Today's Scripture Reading (February 13, 2022): Joshua 9
Socialism and Communism, at their most basic level, propose a classless civilization.
It is a civilization where no one leads because he has inherited a leadership position, such as a king, or is rich because of inherited wealth. The concept describes radical
equality, where we are all equal, regardless of education, wealth, or gender.
It is the politics of the masses. Communism makes the same assertion as
the apostle Paul makes to the Corinthian Church, that we are all of one body
and that it is only together that we function properly.
Just as a body, though one, has many
parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all
baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or
Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many (1
Corinthians 12:12-14).
The problem with Socialism and Communism is that it has, at
least so far, proven to be an unattainable mirage. Earthly kingdoms built
around these philosophies have not affected mass equality but rather just a
change in leadership. Kings were not removed but simply exchanged for ones with
a different title. George Orwell summed up the idea in his book "Animal
Farm" by saying "All animals are equal, but
some animals are more equal than others."
Korah was a cousin of Moses. Korah led a revolt
against Moses, a story told in Numbers 16. Korah's belief was essentially that Israel was to exist without a leader and that
Moses and Aaron were grabbing an authority that God had never given to them. He gathered 250 men around him,
seemingly oblivious to the idea that what he was actually proposing was not a leaderless Israel but a change
in leadership. The challenge didn't conclude until a series of disasters destroyed the community led by Korah.
The earth opened its mouth and
swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire
devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign. The line of Korah, however, did
not die out (Numbers 26:10-11).
It is that last phrase that is important. Some of the family
died with Korah on that day, but not everyone. From that day forward, the Korahites
served as doorkeepers at the Temple. Centuries later, one "Son of Korah,"
wrote about his experiences at the Temple.
Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a
doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked (Psalm 84:10).
Didn't they aspire to more? Most likely, they did, yet still,
they knew that serving a doorkeeper in God's house was better than not serving
God at all.
The Gibeonites deceived Israel to obtain a treaty with them. Their
penalty was to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for those who served in
the Temple. Eventually, they became doorkeepers at the Tabernacle. And Gibeon
itself was given the honor of being named a Levitical city. After the Ark of
the Covenant was lost to the Philistines, Gibeon became the last home of the
Tabernacle before the Temple replaced it at Jerusalem. There is some indication
that the Tabernacle remained at Gibeon for a time even after the Temple of
Jerusalem was opened. And even Solomon came to Gibeon to worship God. The
Gibeonites who had deceived Israel remained as the doorkeepers of the
Tabernacle alongside the Korahites. They likely aspired to more but were
grateful for any opportunity to serve the God of Israel, echoing the writers of
a psalm that would be written generations in the future.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house
of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked (Psalm 84:10).
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Joshua 10
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