JulyEugene Peterson on Biblical WisdomEugene Peterson on Biblical Wisdom"Many people think that what's written in the Bible has mostly to do with getting people into heaven -- getting right with God, saving their eternal souls. It does have to do with that, of course, but not mostly. It is equally concerned with living on this earth -- living well, living in robust sanity. In our Scriptures, heaven is not the primary concern, to which earth is a tag-along after-thought. 'On earth as it is in heaven' is Jesus' prayer."
(Eugene Peterson, The Message) Peter on the Prophets, Christians, and the Gospel"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things."
(1 Peter 1:8-12 NIV) Peter on Prophets and Prophecy"So we are even more confident of the message proclaimed by the prophets. You will do well to pay attention to it, because it is like a lamp shining in a dark place until the Day dawns and the light of the morning star shines in your hearts. Above all else, however, remember that no one can explain by himself a pro-phecy in the Scriptures. For no prophetic message ever came just from the will of man, but men were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God."
(2 Peter 1:19-21 TEV) |
AugustProfessors Summarize the Prophets' Paradigm"It is the prophetic belief that throughout Israel's history, Yahweh has tried to correct and discipline his people in an effort to turn them aside from their evil course. In the Book of Amos, we read that God has used natural catastrophes in order to warn his people. Isaiah under-stands military defeats to have been instruments of Yahweh's discipline. And, of course, Yahweh has always sent his prophets to inform the people of his true will. The prophets were sent as watchmen over Israel, to warn of the consequences of sin, just as military sentinels warn of a coming enemy. But the people have persistently refused to listen to these prophets. Sometimes they have killed them, other times thrown them in prison. Often they have been mocked or made the object of scorn. The will of Israel to do good has been so distorted by sin that the people are no longer capable of heeding Yahweh's word or of profiting from his guidance."
(Paul & Elizabeth Achtemeier, The Old Testament Roots of Our Faith) Jerome on Amos"You must slay the allurements to vice while they are still only thoughts... God will not punish us at once for our thoughts and resolves but will send retribution upon their offspring or upon the evil deeds and habits of sin, which arise of the offspring. As he says by the mouth of Amos, 'For three transgressions of such and such a city and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof.'"
(Jerome, Letter 8) |
SeptemberEugene Peterson on The Prophets"Everyone more or less believes in God. But most of us do our best to keep God on the margins of our lives or, failing that, refashion God to suit our convenience. Prophets insist that God is the sovereign center, not off in the wings awaiting our beck and call. And prophets insist that we deal with God as God reveals himself, not as we imagine him to be. These men and women woke people up to the sovereign presence of God in their lives. They yelled, they wept, they rebuked, they soothed, they challenged, they comforted. They used words with power and imagination, whether blunt or subtle."
(Eugene Peterson, The Message) Eugene Peterson on Daniel"Daniel is composed, in approximately equal parts, of stories and visions -- six stories (chapters 1-6) and four visions (chap-ters 7-12). The stories tell of souls living faithfully in obedience to God in a time of adversity. The visions are wide-screen renditions of God's sovereignty worked out among nations who couldn't care less about him. Six soul stories; four sovereignty visions... There are always some of us who want to concentrate on the soul, and others of us who want to deal with the big issues of history. Daniel is one of our primary documents for keeping it all together -- the personal and the political, the present and the future, the soul and the society."
(Eugene Peterson, The Message) Theodoret of Cyr on Hosea"The reason that the God of all threatens punishment, you see, is not to inflict it on those he threatens but to strike them with fear and lead them to repentance, and by ridding them of their wicked behavior extend to them salvation. After all, if he wanted to punish, he would not threaten punishment; instead, by threatening he makes clear that he longs to save and not to punish. Accordingly he sends blessed Hosea to foretell what would happen..."
(Theodoret of Cyr, Commentary on Hosea, Introduction) Theodoret of Cyr on Haggai"Now the God of all made these threats on account of the neglect of the divine, house, though not for any need of it: the Maker of all things has no need even of heaven, creating every-thing out of lovingkindness alone. Rather, it was in his care for them all and his interest in their salvation that he ordered the rebuilding of the temple so that they might observe the law in it and reap the benefit..."
(Theodorect of Cyr, Commentary on Haggai) |