April 3- Ps. 23 is coming up for reading next Sunday again. I must admit that the sheep image does not do much for me. Part of it is being American; I don't like being in a herd. Their weakness is a painful reminder of my own weakness, ny willingness to go along with the herd, my fears and docility, and the assorted limitations of age. I resist the thought of needing care; it is much easier to offer it. Of course, all of this is included in the walk through the shadow side of life and psyche. Even those do not deter the presence of God.

Quick notes for Ps. 116

v.1-2 we pray to a listening and responding God. Think about answered prayers. When does god act as a therapist for you? Notice this is one of the rare times a prayer says flat out I love the lord.

v.3-4 this was a desperate prayer; we now find out. How does prayer in distress differ from “regular” prayer? Remember, they7 do not know heaven-dead is dead. Sheol is the underworld at best, the place fo the grave at worst.

v.12 list out some of the bounty of the Lord, as gift and as answered prayer.

v.13 cup of salvation has a eucharistic sense for Christians. It is not the cup of suffering Jesus drank see Num 28, and Paul in I cor 10:16

v.15 this sounds so odd, as if God desires the death of the saints. It would be better to say that the deaths are costly/grievous for god.

v.16 what bonds have been loosed by God in your life-addictions-obsessions-personal hurdles that chained you from being what God intends?

v.18 this is 2X we have read of vows. What do you think about vows kept and broken?

Thanksiving sacrifices were made in the temple, not only guilt offerings.In other words worship is returning to God for bounty. This was read during Passover meal, so it acquires a whole new dimension of bounty.

April 2-Malice is a most unattractive vice. We promote evils to befall others, at our worst. More often, our malice is more passive, where we merely hope for bad things to happen to others, even take pleasure in something befalling them. It may be a species of revenge, but it is more often a symptom of resentment. It springs form our dissatisfaction with our own lot in life, and we project it outward. To help combat it, try at least this. For every malicious thought, balance it with a loving, kind one. Bit by bit, it will improve your own mindset enough, that the malice will start to shrink away.

I Peter 2:19-25 notes.first cut

1) I find this a difficult passage, as it seems easy to make it a basis for quietism in the face of injustice. indeed, it is as a good example that we suffer unjustluy. Worse, the omitted v. 18 is directed to slaves.

2) In v. 19 the phrase commendable or a dredit is charis=usually grace.

aware/conscious of God= it iwould be commendable to spend osme time with this and its effect on ethics.

3) Barlett p.281 NIB sees this next section on suffering for doing good, as vocation. Again, this could be used in extremely dangerous ways, say for those victims of violence. Is endurance of unjust suffering always a virtue?

4) Christ's example is better put as a pattern, a model, to follow.

5) Here is an explicit citation of Is. 53 in v. 22.

6) This sounds like the Sermon on the Mount applied to being abused as a slave. How many Christians with power can show such a power to avoid retaliation?

7) We are not told how our sins were carried by Christ in his body, but we are told that it frees us from sin

8) the wounded healer image is used from Is 53 in v. 24. I can live with this image of responding to suffering by healing.

9) Allusion to Ezek. 34 appear with the shepherd image. Again, this image of guardian/overseer of the soul could be deep water to explore in a spirituality class or in pastoral care situations.

April 1- I never liked the little tricks of April Fool's Day. The book of Proverbs makes its basic distinction between the wise and the fool. On the other hand, Paul reverses the image in I Coinithians 1, where what looks foolish in the world can be wise in the eyes of God. Yet, I John tells us to discern the spirits. I don't think God asks Christians to turn off our minds. I do think that God asks us to re-examine our perceptions in light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pick one item in your world view and see how a Christian perspective may differ or cohere with the wisdom or foolishnmess fo the world.

1. Notes on I Peter 2:1-10

2. Ridding oneself of the vices, reminds me of taking off the old self, a baptismal image. If for a study go through the vices one at a time. In sermon pick just one or two or be in danger of going too widely. Make up a story that combines allof these vices.

3. 2) since we are born again, the image of newborns is obvious. They need nourishment, food appropriate to their state, spiritual milk. Spiritual is logikos, however, so appropriate, proper milk would be closer than spiritual. The translation grow into instead fo grow up is possibly closer.

4. 3)Taste alludes, perhaps to Ps. 34”s taste and see. Taste the kindness of the Lord is a lovely phrase that deserves consideration, in sermon, but especially in spiritual growth groups . Could it be also a eucharistic image?

5. 4) Living hope is now living stone. Notice chosen and precious appeared in ch. 1, but now refer to Christ. See Is. 28:16, Ps. 118:22. Nice organic/inorganic image, living stone.

6. Stones create a building image for a temple-what sort of sacrifice would Peter have in mind?

7. Cites a version of Is. 28:16

8. For those interested in honor and shame categories being used by the church, this is a fine example. It now cites Ps. 118:22

9. Is.8:14 is cited. How does one disobey the word? What word? This has a sense that some are destined for disobedience. How do you deal with this?

10. Here is a good example of the change in perspective and fulfillment language for the early church. Allusions are to at least, Ex. 19:6, Is. 43:21, What does holy mean then and now? Darness into marvelous light is an excellent spiritual image.

11. See Hos. 2:23

Notes on Ps. 23

First, We live in a golden age of psalm study. See James Mays, Brueggemann, Patrick Miller, James Limburg, Clinton McCann among others.

Psalm 23 is known by heart, so it is difficult to examine critically. Obviously it is in a pastoral scene with the reading from John, and the ending of the reading from I Peter.

1. By the time of Jesus, shepherds had the reputation of used car salesmen or TV pitchmen. I don’t know at the time of its writing. Shepherd would have a political meaning for kings as shepherds, good or bad. God was the shepherd of Israel. Is the psalmist speaking for Israel or only the writer? Want is better as lack. Notice it has no object.

2. Still waters reads waters of rest- where would you need waters for rest? Is baptism water of rest?

3. Restores my soul=restores my self, my life force/energies, my whole life, nto some immaterial section of it. Is it right paths or paths of righteousness-name’s sake means what? In honor, out of reverence?

4. Valley of deep darkness or valley fo the shadow of death. Either way, we get a sense of foreboding, danger, and threat. Divine presence as an answer Even death/darkness cannot remove the presence of God. Think of the descent into hell in the creed. Rod and staff become instruments fo comfort

5. Now an image of abundance, of celebration, of communion, even in the presence of enemies. Christians do have enemies, personal and cosmic. Is this a bit of a taunt. Why would a thanksgiving sacrifice theme be held in the presence of enemies. Is it victory?

6. Goodness and mercy/kindness/loyalty/lovingkindness=hesed

dwell in the house my whole life long v. forever. This is an example of Christianizing the end with an allusion to heaven v. God with us in only this life.