Proverbs 17-18
While still speaking about royalty, the scribes in Proverbs 17 address the issue of the household in more detail. While they could be speaking to the royal household, the instructions could apply to any household. The relationships in the household are vital to the development of wisdom and harmony is required.
The scribes also speak to issues of the court as well, which are considered part of the royal household. One issue of grave concern was bribery and graft. Again, wealth, in itself, is not a bad thing but when it destroys relationships it is evil.
The scribes continue to stress the themes of family, household harmony and justice in Proverbs 18. The royal must keep these in mind, for the kingdom is a household.
Psalm 91
For the church, Psalm 91 has a special place in its lore, for it is Psalm 91 that Satan uses to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. God is our refuge, a very present shelter in our world. The psalmist speaks of all that which can befall a person, but that God protects us from such affliction. Satan attempts to get Jesus to prove it, to get Jesus to test God. But the Psalm is about trust, about knowing that God is here and does shelter us, not necessarily by keeping us from being harmed but by being with us, always. Did I say always, because I meant always!
Backlogged Posts
Ezra 1-2
The Book of Ezra picks up where 2 Chronicles ends, with the pronouncement of Cyrus, emperor of Persia, sending the Jews back to Jerusalem to resume Temple worship. At one point in time, it was believed that the whole text from 1 Chronicles through Nehemiah was composed by one author, but recent scholarship demonstrates it is most likely not the case. However, it is likely that both were written with the same perspective in mind, for the thrust of all are pretty similar, they concern the rebuilding of the temple, walls and of the people of Jerusalem.
Both Ezra and Nehemiah have substantial content that seems from "memoir" materials of Ezra and Nehemiah, but most of the content is told in a narrative first person style. Scholars believe that the Book of Ezra covers two time periods, 539-515 BCE and 458-430 BCE, Nehemiah dates at about 445 BCE. Most likely the authors of these books in question, where priestly, possibly Levites.
Jeremiah had proclaimed how the exile would end and the people would return home, Ezra 1 fulfills this promise. King Cyrus, God's anointed, brings an end to the exile and commissions the exiles to return home, rebuild the temple and resume the temple worship. Cyrus even provides the community with the elements that had been taken from the temple when Nebuchadnezzar sacked the city and raised the temple. So the families of Judah made preparations and their neighbors assisted by gifting them with valuables.
The list of those who returned to Jerusalem is listed. Upon their arrival, the community immediately begins plans to rebuild the temple in Ezra 2.
Luke 2
I will refrain from too much discussion over the birth of Jesus, since most of us have heard the reading of this particular narrative every Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, there is not much else to really add. Well, except for one point. The birth and announcement of Jesus is set against the Roman Empire. The census is portrayed as an activity of Caesar Augustus who has initiated the Pax Romana. The emperor of Rome is also frequently titled the "savior". So the contrast has been set up, one king for another, one peace for another, one savior for another.
The other point to notice is that Jesus is thoroughly Jewish and fulfills Jewish expectations. He is circumcised, he is presented at the temple and he is witnessed to by two seers, one male one female ( a tradition of Luke) who proclaim the reality of Jesus as the one Israel has been waiting for. Jesus' understanding of who he is is demonstrated by his disappearance to the temple. He knows who he is and that his will is God's.
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