the choice flour

April 20, 2017

Using Yahweh’s gifts to worship other gods (Ezek 16:17-16:19)

“‘You also took

Your beautiful jewels

Of my gold,

Of my silver,

That I had given you.

You made for yourself

Male images.

You played

The whore

With them.

You took

Your embroidered garments

To cover them.

You set my oil

Before them.

You set my incense

Before them.

You set my bread

That I gave you,

That I had fed you

With choice flour,

With oil,

With honey,

Before them

As a pleasing odor.

So it was.’

Says Yahweh God.”

Yahweh said that this young girl Jerusalem took the beautiful silver and gold jewels that he had given her and then made male images, so that she could play the whore with them. She covered them with her embroidered garments. She set Yahweh’s oil and incense before them. She took the bread, the choice flour, the oil, and the honey that Yahweh had given her to put as a pleasing odor before her new gods. Yahweh had spoken clearly.

June 3, 2016

Law and sacrifice (Sir 35:1-35:5)

“Whoever keeps the law,

Makes many offerings.

Whoever heeds the commandments

Makes an offering of well-being.

Whoever returns a kindness

Offers choice fine flour.

Whoever gives alms

Sacrifices a thank offering.

To keep from wickedness

Is pleasing to the Lord.

To forsake unrighteousness

Is atonement.”

Sirach reminds us of the connection between keeping the law and offering the sacrificial rites. If you keep the law, you are like offering many sacrifices. If you keep the commandments, you are making the equivalent of a well-being or peace offering. When you return a kindness to someone, offer them the choice flour. If you give alms, you are like making a thanksgiving sacrifice. Whenever you keep from wickedness, you are pleasing to the Lord. When you stay away from unrighteousness, you are making an atonement for your sins. Keeping the law is like offering sacrifices.