Obadiah: A Small Book, but Mighty in Word

I had never before realized that this one-chapter book of Obadiah's was actually addressed to the people of Edom. The Edomites were the descendents of Esau, the brother of Jacob. If you know your Bible history, you know Esau had some good reasons to be ticked off at Jacob. (To read the back story, start in Genesis 25)

Now, hundreds of years later, God sends Obadiah to the people of Edom and cautions them with words like 

"Do not gloat over your brother's day." (verse 12)

and

"Do not gloat over their calamity" (verse 13)

Do you ever see a tragedy on the news and instantly begin judging? I know I have.

I'm not attempting to exploit any particular incident, but how many times have we seen a school shooting, a worker who went "postal" or a famine in a developing nation and asked questions like...

Where were his parents?

Why didn't anyone see the signs of his mental illness?

Why did his mom have guns in the house if he was so dangerous?

Why don't they just stop having babies and move where there is food?

Be honest. We've all heard comments like these, and more. We may have even verbalized them ourselves. I know we have at least allowed them to flit through our minds.

But here's what Obadiah is teaching me...

isn't that just a form of gloating?

When I hear of a couple getting divorced, don't I instantly jump to the conclusion or whose fault it was? Don't we watch the news and place judgment upon those that have not yet been convicted in a court of law?

I could ask many, many more questions like these and one (or more!) will jump out at you because we have all done this.

God said through Obadiah..."Don't!"

Even if that person is my enemy.

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Thus the title of this post. Obadiah is a very small book...only 21 verses to be exact. But in my lifetime, I will never fully be able to plumb the depths of this message, the same message Jesus vocalized a few hundred years later...also with only a few words:

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." (see Matthew 5:43-45)

Consistency in the Old Testament with the message of Jesus in the New, that is one thing I'm seeing as I wade through these Minor Prophets. If God took so much effort to express Enemy-Love within his written Word, don't you think that means He is asking the same of us today?

Enemy Love.

Not a new concept, but one I need to engage with everyday.

The End of Amos

I continue to confess to my Bible study companions that I "am not getting much" out of these books from the Minor Prophets of the Bible. As one lady said, it seems so repetitive...Israel sins and walks away from God, God gets angry, God sends a prophet, the prophet speaks God's words to His people and then some form of punishment ensues. She's right about the gist of these books and after all of the pronounced judgements against Israel, Judah and the surrounding nations, I was inclined to agree with her.

So I've been asking God's Spirit, repeatedly, to speak His discernment and wisdom into these words so that I can make them applicable to my life. Be careful what you ask for. Right?

It began in Hosea where one by one the Spirit began showing me the subtle idols that I have defiantly clenched in my fists. Learning to let go of some of these, like pride, acceptance and personal comfort will take a lifetime to overcome, I am certain.

Then hot on the heels of Hosea, Joel reminded me that radical devotion to Jesus will not look like most lives we see in our culture. Jesus is just as controversial today as He was 2000 years ago. And even if the revelation of God's Spirit is radical, uncomfortable, unusual and even seemingly foolish, it is never meant to be selfishly hoarded...but to be shared in communion with other believers.

Now Amos has challenged me to remember that God often uses the common person...even a sheepherder...right where they are...in a mighty way. This is not because of the attributes, the energy or the sacrifice of the person but rather, because the true character (aka glory) of a holy and righteous God can best be displayed when our lives speak of amazing things that are absolutely beyond anything we could conjure up in our own finite strength.

So yes. I have actually been learning a lot from these ancient men and the God who interrupted their ordinary lives with revelations and judgements for His wandering people. 

In the last half of Amos, I have seen that God's call to justice for the oppressed, poor and marginalized of our society is nothing new. (See Amos 6:12 and 8:4-6) Isn't it comforting to know that consistently throughout time, our God has been an advocate for the week, needy and desperate? 

But perhaps the most disconcerting verses in the book of Amos are found in chapter 8, verses 11 and 12. 

"Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord GOD,

"When I will send a famine on the land,

Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water,

But rather for hearing the words of the LORD.

"People will stagger from sea to sea

And from the north even to the east;

They will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD,

but they will not find it."

A famine for "hearing the words of the LORD"? I cannot imagine. 

His Word is life-giving, life-affirming, and the rhythm of my life longs to beat to the cadence of His Word. When I am out of sync with His Word...every part of my life knows it. Just like a heart-pounding bass drum keeping time to the music, my soul reverberates to and resonates with the sound of His Word. To neglect His Word is stupidity on my part.

To have no access to His Word? Unimaginable.

Even with the plethora of Bibles at my disposal, I am thirsty and long to be thirstier still. Intentionally committing Scriptures to memory brings with it the blessing of God's Word leaping to the forefront of my mind at times when it is most needed.

This isn't a post about Bible memorization or how our churches aren't preaching the true word of God. I do believe we are living through an outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28). I am thankful that His Word will go out into the darkest of places and shine forth with prevailing power. But maybe this is more likely a post of cautionary joy.

While I don't think there will be an end to access to God's written Word in the developed Western Judeo-Christian world anytime soon, maybe the appropriate question to ask ourselves is this...

Are we thirsty for it? 

Amos, the Sheepherder

Let's say you're content as a shepherd...minding your own business (which is sheep!)...and the Creator of the Universe tells you to go to a wicked and cruel generation and reveal to them that if they do not turn from their idolatry and sin that said Creator will decimate the land, allowing invaders to take them into exile and leave only 10% or less of the people in the Promised Land (see Amos 5) . What do you do?

You give the message.

Such was the life of Amos. It was a prosperous time for the Northern Kingdom. Because of the peace and prosperity, they naturally assumed that God was pleased with them. Does any of this sound familiar?

Imagine their surprise at the message and disdain for the man that says, 

"For three transgressions of Israel and for four

I will not revoke its punishment,

Because they sell the righteous for money

And the needy for a pair of sandals.

These who pant after the very dust of the earth on the head of the helpless

Also turn aside the way of the humble..." (Amos 2:6-7)

When someone 'pants after the very dust' of the helpless, it also means that they "trample" or "snap at the head of the helpless". Yet another warning for our time and culture, don't you think?

The first five chapters of Amos carries prophecies for several nations, Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah and Israel. Some of these are distant relatives of the Chosen People. But in these chapters, there are two ideas that stood out to me throughout the long list of punishments. The first is found in chapter four.

Throughout this chapter, God mentions all that He gave them (food) and all that He took away (rain, crops eaten by pests, health from plague) "Yet you have not returned to Me", declares the LORD. This refrain is spoken over and over again. I distinctly get the impression that at any point if they had returned to Him, all would have been forgiven. 

Also in Amos, Joel, and I am certain several other prophets too, there is the recurring theme that is heralded even more boldly in the life of Jesus...this is a God that takes notice of the helpless, the needy and the poor. More importantly, He takes notice of how those who call Him "Lord" treat the helpless, the needy and the poor.

"Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor

And exact a tribute of grain from them,

Though you have built houses of well-hewn stone,

Yet you will not live in them;

You have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine.

For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great,

You who distress the righteous and accept bribes

And turn aside the poor in the gate (place of judgment for wrongdoing) (Amos 5:11-12)

Now...I know we live in a time of grace. And I know we have freedom in Christ and need not live in fear of condemnation or live by guilt or shame. Yet, as I'm hearing a repeated refrain throughout these prophecies, and His grievances against His people have a recurring theme...isn't it time we take notice of the same things that break the heart of God?

I'm not preaching to anyone here but myself. How do I continue to be wasteful with my blessings and unmindful of the people all around me who are hurting, lost and destitute? Destitution takes on many forms. How do I spend all of my time, my money, my energy and my talents on myself without any thought for my fellow man? Where will that sort of self-focus and indulgence lead?

Just ask Amos.

One Week in Joel

No book of the Bible can be studied in only one week...even if it is only three chapters long. Although time was short, I learned quite a bit with the help of my commentary about this tiny prophetic book named Joel.

Joel was prompted to call Israel back from its wicked ways as the result of a devastating drought and attack by locusts. Things were so bad, that the daily offerings in the temple had ceased. (see Joel 1:9) Although we don't know exactly when Joel was written, or by whom, we do know that the remnant had returned to Jerusalem, built the walls and the temple was again central to daily living. 

Where Joel first challenged me was a reminder that God reveals Himself to His people not for selfish gain, but to share the revelation with others. [The New Bible Commentary: Revised, reprint 1984] God doesn't meet with me so I can hoard away the blessings of what He teaches...we are always designed to be living communally. That includes sharing His teaching with others.

When I first read this idea of sharing the revelations, I realized that's why I blog. Yes, you can find reviews of restaurants, books, products and gardening tips on here too, but four years ago when I started this blog, it was because my journal just wasn't enough anymore. The pages of my writings could not contain all that God was doing in me. I had to share it with others. At the time, I didn't have anyone that could sit with me for hours and listen to me pour out all the wonder and beauty of what was happening. You...dear reader...became the outlet for me to share what this great God was doing in me and through me.

Four years later, I know He was preparing me for things that are still to come.

How do I know?

Because of this passage in Chapter 2. 

Strangely enough, I used this exact same passage when I spoke (and then wrote) in February about living the vision God has for our lives...now. Peter uses this same prophecy on the day of Pentecost to lead 3000 people to a relationship with their Savior, Jesus. 

What is the prophecy?

That there would be a time when we would have the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside of us.

Ohhh...this is just getting better and better!

There is a lot more in Joel. I encourage you to read it and study it for yourself. Sadly, my friends and I had a limited amount of time to dig in. I leave you with this wonderful quote from my commentary, that gives you some indication of where God is leading me personally:  "If Israel's history had been 'Paradise lost' then the Messianic age is 'Paradise regained." [The New Bible Commentary:Revised p. 723]

This is what God's Spirit is calling me to...a radical devotion that doesn't worry about appearances, comfort, convenience or even my wants or desires. This is why I've been avoiding Him for many months too. Then today...I sat in a worship celebration where He unequivocally confirmed everything He has been calling me to. And the beautiful thing is...I know He was calling others right along with me!

I hope to share more in the next day or two, but for now I leave you with something I said to my friend Julie yesterday as I sat in her kitchen: I don't know what He's doing...but He's doing something.

Finishing Up Hosea

As my friends and I took a couple of weeks off for vacations, this past Tuesday meant a hurried conclusion to Hosea. There is no way to plumb the depths of this book in only three to four weeks. Yet, the summer is flying away and here are the last few thoughts I had regarding this wonderful book of God's redeeming love.

In Hosea 12, we are told that Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom remnant of Israel) "feeds on wind, and pursues the east wind continually..." (verse 1) I've been refreshing my memory work of the book of James and the cross references in my Bible for this passage brought to mind a few correlations that I needed to see.

In Genesis 41:6 Pharaoh tells his dream to Joseph of an "east wind" that scorches the corn. James 1:9-11 plainly speaks of how the poor man "should glory in his high position and the rich man should glory in his humiliation". Why? Because just like the withering grass that the sun shrivels up with a scorching wind, "the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away". (see Flowering Grass, January 2013)

What am I chasing that when the chaff is all burned away, simply won't exist anymore? What treasure am I hoarding and where is it being stored? (see Matthew 6:20)

Hosea, for me, has been all about exposing the subtle idols that come between me and the radical, boundless, passionate pursuit of the Holy Creator who loves me. I am sad to say, there have been a lot that have risen to the surface. Just a few examples include pride, self-image, perception others have of me, media, use of time and the list goes on.

There has been a theme running through my life for the last eight or nine months and I chose to tune it out for most of those. Mark Batterson's All In deeply challenged me to dig in and find out why I've been in a season of hesitation. I've been getting some answers and the more days that pass, the message is getting clearer and much more difficult to ignore. Most of it comes back to my idols of comfort, self-image and fear of the unknown (aka lack of control). I can't keep pushing this aside though and today brought some very vivid clarification of what God's Spirit is calling me to. I'm not certain how much time I'll have to post over the next few days, so just know that I'm not trying to delay any sort of "big reveal".

No...He's showing me repeatedly, through multiple books, songs, sermons, and conversations that it's the little things that He's calling me to. I just need to take myself off the throne of my kingdom and let the King bring His Kingdom into my home, my neighborhood, my relationships and my heart...one moment...one action...one expression of obedient love at a time.

I guess you could say God is preparing me to be a "fool for Jesus". Radically following Him always looks foolish. I won't do it if I'm consumed with the opinions of others. Stop worrying what people think of me is a huge hurdle to overcome. I know it's only the beginning. And in the End, I have a man who married a prostitute and pursued her obediently, faithfully and passionately and didn't worry about what others thought of his reputation or how it "looked" to thank when I meet him someday.

Hosea 7

Verses 8 and 9 of this chapter in Hosea cause me to pause and reflect introspectively at how I have acclimated to the culture around me.

"Ephraim mixes himself with the nations;

Ephraim has become a cake not turned.

Strangers devour his strength,

Yet he does not know it..."

Ephraim, in this context, refers to what was left of the Northern Kingdom after most of them had been taken into captivity by Assyria. The final destruction of the Northern Kingdom happened 10 years after the original captivity began. Thus, Ephraim could also read, "what's left of the 10 tribes of Israel that separated from Judah and Benjamin."

I find it interesting, that much later in the life of Jesus, He stops in what had been the capital of this Northern Kingdom, Samaria, and whets the appetite of the soul of a Samaritan woman with His invitation to Living Water. I've always been taught that devout Jews in the time of Jesus would walk all the way around Samaria to avoid it because they were a blended race of people.

As Hosea indicates, it must not have been merely a physical blending. Spiritual blending and worship of idols, sacrifice to false gods and what God calls "harlotry" were all part of what occurred.

So here's the question I must ask:

In what ways have I blended with the culture around me and how does doing so devour my strength?

It's interesting that discussing this passage on Tuesday morning with my friends happened the morning after the exact same topic was discussed at the 7 book club I'm in. This month at book club the topic was the excess of media in our lives. I know for myself and most of the people around me, we just fell headlong into this cultural media takeover and never even blinked, let alone stopped to ask if it was how God wanted us to live and spend the precious little time He has given us.

Media has always been a stronghold in my life and to be honest, I've had enough. I long to meet with people...real live people. I know when I am with others and engaged in conversation that is meaningful, I do not sit there wondering, "What's on TV that I'm missing?", or "I wonder if my Castleville crops are ready?" or "What can we watch on Netflix tonight?" Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to give up media so I can have a cleaner house, fix fancier dinners or start sewing all of my own clothes. But what if letting go of most of my engagement with media meant that I spent more quality time with my spouse, my children and my friends? I think that's how God wanted me living all along.

But see...we've "mixed" ourselves. 

And we never even stopped to ask if the "mixing" was healthy or not.

I am not even glancing the surface of the people who are treated like slaves to create the devices we covet and waste money and time on. That is an entirely different topic. (And one worthy of your google research!) 

No...I'm simply talking about this thing called time. While it is absolutely true that we all have different talents and different treasures...we all stand equal with the measuring rod of time. How much of it are we engaging in Kingdom living, Kingdom pursuit and King worship?

One of my major theological issues over the years with Americanized Christianity is that most pastors will readily pull out the 10% tithe from the Old Testament and rally (aka bully) his flock into submission on this point. But...I have yet to ever hear one soul cry out, "Why aren't you giving God 10% of your time too?"

10% is 2.4 hours a day. Now...not counting church unless you're serving, because otherwise that is all about fueling you...when was the last time you wholeheartedly sought God for 2.4 hours a day?

I think the New Testament point is this: It's all God's so every moment should be focused on Him. [I would argue the same point about our money.]

So here's my struggle and one of the many idols God is trying to pry from my fingers...

What areas of my life have I allowed to be "mixed" to the point that looking like the rest of the culture devours my strength?

The biggie for me is media. It has zapped my creativity and sometimes dulled my conscience. There is no condemnation here, but I think it is worthy of a few moments of your time to stop and ask the question.

Hosea 4

 

 

I realized at this, the start of my third post on the book of Hosea, that I have yet to recommend that you read it. Here is a link to do so. The book is not very long and since I'm not commenting on each chapter, I don't want you to miss anything that God's Spirit may want to whisper to your heart.

 

 

In Hosea chapter 4, I found a few verses that may sound like someplace we all know:

 

"Listen to the word of the LORD, O sons of Israel,

For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land,

Because there is no faithfulness or kindness

Or knowledge of God in the land.

There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery.

They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Therefore the land mourns,

And everyone who lives in it languishes..." (Hosea 4:1-3)

 

 

Hmmm? Sounds familiar if you live in the U.S., doesn't it? Again, as I said in my post on Hosea 2, there 'is nothing new under the sun'. But aside from all of the deception that people and businesses work out everyday and as horrific as the next story of a middle schooler attempting to kill someone is and even as unbelievable inane as the proposition that somehow more bloodshed will stymie bloodshed rather than producing more...the land mourns.

 

If you've been hanging out with me on here very long, you know my love for God's Creation. It doesn't take a climatologist, meteorologist or seismologist to educate you...if you just look...our land is mourning.

 

Sadly, this is not the worst of it though. No..."everyone who lives in it languishes."

 

We are a languishing people.

 

Why?

 

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6a)

 

He's not talking Common Core or algebra in 4th grade or becoming a neuroscientist here. No...God goes on to say in that same verse that His people "have forgotten the law of your God."

 

Since I first read this a few days ago, my thoughts keep returning to Martin Luther and the Reformation away from the Catholic church. What started it? If you don't know this part of history, the "nutshell" version is that the church only allowed Holy Scriptures written in Latin which only some priests could read and comprehend. Luther translated the Bible into German, the common language of his people and when they read it for themselves, they discovered a personal God who loved them deeply and with a passionate fervor that they could not ignore.

 

Here's what this naturally leads me conclude...when we meet God's Spirit regularly over His Word and open our hearts and minds without reservation to what He wants to teach us...He just might begin a little reformation (aka revolution) in the midst of us.

 

If not...I know that at the very least...we won't be languishing. Any. More!

Hosea 2

As my friends and I go through this study of the Minor Prophets this summer, I hope to share some of the nuggets of truth, encouragement and Love that I glean throughout the passages. I may not find something in every chapter, but I anticipate God's Spirit being faithful to teach us a lot as we delve into His Word together.

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"For she does not know that it was I who gave her the grain,

the new wine and the oil,

And lavished on her silver and gold,

Which they used for Baal." (Hosea 2:8, NASB)

My New American Standard Bible tells me that "Baal" meant lord, owner, possessor or husband. He was the Canaanite god of fertility and the Israelites had forsaken Yahweh to follow this foreign god. To be truthful, God calls it "prostituting", "harlotry" and even "whoring". A wrote a little about this after we started our study last week, so I won't belabor the point.

What strikes me in this one small verse is that just as the author of Ecclesiastes states, there is nothing new under the sun...thousands of years after God prompted Hosea to write His Words to Israel, we still receive everything we have from Him and yet lavish so much of what He gives us on our idols.

No guilt here...but just take a few moments to let that sink in.

I'll try to put it into my Americanized version so that this can hit me right where it needs to: God provides a job, an income, another day and even another breath to serve Him and accomplish His purposes...and what do I turn around and pay homage to by using those gifts??

Is He at the forefront of every expenditure I make?

Do I even pause to ask if this is something I need or is it just fueling an addiction...an idol?

Is what I'm buying or even doing with my time glorifying Him or is it being used to glorify myself or another idol I've placed in His path?

I know...tough questions...and not ones that I like to ask. So what do I do with the answers to these questions? I know for myself, I'm asking Him to show me what exactly are the idols in my life. I'm guessing the second step will be to ask Him to help me get rid of them. 

I have to confess that I've been a little more than surprised by the things He's drawing my attention to that I've placed before Him. Honestly...they are very subtle. But just like the idol that provokes jealousy I can 'reverse engineer my emotions' and whatever keeps me afraid, jealous, vengeful or in a cycle of self-pity...those are precisely the idols I've placed before God.

This is not pretty. But it is work that needs to be done. God is cleaning house and I'm okay with that because I know the space He creates can be filled with more of Him!

Provoking Jealousy

When I started studying Hosea last week with some ladies at my local coffee shop, we talked a lot about harlotry/idolatry as God depicts our sin in Hosea 1. As I'm finishing up Mark Batterson's book, All In, (review soon!) the chapter entitled "The Idol that Provokes to Jealousy" resonated deeply with me. Batterson's referring to Ezekial 8:3 where he sees an idol that provokes jealousy in God.

We are taught to hate that word jealousy, aren't we? After all, we aren't supposed to be jealous of anything right? Batterson writes that God isn't jealous of anything...He's jealous for everything. It's all His to begin with.

Including me.

And you.

He created us for relationship with Him and He jealously protects that relationship to the point that He wants absolutely nothing to stand between He and I. (or you.)

"The idol that provokes to jealousy is anything that diverts our attention from God, our affection for God, or our reliance on God. It's anything that consumes more time or more money than our pursuit of God."

And this:

"Identifying your idols starts with looking at the way you spend your time and spend your money. I can tell you what my priorities are, but if you really want to know what is most important to me, all you have to do is look at my calendar and my checkbook. They don't lie. They reveal what my true priorities are. They will also reveal the idol that provokes to jealousy."

Batterson goes on to write about the hidden rooms of our hearts and what would others see if they could peer inside? Then this is what stopped me up short this morning when I read it:

"If you want to identify your idols, you need to reverse engineer your emotions. Trace the trail of your tears or fears, your cheers or jeers. If you follow it all the way to the trailhead, you'll come face-to-face with the idols in your life." 

Ouch!

What makes or ruins my day?

What produces the strongest emotions in me?

It's not wrong to cheer on my favorite team, or laugh at something I watch...but if those are producing more emotion in me than the things that break the heart of my Savior...then I need to start asking myself some tough questions.

What moves the heart of God is a good place to start.

Beginning Hosea

I'm meeting with a few ladies this summer to study the Minor Prophets. There are 12 books of the Old Testament that fall into this category, and to be honest, I've only ever studied one of them...Habakkuk. I'm excited to start this journey with them and what follows is what I wrote in my journal as soon as I returned home.

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Thank You for a good start to the day! 

It began by walking to meet You (& friends) for coffee. A beautiful morning awaited and the birdsong perfectly accompanied my footfalls on a warm summer breeze.

Just the three of us over coffee and sunshine, sharing our desire and passion to know You more.

Hosea? Who's he? And why should we listen?

In a time before blogs and Twitter and texting and becoming "viral"...why do You choose one man to marry a harlot and name his children as an example? Who would even know? Who would ever care?

I do.

When I play the harlot, running to idols and false gods, what does it do to Your heart? Why do You pursue me time and again when I place "stuff" in Your path?

Grace is a gift and forgive me for taking it lightly. A reflection of You is who I long to be. Help me live what I say I believe.

The big things I have yearned to do in Your name are exposed for the vanity and pride they contain...but You...You are found in the smallness of life.

If an atom can resonate with the hum of Your creation, can't also a coffee date, a smile and a hug?

You alone are God and You desire no other gods before You. I pray this question will haunt me the rest of my days: "Am I not enough?"