"Priviledged are those who mourn because of injustice for they will be comforted."
This word for mourning here is usually used in referance to mourning over one's own sins but in this case it refers to a mourning over the power of the wicked, who oppose the righteous. I have simplified it here to "injustice." It is also worth noting that the word "comforted" here is very similar to the word used for The Comforter, the Holy Spirit. I believe that as we look at a world in need, a world that suffers due to injustice, a world in which evil and wickedness seems to prevail, we can only be comforted by a good Kingdom theology and the Holy Spirit inside of us who assures us that God will eventually set things right.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Matthew 5:3
"Priviledged are those who are lacking in spritual worth because to them is given the Kindom of God."
"Blessed are those who obviously don't deserve it because theirs is the Kingdom of God."
"Blessed are those who have no reason to be blessed because it is they who embody the Kindom of God."
It is the demonstration of God's mercy and grace that he has chosen to lavish the Kingdom of God on those who obviously don't deserve to receive it. I have chosen this way of translation instead of the traditional "poor in spirit" because I loved this meditation on God's mercy so much. It caused me to ponder how such an understanding might change the way that I view myself and others. We are so blessed by God's mercy and perhaps when we sit in this place of humility before God we are able to get an accurate view of the Kingdom of God.
"Blessed are those who obviously don't deserve it because theirs is the Kingdom of God."
"Blessed are those who have no reason to be blessed because it is they who embody the Kindom of God."
It is the demonstration of God's mercy and grace that he has chosen to lavish the Kingdom of God on those who obviously don't deserve to receive it. I have chosen this way of translation instead of the traditional "poor in spirit" because I loved this meditation on God's mercy so much. It caused me to ponder how such an understanding might change the way that I view myself and others. We are so blessed by God's mercy and perhaps when we sit in this place of humility before God we are able to get an accurate view of the Kingdom of God.
Isaiah 61:1-4
I completed this translation about a year and a half ago but I still love it. Hebrew is so descriptive and the words provide more vivid pictures than English ever could. I tried to catch the vision that Isaiah was painting and ran with it a little and this is what I came up with.
"The Spirit of God is on me because he has empowered me to bring good news to those who have been humiliated by oppression, he sent me to bandage those whose hearts have been broken and dreams have been smashed, to proclaim complete freedom to captives and an opening of eysight to the blind.
To proclaim that the time of God's mercy is near and the day of the compensation of our God, when all wrongs will be made right is coming.
Comfort those who are in mourning. Raise up those who mourn in Zion. Give them glory instead of ashes, an oil of joy instead of mourning."
"The Spirit of God is on me because he has empowered me to bring good news to those who have been humiliated by oppression, he sent me to bandage those whose hearts have been broken and dreams have been smashed, to proclaim complete freedom to captives and an opening of eysight to the blind.
To proclaim that the time of God's mercy is near and the day of the compensation of our God, when all wrongs will be made right is coming.
Comfort those who are in mourning. Raise up those who mourn in Zion. Give them glory instead of ashes, an oil of joy instead of mourning."
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