May 30

Day 77: No Other Oracle Needed

File this under stuff nobody but me finds time to read.

During the time of the OT Jewish prophets, the ancient Greeks were almost always at war, either with the always threatening Persians, or between themselves.

For about 1,000 years, these same Greeks rarely did anything without consulting the Oracle of Delphi. The Oracle was always a lady, a priestess. She seemed to like snakes. Greek kings and generals would ask the Oracle what to do, hear back, and then plan their next battle strategy accordingly.

2 problems, however. Her guidance was often too jumbled up to make any sense. And, her guidance was often wrong. (Leonidas, for one, was given bad military intelligence.)

Many pastors, me included, sometimes wish there was an Oracle; someone to tell us what to do. This week in particular, as we try to figure out how to best roll out plans for our churches to gather again.

In large churches, a staff of pastors can come up with a consensus decision and set of plans. In smaller churches, the pastor often feels the solitary weight of decision making.

I have pastor friends who are moving forward in one fashion, and I have other pastor friends who are doing just the opposite. Churches that have a building a deciding one way, while churches without a building are deciding differently.

I read of Hezekiah this morning. He was a reforming king of Judah (all while the Greeks were being Greeks west of him.) When he became king, he saw how messed up the people of Judah had become. He also faced a military threat from Assyria.

His forefathers had abandoned God. He decided to live and lead differently. He got rid of all of the pagan worship sites everywhere. He had the temple in Jerusalem cleaned up and made ready. He reinstated proper worship of God. . He had the entire nation observe Passover after decades of neglect.

One of his bigger challenges was in getting the priests to consecrate themselves in order to function as priests. They were initially not as enthusiastic for reform as Hezekiah was. They had to be shamed into doing so.

He didn't go looking for an Oracle to tell him what to do. He went to the Scriptures. Hezekiah did what he did, because he saw his reforming work as before (honoring) God, and as essential to seeking (and finding) God.

2 Chronicles 31:20-21 tell us, "Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful BEFORE the LORD his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God in accordance with the law and the commandments, SEEKING HIS GOD, he did with all his heart, and prospered."

Like you, I am fully aware that the near-term future is hazy at best. What our lives and our corporate lives will be, even next month, is anyone's guess.

I am admitting to myself, and I will admit to you; I am fatigued by chronically not knowing.

But this we can together know. Whatever we end up doing going forward into June and July, if predicated on best honoring our Lord, and dependent on seeking Him and Him only, we will be okay.

I don't know if we will "prosper," but I am confident we can thrive.

No other Oracle needed.

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau