the uncircumcised

September 20, 2020

The uncircumcised (Rom 2:26)

“Thus,

If those who are uncircumcised,

Keep the requirements

Of the law,

Will not their uncircumcision

Be regarded

As circumcision?”

ἐὰν οὖν ἡ ἀκροβυστία τὰ δικαιώματα τοῦ νόμου φυλάσσῃ, οὐχ ἡ ἀκροβυστία αὐτοῦ εἰς περιτομὴν λογισθήσεται;

Paul said that if those who are uncircumcised or with their foreskins (ἐὰν οὖν ἡ ἀκροβυστία), keep (φυλάσσῃ) the requirements (τὰ δικαιώματα) of the law (τοῦ νόμου), will not their uncircumcision (οὐχ ἡ ἀκροβυστία αὐτοῦ) be regarded (λογισθήσετα) as circumcision (εἰς περιτομὴν)?  Paul pointed out that if a non-circumcised male kept the comparable laws to the Torah, then they might be considered as circumcised.  Their uncircumcision would become circumcision by how they live their lives.  Using the thought of Paul, do you consider yourself a circumcised or uncircumcised Christian?

June 6, 2017

Pharaoh in the pit (Ezek 32:31-32:32)

“‘When Pharaoh

Sees them,

He will be consoled

For all his hordes.

Pharaoh

With all his army,

Will be killed

By the sword.’

Says Yahweh God.

‘He spread terror

In the land

Of the living.

Therefore,

He shall be laid

To rest

Among the uncircumcised.

He,

Pharaoh

With all his multitude,

Shall be laid

To rest

With those

Who are slain

By the sword.’

Says Yahweh God.”

Yahweh God was clear about Pharaoh. The king of Egypt thought that he would be consoled with all his own people. However, Pharaoh with all his army would be killed by the sword. He had spread terror in the land of the living. Thus, he with all his crowd will be laid to rest among the uncircumcised and those killed by the sword, in the dishonorable area of the pit.

June 5, 2017

Many people in the pit (Ezek 32:27-32:28)

“They do not lie

With the fallen warriors

Of long ago,

Who went down

To Sheol

With their weapons

Of war.

Their swords

Were laid

Under their heads.

Their shields

Are upon their bones.

The terror

Of the warriors

Was in the land

Of the living.

So,

You shall be broken.

You shall lie

Among the uncircumcised.

You shall lie

With those

Who were killed

By the sword.”

Although the fallen warriors of long ago also went down to Sheol, they, however, brought their weapons of war with them. Their swords were laid under their heads. Their shields were placed on their bones. Despite this honor in the shadowy underworld afterlife of Sheol, these good warriors had also brought terror in the land of the living. As for the Egyptians and their allies, they would be broken. They would lie in the bad section with the uncircumcised and those who were killed by the sword.

September 22, 2016

Wake up Zion (Isa 52:1-52:2)

“Awake!

Awake!

Put on your strength!

O Zion!

Put on your beautiful garments!

O Jerusalem!

The holy city!

The uncircumcised

Shall enter you no more!

The unclean

Shall enter you no more!

Shake yourself from the dust!

Rise up!

O captive Jerusalem!

Loose the bonds from your neck!

O captive daughter of Zion!”

Second Isaiah has a stirring call from Yahweh for Mount Zion, Jerusalem, to wake up. They had to put their strength on. They had to put on their beautiful garments. No longer would those foreign unclean and the uncircumcised people enter into Jerusalem. They had to shake off their dust and remove the chains around their necks. They were to rise up because they were no longer captives.