Tag: broken

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Broken

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Brandon Stoll on Unsplash

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Jeremiah 19.

“Go, and buy a potter’s earthenware flask…break the flask…and say, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: So will I break this people and this city” (Jeremiah 19:1,10,11).

In contrast to clay being formed by a potter, Jeremiah’s subsequent object lesson is breaking a bottle made of hardened clay, an image of the disaster God will bring on his people, “Because they have stiffened their neck, refusing to hear my words” (19:15).

The first thing that pops in my mind is the scene in Rocky IV, Ivan Drago, the Soviet champion says to Rocky, “I must break you.” Other images include breaking a wild horse, breaking in a new pair of running shoes, breaking up a task into manageable parts, breaking up hard soil for a garden, or breaking a bad habit.

God’s people are no longer moldable, having forsaken God to pursue idol worship with child sacrifice. They’ve closed their ears to God’s repeated warnings and calls to repentance. Mercy isn’t working. It’s going to take enemy invasion and destruction to get their attention. It’s like a house that’s beyond repair. “We’re going to have to tear it down and start over.”

It must have been tough for Jeremiah to proclaim this “no more Mr. Nice Guy” message. Well, actually, it was, because in the next chapter, the priest beats Jeremiah and puts him in the stocks. Jeremiah complains to God about the violent response to the message. He hates this job.

It’s ironic that Jeremiah has been sent to preach to people who refuse to listen. Seems like a waste of time. Yet it sets up an, “I told you so” future moment, as God’s justice and righteousness prevails.

Ultimately, Christ’s body will be broken for so many, like me, who just don’t listen, who find so many other things to worship, and are impossibly stubborn. Just like God’s people always have been.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Why is this happening to me?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by John Fornander on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Job 4 and 5.

After seven days of silence, Job and his friends spend lots of chapters trying to figure out why his life is in shambles.

The first friend to weigh in is Eliphaz. He has a simple explanation:

Who, being innocent, has ever perished?
    Where were the upright ever destroyed?
As I have observed, those who plow evil
    and those who sow trouble reap it. (Job 4:7,8)

Eliphaz, like a lot of people, believes in some kind of spiritual karma. If bad things are happening, you must have done something to deserve it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. He goes on to say,

Blessed is the one whom God corrects;
    so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. (5:17)

While there is a kernel of truth in his words, we know there’s a whole lot more going on. Job hasn’t done anything to deserve so much loss in his life. In fact, his suffering at the hands of Satan was because he was extraordinarily faithful. Remember God’s evaluation of Job? “He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8).

So what’s going on when you want to scream, “Why is this happening to me?”

  • Sometimes you know why. You screwed up. Plain and simple. You opened your mouth (again). You smoked for years and years. You lied. You ate the whole box of donuts (again). You built your home in a flood area. You didn’t floss.
  • Sometimes someone else screwed up. They backed into your car but never left a note. They lied to you (again). They stole your identity. They spilled red wine on your light gray carpet. They didn’t tell you that house you bought was in a flood area.
  • Sometimes stuff happens. Volcanos erupt. Cold weather freezes pipes. Viruses spread. Cancer cells multiply. Pregnant mothers miscarry. Rivers overflow their banks and flood communities. Bugs eat your garden vegetables.
  • Sometimes God kicks you out of paradise. Sometimes he sends plagues. Sometimes God raises up foreign armies for invasion. Sometimes his own son is executed.

It’s a broken world filled with broken people, so broken bones, broken hearts, and broken promises shouldn’t surprise us. Even if we do everything right.

When it’s a really good day, why not ask the same question? Why not wonder, “Why this happening to me?” Or, “What did I do to deserve this?” It wasn’t because you were exceptionally good. It’s because God is. Every good and perfect gift comes from him.

Posted in Life

“Honey, I broke the garage door.”

Posted on by William Douthwaite

I’ve had this picture on my phone for a while now. I walk by this house a couple of times a week, and am always amazed by this garage door.

First of all, I wonder, “What in the world happened here?” I’m guessing the spring is broken, but why is the door hanging crooked like that? Did a rail break loose inside the garage? Did the wheels come off one of the tracks? I’m not sure how to get a garage door to do this.

Next, I wonder, “How come you haven’t tried to fix it?” At least find a way to lower it so it’s not open like this all the time. An open door is an invitation for critters to come in and squat in the garage.

This same house also had elaborate Halloween decorations on display.

So I couldn’t help but wonder, “If you’ll take the time and effort to decorate your yard, don’t you have a few minutes to try and fix the garage door?”

I’m tempted to assume this is a rental property. If so, I guess the landlord hasn’t been by in a while. I’m thinking that code enforcement hasn’t been by in a while, either.

How would you react if you pressed the button to close the garage door and this happened?

Posted in Grace, Life

Break an arm!

Posted on by William Douthwaite

broken arm

“Break the arms of those who are wicked and evil!” (Psalm 10:15).

Do your prayers sound like that? I’m guessing not. Mine don’t. I rarely pray for bad things to happen to bad people. If I didn’t know better, I would attribute these words to someone in organized crime rather than one of God’s faithful. Although, I guess we’d be talking about kneecaps, not arms, right?)

That’s not very loving, is it? Not at all compassionate. Hardly merciful. Yet, it’s the prayer of the faithful, the inspired word of God and honestly, the sentiment of many of us. Wouldn’t you like God to give people like Dr. Kermit Gosnell what they deserve for killing those newborns? Wouldn’t you like to see some members of our government with an arm in a sling after God had a little talk with them? Isn’t there at least one bully you’d like to have an appointment with the Almighty?

Maybe that’s why Jesus is controversial. He doesn’t teach our enemies a lesson. Instead, He talks with them and is comfortable spending time with them. That’s just not right! And then His body is broken for us (and His blood poured out), for the forgiveness of (my) sins.

That’s life changing. He was broken for me. Any prayer that reminds me of that is a good one.l