Ps. 116:5, NIRV
Sometimes we wonder how to look at the Old
Testament! God’s great tender Love Story for God’s children is certainly there, but
sometimes, temporarily, it seems to be hidden by pages of rebellion and
disregard of God by God’s own children.
We ourselves have learned to consistently
look at the Hebrew Scriptures—the Old Testament—through the lens of Jesus.
It is then that we most persistently "get
it." For example, if one looks at the
Old Testament through the prism of
Jesus’ great Parable of the Prodigal Son (which some call The Parable of the Prodigal Father—since the father’s love
is so lavish and enduring) we see the Hebrew Scriptures almost in essence. Let’s begin by considering Jesus’ great
parable (paraphrased):
A son lived in his father’s home and love—but
obviously took both for granted. So he
willfully asked for his inheritance to strike out on his own and do as he
pleased. He headed off to a “far country”
to live a lavish, unrestrained life. He
squandered the inheritance from his father and ended up in utter destitution. Finally, he came to himself. Emaciated
and in rags, he would return home to beg to be no more than a servant in his
father’s domain.
Meanwhile, the father had never slacked in
his love and longing for his lost son. Day
by day he had watched and hoped for his return.
One day he saw his son far off on the road. With the aged legs (and heart) of time and
months of grief, he ran to the son “clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly”[1]—before any words could even come from the
son’s mouth. When the son did speak the
father would have no part of
accepting him as a servant: the father (FATHER’S) enduring love and readiness
for forgiveness and full acceptance of his son are unconditional. The only thing that had ever interrupted that
love was the son’s own willful decision to live outside of that love—not that
this truly interrupted the father’s love; it only interrupted the son’s
experience of it (Lk. 15:12-24, summary).
We have found that the Hebrew Scriptures
always "come round right" for us if we
look at them through the prism of
this Great Love Story told by Jesus. In
the Old Testament we see many stories of the “far country” in which God’s
children willfully choose to dwell. But
none of this would ever (or will ever) change the great drama of God’s Love Story and longing for the children of God
to return to that Love Story.
And certainly the tender drama of God's Love Story and search for us does come through the pages of the people's often self-chosen "far country" experience in the Hebrew Scriptures. It's just that we sometimes have to look for it between the lines. (See many examples of God's expression of this everlasting love later in "The Still Small Voice of Promise Whispers" [and also in previous posts].[2])
In
this post we offer a small portion of God’s Great Love Song in the Hebrew Scriptures. We will use expressions of such Love that have guided us personally
since our youth (and the RSV
translation in which we best remember those expressions from our youth). These are especially poetic statements of
God’s Love Song, focusing upon God’s
people as the “beloved.” (We've also
used a bit of poetic license by way
of repetition and insertion in brackets.
Readers who are less inclined toward this approach can check the RSV
translation [or other translations] of these scriptures for themselves: listed in red below. In any case, these are
wonderful scriptures for reflection and meditation!)
A meditation upon scriptures referring to the "beloved":
"Let me sing for my beloved a love song . . .
[ But, ungrateful, the beloved strays! ]
Still!: " The ['loving kindnesses' and] steadfast love
of the LORD never ceases,
his ['tender'] mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is thy faithfulness."
Therefore, the Lord will sing once again
(as the "beloved" contemplates a return):
♬ 𝆕 "... I will call [you] 'my people,'
and her who was not beloved
[by her own willful choice]
I will [seek and] call ‘my beloved.’"
Then: "The beloved of the LORD ... dwells in safety ...
[ God ] encompasses him all the day long, and" ...
"The Lord's beloved rests securely on him ...
he rests securely on his [God's] shoulders."
[Or again: "like a child
at rest on its mother's back."] [4]
And: "That thy beloved may be delivered [from troubles],
give help [Lord] by thy right hand ... !"
For the Lord "gives to his beloved [peace and] sleep."
Therefore, hear again, a LOVE SONG of the Lord:
Let me sing for my "beloved" a love song--
a love song of our God!
"I will call [you] 'my beloved '" ...
"my people ... my beloved " ...
"beloved of
the LORD"!
(Scriptures quoted in red above: Isa. 5:1[3] ; Lam. 3:22-23;
Hos. 2:1, 14-23 [as repeated in Rom. 9:25]; Duet. 33:12 [4] ;
Ps. 108:6, Ps. 127:2; all RSV or NRSV, NRSVCE unless otherwise
noted. [Also see Rom. 1:7, NJB, RSV, and further citations in
the Notes.[5]])
This is the great tender Love Story each person is called to
live within. It is the hidden--but really not so hidden!—Love Song
and Story of the Old Testament. This story continues into the New Testament, where Jesus lives out this Great Love Story with
wonderful clarity, summarizing it in the famous, tender parables
of Luke 15, and where--once more--the children of God are
repeatedly called by the name “beloved.” Such passages in
the Christian scriptures (like 1 John 4:7 and others almost too
numerous to name [6]) show that following Jesus' example there
was a great deal of tender love within the early church. (For
further thoughts about what it means to be God’s beloved, see
Henri Nouwen’s eloquent Life of the Beloved. [7])
We return briefly to the Hebrew Scriptures for a wonderful piece of theological insight. In spite of the frequent self-chosen “far country”
experience of the people, their great ones of faith saw through to (and taught)
a God of great love. As Walter
Brueggemann—in his magnificent work Theology
of the Old Testament—says, the Jewish people came to a credo of five adjectives to describe the God of their experience. God was discovered to be merciful, gracious, forgiving, steadfast
in love, and tenaciously faithful.[8]
This was/is the reality of God,
the Father of “beloved” children—us!
Indeed, this is summed up in God’s own self-description to Moses on Mount
Sinai: “[A] God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich
in kindness and faithfulness ...” (Ex. 34:6, JB;
also see Ps. 103:8, 145:8). And then, once we begin to know that this is who God really is, we will want to pass such "tenderness and compassion" on to others!
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. "The Tender 'Love Song' of God"--especially in its fulfillment lived out among us in every word and
deed of Jesus--is the greatest Valentine ever sent into this world!
May we give our own true (even if smaller) valentines of
"tenderness and compassion" to one another!
*
* *
Further reflection upon the “beloved” theme (meditations/ prayers/
poetry/proverbs). Also see the "beloved" translated as our Lord's
"darling"--even in scripture!--in the last meditation:
Oswald Chambers: “God and love are synonymous.
Love is not an attribute of God, it is God; whatever
God is, love is.”
* * *
“Lost in Need of Grace (a Prayer)”
(With reflection upon 2 Cor. 4:7; Eph. 2:8-9; Ps. 23, 127:2;
Rom. 9:25. Note that many in "Twelve Step" programs, such
as AA, would also understand these sentiments regarding
our need for Grace.)
Ed Farrell: All the names in scripture are our names! [5]
John Wesley: "[T]he Spirit does testify with our [inner] spirit, that
we are the children of God. None can deny this, without flatly
contradicting the Scriptures . . . "[9]
* * *
“The 'Still
Small Voice' of Promise Whispers (a Meditation)”
I have called you by name; you are Mine.
I knit you carefully together—
carved your very name on the palms of My hands,
hid you under the shadow of My wings,
counted the hairs upon your head.
Yes, upon your head, “my beloved”!
See, I do not hide My face from you;
I do not slumber or sleep.
Nothing can separate you from My
love—
neither angels nor principalities,
powers or death,
the present or things to come.
See then,
how I have loved you—
how I do love you . . .
how I will love you
with an everlasting love.
But still,
“Be
still . . . !”--
you
must let Me!!
Do not run away from HOME!
(A free form weaving together of multiple scripture passages;
see our Notes. Also a “Thank you” for inspiration to Henri
Nouwen, who gathered similar scriptures together in Life of
the Beloved.[10])
* * *
The little chipmunk knows this—
the sparrow, the squirrel, the swallow.
So why don’t I? What perverse voice
would tell me I am less?
What perverse will would keep me
from knowing I am “the beloved”?
And you as well! You as well!
Yes, you . . . it is promised!—you!!
Then, tell us, Dear Lord,
again . . . again—
how hard it is to know! [11]
(With reflection upon Rom. 1:7, 9:25; Ps. 108:6, 84:3-4; Lk. 12:24;
Mt. 10:29, RSV. Also note Julian of Norwich's thought: "God's will
is that we should greatly value all his works; [including] the noble
nature of all creation ..." [12])
* * *
A prelude to prayer (with terms from spiritual classics):
With reflection upon terms from scripture and spiritual classics.[13]
Note Julian of Norwich’s comment regarding the "where": “He [our Lord]
is here alone with us all: that is to say, only for us He is here. ... [But
sometimes] “I am strange to Him ... [and] I let my Lord stand alone....
[Still] His Goodness suffereth us never to be alone, but lastingly He is
with us [Mt. 28:20], and tenderly He excuseth us, and ever shieldeth us ...” [14]
Furthermore, Julian tells us the Lord promises: “‘I keep thee full surely.’
This word was said with more love and secureness and ghostly
[spiritual] keeping than I can or may tell.”[15]
An opening to prayer/meditation:
(With reflection upon a love phrase from St. Francis de Sales
[quoted--his reference to a Psalm]. [16])
“Benedictions”
Every day the world gives us benedictions:
in violet shadows upon the snow,
in the song of the miniature sparrow,
in the buds that swell with promise.
Yes, a benediction hides
everyday somewhere.
A hush falls when we note it—
a sweet, unearthly gladness.
A hint—Another Presence?
Yes, silently, persistently,
the world gives us benedictions,
while we vexed-vain-busy-mortals
are too full of ourselves to know.
Contemplating our Lord’s longing for us when any one of
us becomes a lost lamb (a meditation upon Lk. 15:3-31). Also
note that in translations below the lost one (which any one of
us easily becomes) is called God's "darling":
“... God, be thou exalted above the heavens; and let thy glory be
over all the earth . . . That thy darlings be delivered, make thou
safe with thy right hand, and hear [thou] me …”; Psalm 108:5-6,
Wycliffe Bible translation (also see Rom. 1:7, WYC).
Similarly, note Julian of Norwich's report of what was revealed
to her after a time of confusion: “And then sheweth [shows] our
courteous Lord Himself to the soul--well-merrily and with
glad cheer--with friendly welcoming as if it [the soul] had
been in pain and in prison, saying sweetly thus: My darling
I am glad thou art come to me: in all thy woe I have ever
been with thee; and now seest thou my loving and we be
oned in bliss.”[17] (Note also that Julian frequently tells us
that she understands that words like "My darling" given
to her are also meant for us--indeed, for each individual
"one"! [18])
(See additional blog posts after the “Notes” in Newer/Older Posts.)
……………………..
Notes:
1. Lk. 15:20, JB.
2. See previous posts: “God’s Generous “Tender Mercies” (Which We Withhold?)”;
“Sacred Tenderness—Lost in Translation?”;
3. Isa. 5:1, RSV. Although commentators usually identify God as the
beloved in this verse, the reader might assume that we refer to God’s
children as the beloved, who are given a beautiful vineyard (while
technically God’s children are the vineyard). However, we believe
this verse can also include the children of God as the beloved. In
commentary of this very verse the great John Calvin writes, “all
those prophets and teachers who faithfully served God, were
jealous [in care] of God’s spouse [God’s beloved people]. … Now
to pastors and ministers the Lord commits his Church as his beloved
wife.” This would mean that in this verse the vineyard [the people
of God] are greatly valued and loved: thus also the beloved, as in
all the other verses used here; see John Calvin’s Commentary on
the Bible - Isaiah 5: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/calvin/isaiah/5.htm.
4. For greater clarity, adding Duet. 33:12; CSB, ERV in Lines 17-19.
5. Scriptures: Lines 1-2: Isa. 5:1. Lines 4-8: Lam. 3:22-23 (insertions:
ASV, AMP). Lines 11-14, 26-27: Hos. 2:1, 14-23 (as repeated in Rom.
9:25). Lines 16-19: Duet. 33:12, RSV, CSB, ERV, NJB. Lines 20-21:
Ps. 108:6, RSV. Line 22: Ps. 127:2. All RSV, NRSV, or NRSVCE
unless otherwise designated. See Notes 3, 4 above. Also see
Rom. 1:7, 1 Jn. 3:2, 4:7; NJB, WEB (and other scriptures in Note 6).
(Note: in regard to these scriptures we consider the
words of our onetime PRH teacher, Fr. Ed Farrell: All the names in
scripture are our names [said in a class with Fr. Farrell]. In other words,
the Holy Spirit can teach [and love] us through every name [story] in
scripture--either by their positive or, even, negative example.)
6. E.g., see Rom. 1:7, 12:19; 1 Cor. 15:58; Eph. 5:1; Col. 3:12; 1 Thes. 1:4;
2 Thes. 2:13; Heb. 6:9; James 1:16, 19; 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:11, 4:12;
1 Jn. 3:1-2, 21, 4:1, 7, 11; Jude 1:3; etc. (especially RSV, NRSV, NRSVCE).
7. Henri J. M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved (New York: Crossroad, 1992).
8. Walter Brueggemann, Theology of the Old Testament: Testimony, Dispute,
Advocacy (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1997), p. 216.
9. John Wesley, “The Witness of the Spirit, Discourse II" (sermon),
4/4/1767 (emphasis added). Also see Eph. 3:18-19.
10. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved, pp. 36-37. See scripture passages that inspired
his thought and this meditation:1 Kgs. 19:12; Isa. 43:1, Ps. 139:13; Isa. 49:15-16; Ps. 17:8; Lk. 12:7; Rom. 1:7, 9:25; Ezk. 39:29; Ps. 121:4; Rom. 8:38-39; Jer. 31:3;
Ps. 46:10; Lk. 15:12-24 [passages italicized in text above].
11. Meditations, prayer/poetry/proverbs throughout by Lorraine B. Eshleman.
12. See Clifton Wolters's introduction to meanings in Julian's 13th
Revelation: Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, ed. Clifton
Wolters (Middlesex, England, Penguin Books, 1966), p. 103 (Ch. 27 and
Ch. 1), Long Text. Also see Julian of Norwich: Showings, trans. Edmund Colledge,
O.S.A. and James Walsh, S.J. (New York: Paulist Press, 1978), p. 134 (Ch. 6),
Short Text; p. 176 (Ch. 1), p. 303 (Ch. 63), Long Text.
13. See Jn. 14:26; 1 Pet. 2:25, CEB; Math. 28:20, NRSV, NRSVCE. Also
see Charles Wesley’s hymn “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” (slight variation
in words). And see "Companion" in Teresa of Avila, The Interior
Castle VI, Chap. 7. See Julian of Norwich's use of the word “Lover”:
Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, ed. Grace Warrack
(London: Methuen & Co., 1901), p. 14, Chap. 6, Long Text. (Also
see Note 15.)
14. Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, p. 195, Chap. 80,
Long Text (emphasis added).
15. Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, ed. Dom Roger
Hudleston, O.S.B. (Newman Press, 1952), p. 65, Chap. 37, Long Text.
16. This meditation quotes St. Francis de Sales (referring to Ps.
62:25-26 [73:26?]; quoted in Bernard McGinn, ed., The Essential
Writings of Christian Mysticism (New York: Modern Library,
Random House, 2006), p. 468 (from “The Treatise on the Love
of God,” Book 7, Chap. 3) [capitalization added].
17. Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, ed. Warrack,
p. 82, Chap. 40, Long Text, capitals added (also see p. 194,
Chap. 80).
18. Ibid., e.g., p. 19, Chap. 8; p. 194, Chap. 80. (Also see Note 14.)
