My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: "O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!"

25 April 2006

The new Sabbath: the Sun-day. School had a day off for nice weather. Can't blame 'em too much...

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Sunday's sermon on Proverbs 25 (kinda bad sound this week, sorry).

The answer to the exegetical conundrum (below) is, I believe, that heaping burning coals on our enemies' head is a promise of divine judgment. That is, we are freed to love our enemies by the certainty of God's dealing with their sins and injustices. Rather than simply a symbol of shame, if coals are a sign of justice (as they are in Ps. 140:9,10), then we are freed to love like Jesus loved: without reservation, without vengeance. Finally, to support this idea further, Romans 12:17ff is a passage about not taking vengeance, but leaving vengeance to God; in this context, Paul quotes Pro. 25:21,22, placing it squarely in the realm of vengeance and justice and not just shame.

1 comment:

Tamara said...

Yeah, I got an answer right. Do I get candy or something? Maybe one of those communion cups would suffice. :) I will be sure to listen to that sermon.