Today’s scripture: Isaiah 37:14-38 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Zier):
As in yesterday’s scripture verse, I got stuck again. Orlando is still weighing heavy on my heart.
Verse 36: When people got up the next morning, there were dead bodies everywhere.
I remember arriving at church June 12, 2016, knowing about the news out of Orlando. It was still coming at us fast and furious. It was being reported that there were about 20 casualties and about 30 more injured. But the news was fuzzy and not exact, but we knew it was bad. But then the real numbers came out. There were forty nine casualties, over 50 injured. This was the largest mass shooting in the United States; the biggest loss of life in this country since 9/11. I was numb. People were in disbelief. I wanted to stop the church service and have everyone pray. Could this really happen here and now?
It is customary to read stories and prophecies in the First Testament about God’s vengeful actions and the acts of war happening with Israel and its neighbors. So many times I hear messages today about how God is vengeful and somehow these actions in these stories were directed and perpetrated by God in some way. This is what our spiritual ancestors really and truly believed, and shared stories and wrote about.
This is not the God I know. We can see from these stories how these violent actions stole the peace from the region. When God’s people fell away from the ways of peace and God’s way of life, things got out of hand. And then we can blame God for what it is WE did, even our Spiritual Ancestors. Not everyone agrees with me. But the Bible is our history, and not all of it is a good history. But, it is something we learn and grow from. How much have we learned?
Sure, there are outsiders that want the worst for us. This has been there all along. But as we get more and more high tech, there are so many ways for messages to be broadcast and susceptible people to be taken in. But we cannot divide people out of fear.
When I heard the news, I was angry and furious. But I am not going to let my initial reaction rule my day. There are consequences to actions in life, and I think that is one of the lessons of the Old Testament. It is not my job to determine what that looks like; it is our job to help shape who we are as a people, what ever that takes to love as God loves. It is my job to do the best I can to live, and be, and do as the Prince of peace, and convey that message to everyone.
Thought for the day: What does it mean to live as a person of peace? How do I live?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.