26,27 Mar -- More Words on Words
The readings for Mon 26 and Tues 27 March are -- Gen 39:1-41:7; Ps 12:6-8; Prov 3:9-10; Mt 14:1-21.
In many of his Psalms, David cries out to God because he is surrounded by evil-doers. In Psalm 12, he cries out to God because he is surrounded by evil-speakers -- liars, flatterers, deceivers, boasters (12:1-4). By contrast, God's words are true and as pure as repeatedly refined silver (12:6). God's promises are certain.
In both the current Genesis and Matthew readings, we see examples of the harm that wrong words can bring.
* Potiphar's wife falsely accuses Joseph of raping her. As a result, he loses Potiphar's trust and is imprisoned.
* The chief cupbearer seems to have agreed to put in a good word for Joseph when released. "Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph; he forgot him." (Gen 40:23) So Joseph languished in prison for another two years.
* Herod made a promise with an oath to give the daughter of Herodias whatever she asked. She asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter, and Herod kept his promise -- a very foolish one.
I reckon we should say what we mean and mean what we say and ensure that none of it is mean and that all of it is meaningful. I think that's Biblical.
Labels: tongue
posted by Ps John @ 6:27 PM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
It was refreshing to see someone at last standing up for the right thing! Joseph is sometimes presented as a bit of a boaster (especially if you've heard Rice & Lloyd Webber's musical version), but he seems to have a knack for taking a bad situation and making the best of it. He rises to the top of his station as a servant of Potiphar then, after being wrongly accused, becomes the head prisoner in jail.
I thought the Psalms and even Proverbs passage related nicely to this. The promise of protection in Psalms 12:7 is reflected in God's protection of Joseph in order to fulfill his purpose. There are echoes of this in Romans 8:28,29 - God can and does use any situation to his purpose.
Proverbs 3:9-10 promises blessing to those that honour God with what they have. I think Joseph did that. He didn't get out of prison straight away, and suffered many things throughout that story, including estrangement from his family for an untold number of years (all of which should warn us against assuming that everything will always be easy), but he ended up being 2IC to Pharaoh! Through the evil his brothers perpetrated, the whole family and thus nation of Israel was preserved. That's coming up later...
Thanks for your perceptive comments Callum (again). You pointed out some very interesting links between the readings from Genesis, Psalms and Proverbs. And a link to Romans too. (You do love that book, don't you, and with good cause.)
I must admit to being a bit nervous about Proverbs 3:9-10 ie "Honor the LORD with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine. You're right in pointing out that Joseph is a great illustration of that. But how does this relate to us post-OT? I don't have full barns or full wine vats (or empty ones for that matter). We can obviously translate it culturally (eg full pantries or full bank accounts) but that's the easy bit. What about the underlying premises/promises?
To insist that this is an inalienable promise or spiritual law leads too easily to an unbalanced prosperity Gospel. (Interestingly, even some churches long renowned for their Prosperity Gospel are now adding in the "blessed to be a blessing" idea.) We can further transpose the literal meaning and apply it to spiritual blessings, but even that I question if there's an unyielding expectation of fulfilment in this life.
I resist telling people (or preaching or blogging) that you can count on (or bank on) good returns from giving to the LORD. I think there are better reasons and motivations for giving to God. And they aren't about what I get as a result! As well, I think about faithful, committed Christians throughout the world and down through the ages who have honoured God with their possessions and yet live in appalling conditions with unbearable suffering (if they continue to live at all). How are these verses true for them?
I think I'm starting to go round in circles. I'm not wanting to deny that the verses are true (obviously). I can see how they have been true in my life. But are they always true for everyone? In what sense?
PS I'm not suggesting you suggested any of this in your comments. You've just prompted my thoughts and wondered whether you or others might have ideas to share.
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