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2017, October 22 ~ Exodus 33:12-23; Isaiah 45:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

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During the 2017 Pentecost Season, alternative readings from the Hebrew Bible are offered. Scripture in Context will discuss both readings and the reading from the Christian Scriptures.

Exodus 33:12-23

The Book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible, and covers the period from the slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh (around 1250 BCE, if the account is historical), the Exodus itself, and the early months in the Wilderness.

Today’s reading follows the story of the Golden Calf. After Moses broke the tablets of the 10 Words, he berated Aaron, who in turn blamed the people. (32:21-24). Moses then directed the Levites to kill 3,000 Israelites for worshiping an idol (32:27-28). YHWH told Moses to lead the people to the Promised Land (33:1).

In today’s reading, Moses sought reassurance that YHWH would accompany the Israelites (v.12) and told YHWH that the Israelites would be different from other peoples (v.16). Because YHWH knew Moses “by name” (v.17), YHWH agreed to accompany them and reconfirmed his name in terms that were as elliptical as the name given in the Burning Bush story – “I will be what I will be.” (3:14). Here, the name was revealed as “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy” (v.19). All these names emphasize that God is a mystery that can never be fully understood or contained.

Isaiah 45: 1-7

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 by “Isaiah of Jerusalem” 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 gives encouragement to the Judeans who returned to Jerusalem after the Exile.

In today’s reading, Isaiah spoke for YHWH and said that Cyrus was “YHWH’s anointed” to free the Judeans from the Babylonian Exile (587-539 BCE). In other words, Cyrus was described as a Messiah commissioned by YHWH to conquer Babylon. The Persian King, Cyrus II (558-530 BCE), defeated the Babylonians in 539 BCE and decreed the return of the Judeans to Jerusalem in the next year (Ezra 1:1-4). The Persians ruled over Israel and Judea until 333 BCE when Alexander the Great defeated them. Cyrus was the only non-Israelite called “anointed” in the Hebrew Bible. Others who were anointed were kings, priests and some prophets.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians was Paul’s first letter and was written around 50 CE. Thessaloniki is a seaport and was the capital of Macedonia. Both Macedonia and Achaia (Greece) were Roman provinces. In speaking of a “church” (v.1), Paul used the term for a citizen assembly. Paul’s reference to faith, love and hope (v.3) is a familiar combination that he used in many other letters. The letter encouraged the community to be steadfast in the face of persecution.

2017, October 15 ~ Exodus 32:1-14; Isaiah 25:1-9; and Philippians 4:1-9

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During the 2017 Pentecost Season, alternative readings from the Hebrew Bible are offered. Scripture in Context will discuss both readings and the reading from the Christian Scriptures.

Exodus 32:1-14

The Book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible, and covers the period from slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh (around 1250 BCE, if the account is historical), the Exodus itself, and the early months in the Wilderness.

Although separated by 11 Chapters, today’s reading picks up where last week’s reading left off – with the people asking Moses to serve as their covenant mediator by speaking directly with YHWH (Ex. 20:19). Chapters 21 to 23 contain ordinances called the “Covenant Collection.” Moses and the people then ratified the Covenant (24:8), and Moses went up to the top of Mount Sinai (24:18). In Chapters 25 to 31, YHWH gave instruction to Moses on building and furnishing a Tabernacle, ordaining priests and priests’ vestments. Finally, YHWH gave Moses two tablets on which YHWH had written the covenant (31:18).

The familiar story of the Golden Calf has some noteworthy details. Gold earrings (v.3) were given (mysteriously) to the Israelites by Egyptians when leaving Egypt (12.36). Aaron, who was Moses’ brother and the first High Priest, led the idolatry (v.5)! The calf is a symbol of strength and fertility, key elements in Baal worship that was present in Israel until the Exile (587 BCE). YHWH told Moses the Israelites were “your” people (v.7). In urging YHWH to change his mind, Moses appealed to YHWH’s reputation and his earlier promises (v. 12-14). After Moses broke the tablets, he ground the golden calf into powder and made the people drink it (v.19-20).

Isaiah 25:1-9

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 by “Isaiah of Jerusalem” in the 20 years before Jerusalem was under direct siege by the Assyrians in 701 BCE.

Today’s reading is part of what is often called the “Isaiah Apocalypse” (Chapters 24-27) because of the eschatological (end times) themes in them. This reading is in the form of a psalm and depicts an eschatological banquet reminiscent of the banquet on Mount Sinai alluded to in Exodus 24:11. Because Lord God will “swallow up death forever” (v.8), the image of death swallowing up everything is reversed. These verses are often read at Christian funerals.

Philippians 4:1-9

Philippi was a major city in Macedonia (northern Greece) on the Roman road to Byzantium (Istanbul). Paul had deep affection for the Jesus Followers in Philippi (v.1). He wrote this letter from prison, but it is not clear if he was in Rome, Caesarea or Ephesus.

Euodia and Syntyche were women leaders in the Jesus Follower community in Philippi and were likely heads of house-churches. Paul saw their disagreement as harmful to the community and urged them “to be of the same mind in the Lord” (v.2). As the early (c. 60 CE) Jesus Follower community tried to determine what it meant to be a Jesus Follower, it is not surprising that disagreements arose. These kinds of disagreements continue to today.

2016, September 11 ~ Exodus 32:7-14 & 1 Timothy 1:12-17

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Exodus 32: 7-14

Exodus, the second book of the Bible, covers the period from the slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh (around 1250 BCE, if the account is historical), the call(s) of Moses, Exodus itself, and the early months in the Wilderness.

At Mount Sinai (the holy mountain is “Horeb” in some other books), Moses received the Law from YHWH for 40 days and nights. (“Forty” is a euphemism in the Bible for “a long time.”) While Moses was away, the people under Aaron (Moses’ brother) became impatient and cast a calf made from gold earrings that Egyptian women (somewhat curiously) gave them when they left Egypt. Aaron also built an altar and proclaimed a festival to YHWH.

YHWH is presented today’s passage as having very human qualities. At first, the angry God disowns the Israelites, says Moses brought them out of Egypt, and determines to “consume them.” Moses responds that “they are your people” and the Egyptians will question YHWH’s power and motives if the Israelites were rescued by YHWH and then were killed. He reminds YHWH of the promises to the Patriarchs, and YHWH’s mind is changed about bringing disaster on the people.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

The Letters to Timothy and Titus are called “Pastoral Letters” because they concern the internal life, governance and behavior of the early Christian churches and their members. Most scholars agree they were written in the early Second Century in Paul’s name by some of his followers (Paul died in 62 CE). Writing a document in someone else’s name was a common practice in the First and Second Centuries. By then, the Jesus Follower Community had become more institutionalized and concerns about “heresy” had arisen.

In today’s reading, as a prelude to opposing false teachings, “Paul” asserts his authority by saying that his conversion occurred “because [Jesus] judged me faithful and appointed me to his service (v.12). He states that Jesus the Christ made him “an example to those who would come to believe in [Jesus] for eternal life” (v. 16).