Reading for January 24th

 Read Song of Songs 2.8-17. In 2.8-17: She reports his invitation. The man beckons to the woman to join him in the countryside, where springtime has awakened nature and desire. In verse 14: Their love is expressive, yet secreetive. He invites her to private places: clefts and the covert. In verse 15; A difficult verse to translate. Some consider it a reference to an ancient riddle,meaning of which has been lost. If vineyards symbolize the woman's sexuality (as elsewhere) then the the foxes are dangers to their lovemaking. In verse 16: Pastures the flock may either be literal (he is a shepherd) or metaphorical of their love, since she is called a lilly (2.1). In verse 17: Until the day breathes ... shadows flee: Although some interpret the reference as to dawn, it likely refers to sunset. the woman tells the man to depart until later in the evening. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 23rd

 Read Song of Songs 1.9-2.7. In 1.9-2.7: The man and woman speak of love. In 1.9-11: He uses a wide array of images to describe the woman. Mare: Egyptian sources report the military strategy of sending a mare out to excite and disturb the enemy's stallions. In verses 12-17: The woman likens her own bodily smells and the delight of her lover between her breasts to nard, myrrh and henna: aromatic, precious scents. En-gedi: A lush oasis close to the Dead Sea. In verse 15: The male speaks. In verses 16-17: The woman's speech portrays their trysting place as outdoor. In 2.1-2: The woman sees herself as one of many common flowers; but her lover sees her as outstanding in beauty. In verses 3-5: Fruit is used as erotic imagery. She compares their trysting place to a banqueting house or "winehouse," where they are to take their fill of delicacies. In verse 7; This statement, issued as a lesson for others, either suggests the danger of love or requests that the lover's intimacy not be interrupted. Daughters of Jerusalem refers to the young women of the city. In the book, their participation advances the dialogue. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 22nd

 Read Song of Solomon 1.1-8. In verse 1: Superscription. Like many Psalms, the book begins with background information. Song of Songs: Hebrew for "best song." Which is Solomon's is more likely the editor's attempt to link the book with Solomon rather than proof of its authorship. In verses 2-8: The woman speaks of love. Ancient Near Eastern cultures used many sweet, strong scents on the body as well as in religious ceremonies. Throughout the book,such aromas are compared to the scent of the lover's bodies.. In verse 4: The king: The lovers call each other royal names, indicating their majesty in one another's eyes. In verses 5-6: Black and beauthiful:The woman maintains that her sun-darkened skin is beautiful. The verse imply an expectation that women have fair skin, perhaps reflecting an urban perspective. Kedar: a mountain range of which means "black." Mother's sons: Mothers rather than fathers are mentioned in the book, suggesting a strong female perspective. Vineyards throught thebook are connected with sexulality. The first mention is literal: Her brothers required her to work outside. The second reference is metaphorical: She has not been chaste. In verse 7: Veiled: Veiling practices in ancient Israel are difficult to reconstruct. In Gen 38, a prostitute wears a veil, and Gen 29.21-25 may imply that brides wore face coverings. The reference here may be metaphorical: Why should she have difficulty seeing him? In verse 8: Another voice, the male or chorus, tells her to follow the sheep to find her lover. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 21st

 Read Galatians 6.11-18. In 6.11-18: Paul's closing appeal. In verse 11: This reflects his customary practice (1 Cor 16.21). In his own hand writing, he summarizes themes already treated in the letter. In verse 12: He attacks the motives of his opponents (4.17-18). In verse 13: Criticizing their inconsistent practice recalls Rom 2.17-24. By "boasting" of the number of converts they have won, they violate Jer 9.23-24. In verse 14: Paul restates his central claim: The crucified Christ is his sole focus (1 Cor 2.2). The crucifixion marked two deaths: The collapse of the world that defined him (law) and the eclipse of the self-understanding that derived from that world. In verse 15: Ethnic identity no longer matters (3.26-28; 5.6; 1 Cor 7.19). What matters is participating in Gods reordered universe brought about by Christ (2 Cor 5.17). In verse 16: Israel of God possibly refers to those who oppose him, but could be God's people as originally envisioned in the promise to Abraham: those who live by faith, both Jews and gentiles. In verse 17: His apostolic life imprinted the crucifixion on his body (2 Cor 4.17). Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 20th

 Read Galatians 6.1-10. In 6.1-10: Moral exhortations. In verse 1: Church discipline should seek to restore, not just to punish (Mt 18.15-20; 1 Cor 5.1-8). Its overall tone is defined by 5.22-23. In verse 2: The law of Christ expresses the way of love (2.20). It produces mutual responsibility (Rom 15.1). In verse 3: Arrogance thrives on self-illusion (1 Cor 8.2). In verses 4-5: This expresses the other side of responsible behavior. In verse 6: Teachers are entitled to (financial) support from their students (1 Cor 9). In verses 7-10: V. 7 expresses popular wisdom (Job 4.8; Prov 22.8). In verse 9: Harvest time points to the final judgment (Mt 13.11-12). Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 19th

 Read Galatians 5.13--26. In 5.13-26: Living in freedom. Having just discussed what returning to slavery would mean (5.2-12), Paul now expounds on freedom (5.1). In verse 13: Self-indulgence captures the sense of the flesh ("sarx"). Now the slave imagery is used positively: Love requires a new form of submission (Rom 6.15-19). In verse 14: Lev 19.18; Rom 13.8-10. In verses 16-17: Spirit and flesh define opposing spheres of life and loyalties (Rom 8.5-7). In verse 18 The law is associated with flesh (Rom 7). In verses 19-21: Works of the flesh: This vice list enumerates various forms of self-indulgence (v. 13; see Rom 1.29-31). Sexual sins head the list, followed by sins leading to social disorder, then personal excess. Kingdom of God is God's future reign (1 Cor 6.9-10). In verses 22-26: Fruit of the Spirit is what living by the Spirit produces (2 Pet 1.5-7). In verse 24: The moral life is similarly described in Rom 6.6. In verses 25-26: Rom8.5-8. Life in the Spirit recognizes different gifts and mutual need, thereby devaluing interpersonal rivalry. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 18th

 Read Galatians 5.2-12. In 5.2-12: Why circumcision should be refused. Here Paul gets to the central issue that is dividing the community. The opposing teachers thought God required the gentile Christians in Galatia to be circumcised. In verse 3: Circumcision indicated willingness to live by Torah (Gen 17.9-14). The emphasis here is entire law (3.10). In verse 4: Cut yourselves off can be rendered, "You were estranged." To choose the law is to abandon Christ, the symbol of God's grace (1.6, 15; 2.20-21; Romans 5.15). In verse 5: Rom 8.18-25. In verse 6: Christ redefines the meaning of ethnic identity (6.15; 1 Cor 7.19). Faith working through love is generally taken as "faith made effective through loving acts" (5.13-14). It could be "faith that becomes effective by responding to Christ's love" (2.20). In verses 7-8: To call to follow the law does not come from God. In verse 9:1 Cor 5.6. In verse10: The curse of 1.6-9 will take effect. In verse 11: To convince the Galatians, the opposing teachers apparently argued that Paul approved of circumcision. In verse 12: Not only would circumcision hurt physically, it would banish them under the law (Deut 23.1). Comments or Questions..