ISSL Reflections September 8, 2024 1 Kings 8:22–24, 37–39, 46, 48–50a Post 3

Posted on by
Reply

VII.
In the last post we focused on sin, today as you return to this passage let this phrase guide you through Solomon’s prayer,

“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love with your servants …”

What else do you hear about the covenant keeping God?

VIII..
1 Kings 8:22–24, 37–39, 46, 48–50a (NRSVue)

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand.

“If there is famine in the land, if there is plague, blight, mildew, locust, or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in any of their cities; whatever suffering, whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever plea there is from any individual or from all your people Israel, all knowing the suffering of their own hearts so that they stretch out their hands toward this house; then hear in heaven your dwelling place, forgive, act, and render to all whose hearts you know—according to all their ways, for only you know the human heart

“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near,

if they repent with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive and pray to you toward their land that you gave to their ancestors, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of their captors, so that they may have compassion on them.

IX.
Solomon speaks of the covenant being “… this day fulfilled …”

It also seemed to expect those in the covenant to “walk before you with all their heart…”

One more question – How does “if they repent with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies…” relate to the covenant?

Hold those thoughts – covenant keeping God, walking before God with all their heart, sin, and repentance – and consider how they find deep resonance in your life.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections September 8, 2024 1 Kings 8:22–24, 37–39, 46, 48–50a Post 2

Posted on by
Reply

IV.
Today, let me call your attention to this phrase,

“… for there is no one who does not sin … ”

Other than speaking about the universality of sin, what understanding of sin does Solomon’s prayer offer?

V.
1 Kings 8:22–24, 37–39, 46, 48–50a (NRSVue)

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand.

“If there is famine in the land, if there is plague, blight, mildew, locust, or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in any of their cities; whatever suffering, whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever plea there is from any individual or from all your people Israel, all knowing the suffering of their own hearts so that they stretch out their hands toward this house; then hear in heaven your dwelling place, forgive, act, and render to all whose hearts you know—according to all their ways, for only you know the human heart

“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near,

if they repent with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive and pray to you toward their land that you gave to their ancestors, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of their captors, so that they may have compassion on them.

VI.
As you spent time with Solomon’s words, how do you hear him express the characteristics of sin?

Do you think sin has a source and/or an object?

In a sentence or two how would you summarize what Solomon says about sin.

Does Solomon’s understanding of sin fit with your understanding?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est”

ISSL Reflections September 8, 2024 1 Kings 8:22–24, 37–39, 46, 48–50a Post 1

Posted on by
Reply

I.
This week we hear parts of Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple.

What concerns do you hear Solomon express to God?

II.
1 Kings 8:22–24, 37–39, 46, 48–50a (NRSVue)

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand.

If there is famine in the land, if there is plague, blight, mildew, locust, or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in any of their cities; whatever suffering, whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever plea there is from any individual or from all your people Israel, all knowing the suffering of their own hearts so that they stretch out their hands toward this house; then hear in heaven your dwelling place, forgive, act, and render to all whose hearts you know—according to all their ways, for only you know the human heart

If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near,

if they repent with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive and pray to you toward their land that you gave to their ancestors, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, maintain their cause, and forgive your people who have sinned against you and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of their captors, so that they may have compassion on them.

III.
What does Solomon say about God, covenant, sin, judgement, repentance and forgiveness in this prayer?

In your reading of his prayer, what does he place the most emphasis on? Why?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections September 1, 2024 Genesis 13:8–18 Post 3

Posted on by
Reply

VII.
Once more back to the altar that Abram builds – What’s the purpose of an altar?

VII.
Genesis 13:8-18 (NRSVue)

Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me and between your herders and my herders, for we are kindred. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” Lot looked about him and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar; this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the plain and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Raise your eyes now, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Rise up, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

IX.
How do you know an altar when you see one?

Maybe its place in a “house of worship”?

Maybe what’s on the altar?

Maybe what you want to put on the altar?

In this week’s Scripture passage, we see Abram building an altar, but nothing more is revealed about it.

Is it enough to build the altar? Does the very act of building it make it holy?

Even if you have not built an altar, what places (and events) stand out to you as holy? Why?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections September 1, 2024 Genesis 13:8–18 Post 2

Posted on by
Reply

IV.
As you spend time with this passage, what do you discover about Abram’s altar building?

V.
Genesis 13:8-18 (NRSVue)

Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me and between your herders and my herders, for we are kindred. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” Lot looked about him and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar; this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the plain and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Raise your eyes now, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Rise up, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

VI.
In this passage we see Abram and Lot agreeing to part company and taking their herds and herders with them.

Abram builds the altar after he is directed by the Lord to look at the land he is being given and “to walk through the length and the breath of the land.”

Abram then settles by the “oaks of Mamre” and builds an “altar to the Lord.”

As I look back over Genesis 12:6-9 it seems to me Abram’s altar building is, in each situation, connected to the covenant that exists between Abram and The Lord. It marks a making of the covenant or a renewal of the covenant. And, maybe we could add, it marks an important encounter Abram has with The Lord.

Have you ever found you wanted to acknowledge in some fashion an especially holy moment. A commitment to God, a renewal of your commitment to God, or some moment that seems heavily filled with God’s presence.

What kind of “altar” might you build? What do you do to acknowledge those very holy moments?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections September 1, 2024 Genesis 13:8–18 Post 1

Posted on by
Reply

I.
With today’s Scripture passage we begin a several week long focus on worship. Today we have before us Abram building an altar.

Why does Abram build an altar at Hebron?

II.
Genesis 13:8-18 (NRSVue)

Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me and between your herders and my herders, for we are kindred.Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” Lot looked about him and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar; this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the plain and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Raise your eyes now, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Rise up, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.” So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.

III.
If we take a moment to look back at Genesis 12, we discover this altar at Hebron is not the first time Abram has built an altar.

In Genesis 12:6-9 we find Abram building an altar at Shechem and another between Bethel and Ai.

Why?

What provokes one to mark a place (or event) by building an altar?

What do you find in common in the accounts in Genesis 12 and 13 that might lead Abram to find these places important enough to build altars?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections August 25 2024 Titus 3:3–11 Post 3

Posted on by
Reply

VII.
Today let’s spend time with our focus passage taking notice of what we learn about God.

VIII.
Titus 3:3-11 (NRSVue)

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure.

I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions, since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.

IX.
What words or images do you notice describing God?

As you notice what is written about those who are “saved,” what does that suggest to you about the nature of God?

Paul presents us a list of things to avoid. Does that list suggest anything to you about the nature of God and things those “saved” should not avoid?

Following the ACTS pattern of prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication), what does this passage lead you to offer in the way of prayer.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections Titus 3:3–11 Post 2

Posted on by
Reply

IV.
We took time in the last post to consider the before/after contrast Paul presents us in this passage.

Today, let’s pay attention for the positive aspects of how he describes those he calls “heirs.”

V.
Titus 3:3-11 (NRSVue)

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure.

I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions, since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.

VI.
Would you say our focus passage begins on a heavily negative note?

If this is the situation of those who are not yet “heirs,” how would you express this as positive aspects of the life that awaits those who are “heirs according to the hope of eternal life”?

Spend some time with this passage and notice what else Paul claims characterizes the life of those who are “justified by his grace.”

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections Titus 3:3–11 Post 1

Posted on by
Reply

I.
I have a question: What are folk like before “ … he saved us …” and afterwards?

We find here some observations of what one can be like on both sides of the experience of “… rebirth and renewal…”

What do you notice?

II.
Titus 3:3-11 (NRSVue)

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is sure.

I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions, since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.

III.
“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient …”

Not a pretty picture of what one can be before the experience of “… rebirth and renewal …”

But if we want to think all is fine after that experience, we soon notice that one can fall into some poor behaviors – “stupid controversies … dissensions, and quarrels…”

Why do you think this can happen?

Do you have thoughts on what can prevent such attitudes and behaviors?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

ISSL Reflections Titus 1:1–3; 2:11–15 Post 3

Posted on by
Reply

VII.
Paul speaks of himself as “a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ….”

A very bold claim.

But I wonder if his next claim is even more bold – “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect ….”

Can you think of folk you have encountered or know of who could make a similar claim?

As you read the focus passage, who comes to mind?

VIII.
Titus 1:1-3; 2:11-15 (NRSVue)

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began — in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior,

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you.

IX.
How do folk you know demonstrate they have a heart “for the sake of the faith of God’s people”?

What might you do that has as its goal expressing your hope and prayers “for the sake of the faith of God’s people”?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}