The Real Throne Room

Ehud came to him, while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber, and said, "I have a message from God for you." So he rose from his seat. Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into Eglon's belly; the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the dirt came out. Then Ehud went out into the vestibule, and closed the doors of the roof chamber on him, and locked them. After he had gone, the servants came. When they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, "He must be relieving himself in the cool chamber." So they waited until they were embarrassed. When he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them. There was their lord lying dead on the floor. Judges 3: 20-25 NRSV

Okay, this is a pretty gross bible passage so why not stick with the theme?

We tend to think of "doing our business" in the bathroom as a private time. Just you and the commode. However, in ancient times, privacy was really not known.* In fact, in Greek society, the commodes were places of socializing, sharing gossip and spending time with your friends. The picture for today is actually one such social commode in Ephesus.

Perhaps if you were king, what better place to speak to a messenger alone?

Ehud has snuck in a sword where no one will suspect - under his clothes on the "wrong" side of his body (left-handed swordsmen were virtually unaccepted). And he claims to have a message from God. Now he gets his chance while the Moabite king is on his throne (ha ha ha). This also gives him some time to make his get-away as the servants wait for the king until they are embarrassed.

God's people are freed from the bathroom.

Okay, God, this is pretty gross!

God, you don't mind being gross, funny or even unusual to save your loved ones. Thank you for saving us! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Question for the day: Have you ever tried to trick someone in order to help someone else?

*Thanks to my son for thinking of this! He also took the picture.

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims