Sabbath Psalms - Love and Hate

Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. (NIV)

            I like the ancient word that is used in this verse for ‘justice’. In Hebrew, it’s ‘misor,’ which refers to something that is geographically flat like a plain or level like a plateau. It’s the equivalent of us talking about fairness where everyone is given an equal opportunity because we’re all on the same level playing field. There is no advantage given to anyone because of their strength, esteem, or power. Everybody is treated the same, so that justice can prevail. There is no special favor or consideration given to one group over another. Justice occurs truthfully and honestly, which is why some courts have a statue of justice being blind. There is no favoritism or patronage given; justice impartially seeks the truth which is why it is a symbol of God’s everlasting sovereignty.

            In a world that is beset with powerful liars and chronic misinformation, the truth can often be buried under a mountain of lies. People are manipulated by brazen leaders who twist the truth into what their followers want to hear, no matter how absurd it sounds. It’s a form of evil that repulses God and damages the world. Blindly accepted absurdities can turn into acceptable atrocities where justice is ignored, and prejudice is fully displayed. The terrifying lynchings in our own recent history testify to the wickedness of ordinary people who were absolutely convinced they were supporting and doing the right thing.

            If justice is a symbol of God’s sovereignty, then there will come a time when all of those liars, manipulators, and unconstrained leaders will be made accountable in eternity, as well as those who blindly followed them. The misor of God will level and expose everything, so those who should have known better or who deluded themselves will also be held accountable for ignoring the truth and embracing evil.

Point to ponder: What does justice mean to me? Is it the same as what it means to God? Am I guilty of following liars and spreading lies?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to see the world through Your eyes and to seek God’s justice across this planet. Encourage us to express the truth in the face of lies and to confront corruption with faith, hope, and love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a retired Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Christian devotion: Justice and Jesus - Isaiah 42:3b-4a

Isaiah 42:3b-4a           In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on Earth.

            We all have different ideas about justice and what it actually means. For some people, justice implies getting even with someone who wronged them. For others, it can mean making someone pay excessive damages and full reparations for a disappointment, mistake, or tragedy. Justice can also involve giving equal rights to those who have been marginalized by society, or degraded by our culture. It is also sought by those who are impoverished or oppressed throughout the world, where injustices are perpetrated by people in power. In fact, all across the Earth, billions of people are constantly seeking justice, human rights, and equality.

            Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 42 has been interpreted as a foretelling of the Messianic role Christ was to fulfill seven hundred years later. Jesus would become the Chosen Servant of God who entered the world to right all wrongs, bring justice to the powerless, and restore the dignity of God’s people who had been oppressed by the Romans. After His Resurrection and Ascension, He would be revered as the Judge of the entire Earth, who would ensure that the wicked are finally brought to justice and that the poor are exalted above all others in the future Heavenly Kingdom.

            As Christians, we are called to follow Christ, so the seeking and supporting of justice should be a key part of how we apply our faith. If we use our religion to lord it over other people, we have maligned Christ’s ministry. If, however, we focus on the equal rights of all people and see justice as a main emphasis of Christ’s teaching, then we will positively and effectively witness to God’s love and Christ’s grace. In other words, Justice and Jesus are fully entwined; you can’t have one without the other. You can’t serve Jesus without seeking Justice.

Questions for personal reflection

Where do I see injustice in my community? How can Christ’s Church seek and support justice for my community?

Prayer:             Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of the World, who brings good news to the poor and justice to the oppressed. Help us, as Your followers, to pursue justice in our communities and around the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings for Trinity Sunday. It’s called the ‘Triune Heart of the Universe.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Heart.

Peace devotion: All It Takes - 1 Peter 3:11

1 Peter 3:11    He must turn away from wickedness and instead do good; he must be a peace seeker and constantly practice it. (JSV)

I recently read that in order to eradicate poverty across the planet, it would cost about $125 billion per year. It sounds like an immense cost, but then I read the next line: the world spends $1738 billion each year on war. In other words, we could eradicate poverty for ten years with what we spend on fighting one another in any twelve months. It made me think that if ever there was a Universe award for Stupid Species across the Cosmos, it would surely go to humankind each year.

What we do to one another is monstrous and it may be that we will eventually destroy ourselves completely because of our stubborn, prejudicial, and belligerent ways. This year sees the centennial anniversary of World War 1, which used to be called “The Great War” because it was thought to be the war to end all wars. Sadly, within a generation, World War 2 occurred, proving to God and the rest of the universe how foolishly bellicose we really are.

As human beings, we have the potential, as well as the resources, to rid our planet of the scourge of poverty. Instead, we sinfully waste and squander our opportunities by enslaving or slaying one another. We have the ability to conquer many diseases, as well as to feed, clothe, and educate every person on this planet, but we throw it all away on war.

As Christians, we should be at the forefront of seeking and making peace across the planet because we call our leader the ‘Prince of Peace.’ Sadly, we are just as bellicose inside and outside of the church, following our own heresies of pride, prejudice, and protagonism, on both sides of the theological spectrum, creating our own little wars which shamefully divide the Church and diminish Christ’s work in the world.

One day, Jesus will return and, as the old song states, we will study war no more. However, between now and then, we should prepare His way among us by practicing His way between us. Otherwise, we are just wasting our God given talents and squandering our sacred resources.

Questions for personal reflection

How do I seek and practice peace in my life? How does this shape my Christian beliefs?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, sometimes we are hopeless when it comes to being peace seekers in our homes, churches, and communities. We let pride painfully separate us from our loved ones. We allow prejudice to contaminate our souls. We allow belligerence to dictate how we express our faith. Forgive us, Lord, for being peace breakers instead of peace seekers. Challenge our sinful ways so that we may truly cherish You as the Prince of Peace. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message or ask some questions, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawings. It’s called ‘Promised One.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/14146360152_17b1a0693a_b.jpg

Daily Devotions - Troy Davis - Isaiah 3:5

Isaiah 3:5        People will oppress each other-- man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the base against the honorable.

 

I am deeply troubled this morning and I cannot shake off a feeling of gloom. It started about a fortnight ago when I became aware of Troy Davis. Up until then, I didn’t know who he was, what crime he had committed, or that he was even on Death Row. I received an email from another pastor about Troy Davis and so I began to read about his plight.

My mind wasn’t fully made up until I read about witnesses recanting, evidence being questioned, and judges belittling the appeals. It made me feel as though something was deeply wrong with the Justice system; not necessarily corrupt, but definitely failing to do what it should in questionable cases like this one. I signed an online petition for clemency (something that I have never done before in my life) and waited to hear the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling. I was saddened by the rejection and ultimately the execution of Troy Davis. It honestly made me wonder if justice had been truly served or if this was a tragic case of judicial oppression.

This morning, when I read of Troy Davis’ last words before his execution, I felt terrible. Based upon what he stated and how he said it, I have now reached the personal conclusion that an innocent man has been executed. I even find myself totally agreeing with what ex-President Jimmy Carter has now said: "if one of our fellow citizens can be executed with so much doubt surrounding his guilt, then the death penalty system in our country is unjust and outdated."

I feel deeply sorry for the painful losses of everyone involved; for the slain police officer Mark MacPhail and his family, and for Troy Davis and his family. My prayer is that the truth will be truly known and that justice will right its wrongs. The system has failed and we need to review all of the past procedures to ensure that this kind of tragedy never takes place again.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You see and know all things. You know the complete truth of what happened in August of 1989. We pray that all will be revealed so that any doubt may be fully put to rest and that our community will progress on the path to real justice for all. If any have grievously sinned, if any have deceived intentionally, if any have unjustly ignored the truth, then let them be fully exposed to our community. Let justice roll down like waters and freedom truly ring. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s devotional, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Short Devotions: Caylee's Case - 2 Peter 2:22

2 Peter 2:22    Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

In the Scottish legal system, three verdicts can be given at a trial. The first two are ‘not guilty’ and ‘guilty.’ The third one is unique to the Scottish system and it’s where we get the phrase “Scot Free.” The third verdict that can be reached by judge or jury in a Scottish trial is this: ‘not proven.’

Usually, the ‘not proven’ verdict means that the defendant is strongly believed to have committed the crime, but that there is insufficient evidence to get a guilty verdict. The trial makes the public aware of the shady character of the defendant, but he or she cannot be incarcerated. In most cases, the defendant goes back to living his or her life in the same precarious or wicked way. It’s only a matter of time before they commit something wrong that will see them back in court and on that occasion, the prosecutors ensure that they have an airtight case.

This morning, there’s a lot of talk, debate, and even anger about yesterday’s verdict in the Casey Anthony trial. Many people believe that she killed her two year old daughter Caylee, or at least caused her accidental death. The media has covered this case for so long in a prejudicial manner that mostly everyone expected Casey to be found guilty and put on Death Row. The judicial system, however, thankfully worked as it should. The case against Casey was not proven and no matter what people think of her as a person or a mother, the juried verdict was the right one.

Now Casey will go free, but whether or not she will remain free will depend upon her behavior. If she has committed an unproven murder or abuse, it will surface in different ways and we can expect to see her back in court again. As it states in today’s scripture, "A sow that is washed, goes back to her wallowing in the mud." Only time will tell.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You see and know all things. You are completely aware of the truth of this harrowing tragedy. We pray that one day, the whole truth will be known and that wee Caylee can rest in peace. We thank You for our judicial system and for the presumption of innocence being maintained, whether or not we agree or disagree with the verdict in this case. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in n Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Daily Devotions: God Detests the Wicked - Proverbs 15:9

Proverbs 15:9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked but He loves those who pursue righteousness. 

For ten years, our people have waited for justice. For almost a whole decade, many of us have wondered if Osama Bin Laden would ever be caught or punished for what he maliciously masterminded on 9/11. It’s been a long time in coming, but last night the news that most people have been waiting to hear was suddenly announced: Bin Laden is Dead!

Almost immediately, the Internet was buzzing with comments, opinions and ideas about this historic event. Most people heralded the announcement and lauded the President for maintaining the pursuit of this evil man. A few, however, felt that the celebrations were wrong and that we should not be rejoicing over the death of enemies. Because I love freedom, everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I would say this to the naysayers: for most people it has been a sense of relief and justice rather than rejoicing and joy. Evil has been confronted and destroyed with constant good and a real sense of righteousness.

I saw on television that people were gathering at Ground Zero and in Times Square. I can remember that terrible day when the same groups of people were fearfully fleeing that area, covered in dust and with a look of unfathomable loss. It is good that they have been given justice within their lifetime. Perhaps they will now begin the process of grief and healing that has been denied to them for so long because Bin Laden was still alive and free.

I don’t know what you personally think about all of this. Like me, you probably will have to come to God to ask for His guidance over what this means to our faith and our world. I fully believe that God still detests the wicked and loves those who pursue righteousness. An evil man is dead, but evil in the world still has to be confronted and defeated. It just never ends.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You call upon us to be as harmless as doves, but You also have reminded us to be as wise as serpents. There is evil in the world and we are called by You to confront and overcome it. Help us at this historic time to see God’s Hand in all that has happened and to look for Your Guidance in the days to come. In Your Holy Name, we sincerely pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is of a stained glass design that John created several years ago on the anniversary of 9/11. It’s called “Never Forget” and it depicts an American flag in the foreground with the Twin Towers in the background. A passenger jet can be seen at the top of the design. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1421/1359029331_56d8dfeae7_b.jpg

Daily Devotions; The Fighter - 1 Timothy 6:12

1 Timothy 6:12           Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Yesterday I was reading about two pastors and their wives who were arrested in Iran about 9 months ago for preaching the gospel. They have been charged with sedition and have endured many beatings whilst they have been in prison. One of the women also miscarried her baby due to the lack of pre-natal care in her jail. These four young Christians are fighting the good fight and truly suffering for their faith.

In the Western church, we are just fighting. Issues have become incendiaries; theological tussles are creating turmoil; and church problems are preventing Christ’s peace from being embraced. The question we need to honestly ask ourselves is this: are we fighting the good fight or just battling ourselves?

When I see the horrific destruction in Japan and read about the blatant persecution of Christians all over the globe, it makes my own problems and conflicts seem trivial. I ask myself two important questions: Where is Christ in the midst of this mess? What is the Spirit really doing across the world?

Fighting the good fight may not necessarily mean being doggedly dogmatic and solidly scriptural. Perhaps in today’s world it means fighting against despair, struggling with survivors, and mightily loving those whose losses are overwhelming their lives.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You live and walk among the ruins of Japan, as well as the isolated cells in Iran. You fight for the faith by embracing the shattered souls and helpless hearts of people everywhere. Your Spirit seeks the lost and weeps with those whose lives are wrecked. Enable us to be empowered by Your empathy and to conquer despair with compassion. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask questions of today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Japanese prints. It’s simply called “Geisha.” I heartily recommend that you view the larger version of the drawing which brings out the beauty of the girl’s hair and comb. You can view it here:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5511261006_91b8a00621_b.jpg