Tuesday, July 13, 2004

Flaunt It If You Got It!

I’m in an Advanced Old Testament graduate course this week at ACU. My professor is Dr. Mark Hamilton who did his PhD at Harvard. I am learning a lot and I thought I would share it with you. (I don't know who "you" exactly is)

Ten Things I've Learned So Far In My OT Course.
1. I feel less angry at all those women who write books about the need for men to be better husbands. (see Numbers 5:11-31)

2. Balaam (pronounced Ball-um) is a prophet who is supposed to speak to the people for God and to God. At the start of the story the smart person in the story is Balaam's ass. (I never knew that's where that term came from. (see Numbers 22)

3, I now have a proof text for all those moms wearing pants who are adamantly opposed to their sons wearing an earring. (see Deuteronomy 22:5)

4. Maybe those moms yelling at their kids in Walmart is not that bad. (see Deut. 21: 18-21)

5. Maybe tithing your lottery ticket winnings isn't that bad. (see Deut, 23:18)

6. Talk about a "bunk " bunk check. (see Deut. 23! 10)

7. So much for "an eye for an eye" (See Deut. 25:11-12) ouch!

8. I've found a new proof text for all those clean-shaven dads who quote Leviticus 19: 28 to their sons who want to get a tattoo. (See Leviticus 19:27)

9. If was an Israelite I'd wear a helmet 24/7. One bump on your dome and you're jacked! (see Leviticus 13:40-46)

10. Maybe MTV and Fox are not all that bad. (see Leviticus 18).

7 comments:

Sam Middlebrook said...

Nice.

Corey said...

Two things:

1. I guess getting bogged down in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy in my reading through the Bible in a year was a mistake. There is good stuff in there.

2. I now have justification for growing my hair long and not shaving for work.

Thanks Joel!

Anonymous said...

I like # 2

Anonymous said...

Hey, do you have something on BIG GULPS?

Joel said...

Yes I do have some insight about Big Gulps...glad you asked.

In ancient times wine was drunk at meals. In the Temple it was poured on the altar with the sacrifices. Wine also played a role in later rituals, such as kiddush, havdalah and the Passover seder. A special benediction is recited beore and after drinking it. It was always drunk in big gulps. At the festival of Purim and on Simhat Torah over-indulgence in wine is encouraged as part of the celebration. Wine made for gentiles is forbidden according to Jewish law.

Don't mess with me. I'm a super scholar!

Lovell's Lookout said...

Joel- I am so thankful that we no longer live under the law but under grace. YOu and Brandon Scott would have been disqualified for ministry according to Leviticus 21:20b. (under qualifications for Priests) Amazing Grace....

Brandon Scott Thomas said...

Oh no you di-unt, Lovell. You are dead meat. I am restraining myself in wanting to print a couple of other Levitical passages that would definitely apply to you. You just wait, you little weasly man.

On another note...I do have a tattoo as well as an ear ring. The ear ring is a recent addition--upper cartilage of my ear. Hurt like all heck. No wonder there was a law against it.