Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
Summary: Paul reminds us that he was a Pharisee before he met Jesus.
What does Paul mean by saying “in regard to the law, a Pharisee?” The answer, it turns out, requires that we understand the story behind the Pharisees.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:5e – Before He Met Jesus”
… a Hebrew of Hebrews…
Summary: Paul’s description of himself as a “Hebrew of Hebrews” is not just a casual reference. The phrasing itself echoes Hebrew history and culture.
I am fairly certain that no one has ever claimed to be a “Norwegian of Norwegians.”
My parents were both Scandinavian, but pure bloodlines are not something that our culture values these days. It is okay to be part this and part that. Most of us are of mixed blood.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:5d – He Had it All”
… of the tribe of Benjamin…
Summary: Paul’s reference to the tribe of Benjamin was, no doubt, a point of pride. Yet, when we look at this history of Benjamin’s people, we find a sordid past overshadowing the good.
Our last meditation points out how God made the Hebrews keep a record of every major thing they did wrong. Even though Israel was blessed by God (Genesis 32:26-28), she continued to poke God in the eye every chance they got by doing the opposite of what God told them to do.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:5c – The Tribe That Almost Wasn’t”
…of the people of Israel…
Summary: Israel is a people with nothing to hide – because all of their ‘dirty laundry’ has been written down in a book that millions of people have read.
One of the reasons I believe the Bible is from God is because of the “people of Israel.” Not because the people of Israel are intrinsically good, but because they aren’t. It is because only God could make a race of people write down all of their mistakes and then make it their mission in life to preserve the book they wrote.
Continue reading “Philippians 3:5b – No Secrets”
… circumcised on the eighth day…
Summary: Paul’s reference to the “eighth day” opens up an interesting meditation on the nature of time and the importance of the times assigned by God.
When God created the “heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1), the first thing he did was to create time (Genesis 1:14-15).
Continue reading “Philippians 3:5a – The Eighth Day”