Living in the Spirit

October 7, 2020

Scripture Reading: Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23

Both we and our ancestors have sinned;
   we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly.
They made a calf at Horeb
   and worshipped a cast image.
They exchanged the glory of God
   for the image of an ox that eats grass.
They forgot God, their Savior,
   who had done great things in Egypt,
wondrous works in the land of Ham,
   and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
Therefore he said he would destroy them—
   had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him,
   to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
–Psalm 106:6, 19-23

Faith and trust are always required in any relationship, particularly with God. None of us is perfect, and all of us must face the consequences of our actions or lack of action and work to rebuild broken relationships with God and others.

I do not know why, but I love that the Psalmist includes the information that the Israelites created an idol from the model of an ox, an animal that eats grass. I am not sure what the author is trying to say there, but to me, the statement seems to suggest that we are all capable of hypocrisy. Turning away from the God who created the earth to worship the image of an animal God created that is dependent for life on one of the most common and simplest forms of nutrition God also created is ironic.

In this telling, God also sent Moses who intercedes with God to turn away his wrath from destroying them. Now, if that is not love, I do not know what is.

Prayer: God, we, your people, get so caught up in the ways of the world that we lose sight of the power and wonder of your love. Forgive us. Help us turn around to find and follow your path of righteousness. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.