The scriptures read are Exodus 19-21, Psalm 23, and Matthew 24.
Exodus 19. The Hebrews arrive at Mt. Sinai. I had not realized that the expression about carrying people on eagles' wings comes from this passage and it is God's turn of phrase! He also describes Israel as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Lots of preparation going on for the meeting of the people with God. Lots of precautions and special effects. The suspense is palpable.
Exodus 20. The Ten Commandments, or, in Hebrew, the Ten Words. This is laid out in the form of a treaty of the time where a sovereign king would set up conditions between him and a vassal king. Ten principles behind them: exclusive commitment to God, no attempts to represent gods visually or worship them, respect for God's name (no frivolous use or use in magic), respect for the Sabbath as a holy day of rest, respect for parents, respect for human life, respect for faithfulness in marriage, respect for the property of others, respect for the truth, contentment with one's own belongings with no envy of others.
Exodus 21. Specific applications of God's principles in that time and culture. Slavery was universal. What is interesting is the mitigation of the condition. Slaves must be set free after 6 years, or if they are beaten and lose an eye or a tooth. If a slave is killed, he is to be avenged against the slaveowner! What is amazing is the fact that slaves do have rights and slaveowners don't have complete immunity in their treatment of them. It's not anything we would tolerate today in our country (although slavery still exists, and even in our country as human trafficking for sex) but what is discussed here is different from the involuntary, lifelong, racially-based slavery we once practiced and, against the background of its time, is remarkably humane.
Lawyers may notice that the Mosaic code differentiates between premeditated murder and accidental death. Also lots of stuff about negligence in regards to dangerous animals and leaving your cistern uncovered. Plus a difficult to interpret passage about causing a woman to miscarry--or is it premature live birth? Both sides of the abortion debate parse this. Here we find the famous "lex talionus": life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The punishment must not exceed the crime.
Psalm 23. The shepherd psalm. Read and meditate.
Matthew 24. Jesus talks of the end of the present evil age. Basically he says: Don't panic. Keep calm. Don't believe everything you hear. Don't follow would-be messiahs and deceptive preachers. Be alert. Be ready. Spread the good news. Do your job, feeding and taking care of others. When the master returns, that's what he wants to see. No talk of Armageddon. No talk of stockpiling weapons. No talk of fighting God's battles for him. Not very Hollywood.
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