Feb 12, 2018
EXODUS 25-26:
Yesterday we read the commands for the
Israelites to be good neighbors and to practice justice. And we
heard the requirement for all Israelites to celebrate three
festivals, and God gave promises of how He would bring them into
the land. Then we read the story of how Moses led the people in
accepting the covenant. Note how important the sacrificial blood
was in this ceremony. The Israelites promised to obey the covenant.
Moses told them to wait for him, then followed God's call to go up
to the summit of the mountain, where he stayed for 40 days and
nights.
PSALMS 1:
Job—
as I said before, is perhaps the earliest book of the Old
Testament, but we didn't find a primitive book, did we?! We found a
book of sophisticated poetry, one that uses literary devices and
makes reference to a well-developed mythology. And we find a book
that defies simple analysis. At the conclusion of Job, some of you
may be feeling that some basic questions were not really answered.
Some of you may be saying, “But I have suffered injustice, and God
has not responded to me the way he responded to Job at the end of
the book.” To those of you, I say that we can learn several things
from Job, and one would be that there are many things God takes
into account that we do not know about. And secondly, we can be
sure that God is just and fair, and in the final analysis— when we
reach heaven, all issues of justice will be resolved. And I also
say this: I hope you continue to read the Bible with us this year,
because we will find more answers about God’s sovereignty and
justice as we go on.
The book of Psalms was the nation of Israel's hymnbook. The poems were compiled over time, with most of the first half by King David. The Psalms fall into these categories:
Instruction, Praise,
Thanksgiving,
Penitence,
Trust, Distress,
Aspiration, History, and Prophecy.
Under the prophecy category, the Psalms talk of Jesus' prophetic office, his priestly office, his kingly office, his sufferings, and his resurrection. (For details, see HC Mears.)
LUKE 2b:
Yesterday we read of Jesus' birth, of the
angels announcement to the shepherds, and of Jesus being presented
in the temple— which is where we pick up the story
today.
GNT Translation
note:
Luk. 2:34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary,
[the child’s//his] mother, “This child is chosen by God for the
destruction and the salvation of many in Israel. He will be a sign
from God which many people will speak against 35 and so reveal
their secret thoughts. And sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break
your own heart.”
NLT Translation
notes:
Luk.
2:30 [For I have now//I have] seen your salvation,
31
which you have prepared for all people.
32
He is a light to reveal [You/God]
to the nations,
and
he is the glory of your people Israel!”