It’s a Bit Quiet Around Here…

I’ve been planning my version of 2011, and noticed a happy conjunction of dates.

Easter occupies the last Sunday in April. Not particularly good for those looking for a holiday after term 1, but there you are.

Mothers Day, as usual, is the second Sunday in May. I’m going to persevere with making this work for inviting mums.

That leaves us with the first Sunday in May sitting at something of a loose end. How fortunate, then, that Sunday 1st of May is the day before the 400th anniversary of the publication of the KJV. I’m planning to do a sermon on something to do with the doctrine of scripture – likely its perspicuity and our wealth of opportunity to read it! ‘The Ploughman’s Son’ is the title, referencing Mr Tyndale above.

(And it makes for some kind of link to ‘The Noble Wife’ the following week, where I think Marguerite of Navarre will be my worked example of Proverbs 31. Hopefully that will save me from cliché!)

 

There was lots of noise for Calvin last year – but I’m not hearing so much about 2011…

Scooping!

Not the usual use of the term, but I just had to get this one posted before other notables got hold of it...

The British Library announced that Sinaiticus would be put online, progressively, starting tomorrow.

More...

The Messiah in the Details

Wrote an exegetical paper yesterday on Daniel 6, and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Usually, I love the thinking, but hate the writing, as astute readers might have observed by now (perhaps this is a slog, not a blog).

Here's what I liked.

A conspiracy is hatched to take down one in whom no fault can be found. The only way to get him is by trapping him in his obedience to God. The secular ruler doesn't want to condemn him, but finds his hands tied. The pressure of the mob is too great. The order for execution is given, and the victim is left where his bones will rest, and a stone is placed over the entrance.

But against all hope, at dawn comes the discovery: he is not dead, but alive! Death could not take him because he was innocent...because he had trusted in his God.

Daniel, or Jesus?

"In every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves..."

And so the good news went to all peoples, nations and tongues...and so it did.


I wonder whether Daniel sang Psalm 22 for the lions to pass the time?

Habakkuk meets The Castle

We're halfway through a integrated series of sermons and Bible studies on Habakkuk at the moment, and this week was Hab. 2. And in the last few minutes of preparing, I put my finger on what was bothering me about the chapter.

It had a few refrains and themes whirling around in it, but I wasn't having much luck in figuring out why these were the things highlighted about the Babylonians...and then the penny dropped. 2:4-20 is about the vibe, specifically, the Genesis 4-11 vibe.

We found stacks of references to Cain, Ham, and Babel - and the latter makes plenty of sense when the focus of Habakkuk is the Babylonians. There's too many to list, but for me the highlight comes toward the end of the chapter. Verse 17 again repeats the accusation of 'shedding man's blood', referencing Gen 9:6's prohibition on murder, and then verses 18-19 move on to idolatry and the making of images...just as Gen 9:6 bases the ban on murder on the fact that man is made in God's image.

It certainly makes you reassess what v. 14 means, with the earth being filled with God's glory like the waters cover the sea - a reference to the glory seen in the flood of judgment, or to the glory seen in rescue when the waters were pushed back?

And for Habakkuk, it's a good answer: sin has always been like this, says God, and that's why I tolerate the treacherous. I'm busy saving them!