July 17, 2014 Sing and Dance

Sing and Dance

Matthew 11:16-19 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”  

JESUS tells us that critics come and critics go, but the Word of God remains steadfast.

     Jesus illustrates this truth as he compares Israel with children sitting in a marketplace. What do children do when they are idle? They call out to other children, sometimes teasing and often creating some type of challenge. Sometimes they argue and cause conflict for the sake of conflict.

     Jesus describes that kind of scene as the children call out to other children to dance, but no one danced to their flute. The children expected others to mourn, but they did not mourn. The children desired a dance and a dirge.

     That is how Israel responded to John and Jesus. They criticized John as demon possessed because of his austere life. They criticized Jesus for gluttony because he did not live an austere life. The people called out to the prophets, “Dance to our tune!”

     Our lesson here is to know that when we stand in the marketplace as a “prophet” to speak to people of God’s ways, we will be criticized and negated. People will not like our response to their tunes of sin and destruction. Only a few will humble themselves before the music of salvation.

LIFE Link: Sing and dance God’s music.