Exodus 20:1-17
In the book of Genesis, we get the story of Abraham’s family and how they end up in Egypt. In the book of Exodus, we get the story of their sojourn out of slavery and out of Egypt into the wilderness. One of the pivotal episodes in the wilderness comes at Mt. Sinai where God gives the Hebrew people the 10 Commandments as the boundary markers for living in covenant with God. It is important to remember the drastic transformation that is necessary for folks from being slaves, whose lives are strictly regimented by others and having to make their own way. The question is if they are willing to let God be the guide and the instructor. Genesis 20:1-17 is the list of God’s instructions. Reviewing those guides or commands, which of them seems to be the most challenging to you? What is the consequence of either keeping or not keeping them?
Psalm 19
The Bible frequently talks about God speaking and things happen: the world is created, people are called, people are rescued. Psalm 19 uses that same language about the Word of the Lord going forth throughout the earth. In the 10 commandments, God speaks to the Hebrews and the psalmist affirms that those are good words. In vs. 12 the psalmist fingers a dilemma for all people: Who can discern our errors? In vs. 14 the psalmist prays that the words of his mouth and the meditations of his heart will be please and acceptable to God who is his Rock and Redeemer or Salvation.
John 2:13-22
This is the story of the clearing or cleansing of the Temple. In Matthew, Mark and Luke this same story is placed at the beginning of Holy Week. In John’s gospel it is placed at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, but the elements are essentially the same in all of the gospels. In John 2:1-10 is the story of the first miracle at
Cana of Galilee when Jesus changed water into wine. Then he goes to Capernaum to be with his family and then because it was Passover he went to Jerusalem, which is the same time frame and occasion in all four of the gospels.
Jesus is greatly disturbed, even infuriated that the Temple has become a market place, rather than a house of prayer and drives out the market sellers. That causes the Temple leaders to demand from him his authority to do so. The answer Jesus gives is in terms of resurrection, which no one understands at that time but will only be understood at his resurrection.
I Corinthians 1:18-25
In the first chapter of I Corinthians Paul lays the groundwork for the remainder of the letter. Remember that the Corinthian church was deeply conflicted over the evidence of genuine discipleship. In these verses Paul starts with the message and the events of the cross, which he says to folks who are being saved it is the power of God, but to others it is pure foolishness. He then notes that everyone needs to step back to look at the message afresh to make sure they are not missing something.