June 4, 2009

Genesis 7 and 8
Psalm 1 and 2


Genesis 7 and 8:
The continuation of the flood narrative. Like the creation narratives, the flood narratives combine at least two of the source traditions.
Flood narratives occur in almost all of the ancient middle eastern traditions. The Babylonian epic of the flood shares many similarities with the section in chapter 8.

Question: How can the flood narrative be "true" without having to be "factual"?
And, how is this a story of blessing? How do you read this story in light of Hurricane Katrina?

Psalm 1 and 2:
The Psalms is a collection of writings. Many of them were likely used in worship as either sung hymns or as liturgy. Many of them are poems of thanksgiving, others are of lament. Some recount history. Others are prayers and supplication. And some are "wisdom" documents. Wisdom literature is found in the Bible as well as in many other ancient cultures. The book of Proverbs might be the best known example. Some may have been composed for specific events or occasions. Authorship is often attributed, but is hard to know for sure.

Many of the psalms contain more than one theme. They might open in lament and move into thanksgiving, for example.

As you encounter the psalms this year, listen for those different themes. Write your own. Notice how much of the language from the psalms is still used today in worship--in the prayers and in song.

Psalm 1 is a good illustration of a wisdom psalm.

Psalm 2:2--the word "anointed" in Hebrew is the word "messiah". This psalm gives you a sense of how God's anointed is seen in Hebrew tradition like a king.