Harmony

Would your say Shibboleth or Sibboleth? Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and as soon as you say something, they tell you or guess your origin? Does this sound familiar? It could be because of the way you pronounced a word!  Sometimes it is helpful but other times it does sound like judging someone by where they come from and not who they really are!

True identity is unique and individual! The story is found in Judges 2:6, after judge Jephthah fought and defeated the Amorites, the Ephraimites came to pick a fight with him simply because they did not participate in that fight.  This judge explained to them what happened but they refused to accept and called him and his people “fugitives”.  Judge Jephthah attacked them and defeated them. Each time when a fugitive from Ephraim tried to cross into Gilead territory, he would be asked this question “Are you a member of the tribe of Ephraim? If they said yes, as verse 6 says they would ask him to say Shibboleth. If he was from the tribe of Ephraim, he would say Sibboleth because the people from that tribe could not pronounce the word correctly. They were definitely not welcomed and were punished for this.

Often, we are quick to judge people who are different than us, who don’t fit the mold of what we are comfortable with. We dismiss the idea that they have something to offer, that they are capable of bravery and courage, and that God can use them.

Psalm 133:1-3 is so practical and powerful and reminds us “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony”. That harmony is as precious as anointing oil and refreshing as dew!  This is an identity of God’s children.  They have a heart full of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience through Holy Spirit and allow  mercy to triumph over judgement.