The son rolls in from college.“Hey dad, you may live another forty years, but I want my inheritance now!I have a number here I calculated based on your financial and real estate holdings.Fork over half.The father goes to his financial advisor and splits all of his holdings between his two sons. He hands over both halves.The son who initially asked his father for the money, takes off to Amsterdam where he loses hundreds of thousands of dollars in the infamous red light district.His situation becomes so bad that he even pays off some debts by working for a heroin import gang.Then he remembers home.Maybe I should go home…. How do you think the father will respond?
Listeners hearing Jesus tell this story know how it will end.Middle Eastern society then and to a great extent today, is based on family honor.The son has dishonored the father.When he comes home, the father has every right to kill the son.End of story.
But that is not what the father does!In this story we see God’s loves played out for each one of us.Grace and mercy will abound with no end.If you don’t understand how to tell someone about Jesus and how he reveals the Father to all, read this story to them.The entire gospel is here in a few verses.Not how the father runs (a very dishonorable action) and embraces his son, before the son says anything.His rehearsed words have no effect on the father’s loving actions.
We call this parable the Prodigal Son but the center of action lies around the father.God is much more interested in reconciliation than punishment.We all wonder off to our land of sin.But God through Jesus will bring us home to the celebration.We can never do many bad things or too few good things to miss basking in the steadfast love of God.
Today we start out with some verbal jousting between a scribe, who was an expert of Jewish law, and Jesus.They agree on the central core of Torah (Jewish law): You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.(v 27) As we have already read that Jesus comes to fulfill, not replace Torah, these words are central to understanding how we are called to live as well.What challenges do you have with this?
But the scribe didn’t come to agree with Jesus, so he asks a further question:And who is my neighbor?(v 29)
This is where the parable tells us something else about the kingdom of God.You can read what happens, my guess is this is a story almost everyone knows already.But do we really understand the hatred between Samaritans and Jews.Samaritans lived in the central hills of Palestine since the fall of the Northern Kingdom, Israel, in 722 BC.Assyrians brought in non-Jews who cross bred with the lower class remnant.Over time hostility from “pure blood” Jews to these “half-breed heretics” knew no bounds.Samaritans had their own version of the Scripture and did not worship at Jerusalem.Samaritans were impure imposters to the true Jewish faith.
A Jew listening to this story would have been completely shocked.To put in our cultural context, the parable could have included the pastor of a mega-church, a Presbyterian Associate Pastor, and a Muslim immigrant.So for us, the story could be called The Good Muslim Immigrant.Do you begin to see the edge Jesus is pushing in his response to: And who is my neighbor?
Notice the scribe is so angry he does not answer Jesus with the term Samaritan. (v 37).
Jesus is telling us that in the kingdom of God, the boundaries which bind us into so much sin will not exist anymore.The great sin we ignore is not just that we do not treat our neighbor as ourselves.The greater sin is we limit who we call neighbor.We are called to redefine who we call neighbor.Who do you call neighbor, and what limits do you place on the term?
Today we spend our first day with parables.In the course of this chapter, Jesus will use seven parables to show what the kingdom of heaven is.Matthew, as a good Jewish scribe (until about 90, all followers of Jesus considered themselves good Jews), refused to use the word God to describe what Mark and Luke called the kingdom of God.We don’t talk much about this idea, even though it is central to Jesus’ message.It is the first thing Jesus’ proclaims:The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. (Mark 1:14-15)For various reasons, currently in our faith within this culture, we tend to focus quite a bit on the second half of Jesus’ statement, not so much on the first half.I believe this is one of the reasons Christianity is declining in our country.
I also want to comment on parables.Parables were used by Jesus to describe God or in this case the God’s kingdom.They are not meant to teach as ethics as much as help us understand God in terms we can understand.Usually the parables were shocking to Jesus’ listeners.He would use something familiar, but then turn it on the head.As M. Eugene Boring writes in the New Interpreter’s Bible: …parables were not vivid decorations of a moralistic viewpoint but were shocking stories that threatened the hearer’s secure mythological world – the world of assumptions by which we habitually live, the unnoticed framework of our thinking within which we interpret data. (299, Vol.12)So many times we teach parables today as tame ethics, when in fact they were meant to rip apart the world view of the listener.
One of the problems for us today is that we need to understand the background to even understand the mind blowing nature of what Jesus is saying.For instance, how many of us immediately understand the shocking nature of “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”? (v 33)First, yeast is usually considered a problematic thing in Jewish cleanliness laws.Second, a typical amount of yeast used would not come close to making three measures of bread.So the Kingdom of Heaven is like something Jews would be uncomfortable with using, and extremely extravagant in its effect on the end result.In addition, yeast is working in secret, much as we see with the other parables in this chapter.
Three of the parables are explained in this chapter.In each case they deal with the issue of judgment at the complete fruition of the kingdom.It is almost as if Jesus makes sure we can not let ourselves off the hook of judgment.All point to the providence of God, and all point to the idea once again that the visible church may not match the invisible church.Before we go completely wild with the judgment issue, read Paul’s words found in Romans 8:31-39 which clearly remind us that Jesus, who died on the cross for us, will be in the judgment seat.I think these parables are a warning to those who may be a little too comfortable, and leave hope to those whom will be, to the surprise of some, included in the kingdom of heaven.My hunch, as I read scripture, is that Jesus will judge on the side of love.
Finally, a note on the kingdom of heaven (God).I think we can look back to texts in Isaiah in particular which describe the kingdom. See chapters (Isaiah 11:1-10, 35, 65:17-25)Some of the attributes include:
-The defeat of evil and the defeat of powers that desire nothing more than the enslavement of humanity.
-An economy where no one will suffer from social oppression and economic injustice.
-The corrupting power of sin is broken and we are fully reconciled to God and each other.
-Violence and war are replaced by peaceful community.
-The chaos of nature is transformed to a fruitful creation overseen by humanity as a faithful stewards.
-Death no longer has the last word.
The kingdom is not complete, but has started to break into the world with Jesus.Jesus focused on kingdom quite a bit.Jesus talked about and demonstrated the kingdom, and I think this is a major, generally ignored role of the church today: to point, through word and deed, to the persisting work of Jesus, as God’s kingdom continues to break into the world.
Possibly you can tell this is an issue of great passion for me.
In Christ,
Randy
P.S. Once again, please respond if you would be interested in further study of the parables or the kingdom of God. I am trying to find items of interest for further discipleship opportunities!
Day 57 – Sermon on the Mount (pt. 2) – Matthew 6:5-7:29
As if yesterday did not cover far too much, we have the second half of the Sermon on the Mount today.
He covers hypocritical worship, in the midst of which we hear the Lords’ Prayer.Then he moves onto a series of issues, such as trusting God to provide, more prayer instructions, judgment, and the Golden Rule.He finishes off with a few warnings about whom to trust.No wonder the people were astounded.The translation could even be in shock, which I think is more likely.
The Sermon on the Mount could easily be a class, so let me know if you are interested!
As with yesterday, I don’t have many words, because, I am in shock as well.
Just spend some time praying over whatever part the Holy Spirit leads you to for this given time in your life.
Day 56 – Sermon on the Mount (pt. 1) – Matthew 5:1-6:4
Matthew in particular focuses on Jesus as the great rabbi (teacher).We begin to cover a portion of the greatest sermon of all time today.I must say that it is very difficult in a blog to cover how to read and understand this.
First, as they say at the start of some TV Shows, Do not try this home alone.In our current imperfect state, we can never achieve everything in this.But this does not absolve us from this sermon as a target.
Another aspect that we often miss is the communal nature of these teachings as a display of the in-breaking kingdom of God.In some ways this sermon is a presentation of resurrection life, which the church is called to enact.
The first section is called the Beatitudes.Just as in the Old Testament, these are declarations from Jesus of blessings given to those in the various states described.Contextually these are not general blessings, but for those reaching these states through serving God.These are not states to aspire to, just that if in that situation, this will be the reward at the return of Jesus to earth.There are entire books and study opportunities to understand the Beatitudes alone
We’ll continue to read the second half tomorrow.
So read and see what challenges you and what brings you hope if this is truly a description of our resurrected life to come.
The baptism of Jesus and his temptation are the opening bookend of his ministry.There are different angles to take here but I’ll just stick with one.Many think about Jesus’ obediently allowing himself to die on the cross. With both the baptism and temptation we see that obedient self-sacrificial actions were the root of his entire ministry.Jesus was without sin, even John did not want to baptize him.But Jesus was baptized.Likewise, options were presented to Jesus to give an easier route to follow.Once again, Jesus chose the hard road.How often do you avoid doing something because it will involve sacrifice?
Little side note:Three of the gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke follow a similar narrative of Jesus’ life.Mark was written first and Matthew and Luke both extensively include Mark.However, material is rewritten (Mark’s Greek was not very good) and both include their own original material.In particular, both have different birth and death narratives.All three are known as the synoptic or seen together gospels.John’s telling of Jesus’ life is very different.The church accepted all four versions, and actually rejected an attempt to fold all four into one.
We enter the third straight day of following these events through Luke. This brings certain continuity to the events of which we are reading.The reference to the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius allows us to place the time within a few years, as we do not know if Luke was counting from the time when Tiberius was co-emperor with his father or emperor on his own.So we have a small window of AD 26-28 for the start of John’s ministry.
Luke uses words from Isaiah 40:3-5 to describe John’s ministry.This is typically how the Old Testament prophetic words show up in the Gospels.The authors interpret events through the words of prophecies from hundreds of years before. Those who wrote the New Testament were deeply steeped in the scripture of the time.It gives us an example of the usefulness for us to be well educated in scripture, which allows us to place a Godly framework on what we see in our own lives.
Note that these words do not match Isaiah as found in our Bibles, which are directly from Hebrew.Most Jews of this time used a Greek translation of the Old Testament, called the LXX (Seventy).Thus we often see differences between the New Testament and Old Testament words.Most of the time it is the LXX version which is the root of the difference.Interestingly enough, as Christianity spreads, the Jewish rabbis declare that LXX is not a good translation and should not be used.They blame inaccuracies of this version as one of the causes of the spread of Christianity.The LXX certainly does give some favorable passages versus the original.That would be another class…
Anyway, back to John.John’s message consists of three aspects.First, reliance on one’s bloodline is not a sufficient basis for a relationship with God: …every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”.(v 9)For us today this is a warning against cultural Christianity, is a member of a church, but looks at discipleship in the same manner as belonging to a social club.Sitting in church a few times a year, or even every Sunday, without any transformation, is a tree not bearing good fruit.
Second, repentance takes on a specific form of concrete actions:And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” (vv 10-11)Action does not earn us anything, but indicates whether the Holy Spirit is alive in us.Verses like this are the driving force for us to reach out, such as our new hosting of homeless families.John, and Jesus to follow, have quite a bit to say about how those on the bottom of the social heap should be treated.Take some time to read the only description we have of Jesus’ coming judgment of the universe, as found in Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:31-46.Providing care to the very least is consistently the measure for a life undergoing transformation.
Finally, John spoke of the coming Messiah.We too need to remember that Jesus is returning.Could be tonight, could be a million years from now.But Jesus is returning.Something to remember for the community of faith as a whole and the urgency with which we need to move: not frenetic action, but not complete inaction either.Something for us, as individuals, to remember, when we choose between opportunities to become stronger disciples versus signing up for a third sport to fill up the calendar.
While John was not a politician, he will be executed by Herod for his message, which is viewed as a threat against those in political power.Just like Jesus.
Maybe something I wrote today has fired you up.If so, that was the purpose, because now you know how the people felt who heard John’s message.
We read the familiar Christmas story today.I hope we are amazed that God did not enter the world with concern for standards of the world.Jesus was not born in Rome to the Emperor.God was not interested in the ways of the powerful and rich.Instead we see God revealed in a place completely removed from power and riches.Does this provide comfort or challenge to us?
Likewise the first people who worship Jesus are shepherds.By the standards of Jewish purity laws of holiness, shepherds were at the bottom of the heap.Shepherds are unclean with little hope of inclusion in the religious system of the time.Once again, does this challenge us in how we see others in society today, or provide hope to us?Or maybe both?
Today we see Luke starting his telling of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.Luke’s telling of Jesus’ life is very different than John, but no less important.I love this chapter and could probably preach on the Magnificat (vv 46-55) for about a year straight.
Think about how God chooses to work through the most insignificant people here.Mary and Elizabeth are about as low on the totem pole as one could be at that time, yet God’s plans we’ve followed through the Old Testament will now be completed through these women.(The fact that they are women is shocking enough to readers of that day.)What is God calling you to participate in?And do you respond more like Mary and Elizabeth or more like Zechariah?
Luke uses the interesting term savior, which has a sense of complete healing, not just spiritual, not merely physical.As we read through the songs of Mary and Zechariah, we see that God’s plans are for a full healing.Thus we look forward to resurrection which is very different than eternal life floating around as some ghost.Salvation as we see here is for our personal entire being yet also not just for individuals but for all of creation.God’s plans are much, much bigger than we often think.
Enjoy these familiar events this week, but may you notice some new things as well.
I continue to recover from my surgery, but can at least do this!Thank you for the prayers.
We start the New Testament today by reading what is called John’s prologue.No birth story here.Instead we have some deep writing which explains who Jesus is.We have no way to cover everything, but I wanted to point out a few items.
First we have the Son of God called the Word or logos in the original Greek.We often think of the Word in terms of a written word, but those reading this would have picked up on a much more important issue.The logos is the one who creates and sustains the universe.Therefore, the Son of God is present before time began.All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. (v 3-4)We often do not think of the Son involved in the creation process.Does his involvement affect you in any way?
Then we see the particularity of the revelation spelled out: the Son of God is enfleshed and made known to us.This was the scandal that many could not overcome.The Son has come to us in a particular person, Jesus.We are in a relationship with the Son who also now understands what being human is like.God understands our weakness, confusion and pain.Does this provide you comfort and hope?
This scratches the surface of this theologically rich text.
A common theme of the prophets is the Day of the Lord.Upon this day, God will come to earth and bring justice and righteousness.All wrongs will be made right.Despite the appearance of the victory of evil, God will win.This is all picked up by the move through Jesus to the knowledge that it is Jesus Christ who will be the person in whom this occurs.More on that another day…
Malachi, or my messenger, takes place after the Jews have returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple.Persia rules over them and the Jews still therefore carry grievances towards God.Yes they are back home, but has justice truly prevailed?
Malachi reminds the Jews that they have not been exactly faithful to God, who has kept covenant promises.We see accusations of regarding false worship.Worship is done on the cheap, with little real meaning.Remember, as we read the accusations about temple worship, that we are all in the priesthood of believers.So this is not just about leaders but about the entire church.The people are not tithing as well.How do we fare in our society today? Statistics nationally show that church members give about a tithe of a tithe: 1% .In addition, how many come to church for a charge up or to be seen or for whatever reason, but may never undergo any transformation, even after decades of attending church?This is what Malachi is bringing to the attention of the Jews and to us.
Further Malachi notes the personal and societal injustice which the Jews themselves perpetuate.Note in particular his outrage against society:against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien… (v 3:5)God is concerned with more than personal ethics.
The promise is made that all will be made right.God will return and avenge the wrongs and reward the righteous.Luckily for us we are righteous through the person we will meet next week in our readings: Jesus.That is why I argue we should not look to Jesus’ return with fear, but with longing.We are not leaving, God is returning.The Day of the Lord will be a day of victory.
I love Jonah, both the person and the book.This is no perfect pie in the sky prophet.
Jonah struggles with God, running from the intended destination of Nineveh, located in northern Iraq, by attempting to travel it Tarshish, located in southern Spain.I don’t blame him.Ninevah was the capital of Assyria, the empire who destroyed the northern Jewish kingdom of Israel in 722 BC.Assyria ruled through brutality, killing those who resisted and selling those who did not into slavery in a distant part of their empire.
As we think of whom we consider enemies today, if God called you to northern Pakistan, would you resist, or quickly assent?This is the situation Jonah faced.
Jonah reluctantly fulfills God’s task given to him.As he feared, Jonah’s message from God is successful.The people of Nineveh repent.This makes Jonah angry:“That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.”(v 4:3)Jonah wanted punishment placed upon the evil Assyrians.God has different plans.
Even at the end, there is no resolution.This is not a tidy story. At the end Jonah is literally fuming at God.The story ends with God asking Jonah a question which is relevant for us as well: “And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?” (v 4:11)
I sense that God’s plan of mercy is greater than we realize.What is our Ninevah?Far too often we worry about “who is in and who is out”.The Jews certainly had a very limited view on this and this little book repeatedly calls them on this concern about the fence.This is something we need to remember as we deal with those outside the church.There is the concept of the visible and invisible church.The church does not decide ultimate fate, God, through Jesus, does.What we depend on is not our own work, but God’s mercy.
I also love the concern shown for all of creation in this story.The animals participate in Nineveh’s fast and also receive God’s mercy, as the very last words of the book relate.
So may this be a book which affects our view of the world.We are to show concern for all of creation and to not despise those whom we view as outside the fence.God is in charge of all.
Daniel is an interesting book because it is two different books.The first six chapters tell six different court stories regarding Daniel, a Jew who was an advisor to the last Babylonian king, as well as to the Persians who conquered Babylon.The Persians had a favorable attitude toward the exiled Jews and assisted their return to Jerusalem.The temple and wall were rebuilt over the next decades (This story is told in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, both skipped over in our 100 readings.)The last half of the book is an form of literature called an apocalypse.We’ll discuss this genre when we look at the Book of Revelation in the last week of readings.
The story of Daniel in the lion’s den is often told to children.I think reading this story as an adult has even deeper meaning, because we have lived a few more years and experienced life and its ups and downs.For example, how often are we crushed by unfair events?In this story we see Daniel set up.He did nothing wrong, other than be a great worker.But his co-workers conspired to have him removed.And the plot seemingly worked.How have you dealt with unfair circumstances in life?
Secondly, note that Daniel, due to his love for God, willingly walks into the snare.Can have the trust in God to do the same?I think about the encroaching time of our culture for sports, work, and other things which seems to not even leave Sunday morning free anymore.I think legislating behavior is a failing proposition.But what if Christians, like Daniel really stood up for something as basic as keeping worship times free of other distractions?
Finally, Daniel is a great example of vocation.Not all are called to formal positions of ministry.But we all have calls.We are given opportunities to share our love of God, wherever we are placed.What may be an opportunity for you?
Day 47 – Jeremiah’s Call & Message – Jeremiah 1:1-3:5
Today has a mix of familiar and unfamiliar.Some may know the story of Jeremiah’s call at the beginning of chapter 1.But few have probably read chapter 2 with its very difficult message of the Lord, spoken to the people through Jeremiah.
The first part of the reading is typical of the call of prophets.This shows Jeremiah’s authority is not his own, but from God.It also shows an ongoing truth about serving God in these roles: the sign of one truly chosen involves resistance to God.Those jumping into something without thought and discernment often are the first ones to fall away when inevitable resistance is faced.What is God calling you to do?The more you are struggling with this, the more likely it truly is God calling you to do it.Pray over your call from God.
The later half of chapter 1 gives the assurance that God is with us in what has been chosen for us.They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you. (Jer 1:19)How does this give you courage to do what God is calling you to do?
God’s promise to Jeremiah is important because the message Jeremiah is called to deliver is tough.The sexual imagery used to depict the chosen people’s relationship with God is very shocking.If Chapter 2 is Jeremiah’s “candidating” sermon to the “congregation” of Jerusalem, he certainly could expect ill treatment!The next time you think a sermon is harsh, remember Jeremiah 2.Are we open to hearing all of God’s word’s spoken to us?
Day 46 – The Suffering Servant – Isaiah 51:1-53:12
This day’s reading contains what is called the fourth servant song, (Isaiah 52:13-52:12).But the portion of Isaiah we read before this song is also interesting.This part of Isaiah was written during the Babylonian exile.We see clear promises by God to return the people back to Jerusalem.The suffering they currently face will be resolved by God.As scripture often does, it makes this promise by reminding the people of God’s past actions, in this case the exodus from Egypt.The return from Babylon will become known as the second exodus.For us this indicates one reason to spend time with scripture: to know the story of God’s actions.It is difficult to tell someone about God is you do not know the story.What is in your life that seems to be overwhelmed by the oppressive power of systemic evil?Read this for the hope it contains.
We don’t have time to discuss the servant for which these four songs (Isa 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-11; 52:13-53:12) were first written.Discussion continues about whether it is a specific leader of that time or instead refers to the exiled people as a group.But clearly we can see the fulfilled nature of this song in the life of Jesus.Slowly read these verses, with Jesus in mind.Does this haunting rendition of Jesus’ life and death permit you to see his work in a different manner?
This week’s readings are from several of the Old Testament books of prophecy.(Actually one reading is from the Book of Daniel, technically not a prophecy book).As I’ve said with last week’s quick rush through the wisdom books, one week is not enough to even scratch the surface of this section.I want to give a brief overview of Old Testament prophecy.
Fifteen prophets have their own books: three major books (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) and what is known the Book of Twelve (All twelve books fit on one papyrus scroll.): Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.These are not exactly household names, but a few of these do show up as given names, so now you know where the names come from!
Prophets, as a group mainly functioned during the time of the kings, plus some years beyond the return from exile (roughly 1000-450 BC).The prophets we see scripture focus on generally were in opposition to the policies of the kings, as well as pointing out religious, political and economic problems with society in general.
Heading back to the 1 Kings 22 we see several important issues about prophets.A disagreement over war policy between the king of Israel, Ahab, and his ally the king of Judah, Jehosaphat, is taking place.One thing to note is the presence of court prophets, who give the kings advice and receive financial support from the kings.Note the potential for a conflict of interest?The court prophets tell Ahab to attack.But Jehosaphat asks for advice from Micaiah, a prophet Ahab has thrown in prison. Micaiah’s first responds positively: the attack should take place.But Jehosophat calls Micaiah out because he did not use the official prophetic formula:Thus says the Lord or its variants.Micaiah purposefully left this out of his positive advice.When he does say Therefore hear the word of the Lord, the kings hear very different advice.You can read for yourself how things turn out for the kings.
This leads us to another important point about the prophets.As Christians we tend to focus on prophecies about Jesus.There is nothing wrong with this, but we misunderstand the role of the prophets if we limit our focus.Prophets did not prophecy only about events hundreds of years in the future.The prophecies we read were useful for the time in which they were made.Even the famous passage of Isaiah 7 we hear at Christmas (Isaiah , Emmanuel) had a specific meaning at the moment Isaiah spoke the word of the Lord.This prophecy was validated not only seven hundred years later but also at the time it was spoken!
The best measure of determining if a prophet was from the Lord was simple: did the prophecy come true?If a prophet's predictions did not happen, they were killed.Something we need to keep in mind as so-called prophets peddle book after book about the end of the world, constantly updating their books as their predictions do not come true. I'm not saying they should be killed, but please quit buying their books!
Prophecy has a polyvalent nature.The word from the Lord had meaning at the time it was spoken, may have meaning for other historical events, such as Jesus’ life, may have meaning for us today, and may have meaning for the future.To understand what something means for us today, we should understand the original circumstance of the prophecy, so our interpretation is not based on the rumbling of the pizza in our stomach from the previous night.
From a society viewpoint, many of the prophets spoke at the time when the Jews were at their peak of worldly power.They often spoke about reliance on military might and treatment of the poor (see Amos 4, for example).That may be relevant for our society today.
So onward we go with just five readings to cover a major section of the Old Testament.Obviously this is barely an appetizer!
Today covers a series of pithy two line proverbs.Note that they cover both personal and society issues.As you read through these, which one strikes you as one to stop and meditate?
Even in the midst of this advice for human action, God is paramount.In particular, the start of this section contrasts our sphere of action with the all encompassing realm of God’s actions.(See 16:1-9, in particular)How does this affect your thoughts about the proverbs?
Today we move into Proverbs.The first reading is about half of what is set up as teachings from a parent to a child.How often do we take this responsibility serious, as a parent or even as a congregation member?Children and youth do look to us for advice.Even more so, they look at how we act in accordance with that advice.
The passage over and over reminds us that a right relationship with God is the foundation of a right relationship with everyone else and everything else.What do you think about this statement?
We read our last Psalm already, which is disappointing.Would a class on the Psalms interest anyone?
Today we cover another type of Psalm: a praise Psalm.We are reminded of God’s actions and attributes.This hymn reminds us that God is in control (all used 8 times).The hymn also describes several times how God’s love and forgiveness is greater than our sin and God’s judgment.Yes God could condemn us; this is clearly within the bounds of righteous justice.But God chooses not to condemn us.Contemplate God’s love, mercy and power as you contemplate this hymn.
For some readers this hymn may be too good, too pie in the sky.It may help to know that scholars believe this psalm was written during the Babylonian exile, after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.We can choose how we respond to life’s tragedies.We can blame God…Or we can worship God…
This great psalm is the paradigm for a prayer of confession.We see elements of admission of guilt, all of which ultimately are against God, no matter who is the first one violated: Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. (v 4)What do you need to confess to God?
With confession comes great hope!God’s desire to love us is always present.Through the very actions of Jesus, we know that God’s love is deeper than our own sin.Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. (v 1)Ask for forgiveness, knowing the certainty of God’s hesed or steadfast love, which only touches the surface of my favorite Hebrew word means (entire books have been written about the meaning of this word).
Finally the Psalm speaks to transformation.God loves us too much to leave us as we are.So the Psalm speaks to God’s transforming love:Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.(v 9)What do you desire God to transform in your life?
Read the prayers of confession we use every week.Note the great care taken in crafting the weekly prayers of confession to follow the pattern of this Psalm: confession of sin, faith in God’s mercy, and a request for transformation.
If people know one scripture passage, Psalm 23 is often the passage.Commonly used at funerals, we may miss what this passage means for us while we are alive.The imagery of the shepherd is not so much about keeping us calm, but even more importantly about keeping us alive.God will provide the necessities we need to survive.In our culture of more is better, what does the phrase …I shall not want (v 1) say to us?
How do you feel as you read: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil (v 4)
BTW – enjoy the shortest reading of the entire 100 readings!
This week’s readings are from what the Jews consider the Writings.One week is not enough to even scratch the surface of this section.I want to give a brief overview.The Psalms are of course well known but the rest of these books are rarely dealt with.This is a shame!
The Book of Psalms is the great worship and prayer book of the Jews.We have adopted this book for worship and prayer as well.Nothing can teach you about prayer better than reading through the Book of Psalms.The Psalms covers a wide range of situations, from times of praise, to despair and even curses upon enemies.Truly every situation we face is dealt with somewhere in the Psalms.We may also miss the set up of the book.It is not random and quite a bit can be learned about individual Psalms by where they are placed in the book.But we won’t come close to touching on this subject.All I can say is: spend time with this book!(I love Hebrew poetry and there is also a richness we can gain by learning about the techniques and style of this poetry.)
The other books of the Writings are mainly Wisdom Literature.These books include Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs and Job.This literature is concerned with tying every day experiences to our relationship with God.A summation of Wisdom is “‘Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’” (Job 28:28) This is not to fear as in "scared to even approach" but more like "respect".
We will spend two days in the Book of Proverbs at the end of the week.However, we are skipping completely over the other books.For many, the Book of Job holds interest, due to its discussion about the issue of bad things happening in a world created by a good, all powerful, God. I’ve taught a class on the Book of Job once and would love to do so again.It is a disturbing book.To be honest, I’m not sure the theme of the book is really about this issue.Let me know if any major interest exists in exploring this book.
So onward we go with just five readings to cover a major section of the Old Testament.Obviously this is barely an appetizer!
Over two hundred years has passed since the building of Solomon’s Temple.The destruction of this temple was a major shock to the Jews.How could God allow the Babylonians to conquer the city of Jerusalem, destroy Solomon’s temple, and apparently end the line of David.What about the promises made to David about his line reigning for ever?
But within the seeds of destruction lay hope.Thousands of Jews are deported to Babylon in the first (597 BC) and second (586 BC) successful attacks on Jerusalem.In the first attack, the Judean king Jehoiachin was taken back to Babylon as a prisoner.But now in 561 BC we have this hint that Jehoiachin is not only alive but is an honored guest of the Babylonian ruler (see vv 27-30).The last lines of the Deuteronomistic History provide an answer that God has not broken faithfulness.Hope still lives.Have you ever experienced fulfillment of hope, after all seemed lost?
And soon God will return the Jews to their land and another temple will be built.A son of Jehoiachin, Zerubbabel would lead the reconstruction of the temple.The line leading to Jesus was still alive.(Unfortunately these events are outside the readings for this course.)
Day 39 – Elijah & the Prophets of Baal – 1 Kings 16:29-19:18
Today’s reading has quite a bit of material.The prophet Elijah is introduced as the main protagonist of King Ahab.As I noted in my general discussion on the somewhat misnamed Book of Kings, the focus is on God and the prophets rather than detailed accounts of actions of the kings after Solomon.We have details of Ahab’s reign from other sources and know that he was one of the most powerful rulers of Israel.Yet he is dismissed with the words: “Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him.” (1 Kings )
The many exploits of Elijah are amazing.Yet do not lose sight of the fact that it is truly God acting, through Elijah, in these events.Note how Elijah acts with great boldness (c 18) but then runs away in despair (c 19).As you read through the events of Elijah’s life, reflect on your own life and how God has acted through you.
We also see God act in fire (1 Kings ) and in stillness (1 Kings ).Reflect on God’s many methods of speaking to us.What works best for you?
In Christ,
Randy
PS My apologies - this was supposed to be put out Wednesday night for Thursday reading. I had it ready but forgot to post. A sign of how my week has gone!
