Job 9-10
Job knows that he is present himself as just before God, he knows that God favors those who fear him, but what if you are innocent? What about those who have not erred yet God has deemed unjust? What is their recourse? In Job 9, he ponders such a point, how is it possible for one to stand in front of God? It is not possible. If Job calls upon God, does God need to respond? No, God is sovereign and can do as he pleases.
God is the sovereign ruler of the universe and if he says that Job has erred, Job knows he cannot prove his innocence. Yet, Job stands firmly in his belief that he is innocent.
Job continues his criticism of Creation. How is it that God who created things good now seeks to destroy that good? Job wants to know the charges that God has used to bring him low, as any accused wants a chance to confront their accuser. Job feels trap and without recourse in Job 10, how can he possibly contend with God in this struggle to prove himself? Death seems like the only release he will get.
Luke 16
This chapter offers some hard parables, the first of which focuses on a dishonest manager who is about to get into hot water with his boss, so he contrives to fix some records to get in good graces with others. The fact that Jesus seems to approve of these actions causes us to squirm a little bit. However, the end of the parable points out the need to be shrewd in what we manage, our faith. Sometimes, we need to be clever with how we deal with the world and its possessions, sometimes we need to look past our own self interests to the interests of others.
If we want to be in charge of much, then we must demonstrate that we can care for the little. If we want peace in the world, then we must make it happen in our families and in our neighborhoods first.
The story of the rich man and Lazarus is a prime example. The rich man not condemned because he was rich, he is condemned because while he was rich he never noticed the poor. He was given much, but he did nothing with it. This is an indictment of wealth that is stored away and not used for the greater good, but it is also an indictment of the religious institution that seeks to support itself first and care for others second.
Backlogged Posts
1 Chronicles 4-6
The slow reading of the genealogies continues in 1 Chronicles 4 with the tribes of Judah and Simeon. The fact that Judah has a prominent position and the description is longer than others demonstrates how the author favors Judah and places Judah in a position of importance not just in the histories but in the future of Israel.
Simeon is partnered with Judah because over time, the region that was originally given to the tribe of Simeon is subsumed into Judah. As such Simeon is important to Israel's future as well.
1 Chronicles 5 speaks of the tribes that settled in the trans-Jordan region and were first to fall to the Assyrians as the empire expanded. These tribes were Reuben, Gad and Mannaseh.
The author's high praise of the Levites is found in the fact that they are next, in 1 Chronicles 6, with the line of Aaron leading the way. In addition to the priests, we find out that David added singers and musicians to the line of the Levites to lead in liturgical singing in the House of the Lord. The author also lists out the geographic location of the Levites as well.
2 Corinthians 11
In Paul's continued defense of himself, he now begs the Corinthians to entertain his folly, for Paul sees himself as a father preparing to give away his bride (the church of Corinth) to Christ. He loves them dearly but is afraid that much as the serpent enticed Eve, so another will entice the church and steal it from Christ. This is what the "super apostles" are trying to do, and Paul will not allow it.
It would seem that the super apostles seem that Paul's willingness to live on his own sources and not partake of the "apostles" rights made him unworthy. While these apostles lived off of the community, Paul humbled himself and lived off the support of others from his churches. Paul never then burdened the community with himself. Paul reminds the church that Christ did not come to place burdens on them but free them, however, it would seem that the super apostles are placing burdens on them, so the truth of Christ is not in them.
Paul finally closes with the reality that his credentials are greater than theirs, not only does he have the same background, but he has suffered for his beliefs and has not changed them to suit his purposes. He has remained faithful to the message he has been given. He does not boast of himself, but of his work that is done in Christ's name. The super apostles however boast for their own purposes.
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