When Jesus walked the earth, God's word was central to life. It was the everyday conversation of the community. They were brought together by the text, and they even agreed on a text of the week. This same ancient rythmn is available to us today! Join us in reading and commenting on what is know as the "Parashah." Imagine a community whose unity is rooted in the very word of God!
One of the sages wrote about the portion on placing judges at "the city gates." that our own bodies are like tiny cities with seven gates: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and a mouth.
In Dt 19:20 the text calls people "trees of the field."
This remains me of John 14-15 when Jesus calls us trees who bear fruit when our hearts abide with him.
The story is told of a disciple who came to his Rabbi asking for advice on how to conquer his temptations. The Rabbi told him to go visit a certain student in a certain place.
Having reached the student's house, on the edge of the town, the disciple knocked on the door. He waited until late into the night yet there was still no answer. He ended up spending the night, freezing cold, on the doorstep. When morning came, the student finally let the person in.
The disciple explained that he had come to find out how to control his temptations. The student explained to him "you see how I kept you waiting all night? This is my house -- I decide when you come in, not you...
"This is how to control your animal nature -- make sure that whatever comes in, does so because you wanted to let it, rather than sneaking in on its terms."
The story may be a little harsh but the message is clear. Yes, Ethics of our Fathers tells us "Who is wise? One who learns from every person" but we still need to be discerning about what we will and will not take "on board." Something which accepts from everyone and anyone all around, is called a trash can -- not something we particularly want to emulate!
In Isaiah 51 we see how we have drank the cup of His fury and suffered at the hands of His rebuke. This caused us to become accustomed to living as "captives," and identify with a lifestyle devoid of His power.
This is not what He desired for us. Our own captivity left us passive, complacent, weak and desperate to be delivered. Towards the end of Isaiah 51 and in Isaiah 52, God urges us to wake up and to stand; to clothe ourselves with the beauty that is found within strength, to shake off what's behind and beneath us, to sit in places of honor....and "remove" the chains of slavery from our neck.
To me it seems as though God is showing us that He has given us the key to our own freedom and we must take off the chains that have bound us us to a previous way of life...an "enslaved" life...and that He will now turn His fury upon our oppressors! He is ready to turn the tables! It seems to be a prophetic moment here with regards to what Jesus did in the temple!
He also says He will reveal His name and that the LORD will return to Jerusalem in power yet as a servant. He is also revealing himself as "merciful"....another prophetic moment regarding Jesus as He speaks of how His messenger will comfort, bring good news of peace, salvation and redemption!
When we choose to get out of our captivity, purify our lives, and handle with care all that is sacred...God goes before us and protects us. He knows what we are doing and that it takes time... so He covers us as we break free and purge our lives of the "unclean," so that in His Son's giving freely of His life (as freely as we gave ourselves over to the idolatries that led to our oppression) we are allowed the "time" to "freely" sacrifice ourselves back unto God, as holy living temples, in order that His Spirit might abide and His power reside - in us. He never leaves us or forsakes us :)
2 comments:
One of the sages wrote about the portion on placing judges at "the city gates." that our own bodies are like tiny cities with seven gates: two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and a mouth.
In Dt 19:20 the text calls people "trees of the field."
This remains me of John 14-15 when Jesus calls us trees who bear fruit when our hearts abide with him.
The story is told of a disciple who came to his Rabbi asking for advice on how to conquer his temptations. The Rabbi told him to go visit a certain student in a certain place.
Having reached the student's house, on the edge of the town, the disciple knocked on the door. He waited until late into the night yet there was still no answer. He ended up spending the night, freezing cold, on the doorstep. When morning came, the student finally let the person in.
The disciple explained that he had come to find out how to control his temptations. The student explained to him "you see how I kept you waiting all night? This is my house -- I decide when you come in, not you...
"This is how to control your animal nature -- make sure that whatever comes in, does so because you wanted to let it, rather than sneaking in on its terms."
The story may be a little harsh but the message is clear. Yes, Ethics of our Fathers tells us "Who is wise? One who learns from every person" but we still need to be discerning about what we will and will not take "on board." Something which accepts from everyone and anyone all around, is called a trash can -- not something we particularly want to emulate!
In Isaiah 51 we see how we have drank the cup of His fury and suffered at the hands of His rebuke. This caused us to become accustomed to living as "captives," and identify with a lifestyle devoid of His power.
This is not what He desired for us. Our own captivity left us passive, complacent, weak and desperate to be delivered. Towards the end of Isaiah 51 and in Isaiah 52, God urges us to wake up and to stand; to clothe ourselves with the beauty that is found within strength, to shake off what's behind and beneath us, to sit in places of honor....and "remove" the chains of slavery from our neck.
To me it seems as though God is showing us that He has given us the key to our own freedom and we must take off the chains that have bound us us to a previous way of life...an "enslaved" life...and that He will now turn His fury upon our oppressors! He is ready to turn the tables! It seems to be a prophetic moment here with regards to what Jesus did in the temple!
He also says He will reveal His name and that the LORD will return to Jerusalem in power yet as a servant.
He is also revealing himself as "merciful"....another prophetic moment regarding Jesus as He speaks of how His messenger will comfort, bring good news of peace, salvation and redemption!
When we choose to get out of our captivity, purify our lives, and handle with care all that is sacred...God goes before us and protects us. He knows what we are doing and that it takes time... so He covers us as we break free and purge our lives of the "unclean," so that in His Son's giving freely of His life (as freely as we gave ourselves over to the idolatries that led to our oppression) we are allowed the "time" to "freely" sacrifice ourselves back unto God, as holy living temples, in order that His Spirit might abide and His power reside - in us.
He never leaves us or forsakes us :)
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