Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Timothy 2:22 (New Living Translation)

…pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

I consider these tips or recommendations as opposed to commands. And I consider these to be pretty darn good tips.

• do what is right
• be faithful to Jesus Christ and his teachings and way of life
• love one another
• be at peace with yourself and others
• find people who have a heart towards God and spend your time with them

Yes, pretty darn good tips.

Daniel 6:21-22 (New Living Translation)

21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king! 22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”

Daniel survived the night in the lion’s den. He is telling the king what happened. Please remember, even though the king loved and respected Daniel, the king put Daniel in the lion’s den for a night. This is no time for fairy tales.

An angel shut the mouths of the lions.

Hmmm, something to infer: angels have power over animals and other creatures (let’s not delve into angels and power over humans today).

Ever see an animal acting “strangely?” Ever wonder why? Any angels in the area? I’m not writing about illusions performed by trained ponies. Ever heard of a bear not taking food from a small, human child? Something to consider.

2 Timothy 1:7 (New Living Translation)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

God has given us a spirit of, let’s see:

• power
• love
• self-discipline

Seems like an odd list. None of these things is not like the other or something like that. Perhaps we have lost something in the translation. I like all three of these. I like being powerful. Love, well, that is really important to God. Self-discipline, now I really like that one. I have lots of that. Thanks God for giving it to me.

Still. Seems like an odd list. Perhaps one day I will understand.

Daniel 6:1-3 (New Living Translation)

1 Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. 2 The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. 3 Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

Daniel was chosen to supervise the high officers of the land. He was chosen to protect the interests of the king. Daniel excelled. Daniel was then placed over not only the land, but the empire—all the lands conquered by the king.

Let’s back up a step or two. Daniel’s people were smashed by this king. Jerusalem and the Temple of God were looted by this king. This king was horrible toward God’s people.  Why is Daniel working so hard and so well for this king? Please, explain this one to me.

Well, you have to look at the big picture. But what if I don’t want to look at the big picture? Someone explain why God is having these horrible people prosper. Short term. Right now.

If God doesn’t do things that make sense to me…well, I’m gonna’ do something or other to really hurt God. Well, I’ll just…

Enough silliness. It didn’t make any short-term sense for Daniel to help Darius prosper. God had a plan for His people to be stuck there for 70 years. Prosperity meant prosperity for God’s people. Any fun to be one of the stuck-ees who didn’t live in the palace like Daniel? No. Any fun to watch your parent grow old and die in a foreign land. No, again.

Was it possible in all this to love God and love your neighbor? Yes. Oh, we go back to the important stuff. Hmmm. Maybe all that other stuff wasn’t so important. Maybe I need to keep my mind and heart on the important stuff.

Hebrews 1:1-2a (New Living Translation)

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son…

In these two simple sentences, the writer notes how human history changed direction. For a few thousand years, God told a few persons what to tell everyone else. Then, in a brief lifetime, God changed the communication channel. God sent his Son with the message.

I sit here with two thousand years of hindsight. The change is obvious to me. How could anyone not see it? I try in vain to take the place of the people who were alive at the time. It would be great in one respect to claim, “The universe changed in my lifetime!” In another respect, that would be the epitome of prideful arrogance. Aren’t I special? God chose my generation to be THE ONE.

Here is the difficult-to-accept part of this simple message. I want to be a prophet. I want to have a cousin of mine be a prophet. I want that special position. Come on God, speak to mankind through me me me. Send your Son with the message later or something, okay?

Then again, the lives of the prophets weren’t that good. God, once again, help me to accept me being me and You being God. Help me in my unbelief.

Daniel 1:17 (New Living Translation)

God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.

God gives us things. God gives us abilities. Sometimes, as in this verse, God gives us an unusual aptitude. The dictionary calls this, “a natural ability to do something.” Funny how nature does this stuff without God, but let’s not digress too far.

God gave Daniel and his three Israelite friends the ability to understand every aspect of literature and wisdom. Not too good at physics or chemistry, but that wasn’t what these four young men needed at that time at that place. God had them excel where He needed them to excel. They were in the heart of a government bureaucracy of a wealthy country. Literature and wisdom were important; they were unusually talented, and others noticed.

What is my natural talent? What did God give me? And I guess the more important question is, how am I using what God gave me? How are we all doing with this?

Exodus 21:16 (New Living Translation)

Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves.

This is what Joseph’s brothers did to him. Now the law, as stated here, came after the (hi)story of Joseph and his brothers. Still, I doubt that any observer would justify what the brothers did to Joseph.

One thing is easily lost in this kidnapping and punishment law: you have to consider the person you kidnap to be a person. Throughout the ages, persons have some to consider others as less than persons, not really or fully human.

We seem to find a way to justify what is unjustifiable.

Exodus 16:22-23 (New Living Translation)

22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as usual—four quarts for each person instead of two. Then all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation. 23 He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.”

I believe this is the first Sabbath given to God’s people. The intent was clear: a day of complete rest. The rest was set apart for the Creator.

Wow. Great. Rest. Everyone welcomed it. Right? Wrong.

What is it about gifts that we struggle to accept them? God told the people, “You don’t have to gather food on the day of rest. Just sit back and relax. I’m giving you enough on the sixth day to carry you through. Just relax, folks. Really, no kidding. Relax.

We just couldn’t accept it.

Exodus 8:26 (New Living Translation)

But Moses replied, “That wouldn’t be right. The Egyptians detest the sacrifices that we offer to the Lord our God. Look, if we offer our sacrifices here where the Egyptians can see us, they will stone us…

Stoning—throwing rocks at a person until they die—was what God’s people used for capital punishment. Where did they learn that? Perhaps from the Egyptians? Or did the Egyptians learn it from God’s people?

Anyways, here it is. Moses describes what will happen if God’s people offer to Jehovah in from of the Egyptians—stoning.

Exodus 4:22-23 (New Living Translation)

22 Then you will tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son. 23 I commanded you, “Let my son go, so he can worship me.” But since you have refused, I will now kill your firstborn son!’”

This is one of those posts where I have questions and no answers. These verses seem to disagree with John 3:16 and the phrase “God’s only son.” God is telling Moses that Israel—the people descended from Abraham—are God’s firstborn son.

Of course this could all be explained with literary license or something like that. God wants to emphasize the ultimate punishment of Pharaoh and Egypt and the death of the firstborn. Hence, God notes that Israel is His firstborn. Perhaps that is an answer to the unasked question. Perhaps not.

Still, something to consider on a day when considering the unfathomable riches of God is appropriate.