Esther 2:17 17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
I’m finding the book of Esther a little difficult. There are so many things we need to watch out for and we have to be cautious of our interpretation. When I first underlined this scripture I was struck by how Esther was able to win the heart of the king by basically being obedient. My first inclination is to remember that if we are obedient to Christ we would be amazed at what can happen through us. But there are problems, the king is not Christ, he doesn’t display a hint of Christ like behavior. Also there is the concern that my words could be used to support submissive behavior in women just for the fact that they are women, which I don’t agree with. What I learned here was actually surprising to me; it was a reminder of even if a passage speaks to me in a certain way I need to be cautious in how I speak about it. We need to support one another when we come to narrative passages and use them to build up the community and create dialogue about some of the problems within interpretation. Maybe that is the task of Esther, to remind us of community and the importance of that community.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Job 23:11-12
Job 23:11-12 11 My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. 12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
In the middle of all of this mourning and complaining comes this statement. This verse reminded me of something really important. That is no matter how good you think you are, how well you do your devotions or how often you attend worship services bad things still happen. Now I know that sounds like a no brained comment, but over the last 30 plus years the Health and Wealth Gospel movement have basically claimed if you don’t do anything wrong God will reward you. It’s amazing in all my dealings with Health and Wealth people I’ve never heard them mention Job. Things happen. And while we need to depend upon God we need to do his commandments our devotions the best we can while we are in the problem.
In the middle of all of this mourning and complaining comes this statement. This verse reminded me of something really important. That is no matter how good you think you are, how well you do your devotions or how often you attend worship services bad things still happen. Now I know that sounds like a no brained comment, but over the last 30 plus years the Health and Wealth Gospel movement have basically claimed if you don’t do anything wrong God will reward you. It’s amazing in all my dealings with Health and Wealth people I’ve never heard them mention Job. Things happen. And while we need to depend upon God we need to do his commandments our devotions the best we can while we are in the problem.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Ruth 4:9-10
Ruth 4:9-10 9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, "Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!"
The end of Ruth seems to just rush to many different conclusions. Yet for some reason this verse struck me. In the midst of Gods plans for salvation, the Davidic line which eventually leads to Christ, God acts in the work of a normal towns business. While I can acknowledge that this was a unique marriage in the community this appears to me to be another instance of God working in the midst of the “world.” In our daily lives most of us live in the secular far more than the sacred, a verse like this reminds us that the sacred (unlike the secular) is present in all things everywhere. We just have to take the time to look. It might be a birds flight across the sky, a sunrise, or sunset. It could be that grocery store attendant that you never met before, or the homeless person you pass on the street. The sacred is everywhere and God has given us the ability to see it. Will you look?
The end of Ruth seems to just rush to many different conclusions. Yet for some reason this verse struck me. In the midst of Gods plans for salvation, the Davidic line which eventually leads to Christ, God acts in the work of a normal towns business. While I can acknowledge that this was a unique marriage in the community this appears to me to be another instance of God working in the midst of the “world.” In our daily lives most of us live in the secular far more than the sacred, a verse like this reminds us that the sacred (unlike the secular) is present in all things everywhere. We just have to take the time to look. It might be a birds flight across the sky, a sunrise, or sunset. It could be that grocery store attendant that you never met before, or the homeless person you pass on the street. The sacred is everywhere and God has given us the ability to see it. Will you look?
Job 23:11-12
Job 23:11-12 11 My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. 12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
In the middle of all of this mourning and complaining comes this statement. This verse reminded me of something really important. That is no matter how good you think you are, how well you do your devotions or how often you attend worship services bad things still happen. Now I know that sounds like a no brained comment, but over the last 30 plus years the Health and Wealth Gospel movement have basically claimed if you don’t do anything wrong God will reward you. It’s amazing in all my dealings with Health and Wealth people I’ve never heard them mention Job. Things happen. And while we need to depend upon God we need to do his commandments our devotions the best we can while we are in the problem.
In the middle of all of this mourning and complaining comes this statement. This verse reminded me of something really important. That is no matter how good you think you are, how well you do your devotions or how often you attend worship services bad things still happen. Now I know that sounds like a no brained comment, but over the last 30 plus years the Health and Wealth Gospel movement have basically claimed if you don’t do anything wrong God will reward you. It’s amazing in all my dealings with Health and Wealth people I’ve never heard them mention Job. Things happen. And while we need to depend upon God we need to do his commandments our devotions the best we can while we are in the problem.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Ruth 3:4; 3:18
Ruth 3:4 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do."
Ruth 3:18 18 Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."
The third chapter of Ruth holds many problems for people. One of the primary problems is the use of sexually charged language, as in verse four, and in other places where there is almost a blatant sexual overtones to the whole night time meeting of Ruth and Boaz. Many people don’t like the idea of the sexual in this biblical story. One of the reasons is because the act of sex is seen as something someone who is upright, like Ruth and Boaz, would not engage in as part of a “business” proposition. I think we’ve sterilized the biblical heroes enough. Ruth, in my mind, was obviously an attractive woman. Boaz, is a good guy who tries to do the right thing. In the deep of the night something intimate happened, something that could be miss-interpreted by the townspeople. Ruth and Boaz share, and maybe what God means for us to find here that yes even sex with ulterior motives has a place in the story of God. Often when our relationship get intimate, even married relationships, we push the person away. We feel we’re being crowded or hampered from doing what we want because of this special tie. Maybe what our reaction in our relationships needs to be like what Naomi says, “Wait…for the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” Relationships, whether business or sexual take time and patience, not a pushing a way of intimacy. Remember wait, until things are settled.
Ruth 3:18 18 Then Naomi said, "Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today."
The third chapter of Ruth holds many problems for people. One of the primary problems is the use of sexually charged language, as in verse four, and in other places where there is almost a blatant sexual overtones to the whole night time meeting of Ruth and Boaz. Many people don’t like the idea of the sexual in this biblical story. One of the reasons is because the act of sex is seen as something someone who is upright, like Ruth and Boaz, would not engage in as part of a “business” proposition. I think we’ve sterilized the biblical heroes enough. Ruth, in my mind, was obviously an attractive woman. Boaz, is a good guy who tries to do the right thing. In the deep of the night something intimate happened, something that could be miss-interpreted by the townspeople. Ruth and Boaz share, and maybe what God means for us to find here that yes even sex with ulterior motives has a place in the story of God. Often when our relationship get intimate, even married relationships, we push the person away. We feel we’re being crowded or hampered from doing what we want because of this special tie. Maybe what our reaction in our relationships needs to be like what Naomi says, “Wait…for the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” Relationships, whether business or sexual take time and patience, not a pushing a way of intimacy. Remember wait, until things are settled.
Job 19:7
Job 19:7 7 "Though I cry, 'I've been wronged!' I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.
Job’s cry is the cry of the pained. Most of us have had very few times that we’ve been wronged, certainly almost none of us have been wronged to the extent that Job has been wronged in his life. Job is expressing this statement to his friends. One of the greatest dangers for friends and families of a victim is not to actually see them as a victim. We are to close to the situation to see clearly what is going on. That is why it often takes an outsider to report child abuse or spousal abuse. As Christians one of our responsibilities is to stand up against injustice, to challenge abuse and abusive systems. Whether they are questions about marriage and marriage rights, or our governments oversea policies. We have a call to stand with those whom injustice is being perpetrated against.
Job’s cry is the cry of the pained. Most of us have had very few times that we’ve been wronged, certainly almost none of us have been wronged to the extent that Job has been wronged in his life. Job is expressing this statement to his friends. One of the greatest dangers for friends and families of a victim is not to actually see them as a victim. We are to close to the situation to see clearly what is going on. That is why it often takes an outsider to report child abuse or spousal abuse. As Christians one of our responsibilities is to stand up against injustice, to challenge abuse and abusive systems. Whether they are questions about marriage and marriage rights, or our governments oversea policies. We have a call to stand with those whom injustice is being perpetrated against.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Ruth 2:11
Ruth 2:11 11 Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband-- how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before.
Reputations have a tendency to follow us. Even now years after graduating from High School some of the reputations that were gained then still follow me. This is a lesson it would be well for us to remember. The reputation that you get as an individual of faith, has bearing on how you will impact or influence people around you, and your individual reputation will then in turn have an effect on the reputation of the church you are a part of. The passage above from Ruth reminds us that those things we do, the things that we often feel aren’t observed are more often than not the incidents that cause a reputation. How you act toward your family, your friends, your job, or even the stranger in the grocery store will follow you and either set you up for success (physical or spiritual) or failure.
Reputations have a tendency to follow us. Even now years after graduating from High School some of the reputations that were gained then still follow me. This is a lesson it would be well for us to remember. The reputation that you get as an individual of faith, has bearing on how you will impact or influence people around you, and your individual reputation will then in turn have an effect on the reputation of the church you are a part of. The passage above from Ruth reminds us that those things we do, the things that we often feel aren’t observed are more often than not the incidents that cause a reputation. How you act toward your family, your friends, your job, or even the stranger in the grocery store will follow you and either set you up for success (physical or spiritual) or failure.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Job 16:19-21
Job 16:19-21 19 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. 20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; 21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend.
Its hard for a Christian to read this passage and not think of Christ. Christ the person who is advocating for us, who is offering intercessions to God on our behalf. We have the benefit of Christ which Job didn’t have. This makes me think about our friends and relatives who are not Christian. I often find it hard to talk and share with them the comfort of Christ when going through a difficult time. One clear rule of that is knowing when to share, but also trying to get them to identify with someone else (Christ) when it would help them. One of the reasons I think this is difficult for so many of us is that we don’t identify with Christ. Christ can intercede to God on our behalf, but we live as if there is no way that Christ can understand what we are saying or what we are doing. Christ, God, has no relevant part in any of our lives. While Job has reason to feel this way, we often don’t. We aren’t going through a trauma, we aren’t facing death. We are just plodding away at our day’s not thinking of much and doing even less. Can we let God in, can we allow him that time in our life now so that when we are in a situation like Job we will be able to cope?
Its hard for a Christian to read this passage and not think of Christ. Christ the person who is advocating for us, who is offering intercessions to God on our behalf. We have the benefit of Christ which Job didn’t have. This makes me think about our friends and relatives who are not Christian. I often find it hard to talk and share with them the comfort of Christ when going through a difficult time. One clear rule of that is knowing when to share, but also trying to get them to identify with someone else (Christ) when it would help them. One of the reasons I think this is difficult for so many of us is that we don’t identify with Christ. Christ can intercede to God on our behalf, but we live as if there is no way that Christ can understand what we are saying or what we are doing. Christ, God, has no relevant part in any of our lives. While Job has reason to feel this way, we often don’t. We aren’t going through a trauma, we aren’t facing death. We are just plodding away at our day’s not thinking of much and doing even less. Can we let God in, can we allow him that time in our life now so that when we are in a situation like Job we will be able to cope?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Job 13:2-5
Job 13:2-5 2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. 3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. 4 You, however, smear me with lies; you are worthless physicians, all of you! 5 If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.
It never ceases to amaze me how bad some people are at talking. I’ve been in a lot of situations where I know the person means well, I know their trying to help me, yet they treat me like an idiot. This is a common issue to have, well meaning people, well meaning friends, share some advice try to push you to a conclusion when your not there. In fact those friends tend to come off like Job’s friends do in verse four, they are worthless. What many of us miss, and this bears reminding to me as a minister as well is how often we need to do what Job says in verse five, basically to paraphrase “shut up!” Our desire to help, our desire to be a good friend, our desire to be a good person of faith sometimes overrides our better judgment and disables our abilities to truly be a help to people. There was a term I learned in seminary we emphasized it in our counseling courses and that was how to be a “non-anxious presence.” How to, not be disconnected from the trauma or the issue, but how to allow the people who need to be overwhelmed by it, the people who need to voice certain things, or feel a certain way to in fact have that moment. We as Christians are always in danger of telling people what to think and how to think it. This text is a good reminder that sometimes we need to “shut-up” and wait for a better time, or better yet, let God handle the issue. Amen.
It never ceases to amaze me how bad some people are at talking. I’ve been in a lot of situations where I know the person means well, I know their trying to help me, yet they treat me like an idiot. This is a common issue to have, well meaning people, well meaning friends, share some advice try to push you to a conclusion when your not there. In fact those friends tend to come off like Job’s friends do in verse four, they are worthless. What many of us miss, and this bears reminding to me as a minister as well is how often we need to do what Job says in verse five, basically to paraphrase “shut up!” Our desire to help, our desire to be a good friend, our desire to be a good person of faith sometimes overrides our better judgment and disables our abilities to truly be a help to people. There was a term I learned in seminary we emphasized it in our counseling courses and that was how to be a “non-anxious presence.” How to, not be disconnected from the trauma or the issue, but how to allow the people who need to be overwhelmed by it, the people who need to voice certain things, or feel a certain way to in fact have that moment. We as Christians are always in danger of telling people what to think and how to think it. This text is a good reminder that sometimes we need to “shut-up” and wait for a better time, or better yet, let God handle the issue. Amen.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Job 9:32-35
Job 9:32-35 32 "He is not a man like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. 33 If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, 34 someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. 35 Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
Often I have approached Christ (God) as a friend. I find its natural to talk to God in that manner, and like many other Christians I have been brought up to see God as my friend. The natural extension of this for me and for the majority of Christians is to see God in someway as human. This passage in Job reminds us Christians of a couple of things, one that God is not human. Job is lamenting the fact that there is no way that he can identify. He is not only lamenting that fact his is also longing for a relationship with God. There is another part here that we Christians see, and that is that there is an arbitrator between us and God, Christ. We can rejoice in this knowledge that God has provided a way that we can relate with one another. Yet we need to be mindful that while God loves and cares for us, and that God has continually sought reconciliation with humanity, he is in fact not human. This is a comfort to me, that means Gods ways aren’t my ways and the more I want to hold him to my standards, my words for justice, fairness, righteousness, forgiveness, and grace his ways his decisions are beyond all of humanities, including my owns comprehension. Does that comfort you?
Often I have approached Christ (God) as a friend. I find its natural to talk to God in that manner, and like many other Christians I have been brought up to see God as my friend. The natural extension of this for me and for the majority of Christians is to see God in someway as human. This passage in Job reminds us Christians of a couple of things, one that God is not human. Job is lamenting the fact that there is no way that he can identify. He is not only lamenting that fact his is also longing for a relationship with God. There is another part here that we Christians see, and that is that there is an arbitrator between us and God, Christ. We can rejoice in this knowledge that God has provided a way that we can relate with one another. Yet we need to be mindful that while God loves and cares for us, and that God has continually sought reconciliation with humanity, he is in fact not human. This is a comfort to me, that means Gods ways aren’t my ways and the more I want to hold him to my standards, my words for justice, fairness, righteousness, forgiveness, and grace his ways his decisions are beyond all of humanities, including my owns comprehension. Does that comfort you?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Job 6:14-17
Job 6:14-17 14 "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow 16 when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, 17 but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels.
Doesn’t it seem that Jobs a little harsh here toward his friends? They did sit in silence with him for a week. In fact he’s yelling at two of them who aren’t even saying anything. The key part in this text comes in 14a “even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” I’ve known many good Christians over the years, and unfortunately I have watched them succumb to the idea that a Christian should only have Christian friends. Or I’ve talked to people in the church and they claim that all of their friends are Christian. What tends to happen is that we abandon those friendship because of attitudes that individual might have toward God. We say its behavior but really its attitude. We become overly sensitive, we think we need to correct people all the time saying “you can’t say that,” or “don’t say that” like the person is going to be struck by lightning or something for even insinuating that God might be responsible or at fault. Job is pointing out to his friend Elphaz (and the others) that you need to just be a friend, not abandon him for his new attitude toward God, no matter how founded or unfounded that attitude is. When I read this verse I remember to thank God for my non-Christian friends. They remind me why I follow Christ and how I need to seek his face in all people, all people around me. They remind me that my job is to make disciples and not pal around with other Christians all the time.
Doesn’t it seem that Jobs a little harsh here toward his friends? They did sit in silence with him for a week. In fact he’s yelling at two of them who aren’t even saying anything. The key part in this text comes in 14a “even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” I’ve known many good Christians over the years, and unfortunately I have watched them succumb to the idea that a Christian should only have Christian friends. Or I’ve talked to people in the church and they claim that all of their friends are Christian. What tends to happen is that we abandon those friendship because of attitudes that individual might have toward God. We say its behavior but really its attitude. We become overly sensitive, we think we need to correct people all the time saying “you can’t say that,” or “don’t say that” like the person is going to be struck by lightning or something for even insinuating that God might be responsible or at fault. Job is pointing out to his friend Elphaz (and the others) that you need to just be a friend, not abandon him for his new attitude toward God, no matter how founded or unfounded that attitude is. When I read this verse I remember to thank God for my non-Christian friends. They remind me why I follow Christ and how I need to seek his face in all people, all people around me. They remind me that my job is to make disciples and not pal around with other Christians all the time.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Job 4:4-6
Job 4:4-6 4 Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. 5 But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. 6 Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?
In these verse Eliphaz reminds me of many well meaning, good Christians trying to help someone though a difficult time in their life. They offer canned wisdom, things that we “all ways said” but unfortunately they don’t remember that we always say them when we’re the one’s giving the advice not the ones receiving. Eliphaz is trying to be a good friend; he genuinely wants to help Job, to set Job on the road to recovery and well being. Unfortunately he doesn’t realize that he was better off not saying anything. In our lives that maybe our task more often than not. When someone who isn’t a Christian or someone who is a Christian but has hit hard times, it is not our place to explain their suffering to them. It’s not our place to remind them of what they may have once said, our place is to be silent, listening until they can articulate their needs. Until they can turn to God for help. Then we are there, then we can help, then we can speak.
In these verse Eliphaz reminds me of many well meaning, good Christians trying to help someone though a difficult time in their life. They offer canned wisdom, things that we “all ways said” but unfortunately they don’t remember that we always say them when we’re the one’s giving the advice not the ones receiving. Eliphaz is trying to be a good friend; he genuinely wants to help Job, to set Job on the road to recovery and well being. Unfortunately he doesn’t realize that he was better off not saying anything. In our lives that maybe our task more often than not. When someone who isn’t a Christian or someone who is a Christian but has hit hard times, it is not our place to explain their suffering to them. It’s not our place to remind them of what they may have once said, our place is to be silent, listening until they can articulate their needs. Until they can turn to God for help. Then we are there, then we can help, then we can speak.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
This is one of the passages in Ecclesiastes that is quoted by a lot of different biblical figures, including Jesus. Everyone who quotes it has a dislike of the statement. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes is the only one who offers an alternative. Enjoy life! This is a message not expressed enough in the church or by well meaning Christians. The facts are we don’t know anything about what happens when a person dies. We have faith that there is a bodily resurrection and that we spend eternity in Christ’s presence. That being said we need a healthy dose of what the Teacher has to say. Eat and drink, enjoy life because in the end this maybe all we have. The Teacher sees this as a gift of God, when you realize that you need to actually enjoy life, I would add while holding on to your other faith elements. The end of verse twenty four and verse twenty five lend themselves to the idea that not everyone gets this. In fact the Teacher is claiming that this is a gift by God. I’ve heard people understand this as predestination, so that would again mean there is no point to this activity. I don’t think that is what the Teacher is expressing here. The fact of the matter is the people who figure out how to hold onto their beliefs and enjoy life come from all areas of life, rich, poor, wise or fool. Being one or the other doesn’t guarantee that you will ever figure this out or actually put it into practice. We need to remember that God has given us this life, and while we may not understand why things happen or why the evil succeed and the good are oppressed. Sometimes we need to remember that we need to take a step back and remember this life. Eat, drink, and enjoy.
This is one of the passages in Ecclesiastes that is quoted by a lot of different biblical figures, including Jesus. Everyone who quotes it has a dislike of the statement. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes is the only one who offers an alternative. Enjoy life! This is a message not expressed enough in the church or by well meaning Christians. The facts are we don’t know anything about what happens when a person dies. We have faith that there is a bodily resurrection and that we spend eternity in Christ’s presence. That being said we need a healthy dose of what the Teacher has to say. Eat and drink, enjoy life because in the end this maybe all we have. The Teacher sees this as a gift of God, when you realize that you need to actually enjoy life, I would add while holding on to your other faith elements. The end of verse twenty four and verse twenty five lend themselves to the idea that not everyone gets this. In fact the Teacher is claiming that this is a gift by God. I’ve heard people understand this as predestination, so that would again mean there is no point to this activity. I don’t think that is what the Teacher is expressing here. The fact of the matter is the people who figure out how to hold onto their beliefs and enjoy life come from all areas of life, rich, poor, wise or fool. Being one or the other doesn’t guarantee that you will ever figure this out or actually put it into practice. We need to remember that God has given us this life, and while we may not understand why things happen or why the evil succeed and the good are oppressed. Sometimes we need to remember that we need to take a step back and remember this life. Eat, drink, and enjoy.
Ecclesiastes 1:11
"There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow." Ecclesiastes 1:11
I've been one of those people who always struggled to do devotions. I've always tried to read through the bible (which I have done several times) during devotions, but for devotional purposes I am rarely successful. So I've decided to take to heart a lesson taught to me by my college theology professor. That is instead of spreading yourself thin in devotions concentrate on one book of the bible so that you can make research, and devotional advancement for other people. Basically so you can make your mark on biblical scholarship. Now that is not the reason I decided to do this. I decided to do intentional in depth study of one book for my personal development, hence I choose Ecclesiastes my favorite book of the Bible. For my first reflection on Ecc. I was struck by this verse in chapter one for several reasons. For one its a direct contradiction to the reason my theology professor suggested in depth biblical studies. But also because I am a fan of John Lennon. Most atheist I have heard or read of believe that the best we can hope for after we die is that people will remember us, remember our works. The eleventh verse of chapter one in Ecc. points out the futility in relying on people to remember your works. We as humanity have a tremendous ability to forget where we've been and who or what exactly got us where. Most of the historical figures in the deep past are lucky they are remembered, and yes it is in fact luck that their works weren't burned up, or their memory erase (not for lack of trying) by the next group of winners. Remembrance is not all its cut out to be, looking forward in salvation history it is only by the love of Christ that we are able to have comfort for our future. When all of humanity forgets us, God still remembers.
I've been one of those people who always struggled to do devotions. I've always tried to read through the bible (which I have done several times) during devotions, but for devotional purposes I am rarely successful. So I've decided to take to heart a lesson taught to me by my college theology professor. That is instead of spreading yourself thin in devotions concentrate on one book of the bible so that you can make research, and devotional advancement for other people. Basically so you can make your mark on biblical scholarship. Now that is not the reason I decided to do this. I decided to do intentional in depth study of one book for my personal development, hence I choose Ecclesiastes my favorite book of the Bible. For my first reflection on Ecc. I was struck by this verse in chapter one for several reasons. For one its a direct contradiction to the reason my theology professor suggested in depth biblical studies. But also because I am a fan of John Lennon. Most atheist I have heard or read of believe that the best we can hope for after we die is that people will remember us, remember our works. The eleventh verse of chapter one in Ecc. points out the futility in relying on people to remember your works. We as humanity have a tremendous ability to forget where we've been and who or what exactly got us where. Most of the historical figures in the deep past are lucky they are remembered, and yes it is in fact luck that their works weren't burned up, or their memory erase (not for lack of trying) by the next group of winners. Remembrance is not all its cut out to be, looking forward in salvation history it is only by the love of Christ that we are able to have comfort for our future. When all of humanity forgets us, God still remembers.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Ruth 1:16-18
Ruth 1:16-18 16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
In thinking about the first chapter of Ruth, I am always pulled toward this particular part of the story. In reading commentaries I found out several things about this verse. The first thing that I learned is that this verse is often used in traditional wedding ceremonies, even though it wasn’t in mine. The second fact is that the English translation doesn’t capture the anger and frustration that Ruth has in her voice as she makes this statement back to Naomi. In the rest of the first chapter we see Naomi ignoring Ruth the rest of the way. Scholars argue about what kind of ignoring this is, is it because Naomi is angry, is it because she is grateful for Ruth and doesn’t really want Ruth to see it. Personally I think Naomi is angry. She has been corrected by a younger person, not only a younger person but someone who she is technically in charge of. My experience has been that few if any people are very gracious when this situation happens to them. In our lives now this maybe one of the biggest challenges facing the “older” generations of our church. I’ve watched repeatedly as church people act patronizing to younger people in the church, “we’ll teach them right,” “they’ll grow out of it.” Instead of taking seriously that the individual may be spiritually more mature and may seriously have something to teach. My hope and prayer is that I never fall into this danger, and that those in my church can move beyond this. This is the only way that we will grow, if we learn from each other, not just try to use one another.
In thinking about the first chapter of Ruth, I am always pulled toward this particular part of the story. In reading commentaries I found out several things about this verse. The first thing that I learned is that this verse is often used in traditional wedding ceremonies, even though it wasn’t in mine. The second fact is that the English translation doesn’t capture the anger and frustration that Ruth has in her voice as she makes this statement back to Naomi. In the rest of the first chapter we see Naomi ignoring Ruth the rest of the way. Scholars argue about what kind of ignoring this is, is it because Naomi is angry, is it because she is grateful for Ruth and doesn’t really want Ruth to see it. Personally I think Naomi is angry. She has been corrected by a younger person, not only a younger person but someone who she is technically in charge of. My experience has been that few if any people are very gracious when this situation happens to them. In our lives now this maybe one of the biggest challenges facing the “older” generations of our church. I’ve watched repeatedly as church people act patronizing to younger people in the church, “we’ll teach them right,” “they’ll grow out of it.” Instead of taking seriously that the individual may be spiritually more mature and may seriously have something to teach. My hope and prayer is that I never fall into this danger, and that those in my church can move beyond this. This is the only way that we will grow, if we learn from each other, not just try to use one another.
Job 2:3b
Job 2:3b And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."
Job is a difficult book to study. It deals with topics that most Christians I’ve met don’t want to deal with, and things said in ways we don’t want them said. This particular passage is one of those verses. God is replying to Satan in the heavenly court. Its not disturbing that God is replying to Satan, its Gods own admission of destructive acts on Job’s life that he just performed, notice “you incited me against him” (emphasis mine). I don’t have an explanation about God’s responsibility in the actions against Job. But I did start to think about how we handle problems as they surface in our lives. The inclination in this part of the story is to blame Satan, or blame Job himself (as we shall see his friends do later). We push the blame, yet here is a text where God seems to be clearly stating “I did this”. Maybe the task here is not push blame somewhere else. Maybe we need to learn that sometimes God is responsible and even though we don’t know the reason things happen we can, as odd as it sounds, allow God some grace in his decisions and his direction.
Job is a difficult book to study. It deals with topics that most Christians I’ve met don’t want to deal with, and things said in ways we don’t want them said. This particular passage is one of those verses. God is replying to Satan in the heavenly court. Its not disturbing that God is replying to Satan, its Gods own admission of destructive acts on Job’s life that he just performed, notice “you incited me against him” (emphasis mine). I don’t have an explanation about God’s responsibility in the actions against Job. But I did start to think about how we handle problems as they surface in our lives. The inclination in this part of the story is to blame Satan, or blame Job himself (as we shall see his friends do later). We push the blame, yet here is a text where God seems to be clearly stating “I did this”. Maybe the task here is not push blame somewhere else. Maybe we need to learn that sometimes God is responsible and even though we don’t know the reason things happen we can, as odd as it sounds, allow God some grace in his decisions and his direction.
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