For the life of me, I can't figure out why I didn't post a blog about Acts back in January. I know I read the book, the first in a Read Through the Bible in one year in alphabetical order plan. Maybe I wrote it but didn't save it; or something like that. This was to be a learning experience; maybe I hadn't yet learned something crucial to publishing.
So, here I am, December 29, writing what should have been the first blog post this year. And in full disclosure, I'm only skimming the book of Acts as I make these comments.
Acts is the sequel to Luke. (And, just FYI, my unpublished novel would be the prequel to Luke. There's more in my blog post in Luke.)
After the Gospels, Acts is probably the best page-turner in the New Testament. It's written as a narrative, with lots of events and dialog; unlike the epistles that follow.
I think it's sometimes called the "Acts of the Apostles," but I've heard people say it should be called the "Acts of the Holy Spirit." The story begins directly after Jesus' resurrection and just before His ascension. After that, it tells of how the apostles--aided by the Holy Spirit--carried the message of Jesus throughout the Roman Empire of the first century. The topic verse is Acts 1:8, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
It's great reading. There are sections about the earliest church in Jerusalem, about Peter and John, about the scattering of the Twelve (or, actually, the Eleven), and so on. I love the Peter stories best. After coming across as immature and impetuous in the Gospels, Peter shows up in Acts as a convicted and courageous saint.
Another of my favorite stories is about Philip and the Ethiopian, at the end of chapter 8.
The bulk of Acts follows Paul on his journeys. I'm always fascinated by what they call the "we" passages, that seem to be a personal account, presumably by Luke himself.
Reading through Acts, you can get caught up in the narrative and the sequence of exciting events. It's best, though, to step back and consider the bigger picture of Acts. It's main point is that within the space of a few years, and through the work of a couple dozen disciples of Jesus--including Paul, who started as a persecutor of Christians--the Good New of Christ's salvation was carried throughout the Roman Empire, literally changing the world. By the power of the Holy Spirit.
And as I write the last of my blogs about the books of the Bible, this would have to be the conclusion. The whole Bible is a story of the Good News of God's love, justice, and salvation that has been carried through the ages and throughout the world by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are blessed to have God's Living Word to this day.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Zephaniah: The End. Sort of.
I've been Reading Through The Bible (RTTB) in one year, in alphabetical order. Zephaniah is, therefore, the Last Book. (Except, somehow I forgot to write a blog entry on Acts, so that will be my last one.)
Zephaniah was probably written during the reign of King Josiah, or sometime between 640 and 609 B.C. That's roughly the same time as Jeremiah, Habakkuk and Nahum. My Study Bible tells me the prophecy may have pre-dated the reforms of King Josiah. The northern kingdom, Israel, was already in exile; Judah would collapse in 586.
When I took the course on Old Testament Prophets at Dallas Seminary, one assignment was perhaps the most helpful project of my entire academic career. Dr. Stephen Bramer had us create a chart of all the prophets--with information about their date, the circumstances, the messages, etc. We were also supposed to come up with some sort of easy mnemonic device to help us remember a bit about the book. I remember using the word "zephyr" for Zephaniah. A zephyr is a kind of wind; the book of Zephaniah uses the theme of sweeping away (or perhaps blowing away) the land and its people.
God threatened to sweep away the the land and the people because of His wrath for their wickedness. Most of the prophecy details God's judgments against various groups--Judah, Philistia, Moab and Ammon, Cush, Assyria. The prophecies speak of the Day of the Lord, which was fulfilled in the near term through the assault of the Babylonians. Of course, we still anticipate the Great Day of the Lord.
Here are a couple of my favorite passages: "At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, 'The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad'" (Zeph. 1:12). Still today, there are far too many people who dismiss God, thinking He will refrain from punishing the wicked, or exercising His justice.
The end of the book of Zephaniah is a word of comfort and assurance for Judah. The LORD won't always be angry, and He will restore His beloved people. "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" (Zeph. 3:17).
Imagine the LORD, the great God of the universe, rejoicing over us with singing.
Although that's not the final word in the book of Zephaniah, nor that final word in the Old Testament, it is a fitting final word for this Reading Through the Bible in alphabetical order.
Amen and amen.
Zephaniah was probably written during the reign of King Josiah, or sometime between 640 and 609 B.C. That's roughly the same time as Jeremiah, Habakkuk and Nahum. My Study Bible tells me the prophecy may have pre-dated the reforms of King Josiah. The northern kingdom, Israel, was already in exile; Judah would collapse in 586.
When I took the course on Old Testament Prophets at Dallas Seminary, one assignment was perhaps the most helpful project of my entire academic career. Dr. Stephen Bramer had us create a chart of all the prophets--with information about their date, the circumstances, the messages, etc. We were also supposed to come up with some sort of easy mnemonic device to help us remember a bit about the book. I remember using the word "zephyr" for Zephaniah. A zephyr is a kind of wind; the book of Zephaniah uses the theme of sweeping away (or perhaps blowing away) the land and its people.
God threatened to sweep away the the land and the people because of His wrath for their wickedness. Most of the prophecy details God's judgments against various groups--Judah, Philistia, Moab and Ammon, Cush, Assyria. The prophecies speak of the Day of the Lord, which was fulfilled in the near term through the assault of the Babylonians. Of course, we still anticipate the Great Day of the Lord.
Here are a couple of my favorite passages: "At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, 'The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad'" (Zeph. 1:12). Still today, there are far too many people who dismiss God, thinking He will refrain from punishing the wicked, or exercising His justice.
The end of the book of Zephaniah is a word of comfort and assurance for Judah. The LORD won't always be angry, and He will restore His beloved people. "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" (Zeph. 3:17).
Imagine the LORD, the great God of the universe, rejoicing over us with singing.
Although that's not the final word in the book of Zephaniah, nor that final word in the Old Testament, it is a fitting final word for this Reading Through the Bible in alphabetical order.
Amen and amen.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Zechariah: We have heard this before
Zechariah is one of the newest books in the Old Testament, or one of the latest, if you want to put it that way. It is a post-Exilic work. It goes hand in hand with Haggai, exhorting the Jews who'd returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon to get going on restoring Jerusalem's temple, walls, and religion.
A professor at DTS often said that to understand the New Testament, you have to understand the Old Testament. You might even refine that to, "If you have even a prayer of understanding Revelation, you'd better be familiar with the OT, particularly Zechariah."
There are all kinds of literary motifs, images, or allusions in Zechariah that pop up again in Revelation. For example, those horses of the apocalypse are seen in Zech. 1:7-8 and again in 6:1-8. The thing about the horns? See Zech 1:18-21.
As always, when I read these passages about the Day of the Lord, I tremble, because I think it may indeed be imminent. I get really creeped out when something is weirdly specific. For example, I had just heard a story on NPR describing the effects of mustard gas--which are suspected to be in the hands of Bashar al-Assad, president of Syria, and which he is supposedly on the brink of deploying. The story said that mustard gas is a blistering agent. It is lethal because it gets in the lungs and destroys the delicate (and vital!) tissue. Zechariah 14:12 reads, "This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. On that day, men will be stricken by the LORD with great panic."
My two favorite passages in Zechariah are 4:6, "So he said to me, 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD Almighty.'"
And Zechariah 7:8-10: "And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'"
It is amazing to me how these passages about godly living repeat over and over throughout the Old Testament.
And, as it continues in Zechariah 7:11-12: "But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. so the LORD Almighty was very angry."
It gets worse. And here again, O my people, take heed: "'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the LORD Almighty" (Zechariah 7:13).
A professor at DTS often said that to understand the New Testament, you have to understand the Old Testament. You might even refine that to, "If you have even a prayer of understanding Revelation, you'd better be familiar with the OT, particularly Zechariah."
There are all kinds of literary motifs, images, or allusions in Zechariah that pop up again in Revelation. For example, those horses of the apocalypse are seen in Zech. 1:7-8 and again in 6:1-8. The thing about the horns? See Zech 1:18-21.
As always, when I read these passages about the Day of the Lord, I tremble, because I think it may indeed be imminent. I get really creeped out when something is weirdly specific. For example, I had just heard a story on NPR describing the effects of mustard gas--which are suspected to be in the hands of Bashar al-Assad, president of Syria, and which he is supposedly on the brink of deploying. The story said that mustard gas is a blistering agent. It is lethal because it gets in the lungs and destroys the delicate (and vital!) tissue. Zechariah 14:12 reads, "This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. On that day, men will be stricken by the LORD with great panic."
My two favorite passages in Zechariah are 4:6, "So he said to me, 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD Almighty.'"
And Zechariah 7:8-10: "And the word of the LORD came again to Zechariah: 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.'"
It is amazing to me how these passages about godly living repeat over and over throughout the Old Testament.
And, as it continues in Zechariah 7:11-12: "But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. so the LORD Almighty was very angry."
It gets worse. And here again, O my people, take heed: "'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the LORD Almighty" (Zechariah 7:13).
Friday, December 14, 2012
Titus: Paul insults the islanders
Titus is another of those short letters from Paul to a protege. This time, it's sent to Titus, who was dispatched to Crete to care for the flock there.
It's a nice letter, although it's not (IMHO) all that memorable. I think I've heard some church-speak phrase about Titus 2 discipling for women. That would be following Paul's instruction to get older women to instruct younger women "to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God" (Titus 2:4-5).
On reading Titus this time, I had to chuckle at chapter one, where Paul gives his thoughts about Titus' flock, the Cretans. First, he tells Titus to appoint some elders to assist with the work, and gives some character traits to demand among those worthies.
Apparently, though, Paul had no high regard for these people. He has very harsh words in 1:10-16. Here's my favorite part: "Even one of their own prophets has said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.' This testimony is true." (1:12-13.) He winds up the passage with, "They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good" (1:16). In fairness, Paul probably was thinking of a small group of bad apples. But still...
By the way, Cretans are inhabitants of the island of Crete. They should not be confused with cretins, unfortunate individuals who suffer cretinism. Cretinism is a condition of severely stunted physical and mental growth due to untreated congenital deficiency of thyroid hormones (congenital hypothyroidism) usually due to maternal hypothyroidism. (Thanks,Wikipedia).
And of course, "cretin" is a slang, pejorative term for a moron. No doubt Paul would have loved the play on words.
I guess the "theological" take on the harsh words Paul inflicts would be that Christians need to be wary, discerning and, evidently, blunt with people who willingly and aggressively pervert the word of God.
It's a nice letter, although it's not (IMHO) all that memorable. I think I've heard some church-speak phrase about Titus 2 discipling for women. That would be following Paul's instruction to get older women to instruct younger women "to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God" (Titus 2:4-5).
On reading Titus this time, I had to chuckle at chapter one, where Paul gives his thoughts about Titus' flock, the Cretans. First, he tells Titus to appoint some elders to assist with the work, and gives some character traits to demand among those worthies.
Apparently, though, Paul had no high regard for these people. He has very harsh words in 1:10-16. Here's my favorite part: "Even one of their own prophets has said, 'Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.' This testimony is true." (1:12-13.) He winds up the passage with, "They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good" (1:16). In fairness, Paul probably was thinking of a small group of bad apples. But still...
By the way, Cretans are inhabitants of the island of Crete. They should not be confused with cretins, unfortunate individuals who suffer cretinism. Cretinism is a condition of severely stunted physical and mental growth due to untreated congenital deficiency of thyroid hormones (congenital hypothyroidism) usually due to maternal hypothyroidism. (Thanks,Wikipedia).
And of course, "cretin" is a slang, pejorative term for a moron. No doubt Paul would have loved the play on words.
I guess the "theological" take on the harsh words Paul inflicts would be that Christians need to be wary, discerning and, evidently, blunt with people who willingly and aggressively pervert the word of God.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Song of Songs: For mature audiences only
I've always had trouble with Song of Songs, or "Song of Solomon," as we used to call it. This time, I decided to listen to the audio version (see my comments from Psalms). That was another great call.
Have you ever noticed that preachers don't use Song of Songs for regular sermon series? Have you ever studied it in a Sunday morning Bible study, other than a cursory look? Have you ever heard a 14-year-old ask questions about what he gathered from a study on Song of Songs?
There's a reason these answers are probably all "No." Song of Songs has some, shall we say, "graphic" language in it. So do Hosea, Ezekiel, and other books, but this is different.
Reading Song of Songs makes me feel kind of uncomfortable and I know I'm not the only one. If I'm not mistaken, not every church father wanted to include it in the Old Testament canon. Over the ages, scholars tried to make the text a little more palatable by explaining it in different ways. I wrote a paper once about five different views on how to interpret the text.
Through the middle ages, everyone just assumed that it was an allegory, representing the love of Christ for His bride, the Church. Some think it was just part of the collection of writings of Solomon, and somewhat autobiographical. Some think it was poetry for weddings. Another thought is that it was intended to be a drama, loosely linking songs with a story line--not unlike Handel's Messiah or Cats by Andrew Lloyd-Weber. There are other theories, too complicated or arcane to note in this blog.
After listening to the spoken word, the "meaning" of the text was pretty clear. Max McLean, the reader, without being overly dramatic, brings out the fundamental eroticism of Song of Songs. It is definitely a poem about lusty lovers, although exactly what their circumstances are is difficult to determine. Maybe the best way to view it is as a memorable and instructive portrait of true love as God intended it. It addresses the delights and sanctity of erotic love between marriage partners and it also offers pictures of the passionate, all-consuming love of God for his people. (At least, that's what I concluded in my paper.)
One still has to wonder how it ended up in the canon. And I still don't really want to study it with my Sunday school class of single adults. (Sorry, Kehilas. You're on your own.)
Have you ever noticed that preachers don't use Song of Songs for regular sermon series? Have you ever studied it in a Sunday morning Bible study, other than a cursory look? Have you ever heard a 14-year-old ask questions about what he gathered from a study on Song of Songs?
There's a reason these answers are probably all "No." Song of Songs has some, shall we say, "graphic" language in it. So do Hosea, Ezekiel, and other books, but this is different.
Reading Song of Songs makes me feel kind of uncomfortable and I know I'm not the only one. If I'm not mistaken, not every church father wanted to include it in the Old Testament canon. Over the ages, scholars tried to make the text a little more palatable by explaining it in different ways. I wrote a paper once about five different views on how to interpret the text.
Through the middle ages, everyone just assumed that it was an allegory, representing the love of Christ for His bride, the Church. Some think it was just part of the collection of writings of Solomon, and somewhat autobiographical. Some think it was poetry for weddings. Another thought is that it was intended to be a drama, loosely linking songs with a story line--not unlike Handel's Messiah or Cats by Andrew Lloyd-Weber. There are other theories, too complicated or arcane to note in this blog.
After listening to the spoken word, the "meaning" of the text was pretty clear. Max McLean, the reader, without being overly dramatic, brings out the fundamental eroticism of Song of Songs. It is definitely a poem about lusty lovers, although exactly what their circumstances are is difficult to determine. Maybe the best way to view it is as a memorable and instructive portrait of true love as God intended it. It addresses the delights and sanctity of erotic love between marriage partners and it also offers pictures of the passionate, all-consuming love of God for his people. (At least, that's what I concluded in my paper.)
One still has to wonder how it ended up in the canon. And I still don't really want to study it with my Sunday school class of single adults. (Sorry, Kehilas. You're on your own.)
Monday, December 3, 2012
1,2 Timothy: The private thoughts of Paul
The letters to Timothy may have ended up as messages to all Christians, but they were likely written as personal correspondence, Paul's private thoughts to his trusted protege.
First Timothy feels a bit jumbled, a little anguished. It sounds like my own prayers on my own overwrought days, when I'm worried about people and trying to comfort myself. Paul, too, was troubled by people he cared about, their bad decisions and bad behavior.
It occurred to me that the infamous passage in 2:9-15, where he speaks rather demeaningly about women, might have been caused by some particular annoying woman who was driving him crazy. I mean, really: who hasn't felt that way? It makes me wonder if "the Church" all these years didn't just snap up that passage and apply it wrongfully to all women at all times.
Interestingly, the next passage in chapter 3, has qualifications for church leaders. Most churches take it pretty seriously, but we just know there are a lot of men who have been accepted as leaders or deacons--even though they beat their wives or were given to drunkenness.
In 1 Timothy, Paul exhorts and counsels Timothy about dealing with his church congregation. Some of it (e.g., 6:20, or 4:1-5) seems to take aim at church members who are off the path of doctrine. As I read these passages, I got to thinking about what I call "The Tea Party Christians." (This doesn't apply to all who embrace the Tea Party, and it does apply to some who eschew the radical right-wing movement.) These are the people who are soooooooooo pious that they end up hateful. I'm especially thinking about people who, during the recent presidential election, were constantly equating their extreme right-wing views with Christianity. I found it offensive, to say the least. I just don't think Jesus would have done or said or behaved as they did.
The takeaway from 1 Timothy is that those "believers" are not much better in God's eyes that non-believers. I would add that it is difficult to discern right from wrong, and each of us needs to beg God for wisdom.
Second Timothy is one of the grimmest books in the New Testament. It was written at the end of Paul's life and his bleak imprisonment in Rome. He was old, lonely, probably sickly. You can feel the despair in his words, especially his frustration and disappointment with false teachers. These were people he knew and had perhaps mentored who were spreading weird religious ideas, probably to enrich themselves, and also taking advantage of "weak-willed women" (3:6). No wonder Paul told Timothy "Preach the Word" (4:2). (This is the motto for Dallas Theological Seminary. I have it on a T-shirt in Greek!)
But Dear God, may we all be able at the end of our lives to say as Paul said, "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing: (4:7-8).
First Timothy feels a bit jumbled, a little anguished. It sounds like my own prayers on my own overwrought days, when I'm worried about people and trying to comfort myself. Paul, too, was troubled by people he cared about, their bad decisions and bad behavior.
It occurred to me that the infamous passage in 2:9-15, where he speaks rather demeaningly about women, might have been caused by some particular annoying woman who was driving him crazy. I mean, really: who hasn't felt that way? It makes me wonder if "the Church" all these years didn't just snap up that passage and apply it wrongfully to all women at all times.
Interestingly, the next passage in chapter 3, has qualifications for church leaders. Most churches take it pretty seriously, but we just know there are a lot of men who have been accepted as leaders or deacons--even though they beat their wives or were given to drunkenness.
In 1 Timothy, Paul exhorts and counsels Timothy about dealing with his church congregation. Some of it (e.g., 6:20, or 4:1-5) seems to take aim at church members who are off the path of doctrine. As I read these passages, I got to thinking about what I call "The Tea Party Christians." (This doesn't apply to all who embrace the Tea Party, and it does apply to some who eschew the radical right-wing movement.) These are the people who are soooooooooo pious that they end up hateful. I'm especially thinking about people who, during the recent presidential election, were constantly equating their extreme right-wing views with Christianity. I found it offensive, to say the least. I just don't think Jesus would have done or said or behaved as they did.
The takeaway from 1 Timothy is that those "believers" are not much better in God's eyes that non-believers. I would add that it is difficult to discern right from wrong, and each of us needs to beg God for wisdom.
Second Timothy is one of the grimmest books in the New Testament. It was written at the end of Paul's life and his bleak imprisonment in Rome. He was old, lonely, probably sickly. You can feel the despair in his words, especially his frustration and disappointment with false teachers. These were people he knew and had perhaps mentored who were spreading weird religious ideas, probably to enrich themselves, and also taking advantage of "weak-willed women" (3:6). No wonder Paul told Timothy "Preach the Word" (4:2). (This is the motto for Dallas Theological Seminary. I have it on a T-shirt in Greek!)
But Dear God, may we all be able at the end of our lives to say as Paul said, "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing: (4:7-8).
1,2 Thessalonians: What I would say to my own flock
Paul was a great theologian and evangelist, but 1 and 2 Thessalonians reveal that he was probably a great pastor.
I spend quite a bit of my time "pastoring" or shepherding some people--my Sunday school class, and my Young Lives group of teen moms. Consequently, much of what I read in Thessalonians speaks to my feelings about my little flocks.
I read Thessalonians in early November, and was inspired to quote 1 Thess 1:2-3 on a Thanksgiving card to my co-workers in Young Lives: "We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." How eloquent; how true.
The text in 1 Thess. 2:8 is a favorite within Young Life, a scriptural basis for that group's method of sharing Christ by sharing lives: "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." Also, verses 11-12: "For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory."
Or, I can say along with Paul, "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy." (2:19-20).
Paul encourages and admonishes his flock as I would my own: "May [the Lord] strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones" (3:13). "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ" (5:16-18).
1 and 2 Thessalonians are also pretty well known for their passages on death and the eschaton, or end times. Those are never my favorite topics, even though Paul assures believers of a brilliant eternal future in the presence of Christ.
However, I do like 2 Thess. 1:8-9: "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power." Legions of theologians would disagree, but I feel this underscores the view that hell--at least for garden-variety non-believers--is annihilation, as opposed to never-ending burning in the lake of fire (which perhaps is reserved for Satan and his cronies).
I guess I was a little surprised to find how much 1 and 2 Thessalonian resonate with me these days. Some of the sweet things Paul says to his people -- well, I couldn't say them better myself.
I spend quite a bit of my time "pastoring" or shepherding some people--my Sunday school class, and my Young Lives group of teen moms. Consequently, much of what I read in Thessalonians speaks to my feelings about my little flocks.
I read Thessalonians in early November, and was inspired to quote 1 Thess 1:2-3 on a Thanksgiving card to my co-workers in Young Lives: "We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." How eloquent; how true.
The text in 1 Thess. 2:8 is a favorite within Young Life, a scriptural basis for that group's method of sharing Christ by sharing lives: "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." Also, verses 11-12: "For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory."
Or, I can say along with Paul, "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy." (2:19-20).
Paul encourages and admonishes his flock as I would my own: "May [the Lord] strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones" (3:13). "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ" (5:16-18).
1 and 2 Thessalonians are also pretty well known for their passages on death and the eschaton, or end times. Those are never my favorite topics, even though Paul assures believers of a brilliant eternal future in the presence of Christ.
However, I do like 2 Thess. 1:8-9: "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power." Legions of theologians would disagree, but I feel this underscores the view that hell--at least for garden-variety non-believers--is annihilation, as opposed to never-ending burning in the lake of fire (which perhaps is reserved for Satan and his cronies).
I guess I was a little surprised to find how much 1 and 2 Thessalonian resonate with me these days. Some of the sweet things Paul says to his people -- well, I couldn't say them better myself.
1,2 Samuel: Better than a movie
In 2012, our Sunday school class, The Kehila Class, studied 1 and 2 Samuel verse by verse. We started in January, took a couple of breaks for other studies and for some time off in June, and finally concluded in October. Which is to say, it was a slow and deliberate study.
What a luxury to be able to work through a book of the Bible in such a careful way. I was aided by an excellent commentary, authored by Tony Cartledge and published by Smyth & Helwys.
1 & 2 Samuel cover the stories of Samuel the prophet, Saul the first king of Israel, and David, Saul's successor. It could be subtitled "The Rise and Fall of Saul, then of David," or something like that. Our class chose the study because we were interested in the character of David. We all knew that he started out so well, "The man after God's heart," but ended so badly. We wanted to see what happened.
I also was interested in piecing together all the characters, places, and events of the David cycle. For example, I had heard of Abner or Joab, but wasn't sure who they were.
So I (we, I hope) ended up with a much clearer understanding of Saul and David and their respective rise and fall.
As for insight into what happened to David, I guess we decided his demise was pretty much the same thing that happens to so many of us. He started as simple and obscure and was tapped to play a part in God's plans for war against the Philistines and, later, for leading Israel. As long as he realized his humble state before God and relied on God for guidance, David thrived. When he started depending on his own wisdom and abilities, he started to fail. It's very telling that up to about chapter 7 of 2 Samuel, David continuously consults the LORD through personal prayer or through what was probably the Urim and Thummim. As a result, he has success in every undertaking. But somewhere after chapter 7 or 8, David sort of quits doing that.
The rest of 2 Samuel is dominated by David's downfall. His disastrous affair with the wife of Uriah, and David's assassination of Uriah, are just the first fallout of David's straying from his walk with Yahweh. The horrible story about Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom followed by the story of Absalom's attempted coup d'etat are chilling and horrifying. It's instructive to observe David's weak parenting skills. No doubt if he'd continued to consult Yahweh he would have been a better father. (It's true for most parents.)
Once again, I'm amazed that there has not been a fabulous movie made of the life of David. I suppose it's just too "larger than life." There was something a few years ago with Richard Gere, and a TV show called "Kings," but even they couldn't pull off the scope of the David cycle.
And, once again, the Bible has a hit in one of the most exciting narratives known to literature. As always, the Book is better than a movie.
What a luxury to be able to work through a book of the Bible in such a careful way. I was aided by an excellent commentary, authored by Tony Cartledge and published by Smyth & Helwys.
1 & 2 Samuel cover the stories of Samuel the prophet, Saul the first king of Israel, and David, Saul's successor. It could be subtitled "The Rise and Fall of Saul, then of David," or something like that. Our class chose the study because we were interested in the character of David. We all knew that he started out so well, "The man after God's heart," but ended so badly. We wanted to see what happened.
I also was interested in piecing together all the characters, places, and events of the David cycle. For example, I had heard of Abner or Joab, but wasn't sure who they were.
So I (we, I hope) ended up with a much clearer understanding of Saul and David and their respective rise and fall.
As for insight into what happened to David, I guess we decided his demise was pretty much the same thing that happens to so many of us. He started as simple and obscure and was tapped to play a part in God's plans for war against the Philistines and, later, for leading Israel. As long as he realized his humble state before God and relied on God for guidance, David thrived. When he started depending on his own wisdom and abilities, he started to fail. It's very telling that up to about chapter 7 of 2 Samuel, David continuously consults the LORD through personal prayer or through what was probably the Urim and Thummim. As a result, he has success in every undertaking. But somewhere after chapter 7 or 8, David sort of quits doing that.
The rest of 2 Samuel is dominated by David's downfall. His disastrous affair with the wife of Uriah, and David's assassination of Uriah, are just the first fallout of David's straying from his walk with Yahweh. The horrible story about Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom followed by the story of Absalom's attempted coup d'etat are chilling and horrifying. It's instructive to observe David's weak parenting skills. No doubt if he'd continued to consult Yahweh he would have been a better father. (It's true for most parents.)
Once again, I'm amazed that there has not been a fabulous movie made of the life of David. I suppose it's just too "larger than life." There was something a few years ago with Richard Gere, and a TV show called "Kings," but even they couldn't pull off the scope of the David cycle.
And, once again, the Bible has a hit in one of the most exciting narratives known to literature. As always, the Book is better than a movie.
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