Seeds For Thinking

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* Scared Speechless
* Scripture: "Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the alter of incense."
Luke 1: 11, NKJV

Few things get your attention as much as someone suddenly appearing beside you when you think you are alone. Talk about an adrenaline spike! Blood pressure probably goes out the top, too. The effect is all the more heightened if you are the only person supposed to be there, such as a night watchman in a locked building. Or a priest serving in the temple at Jerusalem.
Most of the activity that we read about involving the temple in The New Testament took place in a large, open courtyard surrounding the sacred enclosure. This area was open to all, and was called the Court of the Gentiles.
The temple was enclosed with walls defining the Women's Court and the Court of Israel, or Men's Court. The great altar and vessels holding water for the rituals of washing and sacrifice were located in the Court of Priests, at the eastern end of the temple.
The temple proper contained two rooms. The first room, the Holy Place, contained a golden alter for burning incense, a table for showbread, and a lampstand.
It was separated from the Holy of Holies by a veil. It was this veil, dividing the two rooms, that was torn on the day of Christ's crucifixion.
The Holy of Holies was entered only by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement, and then only after purification rituals. Still, it must have been an awe inspiring moment for any priest to stand just outside that curtain, knowing that you were representing the entire nation of Israel before the Lord.
Imagine for a moment that you are a priest, and you have finally been chosen by lot to burn incense in the Holy Place. It is possibly a once in a lifetime event for any priest. You arrive at the temple complex, ascending the steps leading to the great court. The temple rises above you, gleaming golden and shining white in the sunlight. You make your way through the throng, conspicuous in your white linen garments and cap. You enter the court of Israel through one of the six sanctuary gates, and proceed to the great altar in the Court of the Priests.
The familiar rituals of preparation and cleansing seem extra special today. This is where you have spent much of your life, serving God and the Nation of Israel, praying, praising, accepting offerings, and ministering in the ritual of sacrifice. Today is different, though, for you will walk up those twelve steps, beneath the portico, and through those enormous, golden doors.
The sound of the multitudes praying in the outer courts behind you recedes as you enter the Holy Place. The curtain veiling the Holy of Holies hangs before you, but you can go no farther.
You are alone, in the presence of God.
The smoke from the burning incense rises slowly in the still air, carrying the prayers of priest and people.
People! You have heard no one enter; no one else is permitted to so much as ascend those steps leading to the only door, but a man is standing there by the altar of incense! In the presence of God, in this Holy Place. . .
Scared speechless? Well, fearful and trembling, anyway. Actually, a holy visitor in this holiest of places announces the beginning of a new age, the coming of the Christ, the Messiah, and you, Zacharias, will be the father of one who will make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Elizabeth, your long-barren wife, will bear you a son, John, the Forerunner of Christ. He will be great in the sight of the Lord.
The angel Gabriel not only delivers these glad tidings, but also takes away your power of speech. You will not be able to speak until the day these things take place.
Centuries have passed since God spoke through the prophets. But now:
"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people."
Luke 1:68, NKJV

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Scripture: David said, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and refuge . . . “ (2 Samuel 22:3a)

There are many scriptural references to horns, in both the Old and New Testaments. Animal horns, the “usually paired bony processes that arise from the head of many ungulates,” especially those of cattle (the ox) and sheep (ram’s horn) were used for musical instruments and as containers.
The shofar, a ram's-horn trumpet, was blown by the ancient Hebrews in battle and high religious observances and used in synagogues before and during Rosh Hashanah and at the conclusion of Yom Kippur.
A horn was used to hold oil for the sacred rite of anointment (see 1 Samuel 16:1-13, where the Lord instructs the prophet to anoint David as king.)
The altar used during the Exodus journey had ‘horns’ on the four corners, overlaid with bronze. (See Exodus 27:1-8) The Book of Ezekiel also mentions an altar with four horns extending upward from the hearth. Blood from the sacrifice was to be placed on the four horns as part of the ceremony. (Ezekiel, 43:15; 20)
The Jewish historian, Josephus, describes the temple of Jesus’ day in The Wars of the Jews, Book V, Chapter V. The altar, which stood in front of the temple, had “corners like horns.”
The criminal, when his crime was accidental, found an asylum by laying hold of the horns of the altar (1 Kings 1:50; 2:28).
The phrase ‘horn of my salvation’ is typical of many scriptural references, in both the Old and New Testaments where it is obvious that “horn” had significance beyond trumpets and anointing vessels.
. The Bible uses ‘horn’ as a metaphor for strength; its loss as dishonor.
Moses compares the tribe of Joseph with a firstborn bull, with horns like the horns of a wild ox, (Deut. 33:17) denoting strength.
Lamentations 2:2-3 describes how the Lord, in fierce anger, has cut off the horn of Israel (strength) and brought her kingdom down to the ground in dishonor. Job, also, laments that he has “defiled my horn in the dust.” (Job 16:15, KJV)
Horns are emblems of power, dominion, glory, and fierceness, as they are the chief means of attack and defense with the animals endowed with them. The books of Daniel and Revelation are rich in prophetic imagery of horns, signifying royal dignity and the might of kings, especially military power, (Jer 48:25; Zac 1:18; Dan 8:24). John saw beasts with horns in Rev. chapter 13, vss. 1 and 11.
Zacharias echoes David’s psalm of triumph in Luke 1:69, that the Lord has “raised up a horn of salvation for us,” in the Christ, the Messiah, of John 3:16. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Paul proclaimed that all things - of the world, of life, death, things present or things to come - “all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” (1 Cor. 3:21-23)
February 4, 2007

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Scripture: Jesus said, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” John 24:44, NIV

Of all the words of tongue or pen,
the saddest are these -”It might have been.”

Perhaps the saddest of all events is the death of someone in their youth. Their life has not, and will never be, brought to fruition. One can not help but to speculate what additional years may have wrought. The promises of talents and skills, the contributions to society never realized.
Time may dim but never erase the memories, nor quell the occasional thoughts of “what might have been.” Such are thoughts of a brother who was lost to our family more than a half century ago at age thirteen.
Accidents, violence (including war,) and illness of various sorts take their toll. Grief is an expression of the loss that takes something from our very souls.
For those of us who are truly close to the Easter Passion, knowing the final outcome does not lessen the sadness we feel as we experience the reality of Christ’s arrest, trial, and crucifixion. We read in the Gospels once again of the disciples scattered, the women keeping vigil near the cross, the mockery of the crowds around Golgotha.
How long had it been since Jesus rode into Jerusalem, to the cries of “Hosannah!?” A week? Surely much longer. A ride, and a week, that would see prophecy fulfilled. Yet the people swirling around that city, the events of that week, scarcely gave the past much thought. They were caught up in the present, and the hopes for the future. Jesus was so young, so filled with promise. Many did desire, yes, hope that this was the ONE, the promised Messiah, the Deliverer of promise. Surely those who followed Him to Calvary felt their very souls tear on hearing the crowds revel in their mockery, “You saved others, now save yourself. Aren’t you the Christ?”
Incense and myrrh, spices and perfumes - gifts at his birth, the anointments of last rites. A sword indeed pierced His follower’s souls. (Luke 2:35)
Who cannot but sympathize with those two walking away from the sorrow of Jerusalem toward Emmaus, their faces downcast. On “Good Friday” we join them in sorrowing, “They crucified him.” Our hopes that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel, dashed, ‘What might have been,” in our thoughts.
Because we are EASTER PEOPLE, we know the outcome. We rejoice with those who exclaim,
“Were not our hearts burning within us . . .?”
We rejoice at what is NOT there . . . the tomb is empty!
The saddest words have become these, of John 24:11: “They did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.”
So many lost in the sadness of unbelief.

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Scripture: So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place? (Luke 21:7, NKJV)

The pushmi-pullyu (pronounced "push-me-pull-you") is an gazelle-unicorn cross which has two heads (one of each) at opposite ends of its body. This strange animal was created by Hugh Lofting in his book, “The Story of Doctor Dolittle.” When it tries to move, both heads try to go in opposite directions.
Many times we are not unlike that mythical animal. We ponder what was, what is, and what will be. Past, present, and future. Over the ages, people have looked to many sources for insight into what will be, and when it will happen. “Fortune Tellers” employ many methods, including palm readings, tea leaves, cards, crystal balls, ouija boards, astrology, or even roosters pecking at grain. For an appropriate fee, they will “Tell All.”
The Romans god Janus was the god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings and endings. He is most often depicted as having two faces or heads, facing in opposite directions. His namesake, the month of January, begins our new year. Janus was frequently used to symbolize change and transitions such as the progression of past to future, of one condition to another, of one vision to another. He could see into the past with one face and into the future with the other. Janus was worshipped at the beginnings of the harvest and planting times, as well as marriages, births and other beginnings.
Nostradamus was a practicing physician, astronomer and astrologer who lived in the mid 16th century who turned his hand to prophecy later in life. He wrote messages from the past to the future in the form of short poems. You will likely be hearing and seeing his name quite often in the next couple of years. The most recent revelation combines Nostradamus’ predictions with the end-date of the Mayan calendar. This has led many to believe that cataclysmic or transformative events will occur on December 21 or December 23, 2012. The accuracy of Nostradamus’s predictions seems to rely more on hindsight than foresight.
Though we often perhaps equate the Biblical prophets with foretelling the future, I have heard that we should think more in terms of the traditional prophets “Forth-telling” the Word of God. Many of their prophecies were specific to crises in the history of Israel-Judah.
The books of Daniel and Revelation contain Apocalyptic visions that reveal God's justice as taking place in the future. “Apocalypse” literally means “lifting of the veil” or “revelation.”
In John's apocalypse, the Book of Revelation, he refers to the "unveiling" or "revelation" of Jesus Christ as Messiah. During his imprisonment by the Romans on the Island of Patmos, John described the visions he experienced, writing the Book of Revelation. Chapter 20 contains several references to a thousand year reign of Christ/Messiah upon this earth (The Millennium.)
The disclosure of future events was made through a dream for the prophet Daniel. After a long period of fasting, Daniel is standing by a river when a heavenly being appears to him, and the revelation follows. (Daniel 10:2ff) Daniel asks, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?” And he said, Go your way, Daniel, for the words are to remain secret and sealed until the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:8b-9, NRSV)
Of particular note, I think, is the prophecy of resurrections, from Daniel 12:2-4. “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (NRSV)

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Scripture: Esther said, “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. Esther 4:16b., NIV
While one might well argue that without women and mothers, there would be no history, many, many women have had an impact on history far beyond that role. The Bible chronicles the impact of numerous women who played an active role in shaping history, from Eve to Mary the mother of Jesus.
One of the most venerated women in Jewish history is a virtual stranger to many Christians, yet without her, the Bible would tell a vastly different story. We seldom study the Book of Esther; God is not mentioned in this book. Surely, however, God was moving behind the scenes and had His hand on her life.
Esther was a Jewish woman, who lived in Persia about five hundred years before the birth of Christ. Her husband, Xerxes, was the most powerful ruler at that time over the area we call the Mid-east. Mighty Babylon had taken all of Israel into captivity and foreign powers had controlled both the Hebrew people and their homeland for over a hundred years. Now, Babylon had been conquered by Persia, and the fate of the people and their country depended on the whim of the King of Persia (modern day Iran).
Then, as now, anti-Jewish sentiment manifested itself in plots to annihilate Jews. One of the royal officials, a man named Haman, plotted to hang Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, and follow up by killing all the Jews in the kingdom because “their customs are different than all other people.” (See Esther 3:8) Esther bravely and cleverly revealed this plot to the king, even thought it was against the law for her to intervene.
Haman was hung on the very gallows he had constructed to hang Mordecai. The King could not (by Persian law) change the decree to kill the Jews, so he made a new decree that Jews could defend themselves. And they did! This day is celebrated to our time by the feast or Purim, a day of joy and feasting, and by giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.
Many Jews had returned to Jerusalem and Israel. Ezra and Nehemiah were sent to govern the country, and rebuild the temple and the city walls. Esther’s step-son was now king, and supported the rebuilding and resettlement efforts, no doubt strongly influenced by Esther.
Think how different world history would be without the contributions of this one woman. Suppose that the Hebrew nation had been entirely wiped out 500 years before the birth of Christ. No Hebrew nation, no Messiah. No Messiah, no saving Grace for all people.
Take time to read the Book of Esther.
May 12, 2002

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Scripture: The angel said, “He is not here; he has risen! Luke 24:6a, NIV
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. . . They all tell a story unlike any other in the long history of story telling. Their Teacher, “Rabboni” in their language of Aramaic, was the subject of much controversy in the land of Palestine. A carpenter’s son, from the insignificant village of Nazareth in Galilee, yet so able to dominate the learned Priests and Teachers of the Judaic law in Jerusalem that they became reluctant to argue with Jesus.
His discourses were unlike any other; “He teaches with authority,” they observed. He taught that the Commandments could be summed up in two: “Love God, and Love your neighbor as yourself.” He not only associated with the unloved and the unlovely, but also healed them, and blessed them. Publicans and sinners, lepers and even the dead - untouchable all - yet he touched them, ate with them, cured their ailments, forgave their sins, and restored them to their family, and to society.
“Who is this,” the authorities wondered, “That can forgive sins?”
Naturally, many also wondered if Jesus was the promised Messiah. He certainly fit the image of being at least a prophet. He was outspoken, he had a great following among the people, and he had the power of healing. Although Jesus did not proclaim openly that he was the Messiah, The Christ, many others were claiming that they were.
Judea had been fought over for years. Three centuries earlier, Alexander The Great led Greek armies through the land on their way to conquer Egypt. Years of strife and repressive governments made the people long for a leader to restore Judah/Israel to the religious and civil covenant promised them at Sinai, through Moses. The Pharisees sought to revitalize religion through synagogues in the local community; the priests clung to the sacrificial system of the Temple. The Zealots wanted the foreign rulers and their soldiers out, no matter the cost. Was Jesus The One to make their dreams come true?
No, as far as they could see, Jesus was not of the royal kingly families, nor was he a priest, an educated rabbi, or even a military leader. Rather, he was perceived to be a threat to their hopes and security, so they arranged to have the Romans crucify Jesus. Executed men cause no trouble.
Where are they now, priest and king, rabbi and zealot? Gone!
Yet the carpenter’s son, whom they crucified, arose from the dead. He was the prophet, priest and king they longed for, and didn’t recognize. He fit God’s image, but not their image, of the Messiah.
He died, and rose again, and salvation for all people became a reality.
March 31, 2002

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Scripture: Jesus said. “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” (Matthew 16:203, NKJV)

It is early April in Central Ohio as I walk through our woodlot, fulfilling part of my exercise regimen. I routinely visit our small orchard and berry patch on the eastern boundary, noting each bit of evidence that the season is indeed progressing from the doldrums of winter. I am especially interested in signs that the raspberry vines that I planted last summer have survived, and I am finally rewarded with slivers of green sneaking from the brown buds that have comprised the winter wardrobe of the stems.
I move on to the apple tree. The buds are swelling, preparing for the warmer days to come soon, when leaf and bloom will fill the canopy with the promise of fruit, come autumn.
I sit on an old wagon to rest and to gaze off to the landscape that drops to a lower level to the east, lined with barren trees, much like those in the woodlot now behind me. A flash of gold catches my eye. The late afternoon sun illuminates what I know is the weeping willow by the small stream in the valley. A harbinger of the season, its catkins glow golden, bidding me to venture for a closer look.
The long, weepy branches are covered with both slivers of leaves awakening from their latent repose, and cascades of catkins glowing golden in the sun. I pluck a couple of twigs to take with me as evidence of the season, and to bring a little color to the house.
As I wend my way back through the woodlot, it occurs to me that the barren, leafless dormant winter dress with which I am so familiar would be totally foreign to a resident of the tropics. Most trees and vines in the land of endless summer shed all of their leaves only in times of severe stress, or in death. My woodlot, barren of leaf and bloom, would therefore seem to be a wasteland. How would they know, one who has never experienced the glories of spring, that life merely awaits the moment of awakening? Could they read the signs?
Jesus lived in a time of great expectations. It was not that the people gave no thought of a coming Messiah, but that they were eagerly searching, waiting “for the Consolation of Israel.” (Luke 2:25) Many were looking for a ruler in the tradition of David, mighty in battle, to drive out the Roman occupiers and restore the glories of the days of King Solomon. Surely the chosen one could beseech the heavens to display such miracles to prove his commission as were wrought at the giving of the law upon mount Sinai: thunder, lightening, and the voice of words - signs of the past, of Moses and the Law, but not the signs of the Messiah now present.
It was as if they were looking at dormant branches, not realizing that life eternal was evidenced in the miracles He performed: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the poor have the gospel preached to them. ( Luke 7:22) Truly, they could not discern the signs of the times.