Tag Archives: Hebrew Scriptures
Justice in the Scriptures
Prophets: Part Two Justice in the Scriptures Sunday, July 7, 2019 Let me expand on our secular and limited definition of justice which for most Westerners is merely retributive justice. When people on the news say, “We want justice!” they normally mean that bad deeds should be punished or that they want vengeance. Our judicial,… Continue Reading Justice in the Scriptures
Understanding the Prophet
Prophets: Part One Understanding the Prophet Sunday, June 30, 2019 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their faces, with two they… Continue Reading Understanding the Prophet
Human Development in Scripture
Growing in Christ: Week 2 Human Development in Scripture Tuesday, March 26, 2019 Walter Brueggemann, one of my favorite Scripture scholars, brilliantly connects the development of the Hebrew Scriptures with the development of human consciousness. [1] Brueggemann says there are three major parts of the Hebrew Scriptures: the Torah, the Prophets, and the Wisdom Literature.… Continue Reading Human Development in Scripture
Jesus’ Hermeneutic
Jesus and the Bible Jesus’ Hermeneutic Wednesday, January 9, 2019 Jesus’ approach to interpreting sacred text was radical for his time, yet honored his own Hebrew Bible (or what Christians call the Old Testament). Even though Jesus’ use of Scripture is plain enough for us to see in the Gospels, many Christians are accustomed to… Continue Reading Jesus’ Hermeneutic
An Evolving Faith
Judaism An Evolving Faith Thursday, August 30, 2018 [We come into this world to] align our souls with God: The relationship between God and soul is analogous to that between the sun and its rays. We are the extension of God in time and space. How, then, can we be misaligned with God? Misalignment is… Continue Reading An Evolving Faith
Absolutes
Judaism Absolutes Wednesday, August 29, 2018 God reveals the essence of divinity to Moses: ehyeh asher ehyeh, most often translated as I AM what I AM [Exodus 3:14]. A more accurate Hebrew translation would be “I will be whatever I will be.” In either case, the Hasidic understanding of the text is the same: God… Continue Reading Absolutes
Prophetic Honesty
Judaism Prophetic Honesty Tuesday, August 28, 2018 Divine knowledge is always rooted in the details of ordinary life. The aim of all knowledge or visionary ecstasy is to increase the power of hesed [steadfast love] and compassionate action. . . . It is alive with the awareness of the holiness of Creation and the boundlessness… Continue Reading Prophetic Honesty
A Gracious God
Judaism A Gracious God Monday, August 27, 2018 For most of human history God was not viewed as having a likeable, much less lovable, character. That’s why every “theophany” in the Bible (an event where God manifests in visible reality) begins with the same words. Whenever an angel or God breaks into human life, the… Continue Reading A Gracious God
Wholeness
Gender and Sexuality: Week 1 Wholeness Monday, April 16, 2018 In the Hebrew Scriptures, prior to the influence of the Platonic dualism that deemed body as bad and spirit as good, there is a much more integrated notion of the human being. The biblical writers believed that the divine breath, breathed into Adam and Eve,… Continue Reading Wholeness
Human Development in Scripture
Growing in Love’s Likeness Human Development in Scripture Monday, March 26, 2018 It is helpful for us to know about the whole arc of life and where it is leading. Walter Brueggemann, one of my favorite scripture scholars, brilliantly connects the development of the Hebrew Scriptures with the development of human consciousness. [1] Brueggemann identifies… Continue Reading Human Development in Scripture
