Monthly Archives: January 2011

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The Kidron Valley

Josiah became king of Judah when he was eight years old (2 Kings 22:1).  The nation was in spiritual ruins when the boy-king assumed power. For more than fifty years, the royal court had lived in apostasy. Somehow, Josiah shrugged off the trappings of power and used his position to honor God. The writer(s) 2 Kings pays Josiah the ultimate Old Testament compliment. The young king is compared favorably to David:

[Josiah] did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn aside from doing what was right. (2 Kings 22:2, ESV)

The history of God’s chosen people is a story of wandering, loss, and redemption. Despite God’s fidelity and wonders and signs, His people constantly strayed, lost their faith, and worshiped others gods. Moses’ brother Aaron made a golden calf for the people to worship.  Saul, the first king, consulted mediums.  The wise Solomon turned from God and worshiped the gods of his wives.  The books of Kings constantly display the infidelity of God’s chosen people.  King Jereboam committed idolatry.  King Jehoahaz followed his example.  (2 Kings 13:2)  Jehoash worshiped idols. (13:11)  Amaziah, who was pleasing to God, “did not destory the pagan shrines”. (14:3-4)  Uzziah was pleasing to God, but he did not destroy the pagan shrines (15:3-4).  On and on.

Again and again the LORD sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways.  Obey my commands and laws”…But the Israelites would not listen.  They were as stubborn as their ancestors and refused to believe in the LORD their God…They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. (2 Kings 17:13-15)

Josiah succeeded where most of those who came before and after failed: he was able to forsake the gods and practices of the nations around him and serve God alone.

In 2 Kings 23, we learn that the first of Josiah’s reforms was inward.  He personally reads the word of God to his people.  He makes a covenant to walk after God.  He reminds his people of where they came from, and why they live.

In 23:4, we see that the Temple of God had been desecrated with idols and other gods.  Josiah cleans the LORD’s Temple of vessels related to  Baal, Asherah, and the worship of the host of heaven.  Not only does he clear the Temple – he has the vessels taken to the Kidron Valley and burned.  In verse 6, Josiah clears the Asherah pole from the Temple and has it burned in the Kidron Valley.  In verse 9, Josiah smashes false alters in the Temple to bits.  Again, he takes it out of Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley.

The Kidron Valley, interestingly enough, had been associated with idolatry since the time of Solomon.  By destroying the religious idols there, Josiah effectively desecrated the valley itself as a religious site.  (ESV notes on 23:4-9.)

The obedience of Josiah and his success at sanctifying his people was remarkable:  “Never before had there been a  king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses.  And there has never been a king like him since.” (2 Kings 23:25)

That sounds good.  That’s what I want.  That’s what I want to be like.  Whatever keeps me from God – it’s false.  It’s trash.  I want to leave it in the Kidron Valley.

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Living in Space

Sadly, I’ve never been asked to live in space. I think this is a huge mistake on the part of our nation and our aeronautical program. Why is it a mistake? Because I’m a prime candidate for space. I understand the hard seal.

In space living, your resources are the most important thing you have. Without air, you’d have to hold your breath for like, days. That’s not only impractical, but also dumb and probably dangerous. (Experts are still debating the issue.)

To conserve resources, you have to have a hard seal on spacecraft doors. Nothing can get in or out. You can never lose vigilance.

I learned the value of the hard seal while taking showers in winter. It’s really cold in the morning, and unless the shower curtain is suctioned onto the shower wall (hard seal), all my hot air and steam escape. That loss is unacceptable. It makes me cold, cranky, and completely ruins my towel-dry experience.

The towel dry usually requires a minor break in the hard seal, because one has to reach out of the shower to grab the towel. Even this break can be minimized by careful maneuvering. (For example, I use my knee to keep the curtain in place while I reach one hand out to make the grab. Going too fast causes a most unfortunate wind-whoosh.)

In sum, don’t shower like a chump. Shower like an astronaut. Respect the hard seal.

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Don’t look up

Waking up early and sludging through rush hour is scary enough, but it’s even weirder with a hundred of squawking birds following your every move.

I threw my sandwich out the window to appease them, so I think we’re on good terms. For now…

Hitchcock, anyone?

Hitchcock, anyone?

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Health Tip

Laughter is an important part of your overall health and wellness. It’s important, therefore, to laugh every day. Here’s a great way to start your day with a hearty laugh.

Before you go to bed at night, set your alarm an hour early. Tell yourself that you’re waking up to go running. When that extra early alarm goes off, enjoy a good laugh and then hit snooze. Yeah right, running shoes! These covers are warm.

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The Widow at Zarapeth

I Kings 17:8-24 tells the story of the prophet Elijah and a single mother. Elijah was essentially homeless, so he depended on the kindness of others (and the occasional miracle) for survival.

In Zarapeth, he asked a single woman for bread and water. The woman was poor and starving, and could barely feed her own child. Elijah tells her that if she feeds him, her family will have plenty to eat. So, she feeds Elijah with what little she has.

This turn of events is dangerous for both parties. The prophet is asking a starving mother for food because he has faith in God’s providence. If he’s wrong, he has exposed God as weak and eseentiakly taken a family’s last meal. The mother is in danger because she’s making a real life and death decision based on faith. God rewards them both for their faith. At first.

For reasons unknown, the mother’s son suddenly becomes ill and dies. Both Elijah and the mother are devastated.

Elijah takes the grieving mother’s complaints to God. “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy on this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?” he asks, looking for answers and peace.

This moment has to be devastating for Elijah. He has deducated himself to the service of a God who seems to ignore the needs of the weak and weary. How could this happen?

God hears Elijah, though, and saves the child.

It’s easy to read skip over the story and think, “Oh, that’s nice,” but the lesson is important. We don’t understand the methods and the plan of the God we choose to serve. There are times and events that we will never understand. We live and die in faith that God will take care of us.

God bless us as we do our best to walk through this world and help our friends do the same.

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The Bachelor Episode 2, or, My Encounter with Martine

In this episode, Brad took a girl on a date.  The “date” took place at night in the middle of nowhere.  With a flip of a light switch, the middle of nowhere suddenly turned into a carnival!  A real-life, working carnival, devoid of all people.  In other words, it was a horror movie.

It was kind of like this. I KILL YOU!

Then some girls fought with each other and Brad was kind of scared, but also kind of loving every second of it.  I bet this is what being single in LA is like.