the back burner

having my cake and eating it, too

So the other day I read Haggai (ESV). I read it again today from my parents' porch in Houston and still didn't get the full meatiness, but a few lights came on. Here are a couple of nuggets:

* Blessing is tied pretty tightly to obedience. Obedience seems to be defined, in this instance, as remembering the House of the Lord. Haggai 1:3-11 explains the hardships faced by the Israelites as consequences of their neglect for the temple. The temple was lying in ruins while the people rebuilt their own homes.

* The Lord actually drove the people's obedience. Haggai 2:15-19 makes it sound as if the Lord were rewarding the people's obedience. This is true, but when we look at the events of this book, we see as many as six "sermons" from the prophet: first, a pronouncement of guilt (1:1-2); then a more detailed explanation and a call to build (1:3-11); then an encouragement to begin (1:13); then an encouragement to persevere (2:2-9); then two final words from the Lord on the same day: one explaining the source of holines (2:10-19) and one promising blessing to Zerubabbel, the governor (2:20-23). Between the second and third messages, we see the people obey and honor the Lord with fear (1:12). After the third message ("I am with you , declares the Lord"), the Lord "stir[s] up the spirit of Zerubabbel... and the spirit of Joshua... and the spirit of all the remnant of the people." All the people come together to work. We learn in the prophet's next message that their obedience will be rewarded, but there's a sense in which God is providing the very obedience that he requires. It was so good to ponder this morning the twin truths that human obedience is both (a) a decisive action and (b) enabled by God. I've been needing that.

* Haggai 2:10-19 really threw me at first. I'm not sure I "get it" yet, but here's my take. On the one hand: God makes things (like sacrificial meat) holy, but it isn't a comunicable holiness. On the other hand: unclean people contaminate all that they touch, as is the case with the work of the Israelites' hands. Only God can "redeem" the curse of unholiness. It can't happen through holy meat touching food through a garment. In contrast, Haggai asks the priests if someone who touches a dead body can make food unclean -- and the answer is yes, most certainly. Then the prophet declares the people of God to be unclean -- not just unholy (which is kindof a given), but as unclean as a corpse. Not only that, but God apparently sees everything they do as unclean food, not fit for consumption, worthy to be thrown out on the dung heap, including all their offerings. Presumably, this included even the offerings made for cleanliness. Again, we see the theme of satisfying cleanliness coming only from God. He provides what he requires. (Isn't there a Caedmon's Call song about this? "All that he asks he provides?" By the way, this is the cake part. Sorry that wasn't more clear, earlier in the post.)

* It's interesting that the prophet makes the jump (same passage) from talking about cleanliness/holiness to talking about blessing. There are some translation problems in this part (vv. 15, 16 and 18), but it seems like God is linking blessing to "doing what is right." Somehow, God is choosing to cleanse his people like the holy meat and look upon their work as righteous and worthy of blessing. He asks his people to consider how life has yielded no easy blessing and to prepare for abundant blessing, beginning from their first act of obedience.

(I want to connect Haggai's message about unclean works, holy meat, and blessing with Christ's work, Christ's sacrifice, and the blessings of union with Christ. I really think it's there. You could even go in the direction of the Lord's Supper.)

* Finally, the last message from the Lord through Haggai really intruiges me. After talk of war and upheaval, the Lord chooses Zerubbabel to be a signet ring. The end. Amazing, huh? You've got to imagine that Z. was scratching his head about that one. What does it mean?

If I were really going to pursue these leads, I would have to dig into Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Zechariah and Ezra, and then look for extra-Biblical resources. Anybody know some good minor prophet commentators? I think I can trust Eugene Merrill on Haggai, at least.

another movie post

Movies I wish I were educated/mature/cool enough to "get:"
Russian Dolls
Three Times
L'Enfant

So where I am right now, culturally:
Little Miss Sunshine
The Puffy Chair

Stupid, yet satisfying:
Accepted

So there you go.

ambivalent

So there are about 6 minutes left in the Czech-U.S. game. Part of me is dying because the U.S. is losing 3-0... but then there's the comforting thought that now I can cheer for whomever I choose. If the U.S. loses in the round robin portion, I won't have to feel obligated to cheer for them anymore.

It's hard, being an American.

In other news, the WPC youth director made the stunning comment today that soccer was about as exhilarating as curling. I sent him a ton of soccer links and invitations to various pick-up games this week... not sure it's going to make a lot of difference.

Thank you, William!

The weekend was a well of cool, deep water with a big dipper. I was here in a private cabin with five other people. Mostly cards, hiking, singing, eating, drinking, and self-medicating our way through some horrible allergic moments. Ahhhhhh...

did i mention...?

grass

friends in a field

underlog

The Pit of Sufjan

I told a friend yesterday that I'm wallowing in a pit of Sufjan Stevens music. It's a great pit, but it is tough to exit. Here's the playlist I'm using to try to climb out (below). Most of it comes from the sister, which makes me think new thoughts about her...

Motion City Soundtrack: The Future Freaks Me Out

The Early November: Ever So Sweet, The Mountain Range In My Living Room, Baby Blue, The Course of Human Life, Dinner at the Money Table

Eve 6: At Least We're Dreaming, Friend Of Mine, Hey Montana, Girlfriend, Arch Drive Goodbye

Fairweather Friend: Best Love Going, Love's Year, Right Side is Left Inside, Slow it Down

Straylight Run: Existenstialism on Prom Night

...yeah, acoustic folk has failed to lift me from the miry clay. Go figure.

back!

I love saying "I'm baaaack!" I'm saying it a lot these days, and I'm saying it again now. We left the family farm this morning, and now I'm back in Atlanta. The parents and the sister are in Tallahassee. The brother is back in Great Falls.

What else? Hmm. Tomorrow promises a lot of work. I might have a visa invitation next week. Our carpet, dishes, kitchen linoleum, and toilet are clean. My clothes are folded. All is well.

The just-got-back routine is therapeutic: a chance to reflect on the trip and adjust to the change in setting. Checking the emails, washing clothes, cleaning up, playing music too loud, tossing out spoiled food -- it's all connected to the idea of reclaiming a space. "Here I am! I know you've missed me! I'm back and I'm going to belong."