The Prophets: Introduction

These are notes from the introduction of C. Hassell Bullock's book on OT prophets.

Bullock asserts he will take a chronological/timeline approach to studying the prophets to better reveal the
"cultural, theological, and historical interrelationships." I'm a fan of this method--it's what I tend to do when teaching literature in general.

The prophets were not "silos" but viewed themselves as part of a larger prophetic community.  Some drew on each other more than others, although they do not reference each other directly.

The prophets emerged in times of crisis in clusters.  Three main clusters:

Neo-Assyrian Era

before the fall of the Northern Kingdom in 722 BC

Amos, Hosea, Micah, and Isaiah

Jonah peripherally connected---reluctantly witnessed God's mercy.

Neo-Babylonian Era

Fall of Southern Kingdom in 586 BC

Zephaniah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Nahum, Ezekiel, Obadiah 

The prophets of the Northern Kingdom were viewed to be the main source of reform as opposed to the Northern kings. In the South, it was the opposite--the kings initiated reform--esp. Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah. 

The only literary prophets (those whose witness manifest itself primarily through written scripture) the author of the book of Kings acknowledges directly are Jonah & Isaisah

The Prophets: Joel

 I'm trying to find the correct chronological path into the prophets this week, just having finished a long season in Kings and Chronicles.  Somehow I was expecting more chronological clarity that I'm finding.  On the internet, you'll find a host of different dates and orders.

I'm weary of this type of fine print after sifting all the kings of Israel and Judah---so many J's, Jeroboams and name changes to keep up with.  Desiring to move forward before I despair too much, I'm starting with Joel.

The Morningstar Christian Chapel Archives has no messages directly connected to the book of Joel, nor does this blog. At three chapters, it's a wisp of a prophecy, and I'll do my best to lay out some guidance and understanding here--to keep me straight primarily.

Joel:

What I learned from Intro to "The Book of Joel" Christopher Scott

Historical context: 5 major prophets, 12 minor

722 BC Northern Kingdom of Israel conquered by Assyria

Three waves of Babylonian invasion, 586 BC is last wave.

Persians conquer Babylonians, Cyrus of Persia allows Jews back 

538 BC Zerubbabel  

458 BC Ezra 7-10

444 BC Nehemiah

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Author:  Joel, father was from Judah, the South, writing to Judah

Audience:

Date: Two main ones

835-796 BC Weirsby

516 BC C. Hassell Bullock, Chisolm

Outline

Chapter 1: The Immediate Day of the Lord

Chapter 2: The Immanent Day of the Lord

The Ultimate Day of the Lord Chapter 2:28-end

Key Verse: Chapter 2:12-13  tear your hearts not your clothing

Key Theme: Day of the Lord

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I just went ahead and ordered: An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophetic Books by C. Hassell Bullock.  He was recommended in Christopher Scott's video, and this book looks scholarly but readable, a good way to anchor my studies of the prophets.

Bullock was a professor at Wheaton before retiring and seems to have solid credentials.  More once I get the book.

As Bullock dates Joel much later, I may pause and begin to read his introduction from this book on Google books until the book arrives.

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1 Timothy 1: Reading Notes

My paraphrase from NKJ, NLT, 

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Paul identifies himself as appointed by God and Christ.

In the greeting, he describes Timothy as a true son in the faith.

He recaps that he told him to stay in Ephesus to combat incorrect teaching that leads to talking about pointless theories, sideways energy, in contrast to teaching that furthers God's plan, teaching that is practical, strengthening, and in faith.

Types of teaching he identifies as meaningless: discussions of myths and spiritual pedigrees.  

Paul says that "on point" teaching focuses on love that comes from a pure heart, clean conscience, and authentic faith.

Some have wandered from this into unproductive talk. They want to teach the law and do so with an air of competency, but they don't understand what they are asserting to be true.

The law is good if used correctly.  It was made for the lawless, not for those making the right choices.

Some of the lawlessness listed: those who do not distinguish between holy and base, liars, perjurers, fornicators, sodomites, murderers, kidnappers, slave traders, and anything else contrary to sound doctrine.   According to the gospel committed in trust to Paul.

Paul thanks Christ for putting him into the ministry and giving him the power to do his work.

Admits he was a blasphemer, persecutor, insolent man, but was given mercy because he did this in ignorance.

But Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom he is the head.  He is also a prime display for the patience of God for him, as an illustration to those believing in Christ for everlasting life.

All honor goes to God who lasts forever and is invisible.

Paul commits this order to Timothy, in light of prior prophecies made about him, that with these in mind he might battle for good, with faith and a clean conscience which some have rejected.

Don't go against your conscience or it may wreck your faith.

Paul identifies Hymenaeus and Alexander as persons he's given over to Satan, that they might learn not to  slander God. 

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Lord, will only a few be saved?

Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail." Luke 13:22-24

When reading this exchange, the narrow door has been prominent in my mind. Until this morning, I didn't think of the question, whether it was a good or fair one, or what the intent of the person asking. My bible commentaries mostly frame it with that perspective and have opened up a new way to think about it for me:

Do they not but too plainly perceive that it is something, which they have no disposition to do, and is not this the secret of their fault-finding? -W. Nevins, D. D.

***

Silence of Scripture on irrelevant questions

Thus, a Government sends forth a colonist; hut gives him just information enough to enable him to perform his particular work. A general charges an inferior officer with a special duty; but here, too, there is silence as to whatever does not belong to this duty. To enlarge the official directions given in either case, so as to include all the knowledge the superior may possess, would perplex the agent and withdraw his attention from that which concerned his work to that which did not concern it. And if we are to expect such silence in a parent’s dealings with a child, and in a Government’s dealing with a subaltern, how much more reason have we to expect it in the dealings of God with man! God knows all things, and endures from eternity to eternity! Man comes into the world knowing nothing, lives at the best a life which endures for a few years, and in this short life is charged with the momentous work of preparing for the eternity to come. Silence, then, on all irrelevant questions is what we would expect in the revelation of an all-wise God, and of the irrelevancy He is the sole Judge. -Biblical Illustrator

***

Since, then, God is just, He will make none miserable farther than they deserve; since He is good, He will both pardon and reward in such degree as is fit; and since He is wise, what appears disorder and confusion to our short sight will appear in the end perfect regularity and proportion. But why was our nature formed so liable to fall short of it, in the sad degree that we often do? -BI

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REFUSE TO GRATIFY THE QUERIST’S CURIOSITY, AND RETURN AN ANSWER ENTIRELY PRACTICAL that it was not the business of mankind to pry into what God had hid, but mind what He had revealed, and to master another kind of difficulty, that of fulfilling His commands; that multitudes indeed, who professed religion, would finally appear to have professed it in vain. -BI

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The number of the saved

A natural question to any one who thinks seriously of the destiny of human life.

1. Probably prompted in this instance merely by curiosity. This Jew, educated from childhood under a creed in which the most rigid aspects of the doctrine of election were taught, came to Christ in the hope that he might get some authoritative statement of the mystery of predestination from this One whom he regarded as a prophet of God. Christ replies, “Strive,” &c. Whether there be few or many saved is no business of yours; what you have to do is to make your own calling and election sure; that cannot be accomplished by indulging in idle speculations about other people, but by struggling yourself with your whole energy, to enter into and be within the narrow door that leads to salvation. Not easy work, but difficult; not a question about your opinions, but a question of action. Agonize as wrestler, and be content with nothing but admittance.

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THE SPECULATIVE TENDENCY OF THE MIND IS ANOTHER BROAD ROAD TO FORMALISM. The philosophic formalist is like a man standing on the bank of a stream, whose passage is his only salvation; but he has no thought of crossing. He is engaged in calmly trying the depth of the channel at different points. He surveys the scenery of the opposite shore with a critical eye. He measures the swiftness of the current, and carefully estimates its force per cubic foot. He notes the colour and density of the water, and asks with considerable interest about how many make the crossing safely. All this information he shuts away in his note-book, and seems rather well content with the result. It would seem farcical if it were not sadly true that multitudes of men and women, in our own day, imagine this to be religion; or more exactly, they live and die in the hope that through these processes of inquiry they are drawing nearer to a rational faith. The progress of the intellectual formalist is a sheer delusion, tie only circles round and round the holy mystery. He is ever learning, but never coming to a knowledge of the truth.

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3. The gate is not only one gate, and narrow, but a deadly effort is required to pass it. Strive to enter in. A better word would be “agonize.” Agonize to enter in at the strait gate. -J. B. Clark.

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agōnizomai

ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee

From G73; to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or generally (to endeavor to accomplish something): - fight, labor fervently, strive.

Total KJV occurrences: 7

--Strongs

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Thayer Definition:

1) to enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games

2) to contend with adversaries, fight

3) metaphorically to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers

4) to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something

--Thayer

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Strive

Used only by Luke and Paul, except Joh_18:36. Originally to contend for a prize in the public games; and thus conveying a sense of struggle. The kindred noun, ἀγωνία, agony, is used of Christ's struggle in Gethsemane (Luk_22:44). Compare 1Ti_6:12; 2Ti_4:7. -Vincent's Word Studies

Me: No surprise here--agonize is very much a Paul-sounding word. Faith is a verb that requires engagement, struggle, agony. Looking through the Timothy passages, it lends evidence to Paul as the author.

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Many fail to find their gate because they are looking for the grandly difficult rather than the humbly difficult. -T. T. Lynch.

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Or take the account which the Scriptures give of what a Christian ought to practise. Is it not a constant warfare, a continual effort, to mortify the flesh, to renounce the world, and to resist the devil? It is when we fail, to renew the contest; when we faint, to recover strength; when we succeed, still to press forward; to seek ever more and more excellent gifts; and to run as in a race, every day of our lives, unto the very hour of death, that we may win the prize. Is this a hard saying? Is this view of our duty as Christians difficult and discouraging? It may be so. But the question is not whether it be a difficult one, but whether it be the true one. Could it be the true one, unless it were difficult? Could any view of the way to be saved be correct, unless it pointed to a narrow path, to a strait gate, and bid us strive, in order to enter in? -C. Girdlestone, M.A.

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Lessons:

1. Christ ever raised the practical above the theoretical. So should we.

2. Christ ever raised the spiritual above the secular. So should we.

3. Christ ever raised the substance above the form.

4. Christ here reveals the reason of men’s aversion to true godliness.

5. Christ here plainly declares the irretrievable misery to which such aversion inevitably leads. (D. C. Hughes, M. A.)

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Would He address such language as this to the sinner if there were no difficulties in his way, or if He expected to remove them all Himself? By no means. The truth is, God does not propose to take one of these difficulties out of the way. He simply offers to help the sinner to overcome them.

1 Timothy Background

 Pastoral Epistles:

1 Timothy

2nd Timothy

Titus

sometimes Philemon

"They are generally discussed as a group (sometimes with the addition of the Epistle to Philemon) and are given the title pastoral because they are addressed to individuals with pastoral oversight of churches and discuss issues of Christian living, doctrine and leadership" -Wikipedia

A more satisfactory solution is to assume that the Pastorals do not fit within the Book of Acts at all, but rather describe a period after the end of Acts. The Book of Acts ends with Paul in jail in Rome (a.d. 61-62). Surely if Paul was executed at the end of his imprisonment, Luke would have mentioned it. On the other hand, it is entirely credible that Paul could have been released (a.d. 62), perhaps for lack of evidence, and left free for another period of ministry. According to this supposition (which is all it can ever be), Paul traveled widely from a.d. 62 to 67 and was eventually recaptured, tried, and executed in Rome in 67. During this period of travel he would have written 1 Timothy and Titus, and during his final imprisonment, 2 Timothy. If this scenario is correct then one ought not expect the Pastorals to fit into the chronology of Acts, which ends with his first Roman imprisonment, and the historical arguments against the Pastorals’ authenticity lose their force.-bkc

Furthermore such studies completely overlook the fact that different subject matter, different experiences, advancing age, changes in environment and companions, different recipients and purposes - all these and more affect a writer’s vocabulary.-bkc

Mid-November Reflection

 I'm still following this plan that I began earlier this year---maybe January?  Honestly, I can't recall. I'm entering August, even though it's mid-November, but I've learned to let the Spirit dictate my pace rather than the calendar.  I'm okay with slow, even though I like to know I'm making progress.

I felt like I was in Kings & Chronicles forever---always so much to keep up with in those books, so many J names and bad kings, so many cycles of tearing down idols and repairing the temple only to leave "the high places" often untouched. Then the next generation undoes what the prior had accomplished.  In many ways, it's like Judges.  Or our political system.  It reminds me of Ecclesiastes too---Solomon knew the deal.

So, this is where I am today:

Because I've worked through Kings & Chronicles separately, I've encountered all the history twice. I'm still not done.  To keep me on track and record my learnings, I've made a Google slides document that I fiddle with each day.  It helps me keep it straight, focused, intelligible.

I still have much to do before leaving it.  Jack Abeelen recently preached through these books, and I need to listen to those messages and integrate all four books in this slide document. It's a healthy discipline for me, cementing and refining the details and lessons, but it will continue to be a devotional commitment that takes time.

Then I can begin to think about the prophets---all of them--within their proper historical context.  I'm looking forward to this part...hoping that the pursuit will give me better context and understanding. All insight comes from the Lord, just like everything else, but our minds and hands need to be faithful to the pursuit as well.

In the meanwhile, I'm excited to move into "August" and some new New Testament--looking forward to the T's and more Luke.  I really like the slow pace through the gospels---just enough to tuck away for one day and turn over.

1 Chronicles

My notes listening to Jack Abeelen on 1 Chronicles

Babylonian captivity--606 BC to 536 BC, 70 years total

Chronicles adds to the historical account of this time, official records.

God gives us the large view at times, then comes back and gives us specific lessons.

Deuteronomy is an interpretation and application of the law after 40 years of wilderness experience.

Focus:
1) lineage of  God--from Adam to David to Jesus, generational, watch the way the Lord fulfilled His promise
2) God's covenants--temple, meeting, worship of God

1 Chronicles-emphasis on David
2 Chronicles--emphasis on David's posterity

Chapters 1-10

At the end, historically we'll be at Ezra and Nehemiah, though he's recently covered those, so will jump to Revelation.

Best to read the prophets when going through this history.

  

The 1st Letter to the Thessalonians 4

Notes from Jack Abeelen:

Context

Paul's ministry in Europe began towards the end of his second missionary journey when the Lord called him with his team to go there. And to be honest, it didn't go well early on.  He landed in Philippi. There were some folks that did get saved, but it ended up in false imprisonment and beating. Then Paul went down the road and ended up in this town. He spent only three weeks in Thessalonica.  He did see fruit of the gospel being taught, but then crowds came, and there was a riot.  He ended up in Berea and they followed him there, did the same thing. Months later he would be in Corinth when we would send Timothy from Athens, but he heard from him when he was in Corinth, and  he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica. Paul didn't expect much. But when Timothy did come back, he had tremendously good news.  The church was doing more than well--it was excelling. All of Macedonia had heard of the Lord through this fellowship. And Paul couldn't be happier; it was such a boost to his discouragement.  So he sends this first letter to thank Lord for what He did and to encourage these saints in their walk with the Lord.

This was a tough place, a place where it was okay to kill Christians. Despite this, God was doing a work. Paul talks a lot about the Lord coming back amid his words of encouragement to them.  Every chapter ends with that.

"One final word, friends. We ask you—urge is more like it—that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance." 1 Th 4:1 MSG

These last few chapters are about literally about sanctification.

Sanctification---to be holy. It means to be dedicated to one use.   Example: If you go to a picnic and you pick a cup and put your name on it--set aside.  It's yours, specifically. Positional sanctification--done deal once you believe. God opened his heart and He received the thief on the cross. Bu if you live beyond your salvation date, you need to be practically sanctified---only means that you start to become who you are--your are God's child, He lives in you. He begins to make the changes He wants to make. You increase in holiness. God has more of you day by day. These chapters are interested in this.

First eight verses were about immorality--temple prostitutes were a part of life and these folks were used to it. The world changes its views and morality oftentimes is found on a sliding scale. But God's ways don't change. So Paul talked about how they could overcome in Christ the immortality around them.

In 9-12, Paul focuses on their example. The more mundane things. You may think this doesn't sound very spiritual but the Lord puts get emphasis on it.  There is tremendous power in being a practical witness in this life to the unbeliever. 

Walking in love yes, but also in the consistent behavior in the life of a believer. We can be a stumbling block or a help, just in the way that we live our lives.  One of the results of being saved is that your life becomes a living example of His presence, of His will.  Especially when you look at Christians behaviors in terms of relationships, or honesty, or compassion, or dependability. The world is watching, and they want to see what you claim to have. 

What do the people around you think of the Lord because of you and your behavior? What impression are you leaving? Behavior is a witness. Old saying: what you are doing is speaking so loud, I can't hear what you are saying. What influence do we have? God's desire that your spiritual relationship with Him can adorn your daily behavior.  You can't leave God out of the life He's wanting you to involve Him with.  

Our daily witness is our daily life. 

God wants balance in our life spiritually.  Not all about prophecy and the future--today matters too. Sometimes our relationships are just with the church, but you can't ignore the world.  Most of the extremes miss God's best. Satan's plan is always to drive you to the edges because that's where you are least effective.  Jesus in John 17, asks God to sanctify us--not take us out of the world, in it but not of it, but sanctify  them, set apart in Your truth.  This is the same message. We are in it, not of it. Salt and light. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 5:9--when God told you to stay away from the sexually immoral, he was talking about believers, not the world.

His love in our lives is the hallmark of His work in us. Creation is moved by nature. Dogs don't have to be taught to bark. Nature most often determines behavior. When you get saved, the Holy Spirit comes into your life and you begin to take on the nature of God. 2 Peter--God makes us partakers of His divine nature by which we've escaped the corruption of the world.  He begins to show Himself in your life. There's no way to separate God from HIs presence from you--He's going to make himself known.  Hope will never disappoint you because His love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit."

The world knows selfish love...what you can get out of it for yourself, also reciprocal love, but the unconditional love, that comes from the cross.  Only the Lord can produce this.

The longer you know God, the more you will love Him.

Romans 5  "God demonstrates his love to us while we were yet sinners."

"Let brotherly love continue..." Aspire to live a quiet life, mind your own business, live properly toward those on the outside...Aspire---make it a goal, sanctification.  You'll reach the lost, you will lack nothing (provide for your own needs).  

Aspire to live a quiet--without strife, don't draw attention to yourself. Don't be "the loud guy." We are never called to be involved in disorder or riot.  With the kind of weirdness of action that draws attention to us and not to the Lord. The kind of radicalism we sometimes thing is effective doesn't necessarily add to our testimony but can ruin it. As our lives are changed, it will be seen by others. Faith is radical enough. You don't have to practice your faith in a way that begins to push people away.

When Timothy took over the church in Ephesus. It's the practical kinds of things---it's all kinds of spiritual.  Because it affects the vessel God is using.

Live an unobtrusive life. We can do some pretty strange things and call it useful to the Lord.  Just don't be a weirdo.  Jesus saves weirdos, but He doesn't use them. The gospel is offensive enough, don't you add to it. Faith can make you stupid in that regard.

Mind your own business. Don't be a busy body. No one ever gets in trouble minding their own business.  Trouble comes when you step outside that restraint, and you put your nose where it doesn't belong. Look, that's a pretty good trait of an unbeliever. The world is all about self and opinions. It is certainly the impetus behind the whole blogging and social media world is about now...putting your two two cents in. 

Christian tale-bearing is tale bearing still. We love carrying the story. Athenians loved to tell something new, their whole life comprised of hearing and telling something new. But the Lord is looking for a quietness and an integrity in His people. The world is looking for this in us too, but when they don't see it in us...they keep going.

Go to work. Haggai, Zephaniah, Amos, Paul---they all worked hard while maintaining ministry to the Lord.  Today Christians often have an ethic of doing the least possible and getting the most in return.  There are few worse witnesses than a job poorly done claiming to know the Lord.  God made you to work. Whatever You do, do it heartily unto the Lord and not to men. 

If someone doesn't provide for his own, your own household, you are worse than an unbeliever.---Paul

If you don't work, you don't eat. Any action of your faith that makes me have to pay for your faith is not faith. If you are going to walk out in faith, then stand in faith.

v. 12 Walk in such a way that you would have a proper way toward the unbeliever. Live in a honest, decent way to the lost. By so doing, the lost will see Jesus in you.

If you'll adopt these things in a sanctified kind of way, you'll lack nothing. God will provide then--it's His will and His way. How does God feed the birds? He gives them strong wings, good eyes, ability to swoop in and capture prey.

Walk in wisdom to those outside, that you redeem the time. Non-believers are watching--what does that God that you say you love do for you?

Sanctification has to be practical, it has to be seen. 

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Introduction from Jack Abeelen

 Jack Abeelen--Morningstar Christian Chapel, September 27, 2020 The Birth of a Church!

Written by Paul first, within 20 years of Christ's ascension. 

Paul on his 2nd missionary journey with Silas determined he would go back and revisit churches he had planted in hopes of strengthening them.  After this, not sure where to go.  Sought to go to Asia (Turkey), but he kept running into a blockade of sort by the Holy Spirit--not told what stopped him, just HS behind it.  Ended up Troas--had vision/dream of a man in Macedonia saying come visit us.  Acts 16. Birth of first church in Europe. Focuses on conversion of three individuals:

1. Lydia of Thyatira, successful woman of business, met believers outside on river on the Sabbath. She became center of church at Philippi.

2. Woman possessed by devil told fortunes for her masters for $. Paul delivered her, masters went to authorities who arrested them and beat them, then threw them in prison. They sang worship songs. God sent earthquake.

3. Jailer converted and his family, Paul went back. Authorities realized they had beat a Roman citizen. They begged them to leave city....travelled and stopped at two other cities but finally ended up in Thessalonica. 

Thessalonica on the  Ignatian highway (Roman east to west highway). Preached for three Sabbath days in a row (three weeks). Acts 17-- a of people listened, especially Greek proselytes. Orthodox leaders got angry---hired people to cause disturbance--they run out of town, 50 miles to Beria, then they ministered there for awhile but then they came down and chased him out again.

Leaves Beria under threat of death, gets on boat, travels to Athens (intellectuals at Mars Hill) then Corinth...in a perverse town, Corinth, by himself. Doesn't have friends with him...arrives discouraged.  Didn't do any ministry at Corinth at all, sat on his hands, finally Timothy and Silas he was encouraged to go back to work, the Lord appears to him here and then he goes back to work for the next year and a half.

Concerned about Thessalonica during this time.  He sends Silas in one direction and Timothy back to Thessalonica. Wanted to know what was going on in Thessalonica.  Paul had made tents while there.

Timothy comes back and reports the church is thriving. Paul's so thrilled that he writes these epistles with great relief. Chapter 3:7--in all of our affliction and in all of our distress, we are comforted by your faith.

Six words to describe the Church in this chapter: elect, engaged

1) Elect--ecclesia means "called out," collectively not primarily a social organization, it's a living kind of spiritual organism that people have been called out of darkness and into light.  The church is not of the world spiritually; they've been called out of it in Christ. 

Our position in Christ never changes.  With regard to the issue of election, Jack says the Bible teaches both.  The lost are never referred to with the word "election" (would be cruel), but it is taught to the believer.

The Bible teaches both election and free will.  Two sided sign in Heaven--

1) side before entering: "Whosoever will let him come and drink freely of the river of life. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. -- Rev. 22:17 

2) once inside, notice that other side says "Chosen in Him before the foundations of the world."

It's an assurance to the elect. Election is a comfort, an assurance, to the believer and to Paul.  You are the chosen ones now.

If ever in doubt about God choosing and you choosing. Absolutes that can ground you:

*God desires all men to be saved.

* Man will be responsible for the choices he makes and give answers to the Lord.

God's actions in term of election are always rooted in his foreknowledge--because he's God, he can look ahead and pave the way for You.

He rejoices in the death of the saints and not for the lost.

Tells us to go out into the world and preach to all---

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You can't diminish the importance of intercessory prayer in the Bible. He's a busy man but he's always praying. Who do you pray for regularly on their behalf? Paul is praying for all of them.

2) Engaged.  He sees outward evidence, had seen works of faith. They carried with them the fruit of knowing the Lord. "It came with power, assurance."

Proof for Paul says "I saw your labors of love."  labor---means wear yourself out.

Unsaved people live for themselves.  Saved people begin to care about others.

They are driven by their love of the Lord to serve consistently.

If faith stirs you, then the love of Jesus drives you. Love doesn't usually have a limit...not by sacrifice or cost.

Paul says he saw they had "endurance of hope"  --patience is driven by hope.  

Horrible place to try and plant a church or be the church. They had quite a testimony. Think of it---only three weeks there and they left, then Thessalonica was entirely a work of God, had OT, no Bible studies, etc. They were the work of God and His Spirit.

He mentions he came to Corinth not with mere words, but with power that their faith would be in God not man's words. 

Elaine Chestnut bio--beggar with acid injury---no one would step up for a skin graft.  She operated on herself.  This is the love of God. Paul preached his faith, but lived it first.

3) Examples. v 6 1Th 1:6  "You became imitators of us and [through us] of the Lord" How wonderful when hearers become doers. "So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia." 1Th 1:7

Copy what you've seen. Who do you look up to? Who looks up to you?

Tribulation brings out what's inside.  The Thessalonians had endured in a way that they became examples, leaving their imprint.  Later Paul says "there's nobody like them."

4) Enthusiastic "Your faith in God has gone out"  don't have to say a thing. "Has sounded out" Went from receiving to transmitting...The prudent thing would have been to shut up and stay silent (because of persecution),  but they spoke out.

1Th 1:8  For the word of the Lord has resounded from you and has echoed [like thunder], not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place [the news of] your [great] faith in God has spread, so that we never need to say anything about it. 

5) Evangelistic in approach--reached beyond where they are living.

6) Expectant people.  v 9 "But they themselves declare...and to wait for his son..." Turned from their childhood idolatry to Jesus. Keep your focus on the Lord's coming, present tense. Be hopeful.

Bible Commentaries

I'm curious to learn more about the Bible commentaries I use.  My favorites from past and present are 

1) Bible Knowledge Commentary--gives context, solid, most helpful utilitarian one, my "go to"

1) (tied) TSK Cross Reference/Vincent's Word Studies--although not true commentaries, they allow me to "check" this Bible against itself. Gold.

2) Alexander MacLaren (wordy but beautiful)

3) Matthew Henry--he's really behind Biblical Illustrator now in terms of use---I went to him heavily for years, also wordy and beautiful, but I haven't used him as much in recent years, voluminous

4) Biblical Illustrator--a sort of mash up of his favorites, many older, sometimes beautiful, often too wordy

Ones I try but all get mixed up in my mind.....trying to learn more and sort them out:

JFB---This one volume commentary was prepared by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown and published in 1871.  Amazon:

With its scholarly insights, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's Commentary is to verse-by-verse exposition what the venerable Matthew Henry's Commentary is to devotional-style commentaries

who hear the word of God and do it." 

Colossians

 Here are the highlights from my time in Colossians--as a way of consolidating and thinking over this book.

The church at Colossae, a town about 90 miles inland from Ephesus, was really more of a region, in the Lychus (sp?) Valley.  Paul had never visited this church personally, yet from this letter, you get a sense of his authentic concern for them.  His overarching concern is to address the issue of false doctrine among these churches, primarily in the form of Gnosticism, but even above this, you gain a sense of Paul being concerned for their growth. He longs to see them mature fully in Christ.

He characterizes maturity in Christ as "seeking that which is above," and manifesting fruit---primarily in the form of fulfilling God's call and exhibiting Christian virtues such as compassion, unity, peace. He urges their speech to be seasoned with salt and that they set an example for those who do not know Christ.

It's tempting to pass over the minor names because we don't know these people or have a sense of them, but it's striking how Paul's concern comes back to individual people time and time again. You also get a sense of his agony for them---his is not a casual interest; he earnestly longs for the best for them. 

The Beatitudes, Luke 6

I dislike "checking the box" with regard to the Bible these days; instead, I'd rather wade through the commentaries and gather fragments that inspire me to think more deeply about Jesus and his words.

Here are some bits of commentary on Luke 6 and the Beatitudes:

"Blessedness, rather than happiness, the want of man 

It is not merely happiness, whatever our shallow moralists may say, that is “the aim and end of our being.

” Happiness implies merely the undisturbed enjoyment of the man. It may belong to the child, or to the selfish votary of the world. It may be spoken of the miser’s gold, or of the successful prizes of ambition, or o! the gilded baubles of social folly. There is no moral meaning in it. But it is blessedness that alone can satisfy the mind and heart, which are living for another end than self; blessedness, which has no hap in it, no chance, no merely outward success." -E. A. Washburn, D. D.

Worthwhile---I do think it's different to be blessed than to be happy.  I like Washburn's definition of happy, "the undisturbed enjoyment of the man," and I see this selfish desire in myself. In my mind, "undisturbed enjoyment" sounds blissful, even though I know it's a mirage.

"In relation to the context of Jesus, I am always surprised when the possibility is not more often entertained that Jesus taught on a subject more than once, and that he might have adapted his teaching and varied it depending on the situation and the audience. This is a possibility worth considering simply based on the amount of material that we have in the gospels (which, after all, only takes a few hours to read) compared with the length of Jesus’ ministry."-Psephizo, Ian Paul

The Temple

I'm reading through 1 Kings 6 and 7 this morning---the description of the temple Solomon built, and his home, the pillars, the Sea, and so on. In the back of my mind, I had David's piano song from yesterday, Steward Townsend's "How Deep the Father's Love for Us." What work and resources were contributed to create those structures--stones 15 feet wide, two cherubim that were fifteen feet high, guilded in gold... I tried to imagine the 11,000 gallons of water of the Sea, ten carts with 220 gallons each of water, moving those around.  The blood of the sacrifices on the huge pit. And a tribe of men completely devoted to all aspects of the care of this---easy to see why they needed it.  All of this part of the Jewish culture, central to it.

To think of Christ replacing it---to think of Him as the substitute sacrifice---brings it all back down to today for me.  My sin.  The need...the enormous need when looking at this broken world...to somehow make amends, to do what humanity cannot do--to heal and bind instead of breaking and tearing continually.  

It's been a beautiful and fearful thing to think about...Christ usurping all of the temple stuff---in the end, just stuff.

This was interesting:

1Ki 6:7  The stones used in the construction of the Temple were finished at the quarry, so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the building site. 

My commentaries suggest this was because Solomon did not view all the noise of construction fitting for such a project.  To think of all these men assembling this structure silently.  I wonder to what degree, to what extent?  Intriguing image.

Things

Things that make me sad:

Plants that I don't have room for.

Thinking about the ugly too small green dining room at 51 West Chapel that became the main living room for the widow who lived there after us.  Too small bedrooms. Weird bathroom configurations. 

Thinking about this home being my parents' dream home and just like their life, not working as they hoped.

Thinking about my father dying before Grace was born.

Thinking about my mother's childhood.

Thinking about our son's lack of a graduation and our daughter's lack of closure at UNC.

My father's last moments.

Plants that die before producing fruit or flowers after I grow them from seed.

Selfish people.

The church.

The Church.

John Prine's death to Covid.

"Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." Ephesians 3:7-8

The word "unsearchable" is anexichniaston, from exichniazō. "to trace out," and Alpha privative which negates the word, making it mean, "that which cannot be traced out." 

"To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God."  Ephesians 3:10

 "Manifold" is polupoikilos, "much - variegated, marked with a great variety of colors." -Wuest's

Translation: In order that there might be made known now to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, through the intermediate agency of the Church, the much variegated wisdom of God.

 

"In whom we have boldness and access with confidence..." Eph 3:12

On Knowledge of His Power

"...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.  Ephesians 1:17-18

" I know not whence a man is to draw bright hopes, or what is to deliver him from pessimism as his last word about himself and his fellows, except the ‘working of the strength of the might which He wrought in Christ.’ ‘We see not yet all things put under Him’-be it so, ‘but we see Jesus,’ and, looking to Him, hope is possible, reasonable, and imperative.

The same knowledge is our refuge from our own consciousness of weakness. Yes! I am all full of sin and corruption. Yes! I am ashamed of myself every day. Yes! I am too heavy to climb, and have no wings to fly, and am bound here by chains manifold. Yes! But we know the exceeding greatness of the power, and we triumph in Him....

That knowledge should shame us into contrition, when we think of such force at our disposal, and such poor results. That knowledge should widen our conceptions, enlarge our desires, breathe a brave confidence into our hopes, should teach us to expect great things of God, and to be intolerant of present attainments whilst anything remains unattained. And it should stimulate our vigorous effort, for no man will long seek to be better, if he is convinced that the effort is hopeless.

Learn to realise the exceeding greatness of the power that will clothe your weakness."

-Andrew MacLaren

Knowledge not of facts, but of His power is critical.

What is the nature of the brokenness in me that I can't take hold of this power consistently?  My emotions and events pull me off.  People discourage me.  The church discourages me. 

Even close friends have significant and seeming insurmountable differences that block me from fully relating to them, fully loving them.

Do we have to agree with someone on "the big" things to deeply, authentically love them? Be close friends with them? Let them deeply into our world? Invest in them? Inside the church? Outside?

Honestly, those outside the church are easier for me to love much of the time.  Or the misfits within. 

This entry was inspired by the apostle Paul and Andrew MacLaren's definition of "knowledge," but in the end, my question is more about authentic love.  Love comes from God, right?

Ephesians

A mountain of ideas and principles in this chapter, a fire-hose of thought.

Big Bad? Predestination

 

The word "will" is thelēma, "a desire which proceeds from one’s heart or emotions. "...Election and God’s fore

ordination of us unto adoption are not due to any desert in us or anything outside God Himself, but are acts of His own pure goodness, originating wholly in the freedom of His own thoughts and loving counsel."-Wuest

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 

"...even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." Ephesians 1:4

God rules the world to save it.-Vincent's Word Studies

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:13-14

The Church is His body.

Eph 1:22  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 

Eph 1:23  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 

Put under" is hupotassō, a military term, "to put in subjection under one."

The Greek has it, "and gave Him as Head over all things to the Church." Christ is therefore God’s gift to the Church. 

The word "church" is ekklēsia, "a body of called out individuals."

It refers to the invisible Church, composed of only saved individuals, not to the visible, organized Church on earth.

The relation between Christ and the Church, therefore, is not an external relation, or one simply of Superior and inferior, Sovereign and subject, but one of life and incorporation. 

he Church is not merely an institution ruled by Him as President, a Kingdom in which He, is the Supreme Authority, or a vast company of men in moral sympathy with Him, but a Society which is in vital connection with Him, having the source of its life in Him, sustained and directed by His power, the instrument also by which He works."

The Church is described as that "which is His body." The word "which" is hētis, "which is of such a nature as," and has a qualitative nature to it. Of the word "body," sōma, Expositors says: "The word sōma, which passes readily from its literal meaning into the figurative sense of a society, a number of men constituting a social or ethical union (compare Eph_4:4), is frequently applied in the N.T., epistles to the Church, . . . as the mystical body of Christ, the fellowship of believers regarded as an organic spiritual unity in a living relation to Christ, subject to Him, animated by Him, and having His power operating in it. 

The relation between Christ and the Church, therefore, is not an external relation, or one simply of Superior and inferior, Sovereign and subject, but one of life and incorporation. The Church is not merely an institution ruled by Him as President, a Kingdom in which He, is the Supreme Authority, or a vast company of men in moral sympathy with Him, but a Society which is in vital connection with Him, having the source of its life in Him, sustained and directed by His power, the instrument also by which He works."  Wuest's 

It is this supreme idea of the Church as a spiritual order, the essence of which is a living relation to Christ, that receives further expression in the profound sentence with which the paragraph closes." wuest

Eph 1:8  He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 

*****************

7/11/20

After spending weeks in Ephesians 1, Ephesians 2 and now 3 have come much easier comparatively.  I've gained a greater sense of Paul's style and burden.  He's tasked with expressing the inexpressible somehow, communicating God's truth from ages past into today.

At times he comes across as groveling or unmoored. You just long for the man to pause and break it all down. But, he's Paul. He feels deeply.  He's analytical. He's compelled by Christ. He's tenacious.

Today, I have paused at this:

Eph 3:7  Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 

From Wuest's Word Studies:

The word "minister" is diakonos, "a servant seen in his activity." Our word "deacon" comes from this Greek word. The Greek word refers to one who serves. The word "minister" is misleading, since it is the technical word used today to designate the pastor of a church. Paul merely meant that he became one who ministered the gospel, served God in that capacity.

I love the implications of  "a servant seen in his activity." 

From Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries:

G1249

διάκονος

diakonos

dee-ak'-on-os

Probably from διάκω diakō (obsolete, to run on errands; compare G1377); an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess): - deacon, minister, servant.

Total KJV occurrences: 3

"...and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds." Eph 4:23

The renewal takes place, not in the mind, but in the spirit of it. ’The change is not in the mind psychologically, either in its essence or in its operation; and neither is it in the mind as if it were a superficial change of opinion on points of doctrine or practice: but it is in the spirit of the mind; in that which gives mind both its bent and its material of thought. It is not simply in the spirit as if it lay there in dim and mystic quietude; but it is in the spirit of the mind; in the power which, when changed itself, radically alters the entire sphere and business of the inner mechanism’ (Eadie)."

Eph 4:30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

’ The Spirit is here seen as capable of feeling, and so as personal. In Isa_63:10 we have a similar idea, following the statement that Jehovah was afflicted in all His people’s afflictions. These terms, no doubt, are anthropopathic, as all terms which we can use of God are anthropomorphic and anthropopathic. (Gentle reader, these two enormous words mean "a representation or conception of God under human form or with human attributes." K.S.W.) But they have reality behind them, and that as regards God’s nature and not merely His acts. Otherwise we should have an unknown God and One who might be essentially different from what we are under the mental necessity of thinking Him to be. What love is in us points truly, though tremulously, to what love is in God. But in us love, in proportion as it is true and sovereign, has both its wrath-side and its grief-side; and so must it be with God, however difficult for us to think it out."

1 Corinthians 1

"Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true."  1 Corinthians 1:5-6

In what specific ways has God enriched New Life?  Eloquent words? knowledge?

Big concern: "This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true."

1Co 1:10  I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 

Be of one mind.

United in thought and purpose.

Roadblocks.

"No religious truth, then, is held rightly “as a spiritual man” should hold it, which is held as a mere external dogma positively accepted. It is held only then in a way worthy of our personal responsibility when it is held with active personal apprehension, as that which is an indelible and irrefutable part of our own deliberate conviction, in the light of all the facts of experience."

"Many things that are doubtful become simple when we ask, What would the example and spirit of Christ lead us in this case to say and do?" -J. Ker, D. D.

"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:

King David

I'm still on my "Bible in a Year" plan although I'm falling behind. I like the push of a plan, but my goal is contemplation, understanding, transformation, not speed.

This time through King David's narrative, I've been intrigued with the brutal nature of his culture.

I'm impressed by his just, even-handedness in dealing with other nations, but also by his equally quick retribution.

He spares Saul because he respect the government of God. His best friend is one of Saul's sons and after Saul and Jonathan's death, he honors the relationship through his care of Methiposheth.

He marries repeatedly, a custom of the culture but not of God.  This gives me pause when considering all of the sexual expressions of our current society--sex outside of marriage, cohabitation without marriage, homosexuality, bisexuality, remarriage, the list goes on. My quick thought is to leave judgement to God and get on with more productive ways of serving and loving. I know it's more complicated than that, but it feels like step one.

And, outside of the multiple marriages, David is getting ready to meet Bathsheba.  So he'll soon add adultery of another man's wife and premeditated murder to his list. Yet, David was also repentant--humble--took his hits when he knew they were due.

Like every person, David disappoints. We want a hero, and yes, we get that in areas. But we also get a real man, imperfect, vulnerable to sin, fatigue, the flesh, and time. It gives me great hope and comfort.

It's also one of the aspects of scripture that I love and find reassuring--these are not "pretty" narratives cleaned up for audiences.  They are a log and narrative that reads like life.

Character Studies:

Absalom
Weighs his hair
no flaw from head to toe

Saul

Saul is a mystery.

Handsome---tall.

Humble at first.  Didn't want to bother Samuel when looking for donkeys.

Uncertain or humble?  Hid when Samuel was hashing out who would be appointed king even though Samuel had already anointed him.

He was plowing with his oxen even though he was king at this point---or was he still hiding?

Is it that he was minding his own business (farming) until it was necessary for him to assume the kingship role and go to battle?

Became angry after the Lord's Spirit came upon him?

Decisive---sent the ox pieces throughout Israel to motivate them to war.

Clever--launched a surprise attack.

Why did God make Saul king only later to put David in his place?

1 and 2nd Corinithians

Right now I'm chasing a Bible plan--it's not a bad place to be, keeps me moving.  The pressure can also be a burden however. I feel a step behind continually, like when our springer spaniel sometimes paws my heels as I walk. Really? I will get there, if you'll give me a minute.

I've decided to read The Message version of 1 and 2nd Corinthians to help me keep up the pace and approach it with fresh wording.

Paul's persona is winsome.  He's burdened, yet loving. Earnest, yet withholding to not overwhelm others. Honest, interceding, a champion for Christ and the Church. His personality and heart comes across vividly through these letters--his burden.

Although I'm reading in 2 Corinthians now, the commentary led me back to this verse in 1 Corinthians:

"God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else. " 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

This idea---that God's Spirit and God's power--is behind our lives is liberating, comforting, encouraging. After working on myself over 51 years and watching others work on themselves with seemingly little cumulative progress, to turn my eyes to His ability not my own, lifts the burden time and time again.

Today, I'm reading 2 Corinthians Chapters 1-3.  I love that my AP teaching has gifted me with a more sensitive awareness of the rhetorical situation and elements.  Both books tie together---it's not a laundry list of how God works--which is the way we often approach scriptures, pulling this or that verse out and plugging it into our lives with a sense of accomplishment, though God works through that too.  But, this morning, it delighted me to read with a sense of Paul's person---trying to get to know him--his quirks, his hopes, his fears.  Paul offers them all up freely even though he knows he may be misunderstood.

The other day I off-offhandedly wondered to Briggs, "I wonder if I would like Paul, if I would want to be friends with him if I met him?"  He answered immediately that I would like Paul. Thinking through Paul, Briggs was right.  I guess I was seeing Paul in that moment as a "pusher" and I tend to dislike pushers--someone forcing their agenda on me in an authoritarian way.

But, thinking more on it, Paul has a double agenda always--authentic love and an authentic hope for the best for others. This is different than a "pusher" because God is the heart of it, not Paul's abilities, reputation, or agenda.  I think that's why it's different with Paul---it doesn't all trace back to being seen by man, by his peers, or his community a certain way.  He is zealously outside of that, willing to be emotionally or physically injured in an effort to reach people.  And you sense his realness in that...that he's half outside of himself and outside of his own comfort zone, but pushing on regardless.

So the "pushing," if you will, feels like God's power, God's glow, God's prompting instead of his own.  Oftentimes I get a sense that Paul can't even help himself---he's just in for the ride of the Spirit in his life.

I feel these "authenticity sensors" in my life and with regard to other Christians as well.  Only God can know our heart, our spirit, this is definitely true.  But, I can generally tell when the "glow" of my actions and intent (expressed in the analogy of Moses and the commandments in 2 Corinthians 3) is from Him, from the Spirit, and when it is more from what the Message renders as "the Government of Death," aka legalism (2 Corinthians 3:7).

Paul says that Moses had to hide his face with a veil because the glow was fading.  I feel that way when I am doing a God work or kind thing out of a sense of obligation or mere works.  It's a mix, I admit, but the best part of anything I do is comprised of God's power in my work, never my own.  It all comes from Him in the end anyway--the particular giftings, the ability to express them, the efficacy of them.

Resting in God's power in my life is like resting in a long bubbly bath--just the right temperature, just the right everything. I praise God for His work and His power alongside Paul.

Judges

The cyclical nature of sin in Judges reminds me of the overarching theme in The Good Earth.

Chapters 1-3
As soon as Joshua and the elders pass away, the people forget again.  Isn't this just true?  We make promises. We refocus. We reform our ways with good intentions and a beginning strength that is encouraging.  And, like the people, sometimes we become that leader--either in ourselves or in the larger community that does the right thing.  Ehud with his double-edged sword.  Shamgar with his oxgoad.  But, in time, things get messed up again, don't they.

Caleb

Pushing and pulling my way through Joshua (the Old Testament always feels like the biggest "chunk" of scripture to cover in most plans, behold Caleb.

Caleb was a Kenizzite, a group outside of the Jews.  How did I miss this?

As with many figures in the Bible, the text is sparse.  Caleb speaks up at this point in his life---after many years of believing, fighting, and following.  He reminds Joshua of the promise God made to him years ago.  He speaks up at the right time, for the right reason twice in the scriptures---

Once, when the spies were afraid.

Once, when inheritances are given out.

Both were the exact right times for the exact right reasons. The rest of the time, he holds his peace as far as we are told.

I love this commentary from the BKC:

"Caleb is introduced in this passage as the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite. According to Gen_15:19 the Kenizzites were a tribe of Canaan in Abraham’s day. Caleb’s family then was originally outside the covenant and commonwealth of Israel as were Heber the Kenite (Jdg_4:17), Ruth the Moabitess (Rth_1:1-5), Uriah the Hittite (2Sa_11:3, 2Sa_11:6, 2Sa_11:24), and others. It is apparent that the Kenizzites in part at least joined the tribe of Judah before the Exodus. So their faith was not hereditary but was the fruit of conviction. And Caleb displayed that faith throughout his long lifetime.

Standing before General Joshua, his old friend and fellow spy (Num_14:6), 85-year-old Caleb (Jos_14:10) told the story of that never-to-be forgotten day, 45 years before (Jos_14:10), when the 2 of them stood alone against the other 10 spies and the cowardly mob. For Moses had sent 12 spies into Canaan (Num_13:2); 2 of them were Caleb and Joshua (Num_13:6, Num_13:8). When the spies returned 10 of them praised the land itself but fearfully concluded Israel could not conquer it (Num_13:27-29, Num_13:31-33). Caleb, however, dared to disagree (Num_13:30), and when the fears of the people threatened to bring national rebellion Joshua joined his colleague in urging the people to trust God for victory (Num_14:6-9). For Caleb’s leadership against the unbelieving spies and people, God singled him out for blessing and promised him a special reward (Num_14:24; Deu_1:36).

Caleb’s testimony (Jos_14:6-12) was simple. He had spoken on that memorable day according to his convictions. He did not minimize the problems - the giants and the fortified cities - but he magnified God. To him, God was greater than the biggest problem. Caleb had faith in the power of God. Not so the other spies. They magnified the problems and thereby minimized God. But Caleb would not follow the crowd. He did not once consider sacrificing his own convictions in order to make the majority report unanimous. Instead he followed the Lord his God wholeheartedly (cf. Jos_14:14)."

"You are bigger than I thought You were."

Just Joshua

I'm reading the book of Joshua right now and thought to post my own thoughts only, as a measure of accountability and pushing myself. 

I love commentary--it opens my mind and heart to new ideas and angles of understanding.  But sometimes, the voices from my past--overly chirpy and loud southern radio preachers, often well-meaning--obstruct instead of help. I can also get lost in hazy lazy thinking, letting commentators do the medium lifting instead of reading closely.

Reading closely, as I encourage my students, has irreplaceable benefits.

So, what did I notice today?

The first chapters of Joshua read like an epic or a fairy tale, which is not to suggest they are not true--but that they are a certain style.  The true part is separate from the style. God does what He wants, how He wants.  We either believe Him in that and allow Him latitude and greatness, or we can pursue the nitty gritty of a naturalistic perspective, holding Him to the laws of nature He created.  It's not that simple.  It's also not that complicated.  But, a person can spend a lot of spiritual energy spinning their wheels over this kind of thing--I know this.

Things I noticed...

Joshua 6----they burned the city with fire--wow.  Rahab and her family were saved, but otherwise, complete destruction besides the ironware.  It seems drastic, draconian--especially to a person who has to steel herself to thin her turnip patch soon.  I know the rational, the reasons--I just wince at the reality and prefer mercy mercy mercy.

This destruction---annihilation--ethnic cleansing--genocide--is the heart of what non Christians object to.

What do I know from my garden?  That the weeds will take over when you turn your back.  That if I don't thin the turnips, all of them will not yield any worthwhile turnips.  I remember the crabgrass in my yard--it's relentless march across my lawn, the way it seeped under the fencing and into my garden, leaping from bed to bed to bed.  Now, I have so very much work to do which could have been prevented. "Nipped in the bud" is a real thing.

What else do I know?  The Canaanites were evil, barbaric, more immoral  than the Israelites.  They sacrificed their children to false gods, practiced religion and life in ways that were abhorrent. They were not God's plan but were allowed to go on to this point. 

Does this "knot" of difficulty melt away the broader issue of inhumanity---of the timeless "chosen" and "not chosen" nature of Jacob and Esau, Cain and Abel, Saul and David--no.  And we can split hairs over all of those passages. 

Or, I can accept the perspective of Job---at the end of Job, not the beginning.  God is God and I am not. 

Leviticus 2

Laws for grain offerings....

He should bring an offering of "fine flour" and take a handful to give to the priests.  To that handful, he should add oil and frankincense.  The priest should burn this portion as a memorial offering to the Lord but may eat the rest.

No leaven or honey.  Add salt.  There are various reasons suggested for the qualification that honey or leaven not be used. Salt is a purifying and preserving agent, connected to Jesus and his words about the gospel as a preserving element.

Leviticus 1-3

Exodus 19-Numbers 10 All takes place on Mount Sinai.
Entire book of Leviticus covers a period of a month/30 days.
A month away from Canaan.
Jesus quotes more passages from this book more than any other.

Why Study It?
It will help you understand the rest of the books of the Bible.  It's essential to understanding the book of Hebrews.
Leviticus can drive you to a place to deeper worship. Leviticus demands a serious approach toward worship. It required a cost and personal involvement.

Cadesh--to be holy, sanctified

Two basic categories of offerings in the OT:

1. First group enabled a person to find communion/fellowship with God.
Proprietary, it had to happen first.
Sin offerings, trespass offerings

2. Second class offered by believer's who longed for fellowship with God.
Burnt offerings, peace offerings, thanksgiving offerings, drink offerings, heave offerings, wave offerings,
"sweet smelling savor" to the Lord--like a barbecue in your neighborhood.




The Lord gives Moses instructions for offerings from the tent of the meeting.  These are all for voluntary or free will offerings.

Burnt offering 

If it's a burnt offering, it should be from your livestock--herds and flocks.

If it's from the herd, it should be a  male without blemish. He should bring it to the door of the tent of the meeting and put his hand on it. Then he should kill and Aaron's sons should throw the blood on the sides of the altar.

Why, Lord? Why so bloody?  Throwing blood on the sides of the altar is disturbing.

Then he should flay and prepare the offering while Aaron's sons build the fire and set the offering on it.  But the entrails and legs are washed in water, then burned.

It's like a religious, bloody, barbecue.  I don't get it.  It's foreign and weird.

He goes through somewhat similar instructions for an offering of a sheep/goat, or bird.

What do I think?  This is weird.  No women involved.  All men. Aaron's sons particularly involved, creating a priesthood that has haunted us since.

Jesus is everything this system is not.  Is it kind of like you have to love a bad man to be able to appreciate a good one? lol.

JFB points out that this entire sacrifice is burnt--none of it eaten. They suggest is is an atonement sacrifice and so indicates their full submission of everything to atonement.  The door is the only place a non-Levite could stand.  They note that Egyptian culture was also obsessive about animals without defects.  Honestly, I can't say this is much different from the inspections I've seen at the county fair or in dog breeds.  We are obsessed with the ideal, nearest to perfect.

Yes, I was thinking along these lines too--that God makes accommodation for all in these sacrifices: "It is obvious, from the varying scale of these voluntary sacrifices, that the disposition of the offerer was the thing looked to - not the costliness of his offering." -JFB

Lord, give me eyes and a heart to see greater things about You in this text.  Give me hands that serve You and see those who need to be loved by You and therefore me, today.

Tracking time and place--Exodus

I've spent most of the last month working my way through Exodus via Jack Abeelen's Wednesday night series.  After loving his series on Genesis and experiencing such rich insights, Exodus has been a bit of a let down.  Why?  Not sure.  Is it the longer trajectory and story arc of Moses, the disappointing nature of the people?  Yes. Aspects of Moses used to resonate with me intuitively--primarily his hesitancy and anger.  This time through, I found myself distracted, covering familiar ground without caring very much.  The details of the delays, the people's shortsightedness all seemed too familiar.

And what's with all the fuss about the tabernacle itself?  Why spend so much time establishing the ritual of worship?  Yes, to teach the people I hear him say.  But, this type of distraction with the physical consumes too much, too many.  God needs to be worshiped.  We don't intuitively understand that.  The tabernacle was a tool for that.  I suppose I understand. But not really.

I find myself in a very dark and negative place with my Bible reading lately.  Not sure why.  Not sure I need to know why.  Lord, help me to get back to the text and to experience You.