Reading in Zephaniah (short book, located toward the back of the Old Testament, a prophet of the 8th Century BC predicting that if the Hebrew people don’t straighten up they will be sent into exile–they didn’t and they were), chapter 3, verses 8-10. First God through Zephaniah talks about how bad humans have become and how He will bring judgement. Then He says His passion will consume the earth and the speech of people will be turned to pure speech.
At that point, God had been trying laws–sets of rules–to guide people into a relationship with Him. He was also trying ritual. God’s people, who were supposed to be His light to the world, had become legalistic and ritualistic.
The 10 Commandments were less rules than the explanation of the covenant with God. But humans thought they needed to be explained. And the more they thought about explaining, the more rules they needed. Sounds sort of like today–legislators from cities to states to nations don’t consider their work done unless they approve more rules and regulations.
Laws require people to interpret them–lawyers; and people to point out to other people that they have transgressed them–judges. Eventually everyone things he or her is a lawyer and judge–but only to point fingers at others. Never to see how they themselves are living.
Rituals require priests. Priests have their own set of rules about how to worship, when to worship, what you should do, how you should behave.
Both of these human institutions are prone to corruption. The records of the prophets of Israel and Judah reveal the depth of corruption at that time.
No wonder God talked about wanting his passion to consume the world. His people kept forgetting him. They got involved in human institutions forgetting about the reason for it all.
Jesus came to show a different way to God’s passion, which I interpret as Spirit. But even his witness was not enough. People still returned to institutions, that in turn became corrupt.
As you ponder your relationship to God during this Lent, are you open to God such that you are consumed by His passion? His Spirit? Are you open to stop judging others and yourself and start living in the Spirit and revealing the Spirit to others. Otherwise, why did Jesus die for you?
Faith Venture 
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