It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Why do good things happen to bad people? a reflection on 2 Esdras 3

Ezra (Esdras) says to the Lord:

Adam didn't obey. His descendants didn't obey. You destroyed all of them except for Noah and his family. Then many of Noah's descendants turned out to be more ungodly than the their ancestors had been.

You chose Abraham, made an everlasting covenant with him, promising never to forsake his descendants. You gave them the law but didn't take away their evil hearts. Over time, what was good departed and evil remained. David built your city, but its inhabitants sinned. So, you handed over your city to Babylon, your enemies.

Why Babylon? They sin, too. Why did you allow them to take over Zion? Why do you let those foreigners who don't obey you be so wealthy? You may find a few individuals that follow your commands, but in no nation does everyone do so.

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