An attacker advances against you, Nineveh. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength! – Nahum 2:1

Today's Scripture Reading (April 28, 2023): Nahum 2

The Assyrian Kings brutally ruled over their Empire, even by ancient standards. The Assyrians loved torturing their enemies and practiced inflicting pain while keeping the subject alive. One of the tortures the Assyrians perfected was removing the skin off of a person without allowing them to die. It really is no wonder that Jonah balked at going to the Assyrian capital of Nineveh.

As a result of the nation's evil, God took a stand against the Assyrian Empire. Eventually, Assyria would fall to a coalition of countries, including Babylon and the Medes. But Nahum's point is that it is not really these nations that would defeat Assyria. God was tired of their way, and he was the attacker who mustered his focus against the Assyrians. And if God is the attacker, then the fourfold advice of the verse needs to be seen as irony. Nahum tells Nineveh that they should guard the fortress, watch the road, brace themselves, and marshal every bit of their strength against the coming attack. But if the attacker is God, then none of that truly matters. Regardless of how Nineveh decided to fight, they would be on the losing end of the struggle.

Scottish Theologian George Adam Smith wrote of the fall of the Assyrian Empire that "the Besieger of the world is at last besieged; every cruelty that he has inflicted upon men is now to be turned upon himself." It is sometimes fun to think about the list of possible nations arrayed against Assyria, but it is actually just an academic exercise. Looking at the Babylonian Empire, Jeremiah writes these words coming straight from the mouth of God.

"You are my war club,
    my weapon for battle—
with you I shatter nations,
    with you I destroy kingdoms,
with you I shatter horse and rider,
    with you I shatter chariot and driver,
with you I shatter man and woman,
    with you I shatter old man and youth,
    with you I shatter young man and young woman,
with you I shatter shepherd and flock,
    with you I shatter farmer and oxen,
    with you I shatter governors and officials.

 

"Before your eyes I will repay Babylon and all who live in Babylonia for all the wrong they have done in Zion," declares the Lord (Jeremiah 50:20-24).

God would use other nations to defeat Babylon, and Nahum uses a similar idea to say that God would be the one who would use the Babylonians and the Medes to defeat Assyria. And there is no defensive arrangement that can save the Assyrian Empire if God is besieging it.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Nahum 3

Personal Note: Happy Birthday to my grandson, James.

The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. – Nahum 1:2

Today's Scripture Reading (April 27, 2023): Nahum 1

Many years ago, I was included in a group conversation where one person brought up the concept that we serve a jealous God. The conversation advanced, but I could tell that one lady on the periphery of the discussion was not pleased. Afterward, she found me to press her opinion home. God is not and cannot be jealous. That is a human emotion that should never be connected with God.

Yet, the concept that our God is a jealous God is present in the Bible. In fact, it is a concept used eleven times in our Bibles, including once in the New Testament. Still, we have an adverse reaction to jealousy, and therefore, many of us likely agree with the lady who sought me out to assure me that our God is not jealous; a God of love just can't be.

So, what do we do with the idea of a jealous God? Can we assume it is a mistake in the biblical translation process that we can ignore, or is there something we need to understand about this jealous God? And for me, it is the latter. There is something that we need to understand before we try to write off this concept of a jealous God.

Part of the differentiation we need to make is that our jealous God is not jealous of something. He is not jealous of the other things that occupy our lives that just shouldn't be there. God is jealous for us. He wants the best for us and is upset when we give ourselves to things that make us less or cause us trouble. God always wants the best for us.

And therefore, what angers God are the things that hurt his creation. God will never blindly accept the things that bring us pain. Nor will he passively accept us when we do things that bring others pain. Our jealous God issues a warning to his creation; if we set ourselves up to oppose God, we will not prevail. If we fight the aims of God, or if we take advantage of God's people, we will experience God's vengeance. Because we serve a God who is jealous for his creation, it can't be any other way.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Nahum 2

Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. – 2 Kings 19:30

Today's Scripture Reading (April 26, 2023): 2 Kings 19

Everyone knows that fruits and vegetables are necessary for healthy living. Personally, that is not necessarily a good thing. I love fruit, but my love doesn't extend to their cousins, the vegetable. However, can you tell the difference between the two? Maybe, for me, it could be defined as things I like are fruits and things I don't like are vegetables, although I understand that isn't all that informative.

Botanically, the difference between a fruit and a vegetable is relatively simple. A fruit develops from the flower of the plant. Fruits begin their lives as a flower and become the thing that we eat. So, every spring, the apple tree in my backyard bursts forth into little white and light pink blossoms, which will be the delicious apples I love to consume by fall. If the food we eat comes from any other part of the plant, such roots, stem, or leaves, it is an evil vegetable.

From a culinary point of view, the difference between a fruit and a vegetable is based on taste. Fruits tend to be sweet or tart and can be used in desserts, while vegetables are savory and more often used as a side dish or as part of the main course, which carries us back to my definition of fruits as being things I like to eat.

Botanically, there are many fruits that we think are vegetables. The most famous of these mislabeled fruits are tomatoes. But tomatoes are not the only fruits that we call vegetables. Mislabeled fruits also include avocados, cucumbers, peppers, olives, pumpkins, and pea pods, among others. So maybe my definition of a fruit and vegetable isn't all that bad after all.

Here, the author of Kings is talking specifically of fruits, which is good news. But, of course, even fruits have roots, although we don't eat them. Returning to my apple tree, I know the tree's roots go deep into the ground, bringing nutrients up to the tree, the leaves, and the flowers, which will soon be apples.

And if all this sounds simple and normal, you are right. That is precisely the point the author of 2 Kings is attempting to make. The nation was entering a period of great stress. But the day was coming, and it was not far away, when everything in Judah would return to normal. The remnant, those who would survive this time of stress, would return to a state of normality. They would be able to put down roots and bear fruit. A time of health was coming. This message was intended to serve as a message of hope for those who heard the prophet's message. A struggle was coming, but so was a return to normalcy for the nation.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Nahum 1

Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. – Psalm 48:1

Today's Scripture Reading (April 25, 2023): Psalm 48

If you have read this blog for a while, you might note that I believe we need touch to be healthy. Having said that, in a society that seems to have sexualized touch, touch has also become problematic. As a result, there is a division within our communities. Some of us are touchers. I tend to be gregarious, enjoying friendly hugs, usually an A-frame hug from the side, with friends willing to accept that kind of contact. But not everyone is willing. I had an associate pastor who was not a hugger. Which was okay; I get it, especially in our society. But I also remember the day I got word that my father-in-law had passed away. At the time, I was preparing for another funeral. The church was busy with the congregation arriving, the family was sequestered in a room just behind the sanctuary, and people were running in and out of my office as I received the news of his death. Honestly, I thought I was holding everything together quite well; I am usually pretty good at compartmentalizing things. Everything was fine until my associate hugged me; then, all of my walls began to crumble.

Two mountains are considered to be God's holy mountains. The first was Mount Sinai. It was the mountain where Moses met God and received the Ten Commandments. On this sacred mountain, only Moses was allowed to go. God told Moses;

Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, 'Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death (Exodus 19:12).

Mount Sinai was about exclusion. Unless you are Moses, if you touch it, you will die.

But there was a second holy mountain. The Psalmist says that the city of God was built on God's holy mountain; this one was called Zion. Mount Sinai was all about fear and terror, but Zion would one day be all about love and forgiveness. At Sinai, only Moses could come before God; at Zion, all of Israel could come before God, and one day Zion would be known for inviting everyone to come before God. Sinai was about exclusion, but Zion was about inclusion. Sinai was a cold shoulder, but Zion was a warm hug.

The author of Hebrews sums up the differences between the two mountains.

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death." The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:18-24).

Sinaia was the mountain of fear, but Zion was the mountain of joy.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 19

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. – Psalm 47:1

Today's Scripture Reading (April 24, 2023): Psalm 46 & 47

How do you show your appreciation for someone? I think we have all grown up pretending to be in a situation where we can receive the cries of adoration from the crowd. However, as someone who is actually an introvert, there is a massive difference between the childhood dream and the adult reality. Even as an actor, I find that I am uncomfortable with that moment of applause at the end of a play. And yet, it is a common way for us to respond to something that has touched us and to give our appreciation to people who have done something well.

Psalm 47 is often regarded as an extension of Psalm 46. Both Psalms are written by "The Sons of Korah." But Psalm 47 is also an enthronement psalm, created to be used on festive occasions to remind people that God is still on the throne and reigns in our midst.

It is also a pointer toward worship. But it is worship that is different from what many of us witness on a Sunday morning. I have to admit that we have a divide in our worship practices. My brother-in-law refers to those who like to dance during worship, with or without the ribbons, as "vestal virgins." It is probably not a well-received description by those who want to dance during worship. But it points to our division. As I look out at my service on a Sunday morning, I often see the dancers over in one corner of the sanctuary. Overlapped with the dancers are the clappers, those who love to clap, often off-beat but sometimes not, and it really doesn't matter, to the song being sung. I see the diligent singers who concentrate on how the music is best sung and sometimes work on intricate harmonies that work for the song. And then there are sleepers and the grumpy. This last group can be hilarious to watch. Most stayed up way too late the night before and just can't be bothered to sing, stand, or do anything, and often seem to look down on those who do.

I must admit that I attended one church service several years ago at a conservative church, filled with hymns and a piano and organ. And I just decided that I was going to smile, stand, and sing during the service and see if anyone noticed. I had no official reason for being there, and I don't think anyone knew who I was. But I wasn't disappointed. After the service, the Worship Leader found me and called me an enthusiastic worshipper; I am not convinced that the description was supposed to be a compliment; maybe it was just his version of my brother-in-law's "vestal virgins."

But the worship described by the "Sons of Korah" is not the sleepy version I often see in our sanctuaries. It is the animated version of the enthusiastic worshippers and even the worship of our "vestal virgins." There, praises are shouted and filled with joy rather than whispered as if the worshippers were afraid of waking their neighbors up. You can look down on me all you want, but that is the kind of worship that God needs from all of us "enthusiastic worshippers."

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 48

And the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the commanders and officers in the camp of the Assyrian king. So he withdrew to his own land in disgrace. And when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons, his own flesh and blood, cut him down with the sword. – 2 Chronicles 32:21

Today's Scripture Reading (April 23, 2023): 2 Chronicles 32

Winston Churchill is often thought to have said that "History is written by the victors," although the actual origin of the saying is unknown. And in some ways, it is also incorrect, at least to a point. Maybe a more truthful way of phrasing it is that history is written by people who have a stake in what history tells those who come later. Losers also write history, but they write it from their own perspective and give their own reasons for what has happened. The bottom line is that conflict is recorded with a bias; therefore, the history we believe also reflects that bias.

So, in the end, what we think happened reflects the side of the story to which we are willing to listen. As the conflict in Ukraine continues, what is happening there depends on which version of history to which you are listening. For those inclined to believe the Russian version of events, the United States and the West are intruding on Russia's ability to run events within their own country. The Russian version of events insists that Ukraine was a threat that demanded a response, and Russia was entirely within its rights to do what they have done. If you listen to the West, Russia is the aggressor and already has a blueprint to re-establish the reign of the Soviet Union. The truth just might be somewhere in the middle.

Chronicles tells us that an angel was sent from heaven to interfere with the Assyrian military efforts at Jerusalem. Men and commanders died. The Assyrian history of the events concurs. Something strange happened in the Assyrian camp outside of Jerusalem. Modern experts have tried to explain what happened by talking about rats and diseases that quickly spread throughout the camp. But there is no question that soldiers died in what was then an unexplainable way.

But that is where the agreement ends. In reading Chronicles, you couldn't be blamed if you believed that Sennacherib went home, walked into the Temple, and was killed. But that is not quite true; twenty years are piled into this verse. Sennacherib went to his capital and ruled for another two decades. During those two decades, the King had resolved a problem that had arisen in Babylon, devoted significant time and assets to renovating the capital city of Nineveh, and struggled through two separate succession crises. The first crisis was with his eldest son, Ashurnadin-shumi, who disappeared mysteriously and is assumed to have been executed.   Arda-Mulissu, Sennacherib's eldest remaining son, replaced his brother as the heir apparent, but he too fell out of favor and was replaced by his younger brother Esarhaddon. As a result of the removal, the popular Arda-Mulissu led a revolt against his father. Sennacherib sent Esarhaddon into exile for his protection, and the King was killed by Arda-Mulissa and one of his younger brothers in a Temple in Nineveh. Unfortunately for Arda-Mulissu, the revolt seriously cut into the young prince's popularity, and most of his army defected to join Esarhaddon. Esarhaddon's forces came back to Nineveh and took control of the government. Was Sennacherib's failure and death a delayed response to the siege on Jerusalem? Many biblical scholars would say yes, but that conclusion isn't as straightforward as the writer of Chronicles might want us to believe.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalms 46 & 47

At this time Hezekiah king of Judah stripped off the gold with which he had covered the doors and doorposts of the temple of the LORD, and gave it to the king of Assyria. – 2 Kings 18:16

Today's Scripture Reading (April 22, 2023): 2 Kings 18

Paying tribute as an act of submission was an essential aspect of the political system of the ancient world. Powerful nations would demand that weaker nations would pay them for the privilege of letting them exist, usually with some sort of submissive act and a promise that they lived to serve the powerful. Often, that was all that was required. A payment, whenever it might be demanded, along with a symbol of subservience, would keep the relationship moving forward for both nations. But non-payment, or even payment that was not delivered in a submissive manner, would often mean dire consequences for the less powerful country. It was how the nation of Judah would end in the early years of the sixth century B.C.E. At that time, the Southern Kingdom would stop paying tribute to the Babylonians.

Isaiah had told Hezekiah that God would save them from the Assyrians. And he did. But that didn't mean that Hezekiah would trust God in the future. Instead, Hezekiah decides that he somehow dodged disaster with the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem. But what happens next probably caused Isaiah to stare in disbelief. The King decided that rather than risk the return of the Assyrian army, he would enter into a subservient tribute-paying relationship with the Assyrian Empire. Maybe paying tribute made Hezekiah feel safer than depending on God for the nation's defense. However, it also impoverished both Judah and the Temple to the point that even the gold covering the doors and the doorposts had to be removed to pay the tribute.

Did it work? Maybe, Assyria never did come back to threaten Judah again. They eventually had other problems and internal conflicts that weakened the nation's ability to sustain the Empire. Ultimately, the Assyrian Empire would succumb to the upstart Babylonian or Chaldean Empire.

But maybe that also isn't really the point. Hezekiah's decision to pay tribute meant that the nation would be set up to live in poverty. The sad part of the story is that it could have been different if only Hezekiah and Judah could have continued to trust in the God who had already promised to be their defense.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 32