Author: John Tillman

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 22.1-2, 4, 7-9, 16
1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; 
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. 
2 Rich and poor have this in common: 
The LORD is the Maker of them all. 

4 Humility is the fear of the LORD; 
its wages are riches and honor and life. 

7 The rich rule over the poor, 
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8 Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity, 
and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
9 The generous will themselves be blessed, 
for they share their food with the poor.

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth 
and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty. 

Rich man’s war, poor man’s fight. — unknown (Civil War era, 1861-1865)

Reflection: Prayer for the Poor at War
By John Tillman

Today’s section of proverbs has many reflections on the relationship of the rich to the poor.

During the American Civil War, men could avoid conscription into the military for a fee of $300. That would be approximately $9,500 in today’s currency. The adage “rich man’s war, poor man’s fight” originated at this time. This “proverb” has remained a popular way of expressing the fact that most nations are led to war by the rich and most who die are poor. 

United States military forces have been volunteer-only since 1973 but conscription (called the draft) could be reactivated if national security demanded it. Despite being a volunteer force, the US Armed Forces are still mostly filled by those from lower economic backgrounds, so the adage is still true.

In other nations, practices vary, but it has become clear in the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that many captured Russian soldiers are conscripts and some of them were unaware of where they were being sent and who they were being told to attack. 

Poor men dying on behalf of the powerful is the way of the world. The way of Christ is the opposite. Christ was the wealthiest but became the poorest. He was the most powerful but became the weakest. Rather than allow us to be casualties of sin and death, God, in Christ, leapt in front of the bullets and died in our place. Yet, through God’s power he won the war with sin and death, conquering them through the cross and shaming them through his bodily resurrection. Thank God that in the war against sin and death, it is God who fights for us.

Prayer for the Poor at War
Lord, you give humans power to do good, yet we turn to evil.
We have power to plant, yet we uproot.
We have power to bless, yet we curse.
We have power to raise, yet we raze.
We have power to birth, yet we murder instead.

Lord, we pray for the poor at war and for the powerful who send them to it.
Whether the military conscript or the mother huddled in a bomb shelter, we pray for you to touch the poor and weak to save them.

Lord, fight for the weak and the powerless.
Frustrate the plans of the powerful.
Use the weak to overcome the strong.
And to those commanded to do wickedness, give bravery to rebel.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

O God of hosts, show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. — Psalm 80.7

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

Today’s Readings
Proverbs 22 (Listen – 2:59)
Psalm 88 (Listen – 1:58)

Read more about Prayer Amidst Evil :: Guided Prayer
Christ promised we would have trouble in this world, and many people are willing to aid that promise coming true.

Prayer Amidst Evil :: Guided Prayer

Read more about Facts and Harsh Realities
God will not remain silent or stand aloof. He is with the suffering and the dying and those responsible will face justice.

Facts and Harsh Realities

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 16.18-19
18 Pride goes before destruction, 
a haughty spirit before a fall. 
19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed 
than to share plunder with the proud. 

Reflection: Are We Proud of the Prideful?
By John Tillman

Some saw the podcast, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, as unnecessarily dragging out dirty laundry. Most praised it for doing the laundry, dragging past sins out of darkness and into the light. An important question it poses is “What is it about us that prefers narcissists in leadership?”

A section of Proverbs 16 describes ideal qualities and actions of righteous kings. Surrounding the “kingly” proverbs are warnings against pride, including one of Proverbs’ most famous verses (Proverbs 16.18) People who know nothing about the Bible know, “Pride goes before a fall.”

Biblically, the primary thing a king or a leader needs to be is humble. This qualification is stated or implied strongly throughout the Bible. However, when we look around we rarely see this. Leaders tend to overflow with ego, bravado, spite, vitriol, and violent language (or even actual violence). Speaking callously about potential violence against one’s opponents has been normalized. (In this, Mark Driscoll was a thought leader.) Other leaders in American churches have also perpetuated this anti-biblical leadership model. We say, “May the best man win” rather than, “May the first among you become your slave.” (Matthew 20.25-28)

In most situations (whether through democracy, the economy, or church membership) people have at least some influence in choosing leaders. Why do we so often choose poorly?

This question is for our entire culture. Business and politics are deeply affected by this. The idea that hard-nosed, abusive, prideful, narcissist leaders are the best chance for success came into the church from culture. Not the other way around.

Too often, we aren’t ashamed of the prideful, we are proud of them. “Look at all they’ve done!” “Look at the growth!” “Look at the fruit!” However, the “fruit” we are typically pointing to is worldly results: attendance, book sales, etc. We are after the same type of fruit as Adam and Eve in the garden. “Look at it! It’s good for knowledge and gaining power! Take and eat.”

To select and become better leaders, we have to learn to love righteousness over results. We must learn to prefer sitting with the oppressed over divvying plunder with the proud. We need to recognize tenderness as strength and empathy as Christlike. We need to surrender our determination to win at all costs and instead count “all things loss.” (Philippians 3.8)

May we be and see better leaders in the mold of Christ rather than the world.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.” — Matthew 16.24-25

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

Today’s Readings
Proverbs 16 (Listen – 3:15)
Psalm 79 (Listen – 1:50)

This Weekend’s Readings
Proverbs 17 (Listen – 2:58), Psalm 80 (Listen – 1:58)
Proverbs 18 (Listen – 2:23), Psalm 81-82 (Listen – 2:36)’

Read more about Pride and Cowardice
The proud person, ironically, begins looking around for people of like mind who want to be sufficient unto themselves in their pride.

Pride and Cowardice :: Readers’ Choice

Read more about After the Whirlwind
Many fear that careless, vitriolic words from leaders may inspire physical violence that could erupt from either side of our fractured political spectrum.

After the Whirlwind — Readers’ Choice

Scripture Focus: Proverbs 15.13-17 
13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful, 
but heartache crushes the spirit. 
14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge, 
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. 
15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched, 
but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. 
16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord 
than great wealth with turmoil. 
17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love 
than a fattened calf with hatred. 

Reflection: Inner Light of the Heart
By John Tillman

The theme of this section is the heart (or inner being) and its effects on the rest of our lives. Proverbs’ pithy, punchy format can seem like it simply states the obvious: “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.” However, obvious truths sometimes have deeper implications.

Doctors know that stress, anxiety, and depression, often thought of as intangible feelings, cause tangible harm to our bodies. Proverbs often agrees and speaks about how the spiritual affects the physical.

Emotional suffering can affect us physically and physical suffering can affect emotional well-being. Trauma responses in which victims of physical abuse relive the sensations and emotions of traumatic events are common.

“Feelings” physically affect us. Physical suffering emotionally affects us. We sometimes can’t just “get over” or “pray away” our feelings because of this mental-physical feedback loop.

Our bodies matter. Our spirit also matters. We are integrated beings—not solely spirit and not solely flesh. The resurrection body of Jesus, the firstborn from among the dead (1 Corinthians 15.20), shows us that we will not be disembodied spirits. We will not slough off flesh for a spiritual plane but be transfigured (1 Corinthians 15.50-55) into a more glorious state as heaven comes down to earth. 

Until that day, there is a bright side to physical/spiritual connection. Christians have something greater within us to rely on than our own spirit (1 John 4.4). Christ promised “rivers of living water” within us and that he would “pour out his Holy Spirit” on all flesh. The Holy Spirit is the down payment and guarantee that Christ’s promises of resurrection and eternality are true (2 Corinthians 1.21-22).

Centering our hearts on Christ can change our visages, our vision, and our vitality. The Holy Spirit is an inner light for surviving the darkness and helping others lost within it.

The world’s current reality is not the end. Many biblical authors expressed dark emotions and experienced physical suffering as the culture around them degraded them and the structures of justice and righteousness were toppled by greed and grotesque pursuits. However, they also testify that there is refreshment for our souls and hearts in scripture.

The state of our hearts affects the rest of our lives. The one who feeds on the Lord, feasts even if his body starves. The one who fears the Lord can stand against fearful things.

Through the Holy Spirit, our brightened souls can put a gleam of glory on our faces no matter what darkness surrounds us. 

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting
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 Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Proverbs 15 (Listen – 3:36)
Psalm 78:38-72 (Listen – 7:12)

Read more about Unprecedented Peace
War is so entrenched in our culture. Violence so widely lauded as a solution. Christians can shine in darkness by clinging to our identity as people of peace.

Unprecedented Peace

Read more about Hope Amidst Destruction
May we be lanterns of light, shining in a darkened land.
May God purify us and spread his glory over us.

Hope Amidst Destruction