ministering health to the world: January 2012

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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Preface: Before I begin to truly deliver my message today, allow me this preface. This passage from Samuel depicts the wives of David, Saul and Uriah as property handed over from one man to another, often surrendered as a punishment to the men. These past couple weeks I could find no way to reconcile this within a view of a loving, let alone just, God. In response I pray for a deeper understanding of God, God's people, wisdom and justice. Any thoughts you have to offer on this I am very interested to hear.

Enough is Enough: a communion meditation on abundance, scarcity and God's response

The scripture selections today are a little unusual. In this church we mostly follow the lectionary and this week has two different sets of Old and New Testaments verses to choose from, normally there is only one set. In reading through the two options I was struck by some aspects of these two Old Testament selections. So we get a double dose from the Hebrew scriptures today. I always feel that my task as the designated preacher is to bring some answers or enlightenment tot eh scripture, but I am usually left with question after question. I intend to offer a few brief thoughts and questions for consideration on the two texts with a slightly extended time for silent reflection.

In these texts we see two parties at opposite ends of the same journey. The Israelites, just a month out of their slavery in Egypt, are scratching out a very meager living in the Sinai desert, searching for the promised land of their ancestors. David, a man from a very humble family originally, is now king of Israel and Judah. He first saw Bathsheba, then Uriah's wife, from the roof of his palace in Jerusalem.

Let's return to the Israelites. This story in Exodus is preceded by miracle upon miracle like the plagues visited on the Egyptians, the parting of the Red Sea and cleansing of waters at Marah. Now they are whining about being hungry! Well, rightly so. It is hard to be thankful for your freedom when it seems like it is about to end one month later in thirst and hunger

Question: When we count our blessings, do we know when to start? and what to count?
The Israelites fled Egypt with only unleavened bread, which by this point in the scriptures has run out. In response to their pleas they are given manna from heaven. Manna, this new"bread," according to my bible's footnotes means,"what is it" in Hebrew. The bread Jesus blessed during the last supper was a Passover loaf in remembrance of God's deliverance of the Israelites during their journey out of Egypt.

Question: When we count our blessings, do we know what to count?
One of the last verses in this passage is,"In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God."

Question: When we count our blessings, do they instill in us a sense of God's presence in our lives?
David is in a very different place in his life. Born a shepherd in Bethlehem, he is now the anointed king. We come to David in today's passage as he has concluded the arrangements to have one of his soldiers, Uriah, killed in battle so that he can marry Bathsheba, who is already carrying David's child.

Questions: What is ours to take? What is being given to us by God?
David, unlike the Israelites, is certainly not crying out to God in need, but God responds nevertheless. Nathan, God's prophet and messenger, lays out David's situation for him in a parable and David renders judgment. His immediate judgment that the rich man deserves to die, is mercifully tempered to a four for one compensation. David can clearly see and judge the situation when his vision is cast beyond his own circumstances. In God's judgment David is spared death, but he does suffer the severe consequences of his action.

Question: What mercies have we been granted and what consequences have we set in motion?
The most striking part of this passage in Samuel, to me, comes in the middle of God's rebuke of David. Chapter 12, verse 8:"I gave you your master's house and wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if this had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more."

"And if this had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more."

Questions: When and how do we know to stop asking and wanting if God will so abundantly provide? What of those who suffer due to no sin nor consequence of their own making that we can understand?

Let us open our hearts before God in prayer and meditation.

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ministering health to the world

Monday, January 23, 2012

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