I found both the OT and the NT readings today disturbing. Perhaps it was the glory of Palm Sunday and Joe B’s great message. Or maybe it was the incredibly beautiful day that was today. It had such an air of unreality about it. Life was very still here.
And then to sit down and read Moses’ calm dissection of what to do to protect the people from God’s wrath when a man is found slain.
Or Jesus’ wild hyperboles about foxes or Sodom.
I feel very disjointed.
And I am learning, when I feel uncomfortable with the scripture, to just let it sit. Rashi says that not one word of scripture is extra. So there must be something in the Moses passage that I am supposed to hear, to hearken to. I don’t think it is the mixing of threads. At least I hope not since not one thing I have on is of one kind of thread.
Even the psalm was brutal and unyielding. This is God’s might today. His wrath and his judgment. And I have a hard time with that.
I suspect that the Children of Israel and the people in Jesus’ time also had a hard time with God’s judgment. People who get manna and quail and receive water from striking a rock or having a well move behind you but then decide to go their own ways, well, you can see why God would get mad at them. And in Jesus’ time! Gosh, even the disciples are willing to rain fire and hail down on the unkind Samaritans!
Blessed be the Word of the Lord.
Keep trudging.
I found these verses to be interesting:
ReplyDeleteIf you see your fellow Israelite's ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner. If they do not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back. Do the same if you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore it. If you see your fellow Israelite's donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet. (Deuteronomy 22:1-4 NIV)
We live in a world where everyone's favorite motto is "Finders keepers. Losers weepers." But these verses tell an entirely different story. We should not only not take what doesn't belong to us but we should actually take care of it. These verses talk about livestock. To keep livestock would have cost money. So the admonition here is even spend money to take of another's property. Different world view.
I have nothing to say about the Luke reading today. Maybe because I don't understand it.
The Proverb was another interesting one especially in light of the millions of dollars that were spent in the last week to buy lottery tickets. What a fantasy. What a waste.
Sis. I know you found the reading hard but I think that is because you were doing it on a beautiful Palm Sunday. On a difficult Monday even the Psalm seemed appropriate. Selah