Culturally Irrelevant

In general, most historians seem to write from the perspective of social, economic and political influence and power. Important events are defined by key shifts in power along with the key influencers who motivated or directed these shifts. Interestingly, the writers of the Bible come at things a little upside down and a bit sideways. Take for instance the Old Testament kings. Two of the most politically and economically influential kings after Solomon were Omri and Jeroboam II. The author of Kings says that they did evil in the sight of the Lord and then gives minimal details of their rule. They’re basically sidelined. But then you have guys like Ahab and Josiah and Hezekiah that get all kinds of coverage by the author. Why?

The writers of the Bible saw history from God’s perspective, and what God cared about was whether or not people obeyed his word. For Israel, everything centered around the covenant God had with his people. If they obeyed the covenant, things would be good. If they did not obey it, they were in big trouble. So, biblical historians didn’t care so much if a king was wealthy or influential or politically savvy. They cared about the king’s heart, whether or not he obeyed God’s laws and followed the covenant.

The Old Testament prophets were continually calling Israel and her leaders back to God’s covenant. Back to righteousness, justice, mercy and love. The kings who got the most coverage were the ones who either blew it big and sent Israel reeling into rebellion (Ahab) or the ones who crusaded major reforms, destroying idols and calling the people back to covenantal obedience (Josiah).

What about our own view of history? Everything that’s on TV or in the paper comes at life events from a political, economic or social slant. The secular media doesn’t care about God’s perspective. So, where are we getting our perspective of what’s going on around us? Why are certain events important to us? What motivates us to pray for our leaders or for change to happen?

God, give me a heart to see my generation with your eyes. Let me hear with your ears so that the drawings and yearnings of your heart don’t get drowned out by a thousand other voices. I am constantly judging by what I see and hear naturally and what I discern with my own sense of right and wrong. But here is my mouth and my eyes and my ears. They’re yours, set apart for your purpose. Father, what do you care about? How do you interpret what’s going on in my generation?