Session 2 Summary

Session 2 was reading - all homework was read out loud. The seven chapters took about 35 minutes to read. Peter Elcoate read Numbers 14, Colleen Bugslag Psalm 95, Chris Hanlon Psalm 40, Bob MacDonald Hebrews 1, Ayla Lepine Hebrews 2, Gerritt Clemens Hebrews 3 and Diana MacDonald Hebrews 4.

Then we raised several questions and discussion topics. It is difficult to summarize exactly. By reading so much out loud, I think we came closer to how letters would have been read the first time they were circulated, a different process than we follow today.

Here are some of the questions:

Numbers 14:1 Then - what preceded the then: the failure of the twelve scouts to have courage.

Kitty asked Why was Moses not allowed into the promised land? (our reading was not that wide ranging but all questions were entertained).

Diana asked about the angels - the answer is in the next session - consider the cherubim above the mercy seat and understand that here - where we meet God - is the lower place; and after the resurrection, he rides upon the cherubim - having been raised by the glory of the Father. (Herod's cherubim ended up in Antioch after the destruction in 70 CE.) These are not the cherubs of renaissance art but Ezekiel's cherubs - apparently unknown to Josephus.

The Number 40: what does it signify? Ayla suggested a number representing the limit of human endurance. (We searched for forty and found several instances in both NT and TNK).

The issue of literal interpretation came up. The Gilgamesh 7 days were briefly contrasted with the Creation's 7 days.

We focused the last 20 minutes on Hebrews 4:9-13. How do we strive to enter into rest? What relationship does this have to the word of God?

Di suggested the lesson from Hebrews was like school - drilling the subject.

Colleen asked about the presence of God - real intervention.

Many who were absent expressed their regrets but hope to be there next week. We were indebted to Chris Hanlon for the management of the hearing aid.

Class list: Kitty Johnson, Beryl Roundhill, Brenda McKivett, Peter Elcoate, James Nesbitt, Jae Cooper, Liz Elgin, Frank and Arden Moretti, Brenda Morton, Ayla Lepine, Bob and Diana MacDonald, (David Streat, Chris Bugslag, now away) Colleen Bugslag, Chris Hanlon, Gerritt Clemens, (Emma Monds).

Because it is quite possible to 'catch up' and since we will read chapter 5-10 in the next session, please feel free to invite others to the session on May 8. There will be a short lecture on the structure of the tabernacle.