I love this poem for its beautiful natural metaphors of heaven, and for the closing question of how human beings will be fit for such perfection. Continue reading “575 (Emily Dickinson)”
Month: March 2016
Joshua 12-14
Good morning! Today’s passage (Joshua 12-14) gives us a break from heavy battle or in-depth narratives, favoring instead lists of battle victories and the division of conquered territories to the east and west of the Jordan River. Chapter 12 opens with a litany of kings who were conquered by Moses, then a list of those conquered by Joshua. What’s striking here (so to speak) is that Joshua’s list is much longer than that of Moses. This is unusual since Moses is such a vaunted leader, but perhaps (if we take this at face value) the small cities in Canaan weren’t very difficult to defeat, especially not with Joshua’s experienced fighting force.
Keep Awake!
Community United Church of Christ (Saint Paul Park, Minnesota)
Scripture: Mark 13:1-8, 24-37
My oldest brother Eb and his wife Wilma recently announced that they were expecting their first child. Earlier this week I got a text from my brother. He wrote: “It is a boy.” This learning—the sex of their unborn child—is disclosed to Eb and Wilma and so many other couples with the help of modern medicine. A baby’s overall health, susceptibility to diseases, and even genetic makeup can also be determined through advanced prenatal tests. Yet there’s still at least one thing that remains a mystery of every birth—the date and time of delivery. For pregnant women, the fact of giving birth is all but certain—it will happen, barring some terrible and rare circumstance. But when will it happen?—that’s the question every expectant mother wants to know, even those who have an appointment for a C-section. Giving birth—like puberty, menopause, and death—has the quality of being both inevitable for human beings, yet impossible to pinpoint at an exact date and time. It’s no wonder that Jesus used “birthpangs” as a metaphor for the Apocalypse. The End of Days is another experience that is certain, yet its timing is quite unknown.
Jesus is in the last days of his life, and today’s text has him talking about the last days of the whole world. He does so using words, phrases and images that go back for hundreds of years. They’ve been used by other Hebrew prophets and seers throughout history, any time the status quo is so bad that deliverance must certainly break in like a supernatural rescue mission. Speaking here, Jesus conveys both a sense of confidence in God’s kingdom coming in an ultimate, final sense “on earth as in heaven”, and a sense of peace amid the uncertainty about its timing. In so doing, Jesus calls us to find a middle path between two human temptations.
The first temptation is to think that we know with certainty when the end of the world, or of any season in our lives, is at hand. Every time we act with supreme confidence of when a future change will take place, we’re bound to get in hot water. I’m certain I’ll be offered that job next week, so I can tell off my current boss today. The stock market is going to tank tomorrow, so let me sell off our assets today. I grew up in an apocalyptic cult whose leader convinced us that the end of the world was always just around the corner. Therefore, no need to plan for pensions, work for better job prospects or worry about who would take care of the elders. Unsurprisingly, the cult leader thought it best to just sell off our possessions now and give the money to him. We did that with farm implements and livestock more times than I can count, whenever he received supernatural assurance that the world was going to end next Tuesday. History is littered with examples where people were so convinced they knew the date and time of the end that they mortgaged their futures or took their own lives. Yet in every single case, those people misread the signs of the times. To that temptation, Jesus says, “About that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” And earlier: “Beware that no one leads you astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be afraid… This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.” In other words, don’t be like expectant parents who rush to the hospital every single time the baby kicks.
The other temptation that Jesus warns against is complacency. This is to think that the current season of my life and of the world is all that there will ever be. I’ll always be stuck in this job that I don’t care for. I can count on this relationship staying just like it is, forever. There’s no hope for our politics—it’s always been this way. History is just an endless Mobius strip, constantly repeating itself. To that temptation, Jesus says, learn the lesson of the fig tree—change is coming soon! As inexorably and as hopefully as spring follows winter. Whatever we’re going through at the current moment, I guarantee it won’t last forever. This is good news for those going through hell, and a caution for those who have it well. When you see the signs of change, Jesus says, pay attention! Keep awake! In other words, don’t be like a pregnant woman who assumes that her melon-like appearance is the new normal and will always be this way, so she doesn’t need to find a crib, gather blankets or make a medical plan.
Between the temptations of apocalyptic hysteria and enervating boredom lies the responsible, active faith to which Jesus calls us. Do diligently the work that’s before us now, not being so heaven-minded that we’re of no earthly good. Live as though each day is our last on earth. Those who have had a brush with death teach us the vitality that comes with treasuring every moment. But also don’t prejudge or court death before its time. Prudent disciples conserve enough stamina, energy, perspective and wisdom to look at the long-term and prepare as best we can to be here for awhile. “Being a faithful Christian does not just ‘happen’ like crabgrass or dandelions popping up in the lawn,” one writer remarks. “It requires the care, attention, and cultivation of an expert gardener.”[1] We neither assume that what is will always be, nor assume that what is will pass away so soon we can have no lasting impact.
Jesus models this for us, in the last days of his life. He can read the signs and interpret what’s to come in Jerusalem—a reckoning of earthly powers against him that will lead to his death. He’s told the disciples about it three times already. However, he does not live in dread of imminent arrest, torture and crucifixion. Rather, he goes on: teaching, healing, leading, and serving. Actively doing what he’s called to do for as long as he’s got. This is what it looks like to live watchfully, keeping awake. Jesus sets the example for each day of life, and for the end of life.
The story is told of “an eclipse in colonial New England during which state legislators panicked and several moved to adjourn. But one of them said, ‘Mr. Speaker, if it is not the end of the world and we adjourn, we shall appear to be fools. If it is the end of the world, I should choose to be found doing my duty. I move you, sir, that candles be brought.’”[2]
That’s what it looks like to keep awake. Though we don’t know the day or the hour we know with certainty that our lives will end and we will meet our Maker. We live with confidence that whenever that time comes, there will be enough grace to cover our faults, and enough love in the divine heart to welcome us all in. Therefore, we don’t need to rush the clock on our lives, nor do we need to linger if the time has come. But until that moment arrives let us live with active faith, so that when the eternal knocks we will not lament what laziness has left undone. Keep awake now, so that we might hear God say then, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into your eternal rest.”
Let us pray: God of heaven and earth, your glory fills creation and awaits each one of us. When we are tempted to cry, “Disaster!” grant us faith to look farther, to anticipate your coming with the hope that overcomes all fear. Grant us courage to tackle that which you have set before us in the meantime. Amen.
[1] Pheme Perkins, “Reflections” on Mark 13:32-37 in the New Interpreter’s Bible commentary series, volume 8 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), 695.
[2] Lamar Williamson, Jr. Mark, in the Interpretation Bible commentary series (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1983), 242.
Joshua 9-11
Good morning! Today’s passage (Joshua 9-11) describes the total military conquest of Canaan by Joshua and the Israelites, but not before a peaceful (though deceptive) overture by one group leads them alone to preserve their life against the Hebrew onslaught. This account recalls the earlier “total war” or “clash of civilizations” between Moses and Pharaoh in Egypt, while also explaining to later Hebrews how there came to be some non-Hebrews still living among them.
Joshua 5-8
Good morning! Today’s reading from Joshua 5-8 holds in tension a desire to be fully faithful in following God’s instructions with the human inclination to serve personal interests instead. We see letter-of-the-law obedience put in jeopardy by one person’s greed, then how extinguishing that one’s rebelliousness (along with his family) restores righteous power to the Hebrew invasion. Try to read these stories for their emphasis on faithful follow-through, though we likely also feel outrage for the slaughter of innocents who are in the wrong company.
Joshua 1-4
Good morning! Today we’ve turned the page from the Torah and are now starting into the second main part of the Hebrew Bible, the Historical Books. Joshua begins a stretch of books that continues (with some qualifications) all the way until the book of Esther. These books describe the progress of Israelite history from the invasion of Canaan, through a period of Judges to the establishment of kings, the golden age of kings David and Solomon, and then civil wars that split the kingdom into northern Israel and southern Judah, both of which eventually succumbed to the conquest of other civilizations. This whole period stretches roughly from 1200-600 BCE (Before the Common Era, synonymous with B.C.). We’ll see a lot of action by “big men of power” in these coming books, so thankfully there are also several “counter narratives” like Ruth and Esther that describe divine salvation through everyday (and female) lives. Remember that all the books in this section—and the whole Bible for that matter—don’t intend to give “just the facts, ma’am”. The history told here comes from the perspective of later Israel, and seeks to identify God’s role in historical elements.
Deuteronomy 32-34
Good morning! Today we finish out Deuteronomy (chapters 32-34) with the same theme that has echoed throughout the book: remember God, remember the covenant. The writer has tried everything from coaxing, cajoling, shaming, threatening and warning to make an impression on the people. Now comes a song, followed by a blessing identified as Moses’ final words, and then the greatest Hebrew prophet-leader will pass away.
Deuteronomy 32 contains the song of Moses that was introduced yesterday, intended as a musical reminder that could correct the Hebrews when they had failed to be faithful to the covenant. This song sounds more like the later psalms than anything that has come previously. The poetry uses a repeated image of God as a “Rock”, who is also a birth-giver and a protecting eagle, among other metaphors. Beautiful imagery of God’s sustenance in the wilderness yields to the news that success has led to idolatry toward other “rocks”, provoking the one “Rock”. (Here’s one place where “grapes of wrath” imagery comes from.) God unleashes retribution against Israel, but not to destroy them utterly. God will deliver, but only after the people learn their lesson that no other deity has the power to save them.
The final blessing that makes up the bulk of chapter 33 is similar to the song in 32. Both bear signs of being originally from a different context, but the narrative of these final chapters tries to hold them in place. Here, Moses’ blessing makes third-person references to Moses, refers to a king (which we haven’t seen yet), and uses the exotic term “Jeshurun” as another moniker for Israel. These are all clues that this text comes from a later time. Moses’ blessing also takes a form like that of Jacob’s blessing on each of his children (and their associated tribe) before he died at the end of Genesis. The order of the tribes is different from that used earlier in the Torah, and with references that again point to a later origin for this text. This is a good example of the biblical custom of attributing special writings to dignitaries rather than listing actual authors. It doesn’t mean the texts are necessarily false or unreliable; but rather that we shouldn’t try to understand them according to 21st century literary customs.
At the beginning of Deuteronomy 34, Moses looks out at geography that is already called by the names of the tribes of Israel, then dies “at the Lord’s command”. The final three verses are an everlasting epitaph to Moses’ unparalleled power and influence on the people of Israel. This chapter finishes the whole book of Deuteronomy, and with it the first five books of the Bible (the Torah prized especially by Jewish people today). Because Joshua was commissioned by Moses, the people of Israel followed him. We’ll pick up the story of his leadership tomorrow, when we turn the page to the next generation and the invasion of Canaan. Happy reading!
Please join discussion of this passage at the Daily Bible Facebook group, or comment below. The passage for tomorrow is Joshua 1-4. Thanks for reading!
Deuteronomy 30-31
Good morning! In today’s two chapters (Deuteronomy 30-31) we read the powerful final exhortation from Moses to choose wisely and follow the covenant law, then the foreboding warning of God to Moses that the Hebrews will forsake the covenant as they enter in the land of Canaan. While human beings are fickle, God is faithful to provide future leaders with rituals that may yet woo God’s people back after times of great trial.
Deuteronomy 27-29
Good morning! Ancient covenantal formulas had a common format where the terms of the covenant were followed by lists of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. We’ve had many chapters now of covenantal instructions, so now in Deuteronomy 27-29 we arrive at a set of blessings and curses.
Deuteronomy 23-26
Good morning! Today in Deuteronomy 23-26 we reach the end of the major sermon attributed to Moses that lies at the heart of Deuteronomy. Amid many dated and time-bound traditions we also find some theological principles that still resonate, especially those concerning the treatment of poor people and of offerings for God.
Pastor Oby Ballinger 