On Wanting More

Zechariah 8:12-13

“The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”

My husband and I went to the first ultrasound with this pregnancy – we’re calling the baby Biscuit until we know whether it’s a girl or boy – yesterday. And there was a baby! With a heartbeat! And little kicking arms and legs! Hooray!!!!!

I know the parallel isn’t perfect – or even, well, there – but it’s just good to be reminded that God plans good things for me, even after bad things have happened.

And very good to remember that I don’t have to be afraid.

Haggai 1:5-9 says:

Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.

Seriously. The Israelites are back from exile and working to repair their houses, and leaving the temple for later. Of course, they don’t live in the temple. But to me it reads like the returnees’ focus on their own houses – and the things that go in them – has assumed an almost sacred significance in their work of rebuilding, and this significance has provided the justification for continuing to put off the immense task of rebuilding the Temple of God.

So then the people’s unwillingness to restore the temple causes their work to be unfruitful.

So, are there areas in my life where I’m focusing a disproportionate amount of time on my own projects rather than those that build the Kingdom of God? I feel a lot of the time that my work is unfruitful. Is it because of this, because of some great task being put off, some glaring instance of neglect?

Is that even the right question? I mean, in the situation in Haggai, there is a huge undertaking that is being put off. I know there are many things in the current church that “need to be done” – we need to do this, we need to do that, we need to get up and do something about fill-in-the-blank – but … is the “temple of God” in actual (or even metaphorical) ruins?

I don’t think so. I mean, yeah, I complain a lot, and there are a lot – a lot of things I think need to change. But, under the new covenant of grace, where Christ is the head of the church and that church is capable of (whether most of us are willing to is another question) remaining in constant communication with him through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we’re – or at least I’m – not trying to rebuild or re-attain something that I had and then lost. Instead, I’m “forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13).

And so, what does “lie ahead”? Is there a big project that needs doing? Isn’t it the Great Commission to preach the Good News – that God loves us and has made a way for us to be his friends? I mean, isn’t that the real project now?

You have increased the number of your merchants
till they are more than the stars of the sky,
but like locusts they strip the land
and then fly away.

Nahum is very … visual. And violent. It would make a great movie.

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times. ”

Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor gives birth
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.

He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.

And he will be their peace.
Micah 5:2-5

This passage follows just one chapter after the swords-into-ploughshares passage, prophesying an end to national conflict, saying even that the people will not “train for war anymore”, and – my personal favorite aspect – “no one will make them afraid” (4:3-4). I tend to read verse five, “he will be their peace,” personally or metaphorically; he will be their interior peace, the peace that they can have in the midst of conflict or trouble.

The placement of this particular passage, however, seems to suggest that while such a reading is applicable, so is a more literal one. The leader sent from God will bring actual, quantifiable peace, allowing his “flock” to “live securely” (v. 4). At least, that’s what it looks like to me.

How can I live more fully in the peace of God? How can I promote peace?

Feel free to skip this post; I’m just musing. I could have done without this one too. (Though it did feature a rare appearance by my husband, who generally remains solidly in the real world and avoids my dreams like the confusing and often frightening phantasms they generally are).

I dreamed last night that some random creepy guy invaded my house. I guess in the dream my husband and I were living with my parents (or more likely vice versa) and the RCG made it quite clear to all of us that he was there. And then we all left for work (which also is not really in character – for my folks or me). And he waved goodbye. Bastard. I think we convinced my parents to leave and stay gone until we got this all sorted out. Anyway, I was thinking we should go to my aunt’s because she has a lot of connections with city government people and whatnot, but for some reason Jared talked me into going to the museum. The art museum. (I don’t remember what we did there, except I broke a large mirror and slid down the stairway, both of which caused an equal amount of consternation among the staff.) But by the time we left, Jared had found out all about the RCG – he had worked with Dad and took offense at something Dad said, so he decided to invade our house as an “I’ll show him” measure. And Jared figured it all out, how we would handle getting rid of him, what we’d say or do or whatever. And I woke up (it was around six) to let the cats out before we got a chance to follow through with it – still stark terrified, but relieved because there Jared was, sleeping right next to me, able to handle it. (Then I became more properly awake and wondered why we didn’t just shoot the intruder to begin with. In the dream, I actually did try to call 911, but I guess I misdialed because I ended up on the phone with some telemarketer. And I’m like, “I’m trying to call 911! This is an emergency! I don’t care how great a deal it is! Now is NOT THE TIME!”) Anyway, then I went back to sleep and for whatever reason it was still the same situation, but I guess the time I wasn’t paying attention hadn’t been good to our Random Creepy Guy, and he was now a little bit more around the twist. And then there were the problems with the Martian Mafia who were primarily after him, but wouldn’t begrudge the opportunity to hack and slice their way through the rest of us if it was presented. And somehow the house – which was quite cool, as dream houses go, lots of flowers and whatnot – was now in the desert. And I had a sister who lived with us. A sister? Yeah. Anyway, the RCG ended up pushing my sister off a cliff. And she was rescued by Superman. (Superman?) Who then wrote her a nice if mostly incomprehensible letter – with most of the words out of order, especially at the beginning – that strongly implied that she was his daughter. What? But we were all so glad she was alive. Unfortunately, I woke up before finding out what happened to the Random Creepy Guy. I just hope he finds something else to do by the time I go back to sleep tonight.

In Jonah 3, the Ninevites get it right; they respond to Jonah’s message the first day he’s there, across the board. Off the top of my head, this is the best example in the Bible I can think of where a people respond immediately and whole-heartedly to God’s warnings.

But of course, come chapter 4, Jonah is not satisfied. He says this is exactly why he went the other direction in the first place; kind of an odd position for a prophet to take, in my opinion. Or maybe not. Maybe it takes a certain antagonism, a certain resistance to feel fulfilled as a prophet; maybe, since they are so usually scorned and ignored, they have no models for handling successful ministry – only tenacious.

Or maybe Jonah is just so invested in the “otherness” of Nineveh that he covers up his chagrin at discovering a more challenging aspect of God that he lays hold of his most accessible emotion – anger – and rants about how he knew this would happen, and so sulks for the next two days (during which he should, according to the plan discussed earlier in chapter 3, have been ministering).

And God asks him, about various matters, does he really have any right to be angry?

Mm. Rights …

Another translation says, “good reason” – he basically answers, “Yes – because I am angry!” Um, thanks for that lucid explanation of your position, there, champ.

God also does not say “Stop being angry.” I wonder why?

Jonah 1. Where God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh, and Jonah says, “Tarshish? Go to Tarshish? Sure.” No, not exactly, but whatever.

What strikes me most about this chapter is this: Even though the sailors and other passengers knew that Jonah was the cause of their calamity, they still tried to get him (and each other) safely to shore. Only when they could not did they agree to put him out of the ship – and not before praying that God would absolve them of his blood.

Hm.

And of course I love how at the beginning of the storm each was praying “to his own god” – whereas after they saw the sea “cease from her raging” they feared God, sacrificed to him (what, by the way, did they sacrifice? what did they have left?), and “made vows” (KJV). I guess I like the idea that God used even Jonah’s rebellion and idiocy (maybe too harsh a term? nah.) to cause others to believe in him.

This is also Jonah’s reaction while in the stomach of the sea creature – to fear and call upon the Lord, and offer sacrifices and fulfilled vows (ch. 2). I actually quite like his prayer; it’s very beautiful and hopeful, very … confident-sounding. I guess I usually think of Jonah as kind of \weak and impotent, a little dumb, you know? I mean, yes, he makes some really dumb decisions (but then, show me someone who hasn’t, at some point) and puts other people at risk because of them, but …

But I’ve done stupid things, too. I’ve disobeyed God, too. Do I also, when I’m faced with the consequences of my own mistakes, call upon the Lord with such faith and reverence? Am I confident enough in his unfailing grace to say, “out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice” – praising God for his deliverance (2:2)? I think so. But then, I’ve never been swallowed by a fish.

This verse struck me particularly this morning:

Amos 5:14

Seek good, not evil,/ that you may live./ Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you,/ just as you say he is.

It seems to apply. Apply, I mean, to places or communities where the favor of God seems an assumption rather than a goal to be pursued. Where sentences begin with “since we are so blessed,” “since we are so favored,” rather than “if we wish to bless” (or be blessed), “if we wish to please God…” I like the implication that communities seek either good or evil. That, perhaps, even contented societies (though I’ve yet to meet or hear of one) are moving, in some direction or other? Anyway, of course the desires and goals of a group of people affect where they stand with the Lord. Whereas whether they say they are in God’s favor does not necessarily mean they are.

And one other nugget from church yesterday – a guest speaker – we gained more through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ than we lost when exiled from the Garden of Eden. Um. Sorry; a semi just drove down our street. Our residential street. Our narrow, residential street.

Anyway.

It makes sense to me; in the garden, God walked and visited with Adam and Eve once a day; after Jesus sent his Spirit to earth, it became possible to maintain constant communication with him, “praying without ceasing”. Yee.

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud And like the dew which goes away early. Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the (M)words of My mouth; And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth. For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:4-6

Strangers devour his strength, Yet he does not know it; Gray hairs also are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know it. Though the pride of Israel testifies against him, Yet they have not returned to the LORD their God, Nor have they sought Him, for all this. Hosea 7:9-10

I cared for you in the wilderness, In the land of drought. As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, And being satisfied, their heart became proud; Therefore they forgot Me. Hosea 13:5-6

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them. Hosea 14:9

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge./ Because you have rejected knowledge,/ I also will reject you from being priest for Me;/ Because you have forgotten the law of your God,/ I also will forget your children.

–Hosea 4.6

Ouch.

Daniel 9:20-27

I was still confessing my sins and those of all Israel to the LORD my God, and I was praying for the good of his holy mountain, when Gabriel suddenly came flying in at the time of the evening sacrifice. This was the same Gabriel I had seen in my vision, and he explained: Daniel, I am here to help you understand the vision. God thinks highly of you, and at the very moment you started praying, I was sent to give you the answer. God has decided that for seventy weeks, your people and your holy city must suffer as the price of their sins. Then evil will disappear, and justice will rule forever; the visions and words of the prophets will come true, and a most holy place will be dedicated. You need to realize that from the command to rebuild Jerusalem until the coming of the Chosen Leader, it will be seven weeks and another sixty-two weeks. Streets will be built in Jerusalem, and a trench will be dug around the city for protection, but these will be difficult times. At the end of the sixty-two weeks, the Chosen Leader will be killed and left with nothing. A foreign ruler and his army will sweep down like a mighty flood, leaving both the city and the temple in ruins, and war and destruction will continue until the end, just as God has decided. For one week this foreigner will make a firm agreement with many people, and halfway through this week, he will end all sacrifices and offerings. Then the ” Horrible Thing” that causes destruction will be put there. And it will stay there until the time God has decided to destroy this one who destroys.

Straight up.

This is one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament. (Of course it would be; it’s about words.)

In Daniel 5, God speaks to Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s son, at a feast by writing on a wall. (How many prepositional phrases can you find in the previous passage? Answer: too many.) Or rather, by causing human fingers to appear to write on a wall. Yes, that would freak me out, too. Of course, since he and all his hookas were deliberately eating and drinking from the sacred objects of another nation’s God, they were probably half-expecting, in that drunken way, for something inexplicable to happen. Telling each other ghost stories, and all that jazz. And did it ever. That would definitely trump my strange dream last night about trying to stop a circus tiger from being mean to my cat (as you might imagine, I object to circuses … but not tigers … but darnit, it’s my cat and the issue wasn’t so much that the tiger was being mean – it and my cat were actually friends – but the #%^(#* trainer was training it to be mean…I don’t get me sometimes…) while trying to defend my home from the somewhat violent prostylizations of a particularly pushy cult (as in, they were actively attempting to break into my house, and had kidnapped several members of my family). Anyway, speaking of dreams, which this book does a lot of as well.

And in this story, these human fingers write some incomprehensible words on a wall, and of course Daniel is brought in to read them, because these darn Babylonians can’t do anything for themselves these days. I tell you, they just don’t make them like they used to.

And he says, basically, “God is saying you’re a dumbass. You should work on that. Not that it’ll make much difference, but you should anyway.” I love this passage.

Belshazzar seems from this passage to have been rather a weak (not to speak of brief) ruler. I guess I should look that up at some point, but here’s what I base my assumption: while Nebuchadnezzar spent his free time thinking up new ways of tortuously murdering his courtiers, Belshazzar tries the bribe method, offering exorbitant gifts or favors for those who ‘help him out’. It’s like two different styles of parenting – the my-way-or-I-break-your-knees kind, and the I-just-want-to-be-friends kind.

And of course Belshazzar is assassinated that night, and the good things in life stay the same. Enter the Medes and Persians. I think.

In the first four chapters of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar has so many amazing opportunities to acknowledge Jehovah as the one, true God – of the world and of Nebuchadnezzar himself – and he seems to take them all. He reminds me of the rocky ground Jesus talked about; who “receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away” (Luke 8:13). Nebuchadnezzar’s one of those people who likes to do things in a big way; he likes overreacting. I can understand that. Of course, I think he’s a little too gleeful about thinking up ways to execute people. If he’d been born now, I think he’d have directed B movies or written trash novels.

It amazes me that God is concerned with and actively reaches out to Nebuchadnezzar. He refers to him elsewhere as a tool – God uses Nebuchadnezzar as a weapon with which to inflict punishment on the Israelites (and others). But the book of Daniel shows that God is also interested in Nebuchadnezzar as a person. He’s interested, that is, not only in the good that Nebuchadnezzar (that name is getting seriously old) can do as the leader of a powerful empire, but also as a person with whom God wants to have a relationship. That blows me away. Not because it’s news, but because … God is so good.

Daniel’s a stud, of course. So are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (And ha-ha about the vegetarian thing.)

Ezekiel 34

What a passage. Wow.

Ezekiel 46:9 “When my people come to worship me during any festival, they must always leave by the opposite gate from which they came: Those who come in the north gate must leave by the south gate, and those who come in the south gate must leave by the north gate.”

So … is this because we leave God’s presence changed? Or is it a traffic regulation practice? Hm.

Ezekiel 47:1-12

The man took me back to the temple, where I saw a stream flowing from under the entrance. It began in the south part of the temple, where it ran past the altar and continued east through the courtyard. We walked out of the temple area through the north gate and went around to the east gate. I saw the small stream of water flowing east from the south side of the gate. The man walked east, then took out his measuring stick and measured five hundred sixty yards downstream. He told me to wade through the stream there, and the water came up to my ankles. Then he measured another five hundred sixty yards downstream, and told me to wade through it there. The water came up to my knees. Another five hundred sixty yards downstream the water came up to my waist. Another five hundred sixty yards downstream, the stream had become a river that could be crossed only by swimming. The man said, “Ezekiel, son of man, pay attention to what you’ve seen.” We walked to the riverbank, where I saw dozens of trees on each side. The man said: This water flows eastward to the Jordan River valley and empties into the Dead Sea, where it turns the salt water into fresh water. Wherever this water flows, there will be all kinds of animals and fish, because it will bring life and fresh water to the Dead Sea. From En-Gedi to Eneglaim, people will fish in the sea and dry their nets along the coast. There will be as many kinds of fish in the Dead Sea as there are in the Mediterranean Sea. But the marshes along the shore will remain salty, so that people can use the salt from them. Fruit trees will grow all along this river and produce fresh fruit every month. The leaves will never dry out, because they will always have water from the stream that flows from the temple, and they will be used for healing people.

I love the idea of fresh water so pure and potent that it can turn salt water into fresh. I just hope Aquafina doesn’t find out.

Ezekiel 48:35 “…The new name of the city will be “The-LORD-Is-Here!”

That just rocks my world. The-LORD-Is-Here! I think it needs the exclamation mark; how could you say something like that without screaming and jumping around like a little girl? Well, maybe if you were afraid of him, I guess.

Tomorrow, we begin Daniel. It’s interesting how Ezekiel goes from I’m-going-to-smite-you-you-scum to here’s-how-you-rebuild. I like that; even after the people have not only incurred his wrath but also refused to heed his warnings, God still gives them practical instructions about how to rebuild their society so that it pleases him.