It has been a whole week. I'm chugging along with my reading; not doing so great with the writing. Last time I wrote, I was in Deuteronomy 4, and today I read through Deuteronomy 24.
I came across a curious and kind of embarrassing passage that I have read before, but I never know where it is. Well, it's in Deuteronomy 22.
If any man takes a wife and goes in to her and then hates her and accuses her of misconduct and brings a bad name upon her, saying, ‘I took this woman, and when I came near her, I did not find in her evidence of virginity,’ then the father of the young woman and her mother shall take and bring out the evidence of her virginity to the elders of the city in the gate. And the father of the young woman shall say to the elders, ‘I gave my daughter to this man to marry, and he hates her; and behold, he has accused her of misconduct, saying, “I did not find in your daughter evidence of virginity.” And yet this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.’ And they shall spread the cloak before the elders of the city.
Deuteronomy 22:13-17 (ESV)
It seems as though the "proof of virginity" is blood stained sheets from the wedding night. This is somewhat disturbing to me, but it reminds me of something else I wrote once.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Deuteronomy 4:7
For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call upon him?
Deuteronomy 4:7 (ESV)
We are that nation. Not Americans... Christians. Real ones. The ones who love Jesus and follow Him.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
We are His people, we who believe in Jesus. Galatians 3:29 (ESV) says, "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."
The New Testament doesn't even question whether God hears our prayers. That's already established! We are simply told that we should be "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." (Ephesians 6:18a ESV) We are also commanded to, "pray without ceasing," (1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV).
Deuteronomy 4:7 (ESV)
We are that nation. Not Americans... Christians. Real ones. The ones who love Jesus and follow Him.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
We are His people, we who believe in Jesus. Galatians 3:29 (ESV) says, "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."
The New Testament doesn't even question whether God hears our prayers. That's already established! We are simply told that we should be "praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication." (Ephesians 6:18a ESV) We are also commanded to, "pray without ceasing," (1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV).
We can have complete confidence in our God.
Our God.
He hears
and He responds
and He is on our side.
Our God.
He hears
and He responds
and He is on our side.
For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call upon him?
Deuteronomy 4:7 (ESV)
Deuteronomy 4:7 (ESV)
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Proverbs 11:20-22
Today my Proverbs reading was Proverbs 11:20-22.
This particular passage usually overshadows itself with the last verse, which is very graphic and plants a strong image into one's mind:
Proverbs 11:22
Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
I always find myself thinking about the waste, the impropriety. The shame of how beauty, or a gold ring, can be brought low by its context. I think the key word is waste; it's such a waste.
But today the first two verses in this passage arrested me more than this visual aphorism.
Proverbs 11:20-21
Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord,
but those of blameless ways are His delight.
Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
Two things:
One...
"...those of blameless ways are His delight." How wonderful to be the delight of the Lord! I want to be His delight. And, although I am not completely blameless, there is a blamelessness that is imputed to me through the blood of Christ which purchased me and put me in right standing before God. I am overwhelmed to think of what Jesus has done for me through His death, burial and resurrection, and then to extrapolate that this grace, applied to me, actually makes me God's delight.
Two...
"Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered."
Did you get that? Be assured. Be assured. Don't worry. God knows what is going on. He has it under control. He's going to take care of it. Rest in Him, in His promises and be assured.
This particular passage usually overshadows itself with the last verse, which is very graphic and plants a strong image into one's mind:
Proverbs 11:22
Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
I always find myself thinking about the waste, the impropriety. The shame of how beauty, or a gold ring, can be brought low by its context. I think the key word is waste; it's such a waste.
But today the first two verses in this passage arrested me more than this visual aphorism.
Proverbs 11:20-21
Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord,
but those of blameless ways are His delight.
Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
Two things:
One...
"...those of blameless ways are His delight." How wonderful to be the delight of the Lord! I want to be His delight. And, although I am not completely blameless, there is a blamelessness that is imputed to me through the blood of Christ which purchased me and put me in right standing before God. I am overwhelmed to think of what Jesus has done for me through His death, burial and resurrection, and then to extrapolate that this grace, applied to me, actually makes me God's delight.
Two...
"Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered."
Did you get that? Be assured. Be assured. Don't worry. God knows what is going on. He has it under control. He's going to take care of it. Rest in Him, in His promises and be assured.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Double Duty
Leviticus 19:9-10
When you reap the harvest of your land,
you shall not reap your field right up to its edge,
neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.
And you shall not strip your vinyard bare,
neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vinyard.
You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner:
I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19:9-10 (ESV)
I have always thought it wonderful the way God planned for the poor. It wasn't an easy life, but the poor who were willing to go out and work hard had opportunities to procure a livelihood for themselves. Many of us are familiar with this concept because of the story of Ruth, the faithful daughter-in-law who was able to provide for herself and her mother-in-law by appealing to this law that God had given so long ago at Sinai.
Today as I read these verses, I was struck: not only did God provide for the poor, but He also set up a system that would minimize boundary quarrels. Farmers on adjoining properties had a natural, God-ordained buffer zone at the edges of their land. If they followed this law, there should have been no quibbling over "You're harvesting in my field!" and, "No! You're harvesting in my field!" Any judge could easily point out, "You are both in the wrong if you are arguing over this. Both of you are harvesting too much and forgetting to obey God and leave the edges for the poor!"
I should not be surprised at the brilliance of God's plans. God is just amazing.
When you reap the harvest of your land,
you shall not reap your field right up to its edge,
neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.
And you shall not strip your vinyard bare,
neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vinyard.
You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner:
I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19:9-10 (ESV)
I have always thought it wonderful the way God planned for the poor. It wasn't an easy life, but the poor who were willing to go out and work hard had opportunities to procure a livelihood for themselves. Many of us are familiar with this concept because of the story of Ruth, the faithful daughter-in-law who was able to provide for herself and her mother-in-law by appealing to this law that God had given so long ago at Sinai.
Today as I read these verses, I was struck: not only did God provide for the poor, but He also set up a system that would minimize boundary quarrels. Farmers on adjoining properties had a natural, God-ordained buffer zone at the edges of their land. If they followed this law, there should have been no quibbling over "You're harvesting in my field!" and, "No! You're harvesting in my field!" Any judge could easily point out, "You are both in the wrong if you are arguing over this. Both of you are harvesting too much and forgetting to obey God and leave the edges for the poor!"
I should not be surprised at the brilliance of God's plans. God is just amazing.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Psalm 57:1-2
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in You my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.
Psalm 57:1-2 (ESV)
This was our theme verse back in, what? 2009?
Back then I was a Bible study teacher, teaching Job. We memorized this verse, but in the NIV.
Today I came across it in my reading for the day, and it was so special, so familiar, so mine.
Also, it was very needed. Not so much the part about the storm. I'm not in a storm, I wouldn't say. Not yet.
But I am without a purpose right now. I feel like I need a purpose, a role. How comforting to realize that God promises to fulfill His purposes for His children. Of course, David, who wrote this, was destined by God to be king of Israel and ancestor of Messiah. I am sure my purpose is nowhere near anything like that. But I believe God has a purpose for me, nonetheless.
In His time He will reveal it.
for in You my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.
Psalm 57:1-2 (ESV)
This was our theme verse back in, what? 2009?
Back then I was a Bible study teacher, teaching Job. We memorized this verse, but in the NIV.
Today I came across it in my reading for the day, and it was so special, so familiar, so mine.
Also, it was very needed. Not so much the part about the storm. I'm not in a storm, I wouldn't say. Not yet.
But I am without a purpose right now. I feel like I need a purpose, a role. How comforting to realize that God promises to fulfill His purposes for His children. Of course, David, who wrote this, was destined by God to be king of Israel and ancestor of Messiah. I am sure my purpose is nowhere near anything like that. But I believe God has a purpose for me, nonetheless.
In His time He will reveal it.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Exodus 21:2-6
When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go free, for nothing.
If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him.
If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he [the slave who fulfilled his six years] shall go out alone.
But if the slave plainly says, "I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out free," then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.
Exodus 21:2-6 (ESV)
This is fascinating to me.
Slavery in Bible times was entirely different from what it was in the early days of the American south. For one thing, they didn't go out hunting for people whom they could catch and bring back to their land to sell for a profit. Some slaves were prisoners of war. But the slaves discussed in this passage were Hebrews, brothers. They had to sell themselves into slavery sometimes when they got into financial trouble, into too much debt they could not repay. Bankruptcy was not an option in those days. But neither did they throw debtors into debtors' prison as in Victorian England. No, in these ancient days, debtors had to work off their debts by selling themselves into slavery. In other words, they found a wealthy patron who could pay off the debt for them, and then they proceeded to live with him and work for him over the next six years to make it up to him. It was a pretty economically sound solution.
AND... God made provisions to protect the slaves from exploitation. For one thing, they were to be set free after six years. A long time, yes, but anything is more bearable when there is an end in sight.
Presumably, an intelligent slave would know better than to take a wife from within the household of a master he despised. Slaves could make choices, to marry or to remain single, knowing that they would have the option to go free in the seventh year.
Kind, fair masters provided for their slaves in return for good labor. This was not always back-breaking manual labor. Sometimes it was household management or personal assistance (think of Sam Gamgee's relationship with Frodo). Slaves could remain under the protection and provision of a fair master, raise a family and live a good life, if they so desired. It was more like living within the kingdom of a good and righteous king than like being exploited by unfair labor practices.
I do not know how the slave traders in the American south ever could have justified their actions in light of the Bible. Biblical slavery had nothing in common with the atrocities committed by those slave hunters, sellers, and owners.
If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him.
If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he [the slave who fulfilled his six years] shall go out alone.
But if the slave plainly says, "I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out free," then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.
Exodus 21:2-6 (ESV)
This is fascinating to me.
Slavery in Bible times was entirely different from what it was in the early days of the American south. For one thing, they didn't go out hunting for people whom they could catch and bring back to their land to sell for a profit. Some slaves were prisoners of war. But the slaves discussed in this passage were Hebrews, brothers. They had to sell themselves into slavery sometimes when they got into financial trouble, into too much debt they could not repay. Bankruptcy was not an option in those days. But neither did they throw debtors into debtors' prison as in Victorian England. No, in these ancient days, debtors had to work off their debts by selling themselves into slavery. In other words, they found a wealthy patron who could pay off the debt for them, and then they proceeded to live with him and work for him over the next six years to make it up to him. It was a pretty economically sound solution.
AND... God made provisions to protect the slaves from exploitation. For one thing, they were to be set free after six years. A long time, yes, but anything is more bearable when there is an end in sight.
Presumably, an intelligent slave would know better than to take a wife from within the household of a master he despised. Slaves could make choices, to marry or to remain single, knowing that they would have the option to go free in the seventh year.
Kind, fair masters provided for their slaves in return for good labor. This was not always back-breaking manual labor. Sometimes it was household management or personal assistance (think of Sam Gamgee's relationship with Frodo). Slaves could remain under the protection and provision of a fair master, raise a family and live a good life, if they so desired. It was more like living within the kingdom of a good and righteous king than like being exploited by unfair labor practices.
I do not know how the slave traders in the American south ever could have justified their actions in light of the Bible. Biblical slavery had nothing in common with the atrocities committed by those slave hunters, sellers, and owners.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Reading through the Bible
I am working on reading through the Bible again.
I started on January 1, and I am not behind yet! Although being behind, or ahead, or "right on track" is not what matters. What matters is whether you stick to it and finish.
Last time I tried to read through the Bible, I stalled out in Leviticus. This is odd for me--not that I stalled out, but that I stalled out in Leviticus--because usually I find Leviticus fascinating. But there you have it, that's what happened.
I first read through the Bible in 1993-1994 (I think; this is as close a guess as I can make). That time, I read straight through from cover to cover. It was a good experience, but there was a lot that I just glossed over and did not begin to understand.
In around 1996 or 1997, I did it again. For the New Year, our church had handed out a chronological guide to reading through the Bible, and I used it. It was interesting to do it that way, but I noticed some mistakes in the guide. It actually skipped one of the minor prophets, and it had you read a number of things twice (which is not a huge problem, but it does take away from forward progress if your goal is to finish reading all of the Bible). After that experience, I had the feeling that was good, but it could have been so much better. In response, I spent a year or so designing my own plan for reading through the Bible chronologically.
I'm not sure of the timing of when I actually finished designing my own road-map for going through the Bible, but after I had written it, I tried it out, and gave it to my husband and a few other relatives, asking them to try it out as well. I believe it took me 18 months to go through the Bible using the plan I designed. I enjoyed it quite a lot, and I got good feedback from others who used it as well.
So I read through the Bible three times. And then I failed. I started trying to do it again two or three years ago, and as I mentioned already, I stalled out in Leviticus. I had the feeling that God was leading me to read in smaller doses, to study more carefully and progress more slowly. I spent time reading through particular books of the Bible, but failed to keep records, so I'm not even sure which books I studied on my own. I was teaching a Bible study and did a lot of work on Job, 1 and 2 Peter, 1 and 2 Kings (and 1 and 2 Chronicles beside them), Colossians and Philippians.
But now I am back in the saddle, as they say. I'm reading through again. I've finished a month and stayed on track, so I should be 1/12 of the way done!
It's hard for me to read every day and write every day (and cook, grocery shop, wash dishes, wash clothes, make beds, clean toilets and drive Jonathan to music lessons), so posts here will be sporadic and probably short. We will see what happens. I have not gotten to Leviticus yet.
Here are some verses I read yesterday:
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent.
Oh Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!
Psalm 30:11-12 ESV
I started on January 1, and I am not behind yet! Although being behind, or ahead, or "right on track" is not what matters. What matters is whether you stick to it and finish.
Last time I tried to read through the Bible, I stalled out in Leviticus. This is odd for me--not that I stalled out, but that I stalled out in Leviticus--because usually I find Leviticus fascinating. But there you have it, that's what happened.
I first read through the Bible in 1993-1994 (I think; this is as close a guess as I can make). That time, I read straight through from cover to cover. It was a good experience, but there was a lot that I just glossed over and did not begin to understand.
In around 1996 or 1997, I did it again. For the New Year, our church had handed out a chronological guide to reading through the Bible, and I used it. It was interesting to do it that way, but I noticed some mistakes in the guide. It actually skipped one of the minor prophets, and it had you read a number of things twice (which is not a huge problem, but it does take away from forward progress if your goal is to finish reading all of the Bible). After that experience, I had the feeling that was good, but it could have been so much better. In response, I spent a year or so designing my own plan for reading through the Bible chronologically.
I'm not sure of the timing of when I actually finished designing my own road-map for going through the Bible, but after I had written it, I tried it out, and gave it to my husband and a few other relatives, asking them to try it out as well. I believe it took me 18 months to go through the Bible using the plan I designed. I enjoyed it quite a lot, and I got good feedback from others who used it as well.
So I read through the Bible three times. And then I failed. I started trying to do it again two or three years ago, and as I mentioned already, I stalled out in Leviticus. I had the feeling that God was leading me to read in smaller doses, to study more carefully and progress more slowly. I spent time reading through particular books of the Bible, but failed to keep records, so I'm not even sure which books I studied on my own. I was teaching a Bible study and did a lot of work on Job, 1 and 2 Peter, 1 and 2 Kings (and 1 and 2 Chronicles beside them), Colossians and Philippians.
But now I am back in the saddle, as they say. I'm reading through again. I've finished a month and stayed on track, so I should be 1/12 of the way done!
It's hard for me to read every day and write every day (and cook, grocery shop, wash dishes, wash clothes, make beds, clean toilets and drive Jonathan to music lessons), so posts here will be sporadic and probably short. We will see what happens. I have not gotten to Leviticus yet.
Here are some verses I read yesterday:
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent.
Oh Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!
Psalm 30:11-12 ESV
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