DM’s Response to Edie’s Post to Her on 10/25
This post is in response to Edie’s post to me on 10/25.
Agreed, Edie. I started reading the Bible while ignoring the chapter, verse and heading divisions about 4 or 5 years ago. That’s what lead me to a Messianic congregation, which introduced me to Nehemia Gordon, which led me to Keith Johnson and BFA Int’l. I started using the JPS translation a couple of years ago and since starting The Readers of the Book Club, The Israel Bible, too. I still use Christian Bibles for comparison, but the Jewish translations are my favorite. Of course, since I can recognize some Hebrew words now, I can see some significant agendas in those, too. ?
The TIB had a commentary that mentioned the idea that this is a metaphor for the land of Israel, but I really don’t think it is, unless the first lines about the king are a metaphor for Yehovah. Plus, why would Bathsheba be describing the land of Israel if she were trying to explain to Solomon what he needed to be looking for in a wife? And why would she talk about wine interfering with judgement if the opening lines were about Yehovah? I just can’t agree with that interpretation.
Your life seems pretty complicated. I work outside my home, too so that my husband can help his dad (my mom-in-law died 9 years ago so 7 years ago we moved down here to do this). He does have a small business on the side helping people in our community who can no longer take care of their homes like they did when they were younger and have no one else to help. He also takes people to various appointments (usually doctor’s appointments) when they can’t drive themselves anymore. He brings in a little money but for the most part, it’s volunteer work. He has a good heart. ? Like you said, though, working 45+ hours outside the home doesn’t leave a whole lot of time to emulate what the Proverb 31 Woman does.
I don’t have a group to fellowship with where I live. I just don’t fit in anywhere because my beliefs are so vastly different from theirs, and since I live in a relatively small community, there aren’t a lot of options. I consider this “my fellowship” and I’m glad to have The Readers of the Book Club for 2019.
As a completely off-topic question, how did you upload a picture? I’ve tried to find the option and haven’t been able to locate it.
I want to thank you for engaging with me on this topic. I’ve never felt comfortable venting my feelings about this proverb and wasn’t sure what the reaction would be here. I’m incredibly grateful for your thoughtful, open and caring responses.
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Yes! Add a donation to BFA to my order.
October 29, 2019 at 11:40 am /
It seems we both had an awakening about the same time. My husband and I began attending the fellowship we attend now, about 5 years ago, shortly after they began. We had joked for years about starting out own church because we just couldn’t get on board with many of our, now former, church doctrines. This journey out of religion has been really difficult but also amazingly wonderful and extremely freeing. I had heard of Nehemia on and off through the 5 years we have been with this fellowship but never listened to anything of his until I was in bed, sick, about a year ago. I watched the entire Open Door series and Nehemia and Keith had me hooked. I love the way they work together.
There are so many voices out there (namely on YouTube) that I have more or less stopped listening to any of them and solely read the bible. I do appreciate Nehemia and Keith, and still listen to their discussions, because of their sincerity in seeking the truth, whatever it may be. We have hearty discussions at our fellowship every Shabbat. We do not have a very liturgical service. We follow the yearly Torah portion cycle and the way we do it is we read a chapter or two then discuss; we proceed in segments. No one really controls the conversation and we have no one giving a teaching or sermon. Our pastor is more of a facilitator, or moderator, who just keeps conversation on track. We do get into some pretty wild ideas brought forth sometimes and we allow people the freedom to express their crazy ideas as long as they are supporting it with scripture. If something is truly outside of scripture, it is pointed out, gently shut down, and conversation is brought back on track. It is so hard to find anyone, even in this movement, who doesn’t have some specific doctrine that they want to convince everyone of. I am very thankful for our fellowship because it seems to be one-of-a-kind.
I am happy to have a sincere discussion on any biblical topic. Iron sharpens iron, right? I am glad you “vented” on this subject because it really is a subject that so many women I know struggle with, and one that I really struggled with as well.
I also have trouble seeing Lemuel as representing Yehovah. I am just not a fan of allegorical reading of scripture. It leaves far too much room for personal interpretation and crazy ideas. I do understand that there are metaphors and euphemisms in scripture but I just avoid allegorical thinking pretty much entirely. Perhaps my thinking is too simplistic. I don’t know.
As for my picture, I have a WordPress blog and somehow the picture was transferred from there to this site. I don’t know how or why but it must somehow be tied to WordPress via my email address.
If you ever want to share or discuss things other than what we are reading here, if you are on FB, you can look me up there and message me. I think I am the only Edie Ellingson in the world so very easy to find.