Monthly Archives: December 2009

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Judges 19

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He lifted her onto his donkey and set out for home. When he got home he took a knife and dismembered his concubine—cut her into twelve pieces. He sent her, piece by piece, throughout the country of Israel. And he ordered the men he sent out, "Say to every man in Israel: 'Has such a thing as this ever happened from the time the Israelites came up from the land of Egypt until now? Think about it! Talk it over. Do something!'" Judges 19:29-30 (MSG)

When a five men broke into the Democratic National Committee offices of the Watergate complex in 1972, it was a small story. Like a small stone that triggers an avalanche, the "small" story ended up with the resignation of a president and the changing of history. There are events that, ultimately, become part of changing the course of history.

It's easy to read this horrific story in Judges 19 and wonder what could possibly be relevant about such a brutal event. My initial reaction as I read the tragic details was to wonder how such things could happen or be tolerated. I have to be honest, however. Genocide, misogyny, gang rapes, and brutal killings are still a part of this world, though I turn a blind eye to such things when they don't collide with personal experience. Nevertheless, what's the point of such a bloody event?

Any one who sojourns through scripture for any measure of time begins to perceive the big picture themes that connect these diverse writing. There is a grand story being told and this news story is like a new clipping about the Watergate break in. The nation of Israel started as one wandering nomad who started a family who grew into a nation as slave laborers in Egypt. Moses leads them out of slavery, delivers God's law, and takes them to the promised land of Canaan. Joshua leads the conquest of the land. They are settled, spread out in their tribes. But, thing aren't good. With no king or central government, things are continually falling into anarchy and chaos.

The book of Judges is a chapter in God's grand story that moves us from Israel's settling of Canaan without any real system of human government to the establishment of a monarchy that would give us King David, through whom God would ultimately send us His Son. The chaotic events described in Judges are like stones that create an avalanche of public opinion. Soon, Israel would be clamoring for a king. The story of this concubine's rape and her husband's bloody message to the tribes surely raised that clamor to a fever pitch. Something needs to be done. This event would be part of a chain of events that would lead Israel to cry out for a king to rule them and bring law, justice and order to the land.

Today, I'm thanking God that I live in a time and place where the rule of law prevents such events from being commonplace. I'm also mindful of the terrible consequences when we are not subject to authority.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Judges 18

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He who lives by the sword.  The Danites went on their way. Micah saw that he didn't stand a chance against their arms. He turned back and went home. Judges 18:26 (MSG)

I've worked, attended and served in many different churches over the years. In every church I've attended I've found "power players" in the midst of the fellowship. They might be wealthy businessmen, community leaders,families of tremendous local influence, or just strong personalities. I can recount many instances in which I've watched power players assert their influence to get their way without regard to the impact it has on others or the fellowship. I mention the church, but I've seen it in business and government, as well. It's an interesting phenomenon to observe. It reminds me of the old saying "the more things change, the more they stay the same."

In today's chapter, I see the unadulterated influence of power in the lives of individuals and communities. The Danites were a large and intimidating force in that region. They leveraged their power to make Micah "an offer he can't refuse." They used their power to steal and massacre because they could, and it put them and their families in a more secure human position.

We like to think that we live in more civilized times, and it can be argued that we do. Nevertheless, my journey through these ancient historical events continuously remind me of the forces of human nature that don't change. The Danites were power players in their day the same way there are power players in families, churches, corporations, governments and communities today. We may cloak it differently, but it's still there.

Today, I'm thinking about the areas of my life and influence in which I'm a power player. Do I use the power and influence at my disposal to secure my own position at the cost of others, or am I following the example of Jesus who "had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion." (Philippians 2:5-8)

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and claude bezzina

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Judges 17

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In those days there was no king in Israel. People did whatever they felt like doing. Judges 17:6 (MSG)

I still remember some of the substitute teachers that would fill in on a regular basis during my high school years. Most of them were excellent teachers, but there were a few who did not take their jobs very seriously. They did little teaching and cared very little what we did in class. They were like babysitters but with less sense of accountability. The result, of course, was not good. Students did pretty much whatever they wanted and constantly pushed the boundaries to see how much they could get away with.

One of the things I've noticed though the years is that people don't do well without leadership and authority. Given to ourselves, mankind tends to slip into the painful consequences of chaos and anarchy. One of the themes that flows in the subtext of the book of Judges is the free-for-all that resulted from the lack of a central governing authority.

Authority is a good thing, even when we don't always see eye-to-eye.