Deuteronomy 16 sets up the vacation schedule for the people of Israel. There is Passover, the festival of 'weeks', what becomes Pentecost for us in the NT, and the festival of booths. All concentrate of food (good Presbyterians these Israelites!). The first recognizes Passover, when the angel of death passed over the first born of the Israelites in Egypt. The next is seven weeks after the harvest is begun, rejoicing over the gift of the Promised land given to the people by God. The festival of booths is when they complete the processing of the harvest, and is kept for a week.
All the males of Israel are to muster to the place where God will command for all these festivals. It isn't conquered yet, but it shall be Jerusalem.
16 continues with the civil code for the Promised Land, beginning with the judicial, specifically, the selection of judges where justice, and only justice, shall be pursued.
In Romans 13, Paul is taking care to place the followers of Christ in relationship to the Roman authorities. We are to be subject to the authorities placed over us, to pay our taxes, to live in peace. Not a bad theology when Paul is sending this letter to the capital of the Roman empire. It is also in contra-distinction to the nation of Israel, which seemed to be in constant strife with the Roman Empire, especially into the lead up to the Jewish Rebellion in 70 AD.
Paul cites the law of love as the backbone for our obedience. The "shalt nots" of the 10 Commandments are summed up by the second part of the Great Commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself." It is a connection of the basics of the Torah's legal code with the discussion of obeying the law and authority of the Romans, currently placed in control by the power of God.
The sum up for all is that we are closer today than yesterday to the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Back in Scripture after a month plus
Hmmm. I'm the one whose proclaimed that reading God's Holy Word is the second of our core values in being God's Neighbor. Kind of wish I'd done a better job of that in my own life. But now we move forward.
Deuteronomy 15 is all about building God's Neighborhood of the Promised Land. There was to be no poverty in God's neighborhood. In a perfect neighborhood, it would be because God's blessings flowed. But Israel wasn't perfect. So, every seven years, all debts were canceled. And the 'haves' were expected to lend to the 'have nots' whatever they needed to survive. Liberally and ungrudgingly they were to give.
Slaves too were to be released in that seventh year, and not simply with freedom, but with a cut of the profits they helped the owner make, enough to make a new life for themselves, male and female alike. Unless the slave chose to stay a slave. Once that decision was made, it was irreversible.
Finally, in God's Neighborhood, the first born were all dedicated to the Lord. Among the flocks and herds, they were to be eaten in the presence of the Lord, unless deformed, then impure. They were still eaten, but at home.
But always the rule of blood, it was to be poured on the ground.
Romans 12 calls for our surrender to God. Make our bodies a living sacrifice, be transformed by our God to what is good. Each of us has something to give to the Lord, as we are one body with many members. Let us use the gifts we have been given according to the needs that surround us. Finally, we are to turn good against evil, living peaceably so far as it depends on us. God brings vengeance, not us. In fact, good against evil turns coals upon the heads of our enemies.
Thus endeth the reading...
Deuteronomy 15 is all about building God's Neighborhood of the Promised Land. There was to be no poverty in God's neighborhood. In a perfect neighborhood, it would be because God's blessings flowed. But Israel wasn't perfect. So, every seven years, all debts were canceled. And the 'haves' were expected to lend to the 'have nots' whatever they needed to survive. Liberally and ungrudgingly they were to give.
Slaves too were to be released in that seventh year, and not simply with freedom, but with a cut of the profits they helped the owner make, enough to make a new life for themselves, male and female alike. Unless the slave chose to stay a slave. Once that decision was made, it was irreversible.
Finally, in God's Neighborhood, the first born were all dedicated to the Lord. Among the flocks and herds, they were to be eaten in the presence of the Lord, unless deformed, then impure. They were still eaten, but at home.
But always the rule of blood, it was to be poured on the ground.
Romans 12 calls for our surrender to God. Make our bodies a living sacrifice, be transformed by our God to what is good. Each of us has something to give to the Lord, as we are one body with many members. Let us use the gifts we have been given according to the needs that surround us. Finally, we are to turn good against evil, living peaceably so far as it depends on us. God brings vengeance, not us. In fact, good against evil turns coals upon the heads of our enemies.
Thus endeth the reading...
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Deuteronomy 13 and 14; Romans 11
Deuteronomy 13 is all about how mean and cruel God is. Can't go to another religion without being killed! If a prophet comes to you, even if backed by signs and wonders, and tells you to go worship another god, kill them!! If a person, even someone closest to you, brother, sister, friend, whomever, comes to you and tells you to worship another god, out them to the community and...yup...kill them!!! And if a whole town turns against God and goes to the worship of another god or gods, wholesale slaughter is ordered, down to the cattle of the people who live there.
Mean and cruel, or simply absolute? We sin, we die, rules of God...except for Jesus. Obey God and worship God and you live. Don't and you die. But we like to have 'options' as humans.
Deuteronomy 14 then focuses in on faith in God and dietary restrictions. Rules for which animals can and cannot be eaten are laid out. Can't eat an animal that died on its own-but you can sell it to outsiders. Then there is the rule of the tithe, one tenth of your produce or flocks. Every third year, it goes to feed God's servant tribe, the Levites. The other two years, you are required to come into the presence of the Lord-see the references to the Lord's selection of a place in Deut. 12, and therein eat the tenth. God always wants his people close. Live too far to transport the produce or flocks? Convert them to cash, come and eat locally.
Now Romans 11, Paul is not abandoning Israel. He ties in his own lineage to God's Chosen People. He recognizes
Mean and cruel, or simply absolute? We sin, we die, rules of God...except for Jesus. Obey God and worship God and you live. Don't and you die. But we like to have 'options' as humans.
Deuteronomy 14 then focuses in on faith in God and dietary restrictions. Rules for which animals can and cannot be eaten are laid out. Can't eat an animal that died on its own-but you can sell it to outsiders. Then there is the rule of the tithe, one tenth of your produce or flocks. Every third year, it goes to feed God's servant tribe, the Levites. The other two years, you are required to come into the presence of the Lord-see the references to the Lord's selection of a place in Deut. 12, and therein eat the tenth. God always wants his people close. Live too far to transport the produce or flocks? Convert them to cash, come and eat locally.
Now Romans 11, Paul is not abandoning Israel. He ties in his own lineage to God's Chosen People. He recognizes
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Deuteronomy 12 and Romans 10
Deuteronomy 12 has a recurring theme. Worship where the Lord God will choose. The people are to destroy all the sacred sites of the previous nations. They are to bring their religious tithes and sacrifices to one place. They are not to offer burnt offerings except at that place. They can eat meat anywhere, but offerings to God must take place in the one spot. Even if the territory of the Israelites increases, they must still come to the one spot to offer to God.
12 concludes with a warning not to chase after the religious rituals of the nations they are dispossessing from the land.
12 also stresses several times that the blood is the life, it MUST not be consumed but poured out on the ground.
Romans 10 continues Paul's arguments from chapter 9, that the Jews are at fault for not following God's gift of the Son. Paul knows they "have a zeal" for God, but do not recognize Christ in the role as the completer of the law of Moses. It is not about doing the 'right thing' that brings faith, but rather confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the heart that God raised him from the dead. He concludes with the lament that God's Word of Christ has gone out to the Israelites, but they have not listened.
12 concludes with a warning not to chase after the religious rituals of the nations they are dispossessing from the land.
12 also stresses several times that the blood is the life, it MUST not be consumed but poured out on the ground.
Romans 10 continues Paul's arguments from chapter 9, that the Jews are at fault for not following God's gift of the Son. Paul knows they "have a zeal" for God, but do not recognize Christ in the role as the completer of the law of Moses. It is not about doing the 'right thing' that brings faith, but rather confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the heart that God raised him from the dead. He concludes with the lament that God's Word of Christ has gone out to the Israelites, but they have not listened.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
Jesus' words form the basis for the three Anchors of being Neighbors with God. Work the anchors and, I believe, you begin the discipline of life as a Christian.
Jesus said, "I am the Way..." We determine the Way of our faith through prayer. Prayer is communication with God, it is interaction with the Almighty, it is the give and take of a lively, vibrant relationship. Not sure how to pray? That is your first prayer. Lord, I am not so good at praying. Sound a little flippant? I do not believe so. Prayer is as much about figuring out what you have to say as how you say it. It needs to happen daily, hourly, in word and deed. When was the last time you dedicated your day to the Lord?
Jesus said, "I am the Truth..." The truth about Jesus is found in the Bible. I am not saying its an easy read, the bible is not a novel. It is a diversity of literary forms, each with its own rules and formats, yes, starting at the beginning can be the easiest way to shut down. Pick a gospel, its the story of Jesus. Then the rest of the book hangs together on the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. That's the truth.
Jesus said, "I am the Life..." Let's be honest, our spending patterns are the most revealing of what is truly important in our lives. We can say lots of things, prioritize lots of things, including lots and lots about Jesus. But the proof is when we back it up with money. At best, money is necessary for our survival, to purchase the things we need. At worst, it is a way of keeping score in the game of life. But in the end, when we are giving back to God, when we are trusting in Him to provide so that we can give the tithe, or more, we've taken the relationship with God out of the abstract and into the reality of our existence.
These Anchors, these Disciplines, these Faith Practices, whatever you want to call them, they form the foundation of an ongoing and successful relationship with our God which will, in turn, provide us with the spiritual capital to truly build a neighborhood in God's kingdom.
Jesus said, "I am the Way..." We determine the Way of our faith through prayer. Prayer is communication with God, it is interaction with the Almighty, it is the give and take of a lively, vibrant relationship. Not sure how to pray? That is your first prayer. Lord, I am not so good at praying. Sound a little flippant? I do not believe so. Prayer is as much about figuring out what you have to say as how you say it. It needs to happen daily, hourly, in word and deed. When was the last time you dedicated your day to the Lord?
Jesus said, "I am the Truth..." The truth about Jesus is found in the Bible. I am not saying its an easy read, the bible is not a novel. It is a diversity of literary forms, each with its own rules and formats, yes, starting at the beginning can be the easiest way to shut down. Pick a gospel, its the story of Jesus. Then the rest of the book hangs together on the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. That's the truth.
Jesus said, "I am the Life..." Let's be honest, our spending patterns are the most revealing of what is truly important in our lives. We can say lots of things, prioritize lots of things, including lots and lots about Jesus. But the proof is when we back it up with money. At best, money is necessary for our survival, to purchase the things we need. At worst, it is a way of keeping score in the game of life. But in the end, when we are giving back to God, when we are trusting in Him to provide so that we can give the tithe, or more, we've taken the relationship with God out of the abstract and into the reality of our existence.
These Anchors, these Disciplines, these Faith Practices, whatever you want to call them, they form the foundation of an ongoing and successful relationship with our God which will, in turn, provide us with the spiritual capital to truly build a neighborhood in God's kingdom.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Deuteronomy 11 and Romans 9
It is a challenge to the people. Keep God's commands. Why? Consider the historic evidence of what happened to Pharaoh and what happened to Dathan and Abiram, both destroyed by God's power and strength. And the stakes have gone up.
In Egypt, it was the Nile that watered the crops. It had a power and regularity that was not easily disrupted. The Promised Land is watered by rain. Rain is sent by God. The sending of the rain will coincide with the obedience of the people to their LORD.
Some Jewish households have a blessing in a little container up on the doorpost of their homes, sometimes also of their businesses. This obeys verse 20. Some wear these things wrapped to their hands or on their foreheads when they pray. This obeys verse 18. Keeping the law is to understand and obey what God wants.
The promise in vss. 22 and following is a huge empire for the Israelites if they obey. The chapter ends with looking forward to entering the Promised Land, to Mt's Ebal and Gerazim to confirm these promises.
In Romans 9, Paul is upset. There is anguish in his heart for the Jews, those chosen by the LORD. They have turned away from what Jesus has taught. But Paul will not hold the LORD responsible for their unbelief. God does what God will do. He draws from the Old Testament, that God chose Jacob over Esau, the younger over the older. He selected the Pharaoh of the Exodus that the Pharaoh's heart would be hardened against their leaving.
Is it fair?
Can the clay say to the potter what is fair in how the clay should be constructed? God is the potter and has turned his blessings to the Gentiles upon their rejection by the Jews. He appeals to Isaiah, who prophesied this before, that only a remnant of the people would believe.
The distinction given is that the Jews have fallen into a pattern where they believe right works may them right with God, whereas the Gentiles, not necessarily knowing the 'right works', come to the LORD through faith.
In Egypt, it was the Nile that watered the crops. It had a power and regularity that was not easily disrupted. The Promised Land is watered by rain. Rain is sent by God. The sending of the rain will coincide with the obedience of the people to their LORD.
Some Jewish households have a blessing in a little container up on the doorpost of their homes, sometimes also of their businesses. This obeys verse 20. Some wear these things wrapped to their hands or on their foreheads when they pray. This obeys verse 18. Keeping the law is to understand and obey what God wants.
The promise in vss. 22 and following is a huge empire for the Israelites if they obey. The chapter ends with looking forward to entering the Promised Land, to Mt's Ebal and Gerazim to confirm these promises.
In Romans 9, Paul is upset. There is anguish in his heart for the Jews, those chosen by the LORD. They have turned away from what Jesus has taught. But Paul will not hold the LORD responsible for their unbelief. God does what God will do. He draws from the Old Testament, that God chose Jacob over Esau, the younger over the older. He selected the Pharaoh of the Exodus that the Pharaoh's heart would be hardened against their leaving.
Is it fair?
Can the clay say to the potter what is fair in how the clay should be constructed? God is the potter and has turned his blessings to the Gentiles upon their rejection by the Jews. He appeals to Isaiah, who prophesied this before, that only a remnant of the people would believe.
The distinction given is that the Jews have fallen into a pattern where they believe right works may them right with God, whereas the Gentiles, not necessarily knowing the 'right works', come to the LORD through faith.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Deuteronomy 8-10; Romans 8
Moses continues to go over the relationship between the LORD and the people, especially with a focus on what the LORD has done. In 8, he reminds them that even after 40 years in the wilderness, their stuff did not wear out, then a warning not to be arrogant, that the LORD provided their water and their manna and their quail, that they did not make themselves rich.
9 describes how the LORD has and will go in ahead of the people to drive out those who are there, and that the people are not getting the land because of their own righteousness, but because of the LORD's judgment on the land in fulfillment of promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
It goes on to remind the people of how they had Aaron create the Golden Calf, sinning against the LORD, causing Moses to destroy the tablets of the Commandments given by the LORD. Finally, after all their sins, Moses reminds them it was his intervention with the LORD that kept the people from being destroyed for their disobedience.
In 10, Moses reminds them how new tablets were created for the 10 Commandments, an ark was built for them, and the LORD's requirement that the people love and obey their God.
Romans 8 sets up contrast between the 'flesh', of the sinful world, and the 'Spirit', transcendent of the sinful world. It is the Spirit of Christ that dwells in those who will go with Jesus beyond the sinful. We owe God our very lives for seeing us through to the possibility of salvation. Paul looks to the glory that will come as superior to the suffering received now. He assures us that God is our help and our salvation.
Chapter 8 may well be one of the most significant chapters on the power of God in transforming our lives in the entire bible.
9 describes how the LORD has and will go in ahead of the people to drive out those who are there, and that the people are not getting the land because of their own righteousness, but because of the LORD's judgment on the land in fulfillment of promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
It goes on to remind the people of how they had Aaron create the Golden Calf, sinning against the LORD, causing Moses to destroy the tablets of the Commandments given by the LORD. Finally, after all their sins, Moses reminds them it was his intervention with the LORD that kept the people from being destroyed for their disobedience.
In 10, Moses reminds them how new tablets were created for the 10 Commandments, an ark was built for them, and the LORD's requirement that the people love and obey their God.
Romans 8 sets up contrast between the 'flesh', of the sinful world, and the 'Spirit', transcendent of the sinful world. It is the Spirit of Christ that dwells in those who will go with Jesus beyond the sinful. We owe God our very lives for seeing us through to the possibility of salvation. Paul looks to the glory that will come as superior to the suffering received now. He assures us that God is our help and our salvation.
Chapter 8 may well be one of the most significant chapters on the power of God in transforming our lives in the entire bible.
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