God Save Us!
Blessed are those who Mourn
Those who are poor in spirit, those who are broken, will weep. Brokenness implies pain. But mourning goes much deeper. Mourning means that we embrace the “aches” of life. The longer we live, the more we lose. Eventually we will lose our life. Our culture encourages us to live in denial. We are often encouraged to move on, find closure, or get over it. But grieving is necessary to wholeness and healing.
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Reflections on the CO-VID Pandemic
I tested positive for the coronavirus. I self-isolated in our home for fourteen days. For six of those days I was too sick to do anything or think about anything. I have recovered well. In fact, I worked in our yards yesterday. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, I am out of quarantine. Someone recently asked for my reflections. So, here it goes.
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The Idolatry of Politics
The ancient people of Israel cried out, “Give us a king.” The desire for a king displeased Samuel, but Yahweh allowed Samuel to appoint a king over Israel. The desire for a king was an expression of idolatry. “The LORD said to Samuel, ‘they have rejected Me from being king over them… they have forsaken Me and served other gods’” (1 Samuel 8:5-8). The perennial temptation of humanity is to exalt human leaders to divine status. Admiration easily becomes adoration.
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When the Anointed One Falls
We tend to think that being called and anointed by God gives us a favored status which lifts us above accountability. The story of David reminds us that anointing brings greater accountability. David was a man after God’s heart and God anointed him to be king over Israel. The story of his defeat over Goliath is legendary and established him a one of Israel’s great heroic figures. As with most successful people, David was tempted to think too highly of himself. In David we have an example of an unintentional toxic leader. He began well, but his failures had lasting consequences.
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Pride Goes Before Destruction
Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling (Proverbs 16:18).
The proud are lifted up, exalted, and self-important. The arrogance of humanity is often depicted in the lives of great kings. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon toured his capital and reflected on his self-worth: “Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). Nebuchadnezzar’s words – might, power, glory, and majesty – reveal the desire of the human heart and mind. Like Adam before him (Genesis 3:5), the Babylonian king desired to be a god.
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