Monday, September 25, 2006
Of God and Kings
I don't normally go around thinking of myself as a king. Call it false humility. If you saw my bank balance, you'd be more inclined to say a pauper. But this morning's reading from Proverbs gave me a moments pause.
It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. Prov 25.2
Why is it the glory of God to conceal things? Divine hide and seek? Does God have a mischievous side? What is it about the nature of God that it is His glory to conceal things?
I'm not sure. But I know that I enjoy searching things out. I enjoy a good mystery. And through school I've always found research to be something I'm good at and enjoy. I've always been a bit bookish like that.
I think it was under King Josiah's reign in OT Israel that the scribes found an old copy of the law, the book of Deuteronomy. And after dusting it off, Josiah had it read. And after hearing it read, the people realized how far from God they had wandered in their living. And so, Josiah glorified God by calling the people back to repentance, to right worship, to honor and glorify God. And the people were blessed.
In my daily life, I fall short of my intended destiny as a child of God. Deep within me and each of us lies a destiny far greater than we could ever imagine. Concealed within me is the heart of a king that yearns to discover the deep things of God. Like a present waiting to be unwrapped, like a diamond waiting to be unearthed is the glory of the nature of God within our very being. This is our intended glory.
I've always been moved by Michangleo's response when questioned about his sculpting. When asked about his sculpture The Angel, he simply said, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."
God is a good, good Father. Knowing this, I can trust that His motives for concealing are benevolent, for our good. And so today, I want to dig a little deeper, to discover a little more about God, and about myself along the way.
It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. Prov 25.2
Why is it the glory of God to conceal things? Divine hide and seek? Does God have a mischievous side? What is it about the nature of God that it is His glory to conceal things?
I'm not sure. But I know that I enjoy searching things out. I enjoy a good mystery. And through school I've always found research to be something I'm good at and enjoy. I've always been a bit bookish like that.
I think it was under King Josiah's reign in OT Israel that the scribes found an old copy of the law, the book of Deuteronomy. And after dusting it off, Josiah had it read. And after hearing it read, the people realized how far from God they had wandered in their living. And so, Josiah glorified God by calling the people back to repentance, to right worship, to honor and glorify God. And the people were blessed.
In my daily life, I fall short of my intended destiny as a child of God. Deep within me and each of us lies a destiny far greater than we could ever imagine. Concealed within me is the heart of a king that yearns to discover the deep things of God. Like a present waiting to be unwrapped, like a diamond waiting to be unearthed is the glory of the nature of God within our very being. This is our intended glory.
I've always been moved by Michangleo's response when questioned about his sculpting. When asked about his sculpture The Angel, he simply said, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."
God is a good, good Father. Knowing this, I can trust that His motives for concealing are benevolent, for our good. And so today, I want to dig a little deeper, to discover a little more about God, and about myself along the way.
