Misplaced Trust

Bible Readings for the day: Proverbs 24:5-14, Philippians 4:2-23, Jeremiah 6:1-7:29
Meditational Reading: Jeremiah 7:1-15
1  The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
2  “Stand in the gate of the LORD’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the LORD.
3  Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.
4  Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’
5  “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another,
6  if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm,
7  then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.
8  “Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.
9  Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,
10  and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?
11  Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD.
12  Go now to my place that was in Shiloh, where I made my name dwell at first, and see what I did to it because of the evil of my people Israel.
13  And now, because you have done all these things, declares the LORD, and when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer,
14  therefore I will do to the house that is called by my name, and in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh.
15  And I will cast you out of my sight, as I cast out all your kinsmen, all the offspring of Ephraim.

Today’s meditational verse is kind of long, but it is important.  It is important because it speaks to people (it speaks of people) who have placed their trust in the wrong thing.  The people of Judah used the Temple of the Lord as some sort of good luck charm; they believed that nothing bad would ever happen to them, to their nation, to their city because the Temple of the Lord was in Jerusalem.  This mistaken attitude started at the top with the priests and prophets and worked its way down to the common people who wanted to believe that nothing bad would ever happen to them; after all, they had “the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.”

God the Holy Spirit, working through Jeremiah, takes the people to task for their mistaken notion; he calls the people to repentance, to see their sin, to confess their sin, to receive the full and free forgiveness of their sin.  But the people would have nothing of it.  The continued to worship the false gods and disobey God’s holy, moral Law; but they sure kept the ceremonial (religious) Law!  They’d bring their sacrifices, thinking they were buying God off!

And when something bad happened they took pride and comfort in “the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.”  Nothing bad would come their way.  Nothing bad could come their way because they had “the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.”  But what does the Lord do?  He tells the people to go to Shiloh and see what happened their.  To understand what happened their you have to all the way back to the days of Samuel and Eli, the priest of the Lord.  The Tabernacle (the place where the Lord met his people) was set up in Shiloh after the conquest by Joshua.  In the days of Samuel and Eli the Philistines oppressed Israel; Israel fought against the Philistines and they brought the Ark of the Covenant into their camp, thinking that the Ark would be a good luck charm that would defeat the enemy.  We know that didn’t happen; but the Philistines defeated Israel, killed Hophni and Phineas (Eli’s sons) in battle, and when Eli heard that the Ark had been captured he fell over dead.  And the Biblical account ends their until the Philistines returned the Ark of the Covenant.

The Bible is silent on what happened after the battle (1 Samuel 3 and 4); it is silent because of the shame that came upon Israel.  From archaeological studies at Shiloh we know that the battle didn’t end with the capture of the Ark of the Covenant, but the Philistines continued the battle, continued their rampage, right up into Shiloh itself, destroying the Tabernacle of the Lord.  Five hundred years after that destruction the Lord tells the people, the people who trust in “the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord,” to go to Shiloh and see what happened their when Israel turned its back upon the Lord.

Today people misplace their trust; they trust in nice religious things but they fail to trust in the Lord and what he did in order to forgive them.  There are a number ways in which misplaced trust is exhibited:

1. People think they are basically good and need no forgiveness (and, therefore, need no Savior).  “Sinners” are really bad people like murderers, rapists, and thieves.  People fail to realize that whoever sins on one point of God’s holy Law is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10 and its context).

2. People think that it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere; after all, we’re going to the same place.  Aren’t we?  No!  Take a look at the meditational reading; the people who said, “the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord,” were sincere, but they were also wrong.

I could go on, but the biggest problem I see is that many, many people have a “who cares” attitude.  They believe that none of this really matters because all that awaits them is eternal extinction; you have to live in the here and now because when you’re dead and gone, well, you’re dead and gone forever. And forever is an awful long time.  So, who cares?  Nothing matters.

In the face of misplaced trust, the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is called to go to people and show them that it does matter; that God is concerned about sin, but that God also fully and freely forgives our sin (and sins) in and through Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross.  There and there alone do we put our trust, in our God and Savior who died for us to make us his own for eternity. The task is not easy, but it never was; the message is not popular, but it never was; but God calls us to be his people to bring his good news to people so that they too will come to him and his love and his forgiveness for them and for us!

A prayer:  Lord, people misplace their trust all of the time; I am always in danger of placing my trust in things other than you and your sacrifice for my sins.  Lord God Holy Spirit, open door of witnessing opportunity so that I can share your love with people who need to know it.  This I ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 585 South St. (Route 75), Suffield CT 06078 USA  http://www.gslcsuffield.com

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An Offer They Couldn’t Refuse

Bible Readings for the day: Psalm 115:12-18, Philippians 2:12-30, Jeremiah 2:31-4:9
Meditational Reading: Jeremiah 3:6-15
6  The LORD said to me in the days of King Josiah: “Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and there played the whore?
7  And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me,’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
8  She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore.
9  Because she took her whoredom lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree.
10  Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the LORD.”
11  And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
12  Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever.
13  Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD.
14  Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
15  “‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

As I read today’s Old Testament reading I remember the movie “The Godfather.”  Throughout the movie you would hear the phrase, “he made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”  The implication was that the godfather made someone a disadvantageous offer that the person had to accept or they would “sleep with the fishes” (as another famous phrase from that movie went).

As I read God’s Word, my mind should be focused entirely on that Word!  But, let’s be honest, does that always happen?  No!  And, more often than not, God’s Word triggers other thoughts as well.  But Christian meditation on God’s Word engages the mind; it is supposed to engage the mind, unlike other meditation techniques in which we are supposed to empty the mind.  So, if you’re like me, and God’s Word triggers crazy thoughts (like “he made him an offer he couldn’t refuse”) don’t feel guilty about it; just continue to engage God in his Word for that his where he meets us.

But, believe it or not!, “he made him an offer he couldn’t refuse” sums up today’s Old Testament reading very nicely; the meditational reading is just one part of that offer that God made that couldn’t be refused.  Now, let’s be totally clear:  when the godfather made an offer that couldn’t be refused, the person was somehow forced into accepting that offer (whether they wanted to or not).  In contrast, God’s offer is one of love, forgiveness, and restoration.  It is an offer than would actually benefit the people involved!  That’s an important distinction!

The first thing to note is that this message came to Jeremiah during the reign of King Josiah, the last good king of Judah (the southern kingdom after the Davidic kingdom split after Solomon’s death); Josiah brought the people of Judah back (at least outwardly) to the worship of the true God.  God the Holy Spirit, working through Jeremiah, tells the people to look north, look north to their cousins and see what happened to them.  They had abandoned the worship of the true God and worshiped false gods, the very thing the southern kingdom (Judah) was doing despite the best efforts of King Josiah.

While Josiah’s heart belonged to the Lord and his reforms were from the heart, the people did not share in his love for the Lord.  The Lord warns the people (yes, even in the high point of the restoration of the worship of the true God!) that their hearts were not in that worship.  What befell the northern kingdom would befall the southern kingdom as well.  But that was not the Lord’s will!  He makes an offer to the people of Israel (the northern kingdom); he makes an offer to the people of Judah (the southern kingdom):  “Return to me.”  If the people (of both kingdoms) see their sin, repent of their sin, and turn to the Lord for his full and free forgiveness, then he will forgive them and restore them, restore them to their land and (more importantly) restore them to their status as his children.  The Lord “made them an offer the couldn’t refuse” but they did!

The people of Judah went along with King Josiah’s reforms; but, after he died in battle, they returned (had they ever really left?) to their old ways, they returned to the worship of the false gods and they returned to it with all of their heart!

The Lord makes us an offer we can’t (or at least shouldn’t!) refuse:  Acknowledge the sin in our own life; confess the sin in our own life; turn to the Lord and receive the free and full forgiveness he won for us when God the Son, Jesus, died on the cross and their paid the full and complete prices for our sins.  Trust in Jesus:  It’s an offer we shouldn’t refuse.

A prayer:  Lord God Holy Trinity, great is your love for fallen humanity; your love is so great that our Lord Jesus came into our world to die in order to forgive us.  In his death we are reconciled to you!  Thank you for forgiving us and restoring us as your loving sons and daughters.  May your love and forgiveness always be the center of our lives and may we always be committed to you!  In Jesus’ name we ask this! Amen!

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 585 South St. (Route 75), Suffield CT 06078 USA  http://www.gslcsuffield.com

 

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But We’re the Good Guys!

Bible Readings for the day: Proverbs 23:29-24:4, Philippians 1:1-26. Zephaniah 1:1-3:20
Meditational Reading: Zephaniah 1:1
The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of King Josiah.  King Josiah was one of the good kings of Judah (the southern, Davidic kingdom).  Josiah reformed Judah’s worship life, bringing the people back to the true worship of the Lord, the true God, the God Israel and Judah.  Josiah’s father, Amon, was one of the worst kings of Judah.  Under him the people chased after the false gods, worshiping them even in the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem.  Josiah changed that and brought the people back to the Lord.

That’s what made today’s Old Testament reading so jarring.  Josiah is a good, pious, Lord-believing king, and they very first words from the prophet are words of destruction; in chapter 1, verse 4, the Lord threatens to stretch out his hand against Judah and all who live in Jerusalem!  How can this be?  They are now the good guys; they are the good guys because of Josiah’s reforms which brought the people back to the Lord!

But, as we know from subsequent events, Josiah’s reforms were only outward for most of the people.  Don’t get me wrong!  Josiah was truly a Lord-fearing, Lord-worshiping, man.  His heart was right with the Lord his God.  He wanted the people of Judah to join him in the worship of the true God — and they did — at least outwardly.  They worshiped the true God, but not with their hearts and minds and souls.  Theirs was an outward act of worship that lacked a heart right with God.

The Lord saw through the sham and declared him judgement upon Judah and Jerusalem; he turned his attention to the surrounding nations, but his first priority was declaring his judgement upon his people who turned their backs upon him.  But the Lord does not leave the people under his judgement; the day will come when he will visit them and redeem them and restore them.  In 3:14-17 we have one God’s promises to his people:  “14  Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15  The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil.  16  On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. 17  The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

Zephaniah, for all of his judgement, fills me with hope because the Lord who restored his people is the same Lord who forgives me my sins totally and completely and restores me as his child.  My sins convict me; my heart convicts me; my conscience convicts me; God, in his Word, convicts me; I am convicted of my sins, but God does not leave me there.  He forgives me for the sake of Jesus, his Son, my Savior.  He forgives me for the sake of Jesus and restores me as his child; he forgives me.  As I read 3:14-17, especially v.17, I am reminded of Jesus in Luke 15: (v. 7) “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” and Jesus continues in verse 10, “I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

There is joy in heaven, there is joy with our heavenly Father, when we turn from our sin and turn to him for the full and free forgiveness he gives us in his Son.  “God exults over us with loud singing!” (3:17)

A prayer:  Lord God heavenly Father, I come before you a sinner, a sinner under judgement, under your judgement and under the judgement of my own heart.  Thank you for sending your only Son, Jesus, to take my sin(s) upon himself and pay their price in full; thank you for the eternal life you give to me in him!  Thank you for your love poured out for me on the Cross. You did that for me not because I’m one of the good guys, but because I’m a bad guy whom you still love!  Let me live in your love and your forgiveness; send me your Holy Spirit so that I can live a life that brings glory to you.  This I ask in Jesus’ Name! Amen!

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 585 South St. (Route 75), Suffield CT 06078 USA  http://www.gslcsuffield.com

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How Should I Live?

Sermon For the Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost

The Text:  Ephesians 4:17-24
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Sermon for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 585 South St. (Route 75), Suffield CT 06078 USA  http://www.gslcsuffield.com

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