Friday 28 November 2014

Psalm: Psalm 68:24-35

Background

As a nation chosen by God, Israel throughout the Old Testamentwas distinctive not only for religious belief and relationship withGod, but also for clear norms of behaviour which set them apartfrom neighbouring tribes and races. Many of these concerned sexualmorality. Here we seem to find Paul beginning to lay down norms forthe new, Christian community. Again, Paul is strengthening thatsense of group identity which comes not only from shared thinkingbut from common behaviour. He wants the Thessalonians to realisethat their new identity affects and controls every part of theirlives. Their goal is sanctification, the total cleansing whichcomes only from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and which is thewill of God for them (verse 3). "He wills that I should holy be; what can withstandhis will?" 

There are rival brands of identity on offer - that which ischaracterised by "impurity" or that which is characterised byholiness (verse 7). It appears that sexual mores have been part ofthe initial instructions for this young church too, as Paul refersto instructions already given (verse 2). Paul, writing now tofollow this up, advocates monogamy in marriage, contrary to thenormative Greco-Roman standards, which allowed sexual freedom for amarried man. Such behaviour exemplifies a non-exploitative innerattitude.

In verse 1, Paul uses the same Greek word as in 1Thessalonians 2:12, 'peripatein', here translated "how youought to live", indicating a manner of life rather than merely alifestyle. He is saying 'be of a particular identity' rather thanjust 'behave in a particular way'. As well as exhorting, he alsoencourages the Thessalonians; they are already doing this (verse 1)but they need to do it "more and more".

To Ponder

• In your opinion how well has the Christian Church in thisgeneration conveyed the message that following Christ is about away of living, not a list of rules? How might it do better?

• How easy or difficult do you find it to follow the call ofdiscipleship which is, at times, counter-cultural? What do youthink could help you?

• The psalm today speaks of our worship, the epistle of ourliving - how can these be so integrated that the 'Reign of Christ'is demonstrated in the holiness of believers 24/7?