The Book of Ruth

Wasn’t that nice! After reading through the book of Judges, this was a refreshing change of pace. A feel good story, with a fairy tale ending. Its been a long time since we’ve had anything quite so innocent and refreshing.

However, did you notice something? Much like the Book of Judges, God was missing. Don’t get me wrong, God is mentioned by Ruth, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (1:6). However, out side of this reference, God isn’t sought after, God doesn’t speak, God doesn’t play a part. Even though God is absent, God is still very present. That’s the biggest difference between Ruth and Judges. For Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz God is the foundation of their lives. They know God. They live according to God. Their lives revolve around God. In the end, they are blessed and we get a wonderful feel good story.

Before we go, let’s check out the thoughts from TheBibleProject as they share a bit more insight on the Book of Ruth.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Judges 18 – Judges 21

Our read through the Book of Judges comes to a close. Thank goodness! This was a hard read for me. One story after another on a continual downward spiral from the good and perfect world God had created. Granted, we are a long way from the Garden of Eden, where things were once perfect and pure, however, life in the Promised Land isn’t so promising. Why is that?

Two reasons come to mind:

1. Using a verse quoted repeatedly in the last few chapters, “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.” There was no leadership. There was no oversight. There was no guidance. Everyone was doing as each saw fit. Prostitution. Wives as concubines. False gods. Killing of fellow Israelites. Death. Destruction. On and on the list could go. With just a few rare exceptions, the Book of Judges is really “every man for themselves” and that mind set takes its toll.
2. The people had lost sight of God. Think through your reading of Judges, when was the last time God was mentioned as giving guidance and oversight? We might have to go all the way back to Chapter 6 and Gideon, however even there he is testing to see if his call to leadership is really from God or just some circumstance of luck. If I remember right, there were only two different times when God was mentioned as dwelling in Shiloh. Two times! We spent chapter after chapter in earlier books reading how important God’s dwelling would be. We read that God will dwell with them, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Now I’m not to say, God left them. Not at all. Instead, as the Israelites spread across the Promised Land, they lost sight of God.

When you combine those two things together, you end up with a royal mess! A mess that boils down to: Israel had no king, because they had no God. Certainly works in my book, and could easily be applied to our own day:

To KNOW GOD is to KNOW PEACE
compared to
NO GOD means NO PEACE

Even so many centuries later, we have so much to learn!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: The Book of Ruth

Judges 13 – Judges 15
Judges 16 – Judges 18

I didn’t post yesterday, because these two readings really go hand in hand as we encounter the story of Sampson.

Most of us might remember this story from our childhood days. He’s the great mighty warrior who took down the Philistines as he pushed down the pillars of the temple. As a child, he’s the hero, and his strength unimaginable. For there is no one greater than Samson!

Yet, as we read through God’s story this time, I took note of Samson’s weakness. And what was his weakness? Women. Over and over again, he is seduced to give us his secretes.

He is seduced by his wife (14:15-17) as he gave up the answer to his riddle after being questioned over and over, and her pleading “You hate me; you don’t really love me. You have asked a riddle of my people, bu you have not explained it to me.”

Later he is seduced by Delilah, as she longs to find out where his strength comes from. Repeatedly she questions. Repeatedly she trying to figure it out. Repeatedly she tries various ways of restraining him. Each one fails. Although, each one brings him close to giving up his secrets, until he eventually he tells her, his strength lies in his uncut hair.

One would think that by no Samson would have figured out what Delilah was up to. Oh, how blind we are to the power of love.

In the end, I won’t look at Sampson quite the same. Strong and mighty . . . sure. But weak in heart!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: Judges 19 – 21

Judges 8 – Judges 9
Judges 10 – Judges 12

I believe there is an old adage:

“Power corrupts”
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely”

I find these words to be true as we work through these five chapters of Judges. With the change of one Judges to the other, things temporary improve, and then quickly decline. Of course the decline from one Judge to the next, only seems to get worse.

Take for example Gideon . . .
He led 300 of his best men to battle and defeated the Midianites. God’s guidance and mighty arm was revealed to the people as Gideon led faithfully. Yet after his major victory, the people come to him for leadership, and how does he lead? By making idols of false gods to whom the people are asked to worship. Oh how power corrupts!

Then there is Jephthah . . .
He makes a vow to God which equates to: “I will sacrifice as a Burnt Offering the first thing that walks out of my house, if you deliver the Ammonites to me.” The Ammonites are taken down, Jephthah returns home, and the first thing out of his door? His daughter! Did she know? Was it a ploy? Did he actually sacrifice her? The intent is there, but our text is a bit vague on all of the details.

We know that God frowns on such sacrifices, so did it happen? I’d like to think that she was not sacrificed. It seems to go against everything God is working toward, and certainly contradicts many of the teachings God has given us so far. So here’s my interpretation: Because both she and Jephthah took this vow seriously and because her virginity is so highly regarded, I believe that she was set apart as an offering, in that, she was given as a continued servant of God. Think here Catholic Nun. I don’t believe this is too much of a stretch, because if we remember back to Leviticus, part of the offering was always designated for the Priest. Wouldn’t giving her to the Priest as a servant to God, still fulfill the vow made and removes the idea of child sacrifice? I tend to think so, and we’ll see something similar in 1 Samuel as Hannah gives up her son. So for her sake, I say she wasn’t sacrificed. However, this is Judges and power corrupts, so . . . maybe I’m wrong.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: Judges 13 – 15.

Joshua 6 – Joshua 7

How do you drink?

Seems like and odd question, I know! Yet, I’m not referring to what do you drink, or whether or not you like your drinks lukewarm or ice cold. The question is written as it is intended to be asked . . . how do you drink?

Now the easy answer is with cup. Yet, for the sake of reflection, remove the utensil you are using to take a drink. That’s right no straw, no cup, bowl, or anything else, its just you and some long awaited H20. Now how do you take a drink?

As a kid I can remember sticking my head under the spout to the kitchen sink. I can even remember trying to aim the spout from the refrigerator button right to my mouth when mom wasn’t looking. Other times it was outside with the hose, held high on a hot summer day. Either way, it was water to mouth, not utensils needed.

This is where we find Gideon and God in the book of Judges. Gideon has drawn an army to battle the Midianites. Its a mighty army 32,000 strong. God simply says it’s too many people, giving the implication to Gideon, the people will not believe in God’s divine guidance and protection with an army like that, you must make it smaller. After dwindling things down to 10,000, God says that’s still too many, go and make them drink and watch how they do it.

In the most unusual of ways, 300 men lap the water like a dog. These are the ones selected. These are the ones who defeat the Midianites. Unusual, I know, yet with God all things are possible.

So how do you drink? Me, I’m a slurper!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading Joshua 8 – 9.

Judges 3 – Judges 5

Warning:
Today’s reading may be rated R
for Violence and Gore

Perhaps every reading should come with a rated similar to what we see at the beginning of a TV show or as posted with a movie. Even it Judges chapters 3 – 5 had a rating I would have kept reading. The violence and gore helps to make things interesting. This is definitely the stuff that Hollywood makes movies out of.

We’ve got Ehud (a Judge of Israel) and King Eglon. The Israelites are oppressed by Moab, and Ehud goes in for the rescue. Negotiations don’t work, but his double edged sword does the trick. Right into the folds of Eglon’s belly. You can almost hear the slurp of the fat as it closes in around the blade which was completely embedded in his belly. Add to that he was sitting on the “throne” and we can all begin to connect the dots on how that might have looked. Again rated R for violence and gore!

Then we’ve God Deborah, Barak, Sisera, and Jael. A some what convoluted story which includes: 1) Deborah – the Judge called to redeem Israel from the oppression of the Canaanites, 2) Barak – one of Deborah’s military leaders 3) Sisera – the opposing general, and 4) Jael – the heroin. In the midst of fleeing from the battle led by Deborah and Barak, Sisera ends up seduced by Jael. To make things even better, Jael drugs him with warm milk only to hammer a tent peg into his forehead. Whack! Whack! Whack! Good stuff!

Moral of it all . . . Israel strays from God. . . the Judges come into provide guidance (and rescue?) . . . and things get a little bit R rated. Perhaps after all the readings of borders and which tribe was going to live where, we needed something a bit more interesting!

Peace,
Pastor

Our next reading: Judges 6 – 7

Judges 1 – Judges 2

We turn the page and begin a new book of the Bible as we begin to reflect on Judges. Here we loose a “main character” if you will, as we no longer have people like Abraham, Joseph, Moses or Aaron as our main focus. Now our focus is on Israel, and we will find that the people are quick to fall short of God’s expectation. In fact, by the time we are done with today’s reading in chapter 2, we’ve already noticed that some of the Israelites want to battle their fellow tribes, while others are turning to the false god Baal. This isn’t good, and it doesn’t get much better.

Looking ahead, we do have some things to look forward to. Soon we’ll encounter individuals like Deborah, Gideon, and Samson. We’ll save their stories for another day, but at least it gives us something to look forward to. Eventually, as the book comes to a close, we’ll get a bit closer to King Saul and King David, but for now we’ll have to dwell with the Israelites as they begin to figure out who they are as a people without a defined leader.

So . . . that’s my quick summary. Before we close this blog for today, how about a short video from thebibleproject.com to help us better understand the Book of Judges.

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: Joshua 3 – 5.

Joshua 19 – Joshua 21
Joshua 22 – Joshua 24

And so our reading through the book of Joshua comes to a close . . . with that, Joshua’s life. It is time for another transition.

As we quietly lament another great leader of Israel, I’m amazed at the richness of the text as it recalls the names and places of burial for many in the Israelite’s story.

Joseph . . . buried at Shechem.
Eleazar . . . buried at Gibeah.
Joshua . . . buried at Timnath-serah.

In each of these burials there is tradition. There is honor. There is respect. These are the names of those dear to us, and the place where we go to remember them. Its not much different from visiting the cemetery to spend some time in conversation with our parents and grandparents who have gone before us. Again, there his tradition, honor, and respect.

It makes me wonder how I’ll be remembered, especially since I hope that my ashes might be scattered to the wind? No place to go. No place to gather. I may be remembered, but for how long? Then in the end, does it really matter, for as Kansas once sang, “All we are is dust in the wind.”

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: Judges 1-2

ps: Fair warning as we begin Judges. This was passed on my my Bishop, Daniel Beaudoin, who has encouraged all of us to take on this Year of Scripture:

This morning we started the Book of Judges, and I know what’s coming. The Book of Judges is a violent book full of troubling and tragic tales. I’d like to skip the Book of Judges and move right into the Book of Ruth. But I can’t and I won’t.

I hope that you will remain a faithful reader, like I’m trying to be! PB

Joshua 16 – Joshua 18

The boarders are established. Israel is now at home. The promise made to Abraham is now fulfilled.

For all of you visual learners here a great image to help you see who ended up where:

Peace,

Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: Joshua 19-21

Joshua 12 – Joshua 15

Today the world is hearing the unfortunate news of another mass shooting. Our prayers extend to the families of the victims and to the entire community of Christchurch in New Zealand. 49 dead. Killed at two different Mosques. Again we ask how long will this senseless violence go on?

Even reading through our story in Joshua, people could have asked the same question as the nation of Israel laid waist to community after community. Chapter 12 tells us that 31 kings fell under the leadership of Joshua. Basic instinct (or implied reading) tells us that there was complete annihilation of each and every tribe and community. Not quite the case. Our friends remind us of that in the video on Joshua which I posted yesterday.

Everywhere Joshua and the nation of Israel went, a remnant of the Canaanites remained. Lives were spared. Communities ended up living together and accepting one another. This helps to tell explain a good portion of the story we are yet to read, and why the Israelites find it so easy to be tempted and stray away from God. This explains the future Exile and return to the Promised Land under Ezra and Nehemiah. But I’m getting way ahead of myself. Still the question and thought of senseless violence is nothing new. Why can’t we all just figure it out together. Until that time, we find ourselves asking again and again haven’t we experienced enough? We can even ask, when will enough be enough?

Will it take the death of my son, or your daughter?
Would it take a shooting at my congregation, or your place of work?
What happens when it takes place at our local Middle School, or your elementary school?
Ever though about if it was you or happened to me?

Too often we have seen schools, theaters, churches, synagogues, mosques, places of work, and everywhere in-between fall victim to someones’ senseless act. While we may never fully understand why any of these things happen. While we may never fully grasp God’s reasoning for the devastation done as Israel took the Promised Land. While we may never understand any of it. This one thing i believe to be true. . . .

In the beginning, God created all things . . . good, pure, and innocent . . .
to be at peace and harmony with one another.

That is creation as God intended.
That is creation as we should see it.
That is the creation that you and I need to work to fully recreate.

Together let us all work to spread God’s peace!
Pastor Bailey

Our next reading: Joshua 16 – 18