May 21, 2022
1SAMUEL 7-8:
Having won the war with Israel, the Philistines
thought their idol Dagon had given them victory. The ark of God was
put in Dagon's temple. Then God not only proved that He is greater
than Dagon by what happened in the temple, but He also struck the
Philistines in all five of their territories with plagues of death,
tumors, and rats ravaging the land. The Philistine fortune tellers
and priests devised a creative plan to test if these disasters had
happened on their own, or because of God's hand was against them.
In the story it is clear that the Philistine people knew about the
plagues God used against the Egyptians. Once again, God proved that
He is God. For any any agnostic or atheist in the audience, this
seems to me to be the kind of story that no one would have just
made up, especially if you compare this with literature of the same
age.
PSALM 94:
This
is a psalm of trust in the face of injustice. The psalmist asks for
God’s vengeance on arrogant and evil leaders. Those who take
advantage of others are called ‘stupid fools’. There is a parable
that forms an interesting parallel: Luke 12:20, where God says to
the rich man, “You fool, this very night your soul will be required
of you.”
ROMANS 2:25—3:
In
chapter 2 of Romans, Paul warned of a coming judgment of God, where
God will judge everyone's secret life. The trouble is, however,
that we all will be judged guilty of sin. Paul has shown us that it
doesn't matter if you are Jew or non-Jew, circumcised or
uncircumcised, we all need a radical transformation. We need to
become a ‘true Jew’, which is “one whose heart is right with God].”
What each one of us needs is “a change of heart produced by God’s
Spirit.” Paul calls this “circumcision of the
heart.”
NLT Translation notes:
Rom
3:21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him[, and
this way is not based on// without keeping] the requirements of the
law, as was promised in the writings of Mosesi and the prophets long ago.
[The Greek says “apart from the
Law,” so NLT’s translation is technically possible, but I think it
is saying something Paul is NOT saying and is doctrinally
defective. In most of my suggested changes to the NLT text, I am
concerned with clear communication, here however I am concerned
with avoiding misunderstanding that would lead to wrong
teaching.]
22
We are made right with God by [fully believing//placing our faith]
in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no
matter who we are.
[Here
is an excellent example of the point I keep harping on. Note that
using the verb form ‘believe’ instead of the abstract noun form
makes it clear that the same word is used later in the verse.
Cohesion of ideas makes better understanding. Secondly, it is
easier for people to ‘do’ a verb than it is to ‘do’ an abstract
noun. It is easier to ‘practice’ something than it is to ‘make a
practice of’ something. It is easier to ‘eat’ apples than it is to
‘practice the consumption of’ apples.]
27
Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by
God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It
is based on [fully believing//faith].
[Notice again the cohesion of the verb
‘believe’ in 26-31.]
28
So we are made right with God [by our fully believing//through
faith] and not by obeying the law.]
29
After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God
of the [non-Jews//Gentiles]? Of course he is.
30
There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only
by [believing in that message (the Good News)//fully
believing//faith], whether they are Jews or
[non-Jews//Gentiles].
31
Well then, if we emphasize [fully believing//faith], does this mean
that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when
we have [fully believe//faith] do we truly fulfill the
law.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.