Day 23 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day twenty-three of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible. If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 23 Readings: 2 Samuel 12:11-22-19

David and his family (as well as the families of many others) suffer as a result of his choices and his desires.

Uriah is killed and Bathsheba is widowed as David longs for his faithful soldier's wife. The child conceived in the illicit affair dies and brings deep grief to the parents. Amnon, perhaps learning from his father, forces himself on Tamar the sister of his brother Absalom. He violates her then despises her then casts her out. Absalom's men strike down Amnon. Absalom challenges David for the throne and by the time it is all over Absalom is hanging from a tree and run through with spears. David has lost 3 children thus far. When the Gibeonites are avenged for their treatment at the hands of Saul and his men 7 of Saul's male descendants are slaughtered and left exposed. Lust begets lust. Violence begets violence. Blood begets blood. Grief begets grief.

David, personally, remains mostly unscathed throughout this ordeal. Sometimes it is more painful to watch our loved ones experience the consequences of our failures than to suffer those consequences ourselves.Destroyed relationships, maimed victimes and broken communities can be the cost of our choices and desires unchecked.

In the midst of all this God is still at work. Solomon has been born (the one who will build God's Temple). God has not left the people but neither has God sheltered the people entirely from the consequences of their sin.


God, teach us, direct us and help us not to sin--not only for our own sakes but for those who might otherwise suffer because of us. We thank you for Jesus who suffered because of us. He came to restore relationship, heal victims and cultivate community. Help us receive those gifts that came at so high a cost. Grace is costly. Amen.

Day 22 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day twenty-two of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible.

If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 22 Readings: 1 Samuel 28:20-2 Samuel 12:10

David has patiently and faithfully waited for Saul to meet his end. David has passed on several opportunities to dispatch Saul but has instead chosen to honor the Lord’s anointed and forgo taking things into his own hands.

God has richly blessed David giving him victory, expanded territory and deep and lasting promises to his family (which came to pass in Jesus).

Yet David wasn’t satisfied (rich as he was) with all God had given him. David chose to exploit a poor neighbor by having him killed and taking his prized lamb. This comes to light as Nathan confronts David over his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and his unjust killing of Uriah.

David’s high morals and restraint have definitely gone off-line for this event.

Nathan confronts David with “You are the man!” Such a far cry from Pilate declaring “Ecce Homo!” (Latin for “Behold the man!”) when presenting Christ before crucifixion. David fell hard. But Psalm 51 has a repentant David crying out to God. Jesus fell hard too—not morally but for our sake. He was struck down. Because of Jesus we have hope when we flame out gloriously as well.

God has made good promises to us, as to David, in Christ. Whether we abide in God every day or fall God’s promises hold true. There is always hope in Christ. This is the good news.


Protect us from ourselves and our selfish and sinful dalliances. No matter where we find ourselves help us to know we are never too far from Jesus. Amen.

Day 21 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day twenty-one of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible.

If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 21 Readings: 1 Samuel 16:1-28:19

Our readings for today give us the information needed for answering the essay topic "Compare and contrast Saul and David." The difference is in their hearts.

We get strong suggestions as to where to look early in the reading: "Do not consider his appearance or 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." (16:7, NIV)

We are animal in nature. We make quick (and sometimes survival-necessary) judgments with our eyes. We look at what is before and make fast judgments (sometimes unduly hasty). This is complicated by the fact that media and persistent sin have so distorted what is good, right, desirable and healthy. We would do well to learn to not trust our own insights without seeking the counsel of those who are wiser and more perceptive.

Prayer is the ultimate form of seeking counsel from one so much more wiser and perceptive than we could ever hope to be. Our readings our full of examples of people seeking advice and counsel--from seeking God and God's spokespeople to asking friends and family to even the not-so-advisable seeking advice from a dead prophet which violates even your own royal edict.

God knows us. God knows our hearts. God knows others. God knows their hearts too. God came into the world to save all who would be saved since God knows our hearts all too well. God's heart is love. Jesus showed us God's heart. God looked at Jesus' heart and said "Behold, my beloved, with him I am well pleased. Listen to him."


Change our hearts, O God. Make them ever new. Change our hearts, O God. May we be like you. Amen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUjUvoynGMM

Day 20 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day twenty of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible.

If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 20 Readings: 1 Samuel 2:30-15:35

Trivia bit: In 1 Samuel 3:20 is the formulation “from Dan to Beersheba”. (see www.biblicalzionist.com/DanBeersheba.htm) This is one of those phrase like “from A to Z” or “from Alpha to Omega” or “from stem to stern” or “from soup to nuts” or “from soda to hock”. It refers to an entire expanse of something. All of Israel (from Dan to Beersheba) realized the hand of the Lord on Samuel as prophet.

What we have in today’s reading is the rise and the beginning of the fall of Saul the first king of Israel. God wanted to be as king to the people but they insisted on having a king just like the countries around them. Shunning God’s counsel and going their own way pierced them with many wounds. Beyond the initial rejection of God’s counsel the Israelites had several notable moments of not following the entire expanse of God’s instructions. Rather than be wholly obedient to God they chose to go from Dan to Jerusalem. How like the Israelites are we? We want to follow to a point. We will abide God’s counsel until we won’t. We would rather look a little more like the world and little less like God’s holy and chosen people.

Sometimes it is not so clear what God might have us do and perhaps that is why we drag our feet and misstep. Other times, however, we know fully well what God is calling us to do but our stubborn and rebellious hearts choose differently. As the great preacher Peter Marshall once said “Most of us know perfectly well what we ought to do; our trouble is that we do not want to do it.”


God, continue to show us your will. Give us ears to listen to, hearts to abide in and spines to take a stand for your callings. Help us allow you to have the entire expanse of our lives. Amen.

Day 19 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day nineteen of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible. We have finished Judges and Ruth (8 down, 58 to go).

If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 19 Readings: Judges 15:13-1 Samuel 2:29

Today’s texts are some of those that we find hard to wrap our heads around:

• What was Samson thinking telling Delilah where the power of his strength was to be found after 3 failed attempts to subdue him?!? He might be strong but not so sharp.
• 300 foxes tied tail-to-tail to torch the crops?!? 1,000 taken out with a single donkey jawbone?!?
• Offering your daughter and a concubine to a rape-thirsty crowd to protect a sojourner?!? Actually throwing out the concubine to the crowd?!?
• Sending 12 pieces of the savaged concubine to the 12 tribes of Israel?!?

These accounts seem fantastic in scope and loathsome and lurid. Why would God intervene on Isaac’s behalf and spare him but not assist the concubine? There was a similar story set in Sodom and Gomorrah where Lot was going to throw his daughters out to a rape-thirsty crowd and God intervened. Where is God here?

Some of these stories are hard to engage. It is no wonder that they are left on the cutting room floor when the lectionary (our regular reading cycle of lessons) is being laid out. 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all scripture is God-breathed useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking and training. These are some of the scriptures that are harder to find that truth to be so.

In the midst of all these hard stories there is a deep and heartwarming story. The story of Ruth—Jesus’ ancestor. Ruth shows persistence, loyalty and faithfulness. She chooses the better way rather than the easy way. Because of how she carried herself Naomi found comfort and the incarnate Jesus came into being. May we all find ways to comfort those around us (victims of horrific atrocities and those just needing some love) and allow Jesus to come more fully into being through our words and actions.


God, some of your scripture is hard. Some of it is downright incredible. Yet, ever so clear, is the call for us to love you with all our hearts, souls, strengths and minds and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We know the kinds of answer you give when we ask "Who is our neighbor?" Give us courage and grace to love them this day. Amen.

Day 18 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day eighteen of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible.

If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 18 Readings: Judges 3:23-15:12

Our Judges text begins and ends with a very similar story. In Judges 6 it happens with Gideon. In Judges it happens with Monoah and his wife, Samson's parents. An angel shows up. A young goat with grain is offered. The goat and the grain are consumed by fire coming out of a rock. The witnesses realize they are in the presence of an angel of the Lord. They are terrified but then assured. Promises of God's plans are spoken.

Wouldn't it be nice if God came to us so clearly and so concisely when our lives are at turning points and junctions. With clear words and convincing proofs we could know just where God wants us to go and just what God wants us to do.

But God doesn't seem to come to people like that much anymore.

God came clearly in Jesus and taught us much and gave to us the Holy Spirit but at times we must act and respond in faith. Sometimes we wander far and pierce ourselves with griefs (and God too, I'm sure). But even in our furthest wanderings God cares for us and will receive us back. This is one of the most clearest themes of Judges and really of much of the Bible.

God help us trust not in miraculous signs and visons but rather in your sure and unfailing love which has been best expressed in Jesus. Amen.

Day 17 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day seventeen of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible. We complete Joshua (6 down, 60 to go) and begin Judges.

If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

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Day 17 Readings: Joshua 15:1-Judges 3:27

It seems that the point of today's reading (and, in fact, much of scripture) is that God will deliver on the promises God has made. The people who survived the trip and the various rebellions are now being brought into the Promised Land and given tribal regions. God has done what God had said. By the time we are done with Joshua the peoples are more or less settled into the lands--as promised.

The other point and part of the relationship is that people, with best intentions or not so much so, do not keep up their end of the covenant. There is instruction to wipe out pre-existing people groups which happens to varying degrees. There is instruction to abide by God's laws and requirements which happens to varying degrees. There is instruction to live as holy and set apart people, as God's people, which happens to varying degrees.

Perhaps this mirrors our own lives. God makes promises. God has delivered on those promises through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. God has done what God has said (although often not in the way that we heard nor expected). We are more or less settled into the places God has promised for us.

How are we doing with our end of the covenant? Are we loving God with all our hearts, souls, strengths and minds? Are we loving our ourselves? Are we loving our neighbors as ourselves?

As we read about how our spiritual ancestors struggled to live into the promises of God perhaps we can look at them through a sympathetic lens and at ourselves through an honest mirror. We aren't so very different.


God, help us know the goodness and truth of promises from you delivered through Jesus. Change our hearts, souls, minds and strengths that we might abide more faithfully in your covenant. Amen.