The aim of justice is to give everyone his due.
- Cicero
Psalms in the Night…
With so many wonderful Biblical promises and powerful examples of God's interaction with mankind, see Psalms of Delight, Psalms in the Night are a way of exploring and sharing some of the difficult and challenging thoughts, feelings and experiences God's people encounter while endeavoring to fully enjoy His presence and power, protection and provision. In ever more genuine and meaningful ways. For themselves and their children, family and friends.
Psalms in the Night are written in concert with Psalms of Delight. Both series contain Modern Psalms meant to comfort and inspire those seeking the Omni-God revealed in Scripture.
Older Brother Summary
Given the Bible's a single Book, with God as it's ultimate Author, clearly it's packed full of meaning on a variety of levels. Every passage has the ability to answer important questions and provide glimpses into both the human and Divine nature. Oddities and inconsistencies can be clues to buried treasure. The question then becomes to what degree do we care enough to dig for answers? The world famous story of the "Prodigal Son," particularly in it's treatment of the faithful and diligent older brother, qualifies as just such a passage.
Older Brother
Modern Psalm in the Night 5
The Bible's really something! It's amazing all You crammed into a single Book. Within it's pages You reveal hidden mysteries and histories of Three Heavens from before time began. There's the law and prophets, psalms and proverbs, each unlike anything else written.
Then there's the New Testament that in many respects is in a league of it's own. The Gospels and Book of Acts, the epistles and Revelation are a spiritual literary triumph. This morning I awoke thinking of just part of one story that makes it so, the parable we call The Prodigal Son. Like all Christ's teachings this is no doubt perfect and full of meaning. Unlike our metaphors, Yours seem to reach across time and eternity to communicate truth on a variety of levels. This being the case, when an oddity stands out, it's been my experience it marks something of interest and value.
You know the story, probably all too well:
- Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" Luke 15:11-31
Some dismiss this oddity, not wanting to strain the metaphor. I think that's a mistake if not cop out. As Omnity, Your quite capable of saying what You mean and meaning what You say. So I have a few questions. I hope You'll humor my asking a little mores so than You did Job, since James assures, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it too you. He will not rebuke you for asking."
What Would I Do?
Since James assures, "He will not rebuke You for asking" I'd like to give it a spin. Also let me state for the record that my interest in this part of the story is more than academic. Since the father, who would seem to represent You our Heavenly Father, only has two sons, it stands to reason most of us fall into the category of one or the other. And while there have been, are and will continue to be ways I squander what I've been given, I more closely resemble and most often feel like the older brother.
So as an older son myself, and on behalf of older sons everywhere I have a few questions. The story states the father "divided his property between them" and the younger son took off with the goods, the older stayed by his father's side. So far so good. My first question is why did the remaining faithful and diligent son seem without actual access to his share in the estate, or to be under the assumption he could not spend even a little of it?
Was his share in the estate for that time, or something only to be received later? As for example of the joys of Heaven for eternity? If not meant for then, why in response to the older son's anger over not having been given even a young goat to celebrate with his friends does the father assure him, "you are always with me and everything I have is yours." Why not just tell him to "man up" or something to that effect?
I do notice the older son doesn't list the times he'd ask his father for things he didn't get. Which, forgive me for saying, is the real point I'm trying to make even though I'm aware not everyone is qualified to pray so God will hear. Did he fail to ask acceptably? Did the obedient and hard working son not please his Father enough?
Regardless, I can't help but wonder how, having already lost his younger son, why this generous father failed to realize his older son's brewing feelings of bitterness and neglect. Particularly since he seems to represent You.
An attentive father searches out his children's hearts. I've done as much literally thousands of times with my son and daughter. Talking and playing with them I made it my responsibility to be sure they always felt my love for them. I showered them each with tens of thousands of kisses, tickles and hugs as I daily watched and rejoiced over their lives.
I did it with a love for them I remember receiving from You. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing the very moment You gave it to me. I was gazing upon my firstborn, my oldest son, knowing full well I didn't have the goods to be a good father. Then suddenly I did!
And from that day to this I've never been unavailable to my children regardless of their behavior. Yet it seems that in many ways Your presence is hidden leaving Your power and provision, gifts and miracles all but out of reach, even to faithful older sons. Forgive me for saying, but Omnity’s apparent silence and distance at such a time as this is wreaking havoc on individuals and families, even those struggling to walk uprightly while daily assaulted by the temptations and deceptions, immorality and sin embedded in modern life.
Heavenly Father, nothing seems to work, at least not very well or very long. You know how often we feel dazed and confused, like orphans lost wondering the wilderness rather than rejoicing in the promised land. Yet You are our Creator and Savior. Your word declares not once by twice that You are not willing that any should perish but that All should come to the knowledge of truth, salvation and repentance. Thank You for the costly atonement of Christ! Thank You for so many declarations of love and faithfulness, mercy and hope.
Of course it works both ways. Your holy number is ALL. That’s what Scripture says You offer and require. Instead, with prayer and Bible study, much less brokeness and repentance all in sharp decline, we offer You leftovers if that. Riddled with me-ism we embrace the original sin of entitlement. Taking unprecedented blessings for granted, we have the audacity to take issue with You, continually calling into question Your goodness if not very existence.
O Lord, I confess that even the remnant of the remnant daily and strategically praying for sanctification and revival are too often dualistic and double-minded. Like prodigal sons, we’ve been given so much that surely much will be required. Your blessing to the modern world exceed the hopes and prayers of all past generations yet we spend more time watching TV than seeking and serving You. Even when on our watch morality’s been inverted reducing 1st century Christianity to 21st century Churchianity.
Nevertheless, Where else can we go? You alone have the word’s of life. Whom else do we have in heaven but You? I ask that You would speak to us immediately, forgivingly and gloriously and that we 'would not harden our hearts against Your voice' and that You Great, Awesome and Awful God would do the same, hearing and answering our prayers today while yet on our lips, even those which from our perspective seem long delayed. That you would help us to come humbly and boldly, successfully and repeatedly, victoriously, joyously and gloriously 'before Your throne of grace to obtain mercy, help and resource at this time of need.'
For while we stand before You utterly condemned for our sin, particularly my generation and the next in First World Nations and beyond and are without excuse, even our behavior is not without explanation! For is it not written that he formally known as Lucifer or in Hebrew הילל בן־שׁחר Helel Ben-Shachar, who stands accusing and condemning us, first tempted and deceived us after having led a myriad of angels astray. Ancient, holy and glorious angels from Heaven above. To which end I would ask what chance do we have dear God to stand against so great an Adversary, his army and demonic resistance given that in comparison the entire human race was born yesterday and dies tomorrow balanced if and when at all on toes of flesh. Praying if and when at all as lungs expel air strumming vocal cords to the tune of two to three pounds of brain matter, what’s to become of us without an unprecedented global repentance and outpouring of Your Spirit's presence and power, provision and protection?
Lord, with rebellion pandemic and various judgments including the Great Tribulation approaching, I fear we are fast running out of time. I’m banking on quantum hope, that You’ll lower the bar as Jesus did during Peter’s second great confession. That You’ll help us head prophetic advice, follow Your formula for repentance and even call the Sacred Assembly before it’s too late. I think we still have a chance if You’ll begin to hear and answer prayer, even as Jesus encouraged:
- “One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” So he said, “When you pray, say, Father, Reveal who you are. Set the world right. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.” Then he said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’ “The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’ “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need. “Here’s what I’m saying: Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and the door will open. “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?” Luke 11:1-12
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