Years before Josiah's birth, a prophet was sent by God to king Jeroboam. He cried out against the altar which Jeroboam had built and proclaimed that the Lord would raise up a descendant of David, named Josiah. Josiah would institute reforms that would level the idolatrous high places and false worship that Jeroboam had introduced to God’s people (1 Kgs. 13.1ff). At eight years of age Josiah, the 2nd David, began to reign in Jerusalem. It is customary for the author of the Kings to give an evaluation of the king and his reign. Josiah receives more praise and commendation than any of the OT kings (2 Kgs. 22.2). “He did what was right from ADONAI's perspective, living entirely in the manner of David his ancestor and turning away neither to the right nor to the left” (CJB).
Why did Josiah live so godly in a time when Judah had strayed so far away from the Lord? The answer may be found in the Hebrew word "shama." This word is a very common word in the book of Deuteronomy and this connection is one of the reasons scholars often call this section of scripture Deuteronomistic History. Shama can have several meanings and many derivatives, all of which are connected to the idea of hearing. Shama can mean to “hear, listen, accept, understand, and obey.” Knowledge of shama might help us understand why Josiah received such high marks as the king of Judah.
During the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah commissioned the renovation of the Temple. Hilkiah, the high priest found the book of the Torah in the Temple (2 Kgs. 22.8). Hilkiah sent word to the king through the scribe Shaphan and Shaphan read it to the king (22.10). Josiah “heard” (shama) the word of the Lord and tore his clothes (22.11). Josiah sent Hilkiah to inquire the Lord in behalf of himself, the people, and all Judah what they must do since they have invoked the wrath of the Lord. The Lord’s wrath is great because the people haven’t “listened” (shama) to the words in the book (22.13).
The Lord’s response was not pleasant for Judah. They would fall into captivity, but there would be good news for Josiah. Since Josiah has “heard” the words of God, God has “heard” him (22.18-19). The lesson: Why did Josiah do what was right and walk in the ways of David? He was willing to “hear” God. The result of hearing God was that God heard him and promised that he would go to death in peace. Hearing God has a two-fold effect: God will hear us and assurance even in death!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
It Just So Happened
The canonicity of the book of Esther has always been in question. The primary reason is because God is never mentioned in the narrative. Even though God is never mentioned in the book of Esther, the author cleverly disguises the presence of God with literary sarcasm and kismet.
The narrative begins when king Ahasuerus has a banquet. After several drinks he demands that his wife Vashti come out and display her beauty to the other men. It just happened that Vashti refused (1.11-12). The king decided to dispose of his wife and seek another wife. It just so happened that Esther was very beautiful (2.7). Esther’s beauty did not go unnoticed, King Ahasuerus thought her so beautiful that he made Esther queen.
One day Esther’s uncle, Mordecai just happened to be sitting at the king’s gate, when he “learned” that two of the king’s eunuchs were conspiring to kill the king (2.21-23). Mordecai told Esther of the plot and she told the king and it was written in the records.
The king happened to appoint Haman the Agagite as his second in command. The Agagites and the Jews had a long and dark history. The Agagites were the first nation to attack God’s newly formed covenant people. God had promised to erase their memory from the earth (Ex. 17.8-16). Perhaps this bad history is what prevented Mordecai from paying the proper respect to Haman (3.2). From that day, Haman made it his personal ambition to have Mordecai and all the Jews of the empire killed.
Haman’s self-worth had begun to grow. He had been promoted, he alone had been asked to dine with the king and queen, and everyone was paying him great respect, that is, except for Mordecai. Haman had gallows constructed to put Mordecai to death. The next day he would dine with the king and request that Mordecai be hung. But it just so happened that the king could not sleep that night and decided to review the records. He learned that Mordecai had uncovered the conspiracy. About that time, Haman just happened to come into the king’s presence to demand that Mordecai be put to death. The king asked Haman, “what should be done to the man who delights the king?” Haman thinking that he was the man said the man should wear the king’s crown, robe, and he should be allowed to ride the king’s horse. The king told Haman to see that such an honor was bestowed upon Mordecai.
Esther finally told the king of the plot to kill the Jews. As the king was deciding the fate of Haman, it just so happened that Harbona, one of the king’s attendants, looked out the window and saw the gallows that Haman had constructed to kill Mordecai (7.9-10). Haman’s instrument of death literally killed him. Mordecai was exonerated and all the Jews of the land were spared. Perhaps there is good reason why the ancient readers accepted Esther. God’s work can be seen even when his name is not!
The narrative begins when king Ahasuerus has a banquet. After several drinks he demands that his wife Vashti come out and display her beauty to the other men. It just happened that Vashti refused (1.11-12). The king decided to dispose of his wife and seek another wife. It just so happened that Esther was very beautiful (2.7). Esther’s beauty did not go unnoticed, King Ahasuerus thought her so beautiful that he made Esther queen.
One day Esther’s uncle, Mordecai just happened to be sitting at the king’s gate, when he “learned” that two of the king’s eunuchs were conspiring to kill the king (2.21-23). Mordecai told Esther of the plot and she told the king and it was written in the records.
The king happened to appoint Haman the Agagite as his second in command. The Agagites and the Jews had a long and dark history. The Agagites were the first nation to attack God’s newly formed covenant people. God had promised to erase their memory from the earth (Ex. 17.8-16). Perhaps this bad history is what prevented Mordecai from paying the proper respect to Haman (3.2). From that day, Haman made it his personal ambition to have Mordecai and all the Jews of the empire killed.
Haman’s self-worth had begun to grow. He had been promoted, he alone had been asked to dine with the king and queen, and everyone was paying him great respect, that is, except for Mordecai. Haman had gallows constructed to put Mordecai to death. The next day he would dine with the king and request that Mordecai be hung. But it just so happened that the king could not sleep that night and decided to review the records. He learned that Mordecai had uncovered the conspiracy. About that time, Haman just happened to come into the king’s presence to demand that Mordecai be put to death. The king asked Haman, “what should be done to the man who delights the king?” Haman thinking that he was the man said the man should wear the king’s crown, robe, and he should be allowed to ride the king’s horse. The king told Haman to see that such an honor was bestowed upon Mordecai.
Esther finally told the king of the plot to kill the Jews. As the king was deciding the fate of Haman, it just so happened that Harbona, one of the king’s attendants, looked out the window and saw the gallows that Haman had constructed to kill Mordecai (7.9-10). Haman’s instrument of death literally killed him. Mordecai was exonerated and all the Jews of the land were spared. Perhaps there is good reason why the ancient readers accepted Esther. God’s work can be seen even when his name is not!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Mommas don't let your babies grow up in the time of the Judges
Since Mother's day is only a few days away, I thought it would be fitting to look at 3 mothers during the period of the Judges. Judges 13:2, 17:1, and 1 Samuel 1:1 all begin with the same formula: "Now there was a certain man from _____ whose name was ______." These are the only OT occasions for this formula except 1 Sam. 9.1. Perhaps we should compare these 3 occasions since they occur in the period of the Judges and understand the first two examples as contrasts for the third.
Samson's mother miraculously conceived and bore a son. There are many allusions from other significant OT texts that foreshadow the extraordinary character that Samson was to be. Samson's mother was barren as was Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel. An angel appears to Samson's parents as one appeared to Abraham and Sarah. A nazarite vow is pronounced from birth. Samson's parents ask the angel to reveal his name as Jacob did in Gen. 32. It seems that God has invested a lot in the birth of Samson. Yet, Samson and his parents seemed to have trouble understanding his role as deliverer of Israel and thus he never became an effective leader. He led no Israelite into battle, he married Philistines women, he violated all 3 of the Nazarite vows, stayed with a foreign prostitute, and sought a life of personal vendetta. Samson may be the greatest disappointment in all of scripture.
In Judges 17, Micah's mother becomes obsessed with idols. Micah means "who is like the Lord?" (implication is that no one is like the Lord) yet his mother tries to have a carved image "like the Lord." Micah eventually made himself an ephod, made idols, and even made his own priest, all of which led to the Danites own unauthorized cult. Where did Micah learn his bad habits?
Contra these men with Samuel. His mother Hannah is also barren. She prays to the Lord for a son and vows to give him back to the Lord in service. His mother worships the Lord and offers sacrifices at Shiloh every year. His mother is true to her word and gives Samuel to the Lord's temple service. When trouble overtakes her, she seeks the Lord's help. Hannah's son led to wonderful changes. The word of the Lord returned to Israel (3.1). The priesthood was purified, and Israel revived its genuine worship of YHWH through the spiritual leadership of Samuel.
Lesson: Mothers have powerful influence. Effective mothers can produce national results. Happy Mother's Day!!!
Samson's mother miraculously conceived and bore a son. There are many allusions from other significant OT texts that foreshadow the extraordinary character that Samson was to be. Samson's mother was barren as was Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel. An angel appears to Samson's parents as one appeared to Abraham and Sarah. A nazarite vow is pronounced from birth. Samson's parents ask the angel to reveal his name as Jacob did in Gen. 32. It seems that God has invested a lot in the birth of Samson. Yet, Samson and his parents seemed to have trouble understanding his role as deliverer of Israel and thus he never became an effective leader. He led no Israelite into battle, he married Philistines women, he violated all 3 of the Nazarite vows, stayed with a foreign prostitute, and sought a life of personal vendetta. Samson may be the greatest disappointment in all of scripture.
In Judges 17, Micah's mother becomes obsessed with idols. Micah means "who is like the Lord?" (implication is that no one is like the Lord) yet his mother tries to have a carved image "like the Lord." Micah eventually made himself an ephod, made idols, and even made his own priest, all of which led to the Danites own unauthorized cult. Where did Micah learn his bad habits?
Contra these men with Samuel. His mother Hannah is also barren. She prays to the Lord for a son and vows to give him back to the Lord in service. His mother worships the Lord and offers sacrifices at Shiloh every year. His mother is true to her word and gives Samuel to the Lord's temple service. When trouble overtakes her, she seeks the Lord's help. Hannah's son led to wonderful changes. The word of the Lord returned to Israel (3.1). The priesthood was purified, and Israel revived its genuine worship of YHWH through the spiritual leadership of Samuel.
Lesson: Mothers have powerful influence. Effective mothers can produce national results. Happy Mother's Day!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
