ISSL Reflections December 26 2021 Nahum 1:1–3, 6–8, 12–13, 15 Post 2

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IV.
We’ve read this passage several times and return to it today to read again paying attention to what it says about God.

V.
Nahum 1:1-3, 6-8, 12-13, 15

An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

A jealous and avenging God is the Lord,
    the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
    and rages against his enemies.

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power,
    and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
    and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Who can stand before his indignation?
    Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
    and by him the rocks are broken in pieces.

The Lord is good,
    a stronghold in a day of trouble;
he protects those who take refuge in him,
    even in a rushing flood.
He will make a full end of his adversaries,
    and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

Thus says the Lord,
“Though they are at full strength and many,
    they will be cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
    I will afflict you no more.
And now I will break off his yoke from you
    and snap the bonds that bind you.”

Look! On the mountains the feet of one
    who brings good tidings,
    who proclaims peace!
Celebrate your festivals, O Judah,
    fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the wicked invade you;
    they are utterly cut off.

VI.

Here we read about God as – 

One … who brings good tidings,
    who proclaims peace!
 … will break off his yoke from you
    and snap the bonds that bind you.”
 … is good,
    a stronghold in a day of trouble;
he protects those who take refuge in him,
… will make a full end of his adversaries,
    and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
…  is slow to anger but great in power,
    and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
…A jealous and avenging God is the Lord,
    the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
    and rages against his enemies.

V.

Does that seem to “fit” together for you?

Do you find comfort or discomfort in these images of God?

Have there been times in your life when you wanted (or needed) to hear such images of God?

charles

{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 26 2021 Nahum 1:1–3, 6–8, 12–13, 15 Post 1

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I.
This week we take up part of the “oracle” and “vision” of the Prophet Nahum concerning Nineveh, Judah, and God.

Let’s first spend time with the words of Nahum and listen to them without any judgment on our part.  Just try to take it all in and hear the prophet.

II.
Nahum 1:1-3

An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.

A jealous and avenging God is the Lord,
    the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
    and rages against his enemies.

The Lord is slow to anger but great in power,
    and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
    and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Nahum 1:6-8

Who can stand before his indignation?
    Who can endure the heat of his anger?
His wrath is poured out like fire,
    and by him the rocks are broken in pieces.

The Lord is good,
    a stronghold in a day of trouble;
he protects those who take refuge in him,
    even in a rushing flood.

He will make a full end of his adversaries,
    and will pursue his enemies into darkness.

Nahum 1:12-13

Thus says the Lord,
“Though they are at full strength and many,
    they will be cut off and pass away.
Though I have afflicted you,
    I will afflict you no more.

And now I will break off his yoke from you
    and snap the bonds that bind you.”

Nahum 1:15

Look! On the mountains the feet of one
    who brings good tidings,
    who proclaims peace!

Celebrate your festivals, O Judah,
    fulfill your vows,
for never again shall the wicked invade you;
    they are utterly cut off.

III.
Now that you have listened to Nahum, let’s listen to him two more times.

First, pay attention to his words of “vengeance” and “anger.”

What stands out to you the most as you listen with that filter turned on for your hearing and reading.

Second, listen again and pay close attention to any words of consolation and hope from Nahum.

 What words carry the most hope for the people he addresses?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 19 2021 Isaiah 9:2–7 Post 3

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VII.
As you take time to rest in these words, what do you hear about “zeal,” “passionate commitment,” “covenant” and “loving kindness”?

VIII.
Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV) 

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
    on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,
    and the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors
    and all the garments rolled in blood
    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
    and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually,
    and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
    He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

IX.

As I read and reread this passage it seems to me that the “zeal” mentioned here rests on what in Hebrew Scripture is called “hesed” (sometimes transliterated as “chesed”).  This comes to us in English translations as “mercy,” or “loving kindness,” or “steadfast love,” or “covenant faithfulness.”

Do you find “hesed” in these words of Isaiah?

X.

Or, maybe I could ask, where do we find and/or experience “hesed”?

Might we be able to say at times  – 

I walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
I lived in a land of deep darkness—
    on me light has shined.
    you have increased my joy;
I rejoice before you
For the yoke of my  burden,
    and the bar across my shoulders,
    you have broken … 

XI.

Where and when has “loving kindness” come into your life?

Who extended “loving kindness” to you?  Who helped you see such mercy, kindness, faithfulness, and love?

charles

{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 19 2021 Isaiah 9:2–7 Post 2

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IV.
This passage ends with – “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

The New Living Translation has it this way, “The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”

Do you think it would be going too far to say that Isaiah has a “passionate” trust in a “passionate” God whose covenant holds true over time?

As you read again our passage for this week, notice the ways this “passionate commitment of the Lord” touches the people.

V.
Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV) 

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
    on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,
    and the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors
    and all the garments rolled in blood
    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
    and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually,
    and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
    He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

VI.

We read (and hear) words here that we often recall in this season of Advent and Christmas – 

For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
    and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

What “zeal” and “passion” does that call forth from you?

Does the birth of this child into our midst, into our lives, give you cause for “passionate commitment” or does this season with all its trappings wear you down and drain you of passion?

Take stock today.  

What is your level of “passionate commitment” to this child, and to this God who brings light into darkness?

charles

{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 19 2021 Isaiah 9:2–7 Post 1

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I.
As you spend time with these words from the Prophet Isaiah take note of how he describes “the people.”

What has been their history and how does Isaiah describe their situation here?

II.
Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV) 

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
    on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation,
    you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
    as with joy at the harvest,
    as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden,
    and the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor,
    you have broken as on the day of Midian.

For all the boots of the tramping warriors
    and all the garments rolled in blood
    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,
    a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
    and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually,
    and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
    He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
    from this time onward and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

III.

How do you see this passage describing the “darkness” the people walked in?

If someone asked you about the “light” shining on the people, how would you describe it?

What sources of the light do you notice mentioned here?

charles

{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 12 2021 2 Samuel 9:1–12 Post 3

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VII.
Let’s go back to this account again and notice the talk of kindness and the demonstration of kindness.

VIII.
2 Samuel 9:1-12

David asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and he was summoned to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “At your service!” The king said, “Is there anyone remaining of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” Ziba said to the king, “There remains a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, “Mephibosheth!” He answered, “I am your servant.” David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan; I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you yourself shall eat at my table always.” He did obeisance and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?”

Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. You and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him, and shall bring in the produce, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat; but your master’s grandson Mephibosheth shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants.

IX.
This week’s reading comes to us a couple of weeks before Christmas this year.

A time when many are thinking about what gifts they will give to others, and are perhaps being asked, “What do you want for Christmas?” And it probably follows that many are wondering what they will get for Christmas.

Let’s put the idea of kindness into those conversations.

We can ask, as David did, “to whom may I show kindness …”

We can also think of those who have shown us kindness (no doubt David did as he remembered Jonathan).

What comes to your mind as the way, and ways, you can best give the gifts of kindness to those you live with, come into contact with, and need to seek out to show kindness?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 12 2021 2 Samuel 9:1–12 Post 2

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IV.
In the last post I asked –

“What do you think “motivates” David’s desire to “show kindness for Jonathan’s sake”? Jonathan’s protecting David from Saul’s anger or the covenant that existed between the two, or the love Jonathan had for David?“

Let’s read this passage again with that question in mind.

V.
2 Samuel 9:1-12

David asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and he was summoned to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “At your service!” The king said, “Is there anyone remaining of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” Ziba said to the king, “There remains a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, “Mephibosheth!” He answered, “I am your servant.” David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan; I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you yourself shall eat at my table always.” He did obeisance and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?”

Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. You and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him, and shall bring in the produce, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat; but your master’s grandson Mephibosheth shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants.

VI.
Of course, there could be any number of causes for David to “show kindness.”

What do you think leads David to act as he does toward Mephibosheth and Ziba?

And while we are thinking about Ziba, what is his role in this episode? Where has he been? What has he been doing? And what tasks is he given here?

Does he benefit from David’s kindness or does David benefit from Ziba’s kindness?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 12 2021 2 Samuel 9:1–12 Post 1

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I.
We turn our attention this week to King David and to members of King Saul’s household.

As you read this passage pay attention to each person named and to their relationship to David.

II.
2 Samuel 9:1-12

David asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and he was summoned to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “At your service!” The king said, “Is there anyone remaining of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” Ziba said to the king, “There remains a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, “Mephibosheth!” He answered, “I am your servant.” David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan; I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you yourself shall eat at my table always.” He did obeisance and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?”

Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. You and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him, and shall bring in the produce, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat; but your master’s grandson Mephibosheth shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” Mephibosheth ate at David’s table, like one of the king’s sons. Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s servants.

III.
We find elsewhere in the account of David’s life that Jonathan helped David escape from Saul’s intent to harm him and of the covenant between Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 20). In part Jonathan asks David to “never cut off your faithful love from my house,” (1 Samuel 20:15) and “Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved him as he loved his own life.” (1 Samuel 20:17)

What do you think “motivates” David’s desire to “show kindness for Jonathan’s sake”? Jonathan’s protecting David from Saul’s anger or the covenant that existed between the two, or the love Jonathan had for David?

Was it one or the other or all the above?

Is this the kind of behavior you expect a King to have for the family of his predecessor?

If it is not, what does it take for someone to rise above the norms of their culture and society?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 5 2021 Deuteronomy 5:1b–3; 10:12–13; 27:1–10 Post 3

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VIII.
In the last post I drew attention to the directions to make an altar of stones on which tools had not been used and of unhewn stones. With that in mind let’s return to these Scripture passages and read again.

IX.
Deuteronomy 5:1-3 (NRSV)

Moses convened all Israel, and said to them:

Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I am addressing to you today; you shall learn them and observe them diligently. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. Not with our ancestors did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NRSV)

So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord your God and his decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being.

Deuteronomy 27:1-10 (NRSV)

Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged all the people as follows: Keep the entire commandment that I am commanding you today. On the day that you cross over the Jordan into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and cover them with plaster. You shall write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over, to enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. So when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, about which I am commanding you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall cover them with plaster. And you shall build an altar there to the Lord your God, an altar of stones on which you have not used an iron tool. You must build the altar of the Lord your God of unhewn stones. Then offer up burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, make sacrifices of well-being, and eat them there, rejoicing before the Lord your God. You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very clearly.

Then Moses and the levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying: Keep silence and hear, O Israel! This very day you have become the people of the Lord your God. Therefore obey the Lord your God, observing his commandments and his statutes that I am commanding you today.

X.
I suspect most of us when we think about becoming a people of God think of obedience to the statues and commandments we hear in Scripture whether from Moses, the prophets or Rabbi Jesus. We even think of some form of sacrifice we offer to God. But do we think of the altar on which those sacrifices are made?

The directions for building the altar are interesting to me. And not so much the method of building as the materials of building the altar.

The people as they go about becoming the people of God are to build the altar of stones they find in its natural state. Of stones they have not “worked on.” Natural stones they find in the world.

Is it too much to think God asks us to come in our “natural” God-given condition?

To my mind, too often we may think of things we have to do, to change, to get ready to become the people of God. It is not about our “getting ready,” it is more about placing ourselves before God as we are, in our “unhewn” condition.

It will fit together. God will give us direction and walk the path with us as we become more fully formed as God’s people.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections December 5 2021 Deuteronomy 5:1b–3; 10:12–13; 27:1–10 Post 2

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V.
I asked in the last post, “What words do you use to speak of becoming ‘people of God’”?

Let’s read this week’s focus Scripture again with that question in mind and see what stands out to you in these passages.

VI.
Deuteronomy 5:1-3 (NRSV)

Moses convened all Israel, and said to them:

Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I am addressing to you today; you shall learn them and observe them diligently. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. Not with our ancestors did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NRSV)

So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord your God and his decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being.

Deuteronomy 27:1-10 (NRSV)

Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged all the people as follows: Keep the entire commandment that I am commanding you today. On the day that you cross over the Jordan into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and cover them with plaster. You shall write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over, to enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. So when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, about which I am commanding you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall cover them with plaster. And you shall build an altar there to the Lord your God, an altar of stones on which you have not used an iron tool. You must build the altar of the Lord your God of unhewn stones. Then offer up burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, make sacrifices of well-being, and eat them there, rejoicing before the Lord your God. You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very clearly.

Then Moses and the levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying: Keep silence and hear, O Israel! This very day you have become the people of the Lord your God. Therefore obey the Lord your God, observing his commandments and his statutes that I am commanding you today.

VII.
Did you notice –

“So when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, about which I am commanding you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall cover them with plaster. And you shall build an altar there to the Lord your God, an altar of stones on which you have not used an iron tool. You must build the altar of the Lord your God of unhewn stones. Then offer up burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, make sacrifices of well-being, and eat them there, rejoicing before the Lord your God. You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very clearly.”

We could ask what “burnt offerings” and “sacrifices of well-being” are we to offer in our day?

And, that would be a good question to work on.

The people are instructed to build the altar for this purpose, and that makes sense also.

How is the altar described?

“…build an altar there to the Lord your God, an altar of stones on which you have not used an iron tool. You must build the altar of the Lord your God of unhewn stones.”

What might it be about stones that are both “unhewn” and have not been touched by “iron tools” that sets them apart?

What kind of altar might this be?

What kind of sacrifices do we make and on what kind of altars?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}