Melchizedek

I learned how to spell Melchizedek. 

M - E - L - C - H - I - Z - E - D - E - K.

Let's quiz your bible knowledge, today.   Guess which chapter I was copying?

This is the chapter where Paul talks about how Abraham gives a tithe to Melchizedek before the tithe was really a thing.  And how the tithe is normally given to the Levites, but Abraham (Levi's father) gave a tithe to Melchizedek - so in a roundabout way Levi, being a twinkle in his father's eye, also gave a tithe to Melchizedek. The chapter continues in the convoluted swirl of how Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek - not the Levites - because Jesus comes through Judah, Levi's brother.

Abraham gives a tithe to Melchizedek, a priest of the most high God. 
Melchizedek is a priest, but not in the traditional group of Levites. 
Levites come from Levi, the son of Abraham.  Who gives a tithe to Melchizedek. 

It's like a snake eating its tail. Or a Mobius strip. Perfectly clear.

After writing Melchizedek so many times I started thinking,
I bet Melchizedek is the most used word in Hebrews chapter 7.

(Did you guess Hebrews 7? Good job, bible scholars.)

But it's not. Melchizedek is not the most common word in Hebrews 7.... 
priest is.  

Melchizedek - only 13 times
Abraham - 8
God - 11
Levi (and Levites) - 7
Priest(s) (and priesthood) - 23  (our big winner)
Moses - 2
Jesus - 5

Melchizedek is a priest.  Levi is a priest. The Levites are priests.  Jesus is a priest, a high priest, in the order of Melchizedek.  Spoiler alert:  I'm a priest, too. You are a priest. We are a kingdom of priests, a holy nation (Ex 19:6).  

Now I need to do some research on priests and get back to you.   



-  Jenn Pete

Writing the Word.
Everyday.
ModernDayScribe

I'll take Felix for 500, Alex.

New Year's Eve we were playing a trivia game at a friends house.  It's a real fancy Jeopardy set up with 5 people on each team and little paddle to buzz in first.   Amantha, one of my daughters, is AMAZINGLY FAST on the draw.  It's terribly annoying playing with her.  Even if you are on her team.  She knows the answers and she hits the button fast.  Almost every time.  So frustrating.

Anyway, proud mom moment aside.

One of the questions was about my frenemy Paul and who was the person in power when he was in prison.   There were some bibley words involved... like governor, Caesarea,  province, hearing.  

The point I'm trying to make is this.  From the deep recesses of my brain, a name filtered up.  A name I had written 3 or 4 months ago when I was so frustrated with Paul and I kept getting angrier and angrier as I wrote... Felix. 

"I think it was Felix." 

And it was. 

The answer was Felix. 

I had copied down Acts 23, along with 259 other chapters (to be exact) in 2019. In a random moment, on the last day of the year, the last day of the decade, it came back to me.  And if you know me, I don't always have the best memory.    

*******

Felix  means happy, prosperous, lucky or successful. 

I'll take that word, Lord.  Might be my word for 2020... or my word for the whole 20s decade.

Now, the fact that we didn't get a point for my fabulous answer didn't deter me from using Felix as the answer to a number of other questions.  Or pointing out that I really needed a point for remembering Felix.  

They eventually caved and gave me a point.  I think I even whined about it enough to get a second point.  Didn't matter anyway.  Amantha wasn't on my team.  I'll take my pity points all the way to the losers bank.

But who's the real winner here?  I think we all know it's me!

-  Jenn Pete

Writing the Word.
Everyday.
ModernDayScribe

Starting 2020 with Job.....

I really wanted to start with Psalms.

Just because I'm copying the bible doesn't mean I have to do it in any particular order.  I could do it like it's written and start with Genesis...  but then I'll be writing Leviticus in March.  Then Numbers and Deuteronomy.  I'm just not ready for that this year. 

*****

A quick search of the interwebs reminded me that Psalms is one of the poetry or wisdom books along with Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon AND Job.  So my occasional OCD won't let me start with Psalms if Job is the first one in that group.

In 2019, I wrote the new testament.  242 pages long, with 260 chapters in 27 books.  That's with my NLT Premium Slimline Reference Edition - Large Print.  Your mileage may vary.

My old testament is saying 775 pages long, with 929 chapters in 39 books.   That's a LOT more words to write. 

If I start at Job, that's 361 pages in 2020 and 414 pages in 2021.  Makes my hand cramp just thinking about it. 

And if you don't really like math, your brain may be cramping with all those numbers.   Just know this.... the old testament is 3 times longer than the new testament.  3 times more writing than what I have already done. 

3 times more notebooks, 3 times more pens and 3 times more time. 

Sounds like a plan.  

-  Jenn Pete

Writing the Word.
Everyday.
ModernDayScribe