Lenten Devotional 14: Waiting to Exile

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Scripture reading 2 Kings 24:8-25:30

The fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE/BC was the final season of the Deuteronomistic History (Joshua-Kings). One can only imagine the despair. Israel’s kings bowed to other gods and eventually fell into the hands of king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Now, Judah (the southern kingdom) followed with the same fate. Unlike 2 Chronicles, 2 Kings does not conclude on a happy note. Here, evil gets the better of God’s people.

This installment of our series was not meant to contradict the talk of repentance and reconcile, in yesterday’s post. Rather, it is that exile is a season of life. The Jewish people were scattered into exile by the Babylonians. Two thousand five hundred ninety eight years later, the people of Israel continue to fight for land. The exile happened because God’s people continuously sinned against the Lord. The law did not save the people.

But, the Jewish people weren’t special sinners; they were fallen human beings. The Primary History (Genesis-Kings) illustrates the fallen nature of humanity, with the people of God at the forefront of this fallen story. Only, this isn’t a bedtime story, it’s the history of the people of God. Upon reading this passage, one might ask, did the people of God pay attention to history? We are the people of God and this is our history.

Father, forgive us, for we know not what we do. We are sinners; helpless to help ourselves. Have mercy on us O Lord. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.  

Lenten Devotional 13: God's Great Sinners; Human Nature and Grace

Monday, March 05, 2012

Scripture reading: 2 Samuel 11:1-27

Our story today, takes place during the Deuteronomistic History (DtH) that constructs the second half of the Primary History (Genesis-Kings). The books of Samuel are technically one book that was split into two over time. I’m not here to debate Martin Noth’s view of single authorship for the DtH (Joshua-Kings) but as with the JEDP theory for the Pentateuch (Genesis-Deuteronomy) the DtH has exilic implications.

King David (the second king of Israel) reigned for forty years (1 Chr. 29:27) 1010-970 BCE/BC. But the written account of his reign was composed in the 6^th century (Noth). I tell you these technical details because David was a great king and a great sinner. Similarly, Ancient Israel was a great kingdom and a nation of sinners. Sure, it’d be easier to say human, but it’s important to know how the Lord uses sinners.

The chosen king sent his soldiers off to battle, but stayed home, which was not customary (v. 1). In his folly, David steals another man’s wife, and produces an ancient episode of Jerry Springer (vv. 2-5). Being the godly king he is, David attempts to conceal his deceptive affairs and let the woman’s husband deal with the aftermath (vv. 6-13). But, our biblical Springer show gets worse. When the first plan to deceive Uriah fails, all the king’s men set him up to die by order of the king (vv. 14-24). And everyone lived happily ever after… (vv. 25-27) or did they?

After our story, the child of David and Bathsheba’s affair dies, the Lord is not pleased with the sinful king, promising trouble for Israel, David realizes his sin against the Lord, and the Lord spares David and Israel (12:1-24). In juxtaposition, the people of Israel and Judah were sinful, they recognized their sin, and the Lord put an end to exile.

We are human and humans are sinners, but the Lord is gracious to sinners; whether we are kings, Israelites in exile, or the people of today who perpetually make mistakes. God chose humans to fulfill the covenant. Humans and sinners we may be, but God reconciles us in the work of grace. This is the Gospel of the Lord: redemption for sinners, those called human. I am a great sinner, we all are great sinners (it’s our nature) and Christ died for us all.

Lord, God, with David, you made a sinner the king of your people, and by your mercy the king and the people we reconciled. With Jesus, you became our king (the king of your people) and in your mercy you atoned for our sin, by taking it all upon your cross. On this day, we remember that we are humans and sinners, and that you were the one who died for us. Praise to you O Christ. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lenten Devotional 04: YHWH Alone

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-25

For the Yahwhist, Elohist, Deuteronomist, priestly writers and final redactors of the Primary History (Genesis-Kings) the text of Deuteronomy is the centerpiece. The core of the book of Deuteronomy is in these words, “The LORD is our God, the LORD alone” (6:4, NRSV).

Why does the passage revere YHWH as God alone? The Lord has rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and will fulfill the promise made to their ancestors; by bringing them into the land of promise. In the same way, Christ is God alone, having rescued all of humanity from the bondage of deception’s curse on our will, and has fulfilled the law. All are given the grace of God’s promise (by way of the cross, in the death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ) many will receive it, some will reject it, and the rest is a mystery of God.

“The LORD is our God, the Lord alone.” Only by the work of God, are the promises of God fulfilled.

In YHWH alone we receive the land of promise; one of milk and honey (vv.1-3).

YHWH alone, we love; by YHWH alone, we do all things (vv. 4-9).

YHWH alone, gave us everything, and YHWH alone we shall not forget (vv. 10-15).

The promise of YHWH alone, we shall remember, and not challenge (vv. 16-19).

The covenant of YHWH alone is, “our lasting good” – YHWH alone, we revere –

And, by YHWH alone we are justified (vv. 20-25).

Lord, you are God alone, “hallowed be your name;” for, you are the LORD alone. All thanks be to you for the promise you made and kept for the Israelites. All thanks be to you for the promise you made for us (through the cross event) that has been fulfilled in death and resurrection. We remain in the hope of Christ’s resurrection; for, resurrection is our promise, by the work of the LORD alone. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.