habbakuk: a midrash [week three]
hi all - hope this posting finds you well!
#1 what movement do you sense through the whole series? do you feel like there is a progression of emotion? of interpretation? do you feel like we're getting deeper into the book each week?
#2 what was your favorite thing that was said this week [p.s. i'll be passing this on to jvo, lori, and ben because these are the best kinds of feedback to receive EVER!]? was there one thing that stuck particularly in your mind? something that "opened a door", so to speak, in your spirit?
#3 is there anything in the text of habakkuk that hasn't yet been brought out in the series that you see represented? is there something you feel like we're missing from the book itself? i.e. when you read the book, are you baffled as to why we haven't yet mentioned ______ ?
#4 what possible application is there to our 21st century lives of the book? how could habakkuk intersect with the lives of ordinary people in our workplaces? our schools? typically, the minor prophets in the ot are not given 4 week's worth of attention in american evangelical churches - why do you think that is? what do you think we as a Church are missing when we leave out these kinds of books and their material from our congregations?
ok - thanks everyone
and don't forget to wish randy, lance, and i luck on our marathon this sunday!!!
#1 what movement do you sense through the whole series? do you feel like there is a progression of emotion? of interpretation? do you feel like we're getting deeper into the book each week?
#2 what was your favorite thing that was said this week [p.s. i'll be passing this on to jvo, lori, and ben because these are the best kinds of feedback to receive EVER!]? was there one thing that stuck particularly in your mind? something that "opened a door", so to speak, in your spirit?
#3 is there anything in the text of habakkuk that hasn't yet been brought out in the series that you see represented? is there something you feel like we're missing from the book itself? i.e. when you read the book, are you baffled as to why we haven't yet mentioned ______ ?
#4 what possible application is there to our 21st century lives of the book? how could habakkuk intersect with the lives of ordinary people in our workplaces? our schools? typically, the minor prophets in the ot are not given 4 week's worth of attention in american evangelical churches - why do you think that is? what do you think we as a Church are missing when we leave out these kinds of books and their material from our congregations?
ok - thanks everyone
and don't forget to wish randy, lance, and i luck on our marathon this sunday!!!
posted by david mcdonald at 1:47 PM
8 Comments:
#1- I definitally think we are getting deeper into the book. I think throughout this series we are seeing a deeper meaning to who we are as humans, the struggles we go through and also who God is in the midst of it all. For me I think there is a struggle of frustration because my flesh, my humaness wants to know the answers now, I don't want to suffer and I expect to be happy. This book is a strong example of where we stand before God how we in humility are to wait and seek God in everything.
#2- One thing that stood out to me is that faith cannot be understood by what God is doing in our life now but who God is in His character. It's a reminder to look at the big picture and who God is and has been over all time. Secondly regarding being comfortable; in our society we are all about comfort. This is something God constantly seems to be bring into my life. This is only our temporary home.
Great job Lori, John, and Ben!
#3- We have talked about a lot of things we should be doing like having faith, community, love, learning to wait but we havent talked much about the consequences of what happens if we choose not to live this lifestyle. In chapter 2 it seems to talk a lot about those who are making bad decisions.
#4- This book has so much relevance to our society and the people we interact with daily including ourselves. I think in the past questioning God or what the bible says has been shunned. As we learn in this book I think God honors our struggles as we search for His truth. It helps us relate to those we are around. We know that everyone suffers and has questions whether a believer or not. It's just a fact of life.
I think OT doesnt get much attention because people consider it so old school. the nt was written a while ago but i think to people it seems the ot is more outdated and harder to relate to. we are all about what is in it for me :( When we leave these books out of our churches we arent getting the full picture. The Bible has these books for a reason. I can really resonate with Habakkuk and so can everyone else. sometimes it takes digging a little deeper.
Angela and I were gone this weekend, but will try to get a copy of the fusion soon...
#1 I agree that we are getting deeper into the book, but it goes deeper than that when we look at the application. I used to feel uncomfortable "fighting/wrestling" with God, but I think that came from fearing God in an unhealthy way...kind of like I had grown up fearing my own father. I do not struggle anymore with whether or not I can be authentic with God. I know that I can and the progression of these messages has made that clear. I think the biggest thing for me has been remembering that no matter where we land on an issue God IS God!!! He doesn't have to give us an explanation...He tells us to trust, even when it doesn't make sense. This series is calling us very loudly into what a deeper faith looks like!
#2 I think I have already answered this question in my ramblings up above, yet it continues to amaze me how we keep demanding answers from God and get stuck there. John using the parent child relationship to show some of this was excellent. Allowing our kids to explain themselves or allowing them to look for answers from us is encouraged, but as parents we still tell them to go to their room etc. So, I like that you aren't suggesting "license" when it comes to being "real" with God. You are holding God to his rightful place...a place of reverence, respect, honor. All of the speakers were excellent this past weekend. I like the message being presented as a midrash.
#3 I don't think we have missed anything big.
#4 The book brings such relevance to our humanness i.e. wanting to believe, having faith, struggling, wrestling, questioning, doubting, rebellion etc. Yet, if that were the end of the story there wouldn't be any hope! Who God is becomes so clear as you read the book to gain more understanding. We do not have to have all the answers to believe in something or to know we are completely, unconditionally loved. I agree with Mel that OT usually gets a bad reputation for being violent and so full of God's wrath. Yet, there really can be a peace that envelops us when we can accept God for who he really is...even when it doesn't make sense. I never really looked at the book of Habbakuk in this way until now. My life has been full of circumstances that will never be answered for here, and I have been extremely angry at God too. But, I have chosen to trust God because of who he is and I am deeply grateful that He is a forgiving God!
#1 This is the first week I've gotten to hear the message, so I can't comment on the whole series.
#2 A few things that stuck in my mind. . . Lori's observation that the 5 woes parallel the 10 commandments. I'd never thought about them that way before. I appreciate Jon's reminder that we must allow God to be God, and also that the end goal is holiness and that happiness is oftentimes the byproduct, but not the end in itself. I liked Ben's comment re. faith--that it's in God's character, who He is.
#3 Missing? Well, I guess I'd have liked Ben to expand more on the whole faith issue. Like the mistake of trying to make happiness your ultimate goal, having faith in faith is faulty thinking--as if faith in and of itself can bring hope or strength. It's got to be about the One in whom we have the faith. Obviously, for the believer, that faith is in God and His character. Faith has to have a content, combined with the personal experience.
#4How does this book intersect with our lives now? Well, like Lori pointed out, God is interested in how we treat people. Do we seek justice? Do we put our faith in idols (money market accounts, celebrities, charity work)? As far as what we miss by not studying the OT, for me, it would be like saying I really know someone that I work with. I may only see them 8 hours a day in a work environment. What do they do with the rest of their time? How do they react in different situation? What's going on inside their home? In their heads? I only have a very narrow, one-sided perspective of that person. Studying the OT allows me to see more of God in His fullness. It also allows me to see how seamless, and truly God-inspired the Bible is. And honestly, if I say I want to be more like Jesus, and He quoted the OT and said He came to fulfill the law and the prophets, I guess I'd better dig in and see what He's talking about.
Missing out on the OT is like walking into a movie halfway through and trying to feel satisfied at the end.
The OT also brings deeper meaning to the Gospel and how it upholds the law--God's demand for holiness, His demand for punishment, and His demand for true righteousness. We saw God's system in the OT and how it was fulfilled in Jesus in the new. It's hard to appreciate that if you don't have the whole picture.
great interaction, everyone - well done! kudos to vicky, in particular, for the analogy of knowing someone only at work as a comparison of never reading the old testament and believing we "really know" god.
incredible!
btw, the prayground site is fixed now so you can access the blog through the prayground if you so choose.
thanks!
#1 The discussion here this week notes John refered to God as a aprent. The progression reflects a movement from baffled child to trusting young adult (perhaps). The deeper level of God IS truth and Faith is confidence He loves us. Ben's comments bring it home for me, when my obsessiveness prevents my listening.
2# John's comments on God's invitation to be quiet and listen for the parent. I know my brother and I were intrigued with his "Theology of Happiness". I loved the encouragement, nudge to "pour ourselvelves out for others". If we want love, we give love and God is alaways in that...
3# Nein.
4# Firstly, the themes consistent throughout the OT & NT of love, faith, truth, etc. - timelessness. Secondly, unsure per se. My sense is churches I've attended tend to focus on the most commonly known biblical stories, then put a "new spin", which could apply to current times. At any rate, I am pleased WE are exploring the minor prophets in depth and discoursing about how the messages impact / collide with us similarly and differently. This approach motivates me to search the varied texts more persistently. I am really getting into my bible study times as a partial result. Great job John, Lori & Ben. David - Hope the marathion went well..
Annonymous was Leonard. I was rushing, as folks are waiting to use this terminal.
Just seeing if I can do this at home--thanks for your time this morning with us Dave Mc. :)
Post a Comment
<< Home