Leah

I was struck today while reading about Leah and Rachel’s competition in son-bearing that Leah praised God when her fourth son was born. The first three sons Scripture records her using as means to buy Jacob’s love, which Rachel had stolen before Jacob even met Leah. Finally, by the fourth son, Leah relinquishes that – at least for the moment – and rather than thinking that Judah would turn Jacob’s eye to her, she simply praised God for another son.

I am struck by a couple of aspects. One, that she praised God at all. I’m sure it was a pretty normal thing in the culture of the day to praise a deity for the gift of a child, particularly of the male variety. I guess she thought that since Rachel was barren (apparently), and she now had four sons for Jacob, that he status was secured, even if Jacob never loved her as he loved Rachel. In a way, I guess the praise feels “left over.” Like an afterthought or something. Especially since, when Rachel hands over her maidservant, the competition starts all over again with renewed vigor.

The other thing that strikes me, and contributes to the “left over” feeling, is that it took her to son number four before she gave praise to God. The first three were all about Jacob. Even her fifth and sixth sons she counted as wages due her by God for some action she had taken – something God provided for her on account of her circumstances, rather than an undeserved blessing for her simply to be thankful for.

And I guess I’m struck because I have the same tendency. God is down on the list. I eventually think of Him and even thank Him for the good things in life – the blessings. But it’s after they are here for a while, and I’ve enjoyed gloating over them or showing them off to someone else. It’s about me getting my status right first. Then I’ll give God the glory and the honor. Once I’m set up the way I want to be set up, then I’ll turn over the praise.

More ramblings that probably have little or nothing to do with what Rachel and Leah actually were dealing with in their lives. Besides, there are so many reasons that I cannot understand or comprehend what they were going through…beginning with my chromosome set.

Transformation

I recently preached a two-part mini sermon series on worship. As the new associate pastor with oversight over the worship of the church, I thought it was appropriate for me to take the pastor’s vacation time and elaborate on my view of worship. I called them “Worship, Side A” and “Worship, Side B.” Side A developed the why of worship – my text was Psalm 145, and I suggested that we worship because of what God does and, more fundamentally, who he is. Side B asked the question, “How?” My text was Romans 12. My definition of worship was something to the effect of consciously devoting every moment and every activity to the giving over to God the worth that he is do. Akin to Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God.

Along the line, this week I read a posting in the blog of someone I went to college with. The entry is here. Myles talked about meeting with someone who lives in an intentionally simplified community, and how he (Myles, not the intentional community guru) was surprised that he was not suddenly urged on to seek out this kind of community as he had in the past.

The rest of this post will probably make more sense if you have read Myles’ entry. So, if you haven’t read it yet, go ahead and go read it. I’ll still be here when you get back.

Anyway, his blog entry has me thinking more about worship and transformation and intentional living and simplification. I have Richard Foster’s book Freedom of Simplicity on my shelf. I’ve had it there since reading Celebration of Discipline in college. I’ve started it a couple of times. But I wonder if simplicity is the key to a good Christian life. Do we have to be simple to hear the most from God and to experience him most fully? I can’t help of thinking about how Job had his blessings doubled after such a close encounter with God – and I don’t think he suddenly ceased to be the most righteous man on the face of the earth in his day.

Anyway, I think each moment – no matter our circumstances or stage of hysteria – is waiting for its transformation. It is our choice what to make it. We can transform it for good or for evil – to worship God or ourselves (or another entity we deem to deify). Each moment begs to be one in which we worship God. And I think Paul is saying in Romans 12 that whatever our gift is – and is that gift a spiritual one or just the gift of the moment? – we should make the most of it. This moment, right now, is the supreme and only gift we have. What do we do with it?

On worship

I have been thinking about worship the last few weeks. Well, I imagine my new responsibilities will require that I think about worship next to constantly. Given that, I have spent more time focusing on it than I have in quite some time. I opened a Bible software program (to knock the dust off of it) and did a quick survey of uses of the word worship. That turned into a mini Greek word study (please don’t faint). Anyway, I noticed two words for worship: latreia and proskuneo. A quick survey seems to suggest that the former is more concerned about how we worship (methodology) and the latter is more concerned about why we worship (theology). I am curious what your thoughts are on why we worship and examples you have about how your experience of the church practices worship.

I look forward to your comments.