Texts:
Leviticus 19 and 20
Psalm 23 and 24
Leviticus:
Perhaps I should have read chapter 19 before taking Elliott to see Harry Potter today. "Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God." (19:31) I think this is THE main verse that keeps people from reading Harry Potter (and other similar books). But I wonder how many of those same people pay attention to the rest of the chapter?
It isn't the Ten Commandments, exactly, but it brings them to mind. And it expands upon them with some helpful (and perhaps not so helpful) instructions. There are issues of justice for people, fairness in business, safety in exploring new foods.
And I'm not exactly sure what kind of practices were going on that required chapter 20. Really? Did these rules need to be spelled out? Because you don't need to make rules against behaviors that people aren't exhibiting. You don't put up signs in the kitchen saying, "don't leave dirty dishes on the counter" unless people are leaving dirty dishes on the counter.
Psalms:
The 23rd psalm is so familiar for so many people. If that is true for you, ask God to show you something new as you read it. Is there a verse or phrase that is particularly true for you today?
John Calvin reads his Bible too.
About Me
- Marci Glass
- I'm a mom, a wife,a lapsed cellist, and the pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho. Please join us for worship at 9:30 on Sunday mornings!
Hi, Marci. I don't know, of course, what the Israelites were doing, but I wouldn't necessarily conclude that the legislation responds to specific behaviors that were occurring. One could also read the chapter as a series of injunctions about sanctification and separating Israel from the nations.
ReplyDeleteSusan B.
Yes, Susan, I'm sure that's true. But you still have to wonder about the specificity of the restrictions. Or I do, at least. Wouldn't general injunctions against prostitution, witchcraft, sex with someone other your spouse, or whatever, have covered it?
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not a specialist, but the standard midrash on this subject (e.g. Sifra Kedoshim) suggests the connection between "making holy" and abstinence from certain behaviors. Although this accepts the rhetorical structure of today's text as given (i.e., it ignores the argument over the authorship of the law sections of the Tanakh), this makes sense given the beginning of the chapter with its repeated references to giving one's children to Moloch (a reiteration of the earlier prohibitions on following the practices of the Canaanites). Perhaps there is a specific group here from whom Israel is supposed to be separating itself and this is a list of practices that would be known to all.
ReplyDelete