~~~ Daniel 13:41c-62 or 13:1-19, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 ~~~
~~~ Psalm 23 ~~ John 8:1-11 ~~~
Crime and Punishment...
The prophet Daniel takes up the defense of Susanna
and saves her from wrongful death.
Two evil elders bring false allegations against Susanna
because she refuses to enter into sin with them.
They were overcome with the thoughts of lust, adultery
and finally lies and murder.
Daniel has the wisdom to trap them in their own lies.
After getting two different answers to the same question
he is able to determine they were lying.
Susanna chose death rather then participating in their sin.
She prayed that God would intervene, which he did.
The Lord heard her prayer.
As she was being led to execution
As she was being led to execution
Even though Susanna was walking in the dark valley
she did not fear. She was confident that God was by her side.
She is an example of the conviction of trusting in God's care.
In the gospel we also see a woman accused by the elders.
In this case the woman is probably guilty, although
we do not know the circumstances.
Both stories involve alleged crimes of lust and passion.
The woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus.
The elders were more interested in how Jesus would handle
this woman than whether or not she was guilty.
The sentence, if convicted, for adultery was stoning.
Jesus brilliantly turned the tables on the accusers.
The woman was thrown to the ground at the feet of Jesus.
The crowd gathered round to witness her judgment
and subsequent stoning.
But Jesus quietly bends down and begins to draw/write in the dirt.
This is the only time we see him writing.
We do not know what he wrote or why he took this action.
Whatever the elders saw on the ground
it was sufficient to make them
turn away one by one beginning with the elders.
Did he write their sins?
Did he write their names?
Whatever he revealed must have been hidden in their hearts.
No one remained.
Not one person was left to cast the stones.
Jesus gave them the opportunity to cast the stones,
but for whatever reason they walked away.
Jesus had this uncanny ability to see deep into the hearts of others.
Remember the Samaritan woman at the well,
he told her all of her past sins.
Jesus knows what we try to hide within our hearts,
but he does not condemn us with this knowledge.
Instead he forgives us and wants us to come closer to him.
God may be judge and jury,
but he is also mercy and love.
His love for us supersedes the punishment
we just might deserve.
Does this mean that we can do whatever we want?
No. Perfect justice lies with the Lord.
Susanna was innocent and God intervened.
The adulterous woman was probably guilty and God intervened.
When will we believe that God really is on our side?
He has shown that the prestige of old age is not the deciding factor.
The elders in both passages were less than exemplary people
in today's Scriptures.
If we turn to God he can make all things work out for good.
He will make all things right.
We must trust in his love and mercy for us.
God does not want to condemn us.
Sometimes he allows us to condemn ourselves,
but even then we have the choice to return to him.
He will never turn his back on us.
He will never walk away.
We are blessed to have a God who comes to our defense.
A God who sees into the depths of our heart
and still loves us.
Peace.
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