War or Peace?

A very strange dream woke me up a bit early this morning. I dreamed that I had been standing at the window looking out over the river and suddenly black military looking went screaming by. There was not just one or two of them; but, a crowd of them; a fleet that seemed to have no end. Very strange, I thought and woke up. Of course, I had to try to figure out why I would have a dream like that. I could not discern if the dream was about war or peace. Was I dreaming it because I sense impending danger or because of a feeling of security? I do not know. Every day brings something new. The world can be a dangerous place. The news is rarely good; but, yet, there is always hope.

Military boats and ships certainly have something to do with danger; especially, to the enemy. But, they are also there to bring security to the people they are commissioned to protect. Ultimately, they are to be used to bring about security and a sense of peace.

We can never really count on the state of the world's affairs to provide us with security and peace. But, there is one whom we can trust.

Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
    You gave me room when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.

There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
    Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
You have put gladness in my heart
    more than when their grain and wine abound.

I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

                                                      Psalm 4:1, 6-8 NRSV

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rev 12 At War With Satan

Revelation 12 NIV
A great war breaks out in this vision of John between Michael's legion of angels and the dragon and his angels. Michael prevails and the great dragon, that ancient serpent who is called the devil or Satan, is hurled to the earth. Satan could not win against the angels of God so he attacks the people of God. But, neither can he prevail against God's chosen people. By the blood of the lamb, Satan and by the word of God that old serpent, the devil, will be defeated. He will not prevail. No evil can prevail against the Word of God. No evil can prevail over the blood of the lamb, who is Jesus the Christ.

Take heart, no matter how grim some of these visions may appear for humankind; they are good news for the Kingdom of God; for all who love our Lord and King and long to be with him forever.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rev 6:1-8 The Four Horses

Rev 6:1-8 NIV
The white, red, black, and pale horse are sometimes referred to as the four horses of the apocalypse. The four horses and their riders signify conquest, war, famine, death. Some would say that these four horses and their riders will lead the charge at Armageddon at a great and final battle just prior to the day of the Lord. It will be a most horrific day.

I am a bit more cautious about considering this to be just a future event as I am well aware that we are already in a battle with the forces of evil. The desires to control others for our own purposes (conquest), wars, famines, and death have been very present with us for a very long time. We may feel relatively safe here in the United States. There are of these horsemen all around us; but, until it directly affects the individual; sometimes, the eyes are closed to what others are living.

Open your eyes and see. See how the world strives to control others; see the wars; see the famine; and see the death. If we cannot see the pain that others are suffering; then, maybe, as a teacher friend use to remind her students often, "If you're not part of the solution; you're a part of the problem." See the suffering and then see what you can do to help those who are in need. Fight the good fight, while staying firm in your faith. Don't wait 'till that final day of judgment to help those who are suffering or Jesus might say to you, "...Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." (Matt 25:41-46)

God's Peace - Pr. J 

Daniel 11 - Apocalytic Dream

Tomorrow will be our last day in the book of Daniel as there are only 12 chapters in Daniel. It has been quite interesting reading about one vision or visitation after another. Today, the angel Gabriel reveals to Daniel what is to come. The events mainly describe wars and alliances between Egypt and Syria. However, verse 36 to 45 describe a time that is not fulfilled in Daniel's time. It appears to be for the end time. Antiochus, it appears, may well be a archetype for the Anti-Christ that was yet to come.

These past days of reading about Daniel's visions have had a definite effect on my sleep and dreams. I don't remember my dream last night except that it was apocalyptic. It was about conflict and war. It was not terribly frightening as I do remember one event in detail. When I began to get a little anxious in my sleep, I suddenly found myself walking with God. He was holding my hand and we were walking through this lush green valley. His hand was wonderfully warm and comforting. An awesome sense of peace came over me. But, being the inquisitive person that I am, I had to wake myself up to see if it was real! The dream was gone, but the sense of peace that I had felt was not. Thanks be to God!

God is with even in the midst of spiritual warfare. And.. be comforted in the knowledge that on the cross, the battle with the Anti-Christ was won for you. Nothing can prevail against the love of God in Christ Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 41 - Senseless Civil Wars

Senseless killing! This is one of those stories that just baffles me. Ishmael goes to Mizpah, sits down to eat dinner with Gedaliah (the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the people left in the land after the exile) and kills Gedaliah and everyone with Gedaliah. He then takes the rest of the people (those whom Babylon had left in the land) captive and sets out for the Ammonites. Johanan and his men hear of it and go get these people from Ishmael. They are happy to see Johanan. Ishmael escapes. But, now those people who had been Ishmael's captives are afraid of the Babylonians because Ishmael had killed Gedaliah. Nobody wins!

It reminds me of the many civil uprisings that happen around our world, even today. One uprising after another. For what? What was Ishmael doing trying to enslave his own people? Why? Power? Ego? What? Why do rulers insist on enslaving their own people? Subjugating them to laws that are not fairly balanced for all people? I don't get it. I do get people rebelling when they are the subject of cruel and inhumane laws of the land. But, I don't get why others want to subjugate and persecute them in the first place. Lots of uprisings and wars could be done away with or avoided if we could just learn to respect others a little bit. I suppose it comes down to that same old sin wherein we choose other gods before the one true God; and, often that other god we choose is ourselves.

I cannot help but wonder, this morning, who is winning in Egypt? I suspect no one. Everyone is suffering. May God help the Egyptian people to figure out a way to end the persecution and bloodshed of their own people.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ecclesiastes 3 - Turn! Turn! Turn! to Everything There is a Season

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. (Eccl 3:1-8 NIV)

 

"Turn! Turn! Turn! to Everything There is a Season." Many of you probably recognize Ecclesiastes 3 from actually reading it before. Some of you may have heard parts of it a funeral or maybe on Ash Wednesday when we hear words similar to "from dust you are, to dust you shall return." Some of you may remember these words from the song Pete Seeger wrote in 1959, which was recorded by various artists. Seger basically put the words from Ecclesiastes 3 to music and added 2 things:  the words "Turn, Turn, Turn" and "a time for peace, I swear it's not too late." In 1969 the Byrds' recording of it became a hit, making Ecclesiastes 3 one of the oldest lyrics (written by Solomon) to become a hit on the pop charts.

There is a time for peace, I swear it's not to late. There is a time and season for everything. It is not to turn our hearts away from the injustice of the world and turn toward the path which God intends for us to follow so that we might truly live life. It is not to late to turn our lives around and live in His presence and in His peace.

Let there be peace on earth. Let us treat one another justly, causing no one more anxiety. If there is to be anxiety, it will come in its allotted time and season for God's purpose. We do not have to manufacture it for ourselves or others. Let us take each day as it comes before us and learn to live life as God intended us to live, enjoying the fruits of the garden, enjoying the fruits of the day, even as we labor to eat and drink, to provide for the necessities of our lives. May God grant that we should be happy and find satisfaction in our toil. May God grant us peace with Him and with one another even as we strive to live life in this world accepting every thing that comes to us in whatever time or season.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 144 - Prepare for Battle

Whoa! There is so much I could say about Psalm 144! But, the first thing that strikes me is verse 1: "Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle." (NIV)

Now that is most interesting. God trains us for battle.  For 21 years, I followed my husband, a U.S. Marine, around the world. He was prepared for war and I was engaged in battle then, even as I am now. The battle can be tiring. There are times when it may even feel like you're losing the battle, but be assured, the LORD armies will not, cannot, be defeated. He is the Supreme Commander and is at the helm.

Be not afraid to: "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Eph 6:11-13 NIV)

God's Peace - Pr. J 

2 Samuel 3 - Truce is Over

OK.. Truce is over and a long war ensues between the house of Saul and the house of David. Ishbosheth (Saul's heir)insults Abner, the commander of his troops, over a woman, a concubine. Abner's a little irritated, so he figures he's going to show Ishbosheth who really has the authority and power and it's not Ishbosheth. After all wasn't it Abner who set Ishbosheth up as a king in the first place? Abner goes to David proposing a covenant. Now that he helped to divide the people, Abner's going to bring them together under David this time. They strike a bargain again verifying that what Abner wants or orders is what Abner gets. Abner promises to ensure that David is finally accepted as king over all people of Israel and he gets him his wife Michal (Saul's daughter) back as well - much to the disappointment of her new husband.

The annointed King David and Abner, the commander of Saul's house, make peace and Abner departs.

Well, there is another commander to contend with and he's been out on a raid while David and Abner were conferring. He's been left out of the negotiations. Joab is not happy! Abner had killed Joab's brother and now it is Joab's time to avenge his brother. He kills Abner.

David's angry and curses Joab. But, with all this war and peace and war and peace, I can't help but wonder what David's motivation for being angry with Joab really was.
1. Was it really because Joab struck Abner in a time of
peace?
2. Was it because David recognized Abner's power and
authority with the people and needed him so that he
could win over all the people and be genuine king?
3. Was it because of sentiment, because of Abner
delivering his wife, Michal, whom he loved, back to
him?
Lots of stuff go into the decision making process of a leader. Abner was surely loved by many, but there are just too many factors to make me think that all of David's grieving over Abner was because of his love of Abner. Rather, I think he knew deep down that it was politically advantageous for him to grievously grieve for Abner, in order to win Abner's followers to him. For this great man, Abner, had in fact divided the house of Israel. Abner had led an army against David and David's followers killing many, including the brother of David's commander, Joab.

Politics and war and peace... notice that this whole mess is pretty much about politics and not faith. It seems to me that God has been conspicuously quiet lately. It is about what men want and not so much about what God wants and it is a mess. When men (and women) start manipulating others to get what they want - to show their power and authority - it usually ends up in a mess.

Not our will, Lord, but yours be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Judges 20 - Assault on Benjamin

Lots of good stuff in the reading this morning.  There's the military tactics and the fact that the LORD lets so many of the other tribes be slaughtered before they actually win the battle.  As I read this chapter though and about the thousands upon thousands that died in this 3 day battle, I thought about why they died, why they went to war in the first place.  Some very perverse men in Gibeah decide they want to have their way with the Levite.  The Levite gives them his concubine in his place and then when she dies, not acknowledging his own cowardice and guilt in giving her, incites Israel to take vengeange for her life.  He incites them against an entire clan because of a few men's actions and thousands upon thousands men on both sides die. 

How many wars have been started similarly?  Thousands upon thousands die to find and put to death a minority that commit atrocities against humankind.  Countries allow rulers to persecute, torture and murder innocent men, women and children for political purposes and then...  Then, when it gets so huge that the world cannot help but acknowledge the atrocities, the rest of the world decides they should help the innocent.  The problem is, at this late date, even more innocent will die in order to stop those barbaric rulers. 

So this morning, I wonder why the people of Gibeah allowed men to live in such a way that would eventually stir up all of Israel against them.  I wonder too, about this Levite, this priest, who gave a woman to suffer for him and then, not acknowledging his own cowardice, stirred up a battle where so many of his own people died - in a sense defending his honor - honor that he did not have in the first place.