Mercy Seat and Manger — Readers’ Choice

Scripture Focus: 2 Chronicles 3.1
1 Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.

Luke 1.34-38
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Originally published on December 4, 2023, based on readings from 2 Chronicles 3 and Luke 1.

Readers’ Choice is here: There’s still time to tell us about your favorite, most meaningful posts of the year. If you shared it with someone, or it helped you, let us know via email, direct message, or filling out the linked form.

Advent in September: Several of the choices from readers were from last year, during Advent. We are putting these posts together in this first week of Readers’ Choice. We pray as Summer winds down that the spirit of Christmas has continued in your heart and that these posts will help you look forward to and anticipate the coming seasons.

Readers’ Choice posts are selected by our readers:
Peter — John, thank you for this gift. Your explanation of how God’s temple on Mt. Moriah (and ultimately through Jesus’ own mediation) deepened and enriched my understanding of how God brings life out of our death for us.
Russell, Japan — This is wonderful. So much to meditate on and absorb. Thank you.
Susan — This reminds me of a medieval formulation, concerning Mary’s womb, or rather, the Holy Contents thereof, one runs across in the sayings of mystics: “We found heaven and earth in a little space.”

Reflection: Mercy Seat and Manger — Readers’ Choice
By John Tillman

Temples intend to overlap the mundane and the mystical, allowing humans to interact with gods. The holiest place in the Temple was “the mercy seat,” where human guilt was confronted by God’s righteousness and mercy. The Temple site on Mount Moriah was a place of confrontation and sacrifice long before the Temple was built. 

David purchased Araunah’s threshing floor as a place of sacrifice for his own sin. (1 Chronicles 21) David chose plague as punishment, but God stayed the sword of the death angel on the threshing floor. Then David said, “I, the shepherd, have sinned…These are but sheep…let your hand fall on me…do not let this plague remain on your people.”

Abraham was sent to this mountain to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, but God stayed his knife, providing a ram in Isaac’s place and fulfilling Abraham’s promise to Isaac as they traveled, “God himself will provide the lamb.” (Genesis 22.8)

John the Baptizer calls Jesus “the lamb of God” (John 1.29, 36) but also describes him as coming “to clear his threshing floor…gather the wheat into his barn, but…burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3.17)

Threshing separates grain from chaff and produces seed and food from grass that would otherwise fade away. It brings life from death. The place where Araunah threshed wheat was a place where the Lord threshed human hearts. It is a place where the holy confronts the unholy. (Isaiah 6.5) In that holiest place, we find mercy and hope.

John says Jesus “tabernacled” among us. (John 1.14) Jesus is where human space overlaps divine space—a Temple that comes to us. Jesus is our mercy seat, the holy one in whom we hope. The mercy seat and the manger represent God’s throne. In the gold-covered room, we glimpse his glory and worth. In the humble manger, he shows us ours.

David met an angel, made a sacrifice, and prepared a place to welcome God’s presence. Generations later, David’s daughter, Mary, did the same to welcome Jesus.

David and Solomon built God a house with rooms covered in gold. Through Mary, Jesus chose to house himself in a poverty-stricken womb.

David, the shepherd, sinned, bringing punishment on his sheep. Jesus, the shepherd, is sinless, taking punishment for his sheep. 

Jesus stays the sword of judgment and knife of sacrifice, providing himself as the lamb.

Jesus threshes life out of death.

From John: The Divine Hours prayers will return in October. This month we will pray one scripture passage or verse each week.

Prayer:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1.14


​Today’s Readings
Jeremiah 30-31 (Listen 7:21)
1 Corinthians 7 (Listen 6:09)

Read more about Becoming Part of the Promise
Rahab asks to be accepted by this powerful God who is not only in the heavens but active upon the Earth.

Readers’ Choice is here!
This month, we are thankful to share your favorite posts from the past year. There’s still time to tell us your faves via email, direct message, or the linked form, so we can repost them.

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Our Immovable Rock

Scripture Focus: Zechariah 12.3
3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves.

Luke 21.5-11
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” 
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” 
8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.” 
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 

Reflection: Our Immovable Rock
By John Tillman

Zechariah spoke to those who had gone through exile and captivity. They knew what it meant for armies to gather, the city to fall, and the walls to be destroyed and burned. They heard their parents’ tales and tasted the fear and uncertainty. God’s words reassured these people that, in the future, no gathering of armies will be able to overcome Jerusalem, the shelter of his people.

Jesus spoke to his disciples, suffering under Roman occupation and puppet kings like Herod. Herod was “king”, but all were forced to say “Caesar is Lord.” They longed for liberation.

The Temple Zechariah knew was renovated and expanded by Herod. The disciples were impressed with the stonework in Herod’s expansion. If they had read Zechariah’s words at that moment, they would probably have thought that they were living in the time of their fulfillment. We know they expected Jesus to become king. We can easily imagine that they hoped to see Jerusalem become the immovable rock that Rome and every other enemy would break themselves against.

But instead of speaking of armies breaking against Jerusalem, Jesus spoke of Jerusalem being broken. Even the Temple’s impressive stones would be cast down, not one of them left on another.

Eschatological anxiety has waxed and waned in my lifetime. It’s easy for us to go to extremes on this issue. Some panic that the end is near and then, when it seems delayed, lose faith. Some throw their hands up in cynical doubt that the day will ever come. Some seek to bring the day to pass by taking the reins of power into their own hands. They long to build whatever kingdom they can using hastily baptized political power.

Christ told his followers to not be easily taken in by messianic movements. He warned them against fear and reactionary haste and encouraged patience.

It may seem impossible in our world to avoid anxiety, panic, cynicism, and power-mongering. But is our world more dangerous than Rome in 30 AD?

“Do” is easier than “Don’t.” Instead of thinking, “Don’t be anxious,” concentrate on resting in Jesus. Resist panic by resting in hope. Wrestle in prayer rather than for power. What Christ will establish will not depend on our power or wisdom but on his.

Remember that our immovable rock is not an institution, movement, country, or leader. Jesus is our immovable rock.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting
The Lord lives! Blessed is my Rock! Exalted is the God of my salvation! — Psalm 18.46


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

​Today’s Readings
Zechariah 12-13.1 (Listen 2:30)
Luke 21 (Listen 4:18)

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If all we get from fasting is a measurable, earthly ROI, we will be unlikely to reap a spiritual benefit.

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Until I Come Back

Scripture Focus: Luke 19.11-13
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

Reflection: Until I Come Back
By John Tillman

It bothers me when interpreters contend that there is only one possible message or lesson from a given passage. It’s prideful and often plainly false. For example, Paul used a regulation about animal husbandry to teach that pastors deserve payment for their work. (1 Corinthians 9.9-11; 1 Timothy 5.17-18) If the passage only has one lesson to teach, which is it? Animal ethics? Or ministerial ethics? Of course, it’s both and even more than that. God’s word is living and active. (Hebrews 4.12) Guided by the Holy Spirit, ministers bring out of it things both old and new. (Matthew 13.51-52

However, context and the author’s intent are two of the main tools of good interpretation, and they often give us what I would call the primary or first-order interpretation.

Luke consistently included the context of Jesus’ parables. Knowing the situation, event, debate, or question Jesus was responding to helps us understand the intent of the story, which in turn helps us interpret the story’s primary meaning.

Minas and talents (Bags of gold from a similar parable in Matthew 25.14-30) are both financial terms for a certain amount of money, measured by weight. The minas parable in Luke is tightly focused on the immediate situation. Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem. Jesus’ followers thought the kingdom was about to start right then by taking control of the city. They pictured an insurrection and an overthrow led by a powerful king.

The talents parable is part of a trilogy of parables on spiritual neglect. The parables of the virgins, the talents, and the sheep and goats illustrate what it will be like when the Kingdom of God comes.

The minas story mentions taking control of cities and making Jesus king, but not at the expected time. There was work to do first. The talents parable and its partner parables warn Christ’s followers that we have been given opportunities to know him, resources to cultivate for him, and needy people to serve for him. How we respond reveals whether we are part of his kingdom or not.

Jesus desires to call you “friend.” How have you responded? Are you keeping him at a distance by neglecting your “mina” or your “lamp?” What have you been given to steward and cultivate? Are you burying it or planting it so it can grow?

Use well what Christ gives you until he comes back, remembering that knowing him is the greatest gift.


Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus taught us, saying: “Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.” — Matthew 7.15-20

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


​Today’s Readings
Zechariah 10 (Listen 2:11)
Luke 19 (Listen 5:29)

Read more about God Forbid
God forbid that we would make decisions based on politics rather than truth

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Types of Blindness

Scripture Focus: Luke 18.35-43
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” 
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. 

Reflection: Types of Blindness
By John Tillman

Impairment of visual acuity means people need to be closer to something to see it clearly than those with normal vision. Impairment of one’s field of vision can mean blind spots or tunnel vision. These occur to different degrees, and some forms of blindness are temporary.

On Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem, he healed a blind man. Right before this, Luke described the disciples as having a type of temporary blindness. Jesus spoke very clearly about what would happen to him in Jerusalem, but his meaning was hidden from them. (Luke 18.31-34)

We sometimes over-analogize Jesus’ healings to the point where we almost forget about the people he healed. We can also draw wrong conclusions when we let the analogies escape the context of scripture. Jesus’ miracles are not all soteriological analogies, and we can make mistakes when we apply them that way. That being said, Jesus and the gospel writers who tell us about him applied meaning and symbolism to many of Jesus’ miracles.

Jesus’ healings and miracles indicate his identity, mark his mission, and prove his promises.

John the Baptizer questioned Jesus’ identity, asking, “Are you the one?” (Matthew 11.3). Jesus told John’s messengers to describe his actions, beginning with healing the blind. Jesus listed the healing of many other types of impairments, ending with the dead being raised and the gospel being proclaimed to the poor. Both Jesus’ identity and mission are revealed in these actions.

Mary and Martha questioned Jesus when he delayed coming, allowing their brother Lazarus to die. So did the crowd. They muttered, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” (John 11.37) Jesus promised Martha that he was the resurrection and the life. Lazarus’ resurrection was a preview of the ultimate proof of Jesus’ promise to her, which was his own resurrection just a few days later.

Even those who already believe can be blinded. The blind man already believed. Before his healing, he called Jesus “Son of David.” The disciples believed, but they had blind spots and a tunnel vision focused only on political salvation.

There are many types of blindness. Jesus heals them all.

Do you have tunnel vision, focused on one narrow definition of Jesus’ kingdom? Do you have blind spots of doubt? Are you blinded by loss or pain? Call out to the Son of David. Come closer to him and be healed.


Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting
Be exalted, O Lord, in your might; we will sing and praise your power. — Psalm 21.14

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

​Today’s Readings
Zechariah 9 (Listen 3:01)
Luke 18 (Listen 5:27)

Read more about The King We Want
I’ve sent a king, God says
He rode in on a donkey
My servants prophesied him
You rebels crucified him

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The Far Country and the Father’s Field

Scripture Focus: Luke 15.17-20
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. 

Reflection: The Far Country and the Father’s Field
By John Tillman

What is the purpose of the trio of “lost things” parables—especially the third and longest in the series, The Lost Son? Why did Jesus tell these stories?

Some interpreters focus on the prodigal’s sins and poor decisions, making the story a preventative tale to scare prodigals straight. Was Jesus trying to scold or scare prodigals? 

From medieval morality plays to modern “Hell Houses,” scaring prodigals straight has a poor history of long-term success in either evangelism or discipleship. It doesn’t do much to cultivate a growing, vibrant, and enduring faith, and it doesn’t seem to have been Jesus’ goal.

Jesus told many stories about punishments in this life and the next. (Matthew 18.6-9, 24.48-55, 25.26-30, 25.41-45; Luke 16.19-31) However, the “sinners” these tales aim to “scare straight” are the wealthy, who fail to be generous, and the powerful, who fail to help the weak.

These three stories answered an accusation. Religious leaders muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15.1-2) They were suspicious of the crowds Jesus attracted and of Jesus by association. “There must be something wrong with his teaching if he spends time with those people!”

The “Lost Things Trilogy” has two simultaneous audiences: the “sinners” and the “righteous.” Jesus extends his hands to both groups, focusing on welcoming rather than warning. To the sinners, these stories say, “You are valued, and God ‘celebrates you home,’ no matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done.” To the “righteous,” they demonstrate God’s heart for the lost and they call them to join the celebration.

One group is the brother lost in the far country. The other is the brother lost in his father’s field, refusing to enter his father’s happiness. Both brothers have a distance to cross to come home. The brother lost in hedonism in the far country, makes it home to the father’s embrace ahead of the brother lost in jealousy in his father’s field. (Luke 15.28-30)

We all may be or become one or the other of these brothers. We may become lost in a far country or our father’s field. Whatever lures you away, whether the pleasures of wickedness or the pleasures of self-righteousness, let them go and come home. We have things to repent of, things to leave behind, and things waiting for us in the arms of a loving father. 

Come home to the father, whether you are lost in the field or the far country. Come home and celebrate.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
I have said to the Lord, “You are my God; listen, O Lord, to my supplication.” — Psalm 140.6

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

​Today’s Readings
Zechariah 6 (Listen 2:08)
Luke 15 (Listen 4:19)

​This Weekend’s Readings
Zechariah 7 (Listen 1:57), Luke 16 (Listen 4:27)
Zechariah 8 (Listen 3:33), Luke 17 (Listen 4:22)

Read more about Prayer for Older Brothers
One son refused to stay in the home due to sinful rebellion.
One son refused to enter the home due to sinful unforgiveness.

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