The scandal of specificity A prophet saw a nation, which “shall not be reckoned among the nations”. Num 23:9 Midian, with its fierce warlords, oppressed the newly born nation positioned slightly to the northwest of the lands of the many tribes whose corporate marker of recognition was their worship of certain celestial objects – the Moon, which they called the very greatest among gods, and a piece of material of unknown substance, black and superstitiously adored by all of the desert nations. None of the tribes of Jacob were able to mobilize even a tendency towards resistance until an angel arrived to have a seat under an oak tree in Ophrah. This embodiment of that which is holy confronted a man by the name of Gideon and addressed him as follows: “The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour”. We are about to argue the “Micros Dunamis” which was graphically displayed by Gideon and his band of three hundred men, who were made able to engage “the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east” in a strange battle of the dark night. We know the story from Sunday School and from pulpits, and we are quite aware of how the Lord reduced the crowd from thirty and two thousand down to a band of three hundred men. The story tells in terse words how the locust army of the east destroyed itself by its internal fighting, as “the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow”. To be able to handle the sifting to appear in all the world – much likely under powers who relate dearly to the same celestial forces, ours is a need to understand the matter of fiery furnaces from the viewpoint of the three friends of Daniel. We need to learn what is contained in the matter of wrestling with God and then, early in the morning, walking away with a sore thigh – a man never to be healed but being utterly blessed by a new name. We need to take a good look at the angel standing at the threshing floor of Ornan, in front of whom King David learned never to rely on numbers and crowds. We are meant for a pilgrimage in this world, as “strangers scattered” and as God’s chosen – broken and reduced in every sense by the cross of Christ. Dan 3, Gen 32, 1 Chron 21, 1 Pet 1:1 The choosing of one single ethnic group, the choosing of Jacob for priestly purposes, brings extraordinary perplexity. This kind of choosing becomes far too enervating in its specificity for the many to handle. The Apostle works himself through a display of the burden ever present in his own heart and he brings the matter to its full force before the congregation: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service”. He immediately adds: “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God”. He asks for something far beyond sentimental affinity – he begs and entreats every member of the body of believers for a thinking of a most profound variety, to result in a well defined and a practically expressed understanding of what the Lord is after in relation to the chosen nation called Israel. The process intended will bring them all, both Church and Nation, to perplexity and wrestling, to a threshing floor, to a furnace, to sacrifice – but, in due time, to God’s glory. Rom 12:1-2 Zion will not be able to avoid being a conflict zone, until the day has come when it is to be turned into the comfort zone which the prophets spoke about. The Church will not be able to avoid being a conflict zone, until every part of the prophetic word has come true in its fullness. Therefore, the Church is intended to compose parts of the band of watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem – remembrancers before the Lord. Theirs are prayers, reminding Him regarding the Covenant and “tribe of Thine inheritance”. “Look attentively to the covenant, For the dark places of earth, Have been full of habitations of violence.” “Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old, which thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of thine inheritance; and mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.” Isa 2, Isa 40, 62:6, Ps 74:20, 74:2 Zion will not be able to avoid being a conflict zone, as the lid of resentment and final oppression is about to be lifted off and as “Jerusalem will become a cup of reeling unto all the peoples round about”. During those days Jacob will finally become Israel, in those days of severest trouble and sifting God’s choosing of an insignificant people will result in glory – in His glory, to be encountered in Zion. In among the thick darkness of conflict, we are already made aware of that which lies beyond, that for which the contention and controversy arises and flares anew. “Out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. and he shall judge between many peoples, and shall reprove strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Zech 5:8-11, 12:2, Mich 4:2-3 This is the introductory part of chapter 5 of: JACOB’S TROUBLE – THE LAST SIFTING OF ISREAEL The role of the Church in the drama at the threshold of the Messiah. By Lars Widerberg To navigate to the first four chapters, see the FB wall of Mr. Widerberg
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 10:21:36 +0000
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