The Scriptures read are Genesis 19-21, Psalm 7, and Matthew 7.
Genesis 19-21. Seriously messed up stuff in chapter 19, starting with Sodom which needs a better chamber of commerce. Lot is the model of Middle Eastern hospitality. Maybe too much so. When the men of Sodom are seeking to do the angels ill, he offers his 2 virgin daughters instead. Lot and his family have been living there way too long!
As a writer, I notice how urgent the tone is as the angels try to get Lot and his family out of range of the incoming fire and brimstone. They finally make like the Doctor and simply grab their hands and run!
The second half of the chapter shows that while Lot and his daughters are physically safe, they are morally damaged. In typical terse style, the Bible doesn't give us any reason why the daughters feel they will never meet suitable men nor Lot's reaction when his previously virgin daughters get pregnant.
This is followed by another warts-and-all portrait of a Biblical patriarch. Abraham is up to his old "she's my sister" ruse and this time the king deceived is Abimelech. Apparently Sarah, at 90, is still quite the looker. Once again, Abraham comes out of the incident better off. Immediately following this is a dispute over a well, which must have been common.
The birth of Isaac is greeted with joy, except by his half-sibling Ishmael, who laughs at the boy named "laughter." Sarah makes trouble over Hagar and her son again and demands Abraham throw them out. Abraham is very disturbed about this until God reassures him. Still when they run out of water, Hagar prepares for the worst. God answers the child's cries and helps Hagar spot a water source. Ishmael grows up to be a bowman (and the archetype for Robin Hood, Katness and all unjustly treated archers.)
Psalm 7. The psalmist is really worked up over a false accusation. More arrow imagery! But the writer expresses hope that his enemy will fall victim to his own stratagems.
Matthew 7. Last third of the Sermon on the Mount. First, Jesus tells us God will judge us by--gulp!--the same standards we judge others. Usually we judge ourselves by what we intended to do and others by what they actually do and what we suppose their intentions were. Jesus' picture of people with logs in their eyes trying to help others with mere splinters paints a humorous and memorable picture of hypocrisy.
Next Jesus assures us that those who seek will find. I assume this applies to those seeking him and not just those who seek other things. Jesus gives us the near universal Golden Rule but as a positive command, something other religious leaders rarely do. That requires more of us than if he merely told us not to treat others in ways we dislike.
Jesus urges us to enter the narrow gate that leads to life rather than the roomy, super-sized gate that leads to destruction. It reminds me of when Dumbledore told Harry that he had to choose between what was easy and what was right.
Jesus doesn't exactly warn us of wolves in sheeps' clothing but this is probably where that saying originates. Also "by their fruit you shall know them." Especially when so many scoundrels are so good with words. But at the last judgement, Jesus is going to surprise a lot of people who thought they were the good guys.
Jesus ends with a building metaphor. Make sure you have a strong foundation. Good advice in a hurricane and flood prone area as well as in life.
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