Sermon On The Ziggurat Of Life

John H. Walton, an American professor and Old Testament scholar once remarked: “The ziggurat was the most dominant building of the temple complex, so it is no surprise that it draws the attention of the author of Genesis. In summary, the project is a temple complex featuring a ziggurat, which was designed to make it convenient for the god to come down to his temple, bless his people, and receive their worship. This understanding of ziggurats makes an important point drawn from the ancient Near Eastern context to clarify the biblical text: the tower of Babel was not built for people to go up, but for the god to come down.” Genesis 11:1-5 reminds us:”Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.”

Ziggurats are fundamentally considered structures of faith and religion. It was once quoted in an episode of the television series: “All creatures great and small” (2021) that: "To conquer the ziggurat of life, one must climb the first step." Although the phrase "Conquering the ziggurat of life" is not a common, established philosophical or literary idiom, it does apply to a metaphorical expression using the imagery of a ziggurat to represent a structured, challenging journey or hierarchy in life. It suggests achieving mastery, success, or spiritual fulfillment by successfully navigating its various levels or stages. It features climbing life’s challenging steps in a careful, sure-footed and steadfast way. The metaphor draws on the physical and symbolic aspects of ancient Mesopotamian ziggurats: A ziggurat has multiple ascending levels, symbolizing a journey with clear stages or hierarchies (e.g., social ladder, personal development, or spiritual enlightenment).

It is a common philosophical and metaphorical understanding that the "steps of life" are uneven, meaning life is full of unpredictable highs and lows, not a smooth, linear progression. The idea of life as a journey or a staircase with rugged steps is a powerful metaphor used to describe the human experience, which includes its ups and downs. Life involves a mixture of smoothness and difficult times, successes and failures. These contrasts are often seen as necessary for individual growth and appreciation of the better times. It rarely follows a straight or perfectly planned path. People experience unexpected detours, challenges, and major life changes that shape their direction. The "uneven" nature of life provides opportunities for learning, building resilience, and developing character. The most transformative times often come when navigating difficulties. Each person's journey is unique, with different obstacles and opportunities. What might be a smooth phase for one person could be an arduous one for another.

The biblical story of Joseph is a prime example of life’s ups and downs, chronicling his journey from being his father's favorite son to being sold into slavery by his brothers, enduring false imprisonment, and ultimately rising to a position of power in Egypt to save his family from famine. Other examples include Ruth and Naomi navigating hardship, the prophet Elijah experiencing fear and isolation, and Peter suffering a fall from grace before being restored. Elijah's "ups" were his many great triumphs, such as calling fire from heaven and ending a drought, while his "downs" were periods of extreme depression, fear, and a desire to die after these highs. These lows were triggered by threats from Queen Jezebel, feelings of hopelessness and isolation, and burnout from his challenging ministry, which led him to run away and hide. God sustained Elijah through these low points by providing food, rest, and a gentle voice, but not by shaming him, which shows that even after great victories, he experienced significant human weakness and struggle.

Many philosophical and spiritual traditions, such as the concept of Yin and Yang, emphasize the idea that life involves a balance of opposites (darkness and light, sorrow and joy). In these frameworks, lows and highs are seen as interconnected and necessary parts of a whole. Stoic philosophy teaches that one should strive for equanimity regardless of external circumstances, accepting both "highs" and "lows" with calm rationality rather than being overly swayed by them.

For many people, faith in God can help transform a low into a high by providing powerful coping mechanisms, a strong support system, a sense of meaning and purpose, and hope during difficult times. It becomes a turning point that overshadows even the darkest days of life. One such event in Elijah’s life is recorded in 1 Kings 17:17-22, which reminds us: “After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child's life come into him again.” And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.”