Monday, August 24, 2020

God is Good

After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan.  And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other. 

–1 Kings 12:28-30 NIV

Yesterday I preached about Jesus and the disciples having a conversation while they were in Caesarea Philippi about who Jesus is (Matthew 16:13-20).  I noted that it was a significant place because of its distance from the temple in Jerusalem, and because of its temples to the Greek god Pan and to Caesar Augustus.  But I forgot about the Old Testament context of that place. Caesarea Philippi is also 5.5 km/3.4 miles from the city of Dan, notable for being the location of one of the golden calves that King Jeroboam made to keep the people of the newly split off northern kingdom from going to Jerusalem.  This historic event set the tone for the northern kingdom as being theologically distant from God. 

The northern kingdom’s pattern of apostasy eventually led to their downfall.  They were conquered by the Assyrians and many were carried away as prisoners.  But their captivity did not last forever.  God eventually gathered the remnant of Israel back to Israel and forgave their sins.  God continued to call them God’s people.  God’s goodness remained.

So when Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” it’s not just the current situation in view, there is also the historic situation.  When Peter says, “You are the Messiah, the son of the Living God,” he’s saying, whether he knows it or not, that even here, even now, God is still good.  Even in spite of all that has happened throughout history, and all that is happening in this oppressive time, God’s goodness remains.  God’s mercy goes on forever.

When we read the Bible, when we gather for worship, when we pray and sing, it is crucial that we press in until we reach the point at which we are reminded deep in the core of our being that God is good and God’s mercy goes on forever.  No matter what we have done or how far we’ve strayed.  No matter how messed up live is at the moment or how far beyond repair it seems.  Nothing is too hard for God (Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:17, Jeremiah 32:27, Luke 18:27). And as Jesus and the disciples turn south toward Jerusalem, they’re heading toward the moment when God will prove it once again, and this time in the most spectacular way ever, by conquering death as Jesus is resurrected.

So let’s sing about the greatness of the Father.

Let’s sing about the glory of His Son.

And the Holy Spirit dwelling among us.

Let’s sing about the wonders of God.

Oh, let’s sing about the wonders of God.[1]

 



[1][1] Rick Muchow, “Wonders of God” CCLI Song # 1136790 © 1992 Rick Muchow (Encouraging Music) (Admin. by Encouraging Music)

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