Friday, June 17, 2022
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Heaven is as heaven does
All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and demolished it. They shattered its altars and images completely, and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. Jehoida appointed a detachment for the temple of the Lord. All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet.
In the history of the world, there have been many times when oppressed people overthrew their rulers. In ensuing days and weeks, they celebrated. They destroyed the old “altars and images completely.”
And then, the writer says, “the city was quiet.” The people make their way to the temple of the Lord, to the new altar for a new kind of worship of Yahweh the old God, the right God, God of our Fathers and Children. They whisper in the dusk, they touch shoulders, walking silent, they do not speak.
Athaliah, daughter of Jezebel, had been slain with the sword at the royal palace.
As so many had been slain by her hand, and her brother’s hand, and her mother’s hand. Now Yahweh too is silent, walking with his people. In the west, under the setting sun, even the birds might be worshipping, quieting as the darkness comes. This darkness this time not a threat, but warm, a womb, welcoming. Now at last, we can rest.
The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling. Zion is is my resting place forever; in her I will dwell. I choose Zion for my home, and I will place a lamp for my anointed.
God says, “Come on home. We’ll leave a light on for ya.” And we drive just a little longer, watching for the sign, knowing when we arrive we will be welcomed by the light.
These lessons are quickly forgotten. There will be a good king, who honors Yahweh, and then there will be a bad king, who does not. Why should I think anything has changed in the ensuing three thousand years? This earth was given to us to love and care for. But in our careless selfishness we have not made it our home. And anyway, what does Jesus say?
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, where thieves break in and steal. Store up your treasure in heaven, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
My heart? God calls to me like the prodigal son, come home! Come home! Our finest fatted calf is on the fire!
My heart hears the calls of God. That is where my treasure is.
All I need do is recant, repent, confess, and place all the treasures I have on earth into the grave. The grave is prepared for my body, but also for my treasures here. Can’t I place them in their tomb a little sooner than the day I die?
The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light.
Oh Lord, purify my heart. Open and refresh my vision. Let me see you, not diamonds in the dust. I must say, Lord, this is difficult. I think I learn to see what I call light but then it’s not. Unlearning this, yes? You are working with me on this?
Well, David, actually, there is nothing to do except turn around and look at me. And don’t turn back. I will not turn you into a pillar of salt. But you might turn yourself into one.
I am a spirit, and you are teaching me how to be human.
Yes. Believe that, and then you’ll never turn around again. Your body is made to be holy.
If your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will be that darkness be.
True. But don’t you believe that your eyes are bad. I have given them to you. The dark and evil side of life has no power over you. There is no fear in love.
Just do it.
(2 Kings 11, Psalm 132, Matthew 5, Matthew 6)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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