A few things struck me this week as significant about my relationship with God.
The first being, that we can trust that God will protect, help, and be faithful to those who remain in covenant with God. Those that lead lives according to the law of Moses and later the law of Love, and also be willing to trust that God will do what God promised. We have seen examples of this in Daniel as he steps into the lion's den, Esther as she risks going to speak to the King to ask pardon on the Jews, and Judith as she stands up to the whole Assyrian army while the priest and elders of her community wait upon the Lord and give him only five days plus five days more. Daniel walks out untouched by the lions whose mouth were shut tight, Esther is given whatever she wishes from the King, and Judith defeats Holofernes and saves her whole community with God's help and protection. God calls us and we respond, always moving closer in our relationship with our Faithful God.
The second thing that struck me as significant is that just when we think we know what God will do next, God does something unexpected. God does what God plans to do when God wants it to be done. Naomi and Ruth both widows and both in a foreign land, no heirs and no husbands, they have nothing but each other. God turns that all around, even though they are outcasts, through the actions and faithfulness of one to the other. Jonah is angry that God is merciful to the Ninevites because he didn't expect that of God.
As I reflect on these events and God's activity I am reminded once again that God is in control. If I live my life in response to this loving God that I trust will do what God has planned for me, my life should reflect faithfulness, forgiveness, friendship and obedience. The more I live in this way the closer I am to the image and likeness of God.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
God's saving actions
This week we see God's saving actions through the prophets. The prophets' messages addressed different concerns: Amos was primarily concerned with social injustices inflicted on the poor by the rich and powerful. Hosea's primary concern was fidelity to Yahweh - the Israelites had turned away from God to worship other gods. The book of Daniel tells of the trials and triumphs of Daniel and his companions emphasising that men of faith can resist temptation and conquer adversity. Each of these messages were relevant to the people of that time. The message addressed spoke out about the sins of the people against all of creation.
Reading chapter six of Creator and Creation I'm beginning to see the clear relationship between humans and the rest of creation. Human sin pollutes the created order and causes chaos to the land. God's plan is to re-create or re-order creation. So we see in the prophets the message that tells the Israelites that they've really messed up: in their covenant with God, in their treatment of others, and in their fidelity to God and all of creation. Here is where our God of justice pronounces judgment within creation: Assyria attacks, Babylon exiles the people, or natural disasters occur. The beauty of our loving God is that after the Israelites have experienced any devastation or deprivation and they realize their sin against God, and understand that God is on their side. God gently calls them back to God's self and redeems them (saves them). Thus the new created order can live in peace once again.
Through the prophets we read of this pattern of God's saving action over and over. God is continually re-creating. As I reflect on my own life and relationship with God I can see this same pattern in my life; I mess up and turn away from God, I've created chaos by my actions, with my family or work colleagues or with my students, when all seems hopeless and utterly messed up, I ask God's forgiveness and guidance and God gently and lovingly takes me back. Then I experience peace in my life when I realize that I can't live this life on my own or on my own terms. My challenge then is living my life within the created order, structuring my life around the new covenant which Christ calls us to.
Reading chapter six of Creator and Creation I'm beginning to see the clear relationship between humans and the rest of creation. Human sin pollutes the created order and causes chaos to the land. God's plan is to re-create or re-order creation. So we see in the prophets the message that tells the Israelites that they've really messed up: in their covenant with God, in their treatment of others, and in their fidelity to God and all of creation. Here is where our God of justice pronounces judgment within creation: Assyria attacks, Babylon exiles the people, or natural disasters occur. The beauty of our loving God is that after the Israelites have experienced any devastation or deprivation and they realize their sin against God, and understand that God is on their side. God gently calls them back to God's self and redeems them (saves them). Thus the new created order can live in peace once again.
Through the prophets we read of this pattern of God's saving action over and over. God is continually re-creating. As I reflect on my own life and relationship with God I can see this same pattern in my life; I mess up and turn away from God, I've created chaos by my actions, with my family or work colleagues or with my students, when all seems hopeless and utterly messed up, I ask God's forgiveness and guidance and God gently and lovingly takes me back. Then I experience peace in my life when I realize that I can't live this life on my own or on my own terms. My challenge then is living my life within the created order, structuring my life around the new covenant which Christ calls us to.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The God who dwells in me.
I am really drawn to Solomon's Prayer. I noticed right away the repetition of "listen from your heavenly dwelling" or "listen in heaven." I am curious as to the Israelites' concept of Heaven. And after all the ways that the God of Israel had shown God's presence among them, Solomon's prayer seems to me like a prayer to a far-away God. He wondered if the Temple built for God could ever contain God, so he does recognize the awesomeness of God. Solomon also questioned whether God indeed dwells among men on earth? (1 Kings 8:27) What does dwell mean in this case? And how does God dwell in me? Could that mean that God is revealed through me? Maybe that is how I am the image of God.
In Solomon's prayer he addresses God and speaks of God's acts of goodness to the people of Israel and then petitions God to continue to bless them, be merciful to them, forgive them, condemn the wicked and acquit the just. Each petition begins with If....(we do this) Listen from your heavenly dwelling and respond appropriately (with pardon, forgiveness, defend their cause.) It is written in a very covenantal fashion, just as God promised. The Deuteronomistic historians in these written petitions seem to presume that the people, being human, will mess up on the covenant and will need God's mercy and compassion and pardon. And because the people mess up so frequently and turn away from God's covenant, trying to do their own thing, God is always near to protect and pronounce judgment upon their actions and then always call them back. So this does not seem like the far-away God in Heaven, but a God who is ever near.
Finally Solomon ends the prayer by turning to his people and saying " Now God has done God's part, promised us and blessed us with many things. God has upheld God's part of the covenant now we must follow him in everything and keep the commands, statutes, and ordinances which God has enjoined on our father. You must be wholly devoted to the Lord, our God."
Can it indeed be that God dwells among people on earth?
By living my life and following God in everything I do and keeping the commands and being obedient to the covenant, I can manifest the God dwelling in me and through me. Certainly that gives me cause to examine how I live my everyday life. I, who am the image of God, must reflect God in everything I do. An awesome and challenging call, but the God who is near will "listen" when I cry for help and respond appropriately.
In Solomon's prayer he addresses God and speaks of God's acts of goodness to the people of Israel and then petitions God to continue to bless them, be merciful to them, forgive them, condemn the wicked and acquit the just. Each petition begins with If....(we do this) Listen from your heavenly dwelling and respond appropriately (with pardon, forgiveness, defend their cause.) It is written in a very covenantal fashion, just as God promised. The Deuteronomistic historians in these written petitions seem to presume that the people, being human, will mess up on the covenant and will need God's mercy and compassion and pardon. And because the people mess up so frequently and turn away from God's covenant, trying to do their own thing, God is always near to protect and pronounce judgment upon their actions and then always call them back. So this does not seem like the far-away God in Heaven, but a God who is ever near.
Finally Solomon ends the prayer by turning to his people and saying " Now God has done God's part, promised us and blessed us with many things. God has upheld God's part of the covenant now we must follow him in everything and keep the commands, statutes, and ordinances which God has enjoined on our father. You must be wholly devoted to the Lord, our God."
Can it indeed be that God dwells among people on earth?
By living my life and following God in everything I do and keeping the commands and being obedient to the covenant, I can manifest the God dwelling in me and through me. Certainly that gives me cause to examine how I live my everyday life. I, who am the image of God, must reflect God in everything I do. An awesome and challenging call, but the God who is near will "listen" when I cry for help and respond appropriately.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
God never changes; we do
Toward the faithful you are faithful;
toward the wholehearted you are whole hearted;
Toward the sincere you are sincere;
but toward the crooked you are astute.
2 Sam. 22:26-27
Eli and his family were condemned by God because his sons were blaspheming God, and Eli did not reprove them. We also see that Samule's two sons - appointed as judges over Israel also did not follow Samuel's example but sought illicit gain and accepted bribes, perverting justice. As a parent that is a pretty sobering thought. We are responsible for guiding our children and correcting or redirecting them when they, especially as young adults, try to make it on their own in our society that rewards the powerful. Eli led a good and holy life and was a good role model to his sons. I sometimes feel as a parent that if my children are just watching how Andy and I live they will learn from us. But maybe this passive hoping is not enough. We have to teach our children well and then advise and admonish them as needed.
The elders of Israel came to Samuel and said,, "Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us." ( 1 Sam. 8:5) They wanted a king with "skin on." God told them what a king will do including: taking sons for battle, appointing commanders for soldiers, using daughters as oinment-makers, cooks and bakers, taking the best fields, taking male and female servants. When all this happens you will complain, but I will not answer. What happens to someone when they come to power? We see in the example of Saul, when he was victorious as king, in battle it was attributed to God; when he began fudging on or altering the commands of God , he challenged God's honor and his kingship was rejectied by God. David on the other had many chances to uses his power by disobeying God's commands; when he had chances to kill Saul who was pursuing him, or when he was faithful to Jonathan and his lame son, whom he invited to be a guest at his table forever. I'm struck by the description of Saul's humanity as brash, bold, arrogant and wealthy. He wanted to protect his status and accomplishments. These words describe people of power in our society. There are many levels of power and this pattern of action can fit at what ever level of power you have. I think of my prinicpal (boss) and how she uses her power. I ask myself how do I use my power over students or do I empower them? God still asks the same of us as God did the Isralites, to obey and listen to God's commands and follow them.
God is never changing. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I can trust that the same God that wanted obedience and fidelity of the ancient Israelites, the judges, and the kings wants the same from me. God never changes, but I sometimes want to alter my course to benefit me, to glorify my accomplishments and to seek recognition. God's promise still holds true; if you follow my commands to love one another, in whatever culture, time or place that you are in, I will be there and you will be my people.
toward the wholehearted you are whole hearted;
Toward the sincere you are sincere;
but toward the crooked you are astute.
2 Sam. 22:26-27
Eli and his family were condemned by God because his sons were blaspheming God, and Eli did not reprove them. We also see that Samule's two sons - appointed as judges over Israel also did not follow Samuel's example but sought illicit gain and accepted bribes, perverting justice. As a parent that is a pretty sobering thought. We are responsible for guiding our children and correcting or redirecting them when they, especially as young adults, try to make it on their own in our society that rewards the powerful. Eli led a good and holy life and was a good role model to his sons. I sometimes feel as a parent that if my children are just watching how Andy and I live they will learn from us. But maybe this passive hoping is not enough. We have to teach our children well and then advise and admonish them as needed.
The elders of Israel came to Samuel and said,, "Now that you are old, and your sons do not follow your example, appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us." ( 1 Sam. 8:5) They wanted a king with "skin on." God told them what a king will do including: taking sons for battle, appointing commanders for soldiers, using daughters as oinment-makers, cooks and bakers, taking the best fields, taking male and female servants. When all this happens you will complain, but I will not answer. What happens to someone when they come to power? We see in the example of Saul, when he was victorious as king, in battle it was attributed to God; when he began fudging on or altering the commands of God , he challenged God's honor and his kingship was rejectied by God. David on the other had many chances to uses his power by disobeying God's commands; when he had chances to kill Saul who was pursuing him, or when he was faithful to Jonathan and his lame son, whom he invited to be a guest at his table forever. I'm struck by the description of Saul's humanity as brash, bold, arrogant and wealthy. He wanted to protect his status and accomplishments. These words describe people of power in our society. There are many levels of power and this pattern of action can fit at what ever level of power you have. I think of my prinicpal (boss) and how she uses her power. I ask myself how do I use my power over students or do I empower them? God still asks the same of us as God did the Isralites, to obey and listen to God's commands and follow them.
God is never changing. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I can trust that the same God that wanted obedience and fidelity of the ancient Israelites, the judges, and the kings wants the same from me. God never changes, but I sometimes want to alter my course to benefit me, to glorify my accomplishments and to seek recognition. God's promise still holds true; if you follow my commands to love one another, in whatever culture, time or place that you are in, I will be there and you will be my people.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.
Upon first read of the conquest stories in the Book of Joshua I was horrified at the killings, exterminations of whole cities and tortures before death. This was not the God of faithfulness that I had come to know. It seems that I had just become comfortable with a God of judgment rather than punishment but now THIS! Then I remembered that this is not an historical account, this is the Israelites looking back and retelling rememberances of how God acted in their lives. The second time I read it I first read the introduction that stated the purpose of the Book of Joshua - to demonstrate God's fidelity in giving to the Isralites the land he had promised them for an inheritance.
That's when I remembered the words of a song I learned at vacation bible school long ago.
"Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go!"
This time when I reread it, it seemed like a kind of superman story. Everything went Joshua's way. victory after victory. "Be strong and courageuos!" Johsua never questioned what God asked him to do. He was obedient and realized that all of this came from God. Okay this was the God who"was with us wherever we go". I began to think more about Martin's reflection about the Promised Land not being a geographical place, but an identity of who the Isaralites were in relationship to God. I thought of another song "If God is for us, who can be against us. If God is on our side, what can we be denied." According to Webster, fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty or covenant (my words). God is demonstrating fidelity and asking us to do the same.
In the book of Judges the purpose of the book is to show that the fortunes of Israel depended upon the obedience or disobedience of the people to God's laws. Whenever they rebelled against him, they were oppressed by pagan nations; when they repented, he raised up judges to deliver them. This is where the analogy of Yahweh as husband and the Israelites as wife really came alive for me. This relationship of Yahweh providing and protecting; and the Israelites obeying and honoring expressed by their faithfulness was strengthened. From the very beginning God calls us into relationship: with God, with others and with nature. And then God responds "Be strong and courageous! Do not be terified. Do not be discouraged for the Lord, your God, is with you whever you go!"
That's when I remembered the words of a song I learned at vacation bible school long ago.
"Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go!"
This time when I reread it, it seemed like a kind of superman story. Everything went Joshua's way. victory after victory. "Be strong and courageuos!" Johsua never questioned what God asked him to do. He was obedient and realized that all of this came from God. Okay this was the God who"was with us wherever we go". I began to think more about Martin's reflection about the Promised Land not being a geographical place, but an identity of who the Isaralites were in relationship to God. I thought of another song "If God is for us, who can be against us. If God is on our side, what can we be denied." According to Webster, fidelity implies strict and continuing faithfulness to an obligation, trust, or duty or covenant (my words). God is demonstrating fidelity and asking us to do the same.
In the book of Judges the purpose of the book is to show that the fortunes of Israel depended upon the obedience or disobedience of the people to God's laws. Whenever they rebelled against him, they were oppressed by pagan nations; when they repented, he raised up judges to deliver them. This is where the analogy of Yahweh as husband and the Israelites as wife really came alive for me. This relationship of Yahweh providing and protecting; and the Israelites obeying and honoring expressed by their faithfulness was strengthened. From the very beginning God calls us into relationship: with God, with others and with nature. And then God responds "Be strong and courageous! Do not be terified. Do not be discouraged for the Lord, your God, is with you whever you go!"
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
This week I am reminded again that these narratives are not historical accounts of individuals, rather the characters symbolize a group of people, the Israelites, in the present world of the authors, as they reflect back upon tradition, and their original audience. These stories of the patriarchs are all familiar stories to me. I love these stories filled with drama, adventure, love and deceit. God gave Abram a threefold promise: God will give Abraham abundant land, many descendants to form a great people, and blessing. Yet God does not forget the unloved, outsider, and foreigner, as we see with Hagar and Leah as well as many others. I thought I had a good understanding of how God acted through these people.
Suddenly with new information about ancient cultures and stretching my mind around times frames of when these stories were written as opposed to their oral tradition, my head is spinning with question and wonder. I have to re-frame my lens in how I understand these stories. I am learning to think critically, by applying the social dynamics, traditions, myths, and norms of the time, but at the same time I wonder if I'm picking at things that are not important to understanding the message of God. How do you "know" God? That is what Yahweh wanted--for Pharaoh, the Egyptians, and the Israelites, to "know that I am God." As I reflect on God's activity with Abraham , Sarah and their son; Isaac , Rebekah and their sons; Jacob , Rachel and Leah and their sons; Joseph's story, and the exodus story I do indeed see that God does accomplish God's purpose through people, as God plans, for there is no time with God.
These writers put together stories that tell of God's activity among God's people. The drama, adventures, love, and deceit, set in the ancient culture, get our attention and help us to "know" God. God's love for us. I tell my students that whenever they have questions about how that could happen in the Bible, they should ask themselves the question, What does this story tell me about God's love for God's people? Yet I understand that the purpose of this course is to get me to thing more critically and question what is the writer's message to his audience, in the context of the ancient culture. So I wonder, do I find the message more clearly in this close study of the expressed meaning of the text? Or is understanding the expressed meaning of the author a confirming of the message of God that I already hold?
As I shared with my colleagues this week, my understanding of the OT stories has been shaken up, but not in a frightening way, as a shaking of my faith, but in such a way that I am realizing that there is so much more than just reading these stories.
Suddenly with new information about ancient cultures and stretching my mind around times frames of when these stories were written as opposed to their oral tradition, my head is spinning with question and wonder. I have to re-frame my lens in how I understand these stories. I am learning to think critically, by applying the social dynamics, traditions, myths, and norms of the time, but at the same time I wonder if I'm picking at things that are not important to understanding the message of God. How do you "know" God? That is what Yahweh wanted--for Pharaoh, the Egyptians, and the Israelites, to "know that I am God." As I reflect on God's activity with Abraham , Sarah and their son; Isaac , Rebekah and their sons; Jacob , Rachel and Leah and their sons; Joseph's story, and the exodus story I do indeed see that God does accomplish God's purpose through people, as God plans, for there is no time with God.
These writers put together stories that tell of God's activity among God's people. The drama, adventures, love, and deceit, set in the ancient culture, get our attention and help us to "know" God. God's love for us. I tell my students that whenever they have questions about how that could happen in the Bible, they should ask themselves the question, What does this story tell me about God's love for God's people? Yet I understand that the purpose of this course is to get me to thing more critically and question what is the writer's message to his audience, in the context of the ancient culture. So I wonder, do I find the message more clearly in this close study of the expressed meaning of the text? Or is understanding the expressed meaning of the author a confirming of the message of God that I already hold?
As I shared with my colleagues this week, my understanding of the OT stories has been shaken up, but not in a frightening way, as a shaking of my faith, but in such a way that I am realizing that there is so much more than just reading these stories.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The God of Faithfulness
This week as I read, discussed, and reflected on Genesis 1-11 I discovered the story of God's ever faithfulness to God's people. The Yahwehist's primeval history is told about how humans acted toward God "in the beginning" and God's patient response. By comparing these scripture stories with ancient myths about creation, Cain and Abel, the great flood, and the tower of Babel I have come to realize God's faithfulness to the human race, despite their turning away from God through selfishness, jealousy, pride and frequent rejection. The biblical stories show God graciously providing for the needs of the very ones who had turned away from him by providing clothing for the first humans who are ashamed of their nakedness, protecting Cain from people seeking revenge, and safeguarding Noah and his family from the flood. God always gives the promise of hope, restores humanity, gives promises for the future, and bestows blessings on the people for their fidelity. Through these myths and symbols my image of the OT punishing God has changed. It is beginning to reconcile with my image of the New Testament God as seen through the life of Jesus.
The Priestly view tells about the goodness of God's creation in the first creation story (very good). Through this myth we learn of the greatness of God and in the other creation story of the first humans we learn of the closeness of God. It reminds me of the story Old Turtle, in which all the creatures of the world tried to describe who God was and they described God as great, powerful, majestic, and way up in the sky, as well as gentle, nearby, quiet, and small. Old Turtle helps them to realize that God is all of these.
I look forward to continuing this journey through the Old Testament so I can continue to focus and fine tune my imagination of God. For it is in understanding the expressed meaning of the writers of these works that I can begin to give meaning to who God is to me in my experience.
The Priestly view tells about the goodness of God's creation in the first creation story (very good). Through this myth we learn of the greatness of God and in the other creation story of the first humans we learn of the closeness of God. It reminds me of the story Old Turtle, in which all the creatures of the world tried to describe who God was and they described God as great, powerful, majestic, and way up in the sky, as well as gentle, nearby, quiet, and small. Old Turtle helps them to realize that God is all of these.
I look forward to continuing this journey through the Old Testament so I can continue to focus and fine tune my imagination of God. For it is in understanding the expressed meaning of the writers of these works that I can begin to give meaning to who God is to me in my experience.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Welome to my blog
Welcome to my blog. In the upcoming weeks I will be blogging about theological reflections of God in the Bible. These reflections will critically and contextually deal with biblical texts as I learn to discern a biblical theology of God and learn to address the problems of patriarchy, violence, and ecology that the Bible poses for contemporary readers. I look forward to your feedback.
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