Second Sunday of Lent
Second Sunday of Lent:
March 12th, 2006
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Psalm 22:23-31
I talked with a fellow teacher before and after Children’s Church last week concerning what methods we felt worked and did not work in teaching through the verses for Lent. We both took a similar approach to talking to the kids about the Old Testament verses – reading through the two passages and explaining what the key concepts mean, verse by verse. Now, granted, I fully admit that such an approach is a rather vague one, but I do believe that teachers must keep it in mind. I say this with the thought that the teacher has to find a way to balance the fact that the idea of covenant is a very mature and difficult one with the fact that that same idea of covenant is a necessary one for the children to understand.
Thus, it is my proposal that teachers read through these verses with the kids in their classes, talking about what they decide is most essential. When we get into the New Testament passages, this approach with be updated, but will remain much the same. The point is this – our children must be made familiar with all of these stories and the ideas behind them in order to expose them to the core beliefs, questions, answers, difficulties, and experiences contained within the Bible.
In reference to this week, I posted the lessons and commentary for Genesis 17 about 2 or 3 or so weeks ago, so those are already present on this blog. For Psalm 22, I have transcribed sections from various study Bibles that I have enjoyed using and learning from while studying all of these passages. And as usual, talk to me if you’d like to discuss anything you read that I’ve written here.
Jewish Study Bible, p1306-1307
Psalm 22:24-31 – The psalmist’s recovery is a sign of God’s power and mercy, an example for all, and an occasion for praise. With his reintegration into the community, all Israel is invited to join him in praise.
24 – You who fear the Lord: YHWH-fearers is a term that occurs elsewhere in the Psalms; sometimes it is a general distinction for those who worship the God of Israel and at other times it seems to be a group within Israel – proselytes according to some scholars. Here it is the former.
28 – On praise of God by the nations, see Ps 47:10, 67:3-5, 86:9, and 117:1.
30 – The healthy and the sick should praise God. Those at death’s door: in Hebrew, “those who go down to dust” usually is a reference to the dear or the almost dead. If the reference is to the dead, it would contradict the belief that the dead to not praise God (Ps. 6:6), but it is perhaps a poetic way to reinforce the idea of the surrounding environs that everyone, in every time and every place, should praise God.
31 – God’s power to cure will be proclaimed to future generations.
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible, p825-826
Psalm 22:24 – he has not hidden his face. The reason for the shift is from lament to praise. David’s enemies despised him, but God did not.
25 – From you comes the throne. Literally, “From you comes my praise.” The vow of praise leads to doxology. This, too, is prophetic, anticipating the praises of God in glory.
26 – eat well and be satisfied. This is likely a response to the sacrificial meal of the “peace offering” in which the vow is discharged and the worshippers join in.
27 – All the ends of the earth. The scope of praise expanded in prophetic reference to Christ.
28 – he rules over the nations. The Lord is more than the God of Israel; He is the God of the Gentiles as well.
29 – All the rich. Now only the poor (v26) but also the rich will worship God. These who cannot keep themselves alive. Another possible reading is, “The victor himself restores to life.
31 – He has done it. The final victory of salvation is accomplished by God.
NIV Study Bible, p809
Psalm 22:22-31 – Vows to praise the Lord when the Lord’s sure deliverance comes. The vows proper appear in v 22 & 25. Verses 23-24 anticipate the calls to praise that will accompany the psalmist’s praise. Verses 26-31 describe the expanding company of those who will take up the praise – a worldwide company of persons from every station in life and continuing through the generations. No psalm or prophecy contains a grander vision of the scope of the throng of worshipers who will join in the praise of God’s saving acts.
22:27 – All the ends of the earth. They too will be told of God’s saving acts. The good news that the God of Israel hears the prayers of his people and saves them will move them to turn from their idols to the true God.
22:28 – The rule of the God of Israel is universal, and the nations will come to recognize that fact through what he does in behalf of his people.
22:29 – All the rich … all who go down. The most prosperous and those on the brink of death, and all those whose life situation galls in between these two extremes.
March 12th, 2006
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Psalm 22:23-31
I talked with a fellow teacher before and after Children’s Church last week concerning what methods we felt worked and did not work in teaching through the verses for Lent. We both took a similar approach to talking to the kids about the Old Testament verses – reading through the two passages and explaining what the key concepts mean, verse by verse. Now, granted, I fully admit that such an approach is a rather vague one, but I do believe that teachers must keep it in mind. I say this with the thought that the teacher has to find a way to balance the fact that the idea of covenant is a very mature and difficult one with the fact that that same idea of covenant is a necessary one for the children to understand.
Thus, it is my proposal that teachers read through these verses with the kids in their classes, talking about what they decide is most essential. When we get into the New Testament passages, this approach with be updated, but will remain much the same. The point is this – our children must be made familiar with all of these stories and the ideas behind them in order to expose them to the core beliefs, questions, answers, difficulties, and experiences contained within the Bible.
In reference to this week, I posted the lessons and commentary for Genesis 17 about 2 or 3 or so weeks ago, so those are already present on this blog. For Psalm 22, I have transcribed sections from various study Bibles that I have enjoyed using and learning from while studying all of these passages. And as usual, talk to me if you’d like to discuss anything you read that I’ve written here.
Jewish Study Bible, p1306-1307
Psalm 22:24-31 – The psalmist’s recovery is a sign of God’s power and mercy, an example for all, and an occasion for praise. With his reintegration into the community, all Israel is invited to join him in praise.
24 – You who fear the Lord: YHWH-fearers is a term that occurs elsewhere in the Psalms; sometimes it is a general distinction for those who worship the God of Israel and at other times it seems to be a group within Israel – proselytes according to some scholars. Here it is the former.
28 – On praise of God by the nations, see Ps 47:10, 67:3-5, 86:9, and 117:1.
30 – The healthy and the sick should praise God. Those at death’s door: in Hebrew, “those who go down to dust” usually is a reference to the dear or the almost dead. If the reference is to the dead, it would contradict the belief that the dead to not praise God (Ps. 6:6), but it is perhaps a poetic way to reinforce the idea of the surrounding environs that everyone, in every time and every place, should praise God.
31 – God’s power to cure will be proclaimed to future generations.
Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible, p825-826
Psalm 22:24 – he has not hidden his face. The reason for the shift is from lament to praise. David’s enemies despised him, but God did not.
25 – From you comes the throne. Literally, “From you comes my praise.” The vow of praise leads to doxology. This, too, is prophetic, anticipating the praises of God in glory.
26 – eat well and be satisfied. This is likely a response to the sacrificial meal of the “peace offering” in which the vow is discharged and the worshippers join in.
27 – All the ends of the earth. The scope of praise expanded in prophetic reference to Christ.
28 – he rules over the nations. The Lord is more than the God of Israel; He is the God of the Gentiles as well.
29 – All the rich. Now only the poor (v26) but also the rich will worship God. These who cannot keep themselves alive. Another possible reading is, “The victor himself restores to life.
31 – He has done it. The final victory of salvation is accomplished by God.
NIV Study Bible, p809
Psalm 22:22-31 – Vows to praise the Lord when the Lord’s sure deliverance comes. The vows proper appear in v 22 & 25. Verses 23-24 anticipate the calls to praise that will accompany the psalmist’s praise. Verses 26-31 describe the expanding company of those who will take up the praise – a worldwide company of persons from every station in life and continuing through the generations. No psalm or prophecy contains a grander vision of the scope of the throng of worshipers who will join in the praise of God’s saving acts.
22:27 – All the ends of the earth. They too will be told of God’s saving acts. The good news that the God of Israel hears the prayers of his people and saves them will move them to turn from their idols to the true God.
22:28 – The rule of the God of Israel is universal, and the nations will come to recognize that fact through what he does in behalf of his people.
22:29 – All the rich … all who go down. The most prosperous and those on the brink of death, and all those whose life situation galls in between these two extremes.
posted by APN | 1:55 AM
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