the right way

March 13, 2018

The fourth beatitude about righteousness (Mt 5:6-5:6)

“Blessed are

Those who hunger for righteousness,

Those who thirst for righteousness,

They shall be filled.”

 

μακάριοι οἱ πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσοντ

 

The happy, blessed, and fortunate ones (μακάριοι) were those who hungered and thirsted for righteousness (οἱ πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην).  They would not go away empty handed.  They would be satisfied or filled (ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσοντ).  Isaiah, chapter 55:1-2 has an invitation to those without money to come to drink and eat.  They could have water, wine, milk and bread.  They would enjoy themselves at this banquet.  Matthew may have been referencing Psalm 107:4-9, where Yahweh had helped a small group of lost Israelites who were hungry and thirsty, while wandering in the desert.  He satisfied their thirst and filled their hunger with good food.  In their distress, they called out to Yahweh, who heard them.  He led them in a straight path to an inhabited town.  Thus, they gave thanks to Yahweh.  So too, those who hungered and thirsted for righteousness, the right way of doing things, would be satisfied or filled with this righteousness.

October 7, 2016

Yahweh reaches out (Isa 65:1-65:2)

“I was ready to be sought out

By those who did not ask.

I was ready to be found

By those who did not seek me.

I said.

‘Here I am!

Here I am!’

To a nation

That did not call on my name.

I held out my hands

All day long

To a rebellious people.

They walk in a way

That is not good.

They follow their own devices.”

The response of Yahweh is that he is trying to reach out to the Israelites. He was ready and willing to go to those who were not even asking for or seeking him. Yahweh had replied that he was there for a nation that did not even called his name. Yahweh held out his hands all day long to these rebellious people. They did not walk the right way, since they followed their own devices and their own ways.

July 27, 2015

The sin of Job is rebellion (Job 34:31-34:37)

“Has anyone said to God?

‘I have endured punishment.

I will not offend anymore.

Teach me what I do not see.

If I have done iniquity,

I will do it no more.’

Will he then pay back to suit you

Because you reject it?

You must choose!

Not I!

Therefore declare what you know.

Those who have sense will say to me.

The wise who hear me will say.

‘Job speaks without knowledge.

His words are without insight.’

Would that Job were tried to the limit,

Because his answers are those of the wicked.

He adds rebellion to his sin.

He claps his hands among us.

He multiplies his words against God.”

If only Job had said that he would not offend God anymore, he might have been all right. If only he had asked God what he did wrong, so that he could learn the right way. Those with any knowledge at all would say that Job spoke without knowledge. He was dumb. His words had no insight. He answered like a wicked man. He seemed to be rebellious against God in a lot of what he said. This is the accusation of Elihu against Job.