The Park Forum

Links for today’s readings:

Jun 1  Read: Zechariah 14 Listen: (3:52) Read: Luke 23 Listen: (6:39)

Scripture Focus: Zechariah 13.3-9

3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. 
6 On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. 7 It will be a unique day—a day known only to the Lord—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light. 
8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter. 9 The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.

Reflection: If History Rhymes, What Will Your Verse Be?

By John Tillman

Mark Twain is (probably falsely) credited with the aphorism, “History rhymes.” This is a more nuanced truism than “History Repeating.” The “rhyming” of history does not mean that events are precisely replicated, but that similar events repeat in regular patterns, like poetry.

Like history, biblical prophecy rhymes.

Prophets, like Zechariah, wrote primarily to their contemporary audience about their immediate or not-too-distant future. But these events have layered meanings that were, or will be, fulfilled in the life of Jesus, in our lives today, and in the last days of our cosmos at the renewing of Heaven and Earth.

God parted the sea for Israel to escape from Egypt through the waters. (Ex 14.21-22; Neh 9.11; Isa 63.12) In Zechariah’s vision, God will part a mountain for Jerusalem to escape through a narrow valley. What will God part for us?

In the creation story, God divided the waters to create the waters of the sky and the waters of the seas. (Gen 1.6-7) In Zechariah’s vision, God will cause living waters to flow from Jerusalem, dividing those waters to flow both east and west to all peoples in all directions. What will God provide through us?

Most of Zechariah’s visions focused on the rebuilding and restoration following the devastation of Jerusalem in his day. But he also wrote about the coming devastation and restoration of the cosmos. Like the post-exilic Jews Zechariah wrote to, we know a final catastrophe and victory are coming, but until then, we have a rebuilding and restoration mission (2 Cor 5.18-19). 

Obstacles, whether uncrossable seas or immovable mountains, cannot keep God’s people from his purposes or keep God from coming to us. God makes the way. Nothing can or will separate us from God’s love or from the eternal fellowship of God’s people to come. No catastrophe, consequence, or calamity now or in the final days will compare to the joy and glory to come. (Rom 8.18) After everything, we will be with God, and he will be with us. So what will you do until that day?

Prophets lay down beats that echo in the future and step to the mic, dropping verses about events of their moment. But the beat will go on in our moment and in moments yet to come. What will we say and do when the mic passes to us?

“The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” (“O Me! O Life!”)

What will your verse be?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and make melody. — Psalm 57.7

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: The End of Evil

While it feels like our world is “always winter and never spring” God is coming to make an end of evil.

Read more: Save Yourself (And Us)

We live in a “save yourself” culture. We put ourselves first and save ourselves from everything. This is one reason Jesus is foolish to our culture.

Links for today’s readings:

May 28  Read: Zechariah 10 Listen: (2:11) Read: Luke 19 Listen: (5:29)

Scripture Focus: Zechariah 10.2-3

Reflection: Ruinous Shepherds

By John Tillman

Most of us don’t understand leaving flocks of sheep in another’s care. But most of us have had pets.

Imagine trusting a friend to pet-sit your dog while you’re on a long trip. Before you left, the dog was house trained and well disciplined, rarely damaging furniture and never biting or harming anyone.

When you return, you find your friend spent the whole time drunk, abandoning the discipline and order put in place for the dog. The furniture is chewed and stuffing from sofas and other items is scattered through the house. The dog was not let out at proper times and there is feces and urine in the house and stains from previous incidents. The dog was not fed proper food at proper times and has become food aggressive, jumping on anyone holding food and biting or attempting to bite guests.

Your home and dog are in chaos because of the person charged with caring for the dog. You will be angry at the dog for its new behaviors, but your deepest anger will be toward your friend.

Retraining the dog will be unpleasant and difficult for both you and the dog. The dog, if it could speak, would probably call the retraining program harsh or cruel, even though it is for the dog’s benefit.

As difficult as it will be to retrain your dog, it might be more difficult to repair your relationship with your friend. They ruined your dog! They not only harmed the dog but made the dog dangerous to others.

This is the type of anger God has for “shepherds” of his people who misuse, abuse, or abandon their responsibilities. This behavior is especially egregious when motivated by the pursuit of pleasure, power, or wealth. We can be made dangerous to others by abusive shepherds. All, like sheep, stray. But when leaders drive flocks to error, God is especially angry and will harshly punish those responsible.

We, however, are more responsible for our own behavior than sheep or dogs. We can’t blame all our sins on leaders. When we follow ruinous and foolish shepherds, support them, endorse them, and become like them, we join ourselves to them and the consequences God will bring on them.

Rejoice when bad leaders are called to account. But don’t forget that we also are responsible and must submit to “retraining” through repentance.

Woe to ruinous shepherds and those who follow them.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

He looks at the earth and it trembles; he touches the mountains and they smoke. — Psalm 104.33

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Until I Come Back

Christ’s followers have been given opportunities to know him, resources to cultivate for him, and needy people to serve for him.

Read more: Bad Shepherds

Pointing a finger and blaming “false shepherds” is common in American Christianity. How do we know who is telling the truth?

Links for today’s readings:

May 27  Read: Zechariah 9 Listen: (3:01) Read: Luke 18 Listen: (5:27)

Scripture Focus: Zechariah 9:8-9

8 But I will encamp at my temple
    to guard it against marauding forces.
Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,
    for now I am keeping watch.

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Reflection: Victorious and Lowly

By Erin Newton

Touchdown dances and victory laps are our typical images of winners. The beauty queen gets a crown. Celebrities get red carpets and paparazzi. Athletes get medals, rings, or letterman jackets. Politicians get parties and banners and confetti. I hear the doctoral graduates in Finland get top hats and swords!

The walk of shame is usually a reference to bad judgment, fleeting impulses or rejection. Second and third place athletes get lesser medals, smaller trophies. Losing politicians are asked to concede. Those not finishing a race get labeled with “DNF” (did not finish).

To imagine a winner, a victor, in a self-imposed image of lowliness is antithetical to what we expect. Winners get center stage. Those entering with a lowly demeanor are usually the ones who are not the winners.

Zechariah 9 presents a picture of our God—both victorious and lowly.

We speak often of the lowliness of Christ, his humility and willingness to suffer for our sake. But the picture tends to shift after his crucifixion to an image of the mighty and powerful and risen Lord. We want to herald his victory over the grave, and we should be glad.

Yet our God holds both victory and lowliness together in himself. He is not just some winner who avoids bragging too much. He is a protector, keeping watch over his people, but he enters riding on a donkey, not a warhorse. He is not some giant, super-sized, Ultron type of deity crushing and snapping enemies out of existence. He chooses to be humble, not just as our example, but because he is.

It is mind-boggling.

We tend to refer to lowliness and humility as something Jesus “put on,” as if it was a foreign and lesser human quality, when in fact it is part of who our God is. My mind struggles to hold the two together without emphasizing one over the other—God is powerful and victorious; God is lowly and humble.

We are called to be like Christ and that means learning to embody both the victorious nature of Christ and his lowliness. Humility is something we learn to put on, but even as God works victories through us (power over sin, despair, hate), we must learn to keep “riding on a donkey” as our Lord did.

Humility should be a quality that defines us, knowing God will certainly be working victories in the meantime.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him. — Psalm 96.9

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: The King We Want

I’ve sent a king, God says
He rode in on a donkey
My servants prophesied him
You rebels crucified him

Read more: Types of Blindness

Even those who already believe can be blinded…The disciples had blind spots and a tunnel vision focused only on political salvation.

Links for today’s readings:

May 26 Read:  Zechariah 8 Listen: (3:33) Read: Luke 17 Listen: (4:22)

Scripture Focus: Zechariah 8.12-13

12 “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. 13 Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”

Reflection: From a Curse to a Blessing

By John Tillman

God promised to bless the nations through Abraham. (Genesis 12.1-3; 22.17-18) The purpose of Israel and Judah was to be a blessing to the whole world. But they became a curse. God said to Adam and Eve in the garden, “Cursed is the ground because of you.” (Genesis 3.17) His words to Israel and Judah as they went into exile in Assyria and Babylon were similar. 

Their sin cursed the ground. Their selfishness, greed, and idolatry poisoned the land. The blood of the poor ran in the streets because of greed. Orphans and widows found no justice or help. Governments sought alliances and greater worldly power rather than seeking the Lord. (Jeremiah 2.34, 2 Kings 21.16, Ezekiel 9.8-10; Hosea 6.8-9)

The practices of human empires overwhelmed leaders’ character and they led the people to death and destruction. The mildew of the world grew on the vines and the whole field had to be burned to prevent its spread.

God’s nature as a cultivator, a gardener, is seen in this passage. He has cleansed the ground and given it rest from the abuses of the previous generation. Prior generations looked at a gold-covered Temple and presumed God’s presence would never allow them to be harmed. This generation was attuned to God’s returning presence and prioritized the building of a Temple. The complacency of the past has been replaced with thrilling anticipation and appreciation for God’s presence.

This people’s faith is a seed ready to be planted. God promises that a healthy vine will grow, and fruit will swell the branches. The blessings of this produce will be shared not only with God’s people but with all the nations.

Zechariah challenged the people to prioritize the Temple, to speak the truth to each other, and to ensure justice for the oppressed in their courts. They are warned against planning evil against one another and against swearing falsely.

These are not just principles for rebuilding ancient Jerusalem. They are for us. Here in our cities and countries, we must prioritize Jesus, who is our Temple, our access to God. We must be people devoted to truth and upholders of justice. In all we do, we must work good in the world for others and speak truthfully not just about the gospel but about everything else.

These principles will serve us well as we build little outposts (or branches) of the Kingdom of God right where we live and work.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus taught us, saying: “Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7.15-20

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Defilement, Deconstruction, and Reconstruction

If the mold spread, the first step was to remove only the affected stones. But if the mold returned, the entire house had to be deconstructed

Read more: The Branch and the Branches

Christ’s righteousness flows into us and we are able to create holy space, shade under the limbs of God’s tree.