Galatians 4:8-5:1
Dear RTB’ers,
I often look for one or two key verses for each day’s reading. Surprisingly, 4:20 is that verse for today: I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. Yes, these words encapsulate Paul’s thoughts for today’s reading, especially the second half of that sentence: … for I am perplexed about you. Paul is indeed confused as to why the Gentile and Jewish converts would be listening to the “Judaizers” – those “converted” Jews who were trying to lead these converted believers back to circumcision and the rigors of the Law. Why would they listen to people who were trying to enslave them when Paul had offered them the freedom of Jesus and His Holy Spirit? Paul challenges their behavior: …how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world … ? You observe days and months and seasons and years! (4:9b-10) Both the Gentiles with their pagan gods and the Jews with their regular feasts and daily rituals were returning to slave conditions, obeying the formalities set down in the Law. Why??!! Yes, Paul is perplexed about them!
At last night’s healing service we had a reading from Revelation 21, talking about the “New Jerusalem”: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away … And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God… (Rev. 21:1-2a) Now compare today’s reading: Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. (vv. 4:25-26) My Study Bible noted that this “Jerusalem above” was a standard Rabbinical teaching – a city that would be at the center of the Messiah’s activity when He comes. Pastor David used to talk about “divine echoes”, when we have a message from the Lord repeated to our eyes and ears. So today, for me, a divine echo. So, what am I supposed to take from this “new Jerusalem” and this “Jerusalem above”. A thought for today…!!
Hope to see you at our RTB gathering later this morning!
Blessings!