Church love in our alma mater city

Citrus is pretty

Therapy Dog program at Evergreen Library

First time to grill pizza. We’re sold.

Early morning running view

Flint Hills glory

Your 7 Days?

“And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey.”

Nehemiah 9:29

Last time we watched our Faithful God snatch away the rebellious Israelites from their enemies an exceeding number of times. Today we see how they treated this deliverance.

“And You warned them/testified against them (uwd – to return, go about, repeat, do again, earnestly, charge, protest, reiterate testify, intensively, duplicate, relieve, solemnly, stand upright, give warning)…”

You earnestly charged them, stood up and gave warning to them to return to their First Love.

Our Covenant Yahweh is still giving His people warnings in our verse. Apparently because they still need them.

I want so much to judge the Israelites in our story today. I’m annoyed at them and want to make them pay. But I would be judging myself and owing a payment I can’t make on my own either.

We all do this and we know it. Take mercy for granted, throw each other under the bus, pick back up our hostility, and refuse to live like Jesus said to. And yet, as He draws them, He uses such wooing:

“…that you might bring them back (shub – return, turn back) to your law (torah – direction, instruction, ruling, teaching)…”

That You might bring them back to Your Law.

His good teaching and delightful instruction were the destination where He earnestly charged them to return. Not because He is grumpy but because He is gracious.

“…and yet they (hem – only used when emphatic; plural form of halak – to go, to walk) acted proudly (zud – to boil up, seethe, act presumptuously, rebelliously, act arrogantly, to be insolent, to presume) and did not heed (shama – listen with intent to obey)…”

And yet they (emphatically all of them) went proud/seethed rebelliously and did not listen with an intent to obey.

I found it interesting the Hebrew used in translating they is only used to when emphasizing the word. As in, they all. And in relation to its root word halak (to go, walk), it seems to be saying, “Here they all go again.” Perhaps God is pointing something out about our human condition.

So let’s go there with Him. When was the last time you acted proudly? When you seethed against someone or presumed something about another? How about when you rebelled against what you knew to be right and arrogantly believed your way was better?

Now: how did it go for you? What kind of feelings did it stir inside? Was the result what you wanted? Did it put you on a path of peace and joy?

So why there do we all go again? What do we think we are hoping to gain this time? And has it ever worked for us before?

Sometimes I like to remind myself of these things when I’ve been choosing rebellion or seething. Because in the heat of the moment, I do not want to hear about the right thing to do. However, I may be slowed down by being reminded the right thing to do is what will genuinely be for my best. It may sting to drop my hostility, but it bites much worse to live out its consequences.

And so, when I am in the right frame of mind, I ask God to make it true in my experience. When I am picking back up things contrary to His Word and ways, to break my heart. To make me extremely uncomfortable. To take away even the initial satisfaction of rebellion and make me immediately miserable. Shall we pray such things together? His is the only path worth taking.

“…but against your judgments (mishpat – right ordinance, due justice, kind manner, proper regulation, rightful sentence, worthy verdict, proper decree) sinned (chata – to miss, to go wrong, bear the blame, bear the loss, to fault, fear loss, offend, harm done, forfeit, lack, trespass)…”

But instead they bore the loss/forfeited the beauty of your right ordinances and due justice.

And now we gratefully can move on from our own personal thoughts about rebellion to what we turn away from as a community: beautiful justice. As we collectively turn from His ways, we are also forfeiting things like a kind manner of law, worthy verdicts in our courts, proper regulations in our dealings with each other. Because as we each pick up rebellion or seething, hostility or arrogance, and cover up truth, it affects us all. Only in mishpat will we find communal peace.

“…which if a man (adam – man, mankind) does them (asah – to accomplish) then he will live by them (chayah – live, nourish up, make alive, revive, give/promise life, preserve, quicken, recover, repair, restore to live, save, be whole)…”

Which if people follow they will be nourished, revived, quickened, saved and made whole.

I like this part because it more fully describes what we are forfeiting from before: we bear the loss of things like emotional and spiritual nourishment because we value sameness over the Spirit. We forfeit revival and life because we refuse to confess our sins. Together we bear the blame of no restoration and salvation, for those in power lead for strength not service.

And the opposite is true as well. When living out His mishpat – His rules, ordinances, and due justice – we as a society are quickened, made whole, and saved from ourselves. The trampled upon are elevated, the victims vindicated, the powerful busy washing feet. To avoid just living, even if it is difficult, is to our own peril.

“…and they shrugged (nathan – to give, set) their shoulders (katheph – shoulder, shoulder blade, side, arm, corner, sidepiece, slope) stubbornly (sarar – stubbornly rebellious, backsliding, withdraw, turn away morally) and stiffened (qashah – to be hard, severe, fierce, cruel, be fierce, make grievous) their necksand would not hear (shama – listen with intent to obey)…”

And they set their shoulders and rebelliously made their necks stiff, fierce and cruel/grievous and would not shama.

Unfortunately, our verse for today ends on a negative. The Israelites set their shoulders and stiffened their necks. They chose fierceness, cruelty, and grevious withdrawal from Him, refusing to shama. Not listening with an intent to obey, but decidedly doing their own will.

Nothing is worth that, friends. Not being “right,” held in esteem by our tribes, or clinging to a track record. Nothing is worth presumptuous rebellion in our hearts and forfeiting the grace of mishpat.

And, conversely, the humility required for softening our necks and hearts, and turning to due justice, will gain us everything of value as His Body.

It’s 2nd Saturday time!

Grab a $5 reusable bag and receive discounts at participating local stores.

And check out The Workroom’s 2nd Saturday Artisan Market. Enjoy a live band, local vendors, and discounts on sweet merchandise.

Have you thought about joining the fun for Tuesdays on the Terrace at Botanica this season? Grab your tickets and enjoy live music and food trucks amidst the backdrop of Botanica’s lush gardens. See the schedule of bands here.

Have you been to Watermark Books lately? Two Storytimes are coming up this week: One with Janice on Saturday the 8th at 10:30 + one with Sue on Tuesday the 11th at 10:30. Bring the kids, hear a tale, and shop local.

And while you’re there, check out the Lincoln Heights Village Farmers Market. Every Wednesday from 7-11 am, you can find local produce and homemade products right in the parking lot.

And I’ve been told to get my tail into Eighth Day Books. Have you been there? Another lovely local bookstore.

Tonight is the first of the Summer Concert Series at Bradley Fair. Beginning at 7:30 enjoy Oli Silk, a keyboardist who specializes in jazz.

Did you know it’s National Drive-In Movie Day? Celebrate at the Starlite Drive-In tonight from 7:30 to Midnight, with carload pricing at $15. See titles like Aladdin and Secret Life of Pets 2.

And don’t miss Ballet Wichita’s Cinderella in Ballet in the Park! Tomorrow night, June 7th, from 7-8:30 come to Sedgwick County Park for a charming, three-part fairy tale performance.

And don’t forget the Library for your long summer days!

Have a great weekend!

A trip to my hometown.

Spectacular

+ Kim Chi courtesy of Unami Bowl

People

Lovely

Planning

Glory

Your 7 Days?

“But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.”

Nehemiah 9:28

Last time we saw the experiential consequences to blasphemy: the narrow squeeze of the Israelites’ enemies ruling over them. But as they assembled together, God provided deliverers, avengers who rescued God’s people from the nations’ oppression. Today we see how long it lasted.

“But after rest (nuach – to rest, abandon, calm, cast down, deposit, forsake, lay down, let alone, permit, put down, rid, cease, be quiet, settle down) they again (shub) did (asah) evil (ra – adversity, affliction, distress, displeasure, heavy, hurtful, wickedness, wretchedness) before You (paneh – your face).”

After a time of calm, the cessation of battle and enemy oppression, they turned back again to wickedness and hurtful displeasure before Your face.

It all just sounds so familiar, yes? God sends a deliverer after we collectively cry out for mercy. Things calm down, the battle slows, our enemies are subdued, and frankly, we’ve put down our guard. That’s when we pick back up our heavy evil. Heavy because wickedness is not a light yoke and heavy because it burdens our own and our Deliverer’s hearts.

“Therefore you left them (azab – loose from one’s self, refuse, relinquish, fail, leave destitute) in the hand (yad) of their enemies (oyeb – foe, adversary, hating; from ayab – to be hostile to, to hate [as one of an opposite tribe or party])…”

Therefore You loosed them from Your protective grasp into the hand of those who were hostile to them/opposite tribe or party.

Well. Speaking of familiar scenarios. That root word for enemy means to hate another like humans tend to do with those from a different tribe or party. When we feel as if someone represents the opposite of everything we stand for, our hostility is typically very near the surface.

Often we have good reasons for being against others’ stances on subjects or past decisions their party has made. Let’s not confuse this with healthy disagreement, speaking truth to power, and making sure humans are being treated like image bearers.

This is hatred, and it is of the devil. We have to actively be on guard that it does not rule over us. The good news is I see so many people handling well the nuances of faithful disagreement without hatred – in real life, of course, but also on social media world where things tend to get dicey.

Perhaps we should heed the warning of the next section:

“…so they had dominion (radah – reign, bear, tread down, subjugate, specifically to crumble off) over them…”

Those hostile to them subjugated and tread them down as if to crumble them.

Won’t our hostility do it? Does not our picking back up wickedness invite in hatred that treads ourselves and others down like a smashed cookie under a thick work boot? Crumbling our self-control, our tenderness in the Spirit, and our unity as humans – but especially those under the blood of Jesus.

“And yet when they returned (shub – turn back) and cried out (zaaq again – call out, cry out, call together, appeal, to shriek, to proclaim in assembly) to you again…”

And yet. Such precious words. Once again, our Israelites turned back, shub again. But this time they weren’t turning to accomplish evil like the first use of this word in today’s verse. But they are again turning back, as an assembled group, to appeal, shriek, proclaim to Him.

And don’t you, as a human being, just think, “Well this time it won’t go well. If it were me, I’d say too late. Forget it. This has happened too many times.”

I’m so glad the holiness of God means He is altogether Other. Not some better version of us, but perfectly divine. He is so good at being God.

“You (attah – you yourself) heard (shama again) from heaven, and according to your mercies (racham – compassion, deep mercy, tender love, pity, womb – as cherishing a fetus) you delivered them (natsal – strip, plunder, snatch away, deliver self, rescue, take away, defend, escape, pluck) many (rab – many, much, great, exceeding, full) times (eth – period, season, circumstance, appointed time).”

“You Yourself heard again with an intent to cause action.” It wasn’t too many times for Him to listen to His rebellious children. They hadn’t exceeded the limits of His mercy. He wasn’t suddenly unwilling to act on their behalf.

“And according to Your exceeding compassion (that same word for cherishing a fetus from last time), You plucked them out, snatched them away from their enemies.”

No human avengers given this time. This verse describes Him simply snatching His children away from the dominion of those hostile to them. The same dominion He loosed them into due to their rebellion.

He let go and allowed the consequences to come. But He was right there to snatch them back again. To pluck them out of hell fire when they but turned and called. And how often?

“An exceeding number of times.”

As much as it annoys us, He is the embodiment of forgiving 70 x 7. He is not codependent or spineless, allowing Himself or His mercy to be trampled upon. But in perfectly divine fatherly love, He walks with His children until we are free. Do you not love there is Someone Who will never give up on us?

So, friends, let’s apply this to ourselves. Those of us who believe in Jesus are called to display this sort of love. The kind which refuses to pick back up our wickedness or hostility. And because we are not God, often our love and relationships with unsafe people include boundaries and limits. But the forgiveness in our hearts – the hurt and resentment and legitimate anger – can be handed to Him over and over. An exceeding number of times until we are free.

And as a corporate Body, we can choose to assemble together and proclaim the ways we have not represented Him accurately to a watching world. We can have healthy disagreement with discernment and honest sharing without hostility.

And as we come together in agreement on areas we know require communal repentance, we can trust our wise and compassionate God to snatch us away from the dominion of the enemy.

Tonight is all about Final Friday! So much goodness is on display throughout our city.

At Mud Haus, see Unceasing: An Exhibition by Ernest Vincent Wood, and at Midwest Center for Photography, catch Flora – International Photography Exhibition.

Also don’t miss Art for Suicide Awareness: Breaking the Silence at Frèdös. See all shows for tonight at FinalFridayICT.com. Support local artists, their causes, and local businesses that host!

And, of course, today was the kick-off of our city’s Riverfest! You won’t want to miss the Funnel Cake Eating Contest, Kayak and Paddleboat races, and decorated bicycle parade. Plus, carnival rides and food! See all events for the week here.

Interested in amphibians and helping our local wetlands? Head to Frog Watch Training tomorrow, June 1st, at the Sedgwick County Zoo. From 1-5 come learn how to identify local frog calls and record their data as a volunteer for Frog Watch. This science program teaches people about wetland ecosystems and how to report information on frog populations. Free and no registration required!

Tomorrow, enjoy Yoga on the Lawn at the Wichita Art Museum beginning at 9 a.m. Enjoy an all-levels stretch and tone workout on the Art Garden.

Ooo – and Bradley Fair Fit is back for the summer! Tomorrow morning at 9:00 enjoy a free HIIT style Bootcamp by the lake. Such a refreshing way to start the weekend.

And are you a vintage collector? You won’t want to miss the 5th Annual Kechi Vintage Market tomorrow, June 1st, from 10-4. You’re sure to find some treasures!

And if summer presents a need to get out of the house, perhaps with the kiddos, don’t forget all the quality, free events coming up at the Library. Everything from toddler story times to adult book clubs, the Library has you covered.

Have a wonderful weekend!

“So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.”

Nehemiah 9:27

Last time we saw our Israelites revel in God’s goodness, then quickly turn to bitterness and blasphemy. Today we see the consequences.

“You delivered (nathan – gave) into the hand (yad) of their enemies (tsar – adversary, narrow, tight, anguish, foe, distress, affliction, crowding opponent; from tsor – hard pebble, flint, and tsuwr – confine, cramp, bind – stone as if pressed hard or to a point) who oppressed them (yatsar – narrow, vexed, distressed).”

Because You are a faithful God, You gave them into the power of their enemies (narrow, anguish, afflicted, crowded, cramped, bound, hard pebbled pressed to a point) who vexed and distressed them.

Yep. Nothing like a time of being hard pressed and feeling afflicted for God to get our attention. But how much worse when this cramped, crowded, vexed feeling is coming from those we perceive as enemies?

When was the last time the narrow squeeze of constriction was put upon your soul? When did you feel as though the people in your life were there simply to exasperate you? Have you ever wondered if in fact it was God’s mercy toward you?

Hear me out. How often do we seem to sail through life with only minor inconveniences here and there? I often think it is on the regular. (And if you are in a particular season of anguish, this could seem callous, but please know I feel you and do not apply what does not fit.)

When things seem to be going well, the sun shining, birds singing, moving in a predictable routine, we are notorious for losing gratitude and focus toward the Gift Giver, aren’t we? But even worse, we can begin to take for granted the good stuff and start to turn away from Him. Focus on what we don’t have and commit those blasphemies, acts of contempt, we looked at last time.

Is there anything in such a state that would wake us up to our sins like being handed over to our enemies? For ancient Israel, it was actual enemy nations taking them captive. For us it could be anything from being under power from a particular person or group to suddenly feeling our wings clipped with no way out.

It is in these times we cannot rely on our old methods or simply will or work ourselves out of a mess. And when such things fail, we will finally look up.

“But when (in the time – eth – season, appointed time) they were oppressed (of their trouble – tsarah – tightness, trouble, a female rival) they cried out (tsaaq – call out, cry out, call together, appeal, to shriek, to proclaim in assembly) to you.”

But during the appointed time of their trouble they appealed, shrieked, assembled to proclaim to You.

Call me crazy, but I’m so grateful for the assembled together portion of this definition. Sometimes we just need to know we’re not the only one going through something. Not the only one feeling the pressure of a God-ordained tight path, squeezing out our sin for all to see.

And we’re not. So many of us have been in times of trouble – even ones brought on by our own pride or contempt or rebellion. That was the case for our Israelites. So, what to do? Assemble together! Cry out to the One Who allowed the circumstance in the first place and ask for mercy. Because there’s such good news when we do:

“You (attah – You Yourself) heard (shama – hear with intent to obey; to cause to) from heaven (shamayim)…”

And You Yourself heard.

Do you not love how it was not an angel who heard, but Him? You. You Yourself. He not only sees our rebellion, He hears our cries for relief from the consequences. And with an ability to do something about it.

That word shama implies an intent to obey when applied to humans. But when applied to Yahweh? More likely the sections of “to pay heed, hear with attention; to cause to” apply better. We may have the intention to obey, but He has the intention to cause an action. And not begrudgingly:

“…according to Your abundant (rab – many, much, great, exceeding, full) mercies (racham – compassion, deep mercy, tender love, pity, womb – as cherishing fetus)…”

Please tell me you saw the “tender love as cherishing a fetus” portion. What more helplessly compassionate love can you imagine than that of parents anxiously awaiting a new life? Nothing to fix, unable to make them grow on their own power, they simply wait in love.* Mind you, this fetus has done nothing to earn this love; he or she cannot do anything but rely on the mother’s body to supply what they need to grow.

Now, take this portion of the definition and allow it to inform your understanding of “according to your abundant mercies.” What tender love He feels for us. Even in our own self-inflicted rebellion. Nothing we could do to earn such love and compassion, nothing we can do to lose it. It is simply bestowed from Creator to creation. From a merciful Father to His treasured children. Even after such contempt toward Him.

And into what did this intent to action, moved by exceeding compassion, manifest?

“You gave (nathan) them deliverers (yasha – deliver, avengers, bring salvation, help, save, victorious, defend, preserve, rescue; to be open, wide and free, safe) who saved them (yasha again) from the hand (yad) of their enemies (tsar).”

You gave them avengers/helpers/defenders to be wide open and free/safe, who made them victorious from the hand of their adversaries.

God’s Word is simply stunning. Look at these synonyms for pasha, deliverers: to be open, wide, free, safe. Contrast that with tsar and tsuwr from before, enemies who oppressed: to confine, cramp, narrow, bind.

Yes, He reverses what our rebellion invites. With the compassion of a humiliated father who never stops looking for his son to come home. His son who callously demands his inheritance and spends it on liquor and lust. This father runs when he sees his son and throws a party. Won’t even let him finish his “I’m sorry and worthless” speech.

I know. Our skeptical hearts wonder if He could really be like that. But when He walked around with skin on, He said and showed it is True. It just is. He will not cease to become this effusively, compassionately loving simply because we have a hard time believing it. Rather, we should probably join the party.

In Israel’s history, God did send deliverers. Avengers who led His people out of their cycles of rebellion. It is not lost on me that we’re studying this text during a time when one of the best-selling movies is entitled Avengers.

It does make you think of our innate desire to see justice and trust someone will rescue us. Bring us into a wide open and safe space. One we don’t deserve but eagerly seek.

And not just for ourselves, in our own walks with God. We want to see it for humanity as a whole. We desire to see things put right, for justice to be served, communities and nations healed, reparations made. For mass shootings to end, wars to cease, peace to prevail, and love to triumph over hate and greed.

Thank this God He provided such a Deliverer, and such a Kingdom is advancing.

————————————————————————————

*Because of poverty, abusive relationships, and sexual assault, I must address this: I can easily understand not feeling this sort of excitement or love toward an unborn child. Please know this same God Who sees and hears knows your pain as well. And cares about those systems, abuses, and criminal attacks. He is a just God. And He is calling His people to join Him in justice in these areas, driven by His tender, cherishing compassion.*

It’s been…awhile. Let’s jump in.

It’s almost Summer Reading time with the Wichita Library! This year’s theme is A Universe of Stories. Registration begins May 28th, and prizes are awarded for every 10 days students 18 and younger read 20 minutes. Such a great way to stay sharp all summer.

This is great: Angelou Branch offers After Hours Computer Lab every Monday and Thursday evening from 6-9 when the library is closed. And see all upcoming Library events here.

The Old Town Farmers’ Market is in full swing. Head downtown to find fresh produce, juices and jams, and local talent.

And so is Kansas Grown Farmers’ Market at 21st and Ridge. See so much goodness in one location every Saturday morning til noon.

Friends told me about a new coffee shop in Delano, Leslie Coffee Co. Looks great to me!

Some Garden Tours are coming up with the Sedgwick County Extension Office. Get your dates and tickets here.

The Great Plains Nature Center is beginning their Wildflower Walks the fourth Saturday of each month. That’s this Saturday! From 9 – 10:30 come hear about wildflowers and witness the beauty of the prairie bloom.

How about the food trucks at ICT Pop Up Park for lunches this summer? They update their schedule weekly. (Plus Free Movie Nights all summer!)

Ooo, Opera on the Lake is this Thursday, May 30th at Bradley Fair. Beginning at 7 p.m., enjoy Wichita Grand Opera’s Rock Opera. Free to the public, with VIP dinner and seating tickets available.

And Wichita on the Cheap has a fantastic list of events for this Memorial Day Weekend.

Enjoy your people and our city!

Posting this helps me anchor our days. In the hopes it encourages someone else…our last week (or so):

Superhero Field Day

Advanced Learning Library trip

Baked Honey and Goat Cheese Pears (fancy) (and good)

Peony Season

And Berry Season

Dan whipped this up for me with baling wire

Teacher gifts (Thank you, Teachers!)

I’m a graduate!

Your 7 Days?

“They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness.

But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies.”

Nehemiah 9:25b-26

Last time we peeked in on the descendants of our exodused Israelites inheriting the fertile land, overflowing homes, already-dug wells, and blessings they had not earned. Today we see how this bounty turned to bitterness.

“They ate (akal – consume, devour, share, eat freely, enjoy, feast) and were filled (saba – sated, satisfied, enough, full, plenty, saturate) and grew fat (shamen – fat, insensitive, render, shine, oily)…”

They freely feasted and enjoyed, were satisfied and grew fat and shiny…

Of course to our modern sensibilities, this verse ending in “they grew fat” does not seem like a good thing. However, for a formerly enslaved people, whose descendants previously ate manna from heaven with quail mixed in, it was a bountiful, uncharacteristic situation. One in which they reveled.

“…and delighted (adan – to luxuriate, revel, delight self, soft or pleasant, live voluptuously; from eden – delicate, luxury, dainty, delight, pleasure) themselves in your great (gadol – great, deep, extreme, high, marvelous, mighty, spacious, vast) goodness (tub – best things, bounty, goodness, prosperity).”

…and reveled voluptuously in the luxury and pleasure of your mighty, spacious goodness/best things.

I feel it is important to point out this was the proper reaction. We are not reading about our ancient Israelites reveling in God’s bounty as a warning to us. This inhaling with all their senses the wonderful things Yahweh provided was right and good. It is the delight of lovers, the feasters at a party after a long harvest, the celebration after hard work, a refreshing dip in a pool after a sun-scorched afternoon. Basically, it’s the good stuff of life. And the Good Giver was also reveled in.

He is the bounty, the Best Thing. He is Goodness and our spiritual prosperity. And when we do not worship the gifts over the Giver, we can feel the smile of our Good Father.

Unfortunately, that was not our ancient Israelites’ response.

“But they were disobedient (marah – bitter, contentious, rebellious) and rebelled (marad – to rebel) against You and cast (shalak – to fling, throw, cast off, throw away, hurl) Your law (torah) behind (achar – hind part, following) their backs.”

But they became bitter and contentious and rebelled against You, hurling Your law behind their backs.

Something I appreciate is how when I’m studying a topic, God often allows me to personally experience it. I have had a week in which my bitterness has been challenged. In areas I did not even know I hadn’t forgiven or let go or needed to. I wish I could say I passed with flying colors each opportunity given, but that is not true.

And, of course, these moments have been in the midst of His lavish provision. We are so well taken care of, having all we could ever need, and yet my heart still often whispers, “Did God really say?”

I have thought before about how, when you’re young in your faith, you tend to look at older saints and assume their longer walk with Jesus means they rarely have any sin to confess. Well, as someone no longer considered young, it seems His mercy comes by showing me more often my brokenness and need. But the awareness is tempered by His sublime grace and an unconditional love casting out fear.

So in that spirit, how about you? Anything been popping up in your heart showing you bitterness, contention, or rebellion? Has it perhaps been on the heels of reveling in His spacious goodness or bounty? It is easy to point fingers at our main characters in today’s passage until we realize we are they.

And the scariest part of this section is how the Israelites flung, cast off, threw away Torah behind their backs. The picture is one of making Torah follow them rather than the other way around. This should give us shivers.

When we come to understand the trustworthy Law-Giver, it is so much easier to submit to a love-driven law. But no matter our individual or corporate steps in this process of knowing His heart, to rebel against Divine Truth is never the way to peace.

“They killed (harag – slay, murder, slaughter) your prophets (nabi – spokesman, speaker, inspired man) who had testified (uwd – admonish, return, repeat, bear witness, charge, lift up, protest, testify, restore, lift up, relieve, give warning, stand upright) against them…”

They slayed your spokesmen who had admonished/bore witness/protested/warned them…

Ah yes, the natural reaction when confronted with Truth we do not wish to hear: to slaughter the truth-giver. Once again, it is simply an interesting plot line until we realize how often we do it ourselves.

When I am faced with an inconvenient truth about myself or my actions, the last thing my pride wants is to welcome it in and allow it to teach me. The defending, denying, explaining and side-stepping is a long process before I will receive. If I will receive.

How about you? If someone bears witness to truth in your life, or gives you a warning in love, what is your reaction? Why? Is there perhaps not enough saturation of our identities in His love and acceptance? We have to start there, friends, or the difficult truths feel far too scary to confront. We have to know that we know He is for us, even when His love has parental discipline involved.

But how about us corporately? How are we as His Body handling Truth shared by His spokesmen? When it becomes clear His Spirit is moving in a certain direction, and that direction forces us to face hard things individually and collectively, what is our reaction?

Obviously, it will sting. Antiseptic on a wound always does. And the definition is clear those listening to God and informing the people are bringing charges against us. Admonish, bear witness, protest, and give warning are not palatable.

But what about some of those other synonyms? “To return, restore, lift up, relieve, stand upright?” What if we focused on those, keeping in mind that anyone warning us must care enough to make sure we are aware. And God indeed cares. Mostly because of the ultimate outcome of the warning:

“…to turn them (shub – turn back, return, bring back ) to Yourself (el – into, towards, within…first love)…”

…To turn them back towards You/First Love.

To return to Him was to be relieved and restored, redeemed and stood upright. The way to be a light to all nations, yes, but also the only way to live in satisfaction themselves. We can only fight against the way God has made us to live for so long before we realize Someone needs to stand us upright again.

“…they committed (asah – worked, accomplished) great (gadol – bitter, deep, high, prominent) blasphemies (n’atsah – provocations, blasphemy, contempt, scorn; from naats – to spurn, reject, treat with contempt).”

They committed high blasphemies/treated You with scorn and contempt.

The use of that word great two times in today’s verses is significant. Compare “great goodness” (gadol tub) with “great blasphemies” (gadol natsah). High, prominent, mighty best things versus high, prominent, deep contempt.

This is the way of walking with Yahweh. To experience Him as our Ultimate Best and His provision as best things for us versus slaughtering (with words or actions) those seeking to warn us, and showing contempt for His kindness.

Some days the Good News is everything, isn’t it? We are so prone to wander, prone to leave the God we love. Fortunately, we have a Perfectly Obedient Substitute, a Prophet, Priest, and King Who walked the way of Yahweh on our behalf.

He will guide us in that way still.