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2016, July 10th ~ Deuteronomy 30:9-14 & Colossians 1:1-14

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Deuteronomy 30:9-14
Deuteronomy is the fifth (and last) book of the Torah and is presented as if it were Moses’ final speech to the Israelites just before they enter the Promised Land. “Deuteronomy” comes from Greek words that mean “Second Law” and the book is a “restatement’ of the laws in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. There were later revisions to the book of Deuteronomy after the Exile ended in 539 BCE, but the bulk of the book is generally dated to the reign of Josiah from 640 to 609 BCE. The first part of today’s reading expresses a theme found in all the Deuteronomic books (Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings): “if you do good, you will get good, but if you do bad, you will get bad.” Reference to the “book of the law” in verse 10 may be a later addition because most scholars agree that the Torah was finalized and codified in the 5th Century BCE. Verses 11 to 14 challenge assumptions that divine wisdom is not knowable, and the reference to the “word” being “in your mouth” (v. 14) reflects the reality that oral transmission was prevalent in non-literate societies.

Colossians 1:1-14
Colossae was a town in what is now western Turkey. A Jesus Follower community was founded there by Paul’s associate, Epaphras (1:7). The letter is short (four chapters) and expresses concern about practices that are inconsistent with Paul’s understanding of being a Jesus Follower. Scholars debate whether it was written by Paul or his disciples in the decade after Paul’s death in 62 CE. In today’s reading, the author emphasizes faith, love and hope as key Christian virtues (vv. 4-5) and adopts an apocalyptic theme in contrasting light and darkness (vv. 12-13). He expresses the theme that believers are redeemed and receive forgiveness of sin in Christ (v. 14). “Redemption” conveys the sense of being bought back, the way something already owned is redeemed from a pawn shop.

2016, July 3rd ~ Isaiah 66:10-14 & Galatians 6:1-16

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Isaiah 66:10-14
The Book of Isaiah is a composite of writings from three distinct periods in Israel’s history. Chapters 1-39 are called “First Isaiah” and were written in the 20 years before Jerusalem was under direct siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE. “Second Isaiah” is Chapters 40 to 55 and brings hope to the Judeans during the time of the Exile in Babylon (587 to 539 BCE) by telling them they have suffered enough and will return to Jerusalem. “Third Isaiah” is Chapters 56 to 66 and contains encouragement to the Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Exile. Today’s reading is from the last chapter in the Book of Isaiah and is set in the time after the Return. In these verses, Isaiah speaks for Yahweh and affirms that Jerusalem will be a mother to all who mourn and that prosperity will return to Jerusalem.

Galatians 6:1-16
Galatia was a large Roman province in what is now western Turkey. This letter was written in the late 40’s or early 50’s (CE), and deals in part with controversies between Jewish Jesus Followers and Gentile Jesus Followers regarding the continuing importance of Torah (Law) and whether Gentile Jesus Followers had to be circumcised and follow the Kosher dietary laws. Today’s reading is the conclusion of the letter. Paul continues to emphasize that the Spirit enables believers to live out the principle of love, thus fulfilling the law without slavishly observing the law’s requirements. He affirms the opposition of “the flesh” to the Spirit and emphasizes that whether or not a person is circumcised is not important. The final words of today’s reading ask for peace upon the “Israel of God” – words that are unique to this verse. Scholars understand these words as meaning the “true Israel,” that is, those who follow Paul’s understanding of the Gospel rather than those who follow the teachings of Paul’s opponents.

2016, June 26th ~ 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21 & Galatians 5:1, 13-25

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1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
The Book of Kings is part of the “Deuteronomic History” that includes the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. These books emphasize that God controls history, and when the people (and their kings) worship Yahweh properly, good things happen to them. When they worship false gods, however, bad events overtake them. Today’s reading follows the story in which Elijah invoked Yahweh to overcome the priests of Baal to bring rain and to burn an offering. Jezebel, the Baal-worshiping wife of Ahab (873-852 BCE), vowed revenge, and Elijah escaped to the south and hid in a cave where he heard the voice of Yahweh in the stillness. In today’s reading, Yahweh told Elijah to anoint a new king of Aram (Syria), and (in an act of treason) to anoint a new king over Israel, even though Ahab was still king. Elijah was also directed to select Elisha as his successor. In hyperbole that often used in the Hebrew Bible to emphasize a point, Elisha destroyed his means of sustenance and slaughtered 12 yoke of oxen (24 oxen), which would have had an enormous value.

Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Galatia was a large Roman province in what is now western Turkey. This letter was written in the late 40’s or early 50’s (CE), and deals in part with controversies between Jewish Jesus Followers and Gentile Jesus Followers regarding the continuing importance of Torah (Law). Today’s reading emphasizes that Christ gives us freedom to love one another through the Spirit, and Paul contrasts this with being compelled to follow rules under the law. It is also noteworthy that when Paul enumerates the “works of the flesh,” he includes many sins of the mind – idolatry, jealousy, anger, and envy to name just a few. For Paul, “the flesh” was that part of our humanity that opposes the Spirit within us.