April 28, 2012

Judges 8:17-9:21; Luke 23:44-24:12; Psalm 99:1-9; Proverbs 14:9-10 (Good News Translation)

Judges 8/9

27 Gideon made an idol from the gold and put it in his hometown, Ophrah. All the Israelites abandoned God and went there to worship the idol. It was a trap for Gideon and his family.
(what is up with these people?  Gideon here at the end of a battle won by the hand fo the Lord he builds an alter with the plunder God has given him.  Even in my waywardness i never turn my worship so another god. Before I seem proud and haughty I know that my actions are a form of worship to another god even if i don't call it as such.  But these people I don't understand.)

5 He went to his father's house at Ophrah, and there on top of a single stone he killed his seventy brothers, Gideon's sons. But Jotham, Gideon's youngest son, hid and was not killed.

(Jotham then told this story:)
8 Once upon a time the trees went out to choose a king for themselves.
Olive tree - which is used to honor gods and human beings (honor)
Fig Tree - taste fruit
Grape vine - makes wine, that makes gods and human beings happy.
( so much talk in the bible about wine.  He is another example of how wine makes people and god's happy.  Yet a little "g" on that god.  Who are these gods.  Is this story encouraging drinking for the purpose of making ones self "happy" or is it merrily stating the facts?)

(I am trying to understand how to view this story.  At 1st it appears to have a good message that should be taken to heart.  Yet then things like the reference to these items resembles pagan worship.  The little "g" in god.  Wine to make us "happy." Who is Jotham anyway.  What he a boy that followed after God's heart or was he just a pagan son that just lost all his brothers grasping for something to save his life.  As a young boy he may have only lived during the time his Father too was under pagan worship of this idol he has made).

Luke 23/24

4 They stood there puzzled about this, when suddenly two men in bright shining clothes stood by them.

7The Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and three days later rise to life.
(Praise God.  The Lord is so gracious in light of how dimly we see him on this earth.  for the women would have walked away without hope if it had not been for these to heavenly beings.)

Psalm 99

8 O Lord, our God, you answered your people;
      you showed them that you are a God who forgives,
      even though you punished them for their sins.
(Again I praise you that punishment must come with forgiveness of sin.  At times you extend mercy yet we must reap what we sow.)
Proverbs 14
 10 Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you.

(I don't get this.  Your joy and bitterness is your own.  Yet both we carry with us and effect the people around us.  Lord help me to understand this one.)