Author: Erin Newton

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Deuteronomy 16 Listen: (3:25) Read: 2 Corinthians 9 Listen: (2:26)

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 16:20

20 Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Reflection: Sola iustitia – Justice Alone

By Erin Newton

What is justice? Is it simply enforcing what is legal? Or, as Christians, do we believe in a view of justice that exists beyond the bounds of the Constitution or any such government document?

Our contemporary culture has spoken at length about justice and across various topics from race to gender to politics to immigration. Justice is wrongfully withheld. Justice is woefully overused. Add the word “systemic” to justice and many heated debates ensue.

In his book, Ministers of Propaganda, Scott Coley examines various views taught from the pulpit that are founded on misleading rhetoric. In the final chapter, he states, “The persisting myth that we should regard those who demand systemic justice as false teachers or theological liberals is more than mere error: it presents a false image of who God is and what God requires of us.” Deuteronomy 16 supports such a claim.

In a series of instructions about festivals, including the Passover, God speaks of the importance of justice. He warns against accepting bribes because it “blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent” (v. 19). Justice is to be protected from corruption and people are to be treated fairly—equally, without discrimination.

It is fascinating that instructions about how to govern the community are sandwiched between instructions on worship, as if God is showing the people that one must have the other. There is no proper worship of God if justice is corrupted. There is no justice for the people if idols are the center of attention.

What does it mean to follow justice and to follow justice alone?

When we define justice with our government’s version of legality, we make the justice that God commands relative. It only means something if our government has decreed it so.

When we pursue justice and our own comfort, convenience, or financial gain, we are not following God’s command to keep justice pure from corruption. That sort of justice preserves the status quo.

Following justice alone is in no way a self-seeking, self-benefiting action. Coley drives home the reality of what justice looks like: “Scripture provides not a single example of a false prophet demanding justice for the oppressed. By contrast, Scripture provides many examples of God’s prophets decrying the political or religious establishment for perpetuating systemic injustice.”

To follow justice is to be a prophetic voice, and that is always a voice for the oppressed.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus said: “As long as the day lasts we must carry out the work of the one who sent me; the night will soon be here when no one can work. As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world.” — John 9.4-5

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
 by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: What You Are Doing Is Not Good

An “outsider” came in and criticized Moses’ system of justice! “What you are doing is not good!”

Read more: Are There Ashtrays in Your Elevators?

Like ashtrays in elevators, there are always systemic, tangible, widespread, societal enablements of sins.

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Deuteronomy 8 Listen: (2:58)  Read: 2 Corinthians 2 Listen: (2:13)

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 8:17-18

17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Reflection: Count Your Hardships

By Erin Newton

Count your blessings. Typically people are meant to reflect on all the good things that have happened in their life. This usually produces gratitude. It’s not bad advice either. Reframing our experiences enables us to heal from past events.

It may even seem like Deuteronomy is offering the same advice. God calls his people to remember. Remember the manna. Remember the non-achy feet despite years of wandering. Remember the clothes that never needed mending. Lots of blessings to be counted.

He also tells them to remember the reason they left Egypt—their hardships and trials. Remember the venomous snakes and the waterless land. These don’t sound like blessings to be counted. But remembering redirects their hearts to God.

When they only look at their successes, or all the places where “things just worked out,” the temptation is to take credit. Moses could have flexed his muscles and relished in the glory of being the leader. Each family could sit down to another full table of quail and bread, considering themselves awfully proud to be such hard workers deserving of such a feast.

Success and fortune whisper self-congratulatory tales to our itching ears.

Even looking back on history, we conjure the idea that everything then was better. We are tempted to pat ourselves on the back. Look how far we’ve come! And with such ideas, we credit success to our own power and strength. We either whitewash the hardships or delve into pride.

But God asked them to remember the hard times. Remember the times they were hungry or thirsty. Remember the time they all nearly died. Why? It’s not to cultivate a spirit of depression or fear. Balanced with the various ways God provided, the anxiety-inducing “what-if” turns into the hope-filled “even-if.” Even if the land is waterless, God provides. Even if we are attacked by venomous snakes, God provides.

The stories do not end with, “We will pull ourselves up and make ourselves stronger!” There is no pep-talk to motivate the people into working more for their success.

Remembering the good and the hard allows us to see God at the center of our lives. Go ahead and count your blessings. Praise God for the modern manna. But take time to remember the hard times you’ve already endured. Remember these times by saying, “Even when…” and knowing God was working, is working, and always shall be working—for your good.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Be still, then, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth. — Psalm 46.11

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer

 by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Count Your Blessings – Hymns for Giving Thanks

Oatman’s famous hymn is a reminder to us all that God has blessed us immeasurably and it is up to us to be attentive to the gifts God has given us.

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Links for today’s readings:

Read: Deuteronomy 1 Listen: (6:27) Read: 1 Corinthians 11 Listen: (4:20)

Scripture Focus: Deuteronomy 1:12-13

12 But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? 13 Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.

Reflection: Time to Go

By Erin Newton

A local pastor preached his final sermon recently after a nearly five-decade ministry. His story, however, is littered with covered-up scandals and evidence of abuse.  

Across town, another pastor declared he would be stepping away from his role in ministry. The terms were peaceable, and the reasoning was untarnished by scandal, rumor, or dissent.

In another state, another pastor hands in her resignation letter after feeling the call to continue ministry in a different capacity. A plan is set to have her continue preaching for a few months. She sighs a relief, “This church has never known a peaceful transfer. This is a good thing.”

How is good leadership measured? Does a longer ministry mean more faithful service to God? Or does the refusal to leave indicate a desire to hold tightly to one’s authority?

After a weary and long trek in the wilderness, God calls Moses to leave Horeb. It is time for the next stage of God’s plan for his people. Moses recognizes the need for help. Deuteronomy 1 reads like a flashback of Exodus 18, when Jethro admonished Moses, “You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (Exod 18.18).

Now Moses sees the value in dividing his role and bestowing authority on others who can help. With this change, he would not bear all the burdens of people alone, and the people would have an available leader to go to with their problems.

With Moses’s education in the royal courts of Egypt, it seems odd that he would not have known how hard it is to lead a large group without help. Perhaps he felt it was his obligation, his calling, alone.

Like many of us, was he tempted to think he was the only one fit for the job? Did he assume that leading God’s people was something that made him irreplaceable?

The text never says. But we do know that he accepted advice, he humbly received the help, and the people were better for it.

As we look at the community of God’s people around us, are we seeing the potential leadership of people who are currently sitting on the sidelines? Are we viewing the younger generations not as strange nuisances, but as future leaders? Are we humble enough to step down when God calls us?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

Praise the Lord, all you nations; laud him, all you peoples.

For his loving-kindness toward us is great, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Hallelujah! — Psalm 117

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime

 by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Josiahs Need Zephaniahs

If we long to see youth, like Josiah, rise up to lead revival instead of abandoning faith, we need to be like Zephaniah, unafraid to boldly speak of, condemn, and repent of sin.

Read more: Life-Giving Leadership

Be a life-giving leader. Sprout, bud, blossom, and produce fruit, leading people to Jesus’ presence. Let us be the sign people need to believe the gospel.