I have picked two passages or pericopes to comment on:
1. The genealogy in Matthew 1
Most of us are tempted to gloss over this genealogy of Joseph, Mary's husband. But do read it again and note that there are many biblical characters in Jesus' lineage that are rather 'colourful' or 'unlikely' candidates for the messianic line.
King David in Matt 1:1 was an adulterer and murderer. Tamar in Matt 1:3 played the harlot and conceived Zara and Pharez (Jesus' ancestor) with her father-in-law, Judah. Matt 1:5 mentions Rahab, a prostitute and Ruth a Moabite (Moabites were viewed as 'unclean' people - Deut 23:3). And Matt 1:6 has Solomon born of Bathsheba, wife of Urias, an adulteress.
All this to demonstrate that "not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and the weak things of the world to confound the mighty, and the base and despised things of the world has God chosen, and things which are not to bring to nought things that are so that no flesh should glory in His presence." (1 Cor 1: 26-29).
This is not to mean that we can live the life of an adulterer, harlot or murderer because we have as much hope to still be used by God for His purpose. As Apostle Paul said in Roms 6:1.2, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
Yes, God's grace cannot be under-rated. However, neither can it or should it be taken for granted or treated irreverently. The single passage that invariably reminds me of this is Hebrews 10: 26-31:
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has despised the Spirit of grace? .... It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Yes, God is gracious. He can still use the repentant sinner who will do His will for His glory even as He did with King David, murderer and adulterer, yet "a man after God's heart". But let us aim to intentionally and purposefully, live a 'blameless and harmless life in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom we are to shine as lights in the world' (Philippians 2:15) - for His glory. Let us not despise His grace nor ever want to tread under our feet, the precious blood of our Saviour and Lord.
Which brings me to the second passage that I have picked from Matthew:
2. Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The Sermon on the Mount or the Beattitudes is a Lecture by Jesus on How we should think and live (after all, how we live or act is driven by how we think or our paradigms). Jesus said earlier in this pericope, that we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world ... so that our lives may bring glory to our Heavenly Father.
In everything we choose to think, say or do .... we can use this purpose-driven criterion to determine our choices that is, "Will it bring glory (now or in time) to our Heavenly Father?" Or will it bring disgrace, shame and dishonour to Him, His Kingdom, His church and His Name?
I will end this blog entry by reminding ourselves of what we are to live for as a bible believing, God fearing disciple of Christ:
"Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him." (Isaiah 43:7)
Love
A Peggy
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
PEGGY’S REFLECTIONS ON WEEKS 2 & 3, JANUARY 09
Set Bible Reading: Gen 20 -50 and Matt 1- 13
If you are following the set bible reading schedule, you would have completed the first book of the Bible, Genesis and also be almost half way through the first New Testament book, Matthew.
I have picked two characters described in Gen 20-50 for reflection and comment because we can draw much theological understanding and practical application significance from their lives:
1. Joseph
Joseph not only forgave his brothers for planning to kill him then selling him as a slave to Egypt but he assured them that what they did to him was an integral part of God’s plan to save lives during the famine. He saw the hand of God rather than his brother’s evil, in their betrayal of him. What an amazing (and correct) perception of God and His sovereignty in history and our personal lives! And what an attitude towards those who betrayed him!
Genesis 45:5; 50:1
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here; for God did send me before you to preserve life....But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day to save much people alive.
When we face injustice, offences, betrayals etc, we are tempted to be angry or vindictive to the offender (s). Not Joseph, he did not forget that God is in control and that if these misdeeds were permitted by Him, then He had a bigger and better plan or purpose which might require these ‘trials of our faith’ (1 Pet 1:7). We need to learn to trust that God is always sovereign – in history and in our lives – and has only "plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.” (Jer 29:11)
Many would say that ‘theology’ (the study of our God) is meant only for theologians. Not true, every Christian has to be able theologians … to know our God as He is and revealed to us in the Bible. Dr Gordon Fee, New Testament Professor of Regent College, Vancouver, another of my highly regarded scholars and teachers, urges all pastors to help their congregations become excellent ‘practical theologians’. The more we know God as revealed in the bible (not in the figment of our imagination or according to our ideology) the more secure and ‘complete’ (Cols 2:10) we can become in Christ, His Son, despite our life circumstances. And this is not ‘head knowledge’ but knowledge of God as lived out in our lives … as with Joseph.
Joseph was a par excellent practical theologian. He understood as well, that sin was “against God and God alone.” Hence in retort to Potiphar’s wife, he cried out,
Genesis 39:9
There is none greater in this house than I; neither has he (Potiphar) kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Joseph did not say that he couldn’t and wouldn’t sin against Potiphar who had after all entrusted him with everything but his wife. He like King David in Psalm 51:4, understood that sin is always first and primarily against God Himself.
When we grasp this doctrinal truth regarding sin, it helps us to forgive those who have done evil or injustice to us. It helps us to release our ‘offenders’ and ‘offence’ to the ‘Judge of all the earth who will do that which is right and just’ (Gen 18:25) and against whom the sin is committed.
2. Judah
Jesus is from the line of Judah, we all know that. But why Judah? He is after all the fourth son of Jacob.
God is free to ‘elect’ whoever for fulfillment of His plan, especially His great plan of salvation for humanity. But let us look at why the first three sons of Jacob were disqualified from this messianic lineage.
Reuben was the first born. But he had defiled his father’s bed by having sexual relations with his father’s concubine, Bilhah (Gen 35:22).
Simeon and Levi were the second and third sons. But they committed murder and were ‘instruments of cruelty’ (Gen 49:5) when they plotted against Shechem and killed him, his son and all the males in the city – Gen 34.
So it is with us in our personal lives. I recollect someone asking me why someone he knew was clearly ‘called’ of God to serve as a pastor / minister could now no longer function as one. The answer is evident and simple. He had disqualified himself through personal moral sin.
We need to grasp Paul’s understanding of the privilege and serious responsibility of serving the Lord when he wrote to Timothy, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” It is the Lord Himself who puts us into the ministry and only because He has counted us faithful. Let us therefore be faithful to Him and the ministry that he has entrusted us with. Let us not disqualify ourselves from the blessing of being counted worthy of His calling.
As a postscript, Reuben of course is also much like Christ our Redeemer … willing to suffer in place of his brother, Benjamin, paying the ransom with his own life when Joseph uncovered the money that he had planted in his sack (Gen 43:9).
I will post my reflections of Matthews 1-13 separately.
Love
A Peggy
Set Bible Reading: Gen 20 -50 and Matt 1- 13
If you are following the set bible reading schedule, you would have completed the first book of the Bible, Genesis and also be almost half way through the first New Testament book, Matthew.
I have picked two characters described in Gen 20-50 for reflection and comment because we can draw much theological understanding and practical application significance from their lives:
1. Joseph
Joseph not only forgave his brothers for planning to kill him then selling him as a slave to Egypt but he assured them that what they did to him was an integral part of God’s plan to save lives during the famine. He saw the hand of God rather than his brother’s evil, in their betrayal of him. What an amazing (and correct) perception of God and His sovereignty in history and our personal lives! And what an attitude towards those who betrayed him!
Genesis 45:5; 50:1
Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here; for God did send me before you to preserve life....But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day to save much people alive.
When we face injustice, offences, betrayals etc, we are tempted to be angry or vindictive to the offender (s). Not Joseph, he did not forget that God is in control and that if these misdeeds were permitted by Him, then He had a bigger and better plan or purpose which might require these ‘trials of our faith’ (1 Pet 1:7). We need to learn to trust that God is always sovereign – in history and in our lives – and has only "plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.” (Jer 29:11)
Many would say that ‘theology’ (the study of our God) is meant only for theologians. Not true, every Christian has to be able theologians … to know our God as He is and revealed to us in the Bible. Dr Gordon Fee, New Testament Professor of Regent College, Vancouver, another of my highly regarded scholars and teachers, urges all pastors to help their congregations become excellent ‘practical theologians’. The more we know God as revealed in the bible (not in the figment of our imagination or according to our ideology) the more secure and ‘complete’ (Cols 2:10) we can become in Christ, His Son, despite our life circumstances. And this is not ‘head knowledge’ but knowledge of God as lived out in our lives … as with Joseph.
Joseph was a par excellent practical theologian. He understood as well, that sin was “against God and God alone.” Hence in retort to Potiphar’s wife, he cried out,
Genesis 39:9
There is none greater in this house than I; neither has he (Potiphar) kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Joseph did not say that he couldn’t and wouldn’t sin against Potiphar who had after all entrusted him with everything but his wife. He like King David in Psalm 51:4, understood that sin is always first and primarily against God Himself.
When we grasp this doctrinal truth regarding sin, it helps us to forgive those who have done evil or injustice to us. It helps us to release our ‘offenders’ and ‘offence’ to the ‘Judge of all the earth who will do that which is right and just’ (Gen 18:25) and against whom the sin is committed.
2. Judah
Jesus is from the line of Judah, we all know that. But why Judah? He is after all the fourth son of Jacob.
God is free to ‘elect’ whoever for fulfillment of His plan, especially His great plan of salvation for humanity. But let us look at why the first three sons of Jacob were disqualified from this messianic lineage.
Reuben was the first born. But he had defiled his father’s bed by having sexual relations with his father’s concubine, Bilhah (Gen 35:22).
Simeon and Levi were the second and third sons. But they committed murder and were ‘instruments of cruelty’ (Gen 49:5) when they plotted against Shechem and killed him, his son and all the males in the city – Gen 34.
So it is with us in our personal lives. I recollect someone asking me why someone he knew was clearly ‘called’ of God to serve as a pastor / minister could now no longer function as one. The answer is evident and simple. He had disqualified himself through personal moral sin.
We need to grasp Paul’s understanding of the privilege and serious responsibility of serving the Lord when he wrote to Timothy, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry.” It is the Lord Himself who puts us into the ministry and only because He has counted us faithful. Let us therefore be faithful to Him and the ministry that he has entrusted us with. Let us not disqualify ourselves from the blessing of being counted worthy of His calling.
As a postscript, Reuben of course is also much like Christ our Redeemer … willing to suffer in place of his brother, Benjamin, paying the ransom with his own life when Joseph uncovered the money that he had planted in his sack (Gen 43:9).
I will post my reflections of Matthews 1-13 separately.
Love
A Peggy
Thursday, January 15, 2009
My first Lecture at Trinity
This morning, Thursday over here in Chicago (Friday in Melbourne), I attended a lecture at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) for the first time since my arrival on 11 Dec. The semester started only this week and Chris had arranged permission for me to sit into any Masters or Doctoral class of my choice ):
So I made a bee-line to attend Dr D A Carson's class on 'Acts and the Epistles' for postgrad students. It is a 2 hour class attended by some 50 students, mostly male I noticed.
Those of you who have attended my bible study class on the Gospel of John will understand why I made a bee-line for this class. Dr Carson is one of my favourite bible scholars and New Testament theologians. My bible study class is based largely on his 700 page commentary on the Gospel of John and FF Bruce's New Testament History (FF Bruce is another of my favourite bible study authors). I took a photo with him and will get Chris to post this on my blog when I return home at the end of today as I am now heading to another lecture on the Poetic and Prophetic Books by Dr Van Gemeran, one of my favourite authors on the Old Testament.
This lecture will be a 3 hour lecture with only 2 ten minute toilet breaks! Sounds intimidating doesnt? But I have attended these 3 hour lectures at TEDS before ie when Cherie, my daughter, was doing her MA with TEDS six years ago. At that time, I also sought permission to sit into their classes probono and thoroughly enjoyed the high standard and in-depth teaching of their Professors so much that I didnt notice how time flies!
It is so sad that I have to leave TEDS at the end of this month as I will miss the large part of the course given that the semester has just begun. The Summer classes which begin in June are not really my cup of tea - mostly Greek and Greek related subjects - and the Professors that I highly regard like Van Gemeran, D A Carson, Averbeck, Graeme Coles are starting very interesting classes at the start of the NEXT semester which I believe only begins in September. So I am in a dilemna because Chris did not have the subject time-table until recently and I had thus far, planned to be back in Chicago to do the summer modules, not the next semester courses ... sigh.
We'll see ..... I might 'exchange' travel schedules with U Ong and let him come for Summer so that I can come for the September classes. The trouble is that these classes run for 4-5 months and I can probably only stay for a max. of 2 months so I will also miss the full run of the classes .... sigh.
Have to run, lecture is about to start and I am rushing to catch a cuppa in their cafe before joining this very long session of lecture.
Love,
A Peggy
p/s I will post my reflections on the bible reading set for the second week of Jan soon. Keep watch.
So I made a bee-line to attend Dr D A Carson's class on 'Acts and the Epistles' for postgrad students. It is a 2 hour class attended by some 50 students, mostly male I noticed.
Those of you who have attended my bible study class on the Gospel of John will understand why I made a bee-line for this class. Dr Carson is one of my favourite bible scholars and New Testament theologians. My bible study class is based largely on his 700 page commentary on the Gospel of John and FF Bruce's New Testament History (FF Bruce is another of my favourite bible study authors). I took a photo with him and will get Chris to post this on my blog when I return home at the end of today as I am now heading to another lecture on the Poetic and Prophetic Books by Dr Van Gemeran, one of my favourite authors on the Old Testament.
This lecture will be a 3 hour lecture with only 2 ten minute toilet breaks! Sounds intimidating doesnt? But I have attended these 3 hour lectures at TEDS before ie when Cherie, my daughter, was doing her MA with TEDS six years ago. At that time, I also sought permission to sit into their classes probono and thoroughly enjoyed the high standard and in-depth teaching of their Professors so much that I didnt notice how time flies!
It is so sad that I have to leave TEDS at the end of this month as I will miss the large part of the course given that the semester has just begun. The Summer classes which begin in June are not really my cup of tea - mostly Greek and Greek related subjects - and the Professors that I highly regard like Van Gemeran, D A Carson, Averbeck, Graeme Coles are starting very interesting classes at the start of the NEXT semester which I believe only begins in September. So I am in a dilemna because Chris did not have the subject time-table until recently and I had thus far, planned to be back in Chicago to do the summer modules, not the next semester courses ... sigh.
We'll see ..... I might 'exchange' travel schedules with U Ong and let him come for Summer so that I can come for the September classes. The trouble is that these classes run for 4-5 months and I can probably only stay for a max. of 2 months so I will also miss the full run of the classes .... sigh.
Have to run, lecture is about to start and I am rushing to catch a cuppa in their cafe before joining this very long session of lecture.
Love,
A Peggy
p/s I will post my reflections on the bible reading set for the second week of Jan soon. Keep watch.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
PEGGY’S REFLECTIONS ON WEEK 1, JANUARY 09
Set Bible Reading: Gen 1 -19 and Matt 1-6
Genesis 1:27
God made man in His own Image, In the image of God He made mankind, male and female
I am reminded that of all of God’s creation, only human mankind was created “In His Image” (Imageo Deo). But when Adam and Eve first sinned, this image was marred by sin so that the heart of man had become “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jer 17: 9).
From this I remind myself and you of these two things:
1. We were created in God’s image and from the day of redemption of our souls (and this image) by our beloved Christ, we need to intentionally outwork this Imageo Deo for the glory of our God, our Image-Maker. This means a lot of ‘dying to self’ – self will, self justification and self centeredness - a willful “decreasing of self so that He may increase” in us. (Jn 3:30).
This can only be achieved if we choose to live according to His life-manual, the Bible, and are daily “led by the Spirit” (Roms 8:14) in all of our life’s thoughts, decisions and actions. The Word of God, this wonderful book of life, and the Holy Spirit, our personal Counselor and Guide given to us until our Lord returns … these are like the two wings of a plane that we need to fly straight and high, for His Glory.
2. Because our hearts are intrinsically deceitful and wicked from the time of ‘the Fall’ (described in Gen 3), we need to constantly ask the Lord to “search our hearts and examine our minds” (Jer 17:10). He also said in Jer 17:10 that He will reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.
Therefore, if we remain in self denial or self justification, not uncommon in human behavior and a consequence of our highly deceitful hearts so that every man considers what he does is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25), the Lord Himself will check our hearts and examine our minds. And if we reject His conviction Jer 17:10 says the fruit of our deeds or conduct will soon catch up with us; God will reward according to our conduct and to what our deeds deserve.
Which brings me to my reflections on the next passage in this week’s Genesis reading.
Genesis 4:7
“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
I have picked this verse to comment on because it is commonly overlooked. Many have often queried why God did not accept Cain’s offering . Gen 4: 5 says that the Lord has no respect to his offering , unlike that of his brother, Abel. Is God partial? Will not the Judge of all the earth do the right thing? (Gen 18:25). Abraham, the friend of God, knew Him well when he asked this question.
The passage does not clarify why God did not respect Cain’s offering – speculations include that it was not his first fruit or he did not offer a sacrifice of blood etc. The point is missed. God asked Cain, “If you did well, will you not be accepted?”
This brings me to life application. If we are feeling depressed or low because our work (be it secular job or ministry work) is not accepted or viewed with respect by others especially our bosses, does that give us a right to wrong conduct and attitude. If we had done well, would not our work be accepted, even commended? We can never demand recognition … this will invariably be given if we do well. I know of no boss who will not want to retain and commend a staff who excels.
So the next time your work is not being accepted let alone commended, consider God’s question to Cain and re-assess your attitude and response to non acceptance of your work, lest you end up like Cain. You may be sporting a blind spot … nursing a deceptive heart as all humans commonly do. Ask your boss or a colleague, someone who has the courage to confront the truth with you … he/she will tell you why you are not doing well so that you can take steps to address this rather than envy or blame others. God gives grace to the humble and resists the proud (James 4:6).
Finally, I have selected to comment on the following passage from this week’s Genesis reading, because of its difficulty in interpretation. It may not have evident life application but addresses biblical history and the doctrine of angels, therefore has theological significance and life relevance if the following hermeneutical assessment is valid.
Genesis 6:2,4
The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose….There were giants in the earth in those days and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
It is commonly thought that “the sons of God” were angels who came down to earth and married attractive women, “daughters of men” and the ‘giants’ referred to in 6:4 were their offspring.
From a commentary search, it would appear that the ‘sons of God’ were rather, children of the godly line of Seth (Adam’s son after Cain had killed Abel) who intermarried the ungodly, from the line of Cain.
In context, Genesis chapters 4 and 5 describes two contrasting family lines – one which is godly, the line of Seth “when men began to call upon the name of the Lord” (Gen 4:26) from whom came Enoch who “walked with God” and Noah, “a just and perfect man who walked with God” (Gen6:9) and the other line who is associated with murder and polygamy, the descendants of Cain like Lamech. Hence, when Genesis 6 describes this union of the ‘sons of God’ with the ‘daughters of men’, it is likely referring to the union of the offspring of these two family lines. Remember the Bible didn’t originally have chapter divisions; chapter divisions were established centuries later.
It is also unlikely that the “sons of God” refer to angelic beings. Jesus Himself taught that angels do not marry (Lk 20:35,36). As spirit beings not physical sexual beings, they would not and could not have sexual relationships. And indeed if they were able and did sexually victimize human beings, why would God punish humanity through The Flood rather than the angelic beings. In contrast, the phrase “sons of God" is used commonly in the Bible concerning men, especially those who know the true God (Deut. 14:1, Hos. 1:10, Lk. 3:38, Jn 1:12, 1 Jn. 3:1).
The life application of this passage is the inadvisability of marriage between those who love and honour the God of our Bible and those who do not.
God’s prohibition of intermarriage between the people of God with those who do not know YWYH is a thread running throughout the Bible and particularly so in the Old Testament. Ezra for example, was very angry with the Israelites when he found that they had intermarried wives who did not worship the Lord and had them put away these “strange wives” (Ezra 10:19).
I will stop at these three selected passages. There is so much more one can write about the first 19 chapters of Genesis but the blog will be too long. So if you have any question or comment about ANY part of this set reading, just post your question or comment and I will respond. I will comment on Matthew the next time I write.
Love,
A Peggy
Set Bible Reading: Gen 1 -19 and Matt 1-6
Genesis 1:27
God made man in His own Image, In the image of God He made mankind, male and female
I am reminded that of all of God’s creation, only human mankind was created “In His Image” (Imageo Deo). But when Adam and Eve first sinned, this image was marred by sin so that the heart of man had become “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jer 17: 9).
From this I remind myself and you of these two things:
1. We were created in God’s image and from the day of redemption of our souls (and this image) by our beloved Christ, we need to intentionally outwork this Imageo Deo for the glory of our God, our Image-Maker. This means a lot of ‘dying to self’ – self will, self justification and self centeredness - a willful “decreasing of self so that He may increase” in us. (Jn 3:30).
This can only be achieved if we choose to live according to His life-manual, the Bible, and are daily “led by the Spirit” (Roms 8:14) in all of our life’s thoughts, decisions and actions. The Word of God, this wonderful book of life, and the Holy Spirit, our personal Counselor and Guide given to us until our Lord returns … these are like the two wings of a plane that we need to fly straight and high, for His Glory.
2. Because our hearts are intrinsically deceitful and wicked from the time of ‘the Fall’ (described in Gen 3), we need to constantly ask the Lord to “search our hearts and examine our minds” (Jer 17:10). He also said in Jer 17:10 that He will reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.
Therefore, if we remain in self denial or self justification, not uncommon in human behavior and a consequence of our highly deceitful hearts so that every man considers what he does is right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25), the Lord Himself will check our hearts and examine our minds. And if we reject His conviction Jer 17:10 says the fruit of our deeds or conduct will soon catch up with us; God will reward according to our conduct and to what our deeds deserve.
Which brings me to my reflections on the next passage in this week’s Genesis reading.
Genesis 4:7
“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
I have picked this verse to comment on because it is commonly overlooked. Many have often queried why God did not accept Cain’s offering . Gen 4: 5 says that the Lord has no respect to his offering , unlike that of his brother, Abel. Is God partial? Will not the Judge of all the earth do the right thing? (Gen 18:25). Abraham, the friend of God, knew Him well when he asked this question.
The passage does not clarify why God did not respect Cain’s offering – speculations include that it was not his first fruit or he did not offer a sacrifice of blood etc. The point is missed. God asked Cain, “If you did well, will you not be accepted?”
This brings me to life application. If we are feeling depressed or low because our work (be it secular job or ministry work) is not accepted or viewed with respect by others especially our bosses, does that give us a right to wrong conduct and attitude. If we had done well, would not our work be accepted, even commended? We can never demand recognition … this will invariably be given if we do well. I know of no boss who will not want to retain and commend a staff who excels.
So the next time your work is not being accepted let alone commended, consider God’s question to Cain and re-assess your attitude and response to non acceptance of your work, lest you end up like Cain. You may be sporting a blind spot … nursing a deceptive heart as all humans commonly do. Ask your boss or a colleague, someone who has the courage to confront the truth with you … he/she will tell you why you are not doing well so that you can take steps to address this rather than envy or blame others. God gives grace to the humble and resists the proud (James 4:6).
Finally, I have selected to comment on the following passage from this week’s Genesis reading, because of its difficulty in interpretation. It may not have evident life application but addresses biblical history and the doctrine of angels, therefore has theological significance and life relevance if the following hermeneutical assessment is valid.
Genesis 6:2,4
The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose….There were giants in the earth in those days and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
It is commonly thought that “the sons of God” were angels who came down to earth and married attractive women, “daughters of men” and the ‘giants’ referred to in 6:4 were their offspring.
From a commentary search, it would appear that the ‘sons of God’ were rather, children of the godly line of Seth (Adam’s son after Cain had killed Abel) who intermarried the ungodly, from the line of Cain.
In context, Genesis chapters 4 and 5 describes two contrasting family lines – one which is godly, the line of Seth “when men began to call upon the name of the Lord” (Gen 4:26) from whom came Enoch who “walked with God” and Noah, “a just and perfect man who walked with God” (Gen6:9) and the other line who is associated with murder and polygamy, the descendants of Cain like Lamech. Hence, when Genesis 6 describes this union of the ‘sons of God’ with the ‘daughters of men’, it is likely referring to the union of the offspring of these two family lines. Remember the Bible didn’t originally have chapter divisions; chapter divisions were established centuries later.
It is also unlikely that the “sons of God” refer to angelic beings. Jesus Himself taught that angels do not marry (Lk 20:35,36). As spirit beings not physical sexual beings, they would not and could not have sexual relationships. And indeed if they were able and did sexually victimize human beings, why would God punish humanity through The Flood rather than the angelic beings. In contrast, the phrase “sons of God" is used commonly in the Bible concerning men, especially those who know the true God (Deut. 14:1, Hos. 1:10, Lk. 3:38, Jn 1:12, 1 Jn. 3:1).
The life application of this passage is the inadvisability of marriage between those who love and honour the God of our Bible and those who do not.
God’s prohibition of intermarriage between the people of God with those who do not know YWYH is a thread running throughout the Bible and particularly so in the Old Testament. Ezra for example, was very angry with the Israelites when he found that they had intermarried wives who did not worship the Lord and had them put away these “strange wives” (Ezra 10:19).
I will stop at these three selected passages. There is so much more one can write about the first 19 chapters of Genesis but the blog will be too long. So if you have any question or comment about ANY part of this set reading, just post your question or comment and I will respond. I will comment on Matthew the next time I write.
Love,
A Peggy
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Thanks Bryan,You are the only one who has bothered to write on my blog ): and I do appreciate your kindness and well wishes.
Are you and Vernis going to read the Bible in one year ie 09, with me? If you have, you should have finished 21 chapters of Genesis and 7 chapters of Matthew according to the bible reading schedule sent out by Hui Yi. I will tomorrow, post on this blog my comments and some points for reflection re the set reading for this first week of the year. We are one day behind in Chicago, it is only Tuesday 6 Jan here.
How is your Dad and Mum faring in their new house and have you all moved to it?
It is still very cold and tomorrow school for Rachel and Nicky may be cancelled because of snow storm. They started school only this week at a nearby school and both seem to take to their new classmate friends and teachers.
Cherie and Jasen with their 2 boys will be joining us in Chicago on 24 Jan and U Ong and I will then travel with them back to Melbourne on 27 Jan stopping over in Honolulu for 3 days.
Love
Are you and Vernis going to read the Bible in one year ie 09, with me? If you have, you should have finished 21 chapters of Genesis and 7 chapters of Matthew according to the bible reading schedule sent out by Hui Yi. I will tomorrow, post on this blog my comments and some points for reflection re the set reading for this first week of the year. We are one day behind in Chicago, it is only Tuesday 6 Jan here.
How is your Dad and Mum faring in their new house and have you all moved to it?
It is still very cold and tomorrow school for Rachel and Nicky may be cancelled because of snow storm. They started school only this week at a nearby school and both seem to take to their new classmate friends and teachers.
Cherie and Jasen with their 2 boys will be joining us in Chicago on 24 Jan and U Ong and I will then travel with them back to Melbourne on 27 Jan stopping over in Honolulu for 3 days.
Love
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