MAINTAINING FORMS

While reading II Kings 22 this morning, I observed something that had previously gone unnoticed.

But before we go there, let’s review what’s going on in this chapter:

·         Amon only reigned in Judah for two years. He was an evil king like his father, Manasseh.

·         Amon’s son, Josiah, became king at the age of eight [639-609 B.C. It is likely that he was advised by the priests.] He was a good king and lived as his ancestor David had lived. (v.2)

·         After ten years as king, he instructed one of his leaders to go to the Temple and have him empty out the money the gatekeepers had gathered from the people. (v.4)  [Although a figure is not reported, there was apparently a significant amount there to buy timber and cut stone to repair the Temple. (v.6)]

·         As this work was begun, “Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the royal secretary, “I’ve found the Book of the Teachings in the Temple of the LORD. He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan…went to the king and…read from the book to the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Teachings, he tore his clothes to show how upset he was.” (portions of vs. 8-10).

·         This initiated a massive restoration of order and the purging of all the evil that had become part of Judah’s practice! “There was no king like Josiah before or after him. He obeyed the LORD with all his heart, soul, and strength, following all the Teachings of Moses.” (23:25)

I find it interesting that although Judah had become very evil and had actually misplaced the book of the Law – the people still visited the Temple and paid the gatekeepers to do so!

It was SO BAD that the high priest had lost the Book of the Teachings!  😳

We discover (chapter 23:4) that they had filled the Temple of the LORD with idols made for Baal, Asherah, and all the stars of the sky! The kings of Judah had chosen priests for these gods. These priests burned incense in the places where the gods were worshipped in the cities of Judah and the towns around Jerusalem. (v.5) 

Josiah had all of this dismantled and destroyed! He purged the land of all these objects and practices!

No one – not even the king or the high priest – had realized that anything was wrong!

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The Temple was still there! 

They still had a high priest!

People still visited the Temple!

They paid the gatekeepers!

Then they went out and did whatever they wanted to do! 

This reminds me of a verse I discovered way back when I was a college student. I was reading Psalm 106. At that time, I was still reading the King James Version, but here is the passage from the New Century Version:

Then the people believed what the LORD said, and they sang praises to him.

But they quickly forgot what he had done; they did not wait for his advice. They became greedy for food in the desert, and they tested God there. So he gave them what they wanted, but he also sent a terrible disease among them.  (vs.12-15)

 The KJV stated it a bit more abruptly:

…He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

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I frequently get the sense that we [the American Church] have become good at maintaining forms but have lost our direct connection to God through His Holy Spirit! 

Are there those who give God a couple of hours on Sunday morning and then go out and live the rest of the week as though He doesn’t exist?

Are His priorities our priorities? Do we care about the spiritually lost – which was Jesus’ highest priority?

Have we lost our Bibles? Is His Word really a ‘lamp unto our feet’?

Is our only prayer when we recite ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ on Sunday morning? Or the occasional “Oh, God!” when crisis interrupts our lives?

Are our pastors and worship leaders using spiritual discernment as they plan our Sunday mornings? Is liturgy our guide or the Holy Spirit?  Is consideration given as to how HE might want to direct our time together?

Do we faithfully give of our finances to the Lord without the joy or hilarity that the scripture references? Do we really live as though it ALL is HIS and we are just stewards of the resources HE has made available to us?

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During our years in China, we worshipped most Sundays with an International Church that met in an ‘approved Chinese church’. We were unhindered in the expression of our worship, but Chinese people were not allowed to attend.

Usually there were from 40-100 people who came from many nations. We had a pastor who – like all of us – was in China for some reason. The worship was alive and genuine!  Every Sunday, those from African countries would plead with us to pray for their home countries!  Prayer requests were shared and prayed over. The singing was jubilant – sometimes hearing a number of different languages being used! We were NOT a homogenous looking group! Testimonies interrupted the services frequently! Appeals for urgent prayer were also common!

The bond we experienced was not because of ethnic commonality, shared national allegiance, language, vocational connections, or regional familiarity. The bond that brought us together was our love for God and the connection we had with Him through His Holy Spirit! AND IT WAS WONDERFUL!

 

ALMIGHTY GOD: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

May we see these same dynamics at work in our churches here in America! FOR YOUR KINGDOM’S SAKE.

AMEN

SIMON PETER'S CLOSE CALL!

Many are familiar with the story of the Apostle Peter being arrested and thrown into jail. We delight in the miraculous intervention by God to set him free:

[That night] Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Other soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shined in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Hurry! Get up!” the angel said. And the chains fell off Peter’s hands. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And Peter did. Then the angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.” So Peter followed him out, but he did not know if what the angel was doing was real; he thought he might be seeing a vision. They went past the first and second guards and came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened by itself for them, and they went through it. When they had walked down one street, the angel suddenly left him.[Acts 12:6-10]          

[All quotes are from Acts 12 in the NCV]  

I don't know about you, but I giggle as I read this! What an experience! Poor Peter wasn't even sure it was happening!

Of course, most of you will remember that this miraculous escape was brought about - at least partly - due to the prayers of Peter's friends and family!

[Immediately] ...he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. Many people were gathered there, praying. Peter knocked on the outside door, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so happy she forgot to open the door. Instead, she ran inside and told the group, “Peter is at the door!”

They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she kept on saying it was true, so they said, “It must be Peter’s angel.”

Peter continued to knock, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. Peter made a sign with his hand to tell them to be quiet. He explained how the Lord led him out of the jail, and he said, “Tell James and the other believers what happened.” Then he left to go to another place.   [vs.13-17]

Now, I'm more than giggling - I'm full-blown laughing! This is hilarious! It doesn't say much for Rhoda's faith! She's been praying for his release, but when he shows up at the door, she can't believe her eyes!  

[For those who might wonder about the James mentioned by Peter: Since the Apostle James had been killed, we can assume that this James is the brother of Jesus. This James gave us the Book of James in our New Testament! He also became a prominent leader in the New Testament Church (See the first NT Council recorded in Acts 15.]

BACKSTORY!

But to gain a full and rich appreciation for this historical event, we must go back to the first verses in this chapter.

This new church has been growing in numbers and influence since Pentecost!  So much so, that it has caught the attention of King Herod!  He became SO UPSET about this spiritual uprising, that he “began to mistreat some who belonged to the church.” [Eventually] “…He ordered James, the [Apostle] brother of John, to be killed by the sword. [vs.1-2]

There’s little good that can be said about Herod!

The King Herod in Acts 12 is actually King Herod Agrippa I – grandson of Herod the Great! He is a ruthless ruler who has no regard for God or human life. Notice that he has the guards at the prison killed for allowing this miraculous escape by Peter and the angel! He also kills several family members whom he suspected of trying to undermine his ruler ship.

When Herod saw that some of the people liked this [James’ death], he decided to arrest Peter, too. (This happened during the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.) [v.3]  Those who were pleased were probably Pharisees whom Herod viewed with some fear.  Pleasing them would be a wise political move for Herod!

It is crystal clear that Peter’s life was in real peril. Without a divine intervention, it would have been highly likely that Peter would have been killed during this feast!

 

A SURPRISE ENDING!

This same chapter continues by telling us of a day [not very long after Peter’s escape] when Herod celebrated a political victory after negotiating a peace arrangement with the people of Tyre and Sidon.

On a chosen day Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not a human!” Because Herod did not give the glory to God, an angel of the Lord immediately caused him to become sick, and he was eaten by worms and died. [vs.21-23]

 

THE END RESULT

 God’s message continued to spread and reach people. [v.24]

LOVE IS…

Are you old enough to remember the ‘Love is…’ black-and-white comics that appeared in magazines and newspapers back in the 1970’s?

After having dated during high school, Debbie and I got back together while attending Roberts Wesleyan College. After her sophomore year, she returned home to work. I hitch-hiked nearly 10,000 miles over the next couple of years - mostly between Rochester, NY and Beaver Valley, PA. I've brushed several inches of snow off my shoulders in Buffalo, NY. I've also slept in wooded areas near Route 79, waiting for traffic to pick up again in the morning [traffic flow was different in the 1970's]! 

The two years that we were apart prompted us to write lots of letters! Debbie often included a ‘Love is…’ cartoon in with her correspondence! 

We're the couple on the right representing the class of '73 

during Homecoming of our sophomore year!

We kept the flames of our love alive and were married in August, 1973, after my graduation.  😊

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Have you ever heard the story behind these much-appreciated cartoons?

A New Zealand artist-cartoonist, Kim Casali, began to travel around the world when she was 19 years old.  Six years later, she settled in California where she met an Italian man named Roberto Casali.

She began drawing short scenes of them portrayed as a chubby naked girl and boy. Her efforts drew on her feelings at the time. 

 

First, she drew a little girl to represent her. Then she drew a little boy to represent Roberto. Her feelings for him became the basis for her drawing.

 

Roberto decided to produce the output of comics, and so “Love is…” was released on January 5, 1970.  In 1974, the boy calls the girl Kim. Even before that, in the comics [1971], the girl draws the letter R in the sand!

 

In a 1981 interview, Kim said: “If I had a choice, I would be an author of romantic love songs…But I don’t know how to write beautifully, so I had to choose another way to express my feelings.”  The comics became very popular!

 

After the birth of two sons, Roberto became the business manager of their corporation – ‘Minikim’.

 

Eventually even animals appear in the comics, too: a dog named Samson and a reference to Fido. In 2005, the couple has two cats, and in 2009, the girl is crying over a dead cat.

 

Sadly, in 1975, Roberto was diagnosed with an incurable cancer. Kim stopped working and turned the artistry over to Bill Espirit. This is when the comics became color and the characters began wearing clothes.

 

In 1976, at the age of 31, Roberto died and the comics showed only a little girl and a tombstone. Sixteen months after his death, Kim had a baby by using the frozen sperm of her husband.

 

Sadly, this love story finally ended when, at the age of 55, Kim also died of bone cancer.

[Information largely copied from:  https://pictolic.com/en/article/love-is-history-of-creation-of-cute-comics-about-love]

OUR REFUGE

My computer occasionally changes my opening page picture. This morning it featured a picture of the Rupea Fortress in Romania. I found myself entering into the picture and imagining the security that the people must have felt during the feudal days when systems of government were weak, local and threatening. How comforting it must have been to know that this fortress was nearby where the locals could flee in times of attack or fear! It sits high on a hill where it can be easily defended. Its walls are high with multiple areas of protection and security. It was carefully designed to be defended against any enemies.

I imagined the feeling of relief and safety enjoyed immediately upon gaining entrance to this refuge. The collective strength and resources of the people could be fully realized.

[https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/medieval-fortress-on-the-hill-in-brasov-county-rupea-romania-gm1283282225-380748803]

Of course, it immediately brought to my mind the words of the sons of Korah recorded in Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Selah
[A Hebrew term that beckons us to stop and reflect on the message.]

[The scene switches to Heaven – our eventual, eternal home!]

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

[An appeal is made to give God greater influence in our lives. A message directly from God is given!]

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

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Thank You, Lord for being a safe haven,

a secure respite

One who provides us a place of rest and security.

 

Sometimes life can be overwhelming!

 

At times like this, You welcome us to run to You!

Like a mother hen, You shield us from all harm.

 

We need to learn to run to You more often.

We try so hard to make it on our own!

You must be bewildered by our failure to turn to You…

 

Teach me to realize that You are my greatest resource!

Train me to turn to You with greater frequency!

Show me the depths of Your love for me

and the persistence of Your pursuit of me

when hard times stress and discourage me.

 

Help me to overcome my self-reliance

and learn to cast all my cares upon You!

 

AMEN!