10 November 2010
Psalm 119.97-120; Joel 2.12-19; Rev 19.11-21; Luke 15.1-10

Even in the face of the prophecy of the end the prophet implores them to return to the Lord and to cry out to Him and the basis for their cry is the character of the Lord Himself. The prophet takes the language of God to encourage the people to repent, the Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, God’s self-description. He is also using the words of God from 2 Chronicles 7, His promise that if they repent and turn to Him He will be merciful and forgiving. What is called for is a national repentance in which everyone participates. We use this same passage on Ash Wednesday in order to call a fast or repentance during Lent to prepare us for the celebration of Easter. We do so to remember the past and in the hope of both our own resurrection from the dead and the coming of Jesus.

Jesus explains His mission simply, the rescue of sinners and their reconciliation with God. He uses everyday examples to illustrate the message, images with which His hearers would instantly connect, shepherds looking for lost sheep and a woman searching for a lost valuable item. We can easily relate to these same concepts if we have ever mislaid or lost something of value to us and our reaction to move heaven and earth to find it. In both cases here, Jesus has in mind some subset of a larger grouping that has value in itself but even more in light of the whole and when it is reunited with the whole it enhances the value of all. We are precious as individuals to the Lord but His purpose is to restore the wholeness of the church by bringing us into that flock.

The time has come for the final battle and the rider on the white horse, the King of kings and Lord of lords comes with a heavenly army against the beast and the false prophet and their armies. We see the victory of God over all the hosts arrayed against Him in this victory that will establish His kingdom forever and ever. Do we understand truly that opposition to God or do we discount evil as something less than that? We need to understand there is indeed an enemy and we are in the midst of a battle. Compromise is not the way to victory.

Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.