As Lazarus comes out of the grave, Jesus instructed those present to ‘take off the grave clothes and let him go’ (John 11.44).

Grave clothes were proper to death, to lying in a grave. Lazarus was now raised from dead – he had to put off those grave clothes.

Leviticus 18-19 provide a list of matters which the children of Israel were to avoid 18.24-28 describes that these were common to the nations living in Canaan, nations which would later be cast out of the land. The sins listed, probably not exhaustive, were indicative of how those people lived. The people of God were not to copy them. Indeed, in Israel’s later history, God frequently judged Israel for doing just that.

The NT seems to follow this pattern. Several times we are instructed to put aside something. The ways of living, which are common to those who do not believe – believers to reject them.

1 Cor 6.9-11 ‘such were some of you’ – Corinth was the home to much sexual perversion. Converts had previously been involved. They must now learn not to live that way.

Gal 5.16-18 ‘desires of the sinful nature’ – the old way of life. Paul lists in v19-21 – mixture of actions and attitudes.; common way of life; normal. By the Christian is to put off such things. The problem is not that believers have, for example, ‘selfish ambition.’ The problem is when Christians hold such an attitude. – take off those grave clothes.

Eph 4.17-5.21; Col 2.6-23. Although the letters to Ephesus and Colossae were written by the apostle Paul about the same time, he references to different elements of the local sinful culture. I heard testimony of a prevalence of fortune-tellers in Liverpool. It was commented that these are not so common in other major cities. We should expect different places to have differences, in culture, in trade, in art and music, and in sin. These two sections would appear to support that tentative conclusion.

Room 13.11-14. Christian discipleship means putting off AND putting on. Paul’s command in clear – we are to put on Christ; His character and way. He is truly our example.

Everywhere are cultural norms; common behaviours and attitudes. This does not mean they are right. In fact, common cultural norms are probably sinful!

A Jewish Rabbi commented to Max Lucado (see It’s not about me!) not to think of the letter (of a particular commandment or instruction) but to think lifestyle. So, take off those grave clothes and put on Christ.

The Old Testament book of Judges provides many salutary lessons. It highlights the frailty and sinful tendencies in all humans.  It reminds us of our weaknesses. One element is the frequent internal divisions in the nation.

Judges 5 – Deborah and Barak call the tribes to join together to fight against the Midianites who had invaded the land. In the face of this threat, some of the tribes failed to join the fight. Deborah’s song records the tribes of Reuben and Gilead and Dan (v16-17) staying put, whilst others risked their lives (v18).

Judges 8 – During the time of Gideon, an argument arose with Ephraim, “Why have you treated as like this?” (v1-3) They criticised him sharply. They seemed to have missed out on the fighting. In response, Gideon commented that they had captured and killed Oreb and Zeeb, leaders of the Midianites. The writer says that their resentment was subdued; not totally, I fear!

Judged 9 – Abimelech was not an exemplary judge. We read that there was conflict between him and the citizens of Shechem, which led to him slaughtering 1,000 in the tower of Shechem. In turn, Abimelech was killed when trying to capture the town of Thebez.

Judges 12 – When Jephthah became Judge in Israel, the Ephraimites (again) complained that they had not been asked to join the fight against the Ammonites. Jephthah answered that he had called, but they had failed to respond.

Judges 20 & 21 – the final episode of the book marks the low point of Israelite history for many centuries. The detail is not edifying. Benjamin rebelled against the other eleven tribes, leading to them agreeing (for once) to attack Gibeah and Benjamin. Finally the tribe of Benjamin is almost wiped out.

The severity of these divisions seems to reflect the general spiritual declension in Israel. As their love for God grew cold, as each one “did as he saw fit” – unity and community fragmented.

The letter to the Hebrews includes these words:

Now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12.27-28)

There is a lot going on! (And this list is nowhere near complete!)

• there are wars, most recently the Israel-Hamas conflict; also in Sudan and the horn of Africa.
• There are many incidents evidencing climate change; floods, extreme heat, etc.
• The worldwide impact of covid-19, which scientists expect not to be the final such pandemic. This has diminished supply chains across the world.
• The Ukraine conflict in particular has inflated prices of basic foodstuffs for many millions.

in light of events across the world recently, I came to meditate on the words above.

I would not be so bold as to claim that what I have witnessed is the same as what Hebrews predicts. It is not ‘this is that’ (see Acts 2.16) but ‘this is like that.’ There is a shaking, ahead of ‘the’ shaking.

The shaking removes created things. It tests our trust in God and His Son and His promises. What remains may be unseen but cannot be shaken.

The kingdom we will receive will not be shaken.

Our response? – we worship and we are thankful. We press on in service and witness.