And Now For Something Completely Different...

Day 37: Deuteronomy 21–25; Proverbs 22–26; Acts 16–18

I love the British comedy troupe Monty Python.  They have a film entitled "And Now For Something Completely Different...," which is a collection of skits from their popular television series.  It is random and seems to have very little order. It's just silly.

Forgive me, but that's how Deuteronomy felt today and the Proverbs are getting to be monotonous as well.  The summary instructions for the Israelites as they prepare to cross the Jordan and take possession of the land includes a ritual for atonement in the case of an unsolved murder.  The priests along with elders from the city nearest the murder (It is assumed that a murder in a city can't go unnoticed.  The writer of Deuteronomy hadn't imagined a place like New York City!) take a young cow to a river and break its neck.  They proclaim innocence of the bloodshed and no knowledge of the murderer. This absolves them of guilt. There are rules for taking a woman as your wife from the women of a conquered city.  There are rules for killing your rebellious son who won't do what his parents tell him to do (Deut. 21:20-21)!  There are rules as to when to take down the bodies of the executed.  Crossdressing is prohibited. Justice for chickens is commented upon (Deut. 22:6-7).  Safety considerations when building a home, and where to bury your crap because it wouldn't be proper for God to step in your poop...these are a sample of the kind of commands, statues and laws recorded in this section.

Hey, it's practical, I guess.  But it sure is odd...completely different...I'd say.

The Proverbs are very practical, but they can be a little odd to my sensibilities too.  For instance,

The slacker says, "There's a lion outside!
    I'll be killed in the streets!" (Pr. 22:13)

stick a knife in your throat
    if you have a big appetite (Pr. 23:2b)

He who gives an honest answer
    gives a kiss on the lips. (Pr. 24:26) 

I don't get these.  The explanations from commentaries attempt to bridge the gap between my world and the world of the Old Testament, but in the end...it's completely different.

I suppose that is how the Jews and the Athenians felt about the proclamation that Jesus is the Christ, that through His execution on the cross we are given forgiveness of sins and offered eternal life through belief in the good news about His resurrection from the dead.  The Jews became jealous of the response of some of the members of the synagogue converted to belief in Jesus.  And the Athenians looked upon Paul as a "seed picker" or a person of no account (a pseudo-intellectual as the Holman Christian Standard Bible translates).  The Greek philosophers questioned Paul about the religion he was preaching in the Aeropagus on Mars Hill, but when they heard about the resurrection, some of them sneered.  It was completely different...utter nonsense in their minds.

Yet there is something about this gospel that meets deep needs in the heart of humankind.  Some wished to hear Paul speak again and learn more.  Some believed and accepted the good news with joy and joined Paul.  Everywhere Paul went there were those who strongly opposed his message about Jesus and those who were glad to receive it in faith.

I suppose I would rather find a way to be glad to receive the scriptures even when they are downright odd.  It's better than becoming a jealous zealot and stirring up trouble.  In fact it can be quite humorous.

"A wife's nagging is an endless dripping" (Pr. 19:13), written by King Solomon, a man who had 300 wives and 700 concubines.  He should know.   ;)~