Category: Through the Bible Devotions

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

How about a little more dancing?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

After being reprimanded by his wife for leaping and dancing half-naked before the Lord, David replies,

“I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes” (2 Samuel 6:21,22).

Everyone is shouting, blowing trumpets, and escorting the ark of the Lord into the City of David. It is a time of unfettered celebration and worship.

Most worship isn’t like that, is it? Rather than celebratory, undignified, and humiliating, our worship is meditative, measured, and staid.

Someone told me that humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. In this case, this would mean thinking more of God than myself in worship.

Which is typically not the case. I want worship to be convenient and comfortable. I want the music I enjoy in an inspirational setting. I want a message that addresses the world’s ills without getting too close to mine. I want to sip on coffee, snack on a donut, park near the entrance, and get a pen with the church’s name printed on it to take home. I want the church to be fully staffed so I don’t have to worry about volunteering.

Okay, not exactly. But there’s more truth there than you or I like to admit. Should worship be easy? Or should it take some effort? Should we work up a sweat?

Whether I look out from the pulpit or around me in the congregation, I’m astonished to see folks sitting there who don’t sing or participate in liturgy. Only listen. They don’t smile. Only grimace. Don’t engage in conversation. Only enter and exit.

To be fair, I don’t know their story. They may have had a rough week. They might have a lot on their mind.

How about we worship in the presence of God instead of in front of a mirror? Let’s listen to what he thinks of us (a little Law and Gospel) and a little less about others or our own insecurities.

Just know what you’re in for. Grace has a way of loosening us up. Before you know it, you might be dancing, too!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Generational judgment

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jisun Han on Unsplash

The Lord declares, “The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age…no one in your family line will ever reach old age…and all your descendants will die in the prime of life” (1 Samuel 2:31-33).

The Lord spoke those words to Eli, a priest who served forty years at the tabernacle in Shiloh. His sons Hophni and Phineas scorned, despised, and dishonored God as priests. They took some of the sacrifices supposed to be set aside for the Lord. They slept with the women who served at the tent of meeting.

Everyone knew about it. They told Eli about it. He told them it was wrong, but didn’t do anything about it.

Not only would they die, but the consequences of their actions would last for generations. Every descendant will die young, in their prime.

That’s harsh. But the priests had an important job. They represented the people before God. And they represented God to the people. They had great responsibility. If they didn’t take God seriously, who would?

They had a chance. They were taught. They were warned. God tells you what he’s going to do. And he follows through.

So listen. Pay attention. God is serious. Take him seriously.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

That’s harsh

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Jens Aber on Unsplash

Even though I’ve read through the bible many times, I can’t help but pause when I get to those instructions to wipe out whole communities of people.

“Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him” (Numbers 31:17).

Here it’s the Midianites, who had seduced God’s people into idolatry. But there are plenty of other battles where Israel’s enemies are to be obliterated.

That’s harsh, isn’t it? Very harsh for anyone who prefers a God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. How could that God demand or allow such cruelty?

In worship, the church confesses that the Lord will come again to judge the living and the dead. What do you think that day will be like? Do you want him to condemn the unfaithful? Do you trust God to do this justly and righteously?

We never hesitate to pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.” We look forward to the Lord dealing with evil in the world. But do we understand all that entails? Because sin is so pervasive, nothing should survive that judgment. Yet because of Christ through trust in him, we will, since he was condemned and punished on the cross in our place.

All that nasty stuff throughout the Old Testament? That just a taste of what judgment day will be like. Yeah, it’s gonna be harsh.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Into the future?

Posted on by William Douthwaite

The alarm went off at 5 am. As it usually does. I shook off the dream I was having, got up, wandered to the kitchen, pushed the button to start the coffee maker. Headed to the back bedroom to roust the big dog.

And then I woke up. I glanced at the clock. 12:30 am. That’s weird. I just woke up from a dream about waking up from a dream.

It’s like time travel. I was living in the future. My future. I know it was only a few hours. But it was the future. I was there. It felt real.

How cool would it be if I could set my dream clock to a time in the future? Just to get a glimpse. A peek. A whiff of what would happen tomorrow or in a year.

I wouldn’t want lottery numbers or sports results for betting. Or future diseases that will lay me up. I don’t need nightmares of a future dystopian world or where the hurricane will really make landfall.

I just want a snapshot of where I’ll be or who I’m with or what I’m doing. Will I be surprised? Or will it be predictable.

I work hard at being present, in the moment. It’s challenging to not borrow from the future or be weighed down by the past. I want to make sure I don’t miss where I am right now, who I’m with, and what I’m doing.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

This yard sale was a bust

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Saturday’s garage sale was a bust. Seven people stopped by. Two bought stuff. I made $12.

That’s why I’ll only sit out there for a few hours. No two day eight-hour marathons for me. I put it out on social media and a few roadside stands, but it just wasn’t happening.

The first lady who stopped by walked up and asked, “Are you selling any patio furniture?” I choked back a chuckle, looked at the tables of toys, lamps, and kitchen stuff before answering, “No.” Where did she think we were hiding those items?

The second couple was very friendly. As the woman looked over the toys for sale, she said, “Our youngest just moved out.”

I asked, “How many children do you have?” The husband held up four fingers. I followed up with, “Any grandchildren?”

She answered, “No, and we probably won’t. Two have already had vasectomies.” I thought, “Okay, too much information.” They looked very surprised when I told them I had ten grandchildren.

They didn’t buy anything.

My next customers were a mother and son who drove up in a silver Mercedes. I didn’t quite recognize their language, so I asked where they were from. Haiti. They had a lot to say to each other about the items we were selling. He brought a couple of table lamps over for me to plug in. He set them aside to buy, but she put them back on the table. She had him hold up some room-darkening curtains and held up four fingers, trying to talk me down from $20 for two complete sets. I held up ten fingers. She frowned and shook her head.

She had me plug in a hair straightener. It worked just fine, although she really didn’t have the hair to use it on. She put it aside as if she might buy it. She added three glass vases and a dozen plastic storage tubs with lids. The two bickered back and forth, deciding to buy the two lamps, but putting back the straightener.

Finally they were ready to go, adding a small fan and handing me $10. I said, “Merci,” and they drove off.

A young mother was our last customer, gathering up two silicon baking mats and a few toys for a one-year-old still in the car with her husband.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Let’s go check it out!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Random Institute on Unsplash

After a forty day tour of the promised land, the spies said, “It’s wonderful and abundant. Lot’s of people live there in fortified cities.

Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are” (Numbers 13:30-31).

How often do I hear someone’s good news and immediately temper it with a, “Yeah, but…” or “Well, you know…” or “If it sounds too good to be true…” I for one am an expert at deflating someone’s excitement with skepticism and cynicism. I use those exact phrases.

I’m trying not to. Enthusiasm, excitement, anticipation are good things. Let’s assume the best!

In a similar way, we envy the nice things and experiences others have. You know, it’s okay for others to have fun, adventure, possessions, and family. It’s wonderful for them to be happy and fulfilled. And we can embrace that!

Let’s wish them the best. Let’s go with the positive. Let’s go check it out!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

On fire

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning “(Numbers 9:15).

I love the image of the cloud that covered the tabernacle during Israel’s wilderness wanderings. I never thought of the fire that went along with it.

Imagine someone yelling, “The tabernacle’s on fire!” It could happen. Lamps and incense are constantly burning inside. Priests set fire to offerings and sacrifices day and night. Conditions are ripe for fire.

But this is different. Moses saw a bush on fire that wasn’t consumed. The people camped at the base of a mountain that looked like it was on fire. Now it’s the very expensive and painstakingly constructed tabernacle. God in the midst of his people is like fire. Sometimes it consumes. Sometimes it doesn’t.

The Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego encountered God in a fiery furnace. They were not consumed. Elijah and Elisha saw the Lord’s horses and chariots of fire. Elijah was taken away, not consumed. When two disciples had supper with Jesus after the resurrection, their hearts burned within them, but they were not consumed.

But Nadab and Abihu were consumed when they set unauthorized incense on fire. Fire from heaven consumed Elijah’s sacrifice on Mount Carmel, along with the stones and water surrounding the altar. The heat of the fire consumed the servants who three the three men into the furnace. God’s fire consumed Job’s sheep and servants. “In the fire of his jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed” (Zephaniah 1:18).

Jesus was consumed with zeal for his Father’s house. “Our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). So we don’t mess around with him. Yet his fire fills and purifies us, temples of his Spirit.

Just like the tabernacle.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Good morning, AI

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Steve A Johnson on Unsplash

In Morning Brew this morning: “Bet you can’t go a whole day without hearing about AI.”

I’ll bet they’re right.

How did I encounter AI today?

My washing machine and dryer both have AI settings. Apparently the machines can determine how much laundry you have, how dirty it is, the best temperature, and the length of cycle. Most of the time, the machines make good decisions for me.

Every Google search gives me an AI summary at the beginning. My search yields many other sources, but the upfront summary is useful.

I think many customer service chats are handled by bots. They often do a good job of resolving my issue.

A lot of the commercials on my streaming services are related to product searches I’ve made. Somehow, my phone, TV, and computer are all connected.

The very fact that I can get next day delivery of an item means somebody somewhere knows what I am likely to want, and stocks the closest warehouse before I think about it. That’s got to be all AI driven.

I daily ask Alexa about the weather. She also plays the stream from my favorite radio station.

Google maps routes my trip based on traffic, anticipated delays, and construction along the way.

My robo vacuum cleaner knows my house and cleans the room I send it to.

I’ve used AI to draft a reference letter. A little editing and it was ready to go.

Just like that, AI has infiltrated my life. So far, it’s all good. But that may not always be the case.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

The Significance of Incense in Worship

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Anup Ghag on Unsplash

“Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense” (Exodus 30:1).

“Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the Lord for the generations to come. (Exodus 30:7,8)

Why was the altar of incense and the daily burning of incense such an important part of tabernacle, and later, temple life?

My first experience with incense was at my first pastoral conference in Ashaway, Rhode Island. We gathered for evening prayer in a retreat center chapel. The chaplain for the conference leaned towards high church traditions, and had filled the chapel with thick clouds of incense. It was dense, fragrant, stifling, and intense. That night’s worship was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Many years later, I was asked to preach at the anniversary of a colleague’s ordination. He also leaned towards high church traditions, and would walk through his church sanctuary leaving a lingering aroma of incense an hour before Sunday worship.

My only other encounter with incense was at the funeral of a good friend’s mother. She was Roman Catholic, and the priest prepared to walk around the casket with incense. To his dismay, there was nothing to light the incense. I watched with interest and amusement as various people did their best to make it happen.

The best explanation of incense may be from a psalm:

“May my prayer be set before you like incense” (Psalm 141:2).

As the smoke of incense rose upward, worshipers would follow the smoke’s upward ascent. Their attention would be focused upward towards the one who is worthy of all honor and praise.

How much of worship is about us? Or me? Plenty. I could use a good reminder that it’s about him, the one, God. He’s the only one worthy of praise.

How could I forget that? When I’m distracted, self-absorbed, and indulgent, the smoke of incense rising up might remind me that it’s about him.