Answers to some popular questions are to be found in this chapter. Why so many laws? Why did God command such violence against others? What is holiness? Is the Old Testament still relevant today?
I watched a movie about a treasure hunt. You know the one, but I cannot think of the title. The main character discovered a clue written on the back of the Constitution, and used a special pair of glasses that he found hidden behind a brick in an old building to read the hidden writing.
(I know the name of that movie instantly popped into your head, and I sit here agonizing and can’t come up with it….) Ughh. I hate that.
Anyway… I found myself thinking about those special glasses this morning. If I remember correctly, those glasses had three or four different colored lenses that the reader could use interchangeably. Pull down the red filter lenses and writing appears visible that the naked eye couldn’t see. Pull down the blue lens and still more writing, previously invisible to both the naked eye and the red lens, becomes visible.
In our reading, such a pair of glasses would be very helpful. I could pull down a lens that would make invisible all of the text that applied only to the Israelites. Much of the law regarding sacrifice would likely disappear. What if could pull down a lens that brought into focus everything that pertains to holiness? What if I could view today’s reading with a “holiness lens”? I don’t think today’s reading would change much…it’s pretty “black and white” regarding holiness. A few stray thoughts might be eliminated, but the core of today’s reading would remain just as it is.
For instance, how many times have you wondered “what’s with all these commands and laws?” 5:31-33 tells us exactly why we have them. The purpose was to give us something to obey.
Allow me to illustrate: My wife and I recently began watching the Canadian TV show “Heartland”. (notice how I bring my wife’s name in to protect my masculinity?) It’s a show for girls…but I watch it to make here happy…(ahem).
Where were we? Oh yes, Heartland. On the show the main character (Amy)is training her horse to follow her movements without a bridle. Amy turns away from the horse and runs to the left, the horse follows. Amy quickly reverses direction and goes back the other way, or in a circle….again and again, twists and turns and circular movements. The movements were irrelevant, it was the idea that the horse followed on it’s own that made it special. Amy is filled with delight, it’s written all over her face. Why? Because her horse has learned what she was trying to teach it. To follow. At the end of the exercise Amy embraces the horse, filled with love and pride and brimming over with happiness.
I suspect the horse was thinking “what in the world was all that about? We didn’t go anywhere but run in circles…it doesn’t look like she could make up her mind…oh well, at least she’s happy”.
And there you have a reasonable explanation of what the law was meant to provide. By the way…you’re the horse.
If you don’t believe me, re-read 6:20 to 25. Verse 25 says “we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.” To my ear that means “our obedience makes God happy, and when God is happy with us we will be rewarded.”
Obedience to all the laws didn’t earn us forgiveness of our sins, it gains us favor with God who had already had it in mind to sacrifice Himself for our sins. Before we were righteous, God died for us. While we were still sinners God loved us, and He continues to love us, hoping and trusting that we will eventually learn to follow His movements. What am I saying? I am saying that we old horses must learn some new tricks. Holiness is learning to follow God’s commands.
One such command is given later in the reading. Tear down the Asherah poles, smash the altars, completely rid the land of the false gods. In years to come there would be Israelite kings who would make great strides towards “cleaning up the land” but they often failed to take down the Asherah poles, or they would leave the high places. They would begin a good work, but for some reason they didn’t finish it.
In closing up our thoughts for today, let’s consider Chapter 7. Pull down the lens that allows you to apply what was happening to Israel to your personal walk with God. Here we go.
7:1 Christianity begins in your life with a decision to follow. God enters into your spirit, and your spirit is filled with evil giants who are far too strong for you to fight against and win. Giants of pride, envy, lust, selfishness, greed…you get the point. But you will win..inch by inch, battle by battle. (check out 7:17 and 7:21 for more on this)
7:2-5 get rid of these “giants” completely. allow no trace of them to remain in your life. If you permit any pride, any greed, any self to remain in your life, it will eventually lead you away to worship other gods. Don’t fraternize with them. Destroy them completely.
Jump down to 7:16 for another reminder. Do you think this is important? (if was rhetorical).
7:9-14 you will be greatly blessed when you remain obedient. God will find creative ways to bless you that aren’t even related to your efforts.
7:15 sometimes diseases are the consequence of straying away from God’s commands. It’s not so much that God sends terrible diseases, but rather that He quits protecting us from the terrible diseases that are already out there.
7:22 tells us that even after we accept Christ into our lives that there is still “ground to be taken” and “battles to be fought”. The day we enter the promised land isn’t the day that we completely conquer it. In our young immature state we are not yet strong enough to hold it. As we grow and develop we will continue to surrender parts of our life to God. It is the ongoing practice of a disciple. Study, Surrender, Growth, New Strength.
7:25-26 don’t long after what this life promises. Some sin is tantalizing and attractive, but it brings with it death. Be careful as you defeat your enemies that they don’t inflict a wound upon you that causes you to eventually die. (ie: don’t get caught up in anger, resentment, etc.) These things are deceptively hard to put to death, appearing to be dead in us, they slowly grow back to life….like a dandelion.
Well, we scratched the surface. Take care of those glasses, we’re going to need them again.
Faithfully,
PR