Shiny Objects

S

(Daniel 1:1,2) In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim King of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon came to Jerusalem and beseiged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim King of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed them in the treasury of his god.

O

Clearly missing from this historical account, this inventory of plunder, is the description of the royal family (literally, "seed of the kingdom") that was captured and transported to Babylon. They were clearly part of Nebuchadnezzar's plunder (2 Kings 23:28-24:17), but Daniel did mention the temple's vessels and implements of worship. The point seems very clear: if the very stones of the temple represent the costly, living building blocks of God's kingdom (the precious, living people as cited in 1 Peter 2:1-12), how much more do the gold vessels, the incense altar, the bread table, and the lamps represent the greater splendor of God's glory. In the relocation of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah (and others), we see the actual rather than the symbolic treasures of God's house.

A (Personal)

Although their evil father's name was changed from "God Establishes" to "Jehovah Establishes," both names were incongruent with his character and role in the kingdom. As well, he sported the name of king and father, but failed to truly be either the king or father. In contrast, the best of the Hebrew youth had their godly names changed to pagan names, but their temple and kingdom names and roles remained unchanged, pure, undefiled. How? Very likely because they heard Jeremiah's words and they listed seriously to Ezekiel, their fellow-captive. However they heard God's Word, they chose to have a living relationship with God. So do I.

A (Psychological)

When describing family as our means of greatest influence on each other, McGoldrick, Gerson, and Shellenberger wrote (Genograms: Assessment and Intervention, 2nd ed. pp. 6-7): "A family systems perspective views families as inextricably interconnected. Neither people nor their problems or solutions exist in a vacuum. All are inextricably interwoven into broader interactional systems, the most fundamental of which is the family. The family is the primary and, except in rare instances, most powerful system to which we humans ever belong. In this framework, 'family' consists of the entire kinship network of at least three generations as it currenly exists and as it has evolved through time. . . . The physical, social, and emotional functioning of family members is profoundly interdependent, with changes in one part of the system reverberating in other parts. . . . Thus, a systemic perspective involves assessing the problem on the basis of these multiple contextual levels. . . . Families repeat themselves." This perspective helps me see that my influence, for good or for bad, has significant impact far beyond the immediacy of my current relationships or experiences.

P

Lord, You establish us not for our own, private glory, but for Your glory to be displayed through our humble lives within the context of Your multigenerational, multiethnic mission. You want Your glory displayed through people, throughout all the earth (Psalm 72:19; Isaiah 6:3; Malachi 1:1-14). I understand Your Words but I don't fully grasp what You want to do through me, so I offer myself to You, believing that You see me as a treasured vessel for Your glory. May I display Your majesty today as a living stone and as an implement that promotes Your worship to those fellow-treasures around me?