Respect God's Leaders

After the death of Ahab, King Ahaziah suffered a terrible fall and wondered whether he would live or not (2 Kings 1.1ff). He sent messengers to consult Baal-zebub ("lord of flies") to find out if he would get better. Not much is known about Baal-zebub, but it seemed that he was Philistine god of oracles. Elijah met up with the messengers and gave them a question they were to deliver to the king: "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you seek Baal-zebub?" Not only was God the true king of Israel, but his chosen prophets also were leaders over the people. Israel's kings only had the power that God granted them. Prophets had a unique role because they were God's mouth pieces to the king. Failing to honor and respect the prophets was the same as failing to honor and respect God.

King Ahaziah then sent one of his captains and his 50 men to consult Elijah. The author of this narrative uses "come down" thematically to emphasize the respect that God's prophets should receive. As Elijah was sitting on a hilltop, the captain disrespectfully demands, man of God "come down!" The only thing to "come down" was a consuming fire (1.9-10). The king sent another captain and his 50 men (2 Kgs. 1.11-12). This captain also demanded that Elijah "come down." Again, fire "came down" and consumed the captain and his men. The king sends another captain and his 50 men to bring Elijah. This captain wisely evaluated the past and carefully considered his approach. He "went up" to Elijah and "came down" on his knees to ask Elijah to come. Note how this captain recognized Elijah's role for he referred to himself and the 50 men as "your" servants, not the king's servants (1.13). What "came down" this time? Elijah!

The lesson: respect for God's leaders produces positive results. Two captains did not respect Elijah and 102 people died because of it.

The Power of Example

As a follow up to Psa. 137, I ask you to view things from a Babylonian perspective. If you were a Babylonian and were witnessing the captivity of Judah, what would you conclude about their God? More than likely, you would either think he did not exist or he was deficient in power. Why would you think this? Because Judah is in captivity. However, if you were a Judahite, you knew that YHWH existed even though your present condition does not bear a true witness. It is true that Judah is God's and he alone is God. What prevents the Babylonians from understanding this is Judah's captivity, which is the result of their sin.

My point with this illustration is this: The Babylonians would probably have had a hard time believing in YHWH because of Judah’s captivity. In effect, Judah’s sin not only led to their captivity but it also could have prevented the Babylonians from believing in God. This is one of the multiple problems with sin. It not only prevents our relationship with God but it can also be a barrier for someone else to develop a relationship with God (Perhaps this is what John meant in Rev. 1.12, 20; 2.5).

Think how the Babylonians would have seen things. They saw those who claimed to be God’s people but they did not see God. When the world looks at you do they see God? The more I think about this the more I understand “you are to be holy because I am holy” (Lev. 11.44; 1 Pet. 1.16). If I truly love God and my neighbor there is nothing more that I should desire than to please God and do everything to help my neighbor please God. When I first thought from the Babylonian perspective, I was terrified when I considered the consequences that can result from my actions. It is terrifying to think that my actions could not only affect my relationship with God, but they could affect someone else's relationship with God. Perhaps this is the lesson of the parable of the lost coin in Luke 15. The coin was lost because of the neglect of someone else!

Remember

Psa. 137 is an interesting text. Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587/86 BC and many of its residents were taken captive. It was no surprise that this happened considering the countless warnings given by the prophets. This Psalm picks up with some of the exiles positioned beside one of the many waterfronts of Babylon. The exiles sat with their harps hung in the willows and their hearts low. Separation from the Temple in Jerusalem probably prohibited the exiles from worshipping God (4). It seems that the Babylonian captives knew this and were demanding that the exiles play a song for them (3), which in effect, was like saying, “where is your God now!” The Psalmist proclaims a promise, If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand wither away! May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you.

The OT gives at least three ways that one can forget God: 1. Abandon the Lord (Isa. 49.14), 2. Pervert his ways (Jer. 3.21), 3. Commit idolatry (Deut. 4.23). Why would one wager the use of their hand and tongue for failing to remember Jerusalem? A mute tongue and a withered hand were two of seven things that were associated with useless idols in Psa. 115.4-8. The Psalmist also declares that those who worship such inept idols will become like the idols themselves (115.8). If these two Psalms can be seen as enlightening one another, then the exiles may become like mute, immobile idols if they forget Jerusalem.

Ironically, Psalm 137 portrays Judah as a powerless nation in Babylon. One of the reasons God allowed Judah to be taken captive was their idolatrous practices. They had forgotten God and replaced him with idols. Fittingly, they now find themselves powerless, just like the idols they had served. I think it is fair to say that the Babylonian Exile cured the Jews of idol worship. But before they found the cure, they learned firsthand what an idol could do for them: Nothing! The Psalmist gives great advice for preventing such a predicament, Remember! Similarly, Peter declares that remembering the Lord’s sacrificial death can prevent Christians from becoming useless (2 Pet. 1.5-9). Those who are not growing but becoming useless, unproductive, and blind can attribute it to one thing: they have forgotten what the Lord has done for them (2 Pet. 1.9).

Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places

Samson's birth was a phenomenon in and of itself. Before his birth, Samson's mother knew that her son would be special because a man of God told her that he would be called to live a life of separation, known as the Nazarite vow (Judges 13.7). This vow could be remitted at any time (Num. 6.13), but it seems that in Samuel and Samson's case it was a lifelong commitment. The Nazarite vow was a special vow of separation one could take for the Lord. It forbid a razor from cutting the hair and it called for abstinence from anything associated with the vine.

Knowing that he must live a life of separation from fruit of the vine, it is ironic that he seeks Delilah in 16.4. There are two things that should have been an indication to Samson that she was trouble. First of all, Samson found her in the valley of Sorek. At first this may seem innocent, but a quick definition of Sorek will reveal that it means "grapes." For a man committed to the Nazarite vow, a valley of grapes was the last place he needed to be. Second, her name means something to the effect "one that tastes good" or "dainty one." Samson fell in love with the "dainty one" who lived in the valley of grapes. This had temptation written all over it from the beginning.

As is still true today, be careful where you look to find your love!

Isaiah Had It RIght

The more I read the message of Isaiah, the more I see the similarities between his society and ours. Study the progression of modern philosophy. We live in an era often labeled Post-Modernism. Our society thinks that it is on the cutting edge of human reason and thought when in fact the PM mind is nothing new. The core element to PM is individualism. Everything is about Me. I make up right and wrong, no one can judge me, and there is no reality outside of what I think. Isaiah 2.1-4.1 warns of exalting ourselves to such a level. The outcome will always be humiliation. If you trace the development of modern philosophy back to the Enlightenment period through Kant, Darwin, Marx, Nietzsche and others you will notice that many philosophers were concluding that reality is intrinsic (humans are highest level of existence). Watch what happens when people conclude that God doesn’t exist and there is no purpose to life. If there is no purpose then life is meaningless. If humans are the highest order, then there is no purpose to life or any meaning. Thus, when humans exalt themselves and say that they are the pinnacle of existence the result is that it is meaningless. And so Isaiah was right, when we exalt ourselves we really humiliate ourselves by concluding that we are worthless.
Let’s look at another example of how individualism has crept into religion. The modern “evangelical” trend has become unbalanced. Have you ever noticed that “evangelicals” have grown in our society but morality has declined? It is because the 19th-20th century Christianity had a distorted view of righteousness. It is a compromise between following God and still doing what I want to do. The belief is that God has called us because we accepted Christ’s sacrificial death but personal conduct is irrelevant. If you add this understanding with a false sense of security the results are harmful. You will see the effect: I can live however I want because I have been saved and can never lose my salvation.
Both of these mindsets are based on individualism. How do we overcome individualism? Isaiah has 66 chapters that deal with that question. His answer is servanthood or as Jesus called it, the greatest commandments; Love God and Love your neighbor (Matt. 22.36-40). It comes through submission to God’s will and others well-being. Why is servanthood a Christian virtue? Because God IS servanthood (Isa. 53.10-12)!

Having the Intelligence of a Donkey

The prophet Isaiah began his ministry during the last year of King Uzziah’s reign. This was a time marked by steady decline in Judah's faithfulness, morality, and knowledge. Isaiah claims that the people were less intelligent than an ox or donkey (1.3). At least these beasts know where the barn is and do not bite the hand that feeds them. The spiritual condition of Israel was like a wounded man and an unmaintained hut. Wounds that are left unattended will result in death and a shelter that is not maintained will eventually fall. Likewise, if Judah continues to reject God, they will be punished.

There are two ways Israel can deal with their alienation from God. First, they can follow the wrong way (9-15). Many at that time thought they were immune from judgment because they were children of God (and would always be) and were following the strict ritual that God had revealed. This is what I like to call “checklist discipleship.” If we follow the ritual without a relationship, we are not true disciples. This attitude can be seen today when people believe they only have to be baptized, go to church, and take the Lord’s Supper to go to heaven. Israel had followed the ritual but their hands were still full of blood. God desires a relationship, yet some follow God as a form of fire insurance (I won’t go to eternal punishment if I will just do this…). This reduces discipleship to an easy religion, something God has never promised.
Second, Israel can follow the right way (16-17). The covenant that reveals ritual also teaches the ethical treatment of others. The key to being a true disciple of God comes from a relationship with him and fellow man. Many today are divided on how to follow God. Does it come from knowing the doctrine of the Bible or showing love and kindness to others? The answer is both! God wants cleansing, reformation, justice, mercy, and care toward others (1.16-17).

The Lord invites Isaiah’s listeners to “come and let us reason together.” If one lifestyle leads to destruction (1.20) and the other restoration (19), which one is best? Isaiah says that even an ox or a donkey can figure this out.