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A Hill That Defeated the Mountains

Links for today’s readings:

Mar 12  Read: Proverbs 31 Listen: (2:50) Read: Psalm 48 Listen: (1:28)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 48.1-3, 14

1 Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, 

in the city of our God, his holy mountain. 

2 Beautiful in its loftiness, 

the joy of the whole earth, 

like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, 

the city of the Great King. 

3 God is in her citadels; 

he has shown himself to be her fortress.

14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;

he will be our guide even to the end.

Reflection: A Hill That Defeated the Mountains

By John Tillman

In the 1995 film, The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain, a surveyor making a new map finds a Welsh village’s beloved “mountain” is 20 feet too short and would be designated a “hill.” The villagers won’t accept this downgrade and carry dirt to the peak to raise the hill’s height.

It was a mountain in their hearts, so they labored to ensure it remained a mountain on the map. The film’s tale was fictional. However, new measurements have upgraded hills to mountains in modern times. One example comes from Wales, in 2018.

In the Bible, mountains were considered divine places where Heaven touched Earth. The greater the mountain, the greater the god.

Zion is Yahweh’s “holy mountain” (Psalm 2.6), the home of Jerusalem and the Temple. Zaphon (known today as Jebel Aqra on Syria’s border with Turkey) was the “holy mountain” of the Canaanite god Baal.

Zion, at 2,460 feet in elevation, is dwarfed by Zaphon at 5,669 and other, closer mountains like Mount Hermon at 9,232. This psalm is not contradicting geographical facts or calling for human efforts to “build up” Zion to match Zaphon’s height. The psalm’s claims are theological.

No mountain compared with Zion because no god compared with Yahweh. No matter how high Zaphon or Hermon rise toward Heaven, their gods are gods of darkness and death, not light and life. The “loftiness” and “beauty” of Zion is the loftiness and beauty of God who chooses to dwell there.

Jesus doesn’t dwell with us on a mountain, but through the Holy Spirit, the scriptures, and the church. That’s our “Zion.” However, we do have competing “divine mountains” and mapmakers trying to “downgrade” the way of Jesus. They say loving God, neighbor, and enemy is a nice “hill,” but we need a mountain. They say the way of Jesus doesn’t work in the real world. They say love is weak, forgiveness is complicity, integrity equals losing, and character is cowardly.

Don’t you believe them; they are wrong. Their gods are false. Calvary’s “hill” defeated their mountains.

Survey “Zion’s citadels” and walk with her king, Jesus. He is “our guide, even to the end.” (Psalm 48.14) In the end, no mountain will be higher than his. It is better to be in his city on a hill than on any mountain that makes false promises of greater things.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to you dwelling. — Psalm 43.3

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

Read more: The Impossibility of Proverbs 31

She sets a high bar…If she is the ideal for all women, she is also the ideal for all men

The Impossibility of Proverbs 31
Read more: A City to Live In

Zion hints at Heaven, described by biblical writers as a city of healing, peace, justice, and mercy, from which the river of life flows.

A City to Live In — Readers’ Choice
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Hands Are Not for Hitting

Links for today’s readings:

Mar 11  Read: Proverbs 30 Listen: (3:51) Read: Psalms 46-47 Listen: (2:15)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 47:1-2

1 Clap your hands, all you nations;

     shout to God with cries of joy.

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,

     the great King over all the earth.

Reflection: Hands Are Not for Hitting

By Erin Newton

There is a children’s book titled, Hands Are Not for Hitting. The overall premise is to help teach children that hands can do lots of great things but should not be used for hurting others. My children are too old for that book, but I swear I said, “Hands are not for hitting,” just last week.

As the book tells us, with our hands we can do great things: We can build houses, we can cook food, we can pet a dog, and we can plant tulips. But with our hands we sometimes do horrible things: Hands have slapped faces, hands have assaulted victims, hands have pulled triggers or thrust knives. Like James says of the tongue, with our hands we both curse and praise God.

Some of us might not be familiar with religious services that are more expressive or pentecostal. In such services, clapping and praising God with raised hands is a normal part of the service. 

Sometimes hands are used to lay on someone for healing. Hands hold tambourines. Hands reach up to the sky or hold one close to the ground. Hands are for praising. Just like this psalm says.

“Clap your hands.” Why? Because God is the “great King over all the earth.” And the proper response is lifting our hands in jubilant praise.

But we don’t often use our hands well and the world has a lot of different ideas of what we should put our hands to.

We live in turbulent times of conflict and warfare. There are calls to “take up arms” or “lift one’s sword” for other kings (or presidents or supreme leaders, etc.). We are told that the best use of hands is securing power through strength. Meanwhile we’re also at home struggling to teach our youngest minds that “hands are still not for hitting.”

One of my close friends is part of the “peace tradition” (Anabaptist, Brethren) community of Christians. The call to complete nonviolence is a way of life for her. She leans into Jesus’s call for peace and uses her hands in caring, humble, and thoughtful ways.

We are thankful for those, a small percentage, who answer the call to serve their country. However, we should not take up arms to fight our neighbors. We should not use our hands to hurt one another. Hands are for praising.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Bless our God, you peoples; make the voice of his praise to be heard;
Who holds our souls in life, and will not allow our feet to slip. — Psalm 66.7-8

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

Read more: Ever Present Help and Gladdening Streams

Technology is capable of aiding us…May we use technology to tie God’s Word on our hands and integrate it into our lives.

Ever Present Help and Gladdening Streams
Read more: Inspired Utterance

“Speak your truth” sounds freeing until one person’s truth causes deaths (or war) over a lie.

Inspired Utterance
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A Strange Musical Mashup

Links for today’s readings:

Mar 10  Read: Proverbs 29 Listen: (2:44) Read: Psalm 45 Listen: (2:17)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 45.6-7, 9-11

6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; 

a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 

7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; 

therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions 

by anointing you with the oil of joy.

9 Daughters of kings are among your honored women; 

at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. 

10 Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention: 

Forget your people and your father’s house. 

11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; 

honor him, for he is your lord. 

Reflection: A Strange Musical Mashup

By John Tillman

What do the cries of a threatened nation, the pleas of a drowning prophet, and the praises of a royal wedding have in common? Apparently, it’s the tune they are set to.

In college in the 1990s, as a mediocre guitar player, I was excited to learn that I could sing and play “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “Peaceful Easy Feeling” by the Eagles. It brought a unique touch to the familiar lyrics and caused a few double-takes.

A few Psalms have tunes mentioned in their headings. Some might even be non-Israelite, non “worship” tunes. “Gittith” used in Psalm 81 probably isn’t “Peaceful Easy Feeling” but it could refer to Gath or the grape harvest.

One tune, “Lilies,” seems to be shared by Psalm 45, 69, and 80. A tune named “Lilies” seems perfect for Psalm 45’s royal wedding. But the other psalms have a very different tone.

In Psalm 69, the poet is drowning in miry depths, wearing out his voice calling for help (Psalm 69.1-3). In Psalm 80, the nation is crying out for help like a rebellious lost sheep to God, their shepherd (Psalm 80.1-6). This musical mashup doesn’t seem like it would work.

Many kings got married. Most of them far too many times. Probably every single royal wedding had a wedding psalm, but only one became part of scripture. Psalm 45 is in our Bible because it pointed beyond the unnamed couple to something (and someone) greater.

The couple is celebrated, but God is praised. The moment is hyped up, but God is honored. The marriage vows are vaunted, but God’s promises are longed for. Beyond the marriage of the moment, this was about the Messiah.

New Testament authors recognized the Lamb’s Marriage Feast in this psalm and that we are the bride. We should also recognize ourselves as the lost sheep and the sin-mired singer.

I’ve never heard the tune, “Lilies,” but I feel confident that, whether celebrating a wedding or calling for salvation, it is a song of hope. Sing along with the psalmist and remember, this psalm is about us too.

We are the bride from a rebellious people, sunk in sin’s mud and mire. We are not just saved from something but for something. Our rescue has a reason and our propitiation a purpose. No matter how muddy our moment is now, our destiny is glorious.

That is a reason to sing!

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Sing praise to the Lord who dwells in Zion; proclaim to the peoples the things he has done. — Psalm 9.11

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

Read more: When Nations Pray — Worldwide Prayer

When nations pray, humbling themselves before him, great moves of God are more than possible—they are likely.

When Nations Pray :: Worldwide Prayer
Read more: Miracles of Deliverance and Judgment

We pray for more than just miracles of weapons that do not prosper…We pray for the more miraculous deliverance of the hearts of evil leaders to change.

Miracles of Deliverance and Judgment
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Poverty, Policy, and Posture

Links for today’s readings:

Mar 9  Read: Proverbs 28 Listen: (3:07) Read: Psalm 44 Listen: (2:44)

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 28.6-11

6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless 

than the rich whose ways are perverse. 

7 A discerning son heeds instruction, 

but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. 

8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor 

amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. 

9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, 

even their prayers are detestable. 

10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path 

will fall into their own trap, 

but the blameless will receive a good inheritance. 

11 The rich are wise in their own eyes; 

one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

Reflection: Poverty, Policy, and Posture

By John Tillman

Proverbs says piety with poverty is better than wealth with wickedness.

The English word “poverty” appears 21 times in the NIV translation of the Bible. In these verses, poverty can be the result of an individual’s foolishness or of affliction by others. Poverty can be a judgment sent by the Lord or a condition perpetuated by human greed.

Proverbs says the wealthy think themselves wise but the poor see the dupes behind wealth’s disguise.

A false non-biblical cultural proverb claims the wealthy can’t be bribed or tempted with money. Proverbs says people “will do wrong for a piece of bread,” (Pr 28.21) however, it has become obvious that no leader or company has enough “bread” that they can’t be duped with a bribe. Especially if that bribe is disguised as a gift, a business deal, a favor, a donation, or a tax cut.

Proverbs says the wealth of those who profit off of the poor will be redistributed by those who treat the poor with kindness. Those who close their eyes to the poor (Pr 28.27), stingy, and eager to build wealth (Pr 28.22), are cursed.

The English word “ poor” appears 171 times and “needy” appears 56 times. (With 16 overlaps in the phrase “poor and needy.”) The poor are targeted and oppressed by the powerful. The wealthy reap profits from the poor. Those who help the poor, whether kings (governments), communities, or individuals, are blessed.

The biblical causes of poverty are many. The biblical response to poverty is not. God expects compassion and action on behalf of the poor. God’s people are commanded to aid and provide for them.

Many ways that scripture dictates to help the poor aren’t applicable to our economy or aren’t workable solutions. People like Elon Musk and Bill Gates aren’t going to redistribute their wealth every 50 years (Leviticus 25.8-12, 25-28, 39-43, 54-55; Deuteronomy 15.1-11). Even if Monsanto or other Big Ag companies forced America’s farmers to leave ten percent of their fields unharvested for the poor, (Leviticus 19.9-10; 23.22; Deuteronomy 24.19-22) our inner city poor couldn’t travel to a corn field to pick any.

It is up to us to apply scripture’s principles in new ways. This is not just an individual mandate. We must work together as faith communities and a country to lift up the poor if we want our economy to reflect our commitment to scripture.

No specific modern economic anti-poverty policy is scripturally commended, but a heart posture of generosity toward the poor is commanded.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

“Because the needy are oppressed, and the poor cry out in misery, I will rise up,” says the Lord, “And give them the help they long for.” — Psalm 12.5

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

Read more: Vulnerable Quartet

Can we not see those…sabotaging people working to escape poverty? What kind of society does these things? Not a great one. Not a righteous one.

Vulnerable Quartet
Read more: What If I Don’t Have an Ox?

There is wisdom to apply to our political and economic systems and choices…labor markets and business practices…personal finances…power and resources.

What If I Don’t Have an Ox? — Readers’ Choice
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Unsung Holy Spirit-Inspired Heroes

Links for today’s readings:

Mar 6  Read: Proverbs 25 Listen: (2:56) Read: Mark 15 Listen: (5:16)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Mar 7  Read: Proverbs 26 Listen: (2:37) Read: Mark 16 Listen: (2:34)
Mar 8  Read: Proverbs 27 Listen: (2:43) Read: Psalms 42-43 Listen: (2:32)

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 25.1

1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

Reflection: Unsung Holy Spirit-Inspired Heroes

By John Tillman

The Greeks thought all great works were inspired by “the muses,” who were daughters of Zeus.

Our culture’s inaccurate pictures of “inspiration” are watered down versions of this belief in “muses.” We picture artists languishing, unable to work until inspiration strikes like lightning, spurring frenetic activity and productivity. In reality, that sounds more like mental illness than inspiration. Maybe Plato was partially right when he called inspiration from the muses, “divine madness.”

Our belief that inspiration always comes suddenly is based on stories that are memorable because they are unusual. One day in 1972, Dolly Parton wrote two of her biggest hits, “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You,” but like most artists, she’d agree that’s the exception, not the rule.

Sudden bursts of inspiration aren’t actually sudden. Creative breakthroughs come from sustained efforts over a long period of time. The sudden flower of inspiration comes from diligently planting, watering, fertilizing, and pruning.

When we describe the Bible as “inspired” by God, take care not to let false, cultural ideas about inspiration creep into our theology. The Holy Spirit is not a muse and might not be amused at being thought of as one.

Biblical authors did not go into trances, losing control of their faculties. When the Holy Spirit caused reactions of this kind with King Saul, it was to humble him and produced nothing worth remembering. (1 Samuel 10.10-13; 1 Samuel 18.10-11; 1 Samuel 19.19-24) Authors like David, Asaph, and Solomon made sustained efforts to pursue God’s wisdom. This led to prodigious output of texts considered as God’s own words.

The inspiration of the Spirit didn’t stop with writing. It included editing, curating, and arranging of texts. Today’s passage notes the “men of Hezekiah” who researched, compiled, and arranged additional proverbs of Solomon, but there are many editors, researchers, and curators to thank for our scriptures. For example, the gospel authors worked hard to investigate and make orderly accounts of events so we can be certain of what we have been taught. (Luke 1.1-4; John 20.30-31; 21.24-25)

Be thankful today for the editors and compilers of scripture as the unsung, Holy Spirit-inspired heroes that they are.

The canon of scripture is closed, but the Holy Spirit is still active and wants to speak through your words and actions. Be a diligent worker (2 Timothy 2.15), making sustained efforts in prayer and the scriptures, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit will break out into your life in surprising and sudden ways.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. — Psalm 90.12

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

Read more: Untwisting Scripture

Some Christians spend a lot of time finger-pointing…Some are accused of accommodating today’s culture and others of accommodating past cultures.

Untwisting Scripture
Read more: In the Face of Mockery and Shame

With mockery and shame removed as options, some may be at a loss for how to communicate in our world.

In the Face of Mockery and Shame