Navigating Complexity in Biblical Interpretation and Faith
Summary
In this sermon, I explored the complexities of interpreting biblical stories, particularly those from the Old Testament that we may have learned as children. I used the example of the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho, highlighting how these stories are often more complicated and tougher than we might assume. I emphasized the importance of understanding the context in which these stories were written and the potential dangers of taking them at face value. I also addressed the challenging issue of reconciling the presence of violence and conflict in these stories with our understanding of a loving God.
In the second part of the sermon, I delved deeper into the importance of context and interpretation when reading the Bible. I used the analogy of the Bible as a library, where understanding what section you are in can greatly influence your interpretation of the text. I also discussed the potential consequences of misreading certain books of the Bible, such as Revelation, as predictions about the future. I reiterated that the troubling part of Joshua that recounts the annihilation of inhabitants of Jericho was written generations after the events in the story actually happened.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the context in which biblical stories were written is crucial for accurate interpretation. ([35:59])
- The Bible can be seen as a library, where knowing what section you are in can greatly influence your interpretation of the text. ([36:48])
- Misreading certain books of the Bible, such as Revelation, as predictions about the future can lead to scary conclusions. ([37:34])
- The troubling part of Joshua that recounts the annihilation of inhabitants of Jericho was written generations after the events in the story actually happened. ([39:06])
- It's important to reconcile the presence of violence and conflict in biblical stories with our understanding of a loving God. ([33:02])
Study Guide
Bible Passages:
1. Joshua 6:1-27
2. Isaiah 2:1-5
3. Matthew 5:43-48
Key Points from the sermon:
1. The importance of understanding the context of Bible passages.
2. The challenge of reconciling violent Old Testament stories with the God of love revealed in the New Testament.
3. The misuse of scripture to justify acts of violence and conquest throughout history.
Observation Questions:
1. What was the strategy God gave Joshua for conquering Jericho in Joshua 6?
2. What is the vision of peace described in Isaiah 2:1-5?
3. How does Jesus instruct his followers to treat their enemies in Matthew 5:43-48?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Jericho fit into the larger narrative of the Israelites entering the Promised Land?
2. How does the vision of peace in Isaiah 2 contrast with the violence in Joshua 6?
3. How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5 challenge traditional understandings of justice and retribution?
Application Questions:
1. How can we approach difficult or violent passages in the Bible with honesty and humility?
2. How can we promote peace and reconciliation in our own communities, following the vision of Isaiah 2 and the teachings of Jesus?
3. How can we guard against misusing scripture to justify harm or violence towards others?
Devotional
Day 1: The Complexity of Familiar Stories
As we grow and mature, our understanding of the world around us changes. This is also true for the biblical stories we learned as children. As we revisit these stories with adult eyes, we often find them more complex and challenging than we initially thought.
Genesis 22:1-14 - "Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.'... When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, 'Abraham! Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. 'Do not lay a hand on the boy,' he said. 'Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a familiar biblical story that you learned as a child. How has your understanding of this story evolved as you've grown older? Are there aspects of the story that you find more complex or challenging now?
Day 2: The Importance of Context and Interpretation
Understanding the context of a biblical passage can greatly influence our interpretation of it. This can lead to new insights and perspectives that deepen our understanding of God's word.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 - "Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church."
Reflection: Can you think of a biblical passage that you've interpreted differently after understanding its context? How did this new understanding change your perspective?
Day 3: The Timing of Biblical Writings
Knowing when a biblical story was written can greatly influence our interpretation of it. This knowledge can provide valuable context and deepen our understanding of the story.
Daniel 7:1-14 - "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream... 'I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another...'"
Reflection: How does knowing that some biblical stories were written generations after the events they describe influence your interpretation of these stories? Can you think of a specific example where this knowledge has impacted your understanding?
Day 4: The Challenge of Difficult Passages
The Bible contains passages that can be difficult to reconcile with our modern values and understanding. Understanding these passages in their historical and cultural context can help us grapple with their meaning.
Leviticus 20:13 - "If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them."
Reflection: Is there a difficult passage in the Bible that you've struggled to reconcile with your modern values and understanding? How have you sought to understand this passage in its historical and cultural context?
Day 5: The Role of God in Biblical Stories
God's actions and instructions in biblical stories can sometimes be challenging to reconcile with our understanding of a loving and merciful God. Understanding these stories within their historical and cultural context can help us grapple with these portrayals.
Exodus 12:29-30 - "At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead."
Reflection: Reflect on a biblical story where God's actions or instructions are challenging to reconcile with your understanding of a loving and merciful God. How have you grappled with this portrayal within its historical and cultural context?
Quotes
1. "What I've been reminded of as we've preached this series is that lots if not most of those familiar stories that we remember when we were kids are actually a little bit more complicated and tougher than we might assume." - 23:26
2. "When the words are familiar, even when the words are hard to hear, oh God, by your spirit open us beyond ourselves so that we might hear a word of grace or challenge or comfort or hope, and maybe all of the above." - 25:51
3. "Like everything else in our lives, context and interpretation is the whole ball game. Knowing what part of the library you are in helps give you context for the book that you are reading." - 35:59
4. "What shapes the way a story like Joshua defeating Jericho being told is a reflection of the wants and the needs of those who write it and who hear it, and not necessarily the reflection of God's heart and God's will." - 41:35
5. "If we read the Bible and find justification for hate or discrimination or subjugation or worse, then we need to pause and check what section of the library we are in and read it again because God's purpose is not found in violence and conflict, it is found in love." - 43:15
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