#271 From the Cutting Room Floor

Each week as I prepare my sermon I learn more than I put in my preaching. Things have to be cut for the sake of time and clarity. If I include everything, I will probably start to lose the congregation's attention, and the sermon will be in serious danger of becoming too complicated to follow. So some things I cut out of the sermon because I don't think they're important to the main idea(s) of the passage. Those normally aren't a huge loss. But sometimes there are things that I leave out simply because I can't find a way to fit them into the flow of the sermon. Including certain details ends up feeling like a distraction from my main points. Sometimes those are the more difficult cuts.

Two Sundays ago (Sep 11) I was preaching from Genesis 45, the story where Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers and is reunited with them more than twenty years after his ten older brothers sold him into slavery. My focus was on God's providence, how God is in control of all things and works out His good purposes even through and in spite of human evil. Joseph gives a beautiful speech about that, and the book of Genesis is directing our attention to God's activity. But there was one beautiful small detail that I didn't figure out a way to work into my sermon. When Joseph sends his brothers to get their father and move down to Egypt by Joseph, he gives them sets of clothing. It seems that these garments were not ordinary clothing but clothing for special occasions. The story of Joseph and his brothers began in Genesis 37 with Joseph's brothers hating him because their father gave Joseph a special robe, a clear sign that Joseph was the favorite son. Here, just past the climax of the story, all the brothers have special robes. It's a little piece of information, but it really shows how things are being made right among Joseph and his brothers.

Grace and peace,

BMH

#270 Reflections on Praying with a Two-year-old

I recently started praying with my younger daughter, Mia, as part of her bedtime routine. She's getting better at communicating, so I can now ask her what she wants to pray for and understand what she's saying. I also think she's experienced prayer in enough other settings by this point to have at least somewhat of an idea of what we're doing. Anyway, when it's time for Mia to give me prayer requests, the first thing out of her mouth is always the same: "Me!" It's pretty cute, and I'm happy to pray for her.

But I think Mia's response is a pretty good indicator of the way we think. I know when I pray individually, my own needs and wants are often the first thing on my mind. I try to teach my kids to think of others when we pray together, and I'm normally pretty good about thinking of others when I have to pray publicly, but that selfishness is hard to overcome. It stretches us to pray for other people, to think of their concerns and their desires. I think praying for others is part of loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

However, even that shouldn't be the end of our praying. When we pray, we bring ourselves before God. I know I could grow in thinking about my prayers being about God. Praying is an opportunity to thank God for what He has done, to praise Him for who He is, to sit quietly and enjoy His presence and listen for His voice. Thinking about God in our prayers helps keep our prayers from becoming like a grocery list or a letter to Santa Claus. God loves to care for our physical needs and give us good gifts, but God does so much more than that. Trusting God to provide for us is good, but loving God rightly goes beyond that. We can and should pray for our personal concerns, but we can and should do more when we pray. Mia's helped me remember that, so hopefully I'll do a good job of teaching her to pray.

Grace and peace,

BMH

#269 Lifting Fog

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

About a week ago I was walking to the church building on Sunday morning. As I started my walk there was a bit of fog obscuring my vision, but over the course of a few blocks the fog lifted away. The bright sun shone down and I could see everything around me clearly. I think that our experience when Christ Jesus returns will be a lot like that. Right now our human understanding is foggy. There are many things about God and the way He works in our world that are a mystery to us. But when God's people reach the end of our journey and we see Him face to face, I think a lot of things will suddenly make sense. God's light will shine through. We'll experience God's character more clearly; we'll gain a deeper perspective on history. Our questions and wonderings will give way to ultimate satisfaction and pure adoration. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Grace and peace,

BMH

#268 Distraction Danger

Between my running and my habit of walking to work, I spend quite a bit of my time as a pedestrian. I'm not often in high traffic areas, but spend enough time on your feet and you'll see a lot of cars go by. The thing is, I'm not always sure how many cars see me go by. I notice a lot of drivers who appear to be looking down at the phone while driving past me. It's possible that some of these drivers are briefly adjusting their fan or radio or just happen to be looking a different direction. But a lot of them give me a strong "checking the phone" vibe. That freaks me out. I try to keep myself on high alert when I'm out and about on foot, but no matter how careful I am distracted drivers still mean increased danger for me. I'm never going to win a fight with a car. So as a concerned and vulnerable traveler, I'm begging you, please leave your phone alone when you're behind the wheel.

Grace and peace,

BMH

#267 Back to the Track

This morning I did something that I haven't done in nearly ten years: I went to the track to run a workout. Part of my huge gap in workouts at the track is that I haven't done much serious running since my college career ended. I did start training for a 25k while I was in seminary, but I got hurt about six weeks into that training plan, and all the speed work I did during that time was on the road. I also ran a halfway decent 10k back in 2019, but I wasn't willing to drive to the next town to do some track work. Most of my running has been more about staying active than preparing for a race. But now, at last, it's time to get serious again. I've got my sights set on a half marathon the second Saturday in October, and there's a track only about a mile from my house. So today I ran four 800m repeats with roughly equal rest. Today's workout went well. My 800s were a challenge, but I hit my goal and basked in the satisfaction of a completed workout—even if my legs felt like Jell-O during the cool down. I've put in some miles to lay a foundation over the first couple months of summer. Now it's time to start building things up. Hopefully I'll have good news to report in the October 10 blog.

Grace and peace,

BMH

#266 Praying with the Ten Commandments

A few years back, I preached a series of sermons on the Ten Commandments and wrote a prayer of confession based on each commandment. This year I used those prayers again and added a corresponding prayer of lament for each commandment. I find the balance of confession and lament to be very helpful. First and foremost, I think it's extremely important for us to confess the sin and evil in our own hearts and lives. Doing so reminds us of our need for a Savior and fills us with gratitude for the work of Christ Jesus, who forgives us and makes us new. I also think it's good for us to bring before God the sin and evil around us. That reminds of us our world's need for Christ and His return and can help us reflect on the effects of sin on our world (including the effects of our sins on others).

I really enjoyed crafting these prayers, so I thought I would share them here. These are neither the only nor the best prayers that can be written based on the Ten Commandments. But if you find any of these to be helpful, please feel free to copy, modify, or riff on these prayers for your own use (no need to credit me). If nothing else, I hope you're encouraged to write and pray your own prayers. (Note: confessions are in regular type; laments are in italics.)

First Commandment

Heavenly Father, you are God, and there is no other; you are God, and there is none like you. But we confess that sometimes we follow false gods. We cling to superstitions; we trust in wealth or work or one another to provide for us instead of you; we love ourselves and the things of this world more than you. Forgive us. Help us worship, serve, and honor you with all our hearts. In the name of Jesus our Savior we pray.
God our Father, how long will you let those who deny you mock and mistreat your chosen ones? How long will you allow those who say there is no God to devour your people and spread corruption throughout the earth? Frustrate the ways of the wicked; bring vile plans to ruin. Display your righteousness and power for all the world to see. Be a refuge for your poor servants, and vindicate us before our foes. Through Jesus, who suffered and was vindicated for our salvation. Amen.

Second Commandment

Heavenly Father, you call us to worship you in spirit and in truth, bringing you our praises and prayers through Christ Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. But we confess that we often make our worship more about ourselves and what we want than about you and what you want. You reveal yourself to us in your Word, but sometimes we reduce you to inadequate images we make in our minds, focusing on your characteristics that we like and ignoring your attributes that we don’t like. Please forgive us. Help our worship honor you for what you have done and how you have made yourself known to us through Jesus our Savior.
Only God, we cry out to you, for your people suffer at the hands of others. As human beings pursue false gods of wealth, power, comfort, and progress, those who are poor and weak are used and discarded or simply run over. While the successful, beautiful, clever, and popular are idolized, others are labeled “undesirable” and “worthless” or ignored altogether. How long must people you love, people made in your image, be mocked, taken advantage of, left without help or hope? Show yourself to be God. Defend the lowly and needy, for you alone can save. Establish your justice and spread your love. We look to you, for those who trust in you will never be put to shame. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Third Commandment
God our Father, we confess that we often misuse your name. Sometimes we use your name without thinking or when we are angry or to make ourselves seem more impressive. We often take all the credit for things we could not have done without your help. Sometimes we wrongly claim that our ideas and causes are yours. Please forgive us. Help us to praise and glorify you with respect, and may our lives as Christians reflect well on you, bringing honor to the name of Christ Jesus our Savior.
Holy God, how long will you tolerate people using your name as a weapon to harm others? Do not stand by while leaders who claim to represent you wield their power to line their own pockets or sexually exploit the innocent. How long will your name be used as a shield by those who declare their own false teachings to be your truth? Silence the tongues of deceivers; break the power of abusers. Rise up, O God! Display your goodness and righteousness so that all people may bring you glory through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Fourth Commandment
Heavenly Father, you promise to provide for us, and you give us the gift of rest. But so often we place our trust in our own work and our own efforts. Many times we fill our lives with busyness because we think that will give us security, and our busyness crowds you out of our lives. Please forgive us. Help us set aside time for you, gathering for worship, listening for your voice, seeking your face. Teach us to rest and rely on you and so build up our trust in you through Jesus, our Savior.
Loving God, you are our Master. We long for the full experience of the freedom of serving you, but many of us feel like we cannot rest. How long will some of your people be denied rest by unfair jobs and bosses that demand extra work? How long must some of your children live in situations that require working multiple jobs just to cover the bills? Provide us with stable employment and fair wages. Rescue those trapped in poverty and care for our needs so that we may gratefully rest in your abundant goodness. Through our Lord Jesus, Amen.

Fifth Commandment
Heavenly Father, you place parents and other authority figures in our lives to train us to do good and to keep us from evil. But often we disobey or ignore our parents and we disrespect or insult the authorities. Sometimes, too, we misuse our own authority by neglecting or mistreating the people we should care for. Please forgive us. Help us honor and submit to proper authority and use our authority responsibly through Jesus our Savior.
Our Lord and our King, we cry out to you alongside those who suffer under the power of authority figures who control, intimidate, and abuse. How long will corrupt governments and officials silence opponents and terrorize citizens? How long will parents and caretakers belittle, hit, and violate your children? Turn your face toward those who live in fear, and defend the weak and innocent. In your power and justice, destroy the influence of the wicked. Humble and reform those who are cruel. Rule us with your fatherly care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sixth Commandment
Heavenly Father, you created us in your image; our lives are precious to you. But we have so many ways of harming each other. Through carelessness we sometimes put others in danger. Often we let hatred, revenge, and unjustified anger simmer in our hearts. Sometimes we act violently or threaten others or put them down or wish misery upon them. In doing these things we really begin to walk the path of murder. Please forgive us. Help us to love, protect, and do good to one another. In the name of Jesus, who died so we may live.
God who knit us together in our mothers’ wombs, how long will human beings suffer and die at the hands of our fellow humans? How long will war, revenge, contempt, and sheer brutality claim the lives of people you have made? How long will people you love endure beatings, threats, insults, and disdainful indifference that rob them of safety, dignity, and health? Bring us your peace. Frustrate the schemes of the violent; restrain our human rage. Teach our world the value of human life. In the name of your Son, who became human. Amen.

Seventh Commandment
Heavenly Father, you created us male and female, and you give us the gifts of marriage and sex. But we confess that we do not always live faithfully with those gifts. Often we let our sexual desires run wild: we fantasize, we tell dirty jokes, we look at pornography, we treat others as objects for our own pleasure. In our lust, we sometimes give away to others the intimacy, affection, and bodies that rightfully belong only to our spouses, or we try to take what is not ours. Please forgive us. Help us to be pure in body and soul; purify our thoughts, desires, words, and actions through Jesus our Savior.
God, you tell your people that our bodies are made for you, but so many of your people suffer terrible harm because of sexual sins. How long will people you have created―particularly women and even children―be sexualized, exploited, used, and trafficked through pornography and the sex industry or simply to sell products or make money? How long will people you love endure shame, trauma, and feelings of powerlessness because of harassment, unwanted touch, assault, and rape? Bring hope, healing, and support to survivors of sexual violence and misconduct. Stop and convict those who commit and allow such evils. Don’t let us accept or normalize wrongdoing. Transform our world with your holiness and compassion. In the name of Jesus, who bought us to be His own. Amen.

Eighth Commandment
Heavenly Father, the earth is yours, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. You give us gifts and entrust us with possessions. But we confess that we are often greedy, wanting more and more. Sometimes we take what is not ours or cheat others out of what is theirs, both in our thoughts and in reality. Often we waste your gifts or hoard them instead of sharing with those in need. Please forgive us. Help us gain our possessions honestly and make good use of your gifts to help others as well as ourselves. Through Jesus, our Savior.
God of abundant goodness and glorious riches, how long must your children be cheated and robbed by others who are crafty and greedy? How long will those who are wealthy and secure waste food, squander clean water, and buy more things they don’t need while ignoring those who cry out for food and drink, for clothing and shelter? Break through our selfish, discontent materialism with your generous compassion and just mercy. Reform our hearts and our society so that all your children may do your work and enjoy your blessings. Through Jesus, who became poor so that we may become rich in you, Amen.

Ninth Commandment
Heavenly Father, you call us to walk in the truth, but we confess that we are often all too comfortable with lies. Sometimes we fib and stretch the truth to make ourselves look better. At times we misrepresent what others say and gossip and spread rumors to make them look worse. Often we mislead others by giving our opinions as facts or hurt others with thoughtless complaints and insults. Please forgive us. Help us to speak the truth and use our words to encourage others and protect their reputations. In the name of Jesus, our Redeemer.
Spirit of truth, we cry to you, for we live in a world filled with lies. How long will your people be misled, deceived, and fooled by those looking to manipulate or get ahead of us? How long must the innocent have their reputations destroyed by slander, false accusations, and malicious insinuations? How long will you allow the wicked to hide the truth? Fill the earth with your truth and grace. Defend the upright and guide us to what is good and right through Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen.

Tenth Commandment
Good and Gracious Father, you created this good world and teach us how to live in it. But we confess that our desires are often sinful. Many times what we want is not what you want for us. We frequently want what we should not have: things that belong to others, people that aren’t our spouses, misfortune for others, too many good things all to ourselves. Often we do not desire you and your good spiritual gifts as much as we should. Please forgive us. Give us a well-ordered heart and proper desires. Through Jesus, our Savior.
Sovereign God, why must evil flourish? How long will the nations celebrate what is wicked and hateful in your sight? Humanity tries to claim that right and wrong are relative, but we long for true justice. When others do as they please to and around us, we experience injustices and hurts: betrayal, hostility, discrimination, cruelty, ridicule, trauma and scars. We long for wrongs to be set right, so we cry to you, for you alone can bring life and wholeness. Judge the earth with the justice and mercy you’ve shown us in Christ. Destroy immorality’s sway in human hearts and fill the world with a desire for your ways, through Jesus, the Redeemer and Judge. Amen.

Grace and peace,

BMH

#265 Tamar

Two Sundays ago (July 17), I preached from the story of Tamar and Judah from Genesis 38. Without a doubt, this is the messiest, strangest, most cringe-inducing passage I've preached so far in my career. And yet, I can't get the passage out of my head. There's something about Tamar that makes her and her story incredibly compelling.

Now before you go any further in this blog, please take some time to read Tamar's story for yourself, whether by clicking on that link or opening up your own Bible.

For the first eleven verses of Genesis 38, things happen to Tamar. Judah chooses her as a wife for his son Er. Wicked Er dies, leaving Tamar with no husband and no son in a world where only men own property. Brother-in-law Onan refuses to follow the custom of the day and provide an heir for Tamar. Instead Onan simply uses her for sex over and over until God puts him to death, too. Then Judah sends Tamar back home. Judah worries that Tamar is to blame for his sons' deaths, and he's trying to protect his youngest. But Tamar has no real hope back at home. Her father can provide for her now, but as a daughter she won't receive any inheritance. In this world she's supposed to have a husband and then at least one son to provide for her. Again and again Tamar has been wronged by Judah's family, her in-laws: used for meaningless. loveless sex and then discarded.

Suddenly, in verse 14, after hearing a report about Judah, Tamar takes action. This story really seems to become her story. With no one to speak up for her and no formal avenue for seeking justice in her society, Tamar launches this desperate, risky plan. She covers her identity, sits by the side of the road like a prostitute, and takes the signs of Judah's identity in exchange for letting him sleep with her. Things seem incredibly messy here, but we're still not done. Then, it turns out, Tamar is pregnant by her father-in-law, Judah. He hears and tries to have her put to death. (Awfully convenient, isn't it, how Judah can have sex outside of marriage, but Tamar can't?) But then she throws all her cards on the table, sending Judah his own ID markers to prove that he's the father of her child—actually, the father of her children, but we'll come back to that.

But through all of this mess, Tamar and—I think it's safe to add—God get Judah to realize how he's wronged Tamar. Judah says, "She is more righteous than I." I wouldn't say this is an unqualified stamp of approval on what Tamar has done, but Judah takes the blame here, saying that he's essentially forced Tamar into doing what she did by not giving her as a wife to his third son, according to the custom of the day.

I like Tamar. She's just so real. I feel for her pain and feelings of desperation, which motivate her to do something that even she might have thought unthinkable when the story began. I get wanting to take matters into my own hands when everything seems hopeless. Still, I really wish Tamar's story went differently. Tamar is a sympathetic character to be sure, but this story would be so much more pleasant if she got Judah's attention in some other way, like revealing her identity as soon as Judah tries to hire her for sex.

But that isn't our story, and it's probably ultimately better for us that way. God doesn't give us a sanitized Bible with all the messy, uncomfortable parts taken out. He certainly doesn't give us this story as an example of how we should act, but He's also not afraid to tell us exactly what happened. We humans can make an awful mess of our lives through our sins and fear and scheming, and I think that makes Tamar's story, messy as it is and foreign as it may seem, relatable.

Now—praise God!—the story doesn't end in messiness and despair. God's grace breaks through. Tamar, at long last, is fully embraced as part of Judah's family and part of God's chosen people. God undoes the terrible injustice that has been done to Tamar through Judah trying to get rid of her. God gives her not just one son but two, and, as uncomfortable as this may seem, those boys are recognized as Judah's sons, two new sons to "replace" the two dead sons from earlier. (Plus, as far as we can tell, God changes Judah's heart at this point: when we next encounter Judah, he's a much more upstanding guy.)

But even that isn't the end. Tamar, through her son Perez, ends up becoming one of the ancestors of Jesus, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. When Jesus, God the Son, comes into the world, He chooses to come as part of Tamar and Judah's messy, messed-up family. And there's God's grace breaking through. Like Tamar and Judah, we all need to be cleansed from our sins, healed of our brokenness, rescued from the mess and misery inside of us and around us. Sometimes we're victims, but all of us also are at fault, too, and we can't fix ourselves. So Jesus comes down to us, showing us that we need Him to save us and then saving us. Through Jesus and His redeeming work on His people's behalf, any of us sinful, broken, messy humans can be made right with God and set free from sin and death. Jesus comes into human history and chooses unworthy people like us to be part of His family.

At the end of the day the hero of Tamar's story isn't Tamar. It's Jesus. But that's true in my story, too. That's true in the stories of all of God's people. Unexpectedly, Tamar's story finally gives us hope. As messy as our lives can get, God's grace is always stronger. Tamar points us to Jesus, the Savior we don't deserve, the Savior we so desperately need.

Grace and peace,

BMH