One of the revolutionary things about Yahweh is that Yahweh, unlike the other gods of the Ancient Near East, didn't require appeasement, tribute, protection or beseeching! What does Yahweh require and demand? Here's some scriptural evidence:
Amos 5:18-24
I hate, I loathe, I despise your festivals
I am not appeased by and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer Me burnt offerings—and grain offerings—
I will not accept them; ...
Spare Me the noise of your songs,
I will not listen to or hear the music of your lutes and harps.
But let justice well up like water,
And righteousness like an unfailing ever flowing stream.
Micah 6:8
...And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?
3rd Isaiah: Isaiah 58:6-8
Is not this the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to set the broken free, and to shatter every subjugation?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring into your house the homeless, cast out poor, to cover the naked and defenseless, and not to conceal yourself from your own flesh?
Then shall your light break forth like the morning dawn, and your healing shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your safety and security.
1 comment:
Good thoughts. A couple things come to mind. Beating weapons into plowshares. Violence, contrary to present opinion on the issue does NOT lead to victory, but to eVil. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Justice is not the same thing as judgement. Reconciliation is making amends for injustice and committing to prevent future injustice. And last but not least, yes indeed, Yaweh is bigger than the boogey man! :D
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