1/22/2023 0 Comments Tidiness in the bibleThe Introduction of this work provided background, historical, and textual information about Leviticus 26 as well as a detailed outline of this text. In this article, the clear pairing in the prohibition of Deut 23:18-"hire of a harlot" (ָה זוֺנ ַן נ תְ )אֶ and "price of a dog" ֶב( ֶל כ יר חִ )מְ-are both metaphorical symbols of shame and disgrace and should not be accepted for fulfilling religious vows. The critical concern of this article is what, according to Deut 23:18, God hates: harlots, the practice of prostitution or the use of the wages (gifts) thereof for the redemption of vows and what these imply. This article systematises the possibilities, literally and metaphorically-evaluating prostitution as foreign, religiously deviant or morally detestable. The specific reference that is hinted at in Deut 23:18 and the question pertaining to the nature of the activity denounced by Yahweh in the text has generated speculation and requires some study. Although harlots (prostitutes) and prostitution are mentioned in the HB/OT (Lev 18 21:1-15 and Deut 23), these harlots are not punished like people who are caught in the act of adultery. “From the end of the earth I will cry to you when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.The language of prostitution is used in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament in both literal and metaphorical senses. And we can help give glimpses of that Kingdom now through the way we love God and love others. Because He conquered death, we have ultimate hope of a world one day made right. ![]() And yet – this is the very world Jesus entered into. In a way, it is….as long as we live in a broken world as broken people, we will experience broken relationships. Candidly, hope for a society where we all-just-get-along feels futile. Recent events in the United States have left my soul feeling weary and disrupted. * This blog is a modified version of one I originally posted July 15, 2015. So, tomorrow, I’ll get up, make my bed, and start over again, trusting in the God who brings order out of chaos. Because disruption, major or minor, reminds me that I know a Sovereign God who does keep all things in order, whether I have understanding of His purposes or not. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” I’m learning that life, like my bedroom, is messy at times. The one common thread among the varying ranges of disruptions in our lives is this: they invoke some sort of mess, some sort of loss. Some are major, like an “I’ve got some bad news” medical report, a lay-off, or the end of a relationship. ![]() Some disruptions are minorly inconvenient, like when your maintenance man forgets to show up and your bathtub remains clogged. As much as we’d like to arrange our life and circumstances (and even our physical surroundings) to fit our desired outcomes, we do not have ultimate control. And I’ve learned a great lesson while stepping over a pair of shoes to get to the door. My once-clean home is a far cry from its Sunday start. ![]() ![]() So, I set out last Sunday, spent a few hours getting rooms, bathrooms, and closets in top-notch shape, and determined to maintain my newfound tidiness for one week straight. It gives one a sense of orderliness, peacefulness, and, most importantly, control. Admittedly, this isn’t the most exciting thing one can do, but there’s something refreshing about having your surroundings in order….shirts hung neatly on their hangers, shoes in their rightful spot, junk mail sorted out and squared away. Recently I set a goal to keep the house in spic and span shape for five days straight.
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