Pastor Bob DuPar
August 17, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Nehemiah 12:27-13:31; 1 Corinthians 11:3-16; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 21:17-18

Observation

In today’s reading I found the account of how Nehemiah rebuked the men who married foreign wives and who let their sons and daughters intermarry with foreigners very humorous. The text says that he “called curses down on them, beat some of the men and pulled out their hair.” (Nehemiah 13:25)

Nehemiah’s disciplinary practices don’t sound very pastoral! I can only imagine how the church would respond if I dealt with people in this way.

I have heard people respond to Paul’s treatment of men and women in 1 Corinthians 11, particularly the phrase “the head of the woman is man,” by arguing that the Greek word for “head” Kephalemeans “source” rather than “head.” But, the Greek does not support this translation. This word occurs 76 times in the New Testament, and each time it is translated as “head.” I am very sensitive to the biblical issues relating to women, but they are not solved by stretching a word beyond its original meaning.

Application

God cares very much who we marry because there is a generational ripple effect in the values and beliefs which are passed on. God is a jealous God – jealous in the sense of possessive of what is His. He does not tolerate anything which leads us away from Him.

Prayer

“God, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your unconditional love, and for Your patience with me.”