Up early this morning working on a word study. As I dive deeper into the meaning of ἱλαστήριον [translated "propitiation"] in the context of Romans 3:25, it is interesting that Paul would chose a word that is referenced 27 times in the LXX, and in 21 of those instances it refers to as a place of propitiation ["the mercy seat"]. Here in Romans 3:25, he is using it as the means when ἱλασμός is used in the LXX as the means of propitiation ["sin offering" or "act of atonement"].
I believe Paul wanted to capture both the place and the means of atonement in this passage in Romans. While the work of the cross was certainly the means, the Jewish Christians in Rome would have been drawn to the image of the "mercy seat" which now has been replaced by the cross.
A poem by J. Q Dubbs
Donald Trump
A poem in the style of “A Book of Americans”, by Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benet
They said he was a clown
They said he was a fool
They said it loud and long
All around the town.
Yet, somehow clownish Trump
Unchained America’s pump
from Mohammedan hand
And opened American drilling land.
No more blood for oil,
Can I get an Amen?
And somehow foolish Donald
ducked impotent foreign deals
Did you hear the baddy squeals?
To fleece American coffers
With disingenuous offers
Of peace for cash—all turned to ash
Amidst the Abraham Accord.
All around the journo’s worried for
Trump, the ignoramus, had the floor
To stomp On beloved rules
And Upend long-held tools
Of swampish dark night tyranny
Sneaking up on you and me.
Sleezy, slimy eloquence, he lacked
Along with the usual euphemistic tact.
He said what you were a’ thinkin’
That the media was a’ stinkin’
Mess of lying, whining, skulls full of mush—
Thank you Rush.
America will lament the man
That ‘uuuge boorish parody of Presidential charm.
While we hope the swamp-gas doesn’t harm
Him— it’s to the chambers for the rest
If we don’t toe the line—Toe the party line -
Toe the liberal democrat, communist party line.
And it ain’t no party for the best.
They said he was a clown.
They said he was a fool.
They said it loud and long.
All around the town.
They say it still, as if they’re still afraid
Of the great, productive, glad America he made.