Category: Christian Spirituality Blog

Immortal God and Mortal Humanity (Psalm 90)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
Digital artwork by Bruce Butler

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn us back to dust
    and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”
For a thousand years in your sight
    are like yesterday when it is past
    or like a watch in the night.

You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning;
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.

For we are consumed by your anger;
    by your wrath we are overwhelmed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your countenance.

For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    our years come to an end like a sigh.
The days of our life are seventy years
    or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span is only toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Who considers the power of your anger?
    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
So teach us to count our days
    that we may gain a wise heart.

Turn, O Lord! How long?
    Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us
    and as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest to your servants
    and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us
    and prosper for us the work of our hands—
    O prosper the work of our hands! (New Revised Standard Version)

All of the psalms are prayers. Most of them are prayers of David. Today’s psalm is a prayer of Moses.

Moses acknowledged and affirmed that God is eternal, and we humans are not. We are frail and in need of God. We are dependent upon God for health, hope, and happiness in life.

There are observations to notice in today’s Psalm lesson, that are then followed by prayerful petitions which arise from those observations.

First Observation: God Is Eternal

God is immortal. God has always been, and will always be. Therefore, the Lord’s rule and reign existed way before this world was ever created, and shall extend way beyond the lifespan of creation. God’s dwelling place is without beginning or end – which means that God isn’t going anywhere. That is a great comfort to me.

Second Observation: Humans Are Finite

Whereas God is immortal, we humans are mortal beings. We are creatures with limited time on this earth. We all eventually die. Everyone returns to the dust from which they came – which isn’t even a blink of an eye when compared to God’s eternal existence.

This isn’t meant to be a downer for us, but rather to help us. It is necessary to work within our limitations while living in this world. To live as if we are immortal has grave consequences (pun intended).

Third Observation: The World Is Broken

Our world is fundamentally messed up. Another way of saying this is that everything in creation is under a curse. Things are not as they should be. And that’s on us, not God. Because of our own human proclivity to sin, our world is beset with a great deal of suffering and toil.

Hopefully, in the best scenario, people learn to understand the brevity of life, and gain wisdom on how to live a humble, just, and good life with one another, and with their God.

Now notice the petitions which Moses offered to God, based upon the observations of God’s nature, human nature, and the world’s situation.

First Petition: Turn, O Lord!

Moses was pleading with God to turn away from divine judgment and wrath, which was more than deserved for a group of people who were chronically complaining and disobedient. Moses was well aware of all Israel’s sins, and was counting on the Lord’s mercy for God’s covenant people.

Second Petition: How long, O Lord?

Moses was asking one of those questions that we ask, knowing that he wasn’t really going to get an answer. Yet, in the asking, there is an understanding that human misery won’t go on forever. Our suffering is temporary.

In this petition of Moses, he was also calling for a change, for God to deal with the people in a different way. Moses wanted gladness to replace affliction, and the sufferings of this life to give way to the joy of living in a good world.

Third Petition: Prosper the work of our hands

This wasn’t a petition for God to simply make everyone healthy and wealthy. It was a focused prayer that God’s work and our human work would be one seamless activity. That is, this is a prayerful longing for what we do in our lives to completely synchronize with God’s law in this world we all inhabit together.

Whenever we sin, we cause damage, not prosperity. Yet, with a divine/human cooperative in which we acknowledge and affirm God’s sovereignty over our lives, and take up our own human responsibility, then humanity thrives and flourishes in the goodness we were meant to enjoy as God’s creatures.

Christian Observations

In Christianity, the immortal and invisible God comes to us in the mortal and visible life of Jesus. In Christ, the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of humanity is not only synchronized; it is perfectly united and harmonized so that there is deliverance from the power of evil and from God’s judgment.

God’s steadfast love is brought to us with skin on.

For the Christian, Jesus is the answer to the prayers and petitions of Moses. Christ is the prophet foretold by Moses who was to come:

I [Yahweh]will raise up for them [the Israelites] a prophet like you [Moses] from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. (Deuteronomy 18:18, NRSV)

The incarnation, life, ministry, crucifixion, death, resurrection, ascension, and glorification of Jesus Christ has dealt with the weeds and overgrowth of guilt and shame that has taken over the garden of this world.

In Christ, we can begin to hack through all the stuff, in order to see the beauty underneath all of the spiritual neglect which has occurred for so long.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the steadfast love of God the Father, and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit be with you, now and forever. Amen.

Keep the Rule of Law (Numbers 17:1-11)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes. Write the name of each man on his staff. On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name, for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. Place them in the tent of meeting in front of the ark of the covenant law, where I meet with you. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling against you by the Israelites.”

So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.

The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.

The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” Moses did just as the Lord commanded him. (New International Version)

Issues of power – who has it, and who doesn’t, and how it is used – has been with us throughout all of human history.

And the issues of power are always tied to values, morals, and ethics. It ultimately comes down to who is truly in control, and whether that control is good or bad, moral or immoral, ethical or unethical.

One way of looking at the whole of the Bible is that it is a collection of books about power, control, and authority – mostly between God and humans, but also between one another as people.

If we fail to consider power issues, then a society will devolve into injustice, power inequities, and the few controlling the many.

In today’s Old Testament lesson, there were people questioning the authority system, and who had the power to act as a religious priest in the nation of Israel.

The covenant code, handed down from God to Moses on Mount Sinai, and then to the people, included only the tribe of Levi acting as priests. The other eleven tribes could not have a priestly class of people.

Specifically, only the Levite Aaron and his descendants could serve as a priest. And this structure did not sit well with some of the Levites from clans other than Aaron’s, as well as some of the other tribes.

Among all the tribes of Israel, the Lord chose the tribe of Levi. And among the Levites, Aaron is to alone be the priest, with his descendants serving after him in history.

A lot of grumbling in the tents of the Israelite tribes was happening. And God heard all the murmurings under their breath.

Therefore, God instructed each tribe to bring the symbol of their tribal authority – the staff – to Moses. They were all left overnight before the Lord, in front of the altar in the tent of meeting.

In the morning, the Levite’s staff with Aaron’s name alone engraved on it, was the only one that budded and sprouted almonds – all in a single night.

God was clarifying that Aaron was the divine choice as priest in Israel. The staff was then stored and kept as a continual reminder that when the Lord makes a choice, that is exactly what is going to happen.

The purpose of displaying the tribal staffs was to stop the incessant complaining of people about the Levites, and Aaron in particular, holding the power and authority of handling and officiating the sacrificial system in Israel.

Only Aaron could approach the tabernacle of God – and only then with detailed prescriptions of how to do it – and anyone else who would try to act as only a priest could, would die. The authority structure was that serious in Israel.

Nobody gets to do whatever the heck they want to do, when it comes to authority structures and systems of power. The rule of law is important; it’s serious business.

God bestowed an honorable privilege and responsibility on the family of Aaron. In doing so, their work, worship, and ministry was meant to contribute to the public welfare of all Israelite families.

And that is the case for all of us, when it comes to possessing any sort of authority. An authoritative position is never meant for personal use, but to be a public service for the good of everyone in the community, and in the leader’s constituency.

I suppose there will always be persons who arrogantly believe they ought to be in charge, or in some position of authority in order to wield power. They will, unfortunately, rarely examine their motives for wanting power; or consult wise persons who could help direct them.

If one has been elected – either by the people in a lawful election, or by God in a divine decree – then to murmur and grumble about that person who was chosen comes from a dark place in the complainer’s heart.

An unwillingness to submit to the rule of law only brings harm to others, and eventually to oneself. And it raises the ire of God.

Through the covenant law handed down to the Israelites, God intended to provide human justice, protect human rights, promote a good and just society, establish a fair economy, curb human sin and corruption, and bring peace and security to all the tribes of Israel.

If the power structure is unjust through an abusive individual, that’s another thing altogether. But if a good rule of law is in place, and appropriate people are serving the community, then it is our place and our duty to be properly submissive, obedient, and supportive.

It’s a question of being helpful or harmful to what is going on. And we always have a choice about how we are going to respond.

So, how will you use your own personal agency?

Almighty God, save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and make us one united people who are mindful of the rule of law.

Give the spirit of wisdom to those in the authority of government, so that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth.

In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail. Amen. 

First Sunday of Advent – The Paradoxical Christ (Luke 21:25-36)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
Christ Among the Doctors, by Paolo Veronese, c.1560

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man.” (New Revised Standard Version)

Do we understand the dire situation of humanity? Is there comprehension of the sinister road that many choose to walk? Or are we cut off from ourselves, fragmented and unable (or unwilling) to participate in becoming people who are wise and seek what is just?

Perhaps we are adrift, lost in our own hubris, believing that our beliefs and opinions are so right as to either force them on others; or either live and let live, as if nothing bad will ever happen.

But the Son of Man is coming. He has a lesson for us from a tree; and an exhortation to beware.

I just hope it’s not too late for many of us.

Today’s Gospel lesson is part of a longer discourse by Jesus, warning about coming persecution and impending destruction of the Temple. It’s apocalyptic stuff about famine, war, judgment, with exhortations in the midst of suffering.

This is how we are beginning the new Christian Year, and season of Advent. Dealing with judgment and cosmic cataclysm may seem out of sync with the month of December.

Advent helps us prepare our hearts in anticipation of Christ’s birth. It’s actually one of the best times to remember that just as Jesus came as a child in his first advent, a second advent is yet to come, in which Jesus returns as the judge.

The Coming of the Son of Man

The season of Advent, and Jesus himself, are paradoxical. In my estimation, all of Christianity is inherently paradoxical. A paradox brings two contrasting truths or images together. Jesus is God. Jesus is human. Both are true. Jesus is a paradox. Jesus came. Jesus is coming. His advent is a paradox.

Jesus and his teaching may seem self-contradictory. But it nonetheless shows us truth. That’s what a paradox does. It expresses things like Jesus being both a baby and a savior, an infant and a king, a servant and a sovereign.

Christ brings peace. And Christ brings division. To keep your life, you must lose it. In order to be first, you must be last.

The Lesson of the Tree

Trees are some of our greatest teachers, that is, if we will but listen to them and observe them. The tree teaches us the paradox that with the changing of the leaves, death can be beautiful. In using the tree’s wood, we learn there is new life through destruction.

The dormancy of the tree in winter appears as if it will last forever. Yet, when Spring arrives, we discover that the bare branches and lifelessness is temporary, not permanent. The tree blossoms, almost exploding with life and color.

Our earthly trials and tribulations will not last. God will vindicate the righteous. Redemption is near. There is the paradox of suffering that leads to glory, and tears which will give way to great comfort.

The Exhortation to Watch

But we must watch. Jesus tells us to beware. With paradox, and in the apocalyptic view of things, events that happen on this earth that we see are mere reflections of much greater workings on an unseen plane of existence.

Paradoxically, the struggle between good and evil is both earthly and celestial; it is playing out on multi-dimensional levels. There is always more going on than what meets the eye. Therefore, watch out, because you do not really know what’s happening unless you’re looking with both physical and spiritual eyes.

So, stay awake. Pay attention. Be prepared. Keep awareness of yourself and your situations.

As we move into the busyness and bustle of this month, let us not overprepare for something transitory and impermanent. Let’s remember to use our vision to see a large and expansive world in need of the paradoxical Christ.

If you are reading this, or listening to this, then there is hope. This present existence is not permanent; it won’t last forever.

For what is at stake is the coming of the kingdom of heaven, a realm of existence that is both already here, and not yet here. In allowing such a rule to come and take over our lives, we find freedom and peace and permanence.

Tying our hopes to earthly rulers and all of their construction of petty kingdoms and fiefdoms will only end in darkness and disappointment.

The Servant King, who rules through loving service, is coming. And the Universal Judge, who controls all things with a powerful gracious force, is also coming.

The paradoxical Jesus was here, is here, and is to come.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Divine Judgment and Human Judgmentalism (Luke 21:20-24)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
Jesus Wept Over It, by Enrique Simonet, 1892

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it, for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people; they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the times of the nations are fulfilled. (New Revised Standard Version)

Judgment is coming… and is already here…

To be more specific, God’s judgment is coming; and humanity’s judgmentalism is already here.

Because of our judgmental spirits, we ought not be surprised that the judgment of God will be here soon.

I cannot get through a day – barely an hour – without hearing judgmental statements coming from another’s mouth. And sometimes, it’s my own mouth.

Judgmentalism is rife. It’s everywhere. And there’s no way to escape it. In a “normal” day (if there is such a thing for me) I hear all sorts of statements, without even trying to hear them. And when I do, I usually have a thought about it (in the parentheses):

  • “They did it because they don’t care about anything.” (And you don’t seem to give a rat’s rear end about understanding why they did it.)
  • “They deserved all the bad stuff they received.” (And you don’t?)
  • “The only reason they got the job to begin with is because of their connections.” (I didn’t realize that you are all-seeing, like God)
  • “You don’t know what you’re talking about!” (Maybe, but neither do you.)
  • “The rain is terrible.” (That’s your assessment. But it isn’t the local farmer’s assessment of the rain. He thinks it’s wonderful.)

Judgmentalism is the tendency to make quick and excessively critical judgments of others, especially moral judgments which characterize another’s thinking or way of being as immoral, unethical, monstrous, and/or harmful.

Our human judgmentalism of one another tends to detract from the sort of judgment we ought to be paying attention to.

Ultimately, none of us sits as Judge to arbitrate what who deserves punishment, or not. That is the job of Judge Jesus. So, when the true judge speaks, it behooves us to listen and follow through with what he (Christ) says about upcoming divine judgment.

When Jesus said his words of Jerusalem’s impending destruction, he was making it clear that these would be days of God’s vengeance, of divine judgment against the people. It would not last forever, because the wrath of God never does.

Yet, judgment is imminent. God will not let times of injustice, unrighteousness, and hatred last without end.

Therefore, Jesus was warning his disciples, and all who would follow him, about how they are to live while they await the end of all things.

We are not to be led astray, and be fooled by anyone who claims the name of Christ, yet lives like a devil. Unfortunately, some will foolishly succumb to falsehood. Everyone will suffer in some way.

Believers are to be watchful and prayerful. This is not passivity on our part, but actively putting a great deal of energy into becoming wise and interceding on behalf of others.

If we cannot sit still in silence, in contemplative prayer, for even 20 minutes, then we have a problem. It will be quite difficult to discern the good, right, and just.

If we cannot go half the day without making a judgmental statement about another person, then we have an addiction which needs to be broken.

If we continue to have reasons why we cannot (and therefore will not) read or listen to Holy Scripture, especially the New Testament Gospels of Jesus, then we are likely following someone else other than Christ.

If we keep moaning about the state of the world, the problems in our families, and all the local issues of our communities, then it is imperative that we come back to examining the words and ways of Jesus and deal with our own junk, instead lamenting everyone else’s.

If you know how to prepare for a zombie apocalypse, a new movie that’s coming out, or a birthday party for someone, but don’t have any idea about how to make life preparations for a coming disaster (let alone your own eventual death) then the last thing that ought to be happening is judging another person for anything at all.

You’ve got some work to do to get ready for the coming of Christ.

“Let us be alert to the season in which we are living. It is the season of the Blessed Hope, calling for us to cut our ties with the world and build ourselves on this One who will soon appear. He is our hope—a Blessed Hope enabling us to rise above our times and fix our gaze upon Him.”

A.W. Tozer

It’s possible that you may want to judge me for saying not to be judgmental. It’s happened more than once in my life. Yet, if we can learn to distinguish between the person and the behavior, then we can deal with unjust behavior, and leave any condemnation of the person to God.

If ever we struggle to know what to do, one can never go wrong with showing grace.

Gracious God, I repent for being quick to pass judgement both in speech and thought. For every time my words or actions of judgment and condemnation have hurt someone, I repent. Lord, I pray that I will not focus on the faults or shortcomings of others. Help me to see others through the eyes of grace. Amen.