30 April 2013

Psalm 61, 62; Wisdom 10:1-21; Rom. 12:1-21; Luke 8:1-15

The writer recounts the history of Israel from the very beginning of Genesis.  Through every major inflection point it was wisdom that guided the fathers and then the nation through trials and struggles.  From whence does this wisdom come?  It doesn't come from a tree and it doesn't come from books, it comes from Torah.  It isn't difficult to work out why the Jews believed themselves to be unique in the world.  They alone had the Word of God, given at Sinai, to lead them and protect them if they would keep it.  Until then, God worked through agency in giving wisdom to those who sought Him.  We have a two-pronged benefit, we have the Word and we have the Spirit.  We should be the wisest people on earth.  Our lives should look a lot like Jesus', we have the same Spirit of wisdom.

Does it seem to you that we read the parable of the sower all the time?  I think there is a good reason for regularly reflecting on this parable, there are so many angles from which to read it.  Today I am thinking about the wisdom of the sower.  It doesn't seem at all wise to scatter seed where it won't produce any fruit does it?  At least worldly wisdom would tell you not to scatter seed so indiscriminately, but we have something called common grace, the Lord hasn't left the world bereft of His influence.  Romans 1 provides us with an understanding of that concept for instance.  We are to be like the sower, willing to take the risk of throwing seed on soil that is, at present, unproductive and hard, in the wisdom of knowing that all the ground can become fertile through the agency of the Holy Spirit.  We can't truly know the condition of the soil on which we scatter seed, only God knows the heart.

Paul writes of special grace in the body of Christ.  We all have different gifts, emphasis on the word "gifts" because they are not of ourselves, so how can we think too highly of ourselves.  As we have been given gifts for service it would seem that wisdom is in the laying down of our lives as living sacrifices to the One who has given them.  He would certainly be the one most likely to know how best to use those gifts.  The wisdom Paul teaches concerning enemies is certainly counter-intuitive.  Love our enemies, bless them, don't repay evil for evil, never avenge yourselves, do good to your enemy and ultimately overcome evil with good.  Sounds like Paul was familiar with Jesus' teaching and His life.  Sound then like wisdom.

29 April 2013

Psalm 56, 57; Wisdom 9:1, 7-18; Col. 3:18-4:18; Luke 7:36-50

The writer is speaking in terms of Platonic thought, but that thought is also in keeping with the Word, God's revelation of Himself and of truth.  The temple on the mountain is a copy of an ideal temple, the one in the mind of God.  We see that idea again and again in Scripture.  God told Moses to make it exactly as He was instructed, Noah was given exact instructions for the ark.  Ezekiel sees the temple God wants and then John sees the city of God coming down from above.  We live in a world that could have looked like what God wanted but for our sin.  We seek wisdom and knowledge from the wrong sources in our creating so that we make poor copies.  In order to have true wisdom to order things rightly and make just decisions we need God's Holy Spirit from on high.  Knowing that truth and seeking that Spirit can make all the difference in the world.

The woman who comes to anoint Jesus is known to be a "sinful" woman, apparently a prostitute in the city.  The Pharisee, Simon, said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”  Said to himself, and Jesus answered him.  Does that mean Simon said this under his breath or that Jesus understood his thoughts.  Jesus' reply makes clear He knows exactly who this woman is but her supplication on his behalf has been her sacrifice of confession and she is forgiven.  He makes clear also that Simon has sinned against Him by not respecting Him enough to even provide basic hospitality.  I see in this story the basic pattern of Jesus in dealing with people.  For those who are outside the community, such as this woman who was shunned by those inside the community, grace comes first but there is truth, the parable makes plain her situation.  For those insiders, the self-righteous, they receive truth but the offer of grace is there if they are willing to accept the truth.

Paul gives instructions for how to live in the household and outside it.  Wives are to submit to their husbands, a most infamous idea nowadays but does it mean more than that wives respect husbands?  We have come to believe in an egalitarian view of the sexes but is that cultural progress or disobedience?  Complementarianism is a more biblical view of the relationship between men and women, from beginning to end.  Husbands are to love their wives, tempering that desire to rule over women that comes in the original curse in Genesis 3.  Most of the advice Paul gives for inter-household relationships is easy to follow and then he speaks of outsiders, "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time."  That wisdom of making the best use of time needs some prayer and thought but it is clearly a witness to those who are outsiders.  Ask the Lord today how you can best use the time He has given you.

28 April 2013

Psalm 24, 29; Wisdom 7:22-8:1; 2 Thess. 2:13-17; Matt. 7:7-14   

Did you find yourself with a tune in your head as you finished this reading?  Maybe, O Come, O Come Emmanuel?  Here is the second verse of that hymn, "O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who orderest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go."  It is taken from that last verse of the reading but is based on the entire reading.  Wisdom comes from on high, and only from on high, orders all things well and mightily across the earth, and is never triumphed over by evil.  This idea of ordering all things is part of what makes scientific endeavor possible, the belief that the world is sensible and that sense of order is not only discoverable but dependable.  We find at a quantum level that perhaps is less true or that there is an order that we do not perceive because it is of a higher order of magnitude.  Our task is not only to see the path of knowledge, it is to go in her ways.  True wisdom is revealed in not the knowing but the going.

The key to asking, seeking and knocking and receiving, finding and having the door opened is the wisdom to know what we're after.  Jesus taught us to pray for the coming of God's kingdom, the establishment of His will, our daily bread, forgiveness, guidance, and protection/deliverance from evil.  Those are prayers, therefore, that we know will be answered.  When we pray for other things we, at some level, must believe that we know what would be good for us.  Jesus taught us to keep it simpler than that.  He told us exactly what was good in the Lord's Prayer.  It is not a form alone, it is meant to be meditated on, unpacked, and truly prayed.  In the teaching on the narrow gate, Jesus is echoing the teaching from wisdom literature, that most won't find the way, not because it is hidden but because they aren't looking for it, they have been enticed by the broad way, easy street.  In John, He says that He is the gate.  Jesus is the wisdom of God.

Paul says to keep it simple.  You have been sanctified by the Spirit and belief in the truth, simply hold fast to the Gospel and traditions they have been given.  Often, I hear Christians who are searching for some esoteric truth, something deeper in the Word when they are living out of step with what they have received.  We are called to interpret the Gospel in our lives, not to Gnosticism, a religion of knowing that sets the mind above or in opposition to the body.  Applied knowledge is true wisdom.  What are you doing with what you already know?  When you're walking that out, then you are fit to receive more.

April 27 2013

Psalm 55; Wisdom 7:1-14; Col. 3:12-17; Luke 7:18-35

"There is for all one entrance into life, and one way out."  We live in a society that would never allow such a thing in a public building but God has only one way in and one way out.  We all come into this life in the same way, through the union of sperm and egg.  It is messy business and we are all related to the first humans, we come from dust and the activity of God, whether we are king or living on the streets.  Wisdom is knowing our creator, the one who alone knows all things because He alone existed before all things came into existence.  Humility is the recognition of this truth  and turning to Him for wisdom.  Our wisdom is limited in many ways and His is limitless, why would we seek it elsewhere?  Solomon showed humility and wisdom in seeking from the Lord.  His request for wisdom was proof both of his humility and his wisdom.

The early church fathers all agreed that John sent his disciples to Jesus because he wanted their faith in Jesus to be strengthened and so that they would follow Him.  Modern commentators suggest with almost equal unanimity that John sent them because his faith was wavering, because he was in prison, he was doubting.  It is interesting to see the dichotomy between moderns and ancients and I tend to lean in favor of the fathers of the church who would perhaps have a better understanding of the mind of the man as they were closer to that mind.  Jesus' affirmation of John, after John's disciples had departed, tends to argue in favor of that interpretation as well.  Jesus didn't speak to these men about John but about Himself and He left something out of the Scripture He quoted, the part about setting captives free. There would be no miracle to get John out of prison, they would have to believe without that particular sign, faith could not be dependent on Jesus' acting in accord with their desire.

To the Ephesians Paul says to put on the armor of God, they are in a battle.  To the Colossians Paul says to put on spiritual virtues like compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, forgiving hearts with one another, love, peace and thanksgiving.  What would a community characterized by all that look like?  It would be the most wonderful community imaginable.  Thankfulness, Paul particularly stresses.  Thankfulness to God for all things and in all things changes everything.  It is wisdom to recognize that He is the source of all good things and we should thank Him for them.  Wisdom indeed " is an unfailing treasure for mortals;
those who get it obtain friendship with God, commended for the gifts that come from instruction," just as the first passage said.

April 26 2013

Psalm 40, 54; Wisdom 6:12-23; Col 3:1-11; Luke 7:1-17

The desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom.  Sounds a bit like 1 Kings 3 when the Lord gave Solomon a chance to ask for anything in the world and his request was for wisdom, "an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”  Do you see those words, that little phrase, "discern between good and evil," right in the middle?  Wisdom is the ability to discern between good and evil in all things and also to choose the good and eschew the evil.  The writer says that all those who seek wisdom will find it, she will not hide from the earnest and honest seeker, but will make herself available to them, she will be found sitting at the gate.  What a wonderful image that is!  What a wonderful way to start the day.

The elders of the Jews say to Jesus that this centurion is worthy for Jesus to heal his child and yet the centurion says he is not worthy for Jesus even to come under his roof.  He had sent the elders to ask Jesus to come and heal the child not because he wanted them to sing his praises to Jesus but because he wasn't worthy to come to Jesus, he wouldn't presume to ask, he counted the elders worthy to approach Jesus, thinking perhaps Jesus would act at their behest.  His humility is admirable, but he didn't know Jesus' relationship with the elders of the Jews very well did he?  No one even approached Jesus to ask Him to do something about the widow's son, He took the initiative and raised him from the dead.   Sounds a bit like Elijah (1 Kings 17) and Elisha (2 Kings 4), so they come to the only reasonable conclusion, a great prophet has arisen among us. 

Wisdom begins with setting our minds on things above, where wisdom resides, in eternal things rather than earthly things.  Knowing where to seek wisdom is the first step in finding it.  Eve sought wisdom in earthly things, Solomon sought it from the Lord.  What a strange thing for Paul to say that you have died.  Do we recognize that as the transaction?  We died to self when we came alive in Jesus but often we think only of adding something to what we already had.  We are new creations  in Christ.  We have the Spirit of God, access to the fount of wisdom, within us.  If we don't live by the Spirit of God and seek wisdom from Him, we will continue to make the same old mistakes.  Wisdom begins with acknowledging that we are not worthy but He has made us worthy.