1 Kings 18:21
Hebrew: וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ אֶל־כָּל־הָעָ֗ם וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ עַד־מָתַ֞י אַתֶּ֣ם פֹּסְחִים֮ עַל־שְׁתֵּ֣י הַסְּעִפִּים֒ אִם־יְהוָ֤ה הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ לְכ֣וּ אַחֲרָ֔יו וְאִם־הַבַּ֖עַל לְכ֣וּ אַחֲרָ֑יו וְלֹֽא־עָנ֥וּ הָעָ֛ם אֹתֹ֖ו דָּבָֽר׃
The part that has long fascinated me about this verse is why Elijah spoke of Israel "limping" on two different opinions or being "paralyzed by indecision" (NET Bible).
NET Ftn: tn Heb “How long are you going to limp around on two crutches?” (see HALOT 762 s.v. סְעִפִּים). In context this idiomatic expression refers to indecision rather than physical disability.
William Barnes (Cornerstone Biblical Commentary): "How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? This is not a conscious reference back to Obadiah, but not entirely incidental to him either. The Hebrew idiom here is akin to our English expression 'sitting on the fence.' Obadiah had finally come down publicly on Elijah’s side in 18:16, but the people here would still remain publicly uncommitted until after the fire fell from heaven (18:39)."
2 comments:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ilanaredstone/2021/01/11/splitting-the-psychology-behind-binary-thinking-and-how-it-limits-a-diversity-of-opinions/?sh=49bc22ce3e41
I think Colossians talks about those who have a fleshly frame of mind instead of a spiritual one; we have to look out for such things when it comes to worldly counsel. Yes, some things in life are nuanced and there are exceptions to many absolutes. We must be reasonable or not always insist on the letter of the law. But when it comes to worship of the living and true God, Jehovah/YHWH, there is no compromise. Some things are good whereas others are bad/evil. The Bible also warns us that two stark choices stand before us: God or Satan/Jehovah or the world. As it says in the Hebrew Bible, I put life and death before you this day. I have yet to see a third option. What theist would agree with Nietzsche that a metaphysical dichotomy between good and evil is untenable?
As for that article in the link, what about the people who see blackness as inherently inferior?
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