Lent 4. Voices from Long Ago (2015)

Self-reflection: what do I know to do that I am avoiding? What should I not do that I am doing? Am I willing to follow God's ways with all my heart?


Throughout my childhood, Grandma used to quote verses in German from Isaiah, her favorite book. 

Isaiah's bold promises about the coming Messiah are quoted during Advent (the season before Christmas) and Lent (the season before Easter). Many of the familiar lyrics of Handel's 1741 oratorio, The Messiah, come from Isaiah:

  • All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 
  • And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. Isaiah 40:5
  • For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 
  • The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell int he land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2
In the prophetic writings, God's promises are tucked between calls for repentance. "God is righteous and cannot tolerate injustice and worship of other gods," Isaiah calls out. "He will judge you if you do not turn from wickedness."

Recent turncoats - who used to be faithful pastors and believers - boldly demand that the Church should "progress" to affirm behaviors condemned in scripture. For example, Rob Bell has trumpeted: "It's more important to move with culture than to follow the Bible" (my paraphrase).

What?! In any reading of history, no moral deterioration or increasingly sinful culture has ever benefitted a nation. Greece? Rome? Corrupt Constantine? Did any of them get stronger as their moral fiber unraveled?

There's a frightening parallel between pastors who are defecting from sound doctrine today and the religious leaders who condemned Jeremiah's warnings that God would take away the wealth and security of Israel because of their wickedness.

In Jeremiah's day, a great controversy over God's message erupted in a struggle for religious and political correctness Jeremiah's message seemed negative, destructive to morale, and undermining to national security:
Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”
Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” Jeremiah 26: 11-16

The voices from long ago call to us: "Learn from our mistakes. Repent and turn to God. Perhaps he will relent and withhold his judgment."
May it be so. 
In our hearts. 
In our churches. 
In our countries.
Amen.

Popular posts from this blog

Lent Day 23: A life in hiding

Image
" You have been raised up with Christ. So think about things that are in heaven. That is where Christ is. He is sitting at God’s right hand.  Think about things that are in heaven. Don’t think about things that are only on earth.  You died. Now your life is hidden with Christ in God." Colossians 3:1-3 Where are you hiding? And what are you hiding from? What would happen if you believed God had raised you from the dead and you were focused on heaven? What is you hid behind God' power instead of depending on your own?
Read more

Lent Day 39: Sentenced for your crimes and mine

Image
When the Pharisees and other national leaders take Jesus to the Roman governor, they are looking for the worst punishment they can inflict, a cruel and painful death . Here are the details, from  John 18:28-19:16: Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.  So Pilate came out to them and asked, ‘What charges are you bringing against this man?’ ‘If he were not a criminal,’ they replied, ‘we would not have handed him over to you.’ Pilate said, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.’ ‘But we have no right to execute anyone,’ they objected.  This took place to fulfil what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. > This is hardly a trial that seeks justice. Rather, it is a conspiracy to execute someone who threatens the power base and status quo. The reli...
Read more

Lent Day 31, 2024: Pruning that profits us

Image
It's painful to lose things. Sometimes we have to wave goodbye to a friendship, a job, or a home. Sometimes it seems like God is angry with us or that it's our fault. But Jesus offers a different perspective. Jesus talks about the value of the hard times, when things are pruned away.  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.   He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful (John 15:1-2) ." Sometimes what you leave behind is something that has outgrown its season or taken energy away from your true purpose: a fruitful life. Other times we don't know why  we are being reshaped.  It can hurt.  The writer to the Hebrews notes: " No  discipline  seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11)." Challenge: Think of som...
Read more