Pastoral Musings

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This post which references this news article has me thinking.

What if the issue that appears to show multiple authors in various Old Testament books actually shows sections that have been edited by later folks such as Ezra?

Can a computer ever tell us that?

Related articles

• Bible’s Different Authors Revealed By New Language Software (pastoralmusings.com)
• USA Today: Has the Geneva Bible made a huge comeback? ” Better Bibles Blog (pastoralmusings.com)
• New York Times on the King James Version of The Bible (pastoralmusings.com)

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In the days of Nehemiah the people sought to reinstate the worship of YHWH in Jerusalem.  How did they do so?  They called for Ezra the priest, the scribe, to bring the Word of God.  They stood in the street of the city daily while Ezra and others preached in tag-team fashion.  By that means they learned the will of God and the worth of God once again.  Thus they worshiped.  ( Nehemiah 8:1-18  )

Interestingly enough, Jesus told the woman at the well in Sychar that worship must be Word based.  He told her that worship must be in spirit and in truth. ( John 4:24 )  What is truth?  Scripture ( John 17:17 ).  Actually, it is God in Christ as He is seen in Scripture ( John 14:6;17:17 ).

We need to have a renewed commitment to Scripture in our worship today.  Old, harmful, legalistic traditions bind us and inhibit our worship.  Careless laxness because of disregarding Scripture inhibits our worship.

We must worship in truth, knowing God in Christ through His Word.

Related articles

• Ezra’s Example (freshlyground.wordpress.com)

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• Ezra 1:1-4 Cyrus acknowledges YHWH to be the One true God and makes a decree that the temple be rebuilt.
• Ezra 5:1-6:15 Adversaries seek to end the building of the temple in the days of Darius. Darius rules that the temple of the God of Heaven be rebuilt and that prayer be made to Him on behalf of Darius.
• Ezra 9:1-10:44 The people sinned by marrying into the idolatrous peoples of the land. Ezra’s zeal for the glory of YHWH and His worship prompts him to call the people to repent and put away their idol-worshiping wives. Cf Deuteronomy 7:1-11 Note: This is not an issue of ethnic purity, but purity of worship. YHWH is a jealous God who will not permit idolatry. Cf Exodus 34:14;Deuteronomy 4:24
• Nehemiah 4:2 Sanballat mocks Israel’s attempt to build Jerusalem. He wonders if the city can be revived out of the barrenness. Cf Genesis 1:1-2 where God fills the barren earth in the creation. Cf also the Exodus narrative.
• Nehemiah 9:1-10:30 Israel, upon hearing the Word of God, weeps and enters into a compact to keep covenant with God, because He is faithful. Recognizing the promises of YHWH, they commit themselves to following Him. Cf Exodus 24:3;Deuteronomy 30:1-20;Joshua 24:14-25;2Chronicles 34:14-33
• Nehemiah 13:1-31 Israel soon falls. This passage shows them to be in continuity with history both in the bad and the good.

• Esther
  • • The book of Esther is unique among the books of the Bible. The whole point of the narrative, however, is to show the providence of God in preserving Israel and the seed of David from destruction so that the Messiah could come into the world through them.
    • One very interesting point is seen in the fact that the book opens with Ahasuerus showing off the glory of his kingdom, but the book ends with YHWH advancing His own kingdom through the diminishing of Ahasuerus’ kingdom by the decree of the king. Not only was Israel preserved, but Mordecai was exalted as second to the king and in that position sought the wealth and advancement of Israel.