Hebrew Bible and Christian Scriptures

The phrase “to this day” is a common expression in Genesis.  It seems to be an etiological term informing the reader of the origins of some people, place or practice which was observable in their time.  Though when is still uncertain; it does raise the question of the perspective.

The angels take him by the hand to lead him out of the city when he tarries too long (Genesis 19:16)

            When Sodom’s wickedness is referred to the example most often cited is homosexuality.  This account is the basis for the word “sodomy.”  Yet, this does not seem to be the chief problem in this text.  In chapter 18 the Lord is responding to the “outcry” of the victims of Sodom, which seems to be a reference to oppression.  Albeit, homosexual gang rape would be about as an oppressive act as could be imagined, it would seem that oppression and injustice are the real problems.  This is further highlighted by the men’s intention to do greater harm to Lot as an “alien.”

Isn’t it neat how Jacob wrestles with God and how God meets Jacob and provides for Jacob.  In the New Testament Paul discusses how he has a “thorn” in his side.  Many people believe this thorn to be a disabilty or a limp when he walks.  I find it interesting that God provides people with these disabilities or injuries in order that these people will alwasy be humbled and remember God.

Genesis 29:1 “Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east”  What is meant by “the land of the sons of the east”?  Any ideas?

1 Chronicles:

• Chapter 1: Genealogy from Adam to Abraham
• Chapter 2: Genealogy from Jacob to David
• Chapter 3: Descendants of David
• Chapter 4: Descendants of Judah and Simeon
• Chapter 5: Descendants of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe Manasseh
• Chapter 6: Descendants of Levi
• Chapter 7: Descendants of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher
• Chapter 8: A genealogy of Saul (who was from Benjamin)
• Chapter 9: A genealogy of the returned exiles and Saul’s genealogy is repeated

Comments: It is overwhelming that the first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles are comprised of genealogies. This must have taken a lot of work and time to put together.  What was the purpose of these genealogies? The genealogies do chronicle the rich heritage that the people had and shows how the covenant was passed down from generation to generation.  There is a considerable amount of repetition though which makes me think that whoever recorded these texts fell asleep and forgot what they wrote down, or combined some previous texts to form this one.

Chapter 10:

• The Israelites fought the Philistines on mount Gilboa and lost. Jonathan and Saul’s sons along with Saul were killed.
• The people of Jabesh-gilead came and took Saul’s body away (minus the head which the Philistines put in Dagon’s temple)

Chatper 11:

• David is anointed king at Hebron.
• David took the city of Jebus on Mt. Zion and made it his stronghold.
• Joab went up first and so became David’s commander.
• David’s mighty men are recorded.
• Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the 30 mighty men.
• Benaiah was over David’s bodyguard.
  • Uriah the Hittite was one of David’s mighty men.

Chapter 12:

• It seems like a different list of the 30 is given.  What is this about?
• A list of David’s army is given. (It’s huge!)

Chatper 13:

• David consults his officers and the ark is brought from Kiriath-Jearim.
• Uzzah reaches out and steadies the ark when they are carrying it and dies. David had a huge celebration for the ark, but left it at the house of Obed-edom after Uzzah dies.

Chapter 14:

• Hiram king of Tyre send David materials for a palace and David takes many wives and has many children.
• David then went out and defeated the Philistines.

Chapter 15:

• David then built a tent for the ark and had it placed there.
• David had the Levites plan on bringing the ark to Jerusalem.
• David danced before the ark and Michal, the daughter of Saul, despised him.

Chapter 16:

• The ark is placed in the tent and David appoints Levites to officiate over it.
• David then offers a song of praise to the Lord

Chapter 17:

• Nathan comes to David and tells him that he will bless him and make his name great and his descendants will be great.  But, the Lord does not permit him to build the temple.
  • Comments: Here God does not tell David not to build the temple, and he does not give any reasons as to why David should not be the one to build the temple.
  • David then prays to the Lord and tells him how great He is.

Chapter 18:

• David defeated the Philistines, Moabites, and other places. The Lord gave him victory wherever he went.
• David reigned over all Israel with justice and equity.
  • Comments: The writer seems to want to draw the reader back to a perfect time in the land of Israel and he seems a bit nostalgic about what happened.

Chapter 19:

• David tries to comfort the king of the Ammonites whose father died, but the prince disgraces David’s men by cutting off their beards.
• Joab and his brother Abishai defeated the Ammonites and Syrians.

Chapter 20:

• David’s men go and capture Rabbah and kill the Philistine giants.
• One of David’s brothers kills Goliath’s brother.

Chapter 21:

• Satan provokes David to take a census.
  • Comments: It seems interesting that the author says that Satan was the one who tempted David and led to his mistake.
  • Joab is seen as despising the census but David overruled him.
  • God then struck Israel, and David realized he had sinned.
  • Gad, the seer, comes and tells David that God has given him 3 options. David picks the 3 days of punishment from the hand of the Lord.
  • David then offers sacrifices at the threshing floor of Ornan.

Chapter 22:

• David makes plans for the temple and puts Solomon in charge of it.
• David says that the Lord would not permit him to build the temple because he had shed so much blood.
• David charges Solomon and the people to build the ark.

Chapter 23:

• David makes Solomon king over Israel.
• David organizes the Levites and gives them positions.
  • Comments: This seems a lot like Jethro’s advice to Moses to organize the people and give authority to some.

Chapter 24:

• David organizes the priests

Chapter 25:

• David organizes the musicians.

Chapter 26:

• David organizes the gatekeepers and treasurers.

Chapter 27:

• The author lists those in charge of military divisions and lists the leaders of the tribes.

Chapter 28:

• David assembled the people and charges them to build the temple and listen to Solomon who he made king.  He also tells them to obey all the commands the Lord gave them.
  • Comments: This charge seems very similar to the one that Moses and Joshua give the people when they depart.
  • David charges Solomon to seek the Lord and gives him the plan for the temple.

Chapter 29:

• David explains to the people what he has done and then gives all his riches to the temple which is going to be built. The people and David rejoice.
• David thanks the Lord and prays to Him.
• David reigned 40 years then died.
• The accounts of David are written in the Chronicles of Samuel, the Chronicles of Nathan, and the Chronicles of Gad.

I am serving as Pastor of a small church just outside of Glen Rose, TX.  The church is Rainbow Baptist Church (yes I know all the good and bad that goes with that name), it is a small country church with some of the most rural and real people I have ever met!  I grew up in a small town so this is right up my alley.  I haved as a youth minister, music minister, and Young Adult minister in my time in the ministry.  I was ordained on Novermber 5th, 2005 at FBC Longview.

I did my undergraduate at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.  I graduated with a BA in Religion and minor in music.

After Truett, I intend to do what I am doing now.  I love the pastorate (especially preaching), and I feel like this is my lifelong calling.  I have toyed with doing doctrial work of some kind, but at this point I (and my wife) are ready to be done with schooling (being as we have a 5 year old, almost 2 year old, and are planning on adopting from Africa (possibly as early as this summer).

This course can help me in the study of the latter portion of the Hebrew Bible.  I thoroughly enjoy the OT and feel like it needs to be preached as much as the NT, because it is a unified work that has relevance for all of life!

Brad Reedy!

BIO

I grew up in a small town in Arkansas (Stuttgart). My dad is a pastor of a Southern Baptist Church there. My mom has always been the church pianist, children’s choir teacher, etc. Needless to say, I was involved in anything and everything by default. I began leading worship in the church as a junior high student, and have been leading in some capacity since that point. I currently serve as worship pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church here in Waco.

COLLEGE/DEGREE/GOALS

I attended Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR from 2002-2006, where I obtained a degree in Music. I’m currently working on my MTS here at Truett. I plan on continuing my work in the Church on the music side of things unless God has other plans for me! I’m also working on a CD project right now that I hope to release near the end of the fall.

HOPES FOR COURSE

I hope to gain a better understanding of the OT in this class and get all of the dates/time periods/stories straight in my head.

I found it interesting how the author of I Chronicles paints an extremely impressive linage of David to Solomon minus all the baby momma drama beginning with I Chronicles 20:1-3. What takes approximately ten chapters to express in 2 Samuel 11-20 (the Bathsheba event and the domino effect that follows) is summarized with a nice bow for easy consumption and authorial intent. It reminds me of a code of conduct I learned from my mom growing up: “Son if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” In my mind, I Chronicles 20:1-3 is truly dressed to impress.

I am a baptist minister currently attending Truett Seminary for an MDIV with a concentration in Theology. My family and I have been a member of The Church Without Walls (Dr. Ralph D. West, Sr, Senior Pastor and Founder) in Houston, TX since February 2001. On June 25, 2002 I surrendered to the calling on my life for ministry, and received my license as a minister on November 30, 2006 under the leadership of my pastor Dr. Ralph D. West. I have served in various ministries at TCWW including the roles of Coordinator and Facilitator of the Men’s Discipleship Ministry. Since attending Truett, my family and I joined Antioch Missionary Baptist Church (Dr. Delvin A. Atchison I, Senior Pastor) in December 2008. I serve in the college ministry at Antioch. I have a B.S. in Computer Science from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX.

As for career plans after Truett, I am open to whatever and wherever God desires for me to serve. I believe God has called me to the pastoral ministry. Yet I know God works in mysterious ways and he has the final say so in such matters. I believe this course can best serve me by digging into the theological, social and cultural issues of the text. I desire to grasp the intention of the text intended for the original audience, the ability to identify the differences between the biblical audience and us today, identify the theological principles in the text and finally make the transition to application of those theological principles to Christians today.