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Today's readings: Ps 83; Jud 8:22-35; Acts 4:1-12; John 1:43-51

If you’re paying attention, you may notice the Lectionary readings skipped from Judges 8:12 to 8:22. You may also have noticed when we skipped from Joshua 8:22 to 8:30. Sometimes the Lectionary skips passages because they are redundant or do not add to our understanding. In these two cases, however, it skips them because the content is too violent and portrays God in a sadistic light. Our modern sensibilities tell us these passages, portraying revenge killings, are not in our true nature nor in God’s.

Personally, I feel this omission is a mistake. What happens if we are unwilling to wrestle with the dark side of our own natures? We like to distance ourselves from behaviors that offend or frighten us because we want to believe we are better or have more control. When we are unable to admit we may be capable of terrible things, we may also be
unprepared to effectively resist the temptation to do those things. How often we have heard someone defend themselves by saying “I didn’t mean for it to happen; it just did!” The excuse that our choices are somehow beyond our control is the flip side of the illusion that we are different from “bad people.” We may not like it, but a good deal of our character is circumstance. To exercise control and be responsible for our own actions, we must confess to ourselves—and others if need be—our weaknesses and temptations. We do this not to punish or humiliate ourselves, but to deal with them effectively as they arise. There’s a reason the famous first step of Alcoholics Anonymous is admitting you have a problem.

The good news is we are forgiven and we are called to a higher path. “Judging not” isn’t just about the person we forgive—it’s also about examining our own hearts and recognizing the kindred struggle within us. We are all capable of great evil and great love. Christ understands and accepts this about us. A decision to follow Christ is a decision to embrace our complete selves so we can love completely.

Comfort: God knows our hearts, and loves us as we are.

Challenge: Go back and read Joshua 8:23-29 and Judges 8:13-21, then re-read Psalm 83:11-12 for a better understanding.

Prayer: God of hope, help me be honest with myself.

Evening reading: Ps 85, 86