Pathways Church Blog

Through the leadership of David, and his son Solomon, the kingdom of Israel achieved some prominence in the region. However, things went awry and the kingdom was split in two. The people’s faithfulness to God was very touch and go during this time, and God raised up prophets to call his people back to him.

I’m on my way out of town, and there are still diapers to be changed, so I’m going to leave it to our faithful blog readers and commenters to continue this intro. For those who have some experience in the Bible, please give us your perspective and understanding on the role and message of the prophets in the divided kingdom.

As we left off the story last week, the Israelites were finally set to be their own nation. God established a covenant with them on what their relationship with him would look like, and they were bound for the land he had promised to them. You would think it would all be rosy from here on out…right?

Unfortunately, things don’t always work out perfectly in any relationship, and this one is no different! In the early stages, Israel had no king but God himself. He used a series of judges to help lead the people and maintain justice, but he was King. As Judges 2:16-23 tell us, this worked at times, but other times it didn’t as the people went their own way.

In 1 Samuel 8 the Israelites continued to push things their own direction as they told God they didn’t want him to be their king. They wanted to have a human king and be like the other nations around them. God lets them have their way. The first king, Saul, went his own way and God pretty much gave up on him. Ultimately, as we will see this week, God did place a man “after his own heart” — David — on the throne. Through David’s leadership and submission to God, Israel became a great nation.

The fascinating thing about this series of events is that even though things don’t go the way God lines them up to, he continues to shape things in the direction he intends. The people didn’t want God as king, so God gives them a king who still leads them to become a great kingdom. As usual, all of this brings about a few questions we invite anyone to dialogue about:

• Why do we as humans keep wanting to do things our own way even when the ultimate power in the universe tries to guide us another direction?
• Does it trouble you that God seems to give in to their dreams, and yet still work things out in his favor? Does it seem like he is just manipulating the circumstances regardless of what they want?
• How have you seen God take poor choices you have made and still work them out for his greater purpose?

A few people have commented on the story I used in the teaching this past weekend. It is from The Lost Message of Jesus, by Steve Chalke. Here’s the full quote:

A few years ago I was taking part in a live debate on the BBC’s Radio Five Live, Drive Time show. One of the stories the program was covering was on the issue of adultery. As we chatted the presenter chipped in, “Why is God so miserable? Why has he got such a downer on everything we do?” And then, building into a real anti-God kind of rant, she added, “Don’t do this and don’t do that. Don’t commit adultery. It’s pathetic.”

I interrupted her with a question. “Does the Bible really say, ‘Don’t commit adultery?’”

“Yes, it does,” came her rapier reply.

“Well, I’ve never read that bit,” I said.

“You know very well it’s in there,” she retorted. “In fact, it’s in there twice. It’s one of the Ten Commandments.”

“Oh, now I know what you are talking about,” I exclaimed. “It’s just that I didn’t recognize it at first because of the tone of voice you were using.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“You’re absolutely right,” I continued. “God does say that we shouldn’t commit adulterty, but not in the way you’ve read it. You see, before he gives any of the Ten Commandments he introduce himself as the God who loves Israel. He lets them know that his is for them not against them. He wants the best for them. God didn’t sit in heaven making a list of all the things he knows human beings like to do and then outlaw them all to spoil our fun. Rather he knows the pain and heartache that we will cause others and ourselves if we pursue agendas that are contrary to the way he made us to be. The Ten Commandments is a loving God saying, ‘Look, I am the God who loves you. I’m on your side. I got you out of slavery. I’m the best deal you’ve got going for you. Trust me. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. Don’t abandon me. Don’t commit adultery because if you do it will unleash destructive powers that will slowly overshadow you, destroying you, your families and your society. Trust me. Don’t be stupid.’”

The presenter look at me in astonishment. Quietly she said, “No-one has ever explained it to me in that way. That makes so much sense.” Within minutes the phones were ringing with dozens of people all saying the same thing: “Why hasn’t anyone ever told us this before? I’ve been going to church all my life and no-one has ever explained it to me like that.”

I suppose that it is too late to keep the Schneider’s from moving away, so I guess I’ll be a good sport about it and post this…

Shanon could use some help loading their moving truck this Thursday evening at 5pm. The address is 107 164th Street SE #3303, Bothell, WA 98012(map). The unit is in building number three which is the last building in the back.

Dinner will be provided. Shanon states: “We can procure any kind of reasonable food that we can reach a consensus on.”

As we continue the Story of God, we find God releasing the Israelites from centuries of slavery. God quickly moved to establish what his relationship, his covenant, would look like with Israel. He had created mankind in His image, and now He must shape this community in His image as He teaches them about His character through what we call Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament).

He invited them to know who he was and how he was calling them to live through the Torah. This understanding begins to take shape as God delivers the Ten Commandments. Spend some time reading through Exodus 20:1-21. As you reflect on this passage, share your thoughts with us on the following questions (or add a few of your own):

• Why do you think it was so important for God to begin this relationship by reminding Israel that it was He who brought them out of Egypt?
• Why is the fourth commandment the only one that we don’t take seriously anymore? Is that something we should be faulted for or has it gone out of style?
• Respond to this idea: To many, the Ten Commandments bring more negative emotions than positive. The Ten Commandments are far more valuable when Christians show how to live them rather than enforcing them in our culture.
• How can we honor them without making them the focal point of our faith?
• What would it look like to live within a community of people who truly lived out these ten commands?

I found this poem on the Off-the-Map website and thought it was worth sharing. I don’t know Maya, but I think she gets it right. Let’s ditch the pride and embrace humility. If any of you have poetry or stories that you’d like to share with the community – let us know and we can post them in here. I’d love to see us producing art that communicates the beauty and creativity of our God.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting “I’m clean livin’”
I’m whispering “I was lost, Now I’m found and forgiven.”

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak And need His strength to carry on.

When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed And need God to clean my mess.

When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible. But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say… “I am a Christian” I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches. So I call upon His name.

When I say… “I am a Christian” I’m not holier than thou,
I’m just a simple sinner, who received God’s good grace, somehow.

Maya Angelou

As we’ve moved through the story of God, we’ve seen God’s continual faithfulness to his plan — to restore his broken relationship with humanity. But if there is one theme that has been consistent it is this — God does things in his own timing, and it doesn’t always make sense to us.

That theme continues with our story this week. 430 years after Joseph, the descendants of Jacob were still living in Egypt, but they had shifted from welcome strangers to slaves. As their oppression increased, they began to cry out and God remembered his promise, as it tells us in Exodus 2:23-25:
During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

How troubling is it for you to read that God seemingly forgot his promise so easily?
God had promised the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob they would be a great nation through whom all others would be blessed. After such a promise, why would he allow them to be enslaved to another nation for so long?
What longterm benefits might there have been in allowing his people to be in bondage to another nation for all this time?