14 January 2010
Psalm 18:1-20; Gen. 4:17-26; Heb. 3:1-11; John 1:43-51
Cain builds a city and therefore ceases going forth to fill the earth. His descendant, Lamech, raises the stakes on the lex talionis, an eye for an eye. Lamech says that wounding him will mean death to the one who wounds him or strikes him. He also raises the stakes on vengefulness, 77 times. When Peter asks how many times he has to forgive someone who sins against him, Jesus uses this same multiple. We do not live by the law of Lamech, but the law that says forgiveness is more important than revenge as an inverse principle of Lamech. The passage does end on a hopeful note, however, at this time people began to call upon the name of the Lord. I wonder if there was any connection between Lamech’s attitude and people calling on the Lord.
The problem with municipal divisions is that a provincial attitude comes attached with them. Nathanael believes that Jesus can’t be who Philip claims he is based on being from Nazareth. Jesus’ association with Galilee was a constant problem as the Galilee was an area where many foreigners had settled and the Galileeans were tolerant of their religion and other customs. Clearly, anyone from there was tainted by association. In response to Nathanael’s testimony, Jesus speaks to the story of Jacob’s vision of angels ascending and descending. That vision happened in a place that seems to have been literally in the middle of nowhere, Jacob sleeping out in the open and surprised that God would be in such a place. The city of God isn’t the only place God is found.
The writer of Hebrews continues to speak of the surpassing greatness of Jesus, in keeping with those prologue statements about Jesus. He is now compared with Moses. The group addressed in this letter seems to be hedging its bets and going back to at least a partial Judaism as they wonder why Jesus hasn’t returned and if he doesn’t they want to be sure to be in God’s good graces by practicing the old ways. Jesus is greater than Moses in the same degree a son in a household is greater than a servant in the household. The work of Jesus was to make possible a way for us to receive forgiveness. Moses’ faithfulness ended in disobedience and he was not allowed to enter the land, Jesus has already entered the eternal kingdom as the only one who is worthy to open the scroll in heaven and receive worship.
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
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