THE THEOLOGY OF THE PIGPEN
“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him.”
Luke 15:13-16a (NLT)
The distant country always promises freedom, but it eventually delivers a fence. For the younger son, that fence circled a pigpen. In Jewish culture, pigs were the ultimate symbol of uncleanness. For the younger son, the pigpen became not only a place of poverty, but a place of utter spiritual and relational bankruptcy.
The good news is that the Theology of the Pigpen teaches us a startling truth: The bottom is often the only place where the view of home becomes clear.
Desperation has a way of stripping us bare. As long as the son had a few coins left, he could pretend he was in control. As long as he had friends at the bar, he could ignore the hollow ache in his chest. It was only when the music stopped and the hunger set in that he came to his senses. We often view our lowest points as signs of God’s abandonment, but in reality, the pigpen is frequently the site of God’s most intense pursuit. It is the place where our pride finally runs out of fuel.
The theology of the pigpen isn’t about the filth; it’s the realization of being far from God. He doesn't wait for us to clean up before He starts drawing us back; He uses the very stench of our failure to remind us of the fragrance of home. If you feel like you’re sitting in the mud today, take heart—the pigpen isn't your destination; it’s your wake-up call.
APPLICATION: Identify the hunger in your life that you’ve been trying to satisfy with things that don't last, and name it honestly before God. Instead of hiding your mess, use this low point as a pivot point to turn your face back toward the Father’s open arms.
PRAYER: Lord, thank You that no matter how far I wander, You never stop looking for me or leave me in the mud. Give me the courage to stop hiding my failures and instead use them to direct me back to You. Help me believe that Your grace is deeper than my deepest pit. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?