The Ten Forgotten Virgins

We talk about the Twenty Virgins: Ten Foolish and Ten Wise. But there is a forgotten story of ten other virgins. We know them as concubines, not quite wives, but not really whores. Who were these women? Like all women, they began as virgins. They were likely the daughters of kings, royalty in reality, but they ended their days as witless victims to a man’s lust or greed of power. I take my story from a small segment found in the book of Kings, Embattled King David is forced to flee Jerusalem as his son, Absalom, attempts a coup d’état. In his wake, he leaves ten concubines and their children to guard the palace and its belongings. One has to wonder what David was thinking.

Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?” Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel advice. (2 Samuel 16:20-23).

Absalom’s decision came from tradition; it was a conventionally Eastern idea. The grossest insult that one could offered to a king, and that a king a father, would be to lie with his wives and concubines, and this choice would strengthen the breach between David and Absalom.

 It was irreparable; it was vain to hope for any reconciliation. We talk of David and Absalom, Joab and Ahithophel; yet, few wonder, however, what happened to the ten concubines that were left behind. In scripture, they appear to be merely glossed over. Certainly, the Bible scholar is little concerned with their fate. Humiliation. Shame. Degradation.

 

 When the famous king is forced to leave Jerusalem with his wives, concubines, and children, it  is a day of great sadness. Indeed, it is a day of great shame. Critics speak of David’s humiliation but what of that of the women? To be taken, one after another and used, and then tossed away. Was it not bad enough to be left behind in Jerusalem, not taken with the rest of the king’s entourage? But now to add insult to injury, they are to be raped by the king’s son in view of all of  Jerusalem. Public Humiliation. Lest we imagine ourselves any better, when a rape victim is tried in the papers or it is suggested that she invited the abuse, we assume the same posture as those who stood that day and watched Absalom go in and lay with his father’s concubines.

 Ahithophel, one of David’s trusted counselors, advises Absalom to put up a tent of the place roof and publically humiliate his father be having intercourse with his concubines. Why is it that a woman seems to be voiceless at these times? Where were the voices that said, “do not do this thing? If not for the rape of your own sister, Tamar, do not do this thing. Do not use women like your brother Amnon used your sister Tamar and then discarded her. She had no place to go from her shame, these women will neither.”

No, but Absalom is furious; he has held his anger and grievance over David’s lack of action over his sister’s rape for almost ten years. For two years, he waited and plotted the murder of his brother Amnon. After the assassination, which he did during a pretext of throwing a party to which he invited his brothers, he fled to his mother’s country where he remained for three years. When he returned to Jerusalem, he was not greeted by his father for another two years.  Finally, he spent four years plotting his rebellion. Eleven years has passed for him to build up his rage; it must be spent.

At least someone grieved over Tamar; who grieved over these women? Did they cry together as they tried to wipe the shame away as they did the tears? They were now one flesh with father and son. They shared pain now on a deeper level, adding to their sense of rejection and humiliation.

One incident of rape had such great ramifications that it is hard to believe that we believe that there will be not cataclysmic effects for us in this generation. Like David, we are truly asleep at the wheel.

P.S.

Those ten concubines had no more choice in having sex with Absalom then Bathsheba with David. That would be akin to saying a serf or slave girl had a choice in having sex with her master. In fact, most feudal landlords and slave masters considered it their right to deflower a peasant or slave girl.

Still Ruminating,

MJ

"What can this pain teach me?"

Job reminisces about his prior life,“when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me, when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil” (Job 29:56). Job encourages himself to remain steadfast and guard his faithful trust in God: “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance for no godless man would dare come before him!” (Job 13:15 –16). Although Christ had not been born yet, Job declared boldly, “I know that my Redeemer lives/And that in the end he will stand upon the earth/And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God/I myself will see him with my own yes, I, and not another, How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27). Job knows his God and God knows him. Even death can’t separate him from His God. His Redeemer is Christ. Christ, would die and be resurrected, was the one who would redeem his suffering. No matter what life deals him, he knows that God will ultimately have the last word and redeem his life with eternal life.

Job valiantly declares, in the face of all that would shout the opposite, “My intercessor is my friend/As my eyes pour out tears to God/On behalf of a man he pleads with God/As a man pleads for his friend.” (Job 16:20-21). Hebrews 7:25 declares that Christ ever lives to make intercession for us. He goes before the throne of God and pleads on our behalf as our High Priest.  The truth is that ,“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). The pain we experience in this world is to work to conform us to the image of Christ. For even Jesus learned to be a Son through what he suffered: “Though He was God's Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. ... though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).

C.S. Lewis states emphatically, “God shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Malcolm Muggeridge poses a hypothetical situation, “Suppose you eliminated suffering, what a dreadful place the world would be, the world would be the most ghastly place; everything that corrects the tendency of this unspeakable little creature, man, to feel ever-important and ever-pleased with himself would disappear. He’s bad enough now, but he would be absolutely intolerable if he never suffered.”

As Dr. David Jeremiah warns that it is easy to adapt the outlook that once one becomes a Christian life will become easier, but that simply is not the cause.  In reality, “God has something for us to learn that will make us wiser or save us from some worse pain in the future. Or it may be a door-opener, unlocking new possibilities in our lives,” but we must wisely ask God what is that I am to learn. Paul exhorts us, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you”  (Galatians 4:19).

Paul exhorts us, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you”  (Galatians 4:19). He warns in  Romans 2:12, “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

In this imperfect world, it is good to know that pain does not have to be wasted. It can connect us to the eternal God, the one who truly matters. Even more, it is wonderful to know that Christ lives to intercede for us and to assist us as we walk through this vale of tears.

Remaining Teachable,

MJ

Wringing Out the Glory

Have you ever noticed, considered, or realized that God is not concerned with things with which we are concerned? I think His principle concern is wringing out every last ounce of glory for Himself. You might wonder how I came to that conclusion. Let's just see the Book of Exodus left some mighty large hints. I believe every plague, catastrophe, and nuisance was the rising action in the drama that God alone was directing.

One day, Pharaoh is going to release the Israelites, and the next day, He was not. All this back and forth, go to Pharaoh, tell him this and that says the Lord- all mounting action for the climax which would take place at the Red Sea. God knew that nations were holding onto the edge of their seats as Pharaoh's army of chariots and horses entered into the two standing gulfs of waters only to be seen no more.

I figure God thought this miracle tops all miracles and reveals to the nations that I alone am God. Unfortunately, instead of the denouement that leads to a wonderful conclusion, the nation of Israel doesn't live happily ever-after in the Promise Land because of their foolishnness, hard-headedness, and any other colorful adjective you would like to apply. Oh well, we're no better.

But please don't think any of that drama stopped God. He just hired a stationary cloud and a moving pillar of fire to continue to reveal Himself to the nations. He set up a tabernacle, organized his own priesthood, and finally gave the people a king that they could see. Did I mention incredible, impossible, inexplicable victories over their adversaries as well? Oh, yeah that too.

For you see God was interested in His glory being revealed so that He could mightily change the nations. God chose the smallest, the most despised, and least of groups. Israel, so that the glory would be His, not theirs. Deutoronomy 7:7 declares,"The LORD did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations!

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 Philistines would have clamored for attention; Goliath would have proclaimed his own might, posturing with great poise his enormous physique. Such a diva! Look at those biceps. God took one look at that picture, and He said find me  a scrawny, ill-respected Jewish shepherd boy; I will use Him instead, that way I get the glory. Director's prerogative.

So when we are tempted to think that is all about us- this plague of locusts, this storm of hail, this substantial loss, it could be it's all about Him. Ask yourself how can God get the glory? I have blogged before that God wastes nothing, those things we actually give Him. Every disappointment, wound, and loss, He will take a wring the glory out of it, if we let Him.

Listen, my father struggled with alcoholism for years. One year while serving a short stint in jail, He said God delivered him from the compulsion. He described it as being lifted into the hands of God and being wrung out look a towel has water wrung from its fibers. Never again did he struggle with the addiction.

I had the unique opportunity to share that truth at two prisons: one in Brazil and the other Kenya, Africa. Despite pain that the addiction cost my family, God used his story to redeem the lives of countless others. Fathers returned home whole; sons and husbands were restored to families. See, God was wringing glory out of my pain and my father's sin and hurt. He can do that you know, if you let Him.

I imagine my father in heaven now meeting men whose lives his testimony changed without him ever knowing it, or even better a child, a mother, a wife, a son thanking him for yielding his hurt to God.
Whatever is in your heart right now, would you give it to Him and let Him wring the glory out?


Here's to More Wringing,
MJ

How is Ruth like Christ?

Ruth's sacrificial love looks so like Christ's. She walked foreign ground in a foreign
world. In the same way. Christ, walked the earth- an alien world. She became a servant, doing the humble task like Christ. "Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. (Philippians 2:7).

Ruth loved Noami back to her original purpose. Christ loves us back to our original position as children of the Most High. 1 CoCorinthians 14:15 declares, "So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being" the last Adam, a life-giving spirit."

She becomes least so that Noami can receive her covental rights- by lying at Boaz's feet so that Noami's rights are restored with her husband's portion. She helps reconnect Noami to the God of her fathers. She brings hope not only to Noami but to the community and joy to her husband. In truth, "For [we] did not receive a spirit that makes [us] a slave again to fear, but [we] received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15).


Ruth must have felt like a dried up plant. She had so many reasons to be disappointed, but she moved past that to embrace her future. Fear and faith; fear and love; fear and hope- are hard to do. Somehow, she moved past her pain to embrace the future God had planned for her.

Trusting,
MJ

Dry Bones

The Valley of Dry Bones- Ezekiel 37

 ¹ The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ² He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³ He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

   I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”

 ⁴ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! ⁵ This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath^[a] enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶ I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

 ⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

 ⁹ Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

 ¹¹ Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’”

Spirit breathe on me. I feel like a bag of bones. I understand Ezekiel, how he must have felt. God is telling him what great work He is going to do with this fleshless army. God has placed a mandate on my shoulders: build schools for impoverished girls all over the world. Not just any school, schools that focus on performing arts. God has spent twenty years pouring skill, determination, and audacity into this pint-size prophet. But the hard part has not been untethering my lines, for I know with whom I am sailing at the helm of the boat.

The hard part is heading out alone. But alone, I must head. I see them just as Ezekiel saw the bones take on life. I see their shining brown, black, white, and tan faces. I have heard their prayer:  teach me with excellence all that I need to know to live a godly impactful life. It is different from the prayer I have prayed for ten years: give my students a desire for excellence in their education. I am going to be the answer to prayer now, and I won’t be alone for long.

When I visited Kenya this summer as part of a missionary team, God commissioned me to build schools for these impoverished girls within their native  countries. I would like to introduce you to Teachers of the Nations Ministry, which is dedicated to building schools for emotionally and physically traumatized girls in Africa and beyond. The Christian curriculum that will be used to educate these girls will provide an open doorway to share the Gospel message, as Christians are commanded by Jesus to do (Matthew 28:18-19). 

Girls in Third World countries, such as Africa, are more often the victims of war, sexual trafficking, female circumcision, and ethnic cleansing than are females in other parts of the world (Sengupta 2005). Consequently, these traumatized girls find it difficult to cope emotionally, are often sexually and physically abused, unable to find gainful employment, and live in poverty.

 In fall 2012,  the vision begins to take on flesh as God breathes life into communities and countries by raising up an army of young girls. Here are God's mandates:

         Provide a godly-educational setting for girls who are unschooled.

         Provide medical services to meet the girls’ physical needs.

         Recruit mental health professionals to donate time to help with the girls’ emotional needs.

         Teach students viable economic skills so that can support themselves and their families.

         Equip students to share the message of Christ within their own communities

I see those bones come together and begin to dance, sing, and become an orchestra of praise to God.

 Spirit-filled,

mj

You Meant This For My Good? Yes!

Because of her lack, Naomi attempts to dissuade her two daughter-in-laws from accompanying her to Bethlehem. Orpah finally gives in to her requests after Naomi enumerates all of her deficiencies:  no husband, no sons, no ability to have children, no money, and no revenue from the land.  Confused and disillusioned, Naomi announces, "the hand of the Lord has turned against me"(1:13). Oy vey!  Naomi believed that she had nothing to give Ruth or Orpah; she was absolutely right.  She had nothing to offer. We, sinners, had nothing to give God either, so God sent Jesus  or Y’Shua in Hebrew.  Y'Shua walked our paths on earth to reach us-that was the only way. Let’s see, this period in Israel's history was one in which there were no kings, just judges, and none righteous (Judges 21:25). Therefore, every man did what was right in his own eyes. Yikes! There exists the problem.  Here comes God’s solution: famine.  Naomi's family decides to flee to Moab, but then they hear that God has relented and  brought the harvest back to the nation of Israel. God hopes to draw His people back to Him through the trial of lack and the hope of restoration. Even into this difficult situation, Ruth willing returns with Naomi.  She cleaves to her mother-in-law and begs her to remain by her side. She empathetically declares, "don’t ask me to leave you: Your God will by my God; your people will be my people; may God do so to me if anything other than death separates us” (Ruth 1:16).   Ruth vows, “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried" (1:17).  In essence, she states, "there is no point in sending my bones back to Moab; I will become one with the soil of your people."

Little does Naomi realize that her value came from her relationship with Adonai- being a part of the chosen people of Israel. Similarly, our value comes from being God’s creation, and if we have entered into a relationship with Jesus, we are now His children: "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children" (Galatians 4:4). In reality, “when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:5). This divine adoption is mirrored in the story of Ruth.  In a sense, Naomi adopted Ruth first by accepting her as a daughter-in-law; then it was Ruth’s turn to reaffirm her covenant and love for Naomi by adopting her God, family and kinsmen, and a nation that was her native country’s enemy. Y’Shua did the same, "but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. " According to Philippians 2:17, Y’Shua “Instead [. . .] gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. However, the International Standard Version distills it best: “Instead, poured out in emptiness, a servant's form did he possess, a mortal man becoming. In human form he chose to be.”  Jesus chose to become other so that He could reach us; Ruth did the same- she became a servant to Naomi and a servant to the nation of Israel. We, too, became servants to the people and family God gives us as well.  May we have the courage or chutzpah and the grace or chesed to do so.

Let's go in God's chesed and do likewise,

M.J.

P.S. Check out the video of "Love Never Fails" on the blog (February)- you will be blessed.