Rue and Honey
Good Morning Friends,
Have you always wanted to prepare a biblical feast beyond a Passover Seder? Well there is a lot to choose from that is delectable and few things that culturally do not really sound all that great. Of all the things to eat I am not much of a fan of locust or rue. Still there is a message in them. And since we have already addressed locust in previous devotionals on John the Baptist, I thought that today we would look at one of the bitter herbs referenced in scripture. And though there are no jokes in the Bible I cannot help but think that there is a bit of sharp wit in a spice called rue in today’s scripture from Luke. It is after all well known for its symbolic meaning of regret and yet still it has been called the “herb-of-grace.” It is interesting in that it has been used as an abortive for centuries, but also in magic and in a mixture to fight off the plague. In most ways it is very sad herb, for even as I search for some humor here, it comes back bittersweet, the likes of Rue and Honey.
Scripture: And wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.
Psalm 104:15 (ESV)
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
Proverbs 15:17 (ESV)
“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.”
Luke 11:42 (NIV)
Message: There’s nothing in the Bible that is written as a joke. But sometimes when we read the Bible there are certain things that might strike us as odd or funny. Today’s passage from Luke is one of them. Its wit is double edged with a purpose. And it is here that the secret source of humor is revealed. Here in the surprise of sorrow more so than a jolt of joy, the message sinks into our very being. I would have to say that it is a way of coping, for if one can find humor in something, one can survive it. Friends, what we think changes us. But so too what we hear and eat and see. There are messages in the many different foods mentioned in the Bible. Some are common, some are rare and others are plain disgusting to us today. What we consume physically and spiritually is so culturally determined. Maybe we need to look more closely at those foods we culturally do not seem to like. Maybe we need to stop playing with our food words. Only Cod knows if the wurst is yet to come. God knows what has been bread into us, even as we read this Manual from Heaven.
Pray we be prepared to laugh in heaven at the life we have lived. Pray for forgiveness at our poor attempts at humor. Pray we are at peace with the past. Pray for a new heaven and a new earth. Pray for a time when Jesus will wipe every tear from our eyes…for a time when there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Pray we realize that Jesus has the last laugh. Pray we are prepared to dine with Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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