May the mumbling commence!
Here again is another one of those days in reading the Old Testament where we read more names and numbers than stories. Take heart! There is less than a month of readings before we dive into the New Testament. Also be on alert for those hidden nuggets of stories within the name lists. Read one on those hidden stories from Ezra 2:61-63 (also recorded in Nehemiah 7:63-65):
And from among the priests:
The descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).
These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim.
We may read these words and think: “What an exclusive people!” In order to be clean for the priesthood, people needed to have the right pedigree. Without the right family records, these people were excluded from priestly duties and the benefits that went along with the priesthood.
Before we get to sanctimonious in our wrath for these people returning from exile, we should take two things into account. Number One: Israel was finally returning to the Promised Land after many years spent in exile. And this exile came about because the people of Israel did not observe the commands and laws and decrees of the Lord properly. There was due and just concern that they not make the same mistake twice. So, proper and committed priest were needed to lead the people into right relationship with the Lord.
Number Two: Let us examine how well we welcome those new people (whether they are seekers or from another denominational tradition) into our houses of worship on Sunday morning (or any other time and function of the church). How many times do we use peoples’ last names to play the Mennonite or Brethren or Methodist or Presbyterian game (I could go on, but I think you get the point.)? I’ve been on the outside of these conversations and looking in more times than I wish to remember. Or how many times to do speak in hushed tones about those people who only seem to turn up for church meals? Those “other people” are either our brothers or sisters in Christ or they have the potential of becoming our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Okay. Now, that we have our feet back on the floor; let’s tackle that last clause at the end of the passage. What is it with this priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim? The Urim and the Thummim were a part of the priests’ trade. Read a verse from Exodus 28:
Also put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord. (Verse 30)
The Urim and the Thummim were used to discern the will of the Lord in a matter. How was this done? Scholars cannot seem to agree. There seems to be a possible usage of the Urim and Thummim when Jonathan disobeyed the command of his father King Saul (1 Samuel 14:41). In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew text of the Old Testament), Saul declared, “If the fault is with me or my son respond with the Urim, but if the fault is with the men of Israel respond with the Thummim.”
But what do these words mean in relation to the Hebrew language. Some think that the Thummim has the meaning of innocent, and the Urim has the meaning of light. Thus, the people who think this think they have the meaning of lights and perfections. OR they could have been related to Babylonian words meaning oracle (Urim) and command (Thummim). OR the Urim could be related to the Hebrew word Arrim, which means curses. Then, one would know the guilt or innocence of the person or statement made before the drawing (or throwing) of the Urim and Thummim.
Regardless of how this item (or these items) were used, for today, I would lean toward the thought of light and perfections. These concepts have the greatest meaning for changing our lives. May the light of the Lord reveal and heal our imperfections so that we may be better children of God as we relate to all people in our midst.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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