GENESIS AND WORK AND REST

 Genesis 2:1 - 2 has some contemporary things to say about our patterns of work and rest.

 Below are some questions you may want to think about.

Intro: 

Tgif and 24/7 are clichés of our time.  What do they tell us about contemporary attitudes to work and rest?   

Read the text: Gensis 2:1-3

 

Work:

1. What can we learn about God from our text?  
2. Why is work good?  
3. When is work bad?  
4. Can you think of an example from your life of either good or bad work experiences?

 

Rest:

5. Why do we have a seven day week?  
6. What is the Sabbath?  

Why was observing the Sabbath so important?

 

 Go to www.library.studentjourney.org/2/13/  to see some suggested answers.

 

SOME NOTES ON PALESTINIAN

SHEEP  AND  SHEPHERDS

by the Rev Julie Kelley

 (former Associate Priest at St Simon's)

At the time of Jesus, it was customary for Eastern shepherds to give a name to each of their sheep.  A large flock would recognize the voice of its shepherd.  When several large flocks were intermingled, they would speedily separate when commanded by their shepherd.  They would not respond to the voice of a stranger.  In Arabia, shepherds did not limit the pasturage of their flocks to places near at home, but sometimes wandered long distances, being gone for weeks or months at a time in pursuit of new pastures.

Shepherds used a club, about 2 feet long, and with a knob at the end about the size of an orange.  It often had a loop through the top to enable it to be hung from the girdle, or carried from the wrist.  Shepherds also used a staff, which was 4 to 6 feet long.  It was useful for climbing, or slashing leaves etc., for strafing lingering or fighting goats.  They also used a sling which was normally made out of twined wool, with a wider centre piece about two inches wide, specially reinforced to take the stone which was flung out.

A favourite pastime among the shepherd boys was playing the shawm to their flocks.  These were like a flute and were made out of reeds.  They had 6 holes.

Sheep folds provided shelter on summer nights.  They were simple enclosures with walls of loosely stacked stones.  There was an opening in the wall and this was the "door."  The shepherd lay across here at night.

In the OT and Near East, a “Shepherd symbolised the caretaker of God’s people  God himself was called the “Shepherd of Israel”.  He had given responsibility to the leaders (“shepherds”) of Israel, which they had failed to respect.  He denounced them as false shepherds and promised to provide the true shepherd, the Messiah, to care for the sheep.

Sheep pen = an enclosure open to the sky and with only one entrance.  The walls protected the sheep from wild animals and from wandering away.

The watchman was in charge of a large fold where several flocks were kept.  The sheep recognized the voice of their own shepherd and would respond only to him.

The Palestinian shepherd did not drive his sheep.  The sheep followed him because they knew his voice.

The gate (Jesus) is the one way into salvation.  With Jesus there is safety.

The thief’s interest is in himself.  Christ’s interest is in his sheep whom he enables to have life to the full.

The character of a good shepherd is described and then the relation of Christ as the Good Shepherd to the flock.  The hireling does his work for a reward.  The Good Shepherd is connected essentially with the flock.  The flock has its natural enemies and is open to their attacks.  Some fall victim to the attack and all lose their unity.  Seizes or snatches describes the suddeness of the attack and the violence.  He who should have been a guardian thinks of himself instead of those whom he should be guarding.  According to the Jewish tradition, the hireling was responsible for damage done by wild beasts to the flock.

In Hebrews 13:20 Jesus is called that "great shepherd of the sheep".  This corresponds to the title "Chief  Shepherd."  Where the flocks were numerous and a large number of shepherds were necessary, one was placed in charge of all the others.  Christian ministers are pastors or shepherds, but there is one over them all.  Jesus is the chief shepherd.  He superintends them, cares for them, assigns them their several positions, and rewards or punishes them.

"You can't pull the wool over the shepherd's eyes!"

"If sheep are not being fed, they will break down fences to get to where the feed is."

Exegesis of John 10: 11 - 18

I am the Good Shepherd is part of the “ I am" sayings of John, (Jesus’ self revelation as compared with Judaism and the Law.).  I am the true bread, the true vine; the light of the world; the door; the resurrection and the life the way, the truth, and the life.  In the Old Testament the shepherd symbol is used of God and the leaders of the nations.  The thieves and robbers are the false shepherds of Israel as in Ezekiel 34.  Jesus alone qualifies as the good shepherd. because the sheep belong to him.  Peter was a hireling, looking after Jesus’ sheep.  (Tend and feed my sheep.)  Jesus’ death was a consequence of him being the good shepherd.  The character of a good shepherd is described and then the relation of Christ as the Good Shepherd to the flock.  The hireling does his work for a reward.  His interest is in wages, not in sheep.  He is not deeply concerned for the sheep.  His passions are not aroused.The Good Shepherd is connected essentially with the flock.  He knows his sheep and his sheep know him.  Intimate reciprocal knowledge.  It is like the knowledge between the Father and the Son.The flock has its natural enemies and is open to their attacks.  Some fall victim to the attack and all lose their unity.  Seizes or snatches describes the suddeness of the attack and the violence.  He who should have been a guardian thinks of himself instead of those whom he should be guarding.  According to the Jewish tradition, the hireling was responsible for damage done by wild beasts to the flock.  (However he was only financially responsible for the damage done by one wolf.  Two wolves and he was not responsible.  The hireling may take an oath if the sheep was lamed, or driven away or dead, but he must make restitution if it was stolen or lost.)  In this discourse, as elsewhere, the law of the divine revelation is observed, “to the Jew first and afterwards to the Gentile.”

In the case of Christ, even death itself was voluntary.  His will to the last absolutely coincided with the Father’s will so that he could do what no man could do.

While there were many things that a shepherd did for his sheep, Jesus mentions giving up life for the sheep.  There would be very few Palestinian shepherds that did this!  But for Jesus, it is the characteristic thing.  David was referred to as the shepherd king.  (So there is a link there.)  When a Palestinian shepherd died for his sheep, it was an accident.  However with Jesus it was different; death for the sheep was the set purpose.  When a Palestinian shepherd died for the sheep, it was a disaster for the sheep because the wolf could get them.  When Jesus died for the flock, it meant life for his sheep.

There is an element of voluntary acceptance in the term lays down his life for the sheep.  The death of Jesus is the will of God and because he is in perfect harmony with the will of God, he goes forward to that death.  Christ dies in order that he may rise again.  The death is not defeat but victory.  It is inseparable from the resurrection.  No person takes Jesus’ life (no misadventure or great might from his foes)  Jesus lays it down of his own volition.

The flock are to become united under the leadership of one shepherd.  The unity is not a natural unity but one brought about by the activity of the shepherd in “bringing” them. 

God the Father’s knowledge of Jesus is to be understood in terms of the giving of mission and authority, Jesus’ knowledge of his flock involves calling them to follow him and giving then eternal life .  His flock response is patterned on Jesus’ response to his Father.  They hear and follow.  It is only believers who share this relationship of knowledge with Jesus.  Some of the Jews rejected Jesus because they rejected his claim to have come from the Father and the gospel states that they do not know God or his Spirit. 

 

 

DAVE THE GIANT KILLER

by The Rev Julie Kelley

 (former Associate Priest at St Simon's)

 

Goliath was a fighter, a giant of a man.

He was not an Aussie for he came out from the land

Of the Philistines, a crowd who liked to often go to war

To capture lots of treasure, land and slaves and more.

 

Goliath was so tall, and his body was so wide

That all opposing soldiers would run away and hide

When he marched outside to fight with his sword and shield

They would not venture out for they’d all be killed.

 

He went to fight the Israelites and challenged them to send

A soldier out to fight him so the battle soon would end.

The Israelites were terrified, they didn’t want to die.

Goliath was so tough that it made them cringe and cry.

 

David was an Israelite who went to see his brothers,

For they were in the army, and a few thousand others.

Jesse, David’s father had packed up cheese and bread

And off Dave went to take it so the army would be fed.

 

He reached the camp and all at once he heard an awful sound

And looking out he saw Goliath pacing ‘cross the ground.

“Scaredy cats, scaredy cats come on out and fight

I can see your hair’s on end and all your faces white.”

 

“All of you are jelly legs, you yellow livered louts.

I’m going to cut you all in half” the giant Goliath shouts.

“I’ll slice off ears and take them home and feed them to my pigs.

I’ll shave your hair and give it to the barber to make wigs.”

 

The Israelites were shaking and they shook some more

When they heard that Goliath and they listened to him roar.

David was astounded at the scene before his eyes.

He’s seen some big men in his life but none was quite this size.

 

He looked around at all the men and wondered who they’d send

To go and fight the giant so the warring soon would end.

A volunteer there wasn’t for the soldiers ran away.

He who turns and runs, lives to fight another day.

 

But David got his dander up and cried out to them all

“Who will fight this giant who dares to stand and call

Out names to all God’s chosen ones, the ones whom God defends

The living God, the mighty God, whose kingdom never ends?”

 

But all of them were silent when David looked a round.

Not one of them had courage.  They didn’t make a sound.

So David said “I’ll fight him for Goliath cannot stand

Against the strength of our great God and all that he has planned.”

 

The soldiers laughed, Dave’s brothers too, for Dave was pretty small

But someone heard and off they went to tell it to King Saul.

He sent for Dave and questioned him and he too had a laugh.

You’re just a boy.  That Philistine would sneeze you’d fall in half.”

 

But David said “I’m really tough.  At home I mind the sheep.

There’s many a time I’ve killed a lion and bears I’ve killed a heap!

I’ve brought my trusty sling shot and the Lord will keep me safe.

He promises to help the weak if only they’ve got faith.”

 

King Saul was quite impressed and as there wasn’t any other

Accepted David’s help and got his amour for a cover

He put it onto David to protect his head and chest

For he thought the metal amour for David would be best.

 

But David staggered wildly and he really couldn’t walk

For the amour was so heavy, made of metal like a fork.

“I cannot go in this.” he said.  “It makes me look a geek.

I’ll just go with my sling shot and five pebbles from the creek.”

 

Goliath thought it was a joke when Davo wandered out.

He looked him up and down three times then gave a lusty shout.

“I’ll tear you into little bits and feed you to the beasts.

I’ll give your innards to the birds.  They like their little treats.”

 

Though David felt quite nervous, he wasn’t on his own.

For in the Lord he’d put his trust, yes, in the Lord alone.

He called out to Goliath, “Today you’ll wind up dead.

You’ve challenged the Almighty God.  I’m cutting off your head.”

 

And all your fellow soldiers will meet a sticky end

For in my God I trust and so his power to me he’ll send

To show the world that Israel’s God is mighty, full of power.

So though I’m small, I have God’s strength and this is your last hour.

 

On saying this he took a stone and put it in his sling

And let it go. His aim was true and then there was a ding!

The pebble hit Goliath’s head and made a nasty hole

The giant Goliath wavered and his body gave a roll.

 

He fell down dead upon the ground and then with no delay

Davo took Goliath’s sword and cut the head away.

The Philistines all turned and ran.  It was an ugly sight.

The Israelites were jubilant, their God had showed his might.

 

Though David was quite tiny when compared with giant foe

He trusted in the might of God and triumphed there and so

When everything looks bad for us in God let’s put our trust

And with his power we’ll triumph, though we thought that we’d go bust.

 

The end!