August 30, 2009 13th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-9
Grace, mercy and peace from God the father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Since first coming to this congregation a little over seven years ago I have had numerous very pleasant experiences. I am thankful for the many people here that went --- and still go --- the extra mile to make us feel welcome. I pray that I also model this hospitality.
One of the most memorable times was during the building project. Doreen, Katie and I returned from a servant event week at camp pioneer and I started working here on our new building. There were initially some messy times in the giant watery hole.
Eventually the foundation was completed. The day that we pumped the wet concrete into the cement block walls will always hold a special place in my memory. Framing in the basement classroom walls with welding sparks dropping from above and dodging hot sparks also left a lasting impression. This was truly a scene out of Dante’s Inferno.
After the foundation was completed and the concrete poured for the first floor we celebrated the completion of this phase with a nice prayer breakfast and then proceeded to install the wall sections that were framed the previous weeks. As pleasant as breakfast and prayer was, we continued, we didn’t sit around satisfied that the foundation was done, the sun was shining and our stomachs were full. We continued and built upon that foundation.
Each week we are reminded of our spiritual foundation. We freely confess our sins and are reminded that Christ died for our sins. In the sermons we hear the skillful application of law and Gospel. Each week “Christ Crucified” is preached --- a stumbling bloc for Jews and foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. We weekly rebuild this foundation -- we know that we are justified -- that is saved --- by God’s Grace -- His sacrificial love for us. This faith that we have is His gift --- it is not from ourselves.
Many Christians think that there is a little something they must do to be saved. Vicar Zach put it this way “Some people think that it’s like eating in a restaurant -- Jesus buys the meal and we leave the tip. NOT TRUE --Jesus bought the meal and provided the tip. Salvation is 100 percent the work Christ on the cross. This is the foundation -- without this --- the walls and roof would collapse. There would be no salvation because we can not keep the law.
The law that God gave us is not a burden that is meant to defeat us, break us and finally tame us. Obedience to God’s will is part of the sanctification process -- it is part of our being transformed by the Holy Spirit to be more “Christ Like.” It is not to be buried in the old testament and forgotten. Don’t we regularly pray “Thy will be done”? We don’t need to look far to find His will.
Because of our human tendency to mess things up we seldom talk about sanctification because it is easy to get legalistic. We get self righteous and smug. We think we are better that others. The religious powers at the time of Jesus loved the laws that they made -- they put a burden on people that was not necessary. They let go of the commands of God and held on to the traditions of man.
They loved sacrifice -- especially if it was public -- but ignored mercy. As a matter of fact don’t we sometimes prefer justice when mercy would be far more Christ Like?
Today’s lesson from Deuteronomy says follow the laws so that you may live. They are given for our benefit they are not given as some impossible obstacle course that is beyond human capacity to complete. The pious ones from the time of Jesus --- also known as the Pharisees --- regarded the Sabbath laws with special devotion. They actually believed if they could keep this law to perfection, the Messiah would come. They actually thought that their actions could force God to deliver on His promise on their schedule. What did Jesus Say about the Sabbath. It was made for man. He knew we needed the rest. The Legalists of the day changed it from a blessing to a burden. They lurked around every corner looking for a “Law breaker.”
A little past today’s reading in Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 are some of Judaism’s most important words: Called the “ Shema Yisroel”
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
This is the basic statement of monotheistic faith --the heart of Judaism -- Jesus affirmed these verses when He was asked which is the greatest commandment. He replied Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. He went on to quote Leviticus 19:18 Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40)
We no longer write the words of the law on our door frames --- God has put them in our minds and written them on our hearts.(Jer 31:33)
The legalists of Jesus’ day and even our day have a problem with this simple request.
The are hung up on this phrase -- when you lie down and when you get up.
The learned Rabbis can not agree on the precise times that one is to lie down and get up. This has been debated for centuries. This is an important part of their daily private and community prayers. They all agree that this is a divine decree because it is biblical but they are afraid that the are not saying it at the precise proper time.
Just when do you get up? Some say when there is enough natural light to be able to distinguish the blue strings from the white strings on their garment tassels. Others say that you must be able to recognize a friend from the distance of four cubits. Later it was concluded that princes and kings tended to sleep later so it was decided that it was necessary to distinguish the blue strings from something green a situation requiring more light. Many modern Rabbis since the advent of clocks have settled on not later than 9:20 AM as the proper time.(not 9:21AM).
Similar debates occurred with determining the time of the evening Shema. A particular dilemma would occur if one were out real late and did not yet say their devotions. The evening Shema had to be said before daylight. A priest had to be ritualistically pure when he said it. What if he was impure and there was not time? Just how fast can you bathe because you must be clothed to say it. Talk about catch 22.
These debates give special meaning to these words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
The burden of legalism is far from light -- after about twenty minutes of reading the Rabbis debate these things, I just want to lie down at the foot of the cross in a state of complete thanksgiving.
This Old Testament requirement was written for man’s benefit not his torment. It is a statement of faith - it is a prayer - it should bring man closer to God and not be a burden. It doesn’t matter when it is said. It can be said with dirty hands and yes, if necessary, naked.
God gave us the laws so that we know His will and to live at peace with Him ourselves and others. Following the law is more about attitude than actions.
We all sin in thought word and deed---- there is a reason why we start our worship with a confession of sins.
Sometime we struggle with sin that we are actually caught up in. (Gal. 6:1) Paul’s words in Romans 7:15-25 echo many of our situations.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
I believe Paul is referring to his own struggles when he penned the words of today’s epistle and it has special meaning to those of us who struggle with the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Paul gives us the weapons to fight a multitude of hurtful behaviors of the mind --- bitterness, anger, hatred, rage, malice, greed, impurity, envy, jealousy, selfish ambition, addictions and compulsions. Once again Jesus comes to our rescue.
Scripture mentions an even more serious type of sin. Numbers 15:30-31 talks about “defiant sin” This is literally done with a high hand. I know your law, I know your will and I have no intention of ever being obedient to your wishes. Even this can be forgiven. Jeremiah 15:19 states “ If you repent -- that is change your thinking -- I will restore you that you may serve me.” Failure to repent and continue to defiantly sin can separate us from God now and eternally.
I think the psalm reading for today puts the law in the right perspective: (119:129-136)
129 Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.
132 Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.
133 Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of men,
that I may obey your precepts.
135 Make your face shine upon your servant
and teach me your decrees.
136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
for your law is not obeyed.
Paul tells us; Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed ----- into Christ’s likeness --(2 cor.3:18) -- by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is --His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
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God is merciful to us. He does not hold our sin against us. He does not allow us to continue to live lives destructively enslaved by disobedient and hurtful behaviors. He transforms our lives by the Holy Spirit for a threefold purpose: His glory, our benefit, and for the benefit of others. He gives us lives filled with the fruit of the spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Gal 5:22)
If we are in Christ we are a new creation.
We are forgiven and renewed but we are far from perfect. We are both saints and sinners. We have faith and new life but there are still parts of our thinking, feeling, and doing that are not yet under the influence of the Holy Spirit
Each day -- by grace -- we make deliberate use of the good influences of the Holy Spirit at work in us to turn to Jesus for pardon for our sins and to do what is good and right
It is emphatic that we remember that the life of freedom that God gives us is only possible because of all Jesus Christ is and has done for us. (Knippel Freedom from Hurtful Behaviors 24-25)
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The foundation is in place. The Holy Spirit is eager to build the rest of our buildings.
In the Name of Jesus
