Psalm 82 (redux)

Summary: The Hebrew god, God, disrupts a meeting of pagan gods to tell them off: they are propping up wicked people, they are ignoring people that need help, and their time will come to an end. 

Response: First off, I can't remember doing this once before! Which is wild, because it's a memorable scenario and I usually love God doing social justice work. 

Okay, actual topic is the usual selfish one: who am I in the story, and what change should I make because of it? Am I closer to the oppressed and needy, or am I closer to a character of power who doesn't help those around them? Lord, help me to help others. Help me to follow You instead of making my own little fiefdom. 

Isaiah 5:1-7

Summary: A fairy-tale metaphor turns south fast as a picturesque vineyard representing God's chosen people, built and managed carefully, produces only useless fruit. God warns that He will just have to rip it up and start over. 

Response: Obviously some worst case scenario kind of stuff. I'm hopeful that I can ask for God's help before it gets to this point. Lord, forgive me where I've failed You. Prune me, pain and all, so I might be pleasing and useful in Your kingdom. 

2 Kings 5:1-14

Summary: Elisha, that guy we just read about last week, has had about a week of being The Guy. So when Israel's king entertains a guest from Syria, a mighty warrior who has heard of God's power to heal a skin disease, Elisha asks he be brought to his house. The warrior, Naaman, rides up with his whole crew. Elisha sends someone out to tell him to wash in a local river seven times. Naaman initially scoffs at the idea, but one of his people convinces him that he would have done something difficult, so he may as well try something easy. And what do you know, it works! 

Response: I tend to swing wildly in listening to God between "it's not that difficult" and "but you have to do it." Even this devotional tactic is haphazard at best. I think what helped Naaman, and what would help me, is some accountability. Lord, help me to open up and be honest with You and those around me. 

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Summary: Elijah the prophet and his pupil, Elisha, know that the former's time on earth is almost up. (The skipped passage is a little funny, with Elisha twice saying the already part out loud and Elijah twice replying curtly, "I know. Shut up.") Elijah wants to go alone, but Elisha is having none of it. Elijah asks what Elisha wants before he goes; Elisha wants twice the prophetic power as Elijah, which the teacher thinks is a big ask. Eventually, after splitting and crossing a river, a supernatural chariot of fire sweeps Elijah off, and he is gone. Elisha picks up his cloak, does the same action with the river, and carries on. 

Response: As stated before, I do not have a call to full time pastoral ministry. But I feel like the things I'm seeing, of these two men just being human, are struggles of any leader in ministry. The pull to go it alone instead of training up a new generation. At the same time, the thought that Elijah could give Elisha any power. Or Elisha calling on "the God of Elijah," having not yet claimed God as his own. Lord, search my heart and help me in my own ministries. May You be found, honored, and glorified in my work for You. 

Galatians 3:23-29

Summary: Paul views trying to live correctly before Christ as full-on prison. But Jesus, he argues, breaks down the rigidity of the law because we're not obeying a prison warden, we're joining with a Leader. 

Response: To bend the phrase, we had a legal system, now we strive for justice. Jesus doesn't offer less grace to different groups of people. To be fair, the passage here doesn't mention standards of behavior. But it's not our place to give those tests. If we're working with Jesus, we offer His grace and let Him convict hearts.

Lord, help me be an instrument of Your grace today and every day. 

Psalm 22:19-28

Summary: The psalmist asks for God's help. And he gets it! He's so excited, he tells everyone he can find about God and His faithfulness. 

Response: I am blessed, far beyond privileged and teetering towards spoiled. When I'm reading the Bible, I'm often looking for self-inserts that are The Rich Young Ruler or The Prodigal Son (who gets a fortune to squander). I don't often try to empathize with the leper, the beggar, or in this case the persecuted. Because I'm not harried for my faith, it's a stretch for me. I often accuse Psalms of just being whiny. 

But! I'm going to try to believe it a bit more. It might not be David himself going through this, but what about other marginalized groups? I think they could feel a kinship with this so long as privileged people like me can affirm that. Lord, help me to see my blessings not for me but for those around me. 

Isaiah 65:1-9

Summary: God, speaking to His chosen people the Israelites, condemns both their worship of everything but Him but also their insistence that they are better than others. 

Response: Like smoke in my nose. I know I've been there, worshipping other things with my time and attention and money as well; I've been there, dismissing others as less than when I myself am just completely unworthy. Lord, help me to be humble, and help me to seek You.