Reading from Monday, May 24

Yesterday was a fantastic day. I got some great news that I will hopefully be able to share here soon, Jilly and I are in a really good place in our relationship right now, and overall it was just a fantastically great day. Hooray.

Reading for May 24
2 Samuel 4:1-6:23
This is pretty interesting. The first major scene in this section is David and the Israeli army invading the city of Jerusalem - the first city we all probably think of when we think of 'Bible places', and yet it was not part of the kingdom of Israel at this time. So David was expanding the land and kingdom of Israel. In doing so, he was also exposing new people to God - for better or worse. Either way, this could be seen as the first time that Israel started expanding instead of staying in one spot. As violent as this expansion was, it must have been pleasing to God. Remember that he foiled the plans to build the tower of Babel because he did not want his people settling in one place for all eternity.

Then the Ark of the Covenant is brought back into the story. It's really intriguing how the ark is regarded as almost this cursed object. Like so much other folk lore and fantasy about items and objects that carry so much weight and power and good or evil that just being around it or touching it can have a profound impact on someone's life. This is certainly the case here. There is a scene where there is some poor schlub responsible for retrieving and bringing the ark to David. The donkey this guy is riding on trips, the ark is jostled loose and he reaches out to grab it so it doesn't touch the ground. Well, because of this obviously grave injustice, God strikes this man dead for touching the ark.

I find it somewhat ironic that there is such an emphasis on avoiding witchcraft and idolatry and magic and stuff like that, and yet this ark is almost idolized. If I were writing the story with the image of God I believe in - or was given through years of church and youth group - the ark would only be the physical representation of God for the people to latch on to, but in reality God could care less about some wood and gold put together to form a box. Then again, this could also be a placebo effect. The people's perceived holiness and 'magic' around this ark would make them fear the item as much as God himself. Their understanding was that if they saw God's face or spoke his name that they would freaking blow up and die. So touching something that they believed God was so much a part of could simply make them think that was a one way ticket to death town, and this is how it was told generation after generation and this was how it was written down.

Is it wrong to think that some of the stuff in the Old Testament was simply misinterpreted when it was written? I mean, I know I'm supposed to believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, but none of God's other creations are inerrant. I mean look at people - we suck!

John 13:31-14:14
Incredibly hopeful and redemptive stuff going on here.

First point - Yes! Finally! This is the religion I belong to. This is the God I follow.

³⁴"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

A command from our LORD to love one another as he has loved us. Sacrificial love, washing the feet of your friends, and also your enemies. Laying down your own pride and desires to make the lives of those around you easier. And while Christ dying for everyone was a unique situation which will likely not need to be repeated, think of that love he had for humanity and let that guide your love for others. If we could love one another in 1/1,000,000th of a degree of that level of love, as hacky as it sounds, this world would be a better place.

Then, Jesus goes on to say that he is, in fact, God. Not a god or God's son, but he is actually God.

⁷If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.

So as was mentioned last week in the discussion about "Is God Good?" Jesus is the best lens through which we can see God. So if he is the same as the God in the Old Testament - the only explanation would be that the scribes of those books got it wrong. They were not describing the God in his full love for humanity, and because they were obsessed with gaining new land and taking over other nations, they made up aspects of God to make him fit their needs at the time. This is still done today in politics and government issues. Cherry picking aspects of God to fit a political agenda. Then you get things like the slaughter of the Midianites. People in these positions of power often claim what God wants - and often those things are beneficial to America, but likely detrimental to other countries, and sometimes its detrimental to America too, we just can't see it yet. Remember that this very same God called us to love one another in the same way that he has loved us - sacrificially.


Psalm 119:17-32
Love this:

¹⁸ Open my eyes that I may see
       wonderful things in your law.

 ¹⁹ I am a stranger on earth;
       do not hide your commands from me.
 ²⁰ My soul is consumed with longing
       for your laws at all times.

It's fantastic to see such an earnest love for God's laws. Most people, including myself, often see them as a burden. But to think about the fact that these laws are in place because God loves us really does put it in perspective. It's like being a kid and being all upset at your Mom for not letting you play in the street, but as you grow up, you see that she didn't want you playing in the street because she loved you and doesn't want you to get hurt.

In the same way, God's laws are designed around his love for us. Which is where we 'may see wonderful things in [his] law'.



Proverbs 15:31-32
 ³¹ He who listens to a life-giving rebuke
       will be at home among the wise.
 ³² He who ignores discipline despises himself,
       but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

Word up, yo. Word up.