Through the Curtain
Jesus removed the veil from our eyes. He opened the curtains that we might see the glory of the Lord and become people of righteousness.
“The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel. After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They quickly turned from the ways of their ancestors, who had been obedient to the Lord’s commands. Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.”
Judges 2:1-7, 10-12, 16-19
Hindsight really is 20/20. We can see clearly when we look back at what was good and what was not. As the writer of Judges recounts the history of the people, he shares clearly where the people were faithfully following God's ways and where they were not. Consider your own journey. Can you look back and easily see when you walked in alignment with God and when you did not? It is much easier to do looking back than it is in the present moment.
Why is this? Why can we not always see clearly. What are the reasons that people struggle to stay faithful and be obedient to God's commands? We live in a world where people constantly struggle with identity, value, purpose, and connection. Why? Is it not related to how we choose to live and because we often to choose to go our own way not following God's ways?
The text says that there was a generation that arose that had not seen the great things that the Lord had done. They had a veil over their eyes. So what did they see? They saw the ways of the world around them and chose to pursue success according to the ways of the world. Is that really all that different than our Western culture? Do we not fall into the same traps of working endlessly, constantly wanting more money, more possessions, more comfort, more pleasure, just more of everything. We are a consumer culture, one that is common to the world, but not in alignment with the covenant we have with God. Perhaps we should ask God for eyes to see?
“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night."
Psalms 63:1-8, 11
David saw God move. He saw God take him from the lowliest shepherd, the youngest son, a nobody, and make him a king. David saw God give him victory over stronger armies and victory in his heart over his own internal struggles. David was not a man who was sinless, but he was a man who was changed by how he saw God.
What does David say? He says he has seen God in the sanctuary and beheld his power and glory. He visualizes God when he closes his eyes to sleep. There is not a moment that he is not looking to God and seeking His presence. David says earnestly I seek you, I thirst for you, I long for you. Does your heart align with David's? Is seeking God and seeing God moving your greatest desire? Why or why not? Is there anything that keeps you from seeking God fully?
“Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.”
Proverbs 9:1, 6, 9-11, 13
We live in the information age. We have greater access to wisdom and knowledge than at any other point in human history. We should be the wisest culture with the least poverty and most thriving communities. So why don't we? Why do we live in a world that continues to struggle and suffer? Why are there haves and have nots? Why has the wisdom that is available not translated into a blessed world for all people?
Solomon says there are people who will seek wisdom, obey instruction, and apply the knowledge of the Holy One in a way that will transform their lives. Solomon also says there will be fools. People who prefer the temporary to the eternal, the darkness to the light, the immediate to the sacrificial. While we do not live yet in a place that is holy unto the Lord where every knee bows or every tongue confesses Jesus as Lord, that does not mean we should lose the hope of what is to come.
God wants to give each of us a God sized vision for how we can bring healing to the world and reflect the glory of the Lord through how they live. While we might not individually be able to solve all the problems of the world, we might be able to change one person's life through our obedience. We are called to do for the one that which we wish we could do for everyone. Can you see how you can bring the kingdom and build up others by fearing the Lord and applying what you know about Jesus to how you live?
“Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.”
Jonah 3:1-10
Solomon said the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The people of Nineveh heard the word of God and immediately repented. They had no idea if they would be spared, but they chose to respond to the word of God that they heard through Jonah. The text says that they immediately declared a fast, covered themselves with sackcloth sitting down in the dust, and urgently called on God. They saw that how they were living was not right. Are you quick to repent or apologize when you are not right about something? There is a lesson to be learned about how quickly they turned back to God when they saw how wrong they were.
The incredible part of the story is the way the Ninevites saw God. They did not see God as angry or without compassion or they would not have begged for compassion. They saw God as faithful and compassionate even when they had not been faithful. The way the people saw God and responded to his correction saved their lives. Proverbs says the Lord disciplines the one He loves. The Ninevites chose to see the discipline as a loving act and listened. How often do we shrug off discipline or correction when it might be the very word that could save us from pain?
It is amazing to see how when the truth of God's word was shared by one person, the impact on the community was immense. Jonah was originally disobedient, but when he chose to follow God's call on his life, he helped save a city. What could one act of obedience, one step of faith by you trusting that you will see God move, do in your community?
“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded."
Hebrews 10:1, 5, 7, 9-10, 14-27, 32, 35-36, 38-39
The invitation we have each day is intimacy with God. He wants to draw us near to Him that we might know Him and see who He is. He wants us to have full assurance that we have peace with Him, that we are cleansed and saved by His grace, and that we have a hope and a future. Can you see the heart of the Father? Can you see how deeply He loves you and wants you to live in the fullness of that love?
There is no longer a curtain that separates us. There is not an us and a them. There is no longer good people and bad people. God calls us dearly loved children, friends, co-workers, and heirs on a righteous inheritance. However you saw yourself when you got up today, please know that God sees you as so much greater than you see yourself. In Ephesians, God calls you His masterpiece. Jesus calls you salt and light. In Jesus time, salt was worth more than gold. He sees you as precious and He purifies you from all unrighteousness. All the ways you have fallen short have been covered by the blood of Christ. Do you feel free today? You should because you are.
The enemy wants you to hold on to your guilty conscience. He wants to undermine your identity. Jesus wants to set you free and help you find your place in the kingdom so that you might see clearly. See beyond the curtain with unveiled eyes at the wonder of God. Solomon says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge of the Holy One understanding. The fear of God is more about the awe, wonder, reverence, power and glory that it is about anything that could cause terror.
How will you respond to what you have seen? The Ninevites responded by humbling themselves and doing the next right thing they knew to do. They called on God, repented, and shared in their community the call to turn to God. Shouldn't we do the same thing? Paul says the new life in Christ should produce in us a heart to spur each other on to love and good deeds and encourage us to gather together. We were made to live in community and not a life of isolation. What is your role in the community? Who could you spur and encourage today? Our prayer as we read these texts is a simple one. Lord Jesus, give us eyes to see as you see. Let us look beyond the curtain to see how we can participate in the new and living Way that you are leading us to travel. Let us give thanks that we are made new as we draw closer to you. Let us follow your ways that we might reflect your goodness and grace to the world around us as we see with unveiled eyes.