July 21, 2009

Texts:
Leviticus 15 and 16
Romans 9

Leviticus:
All I have to say about chapter 15 is "gross".

Chapter 16, however, is the origination of the word "scapegoat". It now means an innocent person who is blamed for the crimes or sins of others. This painting is by William Holman Hunt from 1854.


Leviticus 16 is also where the Jewish Holy Day of Yom Kippur. On the Day of Atonement, the community comes together to confess their sins and seek God's redemption.

Here's an interesting tidbit. The word "atonement" was created by William Tyndale in the 1500's because he realized there was not a good translation for the Hebrew word "Kippur". Atonement is actually the combination of the words "at" and "one". So, to "atone" is to become "at one" with God.

Romans:
This is a difficult chapter. Paul makes a rhetorical decision toward full disclosure here. He acknowledges that it is difficult to predict who God's favor lands on. It seems very "Job" like. Does the creation have the right to question the creator?

I think we do. And I think we have the right to question Paul here. Remember, I love Paul. The previous chapter is one of my favorites in all of scripture. But I'll question both Paul and God about the idea that God is capricious.

I try not to lose fact of the bigger argument Paul is in the midst of, however. He wants to make it clear that "works" do not have saving power. If God has, for God's own crazy reasons, invited the gentiles (which also means "the nations") to join in the Covenant, it is NOT an indictment of Judaism. It is God showing favor on people who have not only NOT tried to earn it, but who didn't even know God's favor was there to earn.