anyone out there

do people want me to begin posting weekly posts again?

mm

Deuteronomy - the retelling

This week we head into Deuteronomy - the second telling of the law. Actually, this originally was an oral retelling of the Law of God. It is a mixture of the actual text of Leviticus with commentary from Moses thrown in. If you study the law carefully, you will see that the vast majority is simply guidelines for how to live out the 10 Commandments.

Leviticus

Leviticus is the first telling of the Old Testament (Torah) law. In it are hundreds of statutes which seem to cover all sorts of aspects of life. Traditional Jewish (as well as Christian) scholars try to divide these laws into 3 types: moral, ceremonial & sacrificial.

The moral law is the natural extention of the 10 Commandments. In it they take a broad heading, "do not commit adultery" and clarify how that is supposed to be lived out. e.g. - do not have sex with your mother-in-law, with your sister, with someone of the same gender, with an animal, etc.

The ceremonial law describes aspects of dividing things in the Jewish community. The food (kosher) laws are perfect examples of learning to divide things in life (the pure and the impure). In that society, certainly there were some health benefits to these laws, but the bigger point was learning how to look out in life for sin.

The sacrificial code contained detailed instructions on how to make just sacrifices for various trespasses against God.

The question for many Christians is "which of these laws (if any) are still in effect?" It is a great question. Starting from the third catagory: We do not believe that the sacrificial laws are still in effect. WHy? Because Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and therefore completed the sacrificial code. There is no reason to make sacrifice because his blood has paid for all of our sins.

In the second catagory of ceremonial law, it is generally believed that these laws also are not in effect. This is because through the gift of the Word of God (referring to both Jesus and the Bible) we have been given an understanding of the difference between the truth and the lies of satan. Of the 3 types, this is the one which is most rigorously debated among biblical scholars.

The third type of law, the moral law is still in effect because Christ has not yet done away with sinful behavior (even amoung Christians). One day he will, and at that point he will have completed all ofthe law and therefore we will have no future need of it.

Depending on God

The Jewish people who left slavery in Eqypt with Moses were putting their entire lives in God's hands. While slavery was not luxurious living by any standard, it did mean dependable bad meals and a place to sleep. Traveling in the desert with God did not garuntee either of those things. But time and time again God provides: quail, manna, water out of the rock, and the clowd and pillar for guidance. While everything temperal appeared way out of control, God never did. For those who looked for Him, God was constantly found.

The Other Joseph: Beyond Donny Osmond

When you ask people abut Joseph in the Bible, many people assume that you are speaking of Jesus' step-dad (as in Joseph & Mary). This ironic when you consider the lack of texts about that Joseph in the Bible. Mary we know a lot more about, which says a lot about the status and importance of women. the "other Jospeh" has more than 10 chapters written about him at the end of Genesis, making him a major figure in the Old Testament narrative. While reading these chapters, you will be reminded about his fancy coat which was brought to musical-theatre prominance by Donny Osmond (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Deamcoat.) Focusing on the coat is truely more adventures in missing the point. Look for the grace that Joseph shows to his family, his ability to forgive and the rewards of his diligent service in Eqypt. He is a great model for New Testament people.

Week 3: End of Job, Begining of God's People

This week we finish Job. If you are like me, then you find that Job seems to go on for much too long. But, isn't that the same way difficult seasons in our own lives seem? In the end [spoiler alert] Job reckognizes that its not his job to question God; that God has reasons and powers which exist beyond our capicity to understand. He trusts God and that is enough. Then this guy who we've spent so many chapters feeling sorry for ends up being fully restored to everything he once had and more.

Next, we meet Abram who quickly becomes Abraham. You may want to flip way ahead to Romans chapter 4 and read what it says about Abraham. With Abraham, the church of Jesus Christ begins. God begins with a single person...to a family...to a tribe...12 tribes...a nation...all the nations of the world. His plan to bring forgiveness and salvation starts with this one 75 year old guy with a barren wife. I bet they thought their lives were just about over when they were really just starting.

Week 2: Job

Job is one of the oldest books in the world and certainly in the Bible. Originally written in poetic form, this book tells the story of a godly man who expereinces tremendous loss through no fault of his own. Here the question of why do bad things happen to good people is fully in view. In this week's reading, we find Job dialoging with his 3 good friends. Sometimes they offer good advice; many times they miss the mark. Job is sorting through their advice and greiving. Many readers wonder why these chapters go on and on. But isn't that how life is? No easy, quick fixes to difficult issues.