Today’s Scripture Reading (October 4,
2013): 2 Chronicles 4
One of the
more touching moments we witnessed as the 2013 Major League Baseball Season
drew to a close had to be the final appearance of Mariano Rivera in New York.
After retiring four straight batters, Derek Jeter (who was on the disabled list
at the time) and Andy Pettite (who was also retiring at the end of the 2013
season) made their way to the mound. Everyone in the stadium knew exactly what
was happening. The time had come to say goodbye to Rivera. He had fought the
fight and he had finished the race. Rivera sobbed into the shoulder of Pettitte
as Jeter spoke the words. No one really heard what Derek Jeter was saying down
on the pitcher’s mound, but we all knew the sentiment being expressed. “It’s
time to go, Mo.” It is over and you have done a great job – more than anyone
could have expected from you. But know it is time to make say your farewell.
Saying
goodbye is part of life. Sections of our lives draw to a close while others
expand. As emotional as that night was for Rivera, the real sorrow may not hit
him until next spring as his body finds its rhythm and wants to get back into
training for the coming season, something that has been part of Rivera’s life
since his childhood. But now his incredible dream had been realized, but it was
also completed. It was time to look forward to something else. But while
Rivers’s dream is completed, the New York Yankee dream of world championships
continues on – the players may change in the coming seasons, but the dream remains
the same.
The national
dream for Israel had always been to be a people and a nation of influence on
the international stage. During the time of Moses, that influence was
represented by a single lampstand formed in such a way that it held seven lamps
– 3 on one side and 3 on the other with one lamp in center of the stand. But
Moses had long left the playing field, as had Joshua and the Judges – including
Samuel, and they were followed by the kings – Saul and David. The players were leaving the field with their
dream complete – and yet the national dream went on.
So the
temple is built, and it is grander in design then the tabernacle tent that had
gone before. And the players had changed once again, but the national dream still
had not changed. Israel still desired to be an influence on the international
stage. They wanted their light to shine. And so in the new temple, partially
because of the grander circumstances and partially as a symbol of the increased
influence, the lampstands were increased from one to ten. According to the Chronicler,
the lamp stands were to be built to the same specifications as the one in the tabernacle,
but there would be more light to shine – and Israel’s influence was only now
becoming what they knew it could be.
For the
church, the dream is still there. We want to be a positive influence on this
world – in the words of Jesus, we want to be salt and light – changing the
world wherever we set our feet.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2
Chronicles 5
No comments:
Post a Comment