THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM

Two travelling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem."


The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.


"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it."

"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it until some time later...


Some people come into our lives and quickly go…

Some people
become friends and
stay awhile...
leaving beautiful
footprints on our
hearts...


and we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!!



Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!

(VIII) Styles & Techniques of Biblical Stories

Ancient writers do not use paragraph, heading and sub-heading. They just write from the beginning to the end. Nowadays, we can use italics, bolded and coloured print for emphasis which were not used long ago.

So, to aid in bringing out the message and also make hearing easier to follow, certain techniques like repetitions and structures are used.

1. Repetitions
· Keywords: words relating to the theme that are repeated. Example: “It is good.”

· Motif: words or items not significant by themselves or related to the theme.
When they are repeated brings out certain significance. Example: The word “tall” and “handsome” appear in numerous places in 1Samuel

· Theme: idea, principle or theological statement being emphasized. Example: In the book of Judges, “The land had rest” keep appearing after each cycle of judges. There is a significant idea of the Sabbath rest after God’s creation.

· Sequence of Actions – a repeat of a sequence of 3 or more actions. This is very clear seen in the book of Judges with repeated cycles of: (1) did evil; (2) Suppression; (3) Cry to God, (4) Raise Deliverance, (5) Land rested.

· Type scene – e.g. woman at the well; removing shoes at holy ground; first born is looser

For example: In Exodus chapter 1, the words & phrase “multiplied, numerous” keep appearing (verses 7; 9; 12; 20).

2. Determine relationship
In reading Bible Stories, one should also see the relationship between characters and sequence of action. Often times, it has the following effects:
(1) Similarity / repetition
(2) Contrasting
(3) Progress – regress
(4) Cause – effect


3. Structure
- inclusion,
- chiasm,
- parallelism,
- linear progression/regression
- spiral (seldom used)


4. How to identify the structure of a passage?

My approach:

1. Read through the passages a few times. For the first time, try to understand what the story is about and what the narrator is speaking to his readers. (Narrator’s point of view)

2. Read through the second time to study each character in the story and their dialogue.

3. Read through the third time to see repetitions, similarity and contrast. At this point, once you have seen a few repetitions, the structure usually can be detected at this stage.

4. Read through a few more times, to ensure that the structure is really there and not your own imagination.


5. Example of a Chiastic Structure (Genesis Chapter 6-9)

Transitional Introduction (6:9-10)

A Violence in Creation (6:11-12)
B ......First divine speech: resolve to destroy (6:13-22)
C ...........Second divine speech: “enter ark” (7:1-10)
D ...............Beginning of flood (7:11-16)
E ....................The rising flood (7:17-24)
X ........................God remembers Noah
E’ ..................The receding flood (8:1-5)
D’ ..............Drying of the flood (8:6-14)
C’ ..........Third divine speech: “Leave ark” (8:15-19)
B’ .....God’s resolve to preserve order (8:20-22)
A’ Fourth divine speech: Covenant (9:1-17)

Transitional Conclusion (9:18-19)

By B.W. Anderson (Word Biblical Commentary, Genesis 1-15 page 156)


Here end my sharing on the approach to study Bible Stories. I have written a 34 pages on this topic on Understanding Bible Narratives. If you want a copy, please email me. Include in this write-out are some examples on structures, charts and also applications aid to Bible Narratives.

Charis Kai Irene (Grace and Peace) to you all

Mark Lim

(VI) The Plot of Bible Stories

In every stories or movies, there is a plot. The plot is the body. It consists of an organized and orderly system of events, arranged in temporal sequence.

The plot of a Bible story is constructed as a meaningful chain of interconnected events. This is achieved by careful selection. Any incident which does not fit in logically with the planned development of the plot is omitted.


Look at sequence of events, similar pattern/actions

Example. Gen 22:1-14 describes the test of Abraham.

The story begins with the narrative telling us that God wanted to test Abraham. If the narrative did not give us his point of view, we might be wondering why God wanted to kill Isaac after having Abraham to waiting for 25 years for the birth of Isaac.

The reader will ask: “How is God going to test Abraham?”

The conflicts begin when God calls Abraham to sacrifice Isaac at a place called Moriah. This is like a pagan worship where worshippers pledge allegiance to their God through child sacrifice. We need to remember that there is no Law yet at this point in time.

We are not told what Abraham is thinking all this while.

The conflict gets most intense when Isaac asked his father where the offering is. Confidently, Abraham answered that God will provide. What was Abraham thinking when he gave this answer? We will never know but the impact of the whole story is ended with a strong memorial statement in verse 14: “Abraham called the place – THE LORD WILL PROVIDE”

It indicates that the experience is forever etched in Abraham’s life that he can trust the LORD to provide.

Do you have this Mount Moriah experience?

It is the place for the test of obedience to God.

(V) Dialogues In Bible Stories

Generally, you really get to know someone when he starts to talk. Whether he is talking about fact, opinions, feelings, or even gossiping, he is actually revealing himself to you. Sometimes a person may lie. We need discernment when listening to others talk.

Likewise, Bible characters also make speeches, just like movies.

(Except Mr. Bean, which is silent.)

What the characters talk reveal their traits and inner self. It also reveal relationship (when they address one another as brothers and sisters; Gen 33:9; 2Sam 13:11), social standing (as in addressing king as “my lord”)

Some important point about Dialogues

1. Dialogue happen usually between two people or at most three.
By using dialogue, the narrator sometimes makes it as part of the plot and structure.

Example #1: Gen 27 – Jacob deceives Isaac for the blessing
In this example, each conversation involved only 2 people at any time. And it is always one parent with one child:

A Isaac and Esau (vv. 1-5) ...........A’ Isaac and Esau (vv. 31-40)
B Rebekah and Jacob (vv. 6-17) ....B’ Rebekah and Jacob (vv. 42-45)
C Isaac and Jacob (vv. 18-30) .......C’ Isaac and Jacob (v 46; 28:1-5)

(taken from JP Fokkelman, Reading Biblical Narrative)

This is also a parallel structure.

Example #2: 2Sam 13 – Amnon and Tamar
In this example, we see that the plot and structure are very well played out using dialogues. Again, the conversation is only 2 people at any time

..................................(4) Tamar – Amnon
.......................(3) David – Tamar (5) Amnon - Servant
............(2) Amnon-David ........................(6) Servant-Tamar
(1) Jonadab-Amnon ............................................(7) Tamar-Absalom

There is a link and pattern in this structure. All the links are connected to one another by the fact that the second character in each of them is the first in the succeeding one.

The structure is also symmetrical in the fact that Jonadab, who is close to and supports Amnon, appears in the first link whereas Absalom, who is close to and supports Tamar, appear in the last one.

(taken from Shimon Bar-Efrat; Narrative Art in the Bible)

2. Most important speeches come from God – the final authority, then angel, prophets and individual.

Example: Judges 6 (about Gideon) – When the angel of the LORD first appeared to Gideon:

When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." (verse 12)

14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"

15 "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

In these 2 speeches, the LORD called Gideon a mighty warrior, but Gideon portrays himself as someone weak and insignificant. Who is right? And why did Gideon do that?

3. Sometimes, the speeches are repeated verbatim
For example: Marriage arrangement of Isaac & Rebekah (Gen 24)

The command of Abraham to the servant to get a bride from his kindred in Gen 24:3,4 is repeated in verses 37 & 38.

The servant’s prayer (Gen 24:14) is repeated in verses 43 & 44.

The focus on this marriage arrangement is therefore God ordained.

4. Other times, the speeches sequences are changed or certain part omitted or added.

Example: in Gen 2:16,17 God told Adam (before Eve was created):

2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

But when the woman answers the serpent about what God told them, she said:

3:3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "

Eve added to the speech of what God has said. We do not know how she knows about what God said. Probably Adam told her and add “you must not touch it” into the conversation.

In Summary, always pay attention what is spoken by the characters. They help in interpretation and understanding of the Bible stories.

(IV) Characters in Bible Stories

How does Moses look like? Is he tall or short?

(don’t know, leh)

How about Saul?

I know, tall and handsome.

Why does the narrator describe to us about Saul’s features but not Moses’?

Ya, lah! Not fair one.


The second characteristic that makes a Bible genre as a narrative is that it must have a character. It’s like in a movie, there must be actors, real or cartoons. But unlike movies, Bible stories do not tell us how the characters look like if they are not related to the plot of the story. So we are not told how Moses look like because his appearance has no relation to the story. As for Saul, his appearance is important because the narrator want us to know how God chooses leaders in contrast to how human choose leaders (1Sam 16:7).

Description of Characters
1. Physical description of character: by narrator or other characters
For example, in 2Sam 11:2, the narrator told us that the woman David saw is very beautiful. This is part of the plot of the story and we understand why a good man like David can fall into sin.

2. Inner qualities described by narrator or other characters
For example: In Job 1:8, God tell Satan the characters of Job – blameless, upright, fear God, turn away from evil. Right at the beginning of the Book of Job, the reader is informed of the character of Job so that he knows that the suffering of Job is not due his own doings.

3. Speech of characters – can be evasive, lying, politeness, remorseful…
For example: In Judges 8:22, the Israelites asked Gideon to be their ruler.

But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you."

This speech sound very honorable. But is it really so? The narrator later told us in verse 31 that Gideon named one of his sons Abimelech, which means “my father is king”. You could imagine each time some one calling your son, “my father is king”.

4. Actions and motives (especially repeated actions)
Reading through 1Sam 16 onwards and see the many repeated actions of Saul trying to kill David. Contrast this with the many action of David not wanting to take his hand on the Lord’s anointed. These repeated actions and motives show how the narrator ties his plot of leadership transition of God rejecting Saul and choosing David.

Important points about Characters
- Main characters are usually round/not flat, i.e. complex
Their behaviors can change. Example: Sarah may seem demure and submissive to Abram (Gen 12), but later her character is revealed more (Gen 16 – suggesting to Abram to get a concubine), and more (Gen 21:10 – drive away Hagar)

- God is an important Character in the Bible.
(Pay special attention what is said of God)

- Comparison to archetypes can be made without explicit mention.
E.g. first born son – Cain, Ishmael, Esau, … all have the same characteristics of first born.

Types of characters
Just like a movie where actors play different roles, each character in the story also has different role.

1. Main focus of narrative:
2. Agent to carry the theme: e.g. Cornelius in Acts (theme is salvation for Gentiles)
3. Foil: shed light on another character by contrast and comparison e.g. Abraham versus Lot; Isaac versus Ishmael; Jacob versus Esau; Abel versus Cain, etc
4. Plot carriers: carry the plot forward. E.g. Uriah 2Sam 11 on David’s adultery & murder
5. Setting Providers: People as part of the story to provide the setting of the story.

Example: In the Book of Jonah
- Main focus = Jonah
- Agent to carry the theme = Ninevah king (theme of the book is redemption)
- Foil = the sailors (they fear God) as contrast to Jonah
- Plot carrier = God, fish, Gourd
- Setting Providers = Ninevites


In Summary, when reading about individual characters, pay attention to what is being said. All information given to us is important, otherwise it will not be told.

Related to characters are dialogues, where characters speak to one another … (to be continued)

(IV) Scene and Setting of a Bible Stories

“Teacher, teacher; why can David kill Goliath?”

Your Sunday school student asks you this question after you relate the story to the class.

“God said, ‘You shall not kill’. So can disobeying God be a good person?”

As a Bible teacher, how would you answer her? If you say that Goliath is the enemy of Israel and need to be killed, does that mean that you can kill any evil person? Or did David killed Goliath because God tell him to do it (1Sam 17:45)? Would not that amount to say that God is the mastermind of taking away life?

We now look at the first characteristic of a Bible story, the scene and setting. Stories are usually depicted with certain scenes like times of war, destruction, famine, in a garden, agricultural background or even a normal lifestyle (including birth and death). As these stories are way beyond our time, cultural and historical background may influence our way of understanding the passage.

As such it may be good to read widely of these cultures from a Bible handbook.

1. Scene

Let’s look at some of the more common scene in Bible Stories.

War


Many passages like 1Sam 4, 15 & 17 are in the context of war. So David killing Goliath does not violate the 10 commandment, “You shall not kill”.

But killing your enemies in peace time is murder. Thus, Joab killing of Abner in Hebron (a city of refuge) during peace time is murder (2Sam 3). He does this in revenges of Abner killing of Joab’s brother, Asahel during the battle of Gibeon (2Sam 2)

In war time, warriors consult their gods through prophets, Urim & Thummim (1Sam 28:6), offer sacrifices and even bring there “gods” with them to war. We may read into them as superstitious, but that is not the point of view of the narrator.

Destruction

Passages like Gen 19 – destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah; Gen 7 – the Great Flood; 1Sam 15 - call for total destruction of Alamekites.

Such passages depict final judgment of that era for that situation and must be seen as God’s justice, exercising His Judgment.

Lifestyle

Many passages talk about the normal life of the people – Gen 18: Abraham welcoming strangers; Ruth gleening;

We can greatly appreciate the Bible stories when we know their cultures – e.g. role of women, birth-rights, marriages, etc.

2. Timing
There are two timing involved in a story (1) Narration Time & (2) Narrated Time
Narration Time is the time the narrator takes to tell the story
Narrated Time is the time depicted in the narrative

When the author stops at a point in time to tell a detail situation, the focus is there. Pay attention to what is narrated. The opposite is also true. When the narrator suddenly skip past narrated time, ask why he is doing that.

Example: Gen 1-2:4:

Narrated Time = 7days of creation
Narration Time = 34 verse, 3min to read

Gen 16:16 (last verse of Gen 16) and Gen 17:1
Narrated Time = 13 years
Narration Time = 2 verses, 10 sec to read

Implication:

In Genesis 1, the creation story is very important and all the detail of creation is captured in the passage. In Abraham case, after he married Hagar and have a son, Ishmael, nothing is deem important to narrate (for 13 years, nothing significant was told)

Another example: Gen 26:34,35 (last verses of Gen 26) and Gen 27:1
Gen 26:34 – Isaac is 100 years old
Gen 27:1 – Isaac is 137 years old (try to calculate this! Can be done)

What is the implication?
The author is telling the reader that life is bitter for Isaac & Rebekah (Gen 26:35, the verse in between this two timing) for 37 years, a very long time indeed.

3. Space
This is the Character’s movement in space (geographically)

Generally, when the narrator slow down and elaborate the story at that point, pay attention to that narration as the emphasis and important is in that passage. (Example: Gen 32 – a lot of movement at action, until v 24-32 when at night, Jacob is alone. Then, Gen 33 continues the movement).

By being aware of the scene and timing in the story, one can follow what the intention of the narrator is saying.

Heard of a Bible Reading Parrot?

Hi to all who care to read this blog!

I have been a bit tired this week to continue on the Bible Narrative, which may have bored you.

If you are still following this blog, just to share a light hearted moment:

Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors and lawyers and prospered. Some years later, they chatted after having dinner together. They discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother who lived far away in another city.

The first said, "I had a big house built for Mama."

The second said, "I had a hundred thousand dollar theater built in the house."

The third said, "I had my Mercedes dealer deliver an SL600 to her."

The fourth said, "You know how Mamma loved reading the Bible and you know she can't read anymore because she can't see very well. I met this preacher who told me about a parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twenty preachers and 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $100,000 a year for twenty years to the church, but it was worth it. Mamma just has to name the chapter and verse and the parrot will recite it."

The other brothers were impressed.

After the holidays Mom sent out her Thank You notes. She wrote:

"Milton , the house you built is so huge I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway."

Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay home, I have my groceries delivered, so I never use the Mercedes. The thought was good. Thanks."

Michael, you gave me an expensive theater with Dolby sound, it could hold 50 people but all of my friends are dead, I've lost my hearing and I'm nearly blind. I'll never use it. Thank you for the gesture just the same."

Dearest Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken was delicious. Thank you."

-Luv Ya, Mama

(III) Narrator Point of View of God's Stories -

We know come to the most important step of reading God’s stories. That is to know the Narrator’s point of view.

Many people make the mistake of interpreting the Bible from what they think or see. Since it is the narrator who is telling us God’s stories, we then need to interpret it according to what he is telling us. Usually, he makes it very clear if we follow a few simple rules that he uses to write God’s stories.

The narrator is like a photographer who decides what will and will not be included in a picture, from what distance and angle, with what degree of sharpness and in what light. Just as the nature of a film is dependent on the position of the camera and the way it is operated, the nature of the narrative depends on the point of view from which the events are presented.
-Shimon Bar-Efrat, Narrative Art in the Bible, p 15

Here are the methods the narrator uses to help us understand his point of view of God’s stories as he wrote them:

· Explicitly stating it, e.g. Joseph story (Gen 39:2,3,21,23)
· Comes from one of the character in the story (Gen 50:20)
· Summary statement from the narrative (Gen 2:24,25)
· His comments (2Sam 11:27b)
· Repetitions (1Sam 8:7, 9, 22)
· Slow pace of the story (Gen 32 – story of Jacob, slow down until v 22-32; after this encounter, Jacob is a changed person with a changed name, Gen 33 continue the action)

Let’s illustrate this with a passage that I heard being preached in Bethany PC.

Examples: 1Sam Chapter 8- Israel ask for a king

1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

The narrator immediately gives his point of view in the opening of chapter. Then he uses the character to substantiate his point.

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."


The word “so” indicates the elders agree with the narrator. Both the narrator and elders have the same point of view. In other words, the reader should be able to see that the fault of asking for a king is not the elders’ but Samuel’s sons.

To further prove his (narrator’s) point, he now make God speaks 3 times, (verses 7, 9, 21), indicating that the elders of Israel are not at fault.

"Listen to all that the people are saying to you;

By using God as a character to speak up 3 times, the narrator now make is very clear to the reader that his point of view is the same as the elders and as God’s.

The whole point that the narrator is telling his reader is this: When a leader is at fault or sinned or incompetence, he must listen to the follower. He loses the morale authority to lead.

So the next time you read a Bible story, do try to look out for the narrator’s point of view. That way, you will never be swayed by wrong teaching and wrong applications.

To help you understand God’s stories better, I will next talk about the characteristics of Biblical narratives – (1) Scenes & Setting, (2) Characters, (3) Plot & Structure.

Adios.

(III) Narrator of God’s stories

Every story that we read or hear has a writer or narrator.

We tend to unconsciously forget about him. But really, to benefit from Bible reading, we need to be keenly aware that he is there and wants to tell us what the meaning of the story in the Bible is all about.

In this part III of God’s stories, let’s discuss a bit about this narrator. Knowing how he presents God’s stories will help us to interpret Bible Narrative as according to what he wants us to understand.

1. He is omniscient & omnipresence
- He knows everything that the characters did in secret (e.g. the rape of Tamar 2Sam 13)
- He knows what is going on in heaven (Job 1:6-12)
- He shifted from one place to another in a flash (e.g. Gen 24 – one moment he is in Canaan with Abraham, the next moment he is in Mesopotamia with Abraham’s servant). He bounds freely to and fro.

2. Information present by him is of special importance
There is no precise, detail description of the physical appearance of the characters in biblical narratives. But when such information is revealed by the narrator, we need to pay special attention to them. They serve to advance the plot of the story. So when we read that Bathsheba is very beautiful (2Sam 11:2), Eli is fat (1Sam 4;18), David is ruddy and handsome (1Sam 16;12); Ehud is left handed (Jg 3:15); such information are all given by the narrator to help the readers understand and interpret the story.

3. He chooses/selects information to reveal
- Sometimes he tells you in advance. (e.g. Job 1 & 2 – the reader knows in advance why Job suffered while Job’s 3 friends do not)
- Sometime he delays information to create suspense. (e.g. Gideon’s story: Judge 6-8. Do you know who Gideon actually is?)
- Sometimes, he just tells the story as it is and leaves you to make your own evaluation. (e.g. Judges 18; 1King 13)

4. Sometimes, he speaks for God!
– Par excellence of narrator’s unlimited knowledge extent even to reporting about God

Gen 6:6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain
Ex 2:25 So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.
2Sam 11:27b But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.
2 Sam 17:14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.

The narrator does not often provide us with information about God’s inner feelings. In consequence, we can assume that when such information is given, the matter is of special importance. God is the absolute and supreme authority.

To be continued …

Reference: Shimon Bar-Efrat, Narrative Art in the Bible, Sheffield Academic Press

(II) 3 levels of God’s stories

Some people get emotional when they hear a story or watch a show. They laugh when it is hilarious or shed tear when the story touches them. I am one such person. I shed tear easily and can be emotionally entwine and "get" into the story.

The same goes when reading God’s stories. I get emotional when Saul, who is a good king initially ended his life. I was fearful when King David made a heinous act of “borrow sword to kill people” (in Chinese).

Do you feel for the people in God’s stories?

If you are in God’s Kingdom, and want to learn as much as you can from HIS WORD, it would help you to “get” into God’s stories by knowing that actually God’s stories are on effect being told in 3 levels. Knowing these levels help you to integrate into their stories as we share the same heritage in God’s family.

Top Level: Universal plan of God
Each individual story is part of the complete redemption plan of God. This is God’s stories. From these individual stories, we learn of God and His works.

Middle Level: Israel in God’s plan
This level sees the story at the level of the nation of Israel (for OT) and the church (for NT), how the people constituted by a former covenant (OT), then a new covenant (NT), in fulfillment of the top level.

Bottom Level: Individual characters
At this level are the individual narratives that make up the previous two levels. They consist of individual stories and people, like Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jonah, Esther, etc.

When we read each narratives (bottom level), we must consciously ask ourselves how it is related to other levels. This will also help you to make correct applications and biblical principles.

Let me show some examples:

Example: 1Sam 9-10 Appointment of Saul and first King of Israel

(This message was preached by Pastor Chia Boon Beng on Aug 24 2008, Title: Donkey Work & Excess Baggage in Bethany PCES)

His Outline:
When God Chooses (Top Level Outline)
1. God moves ahead of you (v15-17)
2. God starts with a vision and a dream (v19)
3. God will speak personally to you (v27)
4. God will confirm the call (10:1)
5. God will anoint you ( )
6. There will be opposition ( 10:27 )

Notice here that he uses the top level as his outline, looking at the level to see how God is actually working to bring Saul as king. Using top level is good to understand how God is working in the lives of people. But it is difficult to see how the text can apply to us. That is God’s job, not ours.

By direct reading, my outline (using bottom level):

Title: How to produce a leader (1Sam 9-10)
A. Preparing a leader (9:1-10:2)
1. Testing and training of a person (9:1-4)
2. A teachable person (9:5-14)
3. Guidance from leader (9:15-21)
4. Exposing to leaders (9:22-27)
5. Affirm his leadership (10:1-2)

B. Transforming a leader (10:3-16)
1. Encounter with God (a spirit-filled Christian) (10:3-8)
2. Heart changed person (10:9-13)
3. Personal encounter, keep it to yourself (10:14-16)

C. Reaction to a leader (10:24-27)
1. Some will support and encourage you (10:24, 26).
2. Some will despise you. (10:27a)

By using the bottom level as outline, it is easier now to find the relevance of the passage and applications – how to prepare myself to be a leader.

Notice the difference:
Top level gives us a glimpse of what God is doing to prepare a leader (God’s job)
Bottom level helps me to prepare myself as a leader (my job)
So choosing and appointing Christian leader is both my job and God’s job

Practice Passages:
(1) Judges 16 – Samson & Delilah, (try this yourself)

(2) Jonah 1-4 Book of Jonah (try this yourself)

(3) Ruth 1-4: Story of Ruth - discuss the top level, middle level, bottom level

Ok, let me show you what I have for Ruth 1-4:

Top level: God redemption to all mankind (kinsman-redeemer)

Middle level: the ancestors of David, King of Israel (the Book of Ruth could be an official document in the courts of King David), it qualifies how David can be King and in the lineage of Judah

Bottom level: the righteousness of people of Bethlehem in the time of Judges (obedient to the Leviticus laws) when everyone does right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25)
The Book of Ruth is like a contrast appendix to the Book of Judges.

Reference: Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart; How to read the Bible for all its Worth; Chapter 5 – The Old Testament Narratives; Zondervan @2003

Note: Most of the time, we tend to ignore the top level. That is OK if we are just studying for ourselves. But when we are teaching Sunday school or leading BS, it is important to know that God is ultimately at work in the lives of the students and the members.

(I) God gave us stories

Everyone likes stories.

I remember back in those good old days when there was no television, no computer, and my house had no radio (just a rediffusion), we children would gather around the older folks and hears stories - stories of our grandparents, stories of the Japanese in Singapore, stories of our neighborhoods.

About 40% of the Old Testament of the Bible is in story form or narratives. Perhaps, these stories are passed on centuries through centuries orally like my parents to us. Then came a time when God inspired learned men, like Moses, to write it all down for future generations (like us).

Also, other civilizations like the Egyptians and Sumerians had their stories. And the stories are also quite similar, although not exactly similar. Every civilization had their creation stories. They also had the flood story like the one in the Bible about Noah and the Ark. So to set the record straight, the Bible also recorded these stories to counter error and falsehood. Hence Bible stories are also about truth.

When you want somebody to know you, you reveal yourselves by telling your stories. Maybe you tell it orally, or you write a memoir. You can also create a blog. Well, God wants us to know Him. So HE tells us HIS stories.

Let’s look at the two most familiar stories – Creation and the Flood.

Creation Story
The first story in the Bible is Creation of heavens and earth.

To fully appreciate this story, we also have to know something about the early civilization concept of creation. There are many, but I will just talk about the most famous one – Mesopotamia’s creation found in the writing called Enuma Elish

The Enuma Elish is a Babylonian or Mesopotamian myth of creation recounting the struggle between cosmic order and chaos written in the 12th Century BC (Genesis is written in 15th Century BC). The story is all about gods and they are at war with one another.

The various gods represent aspects of the physical world. Apsu is the god of fresh water and thus male fertility. Tiamat, wife of Apsu, is the goddess of the sea and thus chaos and threat.

Tiamat gives birth to Anshar and Kishar, gods who represented the boundary between the earth and sky (the horizon). To Anshar and Kishar is born Anu, god of sky, who in turn bears Ea. These "sons of the gods" make so much commotion and are so ill-behaved that Apsu decides to destroy them.

To make the long story short, Tiamat was finally killed and her corpse was divided to create the earth and the other half to create the sky. Kingu (the new husband of Tiamat after the death of Aspu) was also killed and his blood was used to make mankind.

After reading all these ancient civilization creation stories, the Genesis account of God’s creation sound more realistic than all other myth!

Flood Story
We all know about Noah and the ark.

But do you know that there are about 270 worldwide flood stories and historic records found in many parts of the world?

The Epic of Gilgamesh is, perhaps, the oldest written story on Earth. It comes to us from Ancient Sumeria, and was originally written on 12 clay tablets in cunieform script. It is about the adventures of the historical King of Uruk (somewhere between 2750 and 2500 BCE). The story is quite similar to Genesis 6 – 9 so much so that people asked: Is the Biblical Flood Account a Modified Copy of the Epic of Gilgamesh? I leave you to read on this.

The Chinese too have their universal flood account. One ancient Chinese classic called “Hihking” tells of the story of Fuhi, whom the Chinese consider to be the father of their civilization. This history records that Fuhi, his wife, three sons, and three daughters escaped a great flood. He and his family were the only people left alive on earth. After the great flood they repopulated the world.


So to know truth and to know GOD, we need to know Bible Stories. More importantly, they are God’s stories. These stories become ours as HE “writes” us into it once we joined HIM into HIS family.


To be continued …

You'll Never Walk Alone

There is encouraging peom that I found.

In this difficult time, God is still our refuge and strength.

You'll Never Walk Alone

When you walk through a storm

hold your head up high

And don't be afraid of the dark.

At the end of a storm is a golden sky

And the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind,

Walk on through the rain,

Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone,

You'll never, ever walk alone.

Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart

And you'll never walk alone,

You'll never, ever walk alone.

Like Father like Son

Life may repeat itself if we don’t learn from it.

Sometimes even to the next generation.

I have completed reading the book of 2nd Samuel. The turning point (dy/dx = 0; d2y/dx2 = +ve, ) of King David’s life is in 2Sam 11. Up to this point, he has done everything right with God. So just in case we think that the king has every right to take a man’s wife and killed the husband who is one of his trusted and mighty soldier (2Sam 23:39), the narrator’s spoke for God in the last verse of 2Sam 11: “But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD”.
This is a very important view of the narrator’s.

To what extent was God not please with David? Let’s look at the structure of the story’s after this chapter:


What followed after 2Sam 11 till the end of the book and into 1Kings bear a reflection to that act (sex & murder) :

David + Bathsheba - > killing of Uriah
Amnon + Tamar -> killing of Amnon
Absalom + David’s concubine -> killing of Absalom
(Adonijah + Abishag) -> killing of Adonijah
(bracket to indicate to some extent)

This analogus structure reflects the narrator’s view in these individual stories of David’s sons (rape of Amnon; rebellion of Absalom; usurp/struggle of throne of Adonijah) teaches us that our sins will catches up. David is forced to see how the same vices of sex and murder to which he succumbed re-emerge in his sons, causing disaster and great suffering. So much for a man after God’s heart.

Here lies a very stern warning to every man and father:

A godly man does not equate to a godly father. Just like Prophet Samuel,



A great king, very great king but sad finishing.

Reflections - Doing Good – Titus 2

Reflections on Last Sunday Message:

When was the last time I think of doing good works? Perhaps, I need a little reminder. This verse which I use to memorise came to me:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.

There’s this little story, simple but a good reminder. I am sure you have heard it. No harm repeating here.

Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter:

Dear Ruth:
I'm going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I would like to visit.

Love Always,
Jesus

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table.
"Why would the Lord want to visit me?
I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer."

With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached for her purse and counted out it's contents. Five dollars and forty cents.

"Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least."

She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total of twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.

"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?" Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags.

"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us, lady, we'll really appreciate it."

Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.

"Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."

"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway."
The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and he headed back into the alley.
As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.

"Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag.

"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!"

"Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering.

"You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.

"Thank you lady! Thank you very much!"

Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox.

"That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day."

She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.

Dear Ruth:
It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.

Love Always,
Jesus

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.

Cultural versus Religious

Should Chinese Christians discard all artifacts that have “dragon” on them?

Including the T-shirt, flower vase and Lunar New Year decorations?

To some, this may sound like a silly question to ask. Dragon, like all animals are just pictures for display and soft toys to play.

To others, it touches the core of our Christian belief and faith. Dragon, like serpent is symbolic of evil in the Bible and has no part in a Christian life at all cost.

Last Sunday message by Brother Paul Johnson was on Titus 1:10-16 about false teachings. This “dragon” thingy raised in the message brought back memories of the time when I was a student in SBC studying on cultural sensitivity in relation to Bible teaching. Our lecturer and missionary, Dr. Timothy Wirada, an American married to a Singapore Chinese lady for many years raised this question in class. Suddenly the class became alive! By a show of hands, half supported to motion, the other half disagreed. And these are theological students and church leaders, yet holding different views!

Those support the motion fired the first salvo:

“In Revelation chapter 12 & 13, we read that the dragon, like the serpent is evil making war against the angels. Christians should not associate with symbols of evil.”

The other camp responded:

“Symbols are just symbols used within that text. In 1Peter 5:8, the devil is like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Yet, Christ is also the Lion of Judah in Rev 5:5. Likewise, the serpent is Satan in Gen 3. But Moses made a bronze serpent to cure all who were bitten by serpent in Number 21:9.”

“But dragon to the Chinese is different; it also has a religious connotation. All the robes of the Taoist priests and Chinese folk religions have a big dragon on them. By having dragon with us, we identify with these Chinese religions.”

“To us Chinese, dragon is more cultural than religious. It associates with goodness, prosperity, majesty and blessing. Jesus Christ did not come to abolish culture. He followed the Jewish culture closely.”

“Fairy tales and legends frequently have dragons in them. In Chinese fairy tales the kings of the seas are the dragons. There is this mystic in them that Christian should avoid.”

….
….

Most of us know that we keep our culture like Chinese New Year but forbid practicing what is religious like burning joss stick and praying to idols.

So, is the dragon a cultural issue or a religious issue?

"God helps those who help themselves"

You may have heard this phrase: “God helps those who help themselves” before.

Last Sunday during worship service, I was a bit surprise to hear this mentioned during the children talk.

Since God is mentioned, can you find this phrase in the Bible?

What does this phrase actually mean?

For those who like to be a bit cheem, what does it mean theologically??????

Thinking Aloud - What makes a Christian leader?

What kind of people would you consider as a Church leader? Or more specifically, your leader?

Seem to me that the four sermons during the last 4 Sunday worship services all had a similar theme - Failure does not dismiss one as a leader.

Sermon #1 – Moses who murder an Egyptian
Sermon #2 – David who commit adultery and murder
Sermon #3 – Peter who denied Jesus three times
Sermon #4 – John Mark who deserted his mission trip

The closing call – “YOU NEED A SECOND CHANCE” gives me a feeling that the messages are actually speaking to those who have similar situation of problems before. Pastor may have his reasons for doing so. He knows his flock (let me guess) – problem in marriages, problem in relationships, problem in Christian devotion and services – to give themselves a second chance and come back to serve again. Otherwise, why doesn’t he choose to speak of Daniel, Joseph, Joshua and Paul, who are great leaders in their own strike without major failure of sort?

(But I thought the whole series of message is about leadership?)

Honestly, I don’t think those who failed and bounce back is a good measure of leadership. It just indicates that they have learnt a lesson and mend their way. Leadership takes more than a second chance. Take King David as an example, if you have read 1st Samuel and 2nd Samuel. What does God look for in a leader?

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Sam 16:7)

Don’t misunderstand Prophet Samuel that he is somebody who cares only on the outward appearance. Remember who God choose as the first king of Israel?

Saul, lah (who don no!)

And Saul is tall and handsome. Surely, it seems that God prefer tall and handsome man to be a leader. Prophet Samuel is a fast learner and so he proceeds to anoint the second king with the same credential – tall and handsome. But leadership is not about outward appearance, God says is about the heart, the LORD looks at the heart. What did God see in David’s heart?
According to Pastor David’s sermon, it is a contrite and broken heart. He supported his answer with Psalm 51:17. I tend to differ. Even with a contrite and broken heart, after repentance, he never was a good leader in his life after his adultery and murder. His family and authority were all demeaned. (Read 2 Samuel chapter 13 onwards). It takes more than a contrite and broken heart to make a leader.

As for me, I think when God looks at the heart, He wants to see 3 qualities in a person that will make a leader. These qualities must first be proven before a person can be a leader.

(1) Heart of integrity
Joseph and Daniel all rise up to this integrity test. They passed the test before they were elected to be “prime minister” of Egypt and Babylon. It is a test of our character in time of crisis, far away from home when nobody is watching you.

Joseph, being tempted can say:

How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (Gen 39:9)

Would I say that likewise when tempted? This is a good verse to memorize.

(2) Heart of Obedience
Abraham passed this test of obedience (Gen 22) and considered as faithful. God will always test a person first before selecting him. A test of how we handle money, a test of how willing are we to go the second mile, a test of obedience when it seems absurd to do so (like killing your son, Isaac)

(3) Heart of following God’s Word
Samuel is a boy well trained in the Word of God that every word he speaks for God come true (1Sam 3:19-21). People just know that Samuel is a prophet of God, even without being anointed as one. This is the most important quality of a Christian leader. Those who does not know the Word of God is disqualified automatically. We don’t need a tag like BSG leader, Elder or Deacon. People can see and hear whether there is a “Samuel” in us.

(The 3 qualities are quoted from the book by Dr Robert Clinton - The Making of a Leader)

Not many of us can pass these 3 qualities – Integrity, Obedience and God’s Word. After writing this, I am not even sure I can be considered a Christian leader.

So, what kind of people can be my Christian leader?

He must know the Word of God well. He must be a person of integrity and obedience to God by applying Scriptures in his life regularly.

The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God (Psa 14:2)

Joshua 13-19: Driving out the “Canaanites” – obeying God

If you are reading the Book of Joshua, Chapter 13-19 would likely be boring to you.

It’s about distributing the land of Canaan to the 12 tribes of Israel. There are many difficult names to pronounce. What then is the purpose of all these? It may be meaningful to the Israelites, but not to us. It’s about their inheritance, not ours.

However, one phrase may be significant to them and to us: God said in Josh 13:6 – “I will myself drive them (Canaanites) out from before the Israelites, “As a reader, then I anticipate God to work in the Israelites to fulfill this, and drive out the Canaanites. So as I read the subsequent chapters, I find:

13:13 Yet the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites

14: 12 Caleb said: “The Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as the Lord said”

15:16 But the people of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites

16:10 They did not, however, drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer.

17:13 they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.

What I have learnt from here is that it seems that the writer is saying to the reader like me that only Caleb again obeyed God just like the 12 spies in the wilderness during the time of Moses. All other Israelites again failed to follow God command.

What then do these passages mean to me?
We should not spiritualize the passage and claim that the Canaanites allegorically represent sins in our lives which we need to drive them out. Rather the writer wants the readers to learn to follow what God has said, just like Caleb did. The key issue is trusting in God and obeying God in His Word. When we obey His Word, we can also be sure that He will guide us along the way.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you. (Psa 32:8)

Mark Lim

Creative Bible Teaching

I finally decided to buy this book, Creative Bible Teaching


This is the book I have been borrowing from Singapore Bible College for many times. It contains many good ideas on Bible Teaching. It particularly helps me in preparing Bible Study materials. After much deliberation, I think the money should be worth spending - $51.50. It has 342 pages and is a hard-cover book.

Those who are Bible Study Leaders and Teachers should read this book.

One chapter on Youth listed 5 non-negotiable principles when we are working with youth:

1. Youth Learn Best Through Direct Experience
- make the Bible Study practical by including field trips and actual doing of things.

2. Youth learn Best from Caring Role Models
- ultimately how we live, BS leaders, teachers, mentors, youth worker speak louder than how we teach. As the saying goes: “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care”

3. Youth Learn Best when they are active in Discovering Truth
- provide a structure and guide for them to discover truth themselves. Include projects that they can search for themselves. As the saying goes:

"I hear, I forget;

I see, I remember;

I do, I understand."

4. Youth Learn Best when a variety of Methods are used
- give a new style in the teaching material each week, instead of the same old question/answer format in BS.

5. Youth Learn Best when lessons are relevant and needs focused
- make our BS material connect with them. Are our study really meet their needs or just to fill up the time on Sunday?

Let me know if you like to read this book. Let’s be creative in teaching the Bible, particularly to the youth.

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. (Ezra 7:10)

Mark Lim

Joshua 7-8: Failure teaches us to rely on God

I was reading the Book of Joshua 1-8 early this morning.

It is a good place to start my Bible Reading as the Book of Joshua starts with a new leader, a new generation of Israelites, a new venture into the promise land. It is just the right time as we move into a new year.

1. Complacency after capturing Jericho (Joshua 7)
After gaining victory over the city of Jericho, Joshua seems complacent when he sent 3000 people to attack the city of Ai. He didn’t even go with them. The failure and casualty of his troops sort of wake him up. Time for some soul searching. Time to come to the Lord. As always, when we come to the LORD, He will show us the way, the cause of the failure. If Joshua would have humbled and seek the Lord before attacking Ai, then it would be very different.

2. Contemplative after assurance from God (Joshua 8:-1-13)
After removing the sin of Achan and the encouragement of God to attack Ai, this time Joshua is more humbled. He now sends 30,000 warriors (notice the different – 3000 ordinary people at first, now 30,000 well-trained warriors) even though God has assured him of victory. He himself is now involved in the battle.

2 verses strike me:
– Josh 8:9 – but Joshua spent that night in the camp
- Josh 8:13 – but Joshua spent that night in the valley

What was he doing? When a man of God spends the night alone, it is usually in prayer and meditation. Jesus does that often. So does Jacob. Let’s learn to be prayerful in all our activities and events in BPCES this year.

3. Covenant after defeating Ai (Joshua 8:30-35)
After defeating Ai, this time Joshua builds an altar to the LORD. An altar is always a symbol of worship. He then read the Law of Moses (i.e. the WORD of GOD). Why? Because he remembers what God told him at the beginning (Josh 1:8). To who? To all the assembly of Israel, including women, little ones and aliens who resided among them. What a timely reminder to me!! Worship and Bible Reading should include everyone, even little ones.

Care to join me in reading the Book of Joshua?


Joshua 1:8 - Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Sharing our lives with others

Those who came to the watchnight services at BPCES on 31 Dec 2008 night would probably learnt some very meaningful lessons on sharing our lives with others.

As our dear sister-in-Christ, Michelle Ang was talking about her personal struggles and problems in her family, I was reminded of the times when I too talked openly about things like that. I was very young spiritually then, just like her. Learning to be transparent, willing to let God take control and trusting God to lead in the path ahead is part of the Christian journey. Sure, there will be others who feel threatened about such openness and remarked to me, "Your sharing is too personal, it frightened me." But when we are daring to confront life issues which I believe everyone will encounter difficulties (Jesus also faced many oppositions), then we are walking in the path of learning to trust in the Lord.


He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

New Year Hopes for BPCES

Wishing everyone a blessed and God's presence New Year!

You may probably have made some New Year Resolution. I am still thinking about it.

As I look at the past year and ask what changes has happened to BPCES, I can't really think of any. Maybe you can share some, like more follow-up been done, etc. What do I hope to see happened to BPCES in 2009? We don't set target like membership growth by XX% or more new leaders or more new converts, etc. Is there any wrong to set such target? Our reason would probably be that God is the one who does the convicting and converting. But, really, if we don't set target, it wil be just another year of hoping more people walk into our church.

For me, I hope to see more people joining us in fellowship like the BSG, outings, and more people able to share what they learn from the Bible. So far, I have yet to hear anyone talk about what they learn from their devotion, prayer, etc. OK, maybe one or two share it occasionally.

Agape
Mark Lim