Once a Truth, Always a Truth

Have you ever believed this idea: something that was true once is always true?

When I was in college, one of my favorite pastimes was walking – and it still is. I love to walk – I’ve told you that before – but when I was in college, I walked a lot. One time, one a dare, I walked across Abilene to the grand opening of the first super WalMart in Taylor County…and back again. The total was 16 miles. A month later, like Forrest Gump, I put on my shoes one Sunday after noon and sought out to walk the entire loop around Abilene. Eight hours and 26.6 miles later, I’d done it. Think that’s crazy? A month after that trek, I decided to walk 50 miles from Eastland to Abilene. I had calculated every angle of the trip – except the temperature! It was 97 degrees that day, and I ended up collapsing with multiple leg cramps at mile 32 in Baird. The point is, I love to walk.

My roommate, Joel, was a long time walking buddy. Many nights when the homework was done and the duplex was closing in on us, we’d set out to walk the neighborhood. It’s amazing the conversations you can have when you’re walking and the juices are pumping! One of our most favored routes took us across a field from one subdivision to the next. It’s hard to believe there are houses there now, but back then, there was nothing more than infrequently cut weeds and no lighting.

On one particular night in May, we had been cramming for finals. After studying for a good stretch of time, Joel and I decided to take a walk. It was an enjoyable, balmy evening in the low 80’s with an abundance of humidity and a bizarre lack of wind. As our time away drew to a close, we found the opportunity to cut across the field and make our way to the house…it was a motion we had gone through many times before. As we cut across the property, I remember there being not much of a moon that night, as we were both gazing at the sky and the stars as we walked. And then it happened. It was a sensation that I can remember still to this day. I stepped on something. I wasn’t sure what it was at first, but when it started to move underneath my foot, it became a bit more clear…and then it became very clear! I had stepped squarely on a skunk! As I lifted my foot, I yelped and almost knocked Joel over with my reaction. In an instant, the skunk had discharged its repellent all over Joel and me. The progression of emotion when from startled to defensive to cowardly and then to relieved as we made some distance from the foul beast and went on our way. At first, we thought we’d dodged a bullet. The smell hadn’t matured in the late Spring air, and all seemed well…and then it happened. As though the floodgates of Gehena were opened, the nauseating remnant of the skunk on our clothes, skin, and hair overwhelmed our senses.

When we got home, the only thing to do was to strip and begin the cleaning process. Many bottles of tomato juice and vinegar were brought in…but to no avail. What we didn’t know and were soon to discover is that our open, sweating pores had become magnets for the skunk’s expectorant, and that the only way to remove the smell entirely was to sweat in out once again. Sparing many details, this process took many days and even weeks to accomplish its task. There’s so many lessons one can glean from such an experience, but the one that holds fast in my mind, even today, is this: just because a field is skunk free once doesn’t’ make it skunk free forever!

On a more serious note, do we respond with such a lazy, cavalier attitude in other areas of life – that is to say that we believe just because we could count on something/someone on one occasion that we should expect the same reception every time…regardless of our own behavior? Israel had much this same attitude in their relationship with God. Since they were the chosen, covenant nation, they assumed that God would always be on their side – even when they disobeyed him and sought after idols. In many ways, they confused unconditional love with blindness, and, in the end, found themselves in hot water with their enemies. To answer such despair, God raises up Ehud, the second in the line of Judges, to deliver them. His story is as memorable as it is challenging.

In you worship this week, reflect on the ways God has delivered you personally from foes and trials. Do you think often of those events, or are you, like the Israelites, all too quick in forgetting God’s great care and protection. In response, give God the glory for the things he has done on your behalf, and make a pact this day not to forget the mighty works of his hands, and to find blest assurance in his presence.

Resounding Themes:
The Reign and Rulership of God
Deliverance
Jesus, Our Great Protector
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done

Ready, Set, READ

Judges 3:12-30

Ready, Set, MEDITATE

- How does the next chapter of the Israelite story open as Ehud comes on the scene? Is this a new behavior? If not, why are the Israelites so bent on rejecting God – the only good thing they have going? How did God respond to their wickedness? To what end did God do this?

- What did Israel want while in 18 years of captivity? Why Ehud? How did Israel respond? What did Ehud decide to do when he went with the offering from Israel? When he gained entrance to the king, what happened? Is there any significance about Ehud being left handed in the presence of the king?

- When Ehud escapes, what does he do? What dies he tell the Israelites? How did the Israelites overcome the Moabites? How many died and how long did it take? The Israelites were foolish and assumed that God would always be on their side – even when they were idolatrous and unfaithful. Whose side is God on? Why?

Ready, Set, PRAY

O, God…how magnificent are Your thoughts – how vast the sum of them; had I were able to count them, they would outnumber the sands on the seashore and the stars in the sky! Your works are wonderful God, I know that full well. You have worked mightily in the past on humankind’s behalf. Even in my own life, Mighty Deliverer, You have parted the waters of the rising flood that I might not drown in my own sin. And as certain as You are unchanging and unfaithful, I realize that You require something of me in return for Your great care. It’s not a raucous presentation, magnificent achievement, or even a life or perfection that catches Your attention. No, You ask only two things of me in return for Your unfailing love: a broken spirit and a contrite heart. For in your presence, a blest assurance can be found – and to be in your presence requires a humbling of the soul. Great Jehovah, I bow humbly in Your presence today, asking only that You continue to be the God of yesterday as today and forever. I can’t help but turn all things back to the praise of Your Name! God, once again show Your power on human kind’s behalf, and let it begin with me! Through the powerful name of our Lord and Savior. AMEN.

Ready, Set, WORSHIP!