Monthly Archives: November 2017

From a conversation with a totally animated man – who has just heard a sermon by a well known Canadian TV preacher.

“I didn’t know this.  The preacher said that the Bible was written in Latin.  And Martin Luther King translated it into English.”

Now, I realize that learning something new changes us.  Our perspectives are challenged.  With the rocking of our boat, we can then learn to walk on water or we can just wait to see what happens.

In this case, I am thinking a waiting attitude would be a good idea, as compared to acting on the waves of what you have heard.

I’m sure the sermon was on the Reformation.

Yes, the Bible was most commonly found in Latin during the Reformation (in the 1500’s).  Originally the Bible was written in Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic – not Latin.

Martin Luther (in the 1500’s) was the one who took the Bible and translated it into the vernacular – in his case this was German.  More often we hear the names Tyndale and Wycliffe when we think of the English Bible.  Martin Luther King was a civil rights activist in the 1900’s.

I was excited with my friend that he was having to push the “rethink” button.  Not so excited that we sometimes hear something that is not spoken!

What was young life like for those 80 and over.  Two of my friends gave the following description.

When they were younger (in their teens) they used to do cartwheels.  Not like we think of cartwheels.

They literally stretched themselves across cartwheels, holding on to the spokes (with their midsection covering the hub of the wheel).  The horse would then be invited to go as fast as possible.  For safety’s sake, a spoke was removed to allow for their head to be place within the cartwheel (thus not allowing the head – which had no helmet – to touch the ground in the rotations of the wheel).

When you got too dizzy you just fell off the wheel – or were expelled from the wheel – which ever sounds better!

Upon hearing this story from two witnesses, I was justly horrified.

They just laughed. 

Maybe we are a bit too protective in our day and age?

My daily reading is taking me through the Old Testament book of I Chronicles.

In a younger day, I spent a good bit of time looking over the two books of Chronicles.  There is obviously an author who is related to the administration of the religious system in Israel.  The extensive genealogy has an expectation that these people are related – and closely involved in the theocracy we would call the Jewish Nation.

I hit I Chronicles 23 a few days ago.  I’m still pondering.

David changes the organizational functioning of the sect – particularly as he anticipates the building of a permanent temple versus the tent of meeting and the area involved with sacrifices.  And yet, he refers back to the original patterns God set for Moses as not being changed.

First, he counts Levites who are 30 years old and older (Moses had consider 25 –50 year age range for religious service – [Numbers 8:24-25]).  Then David states that service in the religious order of the Levites begins with those who are 20 years old and older.

Somewhere in here, David changes the age for service.  Without consulting Moses!  Something has changed in the society since Moses was running things.

The Levites are God’s – in place of all the first born males of all of Israel (Moses statement in Numbers 8:16).  They perform work for the Aaronite priests (a subunit of the Levites).  They care for the sacred objects and the tent/temple.  They sing and they let people in and out of the door to the sacred house of God.

And they are judges – in David’s administration (I Chronicles 23:4).

A question runs around my head. 

If David could change the vocational qualifications for the religious assistants – for worship leaders, judges, assistants to the priests, singers and gatekeepers – what part of the office is sacrosanct and what part is negotiable?

Are we too much taken up with ourselves when we set qualifications for church leaders related to age, and perhaps even gender?

OK, that’s two questions – somewhat related!!!

Tiny words make a difference.

Take the story of Ahitophel and Hushai.

Both were advisors to King David of Israel back in BC days (or BCE days if you are into that type of calendar). 

Here is the line from I Chronicles 27:33 in the Hebrew Scriptures. 

Ahithophel was the king’s counselor. Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.

Sounds innocent enough.  But here’s the rest of the story.

Ahithophel was a vocation type of guy.  He was wise and strategic.  When he saw that David’s son, Absalom was planning a coup, he joined Absalom.  His calling was advising the rich and famous.  He followed the wave, served as an advisor to Absalom, and was called a “yaats” (Hebrew transliteration that leaves lots to be desired).

Hushai was a “rea” (another Hebrew transliteration that leaves lots to be desired).  He was a friend type of guy.  He was wise and strategic.  When he saw that David’s son, Absalom was planning a coup, he clung more tenaciously to David.  He volunteered to be a spy, serve as an advisor to Absalom, and give disinformation to Absalom.

Hushai won in winning over Absalom and saved David’s life (as well as leading to Absalom’s losing a battle with his father and losing his life as well).  Hushai is noted as a “rea” – a friendly counselor.

Ahithophel lost in winning over Absalom’s heart and he committed suicide.  In his usual way of doing things, “When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself. He died there and was buried in the family tomb.”  (II Samuel 17:23).  Ahithophel is merely mentioned as a “yaats” – a counselor/advisor.