Ezekiel's Vision Check

Ezekiel lived during Israel’s exile in Babylon, a great city that was in what we now call Iraq. This was about 600 years before Jesus’ birth, so more than 2600 years ago. He is considered by Christians, Jews and Muslims to be a prophet. And he saw some strange things.
Ezekiel’s main messages were about the sin of Israel and Judah, for the Jews to turn away from their sin, and that God would forgive them and redeem their suffering. Sometimes this basic message is lost because of the spectacular visuals of his visions.

A teacher I like, Ken Robinson, tells a joke about this: a girl who doesn’t like most of school is really engaged in an art lesson. When the teacher notices, she comes to ask her what she is drawing. “I’m drawing a picture of God,” the girl says. “But, honey,” replies the teacher, “no one knows what God looks like.” The girl answers, “well they will in a minute.”

1) What are some of the images you have of God the Father, Jesus or of the Holy Spirit?





The Shack is a very popular and controversial book about a man who has a vision of meeting God – all three persons. Some of the controversy comes from his portrayal of the Trinity. Jesus is Jesus, but God the Father appears as “Papa,” a strong, motherly and loving African-American woman. And the Holy Spirit as “Sarayu,” a small Asian woman who is easier to see in your peripheral vision than by looking straight at her. I love the book, but know it is a story and not scripture.

There’s a danger to thinking too much about the images, which is why Jews and Muslims take the first commandment, “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth,” to be strongly against made imagery.

2) What could go wrong with people making images of God? Do you know any idol stories from the bible?

Ezekiel 1:4-28 I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and wings, and their wings touched one another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.

Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a man, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle. Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out upward; each had two wings, one touching the wing of another creature on either side, and two wings covering its body. Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went. The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.
As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like chrysolite, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not turn about as the creatures went. Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around.

When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked like an expanse, sparkling like ice, and awesome. Under the expanse their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

Ezekiel sees this same vision in Ch. 8:4 “And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.” And then again in Chapter 10.

Ezekiel 10:9-17 I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like chrysolite. As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes, as were their four wheels. I heard the wheels being called "the whirling wheels." Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the Kebar River. When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side. When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.

3) Some people feel like God gives visions to communicate, because images are a universal language. So let’s imagine what this might have meant to Ezekiel.

The four faces:

The wings:

The wheel intersecting a wheel:

Full of eyes:

4) Draw a picture of Ezekiel’s vision, or of how you imagine God, or write about an image that could show the glory of God.

Shrewd Steward

What’s a Steward?

So Luke has just finished up the parable of the Prodigal Son, one of the Bible’s all time greatest hits, and follows it with today’s reading, which is… not. People struggle with it. They don’t know how to interpret it. They don’t know what the moral is. It’s confusing.

Can you make sense out of it? How do you deal with a tough bible reading?

Luke 16:1-9 The Parable of the Shrewd Manager
Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ ‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’

“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”

Help with tough bible readings:

• Is it a particular style of writing? Poem, parable, history, etc. Knowing the style can help.

This is a parable. What do we know about parables?

o They’re teaching stories. What’s Jesus teaching about?
o Sometimes in response to a question. Not here, though!
o Sometimes Jesus explains them afterward. Again, not here! (At least not plainly.) He does ask more questions, though.

Luke 16:10-12 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?”

What does that tell us about the parable?

o Parables are often analogies: this is like that, this other thing represents…

Who is the master like?
Who is the steward representing?
Does the steward’s actions with the debtors stand for something?
What does the master’s praise for the steward mean?

• What’s the context of the reading? What happens before and after?

This is towards the end of a string of parables; the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son before and Lazarus and the Rich Man afterwards. But specifically afterward, there’s an exchange with the Pharisees.

Luke 16:13-15 (still Jesus talking.)
“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.”

What does this tell us about the parable?

• See what the experts say about it. One of the benefits of the internet is being able to read so much from so many people.

Most studies interpret this parable as being about stewardship, which is often code for taking care of our money. We are stewards – caretakers – of God’s gifts to us, which includes our time, talents and wealth. I think it’s being too literal. The story is about a steward, yes, but that doesn’t mean the moral or principle of the story is about being a steward. (Doesn’t mean it’s not either.)

• Write down or make note of what you’re thinking. Write or put notes in your bible documenting your thought processes.

What do you think? Put it in your own words.

• You don’t have to have all the answers. Some things we understand now, and some things later. The Bible is God’s word. It’s important. It can speak to us. But it’s not necessarily easy.
• If the passage you’re studying is a church reading, the readings for each week have connections that some very wise people suggest to us.

This weeks readings include: Old Testament prophet warning (Amos or Jeremiah), and this great statement from Paul to Timothy (1 Tim 2: 3-6)

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

• Talk with other people about it. Maybe this should come first!

Comic is from Too Much Coffee Man, 

a strange and funny but 

not always family-appropriate strip.

Dishonest or Shrewd or Crooked or Unjust?

So the parable this weekend (the lectionary is going through Luke and these middle chapters are parable rich) has gotten us to what is alternately called the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, the Dishonest Manager, the Dishonest Steward or the Unjust Steward.

Here's the passage:  Luke 16:1-5 in the NIV or below from the Message: (both by way of BibleGateway)

The Story of the Crooked Manager
Jesus said to his disciples, "There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses. So he called him in and said, 'What's this I hear about you? You're fired. And I want a complete audit of your books.'

"The manager said to himself, 'What am I going to do? I've lost my job as manager. I'm not strong enough for a laboring job, and I'm too proud to beg. . . . Ah, I've got a plan. Here's what I'll do . . . then when I'm turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses.'

"Then he went at it. One after another, he called in the people who were in debt to his master. He said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'

"He replied, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.'

"The manager said, 'Here, take your bill, sit down here—quick now— write fifty.'

"To the next he said, 'And you, what do you owe?'

"He answered, 'A hundred sacks of wheat.'

"He said, 'Take your bill, write in eighty.'

"Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."

God Sees Behind Appearances

Jesus went on to make these comments:
If you're honest in small things, you'll be honest in big things;
If you're a crook in small things, you'll be a crook in big things.
If you're not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store?
No worker can serve two bosses:

He'll either hate the first and love the second or adore the first and despise the second.

You can't serve both God and the Bank.

When the Pharisees, a money-obsessed bunch, heard him say these things, they rolled their eyes, dismissing him as hopelessly out of touch. So Jesus spoke to them: "You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what's behind the appearance.

What society sees and calls monumental, God sees through and calls monstrous.
God's Law and the Prophets climaxed in John;
Now it's all kingdom of God—the glad news and compelling invitation to every man and woman.
The sky will disintegrate and the earth dissolve before a single letter of God's Law wears out.
Using the legalities of marriage as a cover for lust is adultery.

What's a bit frustrating is that all the commentaries seem to think this is about money.  Now, of course, it is about money.  Even the NIV has v14 as "The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus." The Pharisees thought it was about money, too.  After all, it has one of the great lines of the bible: "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (v13, KJV)

But Jesus straightens it out for the Pharisees.  It's about idols.  And money is certainly a popular idol.  But how do we communicate the idea of an idol to middle schoolers?  They have hints about money at this age, but mostly it hasn't taken on the importance it will later. 

What do we do with difficult material in studies?  I feel the temptation to just skip it.  I also feel the temptation to take it on, no matter what.  Probably, if we do it, it should be a demonstration.  Me sharing my process in a think aloud.  This feels like a passage for which questioning is a good focus, and maybe we can use it to get at other questions.  Questions about the church, the liturgy, the Bible and who knows what else.

Of course, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this passage in the comments, if you're willing to share.

 

Mercy Youth

The middle school version:

Mercy of Quality
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endures for ever.” - I Chronicles 16:34.
The phrase “His mercy endures forever” is written 42 times in the Bible.

1) What do you think of when you hear the word ‘mercy’?



(1 Tim 1:12-20) I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

2) Why does Paul emphasize his past? What is a blasphemer? How does ignorance and unbelief get you mercy?


Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

3) Why does Paul’s past make him a good example? Example of what?


Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

4) Why aren’t Hymenaeus and Alexander candidates for mercy?



(Luke 15:1-10) Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

5) How is this an answer to the Pharisees? What is the moral of this parable?


“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

6) What is the moral of this parable? How is it different from the sheep?



7) How do these parables relate to the idea of mercy? What do they tell us about God’s mercy?


8) By substituting sheep and coins for people, how do these parables fall short? (Or do they not?)


9) Some teachers explain mercy as not getting what we deserve, and grace as getting what we don’t deserve. How do you think they are the same? How are they different?


10) Have you been shown mercy by anyone? Had a chance to give mercy? What happened?



Maybe we can close by seeking mercy together. The great prayer of mercy from the psalms was written by David after being confronted about Bathsheba and brought to truth by Nathan.

Psalm 51:1-17 (The Message)
Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down.
You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.

Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

11) Jot down one thing you got out of this lesson.


Photo credit: Samuca on Flickr - Sheep in County Mayo, Ireland

Mercy

The Lakeshore Lutheran Men's Bible Study for September 11th.  Quite similar to what the middle school study will be on Sept. 12th.  Maybe without the Shakespeare?  The middle school study starts this week, so look for weekly postings throughout the school year.


Mercy of Quality
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endures for ever.” - I Chronicles 16:34.
The phrase “His mercy endures forever” is written 42 times in the Bible.

1) What are some good examples of mercy in the Bible?

(1 Tim 1:12-20) I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

2) Why does Paul emphasize his past? (How was he a blasphemer?) What does he mean about ignorance and unbelief? Why does that make him a good example?


3) Why aren’t Hymenaeus and Alexander candidates for mercy?

(Luke 15:1-10) Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

4) What is the moral of these parables? How is it a response to the Pharisees?


5) How does this relate to the idea of mercy? What does it tell us about God’s mercy?


6) By substituting sheep and coins for people, how do these parables fall short? (Or do they not?)


7) Is there a difference between grace and mercy?


8) Have you been shown mercy by anyone? Had a chance to give mercy? What happened?


Outside of the Bible, the most famous words about mercy were written by Shakespeare. Portia, in The Merchant of Venice, says to Shylock who has a rightful claim against : (Act 4, Scene 1)

The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath:
it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That, in the course of justice, none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much To mitigate the justice of thy plea;

9) What is Shakespeare saying? Is this a biblical view of mercy?



Maybe we can close by seeking mercy together. The great prayer of mercy from the psalms was written by David after being confronted and brought to truth by Nathan.

Psalm 51:1-17 (The Message)
Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down.
You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.

Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

Photo credit:  mharrsch on Flickr of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC.