Something Proved, Something New

Joshua 20

One of my temptations when I look at a text is to use the text to prove something that I already believe. Then I figure that I can take that text and base a lesson or sermon on it to teach someone I know what they should really be doing. Today's text is a great example of this.

In Joshua 20, You are telling the people to set aside cities of refuge so that those who kill someone accidentally will not be killed in return by the avenger of blood. It's a really fascinating idea, because what it means is that there are different levels of punishment for the same action depending on the motivation of the one who commits the action. It means that, apparently, there are not hard and fast lines saying this sin equals this punishment every time, no exceptions. It shows that it is fair to look at a situation and judge on a case to case basis what it proper as far a punishment.

This is a message that I believe anyways. I believe that hard and fast rules are generally unfair, and that case by case processing allows for better relational connection. I believe that it is not fair to treat everyone equally. I also believe in forgiveness, which these cities of refuge sort of offer.

So, I already believe what I see in the text here. And it is hard for me to see anything else in it. I can't find my way past my first thought, and my first thought is something I don't need much backing up and proof to continue to believe. Instead, I would rather find something new, something fresh, something creative.

But we don't always get something new from faith. Except for Your mercies, which are new every morning. In my stillness this morning, thank You for a text of fairness. Help me to be involved in representing this idea of fairness to my classes. But more important, help me to be aware of that whihc is consistently new: Your love, Your mercy, Your grace.

Produce Fruit in Keeping with Repentance (Body)

So my question as we ended yesterday Lord was how do we prepare ourselves for You, for what You are doing? As Scripture would put it, how do we prepare the way of the Lord? Well, of course that Scripture would be a really good place to start I think. The one that speaks of preparing the way. So when Joel read this text last Sunday, I was all ears and eyes for what the text said.

Of course, the idea of preparing the way is found specifically in two places of the Scriptures. One is in Isaiah, which is a prophetical proclamation, the second is in the gospels as John the Baptist fulfills this prophecy. So Joel read this passage from Isaiah:

"A voice of on calling:
'In the desert prepare
the way for the LORD;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it."

So, I've never really thought about what this means. I guess, I've thought about the fact that it applies to John the Baptist because he was a voice calling in the wilderness. But I never thought about what it says in regards to preparing for God. The picture that just jumps off the page at me is "Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low." When I see this, one single thought came to me. This is talking about equality. Knocking down hills and raising up valleys make all the ground level, a level playing field so to speak.

So I take that hypothesis about equality to the New Testament, to John. How does John interpret what this passage is talking about? In Luke, this very same passage is quoted, and then John goes off on the crowds coming out to him. He tells them to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. In other words, don't just make a big show of coming out to be baptized in the desert in order to show repentance, no, actually get down to the work of preparation. The work of repentance. The doing part of faith.

The people ask John a very good question then: "What shall we do?" How do we produce fruit? How is the way of the LORD prepared? How do we prepare ourselves and at the same time prepare others for the work that God is doing?

John answered: "Equality. Level the playing field. Stop gaining for yourselves and taking from others. Make things equal." Okay, not exactly quoting Scripture there. But John's exact answers were that the man who has two tunics should share with the one who has none, the one who has food should share with the one who has none, the tax collectors shouldn't take more for themselves, the soldiers should not extort more for themselves. The message is simple: make sure everyone has their needs taken care of, don't take advantage of people because you can.

This speaks to me in a lot of ways. Personally, I don't know how much I actually am concerned with this. I mean, I am, for sure...but is my fruit, my response in keeping with my concern and belief? That's a good question to struggle with today? Where should I be giving my tunics? Who should be getting my food? Where can I make things more equal, less rough, so that the glory of the LORD may be seen?