From David Bauer:
Holy Solitude
We learn a variety of ways that help us find solitude: fasting for a set time, changing a daily schedule, time out to be alone. In college I discovered there were times I did my best study by going to the busy student union. In the midst of the hubbub, I found meaningful inner space that helped me focus. In retirement I often get up at 5:00 a.m. to engage in biblical and theological study. I may ask myself: how does this idea or view help me better understand my faith? Why?
Ok. Recently. I asked myself, who was King Josiah? (My dad used to talk about his Uncle Josiah who lived in Taylorville). King Josiah was said to be a good king among many who were not good in the time after King David and King Solomon. Yes, people went through the rituals of religion but had little heart or understanding. Selfish and idolatrous behavior was all over the place. Anyway, King Josiah decided to have a fund drive to raise money to repair the temple in Jerusalem. Workers were found, and when the work was mostly done the treasurer took the money to the temple to pay the workers their wages. Right at that point they discovered a long lost religious scroll. It was taken to the king; they read it to him. His heart was so deeply moved that he had it read aloud to many people: priests, scribes and others. It led to a revival of faith! Biblical scholars very early in the Christian era believed what they found was a briefer, earlier copy of Deuteronomy. The text warmed the heart; It helped explain many things that were forgotten or not understood. (See II Kings Chapter 22).
What does Deuteronomy have to do with Lent? Recently on the First Sunday in Lent, our pastor read a brief verse from the Gospel of Mark telling us the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days prior to the beginning of his ministry. Jesus fasted, he was near nature and beasts and had few distractions from habits and the buzz of everyday life. Jesus may have asked himself: “what are the temptations that I might face in my public ministry?” For each temptation presented to him he turned to the Book of Deuteronomy and quoted it directly to Satan (or to anyone else who might be listening). (See Matthew 4:1-11.) And in the Gospel of Matthew (and Mark and Luke): Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment?” Again, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy,
Deuteronomy 6:5:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your might.
Wow! Over 80 times, the New Testament refers to, or directly quotes, from Deuteronomy!
[Note: Deuteronomy 6:5 is a restatement of the First Commandment but stated in a positive way.]
Deuteronomy means “Second Law” and of interest, the writers of Josiah’s time, in clarifying their ancient records, used different words and additional explanations to lift meaning from what we may find in Numbers and Exodus. Their efforts built an expanded Deuteronomy and other important books like Joshua and Judges.
Summary: Prior to Jesus beginning his public ministry he went into the wilderness to consider his faith and calling; the Apostle Paul at the time of his encounter with God on his way to Damascus, his time of helplessness, and his total dependence on others became for him a form of wilderness and solitude. Certainly, we would recommend anyone, prior to taking on a major new calling or entering a new stage of living, to “take time out”, apart from the distractions of habits and everyday life, to pay attention to their own inner voice and perhaps, in some mysterious way, be more attuned to hear God’s fresh word for them.
- Many thanks, Dave Bauer
Holy Solitude
We learn a variety of ways that help us find solitude: fasting for a set time, changing a daily schedule, time out to be alone. In college I discovered there were times I did my best study by going to the busy student union. In the midst of the hubbub, I found meaningful inner space that helped me focus. In retirement I often get up at 5:00 a.m. to engage in biblical and theological study. I may ask myself: how does this idea or view help me better understand my faith? Why?
Ok. Recently. I asked myself, who was King Josiah? (My dad used to talk about his Uncle Josiah who lived in Taylorville). King Josiah was said to be a good king among many who were not good in the time after King David and King Solomon. Yes, people went through the rituals of religion but had little heart or understanding. Selfish and idolatrous behavior was all over the place. Anyway, King Josiah decided to have a fund drive to raise money to repair the temple in Jerusalem. Workers were found, and when the work was mostly done the treasurer took the money to the temple to pay the workers their wages. Right at that point they discovered a long lost religious scroll. It was taken to the king; they read it to him. His heart was so deeply moved that he had it read aloud to many people: priests, scribes and others. It led to a revival of faith! Biblical scholars very early in the Christian era believed what they found was a briefer, earlier copy of Deuteronomy. The text warmed the heart; It helped explain many things that were forgotten or not understood. (See II Kings Chapter 22).
What does Deuteronomy have to do with Lent? Recently on the First Sunday in Lent, our pastor read a brief verse from the Gospel of Mark telling us the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness for 40 days prior to the beginning of his ministry. Jesus fasted, he was near nature and beasts and had few distractions from habits and the buzz of everyday life. Jesus may have asked himself: “what are the temptations that I might face in my public ministry?” For each temptation presented to him he turned to the Book of Deuteronomy and quoted it directly to Satan (or to anyone else who might be listening). (See Matthew 4:1-11.) And in the Gospel of Matthew (and Mark and Luke): Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment?” Again, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy,
Deuteronomy 6:5:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your might.
Wow! Over 80 times, the New Testament refers to, or directly quotes, from Deuteronomy!
[Note: Deuteronomy 6:5 is a restatement of the First Commandment but stated in a positive way.]
Deuteronomy means “Second Law” and of interest, the writers of Josiah’s time, in clarifying their ancient records, used different words and additional explanations to lift meaning from what we may find in Numbers and Exodus. Their efforts built an expanded Deuteronomy and other important books like Joshua and Judges.
Summary: Prior to Jesus beginning his public ministry he went into the wilderness to consider his faith and calling; the Apostle Paul at the time of his encounter with God on his way to Damascus, his time of helplessness, and his total dependence on others became for him a form of wilderness and solitude. Certainly, we would recommend anyone, prior to taking on a major new calling or entering a new stage of living, to “take time out”, apart from the distractions of habits and everyday life, to pay attention to their own inner voice and perhaps, in some mysterious way, be more attuned to hear God’s fresh word for them.
- Many thanks, Dave Bauer
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