The One Year Bible- September 26th
A number of years ago I was introduced to a form
of devotion and reading called Lectio Divina. In short it is a tool to use when
you are reading God’s word. Here is a quick definition: Lectio Divina is
Latin for divine reading, spiritual reading, or "holy reading," and
represents a method of prayer and scriptural reading intended to promote
communion with God and to provide special spiritual insights. It is a way of
praying with Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and, finally,
pray from God's Word. The past few weeks I have used this tool to stop and
spend some time just chewing on God’s word and praying through what we have
been reading. I have stopped in various places including parts of Isaiah,
Ephesians and especially Psalms. I encourage you to give it a try. One thing
you have been doing without even knowing it is something called Lectio
Continua which is Latin for continuous reading. It is the discipline of
reading the entire Bible without omitting anything. Both Lectio Continua
and Lectio Divina can bring some depth as well as breadth to the study
of God’s Word. On to the study...
Seth’s Thoughts
The Old Testament
I think I could write a novel on what we found in
Isaiah this week. I think I told you that I am putting a star in the margin of
my Bible each time I read “The Holy One Of Israel”. Remember that this
is a term that points to the coming Messiah, Jesus. One thing to keep in mind
is that you need to remember who the “I” is in some of these passages.
Sometimes it is Yahweh, other times it is Isaiah. Make sure you know who is
talking. This will go far in helping you understand some of the significance of
the passage. Some general thoughts; we have entered the second part of the book
of Isaiah and we will start to see much more of a prophetic message. Isaiah’s
audience has changed from the people living in the Promised Land, to the exiles
living in captivity. Here we see a message of hope and promise. Chapter 40
begins the new section with such a message, “Comfort, comfort my people says
your God” (Isaiah 40:1 NIV). The people are in need of comfort because of
what has happened. The people have been exiled. They are living in a foreign
land and they need to hear the comforting words of their God. Chapter 40 gives
a hope filled message and ends with a verse near and dear to my heart, “But
those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings
like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be
faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV). This verse is my confirmation verse given to me
by my father. It has been a source of comfort and hope for me for most of my
life. I know that God is right there beside me giving me the strength I need to
do his will. He promises to be with me when all other things seem to go wrong.
Chapter 41 continues this same theme. Some of the most controversial parts of
the book of Isaiah come from the sections where he mentions a character named
Cyrus. He is called a shepherd, and one who will fulfill the purpose of God. He
is also called an ally of God. Some translations use the Hebrew word Messiah to
describe him. Cyrus was not a follower of Yahweh, he was the king of Persia,
and a Gentile. He was used by God to bring the remnant back to the Jerusalem.
Many believe that this name was inserted in later years to make Isaiah look
good. There is no proof of this, and we should be careful to say that God was
not the one who inspired Isaiah to write about this king. Many years later it
would come to pass that King Cyrus would issue a decree that would allow many
Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city and more importantly the
temple. Isaiah also spends much time on the topic of monotheism. There are so
many references to the Messiah in Isaiah it is hard to mention them all. Keep
on looking for things that seem familiar to the life of Christ.
The New Testament
We finished up Galatians and now are in Ephesians.
One of the main themes in Ephesians is “The Body of Christ” and the church. One
key idea to keep in your mind while reading is one of Paul’s presuppositions of
the book, namely that we are “In Christ” and apart from Christ we can do
nothing. We are part of Christ by what he did on the cross and by claiming us
as his own in baptism. We have been adopted into the family and now we can
celebrate with all the rights and privileges as heirs of salvation. This is an
amazing gift of God. This idea of “gift” is huge in Ephesians. “For it is by
grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is
the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9
NIV). What a wonderful message. It is not up to us. If it were, I know I would
be in trouble! I think I could just give quote after quote from Paul for this
post. I have underlined so much in my Bible this week. Here are some of the
best in my mind. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far
off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
(Ephesians 2:13 ESV). “For he himself is our peace”
(Ephesians 2:14 ESV). “So then you are no longer strangers and
aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and
members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19 ESV). “There is
one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one
hope that belongs to your call— one Lord one faith, one
baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all
and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV). “Be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
(Ephesians 4:32 ESV). I could go on and on, but you get the point. This book is
a deep rich read, filled with so many good things. Don’t just skim over these
things. Meditate on them, let them sink in, roll them around you head for a
while. You will be blessed by doing so.
Bits and Pieces
The Old Testament
We will finish up Isaiah this week. I will have a
lot to say next week about it. This week we will start the book of Jeremiah.
Here are the vital stats:
PURPOSE: To call Judah to repentance, announce the
Babylonian exile, and prophecy the new covenant.
AUTHOR: Jeremiah
TO WHOM WRITTEN: Judah (the southern kingdom) and
its capital city Jerusalem
DATE WRITTEN: During Jeremiah’s ministry approx.
627-586 B.C.
SETTING: Jeremiah ministered under Judah’s last
five kings—Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. The nation
was sliding quickly toward destruction and was eventually conquered by Babylon
in 586 B.C. (see 2 Kings 21-25). The prophet Zephaniah preceded Jeremiah, and
Habakkuk was Jeremiah’s contemporary.
KEY VERSE: “’Your wickedness will punish you;
your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and relize how evil and bitter
it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me,’
declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty” (2:19).
LAW THEMES: The nations plucked up, broken down,
destroyed, and overthrown; punishment of Judah by sword, famine and pestilence;
faithless shepherds; turn in repentance; forsaking the Lord and His covenant;
idolatry; Judah cursed like Sodom.
GOSPEL THEMES: The nations built and planted; healing;
the Lord will relent; the remnant will return; a righteous branch to sit on
David’s throne; new covenant; new hearts; God’s steadfast love and mercy;
judgment of nations.
KEY PEOPLE: Judah’s kings (see list above), Baruch,
Ebed-Melech, King Nebuchadnezzar, the Recabites
KEY PLACES: Anathoth, Jerusalem, Ramah, Egypt
SPECIAL FEATURES: This book is a combination of
history, poetry, and biography. Jeremiah often used symbolism to communicate
his message.
The New Testament
We will finish up Ephesians, read Philippians and
start on Colossians this week. Here are the vital stats for Philippians:
PURPOSE: To thank the Philippians for the gift they
had sent Paul and to strengthen these believers by showing them that true joy
comes from Jesus Christ alone.
AUTHOR: Paul
TO WHOM WRITTEN: All the Christians at Philippi and
all believers everywhere
DATE WRITTEN: About A.D. 61, from Rome during
Paul’s imprisonment there
SETTING: Paul and his companions began the church
at Philippi on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:11-40). This was the
first church established on the European continent. The Philippian church had
sent a gift with Epaphroditus (one of their members) to be delivered to Paul
(4:18). Paul was in a Roman prison at the time. He wrote this letter to thank
them for their gift and to encourage them in their faith.
KEY VERSE: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will
say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4)
LAW THEMES: Suffering, uncertainty, and physical
sacrifice; rivalry over the Gospel; growth in humility and right-mindedness.
GOSPEL THEMES: Joy in Christ; Jesus’ exaltation
after the cross; righteousness through faith in Christ; heavenly citizenship.
KEY PEOPLE: Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, Euadia,
and Syntyche
KEY PLACE: Philippi
Here are the vital stats for the book of
Colossians:
PURPOSE: To combat errors in the church and to show
that believers have everything they need in Christ.
AUTHOR: Paul
TO WHOM WRITTEN: The church at Colosse, a city in
Asia Minor, and all believers everywhere
DATE WRITTEN: About A.D. 60 during Paul’s
imprisonment in Rome
SETTING: Paul had never visited Colosse—evidently
the church had been founded by Epaphras and other converts form Paul’s
missionary travels. The church, however, had been infiltrated by religious
relativism, with some believers attempting to combine elements of paganism and
secular philosophy with Christian doctrine. Paul confronts these false
teachings and affirms the sufficiency of Christ.
KEY VERSES: “For in Christ all the fullness of
the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who
is the head over every power and authority” (2:9-10).
LAW THEMES: Threat of false teaching and self-made
religion; Satan’s domain; struggle to fulfill God’s calling; God’s coming
wrath; the old self; admonish one another; God’s order for families and labor.
GOSPEL THEMES: Gospel growth; the Son’s kingdom and
reign; mystery: Christ dwells in you; Baptism, the new circumcision; the new
self; the Lord’s inheritance.
KEY PEOPLE: Paul, Timothy, Tychicuys, Onesimus,
Aristarchus, Mark, Epaphras
KEY PLACES: Colosse, Laodicea
SPECIAL FEATURES: Christ is presented as having absolute supremacy and
sole sufficiency. Colossians has similarities to Ephesians, probably because it
was written at about the same time, but it has a different emphasis.
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