Author: John Tillman

Links for today’s readings:

Dec 29  Read:  2 Chronicles 34 Listen: (6:23) Read: Psalms 146-147 Listen: (3:09)

Scripture Focus: 2 Chronicles 34.14-21

14 While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. 15 Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan. 16 Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them. 17 They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.” 18 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. 19 When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. 20 He gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: 21 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not kept the word of the Lord; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written in this book.”

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Reflection: What Scripture Reveals

By John Tillman

Truth neglected is often forgotten. Truth forgotten remains true.

Do you remember your times tables? How many digits of pi (𝜋) do you have memorized? How many United States presidents can you name? Can you recite a Shakespearean speech, or a Walt Whitman poem? How many phone numbers do you remember?

From the 1960s through the 1990s, “rote memorization” fell out of favor. Educators emphasized critical thinking and problem solving over retaining facts. Memorization was not abandoned. Facts are the building blocks of critical thinking and problem solving but memorization was de-emphasized. However, the pendulum may swing back. Memorization is making a comeback in some educational areas. 

Memorization is an Ai-proof assignment. You can’t have an Ai assistant recite the Gettysburg Address for you. And when great speeches, poems, or sections of the Constitution are memorized, more than rote words are learned. The thinking and logic sinks in.

Memorization fades without reinforcement. However, truths forgotten remain true. Six times seven remains forty-two even if we forget and Hamlet’s speech beginning, “To be or not to be,” in Act 3, Scene 1 remains a profound reflection on death, suffering, and injustice regardless of our inability to recite it from memory. (Hamlet Act 3, Scene 1)

The generations before Josiah neglected, then forgot the scripture. That didn’t stop scripture from being true or his covenant with the people from being binding. God showed mercy based on the people’s response to discovering what was forgotten. Are you discovering things in scripture? How are you responding?

Scripture doesn’t have to be lost for generations for us to discover new things every day. Like Josiah, let discoveries in scripture spur you to action. Discoveries will be sometimes joyous and sometimes convicting. Respond appropriately and experience the mercy of God.

There’s no Ai tool that can hide God’s word in your heart for you. Memorization alone cannot do it either. Scripture requires meditation, reflection, and response. When the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, it isn’t just facts or laws. (John 16.13) Truth is embodied with wisdom, application, and action. (1 John 2.3-6) This is what it means to hide God’s word in your heart.

Scripture contains commands and claims but is not primarily facts to be known or rules to enforce. Scripture’s purpose is revealing the nature of God in Jesus and conforming us to that image through the Holy Spirit.

Read, reflect, and respond to scripture to embody Jesus to those around you.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

I love you, O Lord my strength, O Lord my stronghold, my crag, and my haven.

My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation and my refuge; you are worthy of praise.

As for God, his ways are perfect; the words of the Lord are tried in the fire; he is a shield to all who trust in him.

For who is God, but the Lord? Who is the Rock, except our God? — Psalm 18.1-2, 31-32

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

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Links for today’s readings:

Dec 19  Read: 2 Chronicles 22-23 Listen: (6:51) Read: Psalms 126-128 Listen: (1:58)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Dec 20  Read: 2 Chronicles 24 Listen: (5:07) Read: Psalms 129-131 Listen: (2:03)
Dec 21  Read: 2 Chronicles 25 Listen: (5:12) Read: Psalms 132-134 Listen: (2:42)

Scripture Focus: 2 Chronicles 22.10-12

10 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah. 11 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. 12 He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land. 

2 Chronicles 23.1-3

1 In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. 2 They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites and the heads of Israelite families from all the towns. When they came to Jerusalem, 3 the whole assembly made a covenant with the king at the temple of God. Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son shall reign, as the Lord promised concerning the descendants of David.

11 Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; they presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!” 12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to them at the temple of the Lord. 13 She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and musicians with their instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”

Reflection: Undoing Treason — Joy of Advent

By John Tillman

A wicked usurper takes the throne, slaughtering the royal family. A princess hides the youngest heir with an old priest who raises him in secrecy. Then, at the right time, the priest reveals the young prince, restoring the nation’s rightful ruler.

When the wicked queen sees the legal heir surrounded by supporters and proclaimed as the rightful king, she cries, “Treason!” But the only treason was hers. The priest’s conspirators are not committing treason. They are undoing it. And the nation rejoices.

We’ve read (and written) about Athaliah and Joash in Kings. Joash fits the common literary trope of the “hidden heir.” Each variation changes some details, but Caspian, Trillian, and Cor/Shasta from The Chronicles of Narnia, Luke and Leia from Star Wars, and Rapunzel from Tangled use the elements.

As usual, the chronicler has a different focus. Kings concerns itself with political and military matters. Chronicles highlights the liturgical and spiritual background. Both accounts tell of Jehoiada’s instructions to his coalition. Only Chronicles tells us Jehoiada’s theological reasoning. “The king’s son shall reign,” he says, because this is what “the Lord promised.” For Jehoiada, this plot is not his or carried out by his cleverness or strength. It is the will of God.

Advent is, in a way, like Jehoiada’s plot to undo Athaliah’s treason.

Jesus, the King of Kings, is hidden now in heaven, we are hidden in him, and he is hidden in us. On earth, Satan’s treasonous rebellion has dominion over thrones, powers, rulers, and authorities. We are the resistance movement, working under Satan’s nose to reveal the true kingdom to as many as possible. At the right time, the joyous day will come when treason is undone and the true Son, the King of Kings, will be fully revealed. 

Our resistance movement is both similar to and different from Jehoiada’s.

Jehoiada had a political mission and used tools of politics and warfare. Our mission differs because our kingdom is not of this world. So our methods are testimony, service, and sacrifice, not the sword.

For years, Joash lived in the temple, immersed in worship and the scriptures. We must devote ourselves to worship and scripture. They prepare us for the coming kingdom.

There are wicked and terrible forces in this world. In Advent, we celebrate and anticipate the joy of their overthrow as we await the revealing of the true king.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Happy are they whom you choose and draw to your courts to dwell there! They will be satisfied by the beauty of your house, by the holiness of your temple. — Psalm 65.4

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

Read more: Hidden Co-heirs

Wickedness and evil will be thrown down and all who follow Jesus will be co-heirs with him when he is marvelously revealed.

Hidden Co-heirs

Read more: Eating the Book :: Joy of Advent

One of the simplest practices that can make Advent a time of transformative joy is regular Bible reading.

Eating the Book :: Joy of Advent

Links for today’s readings:

Dec 18  Read: 2 Chronicles 21 Listen: (3:25) Read: Psalms 123-125 Listen: (1:32)

Scripture Focus: 2 Chronicles 21.20

20 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Reflection: To No One’s Regret — Joy of Advent

By John Tillman

The chronicler’s harsh words about Jehoram’s death have been repeated about many distasteful people in history. “He passed away, to no one’s regret.”

They also remind us of the visions the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge sees reactions to the death of an unmourned man. His business associates scoff at the cheap funeral. His house staff steal valuables. The man is, of course, Scrooge. Prior to his repentance, Scrooge created wealth but no goodness. Worse than that, he caused pain, suffering, and hardship without mercy, compassion, or empathy. He touched no one’s life. He only collected their fees. For these reasons he dies to no one’s regret.

By contrast, in It’s a Wonderful Life, Clarence comments on the awful alternate version of Bedford Falls that exists without George Bailey in it. “Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole.”

These fictional tales of alternate realities show two ways to “leave an awful hole.” Bailey left a hole by the absence of his self-sacrifice, compassion, and bravery. Scrooge left a hole by the presence of his greed, cruelty, and mercilessness.

Jehoram was more merciless and wicked than any Christmas movie villain. He murdered his brothers and undid the spiritual progress his father made. The only joy associated with Jehoram was at his death.

Mary prophesied that the unborn Jesus would bring down “rulers from their thrones.” Part of the joy of Advent is awaiting the justice Jesus will bring. There are many “rulers” we have suffered or will suffer under. Some rulers, like Jehoram and Herod, may perhaps die in embarrassing and public demonstrations of God’s judgment (2 Chronicles 21.18-19; Acts 12.21-22) “to no one’s regret.”

But Jesus primarily throws down other tyrants. Our inner sinful nature is a tyrant we carry in our minds and hearts. Death, sin, and Satan are the tyrants of all tyrants. These are the powers, rulers, and authorities that Christ publicly humiliates and throws down. (Colossians 2.15)

Mary celebrated joyously before Jesus was even born. We also celebrate joy before its full completeness. We both participate in and demonstrate the results of Christ’s work by creating goodness, easing hardship, and working for justice. Let us be repentant Scrooges, ever filling holes in others’ lives rather than leaving them.

When our lives are over, may “good and faithful servant” be said rather than “to no one’s regret.”

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

Come now and see the works of God, how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.
In his might he rules forever; his eyes keep watch over the nations; let no rebel rise up against him.
Bless our God, you peoples; make the voice of his praise to be heard;
Who holds our soul in life, and will not allow our feet to slip. — Psalm 66.4, 6-8

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

Read more: Justice Brings Joy — Joy of Advent

Let him find us faithfully at work sowing the gospel, establishing righteousness, and distributing a harvest of justice.

Justice Brings Joy — Joy of Advent

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Links for today’s readings:

Dec 17   Read: 2 Chronicles 19-20 Listen: (8:09) Read:  Psalms 120-122 Listen: (2:12)

Scripture Focus: 2 Chronicles 20.20-28

20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 

     “Give thanks to the Lord, 
         for his love endures forever.” 

22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. 24 When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah, where they praised the Lord. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah to this day. 27 Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lyres and trumpets.

Reflection: The Calculating Weapon of Joy — Joy of Advent

By John Tillman

Happiness works fine in good times. As long as the lights stay on and nothing goes wrong, you might mistake happiness for joy. But they aren’t the same.

King Jehoshaphat had many reasons for happiness. A bright spot among the kings of Judah, Jehoshaphat beat back the darkness of idolatry, systemized spiritual education in God’s law, and revitalized temple worship. His military strength reminds us of David’s and his wealth reminds us of Solomon’s.

But he might have been too happy. Jehoshaphat was happily at peace with Israel but the prophet Jehu warned that his military cooperation with them helped “the wicked” and brought God’s wrath.

Then, darkness grew on the horizon. Enemy nations combined armies to attack. In response, Jehoshaphat went to the temple, not the battlements. He cried out toward God’s altar instead of shouting orders from a chariot. Perhaps Jehoshaphat assumed this was God’s wrath and the solution was mercy, not might.

God answered through Jahaziel, who prophesied that God would fight for Judah. Jahaziel descended from the prolific psalmist, Asaph. Perhaps this is why Jehoshaphat put singing men rather than swordsmen at the front of the army. All they had to do was sing and pick up the spoils. This was joyful, but not rational. By God’s mercy, Jehoshaphat found joy even before the victory.

I’ve acted in musicals where a song solved problems. I’ve watched action films in which musical training montages helped win battles. That’s not reality most of the time and not our intended lesson.

Most battles aren’t won by singing psalms. Certainly some in Jerusalem sang psalms when Babylon conquered Jerusalem. Jesus quoted Psalm 22 on the cross. Many martyrs met death with psalms or scripture on their lips. Worship isn’t magic. However, joy is a weapon against darkness—the weapon of vision.

Joy is not naiveté or denial. Happiness is naive—not joy. Happiness can be spoiled, broken, or stolen. Not joy. Joy acknowledges, even accepts, pains and darkness because it sees what happiness can’t. Joy recognizes that our solution is mercy, not might and the battle is already won. Joy sees the ultimate truth of Jesus’ victory even when it looks like a cross.

Even before victory arrives, joy calculates its inevitable reality. Joy plots a line from manger, to cross, to empty tomb. This line points unbendingly to our joyful destiny and nothing can separate us from it.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the clouds. — Psalm 145.1

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

Read more: Unexpected Victory — Joy of Advent

Advent is the unassuming mustard seed from which sprouts the unexpected joy of gospel victory.

Unexpected Victory — Joy of Advent

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