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Day 39: C’est le vie Leviticus

January 24, 2019 — Leave a comment

Leviticus 26-27; Psalm 39

The valuation of humans in this section is implorable. The sacrifices in this book are weird AF. Relative to the other sacrifices happening around, the context the Israelites are in in this world of sacrifices to the Gods, this May seem radical. But if something is ugly but it’s not as ugly as the thing next to it, does it make it less ugly? Yes I understand the heart of this is about how pure and holy God is and how wicked and childish we are, but really…? Goodness the valuation of humans — men more than women, adults better than youth, the power of the priests to determine how much a person is worth. Bible scholars tell me how this is good? Don’t tell me, in other cultures women were valued at 0 so now that they’re 30 shekels, it’s pretty cool! Wtf.

Tell me this is all a set up to prove how amazing Jesus is. In Jesus women and children and sojourners are valued just the same, if maybe even more… they’re not valued more because they’re worth more, but in a patriarchal, misogynistic, ageist society, valuing something more just gives them a fair chance. You don’t need to value what’s already in the power seat. They are the status quo. We have to value the vulnerable to give them the room and space. Tell me Leviticus exists to point to the simplicity, justice and power of Jesus. Tell me this weird as F chapter points to how radical Jesus is. But is Jesus radical only in relativism? Or is he truly radical objectively?

Day 38: Strangers & Sojourners

January 23, 2019 — 1 Comment

Leviticus 24-25; Psalm 38

If we lose sight of the heart of God for his people in reading his commandments, we will be offended and disgusted by God. God goes on and on and on about what? Justice. Redemption. Generosity. The interdependence of humanity. If we hold to our dependence on each other, and love each other as we love ourselves (when we have self-love) would it not cover all these relational commandments? If we love, would we not cheat our brother? If we love, would we not cheat on our sister? If we love, would we not ask and give forgiveness? If we love would we not split our piece of toast so that everyone can have a bite? If we love ourselves, would we not harm it? If we love ourselves, would we grow awareness of how our bodies speak to us? If we love, would we not essentially live the commandments of God? God’s commandments seem nit picky and at times weird. When people say love has no borders, it means that we love each person as if we really see their divine created-ness. But love has boundaries. We don’t condone adultery or injustice or greed or bitterness or harm. If we don’t have these boundaries, how do we know what sacrificial love look like? Love has no borders but is rooted by boundaries.

I love that God reminds us that we are strangers and sojourners with God. This means that no matter where we go, we are known and loved and found. No matter where we go, we are home when we are with God. A sojourner with God — a brave faithful adventurer that has eyes on the horizon! A stranger with God — a curious, open member of society ready to connect not for worth but because of divine worth.

Day 37: Righteous beggars

January 22, 2019 — 1 Comment

Leviticus 21-23; Psalm 37

Sometimes I really hate reading verses like the righteous have no lack, they never have to beg, the wicked will die, and so forth because when I look out at this earth, that’s just not true. The racism, sexism, poverty, mass incarceration, homeless and so forth in this country DO LACK. Many who are “righteous” are begging on the street. So what is this Psalm trying to tell us? I am not going to doubt someone’s righteousness by their current earthly state. We do that sometimes don’t we? We see someone suffering or in need and we might think they must be off with God. We see someone not getting the abundances of this world and think they must be in sin. We can take verses like these and do the flip side — judge the inside by what you see on the outside. Let me tell you: this outside world is wicked and there are some sick rules and systems we live in. Those who are righteous do not always get vindicated in this life and that sucks. Those who are righteous do suffer on earth. So what is it that they do not lack? So what is it that they do not need to beg for? Grace? Integrity? Their conscience? Their worth? The righteous know their worth even if those around them don’t acknowledge it. Hold on. Keep on. Persevere. Endure! You are worthy!

Day 18: God hardens & softens

January 3, 2019 — Leave a comment

Exodus 4-6; Psalm 18

I’ve always found God hardening the Pharaoh’s heart harsh and unfair. Did God choose to eliminate this man to save other people? Does God already destine some people to be evil and die? Does God sacrifice the one for the many? Well, he does do that last one with Jesus. But Jesus came back to life; will the Pharaoh come back to life? Hm. Maybe. We don’t know from this passage what happens to the Pharaoh after the Israelites escape. All we know is that at this point in time, his heart was hardened.

  • Did God tell Moses this to give him a heads up and lessen the blow when the Pharaoh refuses to listen? God hardened the Pharaoh’s heart. Was this more of a premonition or a psychic reading of the future? If God is holy, good and true, what does it mean that he hardened someone’s heart? What if hardening one’s heart isn’t actually evil, but a state a heart might need to go to in order to find healing at the end? What if the hardening allows for the greatest softening later?
  • Often we approach hard scriptures in the Bible and either dismiss them or say, well God knows best. Clearly we can interpret in ways that protect where we stand. How can we see The Bible as a way to affirm God’s unfailing and relentless love, while remembering each story and statue must be placed in the context of redemption? The goal is redemption and touching Jesus to experience the wholeness we are created in.