Forsaking All Others
Sermon
From This Day Forward
First Lesson Sermons For Lent/Easter
Can you see the young boys running through the city of Jerusalem yelling, "Blow the trumpets!" and the people of that city yelling back, "What?" "Blow the trumpets! Grab the shofar! We need to let everyone know!" And the people still scream back, "Why? What's going on?"
The adults know that the blowing of the trumpets in Jewish tradition can only mean one of three things: 1) It's time to move camp (but wait, we haven't lived in tents for decades!); 2) We need to get ready for war (but I didn't know there was even a potential conflict brewing!); or 3) The leaders are calling a sacred assembly (what could that be about?). The boys keep on shouting their alarm, stirring up the people.
Finally, the truth is learned. It's not only one of the reasons why the trumpets are traditionally blown, but a combination of two: war and the need to assemble. War with whom? Assemble to do what? The full impact of the alarm is understood when the verdict is announced by the prophet Joel, "God is at war with us and we must gather to repent!"
God is speaking through the Paul Revere of the ninth century B.C. as he warns his people that trouble is coming and they must repent. It's not a foreign army, but an army of locusts, and unless God relents all their crops will be destroyed and their livelihood devastated. Therefore, they must call a congregational meeting of humility and prayer to ask for God's mercy!
On this Ash Wednesday, God's prophets blow the trumpet in our hearing and sound the alarm: "Wake up! It's time to get serious about sin. It's time to consecrate yourself to God." Like an alarm clock that goes off too early in the morning causing us to fight to obey its beckoning, so God yells to us in our slumber of sin, "It's time to change your ways!" But wait, we're good church-going people. We're even in attendance on this special Wednesday. We talk to God every day and ask for forgiveness, don't we? We even participate in the corporate Confession and Absolution each week in worship. Why another call for repentance?
God calls for repentance because too often we take it all for granted. If we're honest, we're too much like Private Daniels. His platoon readied for front-line action in the war and this young soldier seemed to come to a moment of truth. Turning to his close friend, he said, "Listen, Charlie, if I don't make it back and you do, would you take this letter and see that Sally gets it? Tell her my last thoughts were of her, and her name was the last word on my lips. And here's a letter for Jennifer. Tell her the same thing."
God is telling us to stop "two-timing" with the world, or three-timing with the world and Satan, or four-timing with the world, the devil, and our flesh, and be wholly dedicated to him! As we begin the Lenten season, we take the mask off, put our excuses down, and ask God to "search me and see if there be an offensive way in me." Any offensive way. No excuses. No hiding. Do surgery, God, and take out the cancer!
The Israelites had fought invading military forces before, but now they feared a more sinister threat: locusts (verses 3-11 provide a graphic description of their coming and destructiveness). The people could not resist them. Their army could not protect them. All they could do was depend on God. They had heard about the locusts their ancestors had seen in the exodus from Egypt. Now God was sending this sky-darkening, earth-destroying army on them? Why?
The Israelites had turned their backs on God. They had forgotten and forsaken him. They were involved with other girlfriends. Their heart beat for more than the one they married. How do we two-time God? By changing the language to make sin seem less harsh and rebellion more acceptable. We call lying merely "stretching the truth" and cheating "bending the rules a little." Adultery is trivialized to "having an affair" and murdering is "uncontrolled, but justified anger." What used to be called perversion is now called an "alternate lifestyle" and self-indulgence is now defined as "self-fulfillment." Impatient people are forgiven as only being "time conscious" and the divisive person is an "active defender of the truth." And what used to be murder of an unborn baby is now called "choice." No wonder God is upset. No wonder God demands that we change our ways. We can't be married to him and play the field at the same time! Sound the alarm! A day of darkness is at hand!
Who? Who is called to change their ways? Of course, the whole nation of Judah. But specifically look at who Joel says must humble themselves. First the elders, the respected older men of the communities, must lead by example, throw away sinful practices, and humble themselves before God. Then the children and even those still breastfeeding must admit sin and change. Hmmm. Yes, even children understand the concept of sin and telling God they're sorry. Babies are sinful too. The group of people listed next show how urgent this alarm is: even the man and woman who plan to kneel before God tomorrow and pledge their faithfulness must kneel before God now and put off their wedding plans. This is especially noteworthy when one knows that in the Old Testament newly married men were given a year off from military service to enjoy the union and nurture the new relationship. But not now! This call is more crucial than consummation. Finally, and most importantly, the priests (that's the pastors and leaders of the church) must become transparent before God and get rid of their sin! No one is left out. The alarm clock is blaring. Can everyone hear it?
Why? Why is this call for reflection and repentance so critical? Our text tells us that a "day of darkness and gloom" is at hand. The clouds and blackness will be so bad that the people of Israel are in danger of becoming a distant memory, a footnote in the history books. Their imminent destruction will cause the world to say, "Ah, look at their country now. And they thought they were so good!" The nation's once-greatness will be scorned and ridiculed! Worse yet, surrounding nations, at the sight of the disaster, will ask a penetrating question: "What happened to their God? I thought he was more merciful and powerful than this!"
How? What is the way to avert this tragedy and win this war? Turn back to me, God says. Come with trembling bodies (v. 1), broken hearts (v. 13), and with weeping faces (v. 17), crying out to the Lord for mercy! God calls for an external expression that mirrors an inside reality, yet he does not want only outward actions that are a fa ade for unrepentance inside. Too often our repentance, though perhaps begun with a genuine attitude of "I'm going to get all the junk out," turns into a "I'll give up the easy stuff and hold onto the junk I really like." We, in essence, are like the boy who was told repeatedly by his mom to sit down. The boy continued to stand, disobeying his mom. Finally, the mother went to him, and physically plopped him in a chair. Angry, the boy bellowed, "I may be sitting down on the outside, but I am standing on the inside!" Joel was preaching for a sincere change of heart which would show in brokenness and altered living.
What about us this holy Wednesday? Where is the "ring" of the alarm clock sounding in our country, in our congregation, in our individual hearts? Like the people of Judah, no one is left out. Children, where is God pricking your heart to stop fighting with Mom and Dad and to ask God to forgive you? With what nonchristian friends is he warning you not to go out to places that displease him? Adults, for what do you need to ask God for forgiveness and mercy? It might not be big in the world's eyes or compared to your neighbor's unfaithfulness, but neither are termites. But termites do silent, long-term destruction slowly. That's what happens when we push God out of one or more areas of our lives or try to hide fault from him. The sin might not be visible and immediately destructive, like a hurricane's vengeance, but God is still displeased. Married couples, those who recently or long ago were bride and groom, is God the center of your marriage in all areas? Could God walk through your home and look in your video cabinets or underneath the mattress and not be ashamed? Could he sit next to you as you watch television or surf the Web without being embarrassed? Sin is anything Jesus wouldn't do. And leaders of the church, are we "above reproach," fleeing from sin and "pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness" (1 Timothy 6:11)? It's not the other person who needs to look at God's mirror and see sin, but you!
Why is the call so urgent? Because everyone is looking at us as this century draws to a close to see what a Christian is really supposed to be. Have our acidic actions or verbal venom caused scorn to be brought upon the Body of Christ? Has our lack of love or exclusiveness made Jesus a byword? Do people see God for who he really is by what they see in you and me or are people mockingly saying, "If that's how God is, then I don't want any part!"
How does God expect us to react? I believe with trembling bodies, rent hearts, and tearstained faces. Do we ever ponder the greatness and holiness of God, and then consider our lowliness and unworthiness, so that we are almost shaken? If God were not merciful, we'd all shake with fear! What about our hearts? God says he will not despise a broken and contrite heart. Do our hearts break over our sin and the sin around us more than when our favorite team loses? What about tears? They don't have to be visible, but does our soul grieve for the lost in this world and for the way America has rejected God and lost her spiritual and moral moorings? God grieves! So should we! Are we sorry enough not only to ask God for forgiveness, but also never to do it again? Are we willing to get the junk out -- all of it -- even it it's difficult or we lose friends or it costs money?
The alarm has been sounded, but the trumpets only echo though the Judean hills now. What will be the outcome of a truly repentant heart, city, and country? Forgiveness! Can we be sure? Yes! God promises: "Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity" (v.13)! What happens after the sin is confessed? It is wiped away by a more than merciful God who not only forgives, but also gives blessings abundant (v. 14). Why can we turn back? Because God already turned his back on Jesus on the Day of the Lord he experienced. When God turned the lights out in heaven on Good Friday 2,000 years ago, he was in effect turning his back and not only refusing to help his Son, but also rejecting him. Now God will never reject the one who returns to him and asks for mercy. When the church leaders and people mocked Jesus on the cross, they echoed Joel's words and said, "Where is your God?" God was nowhere. He'd left his Son to die. Now no one may ask that about you. God is your best friend, who will never leave.
A wayward son left home at age seventeen to make it on his own and get out from under the thumb of his dad. His parents only heard from him each Christmas. In time, after all the inheritance money the boy had received from his grandpa was spent and he realized how good he had had it at home, he called his mom and asked if it would be all right if he took a train home. He promised her he was off drugs and was done with licentious living. She was delighted, but he wanted her to check with his dad to make sure he'd accept him back.
The train tracks ran right behind his parents' property. There was a large oak tree near the trestle he had played on as a child. "Mom, if it's okay with Dad for me to come home, ask him to tie a white flag on that tree, and as I come by I'll know whether or not to get off at the next stop."
The boy was hungry for home. He was also nervous. Would his dad forgive him? Could he come home? When the train took the last curve before his home, he couldn't bear to look. He hurriedly asked his elderly seat partner to look and see if there was a white flag on the oak tree. The son closed his eyes and prayed.
Then he heard the man excitedly say, "Did you say one white flag, son? Why, every branch has a white flag attached to it!"
Oh, how mighty sin can be! But even more mighty is God's mercy! White flags of Jesus' righteousness fly for us. Our God says to us this Wednesday, "Return to me and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7). We can change our hearts because God has shown us his heart!
The day of the Lord is today! This is his day to change us. You know that letter you have in your back pocket ready to give to Jennifer? Rip it up! You're a one-timer!
The adults know that the blowing of the trumpets in Jewish tradition can only mean one of three things: 1) It's time to move camp (but wait, we haven't lived in tents for decades!); 2) We need to get ready for war (but I didn't know there was even a potential conflict brewing!); or 3) The leaders are calling a sacred assembly (what could that be about?). The boys keep on shouting their alarm, stirring up the people.
Finally, the truth is learned. It's not only one of the reasons why the trumpets are traditionally blown, but a combination of two: war and the need to assemble. War with whom? Assemble to do what? The full impact of the alarm is understood when the verdict is announced by the prophet Joel, "God is at war with us and we must gather to repent!"
God is speaking through the Paul Revere of the ninth century B.C. as he warns his people that trouble is coming and they must repent. It's not a foreign army, but an army of locusts, and unless God relents all their crops will be destroyed and their livelihood devastated. Therefore, they must call a congregational meeting of humility and prayer to ask for God's mercy!
On this Ash Wednesday, God's prophets blow the trumpet in our hearing and sound the alarm: "Wake up! It's time to get serious about sin. It's time to consecrate yourself to God." Like an alarm clock that goes off too early in the morning causing us to fight to obey its beckoning, so God yells to us in our slumber of sin, "It's time to change your ways!" But wait, we're good church-going people. We're even in attendance on this special Wednesday. We talk to God every day and ask for forgiveness, don't we? We even participate in the corporate Confession and Absolution each week in worship. Why another call for repentance?
God calls for repentance because too often we take it all for granted. If we're honest, we're too much like Private Daniels. His platoon readied for front-line action in the war and this young soldier seemed to come to a moment of truth. Turning to his close friend, he said, "Listen, Charlie, if I don't make it back and you do, would you take this letter and see that Sally gets it? Tell her my last thoughts were of her, and her name was the last word on my lips. And here's a letter for Jennifer. Tell her the same thing."
God is telling us to stop "two-timing" with the world, or three-timing with the world and Satan, or four-timing with the world, the devil, and our flesh, and be wholly dedicated to him! As we begin the Lenten season, we take the mask off, put our excuses down, and ask God to "search me and see if there be an offensive way in me." Any offensive way. No excuses. No hiding. Do surgery, God, and take out the cancer!
The Israelites had fought invading military forces before, but now they feared a more sinister threat: locusts (verses 3-11 provide a graphic description of their coming and destructiveness). The people could not resist them. Their army could not protect them. All they could do was depend on God. They had heard about the locusts their ancestors had seen in the exodus from Egypt. Now God was sending this sky-darkening, earth-destroying army on them? Why?
The Israelites had turned their backs on God. They had forgotten and forsaken him. They were involved with other girlfriends. Their heart beat for more than the one they married. How do we two-time God? By changing the language to make sin seem less harsh and rebellion more acceptable. We call lying merely "stretching the truth" and cheating "bending the rules a little." Adultery is trivialized to "having an affair" and murdering is "uncontrolled, but justified anger." What used to be called perversion is now called an "alternate lifestyle" and self-indulgence is now defined as "self-fulfillment." Impatient people are forgiven as only being "time conscious" and the divisive person is an "active defender of the truth." And what used to be murder of an unborn baby is now called "choice." No wonder God is upset. No wonder God demands that we change our ways. We can't be married to him and play the field at the same time! Sound the alarm! A day of darkness is at hand!
Who? Who is called to change their ways? Of course, the whole nation of Judah. But specifically look at who Joel says must humble themselves. First the elders, the respected older men of the communities, must lead by example, throw away sinful practices, and humble themselves before God. Then the children and even those still breastfeeding must admit sin and change. Hmmm. Yes, even children understand the concept of sin and telling God they're sorry. Babies are sinful too. The group of people listed next show how urgent this alarm is: even the man and woman who plan to kneel before God tomorrow and pledge their faithfulness must kneel before God now and put off their wedding plans. This is especially noteworthy when one knows that in the Old Testament newly married men were given a year off from military service to enjoy the union and nurture the new relationship. But not now! This call is more crucial than consummation. Finally, and most importantly, the priests (that's the pastors and leaders of the church) must become transparent before God and get rid of their sin! No one is left out. The alarm clock is blaring. Can everyone hear it?
Why? Why is this call for reflection and repentance so critical? Our text tells us that a "day of darkness and gloom" is at hand. The clouds and blackness will be so bad that the people of Israel are in danger of becoming a distant memory, a footnote in the history books. Their imminent destruction will cause the world to say, "Ah, look at their country now. And they thought they were so good!" The nation's once-greatness will be scorned and ridiculed! Worse yet, surrounding nations, at the sight of the disaster, will ask a penetrating question: "What happened to their God? I thought he was more merciful and powerful than this!"
How? What is the way to avert this tragedy and win this war? Turn back to me, God says. Come with trembling bodies (v. 1), broken hearts (v. 13), and with weeping faces (v. 17), crying out to the Lord for mercy! God calls for an external expression that mirrors an inside reality, yet he does not want only outward actions that are a fa ade for unrepentance inside. Too often our repentance, though perhaps begun with a genuine attitude of "I'm going to get all the junk out," turns into a "I'll give up the easy stuff and hold onto the junk I really like." We, in essence, are like the boy who was told repeatedly by his mom to sit down. The boy continued to stand, disobeying his mom. Finally, the mother went to him, and physically plopped him in a chair. Angry, the boy bellowed, "I may be sitting down on the outside, but I am standing on the inside!" Joel was preaching for a sincere change of heart which would show in brokenness and altered living.
What about us this holy Wednesday? Where is the "ring" of the alarm clock sounding in our country, in our congregation, in our individual hearts? Like the people of Judah, no one is left out. Children, where is God pricking your heart to stop fighting with Mom and Dad and to ask God to forgive you? With what nonchristian friends is he warning you not to go out to places that displease him? Adults, for what do you need to ask God for forgiveness and mercy? It might not be big in the world's eyes or compared to your neighbor's unfaithfulness, but neither are termites. But termites do silent, long-term destruction slowly. That's what happens when we push God out of one or more areas of our lives or try to hide fault from him. The sin might not be visible and immediately destructive, like a hurricane's vengeance, but God is still displeased. Married couples, those who recently or long ago were bride and groom, is God the center of your marriage in all areas? Could God walk through your home and look in your video cabinets or underneath the mattress and not be ashamed? Could he sit next to you as you watch television or surf the Web without being embarrassed? Sin is anything Jesus wouldn't do. And leaders of the church, are we "above reproach," fleeing from sin and "pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness" (1 Timothy 6:11)? It's not the other person who needs to look at God's mirror and see sin, but you!
Why is the call so urgent? Because everyone is looking at us as this century draws to a close to see what a Christian is really supposed to be. Have our acidic actions or verbal venom caused scorn to be brought upon the Body of Christ? Has our lack of love or exclusiveness made Jesus a byword? Do people see God for who he really is by what they see in you and me or are people mockingly saying, "If that's how God is, then I don't want any part!"
How does God expect us to react? I believe with trembling bodies, rent hearts, and tearstained faces. Do we ever ponder the greatness and holiness of God, and then consider our lowliness and unworthiness, so that we are almost shaken? If God were not merciful, we'd all shake with fear! What about our hearts? God says he will not despise a broken and contrite heart. Do our hearts break over our sin and the sin around us more than when our favorite team loses? What about tears? They don't have to be visible, but does our soul grieve for the lost in this world and for the way America has rejected God and lost her spiritual and moral moorings? God grieves! So should we! Are we sorry enough not only to ask God for forgiveness, but also never to do it again? Are we willing to get the junk out -- all of it -- even it it's difficult or we lose friends or it costs money?
The alarm has been sounded, but the trumpets only echo though the Judean hills now. What will be the outcome of a truly repentant heart, city, and country? Forgiveness! Can we be sure? Yes! God promises: "Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity" (v.13)! What happens after the sin is confessed? It is wiped away by a more than merciful God who not only forgives, but also gives blessings abundant (v. 14). Why can we turn back? Because God already turned his back on Jesus on the Day of the Lord he experienced. When God turned the lights out in heaven on Good Friday 2,000 years ago, he was in effect turning his back and not only refusing to help his Son, but also rejecting him. Now God will never reject the one who returns to him and asks for mercy. When the church leaders and people mocked Jesus on the cross, they echoed Joel's words and said, "Where is your God?" God was nowhere. He'd left his Son to die. Now no one may ask that about you. God is your best friend, who will never leave.
A wayward son left home at age seventeen to make it on his own and get out from under the thumb of his dad. His parents only heard from him each Christmas. In time, after all the inheritance money the boy had received from his grandpa was spent and he realized how good he had had it at home, he called his mom and asked if it would be all right if he took a train home. He promised her he was off drugs and was done with licentious living. She was delighted, but he wanted her to check with his dad to make sure he'd accept him back.
The train tracks ran right behind his parents' property. There was a large oak tree near the trestle he had played on as a child. "Mom, if it's okay with Dad for me to come home, ask him to tie a white flag on that tree, and as I come by I'll know whether or not to get off at the next stop."
The boy was hungry for home. He was also nervous. Would his dad forgive him? Could he come home? When the train took the last curve before his home, he couldn't bear to look. He hurriedly asked his elderly seat partner to look and see if there was a white flag on the oak tree. The son closed his eyes and prayed.
Then he heard the man excitedly say, "Did you say one white flag, son? Why, every branch has a white flag attached to it!"
Oh, how mighty sin can be! But even more mighty is God's mercy! White flags of Jesus' righteousness fly for us. Our God says to us this Wednesday, "Return to me and I will return to you" (Malachi 3:7). We can change our hearts because God has shown us his heart!
The day of the Lord is today! This is his day to change us. You know that letter you have in your back pocket ready to give to Jennifer? Rip it up! You're a one-timer!
