What's in a name?

Day 142

OT Reading: 1 Chronicles 6-7

NT Reading: John 8:21-36

As we've been reading through this long, long, long list of names in Chronicles I have noticed how often people were named something for a specific reason. And really this was the norm in Biblical times. While most today name children just because they like the sound of something (the very reason we picked our son's name), for 21st century Americans the meaning of a name is secondary (his name means "God is forgiving" for those keeping score at home). However in the Old Testament this was generally the opposite. Names were not added to the vocabulary...they were just pieces of the vocabulary.

For instance, if I were calling my son I would not call him by his given name, I'd be yelling out the door, "God is forgiving. Come in for supper, 'God is forgiving!'" Now this would not be so bad if your name was something like "the Lord is salvation" (the meaning for Joshua), but it might be a little awkward if your name is 'not mine' or 'unloved' (we'll get to those in Hosea).

As I read through this vast array of names I recognize how each of these names had meaning. Each were named for particular reasons and events that were happening in the lives of the family and community. And since I'm not ambitious enough to look up all of them, in those instances when we're given insight into why someone was named what they were...I pay a bit more attention.

The account of the woman...

Day 141

OT Reading: 1 Chronicles 3-5

NT Reading: John 8:1-20

I've not been feeling very inspired to write lately. Of course that could be directly connected to having the stomach flu (one of the blessed gifts given to me by my beloved wifey), or it could be due to the endless span of names, names and more names that we've come across since we started Chronicles. Remember how I was dreading Numbers? Maybe Chronicles should have been my section of dread.

If you've been reading my random rantings for awhile, you may recall that I posted something about Mark chapter 16 a couple months ago, and how in your Bible there may be a note in your Bible that reads something like, "Earliest and most reliable manuscripts do not have this section." Well if you recall that, a couple things I need to mention. First, I've not yet responded to the question about why I think Mark 16 should end at verse eight (sorry Melissa...I will get to it, I promise). Second, you may notice that a similar remark is made about what many would say is one of their favorite accounts in the gospels as Jesus deals with the woman caught in the act of adultery.

Honestly, I don't know. I haven't made up my mind...mainly because I haven't studied this section thoroughly enough to have an informed opinion. But here are a couple things I do know.

1. This account is very much in line with the character of Jesus, therefore it does not change our Christology (a fancy theological word which simply refers to the study of Christ).

2. Earliest and most reliable manuscripts in fact do not have this text.

3. One early manuscript has this account appearing in the gospel of Luke, and not John.

All in all this is something I'd need to put more time and effort into studying before coming to an informed decision. Emotionally I'd love to go "all-in" on this passage with all certainty...but I can't do that and be honest to myself and to you.

So if nothing else, hopefully this was at least something for you to chew on.

The bronze snakes

Day 137

OT Reading: 2 Kings 18-19

NT Reading: John 6:22-44

It's funny how often we misuse things. God provides perfectly a perfectly good, wholesome gift and we skew it to serve our own purposes.

This idea jumped out at me because of what I read in 2 Kings 18:4. You may remember reading back in Numbers 21 (and referenced again in John 3) that God sent a plague of snakes among the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness. When the snakes showed up, the people repented and begged God for forgiveness. God told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a staff. Then, whenever someone was bit, all they had to do was look to the snake and they would be healed. Well it seems, centuries later, that the people of Judah were apparently offering incense to this snake...treating it as a god.

Pretty ridiculous huh?

But before we too quickly cast judgement...think about some of the ways we do this today.

Food is one example. Now, I like food. I like food A LOT. I enjoy cooking, I really enjoy eating. I personally see eating good food as one of those simple, pure pleasures of life. Yet when we run to food as an element of security, when we over-indulge in food, when our stomachs become our gods that we must endlessly "offer sacrifices" to...then this good, pure gift is misused in a way God never intended. Food essentially becomes our god.

And really the same thing could be said about work, money, sex, relationships, religious activities, authority...the list could go on and on. An innumerable amount of ways exist that we take what God has given us and misuse them.

So while it may be easy to snicker at those foolish Israelites who once again ran after created things...realize that not a lot has changed in 2500 plus years of history. Look around you and you will see that you, and I have bronze snakes in our lives even today.

Why do they dislike the Samaritans?

Day 136
OT Reading: 2 Kings 15-17
NT Reading: John 6:1-21

For hundreds of years, Israel had done things their way. A variety of kings had come and gone. Some had been good, many had been bad. But after awhile God had simply had enough. In today's reading, God allows Israel...his chosen people, the nation through which he would bless the whole world...to be defeated in battle and taken into captivity.

There is one very distinct element of all this that I hope you can grasp though...and that is what happens with Samaria. As we saw in 2 Kings 17, after the Israelites are moved out Samaria is filled with Assyrians who (due to some pesky lions) end up learning about the desires of "the god of that country." Later on when some Jews make their way back to this area, they will intermarry with these Assyrians and create a new race of people called "Samaritans."

For our studies this is a crucial element that I hope you do not miss. In the New Testament we run into Samaritans and references to Samaria quite often (think, "The Good Samaritan" of Luke 11 and "Jesus with the Samaritan woman" in John 4). But there we see that Samaritans are despised, hated and treated as inferior...yet nowhere in the New Testment are we told why.

Well it all stems back several centuries and begins here. With this import of Assyrians (and the subsequent inter-marrying that we'll read about later), Samaritans became a "mixed blood" race...and were therefore seen by "true Jews" as half-breeds.

Perhaps to you that's just an insignificant detail. But my hope is that you will see New Testament interactions between Jews and Samaritans in a new light.

As one other note of interest (well, at least I find it interesting), there is still a group of about 400 Samaritans who live in the same region today. As I understand (though I admit I have not done extensive research) these present-day Samaritans view themselves as part of the inheritance of Israel, and maintain sacrificial practices even to this day.

Musings on 2 Kings

Day 135

OT Reading: 2 Kings 12-14

NT Reading: John 5:25-47

If you haven't noticed, we've crossed the 800 barrier. We now have less than 800 chapters to go. I know, there's still a long way, but it's pretty cool nonetheless :-).

I forgot how many kings there were. Of course, I should have remembered that we're going through several hundred years of history for two nations, so of course there are a lot of kings. But after awhile they just all blend together.

For the record, I'm not going to quiz you on any of them. While I may point out specific memorable ones (and in fact I had to memorize these lists in college), the kings themselves all just run together after awhile. So don't worry about making sure you have your Amaziahs figured out from your Azariahs and your Jorams from your Jehorams.

The important thing through this section is to recognize how the actions and decisions of one leader would impact an entire nation. Some chose to walk in the ways of God...perhaps patterning their own lives after David, a priest or one of their other ancestors. Others chose to completely disobey God, sometimes...again...in the pattern of their ancestors.

I feel like there is something to that...developing a culture and influencing the next generation of leaders for Christ. I feel like there is something here about the examples that are set by the leader of any group; a home, an organization, a business or a church. I feel as though there is something about how someone's relationship with God will directly impact their leadership and influence those they lead...there's something here about all that. But I'm still working through all that in my mind.

Maybe I'll figure it out in the next chapter...

Bear Grylls Live!

Warning: Random Post Alert!

Ok, so I really was planning on posting tonight. But having gone to see Bear Grylls (the guy from Man vs. Wild if you don't know who that is by name) speak live at Southeast Christian Church has put me back later...with a non-functioning brain. So for tonight, a little shot from the fun event I got to go to :-).

A curious question and a quick lesson

Day 131

OT Reading: 2 Kings 1-3

NT Reading: John 3:22-36

The question I have is, "How did they know?" Seriously...all throughout 2 Kings 2 we keep seeing that not only Elijah, but a variety of different prophets step forward and all seem to know that God was going to take Elijah that very day. So my question is...how did they all know?

Was there some sort of prophetic memo that went out, and was a TPS report required with such a memo? Did Elijah have a vision previously that on "such and such day" he would be taken? How did everyone seem to know what was about to happen?

Well unfortunately every little curiosity of mine is not answered in the Bible. It is just one of those details that is mentioned with no explanation. But of course it begins to raise the question to me...would I want to know? Would I want everyone else to know when God would take me (whether it be through something miraculous like Elijah or by more conventional passing-away)? Hmmm...not sure. Something to ponder though.

Oh, and another quick-lesson from 2 Kings 2. I probably need to be careful how I make fun of our worship minister Daniel. I'd hate for him to call out the bears on me ;-).