Judges 9-11 Psalm 63 Matthew 8
The story of living in the promised land, for so long the
dream of Israel, is one of blessings but also one of painful curses. God
promised the people a land to possess as long as they followed his commandments
and lived as he told them to. The story continues today of the people, the
nation, refusing to obey the Lord and to follow the leadership of those that
worship other gods. The cost is great, and the pain is deep. Even when they cry
out to the Lord, he tells them he will not deliver them because of their
continued disobedience. It is not until they not only say they are going to
follow the ways of the Lord but there is evidence by their actions that the Lord
relents and once again delivers the.
One of those disturbing stories of the Bible are included in
today’s reading. Jephthah makes an unthought out vow and the cost are
disturbing at best. The cost of his words cost not only him but his family and
create vast grief. There is something to be said for seeking the Lord’s counsel
and follow his lead in leadership.
In Song 63 David praise God, his God, the one who he earnestly
seeks. His very soul thirsts and yearns for the relationship with the Lord to
be deeper. Even while some seek his life he trusts in God. He declares that he
will rejoice in God and offer Him glory. He will trust that God will hold accountable
those that speak lies about him.
Following the sermon on the mount Jesus draws large crowns
where he went. People of all walks of life came to Jesus, many seeking healing
for themselves or someone they care about. As Jesus met their needs, because of
their faith in him, the praised God for what they had experienced. The reading
today ends with a story about two men with deep mental health problems that
make them frightening to the community because of their anger and violence.
When Jesus approaches, the demons within them speak through the men, begging
Jesus not to destroy them but to let them enter a herd of pigs nearby. When
Jesus grants their request, they destroy themselves. The reaction of the people
of the community is to become so fearful they demand he leave them. Think about
that for a moment. Two men they have feared for years have been released and made
normal, at the cost of animals they thought of as unclean, but when they are destroyed,
they are even more fearful.
As I read through today’s readings I was reminded how often
while we claim to love the Lord and want to follow him, we want to travel the roads
most traveled and that we are comfortable with because we know where they lead.
Even when they come with great cost and pain. When we do follow the ways of the
Lord, many will reject us and the way we live. Some will become so angry they
will do all they can to destroy us, and some would even take our lives. We need
to like David, continue to trust in the Lord and allow him to care for those
that would tell lies to maintain their way of life.
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