where

March 22, 2017

The priests and the idols (Bar 6:48-6:52)

“When war

Or calamity

Comes upon them,

The priests consult together

As to where

They can

Hide themselves

With their gods.

How then can anyone

Fail to see

That these are not gods?

They cannot save themselves

From war

Or calamity.

They are made of wood,

Overlaid

With gold

Or silver.

It will afterward

Be known

That they are false.

It will be manifest

To all the nations,

To all the kings,

That they are not gods

But the work of human hands.

There is no work

Of God

In them.

Who then can fail

To know

That they are not gods?”

What happens when war or calamity comes to these priests and their idol gods? The priests consult together on where they can hide themselves with their gods. All can see that these are not gods. They cannot save themselves from either war or calamity, since they are made of wood, overlaid with gold or silver. Afterwards, everyone will know that these were false gods. It is will be clear to all the nations and all the kings that they are not gods. As they were the work of human hands, there is no work of God in them. This author asked the question, who would not recognize that these idols are not gods?

March 6, 2017

Introduction to this wisdom poem (Bar 3:9-3:14)

“Hear the commandments of life!

O Israel!

Give ear!

Learn wisdom!

Why is it?

O Israel!

Why is it

That you are

In the land

Of your enemies?

Why are you growing old

In a foreign country?

Why are you defiled

With the dead?

Why are you counted

Among those in Hades?

You have forsaken

The fountain of wisdom.

If you had walked

In the way of God,

You would be living

In peace forever.

Learn

Where there is wisdom!

Learn

Where there is strength!

Learn

Where there is understanding!

Thus you may

At the same time

Discern!

Where is there length of days?

Where is there life?

Where is there light for the eyes?

Where is there peace?”

Now we have an introduction to a poem about wisdom. Israel was to hear about the commandments of life. They were to listen to learn about wisdom. Why were they growing old in the land of their enemies? Why were they defiled like dead people in Hades. Why were they forgotten, when they could have had wisdom if they had walked in the ways of God. They could be living in everlasting peace. They had to learn where wisdom, strength, and understanding were. Thus they could have a peaceful long life, with light for their eyes.

January 20, 2017

Johanan asks Jeremiah for help (Jer 42:1-42:3)

“Then all the commanders

Of the forces,

With Johanan,

The son of Kareah,

Also with Azariah,

The son of Hoshaiah,

All the people,

From the least

To the greatest,

Approached

The prophet Jeremiah.

They said to him.

‘Be good enough

To listen

To our plea!

Pray to Yahweh!

Your God!

For us!

For all this remnant!

There are only a few

Of us left

Out of the many,

As you can see.

Let Yahweh

Your God

Show us

Where we should go!

What we should do!’”

Apparently this small group of Judeans, with the leaders Johanan and Azariah decided to approach Jeremiah. As he had been released to the protection of Governor Gedaliah, he probably was at Mizpah while the attack of Ishmael had taken place. Thus he was with the freed group at Gibeon. Interesting enough, they referred to Yahweh as Jeremiah’s God not their God. They wanted Jeremiah to intercede for them with Yahweh, as Moses had done centuries earlier. They were only a small group or remnant of what had been many people. They wanted to know where they should go and what to do. Like the preceding chapter, this section has a different numbered chapter in the Greek translation of the Septuagint, chapters 49 and 50, not chapter 42 as here.

August 29, 2016

Isaiah confronts King Hezekiah (Isa 39:3-39:4)

“Then the prophet Isaiah

Came to King Hezekiah.

He said to him.

‘What did these men say?

From where did they come to you?’

King Hezekiah answered.

‘They have come to me

From a far country,

From Babylon.’

He said.

‘What have they seen in your house?’

King Hezekiah answered.

‘They have seen all

That is in my house.

There is nothing in my storehouses

That I did not show them.’”

Once again, this is almost word for word from 2 Kings, chapter 20. King Hezekiah had been very generous to these Babylonian envoys. He had showed them all the treasures of his realm, when they came to see him about his recovery from an illness. Isaiah wanted to know who these visitors were and where they came from. King Hezekiah explained that they were from the far country of Babylon. Then Isaiah wanted to know what they saw. King Hezekiah replied that he had showed them just about everything in his house.

May 21, 2016

Wisdom at creation (Sir 24:3-24:7)

“‘I came forth

From the mouth of the Most High.

I covered the earth like a mist.

I dwelt in the highest heaven.

My throne was in a pillar of cloud.

Alone,

I compassed the vault of heaven.

I traversed the depths of the abyss.

Over waves of the sea,

Over all the earth,

Over every people,

Over every nation,

I have held sway.

Among all these,

I sought a resting place.

In whose territory

Should I abide?’”

Sirach has wisdom personally speak in the first person singular. She seems to come directly from the mouth of the Most High God, like the spirit of God, what Christians would later call the Holy Spirit. She covered the earth like a mist. She was in the highest heaven on a throne in a cloud pillar. She was alone in the vault of heaven and walked in the depths of the sea. She was in charge of everything, earth and sea, peoples and nations. She was looking for a resting place where she might live. She wanted to know where this might be.

March 19, 2016

The lover is gone (Song 6:1-6:1)

Chorus

“Where has your beloved gone?

O fairest among women!

Which way has your beloved turned?

We may seek him with you.”

This chorus of the Jerusalem daughters wanted to know where her lover had gone. They wanted to help her find him, since she was the fairest among all women. However, they needed some guidance.

March 16, 2016

Found lover (Song 3:4-3:4)

Female lover

“Scarcely had I passed the sentinels,

When I found him

Whom my soul loves.

I held him.

I would not let him go

Until I had brought him

Into my mother’s house.

I brought him

Into the chamber

Of her that conceived me.”

This female lover finds her male lover but does not say where he was found. It was right after she had met the sentinel watchmen. However, she would not let him go. She brought him to her mother’s house into the room where she had been conceived. This is a strong move by woman driven by love.

December 26, 2015

Yahweh is present everywhere (Ps 139:7-139:12)

“Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven,

You are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol,

You are there!

If I take the wings of the morning,

If I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

Even there your hand shall lead me.

Your right hand shall hold me fast.

If I say.

‘Surely the darkness shall cover me.

The light around becomes night.’

Even the darkness is not dark to you.

The night is as bright as the day.

The darkness is as light to you.”

David wanted to know where he could go to avoid the presence of Yahweh. He wanted to know where he could go without Yahweh’s spirit not being there. If he went to heaven, obviously Yahweh would be there. However, he also said that if he went down to Sheol, the underworld of eternal darkness, Yahweh would be there also. If he flew to the farthest place in the sky or the sea, Yahweh would still be there. His hand held him tightly. Even in darkness he could not escape. For Yahweh, there was no difference between day and night, he had infra-red vision to see him whether it was dark or not. Thus the presence of Yahweh was everywhere. He was omnipresent.

July 30, 2015

Yahweh questions Job about creation (Job 38:4-38:7)

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me!

Do you have understanding?

Who determined its measurements?

Surely you know!

Who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk?

Who laid its cornerstone?

When the morning stars sang together,

All the heavenly beings shouted for joy.”

Clearly this is an enclosed finished creation. This is not an expanding concept of creation. There was a foundation, a cornerstone, measurements, and bases. The earthly creation was like a large building, like a temple. God was the master contractor builder. God asked Job where he was when creation was happening. He probably has no response. Who did all the measurements? Certainly not Job. Who laid the brick lines, the bases, or cornerstones. It certainly was not Job. However, all the heavenly beings sang and shouted for joy. Job was not among them.

July 15, 2015

The ironic response of Job (Job 26:1-26:4)

“Then Job answered.

‘How you have helped one who has no power!

How you have saved the arm that has no strength!

How you have counseled one who has no wisdom!

How you have given much good advice!

With whose help have you uttered words?

Whose spirit has come forth from you?’”

Job was upset again. He asked Bildad where he got his power and strength. How could he counsel someone who has no wisdom? How can you save a useless arm? How could he have good advice? Who helped him come up with his words? Where did his spirit come from? Job is now sarcastic with him.