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Showing posts with label #sacrifice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #sacrifice. Show all posts
Sunday, April 24, 2022
Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 174 - Golden calf leaves supporters with a bad taste
This week, our Come Follow Me curriculum brings us to Exodus 24, 31-34. We talk about unusual Christian rituals, stone tables, and a golden calf. Study with me!
Sunday, February 13, 2022
Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 164 - Remember Lot's Wife
This week, our Come Follow Me curriculum brings us to Genesis 18-23. We discuss Sodom and Gomorrah and the sacrifice of Isaac. Study with me!
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Sunday, June 3, 2018
The time that God sacrificed one of the tribes of Israel
The Old Testament manual for Gospel Doctrine gives only one week to the entire book of Judges. Certainly it's true that there are only so many weeks in a year for Sunday School, and that it is impossible to have a comprehensive study of the Old Testament, but it breaks my heart to see some of the best stuff get little more than a cameo appearance (if anything at all).
Of course, there are other reasons for skipping some of these items. Depending on the class, not everyone may be interested in hearing about Ehud assassinating Eglon, the overweight king of Moab. (Judges 3:15-30) There may be some people who would rather skip over the story of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite nailing the head of Sisera to her tent floor. On the other hand, these stories are some of the most entertaining in all of the Bible.
Perhaps one of the more difficult stories to present is that of the tragedy of Gibeah.
There was a Levite, whose concubine had cheated on him, and in her shame returned to her home in Bethlehem. The Levite went after his wife. He spoke kindly to her, and they were reconciled. (Judges 19:1-4)
Eventually, the Levite took his wife and his belongings, and traveled north. After traveling for some time, the servant of the Levite asked that they stop in Canaanite-controlled Jerusalem. The Levite desired to travel further, hoping to stay in land controlled by the Israelites. Eventually, they came to the city of Gibeah, a possession of the tribe of Benjamin. (Judges 19:10-14)
This makes sense, because the Levites were meant to be supported in their spiritual roles by other tribes that received a land inheritance. The Benjamites should have felt an obligation to help this Levite, but when he tried to find lodging, but the men of Benjamin would not help him. At last, a man of Ephraim saw him, and offered him lodging and shelter.
I suspect that we do not have the entire account regarding what happened next, but we know the following details:
Of course, there are other reasons for skipping some of these items. Depending on the class, not everyone may be interested in hearing about Ehud assassinating Eglon, the overweight king of Moab. (Judges 3:15-30) There may be some people who would rather skip over the story of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite nailing the head of Sisera to her tent floor. On the other hand, these stories are some of the most entertaining in all of the Bible.
Perhaps one of the more difficult stories to present is that of the tragedy of Gibeah.
There was a Levite, whose concubine had cheated on him, and in her shame returned to her home in Bethlehem. The Levite went after his wife. He spoke kindly to her, and they were reconciled. (Judges 19:1-4)
Eventually, the Levite took his wife and his belongings, and traveled north. After traveling for some time, the servant of the Levite asked that they stop in Canaanite-controlled Jerusalem. The Levite desired to travel further, hoping to stay in land controlled by the Israelites. Eventually, they came to the city of Gibeah, a possession of the tribe of Benjamin. (Judges 19:10-14)
This makes sense, because the Levites were meant to be supported in their spiritual roles by other tribes that received a land inheritance. The Benjamites should have felt an obligation to help this Levite, but when he tried to find lodging, but the men of Benjamin would not help him. At last, a man of Ephraim saw him, and offered him lodging and shelter.
I suspect that we do not have the entire account regarding what happened next, but we know the following details:
- Some of the men of Benjamin wanted to assault the Levite
- Though they did not take hold of the Levite, they did get the Levite's concubine
- They brutally assaulted this woman to death
The Levite was so horrified by the behavior that he took the body of his concubine and cut it into twelve pieces, then distributed the pieces of her body with an account of what had happened to the elders of Israel throughout the land, pleading for justice against this horrific crime. (Judges 19:29)
The Israelites were so shocked by the depravity of the men of Gibeah that they came to Benjamin and demanded that the guilty men be produced so that justice could be meted out. To their surprise, the tribe of Benjamin thought to protect the guilty. (Judges 20:11-14)
The men of Benjamin numbered about 26,000, and the armies of the other tribes number 400,000. (Judges 20:15-17)
The Israelites were not eager to have a civil war, and so they consulted the Lord and received a confirmation that Benjamin would pay for this crime. (Judges 20:23)
The fighting lasted multiple days, but ultimately, the armies of Israel prevailed and destroyed all of the tribe of Benjamin except for 600 men. (Judges 20:47-48)
The tribe of Benjamin never really recovered. Certainly they were given something of an opportunity when Samuel anointed Saul the son of Kish from Benjamin to become King of Israel, but Saul and his sons lost the kingdom, and the tribe of Benjamin ended up little more than a family of aids for the tribe of Judah.
It is easy to look at this sort of story and wonder why God did not prevent this tragedy. The Levite and his wife might have been safer in Jerusalem. The father of the concubine was willing to provide for the Levite longer. They might have been guided a different way.
Instead, God allowed these awful men to take hold of this woman and brutalize her... why?
While the question is speculative, it cannot be said that God did not care about this nameless concubine, or that the woman brought it upon herself through her sins... God loved the woman, and he has forgiven people who were guilty of her mistakes. Additionally, God went to great lengths to win justice for the crimes perpetrated against this woman.
Generations later, the other ten tribes would be lost in the conquests of the Assyrians, and Judah would be put in exile in Babylon with the triumph of Nebuchadnezzar... but the tragedy of Gibeah really represents the first tribe to be lost... and not just lost, but sacrificed, by God, to get justice for a the concubine of a travelling Levite.
We don't know all the circumstances surrounding this event... we don't even know the name of the Levite or of his concubine... but we know that in the end, good triumphed over evil, justice prevailed over injustice, and tens of thousands who fought against the outcome were slain. I think this is a profound thought... If God was willing to sacrifice (basically) an entire tribe of Israel for a nameless concubine, will he not equally value the welfare of our neighbors, our colleagues, and our children?
I believe God pays very close attention to how we treat one another. In the end, justice will be a very personal thing for the Lord. Jesus himself taught, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 45:40)
I suppose one of the most compelling reasons for studying the tragedy of Gibeah, is so that we do not repeat it. Every man and woman should be vigilant, and if the tendency to be cruel or to be selfish appears in us, it is on that individual to go to Christ..."denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" (Titus 2:12)
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
I can forgive you... as long as someone gets tortured and killed for what you did
The most fundamental aspect of Christianity is that Jesus Christ suffered and died for the sins of the world. Because of his sacrifice, humanity can be redeemed.
The atonement of Christ is not a secret, and sects ranging from the most energetic protestants and evangelicals to the most stoic and reserved orthodox disciples are usually not shy about expressing their total reliance on the sacrifice of Jesus.
Scriptures from all periods of time have references to this doctrine. Consider the following:
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed...
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:4-5,10-12)
The doctrine is confirmed in the New Testament as well:
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18)
The Book of Mormon is also clear on the need for the atonement of Christ:
"And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also." (Alma 42:15)
The concept was explained by Jesus himself in one of the most famous verses ever:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Because of its familiarity, Christians tend to take it for granted, and the faithless tend to treat it as false, and the reasoning behind this event is lost. It is worth closer inspection.
Our Heavenly Father has issued a series of laws, the violation of which condemns an individual to perpetual outcast from the presence of God (Alma 11:37). To escape this condemnation, God extends mercy to the penitent, but only because his son was subjected to unspeakable torture and then subsequently brutally slain at Golgotha.
If God loved his children and wanted to pardon sins, why would his forgiving power require the savage torture and slaughter of someone else?
Of course, the problem with this assessment is that it is based on our perception that sin is little more than an error in judgement, and that the consequences of these actions do not produce unseen effects.
Consider the invention of the shoe-fitting flouroscope. This device represented a new application for x-rays, and blasted the feet of the user with radiation so that the bones as well as the outline of the shoe were visible to promote better fitting shoes. As more information about radiation was discovered, links between the use of such devices and bone cancer were discovered. Though the immediate effects were not visible, over time and with increased understanding, the negative consequences were exposed.
Similarly, those who indulge in behaviors that contradict the commandments of God and the counsel of his prophets may not seem to have any immediate negative consequences, but our current inability to see and understand the spiritual aspects of human life make it impossible for us to understand the negative impact of sin on a spirit.
What we could not see or understand, Jesus Christ could. Though angels attended him as he endured the cruel process by which he could heal the spiritual damage of sin, he prayed earnestly for another way to do it (Luke 22:42). Blood oozed through his skin as he was subjected to pressures and pains beyond human comprehension (Luke 22:44). Ultimately, he had to endure the pain on the cross without any help (Matthew 27:46).
Forgiveness of sins was never a matter of pretending like it did not happen... It involves repairing spiritual damage. It requires restoring matter that, unlike mortal flesh and blood, is permanent. This is not a cheap experience, and cannot be simply done on a whim. It required a specific and deliberate process, that could only be performed by one person... the son of God himself.
"Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him..." "that he might bring us to God..." "to bring about the plan of mercy..." "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
More than sparing himself excruciating pain, he wanted to help you, and I, and all of us realize our potential. He paid the price to heal us. Even now, he sends his prophets to plead with us to use his power. For all those who come to him, he will give gift he purchased with such a great price... the miracle of forgiveness.
The atonement of Christ is not a secret, and sects ranging from the most energetic protestants and evangelicals to the most stoic and reserved orthodox disciples are usually not shy about expressing their total reliance on the sacrifice of Jesus.
Scriptures from all periods of time have references to this doctrine. Consider the following:
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed...
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:4-5,10-12)
The doctrine is confirmed in the New Testament as well:
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18)
The Book of Mormon is also clear on the need for the atonement of Christ:
"And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also." (Alma 42:15)
The concept was explained by Jesus himself in one of the most famous verses ever:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Because of its familiarity, Christians tend to take it for granted, and the faithless tend to treat it as false, and the reasoning behind this event is lost. It is worth closer inspection.
Our Heavenly Father has issued a series of laws, the violation of which condemns an individual to perpetual outcast from the presence of God (Alma 11:37). To escape this condemnation, God extends mercy to the penitent, but only because his son was subjected to unspeakable torture and then subsequently brutally slain at Golgotha.
If God loved his children and wanted to pardon sins, why would his forgiving power require the savage torture and slaughter of someone else?
Of course, the problem with this assessment is that it is based on our perception that sin is little more than an error in judgement, and that the consequences of these actions do not produce unseen effects.
Consider the invention of the shoe-fitting flouroscope. This device represented a new application for x-rays, and blasted the feet of the user with radiation so that the bones as well as the outline of the shoe were visible to promote better fitting shoes. As more information about radiation was discovered, links between the use of such devices and bone cancer were discovered. Though the immediate effects were not visible, over time and with increased understanding, the negative consequences were exposed.
Similarly, those who indulge in behaviors that contradict the commandments of God and the counsel of his prophets may not seem to have any immediate negative consequences, but our current inability to see and understand the spiritual aspects of human life make it impossible for us to understand the negative impact of sin on a spirit.
What we could not see or understand, Jesus Christ could. Though angels attended him as he endured the cruel process by which he could heal the spiritual damage of sin, he prayed earnestly for another way to do it (Luke 22:42). Blood oozed through his skin as he was subjected to pressures and pains beyond human comprehension (Luke 22:44). Ultimately, he had to endure the pain on the cross without any help (Matthew 27:46).
Forgiveness of sins was never a matter of pretending like it did not happen... It involves repairing spiritual damage. It requires restoring matter that, unlike mortal flesh and blood, is permanent. This is not a cheap experience, and cannot be simply done on a whim. It required a specific and deliberate process, that could only be performed by one person... the son of God himself.
"Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him..." "that he might bring us to God..." "to bring about the plan of mercy..." "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
More than sparing himself excruciating pain, he wanted to help you, and I, and all of us realize our potential. He paid the price to heal us. Even now, he sends his prophets to plead with us to use his power. For all those who come to him, he will give gift he purchased with such a great price... the miracle of forgiveness.
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