Category: Daily Bible Reading Blog

A blog following the daily readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.

2 Chronicles 29:1-19

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
             Hezekiah was a faithful king, coming from a long line of faithless ones.  After becoming king, his first act of business was to thoroughly cleanse the temple.  Since the kings before him did not treat the temple as sacred, they defiled it by introducing practices of other gods and by sheer neglect of the holy implements.  Hezekiah assembled an impressive team of men to set about the task of getting the temple to the place where it could again be used as it ought.  The team of Levites meticulously took their time and worked diligently to consecrate the house of the LORD, and tossed everything unholy into the brook Kidron.
             Perhaps there is no better passage of Scripture than this to embody what the season of Lent is really all about.  We are to do the holy work of carefully consecrating our hearts so that our lives are prepared and ready for the new life of Easter.  It is hard and courageous work.  Just as Hezekiah had the bravery to uphold the temple’s true purpose through cleansing it, so we are to have the courage to enter the shadowy places of our hearts and bring out the sin within.  It is not a pretty process, but a necessary one.
             One of the greatest needs that believers have today is the courage to be vulnerable, to expose and bring into the light our besetting sins so that they can be tossed into the brook and be carried away.  Instead of spending inordinate amounts of energy and time trying to hide our true selves, it is much better to let the example of Hezekiah clear a path forward by confronting the darkness within.
             Holy God, my life is a temple of your Holy Spirit.  I invite you to come in and do the sort of cleansing work that needs to be done so that my words and actions are thoroughly consecrated to you.  Help me to have the courage to go to the places within that scare me.  In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.

Exodus 19:16-25

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            The Bible is filled with mountains.  Whether it is Christ’s transfiguration on a mountain; or, the giving of the law on a mountain; the physically majestic serves as a tangible symbol of the divine majesty.  Conversely, valleys in Scripture are symbolic of difficulty and suffering.  Our God is a God of both mountain and valley.  That is, the God of the Bible is both transcendent and immanent; he rules with power and might high above us on his holy mountain; yet, he also comes near to us in the valley of the shadow of death.
 
            Leading up to the giving of the Ten Words or Commandments in Exodus 20, Exodus 19 portrays an awesome scene of God in all of his transcendent holiness and power.  In fact, the experience was so otherworldly that the people were afraid to even come near the mountain.  The people needed limits placed on themselves because of God’s holy presence.  Just like coming too near the immense power of the sun will destroy us, so getting near God can ruin us if we do not respect his holiness.
 
            Understanding God’s power and transcendence brings the reality of his immanence into greater appreciation.  God went to extreme lengths to communicate to his people.  And it all culminated in the ultimate expression of God’s communication through the incarnation of Christ, the sending of the Son.  In Jesus, the transcendence and immanence of God meet perfectly to bridge the chasm between humanity and the divine.  Because of Jesus the awesome sounds of thunder and trumpet do not lead to fear, but announce grace to those who approach God by faith.
            Awesome God, by your majestic grace you drew me to yourself through the person of Jesus.  Help me so to know and appreciate your law so that the character of Christ will radiate in my words and my actions, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Psalm 19

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            Different cultures have multiple words for things which are important to them.  For example, in most Asian countries there are various words for “rice” depending upon which strain it is and in what manner it is cooked.  Rice is important to them.  In America, we only have one word for “rice” no matter where it comes from or how it is prepared.  However, whereas the country of Indonesia might only have one generic word for “money,” we in the West have a plethora of terms for it:  coins; bills; dollars; checks; debit accounts; stock; bonds; annuities, etc.  Americans have dozens of words for “money” because it is weaved into the fabric of our capitalistic way of life.
             When we come to the text of Psalm 19, we encounter several words for “law:” testimony; precept; commandment; and, rules.  Not only that, even the physical creation itself proclaims God’s law and his speech throughout the earth.  The law is important to Hebrew culture and to the Scriptures.  Indeed, we would not have the Bible as we know it without being filled with all kinds of commandments.
             Therefore, a healthy way to approach God’s Holy Word is to pay careful attention to the commands because they are important.  The law of God is to be as familiar to the Christian as Jesus and the Spirit.  We need God’s guidance and direction in order to live rightly and please him in every way.  When we look at the law with gratitude and seek to obey God through it, we will learn to avoid sin and lead a blameless life.  So, to commit God’s Word to heart and to memory would be sage for every believer.
             Gracious God, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  Amen.

Exodus 19:1-9

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            I have worked in more places than I immediately recollect.  Some workplaces were run well, most were characterized by inattention to working conditions and expected employees to be more like extensions of their machines than people.  The same could be said for churches.  Some are run well and others leave much to be desired.  Without trying to be simplistic, today’s Old Testament lesson gives the clue to what makes the difference:  a clear sense of purpose.  God made it clear that Israel was given the mandate to “be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
 
            Although there was always a remnant of Israelites who held to this original purpose, we know the end of the story.  Israel largely failed to fulfill their God-given reason for existence and did not follow through with their missionary purpose.  They ended up in exile because of their stubbornness and lack of holiness.
 
            When we as Christians lose sight of why we exist, we degenerate into a bunch of finicky cats who want ever richer food and a lusher bed to sleep in.  We exist not to be catered to, but to be people who do the priestly work of interceding for others so that the nations might come to know the God of all the earth.  We exist to walk in holiness, set apart to be the conduit between heaven and earth so that others might come to embrace Jesus.  It was Christ who did what the Israelites did not do, and secured salvation for all who believe.
 
            Where there is complaining and backbiting there is a lack of purpose.  Where there is only talk of how others can meet my needs there is a lost mandate to be a priest bringing others to God.  The gracious and priestly work of intercession on behalf of those who need Jesus is the purpose many are lacking.  Let us return to this holy vocation.
            O God, you are holy.  So, I choose to be holy in all I do.  I intercede for those around me who either cannot or will not come to you on their own.  Draw them to yourself so that they might experience the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.  Amen.