"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase"
1 Corinthians 3:6
A Message From the Horne of Africa
"Speak Tenderly To Jerusalem"
02/22/2009
Have you ever been insulted by experts? I have been on the receiving end of those who have "been there and done that." If you let them, they have a way of making you feel lower than a snake's belly. With all the job losses in the offing now, how would you like it if your boss were to write any of the following statements in your termination letter? "This employee has delusions of adequacy." Ouch! "He sets low personal standards then constantly fails to meet them." Not good! "This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot." Double ouch! "He has a room temperature IQ." No wonder he struggled! "He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle." Oh, spare me!
Such heartless remarks would certainly devastate a fragile person. In Isaiah's day, Jerusalem had bred a nation of rebels who consistently turned their back on their loving God. If ever there was a nation who needed to be flayed for their unfaithfulness, it was the leaders and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Surprisingly, Isaiah quotes God as saying, "Comfort, comfort my people. . .speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins," Isaiah 40:1-2. The harshest language would have been in order. Jerusalem deserved severe punishment, but mercy and grace kissed each other in the heart of God. He said, "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem."
When Joseph's brothers sold him--the arrogant whelp-- into slavery, "he had it coming." When his frustrated brothers presented his blood-splattered coat to their grief-stricken father, Jacob, they thought they would never have to face that issue again. Case closed! Wrong! An unpredictable, prolonged famine sent them into the presence of the man they had once abused mercilessly. Time and circumstances had almost erased his identity entirely. But the once-abused boy knew them all too well. He was now a high profile international leader in charge of food distribution. This would have been an excellent opportunity to retaliate and make them beg for mercy. Instead he mostly showed them kindness. After his identity became known, they thought it was their father who restrained Joseph from doing them bodily harm for all the wasted years. Then Jacob, their father, died. They feared that Joseph's anger could again well up against them. But they didn't know this mellow man with a tender heart. Joseph allayed their fears by saying, "So, then don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." The text goes on to say, "And he assured them and spoke kindly to them," Genesis 50:21. How other-worldly he was! No wonder he has been described as the most Christ-like person in the Old Testament. He did not stoop to give heartless references to his underlings.
In the New Testament, we are cautioned, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it might benefit those who listen," Ephesians 4:29. Speak tenderly to each other. Speak kindly. Keep harsh words out of the scenario. No one ever regrets being kind, see Ephesians 4:32. Sometimes it is necessary to confront evil, foolish or ungodly actions with "straight talk." That is "tough love." "Tough love" took Jesus to the cross. Tough love hurts sometimes. Its intention, however, is not to hurt or to harm but to help. Tough love saw Ananias and Sapphira come to a sticky end in the Jerusalem church Acts 5:1-10. But Peter never found it necessary to cut them to shreds with razor sharp words. Sin has its own initial punishment built in. In an uncaring world, sinners need to be led to the Lord tenderly with kindness. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Love you all,
Al--"the Horne of Africa"