Chapter 2 The Bible as the Story of Redemption

As we open the Bible, we find that the God of history has chosen to reveal himself through a specific human culture. To be more accurate, he chose to reveal himself in several incarnations of the same culture. And, as the evolving cultural norms of Israel were not without flaw. (there was a mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly), God did not canonize Israel's culture. Rather, he simply used that culture as a vehicle through which to communicate the eternal truth of his character and his will for humanity. 

• He teaches us things in adversity. We don't learn any other way.
• Hosea  2:14-15 therefore, I'm going to allure her. I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. There. I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the valley of acor a door of Hope. There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. 
• God uses even our negative experiences to create opportunities to turn back to him. As you face problems and trials, remember that God speaks to you in the desert, and not just in times of prosperity.

Ruth and Boaz 

• Naomi marries Elimelech from Bethlehem
• A famine causes them to move to Moab 
• Naomi's husband and two sons die leaving her with no means of support 
• Naomi returns to Bethlehem, tells her daughter-in-law's to to stay.
• Ruth 1:11-13 we often hear Ruth's words quoted in marriage ceremonies, but these words are in reality plain spoken statements of tribal solidarity. Ruth is announcing that her tribal affiliation is with Naomi. Regardless of the patrilineal culture of their society, Ruth has chosen Naomi as her kin, and she's not leaving
• Ruth met Boaz  (clan of Emimelech) Ruth seduces him, he buys back the family land of her deceased husband, marries Ruth, and takes Naomi into his household.
• From this story, we learned that the tribal law of redemption had to do with a patriarch rescuing, a family member who, due to crippling life circumstances, had been lost to the kinship circle, to protect their legal rights. The law demanded that the patriarch protect the individual's legal rights and resolve her debts.
• This is another expression of redemption in Israel's world.

Lot and Abraham 

• Lot is Abraham's nephew 
• Abraham's bêt' āb split, and Lot went to Sodom 
• Kings from Mesopotamia invade the region and take lot and his household captive Adam, as as patriarch had responsibilities in this society, if a member of his lineage found himself in need of ransom or rescue, (Lot) that patriarch was expected to do something about it 
• Abraham puts his own household and his life on the line in order to rescue his brother's son. This is another expression of redemption

Gomer and Hosea

• Hosea was a prophet to the northern Kingdom of Israel commissioned by Yahweh to live his life as an ongoing visual aid of Yahweh's relationship with Israel 
• Yahweh instructs Hosea " take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry forsaking the Lord." Hosea 1:2 
• They marry and have three children. Gomer's life is transformed, and her world filled with good things
• The brokenness of Gomer's soul was not so easily fixed. She repeats the crimes of her past cheating on Hosea, who was unsure that he is the father of his children 
• Gomer is auctioned off at the city gate
• God tells Hosea to go and buy her back 
• Isaiah buys his wife for 15 shekels of silver and a Homer and a half of barley. This is redemption
• Allegory: Gomer is like Israel Hosea is like Yahweh the redeemer

From the book, The Epic of Eden: " Yahweh is presenting himself as the patriarch of the clan who has announced his intent to redeem his lost family members. Not only has he agreed to pay whatever Ransom is required, but he has sent the most cherished member of his household to accomplish his intent- his firstborn son. And not only is the firstborn coming to seek and save The Lost, but he is coming to share his inheritance with those who have squandered everything. They have been given. His goal? To restore the Lost family members to the bet' ab So that where he is, they may be also. This is why we speak of each other as brother and sister, why we know God as the Father, why we call ourselves the household of Faith. God is buying back his lost children by sending his eledest son, his heir, to 'give His life as a ransom for many' (Mt 20:28). so that we the alienated might be 'adopted as sons' and share forever in the inheritance of this 'firstborn of all creation"

Lesson One

 I recently read  some thoughts that Richard S. Hess shared about The Epic of Eden in the Denver Journal 25 (2022). https://denverjournal.denverseminary.edu/the-denver-journal-article/the-epic-of-eden-a-christian-entry-into-the-old-testament/ 

I really like his summary of the Richter's lessons. I've selected some of his thoughts on the introduction and Chapter One below. Summarizing what we have heard and read is key to remembering and learning it. I hope Dr. Hess' words and a few of my own (which are in blue), help you in learning what we listen to and read this week. 

“Introduction: The Dysfunctional Closet Syndrome?”  Everyone can identify with that closet where our things are in a mess.  It at once both draws in the reader with a relatable word picture and provides a clear connection with the third challenge of why the Old Testament is often unreachable for students.  There are too many disorganized facts and theories in this huge book.  The second reason is also easy to connect with.  The Old Testament seems too far removed in time and place.  'Christians have not been taught that the story of the Old Testament is their story.' " 

Chapter 1, 'The Bible as the Story of Redemption,' begins with the challenge of Jesus as the pale, white man in which he is often encountered."  

Richter teaches that Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own culture or ethnic group is superior to others. This often leads to  judging other cultures based on our own cultural standards. It's very easy for people in our time and culture to judge the people of the old testament  which was before 4,000 BC. That was so very long ago and the culture vastly, hugely different from ours. Talk about a generation gap!

"Richter seeks to present, with helpful illustrations, that ancient society.  She introduces the bayt ʾab “house of the father” as the extended family headed by the patriarch and as the basic unit of society.  This was led by the eldest male and would be passed on to the firstborn male. 

Richter shines with reflections on the role of a woman’s identity and on the matter of  the practice of marrying the widow of one's childless brother to maintain his line, as required by ancient Hebrew law."

New Study Beginning Sept. 18

Thursday Sept. 18 at 9:30 in room 119, same place and time:)

You can borrow a video study guide book, or if you'd like to keep it, you can purchase it. 

Last spring we talked about a study to connect or bridge the Old Testament to the New Testament. I looked for something to fit our needs and nothing seemed to be "it."  Rev. McClendon to the rescue!! Tim knew just what we needed. He said the author, Sandra Richter, is an expert on the Old Testament and a great writer. He was correct, this book is awesome. 

The author has a way of teaching the Old Testament that brings it to life. This study of the Old Testament leads us to a profound understanding of the New Testament and all that Scripture means for your life.

The author teaches quite a bit about the time, place cultures found in the Old Testament and how even though it seems so far away from our culture and time there is great meaning in the OT for us today. It's packed with maps and diagrams that really help readers understand what the author is trying to convey. I've been reading the book as well as the video study guide this summer and I've enjoyed Richter's teaching and learned so much!

The videos are watched after the weekly reading. Under the Schedule tab in this blog's menu bar, you'll find a schedule for this study. You may find it helpful to keep a notebook for jotting questions, answers or other notes as you read, view the videos, or share in the group discussion sessions. Depending on your current time commitments, and the depth to which you want to dive into this study, you can use some parts of the study guide or all of them. It is totally customizable to suit your needs. 

God Bless,

I'm Looking forward to seeing everyone!