Scripture: 2 Kings 23:15-20
Observation: Josiah continues the destruction of the things that inhibit having a true relationship with God, including murdering the pagan priests, destroying the altars of their gods, and laying waste to pagan statues and temples.
Application: Some people get offended when God, or in this case, God's representatives, goes a little off the reservation concerning the practices we live by and the gods and idols we set up. One of my favorite movies of all time is pulp fiction. Jewels (Samuel L. Jackson's character) often misquotes the prophet Ezekiel when he murders someone, saying: "And you will know my name is the Lord when I strike down my vengeance upon thee."
Later on Jewels comes to a moment of clarity and realizes that is not what the prophet meant at all.
In a time when the world feels like it is going to hell in a hand basket (again after another mass shooting) I sometimes wish God, or God's representatives could go off the reservation and say stuff like this. But in reality, we are called to live out a different kind of radical righteousness....not of indignation but of + radical peace keeping in the midst of radical violence,
+ extreme love in the midst of extreme hatred,
+ monumental kindness in the midst of monumental chaos.
This advent season, we hold steadfast to the anticipation of the one who is to come and make all things new, all things right, all things just.
That's the difficult thing of Advent is waiting for the hiddenness of God to be revealed.
Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus!
Observation: Josiah continues the destruction of the things that inhibit having a true relationship with God, including murdering the pagan priests, destroying the altars of their gods, and laying waste to pagan statues and temples.
Application: Some people get offended when God, or in this case, God's representatives, goes a little off the reservation concerning the practices we live by and the gods and idols we set up. One of my favorite movies of all time is pulp fiction. Jewels (Samuel L. Jackson's character) often misquotes the prophet Ezekiel when he murders someone, saying: "And you will know my name is the Lord when I strike down my vengeance upon thee."
Later on Jewels comes to a moment of clarity and realizes that is not what the prophet meant at all.
In a time when the world feels like it is going to hell in a hand basket (again after another mass shooting) I sometimes wish God, or God's representatives could go off the reservation and say stuff like this. But in reality, we are called to live out a different kind of radical righteousness....not of indignation but of + radical peace keeping in the midst of radical violence,
+ extreme love in the midst of extreme hatred,
+ monumental kindness in the midst of monumental chaos.
This advent season, we hold steadfast to the anticipation of the one who is to come and make all things new, all things right, all things just.
That's the difficult thing of Advent is waiting for the hiddenness of God to be revealed.
Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus!
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