What appears as a lengthy list in Nehemiah 7 is really a repetition of a similar list found in Ezra, which is provided to demonstrate the continuity of the community of Israel. Nehemiah is demonstrating that the rebuilding and resettlement of Jerusalem is taking place by true Israelites (Samarians were not allowed to participate in the rebuilding). While it might seem trivial it was important because what will happen next, the covenant will be renewed, and therefore, it must be true Israelites who renew the covenant.
This renewal takes shape in two manners in Nehemiah 8. The first is highly liturgical, as the law is read by Ezra. The people who gathered, did so to hear the law, they were not forced or even coerced, they came to hear the Word of God. While Ezra read, other Levites helped to interpret what was being said so that the people could understand. The response is rather surprising, the people wept. They wept as they remembered the past, they wept as they remembered God's faithfulness, they wept as they remembered their own failings to listen to God.
This is a truly important day in the life of Israel, for the date of the event will later become Rosh Hoshanah, New Years Day.
The second event, joins the present with the past. The elders of Israel gather and learn about the Festival of the Booths and all of Israel participates. They recall the journey of those who followed Joshua and how they lived in temporary dwellings and so they erected their own booths to recall the past work of God. This tradition continues today.
Luke 8
Having established that Jesus is a man of authority, astounding authority, and with deep compassion for the plight of others, Jesus gathers those who have heard his words and follow. Among them the twelve, but also women who provide for them out "of their resources." This is a rather interesting verse, the women are the ones who provide for the welfare of the twelve and Jesus. Truly, they have followed the example of the master who has come to serve, as they serve other as well. Not sure what the men's excuse is though.
Jesus begins teaching in parables, which is done spur thought but also to gather only those who are willing to struggle with what he is saying. The parable of the sower, certainly exemplifies the gathering of the disciples and the women, they have heard and now their faith is being demonstrated. But it would seem that something more is needed, as Jesus then speaks of not hiding a lamp under a jar. In other words, if you faith is growing, if your faith is a gift, if your faith is service, then it must be displayed.
Those who live out their faith, those who shine brightly in the world, are then the family of Christ. It is not a hereditary situation, it is a matter of faith that is alive and demonstrated. Not like the disciples in the boat. Yet even this example demonstrates Jesus' power, he commands the natural elements, and in the story of the Gerasene Demoniac, the spirits as well. It is this kind of faith and trust in God that can be the power of the believers.
To have belief is not just to believe in Christ, but to believe in the impossible things that Jesus can do, such as the stories of the hemorrhaging woman or Jairus' daughter. It is to believe that this power of Jesus can heal and revive, can transform and inspire.
Backlogged Posts
2 Kings 1-3
It is important to keep in mind that 2 Kings is an arbitrary splitting of one unified text, Kings. The break seems to occur with death of Ahab but really nothing changes theologically or stylistically. The narrative continues to tell about the kings of Judah and Israel and how well they live up to the covenant with God.
In Seinfeld, Jerry had an antagonist, Newman, and whenever something would happen Jerry would always exclaim "Newman" in a sigh of disgust. It seems Elijah has the same effect on King Ahaziah. 2 Kings 1 begins with a quick aside that Moab has rebelled against Israel which could be because of Ahab's unjust rule. However, the story does not dwell on it.
Instead the story settles on an injured Ahaziah who sends for a prophecy of health from the god of Ekron, which was a Philistine city. God, upon hearing this, dispatches Elijah who turns the messengers of Ahaziah around and offers his own judgment. Ahaziah sends men to detain Elijah and that does not turn out too well, not for the men at least. Finally God relents and Elijah goes with the third captain, bears judgment against Ahaziah, who then dies.
In our story, Ahab is gone, Ahaziah is gone and now it is time for Elijah to depart. However, unlike these other two, Elijah does not die, but is taken up into heaven in an act that will become part of the lore of how he will return at the end of times.
In 2 Kings 2, the transition is made between Elijah and Elisha, literally the mantle is passed. Elisha approaches this with reluctance, at each stop he is told Elijah will be leaving but Elisha attempts to silence these other prophetic voices. At each stop, Elijah seeks to shake Elisha, to get him to stay or to turn back, but Elisha will not be shaken. This faith is reminiscent of Ruth with Naomi and counters the three time denial of Peter.
Finally they journey over the Jordan and they reverse the entrance of the Israelites into the Promised Land by parting the waters. Elisha now understands what is happening and seeks a double portion of Elijah's spirit, in essence he is asking for the inheritance of the oldest son from a father. Elijah understands that Elisha will be his successor but he also knows that it is not up to Elijah it is up to God.
As the chariot comes and takes takes Elijah away, Elisha is confirmed as his successor as well as inherits not only the double portion but the mantle as well. With it, he parts the water and returns. His status as Prophet is confirmed as he purifies the water, in an act like Moses. And he then taught the local boys a lesson not to make fun of bald people, not sure the point of that, by calling out bears to maul them. Don't mess with Elisha!
We now revisit the rebellion of Moab in 2 Kings 3. The new king of Israel, Jehoram, another son of Ahab decides to address this rebellion and sends to the king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, who also enlists the aid of the king of Edom, related to Israel by the blood of Jacob for Esau is seen as the progenitor of Edom. So the three kings march out to Moab to find not water and not army waiting for them. They assume that all is lost, that they are being handed over to Moab.
They send for Elisha, who holds the same opinion of Jehoram that Elijah held for Ahab and Ahaziah. But since King Jehoshaphat is present, Elisha offers the sign of water and victory. Sure enough the next morning water appears, seemingly from no where, and the armies of Israel, Judah and Edom route Moab.
2 Corinthians 2
In this section, we find reference to a "letter of tears" that Paul has sent yet we do not have a copy of, a letter that was sent instead of a visit by Paul that speaks to a grievance or wrongdoing by a member of the Corinthian community or a visitor to the Corinthian community against Paul. It is Paul's hope that the letter will help the healing process so that when he then comes to Corinth it is be in joy and not sorrow.
To help facilitate this joy, Paul calls upon the community to forgive this person for it is through his or her action that not just Paul was hurt but the whole community. Through the action of forgiving, the community can actually defeat the efforts of Satan to pull the community apart.
The next section seems to begin a section that speaks to Paul's work and commissioning Christ. While he began his ministry in Troas in fear and trepidation, his work was supported by God. It was the work of Christ that has lead he and the early church in a victorious procession. This victory is a wonderful aroma or bouquet.
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