"A Snow Cooled Drink at Harvest Time!"

Reflection: Since news didn’t travel quite as fast in biblical times as it does now, people relied on messengers to get their message out.  There were people whose sole job it was to be a messenger for their master.  The master had to rely on the messenger to deliver the news precisely as he had wanted.  Today’s Proverbs reflects how refreshing it was for a master to know that their messenger had done just that.  The metaphor of a “snow cooled” drink was used to show just how refreshing it was to know the task was accomplished.  And since ice was not as easily gotten as it is today, a cool drink was quite a luxury.

¹³ Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
    is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
    he refreshes the spirit of his master.

²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
    is good news from a distant land.

Paul reflects on this in his second letter to the Corinthians as well.  After Paul had sent the first letter he was quite concerned, and might we say highly anxious, about how the Corinthians would react to some of the sternness and rebuke of the first letter.  You can see how relieved he is when Titus, his faithful messenger, and lets Paul that the Corinthian’s long to see him. His letter had produced a godly sorrow in them, and a desire to repent of the things Paul pointed out in the letter were not becoming of the Christian way of life and their testimony to the world.   

This is a key concept, “godly sorrow”.  We can be sorry for ourselves, or sorry for others about what we have done, but are we sorry toward God.  And we can’t manufacture this kind of sorrow, but it is brought about by the Holy Spirit, who convicts us when we have strayed. The Spirit calls us back into right relationship with God, by turning from what we know is wrong.  Paul, as their pastor, takes a relational risk by challenging them in this way, but this challenge not only produces repentance in the Corinthians, but deepens their relationship with each other and with him. 

Our faith communities can tend to be fairly superficial with only a, “How’s it going?” on a Sunday morning. But I believe God wants us to go deeper with each other.  We all need people in our lives who will challenge us when we have drifted from God, and/or started to engage in behaviors contrary to our calling as servants of Christ.  I like the word “care-front” because often the word “confront” has such a negative connotation and often produces results contrary to the process Paul is describing.  As we “speak the truth in love” out of a true pastoral care for a brother or sister’s spiritual well-being, God can draw us closer to each other and also to Him. 

Look for people who you might have this type of relationship with.  This type of interaction was needed back then and I am pretty sure it is needed now!  Amen. 

Psalm 71:9-18

⁹ Do not cast me away when I am old;
    do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
¹⁰ For my enemies speak against me;
    those who wait to kill me conspire together.
¹¹ They say, “God has forsaken him;
    pursue him and seize him,
    for no one will rescue him.”
¹² Do not be far from me, my God;
    come quickly, God, to help me.
¹³ May my accusers perish in shame;
    may those who want to harm me
    be covered with scorn and disgrace.

¹⁴ As for me, I will always have hope;
    I will praise you more and more.

¹⁵ My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.
¹⁶ I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
¹⁷ Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
¹⁸ Even when I am old and gray,
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Proverbs 25

More Proverbs of Solomon

25 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
    so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

⁴ Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
⁵ remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
    and his throne will be established through righteousness.

⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
⁷ it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes
⁸     do not bring hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
    if your neighbor puts you to shame?

⁹ If you take your neighbor to court,
    do not betray another’s confidence,
¹⁰ or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.

¹¹ Like apples of gold in settings of silver
    is a ruling rightly given.
¹² Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
    is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.

¹³ Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
    is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
    he refreshes the spirit of his master.
¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of gifts never given.

¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
    and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just enough—
    too much of it, and you will vomit.
¹⁷ Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
    too much of you, and they will hate you.

¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
    is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
¹⁹ Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
    is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
    or like vinegar poured on a wound,
    is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
    if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.

²³ Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

²⁴ Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
    is good news from a distant land.
²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
    are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey,
    nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.

2 Corinthians 7:1-13

7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

² Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. ³ I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. ⁴ I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.⁵ For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. ⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever. ⁸ Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— ⁹ yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. ¹¹ See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. ¹² So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. ¹³ By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.

Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. Deuteronomy 10:14 (NASB)

In these last days God has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. Hebrews 1:2

Creator God, in you we live and breathe and have our being. Let the beauty that surrounds us in all your creation be an ever-present reminder of your power and your love. Amen.