Falling in line with other epistles attributed to “the Pillars,” (Galatians 2:9) Jude, literally, Judas (Ἰούδας) is included in the canon as part of a larger narrative about Paul’s conflict with Peter and James. The obvious implications of the name Judas, the “brother of James” (1:1) and the adaptation of Jude’s phraseology by the letters of…
Category: Classroom Notes
Bearing the Indignation
I can’t say it’s been easy teaching Micah to young children, ages 3 to 6. At this age children are trying to figure out how the world works–if this, then that–and they have a heightened sense of fairness, especially when they think they have been treated unfairly. How can the victim be the perpetrator at…
You Can Lead a Horse to Water
In every serious, lasting relationship, there comes a moment of truth in which at least one person must decide not to be the victim. Shunning the wisdom of Scripture, children supplant obedience with blame, squandering the due season of their adulthood with endless, poisonous rants about how others are responsible for their failures. Spouses wickedly…
Israel learn their lesson–and enjoy victory: Micah 7
This chapter starts to bring events around to Israel’s side again. Much of the book of Micah describes the destruction caused by the Assyrians, and the wicked actions of Israel that brought it about. The book culminates in chapter 7 with the reversal of fortunes enjoyed by the people, as soon as the Lord relents,…
Plato’s Wicked Scales
The most difficult rule of the biblical tradition–and the one most widely ignored–is Scripture’s insistence that its judgments can apply only to one’s self. In 2 Samuel, David quickly condemned the rich man for stealing a poor man’s ewe lamb, unwittingly accusing himself: Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord…
Accused by the Offering
Parents get a little crazy about their kids’ messes. They’ve got so much, they forget half of what they own. Collections of Barbie dolls, Legos, Golden Books, American Girl dolls, Star Wars action figures, Polly Pockets, play kitchen plastics, Magnetics, Wii accessories, and lip gloss are strewn all over the house. I’ve heard of more…
In good times and in bad, we love goodness in humility: Micah 6
The Lord in Micah 6 demonstrates to the people how he created them, how they are to respond, and how their current suffering comes from their inappropriate response. Our class reiterated the movement in the book of Micah: God brings the people out of captivity, the people sin, God sends the people into captivity, God…
Temporal dew, marauding lion
We continued to notice further contradictions in Micah. Again, the Lord will make the people powerful and afflict them. The new ruler of Israel will be small and insignificant, as well as powerful. The remnant of Jacob will pass away and yet conquer like a lion. The children had to navigate these opposites to make…
Farming without war, childbirth without joy: A contradiction in Micah 5
After I read through the chapter, Micah 4, the children told me their first impressions. One student was confused. On the one hand, the Lord was so nice, encouraging all the nations to come to him. On the other hand, he judges and rejects the people. I noted that this contradictory dynamic existed in the…
Swords to Plowshares
My first question today to the youngest children of Ephesus School was, “How do you know English? Why do you speak English and not Spanish or another language? People who don’t know English think it’s a hard language to learn, so how do you know how to speak it?” Their answers boiled down to, “Our…