September is speeding by, and I am finding myself three quarters of the way through my year-long journey through my ESV Study Bible.
I am enjoying the journey, I am, but I am also frustrated with the sea of questions that I am leaving behind each day.
Generally speaking, I will spend two hours each day reading the daily prescribed text, contemplate, and leave here, in my blog, a few thoughts that come to mind.
Currently, my reading plan has me in Psalms, 2 Samuel, Ezekiel, and Luke. It's like my mind is being torn into four different directions.
Constantly I am reminding myself to keep moving, as the plan for this year was to read the whole of the Bible.
Consider my readings today:
- Psalm 44 - I am shocked with the language presented. Essentially, the Psalmist is upset because he doesn't know why God is "killing them all the day long". "What have we done wrong", he essentially proclaims. Then, in what the ESV Study Bible notes proclaim as "bold imagery", the Psalmist screams, "God, wake up!" This is God's holy word, what are we to learn from this bold irreverence?
- 2 Samuel 4 - more heads are severed as Saul's son, Ish-bosheth, is decapitated. The murders come bragging to David, and he punishes them for their treachery, by cutting off their hands, and feet, and hanging their dead bodies by the pool at Hebron. God is clearing the way for David to become King. But God, help me understand, why this way? Help me better understand the situation, and not be in shock at the means. Post-modern minds read this, Abba, and call you blood thirty. Certainly that isn't true. Give me understanding. How did David's actions here glorify you?
- Ezekiel 4:12 - ...And you shall eat it as a barley cake, baking it in their sight on human dung.” Wow, Abba, you are really upset with Israel. In fact, you are going to destroy Israel. Understanding your pure holiness, with a 21st century mind is difficult. And, wow, what did I just read in the first three chapters of Ezekiel?
- Luke 9:50-60 - To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus [13] said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” See what I mean? How can I merely run by this statement without stopping to understand! A first blush, it seems like an incredibly callous statement, but I am certain my Christ is not callous. Therefore, what is he meaning to teach us here? Shocking to my ears.
Do you see my frustration? Today I am left with more questions, than answers. I desire to stop, throw out the anchor, and dive down around these icebergs. But, alas, my quest for this year is to keep moving.
