Saturday, November 11, 2017

November 11

Ezekiel 23:1-49; Hebrews 10:18-39; Psalm 109:1-31; Proverbs 27:13

A doozy of a day, huh?  Not only do we have the very uncomfortable calling-down-of-curses in Psalm 109, but we also have the all-out grossness of Ezekiel 23.  A couple of comments on each:

In Psalm 109, we see the persecuted psalmist calling out to the Lord for what looks like vengeance.  Note that the psalmist is not swearing revenge himself, but instead appeals to the Lord for an advocate, "an evil man to oppose him" (vs. 6).  Because of this wicked man's deeds, let judgment fall upon him to a complete and total degree.  "Make it so obvious, Lord," he pleads.  He wants this calamity to be far-reaching and long-lasting: children, wife, parents are all affected (see vs. 9-10, 12, 14-15); finances (vs. 11) and even physical health (vs. 18-19) may suffer.  This desired justice is dreadful.  We who say, "Jesus loves me, this I know" are on shaky ground here.

It's also perhaps familiar ground.  I can empathize with the psalmist who feels alone and unfairly accused and viciously attacked (vs. 2-5, 20), who feels weary and worn out (vs. 22-24).  But today I'm struck that the psalmist puts all this into the hands of a praiseworthy God.  The psalm begins and ends with an acknowledgement of praise - the writer knows who is in control and to whom he should turn.  God is trustworthy and faithful.  We can take comfort in that.

Ezekiel 23 has to be one of the most disgusting chapters in all of the Bible, not excluding the chapters in Leviticus about discharges and hairs in blemishes.  Even those exhaustive descriptions of icky physical situations can't touch the "ewww" I felt as I read.  Prostitution and promiscuity and lusting after beast-like lovers, lewdness and defilement and child sacrifice.  I, living in 21st century America, have seen my fair share of gross things.  My state recently legalized recreational marijuana, and our ballot also included a proposition requiring the porn industry to provide condoms for its employees.  I know women who have aborted their babies; there's a friend of a friend who is watching another woman grow with her own husband's child, while the child they bore together is hospitalized for serious medial concerns.  All awful and infuriating and just gross.

But that pales in comparison to the rampant depravity described in this chapter.  The prophet paints the most offensive picture possible as evidence of how God views the idolatry of his people.  "This is how bad what you're doing really is," God says.  "This is how repellent your actions are."  And this is why God finally must act to bring judgment.  God is disgusted; it is time to re-set the nation through exile.

On the one hand, this passage is somewhat comforting - "we're not as bad as that," I say (nervously) to myself.  On the other hand, this passage is terrifying - the scenario is so vile that it gives me a glimpse of how sin offends a holy God.  Idolatry brings consequences: even here, God is trustworthy and faithful.  Instead of comforting us, though, that truth should galvanize us (as it was meant to for God's nation) to repentance and obedience.

And, on an upbeat and unrelated note, we only have about 50 more days in our One Year Bible journey.  Congratulations for all the time and effort you've put in so far this year - be thinking now about your plans for 2018.  How will you invest in Scripture next year?  Some of us will be reading the OYB again, and we'd love to have company!


- Sarah Marsh

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you. 

1 comment:

  1. Sarah, thank you for your words today. It’s so good of God To give us this very ugly picture of how He sees man’s unfaithfulness and bent toward idolatry. Someone asked me recently, “Becky, what is your big takeaway from reading through the Bible in a year?” I said to them that God sees our sin as way more serious than we often think, and I need His Grace way more than I realize on a daily basis! So I am definitely in for 2018! I’ve already purchased a new paperback OYB to use next year. It arrived in the mail just yesterday! This year I used the NLT and for 2018, I’m going to use the NIV. Now I’m praying to stay on track for these last 50 days or so because we all know how busy this time of year is in our culture. Thank you!!!

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