Category: Year B

2 Kings 23:15-25

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            To say that King Josiah cleaned house would be a gross understatement.  Having found the Book of the Law, lost for generations deep within the temple, Josiah took its words to heart and set about a campaign of reformation like no king before him.  Indeed, Josiah was determined to restore and implement the Law in the life of the nation of Judah.  His zeal knew no bounds.  Josiah was relentless, radical, and redolent with the smell of transitioning the Jews back to the true worship of Yahweh.
 
            King Josiah did not just re-institute the Passover and other festivals of the Lord; he first upended the pagan worship which had moved in like a death-dealing cancer.  Josiah cut it out with ruthless precision.  He made ashes out of Asherah poles and put pagan priests out of business permanently.  He did away with everything that was contrary to the worship of the One true God, including spiritual mediums, household gods, and sacrificial high places.  In order to turn his heart fully to God, he did away with all competing gods.
 
            If there is to be true repentance, there must be a two-fold process:  turning away from what is false; and, turning toward what is true.  Turning from sin without turning to God is merely a half-repentance.  And turning to God without turning one’s back on sin is both denial and dangerous.  We are to put off the old clothes of injustice, and put on the new clothes of righteousness.  We are to forsake the old in order to embrace the new.  There needs to be a radical gouging out of sin so as to replace it with what is just and right.  It must be born in mind that none of this is pretty or romantic; it is a messy ugly process of dispelling darkness and letting light shine.  It is not for the faint of heart.
 
            Where to begin?  Make a fierce, brutally honest inventory of your life.  You cannot turn from something that you are not really aware of, so create in your schedule some time in the week to connect with God.  After identifying some areas for change, list the things that stand in your way of turning from them, i.e. fear, despair, financial repercussions, etc.  Face the obstacles honestly and forthrightly.  Then, begin to form a rudimentary plan to forsake the old ways and embrace new paths of righteousness.  This is but a beginning.  Let God take that process and direct it in ways he wants to take it….
 

 

            Holy God, you are jealous for your own glory.  I decide today to identify and put away all that is contrary to your righteousness and will for my life.  And I choose to turn to you with all my heart.  In body, soul, and spirit I belong to you.  Amen.

2 Kings 22:11-20

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment


             It is hard to fathom that things had spiritually degenerated so much in the kingdom of Judah that the Book of Law, God’s Word to Israel, was completely lost.  The Law was tucked so far back in the temple, and had gathered so much dust, that everyone simply forgot it existed.  Yet, maybe we in the Western world can relate to this more than we think.  When a plethora of Bibles and translations exist, yet they gather dust on the shelf and we have not cracked it open since….?
             We are approaching the end of the Christian Year which always culminates in Christ the King Sunday.  As we journey with Jesus and ascend his holy hill, we anticipate corporately acknowledging Christ’s lordship.  The best and most biblical way to do so is through penitent humility.  King Josiah’s officials had found the Book of the Law and brought it to him.  After they read the words, the king became completely undone with humble repentance.  He realized that the life of the nation had not revolved around the majesty and kingship of God, and it cut him to the core of his being.  
             The first and most appropriate response to the realization of God’s sovereignty and Christ’s lordship is humility.  Without it there is no going forward; there is only the ghastly state of remaining stuck in one place with ancient dust accumulating on our static hearts.  But with humility there is repentance; and with repentance there opens up the grand vistas of hope, new life, and fresh beginnings.
             Try something quite different from your regular experience today.  Put on some old clothes and read carefully the words of Scripture.  Take the time to acknowledge some sin of omission in your life.  Then, tear your clothes; yes, rip your shirt.  Allow yourself to feel, like Josiah, the realization of missing the mark.  But do not remain in this condition.  Drink in the grace of God in Christ and receive the forgiveness that is yours through Jesus.  The trajectory of our Christian lives will be determined by the depth of humility we experience, and filling the hole with mercy.
             Awesome God, although I might not always perceive your majesty and sovereignty, you stand above all creation as the Lord whom I am to submit to in all things.  I come to you in great humility of heart and vow to obey everything I read in your Holy Word through Jesus Christ, my King.  Amen.

1 Kings 8:22-30

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            I grew up in rural Iowa, a place with a lot of gravel roads.  In the seasons of Spring and Fall, the thawing and re-freezing lead to some impressive ruts in those roads.  It is difficult to avoid them since they nearly dominate the driving space.  When it comes to prayer, there are seasons of life where we can slip into ruts – times where focused wrestling in prayer is set aside by just going along with the rut of prayer that has always been done.  There are Christians who can pray wonderful prayers… over and over again with almost no thought to it, continually saying the same things anytime they pray.
 
            In today’s Old Testament lesson we have a prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the Lord’s temple.  The two aspects of this prayer that jump out to me are:  Solomon reminded God of his promises to the covenant people; and, Solomon reminded God of who God is.  Solomon, as the wisest person to ever live, did not believe that somehow God forgot about his promises or had some sort of divine dementia about his basic nature.  But Solomon prayed with a kind of prayer that God delights to hear.  God likes it when we pray according to the promises he has given us; and, God enjoys it when we pray with a focused understanding of whom we are praying.
 
            So, then, in our prayers it would be a good thing to emulate the example of King Solomon.  Know the promises of God contained in the Scriptures, and pray that they will be confirmed in our lives, families, churches, and world.  Next, also pray with the intention of declaring what kind of God we acknowledge and expect to hear.  We serve a big God whose hugeness is continually above all things, and whose work is always continuing according to his decrees and words. 
 
            One way of moving our prayers out of the ruts of familiar language and thoughts is to journal them.  Writing our prayers can become for us an act of worship as we slow down enough to craft a response to God that is thoughtful and connects us with him beyond the rote and routine.
 

 

            All-consuming God, the highest heavens cannot contain you, for you above all creation.  Yet, you have stooped to notice us, small as we are with our wants and needs.  Thank you that in Jesus Christ all your promises are found and fulfilled.  May I know Christ more intimately, and serve him more passionately with the spiritual power of prayer you provide.  Amen.

Hebrews 10:32-39

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
            The Bible gives us the straight scoop on life.  Throughout Holy Scripture we get the highs and lows, the sufferings and the glories, the grace and the judgment.  The Christian life is not some nice neat upward trajectory that we enjoy until we reach heaven.  Rather, it is more like a zig-zag, herky-jerky, up and down experience of times of strength and encouragement, and seasons of weakness and despondency.
 
            In this life we will have trouble.  Since we follow a Lord who himself was ridiculed, suffered, and killed, we cannot expect a peachy existence filled with lovely unicorns and puppies that don’t poop.  It is one thing to face hardship; it is quite another thing to face it day after day, month after month, maybe even year after year without any reprieve.  What then?  Few people sign up for constant adversity.
 
            The Hebrew Christians had started their Christian lives well, coming at it with gusto and strength, and a willingness to experience solidarity with their Lord Jesus.  But, as time wore on, they became tired and defeated.  So, the author of the book of Hebrews lets them know that the two indispensable elements of the Christian life are faith and perseverance.  Without trust and endurance the Christian life cannot be sustained.  Don’t throw in the towel because there will eventually be a great reward.
 
            Sometimes when facing trouble Christians shrink back and withdraw from others, not letting fellow brothers and sisters into what is really going on.  The ministry that used to happen fades away.  But being vulnerable and allowing others to help; focusing on service to those who need it; and, letting go of the stuff we think is so important; these are all ways that keep us on a steadfast path of love and good deeds without losing our confidence in Christ.
 

 

            Ever-present God, you are Lord of both the bad days and the good.  Build in me the spiritual stamina I need to keep going so that faith in Christ might be expressed through love at all times and in every way through the power of the Spirit.  Amen.