Numbers 19
- God spoke to Moses and Aaron and told the people to bring a spotless never worked red heifer.
- Eleazar was to slaughter it outside the camp.
- He shall sprinkle its blood 7 times on the front of the tent.
- The heifer shall be burned with cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet yarn.
- He shall wash his clothes and body before entering into camp. (He is unclean until evening)
- A clean man shall deposit the heifer's ashes in a clean place outside the camp.
- The ashes were kept for the water of impurity (a sin offering)
- The ash gatherer shall also wash and be unclean until evening.
- Those who touch a dead body will be unclean for 7 days. He will cleanse himself on the 3rd and 7th day.
- If he doesn't cleanse himself he will not be clean.
- If he is not cleansed with the water of impurity he will be cut off from the people.
- If someone died in a tent, everyone in it and who enter it will be unclean for 7 days.
- Every open container is also unclean.
- If someone touches a dying soldier, bone, or grave they shall be unclean 7 days.
- They shall use the burnt ashes and water to cleanse themselves.
- A clean person shall take hyssop and sprinkle it on the vessels to clean them.
- The clean person shall sprinkle it on the unclean person on the 3rd and 7th day.
- If a person doesn't cleanse themselves they shall be cut off from assembly for defiling the tabernacle.
- The person who touches the water of impurity shall be unclean until evening.
- Whatever the unclean person shall become unclean.
Isaiah 11
- A "shoot" will sprout from the stump of Jesse and bear fruit.
- The Spirit of the Lord will be on this man
- The Spirit is wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of God
- His delight shall be in fearing God.
- He shall judge not by what He sees or hears but by righteousness.
- He will strike the earth with the words of his mouth.
- He will kill the wicked by his breath.
- Righteousness and faithfulness shall be his belt.
- The wolf shall lie with the lamb, the leopard with the goat, the calf and the lion, the cow and the bear, nursing child and cobra, weaned child and an adder shall all be at peace and not destroy each other on God's holy mountain.
- The time of the "root of Jesse" people shall inquire about Him.
- The Lord will recall the remnant of the remains of his people.
- He will recall those banished from Israel and Judah
- Those who harass Judah will be cut off.
- Judah and Ephraim shall get along.
- Those in Judah shall go with Philistines against those in the east.
- They will go against Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites
- The Lord will destroy Egypt with His scorching breath.
- The Lord will create a highway for His people to return from Assyria like He did when He called His people back from Egypt.
Romans 16
- Paul commended Phoebe from Cenchreae to them.
- Paul tells the Romans to welcome her for her service to him and the saints.
- Paul also told the Romans to welcome Prisca and Aquilla who risked their lives to save Paul's life.
- Epaenetus was Paul's first convert in Asia.
- Mary worked hard for the Romans
- Andronicus and Junia were imprisoned with Paul.
- Paul then lists several others to greet warmly: Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, the family of Aristobulus, Herodion, the family of Narcissus, Tryphaena and Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus and his mother, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them, Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them
- Greet one another with a holy kiss.
- Paul greets the Romans from all the other churches in Christ.
- Paul warns them to watch out for those who create divisions and create doctrinal obstacles.
- Those who create divisions serve themselves rather than God.
- They deceive the naive with flattery.
- Paul commends the Romans for their faith and points out again what is good and evil.
- The God of peace will son crush Satan
- Timothy, Lucius, Jason and Sosipater also send the Romans their greetings.
- Tertius who wrote the letter for Paul also greets them.
- Gaius, Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.
- Paul ends by reminding them of the power and truth they now have through Christ that has long been hidden from man.
- The prophetic writings are now being made known to all nations.
James 4
- James 4 talks about the root of all quarrels.
- James says warring passions cause quarrels.
- People murder and covet for what they desire and don't have.
- James says that they don't have because they don't ask or they ask wrongly for their passions.
- James calls us adulterous people
- Befriending the world is being an enemy of God.
- Where does the quote "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?" come from?
- God gives us more grace.
- Where does the quote "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" come from? (It is also found in 1 Peter 5:5)
- We should submit ourselves to God.
- If we resist the devil he will flee from us.
- As we draw near to God, He draws near to us.
- We need to purify our hearts because we are double-minded.
- Why does James tell our joy to turn to gloom?
- If we humble ourselves before God, He will exalt us.
- We aren't to speak evil against fellow believers.
- Speaking evil against our brother, speaks evil of God's law.
- God is the only law giver and He alone is able to save and destroy.
- Who are we to judge anyone?
- James cautions against saying what we will do tomorrow or next year because we don't know what the next day will bring.
- Our lives are a brief mist.
- Our posture should be, "If the Lord wills....we will do this or that." (This acknowledges God in what we decide to do so that we can't take the credit for what we accomplish)
- We boast in arrogance.
- This is one of the most catch-all convicting verses that I know, "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
- If we know what God wants us to do and don't do it, we sin.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Numbers 18 - Isaiah 10 – Romans 15 – James 3
Numbers 18
- The Lord told Aaron that he and his sons would bear iniquity for the sanctuary.
- The rest of the tribe of Levi shall help him.
- They should guard the tent but not touch its vessels or they and Aaron shall die.
- Aaron was to guard the sanctuary and the alter so that God's wrath shall never again be on the people of Israel.
- The Lord gave the Levites as a gift to Aaron to help serve him.
- Any outsider who comes near the alter shall die.
- Part of the people's contributions to God are given to Aaron and his sons.
- All offerings shall be most holy to Aaron and his sons.
- They were to eat it in the most holy place.
- Only males may eat it.
- Aaron also receives all of the people's wave offerings. (sons and daughters get this)
- Those who are clean may eat of eat. God also gave Aaron the firstfruits.
- What does God mean when he says everything that opens the womb?
- The first born of man and animal shall be redeemed.
- The redemption price is five shekels of silver (20 gerahs) at one month of age.
- The first born cow, sheep, and goat don't have to be redeemed because they are holy.
- Their blood shall be sprinkled on the alter and the fat burned as a food offering.
- The flesh, breast, and right thigh Aaron is to keep for himself.
- Why does the Lord refer to this as a "covenant of salt"?
- The Levites shall not have land or an inheritance because God is their inheritance.
- Israel's tithes are the inheritance of the Levites.
- Why does God repeat that the Levites have no inheritance 3 times in one paragraph?
- God told Moses to tell the Levites that they were to give one tenth of the tithes they received as a tithing of their own.
- What does it mean to give a contribution to the Lord to give to Aaron?
- Did Aaron tithe?
- They were also supposed to give their best part to the Lord.
- They shall eat the rest of the tithing they receive any place as payment for their service in the tent.
- God cautions them not to profane the holy things that they are receiving.
Isaiah 10
- Isaiah casts woes on the oppressive of the poor, and those who prey on widows and the fatherless.
- He asks what they will do when destruction comes to them from far away.
- What good will their wealth be on that day.
- These are more reasons why God's wrath is on the people of Israel.
- God is using Assyria as his "rod of anger"
- God is sending them to plunder rebellious Israel.
- God says destruction will later come to Assyria for their selfish pride and arrogance.
- The Assyrians are so focused on what they have done to Jerusalem and Samaria.
- The Assyrian king sees it as he has conquered Israel by his own power and wisdom.
- The king sees it like taking eggs from a nest and doesn't see God working through his conquests.
- God says the saw and axe do not boast about what they do because of the person using them and Assyria shouldn't boast because God is using them to discipline Israel.
- God will send sickness and fire on the Assyrians.
- The Lord will burn their forests except for a very few trees which even " a child can write them down."
- The remnant will again lean on the Lord and not the Assyrians.
- The numerous Israelites will only return as a remnant.
- Destruction and righteousness can go together as it says, "Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness."
- God leaves the Israelites with hope and tells them that when his wrath is over it shall focus on the Assyrians.
- God reminds them of the time He struck down Midian at Oreb.
- Their yoke will be lifted because of the fat (the meaning of this statement is uncertain)
- Isaiah gives warning to several places which God will come through and strike them down;"Aiath;he has passed through Migron;at Michmash he stores his baggage; they have crossed over the pass;at Geba they lodge for the night;Ramah trembles;Gibeah of Saul has fled. Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim!Give attention, O Laishah!O poor Anathoth! Madmenah is in flight;the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety. This very day he will halt at Nob;he will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion,the hill of Jerusalem."
- The Lord, the Majestic One, will finally strike down Lebanon
Romans 15
- Paul tells the strong they are obligated to bear with the weak, because Christ did this for us
- We should each seek to build up our neighbors.
- Where is this written "“The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”?
- We find hope by endurance and encouragement from the scriptures.
- Paul hope is that they will be strengthened in Christ together in order to glorify God.
- Paul tells them to welcome one another.
- Christ became a servant to the circumcised (Jews) to show God's truthfulness.
- This led to Gentiles glorifying God for His mercy.
- Paul gives the Romans 4 verses which reflect His love for the Gentiles.
- Knowledge of the hope found in God should fill us with joy and peace.
- Paul in happy to see the Romans are full of goodness and able to instruct one another.
- Paul says he wrote to them boldly on a few things to remind them of the truth.
- Paul is proud of his work because of Christ Jesus.
- Paul only boasts in what Christ has done through him to bring Gentiles into obedience.
- Paul's ministry through Christ has stretched from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum.
- Paul wants to take the gospel to places it has never been preached before.
- Where does the quote "Those who have never been told of him will see,and those who have never heard will understand.” come from?
- Paul says he will now come to the Romans on his way to Spain.
- Paul says he is first going to Jerusalem to give gifts to the saints there.
- The Macedonians and Achaians have given Paul a contribution to give to the poor in Jerusalem.
- Paul says that the Gentiles should be contributing to the saints for the gift of salvation they have received through them.
- Paul asks them for their prayers for him on what he is doing.
- Why does Paul asked to be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea?
- Paul wants to come to them with joy to be refreshed.
- He ends with asking God's peace to be with the Romans.
James 3
- James says that those who teach will be judged more strictly.
- We all stumble in many ways.
- If anyone doesn't stumble, he is perfect.
- James points out that a horse's bit directs its whole body.
- He also points out that large ships are steered by a small rudder even in storms.
- A small spark starts a destructive fire
- The tongue is also a small member of the body with big results.
- James says man has tamed every kind of wild beast but cannot tame his tongue.
- The tongue is full of evil and poison.
- With bless God with or tongue and curse God's people.
- James says this shouldn't be the case, just as one spring cannot overflow with fresh and salt water.
- A fig tree also cannot produce olives.
- James is showing how one thing cannot have two very different result. It doesn't work like that.
- Good conduct, meekness, and wisdom = being wise and understanding.
- Jealousy and selfish ambition can "be false" to the truth. This is not from above but earthy and demonic.
- Jealousy and selfish ambition lead to disorder and "every vile practice"
- Godly wisdom is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere"
- Is my wisdom godly?
- Those who sow peace harvest righteousness.
- The Lord told Aaron that he and his sons would bear iniquity for the sanctuary.
- The rest of the tribe of Levi shall help him.
- They should guard the tent but not touch its vessels or they and Aaron shall die.
- Aaron was to guard the sanctuary and the alter so that God's wrath shall never again be on the people of Israel.
- The Lord gave the Levites as a gift to Aaron to help serve him.
- Any outsider who comes near the alter shall die.
- Part of the people's contributions to God are given to Aaron and his sons.
- All offerings shall be most holy to Aaron and his sons.
- They were to eat it in the most holy place.
- Only males may eat it.
- Aaron also receives all of the people's wave offerings. (sons and daughters get this)
- Those who are clean may eat of eat. God also gave Aaron the firstfruits.
- What does God mean when he says everything that opens the womb?
- The first born of man and animal shall be redeemed.
- The redemption price is five shekels of silver (20 gerahs) at one month of age.
- The first born cow, sheep, and goat don't have to be redeemed because they are holy.
- Their blood shall be sprinkled on the alter and the fat burned as a food offering.
- The flesh, breast, and right thigh Aaron is to keep for himself.
- Why does the Lord refer to this as a "covenant of salt"?
- The Levites shall not have land or an inheritance because God is their inheritance.
- Israel's tithes are the inheritance of the Levites.
- Why does God repeat that the Levites have no inheritance 3 times in one paragraph?
- God told Moses to tell the Levites that they were to give one tenth of the tithes they received as a tithing of their own.
- What does it mean to give a contribution to the Lord to give to Aaron?
- Did Aaron tithe?
- They were also supposed to give their best part to the Lord.
- They shall eat the rest of the tithing they receive any place as payment for their service in the tent.
- God cautions them not to profane the holy things that they are receiving.
Isaiah 10
- Isaiah casts woes on the oppressive of the poor, and those who prey on widows and the fatherless.
- He asks what they will do when destruction comes to them from far away.
- What good will their wealth be on that day.
- These are more reasons why God's wrath is on the people of Israel.
- God is using Assyria as his "rod of anger"
- God is sending them to plunder rebellious Israel.
- God says destruction will later come to Assyria for their selfish pride and arrogance.
- The Assyrians are so focused on what they have done to Jerusalem and Samaria.
- The Assyrian king sees it as he has conquered Israel by his own power and wisdom.
- The king sees it like taking eggs from a nest and doesn't see God working through his conquests.
- God says the saw and axe do not boast about what they do because of the person using them and Assyria shouldn't boast because God is using them to discipline Israel.
- God will send sickness and fire on the Assyrians.
- The Lord will burn their forests except for a very few trees which even " a child can write them down."
- The remnant will again lean on the Lord and not the Assyrians.
- The numerous Israelites will only return as a remnant.
- Destruction and righteousness can go together as it says, "Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness."
- God leaves the Israelites with hope and tells them that when his wrath is over it shall focus on the Assyrians.
- God reminds them of the time He struck down Midian at Oreb.
- Their yoke will be lifted because of the fat (the meaning of this statement is uncertain)
- Isaiah gives warning to several places which God will come through and strike them down;"Aiath;he has passed through Migron;at Michmash he stores his baggage; they have crossed over the pass;at Geba they lodge for the night;Ramah trembles;Gibeah of Saul has fled. Cry aloud, O daughter of Gallim!Give attention, O Laishah!O poor Anathoth! Madmenah is in flight;the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety. This very day he will halt at Nob;he will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion,the hill of Jerusalem."
- The Lord, the Majestic One, will finally strike down Lebanon
Romans 15
- Paul tells the strong they are obligated to bear with the weak, because Christ did this for us
- We should each seek to build up our neighbors.
- Where is this written "“The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”?
- We find hope by endurance and encouragement from the scriptures.
- Paul hope is that they will be strengthened in Christ together in order to glorify God.
- Paul tells them to welcome one another.
- Christ became a servant to the circumcised (Jews) to show God's truthfulness.
- This led to Gentiles glorifying God for His mercy.
- Paul gives the Romans 4 verses which reflect His love for the Gentiles.
- Knowledge of the hope found in God should fill us with joy and peace.
- Paul in happy to see the Romans are full of goodness and able to instruct one another.
- Paul says he wrote to them boldly on a few things to remind them of the truth.
- Paul is proud of his work because of Christ Jesus.
- Paul only boasts in what Christ has done through him to bring Gentiles into obedience.
- Paul's ministry through Christ has stretched from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum.
- Paul wants to take the gospel to places it has never been preached before.
- Where does the quote "Those who have never been told of him will see,and those who have never heard will understand.” come from?
- Paul says he will now come to the Romans on his way to Spain.
- Paul says he is first going to Jerusalem to give gifts to the saints there.
- The Macedonians and Achaians have given Paul a contribution to give to the poor in Jerusalem.
- Paul says that the Gentiles should be contributing to the saints for the gift of salvation they have received through them.
- Paul asks them for their prayers for him on what he is doing.
- Why does Paul asked to be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea?
- Paul wants to come to them with joy to be refreshed.
- He ends with asking God's peace to be with the Romans.
James 3
- James says that those who teach will be judged more strictly.
- We all stumble in many ways.
- If anyone doesn't stumble, he is perfect.
- James points out that a horse's bit directs its whole body.
- He also points out that large ships are steered by a small rudder even in storms.
- A small spark starts a destructive fire
- The tongue is also a small member of the body with big results.
- James says man has tamed every kind of wild beast but cannot tame his tongue.
- The tongue is full of evil and poison.
- With bless God with or tongue and curse God's people.
- James says this shouldn't be the case, just as one spring cannot overflow with fresh and salt water.
- A fig tree also cannot produce olives.
- James is showing how one thing cannot have two very different result. It doesn't work like that.
- Good conduct, meekness, and wisdom = being wise and understanding.
- Jealousy and selfish ambition can "be false" to the truth. This is not from above but earthy and demonic.
- Jealousy and selfish ambition lead to disorder and "every vile practice"
- Godly wisdom is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere"
- Is my wisdom godly?
- Those who sow peace harvest righteousness.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Numbers 17 - Isaiah 9 – Romans 14 – James 2
Numbers 17
- The Lord told Moses to get a staff from each of the 12 houses.
- He was to put their names on the staffs, Aaron's name on house of Levi's staff
- Moses was to put the 12 staffs in the tent of meeting and God said his chosen man's staff would sprout.
- Moses collected the staffs in front of the people to ceases their grumbling against God.
- The next day Aaron's staff had budded, bloomed, and bore almonds
- God told Moses to put Aaron's staff back in the tent to show future rebels
- The people said they were undone and feared for their lives.
Isaiah 9
- Why would there be no gloom for her who is in anguish?
- Isaiah reflects to God's glory at the sea (probably the Red Sea that Moses crossed)
- The people walking in darkness have seen the light.
- The nation has multiplied and is full of joy Why?
- God has broken the staff of the oppressor like in the days of Midian.
- Ever boot of invader and every bloody garment will be fuel for the fire.
- This line is found in the book of Matthew during the Christmas story "For to us a child is born,to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder,and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
- This "son's" reign shall never end.
- He will establish justice and righteousness from this time and forever more.
- The Lord has sent a word against Israel.
- Which people's pride is Isaiah talking about in these verses?
- The people were saying how they would rebuild everything even better in their own pride.
- The Lord is stirring those in Rezin, Philistine, and Syria against Israel.
- God's anger has not turned away from Israel's misdeeds.
- When the Lord struck down the people of Israel they still did not turn to Him.
- God cut off Israel's head (elder and honored man (who was this at the time?))
- God cut off their tail (the lying prophets)
- God has struck down those leaders who are leading the people astray.
- God has no pity on even the widow or the fatherless because they are ALL evil doers.
- For these reasons his wrath is still on them.
- Wickedness burns and consumes by its very nature.
- The wrath of the Lord consumes the land and the people.
- The people devour the flesh of their own arm.
- Israel is against itself as stated by Isaiah "Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh;together they are against Judah."
- This is yet another reason why God's hand is still outstretched against them (repeated twice)
Romans 14
- Do not quarrel over opinions with those weaker in the faith.
- The weaker believer only eats vegetables.
- The stronger believer eat anything.
- The eater and abstainer should not pass judgment on each other for what they will or won't eat.
- God welcomes both of these believers regardless of what their eating beliefs.
- We are all servants of God so should not pass judgments on each other.
- The Lord is their master and will help them stand.
- Paul then addresses the "importance" of certain days to different believers.
- One person views certain days as important while another views every day the same.
- The one should observe the day in honor of the Lord.
- You can honor and give thanks to the Lord by eating or not eating certain things. (Paul seems to address the heart rather than the actual action)
- We are not to live or to die to ourselves.
- We are to live to and die to the Lord.
- For this reason Christ died and lived again, and He is now Lord of the living and the dead.
- We should not judge or despise our brother because we will all be judged by God eventually.
- We shouldn't judge our brother or do anything to cause them to stumble.
- Paul says nothing is unclean but it is unclean for the one who thinks it is unclean.
- Eating something you know bothers someone else is NOT walking in love.
- Paul is saying they should love in this way to show the good rather than the evil quarreling can cause.
- Kingdom of heaven is not about eating or drinking
- It IS about righteousness, peace, and joy found through Holy Spirit.
- We should pursue what makes for peace and and mutual upbuilding.
- Paul repeats himself and tell the Romans not to destroy what God is doing over what they eat.
- The only wrong thing about eating is causing another to stumble over food.
- Paul says not to eat meat or drink wine if it will cause someone to struggle.
- Keep your faith between you and God and keep free from judgment.
- Whatever we don't do by faith is sin, so if we believe it is wrong to eat or drink something then it IS sin for us.
James 2
- James tells believers not to show partiality to certain people over others.
- James gives an example of giving a wealthy man a good seat and making a poor man stand or sit at their feet as being evil because they have passed judgment on both men.
- Those who are poor in this world are rich in faith.
- And even though God says he loves the poor, they have dishonored the poor man.
- James points out that the rich are the people who drag them to court and blaspheme the Lord's name.
- James refers to "Love your neighbors as yourself" as the royal law.
- If we show partiality then we sin.
- If we keep the whole law but break only one part, then we are guilty of breaking it all.
-We should speak and act like those under the law of Liberty.
- Mercy triumphs over judgement.
- Saying you have faith without works is not good.
- Can a workless faith save us?
- Simply saying be filled and warm to the poor without giving them what they need is no good.
- Workless faith is dead.
- Your faith should be reflected in your works.
- Believing in God is not enough to save because even demons believe in God.
- James gives biblical examples:
1) Abraham
- was justified by works (offering up Isaac)
- his faith was active in His works
- His faith was completed by his works.
- Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.
- He was called a friend of God.
- What does James mean when he says, "a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."
2) Rahab
- she was also justified by her works of helping the messengers.
- The body apart from the spirit is dead and so is faith dead apart from works.
- The Lord told Moses to get a staff from each of the 12 houses.
- He was to put their names on the staffs, Aaron's name on house of Levi's staff
- Moses was to put the 12 staffs in the tent of meeting and God said his chosen man's staff would sprout.
- Moses collected the staffs in front of the people to ceases their grumbling against God.
- The next day Aaron's staff had budded, bloomed, and bore almonds
- God told Moses to put Aaron's staff back in the tent to show future rebels
- The people said they were undone and feared for their lives.
Isaiah 9
- Why would there be no gloom for her who is in anguish?
- Isaiah reflects to God's glory at the sea (probably the Red Sea that Moses crossed)
- The people walking in darkness have seen the light.
- The nation has multiplied and is full of joy Why?
- God has broken the staff of the oppressor like in the days of Midian.
- Ever boot of invader and every bloody garment will be fuel for the fire.
- This line is found in the book of Matthew during the Christmas story "For to us a child is born,to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder,and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
- This "son's" reign shall never end.
- He will establish justice and righteousness from this time and forever more.
- The Lord has sent a word against Israel.
- Which people's pride is Isaiah talking about in these verses?
- The people were saying how they would rebuild everything even better in their own pride.
- The Lord is stirring those in Rezin, Philistine, and Syria against Israel.
- God's anger has not turned away from Israel's misdeeds.
- When the Lord struck down the people of Israel they still did not turn to Him.
- God cut off Israel's head (elder and honored man (who was this at the time?))
- God cut off their tail (the lying prophets)
- God has struck down those leaders who are leading the people astray.
- God has no pity on even the widow or the fatherless because they are ALL evil doers.
- For these reasons his wrath is still on them.
- Wickedness burns and consumes by its very nature.
- The wrath of the Lord consumes the land and the people.
- The people devour the flesh of their own arm.
- Israel is against itself as stated by Isaiah "Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh;together they are against Judah."
- This is yet another reason why God's hand is still outstretched against them (repeated twice)
Romans 14
- Do not quarrel over opinions with those weaker in the faith.
- The weaker believer only eats vegetables.
- The stronger believer eat anything.
- The eater and abstainer should not pass judgment on each other for what they will or won't eat.
- God welcomes both of these believers regardless of what their eating beliefs.
- We are all servants of God so should not pass judgments on each other.
- The Lord is their master and will help them stand.
- Paul then addresses the "importance" of certain days to different believers.
- One person views certain days as important while another views every day the same.
- The one should observe the day in honor of the Lord.
- You can honor and give thanks to the Lord by eating or not eating certain things. (Paul seems to address the heart rather than the actual action)
- We are not to live or to die to ourselves.
- We are to live to and die to the Lord.
- For this reason Christ died and lived again, and He is now Lord of the living and the dead.
- We should not judge or despise our brother because we will all be judged by God eventually.
- We shouldn't judge our brother or do anything to cause them to stumble.
- Paul says nothing is unclean but it is unclean for the one who thinks it is unclean.
- Eating something you know bothers someone else is NOT walking in love.
- Paul is saying they should love in this way to show the good rather than the evil quarreling can cause.
- Kingdom of heaven is not about eating or drinking
- It IS about righteousness, peace, and joy found through Holy Spirit.
- We should pursue what makes for peace and and mutual upbuilding.
- Paul repeats himself and tell the Romans not to destroy what God is doing over what they eat.
- The only wrong thing about eating is causing another to stumble over food.
- Paul says not to eat meat or drink wine if it will cause someone to struggle.
- Keep your faith between you and God and keep free from judgment.
- Whatever we don't do by faith is sin, so if we believe it is wrong to eat or drink something then it IS sin for us.
James 2
- James tells believers not to show partiality to certain people over others.
- James gives an example of giving a wealthy man a good seat and making a poor man stand or sit at their feet as being evil because they have passed judgment on both men.
- Those who are poor in this world are rich in faith.
- And even though God says he loves the poor, they have dishonored the poor man.
- James points out that the rich are the people who drag them to court and blaspheme the Lord's name.
- James refers to "Love your neighbors as yourself" as the royal law.
- If we show partiality then we sin.
- If we keep the whole law but break only one part, then we are guilty of breaking it all.
-We should speak and act like those under the law of Liberty.
- Mercy triumphs over judgement.
- Saying you have faith without works is not good.
- Can a workless faith save us?
- Simply saying be filled and warm to the poor without giving them what they need is no good.
- Workless faith is dead.
- Your faith should be reflected in your works.
- Believing in God is not enough to save because even demons believe in God.
- James gives biblical examples:
1) Abraham
- was justified by works (offering up Isaac)
- his faith was active in His works
- His faith was completed by his works.
- Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.
- He was called a friend of God.
- What does James mean when he says, "a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."
2) Rahab
- she was also justified by her works of helping the messengers.
- The body apart from the spirit is dead and so is faith dead apart from works.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Numbers 16 - Isaiah 8 – Romans 13 – James 1
Numbers 16
- Korah took men from 250 chieftains and rose up against Moses.
- They said all the Israelites were holy and were upset that Moses and Aaron had raised themselves up as holy.
- Moses fell on his face and said God would tell them who was holy among them.
- Moses said the Lord would choose the holy one among them.
- Moses told Korah to light the censers and have his men do the same and that God would choose (the holy one) leader among them.
- Korah was a Levite and Moses said they had gone too far.
- Moses rebuked them for not being content with the fact that God had chosen them to work in the temple near Him. The people were ultimately rising up against God, not Moses and Aaron.
- Moses called for Dathan and Abiram who refused to come up because they were mad that Moses had promised them milk and honey and they were in the wilderness and they didn't want Moses to be prince over them.
- Moses got angry with them and told God not to accept their offerings.
- Moses told Korah and his 250 men to light their censers and bring them to the entrance of the tent of meeting.
- The glory of the Lord appeared to them all .
- God told Moses and Aaron to move aside and he would strike down these men, but Moses pleaded for their lives.
- Moses went to the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and told the people that if these men died naturally they could be the ruler but if God did "something new" (having the earth swallow them) they would know God had appointed Moses to lead the people.
- As soon as Moses was done speaking the earth opened up beneath these men.
- The ground then closed up and fire came out from the lord and consumed the 250 men with the incense.
- Why did God still decide to kill these men the next day?
- Eleazar, son of Aaron was to collect the incense burners and scattered them because they were now holy.
- Eleazar then took the bronze and created a covering for the altar as a reminder to the people that no one outside the line of Aaron should burn incense.
- The people were upset Moses had killed the people of the Lord.
- Then the people saw the glory of the Lord appear before them.
- The Lord said to move away from the congregation so He could wipe them out.
- Moses told Aaron to light the incense and run it through the crowd to make atonement for them.
- A plague began and Aaron stood in between the dead and the living.
- 14,700 people died before the plague had stopped
Isaiah 8
- The Lord tells Isaiah to write common characters on a tablet.
- Isaiah saw Uriah and Zechariah as reliable.
- Did Isaiah impregnate the prophetess?
- They named the son Maher-shalal-hash-baz which means The spoil speeds, the prey hastens
- Isaiah said that before the baby could talk Damascus and Samaria would lose their wealth to the King of Assyria
- Isaiah tells the people that The Assyrians will flood the area like the River.
- Why is "river" capitalized?
- The Lord tell Isaiah not to fear like the rest.
- God alone should be their source of fear and dread.
- The Lord will now become a stumbling block for the people of Israel.
- Isaiah says that he will wait and trust in the Lord.
- Isaiah asks why the people turn to "dead" mediums" rather than the living.
- If the people don't trust in the teachings and testimony of their God they will be greatly distressed and hungry.
- The people always turn in anger from their king and God when trouble comes.
- They will face their end.
Romans 13
- We are called to follow our worldly leaders because they were instituted by God.
- If you resist authority you resist God and will be judged.
- Rulers punish bad behavior so we should show good behavior and receive favor.
- God is using the rulers for our good.
- The ruler will avenge wrong doings for God.
- This is why we are also called to pay taxes.
- Pay taxes, revenue, respect, and honor to those whom it is owed.
- Owe no one anything except to show love for them.
- The commandments "thou shall not commit adultery, murder, steal, and covet" all fall under the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.
- Loving your neighbor fulfills the law.
- Salvation is closer and closer each day.
- They are no longer in darkness of night, but in the light of day.
- We need to cast off the works of darkness and put on armor of light (Paul's 2nd comparison to godliness being armor)
- Darkness includes; orgies, sexual sin, jealousness, drunkenness, and quarreling.
- He tells us to put on Christ and make NO provision to the flesh to gratify its desires.
(Paul is saying that we need to fight against the desires of the flesh)
James 1
- James identifies himself as being a servant of God and Jesus.
- He is speaking to the 12 tribes of the dispersion.
- We should see trials as joys because they produce steadfastness, so that we won't lack anything.
- We should ask God for wisdom without doubting Him.
- Doubting is like being tossed back and forth on the waves. A doubter won't receive anything.
- A doubter is unstable in all his ways.
- A lowly man should boast in his exaltation and a wealthy man in his humiliation because both will pass away.
- Does this mean a rich man can't be proud of what he has done or earned?
- The rich man will eventually die in his pursuits (It can only last so long)
- A person who remains steadfast under trials will receive a reward from God.
- God cannot be tempted and He tempts no one.
- We are tempted when we are lured and enticed by our desires which lead to sin and eventually death.
- Every good gift is from God
- There is no variation or change in God.
- We were created by God's will in truth.
- We should be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
- Anger does not produce righteousness.
- We are called to put away wickedness and received God's word with meekness because it alone can save our souls.
- God's word should lead us to action not just hears of it.
- If you hear God's word but don't act you are like a man who looks in a mirror but doesn't change his appearance.
- The one who looks at the law and acts will be blessed in what they do.
- A religious man also needs to control his tongue
- Pure religion is caring for children and widows and keeping oneself unstained by the world.
-
- Korah took men from 250 chieftains and rose up against Moses.
- They said all the Israelites were holy and were upset that Moses and Aaron had raised themselves up as holy.
- Moses fell on his face and said God would tell them who was holy among them.
- Moses said the Lord would choose the holy one among them.
- Moses told Korah to light the censers and have his men do the same and that God would choose (the holy one) leader among them.
- Korah was a Levite and Moses said they had gone too far.
- Moses rebuked them for not being content with the fact that God had chosen them to work in the temple near Him. The people were ultimately rising up against God, not Moses and Aaron.
- Moses called for Dathan and Abiram who refused to come up because they were mad that Moses had promised them milk and honey and they were in the wilderness and they didn't want Moses to be prince over them.
- Moses got angry with them and told God not to accept their offerings.
- Moses told Korah and his 250 men to light their censers and bring them to the entrance of the tent of meeting.
- The glory of the Lord appeared to them all .
- God told Moses and Aaron to move aside and he would strike down these men, but Moses pleaded for their lives.
- Moses went to the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and told the people that if these men died naturally they could be the ruler but if God did "something new" (having the earth swallow them) they would know God had appointed Moses to lead the people.
- As soon as Moses was done speaking the earth opened up beneath these men.
- The ground then closed up and fire came out from the lord and consumed the 250 men with the incense.
- Why did God still decide to kill these men the next day?
- Eleazar, son of Aaron was to collect the incense burners and scattered them because they were now holy.
- Eleazar then took the bronze and created a covering for the altar as a reminder to the people that no one outside the line of Aaron should burn incense.
- The people were upset Moses had killed the people of the Lord.
- Then the people saw the glory of the Lord appear before them.
- The Lord said to move away from the congregation so He could wipe them out.
- Moses told Aaron to light the incense and run it through the crowd to make atonement for them.
- A plague began and Aaron stood in between the dead and the living.
- 14,700 people died before the plague had stopped
Isaiah 8
- The Lord tells Isaiah to write common characters on a tablet.
- Isaiah saw Uriah and Zechariah as reliable.
- Did Isaiah impregnate the prophetess?
- They named the son Maher-shalal-hash-baz which means The spoil speeds, the prey hastens
- Isaiah said that before the baby could talk Damascus and Samaria would lose their wealth to the King of Assyria
- Isaiah tells the people that The Assyrians will flood the area like the River.
- Why is "river" capitalized?
- The Lord tell Isaiah not to fear like the rest.
- God alone should be their source of fear and dread.
- The Lord will now become a stumbling block for the people of Israel.
- Isaiah says that he will wait and trust in the Lord.
- Isaiah asks why the people turn to "dead" mediums" rather than the living.
- If the people don't trust in the teachings and testimony of their God they will be greatly distressed and hungry.
- The people always turn in anger from their king and God when trouble comes.
- They will face their end.
Romans 13
- We are called to follow our worldly leaders because they were instituted by God.
- If you resist authority you resist God and will be judged.
- Rulers punish bad behavior so we should show good behavior and receive favor.
- God is using the rulers for our good.
- The ruler will avenge wrong doings for God.
- This is why we are also called to pay taxes.
- Pay taxes, revenue, respect, and honor to those whom it is owed.
- Owe no one anything except to show love for them.
- The commandments "thou shall not commit adultery, murder, steal, and covet" all fall under the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself.
- Loving your neighbor fulfills the law.
- Salvation is closer and closer each day.
- They are no longer in darkness of night, but in the light of day.
- We need to cast off the works of darkness and put on armor of light (Paul's 2nd comparison to godliness being armor)
- Darkness includes; orgies, sexual sin, jealousness, drunkenness, and quarreling.
- He tells us to put on Christ and make NO provision to the flesh to gratify its desires.
(Paul is saying that we need to fight against the desires of the flesh)
James 1
- James identifies himself as being a servant of God and Jesus.
- He is speaking to the 12 tribes of the dispersion.
- We should see trials as joys because they produce steadfastness, so that we won't lack anything.
- We should ask God for wisdom without doubting Him.
- Doubting is like being tossed back and forth on the waves. A doubter won't receive anything.
- A doubter is unstable in all his ways.
- A lowly man should boast in his exaltation and a wealthy man in his humiliation because both will pass away.
- Does this mean a rich man can't be proud of what he has done or earned?
- The rich man will eventually die in his pursuits (It can only last so long)
- A person who remains steadfast under trials will receive a reward from God.
- God cannot be tempted and He tempts no one.
- We are tempted when we are lured and enticed by our desires which lead to sin and eventually death.
- Every good gift is from God
- There is no variation or change in God.
- We were created by God's will in truth.
- We should be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
- Anger does not produce righteousness.
- We are called to put away wickedness and received God's word with meekness because it alone can save our souls.
- God's word should lead us to action not just hears of it.
- If you hear God's word but don't act you are like a man who looks in a mirror but doesn't change his appearance.
- The one who looks at the law and acts will be blessed in what they do.
- A religious man also needs to control his tongue
- Pure religion is caring for children and widows and keeping oneself unstained by the world.
-
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Numbers 15 - Isaiah 7 – Romans 12 – Hebrews 13
Numbers 15
- Moses tells the people to prepare offerings when they enter the new land.
- They should offer a freewill offering, burnt offering, and a drink offering to the Lord.
- They were to use one tenth of an ephah of flour for a lamb and 2 tenths for a ram.
- A bull gets 3 tenths an ephah of flour.
- Any sojourner or foreigner shall offer sacrifices in the same way as the Israelites.
- The first of the dough they shall present to the Lord as a contribution.
- What would define an unintentional sin?
- The needed to offer one bull as a burnt offering and one goat as a sin offering for an unintentional sin.
- The whole congregation and those traveling with them shall be forgiven of their mistaken sin.
- If one person sins they are to offer a year old female goat.
- If someone sins because he despises what the Lord has commanded, that person shall be cut off from the people.
- The people found a man collecting sticks on the Sabbath.
- They put him in custody and Moses asked the Lord what they were to do.
- The Lord told them to stone the man to death for breaking the commandment.
- The Lord instructed Moses to have the people put a blue tassle on their robes to remin them of the commandments so they wouldn't break them.
- We are all inclined to follow our heart and lusts.
- God is calling them to be holy.
Isaiah 7
- The time period was in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah.
- It was King Uzziah's grandson's reign.
- The King of Israel came to wage war against Jerusalem.
- Syria and Ephraim were working together which made Ahaz worried.
- Shear-jashub was Isaiah's son.
- Isaiah went to the king and told him not to fear the Syrians.
- Where was this quote coming from?
- It was telling the people to have faith and stand firm.
- The Lord told Ahaz to ask anything of Him and Ahaz said he would not put God to the test.
- God sent them this future sign instead foreshadowing the coming of Christ, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel
- For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. (Is this saying Jesus had to learn to avoid evil?)
- In that day the flys and bees will dwell in the land of Assyria.
- There will be abundance, milk and honey, in those days.
- THe Syrians land that now produces valuable vines will be full of thorn bushes.
Romans 12
- Paul was saying they should present their bodies to God as a living sacrifice.
- Living for God with your body IS spiritual worship.
- Paul warns about being of this world and tells them to renew their minds to discern God's will.
- Paul warns them not to think too highly of themseleves but to be humble.
- The church has many members but we don't all have the same function.
- Do some gifts require more grace than others?
- The gifts Paul lists are: prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, generosity, leading, acts of mercy (to be done with cheerfulness)
- We are called to let our love be genuine.
- We should hate what is evil and cling to good.
- Paul mentions the importance of zeal twice in the section.
- Rejoice, be patient in trials, and constant in prayers.
- Bless those who persecute you, do not curse them.
- Rejoice and weep with others.
- Give yourself to humble tasks.
- Do not repay evil, but always do what is honorable to all.
- God will seek vengence so we are not to.
- To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- We are to love our enemies and do good to them.
Hebrews 13
- The writer encourages brotherly love to continue.
- Show hospitality to strangers
- Is the writer saying some strangers are really angels?
- Remember those fellow believers who are in prison or mistreated.
- Hold your marriage with honor and keep from sexual immorality.
- Do not love money but be content with what you have because God has said "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
- Since the Lord is our helper we do not need to fear.
- The writer tells the people to immitate their leaders' lives.
- Christ has always been and will always be the same, God is unchanging.
- Do not be misled by false teaching but strengthen yourseleves with grace.
- The bodies of sacrificed animals are burned outside of the city just like Jesus suffered outside of the gate to sanctify people to Himself.
- The writer tells us to go outside the city because we are seeking the city to come.
- We can offer God sacrifices by out lips which praise Him.
- Do not neglect to do good and share what you have with others.
- The writer ends by asking God to by Jesus blood to do everything good according to God's will.
- The writer tells them that Timothy has been released and that the writer himself will try to come visit them soon with Timothy.
- He also says the leaders in Italy send the readers greetings.
-
- Moses tells the people to prepare offerings when they enter the new land.
- They should offer a freewill offering, burnt offering, and a drink offering to the Lord.
- They were to use one tenth of an ephah of flour for a lamb and 2 tenths for a ram.
- A bull gets 3 tenths an ephah of flour.
- Any sojourner or foreigner shall offer sacrifices in the same way as the Israelites.
- The first of the dough they shall present to the Lord as a contribution.
- What would define an unintentional sin?
- The needed to offer one bull as a burnt offering and one goat as a sin offering for an unintentional sin.
- The whole congregation and those traveling with them shall be forgiven of their mistaken sin.
- If one person sins they are to offer a year old female goat.
- If someone sins because he despises what the Lord has commanded, that person shall be cut off from the people.
- The people found a man collecting sticks on the Sabbath.
- They put him in custody and Moses asked the Lord what they were to do.
- The Lord told them to stone the man to death for breaking the commandment.
- The Lord instructed Moses to have the people put a blue tassle on their robes to remin them of the commandments so they wouldn't break them.
- We are all inclined to follow our heart and lusts.
- God is calling them to be holy.
Isaiah 7
- The time period was in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah.
- It was King Uzziah's grandson's reign.
- The King of Israel came to wage war against Jerusalem.
- Syria and Ephraim were working together which made Ahaz worried.
- Shear-jashub was Isaiah's son.
- Isaiah went to the king and told him not to fear the Syrians.
- Where was this quote coming from?
- It was telling the people to have faith and stand firm.
- The Lord told Ahaz to ask anything of Him and Ahaz said he would not put God to the test.
- God sent them this future sign instead foreshadowing the coming of Christ, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel
- For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. (Is this saying Jesus had to learn to avoid evil?)
- In that day the flys and bees will dwell in the land of Assyria.
- There will be abundance, milk and honey, in those days.
- THe Syrians land that now produces valuable vines will be full of thorn bushes.
Romans 12
- Paul was saying they should present their bodies to God as a living sacrifice.
- Living for God with your body IS spiritual worship.
- Paul warns about being of this world and tells them to renew their minds to discern God's will.
- Paul warns them not to think too highly of themseleves but to be humble.
- The church has many members but we don't all have the same function.
- Do some gifts require more grace than others?
- The gifts Paul lists are: prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, generosity, leading, acts of mercy (to be done with cheerfulness)
- We are called to let our love be genuine.
- We should hate what is evil and cling to good.
- Paul mentions the importance of zeal twice in the section.
- Rejoice, be patient in trials, and constant in prayers.
- Bless those who persecute you, do not curse them.
- Rejoice and weep with others.
- Give yourself to humble tasks.
- Do not repay evil, but always do what is honorable to all.
- God will seek vengence so we are not to.
- To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- We are to love our enemies and do good to them.
Hebrews 13
- The writer encourages brotherly love to continue.
- Show hospitality to strangers
- Is the writer saying some strangers are really angels?
- Remember those fellow believers who are in prison or mistreated.
- Hold your marriage with honor and keep from sexual immorality.
- Do not love money but be content with what you have because God has said "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
- Since the Lord is our helper we do not need to fear.
- The writer tells the people to immitate their leaders' lives.
- Christ has always been and will always be the same, God is unchanging.
- Do not be misled by false teaching but strengthen yourseleves with grace.
- The bodies of sacrificed animals are burned outside of the city just like Jesus suffered outside of the gate to sanctify people to Himself.
- The writer tells us to go outside the city because we are seeking the city to come.
- We can offer God sacrifices by out lips which praise Him.
- Do not neglect to do good and share what you have with others.
- The writer ends by asking God to by Jesus blood to do everything good according to God's will.
- The writer tells them that Timothy has been released and that the writer himself will try to come visit them soon with Timothy.
- He also says the leaders in Italy send the readers greetings.
-
Monday, May 4, 2009
Numbers 14 - Isaiah 6 – Romans 11 – Hebrews 12
Numbers 14
- Everyone cried out that they should go back to Egypt and choose a new leader.
- Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes when Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the people.
- Joshua and Caleb said that if the Lord is with them, the people in the land cannot hurt them.
- The people reacted by preparing to stone them, but God's glory shone on them so they stopped.
- God said to Moses that He'd destroy this people and choose a new people for Moses to lead.
- Moses pleads for his people and tell the Lord that it will look bad for God to the Egyptians because they will say God couldn't finish what he started.
- Moses quotes a verse about God's attributes about being slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
- Moses asks God to overlook the people's iniquity.
- God said that as punishment for the people's disobedience 10 times, none of them would see the promised land.
- God said Caleb will see it because he had a trusting, faithful spirit.
- God tells them to enter the valley by the way of the Red Sea
- Why would God have them avoid the Amalekites and the Canaanites?
- All people 20 years old and up who grumbled against God will NOT see the promised land.
- Only Caleb and Joshua will see it because they obeyed God.
- God said they'd be in the wilderness for 40 years (a year for every day they spied out the land)
- All of the men who spied out the land and gave a bad report died by plague then.
- The people mourned and decided they wanted to go into the promised land anyway.
- Moses warned them that plan would fail because the Lord would not be with them.
- Some of the people left camp to enter the hill country without the Ark or Moses. They were beaten back and defeated.
Isaiah 6
- In the year King Uzziah died, Isaiah had a vision.
- God was seated on his throne and his robe filled the temple.
- The seraphim stood above him having 6 wings, 2 to cover their face, 2 to cover their feet, 2 to fly. (They were referred to as male (him) ).
- They called back and forth to each other, "Holy holy holy is the Lord, The whole earth is filled with His glory"
- A voice shook the temple and smoke filled it.
- Isaiah responded in woe, because he had unclean lips.
- The seraphim touched Isaiah's lips with a hot coal and removed his sins.
- How can the coal atone for sin when it was not a sacrifice?
- The Lord asked who they should send and Isaiah said to send him.
- Why is God referring to "us"? Who is He talking about here?
- Why does God want Isaiah to tell the people to keep not hearing and seeing?
- The Lord said this will continue until the city lies in waste.
- One out of 10 people will remain in the ruins, but the city will even then be burned a second time.
- Those remaining will be a "holy seed" for later.
Romans 11
- Paul says that he is a descendant of Abraham and the tribe of Benjamin.
- Paul reminds them of God's reply to a struggling Elijah. In that time God said He kept 7,000 people from bowing to Baal.
- Paul says there is a remnant now, but it is because of grace not good works.
- The rest of the Israelites were hardened and couldn't hear or see what God was doing.
- Paul uses quotes from David and another OT book to show this.
- Paul said that because of these failures, salvation has come to the Gentiles as well.
- Paul's hope is to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, to make the Jew jealous and turn back to God from their sins.
- Paul uses a tree analogy to show his point.
- The Gentiles have been grafted in, and therefore should no longer have bad views of Jews who are now Christians because they are both rooted in God.
- Their response should be fear, not pride.
- Paul says that they should rejoice when the "broken branches" (Jews) are grafted back in because everyone who has been saved has done so because of God's kindness.
- The Jews that have turned away have opened opportunities for the Gentiles to enter God's kindness.
- The Jews' hardening opened doors for the Gospel to the Gentiles. Now the Gentiles' belief has opened doors for the unfaithful Jews again.
- We can't give any good gift to God which hasn't already given us.
- For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.
Hebrews 12
- The writer tells us to look to these biblical examples and find hope to ruin the race God has placed before us.
- Also to look to Christ who bore the cross and is now seated at God's right hand.
- The writer echos what he just said so that believers won't be fainthearted.
- The writer says they have not yet shed blood and quotes the fact that God disciplines those He loves.
- God disciplines us because we are His sons.
- God disciplines us for spiritual things where as our earthly fathers discipline for everyday things and we respect them for it.
- Discipline is painful at first but then yields good fruit.
- God disciplines us for our good that we may share His holiness.
- Discipline may seem painful but yields "peaceful fruit of righteousness"
- Strive for peace with everyone.
- Strive for holiness.
- Strive for grace and avoid "root of bitterness" which may cause trouble.
- No one should be sexually immoral or unholy like Esau.
- Esau later regretted selling his inheritance for a single meal.
- The Lord was/is to be feared as the ancient Israelites said. Even Moses trembled at the sight of Him.
- The writer is saying believers have no need to fear because they will feast in heaven with angels and Jesus Himself.
- Jesus speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
- Why does the writer refer to blood of Abel and not blood of Adam?
- Don't refuse the one who speaks to you on earth or from heaven.
- In the OT God's voice shook the earth but now He has made a promise.
- God promises to also shake heaven.
- The writer points out that "yet once more" means that the "shaking" will remove some things while the the things that cannot be shaken will remain.
- Our response should be gratitude and to give God reverence and awe.
- Everyone cried out that they should go back to Egypt and choose a new leader.
- Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes when Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before the people.
- Joshua and Caleb said that if the Lord is with them, the people in the land cannot hurt them.
- The people reacted by preparing to stone them, but God's glory shone on them so they stopped.
- God said to Moses that He'd destroy this people and choose a new people for Moses to lead.
- Moses pleads for his people and tell the Lord that it will look bad for God to the Egyptians because they will say God couldn't finish what he started.
- Moses quotes a verse about God's attributes about being slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
- Moses asks God to overlook the people's iniquity.
- God said that as punishment for the people's disobedience 10 times, none of them would see the promised land.
- God said Caleb will see it because he had a trusting, faithful spirit.
- God tells them to enter the valley by the way of the Red Sea
- Why would God have them avoid the Amalekites and the Canaanites?
- All people 20 years old and up who grumbled against God will NOT see the promised land.
- Only Caleb and Joshua will see it because they obeyed God.
- God said they'd be in the wilderness for 40 years (a year for every day they spied out the land)
- All of the men who spied out the land and gave a bad report died by plague then.
- The people mourned and decided they wanted to go into the promised land anyway.
- Moses warned them that plan would fail because the Lord would not be with them.
- Some of the people left camp to enter the hill country without the Ark or Moses. They were beaten back and defeated.
Isaiah 6
- In the year King Uzziah died, Isaiah had a vision.
- God was seated on his throne and his robe filled the temple.
- The seraphim stood above him having 6 wings, 2 to cover their face, 2 to cover their feet, 2 to fly. (They were referred to as male (him) ).
- They called back and forth to each other, "Holy holy holy is the Lord, The whole earth is filled with His glory"
- A voice shook the temple and smoke filled it.
- Isaiah responded in woe, because he had unclean lips.
- The seraphim touched Isaiah's lips with a hot coal and removed his sins.
- How can the coal atone for sin when it was not a sacrifice?
- The Lord asked who they should send and Isaiah said to send him.
- Why is God referring to "us"? Who is He talking about here?
- Why does God want Isaiah to tell the people to keep not hearing and seeing?
- The Lord said this will continue until the city lies in waste.
- One out of 10 people will remain in the ruins, but the city will even then be burned a second time.
- Those remaining will be a "holy seed" for later.
Romans 11
- Paul says that he is a descendant of Abraham and the tribe of Benjamin.
- Paul reminds them of God's reply to a struggling Elijah. In that time God said He kept 7,000 people from bowing to Baal.
- Paul says there is a remnant now, but it is because of grace not good works.
- The rest of the Israelites were hardened and couldn't hear or see what God was doing.
- Paul uses quotes from David and another OT book to show this.
- Paul said that because of these failures, salvation has come to the Gentiles as well.
- Paul's hope is to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, to make the Jew jealous and turn back to God from their sins.
- Paul uses a tree analogy to show his point.
- The Gentiles have been grafted in, and therefore should no longer have bad views of Jews who are now Christians because they are both rooted in God.
- Their response should be fear, not pride.
- Paul says that they should rejoice when the "broken branches" (Jews) are grafted back in because everyone who has been saved has done so because of God's kindness.
- The Jews that have turned away have opened opportunities for the Gentiles to enter God's kindness.
- The Jews' hardening opened doors for the Gospel to the Gentiles. Now the Gentiles' belief has opened doors for the unfaithful Jews again.
- We can't give any good gift to God which hasn't already given us.
- For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.
Hebrews 12
- The writer tells us to look to these biblical examples and find hope to ruin the race God has placed before us.
- Also to look to Christ who bore the cross and is now seated at God's right hand.
- The writer echos what he just said so that believers won't be fainthearted.
- The writer says they have not yet shed blood and quotes the fact that God disciplines those He loves.
- God disciplines us because we are His sons.
- God disciplines us for spiritual things where as our earthly fathers discipline for everyday things and we respect them for it.
- Discipline is painful at first but then yields good fruit.
- God disciplines us for our good that we may share His holiness.
- Discipline may seem painful but yields "peaceful fruit of righteousness"
- Strive for peace with everyone.
- Strive for holiness.
- Strive for grace and avoid "root of bitterness" which may cause trouble.
- No one should be sexually immoral or unholy like Esau.
- Esau later regretted selling his inheritance for a single meal.
- The Lord was/is to be feared as the ancient Israelites said. Even Moses trembled at the sight of Him.
- The writer is saying believers have no need to fear because they will feast in heaven with angels and Jesus Himself.
- Jesus speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
- Why does the writer refer to blood of Abel and not blood of Adam?
- Don't refuse the one who speaks to you on earth or from heaven.
- In the OT God's voice shook the earth but now He has made a promise.
- God promises to also shake heaven.
- The writer points out that "yet once more" means that the "shaking" will remove some things while the the things that cannot be shaken will remain.
- Our response should be gratitude and to give God reverence and awe.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Numbers 13 - Isaiah 5 – Romans 10 – Hebrews 11
Numbers 13
- God told Moses to send one spy from each of the tribes into Canaan.
- Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua
- The spies were to tell if the people were weak or strong and what their cities were like and whether the land was good or bad (because it was harvest time)
- Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt
- When was Zoan built?
- The took some grapes and pomegranates.
- Why did they carry the grapes on a pole carried by 2 men?
- They returned after 40 days.
- They reported that the land was fruitful but the people were strong and cities were fortified.
- Caleb the son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Isaachar quieted the people and said they could take the land.
- The rest of the men were scared to go and fight the giants who lived in Canaan
Isaiah 5
- Why is this section like a poem to his beloved?
- His beloved cleared the ground for a vinyard and built a watch tower.
- He wanted grapes but it grew wild grapes
- Why does this sound like a bad thing?
- Isaiah is asking the people of Jerusalem why they are yielding wild grapes.
- God is saying that because they are yielding wild grapes He will let destruction come to the vinyard.
- God desired justice and the people of Israel yielded bloodshed.
- God is saying that the houses will be empty and the vines will not yield a good harvest.
- God says woe to those who get drunk and forget Him.
- Man is humbled and brought low.
- The Lord is exalted in His justice and righteousness which the people have turned from.
- Woe to those who lie or bend the truth.
- The people were calling evil good and good evil (following the ways of the world)
- Woe to those who think they are wise and to those who are heroes at drinking.
- These people have despised God's ways and laws and will go down to dust.
- God has inflicted justice and His hand of justice is still bringing judgement on the wicked.
- The Lord will bring outsiders to lay the Israelites to ruin for their sins.
Romans 10
- Paul desires to see Gentiles saved through Christ though they were unaware of the Jewish laws.
- If we ascend to heaven we bring Christ down and if we descend down, we are saying we can raise Jesus from the dead. Christ did not need us to do either of these things.
- The truth is by faith the word of God is in our words and heart.
- Believing in your heart is what will save you.
- Heart = believing and being justified
- Mouth = confessing and being saved.
- For those saved by faith God makes no distinction between Jew and Greek.
- Paul asks how Greeks will believe if they have never heard the gospel.
- He also says that it is beautiful when someone proclaims the gospel to people who have never heard it before.
- Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ.
- Is Paul saying that all people should be aware of the gospel?
- Paul quotes Isaiah who says that God found those who did not seek Him.
- But Isaiah says that God held out His hand to a disobedient and "contrary" people.
- Why did God choose to save a group of people that were so often so opposed to Him?
Hebrews 11
- This is the faith chapter
- Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
- By faith we believe God spoke and created everything out of nothing.
- By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain.
- By faith Enoch was taken up and never saw death because he pleased God.
- Without faith we cannot please God.
- By faith, Noah built an ark saving his family and condemning the rest of the people.
- By faith, Abraham went out not knowing where he was going and entered the promised land.
- By faith Sarah conceived and had numerous descendants even though she was too old. (why is Sarah seen as having faith since she had Abraham lay with her servant to conceive?)
- These people all died before they saw the things promised to them and didn't look back to where they were leaving from but forward to the better places promised to them by God.
- By faith Abraham offered up Isaac as a sacrifice, figuring God would restore Isaac even if he were killed because of God's promise to make a people from Isaac.
- By faith Isaac gave future blessings to Jacob and Esau.
- By faith Jacob bless the sons of Joseph before he died.
- By faith Joseph mentioned the exodus of the Jews and gave directions for his bones.
- By faith, Moses' parents hid him for 3 months
- By faith, Moses refused to be with the Egyptians and chose to be mistreated, he did not fear Pharaoh, and kept the Passover.
- By faith, the people crossed the Red Sea.
- By faith the walls of Jericho fell after 7 days.
- By faith, Rahab was spared during the invasion of Jericho for helping the spies.
- Why doesn't the writer expound upon the other Bible greats which he mentions in passing such as Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets?
- The writer simply mentions the trials they went through and the miracles that God performed through them.
- How does "sawn in two" also translate as "they were tempted"?
- All of those who had such great faith never lived to see what was promised which was Jesus' death and resurrection which would save those who would believe.
- God told Moses to send one spy from each of the tribes into Canaan.
- Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua
- The spies were to tell if the people were weak or strong and what their cities were like and whether the land was good or bad (because it was harvest time)
- Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt
- When was Zoan built?
- The took some grapes and pomegranates.
- Why did they carry the grapes on a pole carried by 2 men?
- They returned after 40 days.
- They reported that the land was fruitful but the people were strong and cities were fortified.
- Caleb the son of Jephunneh from the tribe of Isaachar quieted the people and said they could take the land.
- The rest of the men were scared to go and fight the giants who lived in Canaan
Isaiah 5
- Why is this section like a poem to his beloved?
- His beloved cleared the ground for a vinyard and built a watch tower.
- He wanted grapes but it grew wild grapes
- Why does this sound like a bad thing?
- Isaiah is asking the people of Jerusalem why they are yielding wild grapes.
- God is saying that because they are yielding wild grapes He will let destruction come to the vinyard.
- God desired justice and the people of Israel yielded bloodshed.
- God is saying that the houses will be empty and the vines will not yield a good harvest.
- God says woe to those who get drunk and forget Him.
- Man is humbled and brought low.
- The Lord is exalted in His justice and righteousness which the people have turned from.
- Woe to those who lie or bend the truth.
- The people were calling evil good and good evil (following the ways of the world)
- Woe to those who think they are wise and to those who are heroes at drinking.
- These people have despised God's ways and laws and will go down to dust.
- God has inflicted justice and His hand of justice is still bringing judgement on the wicked.
- The Lord will bring outsiders to lay the Israelites to ruin for their sins.
Romans 10
- Paul desires to see Gentiles saved through Christ though they were unaware of the Jewish laws.
- If we ascend to heaven we bring Christ down and if we descend down, we are saying we can raise Jesus from the dead. Christ did not need us to do either of these things.
- The truth is by faith the word of God is in our words and heart.
- Believing in your heart is what will save you.
- Heart = believing and being justified
- Mouth = confessing and being saved.
- For those saved by faith God makes no distinction between Jew and Greek.
- Paul asks how Greeks will believe if they have never heard the gospel.
- He also says that it is beautiful when someone proclaims the gospel to people who have never heard it before.
- Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ.
- Is Paul saying that all people should be aware of the gospel?
- Paul quotes Isaiah who says that God found those who did not seek Him.
- But Isaiah says that God held out His hand to a disobedient and "contrary" people.
- Why did God choose to save a group of people that were so often so opposed to Him?
Hebrews 11
- This is the faith chapter
- Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
- By faith we believe God spoke and created everything out of nothing.
- By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain.
- By faith Enoch was taken up and never saw death because he pleased God.
- Without faith we cannot please God.
- By faith, Noah built an ark saving his family and condemning the rest of the people.
- By faith, Abraham went out not knowing where he was going and entered the promised land.
- By faith Sarah conceived and had numerous descendants even though she was too old. (why is Sarah seen as having faith since she had Abraham lay with her servant to conceive?)
- These people all died before they saw the things promised to them and didn't look back to where they were leaving from but forward to the better places promised to them by God.
- By faith Abraham offered up Isaac as a sacrifice, figuring God would restore Isaac even if he were killed because of God's promise to make a people from Isaac.
- By faith Isaac gave future blessings to Jacob and Esau.
- By faith Jacob bless the sons of Joseph before he died.
- By faith Joseph mentioned the exodus of the Jews and gave directions for his bones.
- By faith, Moses' parents hid him for 3 months
- By faith, Moses refused to be with the Egyptians and chose to be mistreated, he did not fear Pharaoh, and kept the Passover.
- By faith, the people crossed the Red Sea.
- By faith the walls of Jericho fell after 7 days.
- By faith, Rahab was spared during the invasion of Jericho for helping the spies.
- Why doesn't the writer expound upon the other Bible greats which he mentions in passing such as Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets?
- The writer simply mentions the trials they went through and the miracles that God performed through them.
- How does "sawn in two" also translate as "they were tempted"?
- All of those who had such great faith never lived to see what was promised which was Jesus' death and resurrection which would save those who would believe.
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