Reading from Friday, May 28

Hey now. So the other day I was talking politics with Jilly (a very rare occurrence) and we were talking about how her parents and most of her family tend to vote republican. Myself identifying and relating more toward the democratic side of things thought she was the same way. She never really participates in voting or political conversations and generally tries to avoid it. But I was like "well, you are democrat right?" and she said "No. I'm a socialist." Now if you know Jill, you'll know that could have easily been taken as a joke, as she just as easily could have said "No. I'm a vampire." But she was serious. She identifies with the way things were done back in Biblical times - everything was equally shared amongst everyone, which is - I think - the  on paper definition of Socialism. Obviously Socialism carries a pretty negative connnotationg because it was implemented by a bad man, but I think on paper its a fantastic idea. If everyone was equal, there would really be nothing to fight about - or at least less to fight about.

I just thought that was interesting because in American culture today, its so two-sided. Everything makes it seem like you have to choose one side or the other. It wasn't until that conversation with Jilly that I realized that I could be something completely different. Now, do I believe Socialism would work in America? No. Absolutely not. But, there are certain things like Universal Healthcare that I think lend themselves to that mindset. I'm not trying to alienate any readers as I know a few are hardcore GOPers, nor do I think the healthcare bill is perfect, but I think that Capitalism (which is a main pillar in both parties) creates such a stark contrast between the rich and the poor - the haves and the have nots. God calls us to care for the poor, the oppressed and to love one another - why shouldn't that command extend to our government as well?

Anyway, I'm not  the  most political guy in the world, and I'm sure most of you could poke holes in all of my arguments, or totally pwn me in a political debate, but I just wanted to introduce the idea that you don't have to identify with one party or the other if neither of them speak to the way you see the world. Karl Marx 4 Life!

Reading for May 28
2 Samuel 13:1-39
This is like Shakesperian tragedy goin on here. So by this time, David has several wives and a ton of kids. One of his sons - Amnon - falls in love with one of his daughters - Tamar. I think they came from different mothers, so they were technically half siblings, but still - gross.

So, Amnon pretends to be sick and demands that Tamar cook food for him and serve him. She does, and as she goes to feed him, he grabs her hand and asks her to have  sex with him. When she refuses, he rapes her, taking her virginity - a very important trait in a woman back in those times. After he rapes her, they are laying in the bed together and the text says that his love turns to hatred for her. He kicks her out of the bed and demands that they never see each other again.

Well, Amnon's full brother, Absalom hears about this and freaks out and sets out to kill Amnon. Two years after the rape takes place there is a banquet where everyone is drinking and having a good time. Absalom orders his men to wait until Amnon is nice and drunk and then to run him through. Hiss men follow Absalom's orders and now David is down another son.

A couple things to point out. As I mentioned in the previous post, it is striking how similar these people are to people of today. I think we all get this sense that humanity changes every decade and that we're all so radically different, but think about it - this story happens every day in America. I mean, I think I saw three episodes of Law and Order: SVU tonight that followed that exact same plotline. Our perception is that because clothing styles change and because technology advances, that humanity ges through these huge changes, but really, we're all  the same as the people even thousands of years ago.

The second thing I want to point out is that Jesus came from David's lineage. Out of this f-ed up, ruined family, and by extension, out of the larger screw up family of the  Jews, came the savior of the world. Proverbs 16:4

 ⁴ The LORD works out everything for his own ends—
       even the wicked for a day of disaster.

John 17:1-26
Wow. This section is absolutely beautiful. Please read the quote below - it's a long one, but it shows the love Jesus has for you.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

 ⁶"I have revealed you^[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. ⁸For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. ⁹I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. ¹¹I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one. ¹²While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. ¹³"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. ¹⁴I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. ¹⁵My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷Sanctify^[b] them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

 ²⁰"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. ²⁵"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Like, I'm not one to "evangelize" or try to convert people, but in plain language that is Jesus showing how much he loves people. As if he is saying "God, I came down to check these guys out, and it turns out they're not so bad. In fact, they're pretty awesome." He even compares himself to the people - to you and me. I don't know, but that's pretty incredible - even if you don't buy Jesus' divinity and resurrection, you gotta respect the guy, and to be  considered on the same level as him is pretty boss. 

Psalm 119:81-96
 ⁹² If your law had not been my delight,
       I would have perished in my affliction.
 ⁹³ I will never forget your precepts,
       for by them you have preserved my life.

I think this again specifically refers to the idea of considering suffering to be joy. He's saying here that if he had not been in that mindset, he would have died. I also think that this is David writing this, and from what we've seen so far from his life. I would have  to agree. He's got the death of a man and a baby on his conscience, not to mentions thousands of other people from surrounding nations, the dude saw some hard times.  And yet he praises God throughout. Good man.

Proverbs 16:6-7
YES! Finally some clarity. 

 ⁶ Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
       through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
 ⁷ When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD,
       he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

Verse 6 is something I can really get behind. I can defintiely sign up for a religion were love and faithfulness atone one of sins instead of sacrifice and torment. Also this sheds a huge amount of light on the concept of fearing God. You can atone for your sins through love and faithfulness, but fearing God will help you avoid sinning in the first place. I love it - that is so simple and yet so profound. I think I have an answer as to what it means to fear God, or wait, no...It's clear now why I should fear him. I still don't know what fearing God would look like. Well at least I know what I'm working towards.