Contemplative Bible Reading

Exodus 12:28 (New Living Translation)

28 So the people of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses and Aaron.

This is the (hi)story of the first Passover. God’s people held captive in Egypt did just as commanded.

What is odd is, just a couple week’s earlier, they wanted to throw Moses in the river and be done with him. They complained bitterly about everything Moses told them was coming from God. Now, however, they followed instructions precisely.

We are a strange lot. One day we are devoted to one thing; a few days later we are devoted to the opposite. It seems that nothing has changed in a few thousand years and a few thousand generations.

How does God tolerate us? I cannot explain that. I thank God for mercy Please God, help me in my unbelief.

Psalm 94:16-17 (New Living Translation)

16 Who will protect me from the wicked?
Who will stand up for me against evildoers?
17 Unless the Lord had helped me,
I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.

The last year or so in America have seen one travesty after another. The wicked kill the innocent. The innocent turn on the wicked and become wicked themselves. The circle goes around and we wonder if it will end.

The LORD God helps. That is the hope of the believer. The non-believer has no hope. Those who turned away from God and walked a different path are hopeless. We turn from victim to oppressor to victim and on and on in a tragedy of God-less human suffering. We “wallow in the mire” as the Bible phrases it.

Suffering from than hands of an oppressor is bad. Forsaking God and living without hope is a tragedy. I alone can bring that tragedy on myself. Life without hope is self-inflicted. Please God, help me to choose to live in the hope of your light.

Ezra 6:22 (New Living Translation)

22 Then they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There was great joy throughout the land because the Lord had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel.

Other translations of this verse state the the LORD caused the King of Assyria to change his mind or change his heart. Hmmm, God can change the minds and hearts of earthly rulers (politicians). Allow me to use an old word to describe current American politics: we tend to have scoundrels in elected office. That is a great shame. Perhaps the future will be better.

Still, God can change hearts and minds. The translation above tells us that the King had changed to be favorable to God’s people. Oh, I like that one. A politician being favorable to Christians. I could use a lot more of that. Or would that be a good thing? Of course it would. Right? Maybe?

Let’s stop discussing what is good for me. Let’s focus on the power of God to alter the events of human history. The return to Jerusalem recorded in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were tiny in human history. The events in one little city in a corner of an empire that stretched most of the world were tiny.

Still, they were very important in the history of how God would send His Son to us to take away all our sins. That stretched across all the earth and all of human history. And one key step in that history-altering event was when God caused a king of a forgotten kingdom to be favorable to a displaced people.

Thank you God.

2 Chronicles 10:16 (American Standard Version)

16 And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So all Israel departed unto their tents.

This contemplative thought on scripture is a bit different for me. I made a note of this about a year before I attempted to write a few words. What struck me as noteworthy had escaped my mind. Perhaps I should make better notes as I become older.

It seems the phrase that is the title of this post is quite famous as it has been used throughout western history in the 20 or 30 centuries since Jeroboam uttered it. The use of it has been to remind persons of the dangers of harsh rule by a malevolent person. “The King hates us. Let’s go home and do what we can.”

It is also a reminder of the folly of arrogant rulers. “I am in charge. You will do as I say.” Really? We shall see about that. The arrogant king sent a tax collector. The taxed returned the dead body of the tax collector (the ensuing verses tell us that sad story). King Rehoboam lost more than half the kingdom in one day due to one proclamation. That was really putting his foot in his mouth.

Then there are the tents and the cities. Israel returned to its tents. Judah returned to its cities. The country folk rebelled against their rich city cousins. I suppose we are still doing that today. There is an old Country Western song about “A Country Boy Can Survive” from Hank Williams Jr. or something.

Where does this lead me? When confronted with a “either this or that” question, the answer should be,

“Loving brother, let’s sit, have a cup of coffee, and talk about a few things.”

Please God, grant me the wisdom when I need it, and I need it often.

Nehemiah 8:10 (New Living Translation)

10 And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Nehemiah was reading the Book of the Law to the people who had returned to Jerusalem. Many of the people had never heard these words. They were hearing that much of their lifestyles were not what the LORD wanted. They wept in shame.

“Don’t weep, don’t be dejected,” encouraged Nehemiah.

And then he added, “Joy in the LORD is strength.”

Let’s party! Right? Well, I guess that depends on what a “party” is. We have changed the meaning of words over a few thousand years. Words like singing, dancing, celebrating, and others meant one thing in one place at one time and, well, they mean something else today. There is a difference between dominoes and doobies (slang for marijuana).

Let’s celebrate! Right? Right. In this case, Nehemiah describes the celebration as,

12 So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.

Eat and drink and share gifts of food. Well, that sounds like fun to some of us and boring to others of us. What’s the answer? Each of us has to provide that answer. Each of us has a conscious and so on.

Joy in the LORD.

2 Chronicles 20:17 (New Living Translation)

17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!

Show up. Stand still. Just be there.

These are instructions given to an army by a man named Jahaziel. This is how to win a battle in a heated war. Really? Yes, really. Be there. Stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. What Jahaziel said came true.

Why didn’t God do this for me last week when… Because God didn’t choose to do that for me last week when… Why doesn’t God do this for a person I know who has been suffering an ailment for decades and needs mercy? Because God didn’t choose to do that.

But why? Why perform this unbelievable thing at that time but not at my time in my place? I want to know. Nope. Not for me to know.

Back to the beginning. This is what God wants us to do more times than I realize. Be there. Stand in place. Show God that much faith. Notice what God does.

I think that is where I fail the most and the most often. I don’t notice what God does. I don’t notice the power and action of God. I give the situation some other explanation. I claim credit too often.

Please God, help me to put myself in the ranks of those who stand in place and watch you perform miracles every day.

Psalm 40:9-10 (New Living Translation)

9 I have told all your people about your justice.
I have not been afraid to speak out,
as you, O Lord, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

King David is preaching about preaching. All this meta-preaching comes in a prayer and is recorded in a Psalm. Confusing? Could be.

But it is simple.

Here is Good News! God is just. God is faithful to Himself. God saves through a power we cannot understand. God never fails in love.

Why follow God? Those are great reasons. Claim those blessings and walk out everyday into a sinful and hateful world knowing that God is with us.

Tell someone else what is in these verses, in this little sermon from David. Repeat the words. Preach.

2 Chronicles 20:21 (New Living Translation)

21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:

“Give thanks to the Lord;
his faithful love endures forever!”

A battle is about to begin. The King has the army ready. Leading the troops into battle are…singers? Yes, singers.

First they sing to the army telling the army to give thanks to God.

Next they sing a praise describing God and God’s all-enduring love.

Talk to God. Talk to one another about God. Hmmm. What else should we be doing before a trying episode in our lives? Pretty simple. How is it that we make things so much more complicated than necessary? I guess we often try too hard.

Please God, help me to rest, breathe, and use the simplest things that you provide that are far more than sufficient.

Nehemiah 8:8 (New Living Translation)

8 They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.

Some of God’s people have returned to Jerusalem after a 70-year exile. The Priests are reading the Book of the Law of God. That isn’t a simple book. Reading it brings the question “Why?” to many sections of it.

The Priests explained the meaning; they answered the “why?” questions.

The Law of God was a good set of laws. The people living near the people of God recognized the greatness of God’s Law. Those surrounding people understood how much better life was with God’s Law.

“What does this mean? Why all this little print? Why is it so thick?” These are common questions about the Holy Bible we have today. We all need some explanations from day to day.

Who will explain it? We will. One day I will explain this to you, and the next you will explain that to me. God doesn’t provide gibberish that no one can understand and explain to another.

God, help me to slow down, read, pray, and understand. Give me the words to explain when that is appropriate and give me the wisdom to keep silent when that is appropriate.

2 Chronicles 19:6-7 (New Living Translation)

“Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case. ⁷ Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.”

“I don’t try to please any of you. I please God,” said many who were not well liked in what they said or did, but wanted to justify themselves.

Above is the easiest and one of the most used excuses by people who find themselves alone or in a very small group. People don’t like me and don’t like us because we are with God. Those popular folks just try to be popular by doing whatever it takes. There is some merit to those statements and arguments. Being with God is not a popular stance in many instances.

Note the third sentence. God will be with the judges when they judge to please God, not the people. Unpopular stance? Maybe. Is God with me in my stance? Well, sure, I’m a Christian. God is always with me. Really? Am I sure of that? Am I using God as an excuse for my folly? Am I just plain wrong? Well, uh, er, I uh…

This isn’t easy. I try. Some days are better than others. Some days I am a miserable failure and those days are my own fault. Please God, help me when I fall flat on my face. Help me in my unbelief.