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2017, November 19 ~ Judges 4:1-7; Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

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During the 2017 Pentecost Season, alternative readings from the Hebrew Bible are offered. Scripture in Context will discuss these readings and the reading from the Christian Scriptures.

Judges 4:1-7

The Book of Judges is part of the “Deuteronomic History” consisting of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. The over-all message of these books is that the fortunes of Ancient Israel depended on faithfulness of the people and their kings in worshiping YHWH. The Deuteronomists were generally opposed to Israel’s having a temporal king, and there are numerous statements in favor of a theocracy, in which the king of Israel is YHWH (8.23).

This Book “recounted” the “history” of Israel from the death of Joshua to the time of Samuel. If it is historical, the time would have been from about 1,200 to 1,050 BCE. The Book of Judges described a downward spiral in the moral, religious and political fortunes of Israel. The recurring pattern was one of worshiping false gods, enemies overcoming the Israelites, a “judge” (a person who sets things right) arising, and after the time of the judge, the people backsliding into false worship, and the cycle repeating itself. The book has six major judge cycles, and the judgeship of Samson is seen as the moral nadir of the period of the Judges.

Today’s reading begins of the story of the third judge, Deborah, who commanded the general Barak to assemble an army to defeat King Jabin of Canaan and his general, Sisera, notwithstanding the enormity of Jabin’s forces (900 iron chariots). Sisera was defeated and died a graphically wretched death at the hands of a woman (4.21).

Zephaniah 1:7,12-18

Zephaniah is another of the “Minor” Prophets. He was a prophet to Judea during the reign of the good King Josiah (640-609 BCE). Because Zephaniah prophesied against many of the practices prohibited by the Book of Deuteronomy, his prophesy is generally dated to the time just before Josiah’s reforms began in 621 BCE. (The Book of Deuteronomy was “discovered” in 622 BCE according to 2 Kings 22). Zephaniah is only three chapters, and most of the Book concerns the Day of the LORD/YHWH in which YHWH will pour out anger on the people. In today’s reading, the prophet (speaking for YHWH) described punishments for those who rely on their wealth (v.18) or do not recognize the power of YHWH (v.12). In the last part of Chapter 3, however, the message shifts to oracles of salvation so that the “proudly exultant ones” will be removed and only the humble and lowly will be left.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

The letter to the Thessalonians was Paul’s first letter and was written around 50 CE. Thessaloniki is a seaport and was the capital of Macedonia. The letter encouraged the community to be steadfast in the face of persecution. Paul expected the Parousia (Second Coming of Christ) to be immanent, and emphasized that it would be sudden and unexpected. For this reason, he urged them to be ready for it at all times. Paul reassured the Thessalonians, however, that they were destined for salvation (v.9).

2017, November 12 ~ Joshua 24:1-3a,14-25; Wisdom 6:12-16; Amos 5:18-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

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During the 2017 Pentecost Season, alternative readings from the Hebrew Bible are offered. Scripture in Context will discuss these readings and the reading from the Christian Scriptures.

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25

The Book of Joshua is part of the “Deuteronomic History” consisting of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings. The over-all message of these books is that the fortunes of Ancient Israel depended on faithfulness of the people and their kings in worshiping YHWH.

After entering, conquering, and allocating the lands among the tribes, the Israelites entered the “Covenant at Shechem” described in today’s reading. If the events are historical, they would have occurred around 1200 BCE. The Israelites swore (acting as their own witnesses) to revere and serve YHWH and to put away foreign gods. Today’s reading lays the predicate for the Deuteronomists’ conclusion that Israel’s failure to live up to this Covenant was the cause of the conquest of Northern Israel in 722 BCE and the Babylonian Captivity in 587 BCE.

Wisdom 6:12-16

The full title of this Book is “The Wisdom of Solomon.” It is not in the Hebrew Bible, but is in the Apocrypha (hidden books) in Protestant Bibles and is in the Wisdom Books in Roman Catholic Bibles. Like other Wisdom Literature, it is (incorrectly) attributed to Solomon who reigned a United Israel from 968 to 928 BCE.

The Book of Wisdom was written in Greek by a Jew in the late First Century BCE to Jews living outside Israel (most likely in Alexandria). It encouraged them to maintain their Judaism while integrating it with Hellenistic culture. Today’s reading celebrates Wisdom (“Sophia” in Greek) and describes her (as does Chapter 8 in Proverbs) as a woman whom one should seek (v.12).

Amos 5:18-24

After Solomon died in 928 BCE, the Kingdom of Israel split into the North (called Israel) and the South (Judea). The reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel (788-747 BCE) was very prosperous and a time of great inequality between rich and poor. Amos prophesied (spoke for YHWH) against Israel from about 760 to 750 BCE. He is one of the 12 “minor” prophets whose works are shorter than the three “major” prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel). In today’s reading, YHWH tells Israel that the “Day of the LORD/YHWH” will be a time of darkness (v.20), and that instead of empty rituals (vv.20-23), YHWH desires justice and righteousness (v. 24).

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

The letter to the Thessalonians was Paul’s first letter and was written around 50 CE. Thessaloniki is a seaport and was the capital of Macedonia. The letter encouraged the community to be steadfast in the face of persecution. In today’s reading, Paul reassures the people that even those who die before the Parousia (Second Coming) will participate fully in it. The idea of a Second Coming developed early in the Jesus Follower Movement because, in his earthly life, Jesus of Nazareth did not fulfill all the traditional “job descriptions” of the Messiah – the nation was not unified; the Romans were not expelled; Shalom (peace and order) did not reign. At the Second Coming, all will be fulfilled.