Tag: spiritual life

Giving Freely for a Worthy Project (Exodus 25:1-22)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Gathering To Build the Tabernacle, by Yoram Raanan

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair;ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast-piece.

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

“Have them make an Ark of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other. Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed. Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law, which I will give you.

“Make an atonement cover of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. (New International Version)

Israel gathers to bring gifts for the construction of the Tabernacle

Details matter. Typically, when something is important to someone, they go into great detail about it. It won’t do for them to ignore the nuances of what they care about. So when God goes into intricate detail about the construction of the portable sanctuary, the Tabernacle, the people can take notice that this has great significance.

The Israelities were delivered from Egyptian slavery. Now, in the desert of the Sinai peninsula, they are to worship in a particular way with certain sacred objects for its use. The sacred tent, the Tabernacle, was the center of Israel’s religious life while wandering in the years between Egypt and the Promised Land. It became God’s dwelling place amongst the people – the place where sacrifices were offered and Moses their leader communicated with the Lord.

The instruction manual given to Moses from God for the holy implements of worship was very specific and involved a lot of people. It was such an important and technical project that it required the participation of all the people. In a national-level sort of fundraiser, God asked Moses to ask the Israelites to bring their contributions and donations as freewill offerings for the work to be done.

Moses went up Mount Sinai to meet with God. The expressed purpose was to provide divine instructions concerning the law, worship, and how to live in the Promised Land once they get there. Since the Tabernacle was a central part of the nation’s covenant with God, the Lord sought to communicate how everything was to be built.

But before it could all happen, there needed to be a collection of the materials for construction. And it was not something to be taxed or required; it was an ask. The true heart of righteousness is that giving is an opportunity to help and do the right thing; it’s a privilege.

Righteousness is a healthy dynamic of freely giving, and thus, freely receiving. It benefits everyone – both giver and receiver. The wise and righteous person understands that it is the giver who benefits most.

When everyone has an opportunity to give, all persons are of equal status; there is no charity because the whole community acts as one person together in ensuring needs are satisfied.

If everyone gives, then we benefit from living in a society where everyone’s needs are met, and none are in want. The truly righteous society that is full of justice and goodness is the one in which everyone is privileged, and everyone receives the benefits of giving.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul picked up on this form of right living and described it to the Corinthian Church:

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us… For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” (2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 12, NIV)

Paul went on to encourage the believers that each individual should give what they have decided in their heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion. Why? Because God loves a cheerful giver, and not a reluctant miser. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

If something is important enough to warrant a full detailed and technical plan, then it’s worthy enough to allow others to freely give for that project as they so desire.

Everyone is blessed when we know what has to be done, and are willing to freely give what we possess to make that important thing happen.

Lord of our lives, teach us how to use our money and our possessions. Deliver us from stinginess and wasteful extravagance; inspire our giving with the spirit of true generosity. Help us always to remember your generous love for us, that we may be wise and faithful stewards of the good gifts you have given us. Amen.

When to Stay, When to Move (Numbers 9:15-23)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Cloud in the Desert, stained glass at the Congregation Beth Emeth, Herndon, Virginia

On the day the Tent of the Lord’s presence was set up, a cloud came and covered it. At night the cloud looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted, the people of Israel broke camp, and they set up camp again in the place where the cloud came down. The people broke camp at the command of the Lord, and at his command they set up camp.

As long as the cloud stayed over the Tent, they stayed in the same camp. When the cloud stayed over the Tent for a long time, they obeyed the Lord and did not move on. Sometimes the cloud remained over the Tent for only a few days; in any case, they remained in camp or moved, according to the command of the Lord. Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning, and they moved on as soon as the cloud lifted.

Whenever the cloud lifted, they moved on. Whether it was two days, a month, a year, or longer, as long as the cloud remained over the Tent, they did not move on; but when it lifted, they moved. They set up camp and broke camp in obedience to the commands which the Lord gave through Moses. (Good News Translation)

I know a few believers who would really like to have their spiritual lives governed by a cloud lifting and moving and settling. Then, there wouldn’t be any doubt about what to do and when to do it.

But keep in mind that this arrangement of a cloud was temporary; it was only meant to get the Israelites from one place to another until they entered the Promised Land. Anytime we try and make something permanent which is designed to be temporary, we become stuck, not to mention missing out on the good things intended for us.

Clouds of Glory, by Yoram Raanan, 2014

In a time of transition for the nation of Israel, the gracious presence of God provided both guidance and assurance. The Lord was with them; and the divine presence reminded the people that God’s promise would be fulfilled.

The book of Numbers begins at the point where the book of Exodus leaves off. Leviticus is in between, interrupting the narrative flow with detailed legislation, especially of the sacrificial worship system. Exodus ends with the construction of the tabernacle (the sacred tent with the ark of the covenant and worship utensils).

Numbers then begins a year after Israel came out of Egypt. It covers the years of wandering in the desert wilderness in which an entire generation dies off and their children are poised to enter the Promised Land. The bulk of the book is given to the beginning and ending of the 40 years of wandering.

The Sinai Peninsula, where the Israelites walked, is a rather harsh environment. This is on purpose; it’s part of the nation’s spiritual development. The desert is the place where failures are acknowledged and purged. It’s a unique place and time which required a special system to safeguard the people. They needed to be guided toward holiness so that they could be a holy nation, set apart for God.

In many ways, Numbers is a depressing book. It tells us the painful shortcomings of Israel to their divinely appointed calling. There are plenty of murmurings, rebellions, and outright transgressions of all kinds. I can just imagine God shaking his head in disappointment.

Yet, even though many individuals were punished and an entire generation died, God’s covenant with the people held firm – namely because the Lord tenaciously held to it and did not abandon Israel altogether. The tabernacle remained, despite the fickle people.

The point is strongly made that God was with the people and governed their comings and goings. And this teaches us something about our own spiritual pilgrimage on this earth; and the decisions and discernments which must be made in that sojourn.

There are times we need to pack up and get moving; and there are other times when we need to stay put, pause, and wait on the Lord’s timing. Our entire earthly life is one big sojourn from birth to death. How we go about this pilgrimage is of upmost importance.

We are meant to connect with transcendent things, to discover the Divine. The Lord wants us to discern what to do, when to do it, and where. So we keep moving, learning both the value of putting down roots and blessing a particular place, as well as the importance of walking, traveling, and spreading out across the earth. In engaging these dynamics of movement and stillness, we learn about realities greater than ourselves.

There is a lot of work to do with discernment and decision-making. We may long for a pillar of cloud, but the Lord seems to want us leaping into the unknown with faith when it’s time; or to stop talking, sit down, and listen for the still small voice of God. And we’ll need to work together for this discernment to happen.

A change in direction requires right motives and proper attitudes. It’s got to have some solid knowledge, understanding, and wisdom behind it. And our movements must be purposeful in a way which blesses the world and doesn’t curse it.

In short, faith and trust are to be developed. Faith is not a static word, but dynamic. Believing is always moving, either in redemptive and helpful ways, or in the unbelieving ways of self-centeredness and ignorance. And since the believer serves a good God who has our best interests at mind, we can trust that we’re headed toward the place of promise and abundance.

Course corrections will always be needed, and that’s okay. But what’s not okay is the refusal to change, move, and discern next steps. One of the wonderful gifts of taking time for silence, solitude, and prayer is that we learn the subtle movements of God’s spiritual rhythms. We discern who we are, how we are, where we are, and where we need to be.

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace ever to know his most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it. Amen.  —St. Ignatius of Loyola

The Thundering Voice of the Lord (Psalm 29)

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

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
    worship the Lord in holy splendor.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the Lord, over mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf
    and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
    the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl
    and strips the forest bare,
    and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
    the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
    May the Lord bless his people with peace! (New Revised Standard Version)

I grew up in rural middle America, on the land, and working the land. All of that outdoor work of the farmer makes one very attuned to the weather. In fact, my dad could often predict a coming thunderstorm with an almost precise accuracy.

There is something of a weather report from the psalmist in today’s lesson. He describes a powerful storm forming and moving its way inland from over the sea. It does its damage as a result of high winds, incredible lightning, and of course, the loud rumble of thunder. It is this thunderous display of strength that is the voice of the Lord.

Seven times in Psalm 29 the psalmist repeats the phrase, “the voice of the Lord.” There’s a lot more going on than a meteorological thunderstorm; behind the storm is theological Being who controls all things. The Lord God almighty is not your run-of-the-mill ordinary local deity.

Israel did not have multiple gods of thunder, lightning, clouds, and rain; they worshiped Yahweh, one God, who was Lord of the entire storm, as well as the whole world. The point of the psalmist is that no one, no other god, can compete with this awesome God of Israel.

Yet, despite the theological reality of Israel and their God, there was an entire panoply of gods that the Canaanites worshiped in ancient Palestine. The Canaanite god Baal is mentioned many times in the Old Testament. Baal was the lord of the storm, the god who hung out in the clouds and brought needed rain for the crops to grow.

What’s more, ancient Israel was continually tempted toward the worship of Baal. There were even those who gave the ancient god credit for the harvest of crops. But the psalmist will have none of that business. The real lord of the storm, the actual power behind everything in the universe, is Yahweh.

This is why there is the invitation to praise the Lord. And it isn’t just people who are invited; the heavenly beings are called upon to praise. It’s likely that the psalmist is putting those pagan gods in their place by encouraging them to recognize who is really in charge and in control of all things.

Whatever is going on with the psalmist’s intention, there is clearly a universal and cosmic call to acknowledge the majesty and sovereignty of Yahweh and offer appropriate praise for the One who is over everything.

The description of the powerful thunderstorm is presented as evidence of Yahweh’s power, glory, and sovereignty. It’s as if the entire earth is a temple, with every creature on earth called upon to offer up their praise and honor. Beings in both heaven and earth join together in a great universal choir of praise to the God who makes all things possible.

Even when the rains turn into a flood and brings chaos, God is over those chaotic waters, as well. It is the Lord who brings order from chaos, and who tames the mighty waters. In the New Testament, Jesus demonstrated this godly power in front of the fearful disciples:

A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And waking up, he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Be silent! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:37-41, NRSV)

God, as absolute Sovereign, is able to provide peace and well-being from fearful hearts and anxious minds. And this is something to celebrate, to offer gratitude to God for such absolute authority.

People today may not be tempted to worship Baal; but in the middle of our fear and anxiety of life’s many storms, we might search for help and deliverance from the stock market, technology companies, a capitalist economy, social networking, or our own hard work and ingenuity.

Those things may easily become the gods we worship – offering our time, commitment, money, and emotional energy to them – and leaving God in the dugout of our lives to be available, just in case, as a pinch-hitter. But this approach never accounts for the inevitable game being rained out – perhaps permanently.

Just as the wise person saves their money for the inevitable rainy day, so the spiritual person who is aware of God’s authority and power will wisely invest their time and energies into discovering this God. They will engage in spiritual practices designed for relatable connection.

The believer realizes that, although today might be bright and sunny, there will be a damaging thunderstorm in the future for which preparations must be made now.

The voice of the Lord can be a reassuring presence and a healing balm; or it can be a fearful and devastating experience. How you see it and prepare for it makes a big difference.

Glorious God, I worship and praise you in response to your voice. I join with all the voices of the earth, together with all the voices of the heavens, to praise your glorious name; and to bow down in awe before your mighty power. Amen.

Learn To Do Right (Isaiah 1:1-4, 16-20)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Statue of Isaiah the Prophet, by Salvatore Revelli (1816-1859), Rome, Italy

The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!
    For the Lord has spoken:
“I reared children and brought them up,
    but they have rebelled against me.
The ox knows its master,
    the donkey its owner’s manger,
but Israel does not know,
    my people do not understand.”

Woe to the sinful nation,
    a people whose guilt is great,
a brood of evildoers,
    children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the Lord;
    they have spurned the Holy One of Israel
    and turned their backs on him…

Wash and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
    stop doing wrong.
Learn to do right; seek justice.
    Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
    plead the case of the widow.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.
If you are willing and obedient,
    you will eat the good things of the land;
but if you resist and rebel,
    you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (New International Version)

Whenever the prophet has a vision, everyone better perk up and take notice.

After the northern Jewish kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 B.C.E., they lost their national identity. The southern Jewish kingdom of Judah, and its capitol Jerusalem, continued to exist for nearly a century and a half – even though they were vassals of either the Assyrians or the Babylonians.

Yet, Judah still functioned as its own nation in a semi-independent state. It was during this time that the prophet Isaiah had his vision, under the kingship of those descended from King David.

The Prophet Isaiah, by Marc Chagall,1968

The initial section of Isaiah’s prophecy is a series of oracles that establish the relationship between God and the nation of Judah, especially Jerusalem. The gist of God’s message is that the people are guilty of lots of sins.

However, the Lord left a gracious opening for them; their fate was not yet sealed. The nation could repent of their sins and experience a future restoration. God wanted to bring a resolution, and not have the people keep going in their unhealthy ways.

Throughout Isaiah’s vision, God is presented as a Father, with the children being Israel (both northern and southern kingdoms). And Father God has a complaint against them. The people’s principal sins were rebellion and ignorance. They spurned God’s authority, and did not accept their family intimacy with God.

Thus, the Lord is quite disappointed with the people. Heavenly witnesses are called to hear the charges of wrongdoing. The troubles of the nation were to be interpreted as warnings and disciplines, meant to lead them to stop and do right. Yet it seems that the warnings go unheeded by the people. It appears that God’s efforts to woo the people back are in vain.

Although the people’s continued sacrificial worship is merely done as a mere perfunctory act, and without true hearts of devotion for what is just and right, God offered them a chance to make things right, so that they could do justice and embrace righteousness.

God made it clear what it would take to repent: learn to do good; seek justice; recuse the oppressed; defend the orphan; plead for the widow. God even issued an invitation for a divine/human dialogue to happen.

Grace and cleansing from sin are possible, that is, if the people are willing and obedient, instead of remaining rebellious and refusing to do what is right, just, and good.

The nation was at a crossroads and had to make a decision. Would they choose wisely or foolishly?

Decision-making is critical. Some choices are harder than others. Yet the ability to decide is a God-given gift and ability.

Making decisions is fraught with consequences; we may try to anticipate or ignore what might happen with a particular choice. And how we go about decision-making is important. Who do we listen to? What information do we need? How will this choice shake out in the end?

Intentions are not choices, but are simply a mental resolve to do or not do something, at some point. And to not make a decision is to have already made a decision to either procrastinate or not do anything at all.

There are also decisions of duty. This may or may not be admirable. There is also the choice of attitude and energy given to the decision – because a choice of doing one’s duty can be done with joy or grumpiness, excitement or bitterness, with a bright disposition or a flat sullen affect.

It’s not really hard to guess or assess the choices of the people in Judah and Jerusalem in Isaiah’s day. They were doing an outward duty of temple worship, but without any heart to it.

Many of the people looked upon their duty as a sort of magical talisman that would ward off any trouble or army invasion. With that kind of approach, the people looked upon the rest of their time as their own, as discretionary, as the choice to do whatever they wanted to do.

If their business practices were dubious and not quite right, then big deal. After all, they give their money at the temple.

If the leaders played favorites and overlooked the needy person among them, then so what? The poor and oppressed can work harder, right?

And if orphans and widows – who were the most vulnerable persons in society – were not completely cared for, then that’s sad, but too bad for them.

I can picture an ancient city council saying something like, “We have a lot on our plate, dealing with foreign powers, the economy, and political issues. Those needy persons need to get a clue. It’s their own fault for hanging around and not leaving the city for greener pastures. Not our problem.”

Oh, but it very much was their problem. It was everyone’s problem, and each person’s responsibility, to ensure that God’s justice, goodness, and righteousness was infused throughout the entire city and nation.

Hence, the reason for the book of Isaiah. Tackle the moral and ethical problems head on before it’s too late and the gravity of judgment presses everyone out of the land.

What’s needed is a willing heart inclined to walk into divine obedience, without any talkback, and without any negotiations or deals.

God is merciful, and is willing to talk it out. But justice must be done. Needs must be met. People must be cared for. The Lord’s will must be done, here on earth, as it is always done in heaven. Is this what you are about, or not? Will you learn to do right?

Most merciful God, shine the light of your gracious love upon my cold hard heart. Enlighten my mind and dispel the darkness; speak the truth and help me obey; and have pity upon me. Forgive me yet again of my offenses, transgressions, and guilty acts. Grant me the grace to serve you with faithfulness and care for your people with love and purity, today and always. Amen.