[Uucf-bible] OT texts supporting diversity?

[Jim Tarvid]

On Wed, Nov 5, 2008 at 7:34 PM, James Cavenaugh <nanjim65 at verizon.net>wrote:

> Folks, I will be preaching Sunday on From loneliness through (embracing)
> diversity to fellowship/peace, and I am at a loss to find anything in
> the OT that embraces diversity.
> I mean, when YHWH tells Joshua to wipe out the tribes of Canaan this is
> not supporting diversity -- and sadly, that sort of writing supports the
> hatred in the mid-East today.
> Any help will be appreciated
>
> Jim Cavenaugh, lay chaplain and CPE student
> Harrisburg, PA
>

A worthy task. A stab.

Text:
[KJV] Exodus 2:22 <sword://KJV/Exodus%202:22>
And she bare *him* a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I
have been a *stranger* in a strange land.

Thou shalt neither vex a *stranger*, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers
in the land of Egypt. Exodus 22:21 and 23:9; Leviticus 19:33

[KJV] Leviticus 19:34 <sword://KJV/Leviticus%2019:34>
*But* the *stranger* that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born
among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the
land of Egypt: I *am* the LORD your God.
**
[KJV] Deuteronomy 10:19 <sword://KJV/Deuteronomy%2010:19>
Love ye therefore the *stranger*: for ye were strangers in the land of
Egypt.
Hint: "stranger".

[KJV] Deuteronomy 23:7 <sword://KJV/Deuteronomy%2023:7>
Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he *is* thy brother: thou shalt not
abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a *stranger* in his land.

[KJV] Ruth 2:10 <sword://KJV/Ruth%202:10>
Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto
him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take
knowledge of me, seeing I *am* a *stranger*?

[KJV] I Chronicles 22:2 <sword://KJV/I%20Chronicles%2022:2>
And David commanded to gather together the *stranger*s that *were* in the
land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house
of God.

[KJV] Job 31:32 <sword://KJV/Job%2031:32>
The *stranger* did not lodge in the street: *but* I opened my doors to the
traveller.

[KJV] Psalms 39:12 <sword://KJV/Psalms%2039:12>
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my
tears: for I *am* a *stranger* with thee, *and* a sojourner, as all my
fathers *were*.


Context.

The Hebrews were "strangers" in Egypt. At times they are counseled to
remember that fact when they deal in turn with the strangers in their midst.
Too bad the xenophobes dominate.

Gershom, the stranger in a strange land, the Hebrews and the Midianites,
Moses, Jethro and Zipporah.

The story of Ruth

The building of the temple.

The OT is a story of turning from God,

Secret:

We are all strangers, strangers from God, strangers from each other.
Intimacy with each other is the path to intimacy with God. God is One
(Shema). We are One (Ubuntu).

Jim

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