Reading for January 22nd

 Read 1 Peter 2.4-10. In 2.4-10: Holy temple in Christ. Suffering challenges belief in God's providence; Jesus' death, moreover was shameful (Heb 12.2). Peter reinterprets Jesus' death according to scripture and invites the addressees to reinterpret their own ambiguous situation. In verses 4-8: Despite death, Jesus is a living stone; although rejected, he is exalted. thus he serves as cornerstone (Isa 28.16) and head of the corner (Ps 118.11) of an imperishable new temple. Through crisis and deliverance, believers become like Christ, namely, living stones of a spiritual house and a holy priesthood (2.5, 9). In verses 9-10: They enjoy high status; once not a people, they are God's chosen race and God's own people; dishonored here, they will not be putto shame (v. 6) in God's kingdom. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 21st

 Read 1 Peter 1.22--2.3. In 1.22-2.: New Birth, new behavior. Conversion to the "holy" God demands a holy life. In verses 22-23: The new birth (1.3) functions as part of the exhortation to holy living. In verses 23-25: In contrast to a mortal world where things die (All flesh is like grass), in God's immortal world, the word of divine promises endures forever  (vv. 10-11, 21), In 2.1-2: The addressees' new birth means death to previous sin, pursuit of spiritual milk which nourishes for endurance, and wisdom for valuing this noble state. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 20th

 Read 1 Peter 1.10-21. In verses 10-16: Good theology means good morals. Topics from the talks giving are developed inheritance and suffering leading to glory. In verses 10-11: Prophets confirm that suffering leads to future glory, a pattern applied to Jesus (2.22; Isa 53) and his disciples. In verses 13-14: Thus they should act like obedient children, avoiding desires and pursuing purity. In verses 15-16: Called by the holy God, they too must be holy, spotless or blameless (Lev 11.44-45). In verses 17-21: Recalling conversion. In verse 17: Although blessed, they still face God's impartial judgment. In verses 18-21: Jesus' sacrificial death ransomed Christians; thus God works in them the process of death leading to glory. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 19th

Read 1 Peter 1.1-9. verses 1-2: Letter opening. In verse 1: Peter addresses Christians in Asia Minor, acknowledging their chief status as exiles. In verse 2: God their patron purifies them with the blood of Jesus, thus conferring worth on a valueless people. Patrons are high-ranking  persons with great resources who enter into formal agreement with lower ranking suppliant or clients; patrons bestow strong protection. food and the like, while clients maintain  strong loyalty to their patrons and give them praise and honor. Thus the Christian God bestows lavish divine gifts on God's clients, the Christian communities; but expects from them respect, exclusive allegiance, and praise. In verses 3-9: Thanksgiving. Most Christian letters begin with a thanksgiving, this one is Semitic in form (Blessed be the God ; see 2 Cor 1.3-7). It introduces themes developed later (new birth, inheritance, suffering). In verses 3-5:Peter rehearses God's benefaction to these exiles, especially the promise of resurrection. In verses 6-7: Loyalty from God's clients in difficult circumstances brings praise, glory, and honor from their patron on judgement day. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 18th

 Read Judges 21.15-25. In 21.15-25: Capturing wives at Shiloh. In verse 17: Although not blotted out, Benjamin remained one of the smaller tribes. In verse 21: This may reflect an on-going custom of obtaining wives by ritualized capture at the annual festival at Shiloh. In verse 22: Brothers are the natural protectors of their unmarried sisters (Song 8.8-9), and fathers would lose finically if marriage bypassed the usual negotiations. In verse 25: Rape, civil war, genocide--all resulted because Israel had no king. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 17th

 Read Judges 21.1-14. In 21.1-14: Wives for Benjamin from Jabesh-gilead. In verse 1: This oath is considered unbreakable (v. 5). In verse 8: Although others from Gilead had participated (20.1), Jabesh-gilead did not. In verses 10-11: As a result of their vow, they treat this as a holy war and devote to destruction everyone not useful for their plan. In verse 14: This transition may explain why Jabesh-gilead and King Saul (a Benjamite from Gibeah) had friendly relations (1 Sam 11.1-11; 31.11-13). Four hundred women are not enough for the six hundred surviving men. Comments or Questions..

Reading for January 16th

 Read Judges 20.29-48. In 20.29-48: Israel crushes Benjamin. In verse 33: The tactics of ambush and simulated retreat parallel Josh 8.3-23. In verse 35: The magnitude of the disaster is clear when the number killed (v. 46) is compared with Benjamin's starting total (v. 15). In verse 36: The course of the battle is recounted twice in overlapping parallel stories: vv. 29-36 and vv. 36-43. In verses 40-41: The role of the smoke is the same as in Josh 8.20-21. In verse 42: Benjamin is trapped and butchered between the main army (the Israelites) and the ambush (those who came out of the city). In verses 47-48: These six hundred are the only survivors. Near total annihilation of the Benjaminites sets up the situation for the next chapter. Comments or Questions..