I'm back - so soon? Yes! Praise God. Chapter 10 was fun. Let's see what 11 brings us.
Wisdom of Solomon
Back to Moses and the history of the Israelites wandering in circles in the desert. (On a side note, I think Jewish humility and oversensitivity comes from the embarassment of some of their behavior in the Old Testament. Not sure why anyone would think they would purposely brag about being God's chosen people. They're responsible for all the wrath.)
I don't even know what verse one means. "Wisdom prospered their works by the hand of a holy prophet." The prophet being Moses, of course. Another personification of Wisdom with power. I guess wisdom was given to Moses that helped them survive? I hardly call a 40-year circular journey in a desert marked by complaining and idol worship prospering.
Verses 9 and 10 are true, and popular concepts. I like verse 11 although I'm not sure of their subject. "Whether absent or present, they were equally distressed." How true of God.
Verse 14 is surprisingly Messianic in flavor. I'm not sure of who this author is referring to though.
"One is punished by the very things by which he sins." This is true - He doesn't ask us to give up that which is good for us! I am certainly punished by my sins and the sins of others.
What's the deal with the dragon imagery in 18 & 19? That's weird.
Verse 23 is a a great and accurate praise - also full of the truth of Jesus. "Thou dost overlook men's sins, that they may repent." I wish people in my life knew how to do that. I pray I may continue to do that. Some may call it perverse masochistic passivity. I call it walking like Jesus.
I think verse 24 falls a little short in poetic language though. It's not terribly sophisticated. Hardly the words of a wise poetic, educated King - more like the logic of a pre-schooler. "You love everything you made because you wouldn't make anything you hated." I suppose it's comforting in a time of need, when you're feeling low in self-esteem. We've all got faces and souls only the Lord could love.
The Lord loves the living and the dying. He is ever renewing us so we may press on, persevere, and preserve abundant life. He is a good God.
Praise His name!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Blogging the Apocrypha - Wisdom of Solomon 10
Wisdom of Solomon
Chapter 10.
Sorry it's been so long...been busy at work. And at night - teaching ESL, discipline, accountability group, Fire, social events...awesome! All good things. Praise and thank God for gainful employment! Working as unto the Lord...
I re-read my last post and just praise God for answered prayer. Lord, you are good, and your mercy endures forever.
Even though I have been under emotional and physical attack (and sometimes verbal!) the last few weeks, I feel as though I my foundation is stronger, my feet more planted, my heart more at peace with Him.
Miss our talks about the Apocrypha? Let's have another...
This chapter is whack. Yes, I said it, "whack."
Following the theology/logic of the opening verses, Adam was protected by and delivered by Wisdom - who can not be God as "she" is notedly personified female. (Although we see the same in Proverbs 1:20 as well.) Let us not be confused by this - the Lord God gave Adam his work to do, (subdue the earth and rule it,) forgave Adam, and delivered Him to a new land. This is a mis-attribution of blessings and power.
Also, Cain did not perish after he slew his brother, he (Genesis 4:16) "went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden."
Laughing at verse four; I'm quite sure Noah's ark was larger and more well constructed than a "paltry piece of wood." He built it over 100 years.
Not sure, but perhaps verse five refers to Abraham and Isaac? The beginning of Wisdom and Knowledge is fear of the Lord, (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7,) so perhaps Abraham's fear of the Lord won out over his compassion for his child so that he was willing to sacrifice his child? My best guess...makes sense though! (At last!)
Perhaps the author is boasting of his knowledge of Scripture by generalizing the use of Wisdom across the ages with the most popular of Bible stories. (I'm not impressed.) - Verses 6 -8 refer to Lot and his wife. Although it is quite funny to imagine a pillar of salt being a monument to an unbelieving soul - it would have wasted away quite quickly with the elements - not really a lasting tribute.
There is a redeeming note here "because they passed wisdom by, they...were hindered from recognizing the good." Wisdom is the knowledge of good and evil. We must know both. Ignorance does not bring pleasure.
I can not agree with verse 9 - Wisdom rescued from troubles those who served her. Wisdom (misused) and knowledge (misused) has been the devil's instrument, and our worship of it, instead of our worship of God, has gotten us into trouble. Also, the Lord is the rescuer of His servants, most notably Jesus, who suffered the most, (for our sake,) - his troubles did not pass Him by, but He walked through them for us. What Wisdom is that! Only Divine, which confounds the world. (1 Corinthians 1:25)
Further on in the history of the Jews - I believe 10-12 is about Jacob, 13-14 is about Joseph. 15-20 is about the Israelites and the Lord using Moses to lead them through the Red Sea and the aquatic death of the pursuing Egyptian enslavers. Again, this fantastic feat is attributed to the female Wisdom and not to our Father God. So strange. The language in 20 and 21 isn't even clear - perhaps a translation issue. "They sang hymns to thy holy name...because wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb..." Again the separation of Wisdom and the Lord. Why not just say God, all-wise, or the Omniscient One?
Further proof of this "bunk-ery"!
(Yes..."bunk-ery.")
God bless us with His wisdom and His mercy - truly sufficient. Our cups runneth over.
Chapter 10.
Sorry it's been so long...been busy at work. And at night - teaching ESL, discipline, accountability group, Fire, social events...awesome! All good things. Praise and thank God for gainful employment! Working as unto the Lord...
I re-read my last post and just praise God for answered prayer. Lord, you are good, and your mercy endures forever.
Even though I have been under emotional and physical attack (and sometimes verbal!) the last few weeks, I feel as though I my foundation is stronger, my feet more planted, my heart more at peace with Him.
Miss our talks about the Apocrypha? Let's have another...
This chapter is whack. Yes, I said it, "whack."
Following the theology/logic of the opening verses, Adam was protected by and delivered by Wisdom - who can not be God as "she" is notedly personified female. (Although we see the same in Proverbs 1:20 as well.) Let us not be confused by this - the Lord God gave Adam his work to do, (subdue the earth and rule it,) forgave Adam, and delivered Him to a new land. This is a mis-attribution of blessings and power.
Also, Cain did not perish after he slew his brother, he (Genesis 4:16) "went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden."
Laughing at verse four; I'm quite sure Noah's ark was larger and more well constructed than a "paltry piece of wood." He built it over 100 years.
Not sure, but perhaps verse five refers to Abraham and Isaac? The beginning of Wisdom and Knowledge is fear of the Lord, (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7,) so perhaps Abraham's fear of the Lord won out over his compassion for his child so that he was willing to sacrifice his child? My best guess...makes sense though! (At last!)
Perhaps the author is boasting of his knowledge of Scripture by generalizing the use of Wisdom across the ages with the most popular of Bible stories. (I'm not impressed.) - Verses 6 -8 refer to Lot and his wife. Although it is quite funny to imagine a pillar of salt being a monument to an unbelieving soul - it would have wasted away quite quickly with the elements - not really a lasting tribute.
There is a redeeming note here "because they passed wisdom by, they...were hindered from recognizing the good." Wisdom is the knowledge of good and evil. We must know both. Ignorance does not bring pleasure.
I can not agree with verse 9 - Wisdom rescued from troubles those who served her. Wisdom (misused) and knowledge (misused) has been the devil's instrument, and our worship of it, instead of our worship of God, has gotten us into trouble. Also, the Lord is the rescuer of His servants, most notably Jesus, who suffered the most, (for our sake,) - his troubles did not pass Him by, but He walked through them for us. What Wisdom is that! Only Divine, which confounds the world. (1 Corinthians 1:25)
Further on in the history of the Jews - I believe 10-12 is about Jacob, 13-14 is about Joseph. 15-20 is about the Israelites and the Lord using Moses to lead them through the Red Sea and the aquatic death of the pursuing Egyptian enslavers. Again, this fantastic feat is attributed to the female Wisdom and not to our Father God. So strange. The language in 20 and 21 isn't even clear - perhaps a translation issue. "They sang hymns to thy holy name...because wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb..." Again the separation of Wisdom and the Lord. Why not just say God, all-wise, or the Omniscient One?
Further proof of this "bunk-ery"!
(Yes..."bunk-ery.")
God bless us with His wisdom and His mercy - truly sufficient. Our cups runneth over.
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