Old Testament
1. Sabbath is for rest.
2. Purification offerings..."to purify the people of Israel from their sins, making them right with the Lord once each year."
3.Making sacrifices on your own, without the priests or th
4. "...for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible."
- Blood given in exchange for life, for purification- the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the clothing of Adam and Eve. A blood sacrifice is required to "get right" with God, to get back ito relationship...to keep us from being separated.
5. Forbidden sexual practices. Does it not seem incredible that God has to list so many ways not to have sex? Incest, homosexuality, bestiality. These practices were apparently the norm in Canaan.
6. Why is God making all these rules?
- We need to realize that God was acting to train and to discipline His people. He was working with them, to give them a sense of their own identity as His people: to help them realize constantly the privilege- and responsibility- of fellowship with Him.
- There was a tremendous danger that these people would forget their God. Sinai demonstrated how quickly and easily they forgot. Now, however, He begins to establish a pattern for daily life in Israel, so that it was almost impossible to forget God...almost.
- Each meal served was a reminder. The presence of priests were reminders. The Sabbath was a weekly reminder; the festivals were annual reminders. He is trying to constantly remind them of their special relationship with Him.
New Testament
7. The faith of a Gentile woman
- What's happening here?
- The disciples, the crowds and the Pharisees had seen Jesus' miracles and had heard His teaching, and still held back. They would not eat this spiritual food spread so generously on their tables. But this woman had believed! Driven by her need, she came to Jesus and acknowledged Him as "Lord." She knew He could healand expected Him to be gracious even though she had no claim on His grace.
- This is the key. We must recognize Jesus as Lord. We must come to Him, recognizing that we have no claim on His grace, but expexting Him to be gracious. When we do, Jesus Himself will heal our diseased hearts and bring new life.
8. Jesus heals the deaf man
- This same Jesus changes out hearts and opens our spiritual senses. Those who come to Him with faith, acknowledging Him to be Lord, will be spiritually healed and made truly well.
9. Jesus feed the 4,000
Psalm
10. "Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!"
- This isn't just about money. It's about poor in finances certainly, but also about the poor in spirit. Do we reach out to help the poor in spirit? Those who have lost their way? Depressed? Hurting? Confused? Are we a shining beacon to help guide them back home? Or do we hide our light?
11. "All who hate me whisper about me, imagining the worst." Do you whisper or gossip about others? Do you listen? Do you laugh?
12. "You have preserved my life because I am innocent; you have brought me into your presence forever."
- The Lord preserves us, because He wants us to return to His presence...to relationship.
Proverbs
13. "The earnings of the godly enhance their lives..." and the lives of others.
See you next post...
Showing posts with label blood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blood. Show all posts
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Exodus 4-5:21; Matthew 18:1-20; Psalm 22:19-31; Proverbs 5:15-21 (New Living Translation)
Today I invited members of my Sunday School class to join me in this year-long journey through the bible.
Old Testament text
1. Three miraculous signs will confirm that Moses is indeed sent from God.
- The rod becoming a snake, and then returning to it's original state. Moses needed no spells or incantations. This power is from God.
- The hand itself. Placed into his bosom healthy, pulling it out diseased. The diseased hand has the appearance of leprosy. To the Israelites this is a sign of impurity. The greater meaning is that the people have become leprous (unclean), polluted by sin, but by being taken into the bosom of Moses they would be cleansed and purified. This was also a sign to Moses that he did not work these miracles alone.
-Turning the water of the Nile to blood. The blood is a sign to the Israelites. In contrast to the plagues for the Egyptians.
2. Moses continues to make excuses. God continues to to answer his concerns. Finally, God becomes angry with him. To balance Moses' weaknesses He reminds him of His own power. He encourages him that He will be with him. And God "modifies" the plan, and now Aaron is to be his spokesman.
3. Moses finally gathers up his family and heads for Egypt.
4. He in instructed to show the Pharaoh the miraculous signs. He is warned that this will not be easy. "I...will stiffen his heart.
5. Then he is to say to Pharaoh..."Thus sayeth the Lord..."
6. His reference to Israel as His first-born is a reflection of God's special attachment to Israel. He states that He will destroy the first-born of the Egyptians. This has to do with an ancient view of family as a unit. Children received reward and punishment based on their parent's behavior.
7. Then we have this strange little story about the Lord wanting to kill Moses. The motive for God's attack is unclear. Is it that he hadn't taken care of his family responsibilities? He had not circumcised his son. This was an old tradition. Zipporah takes an active role in saving her husband's life.
8. The first encounter with Pharaoh. The plagues and defeats of the Egyptians may be viewed as God's answer to Pharaoh's contemptuous question, "Who is the Lord?"
9. Moses and Aaron ask for e few days off to go to worship God...lest He strike us. This is an argument that the Pharaoh can understand. He would also believe that failure to worship a deity would lead to punishment.
10. This doesn't go well. The Pharaoh uses a counter-argument. If we let the Israelites go for several days, who's going to do the work. Everything will grind to a halt. That's why we have slaves! In fact, the Pharaoh calls them lazy. So, punishment the Israelites won't be given straw for their brickmaking. Now in addition to making the bricks, they'll have to go out and get the supplies they need. And...the brick-making quota will remain the same!
New Testament text
11. The disciples are having and unbecoming discussion about which of them will be greater in the kingdom. Jesus gives them and unexpected lesson in humility, and faith.
12. He calls little children to him.
- Seeking greatness, the disciples must humble themselves, as one of the little ones who "believe in Me."
- When He called the people of Israel, they stood off in the distance reserving judgment. When Jesus called the child to Him, the child responded immediately. The child accepted Jesus' invitation at once. Greatness comes only when we humble ourselves to trustingly respond to God's call.
13. He expresses concern for "little ones". I don't think Jesus is talking only about children. I think He's talking about all who respond to His invitation and put their trust in Him
14. Parable of the sheep...
- In our fallen state, we stray like lost sheep.
- The Great Shepherd, Christ, looks for us tirelessly. When He finds us, He is joyful.
- Though the flock (of believers) is great, our Shepard misses any one that is lost.
- "It is not the will of the Father, that one of these little ones should perish." This care extends to all members of the flock, even the mean ones.
15. Jesus changes the focus, a little...
- Little ones are sheep- but little ones are also brothers.
- Jesus talks about how to approach each other for correction. Amazingly, it doesn't say anything about discussing it behind their back.
- Temptations to sin come to all of us. The intrusion of sin into our life causes us to want to break fellowship. Jesus is saying, I think , that our sin, failing and shortcoming should not destroy our family unity.
- If two or three are gathered...who come together in the name of Christ.
Psalm
15. I will praise You in great assemblies
Proverbs
16. Solomon, having shown the great evil in adultery and fornication, now offers remedies against them.
17. Enjoy the comforts of lawful marriage
18. The Lord sees everything...let the fear of God rule your heart
Old Testament text
1. Three miraculous signs will confirm that Moses is indeed sent from God.
- The rod becoming a snake, and then returning to it's original state. Moses needed no spells or incantations. This power is from God.
- The hand itself. Placed into his bosom healthy, pulling it out diseased. The diseased hand has the appearance of leprosy. To the Israelites this is a sign of impurity. The greater meaning is that the people have become leprous (unclean), polluted by sin, but by being taken into the bosom of Moses they would be cleansed and purified. This was also a sign to Moses that he did not work these miracles alone.
-Turning the water of the Nile to blood. The blood is a sign to the Israelites. In contrast to the plagues for the Egyptians.
2. Moses continues to make excuses. God continues to to answer his concerns. Finally, God becomes angry with him. To balance Moses' weaknesses He reminds him of His own power. He encourages him that He will be with him. And God "modifies" the plan, and now Aaron is to be his spokesman.
3. Moses finally gathers up his family and heads for Egypt.
4. He in instructed to show the Pharaoh the miraculous signs. He is warned that this will not be easy. "I...will stiffen his heart.
5. Then he is to say to Pharaoh..."Thus sayeth the Lord..."
6. His reference to Israel as His first-born is a reflection of God's special attachment to Israel. He states that He will destroy the first-born of the Egyptians. This has to do with an ancient view of family as a unit. Children received reward and punishment based on their parent's behavior.
7. Then we have this strange little story about the Lord wanting to kill Moses. The motive for God's attack is unclear. Is it that he hadn't taken care of his family responsibilities? He had not circumcised his son. This was an old tradition. Zipporah takes an active role in saving her husband's life.
8. The first encounter with Pharaoh. The plagues and defeats of the Egyptians may be viewed as God's answer to Pharaoh's contemptuous question, "Who is the Lord?"
9. Moses and Aaron ask for e few days off to go to worship God...lest He strike us. This is an argument that the Pharaoh can understand. He would also believe that failure to worship a deity would lead to punishment.
10. This doesn't go well. The Pharaoh uses a counter-argument. If we let the Israelites go for several days, who's going to do the work. Everything will grind to a halt. That's why we have slaves! In fact, the Pharaoh calls them lazy. So, punishment the Israelites won't be given straw for their brickmaking. Now in addition to making the bricks, they'll have to go out and get the supplies they need. And...the brick-making quota will remain the same!
New Testament text
11. The disciples are having and unbecoming discussion about which of them will be greater in the kingdom. Jesus gives them and unexpected lesson in humility, and faith.
12. He calls little children to him.
- Seeking greatness, the disciples must humble themselves, as one of the little ones who "believe in Me."
- When He called the people of Israel, they stood off in the distance reserving judgment. When Jesus called the child to Him, the child responded immediately. The child accepted Jesus' invitation at once. Greatness comes only when we humble ourselves to trustingly respond to God's call.
13. He expresses concern for "little ones". I don't think Jesus is talking only about children. I think He's talking about all who respond to His invitation and put their trust in Him
14. Parable of the sheep...
- In our fallen state, we stray like lost sheep.
- The Great Shepherd, Christ, looks for us tirelessly. When He finds us, He is joyful.
- Though the flock (of believers) is great, our Shepard misses any one that is lost.
- "It is not the will of the Father, that one of these little ones should perish." This care extends to all members of the flock, even the mean ones.
15. Jesus changes the focus, a little...
- Little ones are sheep- but little ones are also brothers.
- Jesus talks about how to approach each other for correction. Amazingly, it doesn't say anything about discussing it behind their back.
- Temptations to sin come to all of us. The intrusion of sin into our life causes us to want to break fellowship. Jesus is saying, I think , that our sin, failing and shortcoming should not destroy our family unity.
- If two or three are gathered...who come together in the name of Christ.
Psalm
15. I will praise You in great assemblies
Proverbs
16. Solomon, having shown the great evil in adultery and fornication, now offers remedies against them.
17. Enjoy the comforts of lawful marriage
18. The Lord sees everything...let the fear of God rule your heart
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