NC-17

MAN: "A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed."

WOMAN: "Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits."

(Song of Solomon 4:12, 16)

When you think about erotic books, the Bible does not usually come to mind.  In fact, Church (and church people) in general isn't (aren't) always that open to talk about sex & sexuality.  Then you come to the SONG OF SOLOMON (aka "Song of Songs") in the Old Testament.  And it kinda stops you cold in your tracks.

If you're unfamiliar with this short book of poetry, it's a love story between a man & woman.  They flatter each other.  They pour out their feelings.  They talk about their attraction & excitement for each other.  And they don't "beat around the bush" either!

In Jewish culture (or at least in the Hebrew culture of the Bible), after the wedding "ceremony," the entire wedding party would walk the couple back to the groom's home - into his "wedding chamber" - and wait outside while the couple consummated their marriage.  It was only after they made love together that they were considered to be "officially married."  And then the party would start with all of the guests outside!

It's too bad the church has lost its voice when it comes to celebrating sexuality.  "Don't do it!" is the usual phrase connected to Church & sex.  But that doesn't honor God's gift of sexuality.  We were created to love one another - in a committed, loving marriage, that's all.

In the meantime... keep those "gardens locked," so when it's finally time to enjoy one another completely, the "choicest fruits" will still be there for one's spouse.  Because then you've got a lifetime of playing in the gardens of love!

The Vineyard is...???

"Then (Jesus) began to speak to them in parables.  'A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country...'" 

(Mark 2:1)

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants.  It's not one of Jesus' more 'high profile' or widely recognized parables... but it's familiar enough, nonetheless.  Basic story:  a man plants a vineyard, gets it all set up & operational, then leases it to tenants.  When it's harvest time, the tenants beat up the messengers sent to retrieve the owner's fair share of the crops.  Multiple attempts are met with similar (or worse!) outcomes.  Finally, the owner sends his only son.  Same story.  Son is killed.  the owner then casts them out, completely.

Originally, this parable was told to (about!) the Jewish religious leaders.  Of course, Jesus' own life story would follow this same storyline.  Actually, this is the storyline of all of human history - at least from a faith perspective.  We, as the tenants in God's vineyard, have not recognized the relationship with have with the Owner of the vineyard.  We haven't returned to God what's rightfully God's.  WE not only ignore but have abused his messengers over the years.

So is this a parable about stewardship of the environment?  The earth being God's vineyard, and we're all hired tenants?  Maybe.  But if this parable was told against the religious leaders... then maybe there's a more specific focus.  Maybe the vineyard is humankind... and the tenants are us spiritual leaders (pastors, priests, church leaders, etc.)?  Are we preparing the people for service to God, or simply using our church members for our own purposes (to make us feel good about ourselves?)?  Kinda dark when you think of it that way, isn't it?  THEN AGAIN... maybe the vineyard is our lives... and each of us is the tenant of that field.  So the big question is are we keeping our lives for ourselves (and our own enjoyments) or have we willingly given the rightful share to the One who "planted" (created) us?  Are we content to be self-sufficient and isolated?  Or can we embrace our relationship with our Master wholeheartedly?

I guess the true power of this parable depends on how you read it.  And what the vineyard actually is for you?!

No 'Take Backs'!

"The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to make a proclamation of liberty to them - that all should set free their Hebrew slaves, male & female, so that no one should hold another Judean in slavery."

(Jeremiah 23:8-9)

Jerusalem was under siege!  The Babylonians were attacking & things weren't looking good for the "home team."  In the midst of the entanglement, God sent a message to the people through the prophet Jeremiah: "Release all your Hebrew slaves.  Now!"

Scholars postulate why this command might have been given God... the food supply was running low (releasing slaves would be less mouths to feed!)... freed slaves might help defend the city (D-FENSE!)... or even in the midst of crisis, it would turn many hearts (back) to the LORD.  And King Zedekiah listened and obeyed.  All Hebrew slaves were freed.  Hallelujah!

But then the Egyptian army (with ties to Judah) approached from the south & the Babylonians retreated (momentarily) to meet that resistance.  Jerusalem was given a reprieve (if only for a moment)!  Praise God!  So what did they do to celebrate?  They took back their (former) slaves.  WHAT!?!?  How sad is that?!?

God noticed.  He sent word back with Jeremiah that since the people disobeyed His directions to release their slaves, he would "grant them a release" - a release of pestilence, famine & sword!  God wanted no take backs!!  When He gave a command it was to be followed.  Period.  Not "when it's convenient" or "under stressful situations only" or "when it seems to your advantage."

I think if we're honest, we're guilty of this all the time.  God has given us the words of life in the Bible... not a follow-this-instruction-sheet kind of a listing, but a take-this-in-and-allow-God's-spirit-to-direct-your steps kind of thing.  But we often have "selective hearing" (or is it "selective reading?")... choosing to follow/obey when it's convenient or practical or to our advantage.  Whether it's an issue of financial stewardship or caring for the environment or working for peace or loving our enemies or reaching out to help the poor (the list could go on and on!)... there are numerous times we "take back" a commitment we've made to God.

May we have the courage to follow through on our discipleship with the Lord.  May we trust that god knows what He's talking about when He calls us to obey.  And may we come to know the joy that is a life lived in obedience!  AMEN.