Coming around in this new Torah cycle, something in B’reisheet (Genesis 1:1-6:8) stuck out to me in a new way. We know the common refrain: “And it was good.”, “It was good.”, “It was good.” But how closely have we paid attention to the very first “Not Good” of Scripture? It’s not been overlooked, byContinue reading “Isolation: The First “Not Good” Thing”
Tag Archives: community
The Wisdom of Community – Proverbs 18:1,2
The first half of this suggests to me the importance of community, especially when it comes to spiritual matters. There was a time when I spurned religious community. I made all sorts of excuses, ranging from, “They’re all judgmental,” to “They’re hypocrites,” to “I don’t fully agree with them.”
The funny thing about that was, in coming to those conclusions, I myself was being judgmental and a hypocrite, and who cares if I fully agreed with them? The point is not to find people we 100% agree with on all matters (that’s never going to happen). The point is to find people who will help us in our walk with the L’rd. Their gait may be a little off, but so is mine, and so is yours, and so is everyone’s. In isolating myself, I sought after my own heart’s desires, and the heart is wicked and full of deception, as the Scripture tells us.
Spare the Rod – Proverbs 13:24
“He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.” -Proverbs 13:24
This passage is often cited by people who want to promote beating children to get them to behave. While I would agree that spanking may have its place as a last resort (to be used sparingly, lovingly, and carefully), I do not believe that this passage is saying “beat your children with a stick.”
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So, let’s present a more accurate translation that’s more to the point.
“He who refrains from his tribe (his people, his community) works against his son, but he who loves him seeks instruction.”