Think Wink.

Last night was a true blessing to me. It started with High View Baptist Church trusting me enough to teach the youth. That was a lot of fun and a great blessing to me. I really love those kids and look forward to more opportunities to teach them and share with them the hope of the crucified and risen Lord and Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. What made the night even more fun was the fellowship and fun that we had. There was the rap by Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (myself and two other youth, why I am part of that name I don’t know but it’s fun). Then there was our fun game “Random Draw” where the youth drew a card that had a random activity on that they had to do. One had to dance (looked like the Napoleon Dynamite dance), another had to do the Hokey-Pokey, and a third had to lick his own elbow. I love it.

But to add to all of this, the Lord continues to reveal the impact of my ministry at Faith Community Church (FCC) while I was there for two years. About a month ago, one youth, Jakob, told me how he viewed as one of his favorite theologians, along with John Piper and Jonathan Edwards (my favorite theologian). That was extremely humbling and honoring. It’s an honor to be in such company. But it was humbling in that I know that I am not on the level of men like Edwards and Piper. I am reminded just how much of a theologian I am not. Yet I am looked at and viewed by others as such.

Last night, after church and dinner, I had the opportunity to talk to another youth, Bethany, from FCC. Her hermeneutics class was looking at Matthew 24–a strange text for high schoolers to be learning from. The teacher was making claims that made the student, my youth group member, uncomfortable. This led to the two of us talking about the passage for about three hours last night. She paid me the same complement the other student gave me, favorite theologian and one of the first people she goes to for needing help understanding theology.

The fact that these kids are so interested in theology, and wanting to be consistent in their theology, means so much to me. While there, the other youth leaders and I really tried to show them how theology matters to their lives and how it impacts their decision making and actions. Now I know that a discussion on eschatology may not seem like the biggest topic to impact daily living. But it does. And the fact that the passion is there, something I personally tried to instill in the kids, is so rewarding. The impact of my ministry puts a smile on my face. That Jesus chose to honor me and my ministry when I am so wretched a sinner blows my mind. I did not consider myself more than another leader of the kids at FCC and a teacher. I had no idea just how much of an impact I had until now and I have been gone since August.

It’s very encouraging and as Paul says, I press on towards the prize to which God has called me and to walk in a manner worthy of the call to which and with which God has called. I pray that God will give all his ministers enough of a glimpse at the fruit of their ministries to be encouraged but still keep them humble. There’s nothing like the knowledge that God is blessing your ministry to lift you up.

Reflections from Hebrews 1-2

Timothy and Esther’s Prayer

Some Interesting Reads

Today I was reading in 1 Samuel 15-16. It’s the part in the story of Israel’s monarchy where Saul is officially rejected by Yahweh. Then Yahweh sends Samuel to the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite to anoint a king for Israel, one who is “after God’s own heart.” I really enjoy the confusion that 1 Samuel 15 ends up creating and the solution presented by the LXX.

What’s the confusion in 1 Samuel 15? When Yahweh tells Samuel that Saul is officially rejected by Yahweh as king because he did not obey Yahweh’s commands to completely devote to destruction the Amelakites. Saul allowed the king, Agag, to survive as well as the choicest parts of cattle and sheep. Saul says it was for an offering to Yahweh for giving Israel victory that day in battle. I guess that he had a different understanding of what it meant to devote to destruction, or at least the people of Israel. Saul, when confronted by Samuel, says it was a fear of the people that drove him to disobey God. But it’s too late. He’s has failed Yahweh for the last time (I hear Darth Vader speaking from Empire Strikes Back when he kills the fleet admiral at the beginning, “You have failed me for the last time.” Why? I don’t know but I do.).

The confusion, especially for theologians, begins in 1 Samuel 15:11 (NET) when Yahweh says to Samuel, “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from me and has not done what I told him to do.” It’s the term translated as “regret.” It’s the niphal perfect form, נִחַמְתִּי, which means “I regret.” It can also mean “I repent” when in the niphal form. Yahweh is telling Samuel that he is repenting of his decision to make Saul king over Israel. God has changed his mind. And for some theologians, this becomes a great and powerful proof text against a school of thought like Calvinism where God is said to being unfolding history according to his divine decree and he never deviates from that decree.

But then when one comes down to 1 Saumel 15:29 (NET) Saumel tells Saul that it’s too late and God will not change his mind on this, “The Preeminent One of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind.” The word that the NET translates as “change his mind” both times int he text is יִנָּחֵם and לְהִנָּחֵם, the same Hebrew term from 15:11 that means “I repent.” So now in the same chapter Yahweh is said to not repent. So the Calvinist comes back and says, “See, God doesn’t repent and change his mind. He always accomplishes what he decrees.” And off to the races both sides go arguing about this issue.

I found it funny how the LXX dealt with this problem. What 1 Samuel 15:11 LXX has done is read נִחַמְתִּי not as a niphal verb but rather as a pual verb that means “be comforted,” and translated it with the perfect middle form of παρακαλέω. Thus God is comforted by the fact that he made Saul king because Saul has turned away and not kept God’s commands. The implication is that God can remove Saul from king and anoint another man to be king, as is evidenced by Samuel’s reaction.

Then in 1 Samuel 15:29 uses μετανοέω, “I repent,” to translate יִנָּחֵם and לְהִנָּחֵם, the same term the New Testament uses when it commands sinners to repent (cf. Mark 1:15 NET). Now what is really odd is that this verse in the LXX prophesies that Israel will be divided, but I suspect that is because the LXX was written after the exile ended and Alexander had invaded Persia.

I don’t think the LXX really solved any theological problems. But I found it interesting nonetheless.

Thoughts in Light of 9/11

Don’t Waste Your Pulpit

I Evangelize Because of Joy

Today, continuing in my reading of the Israelite Monarchies introduced Saul, the first king over Israel. 1 Samuel 9-10 were very interesting to read. There were two points of interest for me in the text. First was the term Yahweh used to described Saul’s function as king over Israel in 1 Samuel 9 and then Saul’s actions when Samuel had called the entire nation together to publically appoint Saul as king in 1 Samuel 10.

First point of interest for my reading came in 1 Samuel 9:17. The author of Samuel uses the qal imperfect verb יַעְצֹר. It’s a word that means to restrain, but the idea has more to do with detainment or imprisonment. Why does Yahweh use this term to express how Saul is to rule over Israel as his prince? Is this to be a good thing, as in Saul is to imprison Israel under the rule of Yahweh? Or is this a bad thing, as in Saul will be a harsh ruler over Israel and ultimately pointing to Yahweh’s rejection of Saul’s house? Is the author of the text alerting the reader to Saul’s future, that Israel will suffer under Saul’s rule because he is a king like the nations and not a true “Son of God” who becomes an extension of Yahweh’s kingship over Israel? I tend to think that this latter option, a negative view of Saul’s reign by the author and Yahweh. We as readers–when reading the Hebrew–would see that Saul is not God’s choice of a king over his people but rather reflects the people’s desire to one like the nations to rule over them.

The second point of interest comes from 1 Samuel 10:20-24. Samuel has told Saul that Saul will be Israel’s first king, God has chosen him to defeat the Philistines. Then Samuel gave Saul a series of signs that will demonstrate Yahweh’s choice of Saul as king. So as Saul journeys home, all of the signs come to pass, including Saul prophesying at Gibeah under the direction of the spirit of Yahweh. When Saul finally gets home, he reports why it took him so long to return, but doesn’t tell his family about him being anointed as king over Israel.

Samuel calls all of Israel together at Mizpah to anoint and appoint Saul as their king before the whole nation. So Samuel, by way of lots, singles out the tribe of Benjamin, then the clan of Matri, then the house of Kish, and then calls for Saul. But Saul is nowhere to be found. So God tells Samuel that Saul is hiding amongst the “equipment” (NET) or “baggage” (ESV).

What I find so interesting is that Saul hides. My question is why hide in that moment? I don’t get the sense from the narrative to this point that Saul is just so humble that he doesn’t want the attention and humbly accepts the role of king. It seems that he’s scared for some reason. I want to know what his emotional state was at that moment, knowing that he is going to be king, and hears the call coming and decides to hide. And if it was fear that drove him, why was he scared? I’m no psychologist so I don’t know how to break down a person’s psychological makeup. But I want to know here.

I have to admit, that if Saul is hiding because he is afraid of the role he is about to take and the responsibility it carries, I find a little bit of Saul in myself. I don’t know why, but whenever I face tough decisions in life, my initial response is to hide from them. It could even be said to hide with the “baggage” of my books, friends, family, video games. I hide too. And as such, reading this story I am reminded that I am not the right person to rule over God’s people. I am a coward.

But God has not chosen me to be Israel’s king. He has his king, David. No a king even greater than David. He has carried me through death and into new life. He has given me the Spirit of Yahweh to create in me obedience to him. So that when those fears come, I can fight them. I am free from having to try to be king, I serve the King. I obey his will and so there is no fear because the decision is made for me. I only have to follow what the King directs.

Writing Scripture out

Thoughts on the Endings of Kings and Chronicles

Blessing and Psalm 72

Today I was continuing my journey through 1 Samuel, reading through the monarchy of Israel and Judah. In today’s reading, Samuel is called, God enacts his oracle of judgment upon Eli’s house, and Philistines stole the ark from Israel after demonstrably winning a battle. Quite the exciting read if you ask me. My mind though, kept going back to Samuel’s call. I keep asking myself, what did that voice sound like?

I named the post “La Voz” which means “the voice” in Spanish. It’s the name of the villain in the amazing Denzel Washington movie, Man on Fire. You never see the villain, you only hear his voice–with the exception of his jaw and mouth. But it’s the voice that I am curious about in this passage. Read more

No related posts

Today I started through 1 Samuel again. I really love the story of Samuel and the early monarchy of Israel–the house of Saul the Benjamite. The brotherhood displayed between David and Jonathan as well as the emotional roller-coaster that David goes through while being pursued by Saul through Israel and Philistia. The story that 1 Samuel tells is engaging to say the least.

Today I read the first two chapters of the narrative. There were some things that stood out to me that I had never really picked up before. Such as in 1 Samuel 2:10 and 1 Samuel 2:35. These texts speak of Yahweh’s anointed, his king. Before there ever was a king, the people of Israel had some expectation of a king through whom Yahweh will reign over Israel and defeat their enemies. This king, Yahweh’s anointed, will reign over Israel and the priests shall minister before him to Yahweh. But the expectation of a king that early in the narrative had caught me somewhat off guard, to my joy. Read more

La Voz

Peace Part 3