Had an interesting thought pop into my head yesterday evening. The Ark of the Covenant had a mercy seat on top, under which sat the stone tablets of the law. The Mosaic Covenant written into the stone tablets. Don’t do all of these things. The Renewed Covenant…. seems to focus quite a bit on forgiveness. A thought came to me…. the Renewed Covenant may sit on top of the new Old Covenant (the law). Forgiveness over Law.
Seems to be consistent with most of Jesus’ message. King David got busted up by the prophet Nathan for adultery with Bethsheba. Nathan said something like hey there is this guy who stole some farmer’s last ewe. David responds - the farmer should pay back four fold and give up his life. That was the same justice that was delivered to David. 4 of his kids wound up dying. He didn’t have to give up his life though. What’s up with that?
As King, He did repent and appealed to a higher authority, namely YHWH. This pattern seems to be consistent with a lot of Jesus’ message. Focus on yourself before running around pointing out sin in everyone else’s life - be forgiving, etc.
At the same time though, if your brother… key word .. brother .. meaning you have a relationship with the person that is sinning, then go to him and help him in the right direction if you can. If he won’t listen, then take another brother. If still, then take the entire assembly. If still, then cast Him out. Let the devil deal with him so that he may be saved. This doesn’t seem to apply to those not living in right relationship with God or who do not have a relationship to you. I guess some need a soft hand and some need a 2X4.
So much of Christianity focuses on John 3:16. Accept Him - you’re done. Now go off and adulter and fornicate and be drunken, boastful, and what not. Can’t say that I was any better and I still make mistakes. I guess we are all dirty rags right? My conclusion thus far is that it is still based on the DIRECTION one is headed. Don’t be so proud to say that you don’t sin, but at the same time try to head in the direction of not sinning with His help.
Here is an example. Playboys and what not got introduced to me at a younger age and corrupted my sweet and innocent mind. It eventually moved to porn once in a while. It literally disgusts me now. Can’t stand it. Gross. Revolting. I remember having a nice porn-b-que between me and my God. Burnt em all up. Had a nice little book burning party between me and Him. Did I repent or did I give it up to Him? Not sure really. It just sort of happened to where I found it revolting.
The challenge is different in the restoration of the marriage. Both of us have sinned against Him and each other. We are NOT in right relationship with each other therefore we can’t sit there and point the finger. It doesn’t work that way. Appeal to a higher power perhaps to settle the dispute? Just in as much as I get frustrated with my kids arguing over a toy - I perceive that God must get frustrated with my wife and I being unable to work out our differences. It seems like the time line is much longer. I observe this pattern with my own children. There is always one who is reluctant to forgive and let go of the dispute - even if one apologizes first. Why is that? Adults seem to take longer sometimes. Sometimes years and yet we call ourselves adults. Hah!
I mean really - as Christians - we’re reeeeeeaaaaallllly to avoid suing each other and going to court and what not where we can.
The wife has agreed to meet this weekend to try and work this out peacefully. Yay. Thank-you Jesus.
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