Hard Sayings of the Old Testament

Is Revenge Justified?

Deuteronomy 19:21 & Judges 16:21-30Matthew 5:38-39

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Love Trinidad and Tobago District Work & WitnessThe Nation of Guyana in South America has one of the highest suicide rates in the world; it is a nation crying out for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From August 9 – 16, 2014, the Church of the Nazarene Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) District responded to the cry from Guyana by sending its District Work & Witness Team to work on the building of the Tuschen Church of the Nazarene and to share the Word of God in a Special Service .

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A Pastoral Letter from the Board of General Superintendents

We are deeply saddened to inform you of the news that Nazarene Publishing House (NPH) will cease their current operations as of 1 December 2014. This date was announced to comply with the WARN Act (The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act), a Federallaw in the United States. This act offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by providing notice 60 days in advance of large layoffs. Steps have been taken at this time to ensure that all NPH employees will retain their positions through 1 December 2014, with a severance package if they remain as employees through that date.

Land of the Philistines

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Dueteronomy 16 (NIV)16 If a malicious witness takes the stand to accuse

someone of a crime, 17 the two people involved in the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD before the priests and the judges who are in office at the time. 18 The judges must make a thorough investigation,and if the witness proves to be a liar, giving false testimony against a fellow Israelite,19 then do to the false witness as that witness intended to do to the other party. You must purge the evil from among you. 20 The rest of the people will hear of this and be afraid,and never again will such an evil thing be done among you. 21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. 6

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Commanding a Limit to ViolenceLev 19 -- 18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a

grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord

Prov 25 -- 21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,    and the Lord will reward you.

Lam 3 --27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke    while he is young.

28 Let him sit alone in silence,    for the LORD has laid it on him.29 Let him bury his face in the dust—    there may yet be hope.30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,    and let him be filled with disgrace.

Lex TalionisHow do people view “eye for eye” today?

How does our justice system operate on the principle that a punishment should fit a crime?

If a society did not value the idea of proportional punishment and/or compensation for a crime, what would be the result?

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Judges 16 (NIV)21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and

took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. 22 But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

The Death of Samson23 Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a

great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.”

24 When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying,

“Our god has delivered our enemy    into our hands,the one who laid waste our land    and multiplied our slain.”

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Judges 16 (NIV)25 While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out

Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them.

When they stood him among the pillars, 26 Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. 28 Then Samson prayed to the LORD, “Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.

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An Act of God Sanctioned Revenge?Why do you think God answered Samson’s prayer for revenge?

What was God’s purpose in raising up Samson (Judges 13:5)?

“He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

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Matthew 5 (NIV)38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

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A New Perspective on an Old CommandHow does Jesus teaching go beyond Old Testament Law?

Jesus teaching was in response to personal not criminal wrongs, how does this affect our understanding of the passage?

What is Jesus teaching on the principle of justice? (Matt 5:7; 6:14-15; Luke 6:37-38; 2 Thess 1:6-7; James 2:12-13)

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Next WeekUnit 2: Wesleyan Perspective

Lesson 1: Wesleyans & Scripture

Matthew 11:1-19

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