The scriptures read are 2 Kings 7-9, Psalm 108 and Acts 23.
2 Kings 7. Elisha predicts the famine will end tomorrow. Then we go on this weird little adventure with 4 lepers who find the camps of Aram abandoned. They start to loot the place, a not unexpected reaction, but later decide to share the good news with the king. And this odd interlude ends with a skeptical attendant to the king getting a form of rough, yet poetic, justice.
2 Kings 8. More material I wish the Bible miniseries had dramatized: Elisha's chilling meeting with and prophesy about Hazael, the king's right hand man. The account of the king's suspicious death is very brief and yet unsettling.
A couple of quick kings of Judah are disposed off. The Davidic rulers are getting very chummy with the king of Israel, even intermarrying. The influence on the kings of Judah is all to the bad.
2 Kings 9. The fall of the house of Ahab and his wife Jezebel's horrifying death. Very Game of Thrones!
Psalm 108. Praising God and reminding him of his promises after he seems to have rejected his people.
Acts 23. Paul's meeting with the Chief Priest and the Sanhedrin starts badly. Then Paul does something clever. Perhaps inspired by the fact that he's had some speeches of his interrupted when he said something controversial ("resurrection" in Athens, "Gentiles" the day before), he notes that the council is made up of the skeptical priestly class, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees, who are more open to the supernatural. So he says this whole dispute is about his belief in the resurrection. The council erupts into religious quarrels and the Roman soldiers get him out of there fast.
A plot to murder Paul is hatched with 40 fanatics vowing to kill him. Paul's nephew gets wind of it, tells Paul who in turn sends the young man to tell the commander. Because Paul is a Roman citizen, they can't let him be assassinated so they send him to Felix the governor in Caesarea. It's interesting that they transfer the prisoner at night, something we still do. I scoff at those TV dramas that show prisoners transferred in broad daylight on a known and broadcast time. There's inevitably an escape attempt by his cohorts, which is why, in real life, it's not done that way.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Saturday, May 11, 2013
The Bible Challenge: Day 129
The scriptures read are 2 Kings 4-6, Psalm 107 and Acts 22.
2 Kings 4. Elisha has a soft spot for widows and barren women, just like his God. He multiplies oil for one and promises a child to the second. When that kid gets sick, Elisha works mightily to restore him to life. Later he nullifies poison and multiplies loaves.
2 Kings 5. An arrogant general and a greedy servant both learn lessons.
2 Kings 6. More impressive miracles. Then a horrific story from the famine. The king's had it with Elisha and God.
Psalm 107. If people get to the end of their rope and call upon God, he rescues them. Lots of emphasis on God's care for the needy. "He fills the hungry with all good things." Jesus' mother must have been familiar with that line.
Acts 22. Paul speaks in Hebrew. Good start. He emphasizes his Jewish heritage and training. That goes well. He tells of his conversion. The crowd is still quiet, rapt. Then he mentions Gentiles and the mob explodes.
Paul just misses getting tortured by mentioning his Roman citizenship. The captain arranges a meeting of Paul with the High Priest and Sanhedrin the next day. That should go well.
2 Kings 4. Elisha has a soft spot for widows and barren women, just like his God. He multiplies oil for one and promises a child to the second. When that kid gets sick, Elisha works mightily to restore him to life. Later he nullifies poison and multiplies loaves.
2 Kings 5. An arrogant general and a greedy servant both learn lessons.
2 Kings 6. More impressive miracles. Then a horrific story from the famine. The king's had it with Elisha and God.
Psalm 107. If people get to the end of their rope and call upon God, he rescues them. Lots of emphasis on God's care for the needy. "He fills the hungry with all good things." Jesus' mother must have been familiar with that line.
Acts 22. Paul speaks in Hebrew. Good start. He emphasizes his Jewish heritage and training. That goes well. He tells of his conversion. The crowd is still quiet, rapt. Then he mentions Gentiles and the mob explodes.
Paul just misses getting tortured by mentioning his Roman citizenship. The captain arranges a meeting of Paul with the High Priest and Sanhedrin the next day. That should go well.
The Bible Challenge: Day 128
The scriptures read are 2 Kings 1-3, Psalm 106 and Acts 21.
2 Kings 1. The new king of Israel isn't very bright. Not only does he send messengers to a foreign god (Baal-Zebub; sound familiar?) but he arrogantly sends men to arrest Elijah when the prophet gives him a prognosis not to the king's liking. Only after 2 groups of 50 soldiers get zapped from heaven, does the captain of a 3rd group approach Elijah humbly. The king still doesn't like what the prophet says. But then he dies, so his opinion doesn't really count, does it?
2 Kings 2-3. Elijah makes a big exit and Elisha inherits his spirit. Elisha reels off a bunch of miracles. And some people still don't learn: never make fun of a prophet.
Elisha has water flood the wilderness. And apparently, he uses music to inspire him!
Psalm 106. A psalm about the Exodus but this time emphasizing the sins of the people. Obviously written during or after the exile because the psalmist asks God to gather his people from among the nations.
Acts 21. More foreshadowing that Paul's trip to Jerusalem is not going to be a vacation. But Paul is running into a lot of Christian friends, including "Philip the Evangelist, one of the Seven." What Seven? None of my commentaries even deal with this. Still, Philip seems to have settled down where we last left him in Acts 8, 20 years ago. He has 4 unmarried daughters who prophesy. So women are allowed to speak in church. (Paul himself says women can pray and prophesy, as long as their heads are respectably covered [1 Cor 11:5], so his prohibition in 1 Cor. 14 is rather limited, possibly to disrupting the service by asking questions.)
Ironically the crisis over Paul happens when he is doing something to show he hasn't abandoned Judaism! And it's a mistaken idea that gets the mob started. The Roman soldiers actually rescue Paul. Before they can take him away, he asks to speak to the crowd...
2 Kings 1. The new king of Israel isn't very bright. Not only does he send messengers to a foreign god (Baal-Zebub; sound familiar?) but he arrogantly sends men to arrest Elijah when the prophet gives him a prognosis not to the king's liking. Only after 2 groups of 50 soldiers get zapped from heaven, does the captain of a 3rd group approach Elijah humbly. The king still doesn't like what the prophet says. But then he dies, so his opinion doesn't really count, does it?
2 Kings 2-3. Elijah makes a big exit and Elisha inherits his spirit. Elisha reels off a bunch of miracles. And some people still don't learn: never make fun of a prophet.
Elisha has water flood the wilderness. And apparently, he uses music to inspire him!
Psalm 106. A psalm about the Exodus but this time emphasizing the sins of the people. Obviously written during or after the exile because the psalmist asks God to gather his people from among the nations.
Acts 21. More foreshadowing that Paul's trip to Jerusalem is not going to be a vacation. But Paul is running into a lot of Christian friends, including "Philip the Evangelist, one of the Seven." What Seven? None of my commentaries even deal with this. Still, Philip seems to have settled down where we last left him in Acts 8, 20 years ago. He has 4 unmarried daughters who prophesy. So women are allowed to speak in church. (Paul himself says women can pray and prophesy, as long as their heads are respectably covered [1 Cor 11:5], so his prohibition in 1 Cor. 14 is rather limited, possibly to disrupting the service by asking questions.)
Ironically the crisis over Paul happens when he is doing something to show he hasn't abandoned Judaism! And it's a mistaken idea that gets the mob started. The Roman soldiers actually rescue Paul. Before they can take him away, he asks to speak to the crowd...
Friday, May 10, 2013
The Bible Challenge: Day 127
The scriptures read are 1 Kings 22, Psalm 105 and Acts 20.
1 Kings 22. Ahab starts a war that looks like it will be easy. His tame prophets all tell him "Go," but he should listen to the minority report. Ahab comes to his end, not by white whale but by errant arrow.
Psalm 105. A great companion for 104. Poetic retelling of the Exodus, with emphasis on God's covenant.
Acts 20. Paul is doing what he realizes is a "Farewell" tour. He preaches so long he not only puts a guy to sleep, he puts his lights out. But Paul uses CPR (Christian Prayer Resuscitation) and Window Guy lives to see the dawn.
Paul's goodbye speech is touching. He knows something is going to happen in Jerusalem and he won't be back. Also the first time I remember reading of Christians praying on their knees.
1 Kings 22. Ahab starts a war that looks like it will be easy. His tame prophets all tell him "Go," but he should listen to the minority report. Ahab comes to his end, not by white whale but by errant arrow.
Psalm 105. A great companion for 104. Poetic retelling of the Exodus, with emphasis on God's covenant.
Acts 20. Paul is doing what he realizes is a "Farewell" tour. He preaches so long he not only puts a guy to sleep, he puts his lights out. But Paul uses CPR (Christian Prayer Resuscitation) and Window Guy lives to see the dawn.
Paul's goodbye speech is touching. He knows something is going to happen in Jerusalem and he won't be back. Also the first time I remember reading of Christians praying on their knees.
The Bible Challenge: Day 125
The scriptures read are 1 Kings 19-21, Psalm 104 and Acts 19.
1 Kings 19. Coming off his triumph over the prophets of Baal, Elijah is a nervous wreck. It doesn't help that Queen Jezebel is out for his blood. Elijah goes into the desert to the mountain of God for an iconic encounter with God who comes to him not in a Micheal Bay/Hollywood way but as a gentle whisper.
1 Kings 20. God may not be happy with Ahab but nobody does that to his people. Then Ahab blows it.
1 Kings 21. Jezebel reveals how evil she is in a nasty trick to seize a guy's land. Great tense showdown between adversaries, Ahab and Elijah.
Psalm 104. Marvelous poem of God as creator and how harmoniously creation works. Full of wonderful metaphors.
Acts 19. The powerful effect Paul's ministry has in Ephesus, both for good and not. Love the way a town clerk disarms the riot by basically telling the folks that if they have any legitimate complaints, they must present them at the next regularly scheduled town meeting. Now go home.
1 Kings 19. Coming off his triumph over the prophets of Baal, Elijah is a nervous wreck. It doesn't help that Queen Jezebel is out for his blood. Elijah goes into the desert to the mountain of God for an iconic encounter with God who comes to him not in a Micheal Bay/Hollywood way but as a gentle whisper.
1 Kings 20. God may not be happy with Ahab but nobody does that to his people. Then Ahab blows it.
1 Kings 21. Jezebel reveals how evil she is in a nasty trick to seize a guy's land. Great tense showdown between adversaries, Ahab and Elijah.
Psalm 104. Marvelous poem of God as creator and how harmoniously creation works. Full of wonderful metaphors.
Acts 19. The powerful effect Paul's ministry has in Ephesus, both for good and not. Love the way a town clerk disarms the riot by basically telling the folks that if they have any legitimate complaints, they must present them at the next regularly scheduled town meeting. Now go home.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The Bible Challenge: Day 124
The scriptures read are 1 Kings 16-18, Psalm 103 and Acts 18.
1 Kings 16. It's too bad the recent Bible TV program was a mini-series. If they dramatized this stuff, they would rival Game of Thrones or even the Sopranos. We have palace coups and a king who dies by self-immolation. And now we get to Ahab and his wife Jezebel, who sacrifice their children to Baal.
1 Kings 17. Finally a good guy: the prophet Elijah. He predicts a drought and is fed by ravens. He stays with a widow and foreshadows Jesus' multiplying food (in an albeit less spectacular way) and his raising of a dead child.
1 Kings 18. Elijah shows up the prophets of Baal when God sends fire from heaven. And then rain, ending a 3 year drought.
Psalm 103. "Bless the Lord, O my soul." And a beautiful list of how God blesses us follows.
Acts 18. In Corinth, Paul meets the husband and wife ministry team of Aquila and Priscilla, who are never mentioned separately. They are also in the tentmaking trade like Paul. Paul finally concentrates his ministry on the Gentiles because his fellow Jews in Corinth are extremely resistant to his efforts.
Paul drops Aquilla and Priscilla off in Ephesus and there they set an eloquent preacher named Apollos straight on a few matters. If you know the rest of the New Testament, you know we are visiting lots of places to whose churches Paul would later write letters (Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Ephesians). And Aquila and Priscilla later return to Rome and Paul greets them in his letter to the Romans. Things like this make me want to try reading the Bible in chronological order next year.
1 Kings 16. It's too bad the recent Bible TV program was a mini-series. If they dramatized this stuff, they would rival Game of Thrones or even the Sopranos. We have palace coups and a king who dies by self-immolation. And now we get to Ahab and his wife Jezebel, who sacrifice their children to Baal.
1 Kings 17. Finally a good guy: the prophet Elijah. He predicts a drought and is fed by ravens. He stays with a widow and foreshadows Jesus' multiplying food (in an albeit less spectacular way) and his raising of a dead child.
1 Kings 18. Elijah shows up the prophets of Baal when God sends fire from heaven. And then rain, ending a 3 year drought.
Psalm 103. "Bless the Lord, O my soul." And a beautiful list of how God blesses us follows.
Acts 18. In Corinth, Paul meets the husband and wife ministry team of Aquila and Priscilla, who are never mentioned separately. They are also in the tentmaking trade like Paul. Paul finally concentrates his ministry on the Gentiles because his fellow Jews in Corinth are extremely resistant to his efforts.
Paul drops Aquilla and Priscilla off in Ephesus and there they set an eloquent preacher named Apollos straight on a few matters. If you know the rest of the New Testament, you know we are visiting lots of places to whose churches Paul would later write letters (Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Ephesians). And Aquila and Priscilla later return to Rome and Paul greets them in his letter to the Romans. Things like this make me want to try reading the Bible in chronological order next year.
The Bible Challenge: Day 123
The scriptures read are 1 Kings 13-15, Psalm 102 and Acts 17.
1 Kings 13. God sends a nameless holy man to Jeroboam (actually to the shrine where he is worshiping) to predict the coming of King Josiah from David's line and the ending of Jeroboam's dynasty. But in these days even holy men don't pay strict attention to God's instructions and he never makes it back home. Israel is a messed up nation.
1 Kings 14, 15. Jeroboam's heir dies. And we get the first of many references to a book called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. After the next paragraph or two about Rehoboam we are told the rest of his exploits are recorded in a book called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. They don't seem to be the books of 1 & 2 Chronicles. Could you imagine the excitement if archaeologists ever find these or any of the other lost books the Bible mentions? As it is, these phrases indicate that we are not getting the whole story but just the bits the writer needs to illustrate his point. Which is: worship other gods and your country, whether Israel or Judah, suffers. Judah produces the occasional good king. Israel never does, partly due to the constant usurping of their kings and would-be dynasties. Under David's descendants, Judah manages to fare a bit better.
So the book starts to live up to its name and we begin to get a dizzying number of kings of both the northern and southern kingdoms. Just the good bits of each king's story is told before the reader is directed to read more in one of the lost books.
By the way Shishak is a real Pharaoh and his sacking of Jerusalem and looting of the temple is a startling fact. We know he did sack a lot of cities in Israel and Judah but his triumph over Jerusalem is not mentioned in the monuments proclaiming his victories. At least none of the ones we've found so far. Archaeology and history are always works in progress.
Psalm 102. A psalm that seems to be about a sick man's pleas but may obliquely be referring to the sacking of Jerusalem.
Acts 17. Paul continues to see lots of converts but also stir up lots of controversy as he evangelizes Thessalonica (recipients of his earliest preserved letters) and Berea (where they fact-check Paul against the scriptures and seem satisfied with what they find). He ends up in Athens where he discusses the gospel with Greek philosophers. Some are intrigued, some dismiss him. We get an example of how Paul broaches the subject when among pagans who don't know the Hebrew scriptures. He quotes popular playwrights. It falls apart when he mentions resurrection because the Greeks considered humans as spirits imprisoned in bodies. Why would they want to be embodied after death, even with a new and improved body like that of the risen Jesus?
1 Kings 13. God sends a nameless holy man to Jeroboam (actually to the shrine where he is worshiping) to predict the coming of King Josiah from David's line and the ending of Jeroboam's dynasty. But in these days even holy men don't pay strict attention to God's instructions and he never makes it back home. Israel is a messed up nation.
1 Kings 14, 15. Jeroboam's heir dies. And we get the first of many references to a book called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. After the next paragraph or two about Rehoboam we are told the rest of his exploits are recorded in a book called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. They don't seem to be the books of 1 & 2 Chronicles. Could you imagine the excitement if archaeologists ever find these or any of the other lost books the Bible mentions? As it is, these phrases indicate that we are not getting the whole story but just the bits the writer needs to illustrate his point. Which is: worship other gods and your country, whether Israel or Judah, suffers. Judah produces the occasional good king. Israel never does, partly due to the constant usurping of their kings and would-be dynasties. Under David's descendants, Judah manages to fare a bit better.
So the book starts to live up to its name and we begin to get a dizzying number of kings of both the northern and southern kingdoms. Just the good bits of each king's story is told before the reader is directed to read more in one of the lost books.
By the way Shishak is a real Pharaoh and his sacking of Jerusalem and looting of the temple is a startling fact. We know he did sack a lot of cities in Israel and Judah but his triumph over Jerusalem is not mentioned in the monuments proclaiming his victories. At least none of the ones we've found so far. Archaeology and history are always works in progress.
Psalm 102. A psalm that seems to be about a sick man's pleas but may obliquely be referring to the sacking of Jerusalem.
Acts 17. Paul continues to see lots of converts but also stir up lots of controversy as he evangelizes Thessalonica (recipients of his earliest preserved letters) and Berea (where they fact-check Paul against the scriptures and seem satisfied with what they find). He ends up in Athens where he discusses the gospel with Greek philosophers. Some are intrigued, some dismiss him. We get an example of how Paul broaches the subject when among pagans who don't know the Hebrew scriptures. He quotes popular playwrights. It falls apart when he mentions resurrection because the Greeks considered humans as spirits imprisoned in bodies. Why would they want to be embodied after death, even with a new and improved body like that of the risen Jesus?
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