Monthly Archives: July 2017

When God judges Israel, he throws the world clock into reverse and makes time run backwards. In one afternoon, Saul and his sons die, while the Philistines drive Israel from their cities and enslave some of the Israelites (1 Chron. 10). Conquest and exodus are reversed, as Israel loses land and freedom. David arrives on the scene as a new Moses, Solomon as a new Joshua.

A similar reversal happens at the end of the monarchy. Nebuchadnezzar invades, breaks the walls of Jerusalem, burns the temple, and takes the people of Judah into exile. Israel ends where she began, in exile, awaiting another Moses who eventually takes the surprising shape of Cyrus the Persian.

This literary-historical pattern takes a more complex shape in the Chroniclers account of Uzziah (2 Chron. 26). Uzziahs reign encompasses exodus and reverse-exodus, conquest and expulsion.

By comparison with previous generations, Uzziahwhose name means Yah is my strengthis a breath of fresh air. Crowned at sixteen, he does right and seeks the Lord. Led by the visionary Zechariah, he embarks on an ambitious plan of conquest, building, defense, and development. During his fathers reign, Joash of Israel burst through the walls of Jerusalem; under Uzziah, Judah bursts through the walls of the Philistine cities of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. Uzziah doesnt even have to fight the Ammonites. They see what he does to the Philistines, and they pay tribute (26:8).

No army in Israels history is as well equipped as Uzziahs, each warrior being issued a sevenfold panoply of offensive and defensive arms (26:14). The battlements of Jerusalem are fitted with cunning engines of war (the Hebrew repeats the same root three timesdesigned-things designed by designers) that shoot arrows and huge stones from the walls (26:15). Uzziahs name spreads as far as the brook of Egypt (26:8). No king since Solomon has matched Uzziahs reputation.

Uzziah liberates Israel and reconquers land, but just at the climax of his strength (26:1516), things fall apart. Uzziahs success makes his heart strong, so that he commits a sacrilege, the same kind of sin that doomed Saul (1 Chron. 10:1314). The Chronicler reinforces the catastrophe with a pun: At his height, Uzziah is exalted (Hebrew maalah). He falls because he commits a maal.

Specifically, Uzziah tries to burn incense in the temple, an act of worship reserved for priests. Whatever his motives, Uzziah is strictly prohibited from entering the sanctuary, Gods space, which is open only to consecrated descendants of Aaron.

Eighty priests surround Uzziah, but they dont have to do anything. Just as the king is ready to offer incense, the Lord touches his forehead with the stroke of leprosy, a mark of impurity in the very place where the high priest wears his golden crown. Terrified, Uzziah hurries from the temple.

Uzziah experiences a personal de-exodus and un-conquest. Made permanently unclean by one of the Egyptian plagues, he cant worship in the temple courts. He cant return to his own palace, but lives in a separate house. His son Jotham takes over his royal responsibilities. Even in death, he is excluded: He is buried with his fathers, but not in the city of David. Seizing a privilege that is not his, Uzziah repeats the sin of Adam, and his life limps to its end in a series of Adamic exclusions. He rises only to fall. Because of a solitary act of pride, his life-clock ticks backwards.

Pride and humility are the hinges of Israels history and the personal histories of Israels kings. 2 Chronicles 7:14one of the few memory verses people take from this bookis key: If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray, I will heal their land. Rehoboam humbles himself, and the Lord preserves Jerusalem. Wicked Manasseh humbles himself, and the Lord gives him a reprieve. Uzziah becomes proud, and so the king who fights and rules like David ends his life as pathetically as Saul.

We may think progress requires resolute pride. We make progress by surging forward and seizing opportunities, damn the consequences. Humility, being timid, inhibits progress. The cautionary tale of Uzziah shows that this is an illusion. Pride turns the clock back, while humility opens a fresh future. Pride is regressive, and the humble are the true progressives.

Peter J. Leithart is President ofTheopolis Institute.

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Originally posted here:

Pride and Progress - First Things

SANTA CLARA, Calif. When US national team coach Bruce Arena arrived at the podium Wednesday night following the Americans 2-1 win against Jamaica in the Gold Cup final, he was surprisingly dry and well-kempt for a man whose players were noisily dousing every corner of their locker room with bubbly.

Arena joked with reporters that he had stayed out of the fray by threatening anyone who got him wet with a ban from future World Cup qualifiers and any future trips to Russia next year.

But there was a subtext as well: While claiming the US sixth Gold Cup crown and Arenas third personaltitle in the competition the bigger picture remains unfinished. And when the celebrations had died down, it was time to shift the focus to the final four World Cup qualifying matches this fall.

Were getting better, but we need to get much better than we are now, Arena said. Were making progress, and we have to. I still think were behind the 8-ball, so we have to be successful in September and October. We have a group of guys that are motivated to do that.

Itll be harder to sell that narrative to a fan base who have watched the US recover from consecutive losses at the start of the Hexagonal round in Jurgen Klinsmanns final games to climb into third place, on eight points, one in front of Panama, who visit the US on Oct. 6 in Orlando, Fla.

Arenas second stint in charge has opened with a 9-0-5 unbeaten run, the longest such streak to start a US coaching tenure. Americas veteran players would likely say thats not a coincidence.

Its back because Bruce has lit a fire under us, US goalkeeper Tim Howard said. Hes got us going again. Thats why you change managers, right? To cause some sort of unrest among the players and light a fire under them. Bruce has come in and given us a lot of confidence and I think weve repaid him through these results.

Arena got a look at almost every one of the 29 players he had on hand at various points of the tournament only goalkeepers Jesse Gonazlez and Sean Johnson didnt see action and blooded some of them in critical moments. That was why, for example, he made sure that fully half of his starting XI in the final consisted of less experienced players Kellyn Acosta, Paul Arriola, Jordan Morris, Darlington Nagbe and Jorge Villafaa in what was in some ways an audition for more important matches still to come.

We put them in the fire tonight and it was good, Arena said. I think they walked away with passing grades. So thats encouraging.

Of note to lineup prognosticators: Arena said he considered starting Clint Dempsey against the Jamaicans before opting instead to keep him in the role of supersub. Dempsey notched a goal and two assists in a combined 59 minutes during the Americans semifinal and final victories.

I think Clint has been fantastic in the role we gave him the last two games, Arena said.

It all added up to a team that ticked pretty much every box Arena could have come up with something that probably would have been shocking to him when he took the job.

If you had asked me in November if this is where we would be with the program, Id probably say, I dont think so, Arena said.

Of course, you shouldnt necessarily take all of Arenas answers at face value. That no-champagne spray anecdote, for example? Not quite the whole story, according to forward Jozy Altidore.

Yeah, we didnt listen to that, Altidore said with a chuckle. We doused him. Of course we did. Hes got a couple of suits. It looks like he changed pretty fast.

See the article here:

US national team's Gold Cup title shows progress made under Bruce Arena - MLSsoccer.com

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) Houston Texans coach Bill OBrien has insisted throughout the offseason that fourth-year quarterback Tom Savage is the starter entering the season.

And thats even with rookie Deshaun Watson having impressed during the offseason and two days of training camp.

Watson entered camp with plenty of accolades after a collegiate career that featured a national championship last year at Clemson and being a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist.

The Texans thought so highly of the 6-foot-2, 221-pound quarterback that they traded up in the NFL draft in April to take Watson with the 12th overall pick.

The selection was the first time the Texans had selected a quarterback in the first round since taking David Carr with the first overall pick in their first season.

So far, so good for Watsons progress at least in the eyes of OBrien.

Hes a very mature kid, OBrien said after Thursdays practice. Like I said last spring, hes wise beyond his years for a young guy. So, I think hes handling it well, from my perspective, to this point.

Watson said following the draft that however soon his time came on the field he was prepared to do whatever Houston asked of him, saying All I need to do is put my head down, dont say anything and learn from the veteran guys.

Watson, who threw for 4,593 yards and 41 touchdowns last season for the Tigers, has held true to that plan.

In addition to praising Watsons approach, OBrien stressed how difficult the transition from the college game to the NFL can be at times.

I would tell you that for any rookie its very different, OBrien said. We start with the quarterbacks at 7:30 and then theyre out of here at about 8:00, 8:30 at night. So its a 12-, 13-hour day and theres a lot of information thats being given to them and then they come out here in a very competitive atmosphere.

Savage took over as the starter for former Houston quarterback Brock Osweiler late last season, completing 41 of 65 passes (63.1 percent) for 436 yards while starting the last two games of the regular season.

He missed the postseason with a concussion, but hes the clear top choice at quarterback for the Texans entering this season following Osweilers trade to Cleveland.

That is, for now while Watson goes about the business of adjustment to the NFL.

Thats the big thing about being a pro; its a lot different than college, OBrien said. I love college football. College is college and pros is pros. Its just a little bit different.

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

Read more here:

Texans' O'Brien pleased with Watson's offseason progress - FOXSports.com