8 November 2010
Psalm 80; Joel 1.1-13; Rev 18.15-24; Luke 14.12-24

The judgment of God is on the produce of the land and the suffering extends to all. The destruction of the crops is complete in that whatever one pestilence leaves behind, the next devours until ultimately the land is completely stripped of everything. The worship of the people is impossible and all that makes for an enjoyable life are gone. The command goes forth from the prophet to declare a period of mourning by the priests, a mourning that is characterized by repentance for the sins of the nation.

The banquet invitation would have fixed the date but not the time. The guests who decline to come to the banquet would have already been advised of the date and were simply awaiting the summons to the feast. Not only that, they would have RSVP’d that they would be available that day. Now, they give weak excuses for not coming at the last minute and the host is left without guests and sends his servants to get “less desirable” society for the occasion. The parable is both a parable on the rejection of Jesus by the Jews and object lesson for his interlocutor on following the word Jesus has just spoken about extending hospitality to those down the social ladder. Jesus’ words were counter cultural then as now and demanded an explanation.

The value system of the world is clear, the merchants and those who made money from the trade of the city weep and wail over her destruction and refuse to turn to the one who destroyed her. Heaven and the saints are told to rejoice over this destruction, not to join in the lament, for this is God’s judgment on the city. Then an angel throws down a millstone into the sea and proclaims that this same judgment is on Babylon for all the atrocities committed there. It is important for us to ensure that we do not share in the world’s value systems but that we are instead prepared to hear the Lord’s judgment on the things of the world.

Restore us, O LORD God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved!