Out of the Abundance of the Heart

If there was a “dark ages” for Israel, it began soon after Joshua died. The children of Israel had miraculously escaped Egypt. Despite wandering in the wilderness for so many years, they finally did reach the edge of the Promised Land in faith. Moses spent most of what we now know as the Book of Deuteronomy telling them what was expected of them once they crossed into the Promised Land. While he was not allowed to enter himself, he did leave the people with a well-prepared Joshua to lead them. And actually, as long as Joshua was at the helm, the children of Israel did pretty well.

Although they stopped short of conquering the entire plot of ground the Lord had set aside for them -- and although they refused to totally drive out the current inhabitants, for the most part, the children of Israel stayed true to the things of God. However, once Joshua went on to his well-deserved reward, the people were at a loss. The parents failed to teach their children about the things of God. Therefore, a new generation rose up with no clue as to the mighty things God had done for their parents. To my mind, the most haunting pronouncement in the entire book of Judges is this: “In those days ... everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25) Sounds strangely 21st century.

You may remember that when the children of Israel first conquered their land, a few of the tribes stayed on the east side of the Jordan -- tribes like Manasseh and others -- as opposed to the majority of the tribes, who crossed the Jordan and conquered lands on the west side. Clearly the most famous part of Israel -- the Israel we think of today -- is all on the WEST side of the Jordan. However in the days of the judges, Israel had lands on the east side of the Jordan as well.

The land on the east side of the Jordan was as a whole referred to as Gilead (at least during this time in Israel’s history). The tribesmen in Gilead were at this time being terrorized by the Ammonites. If you were to travel to Amman, Jordan today you would be in the center of a geographical area in what was once controlled by the Ammonites. Like many 21st century Americans, when the Gileadites saw they had no other protection from these evil Ammonites, they at least knew enough to ask God for help. The Lord -- even with the knowledge that after the disaster was resolved, the people would return to their evil lifestyle -- graciously raised up a man by the name of Jephthah to deliver them. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah and sure enough, the Gileadites were in fact victorious against the Ammonites. In that decisive battle, they captured what the Bible refers to as the fords of the Jordan. The fords were critically important because they were the places where the river could easily be crossed. Certainly in the days long before airplanes and modern warfare, these areas were quite a catch for the conquering Gileadites!

At any rate, just when it seemed Gilead’s problems were over, the plot thickens when the Ephraimites -- one of the tribes of Israel living on the OTHER side of the Jordan -- crossed the river Jordan. Sadly, the ensuing conversation between the two groups sounds more like one between ten year olds than between warriors of Israel! I can just see the leader of the Ephraimites with his hand on his hips saying: “You didn’t ask us over here to help you fight the Ammonites!” Jephthah’s response was equally mature: “Well, we asked you over here once before to help us when we were in trouble -- and you never showed up!” Believe it or not, these fellow tribesmen actually fought a battle with each other over this dispute which could be only be referred to as trivial. The Lord must have felt rather like a father watching his two sons duke it out on the playground!

Well the winner of this second battle was Jephthah and the Gileadites. So picture the scene. Now the surviving Ephraimites, probably wondering why they ever bothered to cross the Jordan in the first place, attempt to “slink back” home with their tails between their legs. Now the Gileadites faced a dilemna. They certainly didn’t want the survivors of their present enemy -- the Ephraimites -- to escape justice by crossing the river. However, how were they to tell the enemies apart from their own men? After all, they were all Israeli tribesmen. It would be similar to putting a New Yorker and a Floridian in a room together. Would you stake your life on being able to distinguish which one was from which state? I wouldn’t! The Gileadites had the same problem.

But the Gileadites quickly came up with a system which has been used in warfare and even other contexts all through history ever since. Just like Americans, different areas of Israel had come to pronounce certain words a little differently. The Hebrew word for a stalk of grain such as an ear of corn, was “shibboleth.” If you were from Gilead, you pronounced the “sh” as we would pronounce “shoe.” However, if you were from Ephraim, the word was pronounced “sibboleth” -- without the “sh” sound.”

So when the vanquished Ephraimites attempted to escape across the river, I imagine something like this occurred: the Gileadite soldier would hold up an ear of corn and say: “What is this?” If the answer was “shibboleth,” the man would be allowed to pass unharmed. However, if the answer was “sibboleth,” he was held for further questioning ... or whatever!

Up until perhaps the last sixty or so years, most Americans knew what “speaking the shibboleth” meant. Somehow, the term seems to have fallen into disuse. At any rate, it basically means something in your language or speech which quickly distinguishes you from someone else. For example, if I were invited to a party for lawyers, since I am a practicing attorney myself, I might start say in a conversation with another guest: “Last week I had to interplead one of my cases” or “You won’t believe what the tortfeaasor did in one of my cases” or “I had to settle one of my contracts on a quantum meruit basis.” If the other party responded with a totally blank look on his or her face, it wouldn’t take me very long to realize that that guest simply was not an attorney. Why? He didn’t speak the shibboleth!

But this system of recognition or categorizing others has been used more often in military situations. I found an interesting story of a former American World War II nurse who was stationed in France right at the end of the war with Germany. She received a 3-day pass into Paris. Once she arrived at the checkpoint, however, she realized that she had forgotten the password and thought she would have to return to camp, thus wasting her three days. However, the American soldier at the checkpoint saved the day. He asked her to name ten baseball teams. Thankfully, she loved baseball and was able to name enough teams to convince the guard that she just could not possibly be a German spy. She spoke the shibboleth!

I suppose refraining from curse words and the like would be an obvious application of this story for us, however, I think the meaning to our lives should clearly stretch beyond what we don’t say to what we DO say, particularly in the 21st century. While perhaps refraining from usage of certain words was formerly a marker of a Christian, I am sorry to say that may not always be the case during these last days. Further, it unfortunately no longer sets us apart even to mention to the listener that we plan to attend an upcoming church service, for our pews seem to be filled these days with “Christian lookalikes, i.e., those who may talk the talk, but certainly do not walk the walk. Speaking the shibboleth as a Christian, then, must go beyond the above.

One way to definitively distinguish ourselves these days appears to be something like the following: A co-worker looks down in the mouth. After prodding, you determine that his wife is ill with cancer. Without any forethought, your first response is to ask for the spouse’s name -- “so I can be praying for her.”

In less than a minute of conversation, you have distinguished yourself as a believing Christian who actually cares about the needs of others. Obviously this should be said with a sincere heart, but the point is that without much hullabaloo -- like carrying around a huge King James Bible wherever we go! -- we can speak the shibboleth of the Lord. People can know almost immediately who we really are and what drives us. I think the story is an interesting reminder of the truth of Jesus’ words: “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)

BEWARE -- NOT FOR ITCHING EARS

It is so incredibly easy to fret and complain about the selfishness in the world today. So many people seem so self-absorbed. Of course the moment I start complaining about such things, the Lord has a way of reminding me of my OWN selfishness! So in an effort to come up with a way to improve myself in this area, I decided to study 1 Corinthians 13 again. The only problem is that I’ve read it so many times in the past, I’ve heard the scripture recited in weddings over and over, I've heard the chapter quoted by pastors so often -- that the actual verses have almost become a litany -- without anything which actually soaks through my thick head. (Okay, I admit it. I'm a slow learner when it comes to this subject!)

Therefore, below is my rendition of that chapter -- with a twist. It’s sort of what you could call the Love Chapter “according to Roberta.” Now for all you purists out there, here's my disclaimer. (You are aware that lawyers are handy with disclaimers!) I am not adding to or attempting to change scripture. This is simply my attempt to change the wording just enough -- while keeping a Biblical thought pattern -- so that maybe, just maybe, it will have an effect on my conduct.

These days when I start to get huffy or difficult to deal with -- which my husband will tell you happens all too often -- I try to remember to re-read the following. So far, it seems to be helping. I would be interested in the comments of those brave individuals who have the audacity to continue reading from this point forward:

1. Say it in love. Otherwise, you just annoy others -- every time you open your mouth.

2. No matter how spiritual you think you are, you have little value to the Kingdom of God if you don’t show love.

3. If it isn’t based on the love in your heart, all your giving and sacrificing for the Lord is cancelled out. God is NOT impressed.

4. Be patient when you’re frustrated, something goes wrong, or you don’t get what you want. It’s not all about you!

5. Be kind even when you feel like having a hissy fit.

6. Don’t feel bad against someone who seems to have things easier than you. Trust God to work things out for you at the right time -- even if it takes years.

7. It’s okay to announce it to the people you love when you feel you’ve really done something great. However, tell the bare facts WITHOUT pumping yourself up.

8. Don’t think too much of yourself. Take a fresh, close look in the mirror often -- to see who you really are.

9. When you feel like spouting off, think of Jesus sitting beside you as you begin to open your mouth.

10. Be concerned about others’ needs more than your own. Put yourself in the OTHER GUY’S shoes.

11. Hold yourself back from flying off the handle, no matter what the provocation. Love DESPITE the situation.

12. Don’t keep a mental list of the faults and foibles of others.

13. Be happy when the truth is revealed.

14. Protect others from harm. Don’t pick on them.

15. Trust God for the faults of others to be corrected. You can’t be the Holy Spirit to them.

16. Hope for the best.

17. Keep at it. Don’t give up!

18. Grow up and get over yourself!

19. Someday we’ll understand lots of things that we don’t have a clue about today. For now though, recognize that there are all sorts of things happening that you have no way of knowing about. Let God work behind the scenes on your behalf. Focus on what YOU’RE supposed to do and not on the faults of others.

I hope this helps in YOUR quest to be full of love.

God bless you,

Roberta