For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Rom. 13
“Love does no harm to a neighbor.” (Rom. 13:10). I like that. Most of the time we think of love as doing good for another. However, as Paul points out, the commandments God gave are to prevent us from doing harm. I realize it is often a subtle distinction. But I think it might help when trying to find that fine line between helping and enabling; between seeking peace and appeasement. The trouble with thinking of love as doing good is that it pushes us too far toward what others want rather than what they need. On the other hand, when we think of it as doing no harm, we might be less likely to fall into the trap of helping people to harm themselves and others.
Ezek. 23-24
Continuing with this concept of “Love does no harm”, I see it in God’s wrath on Israel and Judah. God compared His people to two sisters who prostituted themselves to whomever would have them. Such behavior is clearly harmful to all involved. Yet God loves His people, so what is He to do? Does He continue to do good for them because love does good? Or does He turn away from them because to continue to support them would be to contribute to the harm they were doing?
The Bible makes it pretty clear that it is because God loves His people that He turned away and stopped doing good for them. That was the best chance they had of recognizing the harm they were doing and turning back to God. This is the same concept I see in Paul’s teaching to the churches, where he says, “hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 5:5). So I guess what I see in all of this is that sometimes doing what we think is good is actually harmful. The better focus, then, is on not doing harm, understanding that there is a difference between doing harm and stepping away, allowing someone who simply will not listen to harm themselves.
Ps. 132
Reading this prophetic Psalm this morning is triggering all sorts of associative thoughts in my mind. I’ll see if I can put them into words.
- “LORD, remember David and all his self-denial.” (Ps. 132:1). David denied himself to find a dwelling place for God. In order for us to become God’s dwelling place though Christ, we must likewise deny ourselves.
- “May your priests be clothed with your righteousness” (Ps. 132:9a). As believers, we are God’s priests, and we are indeed clothed with the righteousness of Christ.
- Jesus is God’s anointed one; the promised descendant of David whom God placed on his throne. He is the only son of David who kept God’s covenant, and it is because of Him that we, who have become joint heirs with Christ, will share His throne. “If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.” (Ps. 132:12).