This is a place where we can read, reflect and respond to the traditional scriptures of Lent. Lent is the time where we are made low so that we can appreciate the height of the risen Christ.
I think I follow the thread throughout the 3 readings today a little easier than other days.
Ezekiel - repent
Philippians - stand firm and the god of peace will be with you
John - and you will be sanctified
If I repent, I can stand firm in the face of temptation, if I stand firm in the face of temptations, I will see God standing beside me, if God is standing beside me, I am being sanctified. I really like the rhythm of these three readings a lot.
can someone shed a little understanding and context on the proverb mentioned in ezekiel: "the fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"?
benny, Hey, good question. I looked it up and apparently it was a well-known expression of the day (also found in Jer. 31:29-30). I don't get the expression as we don't have anything like it in our language/culture, but what it means is that people in Israel were blaming their current situation/blight on the sins of their parents, rather than taking responsibility for their own sin. Hope that helps...at least for me, the passage makes a lot more sense now :)
Benjamin Franklin lamented on the Philippians selection while sailing to Europe, and that's what he modeled his character sharpening journal after http://www.bibleweb.com/2006/02/benjamin-franklins-13-virtues.htm
6 comments:
I think I follow the thread throughout the 3 readings today a little easier than other days.
Ezekiel - repent
Philippians - stand firm and the god of peace will be with you
John - and you will be sanctified
If I repent, I can stand firm in the face of temptation, if I stand firm in the face of temptations, I will see God standing beside me, if God is standing beside me, I am being sanctified. I really like the rhythm of these three readings a lot.
can someone shed a little understanding and context on the proverb mentioned in ezekiel:
"the fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"?
benny,
Hey, good question. I looked it up and apparently it was a well-known expression of the day (also found in Jer. 31:29-30). I don't get the expression as we don't have anything like it in our language/culture, but what it means is that people in Israel were blaming their current situation/blight on the sins of their parents, rather than taking responsibility for their own sin. Hope that helps...at least for me, the passage makes a lot more sense now :)
I like your thematic interpretation, Dave.
I sort of saw a different unifying theme of the trustworthiness of God.
Ezekiel - God is the one who is just, deal with it
Philippians - Don't be worried, because God is just, and he'll take care of you
John - Christ protected his disciples while he was on earth, now we're under God's protection as his children.
Two things:
*God presents some pretty solid logic and arguments in the second Ezekial passage.
*I'm going to have to incorporate the words "yokefellow" and "Syzygus" into my vocabulary right away. Especially Syzygus.
Benjamin Franklin lamented on the Philippians selection while sailing to Europe, and that's what he modeled his character sharpening journal after http://www.bibleweb.com/2006/02/benjamin-franklins-13-virtues.htm
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