15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Praise is an essential part of prayer– God is worthy of our continual praise and worship. He is eternally good and thoroughly righteous; all-powerful and all-wise. The author of Hebrews reminds us that we are to offer a sacrifice of praise–continually– to God.
This is more than just a simple “Praise the Lord” uttered when we are at church or surrounded by fellow believers. A “sacrifice” of praise implies more than just a gift or even an acknowledgement of God’s worthiness and majesty. It implies cost, and hardship; a giving up of something precious in the act of worship.
Sometimes, the sacrifice is small–giving up our right to take credit for God’s mercies; being thankful (instead of jealous) of our neighbor’s success. Other times, the sacrifice is painful– praising God in the aftermath of a daughter’s rape, or a spouse’s betrayal, or acknowledging God’s goodness after a diagnosis of cancer or dementia.
God isn’t looking for false and empty worship–He wants us to be real. Sometimes, the sacrifice isn’t eloquent, polished, or “pretty”; it comes with tears, tormenting questions, and anguish. Sacrifices are poured out, broken, or burned up– dreams that have been dashed, hopes and plans that have been abandoned, heartaches that crush the soul.
God wants these sacrifices– but not because He is a cruel God who wants to see us crushed and hopeless. God wants these sacrifices because only when we are ready to put them on the altar can He make the exchange– Beauty for ashes; eternal hope for temporary dreams; trust and security for our doubts and fears.
In the same verse (Hebrews 13:15), the author describes the sacrifice of praise as the “fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” The Hebrews to whom he was writing were making a huge sacrifice in just uttering the name of Jesus. They were beset on all sides– from the Jews who did not acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah; to the Romans who were using them as scapegoats for troubles within their Empire. In the midst of their troubles, God did not ask them to slaughter their enemies, or to create a separate society and live only to themselves. He didn’t ask for impossible deeds of daring–though many endured persecution and became martyrs for the Cross of Christ. God asked for the sacrifice of praise. God’s ways are not our ways– his weapons are not our weapons, and his words are not our words– God’s words are more powerful than any weapon or plan that we could ever imagine.
The practice of praying the various names of God and titles of Jesus and the Holy Spirit– Almighty, Father, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Counselor, I AM, Savior, Redeemer, etc.–is the essence of praise. In times of trouble, God’s attributes may seem hidden, but when we acknowledge what we do not see, we are harvesting the fruit of our faith and putting it on the altar.
1 My soul in sad exile was out on life’s sea, So burdened with sin, and distressed, Till I heard a sweet voice saying, “Make Me your choice,” And I entered the haven of rest.
Refrain: I’ve anchored my soul in the haven of rest, I’ll sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep o’er the wild stormy deep, In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
2 I yielded myself to His tender embrace, And faith taking hold of the word, My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul: The haven of rest is my Lord. [Refrain]
3 The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole, Has been the old story so blessed, Of Jesus who’ll save whosoever will have A home in the haven of rest. [Refrain]
4 How precious the thought that we all may recline, Like John, the beloved and blessed, On Jesus’ strong arm, where no tempest can harm, Secure in the haven of rest. [Refrain]
5 Oh, come to the Savior, He patiently waits To save by His power divine; Come, anchor your soul in the haven of rest, And say, “My Beloved is mine.” [Refrain]
“The Haven of Rest” (hymn) by H.L. Gilmour (1885)
I grew up with this hymn in church, and it always made me think of my grandfather, who had been in the Navy. He didn’t speak much of his time at sea. He wasn’t a great ocean sailor– he preferred lakes and small rowboats to the vast ships on which he had travelled. But he was a good one for storms. He seemed fearless and confident in any weather– blizzards, tornadoes, sleet or hail– and it helped everyone around him find hope and confidence, too.
We normally don’t think of rest when we think of storms, but there is one great story in the Gospels about Jesus being caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. (See Mark 35-41) There he was, in the back of the tossing boat– asleep! The disciples, screaming in panic, woke Him up. “We’re all going to die! How can you be sleeping? DO something!”
Jesus calmly gets up and rebukes the wind and waves and then chides the disciples for their lack of faith. Suddenly, the frightened disciples are more “afraid” of Jesus, who controls the waves, than they are of the recent (but now powerless) storm. The storm caused panic and restlessness, but Jesus caused a deep and penetrating awe. And part of the lesson of this story is that Jesus “did” nothing. While the disciples were bailing out water, frantically rowing and fighting the storm, Jesus simply spoke, “Peace. Be Still.”
Resting and “doing” are usually at odds with each other. We cannot make a situation restful by doing and fretting. We must be still and trust the One who controls the wind and the waves and all the circumstances of our lives. And that trust doesn’t come through our efforts or our convictions. It comes as we let go of our fears and expectations, our need to see the road ahead or the blue sky above. But while we cannot “do” our way to safety and rest, we can make sure we are anchored.
The Bible (especially in the New Testament) uses a lot of maritime and water imagery. Boats, seas, floods, rivers, fishing nets, storms, shipwrecks, journeys, and anchors. Anchors also feature in a lot of old hymns. Anchors are essential in sea travel. They keep the boat or ship from being swept by the wind and waves– either swept into rocks and dangerous coastal waters or swept away from safe harbors. An anchor is also essential for our soul– to keep it from being swept up in dangerous deceptions, emotional storms, and rocky theology.
I have three thoughts about anchors today:
You can’t ignore, forget, or neglect an anchor until you “need” it. An anchor on land, in storage, or unused, can do you no good. You must prepare before the storm hits. In the Christian walk, we must be faithful in the “easy” times if we want to rest in faith in the difficult times. Faith is a muscle that must be exercised. Hope is “built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness”– it doesn’t just appear at the last moment.
You can’t see the anchor when it is in use. When you drop anchor, you will feel it take hold– eventually. In life, we cannot always “see” God at work. But we can look back and see what He’s already done. And we can trust in His presence and power– even when the storm continues to rage, and the waves beat against the ship.
An anchor comes with you wherever you go, but it doesn’t keep you confined or isolated. The anchor works by being tied to a rope or cable so the boat or ship can still move or drift in different waters. Sometimes, the anchor needs a longer rope or cable to reach the bottom. But too much rope, and the ship will drift back into danger. Jesus offers us freedom from sin and death. He does not promise that we will never have rough seas, or difficult journeys. He does tell us to GO– into all the world. If we never leave the dock, we will never use the anchor. But we do NOT have to travel alone and hopeless.
I have anchored my Soul on Christ, the Solid Rock. I pursue prayer (and Bible study and fellowship with other believers) as part of that anchoring. My faith and hope are built on that solid foundation– staying strong despite the circumstances that batter and buffet when the storms come. I can’t “see” the way ahead; I can’t always see Christ working in and through the difficulties as I face them. But I can see what He’s done in the past, and I have His promise that He has overcome the world and its circumstances. And I know that Christ is always with me– His presence is a constant, and His Holy Spirit guides me as I travel through life. As another great hymn states, “My anchor holds within the veil”–Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father in the Holiest of Holies, holding my soul for all eternity. And I can rest on that truth, “evermore.” I hope if you are reading this that you have found rest and hope as well!
I hope that today will be filled with peace, joy, and blessing for anyone reading this. But I know that today will bring bad news for some, pain for others, and hardship for many. Life is filled with struggle, disappointment, failures, and loss. Our first reaction is often to worry, which can lead to more worry, and a sense of urgency, even panic. In many cases, we have neither the resources nor the wisdom to overcome our struggles–even sustained effort or a “lucky break” may leave us without much hope. And the more we worry, the less we accomplish. But telling ourselves (or others) to simply “stop worrying” doesn’t banish worry; sometimes it increases it! Now we worry about worrying too much, or we find new things to worry about.
But there is a time-honored and proven pattern that can help. Jesus spoke of it in His “Sermon on the Mount.” In Matthew 6, He gives us this advice:
“So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or “What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul expanded on this in his letter to the Philippian believers. He told them to be anxious for nothing–that regardless of our situation or circumstances, we should not panic, but pray (seek God’s grace, righteousness, wisdom, and help). But more than that, we should present all of our prayers, petitions, and requests with thanksgiving and praise!
This is not the same as pretending that our struggles don’t exist, or that they are not important, or that we are glad about the pain, uncertainty, or hardship that they bring. Instead it is lifting our eyes to Heaven and finding that God is bigger than it all; that His grace, His strength, His wisdom is sufficient for the next step– for today’s worries–for today’s battles and burdens.
This doesn’t happen naturally or automatically–we must seek, pray, pursue righteousness, ask for help, and continue to stand firm. There are some who point to the words of Jesus, or of Paul as a kind of “magic formula.” If we repeat a few promises from the Bible, or if we pray certain prayers, or convince ourselves and others that we have “enough” faith, God is obligated to change our circumstances and give us the resolution or relief we want. God is not primarily interested in our relief– He is interested in our redemption, our renewal, and our eternal reality. In following this pattern of turning our panic into prayer, and our prayer into praise, He promises that we will experience His peace. Our panic will be transformed–even if our situation stays the same; even if it gets worse before it gets better!
So how do we practice this pattern; how do we train for this transformation?
Here are a couple of suggestions:
Start by seeking God with abandon–pursue Him with your whole heart– thank Him for who He is, and for all He has done. It can be helpful to review some of the names of God–I AM, Almighty, Creator, Lord, King of Kings.. Or read a Psalm or find a song that reminds you of God’s character and power. Think of the times when God has been faithful in your own past.
Find something about your situation for which you can be thankful– genuinely thankful. Years ago, when I was young and single, I was laid off from my first full-time job after nine months. Was I worried? Yes! Where would I find another job? How would I pay my bills? But I resolved to start being thankful about all I had learned on the job– I had met new people, learned new skills, purchased a car…God knew my needs for the future, and even though I had to wait another eight months before I found a full-time job, I was able to find temporary work and interview for other jobs in the meantime. And I had friends and family who offered good advice and encouragement along the way. I know some situations are more painful and perplexing than the loss of a job. When I my father died, nothing made the pain less, but I could thank God for Dad’s life and the time we had with him. This is NOT easy, nor is it meant to be…It may not happen for days, or weeks–don’t give up!
Cry out to God– in praise, but also in petition, pain, confusion, confession, and raw emotion. God wants a real relationship with us, and that includes walking with us in the “valley of the shadow of death.” We don’t have to fear evil, or worry about the future, not because it holds no danger or dread, but because we never have to walk alone and defenseless!
Remember this is a pattern to follow, not a pill to swallow–none of this comes easy, and God’s peace is not an instant “fix.” Instead, it is a growing conviction that God is who He says He is– faithful, loving, victorious, eternal, and sovereign. Such peace defies our panic and erodes our worry, leaving us ready to face the battles before us, and move forward through the struggles.
It is not will power or a change of circumstances that brings incomprehensible peace. From panic to peace requires prayer, praise, and a bit of perspective. It is not magic– it is Majesty!
The news is constantly filled with stories about women (and men and children) who want to have complete control over their bodies– they want to choose their gender, dramatically change their appearance, and determine when (or if) they will have children, commit to relationships, or accept the responsibility that comes with having a body.
In many ways, “my body, my choice” seems reasonable and even fair. No one wants other people to have control over their life and death, or their health and welfare, with no say and no choice. But often, this phrase is twisted into a fantasy that every person can do whatever s/he wants with their body, without accepting the consequences or responsibilities that come with their behavior or their natural abilities.
I once saw an online argument in which a young and earnest writer boldly claimed that “bodily autonomy is a ‘thing.'” They went on to argue that ‘bodily autonomy’ gave them the right to government-funded abortion on demand, access to puberty blockers, the right to identify as whatever gender (or species) they felt like, all without restriction or ‘judgment’ by anyone else. What? “Bodily Autonomy” is a phrase, suggesting that a person has the right to control or “own” their own body, and not answerable to any other authority, law, or limitation. But being a ‘thing’ doesn’t make ‘bodily autonomy’ a reality. I can make many choices about my body– but there are many realities over which I have no “choice”– no control or authority or resources to accomplish.
I’m short. I cannot suddenly become tall. I am a woman. No matter how many hormones I pump into my body, no matter how many surgeries I could have to make me look or sound like a man, or “function” somewhat like a man, I will never have a man’s body or a man’s DNA. I am barren. The idea that pregnancy was always a “choice” for me denies the very real emotional struggle I went through in accepting my body’s limitations. I recently lost a sister-in-law to cancer. What a mockery to chant “my body, my choice!’ to someone who is dying of cancer or who was born with cystic fibrosis or is battling ALS or multiple sclerosis. And sometimes, other people violate our bodies– we may struggle, but we cannot prevent someone else from abusing us physically or sexually. So, although bodily autonomy may be a “thing” or an ideal, it is not a guarantee. And if the choices we make in our body end up abusing, hurting, or killing another living being, that is not autonomy– it’s unjust and predatory.
But what does the Bible say? Does God give us choices about our bodies?
There is nothing specific in the Bible about gender dysphoria, or plastic surgery. There is no mention of third trimester abortion or modern feminism, or queer lifestyles. But there are many teachings about our bodies AND our choices. And surprisingly, the Bible does NOT say that we have no control or “rights” over our own bodies. Instead, the Bible tells us the following:
God is the creator of all life. Life is a gift from God, not a random accident. And no one– NO ONE– can spontaneously come into being. So, the idea of “bodily autonomy” cannot be true of anyone who has ever depended on someone else to be born or to grow up or to become pregnant. God’s word makes it clear that “autonomy” is NOT the goal of creation. God’s purpose for us is to connect– with Him and with each other. He created men and women different, yet complementary. He created families to live and work together– the old teaching the young, as the young care for the old–sharing and building a legacy. Sin corrupts God’s design– it seeks to subvert it and destroy it, replacing it with a twisted independence that leads to isolation and loneliness, distrust, anger, pride and hatred.
God doesn’t make mistakes. He doesn’t delight in our struggles, our limitations, or our diseases. But Sin corrupts– right down into our DNA. God does not wipe out the consequences of Sin in our world– not yet. Someday, He will bring an end to all the causes of suffering, confusion, and grief. But in the meantime, He promises to be present WITH us THROUGH the struggle. We may not understand fully how our bodies work or why they do (or don’t do) what we might like. We may wonder why we look the way we do, or why our nose is “too small” or our body is shaped like a pear, when we want it to be an hourglass, or our hair in impossible to keep tamed, or we face a family history of oversized ears. We may struggle with diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, and even gender dysphoria. But God isn’t sitting in the wings, laughing at our circumstances. He promises to be both “present” and “sufficient,” even in the midst of our pain and uncertainty.
God calls us to take care of the bodies He gave us to the best of our ability. That means it is sinful to have indiscriminate sex with unknown partners who may be carrying venereal diseases– and also to overeat or starve ourselves with fad diets, or to pierce ourselves with unclean needles, whether getting a tattoo from an unlicensed and unclean parlor, or shooting up with heroin. Sexual and gender issues grab headlines and make for great political fodder, but we can make the mistake of thinking that such sins are “bigger” than lying or gossip or greed or pride, or that they are unforgiveable– they are NOT! God can remove the stain of abortion, rebellion, gossip, addiction, lying, drunkenness, body shaming, and judgmentalism.
God HAS given us the power of choice– we can choose our behaviors, our lifestyle, our morals, and our relationships. He has also given us governments to create laws and punishments for those who break them. But a law doesn’t actually prevent you from doing an act– it merely outlines the negative consequences for breaking that law. Laws can’t prevent people from committing murder, rape, theft, arson, etc., but laws provide a framework for responsibility and punishment to discourage certain behaviors and affirm the rights of even the most vulnerable among us. In other words, a law can’t prevent you from having an abortion or a sex change– but it can limit your ability to do so by forcing you to face negative consequences– jail time, higher fees, fewer practitioners willing to make such decisions “easy” and socially acceptable. God has given us His law in the Bible to show us how far we have fallen away from His standards and His character. On our own, we will never fulfill the entire law. But that is the heart of the Gospel– Jesus came to free us from both the power of Sin and the condemnation that comes from yielding to it. The Holy Spirit can give us the power to make Godly choices, knowing that Christ’s atoning sacrifice has paid the price for our sinful choices of the past.
Our choices come with consequences. We are ‘free’ to make bad choices, but we (and others!) are not free of the consequences of our choices. “My body, my choice” is an anthem of entitlement– of rights without responsibilities. Many of our choices carry great risks. Abortion is not a risk-free solution to a “problem.” Just as pregnancy presents risks, so does the medical procedure to end one. Clinics can minimize the risks, but there is no such thing as a guaranteed “safe escape” from an unplanned pregnancy. Sex change operations are even riskier, with complications that can be profound, chronic, and extremely painful. Risky health and sex habits don’t become any less risky just because they are legal or socially accepted. Experimenting with drugs can end in tragic death or lifelong damage to the heart or brain, as well as the horrors of addiction. Eating or drinking in excess will still lead to health problems, even if there is a new miracle fad drug that masks the early symptoms.
Sin has consequences that are often NOT of our making or choosing. It is not fair, it is not just, and it is not your fault. Punishing an innocent person will not take away that fact. It only spreads the consequences of Sin to someone else– someone who will be another innocent victim– YOUR victim. Cutting off family and friends because they don’t “affirm” your new lifestyle will not change them. It will hurt them. It will hurt you. It will not make your lifestyle any more acceptable to them. Aborting a baby will not change the circumstances of the pregnancy or make the abuse or memories of a rape disappear. Someday, God will restore justice, reward hope, and remove all grief and pain for those who learn to trust Him.
In the end, God has given you “your” body, and He has given you “your” choice. But He also warns you of the consequences of making selfish, dangerous choices that can result in death, heartbreak, regrets, and long-term damage for short-term benefits. He also promises the blessings of recognizing that “your” soul was made to have a relationship with a Holy and Perfect God, and that your “choice” to follow Him will bring eternal and glorious benefits, including a new and sinless “body” in Heaven. I pray that I will make good choices to take care of “my body” today. And I pray that eyes and minds will be opened to the wonder of God’s gift of life, and His plan for every “body” around me.
In reply Jesus said to the disciples, “If you only have faith in God—this is the absolute truth—you can say to this Mount of Olives, ‘Rise up and fall into the Mediterranean,’ and your command will be obeyed. All that’s required is that you really believe and have no doubt! (Mark 11:22-23– The Living Bible)
Have you ever said to a mountain– “Rise up and fall into the Mediterranean?” I doubt any of us have done so. But is that what Jesus really meant when He gave this instruction to His disciples? What was He really trying to say?
The Bible is crammed full of literary devices– metaphors, parables, hyperbole, personification–and yet people get criticized for reading it too “literally” or too “literarily.” In this passage, Jesus uses hyperbole to show that we can boldly pray about ANYTHING– there is nothing too big or too impossible for God to accomplish. But Jesus is not suggesting that we foolishly ask God for ridiculous things just to demonstrate His power. In fact, Satan tempted Jesus in this very way in the desert (see Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13). He asked Jesus to throw Himself off the highest point of the Temple, to prove that angels would come to His rescue and He wouldn’t be hurt. But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “it is also written, ‘Do not put the LORD your God to the test.'” So, it seems that Jesus is not “literally” asking His disciples to move physical mountains just to prove it can be done.
To put this scene in context, Jesus had passed by the same road just a day before, and looking for a snack, He had passed a fig tree, but the tree had no fruit. Jesus casually made a pronouncement– “You shall never bear fruit again!” When He and the disciples pass that way again just a day later, the tree has withered, and the disciples are astonished. But the lesson here is not about trees and mountains– it is about Faith and about the power of our Words.
We may never have cause to move an actual mountain, but there are many metaphorical “mountains” that we must climb or go around in life. And many people will sneer at Jesus’s assurance that if we have faith, such mountains can be told to “Rise up and fall into the Mediterranean.” That cancer diagnosis; the horrible boss at work; those medical bills that seem impossible to pay off; the pain of abandonment when your spouse demands a divorce– we can pray fervently, tearfully, desperately, only to see the mountain seem just as immovable as ever.
So, what DOES Jesus really mean? Is He lying about the power of faith? Is He setting us up to pray for disappointment? What can we learn from the mountain analogy? What can we learn from the fig tree?
I don’t have a complete or definitive answer. But I can share a couple of insights. As I said above, I don’t believe the lesson here is about the tree or the mountain. It’s about Faith, the power of words, and ultimately, about perspective.
Let’s start with the tree. Jesus is hungry. He goes to a tree, where he hopes to find a fig. But the tree offers nothing. Jesus could walk away, grumbling about the tree. “Stupid tree! I wanted a fig, but NOOOO!” What a childish outburst that would have been. And I have been guilty of this very kind of silly complaining and grumbling over a car that doesn’t start, or a weed that pops up in my garden, or a co-worker who said something that hurt my feelings. Notice what Jesus DID– He addressed the tree. He did not complain to the gardener or punch the tree trunk or rant in the street or spend the rest of the day nursing His disappointment. By the next day He had completely forgotten the incident– it was His disciples who were still interested in the tree. Jesus had moved on.
How often do I wallow in hurt, frustration, or guilt? How often do I replay conversations in my head, or waste time trying to assign blame for my circumstances? How often do I go behind someone’s back to complain, instead of asking for clarification or confronting a misunderstanding? How long do I chase down an apology or an explanation from someone else for my own hurt feelings and bruised ego? Jesus asks us to be proactive–to speak up in prayer, in conversation, and yes, sometimes even in confrontation.
A final thought about the withered fig tree. The same Jesus who used His words to heal lepers and forgive sins, used His words to wither the fig tree that had not served Him. He did not scorch the fig tree or take and ax to it and chop it down, but in judgment, He caused the tree to wither. Jesus had the power to judge the Pharisees, the demons who tormented people, the tax collectors with whom He dined, and the prostitutes He forgave. With a single breath, He could have destroyed the Roman oppressors, wiped out the corrupt priests, and cleaned up the masses of beggars and thieves of Jerusalem. But instead, He told stories. He fed the hungry. He gave sight to the blind. And He warned the hypocrites of the judgment to come if they did not repent. Words are so very powerful. What we say, (and what we listen to) we will come to believe. The Bible tells us that “Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37; Matthew 19:26)
The disciples were focused on the fig tree when Jesus dropped a bombshell pronouncement. “Say to this mountain…” But it wasn’t about the mountain. It was about the “impossible” power of God. It was about looking beyond the mountain and addressing the real obstacle– lack of faith and perspective.
The Apostle Paul spoke of a “thorn in the flesh” (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Three times he prayed that God would remove it, and God said, “No.” But God also gave Paul a different perspective– it wasn’t about the “thorn,” it was about pride. Paul’s continuing struggle with his “thorn” meant that he had to rely on God’s power to overcome his physical weakness. Paul’s “mountain” of pain could have stopped him from doing God’s work. But God moved the real “mountain”– Paul’s reliance on his own passion and drive– and threw it into the sea, so that Paul could move on in his real purpose.
In a very small way, I had a “mountain moving” lesson years ago at work. I clashed with my “new” boss. I found her verbally harsh toward my fellow co-workers, and I disagreed with her vision for the future of our workplace. I campaigned and complained, and I prayed that God would expose her corruption and remove her from our workplace. But it wasn’t about the “mountain” I saw in my boss. God moved me (and later her) out of that job and into new opportunities. And He showed me how my own attitude had contributed to the problem and not the solution. I had to track her down and apologize for MY actions and forgive her. And suddenly, the “mountain” I had made of the situation was gone! But I had to come to the point of believing that God would remove the actual “mountain” and not the one I had created.
In larger ways, I have seen cancer patients who have thrived in spite of their condition; I have seen others pronounced cancer-free. I have seen lost family members restored to Faith and relationships healed. I have seen God’s provision and protection in seemingly impossible situations. God CAN move mountains! And God WILL make a way, where there seems to be no way! But I have to ask, and believe, instead of complaining and isolating, or hiding in the shadow of my own “mountains.”
Will I believe that today, even when I can’t see how He will do it? Will I ASK Him to move my mountains– both large and small? Will I ask God to show me all that is possible through His power? In His way and in His time? Will I ask Him, not just for what I think I want or need, but for ANYTHING that HE wants for me? Because when I do, when I turn my focus from the mountain to the Mover of Mountains– Amazing things WILL happen!
I’m not talking about English v Spanish or French or Urdu, but our ‘language’ very much matters. The words we choose to say make a difference. They reveal much more than just what we’re thinking or feeling. They reveal character.
When I was in college, I lived in a dorm that was co-ed by suite. That meant that two freshmen boys lived across the hall from my roommate and me (both seniors). They were nice guys, but their language was often crude. Once, I spoke to one of them about his use of the “F” word. He responded by digging up a typed-up sheet singing the praises of that word. It was versatile– it could be a noun, a verb, an adjective, or an exclamation! It had a long history, tracing back to Medieval English usage. It carried power and shock value. People like me were prudes, afraid of using powerful words and intimidated by traditional moral codes and “language snobs” who judged others. After all, we lived in America, d*** it! The land of free speech. Who was I to try to make him feel bad about his words?!
On the surface, he wasn’t wrong. The word is not “illegal”; it poses no immediate threat or danger. It is not a word meant to belittle or “cancel” its hearers, like an ethnic or racial epithet. What was the harm? Who was I to lecture him? His roommate stood by and said nothing, but his own language hadn’t been much better. Was I wrong to say anything? I was only a few years older, and a fellow college student? Was I just being prudish? It wasn’t as if he had told racist jokes or called me a crude name? What was the big deal? It was one four-letter word.
But it reveals something about the character of the person who makes a habit of sprinkling such words in their conversations. It says that their “freedom” to use such words is of greater value than their respect for their listeners. It says that the speaker chooses not to practice self-control over their speech (and likely over other parts of their life). It may reveal sloppy or lazy thinking and a weak vocabulary. And, whether we like it or not, it labels us; people will judge us based on how we speak, and on the words we choose. Even though celebrities and professors use such language. Even if such language is considered popular and even “cool.” And it encompasses all of our word choices–blasphemy and crude language, negativity in our speech, bragging and boasting, a propensity for gossip and smearing the reputations of others, lying and ‘stretching the truth’– the list goes on. Just because we CAN say something doesn’t make it wise or helpful or powerful or “right.”
3-5 A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! 5-6 It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell. 7-10 This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue—it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!10-12 My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don’t bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don’t bear apples, do they? You’re not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you? 13-16 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish plotting. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats. 17-18 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. (James 3:3-18 –The Message)
This “taming of the tongue” is especially problematic for the one who wishes to pursue Holiness and Christlikeness. The Apostle James, in his epistle, spends almost an entire chapter discussing the issue of purity in speech (or lack thereof)! He compares it to taming a wild beast or trying to put out a raging fire. Because careless language can do as much damage as deliberate malicious or violent action. Passing along gossip may seem fun in the moment, but it can ruin an innocent reputation, AND cause people to lose trust in your ability to keep privacy, or respect others. Crude language may seem empowering and brave the first few times you use it, but it becomes habitual and attaches to your character. Snide remarks about others– social or ethnic groups, people who vote differently than you, annoying neighbors with a different ‘accent’– may seem offhand and innocuous, but they reveal your pride, lack of respect, and inability to live in peace and harmony. You become known for your ‘salty’ dialogue or your sarcastic “zingers”. You use certain words more and more often until they lose all the ‘power’ they once had to shock or intimidate. Opportunities to speak up on important matters may be given to others who can control their professional and responsible use of language. Not because your thoughts lack purpose or power, but because you show everyone that you lack the power to choose words wisely for maximum influence, peacefulness, and persuasion. And for the Christian who has developed the habit of taking the Lord’s name ‘loosely’, it lessens the impact of your witness that Christ is really your beloved Lord and King. He’s just another character whose name and reputation you toss around carelessly.
James makes a very real point in his letter– NO ONE can tame the tongue. It is natural and human to repeat words we hear, words that seem so convenient, so simple. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit can we ‘re-wire’ our brains and our tongues to speak words that give honor to others, Glory to God, and reflect wisdom and discipline that we are receiving from God Himself. We won’t always get it right– especially if we do not develop discipline in our speech. And we can’t do it at all without deliberate effort and dependence on the Spirit’s help
But language DOES matter. The guy across the hall in the memory above– we never saw eye to eye about this issue, though we remained friends. But his roommate surprised me many weeks after the above interaction. He was introducing me to one of his classmates, and the other young man started telling a story laced with profanity. My young friend stopped his buddy mid-sentence and challenged him to mind his language. “She’s a lady. She doesn’t appreciate that kind of language.” His friend seemed surprised, but he immediately cleaned up his words. And I’m almost positive it wasn’t because I gave off “Lady” vibes of any kind. I don’t even think it related directly to the incident above with the other roommate. My friend had listened to my roommate and I– he had taken note of the way we spoke, and the way we DIDN’T speak. He knew we were Christians, and that we didn’t just “talk the talk”– our lives and our language showed that we wanted to honor God above all. And when he heard his friend speaking in my presence– there was a huge mismatch. He could hear the difference immediately. He didn’t demand the “right” to use (or force me to listen to) foul language. Instead, he started to see (and hear) the wisdom and even the power of self-control.
This holds true for prayer, as well. Not that most of us use profanity in our prayer life. But how often do we use words that are negative, doubtful, selfish, or envious? Do we pay careful attention to the very words we bring before the King of Kings and our Loving Savior? Do we try to wheedle and plead instead of presenting our requests to God with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7)? Do we approach God as “the man upstairs” or my “Father, who are in Heaven” (Matthew 6:9)? Is He my heavenly honcho, or the Eternally Holy One and the Victorious Lamb of God?
Today I pray that my speech would reflect the Love, Wisdom, and Power of God. We are to be “salt and light” (see Matthew 5:13-16), not “salty.” Our words can bring encouragement, hope, joy, peace, empowerment, and yes, even conviction to others! But we must tame the tendency to use careless words that bring destruction, conflict, arrogance, or insult. And we must reflect on how our words reflect our heart for God– especially when we use them to pray!
Bow, kneel, stand; hands folded, hands raised, hands clasped–there are many positions we assume when praying. And different types of prayer seem to have different positions. We tend to say grace seated or standing behind our chair at the table. Some families hold hands; others bow their heads and fold their hands. Some corporate prayers call for kneeling; others are said standing. Some people bow, some kneel on the floor with arms outstretched; some curl up in their favorite easy chair; some face east or toward a certain focal point; some touch or hold an object, like a rosary or a Bible, or the wall or surface of a sacred place. Some pray with eyes closed; others with eyes raised toward Heaven.
Does any of this posturing and positioning really matter? Does God have a preference? A requirement? Does He get offended if I stand, or keep my eyes open or neglect to hold my hands a certain way?
The answer is not as easy as one might think–The Bible has many specific accounts of prayer, as well as many commands and guidelines. Hebrew priests stood with hands raised to pronounce blessing and to seek God’s favor. King David’s psalms are poetic prayers. They don’t often describe a position of standing or kneeling, but many of them imply a position of lying down, pacing, clapping, shouting, climbing, etc. Jesus often prayed alone, and spoke of praying privately– in corners and closets away from prying eyes and listening ears. On the night of the Last Supper and in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Bible describes Jesus as praying while “looking toward Heaven” (John 17:1), and later, “he fell with his face to the ground and prayed.” (Matthew 26: 39)
All this indicates that positions matter in relation to the function or the nature of the prayer. And that’s where I want to focus my thoughts today.
God isn’t displeased if I stand to pray, rather than kneel–unless I am standing in pride and arrogance. He is pleased if I kneel in humble and contrite spirit, but not if I kneel out of false humility or to impress others with my self-righteous posturing. If I bow my head at the table out of habit, and forget who I am supposed to be talking to, or “pretend” to kneel instead of leaving the comfort of my chair– then I may need to take a new position; a new attitude of prayer.
God isn’t impressed with our physical position in prayer– but I believe he wants our whole self, our undivided attention and our physical and emotional expression and attitude. Sometimes, the physical position comes as a natural extension of our grief, our joy, our reverence, and our stillness before His throne. Other times, our physical position brings us out of our pride, our busyness, and prepares our heart attitude.
I have had moments–even days– when I was not naturally motivated to quiet my spirit, bow my head or my heart, and kneel before my Maker. But in kneeling, and bowing my head, and closing my eyes, I was positioning more than just my body. I was coming in obedience to the one– the only one– who can transform my mind, renew my spirit, and soothe my restless heart. Other times, I could not kneel for the joy and exuberance of the moment. Standing on tiptoe, hands raised, head raised, and heart raised, I sang out to my Father in gratitude and awe.
So the answer to the question– Does our position in prayer matter?– would seem to be, “no.” What matters is our attitude. God is not impressed or fooled by an outward show–he is concerned with our heart’s desire to be close to him. There is, however, one position that is pivotal in the pursuit of prayer. That is the position of Faith. In Hebrews, we are told that “without Faith, it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him..”(Hebrews 11:6) Jesus spoke of faith that can move mountains, even if it is the size of a mustard seed. Whether kneeling or standing, grieving or rejoicing, our prayers must be accompanied by faith– faith that God exists; that he is loving and gracious and all-powerful to save; faith that our “position” in him is one of reconciliation and renewed life through his grace and the finished work of Jesus Christ; faith that he will hear our prayers and answer according to his will; faith that his will is altogether good and perfect– even when we don’t understand it in the here and now.
One final thought–though the Bible does not specifically require that we kneel to pray as we pursue a relationship with him, it does declare that one day, “at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…” (Philippians 10-11a). I can practice kneeling in this life, knowing that it won’t go to waste!
My sister works for a multi-national corporation. Her division won a competition, and she invited me to the celebration event last weekend. It was a fabulous opportunity to spend time with my sister, meet many of her colleagues, and enjoy being “spoiled” as a guest. We flew to the world headquarters in Atlanta, took a tour, got dressed up and attended the “event.” They had prime rib, chicken wings with peach barbecue sauce, shrimp, a variety of pasta dishes and vegetable sides, desserts, beverages, and tons of “bling.” They gave out hats, patches, pins, bandanas, light-up bracelets, rings, and glasses, leather bookmarks, robot-drawn caricatures, photos, bags, and more. There was a private concert with a major musical artist, as well as a drum corps, trampoline artists, people walking around on stilts, and ladies in LED costumes dancing. It was like a Circus and a visit to Disneyworld all wrapped up together.
What does any of this have to do with prayer (or bruised kneecaps)? I’m getting to that…
My description of this weekend may not seem to include God, but He was definitely there every step of the way. We made it to the airport with plenty of time on Friday. This was important because my sister had mobility issues and cannot walk quickly through the airport. Right at the entrance, there was a lady from our airline who confirmed that a porter would be able to take my sister in a wheelchair directly to our gate, saving us both time and stress. He was amazing, helping us feel comfortable and even festive as we waited to board. At our gate, we were informed that our seat assignments had changed– we were right behind first class and had extra leg room!
The flight was terrific. I had not flown in a few years, and I always like to fly– to see clouds from the top, to see whole farms and villages rolling out below; to see rivers and hills and mountains from a distance and to realize just how big the world really is. It also reminds me that I am incredibly small and weak, but that God is bigger, more powerful, and more wonderful than anything I can see (or even imagine) from the airplane. Mary and I were able to chat, “catch up,” and reminisce as we sailed through cloudy skies and bumped pleasantly along with minor turbulence.
Then, mid-flight, we were told that our plane might have to divert to Montgomery or Birmingham due to a storm front in Atlanta. All or our arrangements had been carefully planned, and while we might not miss the event entirely, a delay for refueling or worse, having to change planes, would make us late and leave us with no time to check in at the hotel or change into our dress clothes! Yet, minutes later, our pilot informed us that all the details “had been worked out” so that we would land in Atlanta on time! Coincidence? I don’t think so!
We arrived at the Atlanta airport and were immediately surprised to learn that the wheelchair my sister requested was not only not there, all her information about the flight we just deboarded had been lost– they had no record that she had ordered a wheelchair, or even that she had been on the plane! But within less than ten minutes, all those details had been worked out, and we were escorted through the airport and taken directly and safely (by a very pleasant man from Senegal) to the area where we got an Uber to our hotel. The hotel had snacks and an event station where we were welcomed and made comfortable, and we were warmly greeted, not only by the hotel staff, but by many of my sister’s co-workers, including her boss’s boss’s boss! We had plenty of time, not only to change, but to take the tour we had planned earlier!
Returning to our hotel from the afternoon’s activities, we changed and went down to the lobby, where we were informed that, in spite of a last-minute cancellation, someone had been found to drive us (and another pair of sisters with mobility issues) to the event, instead of having to walk two or three blocks and several hundred yards through the gates and walkways at the stadium. More wheelchairs were provided for my sister and the other woman once we arrived at the venue, and my sister was warmly greeted (as was I) by more of her colleagues. This event could have been a nightmare of people pushing and shoving, jockeying for the best seats or the best food based on their seniority or title, chugging down free alcoholic drinks and becoming obnoxious, and generally behaving at their worst. Instead, it was civil, friendly, celebratory, and filled with people from all over North America, from all stations and positions within the corporation, enjoying a night of being together in one place and enjoying a well-earned celebration. One of the special guests of the night was the chairman of another large corporation– one known for His Christian values, which he spoke of freely!
We went back to the hotel, exhausted but strangely energized by the whole thing, and eager to enjoy the luxury of our hotel room. We had to wait several minutes for an elevator (due to the crowds returning from the event), which allowed us to meet yet another wonderful couple who were enjoying their anniversary. It has sometimes been my experience that when strangers have to wait in lines or ride through busy city streets, they can either get on one another’s last nerve, or they can become new friends. We made a lot of new friends in less than 24 hours!
The next day, we went to the Atlanta airport to get our flight home. Once again, we had a great porter who got us through security and even helped another couple who were struggling with her motorized wheelchair. The porter made sure we all stayed together until we had to split up at Concourse D. More new friends! We had plenty of time, so we walked down the long concourse (our gate was nearly the last one!) And that’s when disaster struck!
Have you ever had one of those moments when you know you are going to fall– you try to regain your balance, but you see yourself falling in a series of awkward stumbles and jerks, and the floor is rising rapidly to meet your face? Well, I ended up falling on my purse, which did a great job of protecting my rib cage. And I landed at such an angle that I did not hit my head or shoulder. I did not break or dislocate any of my bones. I did, however, land on my left knee and my right hand. Several people immediately came to see if I was ok. My knee and leg were throbbing, as was my hand near my thumb. But I was able to get up and walk, albeit painfully. I limped the rest of the way to our gate, waiting to see if I could hobble onto the plane and into my seat. We still had over an hour before our plane left, so I managed to hobble as far as a restroom and a snack bar (both within a few yards, thankfully) and back to the gate area, proving I could do so.
Yet God was there, too! My tumble could have been so very much worse. I could have required hospitalization in Atlanta (or even when I got home). I might have been concussed or suffered a sprain that would have kept us from making our final flight. Instead, I am sore, but able to recuperate at home, and write about my experience from the comfort of my own chair. And I have a much greater understanding of what my sister goes through each time she has to travel. My injuries are temporary and sharp– her pain is deep and chronic. I got to see how many wonderful people work to make it possible and even enjoyable for people with mobility issues to travel safely, and I was humbled to experience what it means to rely on the goodness of strangers.
They say that “the devil is in the details.” But this weekend, I was reminded over and over again that it is really God who shows up in the details. When God says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6), it covers everything and everywhere from 35,000 feet in the air, to staring at the parquet flooring of an airport concourse– from being in a long line waiting for an elevator to being guided through a tunnel underneath a huge stadium–from help with reservations and transportation to meeting needs for companionship and connection, and yes, even recuperation. God was there in every (even painful) step of the way!
This weekend saw blessings– from prime rib at dinner, to bruised kneecaps (not normally considered a blessing), and I’m grateful, knowing God saw all of this in advance and provided just the right help in His time!
We may not always see God’s hand at work in the moment, but rest assured that He is in control, that He is right by our side every moment, and that we can trust Him to work out the details!
 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13 KJV)
I remember memorizing this Bible verse (in the King James version above) as a child. It is one of the most quoted (and, I think, misunderstood) verses I know. Taken out of context, it seems to promise unlimited potential for the Christian. I can… perform miracles, do six impossible things before breakfast, leap over a tall building, bring about world peace, and finish folding the laundry from last week!
The reality is that I can’t do ALL things. There are many things I simply cannot do– even as a Christian. I cannot grow six inches taller or shed 45 pounds overnight. I cannot cure cancer. I cannot bring about world peace. Christ CAN do any of that and more; and He can work through me to accomplish great things– more than I can do in my own power. But if I expect to do whatever I imagine or aspire to– I will be disappointed. Even with God’s Power working in my life.
But God is not only a source of power– He is the source of wisdom and love. And in His wisdom and love, he often limits what He will allow me to do. So, there are supernatural things I cannot do without God’s help and power, and there are seemingly ordinary things I cannot do without God’s permission and grace, because doing those things will go against God’s perfect plan.
I was speaking recently with a friend of mine from church. We were speaking of infertility– a problem we have both experienced. Most of the women I know who experience infertility, barrenness, multiple miscarriages, etc., have to come to terms with the ache of being “abnormal.” We assume that “normal” women can become pregnant and have children. We accept that sometimes a woman will lose a child in the womb. But when it happens over and over again, or when a woman can’t seem to get pregnant, it causes a woman to question her identity and worth. “Am I even a ‘real’ woman?” “What kind of woman can’t do the most basic “womanly” thing– give life?” We also have to come to terms with the fact that God has chosen to allow this in our lives. Does God still love me, or is He angry with me or punishing me for being “not enough”? How can God love me and let me suffer such emptiness?
And we’ve all heard stories– amazing stories in the Bible and elsewhere– of women who DID get pregnant through a miracle. Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Rachel, Hannah…In fact, we hear nothing of women who are barren in the old Bible stories…or do we? Anna in Luke chapter 2 is an old widow who lives in the temple. There is no mention of any children, only of her devotion to the Temple and to her God. Dorcas, who was raised from the dead by the Apostle Peter in Acts 9, is praised, not for her motherhood, but for her charitable deeds among her neighbors. Deborah, the prophetess and judge who led the Israelites into battle along with their general Barak, is mentioned as a wife, but not a mother. In ancient societies, very few women were singled out for praise outside of their roles as wives and mothers.
As women, we may question many aspects of our “role” in society. Some of us chafe at the traditional roles we are expected to perform, while others question why their traditional roles seem to be denied. I spent decades questioning why I remained “on the sidelines”– unmarried, lackluster dating opportunities, out of step with other women my age. When I first was diagnosed with Stein-Levinthal syndrome and told that it would almost eliminate any chance that I could become a mother, it was almost a relief. At least I could “congratulate” myself for not disappointing a husband I didn’t have, or go through the pain of watching him question his manhood when no children came, not knowing if the “problem” was his or mine. Other friends of mine question their role as “the weaker sex,” going to great lengths to prove that they don’t need a man in their life, or that they can compete with men for jobs, status, wealth, and power.
But God didn’t just create me to “DO” things. God created me to BE. And He created me to be in relationship with Him. And my experience gives me the opportunity to speak into the lives of other women who are hurting. I have found purpose and comfort, love and abundant joy, challenge and opportunity in the midst of infertility. And now that I’m in my sixties, I find it easier to reconnect with women my age who are empty-nesters, grandmas, widows, and “maiden aunts.” God has allowed us to DO many things.
I am struck by the fact that Philippians 4:13 was written by the Apostle Paul. Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter. “I can do all things” did not mean that Paul was able to escape prison walls or the sentence he was under. It didn’t mean that he could compel his friends to stay and attend to his needs. It didn’t mean that he could escape this “thorn in the flesh” that he wrote about in 2 Corinthians or defy the aging process. Paul didn’t mean that he could literally do “all” things. But he was reminding the Philippian believers of all the amazing things that he could and did do in his work as a missionary. He didn’t cheat death altogether, but he cheated it several times, living through beatings and shipwrecks and snakebites. He didn’t escape the thorn in the flesh, but he persevered in spite of it. And remarkably, though Paul never married or had biological children, he built relationships with people like Timothy, whom he considered a son. And He accomplished amazing things for the Kingdom of God!
So, no, I cannot do ALL things– I cannot do some of the miraculous things I want to do. Sometimes, it is even God’s will that I should be prevented from doing such things– even good and “normal” things– in order that God can mold me into a shape and for a purpose that is just right for HIS perfect plan. I may not see it in my lifetime or understand it perfectly. I will still grieve for what “might have been” in my life. But I will continue to experience joy in the journey the God has mapped out for me. And whatever He asks– well, I CAN do that! Not on my own, but beyond what I can imagine!
When one first encounters this story, it seems horrific but also disconnected somehow. Throughout the rest of the book of Judges, the narrative focuses on individuals who led the nation of Israel as they moved into and settled in the Promised Land. Moses and Joshua had led them TO the land, and now others were leading them IN the land. Some of them became household names as their stories echoed through the ages– Gideon, Samson, and to a lesser extent, Barak and Deborah and Jael–heroes in battle, but often weak in leadership. But as the book continues, the stories are much less heroic and much more appalling. The story of Gibeah is a tragic and disgusting downfall for the entire nation, rife with rape, murder, and civil war.
Hundreds of years later, the prophets Isaiah and Hosea make reference to Gibeah, and the horrors that were committed there. As bad as the story of Gibeah is, I believe it holds lessons and warnings for us even today.
At the beginning of the story, we learn that a Levite (a priest or priestly worker) who lived in a remote town took as his concubine a woman from Bethlehem in Judah. He brought her to the remote hill country where he lived. But she ran away and returned to her father’s house. Four months later, the man decides to track her down and bring her back home. Why are these details important? They seem innocuous, until you see how far from God’s plan and purpose the people have strayed.
The Levite was not supposed to take a concubine at all. He was to marry only a virgin from his own tribe. The passage is a little confusing on this point, calling her a concubine AND a wife. Either way, it seems she was not the sort of woman with whom he was supposed to create a family.
And she left him, so it seems that this was not a solid and committed relationship. He doesn’t follow her immediately.
He waits four months before going to check on her and attempting to bring her back. Once again, the context is unclear– maybe he was exercising patience, hoping that “absence makes the heart grow fonder” or hoping that time would mend whatever was wrong between them, but it could also be that he was just not in a great hurry to resume a relationship with her, but merely retrieving a bit of property.
Once the Levite tracks down the concubine, he is lulled into staying several days in the house of his father-in-law.
This would not have been unusual for that time period or region; hospitality was a hallmark of the people, and the father-in-law may have wanted to help smooth things over by giving his daughter more time at home to reconcile herself to the long journey and the return to her husband’s household. But this interaction does not feel like hospitality. There seems to be an undercurrent between the Levite and the woman’s father. The story never explores this, and maybe I am reading more into the story than what is there, but it seems that this relationship is not one based on love and deep affection, but more of a business transaction or power struggle.
If the woman was a concubine, she may have been returning to a household where she was a lesser wife and faced scorn or abuse from the Levite’s other wife or wives. Again, we do not know this from the context, but she does not seem eager to leave her father’s house, and the father does not seem comfortable sending her away.
The Levite seems reluctant to spend time with his father-in-law, yet it takes little convincing for him to stay four extra nights. Finally, on the fifth day, he insists that he will leave, even though it is now growing late.
As the Levite approaches the area around Jebus (Jerusalem), he refuses to stay there, as the Israelites have not conquered the city, and he does not want to stay with “foreigners.” He pushes on to Gibeah precisely because he assumes it will be safer to stay among his “own people.”
What happens that night in Gibeah begins almost the same as the scene that was described in Genesis 19, when the angels of the LORD visited the wicked city of Sodom, and the men of the city demanded to have sex with them. Just as Lot offered his two virgin daughters, the host offers his own virgin daughter to the mob. But this time, the concubine is trapped outside all night, left to be gang-raped and abused all night.
How horrified are the host and the Levite at the demands of the men of Gibeah? The host, much like Lot in Genesis, seems to be aware of the wickedness going on all around him, but powerless or without a will to stand up to it. The Levite does nothing to defend the woman he just “rescued” from her father’s house. He seems reconciled to the idea that she will be raped but is furious when she is left for dead?! Again, some of this is lost in the context of the story and the culture of that time, but surely none of this behavior lines up with the laws and regulations of the Israelites as given by Moses– not just the behavior of the men of Gibeah, but also that of the Levite.
The incident at Gibeah is actually WORSE than the one in Sodom! Israel has fallen so low that Sodom looks less wicked in comparison! The prophet Hosea, speaking of Israel’s prostitution with false gods and their coming judgment, refers to Gibeah as the place where judgment will (and should) begin because they have rejected their God. Jesus echoes this sentiment when He says in Matthew that judgment will be worse for those who reject Him than it was for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Sodom was a wicked city, but the people of Israel had heard the story of Sodom’s judgment and destruction. They had been warned– they had been sent to the Promised Land and told NOT to follow the wicked practices of the inhabitants they were to conquer. Yet they became worse than the people they were to destroy!
The reaction of the Levite, and the entire nation of Israel is not one of turning to God, but turning to vengeance and warfare
There is something about cutting up the dead body of his concubine and sending her bloody bits around the country that horrifies the reader of this story. Yes, her death was horrific and violent. But the aftermath is equally violent and impersonal. There is no mention in this story of grief or remorse or human compassion. There are only actions and reactions.
The men of Gibeah (and all of Benjamin) show no shame or repentance for this horrible incident. Instead, they are willing to slaughter their own countrymen (and die at their hand) in defiance and continued wickedness.
The “plan” after the war against the Benjaminites– allowing the men of the tribe of Benjamin to kidnap women in Shiloh– is evidence that no one has learned a lesson. The Israelites meet and ask God “Why has this happened?” But instead of asking God for an answer, they come up with their own plan.
The last verse in chapter 20 gives a sad and sobering summary–“In those days, Israel had no king, so the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
What can we learn from this horrible incident? Most of us (I hope!) don’t go around gang-raping, torturing, and killing women; we don’t slaughter entire towns or tribal groups because of a single horrific incident; we don’t offer reparations to enemies that sanction kidnapping innocent victims. But do we turn our backs on God’s guidelines because we have a plan that seems “right in (our) own eyes”? Do we foster relationships that conflict with God’s word? Do we ignore the wickedness taking place in our own neighborhoods and right under our noses? Do we try to justify bad policies and practices because they are “no worse” than what others are doing?
What happened in Gibeah can happen anywhere. What happens in Gibeah doesn’t “stay” in Gibeah. It brings chaos, suffering, and judgment to an entire nation and impacts generations.
I pray that God’s people will open our eyes. Instead of pretending that we can do whatever “seems right” that we will focus on what is really “right,” and that we will confess and grieve for our sins, instead of defiantly redefining our values and morals.
