THE HISTORICAL BOOKS (AND A WEDDING)

Sermon Summary 9/24/17) “The Historical Books (and a Wedding)” (Following the worship, Rick and Lynne came forward to join themselves in Christian Marriage.)  (Col 3:12-14; Hosea 11:1-4) 

I’ve been distracted again.  We’ve been involved in a sweep of the Old Testament (The Bible that Jesus Knew), and we have been distracted.  Today, by a wedding.  Can you imagine? 

But before we get distracted, today we are looking at the historical books of the Old Testament, from Joshua and the conquest of the Promised Land, through their exile to Babylon 600 years later in 2 Chronicles, and their return in Ezra and Nehemiah.  Entry, 600 years, exile, return.

But it is the exile I want to talk about.  It may be the most important period in Jewish history because it was there that they learned to become a faithful people.  Do you remember that God had a Covenant relationship with his people?  “I will be your God and you will be my people.”  A Covenant relationship that the people had broken over and over again by running after other gods, by violating the first commandment “You shall have no other gods before me.”  They could not resist the Canaanite gods.  After 600 years, God said enough was enough.  They would never learn to be faithful in Canaan, and he allowed Nebuchadnezzar to take them into exile.  For two generations they put their faith back together.  They learned to become faithful.

Why do we study history? Because we cannot learn from the future.  We can only learn to become faithful in our relationships from the past. We cannot learn from the future.  St. Paul was a student of history.  And just three verses, he gives us the tools to become faithful in our relationships (Col 3:12-14) 

“Cloth yourselves in compassion, kindness..” Kindness may be the universal antidote.  Whenever we disagree, have a complaint, we need to ask, “What is the kindest way I can put this?” Kindness.  One of my gurus says that successful couples use “soft starts.”  Kindness.

“Humility, meekness…” Never letting ego, pride getting in the way.  Placing the other above self.  “Patience,” going at the pace of the other. 

Then “bear with one another and if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”  Forgiveness is a pillar of marriage.  “So you also must forgive.”

“Above all, cloth yourselves in love which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”  Love, not a feeling, but building each other up, valuing the other, lifting them up.  God through the prophet Hosea demonstrates kindness, love, lifting, valuing in Hosea 11:1-4, putting on love.  So may it be with all of you.