Dave Dishman

Hosea, in the last breath of his prophetic message to the nations of Israel and Judah, closed with this plea: Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them.

The wise walk in the ways of the Lord. The discerning take a long look at the world around them and notice that people who follow the teachings of the Bible live better lives. Not perfect lives, nor lives free from heartache or anguish or tragedy, just better. Better relationships. A growing ability to love others. Calmness of soul. Hope.

Take a long look around for yourself. Go below the surface. Get past the bling bought by money and notoriety. What do you find appealing? An astute observer will discover that people quietly following the Lord enjoy lives to emulate. Then a discriminating person will shift his or her life in the same direction. Be wise, keep the faith, and a life you’re proud to live will follow.

Hosea 14:9

Photo by Gadiel Lazcano

As children we hone a skill of appearing sad in order to get something we want. The ploy still works as an adult, as I finagle that last piece of blackberry cobbler from my wife by feigning distress. She sees through my ruse and is kind enough to pass the dessert anyway. I could have come clean from the start.

The Lord pushed back on the source of Ephraim’s tears: They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me.

God punished Israel for deserting him and embracing foreign gods. As things got worse (drought, famine, impending invasion), the people cried out. But even though they shrieked and sobbed and cut themselves, they never turned their hearts back to God. They hoped fake tears would lead to full stomachs.

The prophet Amos wrote that they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. These people hoped for blessings without obedience. They wanted to live life on their own terms and enjoy the the good hand of the Lord. They expected God’s favor regardless of their actions. They cried, didn’t God create us to live our best lives?

Actually, God created us to follow him. Our best lives result from this practice. Crocodile tears fall flat before the one who knows our most private thoughts. One cannot manipulate the Lord. It’s better to come clean from the start.

Hosea 7:14; 8:7

Photo by Bro Takes Photos

I had a unique math teacher in high school who liked to quote Scripture. He would place us in pairs to work on difficult problems in our pre-calculus class. If the team got the problem wrong he often remarked, if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.

Yesterday I finished listening to a book about the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a Great Lakes freighter that sank in Lake Superior in 1975. No one is certain why the boat sank, but one theory holds that due to faulty maps and busted radar the ship ran over a shallow shoal as a massive storm pushed it slightly off course. The damaged hull allowed water to slowly enter and drag it to the bottom. The blind (bad maps and radar) leading the blind (a captain in the middle of raging seas with blizzard conditions in the black of night) led to disaster.

I find myself tempted to follow blind guides. When I swear allegiance to a political party and never question any policies or positions, then I’m guilty. Or when I disagree with someone’s idea simply because I do not like that person rather than evaluate their argument, I’ve made a blind decision. I choose the blind way when I make life choices outside the bounds of Scripture.

Jesus spoke these words in reference to the teachings of certain Pharisees over hand-washing. These men focused on presenting as pious rather than turning their hearts toward the Lord. When I decide that my image trumps my obedience to loving my neighbor, then I’ve taken a turn toward blindness.

If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit. Blind guides exist everywhere in our modern world, making this one of the most applicable warnings Jesus ever uttered. What’s the solution? The Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit bring sight to the blind. Take the cure and avoid tumbling into the pit.

Matthew 15:14

Photo by David Underland

We enjoyed a visit from our grandchildren this summer (along with their parents). Ages 3 and 1, the kids bring energy and excitement and drama wherever they go. Their parents work at teaching them the difference between bad behavior (screaming for what they want), and good behavior (saying please and thank you). Training up children in the way they should go is a challenging job, especially with a Grandpa who is happy to give in when they scream.

Children are not born a blank slate. Despite popular opinion, we’re not pure at first only to be corrupted later by the world. Rather, each of us arrives bent, and good parents spend a great deal of energy twisting us back in the right direction.

King David observed this reality: God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

I’ve never known of a child who never needed correction. I suppose Jesus was the only one, and Jesus learned from good parents. We all need the guiding hands of wise people around us, even as adults (or especially as adults).

Let’s pray for parents who are in the midst of developing their children into good people. It’s wise for you and me to realize that we need such development as well. Let’s also ask the Holy Spirit to mold us into better people, ones who love the Lord and care for our neighbors. Because we all know, it don’t come natural.

Psalm 53:2-3

Photo by Suzi Kim