Do you hear it?

We often times read through scripture with ears and eyes only for the obvious or amplified. If you’ve spent any time in scripture you know there are portions of the bible that seem repetitive; as if trying to drive a point. Many stories, commands and instructions are repeated. As our assumptions might prove true, it does happen for the very reason we suspect; an important point is being made.

Does that mean that things said only once are less important?

Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”

All scripture…. even the things mentioned once, or briefly touched upon, as we skim past. I came upon such a piece of scripture the other day while reading the book of John. It was a quick reference that I may have missed on any other day. It was a passage I’ve read numerous times, without appreciating this detail. I read it, continued, but then stopped and went back to read it again. Thoughts of my Inductive Bible Study class from seminary came to mind when I thought about appreciating the details in scripture.

There are so many choices these days as to what we watch, listen to, or read. When we do finally settle on something we many times “skim” through it, in order to head on to the next bit of engaging stimulation. It seems people read less novels these days and more news articles and blogs. Some days we only have the attention span for a “Tweet”.  Is it our lack of commitment, time or interest?

Well, on this particular day as I read John, something jumped out at me that I never appreciated before.

As I read through the sentencing of Jesus and his crucifixion, I read it with new eyes. John 19:23-24 pressed on my heart.

“When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.” It goes on to say that they threw dice for his tunic because they didn’t want to rip it and this portion of this scripture often times gains the attention of its readers because it is a fulfillment of scripture.

Psalm 22:16-18 “My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.”

In John’s passion narrative, he goes beyond just mentioning the soldiers dividing Jesus’ garments among themselves, and mentions a “seamless tunic”, that was not torn, in verse 24. I searched Matthew, Mark and Luke and found they also mention the casting of lots for Jesus’ clothing, but there is no mention of the “seamless” garment.  John shows us that the soldiers saw value in this tunic. Something that could not be torn. There’s an importance in mentioning this vestment.

Tunics were part of the liturgical vestments and held importance in Hebrew tradition, specifically by the priests that served at the tabernacle. Ezekiel mentions several times the linen garments that were to be worn during Temple service. These garments were designed by God and given to Moses in the desert of Sinai. Throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, there are many mentions of linen garments that are to be worn by the priests that serve at the tabernacle. Many times, Jewish tradition called for a mother to make such a robe and present it to her son as a gift when he left home. Did Mary make this for Jesus? We do not know. The detail that we do know is that the tunic was “without seam”, woven from top to bottom.

Why is this important or significant? Scripture many times uses clothing to explain our behavior. David spoke of evil people who clothed themselves “with cursing.” Peter proclaims we should be “clothed with humility (1 Pet 5:5). Garments have been used to symbolize the character of a person. In this case for Jesus, it is that he is “seamless”, his glory “uninterrupted”, His pattern,” perfection”. This small detail speaks into the tremendous truth of who our Lord and Savior is.

The passages in Leviticus and Exodus go into great detail about the vestments to be worn by Aaron. Aaron was the first High Priest of Israel. Everyone that followed him in that office were to do the same. Part of his vestments (robes) were to be worn as an under robe, and they were, to be made seamless, and to be reinforced around the neck opening…. so, to prevent tearing.

All of this to say that the seamless garment mentioned only by John, points us to the fact that Christ is the High Priest of the New Covenant. What was alluded to by John, we are shown later by the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews. (Hebrews 9:11-15.)

A small detail, easily missed by ears and eyes only tuned to the obvious or amplified.  There is not just purpose in the words of scripture but in the way they were written. There is purpose in the repeated and in the fleeting. The latter begs the question “Are we paying attention?” God has so much for us but often times is waiting for our attention. Between the repeated lessons and words, are subtle gifts of clarity and assurance. Are we taking the time to see them and to hear them?

Through our discouragement do we miss his still small voice? We learn from Elijah that often times when we become discouraged, we miss the presence of God. Elijah who was a great prophet of God, ran into the wilderness to die when things became difficult. God had other plans for the prophet, like He does for us as well, when we become down trodden. God comes to Elijah not in a great wind or earthquake. God comes to Elijah in silence, in a “still small voice.” Out of the silence a distinct message comes to Elijah that God also speaks to us in our discouragement. We still have work to do because God still has work to do. Are we listening? Are we hearing?

Elijah still had work to do because God still had work to do. God said to Elijah “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

Jesus is our High Priest of the New Covenant. He is perfect and seamless and wants to be in relationship with us. Are you listening? Can you hear him?

Scripture is not a book of parental orders. The bible is a book that invites its readers to come sit a while. It invites us to stand before the mountains of our lives and listen for Gods gentle whisper. To tune out the windstorms and earthquakes and fire, that rattle us to the core and to be in relationship with a God that is seamless and perfect; taking time to sit with God in the silence of His glory.

I love the way Charles Spurgeon speaks of the text from 1 Kings.

“Then the prophet covered his face, and went to the mouth of the cave and stood to listen, for the still small voice had won the solemn attention of his soul. It had done for him what all the rest could not do; for this reason, that the Lord was not in the wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but the Lord was in the still small voice, and Elijah knew it, and he was awed, and prepared himself to hear what God the Lord would speak.” -Charles Spurgeon

Imagine the things we would notice in scripture if only we prepared ourselves for God. Imagine the small details that hold big messages that could bless our lives if we only took the time to “hear what the Lord would speak?”

My prayer is that the still small voice win the solemn attention of our souls.

-Pastor Patti