Wednesdays at One Bible Study Blog
WE MEET IN THE LIBRARY AT ADVENT AT 1 P.M. - BRING YOUR OWN BIBLE.
May 2: Ezekiel prophesies hope to Israel We hear the prophet denouncing God's enemies and then finally, predicting the return and reestablishment of Israel in an undivided kingdom under the Lord's reign. We break for two weeks (independent reading Chapters 42-48.) Class resumes on May 23 with the beginning of the book of Daniel.
April 25: Hope based on human potential is no hope at all, Ezekiel says; look to God Lecture points: From the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 587, the prophet’s message is increasingly one not only of the denunciation of Israel’s faithlessness but also a positive word of hope and salvation. The glory of the Lord, he tells the people, was not tied to the temple in Jerusalem but in fact traveled with them into exile. To those burdened by guilt, Ezekiel speaks the reassuring word that God does not desire the death of sinners but that they turn to God and live. The sins of the past, he tells the people, will not prevent forgiveness and life in the future. Next Wednesday, May 2, we’ll continue with chapter 29.
Lecture points: (time line review) Around 597 B.C.E. King Jehoiachin was exiled to Babylon, along with others, who continued to live out their Jewish heritage as expatriots. The Babylonians set up a "puppet king" Zedekiah, in Jerusalem. The people of Israel were worshipping idols, disregarding God and in general, departing from God and God's covenant with them. By 587 the Babylonians had swept through the northern kingdom of Israel and into the southern kingdom of Judah and laid waste to Jerusalem, including the Temple, which was completely destroyed. Ezekiel was a prophet and a priest, living in exile in Babylon. The first 15 chapters outline the fantastic visions from God that called Ezekiel out as a prophet, as well as giving him the prophecies that would be played out as judgment against the Israelites. Pretty sobering descriptions of how God will bring vengeance down on his chosen people...
Next time: We'll start with chapter 16
April 11: Chapter 45-end of Jeremiah
Conversation points: as Jeremiah prophesies the destruction of Israel's enemies, we all saw the "big picture" of how retirbutive justice clearly marked the psyche of the ancient people of Israel. In other words, Jerusalem was destroyed and they were captives in Babylon. Somebody messed up big time, and incurred God's wrath for this to have happened.
The idea that their current state of affairs was their fault and God's doing caused us to reflect on our modern life in America and where "forgetting God and magnifying themselves" might be a description of us! We all agreed reading through Lamentations was a sad experience, and yet somehow made Easter feel that much more joyous. Save us, Jesus...we are not capable of saving ourselves...
We finished Jeremiah and Lamentations. Start on April 18 with Ezekiel
March 28: The prophet tells Jerusalem, ‘Yes, big trouble’s coming; but deliverance will follow’
Lecture points: Jeremiah’s calling as prophet is a mixed blessing. He must forecast the fall of Jerusalem, but he also says that restoration will come some day. Perhaps that word of future fulfillment will see the people through the tough time to come.
We’ll resume on April 11 with chapter 45.
March 21: Conflict and comfort, a prophet’s dual message
Lecture points: There’s no indication that anyone ever applied for the job of prophet, and Jeremiah knows why. It’s a thankless task, and dangerous when speaking truth to power. However, the prophet can also bring words of comfort, and today’s reading encompasses both conflict and reassurance. First, Jeremiah delivers an ultimatum to foreign kings and to the king of Israel: submit to the king of Babylon. But he also speaks a word of comfort and reassurance of God’s everlasting love to the common people. Better days are coming, says the Lord through the prophet.
Next Wednesday, March 28, we’ll continue with chapter 30 and the fall of Jerusalem.
March 7: Jeremiah 16 - 26
Lecture points: The prophet Jeremiah brings the news to Israel that because of their unfaithfulness to God, they will be taken into captivity and Jerusalem will be destroyed. Because Jeremiah is the bringer of these tidings, he is threatened with death; however, calmer heads prevail and folks hear the word of the Lord. Will they repent and change God's mind and escape the captivity? Tune in next week when we begin at Chapter 27.
Feb. 29: Jeremiah – a prophet who goes to the heart of the matter Lecture points: Jeremiah became a prophet of the Exile, speaking God’s unpopular word to the people of Jerusalem beginning around 609 BCE. He himself was exiled to Egypt in 587 BCE. Jeremiah had an unusual relationship with God in that he experienced God to be majestic and transcendent, but this did not leave him adoring God in awe, as in the cases of Isaiah and Ezekiel; rather, he wrestles and struggles with God and with the word that God gives him to proclaim. In the end, the prophet’s faith in the goodness and power of God are the major characteristics of the relationship. Next Wednesday, March 7, we’ll continue with chapter 16. Feb 22: No Class -- Ash Wednesday Feb 15: The conclusion of Isaiah Lecture points: It is amazing the picture(s) of God that exist in Isaiah. Since we are most familiar with the passages that support Gospel readings in our lectionary, it was difficult to wrap our brains around the "hellfire and brimstone" God that Isaiah represents. We are very thankful to have completed this major prophet - glad to have been there, but ready to move on to the book of Jeremiah on Feb. 29. Feb. 8: Isaiah warns, Check out your options; only one matters Lecture points: As the nation heads toward a dark chapter in its life the prophet voices God’s warning that a reliance on an alliance with a human source of help (the Egyptians, this time) is futile, that only with God is the future secure. But isn’t that just like us? In time of danger and insecurity we tend to cling to tangible aid regardless of the moral or ethical cost instead of relying on spiritual realities that we cannot see. Next Wednesday, Feb. 15, we’ll continue with Isaiah, chapter 46. Feb 1: Isaiah No lecture points - just having fun reading along: Isaiah is sort of a "boy meets girl/boy loses girl/boy gets girl" saga: God gets Israel/God loses Israel/God gets Israel again. We read through Chapter 30. Jan. 25: Song of Solomon, and Isaiah Lecture points: There is far more disagreement than agreement about the particulars of Song of Solomon. When it was written, why it was included in sacred Scripture, what is its point, who wrote it – all of this is lost to us. Characterizations of this collection of love poems have varied: It celebrates God’s love for humanity, Christ’s love for the Church, or the love of two young, unmarried people for each other. The latter description is the most widely accepted. The Song is essentially a monologue, and unapologetic in its representation of erotic energy and its joyous depiction of the earth’s blossoming in spring corresponding to the girl’s blossoming into womanhood. Isaiah is one of Scripture’s most powerful prophetic books. Three books comprise the overall work, each book covering a particular span of Israel’s experience. First Isaiah, chapters 1-39, depicts the nation as it veered toward conquest and exile; Second Isaiah, chapters 40-55, describes the work of the prophet who lived among the people in exile; and Third Isaiah, chapters 56-66, concerns the prophet who worked among the people after their return from captivity in Babylon in 539 BCE. Next Wednesday, Feb. 1, we’ll continue with Isaiah, chapter 10. Jan 18: Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, "The Teacher" Lecture points: We finished up the book of Proverbs (who knew there was more than pithy sayings?) As we thought about how firmly set Solomon seemed in the cultural paradigm of "retributive justice" i.e. "do good, get good; do bad, get bad" we were a little unprepared to read Ecclesiastes, attributed to Solomon, where the writer is basically reflecting on the fact that the world really doesn't work like that. Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. Not fair! What's up with that, God? Ecclesiastes (from Greek ecclesia, which means church) has alternately been known as "The Teacher" or "The Preacher." Written very late, probably 300-400 B.C. it pinpoints human sinfulness and reiterates it throughout the book: "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." However, the writer also concludes that following God and staying obedient to his provision is, in fact, a gift. NEXT TIME - The Song of Solomon Jan. 11: Proverbs – “Like being on a long road trip with your mother” Lecture points: That’s how the book of Proverbs has been described – one piece of advice after another. But there are treasures to be discovered on this road trip. Proverbs, traditionally attributed to the famously wise Solomon, actually appears to have been the product of a group of sages writing during the sixth century BCE. The sages comprised a social class that served as counselors and teachers. A strong theme that emerges in Proverbs is that of retribution; certain behavior predictably results in certain outcomes. Fools, therefore, are easily and justly to blame for the calamities that befall them, a contention that leads scholars to believe that the sages were an elite, privileged class. At the same time, Proverbs also acknowledges that there is much mystery in human affairs. The best instrument for navigating all of life, therefore, is “the fear of the Lord,” another strong theme of the book, which stresses awe and obedience to God. Next Wednesday, Jan. 18, we’ll continue with Proverbs, Chapter 24. January 4, 2012: Psalms and Proverbs Lecture points: The psalter is divided into 5 sections (books) to reflect the Pentateuch, or the first 5 books of the Old Testament. Psalms are predominantly prayers and songs for worship use, therefore this is the "ancient ELW." Authorship has been attributed to King David, however there are many other voices that are heard and authorship might be based on content, role or leadership in worship. There are a number of broad categories of psalms including laments (the largest category), hymns of praise/thanksgiving; teaching; royal and others. Psalms 121 - 134 are called the Songs of Ascent, and were often used by pilgrims as they made the journey up Mount Zion to the Temple for festivals. We read our favorite Psalms to each other and offered personal reflections. We began reading the Book of Proverbs, wise sayings collected by Solomon. We will continue next time beginning at Chapter 8.
Dec 21: Job - Myth or Man? We spent our reflection time talking about whether Job was just a great teaching story or a real guy who was faithful and very patient. Finished the book and plan to begin the book of Psalms on January 4, 2012 with an overview of types of Psalms and examples of each type. Dec. 14: Job – a profile of consecrated living Lecture points: In reading the Bible in general and the Old Testament in particular, it is easy to bypass considerations of historical and cultural context. The origin and development of the book of Job, our current focus, was considerably impacted by foreign influences – the people of other nations too sought to understand the relationship between human faith and the divine. The theme of the innocent man undergoing undeserved hardship surfaces among the Edomites, a semi-nomadic people who lived near the Dead Sea; the Egyptians; and the Babylonians. Written as early as the 6th Century BCE, Job deals less with the question “Why do the righteous suffer?” and more with the question “What is the meaning of faith?” Though the Exile is not mentioned in Job, Jews of that period would have found painful parallels between their own experience and that of the righteous man who is plunged into the dark riddle of God and God’s actions. Next Wednesday, Dec. 21, we’ll begin with Chapter 23. Dec. 7: A nation at worship Lecture points: It’s hard to imagine an entire nation in mourning for its sins, but that’s what we observe as we resume our reading of Nehemiah (chapter 9). Ezra rises to extol the virtues of God while lamenting the waywardness of the people – a mass confession and ceremony of recommitment. What was central in Israel’s faith life was adherence to God’s law, a dedication that is sometimes, and unfortunately, looked down upon by Christians. After all, we say, the law doesn’t save us; in fact, we are freed from the law by and through Christ. However, even the Apostle Paul, who most eloquently described that freedom, had to combat tendencies in the early Christian movement to simply ignore God’s law and instead revel in liberty and libertine living. There are Christian principles that must guide our behavior, even though those principles must be defined with minimal restriction. A very human question is “What must I do to be saved?” Jesus gives the answer in terms of a commitment of the heart, while the Jewish tradition responds by prescribing exacting obedience to God’s law. Today we finished Nehemiah. We also made short work of Esther, a tale of court intrigue and the origin of the Festival of Purim, an annual celebration of deliverance of the Jewish people from the hands of their enemies. Next: the book of Job. Nov. 30: Rebuilding the Temple and the People Beginning with Ezra, chapter 7, we read through Nehemiah, chapter 8. Ezra and Nehemiah were probably one book originally, and there is some scholarly debate over whether or not the two men were contemporaries. Ezra was a prophet who became priest in Jerusalem, Nehemiah was originally a cupbearer for the King Artaxerxes of Persia, and had the desire to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Together they were the catalysts for the refortification of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the temple. Ezra is also credited with leading the team who compiled the Penteteuch (first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament - also known as Torah.) Once the Temple was rebuilt and the wall restored, the Torah was read to the gathered people to great rejoicing and celebration. We'll finish Nehemiah 9-13 next week and then it is on to some great stories of the faith as contained in the wisdom books of Esther and Job. Nov. 16: A Kingdom Dies an Ugly Death Lecture points: As we conclude our reading of Chronicles we bid farewell to the conquered Kingdom of Judah as it is taken off into exile. What a sad ending: an entire nation suffers for the ethical and religious perversion of its leaders. Contact points with our contemporary scene are unavoidable. The tragedy at Penn State may be characterized in a number of ways, but it is also and profoundly an absence of moral and ethical leadership, a failure that impacts untold numbers of people. There is hope, however; at the end of 2 Chronicles, a brighter day – one of liberation and return – is hinted. God is faithful, and will not forsake God’s people forever. Today we finished Chronicles and read through Ezra, chapter 6, when the people return to Jerusalem from exile. Next time we’ll finish Ezra and move into Nehemiah. SPECIAL NOTE: We will not meet next Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve, and will resume on Wednesday, Nov. 30. Nov. 9: 2 Chronicles - Bad Kings, Bad Kings and finally, a Good King Reiterating the stories of the kings in I & II Kings, the Chronicler continues to remind the people that faithfulness to God will get you good things and leaning on your own devices gets you in big trouble. If you are reading with us, make sure you read chapter 22, the story of Israel's only ruling QUEEN. ;-) And you'll like the "return of the Passover" story in chapter 30. We finished through ch. 32. Next time: The reign of Manasseh beginning with chapter 33. Nov. 2: Chronicles – As dramatic as it gets Lecture points: We might wonder why in the world the Bible contains I and II Chronicles when the events reported there are also related in parts of Genesis, Samuel, and Kings. It helps to see Chronicles as drama, not history; making use of facts, the Chronicler tells a sweeping and epic story, from Adam to the destruction of the Judean kingdom. The goal behind the drama is to communicate what story-tellers call “truth of idea,” a device that Jesus used when telling parables. Did the parables that Jesus told actually happen? Probably not. But do they convey truth? Absolutely. The Chronicler’s task is to tell an eye-popping, imagination-catching tale in order to communicate real events, all in order to show us how to live and worship faithfully.
Oct. 19: When leaders go bad … (Part III)
Lecture points: Every once in a while a leader comes along and breaks the mold. In this case, it’s Josiah, a king who, for a change, “did what was right in the sight of the Lord.” Under his reign the temple in Jerusalem is renovated and repaired. In the process, a scroll is discovered (probably the Book of Deuteronomy), and reviewing it reveals how deficient the people have been in following God’s laws, a failing for which King Josiah is deeply grieved. When Josiah dies, however, his son takes over and returns to the bad old ways of previous kings. It isn’t long before Judah falls to the Babylonians, and the Exile begins. The books of I and II Chronicles are nearly parallel to the books of I and II Samuel and I and II Kings. We don’t know the name of the writer, so we call him or her “the chronicler.” We read from II Kings 22 through I Chronicles 12; the goal for next time is I Chronicles 22. Oct. 12: When leaders go bad ... (Part II) Lecture points: Continuing the litany of bad kings in the northern and southern kingdoms. The tribal jealousy that emerges as the south (Judah) points to the north (Israel) for leading them astray. The amazing realization as we read along that that being "God's Chosen" does not necessarily lead to obedience or faithfulness. "What have you done for us, lately, hmmm?" seems to be the cry of the human inhabitants of the Promised Land. So we finally get a good king, Hezekiah, and are introduced to the prophet Isaiah. Then another couple of generations of bad leadership before we pause at the edge of some little bit of turnaround. We read through 2 Kings 21. We WILL finish this book next week! Oct. 5: When leaders go bad … (Part I) Lecture points: Nearly 40 kings ruled in the divided kingdom composed of Judah and Israel. Some of those leaders wielded power for decades, some for a few days. A close reading of each king’s exit reveals a disturbing and informative pattern: most of them “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” What was that? It all goes back to Solomon, the son of the nation’s first king, David. It was Solomon who turned away from God and began following the lesser gods of his many wives. That was the seed that sprouted a deadly harvest of corruption and faithlessness. We finished 2 Kings 14. The ambitious goal for Oct. 12 is to finish the book! Sept 28: Two kingdoms (with kings!) Lecture points: We started in I Kings 21 and read through 2 Kings 5 (the story of Naaman.) It is clear that the kings prospered in ruling and in battle if they were humble and obedient to God's prophets. If not...not so much. We also noted that there are story lines that appear in the Old Testament that are echoed in the New Testament. For example: the parting of the waters so folks can walk through on dry ground; miraculous feedings (with abundant pieces left over!) and prophets bringing the dead back to life. The miraculous activity of Elijah's "mentee" Elisha, signals some of the work that will be done when the messianic age comes. Next time: 2 Kings 6 and forward... Sept. 21: Wisdom without faithfulness is a hollow virtue Lecture points: Solomon was indeed wise; in fact, “the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.” (1 Kings 10:24) However, wisdom doesn’t keep Solomon from falling victim to the lure of worshiping other gods. As he turns away from God, he begins the fracture of his kingdom and sets into motion a series of disgraceful and destructive kingships. The public reason for the split in the kingdom was rebellion against forced labor; the “reason behind the reason” was King Solomon’s unfaithfulness. We finished 1 Kings 20, and the target for Sept. 28 is 1 Kings 21 through 2 Kings 4. Sept. 14: We finished 1 Kings 9; target for next week is 1 Kings 16 Lecture points: When we think of King Solomon, we think of wisdom. That’s what he prayed for; not riches or victory in war or long life for himself. He was indeed wise, and creative and artistic. But we see that it took him nearly twice as long to build his own house as it did the house of the Lord. Does pride enter Solomon’s story here? Nevertheless, when the Temple is dedicated Solomon prays an eloquent prayer asking the Lord to hear and act on the petitions of the righteous who truly repent of their sins. That would have been great comfort and brought good hope to the likely first audience of these words: the people of Israel who had been exiled. We’ve finished some rather dry history in terms of the building of the Temple; next week we return to some stories, beginning with a visit by the Queen of Sheba. Sept 7, 2011 - Read 2 Samuel 20 through I Kings 2:12 Lecture Points: I Kings continues the story of the family of King David that began in I and II Samuel. As the book begins, David is dying, and Adonijah and Solomon are vying for the crown in the first two chapters. Chapters 3-11 will cover Solomon’s reign. The last portion begins the story of kings in both the northern and southern kingdoms which will conclude in 2 Kings. The main themes in I and 2 Kings are the worship of only one God and the question of whether or not sacrificial worship should be allowed anywhere but in the temple in Jerusalem. Read ahead in I Kings or catch up in whatever you have missed coming into the books of Kings. May 11: We finished 2 Samuel 19. We’re on break until early fall
Feb 15: All 3 Isaiahs completed.
Lecture points: The story of Israel and its leadership continues in various Old Testament books. For example, the stories of King David’s victories in battle are reported in both 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. In fact, the reader can set both books side by side and, in many places, follow along word for word. That is, until the story of David’s adultery with Bathsheba, which is narrated in 2 Samuel but simply omitted altogether from 1 Chronicles. Why? It didn’t fit the Chronicler’s idealized picture of David. The compilers of the Old Testament felt under no obligation to streamline the story, so they left in both accounts, as they did with both accounts of creation in Genesis and with the four gospel accounts of Jesus.
When we resume in early fall, we will pick up the story in 2 Samuel 20.
April 27: We finished I Samuel 24. The reading target for next week is through 2 Samuel 6
Lecture points: In general, 1 and 2 Samuel cast a suspicious eye on the institution of the monarchy, and see the prophets as the ones capable of curbing abuses by the kings. The first instance of this corrective dynamic is seen in Samuel’s response to one of King Saul’s first actions: the king takes matters into his own hands, disregards God’s command, and draws the prophet’s rebuke, “now your kingdom will not continue.”
Today we watch David’s rapid rise to authority, his unique friendship with Jonathan, and his increasingly dire conflict with King Saul.
April 20: We finished I Samuel 12. We'll begin next week at chapter 13
Lecture points: I Samuel has three main characters: Samuel, Saul and David. Beginning with Samuel (who is a transitionary figure - he looks and acts like a prophet, serves as priest and will shepherd God's authority into the kings who will follow.)
The author of I and 2 Samuel is providing part of the Deuteronomistic history, which is not friendly to the people's cry for kings. God has appointed prophets and priests to carry God's message, but now the folks are looking for a different kind of leadership and they will not be satisfied until they have a king. Saul, a large and handsome man, seemed to fill the bill.
There are a number of "embedded narratives" (i.e. pre-existing stories or pieces of stories) in I Samuel - specifically Hannah's song (on which Mary's Magnificat is based); the ark of the covenant stories; the legends about Saul and David.
April 13: We finished Judges and Ruth. Next week, read through 1 Samuel 10
Lecture points: Today's reading spans the brutal to the beautiful, and proceeds from the wide-angle view of a nation to the very tight focus on one family.
The judges ruled in Israel as a series of local leaders, so there was no centralized authority; but the institution of the monarchy would come soon. Meantime, what will ensure the survival and continuity of this collection of tribes? Continuity, whether of a family or a nation, comes from the faithful actions of individuals, which in turn come from personal commitment. This is what we see taking place in the book of Ruth, which mirrors the dynamics taking place in Israel.
Ruth was written somewhere between 950 and 700 B.C.E., between the time of King David (970) and the end of the Northern Kingdom (722).
April 6: Judges - We read through Judges 18. Finish Judges and Ruth next week
Lecture points:
Stories told for generations, but not collected and written down until the Babylonian Exile (587-539 BCE) when people needed stories of courage and hope – and how God had heard the cries of their people in the past and delivered them. It’s all about grace!
The Judges were leaders who rose up to guide the tribes and villages where life was much like it was in the American wild West. Since this area is now known as “the west bank” (of the Jordan River) this could be titled, “The Wild, Wild West Bank.” (a bit of humor from the new Lutheran Study Bible!)
Note the use of LORD as the name of God. The capital letters stand in for the “tetragrammaton” (four letters) YHWH. The name of God was too holy to speak out loud. Also recall that the Hebrew language had no consonants until much later…
Also note that part of the destruction of those living in Canaan by the Israelites coming in to the land God promised them was justified because YHWH was a “jealous” God – and they worshipped other gods in Canaan.
March 30: Starting Judges
Lecture points: Joshua’s death ushers in a 410-year period in Israel’s history that is marked by a series of eras of oppression, times of “rest” for the people, and governance by the judges. Leadership in the nation at this time probably was a matter of local rule, which likely made it more difficult to continue the conquest of Canaan that had begun under Joshua.
A king has not yet been granted to the nation (that will happen in 1 Samuel), so there was no apparent central authority, leading to the negative observation in 17:6 that “In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.”
We read through Chapter 8; next week, Samson and Delilah await!
March 23: Finished Reading Joshua
Lecture points: Ch. 6:17-19 - "devoted" is word used not only for the holy things that are set apart (and filched by Achan, who pays dearly...) but is also used to refer to the people of Ai in 8:24-25. That is to say (and hopefully this helps us hear the story of the massacres in a bit of a different way) the folks who had settled in the Promised Land before the Israelites occupied it, where "devoted, consecrated, set apart" by God for God's purposes - another use of the root word would be "holy." In other words, God had set the people apart for God's purposes - which apparently were to interact with the people of Israel in God's training program for obedience. Not exactly how we would like to see God teach, but hey - it IS God's classroom.
We read over the remainder of Joshua in which the land is occupied; cities of refuge are set up; the tribes receive their property apportionments and the levitical towns are designated for the Levitical priests to have residences and lands for their flocks. Sort of Biblical precident for parsonages!
Next week we'll begin the book of Judges.
March 16, 2011: Spring Break has kidnapped our class! Only one escaped to tell the tale! So we postponed our reading of Joshua 8-15(?) until next Wednesday, March 23.
If you want to prepare by reading this section, which is both historically and theologically significant, please do so, and consider for discussion:
The words “inherit” and “inheritance” occur 50 times in Joshua. The word “inherit” means “to take possession of it and pass it on to your heirs.” Thus, the land that the Israelites are inheriting is land that they will pass down through the generations. However, the Israelites are not simply given land that is unoccupied by other peoples; they conquer Canaan in one bloody campaign after another. Importantly, they attribute their methods to God. What questions does this raise for the religious conscience, especially for those of us steeped in the New Testament awareness of God as a God of justice, mercy, and love?
Something to note: In Ch. 8, there are two contradictory records of the second attack upon Ai (vv 3-4 and vv 10-12). This is simply evidence that at least two authors had a hand in writing the book.
March 9, 2011: We read through Joshua 7 (and watched "Josh and the Big Wall" - hey, it's Ash Wednesday)
Lecture points:
The book of Joshua could be subtitled "Moving Day" as this is the story of the people of Israel FINALLY arriving into the Promised Land and taking possession of the land God has given them.
Note that the original survey of the property is much larger than the land of Canaan and modern-day Israel. Also notice that the first 12 chapters are the move, the taking of Jericho and the beginning of settlements.
Bonus story is the second "crossing of the water on dry land" story, which established Joshua as the "new Moses."
Also note the second telling of the building of altars with stones - perhaps the priestly rendering of this ritual action?
March 2, 2011: We read through the end of Deuteronomy
Assignment: Read through the eighth chapter of Joshua
Lecture points:
Theology - As we separate the Bible into Old and New Testaments, we also often separate our portraits of God: The Old Testament God is a God of law and wrath and danger, and the New Testament God is a God of peace and love and salvation. A closer look at Deuteronomy, however, reveals a God who indeed wants specific behavior from his chosen people, but who first chose them. That's an important distinction: He chose them simply because (Deut 7:8), and then he gave them the law to observe. With this God, salvation always comes first.
And, God lays out horrendous consequences for disobedience. What he focuses on, though, is not disobedient behavior but an ungrateful and dismissive heart from which that disobedient behavior springs.
February 23, 2011: We read through Deuteronomy 27
Assignment:
Read thru end of Deuteronomy; we'll start the book of Joshua on Ash Wednesday.
Lecture points:
Time and Place - Deuteronomy was written around 700 BCE, midway between David & Solomon's reign, and the Exile (destruction of Solomon's Temple at 587 BCE.) King Josiah found it during repairs to the Temple in the mid-600's and put the laws into effect.
During the time, the Assyrians were making inroads into Judea, and the people of Israel were taking on more and more of the Assyrian culture and religious life. Deuteronomy (Moses farewell address prior to the entry into the Promised Land) became the "revival handbook" for God's people to remember the covenant relationship with God.
Interesting Worship component: In chapter 12, we see the establishment of "the place which the Lord will choose" as the ONLY appropriate place for sacrificial worship. It had been the practice of the people to sacrifice locally, on altars made of earth - and NOT to make any space permanent in any way. Thus, this was a major change to their worship life; and a while it was only a concept with the book was written, the people of Josiah's kingdom would have readily recognized "the place" as the Temple in Jerusalem. (Apparently orderly administration of sacraments is an older issue than one might think!)
February 16, 2011: We read through Deuteronomy 7
Lecture points: The book of Deuteronomy is Moses' farewell address to the Israelites. He cannot proceed with the people into the Promised Land, so he reminds them through the retelling of their post-slavery history that just as their wilderness experience has taught them to rely only on God, so they must continue that singular reliance as they enter and occupy "the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time." The primary concern of the book is the maintenance of the covenant relationship between nation and God. That covenant is to be upheld by the exercise of faith and observance of the law.
ASSIGNMENT: Read Deuteronomy 8-15
February 9, 2011: We completed the book of Numbers
Lecture points: The book of Numbers is indeed filled with numbers – and rules and regulations for the people to follow scrupulously as they make their way under God’s guidance through the wilderness to the land of Canaan. It’s taken 40 years, and of the original group of hundreds of thousands, only two people – Joshua and Caleb – survive to enter the new land of promise. But the wilderness journey is about more than following rules; it is primarily about the formation of a new identity as people who rely only on God and who find their strength in that reliance.
ASSIGNMENT: Read Deuteronomy 1-11
January 26, 2011: We read through Numbers 24.
As the people of Israel "scope out" the Promised Land, they become afraid and once again refuse to trust God. Therefore, the 40 days of reconnoitering become the symbol and God sends them back into the wilderness, one year for each of the 40 days. None of the adults who came to the Promised Land would enter, but would die in the wilderness. Even Moses, Miriam and Aaron would not make it in, although Moses would get to see it.
Interesting insert of stories about Balak and Balaam, predominantly for the purpose of introducing the idea that God was speaking/relating to others outside of Israel in the ancient world. In the oracles we see new names of God appear (El Shaddai and Elyon.)
January 19, 2011: Read Numbers 9 to end of 11
Lecture Points:
“In the wilderness” is the word that begins this Book of Numbers, which spans the movement of the Israelites from their Exodus from slavery in Egypt to the eve of their entry into the Promised Land of Canaan. One perspective with which to read this book is that of a people’s struggle to forge a new identity. And the people do indeed struggle; they had been slaves in Egypt for 430 years – that’s 17 generations of engrained dependence on Pharaoh’s providence – and now must live their way into a new experience and a new identity: freedom as God’s people who rely only on God’s providence. But the journey out of slavery is hard, both physically and psychically; and when the going gets tough, the people want to return to the secure, predictable existence of slavery. Looming over this entire book is a question that the people must answer with their actions: They can have only one God – will it be Pharaoh, or God?
ASSIGNMENT: Read Chs. 12-21. For bonus points, answer the question: What was the name of Moses’ wife?
January 12, 2011: Finished reading Leviticus and began Numbers
Lecture Points:
Festivals outlined are brought forward for modern Jews and Christians in a variety of forms, yet rooted in Leviticus. Passover and Unleavened bread were originally two separate festivals, but became conflated into one, which now is paralleled by Christianity’s celebration of Easter. Fifty days later, the people of Israel marked Pentecost (50 days) or, the Feast of Weeks - a harvest festival – which was one of the pilgrimage festivals that brought people into Jerusalem. In Acts it was “on the Day of Pentecost” that the disciples had gathered for that festival, and the Holy Spirit was poured out in tongues of fire. Hence, the Christian appropriation of the Day of Pentecost. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and Succoth are celebrated by modern Jews, and we also are aware of the booths (tents) that are erected in our breezeways during harvest time, so that we remember that we are all wilderness wanderers in one way or another.
Introduction to Numbers - in Greek, arithmea, Numbers is really the journal of the 40 years in the wilderness. Although there are census reports throughout, the book also contains familiar stories, Aaron’s benediction and familiar characters like Moses, Aaron, Miriam and Joshua and Caleb.
ASSIGNMENT: We will pick up our reading at Numbers, chapter 9. If you would like to join us, skim Numbers 1-8 before our next class. Read the Introduction for the book of Numbers in your Bible.
January 5, 2011 (Pastor Susan) - Decided to read the rest of the Pentateuch (skimming Leviticus and Numbers) before continuing in the Deuteronomistic Histories at Joshua.
Lecture Points:
Deuteronomy is a pivotal book. Originally the first book of the “former prophets” which included the 12 books of history rooted in Deuteronomy (i.e. Joshua-Esther.) Recently, Deuteronomy has been “realigned” with the Pentateuch and is considered together with the other “Mosaic” writings.
Numbers is not just census data, but contains some of the best stories of the wilderness wanderings, including manna and quail, wandering and whining, spying on Canaan, the pillar of cloud and fire as signposts for the journey.
Leviticus is not just a bunch of laws and statutes, but really gives us a foundational picture of the theological underpinning of the people of Israel. Why was it so important for them to stay separate, to be so concerned with “clean” and “unclean?” What gave them their special identity, and why did they fear that God’s presence with them was dependent on them?
Because of the fundamental witness that is given by these three pentateuchal books, we have decided to back up and read through (sometimes very quickly) the major passages in these three books. We began today by reading and discussing offerings, as defined by God through Moses to the people of Israel in the wilderness. The end of Exodus detailed the building and practices for the tabernacle. Now we are learning about what rituals took place. Who performed them and why were they done? What were the different kinds of offerings and sacrifices and who was responsible for them? We read together through Leviticus chapters 1-7 (offerings) and skimmed 8 through 16 (priestly ordinations, clean & unclean and the Day of Atonement.) This concludes the section known as the Priestly Code. The remaining chapters make up the Holiness Code and have to do with ritual purity and morality.
ASSIGNMENT: You may read chapters 17-22 on your own, and we will begin next week with chapter 23-27 (festivals.)
November 24, 2010 – Pastor Susan
No classes through the holidays. We’ll resume January 5, 2011. Meantime, here’s a reading schedule for your use. The passages noted below have study guides available at Luther Seminary’s www.entertheBible.org site:
November 24-30 – Read chapters 23-27 especially Exodus 29:38-46 – I will meet you
December 1-7: Read chapters 28-32, especially 32:4 Replacing God and 32:7-14 Whose People?
December 8-14: Read chapters 33-38, especially 33:19 and 34:6-7 God Merciful and Gracious
December 15-21: Read through the end of Exodus
December 22–January 4: (Extra credit!) Read the book of Deuteronomy – this is another author, so be aware that there will be duplications and different points of view. There is good commentary on the aforementioned website.
January 5, 2011: Wednesday at One returns! We’ll debrief your independent reading of the conclusion of Exodus, and begin reading in Joshua.
November 17, 2010 - Pastor Roger's Lecture Points (Ex 15-19)
Lecture Points: "Insha'Allah," or "if God wills it," illustrates Islam's view that God's will is supreme. If something happens, it is because God has willed it; if something doesn't happen, that is due to God not willing it. The Christian view is different, and takes account of us as "created co-creators" who make decisions in our free will that can radically depart from God's will or faithfully accord with it. History is filled with evidence of both human choices.
Leader Notes: We made it through chapter 19.
November 10th, 2010 - Lecture Points Exodus Plagues
Dwelling in the Word: Psalm 121
Lecture Points: 2 handouts
Notes on the Plagues:
|
Plague |
Possible Explanation |
|
River to Blood |
Ash from volcanic eruption Heavy rains wash silt from Lake Victoria and lands up river into river. Ash/Silt makes water uninhabitable/undrinkable |
|
Frogs |
Bad Water forces frogs out of river C/be spadefoot toads that come out of hiding place in undersoil after sudden rain |
|
Gnats/lice |
Due to sudden hatching after heavy rain following unusually hot & dry weather |
|
Flies/gnats |
C/b dancing midges (have you ever been caught in a swarm of midges?) |
|
Pestilence |
Result of bites from an abundance of biting insects |
|
Boils |
Ditto from pestilence |
|
Fiery hail |
Large hailstones accompanied by ball lightning Volcanic Activity (brimstone) |
|
Locusts |
Hail kills lots of crops so remaining crops are massively targeted by remaining insects aka locusts |
|
Darkness |
Solar eclipse/sandstorm/volcanic ash/swarms of locusts |
|
Death |
Food contamination due to black mold, Cladosporium or by locusts. Food on top is fed to firstborns so ironically they get the gross grain that kills them |
November 3, 2010 - Pastor Susan's Lecture Points (Ex. 3-10)
Intro Remarks: Where have you seen the hand/presence of God?
Lecture Points: ex (means “out”) odos (means “way”) – Exodus, the way out
The core metaphor for Christianity comes from this root story from Exodus: the escape from slavery in Egypt into the freedom of the Promised Land, THROUGH THE WATER. (i.e. Baptism)
Jews recount the story of the Exodus as the foundation of their faith and covenant relationship with God, even to marking the Passover event every year with a seder supper (freedom meal.)
We recount the story of our own escape from the bondage to sin with a freedom supper of our own, Holy Communion.
Reading Target: Chapters 3-10
Leader Notes: We made it through chapter 9 (mid-plagues!)
Homework: Read ahead if you want to finish out the Plagues.
October 27, 2010 - Pastor Roger's Lecture Points (Genesis 48-Exodus 2)
Intro Remarks: Dwelling in the Word - Hebrews 11:1-3 (on faith)
Lecture Points: One way to look at the Bible is as testimony by Israel about a God who is visible and dynamic. So we see illustrated a God who makes promises (Gen 12:1ff), delivers on those promises (Ex 6:6, Ps 106:10), commands a rescued people (Ex 20), and leads them (Deut 8:2-6). But Israel also needed to address what became the obvious absence of God – God’s hiddenness – and did so with what we might call counter-testimony, the claim that even though Israel’s God was not always obvious, that didn’t mean that God was not present and engaged. We see that in our reading today, Gen 50:20.
Reading Target for Nov. 3: Exodus 3-1-7:13
Leader Notes: Completed through Exodus 2
Homework: Think of a time in your life when you were able to look back and see the hand of God at work during a period when you thought God was absent. Let that experience have a conversation with Hebrews 11:1-3. What do you hear?
October 20, 2010 - Pastor Susan's Lecture Points (Genesis 37-47 Joseph cycle)
Intro Remarks: Dwelling in the Word – Deut 25:5-10 (on levirate marriage rules)
Lecture Points: Review and comments on the sons (and daughters) of Jacob/the 12 tribes of Israel;
Ch 47:13-26 – (toward the end of the story of Joseph reconciling with his brothers in Egypt) the priestly account of Pharoah’s ownership of Egypt, and how the people were grateful for his providing of food during the famine. From this root metaphor (foundational story) the people of Israel understood themselves as belonging to God, and being grateful. Thus, the 1/5 to Pharoah (God’s rep) was done out of gratitude for their salvation. We don’t seem to have that same connection to God in America. No actual experience of“salvation” for us – we have what we have because we’ve worked for it and earned it (Protestant work ethic.) Never occupied, never enslaved. Americans are a hard sell for Christian thought and finding themselves in the narrative in a real way, as the people of Israel do.
Reading Target: Chapters 37-50
Leader Notes: Completed through chapter 47
Homework: Think about how you connect with God’s “salvation” of you – and how you show your gratitude for it. Do you consider your salvation as the foundation for your financial stewardship? Why or why not?
October 13, 2010 - Pastor Susan's Lecture Points (Genesis 31-36, Jacob Cycle/Part 2)
Lecture Points: Two cultural philosophies that deeply influenced the ancient world -
(1) Retributive Justice: Those who live good lives are blessed by God. Those who lead bad lives are cursed by God. Therefore, if you are prosperous, healthy and/or well-situated in society, it is because you have pleased God. Conversely, if you are diseased or poor or have no social standing, it is because you have displeased God. You life station is reflective of your religious obedience and faithfulness.
(2) Culture of Honor and Shame: Honor is everything and shame is to be avoided at all costs. (This is one of the reasons behind the overt hospitality shown throughout the ancient near east.) As we see especially in Asian culture today, bringing shame upon the family is worse than death. Everything is about honor.
These two concepts are beginning to take hold in the historical narrative we are reading in this latter part of Genesis. They will continue to influence the whole of the Old Testament witness, as well as the stories of Jesus’ time.
Reading Target: Chapters 31-36 (success!)
Leader Notes: We completed the Jacob cycle and will begin the Joseph cycle (ch. 37) next time. We begrudgingly accepted the fact that some of the stories in the Jacob cycle are difficult to interpret in the whole of the narrative, i.e. what was Jacob’s wrestling match all about at this particular point in the story? Why did Jacob agree to follow Esau at a slower pace, and then make his way to another town entirely? Why the severity of the response to the rape of Dinah, especially when the offenders were doing everything the family had asked of them?
Homework: Follow up reading on the above questions; Ron will Google/research the question of how the 12 tribes’ land was chosen when they settled in the Promised Land.
October 6, 2010 - Pastor Roger's Lecture Points (Genesis 24-30, Jacob Cycle)
Intro: Dwelling in the Word (Gen 12:1-4a)
Lecture Points:
#1) Old Testament as a narrative of a people trying to find their way; it’s also a history of God blessing his people. Blessing as conferred by humans one to another (desire for good fortune, prosperity), by God to humans (effective in and of itself, carrying the power to do what it said).
#2) Involuntary parental blessing today (working off of Gen 27:35)
Discussion points: Good questions about “sanctity” of marriage – when did that start, or become important to us?
Homework: Review reading (chapters 24-30) and see how characters, i.e. Jacob, are multi-dimensional in qualities of good and evil.
September 29, 2010 – Pastor Susan's Lecture Points (Genesis 21-23)
#1: Inspiration – most Christians across denominations can agree with the statement, “The Bible is the inspired Word of God.” However, after that, the understanding of inspiration comes in many forms. Some say God wrote the Bible (Divine dictation!) Others say God caused the Scriptures to be written by human hands. Some say God started the process and is now “watching” it unfold. Others say God started the process and continues to accompany it. As Lutherans, we believe that God is Emmanuel, God with us. This carries through the idea of our encounter with Scripture as an on-going conversation. The printed word remains the same, but our experience changes and we come each time with different emotions, experiences and insights that are fed and nurtured by the Holy Spirit through the Word.
#2: The Word of God can be understood as (a) the Holy Scriptures, the Bible. It is also (b) the logos, Jesus Christ, the WORD of God, as well as (c) the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus, i.e. the Word in sermon form.
#3: Theological Foundations – as you reflected last week on what image of God is beginning to emerge for your through these readings, you are laying the foundations for all the future theological questions that come during a life of faith. For example, if the image of God you are seeing is a God of judgment and wrath, your understanding of forgiveness and grace and mercy will be affected by that picture. If your image of God is one of loving companionship, you will understand the existence of evil in the world based on that foundational image. The way you perceive the story of Hagar and Ishmael will affect how you receive the stories to come.
This is why we do this kind of work. This is why we question and wrangle with things we do not, as yet, understand. This is how we connect with God’s Spirit and have relationship day by day.
Homework: Just read ahead…starting with Genesis Chapter 24
September 22 - Pastor Roger's Lecture Points (Genesis Chapters 12-20)
#1: "Can We All Just Get Along?" - The writers and editors of the Old Testament felt no need to harmonize their material with one another, no desire to present simply a factual account. Rather, they included in the Hebrew Scriptures a variety of accounts of the same reported event. So there are two creation accounts in Genesis, with no attempt to make them agree; various accounts of the covenant God created with Abraham; and this approach continued in the New Testament, with four Gospel narratives of the story of Jesus. We in the West are well served if we disengage ourselves from the need, in the face of competing accounts, to answer the question, "Which one is right?" and simply receive the stories God has given us, in all their diversity. And we find that, if we do this, we are freed to focus on the picture of God that emerges.
#2: The Miracle of Isaac - In Hebrew literature, Scripture stands as Word of God. There are parallel writings which are commentaries on the Scriptures, and which are called Midrash. As we read the story of the announcement that Isaac would be born and of Abraham and Sarah's reaction (laughter), we fast-forward to Romans, chapter 4, which is a Christian Midrash on Isaac. This is where Paul pays tribute to the God "who brings into existence things that do not exist." The idea of Isaac was indeed laughable to Abraham and Sarah, but God met their incredulous laughter with a question that lingers down to our present day: "Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?"
HOMEWORK REFLECTION was to review the day's reading and ponder the image of God that is beginning to emerge. Is this God rigid or flexible? Does God change his mind? If so, in what way, and under what circumstances?
September 15 - Pastor Susan's Lecture Points (Genesis Chapters 1-11)
#1: Prehistory - The first 11 chapters of Genesis are "prehistory" - and give us the stories that were first told by the people of Israel to answer the eternal questions all humans ask: "Where did we come from?" "Who is God?" "How do human beings relate to God?" "Why/How did our relationship with God get broken?" "What will have to happen to fix it?"
#2 - Documentary Hypothesis - this is a scholarly idea helps us understand why there are apparently different authors and styles present in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament, the torah.) The hypothesis states that there were four authors, and designates them J, E, D and P for Jahwist, who uses YHWH for the name of God, which is translated God, or Jehovah; the Elohist, who uses the name "Elohim" translated LORD God; the Deuteronomist, who authored the book of Deuteronomy; and the Priestly writer. Some examples appear in the difference between the two accounts of Creation in Genesis 1 and 2.
#3 - Ancient Picture of the World - unlike our modern concept of the earth, the ancients pictured a flat land mass, with mountains at either end, which supported the "dome" of the sky. Water existed below and above the land, and burst through from below, or fell from above. The dome was pierced in numerous places, and let the light of the heavens shine through.
With those three concepts in mind, we began reading Genesis, while Pastor Susan provided "color commentary." We covered Creation, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood and the Tower of Babel, and concluded with the genealogies in chapter 11.
HOMEWORK REFLECTION was to think about the questions raised under point #1 above, and how we might tell the story that answers those questions for us today.
|
|
Jahwist |
Eloist |
Priestly |
|
Clues to indicate tradition |
· Naturalistic occurrence, · Moses requests conditions · Moses ends plague |
· Moses has more power to cause the plague · More plagues |
· Say to Aaron · Trial is to prove Yahweh’s authority · Moses v. Magicians |
|
Water to Blood |
· Let My people go worship · Smited river causes dead fish & then swarms of frogs |
Dead River
|
Say to Aaron… Magicians also turn river to blood |
|
Frogs |
Let my people go worship Moses prays for end |
Swarm of Frogs |
Say to Aaron Magicians can also do the frogs |
|
Gnats |
|
No trip to Pharoah, just God sending gnats |
Say to Aaron Magicians can’t do gnats |
|
Flies |
Let my people go worship Ups request – 3 day journey into wilderness Moses prays for end |
Or God will send swarm of flies No flies for Israel |
|
|
Livestock diseased |
Let my people go |
Or God will… No pestilence on Israel livestock |
|
|
Boils |
|
God tells Moses to throw soot… |
Magicians can’t do boils – they have too many boils |
|
Thunder & Hail |
Let my people go… Moses prays for end |
Elaboration to describe/prove power of God |
Omitted |
|
Locusts |
Let my people go Ups request – we will go w/ young, old, sons, daughters, herds, flocks Moses prays for end |
Or God will bring Locusts |
Omitted |
|
Darkness |
Ups request: Must let us have burnt offerings |
God brings darkness for 3 days except for Israelites |
Omitted |
|
Death of Firstborn |
Moses tells people to get “gifts” from Egyptians (see 11:2-3) |
God will bring the death except for the Israelites |
First Passover rituals |
Nov. 2: Chronicles – As dramatic as it gets Lecture points: We might wonder why in the world the Bible contains I and II Chronicles when the events reported there are also related in parts of Genesis, Samuel, and Kings. It helps to see Chronicles as drama, not history; making use of facts, the Chronicler tells a sweeping and epic story, from Adam to the destruction of the Judean kingdom. The goal behind the drama is to communicate what story-tellers call “truth of idea,” a device that Jesus used when telling parables. Did the parables that Jesus told actually happen? Probably not. But do they convey truth? Absolutely. The Chronicler’s task is to tell an eye-popping, imagination-catching tale in order to communicate real events, all in order to show us how to live and worship faithfully. We finished chapter 13. The ambitious reading target for Nov. 9 is the end of the book. What a story!
Feb. 8: Isaiah warns, Check out your options; only one matters Lecture points: As the nation heads toward a dark chapter in its life the prophet voices God’s warning that a reliance on an alliance with a human source of help (the Egyptians, this time) is futile, that only with God is the future secure. But isn’t that just like us? In time of danger and insecurity we tend to cling to tangible aid regardless of the moral or ethical cost instead of relying on spiritual realities that we cannot see. Next Wednesday, Feb. 15, we’ll continue with Isaiah, chapter 46.