Married to Mediocre

Introduction

Color Purple Story: Ciely is married to a man who clearly doesn’t want to be with her. He is physically abusive, slapping and beating her. He is verbally abusive. He carries on open affairs, making no gesture to hide his feelings for other women. She has clearly settled for a kind of less than life. it’s not until Shug opens her eyes to what she could truly be, during a moment in the movement, emboldening her to not have to settle for less than the best. This sets her on the trajectory to freedom.

CREATING THE NEED:

WE ALL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CIELY IN US, WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES MARRIED TO MEDIOCRE. PART OF US TENDS TO SETTLE FOR LESS THAN THE IDEAL. BUT THERE EXISTS WITHIN US AN INNER SHUG, WHO SEEKS TO NUDGE US OUT OF THE CHAINS OF MEDIOCRITY AND EVIL, AND TO STRIVE FOR MORE.

IN A RECENT NYT ARTICLE, RUTH WHIPPMAN TALKS OF MOVING FROM ENGLAND TO THE U.S., AND THE PROFOUND LONELINESS SHE FELT. SOMETHING IN HER SAID SHE DIDN’T NEED TO FIND FRIENDS OR COMMUNITY, SO SHE DOWNLOADED A HAPPINESS APP, THAT WOULD SEND HER RANDOM TEXT MESSAGES TELLING HER THINGS LIKE SHE WAS ENOUGH BY HERSELF, AND SHE DIDN’T NEED PEOPLE. BUT NOTICE WHAT SHE SAYS: The app I eventually chose messaged me every hour or so with a positive affirmation that I was supposed to repeat to myself over and over. “I am beautiful,” or “I am enough.” The problem was, every time my phone buzzed with an incoming message, I would get a Pavlovian jolt of excitement thinking an actual person was trying to contact me. “I am enough,” I would snarl bitterly upon realizing the truth, unable to shake the feeling that, without friends or community, I really wasn’t.

SHE HAD SETTLED FOR THE MEDIOCRITY OF NO COMMUNITY, BUT THEN SHUG RAISED HER HEAD AND PUSHED HER FOR MORE. SO SHE MADE UP HER MIND THAT SHE HAD TO FIND COMMUNITY.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT: SHOW WHERE OUR TEXT IS AND HOW THE NATION OF ISRAEL, IN A TRAGIC DECISION DECIDES TO GET MARRIED TO MEDIOCRITY, AND TO SETTLE FOR LESS THAN GOD’S IDEAL.

DECEIVED BY SIN-

AS ISRAEL GETS DEEPER INTO THE PROMISED LAND THE FIGHTING GETS FIERCER- . THE ANTE GETS UPPED.

AS ISRAEL GETS DEEPER INTO THE PROMISED LAND THE FIGHTING GETS FIERCER- . THE ANTE GETS UPPED.

AS ISRAEL GETS DEEPER INTO THE PROMISED LAND THE FIGHTING GETS FIERCER- . THE ANTE GETS UPPED.

APPLICATION: THE DEEPER WE DIVE INTO THE PROMISES OF GOD THE GREATER THE PRESSURE, AND THE MORE EQUIPPED WE WILL HAVE TO BE. TRUE IN MARRIAGE- GOD’S WILL IS ONENESS, A SOUL LEVEL KIND OF HARMONY, BUT THIS IS NOT A BOX TO BE CHECKED, IT IS SOMETHING THAT MUST BE FOUGHT FOR, AND THE DEEPER INTO MARRIAGE WE GO THE MORE CHALLENGING THIS COME AND THEREFORE THE MORE INTENSE WE HAVE TO FIGHT. WITH OUR KIDS. THE FIGHT AT 17 MONTHS WAS CHILD LOCKING THE CABINETS. WELL I’LL TRADE YOU THAT FOR THE FIGHT WE HAVE AT 17 YEARS. IN OUR JOBS.

EXPLANATION: THE GIBEONITES. MASS PRODUCERS OF WINE, REPRESENTING THE NAPA VALLEY OF ITS TIME. THEY LIVE ONLY 19 MILES FROM ISRAEL’S HQ AT GILGAL. THEY ARE A PART OF THE PEOPLE GROUPS THAT GOD SAYS THEY ARE TO DESTROY COMPLETELY (THEY ARE A PART OF THE HIVITES)- . GOD IS CLEAR, THEY ARE TO BE DESTROYED. GIDEON REPRESENTS SIN, AND THAT SIN IS NOT TO BE PLAYED WITH. ; CRUCIFY THE FLESH. GO TO WAR WITH YOUR SIN!

BUT THEY COME IN CUNNING IN VERSES 3-4…SET THE SCENE…THEY LOOK SO PITIFUL AND HELPLESS. LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING! THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN. Refer to as the deceitfulness of sin. - sin looks good, and it allures us.

Illustration of Mouse in NYC. It looked so cute, but Korie said I don’t play rodents in my house. It has to go!

Illustration of Mouse in NYC. It looked so cute, but Korie said I don’t play rodents in my house. It has to go!

APPLICATION: WHAT SIN IS IN YOUR LIFE THAT IS CUTE AND CUDDLY? WHAT AREAS ARE YOU BEING DECEIVED BY?

MARRIED TO SIN-

EXPLANATION: TELL THE STORY. SO HAVING DECEIVED ISRAEL BY CUNNING ISRAEL DECIDES TO ENTER INTO COVENANT WITH GIBEONITES. THEY FORM A BINDING AGREEMENT WITH THEM NOT TO DESTROY THEM BUT TO ALLOW THEM TO BE A PART OF THEM. GIBEON WILL BE SAFE, NOT KILLED.

POINT: NOW IF GIBEON REPRESENTS SIN, ISRAEL HAS JUST DECIDED TO BE AT PEACE WITH WHAT GOD HAS DECLARED SHOULD BE DESTROYED. (TSA FOR CLOSING).

ILLUSTRATION: IMMUNITY. IN THE MOVIE GOODFELLAS, ONE OF THE GUYS IS CAPTURED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT. HE IS CLEARLY GUILTY OF DRUGS, RACKETEERING AND OTHER CRIMES. HOWEVER LAW ENFORCEMENT DECIDES TO CUT A DEAL WITH HIM. IN EXCHANGE FOR HIM FLIPPING AND TURNING STATES EVIDENCE AGAINST THE CRIME BOSSES, THEY WILL GIVE HIM IMMUNITY. IMMUNITY BASICALLY SAYS THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU’VE DONE BAD THINGS WE WILL BE AT PEACE WITH YOU.

APPLICATION…REALLY STRONG. THAT’S WHAT TOO MANY OF US HAVE DONE WITH SIN IN OUR LIVES. WE’VE GIVEN IMMUNITY TO OUR SIN. WE HAVE MADE A COVENANT WITH THE GIBEONITES IN OUR LIVES. WHAT GOD HAS TOLD US TO DESTROY WE HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE AT PEACE WITH. THAT EMOTIONAL AFFAIR. THAT PORN PROBLEM…I DESERVE IT AFTER ALL. YOUR DISRESPECT OF YOUR HUSBAND…WELL HE DOESN’T DESERVE MY RESPECT. THE GREED ISSUE…WELL, I’VE WORKED HARD. LAZINESS…YOU’VE MADE A COVENANT WITH IT…YOU’VE GRANTED IT IMMUNITY, AND YOU’VE ALLOWED IT TO SETTLE INTO THE CONFINES OF YOUR HEART AND LIFE…WHAT GIBEONITES HAVE YOU MADE A TREATY WITH?

THE REAL PROBLEM- VERSE 14

EXPLANATION: THE ROOT OF THEIR DECISION IS THEY DIDN’T SEEK COUNSEL OF THE LORD. STORY OF JOSHUA IS WHEN GOD IS CONSULTED AND OBEY THERE’S VICTORY, WHEN GOD IS LEFT OUT THERE’S DEFEAT. ISRAEL DOESN’T EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF WHAT GOD HAS FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T CONSULT HIM, AND HE WAS LEFT OUT OF THE PICTURE.

THIS PASSAGE TEACHES US THAT GOD IS NO HELICOPTER PARENT. DEFINE THIS…THEY MICROMANAGE THE DETAILS OF THEIR KIDS LIVES. THAT’S NOT GOD. HS HOLD ON...

Q AT CAMP SPENDING OVER HALF HIS MONEY IN STORE…TELLING KORIE TO HOLD ON.

GOD SAYS I’M AVAILABLE, JUST CONSULT ME. DAVID DOES THIS...

OPEN BOOK ILLUSTRATION. STILL HAVE TO TAKE THE TEST, JUST BRING THE BOOK. WOULD BE A FOOL TO NOT BRING AND CONSULT THE BOOK. POINT TO THE BIBLE. ALL OF LIFE IS AN OPEN BOOK TEST…WILL WE BRING THE BOOK?

GOSPEL CONCLUSION. COVENANTS BETWEEN LESSER AND GREATER. GIBEON IS LESSER AND ISRAEL GREATER. GIBEON IS SINFUL, ISRAEL IS THE COMMUNITY OF GOD. LIKEWISE WE THE LESSER SINFUL ONE’S GET INTO COMMUNITY WITH GOD THE GREATER ONE. GIBEON IS EVENTUALLY SANCTIFIED IN NEHEMIAH AS SHE IS SO ASSIMILATED INTO THE PEOPLE OF GOD THAT SHE IS WORKING TO RESTORE THE WALL OF JERUSALEM. GOD TAKES THE BAD AND MAKES IT GOOD. WE CALL THIS SANCTIFICATION. GOD SPECIALIZES IN TAKING MISTAKES AND MAKING THEM GREAT FOR HIS GLORY.

GOSPEL CONCLUSION. COVENANTS BETWEEN LESSER AND GREATER. GIBEON IS LESSER AND ISRAEL GREATER. GIBEON IS SINFUL, ISRAEL IS THE COMMUNITY OF GOD. LIKEWISE WE THE LESSER SINFUL ONE’S GET INTO COMMUNITY WITH GOD THE GREATER ONE. GIBEON IS EVENTUALLY SANCTIFIED IN NEHEMIAH AS SHE IS SO ASSIMILATED INTO THE PEOPLE OF GOD THAT SHE IS WORKING TO RESTORE THE WALL OF JERUSALEM. GOD TAKES THE BAD AND MAKES IT GOOD. WE CALL THIS SANCTIFICATION. GOD SPECIALIZES IN TAKING MISTAKES AND MAKING THEM GREAT FOR HIS GLORY.

PENICILIN ILLUSTRATION