Saturday, March 26, 2011

Call and Response

Scripture passage that caught my attention today: Joshua 24:19-24 But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.” 21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, we will serve the LORD!” 22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” 23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 24 The people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and him we will obey.”

Observation:
Kind of a back and forth liturgy. This is a good example of how one cannot take one verse (for example, verse 19) out of context. What we basically have going on here is a call and response kind of exchange. It’s like a back and forth chant, almost like what one might find at a spirited pep-rally—though with admittedly much higher stakes.

Application: The other day I read of a short exchange between a frustrated sweet 16 college basketball coach and one of his star (but in this game underachieving) players on their way to the locker-room at half time. Coach: “all I want to know is, are you gonna play?” Player: “Yes coach, I’m gonna play.” Coach: “then show me!”

It was a call and response, a rhetorical exchange designed for action. I’ve already forgotten the name of the team or player in question. But in the second half the player rose to the occasion and the team won the game.

Joshua issues this same kind of challenge to the ancient Israelites. And sometimes it wouldn’t hurt for a challenge to be issued to those of us who live in these 21st century times as well, not as a requirement for salvation and the like. But simply to inspire us to put our faith into action, one encounter at a time.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for leaders who do rise to the occasion and help inspire your people to serve you well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(readings today included: Joshua 23-24, Psalm 44 and 1 Corinthians 11)

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