OLD TESTAMENT TEXTS

The themes of sin and death, which have been central to the Lenten Old Testament lessons up to this point, give way to divine promise of life and blessing in  Genesis 12:1-4a . Psalm 122 takes the divine promise of life and blessing into the setting of worship, where it functions both as a song of praise to God for the gift of peace and salvation, and as encouragement to the worshiper to seek the security of God's grace.

Genesis 12:1-4a - "The Working Out of God's Blessing"
Setting.   Genesis 12:1-4a  is a transitional text in the book of Genesis. It provides a hinge between the universal history in  Genesis 1-11 and the more focused history of the Israelite ancestors in the remainder of the book. A brief overview of the thematic movement in  Genesis 1-11 will provide…