Bric-a-brac

What is the typical pattern used to depict the call of an individual in Scripture?  For example, Jeremiah’s call follows this pattern.

Jeremiah’s prophetic preaching is based on this theme. (What is the covenant relationship between God and the people of Israel and Judah?)

Although I should not be surprised, I am.

Many Christians (at least the vast majority of the ones I have been around) are quick to claim God’s promises as if they are made directly to their own lives.  It is trendy to stick Bible verses on home decor, especially those that are encouraging.  For example, whoever thought to tack the letters F-A-I-T-H together in various ways and sell them in stores like Hobby Lobby and Micheal’s was a marketing genius!  Perhaps this was the same genius that tacked on Isaiah 40:31 to a photo of an eagle flying.  In fact, I have a theory that you could make a lot of money by selling scenic photographs with “inspirational verses” attached to them. Well, at least more than you could make by tacking on “death and destruction” verses.  (Hmm… I wonder if Isaiah 41:14 would sell just as well?  Would Christians enjoy being equated with a worm (maybe even a night crawler–Lumbricus terrestris) like Jacob was?

My question is this: (Okay, it’s more than one, but bear with me…)

Do these same people ever take the death and destruction verses to heart as well?  Do they think it’s a compliment to be referred to as “sheep”??  Why are they allowed to cherry-pick the Bible?  What makes them so special as to think the Scriptures (well, the encouraging parts at least) were written for their benefit alone?  Who then are the other parts intended for?  Most of all, why do so many Christians individualize everything beneficial and then point fingers and accuse others when life gets rough?

If the trend of cherry-picking the encouraging verses and individualizing them is something that is going to remain unaddressed in our congregations, I suggest we add this song to our worship services…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlprvwuqYPA

Although there is debate surrounding the authorship of Isaiah, what is not debated is the fact that the text was completed by 2nd century BCE b/c we found a complete Isaiah scroll that can be dated around that time among the Dead Sea Scrolls.  I have chosen to remind you of this so that you will keep in mind that when we read Isaiah, we should not expect everything to be in chronological order, and the verses that I am referring to in this post (although they are towards the end of Isaiah) are typically dated no earlier than 6th century BCE and perhaps even after some of the exiles have returned to Jerusalem from Babylon.

One would expect that returning to Jerusalem would revive God’s people.  Those who were left behind would be reunited with those who were taken away.  But, revival was not what happened.  Instead, the Judean community was sharply divided on several points.  One of the major divisions that showed up was religion.  We see this in Isaiah 57:1-13, 65:1-7, and 66:3-4.

In Isaiah 57:1-13, Isaiah speaks for the Lord and denounces the sorceress and her children.  In other words, those who have chosen to involve themselves in various non-Yahwistic and sexually oriented forms of worship (i.e. child sacrifice, sexual rites, etc.) are plainly told that the Lord will leave their “collection of idols to deliver [them]” while the land titles and Temple control will only be handed over to those who remain faithful to Yahweh.

In Isaiah 65:1-7, God is responding to a communal lament… and what does he say to His people other than He was there with open ears and open arms, but they refused to come to Him with their problems; so now, they are going to have an even bigger problem facing them.  And, did you catch in verse 1 where the Lord is mocking those who have forgotten him by reminding them of Isaiah’s eagerness to serve Him (6:1-8).

Again, in 66:3-4, we see that God has called and his people have ignored him.  Instead of heeding the call, many chose to remain silent to God about their wanderings.  Never-mind the fact that God already knew, and was extremely offended by their adopted mortuary rituals, night time ceremonies, and the eating of unclean foods.

God realizes He’s been gracious by remaining silent for so long, but it was only a matter of time before God would become fed up with disbelief, and through the writings contained in Isaiah, He gives a fair warning of what will happen to His people for their decisions.

As you can imagine, after being in exile, re-gaining your land and having control of the Temple would be very important issues for the Judean community.  Looking back, from the standpoint of a Christian, it is hard to imagine the Judean community divided on religion, especially after experiencing exile.  But, as several texts show (there are others outside of Isaiah, but for the sake of time, as well as adhering to the schedule for class, I have chosen to remain in Isaiah for now), God’s people took their time in adopting a true monotheistic religion.

When scholars talk about a 2nd or 3rd Isaiah, who are theses authors thought to be disciples of?

Although this prophet did not support all of King Hezekiah’s political agenda, he did support the king through the rough times of the Assyrian siege.  (Who is Isaiah?)

So often, it is difficult for our post-modern culture to grasp some of the feelings that are conveyed within the poetry of the Old Testament, especially the laments found in the book of Lamentations.  But, how easily we forget…

Here are a few (very few) of the reasons that we should be able to better connect with the author of Lamentations:

*  We have faced loss as a nation, as well as individuals.
*  While we are not proud of all of our decisions, we have seen the ripple effects of child labor as well as enslavement.
*  We can vividly remember the feelings we have had upon seeing our nation attacked.

Therefore, it should not be that difficult for us to put ourselves in the place of those who were exiled.  Their city and the Temple were destroyed.  No doubt, they lost people they deeply cared about while they were also attempting to process the reality of their world being literally turned upside down.

Perhaps it is because we live in such a fast-paced world, or perhaps it is because we are so self-centered.  Or, perhaps it is for an entirely different reason.  Yet, we cannot deny the fact that as a nation we move-on rather quickly and then we are shocked to realize how little time has passed between our present and past traumatic events.  One day, it can seem as if there is nothing familiar left in our lives… then suddenly, we find the gaps  have been filled and we can’t imagine life any other way.

Sometimes, I wonder if we will need “to find a souvenir, just to prove the world was here”. (quote from 99 Red Balloons)

99 Red Balloons song & lyrics (as played by Goldfinger):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko8SDv0CsiM

Ever have one of those days/weeks/years when everything that can go wrong seems to go beyond wrong?  And then do you ever have those friends who are willing to sit with you for a short time, but eventually they tell you just what they think is the matter with you?  Ironically, their blunt opinions are as effective as the proverbial lead balloons . . . only they do not realize it, and therefore they keep on filling those balloons with lead and handing the string to you as if they expect it to lift you out of your circumstances.

Job, like the majority of us, had some friends like this.

Here is what I wish Job’s lead spouting friends had said to him . . . (and yes, my wish extends to all those fine friends who insist upon being helpful by handing people the strings attached to the “lovingly” filled lead balloons).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfQ3V8joeIg

(Yes, I fully realize that Job’s friends could not have included “peace of Christ” in their words to him, but I think you get my point…be empathetic, be honest about not always having the right words, and be honest about your own inadequacies to “fix” the situation.)

How would you classify the story of Ruth?

a) “A pretty story with a nice moral lesson.”

b) “A story of how God uses women, and how men should respond to the Holy Spirit’s work in women.”

Naomi chooses to change her name to this name.  (What is Mara?)