn't really seem to be, but because he spoke to spirits, usually for his profit.  This time was different.

I can imagine Balaam's surprise when the donkey started speaking to him, but then he just calmly responds.  Imagine that!  So God's pretty cool.  I just love Balaak's frustration, "I brought you here to curse the Israelites and you just keep blessing them!  Ah-ha, let me try this angle..."  Nope.  God has a sense of humor for sure.

And of course, Joshua is chosen as the next leader, Numbers 27.  Felt that was worth mentioning.  The Spirit was in Him.  Interesting reference there I thought.  We'll see more from Joshua soon.

Well I'm tired, so it's off to bed.  Exciting reading tomorrow, visit my kids, laundry, packing, fun filled day!