Tag: faith

There Is Hope (Psalm 89:20-37)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Ethiopian Orthodox depiction of Jesus

“I have found my servant David;
    with my holy oil I have anointed him;
my hand shall always remain with him;
    my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him;
    the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him
    and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him,
    and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea
    and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
    my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’
I will make him the firstborn,
    the highest of the kings of the earth.
Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him,
    and my covenant with him will stand firm.
I will establish his line forever
    and his throne as long as the heavens endure.
If his children forsake my law
    and do not walk according to my ordinances,
if they violate my statutes
    and do not keep my commandments,
then I will punish their transgression with the rod
    and their iniquity with scourges,
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love
    or be false to my faithfulness.
I will not violate my covenant
    or alter the word that went forth from my lips.
Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness;
    I will not lie to David.
His line shall continue forever,
    and his throne endure before me like the sun.
It shall be established forever like the moon,
    an enduring witness in the skies.” (New Revised Standard Version)

Back when today’s psalm was originally crafted, there was a lot of stress for the Jews in Jerusalem. The city was in ruins, the land without their king, and the people were experiencing divine judgment from their God.

Into this situation, the psalmist brought some light from darkness; and hope for the survivors, that blessings lay in the future. The psalm is a song of prayer, speaking of the Lord’s faithfulness and steadfast love because of the promises made to the people’s ancient ancestor, King David.

The covenant between God and the people, made so many centuries ago, will never be broken. Why? Because fidelity to that covenant doesn’t depend on the people, but on the faithfulness of God and God’s timeless moral law.

The Lord God, the Almighty, did not forsake nor forget the people. The Lord’s mercies are new every morning; and God’s faithful love is forever.

Renewal and restoration are very real possibilities, despite the dire circumstances, and the people’s spiritual infidelity. Once again in history, one worthy of the throne of David will sit to judge the people with equity and grace.

The Son of David will be the custodian of God’s covenant promises. Evil shall be defeated. Authority to forgive sins, and to grant eternal life, will be established on earth. Indeed, the Lord’s enduring words and ways will be accomplished on this earth, as they are always done in God’s heaven.

The divine covenant will find its ultimate fulfillment in One whose throne is established for all eternity. The anointed one, the God-Man, will carry the burden of government on his shoulders; his rule and authority shall extend over the whole earth. (Isaiah 9:7)

Acting with the power of God, this Ruler is the visible image of the invisible God – the Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. For the Christian, these qualifications and descriptions are all met in the person of Jesus the Christ.

In a thoroughly and unabashed Christo-centric reading of the psalm, Jesus is the ultimate Messiah and High Priest who offered himself as the faultless, acceptable, eternal, and final sacrifice on behalf of the whole world. (Isaiah 53)

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2, NRSV)

Through Jesus, the New Testament perspective is that the old Mosaic Covenant became obsolete, and the New Covenant – promised by the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel – took its place. (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Hebrews 8:13)

Although this High Priest died, he also was raised to life, and ascended to heaven – where he continues to intercede for God’s people.

He holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:24-25, NRSV)

Before David was anointed king, Saul and his enemies hunted him and tried to kill him. Yet, through all of those twists and turns of harrowing circumstances, David trusted in the Lord and patiently waited for God to ensconce him as king. In time, that is precisely what happened. And David became the greatest king Israel ever had.

In much the same way, that fox King Herod tried to kill Jesus. Then later, Herod’s son, along with the religious establishment, sought to kill Jesus, as well. Behind the murderous intent, and every intent of doing away with the innocent, are the dark evil forces of this world.

The Accuser, Satan, the devil, tried to tempt the Christ and subvert the will of God, thus making the New Covenant something that would never happen. But Jesus was obedient to the Father – obedient even to death. (Philippians 2:8)

Christ Jesus offered himself willingly. His death may have been orchestrated by the existence of evil on this earth, yet it was God who allowed it all to occur, so that evil’s murderous tool, death, would become impotent.

The power of sin, death, and hell has been broken; but it will take awhile before the kingdom of God is established in all its grace and glory, and David’s fallen Tabernacle restored.

No matter how difficult, chaotic, and frustrating our current earthly situation may be, God will still establish the king; the good work begun and effected shall ultimately be thoroughly fulfilled. Jesus is coming again.

Until then, the good news is proclaimed that the kingdom of God is near. There is grace and forgiveness in the name of Jesus. Peace is no longer a pipe dream. Hope is real.

O Lord, when evil darkens our world, give us light. When despair numbs our souls, give us hope. When we stumble and fall, lift us up. When doubts assail us, give us faith. When nothing seems sure, give us trust. When ideals fade, give us vision. When we lose our way, be our guide, so that we may find serenity in Your presence, and purpose in doing Your will. Amen.

Our Riches In Christ (Colossians 2:1-5)

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

I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. (New International Version)

When you already have everything you need, it’s useless – and can even be damaging – to indulge in listening to fine sounding arguments about how you are missing out, lacking something, and/or falling short in some way.

For the Christian, the truth is: You now possess God’s treasure chest of wisdom and knowledge in Christ Jesus. So, why would you ever let someone deceive you through slick persuasion about having something superior to what you already have?

“Heresy” is really nothing more than making a bold claim to an alternative theological understanding than what you presently adhere to.

In some cases, an existing belief system is inferior and bogus. So, it’s a good thing when someone turns from bad religion in order to embrace a religion which is life-giving, helpful, and good.

Yet, if we already have a belief which is robustly full of righteousness and justice, and is good for the common life of everyone in the community, then it is dangerous to consider replacing it, or letting it fall into disuse.

The Apostle Paul’s consistent and overarching theme throughout his letter to the Colossian Christians is that Jesus Christ is sufficient, he is enough – more than enough – for our life and salvation.

That means the task of the Christian is to hold on to and cultivate what already has been taught to them according to apostolic tradition (that is, the Scriptures).

Another way of putting the matter: Learn to appreciate and enjoy what you already have, because it really is worth exploring, living into, and celebrating.

So, let’s put away any notions that standing firm in the faith involves defending your own personal brand of the Christian life (which is usually done obnoxiously) or for others to adhere to every jot and tittle of your own dogmatic theology.

To remain steadfast in the faith means primarily to nurture your faith – to actively pursue the spiritual life and concern oneself with the development of the soul. It is, more specifically, to keep on struggling to live into the words and ways of Jesus Christ; and to keep on learning and applying the apostolic teaching which has been passed down to us.

This is not too much to ask. It is reasonable (and biblical) to expect professing believers in Christ to put solid energy into encouraging one another in love and unity by means of sound Christian theology and doctrine.

Genuine and lasting unity depends upon both truth and love. Christians need to be of one mind and one heart, embracing the same values.

My dear wife and I recently celebrated 39 years of marriage together. Someone asked me today how we’ve made it all these years. I said that the main reason is that, although we are extreme opposites in nearly every way, we have both shared the same basic core values throughout our marriage. And that has gotten us through a lot of things.

Love for one another in the church will be maintained when we understand there is nothing being held back from us by God. The mystery of Christ has been revealed. There are no secrets. Solid and lasting relationships are built upon the foundation of truth. Nothing is held back.

We might as well lay bare everything, because it’s eventually going to happen one way or another.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:13, NIV

If we begin to think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, then we start listening to other people – perhaps even inviting other lovers into our lives. But the truth is: If I have some delicious fresh fried catfish on my plate, why in the world would I ever settle for a measly can of tuna?

The unity of the Colossian Church was at stake for the Apostle Paul. Just because someone is skilled in the art of persuasion, and can speak a good line, doesn’t necessarily mean that those words are good, right, or just.

There’s nothing wrong with persuasion. In fact, Paul himself was highly skilled in rhetoric and persuasion. At issue is losing sight of the message and focusing solely on the means of communicating the message.

Oftentimes a false teacher who peddles a different message other than apostolic teaching, has a highly believable way about them – which is why folks can be deceived. When one is being charmed, then critical analysis is rarely on their mind.

We can also be self-deceived, deluding ourselves, and talking ourselves into going down a bad path. It is most necessary to evaluate things according to the content rather than the attractiveness of the packaging.

Gifts of speaking and persuasion are good, so long as they are used for good, and controlled by sound thinking and directed by compassionate hearts.

There is no compelling witness for Christ if the church is fragmented and divided. But if we are convinced that our spiritual riches are found in Jesus Christ, then we shall find ways to remain connected and caring.

Therefore, let’s live as if we really believe this.

I always pray to the great and glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that he will give you the Spirit, who will let you know truths about God and help you understand them, so that you will know him better.

I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious. And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. Amen. (Ephesians 1:17-19, ERV)

A Ruler for the Good of the People (2 Samuel 5:11-16)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
King David, by Sefira Lightstone

King Hiram of Tyre sent some officials to David. Carpenters and stone workers came with them, and they brought cedar logs so they could build David a palace.

David knew that the Lord had made him king of Israel and that he had made him a powerful ruler for the good of his people.

After David left Hebron and moved to Jerusalem, he married many women from Jerusalem, and he had a lot of children. His sons who were born there were Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. (Contemporary English Version)

Once David became ruler of a united kingdom – Israel and Judah – he established the capital in a central place between the two (much like how Washington D.C. was built at a geographical juncture between North and South of the United States).

The Jebusites were firmly lodged within Jerusalem. Yet, with a good deal of ingenuity, David and his men found a way into the formidable stronghold of Jerusalem and took it. It then became the City of David. (2 Samuel 5:8-10)

King David has the spiritual sense to understand that the Lord was with him; and that his own greatness was directly tied to the greatness of God. The Lord is concerned for the divine/human covenant, and for the glory of Israel and Judah. David did not believe that his success was in any way tied to his own personal skills or abilities.

In light of David’s spiritual stance, it seems a bit strange that today’s text then turns to David’s response of taking more women as wives in Jerusalem. The text also lets us know that David established diplomatic ties with Tyre and worked toward building a royal palace in the new capital.

Typically, Old Testament stories don’t give us explicit moral commentary, telling us what is good and what is bad. Sometimes they inform us of people’s motives, but usually not. So, what was David up to, and why was he doing it? The story invites us to offer up an answer from our own consideration. So, here’s mine…

All of us do the best we can, with what we know at the time. That’s why it is so important to be continually cultivating and nurturing a life of wisdom.

Most things in life don’t have ready-made answers for us. David certainly didn’t Google how to capture Jerusalem, or how to establish a kingdom. He instead had a lifetime of walking with God, learning God’s law, and experiences which God brought him through. And that is exactly what all of us need to do for just about everything.

If you and I were in David’s shoes, within his culture of the ancient world, we might very well do what he did by marrying up and bringing political stability to a new united kingdom that was surrounded by non-Jewish nations.

King David, by Adamo Tadolini, on the Colonna dell’Immacolata, Rome, Italy

Trusting the Lord doesn’t mean that we become passive; it isn’t a let go and let God attitude. Faith requires actively pursuing justice and righteousness for the good of everyone. It takes creativity and a wise mind, a compassionate heart, and a well-attuned sense of one’s own gut.

This approach to life indeed requires a lifetime of learning, growing, and experiencing new things. The following are some ways of developing the experiential knowledge that we understand as wisdom:

Pursue and be open to new experiences

If you don’t like the experience you’re having, create a new one. David was open to following God and engaging in whatever new experiences required fulfilling the will of God. To keep growing as an individual, it’s important to explore unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable things; those experiences can teach us how to be more humble and honest, which is especially important for leaders.

Show empathy and be compassionate

This was at the heart of David’s rule as king. He showed steadfast love and commitment to Israel and Judah. Yes, he was a man of war, and did his share of soldiering. And, at the same time, David valued life and went out of his way to show mercy.

After becoming king, instead of wiping out all of King Saul’s family (as was custom for many kings in the Ancient Middle East) David looked for anyone in the family of Jonathan (Saul’s son) to which he could show kindness to (2 Samuel 9:1). There is no path to wisdom that doesn’t go through the land of compassion.

Don’t be afraid to fail

Growth in wisdom usually comes from messing up. How we respond to failure and/or imperfection influences our decision-making and problem-solving skills. A significant part of self-development is learning how not to repeat mistakes. But to do that, you have to make them first.

David made plenty of mistakes, and even outright sinned in ways that effected all Israel and Judah. Yet, he learned his lessons by turning away from the mistakes (repentance) and moving forward (faith).

Ask for help when you need it

A wise person doesn’t have all the answers. They are wise because they know when to consult others and ask for resources. David always had counselors in his court who he knew could give him sage advice whenever he needed it.

Mentor others

One of the best ways of learning and developing wisdom is by coming alongside others and helping them become successful in life. This is one of the main reasons I enjoy teaching and discipling others – so that I can learn from the process, and from the people I mentor. Since David was attuned to this, Israel and Judah had the wisest king in history, his son, King Solomon.

Wisdom is a virtue that goes beyond knowledge. Wisdom is really the study of life. And only by wisdom’s experiential understanding can we make effective changes, influence others, and please God. David was a king for the good of the people.

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us to do, so that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path, we may not stumble. Amen.

The Logic of Faith and Prayer (Mark 9:14-29)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Help Thou My Unbelief, by J. Kirk Richards

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.

“What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.

A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”

So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” (New International Version)

Please, stick with me here, on what I see as the logic which undergirds this story:

God has authority over everything. God is powerful. Therefore, God can do the miraculous.

Humans have limited authority over some things. Humanity is sometimes strong, yet often weak. Therefore, humans must look outside themselves for a miracle.

God created people. Humans reflect the divine image and likeness of God. Therefore, God and humanity are inextricably linked.

God has miraculous power. Humans can have confidence (faith and hope) in God’s power. Therefore, miracles can happen when God’s power meets human confidence in that power.

God is personal. Humans are personal. Therefore, humans can know God.

God listens to human prayers. Humans have the ability to pray to God. Therefore, God’s power and human faith in that power are very much connected to each other.

Since God is authoritative, powerful, and personal, then God’s choice and ability to effect miracles is not an impersonal force which can be used and manipulated by humans, but rather is a gift to be prayed for and received with gratitude to God.

This then, is why Jesus seems exasperated with the experience of a botched exorcism, because:

  1. The father and the crowd have a profound lack of faith in God’s authority and power to personally effect the miraculous.
  2. The disciples have a disappointing lack of prayer in their own ministry.

The father of the son with the bad spirit was understandably desperate. And, on top it, disappointed with the disciples’ inability to do anything about the situation. The issue, however, is never about God’s ability – which is where the father went in talking to Jesus.

“If you are able” expresses little confidence in Christ.

Jesus emphatically replied that everything can be done for the one who believes. To which the father, still desperate, but then adding a healthy dose of honesty, confessed: “I believe; help my unbelief!”

That was all Jesus needed. The father’s humble and honest confession opened the soul’s door to receive the gift of faith. And the boy was rid of the bad spirit.

Furthermore, the father was also rid of his own bad spirit. The man was not demonized, like his son, nevertheless he possessed a spirit of ill confidence. The encounter with Jesus changed him, as well. It wasn’t just one person who walked away healed; both a father and a son were healed.

As often happened, the disciples left the scene with Jesus scratching their heads. They couldn’t figure out their own inability and failure to help the desperate father and his demonized son.

The bad spirit was indeed a stubborn one, and quite hard to deal with. Jesus told his disciples that one like this can only come out for those who nurture the spiritual habit of prayer.

Essentially, Jesus was saying that the vital connection between God and humans is dependent upon God. People don’t give orders to God, or act as the keepers and manipulators of divine power, like the ancient magicians did with their gods.

Rather, humans pray and ask for what they need, based upon the quality of their connection with God. This isn’t about the level of faith; it’s about whether there is any connection.

I can have lots of faith that my desk lamp will illuminate if I tell it to, but it won’t light unless I plug it in and turn it on. And if I do that, and the lamp will not turn on, then I know there is a problem with the connection – and not with my level of faith in making the lamp light up.

Everything in life must be maintained well, and taken care of. If it isn’t, it will eventually stop working, and may even fall into complete disrepair.

Faith and prayer are not simply tools which we wield with our own authority and autonomy. They must be developed and used with care for where they’ve come from.

Our prayers are opportunities for us to establish and maintain our vital connection with God via faith. Then, whenever we are in dire straits, the confidence is there, because of our connection with the Lord; nothing is hindering the power from flowing and lighting up the situation.

At its heart, Christianity is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. And that relational connection has been brought about God, not me; and the means to maintain the relationship is from God, not me. Yet, we get to enjoy this beautiful access.

So, take advantage of it.

O Lord, our blessed Companion in life and death, your love is steadfast and never ends. Our wondering and weeping may linger in the night, but you give joy in the morning. Touch us with your healing grace so that, restored to wholeness, we may live our calling as your faithful resurrected people. Amen.