Route 66:26 Dread, dreams, and destiny

Mighty Jerusalem had fallen sometime after Ezekiel was taken into exile. Of priestly lineage, he was granted visions of behind the scenes on earth and in the heavens.

We see three themes, progressing from doom to destiny, from gore to glory. First there is the judgment upon God's people for their sin. Then there is an assurance that their enemies would be held responsible, being judged according to their part in God's plan.

Finally, though, Ezekiel gives a firsthand account of a vision of future Israel and Judah. The symbolism is heavy, but the message of mercy and grace is clear.

Route 66:25 Crying over Jerusalem

The historical record of the life and times of Jeremiah was not confined to the book holding his name. In fact, the book we call "Lamentations" was from the beginning published along with the "book" of Jeremiah.

In five acrostic poems, Jeremiah pours out his heart for his hometown--the place God had chosen since King David's time to call His own--the city of Jerusalem. As he and others had predicted and warned, the city of Jerusalem was destroyed, and Jeremiah was there while it was happening. This poetry is perhaps the best in the Old Testament, even including metered lines in a form that became known as the Lamentation form.

God had warned that this would happen as far back as his revealed will to the people in the Exodus. Disobedience has consequences, and the people of Judah had found out the hard way. The wrath of God--manifested in the armies of Babylon--served as a vivid illustration of the coming judgment of mankind in general.

However, there was hope in the future. The wrath of God would be poured out upon Jesus the Messiah about 450 years later. In this act of love, the Son of God would take the full punishment due to all his true people, wherever and whenever they may be. When the final days of mankind on this old earth come, the judgment poured out on it will be a magnification of the fall of Jerusalem to an unimaginable level. The only hope any of us have is to be covered by the sacrifice Jesus made.

Route 66:24 When Nobody Listens

Jeremiah had a problem, God wanted him to warn a nation that didn't want to hear him. Nevertheless, when he was told to preach, he obeyed God. Almost all the prophets in the land were telling the king and his court just what they wanted to hear. When Jeremiah pointed this out, he was ostracized and even imprisoned. But with his friend and secretary Baruch, he persisted.

His message was simple, but blunt: "It's too late for repentance, judgment is coming and will last for 70 years." He told the people to not resist the force of the Babylonian army, but rather to go obediently into exile for a multi-generational stay. When he was offered a safe place to stay by the occupying regime, his countrymen kidnapped him and brought him to Egypt.

There was hope in his message, though. God would always have His remnant among national Israel and Judah. This small percentage would be the foundation of a universal, worldwide assembly of those who believe God for Who He says He is. God will always work within the inner person of all those who truly believe Him. This truth was displayed in the New Covenant, which was an extension of the Old to those outside of the commonwealth of national Israel.

Route 66: 23 The Gospel according to Isaiah

The road to New Jerusalem seems to have been paved by the Adversary! I began with the intention of filling my 66th year with reflections on the Bible, one book at a time. With 52 weeks, that was to be less than two a week -- 11 every two months. Easy for me to say back then.

I have done well in reading the Bible, but commenting on it has been sporadic. I am reading in the minor prophets (the Twelve) and the book of the Revelation right now. Anyway, in the "chronicle" of the path, I have only made it through the History of the Old Testament. 

So, I will now do a whirlwind tour of half the Bible in three weeks! First off, Isaiah, the prophet of justice and mercy.

At this time of year, the judgment to come to Judah and Israel takes a back seat to the prophecies of Isaiah and his contemporary Micah. Together, they give a view of the Messiah from a viewpoint far in advance of the events that unfolded sometime between 6 and 1 BC. According to these prophets, speaking about 600 years before Christ, the Messiah would be born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem and move for a time to Egypt before ministering to his people.

However, the coming of the Messiah was not to be a conquering savior, but rather one who interacted with regular folk in a special way. However, he would speak prophetically to them, causing many, or most, of his people to reject Him. This was not a new thing for the prophets. According to the record, and then looking to tradition, Isaiah suffered for his message, even to death under King Manassa. Notably, when the Ethiopian eunuch asked about Isaiah 53, he wondered if Isaiah was talking about himself.

The good news, though, is that Isaiah spoke about Jesus, the Messiah, who would come to suffer and die to save sinners from their sin. In context, that meant living as a suffering servant among a people who would kill him. Better news, though, is that Jesus would rise up from the grave to return at a later time in judgment-- the main theme of all the others.  It would become clearer among the writers of the first century AD that the Messiah had two comings: as Saviour and as Judge. 

Route 66:22 Trial and Triumph

While touring the ancient plain of Shinar, we might as well visit the foremost prophet of the time.

Before the future queen Esther was born, a young man named Daniel was already in the court of a previous king, the great Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The king had thought himself to be supreme, only to be first praised and then warned of his folly. He came around only after being humbled by God.

Unlike his grandfather, Belshazzar never came to his senses. His only recorded meeting with Daniel was right before Persian forces took the city. Before he had been killed, the king had promoted Daniel, who soon was to serve under Persian kings.

As pagan kings looked on, Daniel and his friends stood for God in spite of the rules laid down by the king. Neither fire nor hungry lions could prevail against them.

Their message was clear, God is in control. Dreams and visions made it clear that God knows the future and will not let anyone get in his way to stop His plan.

The lesson we can take away from the recorded history of God's people is that He will honor those who honor him. All others survive due to his good will.

Route 66:21 For Such a Time as This

Babylon had started things, but God had punished that empire by sending their neighbors in. Persia spread from Greece to India and was ruled by a strict law: the king's word could not be broken--not even by the king!

A young Jewish girl, Hadassah (Myrtle), followed her uncle's instructions to become Queen Esther (Star) only to find her people threatened with destruction. 

Without naming God, the story teller showed that the holiday Purim was His work behind the scenes. It was a lesson in politics and faith, all rolled up on one.

Route 66: 20 Against All Adversity

*Note to my readers: It seemed like an easy task, Sixty-six posts in 52 weeks! But alas, I have only posted 19 in 10 months. Now I am looking at just under two months to post 47 more. Please feel free to nag me with email.

Nehemiah had received bad news from "back home" in Jerusalem. The city was in bad shape. Even though he had a good job with the government, he saw a need to get personally involved in making things right. But first, he prayed to God.

This was a good idea, of course, even if you are not in a position to seek aid from earthly powers. Nehemiah knew that if he tried to do things in his own strength, his relationship with the king was no guarantee. After prayer, though, the next opportunity to meet the boss landed a "promotion" from advisor to governor!

However, once back home in the then Persian province of Judah, Nehemiah faced opposition even among his own people. Certain rich folk, party bosses as it were, had a "good thing" going. But God was on Nehemiah's side and the wall got built. After that, his duties were done and he turned the project over to Ezra, the priest.

With a wall, the new temple was safe. Proper worship was now resumed. In time it would degenerate into a man-made religion that only God could correct by stepping into history in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus would follow the example of God's man of the hour, Governor Nehemiah; for He would bring the challenge before the throne of God. Any earthly obstacle does not stand a chance.

Route 66:19 When Religion meets Politics

With all the regime changes going on, it only seemed right for Cyrus to let potential trouble makers go back to their homeland. One doubts if the king realized that the Jewish prophets had predicted his actions even before his predecessor had conquered Jerusalem.

As it turned out, there was resistance  to his orders, leading to political pressure. Lies were spread, based only on past history, that the Jewish leadership wanted full freedom to go with their religion.

And so, the king changed his mind and called for the temple project to end. Ezra, as the priest in charge, obeyed, waiting patiently for official permission to continue. The next administration saw through the bureaucracy of his predecessor's staff and gave another decree.

God is patient and works with and in spite of politicians. It is hard to fight city hall, but impossible to fight God.

Route 66:18 The Wild, Wild East

Well, it's back to the home stretch of the journey through Old Testament History. After this journey, I will be visiting the homes of some of that history's most famous men: the prophets! But first, we backtrack to the days of Solomon, the richest, wisest and, unfortunately most decadent of the kings of Judah.

As we saw, he went from a young lover, to a wise leader, to a disillusioned old man. With every year of his long reign he sought to compromise his beliefs to maintain his political power. When he wanted to build a relationship with a tribe or nation, he would marry a beautiful woman close to its leadership. And then, he would take "concubines" to run his expanded household.

After years of high taxes to the people of the land, the power shifted to his only mentioned son and successor, Rehoboam. Members of Solomon's cabinet counseled the young king to ease up on the royal tyranny, but he instead chose to listen to his spoiled friends. Things got worse for the people in and around Jerusalem, and millions "voted" with their feet in a civil war that split the people for the rest of their history as free nations.

The northern kingdom of Israel went from bad to worse, while the southern kingdom of Judah (with Benjamin and Levites joining them), went from good to bad, with two or three revivals as prophets proclaimed coming doom. The end almost came for them all under the Assyrians until the good king of the south prayed and submitted himself to God. Only Jerusalem and some suburbs stood when the Assyrians were wiped out by angels from heaven!

With a new lease on life, Judah continued for about two hundred years, one in four of those years under the reign of the next king, the evil Manasseh. But then, we learn something new! The old king came to his senses by a miracle of God's grace. He couldn't undo his evil, but his grandson oversaw one last revival before the end came when Judah's last king rebelled against Babylon. Just as the prophets had said, judgment fell against both the kingdom and the temple.

The Chronicler ends his tale with a preview of the return from Babylonian captivity. It was time to rebuild under the watchful eye of a series Gentile Kings.

Route 66-17 Theater of Trouble

Before returning to the depressing path of Israel's history, I thought I'd step into the theater and catch a drama God shared with his people some time ago. It is a true story, but told in a way that maximizes the drama.

Set in the days of the patriarchs, maybe even as far back as Abraham, the reader is shown the behind the scenes planning of the tragic tale of trouble coming upon a good man by the name of Job. He had it so good, that his life seemed charmed. But, with God's permission, an adversary orchestrates a reign of terror on this one family. But the patriarch Job made it through two rounds of devastation.

And so, the darkness in the theater just seems to get darker. The audience scratches its collective head, wondering why they came. Why live the good life if nothing good comes of it?  But we sit there awaiting the intermission. As Job sits on the ground in misery, his wife will have nothing of it. Where is the man to turn now?

As Act II begins, we find three friends willing to sit quietly and mourn with our hero. But then they begin to speak.  We know that what they say makes sense, but that it doesn't apply to Job. Job complains that they don't know what they are talking about. We want to shout at the friends, but we respect the venue. Finally, a young man enters from the wings with a lot of good advice to the well meaning friends. It seems that perhaps even Job is confused.

The concluding act finds Job "face to face" with God Himself! The interrogation begins and Job begins to "get it".  Mankind has messed up everything in touches. The system works in spite of them as God works behind the scenes. Though in the "image of God", mankind cannot hope to become a family of gods. Instead, we grow strong against the odds, made stronger because we know that God has our best interests in mind.

As I walk back into the sunlit street of history, I have new insight into what is going on. The story of the rise and fall of the twin kingdoms now has meaning. I can walk those streets, kicking a can down the road.  God knows what is at the end of that road.

Rabbit Trails into my Life

Sometimes one just gets bored.

Sitting at my computer with no ambition to speak of, I looked something up on Wikipedia. Being satisfied with the answers found there, I decided to follow a rabbit trail.

That rabbit trail is a version of a game "Six Degrees of Separation" in which actor Kevin Bacon is linked to anyone in the entertainment industry. To me, the diversion is to click on "Random Article" on Wikipedia. That brought me to Koyasan Reihōkan, a very unlikely place to begin. Scrolling down the article about ancient Chinese art, I came upon the date May 1, 1961, one of two dates in my lifetime. Not exactly a good springboard, but it was something.

I got lucky, for on that date, when I was a poor boy living in northern Florida, a book had been published based on something I was somewhat familiar with: life in the deep south. The book was To Kill a Mockingbird, which I was told was a crime in Florida where the bird was the state bird. I thought it an odd name for a book and I was only in second grade when it came out. The next year, its author Harper Lee received the Pulitzer Prize for writing it. She had grown up in Monroeville, Alabama, on the Alabama River.

The most famous town on the Alabama River was Selma, the starting point for the famous Civil Rights March to the capital of Montgomery. When I used to visit my grandmother, and step-granddad after she remarried, I was still too young to care much about all the fuss happening there. My grandmother was still working at the Selma Times-Journal at the time. Or I think it was her and not her new husband (they married in 1961, I think). [I apologize for the misremembering]]

Counting my grandparents who lived there I went successfully navigated within 6 degrees from a totally foreign subject -- literally -- to my family. It was a fun exercise and I recommend it to anyone who comes upon this blog. I'd love to hear any successful "Six degrees" anyone comes up with.

Route 66:16 That Empty Feeling

Solomon had a long life, and he was from a good family. On top of that, he was the richest and most powerful person in the country. But when he stopped to think about it, none of that mattered.

After a good start, he started to do things like a politician. The easiest way to remain at peace with neighbors was to work closely with them. And in those days alliances could be best achieved by joining the family. More wives meant political stability.

But Solomon found that happiness does not come with power, but with submission to God. Life is too short to spend it without God. In the end, life is to be lived to the fullest by thinking about What God would have us do.

It is surprising how much better things go when joy replaces worry.

Route 66:15 Finding True Love

There should be warnings as we enter the tale of Solomon's first marriage. Like all the others, it seems, this was a political arrangement. In taking the Pharoah's daughter as a bride, young Solomon had found Miss Right.

She was a humble princess, barely noticed among her own people, When she was given to the king of the Jews. She worried that he would forget her among all the others he wed. But, as a picture of the true children of God, her union was pure. All others were mere distractions.

I would councel young people to be very careful when reading the Song. At the very least, look past the imagery to the ultimate husband--Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Route 66:14 Words of Wisdom

The book of Proverbs provides a divinely inspired sampling of the wisdom that Solomon was known for. He reminds us that if we wish to be wise, we must respect God and His word.

From training children to marital harmony to dealing with bosses and/or workers, Solomon and others present wise words to get us through just about any situation.

A good thing to do, at least one month a year, is to read through the book of Proverbs a chapter per day. In 31 days, an overview of the greatest Wisdom literature ever written can change your life. If you then divide the chapters into bite sized pieces, you can repeat the exercise over the course of 11 or 12 months!

I might have a list somewhere that I made. If anyone is interested, comment and I can help you through it.

May the Lord be with you all.

Route 66-13 A Tale of 2 Kingdoms

The united kingdom had a good run. Or maybe not. The best days in human terms were peaceful but ran headlong into a hedonistic orgy on the verge of destruction. David had a hard time, especially after his adultery, but Solomon had it "easy" by just going with the flow. Thousands of women, but only one heir to the throne! A poor choice in heirs, with no apparent rivals in the royal family, leads to a foreordained civil war.

God had set it up, Jereboam came back and Reheboam proved himself to be a tyrant. But Jereboam was an apostate, so not much, If any, good came about from his agreement with God.

From that rough beginning, the two kingdoms went their separate ways. Not one godly king in the north, and only half in the north, led to exile and the end of independence for the nations.

Prophets came along to point the way back to God, but few saw the way. The moral of the story is this, the people of God are nothing without God.

It's a good thing He did not leave it up to us.

Route 66-12 A Twice Told Tale

The story never grows old, especially when the crown has faithful historians. We return from the choir loft to the theater, to sea the story of the great king once again unfold in 1 Chronicles. We know the history is faithfully rendered, for hundreds of names are given as testimony to its truth.

When finally we return to David, we see a warrior whose only flaw seems to be pride. He puts the fate of his people in God's hands, losing a tithe for his arrogance. The chroniclers see the work of Satan as God's servant where the prophets saw only God.

David spends a fortune to get the materials to build the temple. Appointing the worship leaders, he turns the plans over to Solomon with his blessing.

Route 66:11 The Songbook of the King

Some might think of this as a side trip, but as the path tracks through the life of David, one can here the choir singing. It behooves us to stop for a while and visit.

The Psalmist calls us to consider who our companions are along the way. In fact, we are directed to not be side tracked.

Instead, we are to take heed of the enemy while constantly looking to our guide and his guidebook for directions. If we listen carefully we find that when we can't go further, the Guide will give us a ride.

Finally, as we approach our designation, we hear the songs are happy, joyful anthems of praise. We turn and thank our guide and take a complementary copy of the song book.

Route 66:10 Life with the King

It had been quite a life as the crown Prince on the run. Politics back in David's day was a bit like that all over Europe not so long ago. Kings expected to pass down the crown to the first born son. But the prince, David's friend, had been killed in battle along with the king.

Few people knew that Samuel had anointed David  years earlier. But when news reached David, he was aggrieved. His king and his friend were dead.

After the funeral, civil war arose a Saul's surviving son became king over ten of the tribes. When that son was killed, David had the assassin executed and had another state funeral.
It was a hard way to become king. Finally, the nation united again, David fought with the neighbors until his boundaries were secure. Breathing easier, he stayed home and enjoyed life, but at a terrible cost. His sin cost him the blessings, and brought troubles he never really got passed.

As he got older, his grown sons, princes with an eye on the throne, rebelled. Civil war once again threatened. His charismatic son Absalom had the heart of the nation. Things looked bad. Again, an assassin saved the day. Of course, David was not happy.

Finally, the chosen successor, Solomon, was secure as king. David died a worn out old man. Life as a king is not for the weak.

Route 66-9 A Prophet's Life

Life under the judges had been a rough ride, though the interlude in Bethlehem allowed for the weary reader to appreciate what was to come. As we open the "First Books of the Kings", as they are called in the Hebrew bible, we find the priesthood in bad shape. Aging Eli can't control his wayward successors, but takes on a new assistant in a young child loaned to him by a grateful mother.

No one had communicated in any real way with God for years when young Samuel was called in the night. God was audible, but invisible. The boy thought it was Eli at first but then the old priest told him it must be God. So Samuel listened to the voice of God. The message he brought back to Eli was not a pleasant one. It was not a warning, but a prophecy. The House of Eli would fall.

It was not pretty to see the ark used as magic charm. And it didn't work that way. The dreaded Philistines had taken the Ark of the Covenant!! Eli died on the same day when he heard the news that his sons, protectors of the ark, were dead.  His broken heart was aided by a broken neck as he fell off a bench. Samuel would now serve as a priest and judge for the people. But that was not enough for the people. They wanted a king so they pestered Samuel and won the day when God assented to the request with a warning that a king with no respect for God was not a good idea.

Things went from bad to worse with the new King Saul, but the people seemed to content to have their king and champion, a head above the rest. The new king was good for the country for a while, but it did not take long them to fail under a manic monarch. Another king would have to be found. In time, David, the son of Jessie. The old man had many sons, but only David was 'chosen.

The next few years were a blur.  David was anointed, got a job as a court musician and armor bearer, and he got a feel for what Saul was like.  But he then went back to help on the ranch. After saving the whole army from an arrogant giant, everybody got to know the young warrier. David got a new wife, and then lost her, and then ended up on the run.

Meanwhile Samuel just prayed for Saul. There wasn't much left to do. After a long life ministry, after anointing two kings, the old prophet died and was mourned.  David mourned with the rest of Israel while still on the run. He picked up two more wives and then ... he waited.

Samuel showed up one more time before Saul was killed on the battlefield. Or at least everyone thought it was Samuel back from the dead (as a ghost!!). The wily old witch was startled when her incantations worked. Samuel seemed reluctant, but scolded the apostate king and predicted sure death within a day.  Saul and his sons died the next day. The king was dead. Long live the "present and future king"!

Route 66:8--Gnarled Roots.

The story of Ruth is one of unexpected consequences. That is to say, Alimelech did not seek to die when he packed up and left Betlehem. He certainly didn't expect his sons to die.  But the famine reached the land of Moab as well. A decade had passed, leaving three widows.

But Naomi knew the Law. Jubilee had come, so surely God would provide. But how, and by whom? As it turned out, the help came from a cousin.

Through some shrewd matchmaking, Naomi got her daughter in law to meet up with Boaz. A closer relative had refused to complicate his own life, so Ruth and her late husband's land past to Boaz, then to Jesse, David.

God had shown that good things come even through the Moabites. God has a way of working with broken vessels. Judah had started out really bad; so had Lot. But God brought their two lines together.

God doesn't always do what we expect, but we cam be sure that He knows what he's doing.