JULY 13–19: GATHERING THE SCATTERED
Come Follow Me “He Trusted in the Lord God of Israel” 2 Kings 16–25
Context: Ancient Israel was swallowed up into the Assyrian Empire around 850-800 BCE. Judah was conquered by Babylon around 590 BCE. These conquering empires used a brilliant tactic to take the fight out of those they conquered. They removed the natives from the conquered land and spread them around the empire, then moved their own people into the vacated cities. That is an effective stirring of the pot. Distinct practices of the minority are lost, at best blended into the flavor of the majority.
We can certainly see this same kind of practice in our societies today. In some ways we are losing our individual heritage in the mix, yet in many ways we embrace the variety of cultural heritage among us. In the foodie analogy it’s pretty common for us to eat Mexican one night, Chinese the next, mix the Mex spicing with Italian, and so forth. It’s not bad eating.
Would this be likened to scattering or gathering? We mourn our lost heritage; yet as we hold to our traditions aren’t we also spreading them?
‘Among the nations we learned their tongue, forgot the songs our father’s sung, we wore their names, we bore their ways, lost in exiles heavy haze.’
Scattered to the four winds - HalleluYah Voice of Zion
In recent years I’ve been feeling a worldwide Christian revival - which certainly is evident in music. Congregations are found worldwide - and technology allows their reach to be worldwide. It’s exciting! The connection we can be part of around the globe, with Jesus Christ at our center!
Six years ago a pandemic threatened the world. And opened it up! This version of one of my favorite songs is a tribute to how our pandemic years broadened our platforms to gather us together.
‘Gather us in - the rich and the haughty...the proud and the strong, Give us a heart so meek and so lowly, Give us the courage to enter the song... here in this place a new light is shining, Now is the kingdom, now is the day.’
Gather Us In - Marty Haugen, by The Heralds Choir of St Mary’s Music Ministries
Elsewhere from around the globe - ‘Spread the Word!…Let all the Saints come gather round to sing Gods praise on holy ground, give thanksgiving, let our souls rejoice, come together, hear our Savior’s voice.’
Come Together - Bishop Jordan
‘And Jesus will say to all Israel, ‘Come home.’’ For as we follow Jesus, we become the House of Israel - God’s chosen people! Come home to Him, wherever you live.
Now Let Us Rejoice - Tabernacle Choir April 2024 General Conference
Are you feeling the thrill of this growing revival? Is there a smile on your face for it?Jump in!