Prophets: Words of Fire
Spring 2005 Bible Study

Lamentations and Ezekial

"St. Joan of Arc Bible Study is an open and growing group that meets for fellowship and to discuss the Bible and other faith-centered literature. Our informal study group draws from biblical scholarship, historical perspectives, current events and personal reflections. We welcome honor and respect the personal ideas and spiritual journeys of all who join us."

I know from Tom H. that there was quite a lively discussion at the old country church last Tuesday night (tell us something we don't know!). We wish we could communicate that passion electronically.

We thank Tom H. for his wonderful study notes.

Next week's privileges are:

• Marlys - opening prayer
• Tom - closing prayer
• treats - I know someone said they'd bring them but don't remember who.

These lamentations are NOT REALLY songs of despair AS MUCH AS they are of REMORSE for their sin, unfaithfulness and evil.

They are PRAYERS that seek to remember a place, a life, a relationship, even an identity that was cherished and gone. Now they seek to cope with tragedy and inconsolable loss. The mood of the five lamentations fluctuates, soaring and dropping, repeating, reviewing again and again what happened and the consequences of their faithlessness.

Often attributed to Jeremiah but now thought to have been penned by others.

origin: PERHAPS, when, the exile over, the remnant that returned gathered to pray on the ruins of the temple, to wail their grief at the glory that was no longer and at all they had lost because of their sin before God.

OR, Lamentations could have taken shape in exile, while those who had been driven from homes and land and temple gathered as slaves in an alien land to mourn and recount their loss.

In the Jewish community, they are part of the Megilloth or Scrolls, read on Jewish feasts, including the midsummer celebration that commemorates the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans.

Plaintive poems written in Hebrew, in alphabetic acrostics. Each chapter has twenty-two verses, and each verse begins with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

(READ the rest of the paragraph in the middle of p. 151, as well as the paragraph that follows). also, p. 152: 2nd ¶ (It is awareness...)

p. 153: One of the most familiar images for God in the Talmud is Makom, which means "place." READ to middle of next page.

development of the notion that God went into exile with the people. Wolpe's explanation. (¶ bottom p. 154)

p. 155-6. Hasid tale. READ // (see Jewishencyclopedia.com search shekinah)

Write lamentations: divide up the alphabet. Start each lamentation with the letters assigned. (IF ONLY WE HAD TIME! THIS WAS MY IDEA OF A LITTLE GROUP WRITING ASSIGNMENT!)

EZEKIEL

p. 159: The book of the prophet E. begins with a transportive vision of the glory of God loose in the universe, and its effect on E is lasting as it seeps through all of his prophecies, his symbols, and his life. The shadow of that light defines his words, his actions, and his very identity. The visions at the beginning of he book of E. are inaugurated with the words: "There the hand of Yahweh was upon me." (Read the bottom of p. 159-160 through quote from Ezekiel) Notice the "four directions", kind of an archetype of the cross & later on p. 166 (Spirit to come from the 4 winds & breathe into the dry bones) wheels as of chrysolite:: from Greek -- chrysos=gold, lithos=stone a variety of olivine, which is a greenish, often transparent mineral, a magnesium-iron silicate, used as a gemstone

p. 161: Ezekiel literally eats the word of God (scrolls) and becomes the word. p. 162: It all comes down to the one message: "For I want to take hold of Israel's heart, the heart of all those who have strayed from me" (Ezek. 14:5)

p. 164-5: bad shepherds vs. good shepherd -- Ezek. 34:1-10;11-16 Read "Say to them" on p. 164 to mid p. 165.

p. 166-167: Dry bones--Ezek. 37:1-10; 11-14...

p. 168: paradox of justice AND mercy == see story of the Jewish sages. (Read bottom p. 167- mid. p. 168) mid p.169: read ¶ about The Lord's Prayer ending with: "Yet God is still active, in motion throughout the world and in history, in the church, in those who are holy, and in those who suffer as sheep that rely on the Shepherd's care. The glory of God calls forth hope and a future of grace because that is God's will." agree or disagree?

Comments re sanctuary, refuge & refugee by Elie Wiesel. Let's read & comment. (p. 171-173)

p. 174: "The Deserted Temple" Tagore's version.

Hanta Yo! Clear the way!
Rik Murray
(612) 872-8694