Purple

We take colored cloth for granted but it hasn’t always been that way. In fact, in days gone by, the cost of a piece of fabric was directly related to its color because of the expense and the difficulties in dyeing material. The most expensive color of all was purple.

Purple dye was extracted from the glands of certain tiny mollusks. According to Greek legend, Hercules discovered this secret when his hungry dog began eating the shellfish on the beach and the meat dyed the dog’s lips purple!

In 1204, when Byzantium was sacked, the last of the men who knew the secret process for making “Tyrian Purple” died, however Pliny the Elder had recorded the process long ago and in 1993, a retired English chemist, John Edmonds, uncovered the secret. (You can see it on YouTube: http://www.imperial-purple.com/clips.html .)

The dye was extremely expensive to produce. David Jacoby remarks that “twelve thousand snails of Murex brandaris yield no more than 1.4 g of pure dye, enough to colour only the trim of a single garment.” It was so expensive that only royalty could afford it hence the phrase “born to the purple.”

Purple plays an important role in the New Testament too. Herod Antipas arrayed Jesus in one of his old purple robes to mock the Lord (Mark 15:17). The Rich Man in the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus “was clothed in purple and fine linen,” (Luke 16:19). The Great Prostitute of Revelation “was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls,” (17:4).

Since only the very wealthy could afford true purple garments, there was a demand for a cheaper imitation. The people of Thyatira discovered the root of the madder plant that grew there could produce a very similar color inexpensively and so Lydia from Thyatira, the first convert in Philippi, had a very lucrative import business as a “seller of purple,” (Acts 16:14).

In contrast, Christ the King is clothed in white – “dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them,” (Mark 9:3) – and, if we are faithful, so will we: “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life,” (Revelation 3:5).

Casting Stones

One of the most beloved stories from the life of Christ involves a scandalous sinner. She was caught “in the very act” of adultery and dragged before Jesus to test him:

 

They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

— John 8:3-6

 

Do you remember what Jesus did next? He didn’t argue with them. He didn’t give a long sermon. He just stooped down and started writing in the dirt with his finger.

Have you ever wondered what he was writing? Some say he started writing scripture quotations. Others say Jesus looked at each one in the crowd and started writing down their sins like a spiritual accountant. I don’t know what he wrote, but I do know what he said after “they kept on questioning him.”

Jesus stood up and said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” At that the crowd melted away in shame.

The Apostle John was there that day and heard Jesus speak. Much later in his life John wrote to Christians, “If we,” (John was speaking to us) “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” (1 John 1:8, 9).

 

We’re not perfect – Just forgiven!

Buy a Box of Bandaids

Jesus reserved some of his sharpest criticisms for the Pharisees, the extremely religious people of his time. Even the rabbis described seven different kinds of Pharisees. One of them was called the “bruised and bleeding Pharisee.” This poor man had trouble dealing with the temptations that were all around him. When he saw a beautiful woman, he would shut his eyes and, as a consequence, he was always tripping over things and walking into walls, hence “bruised and bleeding.”

It’s easy to identify with this poor fellow. Temptations seem to be all around us and it’s hard to know how to deal with them. Jesus didn’t make it any easier on us when he said, “I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell,” (Matthew 5:28-30).

Let me make four suggestions. First, be careful how you dress and how you behave. It is one thing to be attractive and it is quite another to cause other people to sin!

Second, even if you are careful, temptation is bound to come. Have you ever been surprised by the results of an innocent internet search? Just remember Martin Luther’s observation. “You may not be able to stop a bird from landing in your head but you can keep them from building a nest!”

Third, remember the old adage: “nature abhors a vacuum.” If you want to get a handle on your thoughts, you have to think about something else. Just try not thinking about poisonous snakes. How are you doing? It seems all I can do is think about rattlesnakes crawling out of the canyon and into my garage until I substitute a different thought – like thinking about chocolate!

Fourth, keep it in context! It is wrong to treat people as things and that’s exactly what lust does. It is the desire to use someone. But if you put a person “in context” – she is someone’s wife, daughter, sister (or he is someone’s brother, husband, son) – that helps counteract the sin. Paul gave Timothy just this advice. “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,  older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity,” (1 Timothy 5:1, 2).

Of course you could just try closing your eyes but you better invest in a box of bandaids.

Your Golf Clubs Will Thank You

I’m going to interrupt my meditations on Ephesians 5 and publish some “golden oldies” — articles I’ve written in the past but never posted on the Internet while I continue researching Ephesians 5. (Paul tells us to recite psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to one another and I am researching Psalms in the New Testament. It’s fascinating and I’ll share the results with you in the near future.) 

— John

 

Ray was a nice guy. I couldn’t do what he did. Ray was a bus driver and every day had to deal with bad drivers and irate passengers. He was responsible for people’s safety and he took that responsibility seriously but Ray had a problem. He was the angriest man I ever knew.

Playing golf with Ray was a unique experience. If a shot went foul, Ray’s face would turn red. The veins on his neck would begin to flare. A string of profanity would pour out of his mouth and he would bend his club over his knee and fling it into a tree or the water trap. That would make him even angrier and balls and clubs would soon be pouring out of his bag in every direction.

Perhaps it was therapeutic. All day long from morning till night Ray had to be reserved and polite. He couldn’t indulge in road rage and the bus company frowned on their drivers using firearms or martial arts on brain-dead passengers. So Ray would smile and laugh and hold it in until he couldn’t take it any more. Then pity the poor golf clubs and the people he played with on the weekends. He wasn’t pleasant to be around and his wife finally gave up. Who wants to live with a volcano?

You couldn’t say Ray was happy. Life robbed him of joy and his future prospects didn’t look good. What advice would you give him? Here are some of the things we talked about at the nineteenth hole.

God created us with emotions, including our anger. Jesus wasn’t a Stoic and we shouldn’t be either. However, there is often a world of difference between the anger of Jesus and our explosive outbursts. The anger of Jesus was righteous (justified) and he became angry at injustice. Think of the hard-hearts of the Pharisees (Mark 3:5) or the way the merchants took advantage of the pilgrims in the Temple (John 2)

Second, Paul advises us not to let the sun go down on our anger. That means not saving up slights! When I was a little boy, merchants gave out green stamps that you could save up, paste into books and redeem for items in their catalog (like my first pup tent). Sometimes we’re like that. Something happens that upsets us but it’s not a big enough deal to become truly angry about so we just file it away until we have enough little annoyances to redeem for a good fight.

Third, sometimes I go looking for a trouble. The other day Jan and I were in the mood for a great hamburger. The line was long (just like I expected) and I saw an arrogant, rich man walk right to the front of the line and place his order before the rest of us and especially a little family whose turn it was. They were just about to order when this guy and his painted wife pushed by them. I was furious and was just about to say something when he pulled out his wallet and paid for the little family’s meal. “Thanks Uncle Ralph.” The funny thing is I was disappointed I couldn’t express my righteous indignation! I think I was just looking for a fight. Ouch.

No, the best advice I could give to Ray (and myself) is to learn the power of patient forgiveness. Paul told the Romans, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil…. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary:

‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” (Romans 12:17-21).

Your golf clubs will thank you.

Meditations on Ephesians 5:18-21

The First Exercise (continued): Psalms

 

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

 

So if Paul encourages us to be filled with the Holy Spirit by singing to each other, what shall we sing? The Psalms of the Bible were the songbook of the early Christians. They were quoted by Christ, Peter, Paul and even the devil!

The 118th Psalm has the distinction of being the most quoted Psalm in the New Testament and perhaps, after reading it today, you can understand why.

 

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

118 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

        Let Israel say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

        Let the house of Aaron say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

        Let those who fear the Lord say,

“His steadfast love endures forever.”

        Out of my distress I called on the Lord;

the Lord answered me and set me free.

        The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

        The Lord is on my side as my helper;

I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

        It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in man.

        It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in princes.

10         All nations surrounded me;

in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

11         They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;

in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

12         They surrounded me like bees;

they went out like a fire among thorns;

in the name of the Lord I cut them off!

13         I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,

but the Lord helped me.

14         The Lord is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.

15         Glad songs of salvation

are in the tents of the righteous:

“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,

16         the right hand of the Lord exalts,

the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”

17         I shall not die, but I shall live,

and recount the deeds of the Lord.

18         The Lord has disciplined me severely,

but he has not given me over to death.

19         Open to me the gates of righteousness,

that I may enter through them

and give thanks to the Lord.

20         This is the gate of the Lord;

the righteous shall enter through it.

21         I thank you that you have answered me

and have become my salvation.

22         The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

23         This is the Lord’s doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

24         This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25         Save us, we pray, O Lord!

O Lord, we pray, give us success!

26         Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

We bless you from the house of the Lord.

27         The Lord is God,

and he has made his light to shine upon us.

Bind the festal sacrifice with cords,

up to the horns of the altar!

28         You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

you are my God; I will extol you.

29         Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

Meditations on Ephesians 5:18-21

The First Exercise: Speaking to One Another

 

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

 

Climbing on Mt. Rainier, Washington

Mom’s are great singers – at least mine was. Who isn’t touched by the image of a mother rocking a baby in her arms and softly singing to soothe that tiny spirit. One way we can be filled with the Holy Spirit is by “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” (v. 19).

“Addressing” seems a strange way of wording Paul’s encouragement (English Standard Version, Revised Standard Version). Some of the other English translations say “speaking to one another” or “speak” (King James Version, New King James, New American Standard Version, New International version) while the New Revised Standard Version says “as you sing.” I like the International Standard translation that says “recite to one another” (also the New Century Version) but they all emphasize the first spiritual exercise is as we encourage others, we are encouraged.

It’s hard to be happy when we are heart-broken and some people seem to be broken hearted all the time. It is very true that if you want to be happy, make someone else happy. When we turn the focus away from ourselves, we can begin to relax.

Now notice Paul’s exhortation “addressing one another.” Happiness – being Spirit filled—is a chain reaction. I comfort you and you comfort me and we comfort each other and the feelings grow. I remember listening to a youth minister describing a picture of heaven and hell. He asked us to imagine a table spread with wonderful, wonderful food and all the people sitting around this marvelous meal. However, there was one interesting condition. They all had three foot forks tied to their hands. Can you imagine the frustration of starving in front of all that food? No matter how hard the people tried to eat, they couldn’t get that fork full of food in their mouths! Now that is hell! But now we go to the next room. The situation is identical: a long table of food and people with three foot forks tied to their hands but this room is ringing with laughter and joy as they all feed one another! That’s heaven!

So today, if you want to be filled with the Spirit, share a song with someone. It will do you both good!

Meditations on Ephesians 5:18-21

Spiritual Exercises

Mountain Climbing on Mt. Rainier, Washington, USA

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

 

Many English translations of Paul’s words try to break his long sentence into smaller and smaller parts. Some of them actually divide it into two paragraphs! If grammar left you cold in school, please excuse this meditation but sometimes grammar is a means of grace.

Let me explain. The heart of a sentence is the verb – the action word. In this case, Paul tells the Ephesian Christians, “Be filled with the Spirit.” That is the key. That is what the apostle is concerned about communicating. Naturally we want to know “how?” How can we be filled with the Spirit? That’s where the words ending in “-ing” come in. (Grammarians call these words “participles.” H.V.P. Nunn calls them “verbal adjectives sharing the characteristics both of verbs and adjectives.”) They explain “how” we can fill ourselves with God’s Holy Spirit. In a very real sense they represent spiritual exercises for Christians. Here they are from our text:

  • “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”
  • “singing”
  • “and making melody to the Lord with your heart”
  • “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
  • “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Just as a physical fitness trainer designs a program of exercises to help our bodies become strong, so the Apostle Paul is providing us with a series of exercises to feed our souls.

Meditations on Ephesians 5:18-21

Approaching El Pico de Orizaba (18,885′ high), Mexico

Don’t Settle for Substitutes

 

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

So if unbridled joy is a part of the Christian life, it seems natural to ask, “How? How are we filled with that kind of spirit?” Perhaps we need a physical stimulation? It would seem the Greeks in Ephesus who worshiped Dionysius (the so-called “god” of wine) did so by becoming drunk. The United Bible Societies’ translators’ handbook explains:

It is impossible to determine why this particular warning was necessary; it appears that verses 18–20 have to do with group worship, and so the drunkenness could be of a religious nature, that is, drinking wine in worship to gain communion with God, as was the practice among certain religious groups of that time.[1]

Many religious groups use some kind of physical stimulation in worship. Native Americans used peyote. The worshipers of Dionysius in Greece (and perhaps Ephesus) used wine.

I want to be happy! We all want to be happy. Sometimes we need to be distracted from reality. If I turn to television, I can loose myself in someone else’s troubles. If I surf the Internet, there is no telling what I might find. In a video game, I can have super powers. Books, food – even people – can all provide relief from reality. There are darker distractions too: drugs and alcohol. Perhaps you’ve tried them. Perhaps you are wrestling with them now.

The apostle warns, “do not get drunk with wine.” Notice, he doesn’t say, “Don’t enjoy a glass of wine with your meal,” but wine, like so many things, can become a distraction from reality. William Hendriksen observes:

Exhilaration is wrong, however, when the method of inducing it is wrong. Thus it is improper to seek excitement from the excessive use of wine. It is the abuse of wine that is forbidden, not the use (I Tim. 5:23). That such abuse was a real danger in the early church, as it certainly is also today, appears from such restrictions as the following: “The overseer therefore must be above reproach … not (one who lingers) beside (his) wine” (I Tim. 3:3; cf. Titus 1:7); “Deacons similarly (must be) dignified, not … addicted to much wine” (I Tim. 3:8); and “Urge aged women similarly (to be) reverent in demeanor … not enslaved to much wine” (Titus 2:3).

Intoxication is not the effective remedy for the cares and worries of this life. The so-called “uplift” it provides is not real. It is the devil’s poor substitute for the “joy unspeakable and full of glory” which God provides. Satan is ever substituting the bad for the good. Has he not been called “the ape of God”? Getting drunk on wine is “associated with unrestrained living” or “dissolute behavior,” “recklessness” (Titus 1:6; I Peter 4:4). It marks the person who, if he so continues, cannot be saved.[2]

Being filled with the Spirit requires some effort. There are no shortcuts to genuine spirituality. Accept no substitutes!



[1] Bratcher, R. G., & Nida, E. A. (1993). A handbook on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. UBS Handbook Series (134–135). New York: United Bible Societies.

[2] Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953-2001). Vol. 7: Exposition of Ephesians. New Testament Commentary (238–239). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

Meditations on Ephesians 5:18-21

Unbridled Joy

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

It was an early Sunday morning when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in Jerusalem. A peaceful dawn was suddenly shattered by the sound of a howling wind filling the streets. The roar must have been deafening. People rushed out of their homes to see what they heard but they were left bewildered. They expected to see rooftops being blown off and trees being ripped up by their roots. Imagine their surprise when not a breath of wind was stirring. The leaves on the trees drooped peacefully but what was that noise?

As the people gathered, the apostles poured out of the upper room and into the streets praising God. What was going on? Someone, seeing the apostles’ giddy expressions, suspected: “They’re drunk!” (Acts 2:13)

The Apostle Peter laughing with them explained, “These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only 9:00 in the morning!” and then he began preaching the first gospel sermon.

In worship, have you ever been so happy people accused you of being drunk? It has probably been a while (if ever). Normally, Christians, by the scowls on their judgmental faces, seem to deny there is ever a time for joy but it hasn’t always been that way. Listen to the Bible:

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;

let them ever sing for joy,

and spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may exult in you (Psalm 51:11)

 

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,

and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:11)

Let those who delight in my righteousness

shout for joy and be glad

and say evermore,

“Great is the Lord,

who delights in the welfare of his servant!”

Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness

and of your praise all the day long (Psalm 35:27, 28).

 

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, (1 Peter 1:8).

 

I want that joy! The Ephesians did too but Paul explains, the Christian joy doesn’t come from a bottle. It is a joy rooted in the presence of the Holy Spirit. “Be filled with the Spirit!”

Meditations on Ephesians 5:19-21

Hiking in the Collegiate Peaks, Colorado

Be Filled with the Spirit

 

Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

 

On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the first disciples, Peter declared,

Acts 2:38  “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

So if the Ephesians already had the gift of the Holy Spirit since they had repented and been baptized, how can Paul tell them to “Be filled with the Spirit”? (And of course the same admonition applies to us.)

As with any good Bible study, we should begin by looking carefully at the words behind our English translation. In this case the words “be filled” correctly translates one Greek word plêrousthe (πληροῦσθε) however, Greek verbs are a little different from English verbs. Here the words “be filled” are passive which could be translated “allow yourself to be filled with the Holy Spirit.” In other words, we can get in the way! We can become so focused on ourselves – we might say “so full of ourselves” – we don’t have room for the Holy Spirit!

We received the gift of the Spirit when we became Christians but many people keep the gift of the Holy Spirit in the closet of their hearts. We focus on things rather than God. It might be work or it could be a grand cause. It might be another person, or sports, or relationships, or collections – anything we are passionate about – but the point is our focus is on something other than the Holy Spirit. God is not the center of our life and so Paul declares “be filled with the Spirit!” In the next meditations, we’ll begin exploring how to do just that.