Reading from Sunday, August 1

Alright, post numero dos for the evening.

Reading for August 1
2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21
I know there's a point where the kingdom of Israel reunites, and I think this may be the start of it. Hezekiah had just finished rebuilding the Temple and was now trying to organize a huge celebration of Passover. Based on the way this was written, it seems like Passover hadn't been celebrated in a very long time. When he decided on the day and time, he sent out messengers to both Judah and Israel, inviting them to this huge celebration which would be occurring, but also to win them back into the graces of God. Many of the people mocked and cursed these messengers, sticking to their old ways of turning away from God. But many others had come back to the Lord and came and celebrated the Passover in a huge group.

The celebration was scheduled to last seven days, but when those seven days ended, it says that they decided to go another seven days. The joy of those two weeks must have been unparalleled in any of these people's lifetimes. Very cool.

Romans 15:1-22
More evidence that one of the Old Testament's main purposes is to give us an appreciation of how great we have it.

⁴For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

I can totally get behind that idea, and barring a few MAJOR mental hurdles, this explains God's viciousness in the OT. One of my hurdles is the idea that people of the past were hurt, tortured, and often killed - and what purpose does that serve? To make me feel better about my position in life? That's not cool.

Like if someone gave me a Macbook pro and a brand new video camera for free I'd be so freaking happy. But then the person told me that he killed 10 people to get it, I wouldn't want it...that analogy doesn't work perfectly, but do you see what I mean? Those people's suffering is on my head. They suffered, unwillingly, at the hands of a seriously powerful, and outrageously pissed off deity, so I could live comfortably. I don't like it.

The only way I think it would make sense for me is if the entire Old Testament was theoretical. The biggest rhetorical question of all time, only in place to give you a sense of what it would be like without Christ. But then if you take the OT as a fairy tale, that trivalizes God and everything that happened before that made Jesus' sacrifice so impactful.

I think I'm talking in circles.


Psalm 25:1-15
 ¹⁰ All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
       for those who keep the demands of his covenant.
¹⁴ The LORD confides in those who fear him;
       he makes his covenant known to them.

I know I made this point a couple of days ago, but look how conditional God's love was before Christ. Each statement of love from God is followed with an if statement. God loves you IF you behave. Which implies that he hates those who are naughty.

God proves himself wrong by sending Jesus to die for everybody. Not just the people who obeyed, but for the people who defiantly disobeyed. He died for the worst people in the world. What a change of heart for a God to have. That's pretty incredible.

Proverbs 20:13-15
 ¹³ Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
       stay awake and you will have food to spare.
 ¹⁴ "It's no good, it's no good!" says the buyer;
       then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.
 ¹⁵ Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
       but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

OK, goodnight.