[One-Verse Meditation]

Judges 12:1 (NIV) “The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, ‘Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.’”

[Meditation]

On the day of the great victory over the Ammonites, there were no songs of joy in the camp of Gilead. Instead, the men of Ephraim came and poured out their anger. “Why didn’t you call us?” they demanded. “We’re going to burn down your house over your head.” In a place where they should have been celebrating God’s salvation together, they erupted in envy and anger because their own glory was not revealed.

Jephthah reminds them that they had ignored his request for help, but his words fall on the deaf ears of the pride-filled Ephraimites. In the end, Israel plunges into the terrible tragedy of a civil war, brother killing brother. The ‘glory of victory,’ which should have united the community, instead became the ‘poison of pride’ that led them to ruin. This is the ‘face of death’ born from self-centered envy and jealousy.

This episode today makes us look at the ‘Ephraim’ within us. Through that reflection, we come to rely on the Lord and long to be the church. A community that rejoices together when it is time to rejoice, and grieves together when it is time to grieve; a community that is one not through envy, jealousy, and strife, but through encouragement, praise, and support; that holy fellowship and sharing that richly enjoys the life of God.

[Prayer]

Lord, remove the face of death from within me and let me live by the life of the Lord, who conquered the power of death. Make us into a people who enjoy being one body and love one another. Amen.
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(Daily Reading)

Judges 12:1-15