Reading from Wednesday, October 27

What's up chummos?

Reading for October 27
Jeremiah 51:1-53
God continues to lay out the punishment which will be inflicted on Babylon. And why is this punishment due to Babylon? Because they slaughtered thousands of Jews.

⁴⁹ “Babylon must fall because of Israel’s slain,
   just as the slain in all the earth
   have fallen because of Babylon.

Now, I'm all for justice. If Babylon is guilty of these crimes, then so should they be punished. And you know what, I was just about to say "where is the justice for Israel's sins?" Then I realized what a stupid question that is. Not only did the Jews suffer at the hands of foreign nations, they suffered at the hand of their own God. Not to mention the justice that was wrought on Jesus for their sins - as well as everyone elses. It is only now that he is reaching down and intervening with a helpful hand. 

Also, its interesting to think about God coming up with all this flowery language of how he will destroy the nation of Babylon and all these other nations who are somehow worthy of his fury, only to bring them the ultimate salvation a couple hundred years later. All knowing?

Titus 2:1-15
How to conduct yourself as a Christian, according to Paul:

 ³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

 ⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷ In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

I like most of that. I still struggle with the women being subject to the man. I think the intention is well meaning in Paul's writings, but give a man an incling of power and he will take the entire boat load. It is when this verse is misinterpreted (as with many other verses in the Bible) that we run into trouble. The important thing is to look at verses 6 and 7 after reading verse 5. Yes, your wife will be subject to you, but your task is to not be a dick about it - that's paraphrasing of course.


Psalm 99:1-9
This kinda sums up what I was saying about the stuff from Jeremiah:

⁸ LORD our God,
   you answered them;
you were to Israel a forgiving God,
   though you punished their misdeeds.

Proverbs 26:17
 ¹⁷ Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
   is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. 

Tired. Goodnight.