Thursday

Psalm 118:1-9

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."
Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."
Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."
In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

During the first World War, my grandparents decided to leave their home and flee to Turin. Their hometown and all that part of Italy was under the Austrian-Hungarian empire, which meant that sooner or later my grandfather would have been conscripted by the Austrian army and forced to go to war against his fellow Italians. Even though my grandparents knew it was dangerous to run away, (soldiers were patrolling the trains all the time), they had faith that God was going to protect them.

When soldiers checked the train compartment where they were sitting, they carefully looked at everyone, including my grandfather, and then left without a word. My grandfather often declared afterward he believed that God had made the soldiers see his unmistakably black beard as if it were the white one of an old man. God had indeed saved them all.

This Psalm reminds us that God is always able and willing to protect us, save us, and bless us. This is such a wonderful song of joy at His deliverance, and it is a promise that we can rediscover every time we are scared and worried or anguished and lost.

God is indeed good.

DV

Thursday

Isaiah 52:11-15
Depart, depart, go out from there!
Touch no unclean thing!
Come out from it and be pure,
you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
But you will not leave in haste
or go in flight;
for the LORD will go before you,
the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
so will he sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.

So does God go before us or does He stand behind us? And the answer that Isaiah gives to that question is "Yes."

Using the imagery of battle, God is the scout who spies out the territory ahead of us and takes the brunt of the first shots of battle, and He is the reargard who protects us from unexpected attacks from behind.

The Servant as Warrior then bears all the scars of battle. "Marred more than any man." Veterans of wars between nations have, through the centuries, returned to their homes marked with amputations, burns and all kinds of hideous injuries and blemishes. This Servant, though, suffered more than any -- perhaps because He was less deserving than any to receive harm.

Yet this Servant will cause Kings to "shut their mouths." He will prosper and be exalted.

This is a passage of paradox. How can the Servant be victim and victor? (How can God be before us and behind us?) How can we possibly understand such things? I really don't know. But Isaiah assures us that we will understand.

Tuesday

Matthew 5: 21 – 26

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day taught that the sixth commandment only forbade actual murder. Buddhism calls anger one of the five hindrances. Psychologists often view anger as a primal emotion that should not be suppressed lest it find another outlet. The internet has sites where users can express anger for Republicans, Democrats, husbands, wives, fat people, skinny people, employers… you get the picture. There were funny posts, outrageous posts and incredibly profane posts, but most were a sad expression of bloggers allowing their own anger to ruin their lives.

At first glance, it seems that the sixth commandment is centered on protecting others. In this passage, Jesus instructs us, not to suppress our anger, but to resolve our disputes. Unrelenting anger may cost us money, time or worse. When our exasperation becomes anger, love turns to apathy. We blame others for our problems, and our anger becomes depression.

Here Jesus provides both the practical and the deeper answer. He challenges us to make the first move, to act with responsibility and dignity toward others. Our behavior, in turn, alters our negative feelings towards our enemies. We can repair broken friendships, business partnerships and family relations. The sixth commandment protects us.

KVG