Ordinary Time: Monday, July 9, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

1 Samuel 15:1-3, 7-23

One of the things that is hard for us to get our minds around in the Old Testament is the concept of total or "holy" war. It doesn't make a lot of sense today to us to hear and read about God commanding His people to totally wipe out an enemy. How do we reconcile that with the word of Jesus to love our enemies?

Dr. Steve Parrish, one of my professors in seminary, really helped me to understand this point. He compared the concept of holy war as seen in the Old Testament to an act of worship. Just as worship is what you and I are commanded to do, he believed that the Lord had commanded His people to go to war and for the destruction to be like a burnt sacrifice. Within the burnt sacrifice in the Old Testament, things are supposed to be done the way the Lord commands, and that's it. No exceptions, no variables. You simply offered the sacrifice in the way the Lord commanded.

So, when Saul, or anyone else, did not go to war in the way the Lord commanded, it was in many ways like not offering the correct sacrifice. So, it has helped me to think of this warfare not as we think of warfare today, but rather almost a type of worship that is to be done by the Lords instructions. Saul did not follow what the Lord had commanded. Thus, his kingdom began to fall apart, for he did not obey.

Good lesson for us in that. We aren't at war, but when we do not obey, just like Saul, we tend to get in trouble.

New Testament Lesson

Acts 9:19b-31

Today, we see one of the most important folks in the Bible, but also one that often times does not get the credit he is due. We see Barnabus. Today, when Paul was alone, had no one to turn to, no one trusted him, who came to him? Barnabus. Today, when Paul may have been tempted to say, this is not worth the trouble, who became his friend? Barnabus. It was Barnabus that put his reputation on the line for Paul, it was Barnabus that had to trust in Paul. It was Barnabus that had to take that step of faith.

And because he did, Paul was able to do the things that he did. All because at this critical moment, he had someone that believed in him, someone that was his friend. Today, who can you be a Barnabus to?

Gospel Lesson

Luke 23:44-56a

We see, in this passage, the darkest moment of the Bible. Jesus has been killed, and is buried in a borrowed tomb. He is abandoned by all, save a few, and is placed in this tomb that was not His. Of course, we know how the story turns out, don't we. We know that this moment was not the end, but rather the beginning of this new lief that Jesus offers to all that believe.

Today, even in your darkest moments, know that it does not have the be the end. God has something bigger, something better, someone more alive than you can ever imagine. Have faith in the night, and joy will come in the morning.