In the old testament, I discovered a rich tapestry of encounters with GOd that added an important background to paul's example. In the psalms, for example, i found disorientation, confusion, rage, despair and anguish such that I had never heard discussed in my church.
The Old Testament's overwhelming lesson about God is that he is personal and intimate, its overwhelming lesson about human beings is that we matter. What we say, how we behave, even what we think and feel- these things have an enormous effect on GOd. Thay have in fact cosmic implications.
1. Is the old testament worth the effort
- neither testament is enough.
-the old testament gives us deeper insight to what is God like
- we learn from the old testament how God works. God moves slowly, unpredictably, paradoxically yet He makes all things beautiful in the end.
- shows that he is personal and intimate.
- old testament, a rich tapestry of characters and emotions.
2. Job: seeing in the Dark
- At the root, Job faced a crisis of faith, not of suffering. 'Why me?' When tragedy strikes, we too will be trapped in a limited point of view. Job convinces me that God cares more about our faith then our pleasure.
Job takes his stand upon individual faith rather than yielding to pious dogma.
' Until you know a little more about running the physical universe, Job, don't tell me how to run the moral universe. By describing the wonders of nature, relishing especially its wildness, God hints at some of the inherent limitations of natural law and of his preference not to intervene. God expands Job's range of vision from his miserable circumstance to the entire universe
10 lessons we can learn
- He permits, Satan actually caused suffering (chapter 1&2)
-God does not lack the power
- Suffering does not always come as a result of sin
- God will mete out justice after death
-we do not need to worry about somehow insulting God with an outburst triggered by distress or pain. God did not condemn Job's doubt and despair, only ignorance.
-No one has all the facts about suffering
- God is never totally silent
- Well intentioned advice may do more harm then good.
- By instinct we focus on the why but God is more interested in to what end?
-suffering, in God's plan can be redeemed or serve a greater good.
3. Deuteronomy: A taste of bittersweet
Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe commands, his laws, and his decrees that I am giving you this day. The simple act of remembering would require daily acts of concentration.
The Laws seem repetitious and generally irrelevant to modern society. Yet,as Deuteronomy shows most clearly, these laws simply set the boundaries of a vastly unequal relationship: Between an awesome, holy God and an ordinary people prone to failure and rebellion.
God is a person, Love takes first place, the basis of his whole relationship with humanity.
We have a God of grace who loves dusty people like us.
4. Psalms: spirituality in every Key
5. Ecclesiastes: The end of wisdom
6. The Prophets: God talks back
7. Advances Echoes of a Final Answer
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