Question #27

First, my response to question #26:
My answer might seem too broad, but I would have to say that selfishness is my greatest weakness. Sometimes I can take taking care of myself too far and simply use that as an excuse for things I should have done. Outwardly, it appears as laziness, which is an appropriate way of describing it. And I know the solution; I simply need to engage rightly in the things that I need to do and know the blessing of action instead of seeking the false comfort of inaction.

Now for today's question:

Question #27
Three times Samson gets involved with a woman who gets him to break by nagging him. The Hebrew word for that actually is related to bind or close, something that the wild man, Samson, simply can't stand whether in words or action. What gets under your skin? What is it that can most easily get you to give up on things that ought to matter most to you?

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Question #26

First, my response to question #25:
It is possible (though a bit of a stretch) to see Samson as the subject of the verb and thus the one looking for a pretext to do violence to the Philistines. But, as seems to be the case, if God is the subject then there is strange theology at work here. I would contend that even with "the chosen people" God doesn't take sides in warfare, since that is a human invention. I do think that since the victors write the histories that this is an example of someone justifying a bad action by invoking God. We see this all too often today, and I'm sad to say, it is a behavior that is all too easy to fall victim to. I would love to have God as an excuse for everything I do about which I rightfully should be ashamed, but theology that allows that simply shows its human origin.

Now for today's question:

Question #26
Samson is constantly a victim of his own base nature. He has a clear weakness for women. He simply can't control his lust and he ends up making awful mistakes after the fact. Lust may not be as big a problem for you, but what is your "Achilles' heel"?


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Question #25

First, my response to question #24:

I usually come to my senses pretty quickly when I'm coveting material things, since I know that they don't hold the power to bring me true happiness. The times that I impatiently demand action is when I'm looking for results from some long-term effort. It can be very hard to trust God to provide the growth after I've done whatever "planting" or "watering" that is required. Leaving things in God's care can often be difficult.

Now for today's question:

Question #25
There is a very disturbing part to the story of Samson's Philistine wife. The text says that Samson's parents objected, but that they didn't realize that this was from God, as it would give a pretext for the later violence against the Philistines. So how do you respond to that? Is that how God behaved? Does God still behave that way? Is it just the opinion of the author? What does that say about your view of scripture?

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Question #24

First, my response to question #23:
I asked the question in a form that suggested that there were only two ways to respond, but obviously, it is possible that you are like neither Samson's father nor mother. I do think that the problem of patriarchy shown in this ancient story is not much different today. Women are still not listened to or believed as they ought to be. Of course, there are even more marginalized groups that continue to struggle to have a voice. Perhaps the fact that the angel remains nameless is a way of God showing solidarity with the voiceless. At least I would like to think of it that way.

Now for today's question:

Question #24

Samson's first scene in the story is seeing a Philistine woman and demanding that his parents get her for him as his wife. It doesn't matter to Samson that his parents oppose it. Later, he shows just how immature and petulant he is by abandoning his wife right after the wedding. Today's question is one of those that none of us wants to answer...when have you acted like that?


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Question #23

First, my response to question #22:
I think it is impossible to celebrate the inclusion of a group of any sort without acknowledging that it is not possible without exclusion. While there may be great value is closed groups of likeminded individuals as a means of nurture and support, we should never ignore the risk of their become weapons of oppression of outsiders, whether intentionally or unintentionally. I fear that the step from keeping the outsider out to actively despising the outsider is a very short one. We can celebrate the advances of the Civil Rights Movement in America, but there is no denying that racism and other bigotries are alive and well in our nation today.

Now for today's question:

Question #23
The story of Samson's birth in Judges 13 is curious for a couple of reasons. For one, his mother is never named (it is interesting to note that the angel won't give his name either). It is also curious for the way the way that Manoah seeks proof and doesn't seem to understand when he's seen it. The question for today is to consider where you fit in this story. Are you more like Samson's father: distrusting and seeking evidence? Or are you more like Samson's mother: unappreciated, even anonymous?


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Samson

Samson is a wild character. You can read all the stories from his birth until his death in Judges 13-16.

I think of him as the Tasmanian Devil from the Bugs Bunny cartoons. He sees something and he wants it. He has a weakness for women and all of the ones he desires are members of the nation that is oppressing his people. He has a tendency to act first and, well, not even ask questions later. He proves himself to be not too bright by telling a riddle that is not really a riddle; and he can't seem to keep a secret.

In the end, he becomes a suicide terrorist. Read the passage for yourself here

Question #22

First, my response to question #21:
Sorry to sound like a cop out, but I wrote my newsletter article this month on this very topic, so you will be able to read it here. I'm sorry that it is not there at the moment. I will try to get it posted there soon, Tuesday at the latest.

Now for today's question:

Question #22
I say, "to-may-to," you say, "to-mah-to." That is the gist of the "shibboleth" story. Shibboleth has come in to our lexicon meaning something that distinguishes one group from another or betrays one as an outsider. For the Gileadites it was the clue that the speaker was an Ephraimite and thus deserved to die. For you, how thin is the line between pride in being part of a particular group and disdain for an outsider?

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Question #21

First, my response to question #20:
The Bible tells us both that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and that God on occasion has repented of doing some action. There is a way in which absolutism is welcome in the comfort that we gain from be absolutely certain about what God will do. On the other hand, when we violate God's ways, then we are desperate for God to change the consequences. I think that the kind of absolute obedience that Jephthah assumed was required by God in this situation is a human conception that denies the grace of God. That is not to say that everything is relative, but given our previous conversation about the spirit of God (thanks for your comments) I think that we acknowledge the danger and goodness of God realizing that in the end love trumps everything else.

Now for today's question:

Question #21
The second question about the sacrifice of Jephthah's daughter has to do with the obvious connection to the sacrifice of God's only child. How do you understand the death of Jesus? We will look at this more closely during Holy Week, but for now focus on whether you think it was necessary out of an understanding of justice (i.e. compare it to Jephthah's "unbreakable vow").

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Question #20

First, my response to question #19:

The responder to this question yesterday makes a good point about the dangerous things that we handle regularly. Fire is a particularly apt example. Humans have by and large "domesticated" fire, but it sometimes gets out of control and causes incredible damage, even taking life. We remember that on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is described as descending on the disciples like tongues of fire. While God is like fire in that both can provide great help to us and can be safe, the major difference is that we cannot control God. My favorite passage in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is when the children first learn from the Beavers that the savior for whom they are longing, Aslan, is a lion. Alarmed, the children ask, "Is he safe?" The Beavers chuckle and respond, "Of course he's not safe, but he's good."

Now for today's question:

Question #20
Jephthah proclaims (and his daughter seems to agree) that a vow to YHWH is unbreakable and so apparently kills his only child in order to honor the vow. There are a number of questions here, the first is whether you believe that the nature of God includes this sort of absolutism?

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Question #19

First, my response to question #18:
In the classic form of the "problem of evil," the dilemma posed is "if God is all-powerful and all-loving, why then hasn't God removed evil from the world?" More simply, "why does God allow suffering?" I don't have a complete answer why, but it is clear that pain, suffering and evil do exist. I'm not convinced that their complete removal would ultimately make us humans that much happier (since it would mean the loss of free will). Still, if forced to choose between believing that God is all-powerful or all-loving (assuming that the existence of suffering proves that God is not both) I will quickly choose all-loving. Since I know that I will experience pain in my life, I know I will need the loving presence of my God. I've never known the love of God to fail.

Now for today's question:

Question #19
Judges 11:29 says that the spirit of YHWH came upon Jephthah and he proceeds to make the rash decision to sacrifice the first thing he sees upon returning home. We will see as we continue to read Judges that "the spirit of YHWH coming upon a person" doesn't necessarily lead to wisdom, sometimes just uncontrollable power. If the power of God can be so dangerous, what does it mean for us to seek God's presence and spirit in our lives?

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Question #18

First, my response to question #17:
Isn't it interesting that Abimelech's pride wouldn't allow him to die in what he considered shame and then in this next story the elders of Gilead have to swallow their pride to seek out Jephthah? Actually, the swallowing of national pride allowing for the admission of mistakes is something in short supply these days. Unfortunately, I am as guilty as the rest of my fellow citizens of seeking the favor of the gods of comfort and greed and materialism, and only after realizing that they won't save me, turning to God for rescue. Sadly, it is a nearly daily struggle.

Now for today's question:

Question #18
There is a beautiful sentiment in Judges 10:16, "God could no longer bear to see Israel suffer." There is a recurring theme in scripture that God is so compassionate that any suffering (even the cries of "the enemy") cannot be ignored. Do you believe that God's heart breaks at your suffering?

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Question #17

First, my response to question #16:
Shame's power in my life has mostly been the ability to silence me when I feared the opinions of others. Issues of honor and shame rightfully seem foolish when looked at objectively. Really, what difference would it have made if Abimelech's death had been by the hand of a woman? Invariably, shame causes us to make foolish choices.

Now for today's question:

Question #17
There is a fascinating parallel between God's response to the people's plea for rescue and Jephthah's response to the elders of Gilead when they ask him to help rescue them. Is there a time in your life when you have had to go "hat in hand" to someone you had previously wronged to ask for their help?

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Jephthah

This week we look at the story of Jephthah in Judges 10-12. If you want to read just the part of the story that will be the focus of next week's sermon, you can read it here

Like Abimelech before him, Jephthah was an empty man. Not only is he a son of a prostitute, but his half-brothers make sure that he will not receive any inheritance by running him out of town. But that is short-lived when they need someone to lead them in battle. Again like Abimelech, Jephthah gathers a band of ruffians, fellow empty men, to do the dirty work.

The central story for which we remember Jephthah is his rash vow to YHWH to sacrifice the first thing he sees upon returning home should YHWH give him victory in battle. He is met by his only daughter dancing and singing to celebrate his victory. While there is a little wiggle room in the Hebrew, it appears that Jephthah, considering his vow to YHWH unbreakable (even more remarkably a position his daughter also seemed to support), commits the unthinkable, human sacrifice of his only child.

The final chapter in the story of Jephthah is again civil unrest with another tribe. In this case, he and his army slay thousands of Ephraimites who can't sneak past them because of their inability to pronounce the word shibboleth.

Question #16

First, my response to question #15:
God got my attention when calling me to serve this church. A certain architectual item featured in both my profile and the church profile. If you don't already know the story, you can read it here.


Now for today's question:

Question #16
The story of Abimelech ends very pathetically with Abimelech worrying about the shame of being killed by a woman. What power does shame hold in your life?

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Question #15

First, my response to question #14:
Ironically, I can't think of a good example of God using irony with me at the moment. cmh's example in the comments was a good one; that happens to me a lot. I do know that very often in my prayers I hear God remind me of things I already know by helping me to remember what I've said. This always brings a smile to my face and sometimes I've laughed out loud during prayer because of it.

One of the common metaphors in scripture about God's irony is the tale of the people who dig a hole to trap another and falls in it themselves. The backfiring of plans with bad intentions is surely an ironic message from God.


Now for today's question:

Question #15
The death of Abimelech can be seen as divine intervention (a stone falling from the heavens) because of his disloyalty to God. Hopefully, it doesn't take a stone hitting you on the head for God to get your attention, but can you name an instance when God used a dramatic event to get your attention?

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Question #14

First, my response to question #13:
Disloyalty is a strong word. The real issue in loyalty questions is what gains your allegiance. Consider Johnny Damon going to the Yankees from the Red Sox. Was he disloyal to the Sox or simply loyal to what mattered more to him: money? We have plenty of opportunity everyday to honor our commitments or not. This is a test of loyalty. Ultimately, the things that we ought to do are part of a commitment (covenant is a better word for it) to God. As Christians, we have a commitment to God to care for others and make the world a better place. Every time we choose a lazy or self-serving way over the twinge of conscience to do otherwise we are being disloyal to God.


Now for today's question:

Question #14
In an ironic twist, Abimelech is killed by a stone after killing his brothers on a stone. Even if it is just a literary device to make the story memorable, it is a recurring theme in scripture that God gets our attention through irony. When has this happened for you?

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Question #13

First, my response to question #12:

Perhaps like many of you, I have found that leaving my family of origin and starting a family of my own has given me lots of opportunity to repeat the mistakes I saw my parents make. Many of the negative behaviors I swore I would never do, I find come very naturally. It's not just an issue of nature vs. nurture, as if some behaviors are "hard-wired" and thus unavoidable. I know that I have to take responsibilty for my behavior as an adult and avoid the pitfalls that I know I'm prone to because of my history.


Now for today's question:

Question #13
Abimelech is first disloyal to his family (killing your brothers is a pretty extreme example), then the leaders of Shechem are disloyal to their agreement with Abimelech. When has disloyalty been a problem in your life?

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Question #12

First, my response to question #11:

I don't know that I've ever really lusted for power. I do relish the limelight and probably enjoy attention more than I should. I know that I'm very disappointed in most of the individuals who seek elected offices since they seem to have insatiable appetites for power and influence. I worry about our nation's leadership and pray that God will deliver us from the bad choices we regularly seem to make.

Now for today's question:

Question #12
Since Abimelech's name means "my father is king" that would imply that that his father (Gideon) named his son in recognition of his position (which we were led to believe he rejected). Where does that line between the burden you inherited from your family and the trouble you brought on yourself exist for you?
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Question #11

First, my response to question #10:

There have been times when I have thought that fear might teach one of my children a lesson. Perhaps that has been appropriate in some instances (for example, I want my children to have a healthy respect for fire and fear what it can do), but at times I may have been angry in the moment and frightened them out of my own need to do so, not their need to learn.

Now for today's question:

Question #11

Abimelech lusted for power and commited murder (of his own brothers no less) to get what he wanted. Surely you've never gone that far to gain power, but when has power seduced you?

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Abimelech

This week we read chapters 9 & 10 of Judges. If you want to read the text for Sunday, read it here

Abimelech has very few redeeming qualities (in fact, if you can name any, let me know). The story is bounded by stones. In the Hebrew the parallel is clearer: he kills his brothers on a certain stone and then he is killed by a certain stone that falls on him. It is interesting to note that his name means "my father is king" although Gideon (aka Jerubbaal) rejected kingship. Abimelech obviously desires to be king badly enough to kill all (except the one who gets away) contenders to the throne. The explanation of using a stone to kill them on is likely an allusion to the story of Cain and Abel. In that story, it is the slain brother's blood reaching the ground that alerts God to the crime, so Abimelech would have wanted to collect the blood of his murdered brothers so that it couldn't reach the ground.

This is the story that introduces the empty men. They are hired by Abimelech to be his mercenary army. I can't help but think that these characters were likely sociopaths for the most part; cut off from all kinship bonds and guilty of a variety of heinous acts that caused their shunning. Abimelech would have been among them if he hadn't had access to money and power.

Question #10

First, my response to question #9:

I've never had a lot of material things in my life, so I've learned to get along without much. But that doesn't mean that I don't covet more stuff, or that I don't get cranky when I lose what I have. I'm pretty unhappy if I can't have Internet access when I want it. In the larger picture, I'm pretty wealthy and haven't really been tested, so I'm not sure how I would react if God were to reduce what I had by the 98.6 % that Gideon's army was reduced (22,000 to 300).

I do know that I have found myself complaining to God lately about the lack of numbers of people around me, e.g. at worship or at special events. It is hard to continue to be faithful to what God calls me to do when I don't see the results reflected in some tangible way. But perhaps the victories that we are meant to achieve are not the kind that we can measure numerically.

Now for today's question:

Question #10 Gideon attacked using surprise and panic. When have you used fear as a weapon?

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Question #9

First, my response to question #8:

Almost every time I don't feel like doing something that I am praying about I pretty much say to God, "make me." Or more likely, "do I really have to? Can't it wait? Can't someone else do it?" I don't generally seek signs, but I do tend to do a bit of weaseling with God. Usually, if I do notice a sign it is because I've already been ignoring it, so it is something like, "Oh, you mean that wet fleece meant that I was supposed to do what you said?"


Now for today's question:

Question #9 Gideon had his army reduced to a shadow of its former self. How much is enough for you? Can you trust God if you have less?

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Question #8

First, my response to question #7:

One thing that the book of Judges shows us is the development of sanctioned religious architecture. Eventually, the Hebrews distinguished themselves from the nature religions by building the temple to replace the natural sites such as holy mountains (although the temple was built on a mountain) and trees, etc. The Asherah pole that Gideon cut down was actually a stylized tree (remember that Deborah sat under a particular tree).

While there may be a fine line at times between worshiping the Creator and worshiping the creation, I find myself longing to be in the wild for my personal worship. There are many places where I have had important spiritual experiences and they take on special meaning. Of course, many of them are church sanctuaries...but some of them are nature sanctuaries. I guess the bottom line for me is that I require very little structure (physical or otherwise) for my religious practice.

Now for today's question:

Question #8 Gideon basically said to God, “best two out of three” by asking for a second sign with the fleece. Name your “fleece.”

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Question #7

First, my response to question #6:

The commenter on the questioned assumed correctly what I probably should have clarified: by "another god" I intended that which distracts us from God. I think there is a little bit of Gideon, the unsure, in all of us. The question, "what if I'm wrong?" can be both a humbling corrective as well as a tremendous roadblock. We don't see a lot of evidence that Gideon served Baal, but his service to YHWH is certainly tentative. Sometimes I find myself trapped between an urge to take a bold stance and the desire not to rock the boat. I'm pretty sure that the most effective way I have "served another god" is in my silence, protecting what I have and don't want to lose. And this is nothing as noble as "losing everything" or becoming a martyr for my faith. It is usually status and comfort that are at stake. Status, power and comfort can make pretty compelling "gods."

Now for today's question:

Question #7 Gideon lived in a time before the building of the temple and worship took place in a variety of settings, some perhaps not clearly for YHWH, since they may have also served Baal. What do you need in terms of structure for your own worship?

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Question #6

First, my response to question #5:

I can't say that following God has taken me away from my family and its traditions, since we are all Christians. On the other hand, I learned and believed Evangelical theology growing up. I did reject that school of thought years ago when I couldn't reconcile it with what my heart was saying. Actually, it was the practice of justifying killing in the name of God (as seen in the book of Judges) that caused me to finally reject the primary doctrine of Evangelicalism, the inerrancy of scripture.

That radical shift felt like I had no place to stand at the time. Sure, it was just an existential experience, but a pretty powerful one for me. Over time as I built up a strong enough alternative to support my belief system I found the urge to fight my former views to be strong. Finding ways to affirm the best of my former views has not always been easy, but it is a healthy journey I find myself on.

Now for today's question:

Question #6 Gideon, aka Jerubaal, either called on the foreign god, Baal, to contend against him or for him. When have you been likewise unclear or ambivalent (intentionally or otherwise) in your struggle against another “god?”

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Question #5

First, my response to question #4:

I did a paper in seminary on the expression "and the land had rest" in Judges. I had hoped that it was an expression related to Sabbath practice. I couldn't prove my hyphothesis, discovering instead that its likely meaning is simply that there was a period without warfare and conflict.

In my lifetime there have been very few years that have passed without my nation being at war at some point somewhere around the globe. A period of peace is a very precious thing. The absence of inter-personal conflict in my own life is a precious gift that I need to learn to treasure more, since it is in valuing it that I am inspired to create it all the more.

Now for today's question:

Question #5 Gideon had to reject his family traditions (6:25-27). What has serving God cost you?

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Gideon

This week we have the story of Deborah, Barak and Jael next in the text, but the empty man we will consider is Gideon. So if you are reading the entire book of Judges, read chapters 4-8. If you just want to read the shorter passage that will be the focus of the sermon next Sunday, read the passage here

Gideon shows a consistent yellow streak - he is hiding from the Midianites by threshing his grain in the winepress, he destroys the shrine of Baal at night, he tests the message he hears from God by requiring signs on multiple nights...you catch my drift. God's response to Gideon is make his task more difficult, primarily by reducing the size of his army, thus requiring more trust in God from a man who seems distrusting by nature.

Then there is the odd issue of his name. By all normal conventions of the ancient world, a name like Jerubaal would be translated as "may Baal contend for me" not "may Baal contend against me." Thus, the person named Jerubaal would be expected to be a devotee of Baal, not an enemy. Perhaps we are expected to doubt the loyalties of Gideon, it would seem to fit his character after all.

Question #4

First, my response to question #3:

The Israelites needed deliverance from the oppression of foreign powers, that is what the Judges provided. That is not a problem we face in America today regardless of the worst threat of terrorism. No, the deliverance that I long for is from our oppression of ourselves. I would hope that if God were to send a deliverer that he or she would overthrow the power of "the market" and replace our "corporate overlords" with people of compassion that put people before profits.

Now for today's question:

Queston #4 What would "the land having rest" look like in your life?

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Question #3

OK, first my response to question #2.

In the Judges "formula," the people cry out because they are being oppressed. Now, it is important to note that they brought it on themselves. This is a hard and dangerous theology, believing that suffering is a result of sin. It is a theology rejected by Jesus, who said that the blindness of the man at the pool of Siloam was not the result of anyone's sin (neither his nor his parents') but was specifically to reveal the glory of God through his healing. The comments you posted yesterday (thank you again) remind us that bad things happen to good people. So we all cry out to God on occasion.

For me, one of the most dramatic times was the same one Paul alluded to. Molly's short life touched all of us in ways that some much longer lives seldom do, making saying "goodby" to her all the harder. The day I baptized her, I understood that the reason for it was a fear that she might not ever leave the hospital and be able to get baptized in the church. As I left her hospital room, I cried out to God, "don't ever make me do that again!"

Now for today's question:

Queston #3 If God were to raise up a deliverer for you, what would that look like? Who might that be?

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Question #2

Before posting the next question, as promised, I will give my answer to yesterday's question.

The pivotal word in question #1 is "evil." That is a strong word to say the least. I could waffle on this one and say that I've done bad things that weren't evil, but then there is that last phrase, "in the sight of God." Merciful as God is, God doesn't lower standards so much as forgiving us when we fall short. So, yes, I surely have done evil. The people in Judges consistently "do what is evil" by turning to other gods. When I think for just a second about all the excuses I use to keep from doing what is good and what I know I should, I realize that there is a pantheon of lesser gods that get a portion of my attention.

Now for today's question:

Question #2 When have you needed to cry out to God?

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Question #1

Now we begin the Lenten discipline of the forty questions.

Question #1 What have you (we) done that which is evil in the sight of God?

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