Friday, January 23, 2004
Judges 3 - the dirt within
In the last chapter, the text said that the purpose of enemies was to test our allegiance. Here, however, another reason is given:
Judges 3:2 so that succeeding generations of Israelites might be made to experience war -- but only those who had not known the former wars (TNK)
We Quakers and other Christian pacifists shudder at the way this sort of verse can be applied (mis-applied, from our viewpoint) as if it were an historical account to be emulated in the present. But, in our understanding, which harmonizes the warfare narratives with the peaceable teachings of Jesus by applying these passages as types of the spiritual warfare, we understand that is true that each generation must come to understand and partake of the warfare that is waged within each person between the Spirit of God and our sinful nature.
Thus, in the passage immediately after George Fox says that we will "come to walk cheerfully over the earth answering that of God in everyone..." he goes on to exhort us to confound deceit, "put the sword to it." Of course, Fox was speaking figuratively, and meant for us to put the "sword of the Word of God" to deceit, knowing that Truth would prevail.
In this chapter we have a perfect illustration of that dynamic. It is the story of Ehud, the annointed judge, who puts the sword to Eglon, king of Moab, the (very) fat man who was, as the text puts it, full of dirt. One can hear George Fox asking, "do you have the spirit of Eglon? Are you full of dirt, bloated with the fat of luxuriousness and oppression? Put the sword to it!"
See if you can enjoy the story as an allegory of the inward struggle against all that is oppressive and dirty within. If not, at least enjoy the bathroom humor.
Judges 3:15 But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The Israelites sent tribute by him to King Eglon of Moab. 16 Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length; and he fastened it on his right thigh under his clothes. 17 Then he presented the tribute to King Eglon of Moab.
Now Eglon was a very fat man.
18 When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he ...19 ... said, "I have a secret message for you, O king." So the king said, "Silence!" and all his attendants went out from his presence.
20 Ehud came to him, while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber, and said, "I have a message from God for you." So he rose from his seat. 21 Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into Eglon's belly; 22 the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the dirt came out.
23 Then Ehud went out into the vestibule, and closed the doors of the roof chamber on him, and locked them.
24 After he had gone, the servants came. When they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, "He must be relieving himself in the cool chamber." 25 So they waited until they were embarrassed. When he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them. There was their lord lying dead on the floor.
So may the sword of the word deal with your inner dirt!
Judges 3:2 so that succeeding generations of Israelites might be made to experience war -- but only those who had not known the former wars (TNK)
We Quakers and other Christian pacifists shudder at the way this sort of verse can be applied (mis-applied, from our viewpoint) as if it were an historical account to be emulated in the present. But, in our understanding, which harmonizes the warfare narratives with the peaceable teachings of Jesus by applying these passages as types of the spiritual warfare, we understand that is true that each generation must come to understand and partake of the warfare that is waged within each person between the Spirit of God and our sinful nature.
Thus, in the passage immediately after George Fox says that we will "come to walk cheerfully over the earth answering that of God in everyone..." he goes on to exhort us to confound deceit, "put the sword to it." Of course, Fox was speaking figuratively, and meant for us to put the "sword of the Word of God" to deceit, knowing that Truth would prevail.
In this chapter we have a perfect illustration of that dynamic. It is the story of Ehud, the annointed judge, who puts the sword to Eglon, king of Moab, the (very) fat man who was, as the text puts it, full of dirt. One can hear George Fox asking, "do you have the spirit of Eglon? Are you full of dirt, bloated with the fat of luxuriousness and oppression? Put the sword to it!"
See if you can enjoy the story as an allegory of the inward struggle against all that is oppressive and dirty within. If not, at least enjoy the bathroom humor.
Judges 3:15 But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The Israelites sent tribute by him to King Eglon of Moab. 16 Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length; and he fastened it on his right thigh under his clothes. 17 Then he presented the tribute to King Eglon of Moab.
Now Eglon was a very fat man.
18 When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he ...19 ... said, "I have a secret message for you, O king." So the king said, "Silence!" and all his attendants went out from his presence.
20 Ehud came to him, while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber, and said, "I have a message from God for you." So he rose from his seat. 21 Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into Eglon's belly; 22 the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the dirt came out.
23 Then Ehud went out into the vestibule, and closed the doors of the roof chamber on him, and locked them.
24 After he had gone, the servants came. When they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, "He must be relieving himself in the cool chamber." 25 So they waited until they were embarrassed. When he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them. There was their lord lying dead on the floor.
So may the sword of the word deal with your inner dirt!
