Asking "Why?" with Habakkuk

 

Dealing with the Fear of Fate

    Thomas Hardey was an English novelist who was also a notorious fatalist. His novels, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure, and Return of the Native were some of my favorites in high school, and they had a tremendous effect on me. The characters in Hardy's novels are all doomed to unwanted fates. They all work to overcome that fate, and they all fail. These books were instrumental in disproving fatalism for me. They always leave the main character in the same spot...stuck, hopeless, and asking (in essence) "Why, God?"

Fatalism and Rationalism

    Yet fatalism is a rational response to the reality that so much of our lives are out of our control. Having no control over the movements of nations, the weather, or the economy can often make us feel like we exist at the behest of other forces. On the small scale we experience tragedies that are beyond our control, and on the greatest scale we see a world that is running head long toward sin and rebellion against God. It is easy to find ourselves asking God "Why?"

    What is He waiting for? When will He return for the Church and judge sin? A thousand years is a day to Him, but to us a day still feels like a day.

Enter Habakkuk

    I take this entire book as an opera. A poetic work that is designed to be sung between characters representing Habakkuk and God, along with an orchestra and a full chorus. In this big drama Habakkuk is given the opportunity to stand before the Lord and ask his questions. Habakkuk is wise, humble, and earnestly seeks after the Lord's will to honor Him. There is no axe to grind, there is no whining, but rather a humble man seeking to understand what makes so little sense from his perspective.

    The dialogue happens in three cycles. Habakkuk asks a question, the Lord responds, Habakkuk asks a follow up question, and the Lord responds. and then Habakkuk closes with a song of humble praise to the Lord. I would love to have seen what a production of this dramatic work would have been like in the life of Habakkuk. Yet the words carry enough power to hold our attention.

    Habakkuk is living in a world surrounded by wickedness that is going unpunished. It brings him great frustration, and confusion because it seems like the Lord is tolerating wickedness. Yet the Lord assures Habakkuk that judgment is coming in the form of the Chaldeans - the ruthless Babylonian empire that would ultimately overtake, dominate, and deport the people of Jerusalem.

Answers We Don’t Like

    This was not the solution that Habakkuk wanted. He was hoping God would come through, judge the wicked and leave the nation to the righteous, but instead the entire nation would be brought into captivity. It shows how our simple solutions do not achieve God's ultimate desire. The Nation would be disciplined, and it would ultimately bring about God's glory. The plan was bigger than Habakkuk understood.

    This is our chief problem as humans. We want to shrink the cosmos down to the little sliver that we can see and experience, rather than accept that God's plan is greater. For Habakkuk the whole world was focused on having a godly nation of Israel within his lifetime. God's plan, however, was to redeem the entire world. The failures of Israel to walk with God would not stop His plan and ultimate victory, in fact they would be useful to the Lord.

    The Babylonian captivity had all sorts of amazing effects on the world. The Jewish people were scattered throughout the Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman empires. In each case, bringing knowledge of the One True God, and the scripture to those areas. Many would come to trust the Lord because of their being spread across the nations.

Discipline that Works

    Furthermore, Israel truly did return changed from this disciplinary action. Before the Babylonian captivity the nation struggled with Idolatry constantly. Baals and Asherah poles everywhere. Yet, after that time the greatest threats to Jewish fidelity were the legalism and self-righteousness of the Pharisees, and the syncretism of the Herodians and Sadducees. Idolatry, however, was far less of an issue.

    The book of Habakkuk always brings such comfort and encouragement. To know that the Lord's plan is not over yet, that there is more to the story than we understand, even today, is a refreshing blessing. Ultimately the Lord allows us to ask our questions. He is patient with our limited scope and perspective. The comfort will always be in our understanding of His character and trust in His sovereign plan.

Remaining on Mission

    In our simplicity, we may prefer the fatalism of Thomas Hardy, but the Lord is greater than our perspectives and our fears. He can work all things together for His glory and for the good of those who love Him. That knowledge gives us the wisdom to take our eyes of fear off the panic-palace of the 24-hour news cycle and trust in the Lord and His plan to bring about His Kingdom in His Time. Our job is to proclaim that salvation that is offered through faith alone in the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ alone. When we trust Him, we are able to remain on mission.

Jonah – A Classic Never Dies

 

Classic for a Reason

                I was sitting in my Introduction to Music History class during my freshman year as a music student at CSU when I first learned what makes a masterpiece. I expected this class to cover esoteric and hidden music from Western history. Much to my surprise, we covered Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Stravinski, and Philip Glass. I had already heard all those composers. When would we get to the obscure stuff? My professor, dressed in a suit, with his shirt half untucked, and a bow tie holding together the ensemble.  Imparted some great wisdom that has stuck with me ever since: “You know, Brad, the classics are the classics for a reason!” I thought getting a music education would mean that I would know all the obscure composers and compositions, and when asked what my favorite composer was, I could half close my eyes and say: “You’ve probably never heard of him. After all, I have a music degree.” Later in that course, my professor would define a masterpiece as a piece of art that offers fresh insights, regardless of how many times you listen to it.

Jonah is a Classic

                This leads us to the book of Jonah. Jonah is one of the first Bible stories that most people encounter, and the one that people remember best. It is iconic in literature (see Moby Dick), entertainment, and art. Surely the fantastic nature of the miracle is compelling on a lot of levels. The length is short enough that you can read it in less than 10 minutes if you are a fast reader. Yet this classic regularly returns to our attention, and while I wouldn’t pull a Father Mapple and preach from it every week (really, you need to read Moby Dick), I find myself revisiting this account time and time again for its narrative power and shocking theme. The book of Jonah is about what happens when God’s grace is too much for us. If we read it correctly, we will find it among the most compelling indictments of our hardened hearts and our threadbare practical faith.

The Story

                The story presented in Jonah is quite simple. God tells His prophet Jonah to go to Nineveh (the capital of Assyria – a hostile nation) and preach about his coming judgment. Jonah runs the other way and books a boat trip to Spain (or thereabouts). While on the way, God sends a great storm. Jonah gets thrown overboard and is swallowed by a huge fish, which pukes him up on dry ground three days later. Jonah submits to God and goes to preach in Nineveh. Nineveh repents, God spares them, and Jonah has a temper tantrum. The End.

                The basics of the story are done in less than a paragraph! How could this account be so very powerful? It has to do with understanding what happens when God’s grace makes us uncomfortable. We get God’s wrath. Righteous anger, thunder and lightning, earthquakes, and punishment of sin. We like it even more when we can convince ourselves that we are in a protected crowd. When THEY are getting judged, they deserve it, when we are getting judged…well, let’s hope there is grace for that.

A Reason to Hate

                Jonah had every reason to hate the Assyrian Empire. They were the cruelest nation that the world had ever seen. They were gunning to overtake Israel and make everyone in Israel a slave. Actually, they would first kill as many as they could, skinning them alive and celebrating with their corpses. Those who were left would be deported, the land would be taken, families separated, and THEN they would be enslaved. There was every reason for Jonah to be salty about preaching in Nineveh. He just got a lot more salt than he bargained for.

                Jonah reveals his reasoning at the end of the book, but he was not deterred from his divinely appointed task out of fear for his own safety, nor because he didn’t want to go tell Assyria how awful they were, straight to their faces. He would have enjoyed that task, we can safely assume. Something different caused Jonah to reject this task. Something darker. Jonah was a prophet of Israel. God had warned them plenty. In the Torah, through the Judges, and by the prophets. A warning was only needed if there was a chance that they could change course – and that was unthinkable to Jonah.

                It was all well and good for God to show mercy and grace to Israel; that was the gracious and loving character of God…but saving the Assyrians? That would not be okay. But not only was Jonah meant to know that God would extend this opportunity to turn…he had to participate! Jonah must have been choking on his tongue.

A Moment to Reflect

                We must take a break here. This is where we jump on our high horse, “Jonah just didn’t want them to get saved…I am so glad I would never be that way.” Well, hold your roll for just a moment and let’s think about that. You might be the perfect one, and I hope you are, but if you are like the rest of us, there is always a “them” who we really can’t stand. It may be those folks from a different political party. You can find them if you think about who you like to call names, you know – the real scumbags. It could be racial, ethnic, ideological, or personal. For some, it is the entire other half of the human race who is of the opposite gender. If we are honest, there are probably a bunch of people who could disappear from the earth, and you would be tempted to say that it served them right. I know there are in my deepest, darkest thoughts. Individuals and groups.

                This account is not powerful for most readers because most people are deeply self-deceived. To benefit from the word of God, we must let it be the mirror that God designed and hold it up to ourselves. Take a minute, if you haven’t already, and figure out who “them” is. Discover who it is that you are ready to assign to the rubbish bin. Get out a piece of paper and write down all your reasons. If you are not too much of a coward, write “Why I hate Chicago Cubs Fans,” “Communists,” or “people who take calls on speaker phone in public” at the top of the page.  Got it? Now we are ready to get back to the book of Jonah.

Grace and Gracelessness

                The amazing irony of this book is that everybody in the story shows Jonah grace. God could have simply struck Jonah dead or let him go, but instead, he pursues him in his disobedience and rebellion. The pagans who discover that Jonah is the reason for their personal danger don’t immediately throw him overboard, but rather strain against the oars to see if they can preserve his life (Jonah 1:3). Even the people of Nineveh don’t shoot on sight, but rather give Jonah a sympathetic audience that few prophets to Israel ever enjoyed in their homeland. They repent in sackcloth and ashes! (Jonah 3:5-9)

                The last chapter of Jonah is the real pinnacle of the account. Jonah gets good and mad and goes off to the edge of town to pout and hope that God kills everybody spectacularly. When the Lord does not do that, he pops off at God directly:

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”” (Jonah 4:1–3 NKJV)

Jonah is so mad that he wants to die. That is some next-level human hatred. To Jonah, it would be totally defensible. Israel was God’s chosen people; the Assyrians were violent pagans of the worst order. They were going to take away everything, destroy and loot the temple, and scatter the people of Israel and Judah among the nations. They were, quite literally, the enemies of God. They were not just fighting a war of words – they wanted to eradicate God’s people from existence. He was just hating God’s enemies. Surely that was the right thing to do!

 

The Final Word

                God gets the last word on this matter, and the ending of Jonah feels almost unfinished, because we don’t know what became of Jonah. The Lord’s message is clear and poignant:

“But the LORD said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”” (Jonah 4:10–11 NKJV)

Jonah’s lack of compassion was exposed. But the point of this account, and the abrupt ending, is to bring perspective. Who is not worthy of our compassion? Who is that terrible person whom God had better not save, who is it that could never be forgiven?

                Can God save them? Is that okay with you?

                The book of Jonah does not teach universalism in any way, shape, or form. The Lord saved the citizens of Nineveh from a physical, catastrophic judgment. Their individual salvation would be decided by their individual faith in the God of Israel. Furthermore, the temporary reprieve would end with the destruction of Assyria as prophesied by Nahum. The attitude in the spotlight was Jonah’s attitude, and hopefully ours.

Oh, and in case you are wondering. It’s JS Bach. JS Bach is my favorite composer of all time. Well-known, incredibly prolific, and certainly not obscure at all, he is probably one of the most recognized composers of all time. Bach changed music in a way that nobody else ever has, and there is nothing in this enormous catalog that I don’t absolutely celebrate. Because the classics are the classics for a reason.

The Power of a Humble Messenger

 

Ignored Warnings

“Beware the Ides of March!” Most of western culture will encounter this expression through the works of Shakespeare in Act 1, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar – a play written around 1599 AD. A pagan prophet foretold that tragedy would strike Julius Caesar on the Ides (or the 15^th) of March. The betrayal and death of Julius Caesar was predicted by this largely unknown person who steps onto the scene. History gives the name of this seer as Spurinna, according to Seutonius. While pagan divination was highly respected within the Roman world, Julius Caesar famously ignores this warning and comes to a tragic end as a result. The prediction was made before the date, and on the 15^th, we are told, Julius Caesar approached Spurinna with confidence, saying, “The Ides of March have come.”  

                To which Spurinna simply replied, “Yes, they have come – but they have not gone.”

Soon after, Caesar was assassinated.

The Prophet Amos

The Biblical figure, Amos, cuts a very similar figure. A prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel he does not come from a religious school or community, nor does he come from the nobility. Amos is a humble sheepherder. This is a distinctly humble position. Shepherds were in charge of the flock, and Amos was more likely to have been what we would call a “farmhand.” He was an honest workman, who came from the out of the way city of Tekoa, on the edge of the Judean wilderness. A humble man, with no prestige or background of note, was called upon by God to give God’s message to the wayward people of Israel.

Judgment on the Nations

While sent to Israel, the first chapter of his collection of prophecies concerns the nations. This gives an important lesson. While the Lord’s plan chiefly concerned Israel, the Lord has expectations and standards for all nations – and foretells the impending judgment which they will face. Here are some of the highlights;

·         Tyrannical violence against other nations (Hosea 1:3, 11)

·         Enslavement of other nations (Hosea 1:6, 9)

·         Ruthless murder of pregnant women and unborn children (Hosea 1:13)

·         Desecrating the corpses of the dead (Hosea 2:1)

Judgment on Judah

The Lord abhors the violence of the nations that had rejected Him, and judges them for their actions of violence and oppression of others. But the most thorough statements of judgment are for Judah and Israel. The Lord holds them to greater accountability because they have known Him and His word and should know better than to be drawn into ungodliness. Judah is judged for:

·         Despising the Law of the Lord (Hosea 2:4)

·         Not keeping His commandments (Hosea 2:4)

·         Lying and leading others astray (Hosea 2:4)

·         The fathers following (Hosea 2:4)

Judgment on Israel

The Northern Kingdom of Israel is the primary recipient of this letter. They had been even more rebellious than the Southern Kingdom of Judah, and the Lord speaks plainly about their failures in desire of a change of attitude and behavior. Their sins include:

·         Oppression of the poor (Hosea 2:6)

·         Perverting the way of the humble (Hosea 2:7)

·         Sexual perversion (Hosea 2:7)

·         Pagan/Idolatrous worship (Hosea 2:8)

·         Giving the Nazarites (those dedicated to the Lord by abstinence from wine) wine to drink (Hosea 2:12)

·         Silencing Prophets (Hosea 2:12)

The Lord does not Tolerate Sin

The Lord was direct in denouncing the sin of every nation – His character is perfectly consistent, and His righteousness will not be compromised. Yet there is a clear application of the principle that would be formalized in the words of Jesus Christ.

“But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

(Luke 12:48 NKJV)

A Humble Messenger

                Just as the otherwise unknown Spurinna gave warning to Julius Caesar, so the humble sheepherder, Amos, spoke the truth to the most powerful nations that surrounded him. The Lord would use many different voices, from all classes of people, to make His righteous expectations known. It leaves the modern reader with an important message. It does not matter who a person is, or where they have come from, if a person speaks forth the word of God they should be heard.

                We live in a time when the prophetic office is not currently in use. We have the Bible available to us, and every believer is meant to be a mouthpiece for the Lord. As we continue to speak with courage and strength we can remember the example of Amos. The Lord even dignified him so greatly as to be the person who was able to plead mercy for Israel in face of the Lord’s coming judgment (Amos 7:1-9).

                Amaziah the priest sought to revile Amos for telling the truth – seeking to degrade him because of his humble place in society (Amos 7:10-13). But Amos answered with all honesty and courage (Amos 7:14-17). Amos could face this condescension because he did not speak his own words, but rather he spoke the word of God.

An Army of Humble Messengers

This is the confidence that every believer can have in sharing the message of the Bible. As Peter would write later to the early church:

“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

(1 Peter 4:11 NKJV)

When a believer shares the gospel of salvation we share the very oracles of God. It is not our own message, our own perspectives: it is the message of God that we share. Thus, every believer should be very careful of two things. First, be certain that we are representing the word carefully, correctly, and clearly. Second, that the Bible stands upon its own authority – the authority of God. Whether the world responds with rejection or humble acceptance, the job of proclaiming God’s truth is the work of the Church today.

It is not about us – it is about the Lord that we proclaim.

Too Late – The Book of Jeremiah

 

Sad words that Signify Change

"Too late" can be two of the saddest words in the English language. Too late - you missed your flight; you can't go to the beach. Too late - you missed your anniversary and you cannot make up for it. Too late - the assignment was due at three o'clock and it is now 3:02 - no grace period. While I have never missed a plane or forgotten an anniversary, and I never missed a deadline serious enough to fail a class, I have been too late on enough occasions to feel the anxiety when I hear those two words together. I think it is this anxiety that turned me into a rather punctual person. I prefer to show up on time or early to most events and meetings and will often accomplish that goal. It is a statement of respect for the person that I am meeting (Romans 12:10). It is also an issue of integrity. I said I would be somewhere at a certain time, and I will try to accomplish that goal (Matthew 5:37). I have served in other cultures where the perspective on punctuality differs and still find it difficult to understand the difference, though it is easy to be respectful.

Judah’s Spiritual Procrastination

The issue for Israel was also a "too late" issue. They had put the Lord off for years (Jeremiah 25:3–7). They put off His worship and opted to worship pagan idols (Jeremiah 2:11–13). They put off his Law in favor of living in a way that pleased them - choosing not to free their slaves or forgive debts (Jeremiah 34:13–17), choosing not to observe festivals, and approach God through the sacrificial system (Jeremiah 7:21–24). They continued to put it off...until Babylon was at their door (2 Kings 24:1–2).

When it came to the Lord fulfilling his promise to discipline them by sending them into captivity in a foreign land (Jeremiah 25:8–11), they cleaned up their act quickly (Jeremiah 26:12–13). Yet, not without complaint.

The Lies of the False Prophets

False prophets spoke up and gave the message everyone wanted to hear: "God has chosen us, he won't ever give us up to a foreign people! The Lord is on our side!" (Jeremiah 6:13–14; Jeremiah 23:16–17). Their messages seem hopeful, optimistic, patriotic, and encouraging. The Lord had redeemed them when they were occupied by Philistines and Midianites (Judges 6–7; 1 Samuel 7:10–14). He had rescued Judah when Assyria was at their door (2 Kings 19:32–36). Surely the Lord would honor their last-minute repentance and protect them again.

Jeremiah spoke the truth (Jeremiah 1:7–10). The Lord would not accept their 11th-hour solutions to the problem of their disobedience (Jeremiah 7:10–16). They were going into captivity (Jeremiah 20:4–6). It was too late.

Another Old Testament Example

Just like when they failed to enter the promised land, the opportunity had passed (Numbers 14:22–23). In that case they sent spies into the land and of the 12 only 2 believed that God could deliver on His promises (Numbers 14:6–9). The people refused to go up and received the verdict - they would wander in the wilderness until that entire generation died (Numbers 14:29–35).

Just like a husband who finally decides to stop drinking once his wife has packed her bags this verdict causes them to try to go up without the Lord (Numbers 14:40–44). Of course, it was too late. They were routed and many died (Numbers 14:45) - and they still did not get to enter the Land.

The person who comes to a change of mind too late often claims that they didn't know that it would be too late (Proverbs 1:24–28). They say they would have changed with just one more chance. Yet, God had sent prophet after prophet to warn them (Jeremiah 7:25–26; 2 Chronicles 36:15–16) and even given them some good kings to lead them (2 Kings 18:3–6; 2 Kings 22:1–2) - they continued to choose to go their own way. And now it was too late to avoid the Lord's discipline (Jeremiah 5:19), but it is never too late to obey the Lord (Lamentations 3:31–33).

Jeremiah’s Shocking Counsel: Surrender!

Jeremiah gives them a most perplexing message - "GIVE UP! SURRENDER!" (Jeremiah 21:8–10). He tells them that this invasion is coming and they have two choices. First, they could take their medicine. Surrender to Babylon and they would remain in their land, and nobody had to die - the Lord would redeem them in His time (Jeremiah 27:11). Or second, they could listen to the false prophets and fight (Jeremiah 27:14–15). If they resisted many would die and ultimately all would go into captivity, the temple would be destroyed, and it would be much more difficult (Jeremiah 39:6–8).

They had not yet learned their lesson (Jeremiah 32:33). They chose to continue to resist the Lord's discipline and direction. They fought, they lost, they were conquered (2 Kings 25:1–7). They rebelled, they lost, they were deported (2 Kings 25:11).

Refusing to respond to God in humility and obedience did not cause God to reject Judah - Jeremiah 31 absolutely promised that He would never fail in His promises to them (Jeremiah 31:35–37). However, they suffered immensely because they refused to obey Him and walk with Him (Jeremiah 30:14–15). It was too late for them to have what He wanted for them (Jeremiah 7:23–26). He wanted them to live in the land (Deuteronomy 5:33). He wanted them to be blessed and safe (Deuteronomy 28:1–6). He wanted to protect them from every empire and superpower (Deuteronomy 7:17–24) - so that the light on the stand would shine forth the redemption and power of the God of Israel before the world (Isaiah 42:6; Isaiah 49:6). Yet it was too late for that.

“Too Late” with God for Today

As Christians today we too can experience the sorrows of being "too late" with God (Galatians 6:7–8). The person who lives their life for themselves and then wants to pull out a fourth quarter reversal and become a pastor (1 Timothy 3:2–7). The person who drank until their liver is out of commission - but now they are ready to turn things around (Proverbs 23:29–35). The man who indulges his lusts in secret until his marriage is ruined (Proverbs 5:3–14). There are years that we cannot get back (Ephesians 5:15–17), and there are failures that will bring painful natural consequences and discipline (Hebrews 12:5–11). It may be too late to fix the problem, but it is never too late to respond in humility and rely on the Lord to forgive and restore (1 John 1:7–9). That is the wonderful thing about God's grace. God never ignores sin - He deals with it (Romans 6:23). For the believer in Jesus Christ sin is forgiven - finally, fully, and completely at the Cross of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:13–14). Sin in the life of the believer is dealt with both by allowing us to experience the consequences of our sin (Galatians 6:7), discipline in the Church (1 Corinthians 5:12–13), and the loving divine discipline of the Lord (Hebrews 12:6). It may be too late to fix what has been done, but it is never too late to humble ourselves and respond to that discipline in faithful anticipation that the God who loved you, and gave His Son to save you (John 3:16), will forgive you and restore you (1 Peter 5:10). The One who wounds us for our edification is the One who binds our wounds when we return to Him in humility and faith (Hosea 6:1).

Idolatry Addiction – The Major Prophets

 

Idolatry and Horror Stories

In his classic horror story, The Call of Cthulhu, H.P. Lovecraft delivers one of the spookiest narratives of all time. This is not of zombies or vampires, but something far more unsettling. The narrative surrounds the discovery of an idol that has a surprising effect on the person who owns it. The idol drains the person of sanity, robs them of their sleep, and calls them to take part in reviving a dark evil that slumbers far away - but will come to take the planet. The story progresses as other occult groups are worshiping the slumbering evil one. This is one of the greatest horror stories of all time because of the remarkable restraint that it shows - but it all starts with the power of a stone idol that is small enough to fit in a box in the closet.

Idolatry in the Old Testament

                The Old Testament records the history of Israel. As they were called out by the one true God and set apart for His purpose they still struggled. They struggled to keep His law, they struggled to maintain their identity, but it seems that above all else - they were addicted to idolatry. That first commandment of the 10 proved to be the most difficult to maintain. (Exodus 20:1-5; Deuteronomy 5:6-9)

                 The idolatry that plagued Israel seems ridiculous. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob defined Himself so clearly against these wicked idols (Exodus 3:6; Exodus 20:2–3). He defeated the false gods of Egypt with resounding miracles (Exodus 7–12; Numbers 33:4). He cast the pagans out of the land and many of the cities were wiped out completely because of the serious threat posed by idolatry and the adjacent pagan practices (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; Deuteronomy 9:4–6).

When we consider the perversity of the heart of mankind the errors make sense (Jeremiah 17:9; Genesis 6:5). Asherah poles were sex cults, drug use and alcoholism were regularly part of idolatry and pagan worship (Judges 6:25–30; 1 Kings 14:23). These false gods offered a better time - not what was best, but what felt best.

                The attraction of idolatry continued - a person could run off and find any old block of wood. As Isaiah tells Israel, that person can cut that block of wood in half. Use half to cook his food - burn it up completely. And fashion the other half into an idol he bows down before. Half was burned up as his possession to make his food, and the other half was shaped, fixed to the ground to keep it from tottering (Isaiah 44:9–20). This block of wood couldn't walk, talk, or make anything happen - yet he would worship it (Psalm 115:4–8; Psalm 135:15–18). It is a natural sinful compulsion of man. We are designed to worship the One who created us. It is a need that is within us that is as deep as our need to eat and sleep. Yet, worshipping the God of the universe means giving up our desire to be the god of our own lives (Genesis 3:5; Romans 1:21–25).

                If we ask the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob what to do we may not like what He says. But the little idol in the corner always says exactly what I tell it to say - what I want it to say. Idols are like fast food - you get to have it your way (Judges 17:6).

Modern Idolatry

                Modern idolatry is only slightly different. Mostly because we have more sophisticated methods to make our idols talk. From the little Apple IIGS in the corner to the phone we hold in our hands, our idols have become far more communicative, but they still have all the marks of ancient idolatry. They still demand attention (Matthew 6:21), they still tell us exactly what we want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3–4), and they keep us from attending to the Lord. The new trap of AI is even greater than the last. A machine that you can talk with and get anything from a new recipe to updates on the latest political and world news. The world quickly adapted this new tool into every aspect of life.

                Computers, cel-phones, the internet, and AI are simply tools. As tools they must be respected for the power that they offer and the threat that they pose (1 Corinthians 6:12). A table saw is a great tool, but can also easily take off a finger, or fire a board right through you (Proverbs 14:15). When I see a group of people sitting around a table at a restaurant all staring at their phones, I don't see a tool - I see an idol (Isaiah 2:8). When I notice that people are going to AI to find solutions to their greatest spiritual problems, I don't see a tool...I see an idol (Jeremiah 2:13). When I hear about people using AI to replace relationships, as with the new trend of "AI Girlfriends" I don't see a tool, I see an idol (Romans 1:22–25). When I see people choosing to skip church because they can catch it online...I don't see a tool, I see an idol (Hebrews 10:24–25).

                I am no luddite - I don't think that all technology is bad. I love being able to call any of my friends around the globe. I am writing this article on a computer; I will use an editing app that utilizes AI to help find spelling and grammar errors before I publish it. I will also use AI to create a snappy picture for the top of any given article I write. I only exhort Christians to be wise (Ephesians 5:15–16).

A Closing Warning

                We know that we can worship money (Matthew 6:24), a relationship (Luke 14:26), a celebrity or politician (Psalm 146:3), a government (Revelation 13:4). There are many things competing for the position that only God deserves in our lives (Exodus 20:3; Matthew 22:37).

                The little idol in The Call of Cthulhu is more accurate than we may think at first. Idolatry makes man foolish, stupid, and worthless (Jeremiah 10:8; Romans 1:21–22). As the Bible says more than once "those who worship them will become like them" (Psalm 115:8; Psalm 135:18). It may be a slow trip; it may be a subtle decay of mental and spiritual capacity. The Apostle John thought this theme was so important that he ended his first epistle with a simple sentiment that I will close by quoting: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21)

Kingdom Come - Let's Go!

 

What is wrong with Escapism?

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a very profound statement in his famous essay "On Fairy-stories":

"I have claimed that Escape is one of the main functions of fairy-stories, and since I do not disapprove of them, it is plain that I do not accept the tone of scorn or pity with which 'Escape' is now so often used. ... Why should a man be scorned if, finding himself in prison, he tries to get out and go home? Or if, when he cannot do so, he thinks and talks about other topics than jailers and prison-walls? The world outside has not become less real because the prisoner cannot see it."

Ursula K. Leguin, another prolific and significant science-fiction and fantasy author, wrote her essay The Language of the Night, inspired by Tolkien's thought. In that essay she wrote this eloquent summary statement:

"Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape? ... If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!"

These two quotes speak about something that is built into human experience. The knowledge that things are not as they should be in this life that we live. We wish to escape from this world where evil often appears to thrive and enter a world where good triumphs and love conquer all. It resonates with us on a profound level and we often put great effort into the places we escape to such as sports, fantasy, science-fiction, artistic expression, or crafts. Positive escapism is a wonderful thing. It can be a balm and encouragement in the challenges of life.

If there is a problem with such escapism it is that it does not go far enough. Even our fantasy worlds are shaky at best. This occurs when we are scandalized by athletes who use illegal drugs to amplify their performance, or cheat. It happens when a modern re-boot or film adaptation violates the core elements of our favorite fantasy. The major problem of our escapism is that it aims too low, as is typical of all human endeavors.

A Better Way

Scripture, however, provides a better option for our need for escape, and it is rooted in reality. Bible-believing Christians look forward to the future and know that it involves the Lord's judgment of evil and victory over darkness. The Lord Jesus Christ will rule on this planet - redeeming it and leading it in truth and righteousness. Information of this time is a regular theme in the Bible and a particular theme of Isaiah. Isaiah 35 offers one example:

"The Wilderness and the dry land will be glad;
the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
Say to those with anxious hearts: 'Be strong, do not fear!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance.
With divine retribution He will come to save you.'

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy.
For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
The parched ground will become a pool,
the thirsty land springs of water
In the haunt where jackals once lay,
there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.

And there will be a highway,
called the Way of Holiness.
The unclean will not travel it -
only those who walk in the Way -
and fools will not stray onto it.
No lion will be there,
and no vicious beast will go up on it.
Such will not be found there,
but the redeemed will walk upon it.
So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee."
(Berean Standard Bible)

These and other such passages ignite our imagination. A world where wickedness is punished and the world responds by exploding in productivity, beauty, and fruitfulness. All our dreams of harmony with the earth, and all of the once dangerous and fearful animals become tame and safe. Our fantasy worlds are built on many of these hopes - but there is a difference. This is not fantasy. This is the truth of what is ahead for this world in the literal earthly Kingdom of God ruled by Jesus Christ. It invites us to imagine what life will be like under such amazing conditions. What would we do without fear of sickness, violence, and starvation? How will we occupy our time in such a world where the hardships of our current lives are removed, and all energy can be given to positive, constructive activities that bring glory to God? It is something that is meant to occupy a great deal of our mental bandwidth and it provides tremendous benefits. Allow me to enumerate a few of them.

The Kingdom Beats Depression

It destroys depression. When we begin to feel hopeless, paralyzing sadness and despair are given free reign in our inner world. When we choose to obsess over the bad news, the situations in our lives that cannot be fixed, the conditions that come with aging that mean decreased strength, intelligence, and beauty, it casts a cloud over the entire perspective on life. Dwelling on the Kingdom of Christ provides the answer. All those problems will be solved. All our maladies and sicknesses will be cured forever. We will live eternally in bodies that are suited to eternity. These problems may be truly terrible, but they are temporary problems. God has given us a certain hope for the future - and that hope is meant to be embraced and celebrated in the life of the believer.

The Kingdom Ends Complacency

Another value of dwelling on this hope is the result that we will no longer be tempted to be complacent. If we can obtain a certain amount of comfort, we are often able to shrink our world. Ignoring what is evil, negative, or uncomfortable and deciding to isolate ourselves - pretending like the world of sin and pain doesn't exist insofar as we are able to block it from our attention or experience. This is shallow, self-centered, and cowardly. Dwelling on the Kingdom of God gives us courage to face the fact that this world is not as it is meant to be. We can embrace our part in this world and be the force that the Lord wants us to be.

The Kingdom Brings Fellowship

Occupation with the future Kingdom also provides us with sweet fellowship. It is easy to let conversation submit to the gravity and entropy that leads us to spend time complaining about how things are, how bad they are getting, and how today is worse than yesterday. Solomon warns us against this attitude in Ecclesiastes 7:10:

"Do not say, 'Why were the Old days better than these?'
For it is unwise of you to ask about this."
(Berean Standard Bible)

When we are preoccupied with the Kingdom our conversation takes on a whole new dimension. Observation of wickedness in this world is answered immediately with the promise that there will be a time when wickedness is no more. A conversation about this new world will always encourage, uplift, and edify. What will we do together at that time? How will we spend it together when there is no more bad news to occupy our conversations? We will have amazing conversations about the glory of God, the beauty of creation, and the things that we are able to do together to serve Him. This brings me to my last point.

The Kingdom and Evangelism

We will see this redeemed earth only because of what Jesus Christ did on the Cross on our behalf. Fallen humans will only get to participate in it if we place our faith in Jesus for salvation. Preoccupation with the Kingdom of Christ motivates us to share the faith. People in sorrow, sadness, and captive to sin can only know freedom by trusting in Jesus Christ. Just as we enjoy talking about our favorite fantasies with someone else who is invested in the lore of that world and enjoy sharing it with others who may not know it, so our anticipation of the Kingdom encourages us to share the gospel with others.

Do Not Stop Here

I am a great lover of fantasy and science fiction. Escape literature is a delight, and I do not want to discourage anyone from holy discontentment with the world as it is now. However, I loudly encourage all people not to stop there. Find that natural longing fulfilled in the promises of what God has placed unchangeably in the future of our planet. The Bible is clear, and any theology that robs the believer of this real, practical, actual hope is deficient. This world will be difficult, and we will have trials, but there is an escape. Now it is the escape of faithful consideration of what the Lord will do on this earth. The actual escape is also coming and may be as close as our next breath. This is foundational to Christian hope and living the Christian life.

An Ox Knows its Master

 

The Familiar Faithfulness of My Pugs

I have two dogs. Pugs. Years ago, my wife and I took a "puppy finder" personality test. It was fun, we got to input details about and information about our lifestyle and what came out was a stunning indictment on myself. I learned I would like a small dog who did not like much exercise. Not surprisingly, it was a perfect fit.

Our current two pugs are delightful. Delightfully lazy, and in truth, not terribly bright. The perfect companions. Every morning, I have between one and two pugs resting on my lap while I pray and read the Bible. They get excited every time I come down the stairs and every time I return home from work. They know me.

They know me as the guy who is most likely to sit and read for more than an hour, providing them with a living bed upon which to exercise their superpower - sleeping. They know me and I know them.

The Ox and the Voice of Its Master

(Isaiah 1:3)

The book of Isaiah begins with a similar image. The image of an ox that does not know his master. As much as my pugs know me, the relationship between an ox and a farmer was a working relationship. It would be hours of training and working together. Learning to pull the plow and making one row after another - steady, straight lines.

The master constantly giving directions - the ox making it possible to prepare for the harvest that would provide the grain needed to sustain life for the family. Those are long days. Walking up and down. The Ox would learn the voice of its master.

A Comparison Israel Could Not Miss

The Lord makes this comparison that would be all too familiar to the nation of Israel. An agricultural society would recognize how close this bond is - many of Isaiah’s audience would own oxen and have trained them by hand.

It is not that God views Israel as a farm animal, but the comparison would stick. Even an ox knows the voice of its master...why did they not know their God?

The God Who Had Revealed Himself

(Genesis 12:1–3; Exodus 1–14; Deuteronomy 8; 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 119; Exodus 25–40; 1 Kings 8; Isaiah 1:2)

The Lord had made promises to their forefathers. The covenant promises of land, seed, and blessing made to Abraham. He had led them into Egypt as a family and led them out a nation.

He provided for them through the desert wandering. He brought them into the promised land, and He gave them peace so long as they lived in faithful obedience to Him. He gave them their great King David and made an unconditional covenant to him that his line would bring forth the Messiah.

He gave them His word so that they would know Him - His character and expectations. He gave them a priesthood so that they would be able to approach him. The Tabernacle and later the Temple so that he could relate to them in time and space. He sent them prophets to call them back when they strayed.

Yet somehow, they still treated the Lord as a stranger. Disobedient to His Law, unresponsive to his prophets, how could they not know Him?

The Tragic Familiarity for the Church

(John 10:14–27; Acts 20:28; Revelation 5:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; John 15:15; Ephesians 2:8–9; Romans 10:17)

The disobedience of Israel is tragically familiar in the story of the Church. The sheep of the Lord's pasture are bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. Assembled from every tribe tongue and nation, indwelt with His Holy Spirit, equipped with the completed word of God, and we are even called His friends. Yet how often could these words be true of the Church...do we heed His word? When Bibles in our homes collect dust, when most churches neglect the word, when the gospel is distorted and perverted for the purposes of the ignorant and the ill-actors alike who pose as pastors.

The Lord has made the way for us to know him - by faith alone in Christ alone. He has provided for us to hear him every day in His revealed word, the Bible. Might we be ever careful to listen to the voice of the Lord - the voice of love.