Author: John Tillman

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Complicated Feelings When Heroes Fall,

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 17  Read: 1 Chronicles 9-10 Listen: (7:43) Read: Psalms 85 Listen: (1:25)

Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 10.8-12

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news among their idols and their people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of Dagon. 11 When all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the great tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

1 Samuel 31.8-13

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.

11 When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

Reflection: Complicated Feelings When Heroes Fall

By John Tillman

Saul’s reign was a long, slow fall from heroic heights to villainous depths.

There is a complicated mess of feelings when heroes fall. The greater their former deeds, the greater damage their fall causes. The greater your admiration, the greater your anger. The greater your love, the greater the loss. Have you watched a hero fall before? Are you seeing one fall now? Do you understand these complicated feelings? Jabesh Gilead did. And so did David.

Citizens of Jabesh Gilead were the first to see Saul’s heroism. (1 Samuel 11.1-11) He saved them from being maimed at his heroic beginning. They saved his maimed body from further humiliation after his villainous end. They did not excuse his sins or rewrite history. They simply remembered who he was before the fall. David, one of Saul’s main victims, thanked them for doing Saul this honor.

I have watched heroes and friends fall. Some fell fast, following shocking revelations. Affairs, crimes, abuse, or corruption suddenly came to light, bringing well-deserved consequences. Some were shunned, never to serve in their roles again. (This is justice, not persecution.) Sadly, some still wield influence today despite little evidence of repentance.

Some fell slowly—incrementally corrupted by wealth, power, prejudice, worldly philosophy, racial bias, political movements, or charismatic false messiahs. They lost their first loves and wedded themselves to movements. Their hearts were infected and hardened by wicked motives of greed, glory, or power. They feared one side’s slippery slope, but instead of holding the ground of truth, they fled the opposite direction, sliding down into the opposite side’s errors.

Whether a hero’s light slowly wanes or is suddenly snuffed out, we still remember and mourn the light’s absence. Be wise and careful when recalling good things from a fallen hero’s past. Beware nostalgia—it can fuel self-deception. A nostalgic heart rewrites history, minimizing and defending past sins, crimes, or damages.

When a hero falls, whether slowly or suddenly, don’t allow yourself to soften the truth with nostalgic lies. Face the truth. Feel the pain of their sins. Acknowledge the damage they caused. Face both realities—the good and the bad. Hate what is evil but cling to what is good. Don’t defend what is evil with what was good. Most of all, humble yourself and remember that if they fell, so could you.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Love the Lord, all you who worship him; the Lord protects the faithful, but repays to the full those who act haughtily.

Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. — Psalm 31.23-24


– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: A Sympathetic Villain Origin Story

Someone you love right now might be on a villain’s path. Hope is good. Naiveté is not…be ready to stand in their way

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Read more: Confront the Spirit of Cruelty

One key to spotting injustice is the spirit of cruelty…Where cruelty rules, justice is absent and peace is impossible.

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Captive Kings

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 14   Read: 1 Chronicles 3-4 Listen: (8:52) Read: Psalms 80 Listen: (1:58)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Nov 15   Read: 1 Chronicles 5-6 Listen:(12:23) Read: Psalms 81-82 Listen: (2:36)
Nov 16   Read: 1 Chronicles 7-8 Listen: (9:04)Read: Psalms 83-84 Listen: (3:20)

Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 3.17a

17 The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive…

Reflection: Captive Kings

By John Tillman

The Chronicler’s opening genealogy calls Jehoiachin “the captive.”

This appellation could apply to most of Judah’s last, wicked kings. After the reformer, Josiah, the final kings were a chaotic string of failures who ended up in captivity to different empires.

Josiah’s son, Jehoahaz, took three months to undo decades of faithfulness following his father’s revival. Pharoah took him to Egypt in chains, and he died there. (2 Kings 23.31-33; 2 Chronicles 36.1-4)

Jehoiakim reigned longer, eleven years, but did no better. Nebuchadnezzar took him to Babylon in chains, and he died there. (2 Kings 23.36-37; 24.1-2; 2 Chronicles 36.5-7)

Jehoiachin, like Jehoahaz, reigned only three months before being brought as a captive to Babylon. (2 Kings 24.8; 2 Chronicles 36.9)

Zedekiah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, was the final king of Judah, reigning eleven years before being captured, having his sons killed in front of him, and then being blinded. (2 Kings 25.1-7; 2 Chronicles 36.11-13)

The Chronicler zeroes in on Jehoiachin in his simplified genealogy. Jehoiachin’s fate and future were different from the other captive kings.

Rabbinical tradition assumes Jehoiachin repented in captivity. After decades in prison, a Babylonian king released the captive, seated him at his table, and provided him financial support. (2 Kings 25.27-30) Jeremiah cursed Jehoiachin to be childless, (Jeremiah 22.24) yet God lifted this curse. (Haggai 2.20-25) Not only did he have children, it was through this captive king that Matthew traced the genealogy of Jesus. (Matthew 1.1-17)

These kings were captive to sin long before they became captive to empires. They became captives because they sought freedom apart from godly repentance and righteousness. They rebelled to throw off the punishment God placed them under.

Sin brings inward spiritual captivity, (John 8.34; Romans 6.5-7) but consequences of sin often lead to outward forms of captivity, whether personal or legal. The same is true for us today. The same is true for our leaders, whether familial, religious, cultural, or political. 

But there is good news for us captives. (Luke 4.17-21) From this line of captive kings, comes one who sets captives free. From this line of crooked judges, comes one righteous ruler. From this line of cursed national rebels, comes the servant who blesses all nations. From this lost line of craven sinners doomed to death, comes one who conquers sin, disarms death, and restores the lost.

Cursed, captive kings can break their curse, be restored, and bless the world. We, and our communities, need that same curse lifted and we are commanded to let that same blessing flow. 

The gospel frees us to free others and blesses us to bless others. Let freedom and blessing ring.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy Name and glory in your praise. — Psalm 106.47

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Restoration Begins

Through Jehoiachin, the king raised from prison to the side of Babylon’s king, comes Jesus, the king who was raised from death to the side of Heaven’s king.

Restoration Begins
Read more: Anger, Exile, and Mercy

Even in exile, we do not need to despair but to repent, be restored, and be a blessing where God sends us.

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When Temples Fall

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 13  Read: 1 Chronicles 1-2 Listen: (11:18) Read: Psalms 79 Listen: (1:50)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 79.1-10

1 O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;

    they have defiled your holy temple,

    they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

2 They have left the dead bodies of your servants

    as food for the birds of the sky,

    the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.

3 They have poured out blood like water

    all around Jerusalem,

    and there is no one to bury the dead.

4 We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,

    of scorn and derision to those around us.

5 How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?

    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out your wrath on the nations

    that do not acknowledge you,

on the kingdoms

    that do not call on your name;

7 for they have devoured Jacob

    and devastated his homeland.

8 Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;

    may your mercy come quickly to meet us,

    for we are in desperate need.

9 Help us, God our Savior,

    for the glory of your name;

deliver us and forgive our sins

    for your name’s sake.

10 Why should the nations say,

    “Where is their God?”

Reflection: When Temples Fall

By John Tillman

God closely tied his identity to the temple. Why didn’t he save it?

God filled the temple with his glory (1 Kings 8.10-13) and promised Solomon, “My eyes and heart will always be there.” (1 Kings 9.3) By God’s own description, the temple metaphorically and metaphysically connected God’s throne and identity with Jerusalem and his people.

Israel and Judah relied on this through many dangers. God saved the city and his temple many times over, from enemy after enemy. Israel and Judah tied their security to the idea that God would never let the temple suffer shame or destruction. They thought of God’s temple as an unbreakable shield that made them undefeatable, despite being unfaithful.

For this reason Psalm 79 begins with shock that God allowed his temple to be invaded, defiled, and destroyed. In the psalmist’s eyes, this brought shame not only on the people but on the name of God.

The psalmist called on God to forgive the people and help them for “the glory of your name” and “for your name’s sake.” (Psalm 79.9) God, however, is not shamed when a corrupt institution or person falls, even if that institution or person identifies themselves as belonging to God or representing him.

God’s promise to Solomon was conditional—if the people turned away, God promised to make the temple an object of ridicule and scorn. (1 Kings 9.6-10) It was for the sake of God’s name that the temple Judah corrupted was destroyed.

For Christians, Jesus is our temple and our salvation in him is secure and unshakable. Our faith is in his faithfulness, not ours. However, a person, church, organization, or nation cannot slap on the name “Christian” and expect escape from worldly failure or shame, especially when they are unfaithful. Jesus is not a bumper sticker that makes your car unwreckable no matter how you drive.

Are there “temples” you hold as impervious to falling? Is there anything labeled “Christian” that you trust to save you? Jesus will purge our unrighteous temples, whatever they are. Let him.

God would rather destroy his temple than see it continue in unrighteousness, but the psalmist’s good news is that God also restores. Jesus went through shame, ridicule, suffering, destruction, and death for the glory set before him and shares that glory with us. (Hebrews 12.2-3) Just don’t confuse the glory of an institution with the glory of God or presume upon the grace of God to continue in unrighteousness. (Romans 6.1-2)

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus said: “The servant who knows what his master wants, but has got nothing ready and done nothing in accord with those wishes, will be given a great many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but has acted in such a way that he deserves a beating will be given fewer strokes. When someone is given a great deal, a great deal will be demanded of that person; when someone is trusted with a great deal, of that person even more will be expected.” — Luke 12.47-48

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Temple Confrontations

Uzziah angrily claimed purity and was made unclean. Isaiah fearfully confessed uncleanness and was made pure.

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If Tyre, Adam, and the spiritual leadership of the Temple can fall, so can we. The same sins they tripped on strike at our heels.

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Anger, Exile, and Mercy

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 11  Read: 2 Kings 24 Listen: (3:21) Read: Psalms 78.1-37 Listen: (7:12)

Scripture Focus: 2 Kings 24.20

20 It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence.

Reflection: Anger, Exile, and Mercy

By  John Tillman

God put his name on the people so they could “image” him to the world. He promised to bless nations through them. He put his Spirit in the mouths of their prophets, priests, kings, and poets. His presence filled their Temple with glory.

Yet, they rejected him. They chose cursing, not blessing. They blasphemed God’s name by misrepresenting him with their actions.

Instead of lifting up the poor, caring for the outcast, and welcoming the foreigner, they crushed, oppressed, and denied justice. They tortured and killed God’s messengers, preferring uncritical voices. They despised the Lord’s presence by serving other gods and idols right in the very Temple that bore God’s name. They did all this with impunity, still considering themselves righteous.

Can we see ourselves in them? How is God’s name thought of because of us? Do people call us a blessing? What would the poor, outcast, and foreigners think of God’s love for them if they based it entirely on our treatment of them? Do we represent God faithfully?

God planned good things for Israel during captivity. This is what Jeremiah 29.11 is about. In exile, God would rebuild Israel. But to be remade into God’s image they had to be stripped of all they had relied on other than God.

The beautiful walled city? Not one brick left on another.
The newly restored Temple? Stripped of valuables. Razed to the ground.
The proud kings, noble families, and wealthy leaders? Stripped. Shaved. Enslaved. Some blinded. Some maimed. Many would have been castrated and made eunuchs. 

Do we feel destroyed or stripped or exiled or shamed or humiliated? Do we see failure and unrighteousness? If so, we can still turn to God. “I have plans to prosper you and not to harm you,” says the Lord. This was not spoken to “winners.” These words are meant for those who have lost a battle, seen their Temple fall, seen their kings carried off in chains, and admitted their sinfulness and corruption.

Not all misfortunes are judgments of God for sin. But whenever we feel crushed and hopeless, God tenderly reminds us that he has not forsaken us even if we have forsaken him. Even in exile, we do not need to despair but to repent, be restored, and be a blessing where God sends us.

His anger is only for a moment. His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 30.5)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, God reveals himself in glory.
Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; for God himself is judge. —Psalm 50.2, 6


– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Balancing Justice and Mercy

Whether people die by neglect…malice…abuse of power…violence of crime or excessive punishment, we are responsible to provide justice.

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Read more: Have Mercy

Pray this pluralized version of Psalm 51 this week, confessing not only our individual sins but the sins of our communities, churches, and nations.

Have Mercy

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Lasting Revivals and Normal Idols

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 10  Read: 2 Kings 23 Listen: (7:43) Read: Psalms 77 Listen: (2:12)

Scripture Focus: 2 Kings 23.10-14

10 He desecrated Topheth, which was in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so no one could use it to sacrifice their son or daughter in the fire to Molek. 11 He removed from the entrance to the temple of the Lord the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun. They were in the court near the room of an official named Nathan-Melek. Josiah then burned the chariots dedicated to the sun. 

12 He pulled down the altars the kings of Judah had erected on the roof near the upper room of Ahaz, and the altars Manasseh had built in the two courts of the temple of the Lord. He removed them from there, smashed them to pieces and threw the rubble into the Kidron Valley. 13 The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem on the south of the Hill of Corruption—the ones Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the people of Ammon. 14 Josiah smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles and covered the sites with human bones.

Reflection: Lasting Revivals and Normal Idols

By John Tillman

Around the world, Christians, including myself, pray for a revival like Josiah’s in our countries. But there’s a problem…

Josiah forcefully and radically changed Israel and Judah’s religious landscape. He tore down the infrastructure of temples, altars, and idols. He put out of work or killed the personnel of priests, prostitutes, and workers. He restored true worship for the first time in generations.

Josiah’s reforms were a massive change for the nations of Israel and Judah. These changes would have affected the job market, the economy, housing, and agriculture. Josiah cleansed Israel and Judah from top to bottom, but the next generation went bottom up. The changes didn’t stick. Why?

Josiah tore down the altars on the hillsides, but he couldn’t touch the ones in their hearts. He burned and ground the symbols of false gods into dust, but he couldn’t grind down the people’s habitual addiction to their images. He destroyed temples of gold and silver, but he couldn’t melt from their minds people’s comfortable familiarity with idolatry.

We need revival deeper than Josiah’s. If we want lasting faith in the next generation and a revival beyond a few changes to architecture, we need to base it on something other than force and power. We don’t need a strong man enforcing showy spirituality, religious observance, and moral behaviors.

Rather than dictatorial destruction, we need grassroots growth. Rather than pharisaical enforcement, we need Christlike engagement. We also need to clean our own houses first and do so with honesty.

It’s easy to be judgmental of ancient people’s idols. They seem so simplistic, terrifying, or just weird. “Storm gods, sex gods, and chaos monsters, oh my. How could they believe this?” But these gods were normal to the culture. Engaging with these idols was practical SOP that promised financial ROI.

When we look for idols in our lives, we shouldn’t look for weird things. We should look for normal things. The idols of a culture don’t always dress up in flamboyant costumes. They often hide in normality and ubiquity.

The idols we find in our lives are unlikely to appear as mystical beings or golden statues or be found in shrines and altars on hillsides. But they might resemble institutions, brands, or revered leaders. They might hide among private shrines of belief, our pet sins, and our longings for comfort, safety, and control.

Lasting revivals start small. May one start now.

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 Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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Josiah is known for religious reforms…a leader who not only recognized sin but called it out, determined to live differently, and worked to get rid of it.

The Cost of Repentance