I Kings 7:13-51 - Furnishings for the Temple

I Kings 7:13-51

And Solomon made all the furniture which was in the house of the Lord: the golden altar and the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence. (verse 48)

Message: Furnishings for the Temple

Time: The author of 1&2 Kings (originally 1 book) is not known. First Kings follows the history of this divided kingdom from the death of David around 971 BC through the year 853 BC. First Kings reveals Solomon’s relationship with Yahweh and introduces the prophet Elijah who pronounces judgment on the evil northern king Ahab. Like other books, it helps us to understand the history of Israel and Judah. 

What the Lord is Saying: The first part of chapter 7 basically describes Solomon's palace and its attributes. Early verses had spoken of the Temple but after it has been completed in 7 years, then the matter switches a moment to his palace which is bigger. Following this and beginning in verse 13 it seems that Solomon now switches back to the temple. In essence, what we have here is Solomon's building projects. Here is an outline for this chapter as I continue to use BibleHub for helps, but I also found this site which this lady has created to describe her journey through reading the Bible:

ii.  The Palace  ( 7:1⁠–⁠12 )

iii. Furnishings for the Temple  ( 7:13⁠–⁠51 )

1. The Pillars and Capitals  ( 7:13⁠–⁠22) - Solomon solicits help from Hiram, a man skilled in bronze. He "had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work." The bronze pillars were at the front of the temple. I just realized that God in choosing Solomon to build the temple chose someone of wealth who could outfit a temple with the highest quality of items. The pillars were not structural but symbolic, representing stability and strength. The height and design of the capitals would have drawn the eyes upward. The pillars had capitals or specialty decorations. 

2. The Molten Sea  ( 7:23⁠–⁠26 ) The sea is a large basin used for ceremonial cleaning showing purification. The cast metal means it was made through a casting process. Verse 25 says, "The Sea stood on twelve oxen" so the basin stood on 12 oxen possibly referring to the 12 tribes of Israel and the oxen were common sacrificial animals that were also symbols of strength. [Note: This verse is repeated in 2 Chronicles 4:4.] There are 43 verses in the Bible that mention oxen. It's purpose was simple, to wash hands and make one clean. It was an act to prepare oneself as we enter into a time of worshipping God, of performing rituals. In society, we do this to make ourselves clean, but in these times the purpose was to be clean before the Lord. That idea of being clean is central to our faith. We are to be a holy people, set apart to Him and for Him. And we see this in life. I think of the COVID-19 times of being free from germs and the most important activity that was mentioned over and over was to wash your hands. Even during sickness we often hear this. How amazing that this is one of the central ideas of our faith - to be clean. Even in the ordinance of baptism is that act signifying before God and everyone that we are clean and our sins are no more. It is a fundamental and core picture or metaphor of the cleansing we are before Him. We are set apart. We are different. I am so sad for those many people of faith that don't get baptized. 

3. The Ten Bronze Stands (7:27⁠–⁠37) - It is amazing to be that there are 11 verses here describing the stands. Each stand was bronze as bronze is currently being used for its durability and being able to withstand weather. The stands are movable as they have wheels around them and these wheels are described as chariot wheels. On each stand is lions, oxen, and cherubim. Lions are strength and majesty, oxen are stability for service and sacrifice, and cherubim are angelic bringing in the presence of God. These stands have a meaning about them, more than what simply meets the eye. Hiram was the one that built each of these stands. I spoke to a Hiram today. He did jury duty with me. I wish I would have remembered this name when I spoke to him. The stands were on wheels and each stand had a handle at each of the four corners. These stands were made to be moved about. 

4. The Ten Bronze Basins  (7:38⁠–⁠39) - The description of the stand is 11 verses while the description of the basin sitting on the stand is but two verses. The foundation was important so the basin could be used. These stands and basins would be used a lot at times, with priests moving them around, making sure they are clean and the sacrificial elements are clean. The basins are not small, but large to handle substantial gallons. Five stands on the north side and five on the south side. Though the animal would be sacrificed it would be cleaned. And the basins were also to clean tools used. 

5. Completion of the Bronze works  (7:40⁠–⁠47) - Pots, shovels, and sprinkling bowls are also mentioned as made by Hiram out of bronze. And then everything is mentioned again and repeated in summary. Again, there is a strong meaning here. 

6. Completion of the Gold Furnishings  (7:48⁠–⁠51) - In addition, there is the mention of 12 loaves of bread which will be a continual offering. This represented the 12 tribes of Israel. Also wick trimmers to keep the light going and present. Also bowls for sprinkling the blood. Ladies or door hinges, and censers or fragrance to ensure a pleasing aroma. 

As I read these descriptions they are all intentional in their description meaning the attributes of this temple that are being built are not haphazard, but have intentional meaning. The temple in all of its parts held something of significance. In some ways to look and see a lot of the churches in Europe that hold significance in their structure, those places seem to mirror somewhat the idea of the Temple. 

Summary: All of the elements and structural parts of the temple are described with a strong emphasis on preparation and organization of material in performing the sacrifices. 

Promise: Each person has unique gifts to include in the service to God. 

Prayer: O God, there is order in sacrifice. There is preparation that you have shown me. I wonder if I take time to prepare myself in this way. Help me to stop and evaluate and not be in a rush, to take matters seriously. We do not have all of these elements today nor need them. Jesus you did much in preparing to be sacrificed for our sins. But even as I worship you regularly I can do much to prepare myself properly. Forgive me for rushing in and sitting down and starting without any time to prepare myself. I'm too focused sometimes on accomplishment and getting it done. I think again of my mom and the table she had in the house set aside for her time with You. I think of her chair that she had in the living room that was her and was set aside for praying and spending time with You each day. I am thankful for her great example. Slow me down Lord. Help me to think of others more and what they are doing in their service. Thank you for the time. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

I Samuel 13 - God Rejects Saul's Kingdom

I Samuel 13

And Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you." (verse 13-14)

Message: God Rejects Saul's Kingdom 

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: I thought I Samuel 12 was a great chapter. We are His people and we are to serve Him with all of our heart. That is, His people whom He has chosen. Now in this chapter, based upon the title, it seems Saul is going to not do this. 

Saul is 40 years old and will reign for 32 years (v.1 - though these #'s have been inferred for the original text does not say this exactly). When Saul went against the Ammonites and Nahash 300,000 mean had been present. In verse 2 it says he chose "3,000 men of Israel...and sent away the rest."

Back in I Samuel 9:16 when Saul was chosen by Samuel from God, it says "he shall deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines." But after taking 3,000 men, it is not he that goes against the Philistines, but his son Jonathan. But what the people heard throughout Israel was that Saul had done this (v.3-4). 

In response, "the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel (v. 5) in Michmash while Saul was in Gilgal." In response, "the people (of Israel) hid themselves. (v. 6)" Saul was to wait 7 days for Samuel (v.8). Saul though, it appears out of fear, did not want and did a burnt offering and peace offering and then Saul came to ask Samuel what he had done and Saul admitted not waiting and asking for the favor of the Lord and instead forced these offerings (v. 9-12). 

Samuel lets him know that he did not keep "the commandment of the Lord your God. (v.13)" Saul will not have a lasting dynasty. The number of men with Saul dwindled to 600 (v. 15). The Philistines came in 3 companies. No blacksmith was present so they went to the Philistines to sharpen their weapons and thus they had limited number of weapons (v.19-23). 

Note: This is quite harsh. Saul is given one opportunity and he fails and Samuel says the Lord will reject His kingdom. It almost seems like Saul gets nervous and takes matters into his own hands and tries to figure out himself what he is to do, making offerings. Saul most likely did not offer the sacrifices himself, but instead had a priest do this. Again, most likely he wanted to show himself ready and able, but he needed to listen to Samuel's direction. 

Summary: Saul is to wait 7 days for Samuel as the Philistines are approaching him in battle, but he does not and offers sacrifices himself, with the result that the Lord rejected Saul's kingdom. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "If we are in Christ, we cannot lose our salvation, but our disobedience can cause us to lose earthly blessings."

Prayer: Lord, I am thankful for the grace that you extend so often. And  yet as we encounter bad things in our lives often I wonder if it is because of our distrust and the consequences we see could be the result. In these texts, I am reminded how you are present in all of life, in every circumstance, in all that we do. You are there and we do need to take your commands seriously. I fear sometimes I do not. Just as I know how I should eat and the last 2 days after poor eating I have been impacted by discomfort, I need to walk near your ways. I thank you that my salvation is secure and when bad things to happen, keep me close to You and help me to continue to trust You.  

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 17:17-19 - God's Means of Sanctification

John 17:17-19

17 Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth. 18 As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 

Message: God's Mean's of Sanctification

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: Here is another request by Jesus in this prayer that he is offering for the disciples. He says, "Sanctify them in the truth." This idea of sanctification I feel like was already mentioned by Jesus in verse 11 when He prayed, "Holy Father, keep them in Thy name." The idea of keeping them and now also here in verse 17 to "Sanctify them in the truth" seem very similar. 

The difference between these two prayers is one is the idea of being kept in Thy name and the other to be kept or sanctified in the truth. To be sanctified is to be kept holy. I Thessalonians 4:3 links moral purity or freedom from lust and abstaining from sexual immorality. But here more particularly sanctification means we are set aside for a special use. But it goes further than moral purity.

Jesus explains further the meaning in verse 18, "I also have sent them into the world." So our sanctification is teased out and experienced further as we are sent out into the world to preach the gospel. But i still see a similarity in 'keeping' and 'sanctifying' as we go out and experience life, and work in spreading truth to our world. 

I know from previous verses that Jesus has mentioned the world is not fond of us. We are not people of the world (v. 14). The world hates us (v. 14). Yet, we are to be in the world (v. 18). What a sort of depressing array of tension this represents in life. It seems to be our relationship with the world right now is complaining about it more and talking about how bad it is, rather than going into it and being a voice to it. [Maybe this is what I share in class as well and find a way to look into the outreach idea of getting us involved more in our community. Iron sharpens iron sort of thinking.] 

I have been thinking of these words as I have been reading, but also wondering how they work together as I dive into my life. It is true that so much of my life is spent with people that are saved. That I spend free time with those friends that I have so much in common. I appreciate the online conversations for they help me continue to talk to others about spiritual matters, but I don't feel like I'm doing this much at work. For some, I have, and they are not very responsive. I've tried, but I've also stopped trying it would seem. 

Our prayer here is for those of us who are saved. But even in these words of prayers is a challenge to stay engaged with the world. 

One additional thought Jesus gives is in verse 19 when He says He will sanctify Himself. He says, "for their sakes I sanctify Myself." Who is "for their" - the disciples or possibly the world. Jesus is preparing to offer the ultimate sacrifice. And as Jesus does what He is going to do, He does it so "that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth." We are to be the benefactors of his sanctification. It is like the disciples purpose is to make other disciples. But we just fight against this so much because we desire so much to make our own lives better. 

For the disciple, sanctification was moving oneself further from a life of sin and closer to a life of living as Jesus lived. For Jesus, sanctification was offering his life for sin so that He could make us living our life for others. Yet, both in our sanctification and Jesus' - we are both in service to God, but the results are different. He sanctifies me so that I can be of service to Him and be of service to the Kingdom of God, which is the gathering of the saints for eternal life. 

And Jesus continues to have the goal of the life of the disciple. All of what He has been speaking in this book has been abut us - our eternal life - and our well being. But in our well being is also a work to benefit others. 

Summary: Jesus will offer himself for people, in obedience to God, so that we will be sanctified in truth to be set apart for Him and offer this truth to those in the world. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, we are equipped to go into the world as Jesus did, proclaiming the truth without compromise and calling people to repentance and faith. 

Prayer: Lord, what I notice more and more is my life in this world is training me a certain way. There is joy in this world, in living it and getting to know it and the joy of going places and experiencing other places, but Lord, I need to be careful to not simply be about this world and living according to its ways and forget the people in this world and how you came for them just as you came for me. Awaken me to this daily Lord. Retrain me. Thank you for praying for me - to be kept in Your word, to be sanctified, and to have joy. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.

John 13:2-11 - The Cleansing We Need

John 13:2-11

2 During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.

5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

Message: The Cleansing We Need

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."  

What the Lord is Saying: As I learned in the previous lesson and verse, the text is leading us up to the Passover. But first, feet washing by Jesus of the disciples. 

There are bookends of similar ideas for this text - Judas and his betrayal of Jesus. In verse 2 it says it is the devil that places that into the heart of Judas. But that placement had already occurred. Judas was on the scene here at the Passover already with the notion that he was not all in...and yet he was still in the room, still walking with the disciples, but still not all in. For Judas he had a love of money and so his heart was inclined in that direction and Satan then takes him all the way down the path to betrayal. What starts the betrayal - desire. Desires are not bad, but the problem here with Judas is his desire for money got him sidetracked from what matters most. Like the Rich Young Ruler who wanted eternal life, but could not give up his desire for money. 

I have wondered why Judas in betraying Jesus was necessary. But Judas is part of the process of Jesus being handed over to authorities to then be crucified (Mark 14:44-46). Despite Judas choosing that path, the path was necessary for what Jesus would accomplish. So there is seemingly free will, a choice by Judas, yet led by Satan and yet this choice is in the plan of Jesus going to the cross. There remains a tension, a question it would seem between free will and God's sovereignty. It remains a perplexing piece of life - whether we have in fact have free will. Remains hard for me to reconcile. Proverbs 16:33 - "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." Every moment gives the appearance we do, but then in outcomes I just don't know. Somehow there seems to be a connection between the two otherwise are we not all robots? I mean, why would we have so many commands in our Bible which give the suggestion we have a choice? [There are scientists and philosophers throughout history that don't believe we have free will; there are atheists identify with this as well calling it determinism. And yet throughout life we are held accountable to our choices, and this is agreed despite how one holds to this notion of will.]

Well, in continuing on in this passage Jesus is washing the disciples feet. Jesus has been showing His love - mostly in communicating to people that He and the Father are one, that the Father gives the Son a mission and salvation is found in God, found in Jesus. God is one. Jesus and God are one. And along the way He heals people and saves them from physical death and storms to exemplify His power to all. And yet He remains a servant. While King He is also servant. And so in washing their feet, He goes to the level of the common servant, washing people's feet before entering a home. Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” He reminds me of the importance of serving others. 

And Jesus connects himself to these disciples through the washing. 

But also here is a lesson of the need for regularly cleaning. "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." Jesus is surrendering Himself to the disciple, becoming low, becoming a servant. And then man (the disciples) yield to the will of the servant. This was the problem of Judas as he did not want to submit himself to the Lord. Peter initially did not want to either, but in hearing Jesus' words he was compelled and agreed. Judas had his feet washed, but his whole self had not been cleansed. Jesus points out that not all are clean before Him, completely clean, completely forgiven. The act of being forgiven is accepting the sacrifice of Jesus. 

This here is an example of faith. Jesus is showing his cards and showing his desire to cleanse people from their sin, but we must yield and surrender to Jesus and allow our feet to be washed. And so there is faith. There is trust. And it is through that act of surrendering that I become whole. 

And so there are two surrenders. Jesus sacrifices Himself and His position, but the disciple surrenders and allows himself to be washed, to be cleansed, realizing that the cleansing by Jesus is the best cleansing. The only cleansing we really need.

Summary: Most of the disciples surrendered themselves to the Servant King, Jesus, but one was unwilling to surrender himself and remained firm in his desire. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, I like this reminder -- When we are converted, we are decisively cleansed (our whole body) from sin such that we enjoy salvation permanently. Yet, Christians continue to sin and need cleansing of that sin (our feet).

Prayer: Lord, these words that I travel through continually are a joy to travel through and you continue to teach and illuminate me and challenge my thinking. I am forever trying to understand this world that you have placed me in and how I fit here and how you have designed things. I surrender to You and pray that I would continually do this each day. Thank you for making me clean and stain free before You. But don't let me get ahead of myself and not see that I need that forgiveness each day as I continue to sin and go in selfish directions. Cleanse people. And give us understanding continually of the work that You are doing in making people clean. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

Various Scripture - Difficult Teachings of Jesus

Luke 13:1-5

l Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And He answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered this fate? 3 I tell you, no, but, unless you repeat, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 

What the Lord is Saying: As I have read and studied these texts so far in John, I see that often Jesus is explaining something that is not immediately apparent, and yet as He explains the meaning it becomes apparent. Based upon uses of things in society, we are somewhat conditioned or trained to think of things a certain way. Some horrible acts have happened in history so where was God in these events? Luke 13:1 mentions Pilate attacking some worshipers and mixing their blood with the animal sacrifices they were offering. And then Jesus also mentions a nondeliberate act in which the tower in Siloam fell on 18 people, crushing them. Jesus responds then to people who think that the people did something wrong to merit this. Suffering and sickness may be due to a person's sin, but not always. These events are to wake us up to the need to repent and get ourselves right with God. This is what Jesus is saying in verse 5. 

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Matthew 24:36 - But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 

What the Lord is Saying: We are often focused on His return. We like figuring out the unknown, the discovery. And yet Jesus says, no one know, but how is that He includes Himself in this? We know Jesus lived fully man and fully God on this earth. His responses reveal this and this is one place where it seems His response to Him not knowing was Him speaking as a man. Much of what Jesus is trying to convey to people in the Gospels is that He has been sent from the Father to do the Father's will. And this is, in a way, another example. 

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Mark 11:12-14

12 And on the next day, when they ha departed from Bethany, He became hungry. 13 And seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And He answered and said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" His disciples were listening. 

What the Lord is Saying: How could a morally pure individual curse an innocent fig tree? Like the fig tree, the Jews were supposed to bear good fruit. However, in Jesus’ day, He could not find much spiritual fruit among the religious authorities and even many of the people (Mark 11:20–33; see Matt. 23). He cursed the fig tree to warn the people what would happen to them if they did not repent of their fruitlessness.

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Matthew 12:22-32 

22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. 23 All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

25 And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

30 He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

What the Lord is Saying: The unforgivable sin has troubled many. Blasphemy is a sin involving words, against God. The problem was the Pharisees were thinking that Jesus was acting by the devil. Thus, they were committing blasphemy, attributing sinful acts to God. Jesus was trying to prevent the Pharisees from carrying out this sin. We must all be careful of our intent toward God. 

John 1:16-18 - The Full and Final Revelation of God

John 1:16-18

16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Message: The Full and Final Revelation of God

Time: Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."

What the Lord is Saying: As I have been studying, John bore witness of Jesus and was His forerunner, preparing the way. We are all to be like John the Baptist and bear testimony of Him. In building off of the previous lesson, "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory." Through Jesus or by way of Jesus we see the glory of God. 

In verse 16, "For of His fullness we have all received." It parallels Paul's words in Colossians 2:9, "In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily; and ye are complete in Him (NKJV)." This is a remarkable statement that Jesus dwells all the fulness of the Godhead. Again, this is a clear declaration that Jesus possesses all that God possesses. And so in receiving Jesus (v. 12) we all receive God. What amazing words these are and what a clear connection there is here of God and Jesus. 

I love reading from Alexander Maclaren's and his words on this passage are great:

• for this is the very centre and heart of Christianity, that in Him who is Christianity God is not merely made known, but given; not merely beheld, but possessed.
• Christ is more than all His gifts. All His gifts are treasured up in Him and inseparable from Him. We get Jesus Christ Himself.

John says that we all receive "grace upon grace." From Tabletalk, "Interestingly, this phrase may be better translated “grace instead of grace,” suggesting the exchange of one kind of “lesser” grace, for “greater” grace." The greater grace is the grace of the New Covenant. Grace was present in the old Covenant. In the sacrificial system of the altar of the burnt offerings there were repeated sacrifices and then annually through the atonement; thus, we received a substitute for our sins. This was a form of grace for even in the sacrifice grace was imparted to people through the suffering of another: an animal. Man even in that situation was made right with God through no part of his own. But now in Jesus the grace is greater because it is once and for all. It is complete and never has to be repeated. Thus, John is mentioning the promise and the sacrifice of Jesus which to this point has not occurred but had occurred at the time of John's writing. 

What a wonderful statement and idea this is that I had not put together previously. Even the Mosaic Law had grace. It speaks to the consistency of scripture. The message of the Bible is the same from Old to New Covenant, Old to New Testament. Grace went form annual to everlasting. As stated in verse 17, "grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ." What a powerful statement. 

And even more clearly - "No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained." In Jesus we know God. Only Jesus. Exodus 33:20, "But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” No one can see God and live and so with Jesus, in Jesus we see the fullness, the glory, all that God is. 

Summary: All that we know of God we have in Christ. His grace is everlasting and greater than repeated annually. 

Promise: Let us rejoice to be partakers of the new covenant and look to Christ for the fullest revelation of God.

Prayer: O Father God, you are glorious and your message is complete and penetrates my entire being. I have such reverence and fear of God and yet Jesus it clearly states in Your word that the fullness of God is found in You. Thank you for the consistency of your scripture and how grace is interwoven throughout the Bible. Lord, may the clarity of Your Word shine forth into people's lives. May you pull the blinders off of people and remove any obstacles. We want to behold You and You alone. All truth is complete in You. 

I Chronicles 16:28-34 - Ascribing Glory to God

I Chronicles 16:28-34

28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;

Bring an offering, and come before Him;

Worship the Lord in holy array.

30 Tremble before Him, all the earth;

Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”

32 Let the sea roar, and all it contains;

Let the field exult, and all that is in it.

33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord;

For He is coming to judge the earth.

34 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Message: Ascribing Glory to God

Time: 1 Chronicles has a mystery writer and focuses on David's reign though doesn't repeat David's sin with Bathsheba. It was written in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah or 538-333 BC while the Jews were dispersed throughout Persia, some having returned from Israel. The book lists genealogies, priests, Levites, armies, temple officials, and other leaders of various ministries and devotes significant attention to proper worship of Yahweh and adherence to the regulations of the Law. It focuses on obedience that results in God’s blessing, the priority of the temple and priesthood, and the unconditional promises to the house of David.

What the Lord is Saying: "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him." To ascribe is to attribute something to. A part of our purpose as His followers, His children is for me to identify glory due His name. It is to bring an offering before Him, which for me today, is to bring myself as a living sacrifice. 

Romans 12:1-2 - Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

I am to come before God unfettered or unrestrained or with no association to anything else. 

“How is the body to become a sacrifice? Let thine eye look upon no evil thing, and it hath become a sacrifice; let thy tongue speak nothing filthy, and it hath become an offering; let thy hand do no lawless deed, and it hath become a whole burnt offering. But this is not enough, we must do good works also; let the hand do alms, the mouth bless them that despitefully use us, and the ear find leisure evermore for the hearing of Scripture. For sacrifice can be made only of that which is clean; sacrifice is a first fruit of other actions. Let us, then, from our hands, and feet, and mouth, and all our other members, yield a first fruit unto God” (St. John Chrysostom - 347-407 AD)

When I pray, I often close with the request to give glory to God, in everything I say, in everything I do. This is the plea of me. My goal is to live in such a way that I should never have to apologize. For me, it is to have patience when people are talking and to not hope that they would not talk anymore. It is to accept people's words without inside thinking, "I'll show them." I am finding that there is a lot of patience in doing good. It is serving my wife, my father, without wishing I didn't have to serve him. It is also to do all of these things without complaining, without making fun of him behind his back. It is speaking always with the idea that the person I am speaking about is in front of me, hearing what I am saying. O God, so much of how I live and breathe and operate is thinking I am holy and yet speaking in a dishonoring way about others. And then it is also doing. It is calling Scott when I think about it versus just continuing to bury those thoughts. I think of telling people that I don't respond to them when I am busy. Does this busy including sitting in front of the TV for multiple hours watching TV? Last night I told my oldest son something that he did not find welcome, but at least I voiced it without just speaking about him behind his back. 

This is how I am to live, because I want to give glory to God. I am not to live like this with the motivation of gaining acceptance by God. 

James 1:16-17 -- Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

This is how I am to live. It is not simply showing up at a service and lifting my hands up to show I am praising God. It is that, but so much more. 

Summary: In the way I live - speak, look, act - my life is to ascribe to God the glory due Him. 

Promise: We do not design worship for unbelievers but for the glory of God and the edification of His people.

Prayer: O Lord, how wicked I am and holy that You are. For me to truly give glory to You, I must yield my entire life to You. I want to do this. I will fail, but I have a goal to glorify You in all I do and say which includes my thoughts. Lord you deserve this and I pray my life is honoring to You. 

I Peter 2:9 - God's Royal Priesthood

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him, who has called you of darkness into His marvelous light. 

Message: God's Royal Priesthood

Time: Peter wrote to a group of people that probably included Jews and Christians at the time of probably AD 64, as the persecution of Christians by Nero was ramping up. It is thought Peter spent his final years in Rome. Peter calls people to root themselves in the perseverance and presence of Christ. 

What the Lord is Saying: The last 2 lessons have emphasized the principle of having a mediator. The old covenant had a priest, a person designated by God to be the mediator between God and man for the purpose of offering sacrifices and atoning for sin and entering the Holiest of Holies. But then in Christ, God provided atonement for all sin through the One that was fully man and yet equal with God. 

But, is it necessary to have these two distinct groups still - those that are deemed ordinary Christians while others are truly Spiritual Christians? There are distinctions for people have different roles, but another thing that happened 500 years ago in 1517 was this move to think of people at the same level spiritual, no matter their vocation. Thus, a laypersons service to God is equal to a ministers service to God. A layperson has the same access to God as a minister. 

The phrase that has come to describe this is "the priesthood of all believers" and is rooted in I Peter 2:9. 

I Peter 2:9 is a quote from Exodus 19:6 which states, "...and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." This text is part of what we refer to now as the Mosaic Covenant. It is a conditional covenant which followed the unconditional Abrahamic covenant. That covenant established God's blessing on His people. The Mosaic covenant is God's expectation for His people. Works follows blessing is an important distinction. The Mosaic covenant established the Law of God, judgments and the governance of Law so that people knew how to approach God. The Abrahamic Covenant established that God will make Israel a great nation and would bless them and make them great to all the families of the earth. 

I Peter starts as a message in verse "to those who reside as aliens." Peter is speaking to all people set apart for the service of God - Jew and Gentile. And it is to these people that are attributed now the role of priests. We are all a royal priesthood. We are "choice and precious in the sight of God" in verse 4. And "built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood" in verse 5. And then culminates in verse 9 as "a chosen race." Chosen from all the peoples of the earth (Amos 3:2). 

What is our sacrifice? Ourselves. Romans 12:1 - "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual services of worship." We proclaim His excellence, each of us, all of us. All of our lives are a service to Him: as neighbors, in our vocations, in our families. All Christians are alike. 

Summary: There is no distinction among believers. We are all a chosen race and all set apart as priests to proclaim the excellence of Him. 

Promise: No matter what you are called to do in life, God honors your service when you seek to love Him and other people through your work. 

Prayer: O Lord, as I read your word more and more, I see consistency and a God that has never changed. You have called people to be yours and we are all to serve you in the same way. Thank you for choosing. I pray that my life is a praise to You and is a life that does proclaim You. I pray that it is acceptable to You. I believe it is, not because of me, but because of Christ and His work in life and on the cross. What makes me acceptable to you is not my deeds but the forgiveness of my sin and then in response I live for You. Give me that strength and help me to continue to live for You each day I am on this earth. 

Leviticus 8 - The Old Covenant Priesthood

Leviticus 8, specifically verses 12 and 13 - "Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to consecrate him. Next Moses had Aaron's sons come near and clothed them with tunics, and girded them with sashes, and bound caps on them, just as the Lord had commanded Moses." 

Message: The Old Covenant Priesthood

Time: There is sufficient evidence that Moses penned Exodus and Leviticus including references to Leviticus by New Testament authors. Its name means "pertaining to the Levites" and its purpose was to instruct the Israelites on right living and proper worship. The most likely time for this is 1446 BC. The book communicates that receiving God’s forgiveness and acceptance should be followed by holy living and spiritual growth.

What the Lord is Saying: Our fundamental need of having a right relationship to our Creator - 

• Forgiveness of sins (Romans 3:21-26)
• Imputation of Christ's righteousness; justification (Romans 3:21-26)
• Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31)
• The Holy Spirit to regenerate us (John 3:1-8)

Our pathway to achieve these is having a mediator in order that we will be rightly related to God, approved by Him and accepted into His kingdom. It in Jesus that our sins are forgiven, that we are justified or made right with God and the Holy Spirit, who is God, regenerates us. 

In the Old Testament, the Messiah was anticipated and people in their daily lives saw a type or foreshadowing of the Messiah through the old covenant priest. The priest is mentioned often in the Old Testament as one who is set apart for service. The priest is commissioned via the anointing of oil, through offering sacrifice and even by receiving special clothing. Perhaps baptism, confession and being born again sets us apart today in these ways. The priest must be set apart because only he was able to enter the inner parts of the tabernacle to offer sacrifices to cover people's sins. The priest was the go-between man and God. And only the high priest could enter the holy of holies and once a year, the day of atonement.

The priest enabled the people to worship the Lord. And yet there was still this separation as ordinary people could not enter the Holy of Holies and the service of the priests was distinct or separate from other people's service to the Lord. 

Yet, it is important to recognize this history. This reminds me the importance of sin and it's seriousness in our lives and yet how we do not have the means on our own to be made right with God. We need someone else to provide this for us. In the old covenant, it was provided by the priest through sacrifices and entering into the holiest presence of God. Throughout the history man has not been able to absolve his own sins. He has needed someone else to do this. 

Summary: God has always provided a substitute and a mediator between God and man to reconcile us (Priests, Jesus). Man sins. God provides the way for righteousness. 

Promise: We have no need for earthly priests today. Christ is our mediator. We study the old covenant revelation to better understand the work of Christ. 

Prayer: O Lord, thank you for the consistency of Your Word and showing me the place of a mediator you have always provided to remove sin and make me righteous. It was a priest in Old Covenant time and it is Jesus today and for always. There is nothing that man does to make himself holy and yet you want us to be a people that obeys you because You are a God to be obeyed. You are Holy and we need to rightly obey You. Thank you for these lessons and reminders from your Word. 

Luke 22:14-20 - The Lord's Supper Commanded

Luke 22:14-20 - 14 When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood."

Message: The Lord's Supper Commanded

Time: The Gospel according to Luke was probably the last Synoptic Gospel to be written, thus penned around 60 AD. The words salvation are in Luke, though not in Matthew and Mark. Luke, a gentile physician, wrote more than any other NT writer, writing primarily of redemptive history.

What the Lord is Saying: The other sacrament that the Reformers ask us to practice is the Lord's Supper. In this passage - Luke 22 - Jesus builds a bridge between the Passover and the Lord's Supper much in the same way that Paul showed a bridge between circumcision and baptism. Thus, part of understanding the Lord's Supper is understanding the Passover, which most Jews of that day understood, but I admit I need reminders and so I will look a this meaning further in future lessons. 

Verse 15 of the text today mentions that Jesus earnestly desired to have this Passover meal with his disciples. To me it conveys much of the mission of Jesus and that was to have a relationship with people and to impart to them the truth of Gospel, desiring for all people to be saved. Jesus is on a journey that he knows and that others will understand soon enough. He has mentioned his death several times prior and before he dies he has a great desire to spend this time with his disciples. Perhaps in a way it also communicates the importance of this gathering. We are to be a people that gather's together in community often and Jesus understands this and wants this for Him and for us. Jesus is on a mission to preach the Gospel but also to show people the Love of God. He wants to be with us. 

For Jesus, in these passages, are remarks that this is His Last Supper. The Kingdom of God is coming. This again being the salvation of God's people. His sacrifice on the cross. It is coming. He speaks of the signs of His sacrifice, His body, and His blood - bread and drink.

As with baptism, with the Lord's Supper. there seems to be more there than meets the eye. Meaning, what we see happening and what we are practicing seems to have a bigger meeting than simply having water over us or taking bread and wine. A connection is taking place between us and Jesus. Water cleanses us. Jesus cleanses us. Bread and wine nourish us. Jesus will provide for us his love and sacrifice. In baptism there is a union with Christ. In the Lord's Supper there is also a union but also an important remembrance of his body and blood sacrifice. 

Summary: The Lord's Supper has significance in light of the Passover. We are united with Christ and remember His Body and Blood Sacrifice. 

Promise: As we partake of the Lord's Supper, we should think on what the elements represent and ask the Lord to make us grateful for saving us. 

Prayer: God, you instituted these observances because of Your great love for us, for me. Too often Lord I gloss over them or do them without much thought. Yet, Lord, there is deep significance in their practice and so help me Lord to take them more seriously and help me to be more grateful in remembering the great sacrifice you made for me. I love Your truth, but I admit at times I don't celebrate it like I know I should. I thank You for the relationship You want with Me and I want that with others and to continue to rediscover You. Give meaning to me as I study these words in the coming days about this sacrament. 

Romans 12:1 - Living Sacrifices in Worship

Romans 12:1 

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship.

Message: Living Sacrifices in Worship

Time: Paul route to Rome, the city has never visited, from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57. The rights to a church that he believes needed to hear basic Gospel doctrine. The city was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idolatry. 

What the Lord is Saying:

One of the interesting subjects of the Bible is tying together the idea of sacrifices in the Old Testament to Jesus our eternal and permanent sacrifice in the New Testament. The idea has been mentioned before that the Old Testament in looking to Christ and now we are looking back. Yet, sacrifices were present and a part of worship, going to the temple, and atoning for sins. My brother recently in his Bible Study Fellowship lesson summarized the covenants for me. He said:

• The Abrahamic Covenant was unilateral and unconditional meaning God is going to bless no matter what. 
• Genesis 12:2-3 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 
• The Moses covenant is bilateral and conditional says, You do this and God will do that.
• Deuteronomy 4:1 - "Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you." 
• The Davidic Covenant is unilateral and unconditional which means God is going to bless no matter what. 
• 2 Samuel 7:12,16 -- "When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever."
• The New Covenant is unilateral and unconditional which means God is going to bless no matter what. 
• Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
• What these covenants show: 
• God desires to bring blessing. 
• People can't perfectly keep covenants. 
• God always keeps covenants. 
• Messiah Jesus fulfills covenants.

Though we do know sacrifices ceased under the New Covenant, there still is a little bit of mystery as to why the story was set up like it was - starting with Old Covenant sacrifices leading up to New Testament Jesus as the permanent sacrifice, once for all. It is a little hard for me to put together, the raising of animals, the killing of animals. It is probably harder to recognize today given the way we have been trained to treat animals and many of us still eat meat today and so sacrificing animals for our pallet continues today. 

But that idea also makes today's passage even more meaningful. In an animal sacrifice, the life of the animal is taken and removed and given completely to God. In the verse today it is mentioned - "to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice." This seems to take on the same idea as Galatians 5:24 -- "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." We remain living but we put to death our flesh, our bodies. The principle seems clear. The application seems a little difficult. Maybe I get caught up in how to do this completely. It is a surrender of myself and a surrender of to God to trust in what He provides. "All to Jesus I surrender" is the hymn. 

Leviticus 1:3 reminds me that the offering offered was without defect -- "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord."

Here is a great quote from St. Chrysostom (347-407) -- 

“How is the body to become a sacrifice? Let thine eye look upon no evil thing, and it hath become a sacrifice; let thy tongue speak nothing filthy, and it hath become an offering; let thy hand do no lawless deed, and it hath become a whole burnt offering. But this is not enough, we must do good works also; let the hand do alms, the mouth bless them that despitefully use us, and the ear find leisure evermore for the hearing of Scripture. For sacrifice can be made only of that which is clean; sacrifice is a first fruit of other actions. Let us, then, from our hands, and feet, and mouth, and all our other members, yield a first fruit unto God”

I love that quote because it puts the sacrifice to action. It changes our course and means that I make sure at all times my words and deeds glorify God.  

Summary: A living sacrifice in worship is to give God all of me, to give him my best and this means I turn from doing those things that don't honor him in any way. 

Promise: We must seek Him half-heartedly. Instead we are to give Him the very best of ourselves, not to atone for our sin or to merit our forgiveness but to thank Him for saving us, for giving us a purpose, and for calling us into service. 

Prayer: O God, I want to surrender to you today and give you all of me. Lord, make me clean to start so that as I go forward the slate is clean and I can be brand new in glorifying You and doing Your will. 

My Utmost for His Highest - June 16th - What Do You Make of This?

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. - John 15:13, 15

    Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him. Peter said — “I will lay down my life for Thy sake,” and he meant it; his sense of the heroic was magnificent. It would be a bad thing to be incapable of making such a declaration as Peter made; the sense of our duty is only realized by our sense of the heroic. Has the Lord ever asked you — “Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake? (John 13:38)” It is far easier to die than to lay down the life day in and day out with the sense of the high calling. We are not made for brilliant moments, but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways. There was only one brilliant moment in the life of Jesus, and that was on the Mount of Transfiguration; then He emptied Himself the second time of His glory, and came down into the demon-possessed valley (see Mark 9:1-29). For thirty-three years Jesus laid out His life to do the will of His Father, and, John says, “we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (I John 3:16)” It is contrary to human nature to do it.

    If I am a friend of Jesus, I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for Him. It is difficult, and thank God it is difficult. Salvation is easy because it cost God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult. God saves a man and endues him with the Holy Spirit, and then says in effect — “Now work it out, be loyal to Me, whilst the nature of things round about you would make you disloyal.” “I have called you friends.” Stand loyal to your Friend, and remember that His honour is at stake in your bodily life.

 - From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

My Utmost for His Highest - June 8th - What Next?

Determine to know more than others.  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. - John 13:17

    If you do not cut the moorings, God will have to break them by a storm and send you out. Launch all on God, go out on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and you will get your eyes open. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the smooth waters just inside the harbor bar, full of delight, but always moored; you have to get out through the harbor bar into the great deeps of God and begin to know for yourself, begin to have spiritual discernment.

    When you know you should do a thing, and do it, immediately you know more. Revise where you have become stodgy spiritually, and you will find it goes back to a point where there was something you knew you should do, but you did not do it because there seemed no immediate call to, and now you have no perception, no discernment; at a time of crisis you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-possessed. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to go on knowing. 

    The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you work up occasions to sacrifice yourself; ardour is mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfill your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is a great deal better to fulfill the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. "To obey is better than sacrifice. (I Samuel 15:22)" Beware of harking back to what you were once when God wants you to be something you have never been. "If any man will do . . . he shall know. (John 7:17)" 

 - From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

My thoughts

Moorings - Lines that tie you to the dock. Don't stay in the safe place and never out on the water. Get out to the depths. Don't pause when told by God to do something. Don't plan on doing things for God; let God instruct you daily and then follow Him to do it. Knowing more is trusting more and doing more. 

Hebrews 2:17 - Christ Our Priest

Hebrews 2:17

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 

Message: Christ Our Priest

Time: The authorship of this book is shrouded in mystery, though its Jewish composition can still nail down its authorship to AD 64-69, as the book does not mention the destruction of the temple in AD 70. It has references to Jewish customs and the Old Testament, so most likely was sent to a Jewish community.  

What the Lord is Saying: 

Charles Swindoll states that "Hebrews clearly lays out the present priestly ministry of Christ in the life of the believer. Jesus is both the divine Son of God and completely human, and in His priestly role He clears the way for human beings to approach the Father in heaven through prayer."

Only chapter 1, 10, 11, and 13 do not mention this role of priest of Jesus in Hebrews. 

My study so far has been of Christ Alone as the one who saves us. I've looked at His attributes, His work or obedience, and now have shifted to His titles - as our Prophet and now our Priest. The priest is a title that meant a great deal to the Jewish community for a high priest acted as a representative on earth of God. They brought sacrifices to cover sin and it is interesting the Catholic Church carried on this role in similar ways. The Day of Atonement was one of the most significant days as annually it represented the cleansing of people - to maintain the covenant relationship between the Israelites and the Lord. 

Even up to the time of the Reformation this office of Priest was one of the stark identifiers in what Martin Luther saw as a problem with the Roman Catholic church - that man needed a go-between to get to God or be absolved of sin. What is a mystery is how the priests role continues to institute or give the idea that the priest must receive penance and be the intercessor between God and Man. For me, God remains a mystery in many people's lives so they are looking for any type of authority to help them understand God and so the Priest becomes that authority and what we do then is listen to whatever the person has to say. 

The Westminster Shorter Catechism written in 1646 and 1647 states, "Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us (WSC 25)." In today's text, Jesus is made like his brothers in all things, so God becomes a man and lives as a man. So that he might become a merciful and high priest - the problem with the continuous role of priest is the priest offers something temporary. Old covenant priests repeated their sacrifices annually, by replacing the penalty of sin with the blood of an animal. The practice was to retrieve an unblemished animal, so to find an animal that is as perfect as possible and this blood atoned for sin. The Messiah is one that releases people from captivity. Man is captive to his flesh and because of this will always be imperfect. Jesus as Messiah releases man by offering Himself and offers a perfect version of man - one without sin. Thus, Jesus is our High Priest. I'm not sure people think that the priest today is meant to replace Jesus, but it gives that impression. Why would we continue to use someone like a priest that is not all sufficient?  

Promise: Jesus cannot fail to save the elect. He offers true atonement for sin. Jesus through His sacrifice regained for men and women a relationship with God. 

Prayer: Lord, it saddens me to see how you are misunderstood in our world, but I suppose this is what happens when eyes are blinded to the truth and it is apparent. It is hard to be part of a remnant at times for the majority is what we often want to be about. But the reality is, as we work and live in our world, we as Christians are a minority and what we think and believe about life and living and salvation is somewhat unique. I pray that the message of the Gospel would penetrate people's lives and for those you place in my place, you would help me be a conduit of information for the truth of who You are. Thank you for using me in the way you have, for even using this blog to help communicate to others. Help me to continue to be a light to those in need. Be glorified always. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of May is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

- The Divine Nature of Christ, The Human Nature of Christ, Jesus the Last Adam, Jesus the True Israel, Jesus the Messiah, Obedience in Childhood, Obedience in Baptism, Obedience in Temptation, Obedience under the Law, Obedience in Suffering, Christ Our Prophet, Christ the Priest

The Man Who Pioneered Faith - Abraham, The Friend of God, Charles Swindoll Bible Study Guide

The Man Who Pioneered Faith

This Abraham study is about him being a friend of God. And it begins talking of Abram as being a pioneer of faith. His life was one of faith and simplicity. Colossians 2:6 -- Therefore as you have received (by faith) Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him (by faith). “Walk by faith, not by sight” the song goes. What does this look like? I trust Jesus Christ by faith. Faith is to trust or believe in God. This is simple and should be simple in our lives. Our lives begin in Christ with simplicity. 

I saw this text: Psalm 37:1-5: 

Do not fret because of evildoers,

Be not envious toward wrongdoers.

For they will wither quickly like the grass

And fade like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord and do good;

Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the Lord;

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

Let my life be about faith and living by faith and cultivating a life of faithfulness. 

Prayer: Oh Lord, I got started today on a journey with you and Abraham and his life to better understand you and better understand my life with You. I pray that my life is lived by faith. Help this to transcend me and in turn, help me to encourage others - here at home, online, everywhere. But I want to live by faith. And I want to know what this means each day to live a life by faith. 

The point is made that ‘faith expands understanding.’ God gave Abram promises - 

Now the Lord said to Abram,

“Go forth from your country,

And from your relatives

And from your father’s house,

To the land which I will show you; 

And I will make you a great nation,

And I will bless you,

And make your name great;

And so you shall be a blessing;

And I will bless those who bless you,

And the one who curses you I will curse.

And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” [Genesis 12:1-3]

Abram followed God before the promises seemed attainable. He followed. He loved the promise of land, but he loved more the promise of an heir. He didn’t know how it would occur as Sarai was barren. He thought it might be his servant that would be the heir, but God corrected him and said it would be “one who shall come forth from your own body.”

Prayer: Lord, I do want to follow You first. Not follow then wait for rewards. Let’s face it, you have already given me so much. 

Children follow - with a simplicity. Jesus made mention of this - “unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Abraham (“father of a multitude”) and Sarah (“princess”) seem to have this type of faith - throughout their lives. They would have a son, Isaac (“he laughs”) after God promises to them. 

Q: In whom or in what are you placing your trust? 

• It is supposed to be ‘in God’ but it feels more likely that my trust wallows back and forth between wanting to be in God and more likely in His blessings. I wonder if that is the same thing. At times, it is, but am I only happy and content if I have what I need and want? If I am in want - am i still trusting? 

Q: And what kind of eternal dividend will that investment yield? 

• The eternal dividend of trust in God yields peace with God and life with Him. Heaven should not be a surprise but should echo the life I am living now toward God. 

The faith that Abraham displayed in offering his son as a burnt offering, only to be stopped by the angel of the Lord prior, is a faith that very few have duplicated. One is the appearance of an audible intercession by the Lord that I do not encounter today. The other is sometimes not feeling like I experience these kind of tests. But also Abraham, while following God, anticipated God to intercede - so he seemed to anticipate God interceding. 

Encoutering death is something Abraham did when Sarah died and then he prepared for his own death. 

Q: How would I respond if I was told I had very little time to live? 

• I would want my family to be prepared for my passing. To be ready to go on without me. 

Q: If this was my last day, how would I live it? 

• Saying goodbye to those I have loved and have loved me. 

The Life of Abraham - Genesis 11-25

11 - Terah is his Abram’s father; Abram takes Sarai as wife and they settle in Haran with Terah and Sarai

12:1-3 - Abrahamic Covenant - “a great nation, I will bless you, and all the families shall be blessed.” Abram departs from Haran (w/ Lot - his nephew) at age 75 - possibly in Southern Turkey and now Harran and arrives in Shechem - 14 hours drive south of Harran today; Lord “I will give you this land” and Abram built an altar, then he went to Mountain east of Bethel, then to Negev; then to Egypt.

12:11-20 Encounters Pharaoh and misleads him, saying Sarai (beautiful) is his sister, leading to the Lord striking plagues onto Pharaoh, and his men escorted them away; Pharaoh, tho he does not follow God knows the plagues are from God. 

13:1-14 - They leave Egypt (w/ Lot) to the Negev, b/w Bethel and AI - Lot and Abram each had lots of flocks, herds, tents and so they decide it is best to separate for the land cannot sustain them both - Lot goes east to Sodom (valley of Jordan); Abraham settled in Canaan

13:15-18 - Lord says, “Look, all that you see is for you and your descendants” and he went to Hebron and built an altar

14:1-12 - Lot is removed,  he and his possessions, from Sodom; Abram rescues Lot

14:17-24 king of Salem, Melchizedek, blesses Abram; Abram takes nothing in return

15:1-5 - Abram receives a message from God through a vision; Eliezer, his servant will not be his heir, but one born of him. Your descendants will be counted like the stars. 

15:6-11 - Abram believe in the Lord and He reckoned to him as righteousness

15:12-15 - Your descendants will be strangers, enslaved and oppressed 400 years, but God will judge the nation they serve and they will come out with many possessions; Abram will live a long life.

15:18 - Lord made a covenant with Abram - “i have given this land to your descandants”

16:2 - Sarai tells Abram to go into Hagar (maid) to obtain children, 10 years after living in Canaan

16:5 - strife exists now b/w Sarai and Hagar

16:9-12 - Angel says to Hagar, “Return to Sarai and submit to her and I will greatly multiple your descendants. Your child will be called Ishmael. He will live to the east.”

16:16 - Abram is 86

17:1 - Abram is 99

17:2-8 - The Lord gives covenants to Abram - “I will multiply you exceedingly” and “You shall be the father of a multitude of nations.” Your name is now Abraham which means father of a multitude. “I will make you exceedingly fruitful” and “I will make nations of you” and “kings shall come forth from you” and “everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants” and “I will give you and your descendants the land of Canaan” 

17:9-14 - The Lord says, “You shall keep My covenant”; “You shall be circumcised as a sign of the covenant” and this includes servants

17:15-27 - Sarai is now Sarah (princess) and I will give you a son by her and bless her and Abraham laughed as he wondered how this would happen to Sarah who is 90. Lord said, “his name will be Isaac and I will also establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” Ishmael will be blessed and made fruitful and become the father of 12 princes. BUT, my covenant will be with Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised himself, and all in his household.  

18:1-15 - Three appear before Abraham, thought to be 2 men and the Lord and Abraham prepares food for them. They are looking for Sarah to tell her that a son will be born to her at this time next year. Sarah laughs at this and then denies it for “Is anything too difficult for the Lord” is what is said

18:16-33 - Abraham intercedes for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and with God he sort of bargains for the fate of those in the city stating that if there are 50, then 40, then 30, then 20, even 10 righteous ones in all the city, then all the city will be spared. Before this God said that he is going their to decide the fate of those in the City. 

19:1-29 - 2 angels come to Sodom, and Lot welcomes them into his home, but the men of the City want those men in order to have relations with them. Lot pleads with them to not act in this evil manner, even offering his virgin daughters, but they insist. The angels intercede and strike these wicked men with blindness and then ask Lot to gather him and his family to spare them for the Lord has sent these men to destroy this city because of its wickedness. The angels say to Lot and his family to escape to the mountain, but Lot bargains with them and asks instead to go to the town of Zoar. Fire and brimstone then fell on Sodom and Gomorrah. After being told to not look back, Lot’s wife does indeed look back, and became a pillar of salt. It is said that God remembered Abraham in allowing Lot and his family to live.

19:30-38 - Lot’s daughters think that there are no men left to have children so they get their father drunk and lie with him in order to preserve the family. The first born gives birth to Moab (father of Moabites) and the younger to Ben-ammi (father of the sons of Ammon).

20 - Abraham goes to land of Negev, then to Gerar where he comes up king Abimelech and once again says Sarah is his sister. The Lord spoke to Abimelech and he called Abraham wondering why he would say this to him. Abraham thought there was no fear of God in this place and would kill him. Following this Abimelech gave Abraham sheep, oxen, male and female servants. Previously, having been made barren Abimelech’s wife because of this incident, Abraham intereceds for Abimelech and his wife and maids now bore children. 

21 - 3 things happen in this chapter. First, the birth of Isaac is mentioned and Sarah laughs because she and Abraham have bore children at an old age. Second, she sees Hagar, the mother of the child that was bore with Abraham and she wants Hagar to leave, stating that the offspring blessing is now reserved for Isaac. But the Lord says that while Hagar needs to leave, her offspring will still be blessed. So she leaves. Third, a treat is made between Abimelech and Abraham. Abimelech is the leader of the army and a covenant between him and Abraham is established. There is an episode of his servants seizing water from a well, but Abraham provides an offering for this it would seem to provide a sign that all is well between he and Abimelech. 

22 - This is the story of the offering of Isaac whereby God calls thim to make this offering. He must journey several days to the place of the offering, taking his son, a donkey and servants, and wood. The son wonders what the sacrifice will be and Isaac assures him that an offering will be provided. He leaves the servants once he arrives at the place and just as he is ready to slaughter his own son, God intercedes and perhaps Abraham hears the lesson that was needed hear - that Abraham is willing to forsake all for following the Lord. Immediately, a ram instead is provided for the sacrifice and Abraham builds an altar saying, “God will provide” and remains living in Beersheba. At the end fo the chapter, the offsprings of Abraham’s brothers is mentioned. 

23 - This chapter is about the burial place for Sarah, who has died at the age of 127. Abraham mourns for her, but spends time picking a burial place that is then promised to Abraham as a burial place. It is a cave.

24 - Abraham tells his servant where they are to go to find a wife for Isaac. After a long journey, and wanting to make a right decision, Abraham’s servant says that upon a woman coming who says to him, “Let down your jar that I may drink” will be the one. Immediately, Rachel appears and provides her jug for the servant to drink from. Rebekah had a brother Laban who provides a place to rest for Abraham’s servant. Rachel is a daughter of one of Abraham’s brothers - Nahor. Nahor hesitates in letting Rebekah go back with the servant, asking for her to stay 10 days, but then asks Rebekah and she says it is fine, so Rebekah then leaves and arrives at home and upon seeing Isaac in the field they are immediately wed. 

25 - After Sarah’s passing, Abraham takes another wife, Keturah and has more children. Abraham lived to the age of 175. Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave that I believe Sarah was also. 

Can I identify some of the struggles that Abraham faced? What is going on in my life right now and what struggles am I facing? 

Abraham: The life and times of Abraham is from age 75 to 175. Much of that is written about Abraham isn’t necessarily what he experiences but what others experience around him (Lot, Sarah, his servant) and besides this God bestows on Abram great gifts and providence. I suppose Abraham is challenged to listen to God and do what he says in offering his son Isaac. He also can’t believe that he can enter a town without lying. So he struggles with lying at times. He also sees his friends struggling and intercedes for them (christians living in Sodom and Gomorrah). He also has a wife that tells him to do a sin and he goes along with it.  

Me: So far my Christian life has been from 14 to 52. In that time one of the big things I’ve struggled with is anger. And I’ve also noticed I struggle with feeling a need to please others. And also feeling like I am never doing enough. In my walk with God, I often struggle wondering what more I can do. I feel that like God has provided me with alot and I’m not sure I’m taking care of others the way I need to do; so like Abraham what am I doing with the gifts He provides. The Lord will provide and does provide. I know I do good things and people tell me so, but still I wonder.