Tag Archives: Humility

Hosea 10: Compacted Soil: 72/365

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It is amazing what you can find on the internet, should you take the time to look. Having just been struck by the following lines in Hosea:

Ephraim is a well trained calf that loves to thresh, but I will place a yolk on her fine neck. I will harness Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will do the final plowing. Sow righteousness for yourselves and reap faithful love; break up your unplowed ground. It is time to seek the Lord until he comes and sends righteousness on you like the rain.

I was curious and decided to spend a little bit of time exploring compacted soil and how one goes about aerating it. Through this process I found a forum dedicated to raising, and looking after, your family milk cow! Pretty cool stuff.

More pertinently, I also discovered the difficulties involved in rejuvenating soil that has been compacted and leeches of its nutrients. This is an apt metaphor, it sounds a lot like me. The soil originally had a purpose but, often slowly and through lack of careful attention, it grows neglected like

poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.

There are machines that help to aerate fields but they struggle when you start to get deep. From my fifteen minutes of research, it sounds like the best way to aerate fields is to plant hardy grass that develops deep roots systems and clovers that reintroduce nitrogen to the soil. The problem is, should the dirt be really barren, the grass wont grow. Not without constant care, nurturing and attention.

How much does this sound like our spiritual battles? How appropriate is the concept of dirt that has been compacted and consequently hardened into a flatbed where nothing can take root? This sounds so much like me and my world it isn’t funny.

I remember, when I used to work in North Sydney and live about a 20 minute walk away, encountering wave after wave of charities attempting to dredge donations. You know the type, they hire the perky travelers who through lack of shame and humorous accents wave and jump until they have your attention. SNAP! The trap is set. You’re in for the 3 minute spiel…

Well, when I first started in North Sydney I didn’t mind it too much. In fact, if the charity was operating in an area I was interested in I’d often stop to pick their brains on the latest developments in the UNHCR or the like. Over time though, after having to dodge an average of three potential best-friends-if-you-donate types each time I left the office, I started to receive these guys more cooly. By the end of one year living within walking distance, I had had enough. I wasn’t even polite when they approached me anymore. I didn’t want a bar of it, I just wanted to get my sandwich without being accosted, my heart was hardened.

So too I’m sure my spirit is reacting in the same way. Each disappointment or trial, each tribulation compacts the soil of my soul into an evermore dense mass.

Interesting, this passage points to two remedies. First, to toil on the land (metaphorically speaking). There are instructions to “break up unplowed ground” in preparation for the rain. This is important to remember as, whilst God can do everything on his own, he chooses to involve us actively in the process. Consequently I need to prepare the landscape of my heart. I need to reflect, and consider, and rebuke the rough edges of my psyche to ensure my soul is as receptive to God’s word as it can be. Notably, this involves hard work. It isn’t going to come of its own accord.

For me, this often means putting aside the disappointment of my illness and frustration with my current lot. It means reminding myself of God’s abundant provision so I don’t get distracted by my temporary drought.

Second, awaiting God’s rain. I’ve explored this metaphor earlier whilst reading James and it is a good one. I can do all the work in the world, but without God’s rain it is a futile endeavor. This is good for keeping head sizes in the normal range.

It is a good mantra: soft hearts receptive to God’s rain. No doubt it’ll lead to good crops too!

James 2: Deferring Judgement: 65/365

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I think one of the sins I struggle with most is judgement. Others most probably wouldn’t see it from the outside as I’m one of the worst forms of judge – an internal judge, jury and jailer. I notice things and still smile but can’t help but to comment to myself, “she’s taking an iPad out during church” or “that driver is way too cranky”. All the time, I’m sitting comfortably in the judge’s seat with a sturdy gavel and fancy white wig that covers my scalp.

To be honest it is a bit cowardly. In the court of my mind none of the jurors disagree with me. Indeed, it is rare if defending council even offers a defense, “You’re right m’lord. They’re guilty as charged. Thank you for bringing this to our attention”. The media don’t critique me either, every decision is right; and wise; and just.

I think I really needed to hear James’ smackdown on discrimination:

haven’t you discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts.

Too right I have. Further, James offers some legal council that I seldom hear in my mind-court:

Mercy triumphs over judgement

I don’t know about you, but in my mind-court there are very few lenient sentences. People should be thrown off the road, or learn some manners, or be locked up and unable to harm others in the future. It is exclusively the acts that people perform that I consider, seldom do I spend a moment on people’s character.

Further, and far more problematically, I don’t consider one important point that Barrister James raises. Namely,

Didn’t God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs to the kingdom that He has promised those who love Him? Yet you dishonor that poor man.

The most pertinent part of this argument is the fact that God chose for these people to be the way they are. Further, he chose those who belongs to his family. Each one of them share in his inheritance. Each on of them – despite my inability to see it – are made in God’s image. The thing blocking me from seeing it is not them… it is me.

This is a powerful argument that James raises. After all, if I judge a person for being where, and whom, God chose him to be… then I am not only judging them. I am also judging God, saying that God doesn’t live up to my standards. When I ignore certain people in church (or indeed even prefer talking to others) because I find their personalities difficult to engage with, then I am snubbing God’s creation and biting my thumb at his handiwork.

Unlike Judge Judy, in my court-room the decisions aren’t final. In fact, the illusion that I have an active say might be better described as a delusion. I am no judge, just a fool wearing a wig and smacking a hammer and getting hoarse yelling “order” towards the confusion of my own mind.

Worse, I am doing it directly in front of the real judge, with the real power, and – in doing so – am breaking his real law…

All I can say is I’m glad he exercises mercy more judiciously than me!

Isaiah 59: A Disarmingly Accurate Portrait: 41/365

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Caricature Artists. I’m sure you know the type. Go to any markets and you’ll see them plying their trade. There is generally an easel and a stool thronged by grinning portraits of celebrities and couples alike. Couples are generally depicted rather favourably, Brittney Spears – less so.

Amused, you appreciatively watch as the artist identifies the key physical traits of the sitting couple. The artist notices her oversized teeth. His pointy nose. They way she croons into his neck like a vampire. 20 minutes, some ink and talent later, the happy couple have a cartoon representation of their best (and worst) qualities to forever treasure (or regret).

Now incase you haven’t noticed from my tone I’m not a massive fan of this artistic endeavour. It is not that I don’t appreciate the skill involved, indeed I quite like the way that political satirists characterise our leaders. Rather I’m uncomfortable that, should I glare into their (potentially vicious) mirror for too long, I may well see truths that I’ll need to work through.

Yes, it is a case of self-denial. When I look in the mirror I see me. I don’t necessarily want to see a beaker shaped head or scraggly beard. I want to be lost in the whole so the details don’t bring me down. (I’m aware that getting “lost” in my reflection seems pretty narcissistic, hopefully you’ll know what I’m getting at). In a similar manner, Isaiah 59 is the no-punches-saved, comprehensively truthful, reflection of us as sinful people. Now this is a bit different to observing physical flaws, this is a reflection on my character which – in truth – makes it all the more difficult, but also valuable, to reflect on.

Now for the squeamish or those who don’t like critique, get ready. This chapter is a heavy one. But don’t worry, you’re not alone. I think it is a cultural flaw that we share in the West to shun critique and constantly seek affirmation. I also think it is very cultural to diminish the impact and vile nature of sin. To see it as humorous or unfortunate as opposed to the barrier to God which merits a death sentence which it is established to be in the Bible. With these proviso’s out of the way, let’s see what Isaiah 59 has to say about the human condition:

  • Your hands are defiled with blood
  • Your lips have spoken lies
  • Your tongues mutter injustice
  • No one makes claims justly
  • No one pleads honestly
  • They trust in empty and worthless words
  • They conceive trouble
  • (They) give birth to iniquity
  • They hatch viper’s eggs
  • (They) weave spider’s webs
  • Whoever eats their eggs will die
  • Their webs can never become clothing
  • They cannot cover themselves with their works
  • Their works are sinful works
  • Violent acts are in their hands
  • Their feet run after evil
  • They rush to shed innocent blood
  • Their thoughts are sinful thoughts
  • Ruin and wretchedness are in their paths
  • They have not know the path of peace
  • There is no justice in their ways
  • They have made their roads crooked
  • No one who walks on (their roads) will know peace
  • Justice is far from us
  • Righteousness does not reach us
  • We hope for light, but there is darkness
  • We grope along a wall like the blind
  • We stumble at noon as though it were twilight
  • We are like the dead amongst those who are healthy
  • We all growl like bears
  • (We all) moan like doves
  • We hope for justice, but there is none
  • Our sins testify against us
  • Our transgressions are with us
  • We know our iniquities
  • (We) transgress and deceive against the Lord
  • (We) turn away from following our God
  • (We) seek repression and revolt
  • (We) conceive and utter lying words from the heart
  • Truth has stumbled in the public square

Now I don’t know about you, but there is a lot to dwell on. My challenge is not to side with God whilst I read this. What I mean by this is often when you read a passage, you can want to become a yes man and agree with everything that is said – you want to side with God. For example, taking the last quality ascribed to us “Trust has stumbled in the public square”, it is too easy to side with God and find an example in Afghanistan or Zimbabwe that shows truth stumbling. I can look elsewhere and judge.

Rather, what I need to try to do is feel where in my life I do this (and I am not remotely deluded enough to think that I don’t just because one doesn’t immediately come to mind). Rather than siding with God, I need to side with the humans and take my reprimand. There are many examples where I have relegated truth to an inconvenience and, unless I side with man, I won’t be feeling the weight of my sin. I’ll be further perpetuating truth’s stumble.

Given this, there is a lot to dwell on. This isn’t a comfortable caricature of me, I don’t feel like the spiritual leper, the “dead amongst those who are healthy” but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

Incase people aren’t reading the Bible verse with my thoughts, please do so. God offers an awesome “but” that I’m not going to dwell on here – it is, however, awesome and important that you read it.

Go to: Isaiah 60-61

Isaiah 43: It is NOT about you, Stupid: 33/365

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In the words of Graham Stanton, a man I have come to increasingly respect, “It is not about you, Stupid”. Sound interesting? Then you’ll find that this chapter is a good one for the ego.

Just in case you ever believe the hype of the world, and start to think that you (or I) may be the centre of the universe, then this chapter will bring you down to the ground again. The prevalence of God as the agent of change is astounding. I’m just going to list all the I phrases that we get from God so you can get an idea of who the agent is in Isaiah.

  • the one who created you
  • the one who formed you
  • I have redeemed you
  • I have called you by your name
  • I will be with you
  • I Yahweh your God
  • (I) give Egypt as a random to you
  • I love you
  • I will give people in exchange for you
  • I am with you
  • I will bring descendants from the east
  • (I will) gather you from the west
  • I say to the north
  • And (I say) to the south
  • I have formed him
  • I have made him
  • My servant whom I have chosen
  • Understand that I am He
  • No god was formed before Me
  • There will be none after Me
  • I am Yahweh and there is no other Saviour like Me
  • I alone saved
  • (I alone) declared
  • (I alone) proclaimed
  • I am God
  • From today on I am he alone
  • None can deliver from my hand
  • I act, and who can reverse it
  • The Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel
  • I will send Babylon and bring all of them as fugitives
  • I am Yahweh, your Holy One
  • (I am) the creator of Israel
  • (I am) your King
  • (I) may a way in the sea
  • (I make) a path through surging waters
  • (I) bring the chariot and horse, the army and the might one together (they lie down, they do not rise again)
  • I am about to do something new
  • I will make a way in the wilderness
  • I provide water in the wilderness
  • (I) give drink to my chosen people
  • The people I formed myself
  • It is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake
  • (I) remember your sins no more

I have taken the liberty of italicising those that struck me most. The conclusion, though, is clear. Graham, who incidentally is the Dean of Studies at Youthworks College where my wife studies and an insightful bloke to boot, was onto something. It is, indeed, not about me, stupid.

The most powerful phrase, for me, comes in verse 25

It is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more

How humbling is it to remember that God is forgiving us as a demonstration of his own glory. It has nothing to do with our own intrinsic qualities. We are so fallen and flawed that we are like Igor, the grubby hunchbacked assistant, desperately trying to clear our masters silverware and crystal with our grease-stained rags of a shirt. Each wipe only smears the grease in new directions. The simple fact remains, we are unclean and therefore can neither make ourselves clean again, nor expect our actions to match up to God’s sparkly standards. Only he can provide that.

For some reason the dishwasher ad is running through my mind. “Clogged drains can mean dirty dishes, even if you wash them repeatedly”.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if the Finish adverts concluded with:

So for a brilliant shine, every Christian, every time, try God.

Unfortunately all I am left with now is a desire to purchase Finish Quantum!… and to read more Isaiah.

Go to: Isaiah 44

Luke 23: A Tale of Two Substitutions: 27/365

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So you’ve seen The Passion and therefore know the story of Jesus’ death right? Mmmm, perhaps it’d be worth reconsidering. Like the maxim goes, you can get so much more by reading the book!

Here is one, small example of a theme that I only noticed reading the account of Jesus’ death in the close context of the entire Gospel of Luke. Namely, the injustice that Christ suffered at our hands.

Now this may not be the most popular of topics to explore. It is far more comfortable to portray ourselves as the victims, rather than as the agents. How often do we discuss the ‘injustice’ of God’s punishment – a standard set so perfect that there is not one who is righteous? How often do we apply human norms to earnestly complain of God’s seeming inaction during the pains and tribulations in our lives? How often, when confronted with the challenging nature of predetermination, do we concern ourselves with its apparent arbitrariness?

Sound familiar? It is unsurprising. For some reason our culture loves to continually portray the individual as blameless and a victim of external forces. Just see the litigious nature of our judiciary for further evidence.

No, this is not a story with us as the passive, innocent victim. The narrative of Barabbas and Pilot’s judgement, in contrast, places us firmly in the awkward role of the agent of action. Reading these verses, I am stunned by the continual injustice that Christ endured. Consider the threefold accusation that the assembly charge Jesus with:

We found this man subverting our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Messiah, a King.

It is interesting that the Pharisees and other religious leaders, whose primary concern of Christ was previously stated as “because they were afraid of the people” (Luke 22:2), have labelled him with subverting a nation. It is clearly apparent that those subverted are the religious orthodoxy and not, as they would purport, the nation at large.

Second, they rehash their old trap of paying taxes to Caesar. Having read Luke in quick succession, Christ’s careful response of “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” still rings loud from Luke 20.

Third, the accusations that Jesus called himself Messiah, a King; whilst we can affirm in hindsight, seem out of place given his actions in Luke. Yes, he regularly used parables and Old Testament lexicon to identify his authority and role. Although, he was regularly terse about stating this outright. Indeed, you only need to see the care of his response to Pilot, “You have said it”. The inference is clear, these are the words provided by others.

This, however, is not the extent of the injustice – as if false accusations are not enough on their own! Pilot finds no grounds, so they send Christ to Herod, again without any ‘conviction’. Pilots conclusion is clear,

I have found no ground to charge this man with those things you accuse Him of. Neither has Herod, because he has sent Him back to us. Clearly, He has done nothing to deserve death.

This all sounds very logical. The throng, though, were not appeased with the offer of beat and release. After all, they had already beaten Jesus in just the previous chapter!

Their voices united, desperate in their bloodlust for Christ. They were so determined to see him pay that they even offered to accept Barrabas, a murderer, back into their midst. Luke’s editorialising gives an astute summation of the precarious political situation that Pilot finds himself floundering in:

Their voices won out. So Pilot decided to grant their demand… he handed Jesus over to their will.

The wording is fascinating here. Pilot did not enact justice. Nor vengeance. Rather, he enacted the will of the people, handing a man over to death whom did not deserve it. This is a scathing indictment on the nature of Roman justice. Jesus was not handed over to death by virtue of his actions, or by a system of rules and regulations, but by the bloodlust of the anonymous rabble. Given this context, it seems arrogant for us to try to smear similar accusations against God’s justice.

Now there are two interesting substitutions going on here. The first is Christ – God’s son -operating as a substitution for us. The implications of this act prove the essence of the Bible and are extolled clearly in New Testament letters. As awe-inspiring as this act of substitution is, I don’t think I need to explain it at length as it is, in fairness, the substitution we are best acquainted with in the modern church.

The second substitution that occurs is the return of Barrabas in exchange for Jesus. The parallels are striking: Barrabas is a murderer and a leader of a rebellion, in many respects he belongs in the throng more than Jesus. They too are leading a rebellion, the rebellion against God. They too are murderers as, despite Pilot’s washing of hands, the blood of Christ rests on them all. Their actions had a direct consequence in his death.

It would be easy to leave the parallel here: To judge those who judged Christ: to observe the unfairness of their judiciary whilst Christ died to ensure God’s perfect justice. But this would leave out the most important aspect. Namely, that I too am as rebellious and just as implicated in Christ’s death as those who bayed below Pilot’s balcony.

Nathan Tasker has captured this concept beautifully in his song “I was there”. It reminds us that each time we turn away from Christ we are, in effect, baying for the return of Barrabas. Instead of accepting the leadership of the King, we welcome back the rebel into  our hearts. It reminds me how regularly I rely on the carte-blanche of God’s grace. It reminds me of how small my “unfair” observations on the world can be in comparison to the injustice Jesus willingly endured for me. For me…

I sincerely hope and pray that, in the future, I can yell loudly for Jesus to be returned to my life instead of the leader of the rebellion. This rebellion has got me nowhere and has cost too much. Like the thief on the cross:

We are punished justly, because we are getting back what we deserve for the things we did.

Perhaps the most unjust action is the grace that Christ extended to both this man and me. The punishment should be eternal, yet what I am offered is serene…

I assure you: Today you will be with Me in paradise

Go to: Luke 24