A Distant God?

For Friday, February 24, 2006
Proverbs 15:29

The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

"Why won't God answer my prayer?"
"Why won't God listen to me?"
"Why is God so distant?"

Such questions are usually spoken as accusations against God for being indifferent. God is on trial. They would be wonderful questions if asked as a matter of personal examination. "If God is good and powerful, should I be examining myself for the reason he seems distant?" God will not bless the wicked, but he does desire for the wicked to repent and be blessed. "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?"

And it is not that the wicked must make himself righteous in order to be heard. He does not have to merit God's hearing; he needs, rather, to turn to God in submission. Yes, it is the righteous whom God hears, but then no one is righteous. Our blessing is to receive the righteousness of God the Son freely given to any who call on his name.

This is the gospel message for the lost, but also for the saved. For so many times it seems to us that God is distant; he seems distant, not because he is, but because we keep placing between us and him idols and works. We either do not want to be near because of wanting to hold on to sins and idols, or we put in the way obstacles that we somehow believe will aid us in getting God's attention. Like the believers at Colossae, we make up rules and restrictions that seem to have value, but in truth merely make us trust in man-made rules rather than resting fully in the work of our Lord. Righteousness is not about what rules we make up to appear reverent; it is about resting; resting on and in the Lord of Righteousness.

Pondering or Pouring?

For Thursday, February 23, 2006
Proverbs 15:28

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

I opened the email with some trepidation, knowing what it likely contained: more bad news from a friend who had already been subjected to a series of unjust accusations, but now faced more of the same. And I was being asked to help frame his response.

Anger, as Aristotle notes in his Rhetoric, often involves "a desire accompanied by pain, for conspicuous revenge for a conspicuous slight at the hands of men who have no call to slight oneself or one's friends" (II.2 1377b31). That's a stomp your feet, spit obscenities, smack the computer monitor sort of anger. The temptation, of course, is to vengeance, to return evil for evil, to lash back with a stream of accusations and invective as harsh and unjust as that which has hurt you or your loved one.

That, however, is not the path outlined in today's proverb.

We may not face hostile accusers. Some disputes may involve no ill will, but only inability to agree. Even so, the temptation is too often towards the harsh answer or clever retort, the witty barb or unfair blow.

Our Lord himself, who knew no sin, remained virtually silent before those who sought his life, speaking few and choice words. How much more must we who are sinful and weak take care to frame our responses to those around us with whom we may simply differ. Let us then watch and weigh our words in order that even our enemies can make no accusation against the truth we speak in charity.

Greed and Bribery

For Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Proverbs 15:27

Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
but he who hates bribes will live.

Even in the modern world with its procedural justice, those with wealth can influence the machinery in their favor. How much more was this the case in Israel with its networks of personal contact, loyalty, and respect. Thus, we find in Scripture, a number of strong statements about the danger and wickedness of bribery.

And we still see the possibility of secret (or not so secret) gain influencing the treatment of those who are too impoverished or too poorly positioned to make such offers: the executive who accepts personal gifts in exchange for offering a contract to a second-rate but wealthy company, the pastor who cancels counseling for an unwed mother in order to be treated to lunch by a generous donor, the researcher who selects his data with an eye to the enhanced reputation the funding corporation promises him even if his results might endanger those at the margins of society.

This, however, is not God's way. In Deuteronomy 10:17, Moses tells Israel, "Yahweh your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe." The God of Israel was no local deity to be manipulated and bribed for his favor, but rather the God of all creation who stands in need of nothing from his creatures. Indeed, this great Judge of all the earth is same God who, in the person of Jesus Christ, made himself poor for our sakes, in order that he might find us in the right before his court, having restored himself what was lost due to our sin.

As today's proverb tells us, those who are greedy for bribes and unjust gain adopt habits that not only destroy themselves, but bring ruin upon their entire household. The patterns of human relation implicated in bribe-taking cannot sustain themselves over time. We who are Christ's church, however, must live as those who know we are recipients of God's unmerited favor, a God who judges the poverty of sin mercifully and at great cost to himself. When we trust this God revealed in Christ, we will hate bribes and live.

Gracious Words

For Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Proverbs 15:26

The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but gracious words are pure.

The thoughts, the words, and the deeds of the wicked are detestable to God. However witty they may consider themselves, however clever and fashionable they may seem to themselves, even how right they believe they may be, their behavior is odorous to God who will not be mocked. The great illusion of the wicked is that they believe they are getting away with their schemes. "There is no god," they say to themselves as fools. Pray now that they will learn the reality and power of God while there is time to be saved. Pray for your neighbors, family, and colleagues who reject Christ.

And pray for your own words to be gracious to them and to your spiritual family. Colossians 4:5-6 says, "Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." For your words to be gracious, you must be a person who lives under the grace of God, whose heart is tranformed by grace. Your words and thoughts only reveal your heart. That is why the wicked, no matter what they think or say, cannot please God. Study God's grace; study what it is to live under grace and to be a person of grace; pray for God's grace to be manifested in your life.

The Widow and the Proud

For Monday, February 20, 2006
Proverbs 15:25

The Lord tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow's boundaries.

The contrast of what the Lord does in each situation helps explain who the proud is. He is not merely someone with an ego problem who looks down on others such as the widow; rather, he seeks to take advantage of the needy such as the widow. He is after her property; he enlarges his own possessions through taking away from those who are poor and do not have a protector.

The proverb warns the oppressor that the Lord himself protects the interests of the poor; whoever will go after the needy must answer to God. We may think to point out that oppressors often do go without punishment. But the truth of the matter is that they are likely to fall. Other proud enemies may undo them; the government may bring them to justice; ruin may occur within their own house. Even if they outwardly seem to be secure, their security comes with a price. They do not have freedom to live without worries about enemies.

But let this proverb also be a word of instruction to us in caring for the widow. James 1:27 says, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction..." From the earliest days of the church, the care of widows was assumed as a responsibility of the Christian community. What widows do you know? A neighbor? A colleague? A church member? Perhaps God has placed you in her life so that through you he "maintains her boundaries."