Author: Dave Dishman (Page 293 of 475)

The old woman paused in her happy dance to proclaim an odd and misplaced vow: I solemnly consecrate my silver to the Lord for my son to make an image overlaid with silver.

Her son just returned a fortune he stole from his mother, and like a truly child-absorbed parent, she blessed the thief. Then she sent the silver to a smith who formed an idol from the metal.

The problem with her vow? She first offered the silver to the Lord, then violated the very first commandment given by that same Lord, part of which reads: You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.

Either she didn’t know the law of Moses, or she ignored it, or most likely a combo of both. In her cultural moment, adherence to commandments fell out of vogue. The author of Judges describes the era like this: At that time there was no king in Israel. People did whatever they felt like doing.

Sounds a lot like today. This woman plucked pretty feathers from various religious traditions to form something new. The idea that the Lord might appreciate her idol appears ludicrous, but in her mind it made perfect sense. She used the name of the Lord to bless her act of worship, even as she worshiped the devils.

I understand the temptation. I find parts of the Bible uncomfortable, and others hard to defend. Many run counter to the mantras of our cultural moment. But the moment I decide to unmoor myself from scripture, I begin to drift. It doesn’t take much drifting to find myself not just condoning—but blessing—ideas the Lord condemns.

Would I like to live in a world where people do whatever they feel like doing? For sure. But when I see the results of such practices, I understand the need to turn again to words from the Giver of Life for direction on the way I should live.

Judges 17 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Osman Rana

Today I read this line in Psalm 146—The Lord gives sight to the blind.

I started thinking of the wide varieties of blindness Jesus faced, and people who benefited from his touch:

Those blinded physically—Bartimaeus.

Those blinded by Jesus himself—Saul.

Those blinded by death—Lazarus.

Those blinded by wealth—Zacchaeus.

Those blinded by ethnicity—the Samaritan woman at the well.

Those blinded by power—Pilate.

Those blinded by grief—Jairus.

Those blinded by disease—the ten lepers.

Those blinded by worry—Martha.

Those blinded by the spiritual powers—the Gerasene demoniac.

Those blinded by hopelessness—the woman who bled for 12 years.

Those blinded by religiosity—Nicodemas.

Those blinded by education—teachers in the temple.

Finally, those blinded to the ways and knowledge of the Lord—me and you.

The Lord gives sight to the blind—again and again and again.

Psalm 146 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Krissana Porto

Do you think of someone at the apple of your eye? Or, do you know someone, perhaps a doting grandparent, who thought of you in that way? Someone who cherished you above all others?

The phrase originates in the Old Testament. David, in a prayer of distress, asked the Lord to keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. The phrase first appeared in Deuteronomy 32:10, in a description of the Lord’s care for Israel, and David referred back to this picture of protection.

The use of apple in the phrase is an English addition. The original Hebrew means something like the little man of the eye, referring to the reflection of yourself in someone else’s pupil. This requires focus and attention on the part of the listener. You exist square in the middle of their eyes, no flitting around and no gazing in the distance.

Square in the middle of God’s eye. Sort of intimidating. On the other hand, living as the apple of God’s eye feels remarkable, ridiculous even. That’s the point David makes—God’s love for us is ridiculous—and we should appeal for more.

Bask in that for awhile.

Psalm 17 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Paolo Bendandi

Don’t you love it when someone responds to you personally?

After a hard day of travel, I hustled into a Chik-fil-A minutes before closing. I enjoyed my sandwich, then craved a chocolate milkshake. As employees mopped the dining room and stacked chairs, I approached the teenager at the counter. Gazing at brightly cleaned equipment I tentatively asked, You wouldn’t be able to still make me a chocolate shake, would you? The young man paused, I assumed to deliver bad news. Instead he gleefully replied, Make you a chocolate shake—why wouldn’t we make you a chocolate shake? Then he boomed to the back, Chocolate shake! The echo returned, Chocolate shake! Shake-machine-cleaning be damned. I felt like the king of Spain.

God knew Gideon needed a personal touch when setting out to liberate his people from their harsh overlords. So on top of an angel and a fleece, the Lord arranged a field trip on the eve of battle.

During the night God said to Gideon, If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.

Just the right touch, sending Gideon under cover and assigning a friend as company. Deeply moved by what he heard in the camp, Gideon bowed and worshipped. That very night the Lord provided a massive victory and destroyed the enemies of Israel.

Gideon’s tentative nature slowed him down. Without waiting on a request, the Lord provided a new fleece-like experience. Gideon did his part—it still took a ton of faith to tip-toe into a campground filled with men looking to kill him.

Like Gideon, I’m slow on the uptake in the arena of faith. It’s nice to know the Lord leads us, personalizing challenges to step into and building toward deeper tests beyond. I love the way the Lord brought Gideon along, knowing that God works the same with you and me today.

As Gideon gratefully reflected on Israel’s deliverance, I imagine he caught a faint whisper of My Pleasure somewhere among the clouds.

Judges 7 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022