With each bull there is to be a drink offering of half a hin of wine; with the ram, a third of a hin; and with each lamb, a quarter of a hin. This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon during the year. – Numbers 28:14

Today's Scripture Reading (February 8, 2025): Numbers 28

It was a song that was written about racism and released in 1970. A Canadian wrote it, and if you believe that stereotype that Canadians are an inoffensive group of people, well, don't tell some people who have taken offense from the song. Maybe the offense was where this Canadian musician decided to place the blame for racism. The Canadian was Neil Young, and the song was "Southern Man." 

        I saw cotton and I saw black.

        Tall white mansions and little shacks.

        Southern man, when will you pay them back?

        I heard screaming and bullwhips cracking.

        How long? How long? 

But Young doesn't stop there. He moves on to comment about the religious beliefs of the "Southern Man" and the perversion that he saw present in the racism that was still present from right-wing Christian groups who believed both in God and in the supremacy of the white race. We need to understand that Young alleged that the racism of the past was still alive and well in the Southern United States.

        Southern man, better keep your head.

        Don't forget what your good book said.

        Southern change gonna come at last.

        Now your crosses are burning fast.

        Southern man.

The "Southern Man" message wasn't lost on some Southern Rock groups. Most notably, Lynyrd Skynyrd replied to the accusations made by Neil Young in "Southern Man" with their Southern rock anthem, "Sweet Home Alabama." The song was written as a direct response to Southern Man and released in 1974.

        Well, I heard Mr. Young sing about her.

        Well, I heard old Neil put her down.

        Well, I hope Neil Young will remember.

        A Southern man don't need him around, anyhow.

And the feud was on. At least, that is the way fans like to think about it. I am not convinced the feud was as severe as fans thought it should be. Neil Young admits, "I don't like my words (the lyrics of "Southern Man") when I listen to it today. They are accusatory and condescending, not fully thought out, too easy to misconstrue." Young also added, "I'd rather play "Sweet Home Alabama" than "Southern Man" anytime." (So would I Neil.)

As for Lynyrd Skynyrd, they deeply agreed with the anti-racist message that Neil Young had placed in "Southern Man" but felt that they needed to stand up for the non-racist people of the Contemporary South.

All of this highlights how easy it is for us to cause unintended hurt. It is one of the epidemic problems in our contemporary society. Sometimes, it is hurt that results from personality differences. Sometimes, it is a problem inherent in our language. Sometimes, it is a difference in our sense of humor. But the result is still the same: we tend to collect hurt.

Part of a healthy response is to recognize our part in the hurt. God prescribes a monthly ritual where we make a sacrifice for sin, for all of the ways we have intentionally gone against God and people, and for our unintentional hurts and words that are "not fully thought out" and "too easy to misconstrue." At the beginning of every month, Israel was to make a sacrifice and recognize all of the ways that they had failed, and hopefully even let go of the hurt that had been collected in the previous month of living.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Numbers 29