The Joy of Glory

Amos 6:4-7 (click here)
Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! (Amos 6:4-6)

Reflection
I splurged not that long ago.

There were these noise-canceling headphones I had been saving up for a long time and, after receiving a monetary gift, I finally had enough! I wear these things all the time now… especially if I am trying to read or study. Yes, they were expensive, but they seem to be worth every penny as the luxury blocks out all the noise and allows me to ignore whatever is going on around me.

Luxury, in general, can have this effect on us… can’t it? Enabling us to insulate ourselves and ignore all that is going on around us.

The prophet Amos cried out against such luxurious insulation.  The rich of the nation could not be bothered with the ruin of their brothers because they were too busy lounging, feasting, and writing songs.

It’s not that there is something wrong with lounging, feasting, and songwriting… I mean Amos actually compares their musical creativity to that of David, which we know was honoring to the Lord. So why was David’s music-making ok, but the people in Amos’ day are being called out for creating new melodies?

David’s music was about connecting with God and others. The people of Amos’s time used music to insulate themselves from God and others and to be completely self-absorbed. All of their lounging and feasting was centered on glorification of the self… not glorification of God and an invitation to all to come and enjoy him.

This danger is so ever-present in our affluent society. Most of us have the time and resources to insulate ourselves from the world if we want. We don’t need to depend on God… we have enough to take care of ourselves. We don’t have to pay attention to the needs of others… we can block them out with noise-canceling headphones.

Lord have mercy and remind us that all we have is from you and to be used for you. May we even lounge, feast, and make music in ways that connect us and others with you! Let us not use luxury to insulate ourselves, but let us use our lives and every resource you’ve given us to pulsate with your love!

Let us splurge in the riches of your glory and extend the invitation for everyone else to do the same!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Joel 2:17 (click here)
Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, “Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” (Joel 2:17)

Reflection
Why should God have mercy on me?

That is not a question we typically ask… and why would we? I mean, of course, God should have mercy on me! I’m pretty special after all. Don’t I deserve a little mercy? Doesn’t everybody?

All too often we put ourselves at the center of the universe, expecting God to do the same. And, if he doesn’t revolve around us… if he shows us anything other than mercy and grace… then he needs to justify his actions to us! This is why people object to biblical pictures of judgment. How dare God judge humanity! Who does he think he is? He must answer to us!

Yet, the assumption of the entire Bible is exactly the opposite! God is at the center of the universe. We revolve around him. We must answer to him… and we have much to answer for.

In fact, Scripture’s honest assessment of rebellious humanity is that there is actually NO reason in mankind that God should have mercy on us… but there is a reason in HIM!

This is why the prophet Joel calls the priests to pray for God to have mercy on his people, not because they deserve it, but because of who God himself is! He is their covenant God who rules and reigns over all. And if the nations conquer them… then perhaps the nations will profane God’s name saying, “Where is their God?”

So Joel calls the priests to pray for mercy, not because the people deserve it, but because God deserves to not have his name profaned!

Is this how we pray? God show us your mercy, your goodness, your grace… so that all may see the greatness of your name! This is why he saved us… to the praise of his glorious grace (Ephesians 1:5-6)!

And wonder of wonders… this is actually where we will find our greatest joy! Our ultimate joy is not found in God revolving around us, but in us revolving around him! It is only in glorifying him, lifting him high that we will find full, forever joy!

Why should God have mercy on me? For his glory!… and that is my joy!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Ezekiel 14:21-23 (click here)
…you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, declares the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 14:23b)

Reflection
The wrath of God is one of the hardest truth pills for modern people to swallow. Yet, the Bible is filled with images, pronouncements, and actual outpourings of God’s wrath. Ezekiel 14 is just one more example among the pages of the Bible.

For many people, this is a hurdle they simply cannot get over. How could Christians possibly proclaim a God of love who seems to be filled with so much rage? How could such a God ever be good, great, beautiful or glorious?

What are to make of such questions when they rumble around within our own souls?

Ezekiel 14:23 helps to bring a little bit of clarity to the questions with which our hearts are wrestling. God tells his people that after his judgment has been poured out on Jerusalem, he will work to help them see his wrath from his perspective. They “shall know” that he has not judged without cause. In other words, they will be able to see that his wrath was the right and righteous response to sin.

Too often, we think of God’s wrath in the same way we experience our own wrath… as a type of blind-rage that is simply flying off the handle, but it is not so with God. His wrath is a perfectly calculated, right response to sin. And, his wrath is working for good and righteous ends!

Our world is filled with so much injustice and evil… and it is the wrath of God that executes justice on injustice… it is the wrath of God that removes evil. We cry out of God’s wrath any time we cry for God to set all wrongs right… to make all things new… to overcome evil and usher in his kingdom!

One day, we will see the wrath of God totally from his perspective and we “shall know” that none of it has been poured out without cause! All of it has actually come out of a place of love for his people and his creation!

We will see that God has poured out his wrath to right all wrongs, execute perfect justice, and make all things new!

The wrath of God actually gives us hope that this world will not always be broken… that wickedness will not win… that all suffering will come to an end!

The wrath of God actually is part of the good news!

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.