I am going ahead with the sermon series on various means of grace (temple, prophecy, monarchy, law, covenant), as outlined recently. The first post suggested topics which could be explored; this one suggests pastoral issues that could be addressed.
29 May (Proper 4)
1 Kings 8.22-23, 41-43 - nihilism: God gives identity and purpose.
5 June (Proper 5)
1 Kings 17.17-24 - death: God's word ultimately proves life-giving.
12 June (Proper 6)
2 Samuel 11.26-12.10, 13-15 - greed: Subverting God's order diminishes us all.
19 June (Proper 7)
Galatians 3.23-29 - rebellion against God: God's law has aim and purpose.
26 June (Proper 8)
1 Kings 19.15-16, 19-21 - weariness: Where God is committed, God remains committed.
The role of the Temple speaks of the role of the church - a microcosm model of the universe, a reminder of humanity's mission, a means to help us fulfill our vocation.
The role of prophecy speaks to us about the role of the Bible. We find there that our death is not reducible to a natural event but a judgement on our ways. And yet God's word has not been given to judge the world but to save it, to give the dead son back to the mother - alive (1 Kings 17:23; Luke 7:15).
Democracy is good in many ways but without vision a people perish. Where there is no demos but only a conglomeration of individuals with competing claims and agendas, democracy can turn into "horse-trading" and the tyranny of the majority. Monarchy is a gift, offering cohesion, but readily abused. David's adultery is an abuse of office as much as anything else. But we have a king who is greater than David, greater than Solomon, under whose rule all flourish and in whose service is perfect freedom. Monarchy speaks to us of the messiah who orders our desires.
Sin is manifest in the breaking of God's law but its root is lack of trust in God. Those who trust that God has our welfare at heart believe that God's purposes are good and that his law is not arbitrary. The law has more than one function - traditionally reflected in the threefold division of the law (moral, civil, ceremonial) although division is not the best approach. As a complete body, the Mosaic law is given to point us to Christ and needs to be read this way.
"What are you doing here?" Elijah's gets asked twice. He answers in the same way both times, focusing on himself and what those around him are doing which is not the way to shake off weariness. Sadly, his claim that "the Israelites have forsaken your covenant" was largely true. But this is no reason to give up because at the end of the day the covenant stands or falls with God's commitment. As long as God does not disown the commitment he has made, there is hope. The new covenant shows God's commitment to his people through sin and death.
