Lord, Lord

Finally ending the posts on Hosea....

“The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.  But not so with you.” Luke 22:25. 

When Yahweh presented Himself as a potential Lord of Israel, He came on a knee extending a gift that was equal to respecting their human condition.  Does that bother you?  

I will make your descendants as numerous as the sands that shift and shake within the vibrant and volatile breezes of the desert.  You, Abram,  will be great. (Genesis 15).

A matter of custom was obeyed.  A sacrifice made.  A security, a treaty, a covenant.  A statement of mutual exchange.  Binding.  On both sides.  Neither party, not even Yahweh, could retract His part…. .and His part was the greater… .Abraham’s responsibility, so small.  

Binding.  The Son of God comes bound.  Bound by His own word to fulfill His own part.  He would serve our need with His life’s blood.  “Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves,” Luke 22:26.

The ba’al, the lord, on the other hand, comes with a contract so that you might sign your life away… .not that you might be mutually blessed.  A list of duties appears scattered across the page…. .they are arbitrary and confusing and discovered after you have worn out your soul with shouts.  The contract states that you must “humble” yourself, with all its formalities, and give and give and give and give…. .all sorts of carnality.  Your jealousies, your pride, your passions, your dreams, your destinies may all faithfully underly as motivations.  No one need know. You must simply come to the festival, the sacrifice and the worship of the lord.  Lord, Lord.  Lord, Lord.

…All of Ba’als prophets cut themselves to get the answers (1 Kings 18:26-29)….

For who is the greater, one who reclines at the table or one who serves?  Is it not the one who reclines at table?”  Luke 22:27.

The great “Lord” reclines.  You are watchful.  You watch his face.   Is he happy?  Have you pleased him?  He is Lord, Lord!  He is high!  He is lifted!  All sorts of possibilities, multiple manipulations are available to engage and minister to his unrelenting desires.  Did I not obtain for you the desires of Your heart?  “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?”  Matthew 7:22.  Lord, Lord,  Ba’al, Ba’al, did we not make your name great?

Whom do we stand before?  The Lord at our feet gently washing?  Or do we prefer the high and mighty Ba’al, Ba’al?  For Ba’al, Ba’al we prophesy to get a hand out, we cast out demons to make our… .O, I mean, his… .name great.  We do mighty works to get a harvest of mighty works to make our famous and economical gardens grow.  We do to get.  “Depart from me you workers of lawlessness,” Matthew 7:23.  The Ba’als do not construct legal contracts of mutual benefits.  They woo our carnality with religious games and dishonest gain.  

The Son of God came bound.  He was called upon to serve a just and personal cause of mutuality - one that He did not have to honor except by the very demand of His own righteousness.  Lord, Lord did His part.  A just, clear, merciful contract.  Have we come the same?

How have we come to this Lord, Lord, Jesus?

“But I am among you as one who serves,” Luke 22:27.

Have we come like He?

Yahweh made an honest contract with Abraham.  Each one knew their part.  He is not a Ba’al.  He cannot be manipulated… .even by prophesy, driven out demons and mighty works of healing.  Even these things do not provoke Him to walk outside the lines of contract… .of covenant.  Be a servant.  Be mutual.  Do your part.  That is all.  There is nothing more beautiful, I believe, than honest service for the benefit of another whether or not you get anything in return.  Are you wanting something back for your miracles, your good deeds?  Than He is only your Ba’al, Ba’al.