January 10 ▪ Day 10

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 3:27
Genesis 19–20
Matthew 10
Psalms 10

Verse Focus (Proverbs 3:27)

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
     when it is in your power to act.

Meditation

Good morning (or good afternoon) to you all!

Today’s verse focus is from Proverbs 3:27. We are told not to “withhold good” from those to whom it is due, especially when we have the power to act for good. The very next verse in Proverbs gives us an example, saying that we shouldn’t tell a neighbor to come back tomorrow when we have the item with us then. To some extent, this proverb is talking about obedience versus delayed obedience. We might do the right thing, but we might delay in doing it. That’s what this proverb warns against.

Why do we withhold good? Laziness is the first thing that comes to my mind. It’s more effort than we want to give. Or perhaps jealousy or envy is the culprit.

But there are many different possible interpretations of this verse. The “good” you withhold may be a compliment; it may be sticking up for someone’s reputation; it may be an act of kindness. It might be a present for someone in your family. It might be giving credit where credit is due. Whatever the good is, whatever the situation, this ultimately comes down to your relationships with other people. Do we want to be people who support and encourage others? Or are we selfish, thinking of our own concerns?

Father God, thank you for this wisdom about the different ways we can treat others. Show me today how I can give what is good to those to whom it is due, and keep me mindful of this principle in my future interactions.

After yesterday’s bargaining session between God and Abraham, today’s reading in Genesis chapter 19 tells the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The two men who had gone ahead to Sodom (leaving Abraham behind to barter with the LORD) are now, in the very first verse, clearly referred to as angels. (Later in the chapter, however, they are called “men” again, so obviously their appearance was very human.) Lot insists on showing them hospitality, so the angels come to stay the night in Lot’s household.

That night, Lot’s house is surrounded by the men of the city who desire to have homosexual relations with the strangers. The story does not tell us why the Sodomites behaved this way — perhaps they were inflamed with lust (one assumes that angels might be extremely attractive!), or possibly this was what their idea of welcoming a stranger to their city was all about. At any rate, Lot begs them not to behave so wickedly and he tries to appease the men of Sodom by offering his two virgin daughters to the men to do with as they please. Fortunately for his daughters, this did not occur. In fact, the men become more enraged by Lot’s judgment of them and his life is endangered. The angels save Lot, however, and they strike the men of the city with blindness, preventing them from breaking down the door for the simple reason that they can no longer find it.

This incident is enough to confirm to the angels that Sodom and Gomorrah are deserving of destruction. Although Lot tries to get his daughters’ fiancés to leave with the family, they think he is joking. Even Lot is not moving quickly enough for the angels’ satisfaction. They physically get the family out of the city and then urge them to flee as fast as possible to the mountains so that they will not be swept away. Lot balks at this, and is given permission to flee to the small town of Zoar.

Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed by fire and brimstone. We are told that Lot’s wife “looked back” and she “became a pillar of salt.” With this cryptic verse we are meant to understand that Lot’s wife longed for the life they had in Sodom, and thus suffered judgment for her own unrighteousness.

The chapter ends with — from my point of view — a rather repulsive story about how Lot fathered two nations by having incestuous relations with his daughters when he was too drunk to know what he was doing. It was the elder daughter’s idea to have children this way, but that does not redeem the story in my eyes.

In chapter 20, the topic of incest comes up again. We learn that Abraham and Sarah are actually half-siblings. In a near repeat of what happened in Egypt, Abraham and Sarah are living in another part of the land and the nearby king, Abimelek, takes Sarah to be his own wife. God, however, prevents Abimelek from having relations with Sarah. God tells Abimelek the truth of the situation in a dream, and He instructs Abimelek to return Sarah to Abraham because Abraham is a “prophet.” Abimelek is very frightened by this and he asks Abraham why he put him in a position to incur such guilt. That’s when we learn that Abraham and Sarah are related.

Again, Abraham leaves this situation with considerably more wealth than he had earlier. Abraham prays for the king, and God heals the women of Abimelek’s household of their infertility.

What is interesting about Genesis is that frequently the story does not offer any moral judgments regarding the actions of the characters. I am horrified that Lot thought it was okay to offer his virgin daughters to the men of Sodom. Saddened, too, that women were so de-valued. I understand that hospitality was extremely important and the two men were under Lot’s protection. But it didn’t occur to Lot to offer himself in place of the two men. No, he offered his daughters.

Similarly, the text here does not offer any commentary on the incestuous relationships between Abraham and Sarah or between Lot and his two daughters. However, later on in the Bible, when Moses is given the law, sexual relations between near kin is specifically forbidden.

Matthew chapter 10 tells how Jesus gives his disciples the authority to heal and then Jesus sends them out to preach the good news to the “lost sheep of Israel.” As they spread this message, they are also to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. Jesus’ instructions go on for several paragraphs. He tells them specifically that they are not to go to the Samaritans or to the Gentiles (although just a few paragraphs later he talks about them being witnesses to governors, kings, and the Gentiles). They are not to bring extra supplies. They are to choose one household to stay in for each place they go. If the disciples or their message are not welcomed by a town, Jesus says it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than it will be for that town. (Having just read of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, are you surprised by the implication that there is yet a judgment to come for them?)

Eventually, though, it seems like Jesus is telling them what they will need to know for future evangelism, rather than for the specific mission ahead of them. He talks about how the disciples will be handed over to the authorities and how they will be flogged and persecuted. Jesus says that he didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword. He warns them of the cost of discipleship, but reassures them of the Father’s care.

This particular chapter is a good example of why we need to understand Scripture in context. If we only read these instructions, we would think that the gospel was only for Jews. We would think that we should never prepare or bring supplies for missionary trips. But later on in the gospels, Jesus countermands these very instructions. Scripture needs to be understood not only in terms of the specific passage, but also within the entire body of Scripture.

Psalm 10 begins by questioning God. Why is he distant? Why does he seem to hide from us when we’re in trouble? The psalm then goes on to give an impassioned description of the wicked, who do not worry that God is watching them. In fact, the wicked revile God and have “no room” for him in their thoughts. Despite all the lies and deceit and oppression, the wicked seem prosperous, confident, and at ease. However, even though the wicked think that God will not call them into account, God does see the afflicted and He helps the helpless. The psalmist calls out for the LORD to judge the wicked and then concludes in praise for God’s justice and compassion.

What I like most about this psalm is how relate-able it is for us. This is not one of David’s psalms; we don’t have unshakable faith here. Instead, we start with a mystery. God is silent, distant. The world is behaving as if God does not exist, and everywhere we look we see wickedness and oppression. Still, the psalmist calls upon God’s own nature to judge the wicked and to help the afflicted and the prayer ends in hope.

Father God, sometimes it does seem like you hide from me. I don’t understand why sometimes I can’t hear you at all. Am I deaf? Or do you sometimes choose silence to teach me things I can’t understand any other way? I am thankful, though, that I always have an advocate in Christ Jesus. I am grateful that he is standing by your throne even now, interceding for me.

I pray for the Holy Spirit to give me true wisdom in reading and understanding the Scripture. There are difficult stories in today’s readings and I want to interpret things in righteousness. Thank you that you are always leading and teaching me in Christ Jesus. Amen.