Advent

The GT Weekend! ~ Advent Week 3

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) On Monday, Rebekah reminded us what Advent truly is about. Are you like me and need this reminder? Or are you one of those who truly doesn’t become caught up in the hustle and bustle, carefully drawing boundary lines on your time and budget? With a large family and a love for all things Christmas, I confess many years of struggling to focus on spiritual things rather than material busyness. Pursuing things of far less value than the One True God makes us more like the shepherds who received the prophet Ezekiel’s chastisement instead of the humble shepherds who were first notified of Christ’s birth. Rebekah’s Journey Study illuminated that the Good Shepherd was born that night. As all of Israel waited and prepared to welcome the Messiah, so we wait and prepare our own homes and hearts for the Christmas season. In what ways are you intentional about keeping Christ at the center of your everyday focus in the Christmas season? What’s one thing you can implement this weekend to shift your focus onto the Savior? Take time to identify the biggest culprits of stealing your heart’s focus; pray over these as you surrender to Christ!

2) Decades ago when I first read of Abraham sacrificing his son, I doubt I considered how Abraham’s heart may have wrestled with God’s command. Many years of studying Scripture has shifted my perspective to see Abraham’s unswerving faith. He was confident in God’s promise to secure Abraham’s line for generations to come through Isaac, so it was obvious Isaac would survive somehow. (Hebrews 11:19) Abraham’s faith allowed him to follow God in obedience. However, my mother’s heart can’t help but ask, “What on earth?! Why God?!”. For me, I would have been undone had I been in Abraham’s sandals, yet I know there have been many times when I’ve had opportunity to grab hold of God’s faithful promises as I faced seemingly impossible odds. Where have you walked a similar “mountain path to sacrifice”? What specific encouragement can you take from Abraham’s example of faith? Read a few psalms this weekend and make one-word descriptions of God’s character that you discover as you read His word. Cling tightly to these unchanging truths regardless of your circumstance. Be reminded that a crucial aspect of Advent is found in impending sacrifice. Both Isaac and Jesus carried burdens on their backs to the place of sacrifice. Isaac didn’t understand, but Jesus did; He knew His advent was fulfilled by His sacrifice to pay for our sin!

3) Centuries ago, the early church counted down the four weeks before Christmas as a tradition for preparing hearts for the “coming” of Christ. Just as Israel waited for the Messiah, so Christians practiced Advent to celebrate His infant arrival. In yesterday’s Journey Study, Mary pointed out that believers today are between two advents, Christ’s birth and His glorious return. Israel yearned for Messiah’s first advent and we groan for His second appearing. While we live in the “in-between”, we prepare our hearts for another advent through the disciplines of prayer, worship, and reading His Word. How will you wait? What practice of waiting do you want to lean into more fully in the coming year? How we choose to wait has direct implications on the anticipation we feel for Christ’s return. Preparing for Christ’s second advent ushers us deeper into Christ’s presence as we press into “eager anticipation” for all God has for us in Christ Jesus! (Romans 8:19, Ephesians 1:11-12) One practice that reminds us of Christ’s love displayed in coming and returning is regularly confessing our sin. While not as exciting as preparing for Christmas, confessing our sin reminds us that Christ loved us enough to not only pay the sin-debt we owe, but return again to take us Home as His Bride forever!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Philippians 2:7b-8 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

And when He had come as a man,
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.

Prayer Journal
Lord, I know I am eternally blessed because I belong to You. In this love, I see Your hand even the negative and painful things of life. When I am intentional to remember that You are always good, and You will always do good things, You provide peace and assurance whatever my circumstances look like. I confess to You, Lord, that when I shift my focus off Your good character, I slip into fear and anxiety, anger and bitterness as I focus on the challenges in life instead of You. Forgive me of these times of choosing self over You!

Help me to seek You first in all things. Help me to see you in the regular daily rhythms of life. Reflect Your goodness through me to others. Lord, I pray this Christmas season would signal an advent of my own walk with You; a fresh preparation to welcome You as my Kingly Shepherd.

I praise You for choosing to take on flesh and dwell among us. We are Your creation, and you desire relationship with us, but we, – I –, am so very fallible. Remind me to cling to the truth: I am loved, seen, and heard by You.

Worship Through Community

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Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Advent Day 15 The Beginning

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Hebrews 2:14-18
Genesis 3:13-15
Philippians 2:5-8
Revelation 1:7-8

Advent, Day 15

I know, most people finish their story with the ending, right?

It’s Christmas Eve, Jesus is here!

Angels are singing and stars are twinkling as new parents take in their freshly birthed son… Of The Living God. God Himself wrapped in a 6-pound bundle of wrinkled newborn skin, dark eyes, cheesy vernix, baby poop, and blood.

None would look at this tiny babe and proclaim He is the Great Almighty by Whom and through Whom, the Universe exists.
Yet He Is.

None would kiss His silky head and press their finger to curly toes and consider He is God sent to die as a criminal for humanity’s rescue.
Yet He Is.

None would feel His feeble fingers curl around their thumb and declare Him to be the One sent to crush the head of Satan.
Yet He Is.

He is…
The Arrival of Satan’s Defeat
The One Foretold
The Great Light
Our Immoveable Anchor
The Suffering Servant
Our Perfect Priest
Our One True Shepherd
The Carol of Abraham and Isaac

Jesus is all of these and He always has been. In fact, while today we celebrate the beginning of His life on Earth, the truth is, Jesus has been with us since the beginning of time. If you’ll allow me, I’d like to take you from the side of Christ’s makeshift cradle to the Garden, where it all began.

In Genesis 3, the unbelievable has occurred. God’s perfect garden, His perfect world, has been marred by sin, ushered in by a single act of disobedience. In these verses, God listens as Adam and Eve play a round of the blame game, ultimately pointing their fingers at the serpent, Satan. We can sense God’s heartache and righteous anger as He delivers a curse to each of the guilty parties: first to the serpent, then to the woman, and finally, to the man.

Yet, in this heartbreaking moment, we also find a seed of hope: the first prophecy of a Savior. As swiftly as the curse is given, the plan of redemption is promised. Jesus will come. He will set this wrong to right. There is no hesitation from God. No, it seems in the very moment His creation rejects Him, He chooses to pursue us.

Surely as God, there were infinite paths He could have chosen to save us. Say the word! Snap His fingers! Scrap the whole “Earth project” and start again (this time without the snakes).

But He chose none of those paths. Instead, as Philippians 2:6-8 tells us, Christ chose to humble Himself by taking on the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
So the Christ was born as a defenseless child to penniless parents.

What kind of God chooses to become one of His creations?
What kind of God chooses to come as an infant instead of a king?

God promises the serpent will one day bruise the heel of Adam’s offspring, as Satan does in Christ’s death. But He also promises this Child will utterly crush the head of the serpent, as Jesus does through His resurrection. The reason Christ came to Earth as a baby was to fulfill this very prophecy in Genesis.
He came to crush the serpent’s head.
He came to break Satan’s power over us.
And He will come again.

Friend, we stand in the glorious in-between of two advents: Christ’s birth and Christ’s return. While much of Christ’s story lies behind us, we are invited into the anticipation and longing for the next chapter of His great unfolding when He will come as Victorious King, riding on a cloud, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

So you see, the Beginning we celebrate on Christmas Eve merely points us to another Beginning . . . the beginning of a Kingdom that will never end. In this kingdom, there will be no more tears, no more sickness, and no more shame. (Revelation 21:3-4) Just as in the garden, all those years ago, we will experience perfect fellowship with our God. Finally, we will experience the beautiful, yet mysterious union of the divine and those declared righteous because of the precious blood of the Only Begotten Son of the Living God.

No, I don’t imagine anyone gazing into his sleepy, newborn eyes could believe this child to be the Promise fulfilled and Everlasting King.

Yet He is.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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Advent Day 14 The Carol of Abraham & Isaac: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out The Carol of Abraham & Isaac!

The Questions

1) How could Abraham agree to obey God’s request? (verse 3)

2) What is the nuanced meaning behind “only son”? (verse 2)

3) Why is this particular narrative important?

Genesis 22:1-8

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he answered.

2 “Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together.

7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.”

And he replied, “Here I am, my son.”

Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.

Original Intent

1) How could Abraham agree to obey God’s request? (verse 3)
Abraham had a long-standing relationship with Jehovah God. He was familiar with hearing from God directly. He’d also gone back and forth with God as he interceded for the welfare of the cities Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 18:16-33) He asked God for confirmation regarding God’s promise that his future descendants would dwell in the land of Promise. (Genesis 15:8) God told Abraham his descendants would be  as numerous as grains of sand (Genesis 22:17) or stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5). This story detailing God’s command to sacrifice Abraham’s heir appears as if God is revoking His covenant promise. Why didn’t Abraham argue with Jehovah about this as he had previously pleaded for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah? Didn’t Abraham place more value on his son’s life than on a few residents dwelling in wicked cities? Careful, holistic reading of Scripture reveals this particular scene in Abraham’s life is again mentioned in Hebrews’ listing of “Heroes of Faith”. (Hebrews 11:8-12). He had such faith in God he confidently knew God would somehow make it right, even if it meant raising Isaac from the dead. A burnt offering meant that the entire object of sacrifice was to be wholly consumed. This was also a pagan land; child sacrifices were not unheard of, but this went totally against Jehovah. (Jeremiah 7:31) Abraham knew this, even as he saddled his donkey, even as he chopped the wood and placed it on Isaac’s back for the offering. He knew somehow God would provide. As evidenced by his comment to his servants, “We will return.” (verse 5) Unlike New Testament times, no one had been raised from the dead. Abraham’s faith was anchored on what he confidently knew to be true about God. Nothing else mattered.

2) What is the nuanced meaning behind “only son”? (verse 2)
We read this passage and wonder why God specifically instructed Abraham to bring “your only son” in verse 2 when God clearly knew Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. (Genesis 17:18-19) God also knew that Ishmael was the result of Abraham’s lack of faith when he listened to his wife, Sarah, and slept with Sarah’s slave, Hagar. While this wasn’t God’s plan for marriage, it was culturally acceptable to have children through a slave woman; any offspring would then belong to the patriarch. God emphasized that Abraham and Sarah’s plan wasn’t His by using the language of “your only son” because Isaac was the only son of promise. He was the one God had promised would be born to Abraham and Sarah; he would be the heir through whom God would fulfill His covenant. (Genesis 17:19) Through Isaac, the “only son”, God would bless all peoples and his descendants would outnumber the stars and sands. Ishmael represented the “work of man” as Hagar and Abraham took God’s promise and decided to accomplish it by their own power. Isaac is the “work of God” for his birth was outlandishly far beyond human ability. No woman is physically able to conceive a child long past child-bearing years, but God allowed it to showcase that His work would faithfully come to pass by His own hand. At the beginning of Abraham’s story, God promises “…all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3) This was begun with Isaac’s birth and fulfilled when, through Isaac’s lineage, Christ Jesus, the “only Son” of God, was born to save all people from their sin if they turn to Him in faith. (John 3:16) Jehovah God was not going to disregard His promise to Abraham; He is eternally faithful! (Hebrews 10:23)

3) Why is this particular narrative important?
Everything contained in Scripture is beneficial for training us how to follow Christ; through His Words, the Holy Spirit equips us to live out what it looks like in everyday life to love God and love others. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) No story should be overlooked, for these are all the words of God, given to us that we might know Him better and understand ourselves and the world around us more clearly. Abraham’s journey in following God was pot-holed and twisting, yet the Lord never left him or decided not to fulfill His purposes in Abraham’s life. Abraham had connived with his wife to jumpstart God’s plan to birth a son and he lied on multiple occasions to save his own life, even putting his wife in jeopardy. Abraham followed, albeit unfaithfully at several points, but God used his faith and led Abraham to know and trust Him more fully over time. This wasn’t to Abraham’s credit, but to God’s! This scene from Abraham’s life comes decades after he had first trusted God to lead him. The faith we see in this narrative has been built up over significant time. This faith wasn’t new, it wasn’t testing the waters, it was no longer arrogant and self-trusting, it was refined to a humble love and quick obedience. God placed this particular narrative in Scripture to remind us that faith is foundational, but God’s faithfulness will do the work that we cannot. Ultimately, He proved this by dying in our place as the perfect sacrifice for all sin for all time. All we must do is turn to Him with faith that, while it may begin small, God will ensure it grows rich and full over time spent following Him.

Everyday Application

1) How could Abraham agree to obey God’s request? (verse 3)
Have you ever been asked by God to do the impossible? Maybe it’s giving beyond your comfort zone, going overseas or across the street to tell someone about Jesus, or forgiving the one who harmed you. Following God actually is impossible without faith and the work of the Holy Spirit giving us power to follow Him. (Hebrews 11:6, 2 Peter 1:3) Unlike the popular catchphrase, “God won’t give you more than you can handle”, Scripture teaches God will indeed give us more than we can handle. That’s His intent, for when we realize we cannot, we realize HE can! Paul wrote, “But He (God) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, (…) for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) When we are faced with a test causing us to rely solely on what we know to be true of God, we are in Abraham’s shoes. New Testament disciple, James, writes, “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance…”. (James 1:2) Sometimes, we confuse tests from God with trials and temptations from the enemy. Tests from God will always bring Him glory as He builds maturity in us. Even if we face a difficult temptation to sin, the Lord is faithful to provide a way of escaping sin’s allure. (1 Corinthians 10:13) With surrender to Christ, trusting His ways, we can say with Paul, “I am able to do all things through Him (Christ) who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

2) What is the nuanced meaning behind “only son”? (verse 2)
Do you feel alone? Unseen? Abandoned? The only one who sins or struggles with doubt? The only one unreachable by God? You are not alone. God created you and God sees you. Just as deeply as Abraham was known and his future was seen by the Almighty God, despite how it may have felt, so is yours. He also sees your sin, your heart (even if it’s dark), and He desires to redeem you and show you Himself, giving you Hope! God the Father’s only son, Jesus Christ, who is Himself God, came to the world incarnate (wrapped in flesh) for the purpose of paying the penalty of our sin, forgiving us, and making us new. We all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23) But God is faithful. Oh, so very faithful! His faithfulness is sure, certain, and able to withstand the whole weight of our lives today and our eternity stretching forward. Abraham heard God’s command to sacrifice his only son, and God provided a ram for the sacrifice instead. (Genesis 22:13-14) Centuries later, on another hill not far from Abraham’s altar, God sacrificed Himself in our place. He became “Isaac’s ram”, providing perfectly for him, and us. God holds out this providential forgiveness to all of us. To accept this lavish, undeserved gift, we can come to God in faith, trusting Him at His promise to forgive, and repenting (turning away) from the heavy weight of our sin, surrendering our all to the God who Faithfully Provides. When we do this, God gives us Himself both now and for eternity.

3) Why is this particular narrative important?
When we need help in strengthening our faith, we can look to the heroes of the faith who have walked before us. The author of Hebrews tells many stories of people who began as ordinary, but whose faith was cultivated by God’s hand as they surrendered to God one step at a time. (Hebrews 11:1-12:2) Adding to these biographies, who do you know in your own life that truly follows God in full surrender, even if their lives aren’t perfect? Who encourages you to know God more deeply? Reach out, thank that person for their example of faith! At Gracefully Truthful, we’ve studied many whose lives have been set on trusting God. Visit “Previous Journeys” and look for “Sketched” themes! We could read Abraham’s story and leave it categorized as another good biography of a man of faith who lived in total surrender to God, believing unswervingly that God would faithfully fulfill His plan. But this story tells more than simply the faith of one man. We also glimpse Isaac carrying the burden of wood and humbly submitting to being bound to the altar in full trust of his father. Fast forward centuries later to God in the form of man, Himself in total surrender to His Father praying in a Garden, carrying His burden of a cross on His back, and willingly becoming the ultimate sacrifice of the World. One man’s humble obedience pointed forward to the divine Christ, humbly becoming “obedient to the point of death, even to death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8) that we might be rescued forever and covered by His forgiveness! He chose you, will you choose Him?

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Advent Day 13 The Carol of Abraham & Isaac

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 22:1-18
Hebrews 12:1-3
John 19:1-42

Advent, Day 13

Genesis 22 begins with the Lord directing His devoted follower, Abraham, to travel to Mount Moriah and offer Isaac as an offering of worship.
Isaac, the long-awaited son of Abraham’s old age.
Isaac, the miracle child through whom God promised to fulfill His covenant with Abraham.
Isaac, to be the first of Abraham’s descendants more numerous than the stars in the sky.

Isaac, to be bound and laid on an altar, his blood spilled by his father’s hand, his body consumed by flames.

Wait . . . what?

At first glance, this story seems to be nonsensical at best, contradictory to everything we believe about God’s character at worst. But dig in, sisters, because today we’re going to see how our good and loving God used Abraham and Isaac’s story to foreshadow the promise of Jesus’ sacrifice and the redemption it would bring.

Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh . . .

While I don’t know the climate of the region through which Abraham and Isaac traveled to reach the site of their offering, I imagine snow probably did not dot the landscape, certainly not the drifts that come to mind when singing this classic Christmas carol. Singing carols of generations past and new lyrics to celebrate the season is a favorite tradition. Suppose we were to consider the threads of ancient biblical biographies as lines to a Christmas carol that all creation has longed to sing in preparation for the coming King?

It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old…

Upon hearing the Lord’s voice, Abraham responded with immediate obedience.
He ensured that when he arrived at the correct location, he would have everything he needed to do exactly what the Lord had commanded. He had the wood, the fire, the knife, and Isaac. (Genesis 22:3)

When they reached the point of leaving the donkey and servants behind, Abraham put the wood on Isaac’s back and they finished the last distance to the burnt offering site, just the two of them. (Genesis 22:4-6)

Is anyone else catching the foreshadowing to Jesus’ sacrifice for us?
No, they weren’t singing songs of celebration, but a chorus of rescue was being woven by the Lord God just the same.

Abraham knew the burnt offering must be accomplished because the Lord had commanded it. God the Father knew Jesus’ sacrifice must be completed in order for us to have eternal communion with Him.

Isaac carried the wood. (Genesis 22:6)
Jesus carried the cross. (John 19:17)

Joy to the world, the Lord has come…

What went through Abraham’s mind as he bound Isaac? Did he wonder if the Lord would provide a substitutionary sacrifice? Did he start to process how the Lord might resurrect Isaac if no physical ram arrived? Did he believe he was truly saying goodbye to his promised heir and beloved son, Isaac?

No matter the answers to those questions, Abraham still raised the knife in preparation to spill Isaac’s blood as required for a true offering. Abraham trusted the outcome of his obedience to the Lord.

God the Father still allowed Jesus to be crucified. At any moment, He could have called down all the force of heaven to stop Jesus’ crucifixion, in His becoming the offering for our sins, but the Father knew the outcome of Jesus’ obedience and saw that it was for our eternal good. God saw the joy on the other side of the sacrifice: eternity with us.

The manger scene wasn’t the beginning of the Christmas carol. Its chords echo all the way back through the prophets, the kings, and one man’s obedience to worship the Lord by offering his only son.

Do you hear what I hear? 

What must Isaac have been thinking when he asked Abraham where the lamb would come from? Did his trust in his father begin to waver at all as his dad bound him and laid him on the altar?

What sense of relief and exaltation must Abraham have felt when he heard the Lord tell him to stop his raised hand from killing Isaac? Did the bleating of the ram evermore become the sound reminding him of God’s faithfulness?

In the Genesis 22 account, we witness how Isaac trusted his father,
and in turn trusted the Lord.

Jesus trusted God the Father as He willingly allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross.

Isaac was spared by the ram in the bush the Lord provided.
We were spared from the cost of our sins by Jesus, the Lamb crucified.

Indeed,
O come let us adore Him . . .
The One who gave Himself that we might be forever rescued from the weight of our sin.
This is a carol, whose vibrancy has been building since time began.

Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born…

Oh Lord, thank You for loving us with such intentionality and intensity! You knew of the sacrifice Jesus would make centuries after Abraham and Isaac lived. You commanded and documented a parallel story to help us see just how long You have been preparing our salvation.

Jesus, thank You for walking out the story to a completion Isaac never could have. Thank You for becoming the sacrifice that became the payment for our sins.

This Christmas, as the air is filled with Christmas songs new and old, may we embrace the Christmas gift the Lord anticipated giving us from the very beginning: Jesus and eternity with Him.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Advent Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Advent!

Advent Day 12 A Shepherd’s Heart: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out A Shepherd’s Heart!

The Questions

1) Who is the shepherd?

2) Who is the recipient of the shepherd’s care?

3) What does the shepherd provide?

Psalm 23:1

“The LORD is my shepherd. I have what I need.”

Original Intent

1) Who is the shepherd?
The psalmist begins by acknowledging that it is the Lord who continually provides all he needs. “The LORD … is my shepherd.” The image of a shepherd suggests the writer is considering himself to be a sheep under the care of the Lord, the genuinely good shepherd. The psalmist expands the metaphor in the following verses of the chapter and describes how the Lord is like a shepherd to him. Each verse is packed with images about the shepherd’s character and care. Bible translation notes offer us insight into the Hebrew language used in the verse. “The imperfect verbal form is best understood as generalizing; the psalmist highlights his typical or ongoing experience as a result of having the Lord as his shepherd (habitual present use).” (netbible.org) The Lord provided constant care to His servant, David. In verse 6, David says to his Lord and shepherd, “Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.” (Psalm 23:6) This shepherd of David is the same God who passed in front of Moses displaying His glory, “The LORD came down in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, ‘the LORD.’ The LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed: The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin.” (Exodus 34:6-7) This is the One to whom the people of Israel sang when the ark of God was returned. David himself was leaping and dancing before the Lord in celebration of Who He is, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:7-18 34-36)

2) Who is the recipient of the shepherd’s care?
Psalm 23 is a “psalm of David.” This same David was the people’s unlikely choice for king of God’s people. (1 Samuel 16:10-13) Theologian, Charles Spurgeon, said of the psalmist and songwriter, “I like to recall the fact that this psalm was written by David, probably when he was a king. He had been a shepherd, and he was not ashamed of his former occupation. When he had to wear a crown, he remembered the time when he had handled the shepherd’s crook, and as a lad, with his sling and stone, had kept watch over his father’s sheep in the wilderness.” (www.spurgeongems.org) Being a shepherd was a familiar role for David. He had cared for his father’s sheep as a youth. As a shepherd, he knew the constant watchfulness it took to be a faithful and protective shield for the sheep in his care. (1 Samuel 17:12-15, 34-35) As David’s shepherd, the Lord provided him with peace, even when he was pursued by enemies. (Psalm 23:4-5) As Rebekah stated yesterday, “When the going got tough and trial upon trial came up, David repeatedly relied upon the One whom He referred to as ‘The Lord, my Shepherd’. King David understood that his position, a God-given one, was a position of being under God’s protection even as he lived in anticipation of the ultimate Shepherd, King Jesus.” Shepherding was considered a noble occupation for the Israelites before the social shift began with Egyptian prejudice toward them. (Genesis 46:33-34) Still, most shepherds never became kings, and most kings had never been shepherds. God gave David a unique perspective as the shepherd-king.

3) What does the shepherd provide?
Sheep are vulnerable animals for several reasons. Most of us understand they are susceptible to predators because they are defenseless creatures. They have many natural predators in the wild, but those who care for them tell us sheep are their own worst enemy. They have a natural tendency to wander off and get lost. When they stray, they put themselves in danger of being lost, attacked, and even becoming disoriented to the point of tragically killing themselves by drowning or falling off cliffs. The shepherd’s job is an offensive and defensive one. He guides the sheep to places that will provide for their needs, while being constantly on guard to protect them from prowling enemies. (Psalm 23:2-4) As a king with enemies, David faced many days of fear and worry. Several of his psalms reflect his human emotional turmoil and suffering. It was a natural response for him to have dread and anxiety when his life was in danger. Yet, time and again, David took his fears to his God, the Good Shepherd. He resolved in his heart to trust the God he had come to personally know and trust, the One Who was faithful and generous in love. (Psalm 13)

Everyday Application

1) Who is the shepherd?
As our Shepherd, the Lord provides us all with His personal care, direction, protection and presence. When David declared the Lord as His shepherd, he was acknowledging the connection he had with God. As we read through the Old Testament books, we find that the relationship God had with His people dynamically shifted when Jesus came to earth as a man to bring us nearer to Him. Yet, even the patriarch Jacob had a comprehension of the shepherding heart of God. When he blessed his grandsons, he spoke of the “God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day.” (Genesis 48:13-16) The prophet Isaiah also referred to the coming Messiah as a shepherd. (Isaiah 40:9-11) As our gracious and gentle shepherd, God revealed His good news at night to a group of men in a field caring for their flock. How beautiful it is that the angel announcing the birth of the Christ appeared to shepherds! Years ago, I sang a chorus with these words: “Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need You to help us find our way. Gentle Shepherd, come and feed us for we need your strength from day to day. There’s no other we can turn to who can help us face another day. Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need to you to help us find our way.” Friend, during the season of Advent (when we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s coming), we can worship our Good Shepherd with joy and thanksgiving. The One who chased after David also pursues us with His goodness and mercy, which He will continue to do all the days of our lives. (Psalm 23:6)

2) Who is the recipient of the shepherd’s care?
Like others in the ancestry of the Christ child, David was an unlikely pick to be king of Israel. When Samuel anointed him, David had yet to defeat Goliath and establish war strategies. But, sister, who doesn’t love a good underdog story? As usual, God chose to lead His people in unexpected ways by calling on a young shepherd boy. As a shepherd himself, David was able to savor the sweetness of having a personal shepherd. He understood the implications of the imagery in the verses in Psalm 23. He said of God, “the Lord is MY shepherd.” Although the prophet Nathan shared a vision with David about his future (2 Samuel 7), I am doubtful that David fully comprehended his part in the fulfillment of the Messiah’s coming. His name would be forever inscribed in the greatest story of all time. “Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son …” (Luke 2:4-7, emphasis mine) To all who call on the name of Jesus, we too become recipients of the Good Shepherd’s goodness and mercy. Oh come, friend. Let us adore Him. “Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.” (Hebrews 13:20-21, emphasis mine)

3) What does the shepherd provide?
David was acutely aware of his own need for a shepherd as evidenced in his gut-honest psalms. Only God could fully supply everything he needed. Jesus said we are all in the same condition of need, both spiritually and emotionally. What comfort during this Advent season to know that it is precisely our need that leads us to find the source of our lasting joy. (Matthew 5:3-5) Charles Spurgeon said that to know the Lord as our shepherd, we must first understand our own wandering nature, “for he cannot know that God is his Shepherd unless he feels in himself that he has the nature of a sheep.” (Spurgeon.org) I recognize how I am prone to wander away. Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus to us. Sweet sister, He is our only hope!
“In the process, in the waiting, You’re making melodies over me. / And Your presence is the promise, for I am a pilgrim on a journey / You will lift my head above the mighty waves; / You are able to keep me from stumbling. / And in my weakness, / You are the strength that comes from within. / Good Shepherd of my soul, take my hand and lead me on. / You make my footsteps and my path secure, so walking on water is just the beginning. / Cause my faith to arise, stand at attention, for You are / calling me to greater things. / Oh how I love You, how I love You! / You have not forsaken me. / Oh how I love You, how I love You! / With You is where I want to be.”
(Shepherd by Amanda Falk)

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1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Advent Day 11 A Shepherd’s Heart

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ezekiel 34:1-16
Isaiah 40:9-11
Psalm 23
1 Samuel 17:34-37
John 10:11-18

Advent, Day 11

As you read these words, we find ourselves once again in the midst of the Advent season, and in this particular Journey Theme, we turn our eyes backwards from the first nativity to see what came before.

This truly is my favorite time of the year (followed, of course, by fall and all things pumpkin spice – yes, I’m one of those people!). As much as I love this time of year, I’m also quite well-acquainted with the stress associated with all the holiday hustle and bustle. We as women (and especially if we’re also moms) may find ourselves believing we must be all things to all people during Advent. We burden ourselves with unrealistic expectations and over-the-top standards of making all the cookies, hosting all the parties, partaking in all the activities, doing all the crafts, and more.

Eventually, we find we are no substitute for the One Who truly is all-sufficient, Christ Himself, Whose first coming we celebrate during Advent.

Just as we realize we are a shoddy substitute for the King of the Universe, so, too, Israel realized what a shoddy substitute human “shepherds” can be for the One True Shepherd!

The prophet Ezekiel proclaimed, “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them, “This is what the Lord GOD says to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock?”’” (Ezekiel 34:1-2)

Those whom the Lord had given positions of leadership (metaphorical shepherds) had instead turned on the people of Israel and done everything but protect and shepherd them. Contrast this with the prophet Isaiah’s words describing the Messiah, whose coming Advent commemorates:

“He protects His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them in the folds of His garment. He gently leads those that are nursing.” (Isaiah 40:11)

Even as Israel waited with great anticipation for the coming of this true and tender Shepherd, the Israelite David,  who ultimately identified Yahweh as his personal shepherd, was raised up by God to shepherd His people in an earthly sense. As king of Israel working in God’s stead to shepherd His people, David relied on the One True Shepherd for the ability to perform this important task. Instead of trusting himself and his ability to care and guard Israel, He trusted the Father God to lead him as he led Israel. David knew he alone could not possibly be all things to all people.

When faced with an enemy who seemed unconquerable, David proclaimed,
“Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine
will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” (1 Samuel 17:36)

When the going got tough and trial upon trial came up,
David repeatedly relied upon the One whom He referred to as
“The Lord, my Shepherd.” (Psalm 23:1)
King David understood his position, a God-given one, was under God’s protection and authority, even as he lived in anticipation of the One True Shepherd, King Jesus.

When King Jesus came, He proclaimed of Himself,
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

The One Whose coming we commemorate and celebrate this month is not only a shepherd. He is a good shepherd and, as a good shepherd, He lays down His life for each of us.

As the promised One True Shepherd, Jesus sacrificed His own life for the sheep.
While we celebrate the joy of Advent as a Babe in the manager, the ultimate purpose of this Advent was yet to come at the empty graveside which Christ’s once-dead body had abandoned to life. Christmas Advent is beautiful because it leads us to an empty tomb, a defeated enemy, and a restored eternity with our Father!

Easter is possible because of Christ’s obedience and deference to the Father in full submission. He was a good shepherd because He did as the Father instructed. Just as David, king and shepherd of Israel, relied on God to shepherd his heart, so we see this perfectly fulfilled in Christ as He submitted to the Father. In the meantime, though, while we still find ourselves months away from Easter and smack dab in the hustle and bustle of the Advent season, I want to remind us of something: it isn’t all on us, just like it wasn’t all on David or Jesus.

Yes, we all want to make this season special for our loved ones, but let’s avoid stressing ourselves with all the things we’re “supposed to do” that we set ourselves as the One True Shepherd, the ultimate One to care for and tend to our people in this season. Reserve that seat for the only One who can truly fill it, the Christ Whose advent we celebrate.

After all, our calling is not to break ourselves in the process of shepherding others. Rather, we are called to point others to the One True Shepherd Who was already broken for them.

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The GT Weekend! ~ Advent Week 2

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The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) When I think of an anchor, I think of boats. But buildings have anchors too, otherwise known as the “cornerstone”. It orients the building in a specific direction and provides the necessary stability to support the structure. In Monday’s Journey, Rebekah taught us about the immoveable anchor, Jesus. When we recognize Him as our Cornerstone, He orients us toward salvation, obedience, peace, and His presence. In what ways do you daily orient yourself towards Jesus? How do you see yourself being directed toward His Presence? How does the story of Anna motivate you to further allow Jesus to shape your life? When we don’t acknowledge Christ as our cornerstone we orient ourselves toward rebellion, temptation, and destruction. Have you ever found yourself oriented away from Jesus? If so, was your course corrected and how? After reading one or more Journeys from Justice, journal how fixing our eyes on anything other than Jesus leads to depravity, destruction, and injustice. Pray that you will always stand on Jesus, the Cornerstone, for your own salvation and the glory of God in everyday living.

2) Sacrifice. It’s not something we put on our bucket lists. Yet in Wednesday’s Journey Study, Sarah asks a poignant question, “He (Jesus) sacrificed His life for us. What have we sacrificed for His sake?” Ponder this question for a few moments. Jesus came from Heaven to live in a perishable body amongst sinful people. He was criticized, despised, and eventually crucified, all for our sinful selves. How does reflecting on this change your perception of sacrifice? How can you sacrifice for the One who has sacrificed so much for you? (If you need help with this prompt, check out this journey from Repurposed) One would think that after Jesus’ great and unthinkable sacrifice, we would do better in regards to Him. But no. We continually turn from Him and do our own thing. Yet He still lovingly helps, protects, and provides for us. Would you want to stay in a relationship where you were always doing the heavy lifting? Yet this is what God does for us. Write a prayer of surrender and love to Him, expressing your gratitude for His sacrifice and faithful love.

3) Friday’s Journey Study offered us a challenge, “Consider Jesus”. What does this mean? Glad you asked! It means meditating on the perfect Priest who was the perfect Sacrifice because He was perfectly sinless even as He bore the payment for our sins on the cross. But why? So we could “live for righteousness”. Do you ever consider Jesus’ righteousness on our behalf? If so, journal some thoughts on what that means. How do you live for righteousness? Even though we don’t like the term “sinner”, this is what we all are. We sin pretty much every day because we’re not fully free of our sin nature until Heaven. We only gain Heaven through our Rescuer, Jesus. If you were to fully embrace your identity as sinner in need of a Rescuer, what thoughts or feelings would you wrestle with? How can you make the most of the gift of salvation Jesus provided? One way to do this is sharing the Good News, a gift too good not to share. Who can you share it with? Write down their names. Write a prayer asking the Lord to create sharing opportunities for you. Ask Him to prompt you when it’s time to speak of Him, and ask Him to give you the right words.

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from Isaiah 53:5-6 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

But He was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all.

Prayer Journal
Dear Sweet Jesus, You have loved me so well. Just thinking of You in that manger as a helpless infant when you are the King of Kings does me in. Even more than that, knowing You were there so thirty three years later You could die for me is even more sobering. I must ask myself, have I honored His extravagant gift? I wish I did more often and more fervently. So Lord, this is my prayer today. Help me consider You. Let me meditate on Your sacrifice and Your never-ending love for me. Then spur me on to good deeds and the planting of good seeds of the Gospel. I love You, Jesus! Thank You for being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6) Amen

Worship Through Community

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Advent Day 10 Bridging The Gap

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Hebrews 9:6-15
Isaiah 53:4-6
Romans 3:10-26 
John 14:1-3
Romans 5:12-21

Advent, Day 10

“There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one [. . .] For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:10b-12, 23)

After the first man made the crushing choice of self over God, mankind became warped in their sinful selves, unable to truly stand before a righteous and holy God. They became objects of God’s wrath, and so there was nothing left for mankind except condemnation.

But while man was grubbing in darkness and hopelessness, One came who perfectly fulfilled the role of a mediator between God and man. He was God in the flesh, come to take our punishment and to cover our sinfulness with His righteousness. The Scripture says, “For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” (Hebrews 7:26)

As we celebrate the coming of God in the flesh with our Advent series, today, we journey further back still to examine how the priesthood foreshadowed our Savior’s arrival, generations before His birth.

Consider Jesus, our perfect Priest, Who sacrificed Himself to put away the sin of mankind. As it is appointed for man to die once, and after that judgement, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of the many. (Hebrews 9:26-28) He bore our sins in His own body on the cross, that we, having died to sin, might live for righteousness. (1 Peter 2:24)

What lavish love! What priest would dare love like this?
In His humble coming, He provided access to the Father never before known,
to not just a select few who could enter the holy of holies,
but for all who believe in Him.

In fact, Scripture says of those who have believed in Christ,
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)

No other blood can save except the blood of our Perfect Priest. While the priests in the Old Testament offered animals’ blood for the atonement of sins, their sacrifice could not grant complete access to God’s presence. In fact, it was offered as many times as sin was committed. The perfect Priest, however, offered Himself willingly and freely,
as a sacrifice for our sins once and for all.

The prophet Isaiah expounded,
“Yet he himself bore our sickness, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:4-6)

Jesus Himself said, “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

We may not appreciate this demonstration of great love by our perfect Priest if we do not understand the awful and grievous nature of our sinfulness.

In Ephesians 2:1-3, apostle and preacher, Paul, provides a sobering elucidation:
we were dead in our trespasses and sins,
following the course of this world, according to the ways of the prince of the air (Satan)
fulfilling the desires of our flesh and of our minds,
by nature children of wrath.

By following the course of this world,
we become servants of Satan.
We follow his dictates and crave evil rather than good. 

But this perfect Priest obtained for us eternal redemption with His own blood; He became sin that we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) The payment price to buy us back from the slavery of sin, under the dictatorship of Satan, is His blood.

What love!
What mercy!
Our redemption is in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

When I recall I was an object of God’s wrath, and consider the saving grace of my Redeemer, I shed tears of joy.

When I reflect on my awfulness, and how I deserved eternal death, but Jesus, the perfect Priest, died in my place, I know I owe Him my all.

Willingly, Christ died for us even when we were God’s enemies. (Romans 5:8) Now, He has provided access to God for whoever believes in Him, welcoming all to be reconciled to God. One day, coming still, we will leave our own sin-wrecked selves and find solace in Christ, face-to-face.

Scripture confirms,
“[T]here will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads [. . .] and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelations 22:3-5) Oh, what great joy awaits those who believe in Christ, the perfect Priest!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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Advent Day 9 The Suffering Servant: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
Check out The Suffering Servant!

The Questions

1) What do we learn of the Promised Messiah from Isaiah’s description? (verse 2-3)

2) What did Jesus achieve on our behalf? (verses 4-5)

3) What truths can we know about our human condition from this passage? How does this impact our relationship with God? (verses 6)

Isaiah 53:2-6

2 He grew up before him like a young plant

and like a root out of dry ground.

He didn’t have an impressive form

or majesty that we should look at him,

no appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of suffering who knew what sickness was.

He was like someone people turned away from;[a]

he was despised, and we didn’t value him.

4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses,

and he carried our pains;

but we in turn regarded him stricken,

struck down by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion,

crushed because of our iniquities;

punishment for our peace was on him,

and we are healed by his wounds.

6 We all went astray like sheep;

we all have turned to our own way;

and the Lord has punished him

for the iniquity of us all.

Original Intent

1) What do we learn of the Promised Messiah from Isaiah’s description? (verse 2-3)
Throughout Scripture, many facets of Jesus’ character and His role in human history are revealed. He is present before creation (John 1:1) as a part of the Triune God and active in it (Hebrews 1:2); He is preordained as Savior (Ephesians 1:5); His role and presence echo throughout the Old Testament (John 8:56-58, Hebrews 11:26, Jude 1:5, 1 Corinthians 10:4). In Revelation, Christ is foretold as mighty redeemer and judge. (Revelation 19:11-16) But, between the imagery at creation and the powerful descriptions in Revelation, we glimpse something unexpected. Our God is humble and meek. (2 Corinthians 10:1) First on display in the lowest of places, a feeding trough, God is born in human form. Philippians 2 highlights His willing submission to death on a criminal’s cross. Isaiah’s prophecy describes Jesus growing up as a “tender shoot” in dry ground. This statement refers to Him as a “sucker” plant or something that comes from the plant but isn’t part of it. He brought divinity with Him in whole, it didn’t come from another source. “From dry ground” references the difficulties experienced where He was raised (in Nazareth, an insignificant town with economic and political troubles). Additionally, “dry ground” represents the harsh reality of hearts hardened by sin, unwilling to accept Christ as Lord. In His humanity, Jesus came from humble beginnings without majesty to attract us to Him. (verse 2) The Hebrew word God uses to refer to the relationship between Himself and Israel is “helper”. “The One enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth.” (Psalm 113:5-6) All of Scripture tells of a humble God who consistently stoops to “raise the poor from the dust and lift the needy from the ash heap.” (Psalm 113:7-8)

2) What did Jesus achieve on our behalf? (verses 4-5)
Jesus bore our griefs and sorrows, was pierced for our transgressions, and punished for our sins. The word translated rebellion in verse 5 comes from the Hebrew word, pesha, which generally is associated with rebellion, trespass, or revolt. In the New Testament language of Greek, the term used is parabasis, and it implies a breaking or violation of the law. Spiritually speaking, these actions are the result of a defiant or rebellious spirit, one that is bent away from a Holy God. Every sin we commit, willfully or not, is an act of rebellion against holiness. These are the transgressions, pesha, for which Jesus was pierced. Isaiah 53:5 proclaims He was crushed for our iniquities. “Iniquities” refer to something deeply profound in a person’s heart; it is our human sin nature. This depravity within a person leads us to sin and be accountable for the guilt that accompanies the iniquities of our wicked hearts. Jesus didn’t just take my iniquities and your iniquities. He took the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6) The sin of the entire world from the beginning of creation until He returns. He took it all. (1 John 2:2) Jesus was punished for all sin and sinfulness, for the sin that entered the world through Adam and Eve to the sins we commit today, and all that will be committed in the future. He was pierced, crushed, and punished for us, in our place. We are offered peace with God and healing for our broken, sin-infested hearts through His willing substitution for us. His peace and healing are not ours by default, but become ours when we choose to trust Him at His word and surrender ourselves fully to Him. This is what He gives us, and He gives it at the ultimate cost—His own life.

3) What truths can we know about our human condition from this passage? How does this impact our relationship with God? (verse 6)
Verse 6 describes the entirety of human experience in relation to God, “We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way…”. In any good relationship, we know there is a give and take, a mutual love, respect, and sacrifice. There is faithfulness and pursuit of the other person for the good of the relationship. But Scripture teaches that when it comes to our relationship with God, He is the one who is loving, respectful, sacrificing, faithful, and pursuing. We go astray. We turn to our own way. Of course, we have moments of love which grow over time, but these are due to the Holy Spirit working within our surrender to Him. It is the Spirit inside of every believer who cultivates true sacrifice, respect, faithfulness, and following Him. These moments grow into longer seasons as we practice submitting to the Spirit, but invariably, we wander from Him. As the old hymn says, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.” (Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing) It is our nature to stray and His to stay.

Everyday Application

1) What do we learn of the Promised Messiah from Isaiah’s description? (verse 2-3)
Isaiah foretells how the Messiah would be despised and rejected which was fulfilled in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and even today. We would expect God’s message of hope, love, and forgiveness embodied in Jesus to be gladly received like water on a hot day.  Instead, Jesus’ message is often despised and rejected. We are prone to esteem Him not. (verse 3) We likely know people who have rejected Christ or have animosity toward Jesus. We should think of them, pray for them, love them, reach them, and be present in their lives as the fragrance of Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:15) In doing so, we become conduits of God’s grace and love. Just as importantly, we should remove the log of sin from our own eye before removing the speck from others. (Matthew 7:4-5) We must examine our hearts and lives through the lens of Scripture as we submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in us. (James 1:22-25) It’s easy to be like the man who entered the temple, thanking God he wasn’t like the sinner across from him. (Luke 18:10-14) God asks us to examine our lives to see where we reject Him, His people, and the gospel. (2 Corinthians 13:5) If we are honest, we will know we reject God by our actions, thoughts, and speech. Even those committed to following Christ wholeheartedly fail to do so perfectly. Because of God’s humble, patient, merciful love, He continues extending opportunities for us to repent (turn away) from sin. We can turn to Jesus for forgiveness when we acknowledge and repent of the ways we reject Him. When we allow the compassionate Lord to remove our log of sin, we can extend His love and hope to others on His behalf.

2) What did Jesus achieve on our behalf? (verses 4-5)
In Isaiah 53:4, we are reminded that Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. Truly pondering this reality draws us to Him with deep gratitude and humility. We do not serve an unapproachable God who is “distant” or “up there,” but one who chooses to be right here, in the mix with us as we suffer. We have a Great High Priest who sympathizes with us as described in Hebrews 4:14-16. He is with us, and He cares about what we endure. Not only does He care, but He bears up our griefs and sorrows, taking them upon Himself. He steps into our place of sin, accepts the punishment for our sin and the ramifications of our sin nature. He bears it all, so we may be set free to live in a restored relationship at peace with Him. He provides the means for us to be healed at our deepest soul level. Because of His intimate investment in each of us, even though we were born into a sin-infested world, inheriting a sin-nature in our flesh, we can live renewed, reborn, and resurrected from the death that was our first inheritance.

3) What truths can we know about our human condition from this passage? How does this impact our relationship with God? (verses 6)
We are prone to wander. We go astray like sheep. How do sheep stray? It’s been said, “One nibble at a time,” and that’s quite accurate. A sheep becomes fixated on grazing and loses sight of both their surroundings and even the shepherd himself. Most sheep won’t “run” away; instead, they nibble away, one small action at a time. So do we. We nibble at selfishness, self-centeredness, pride, Pharisee-like legalism, lust, greed, anger, fear, and a myriad of other sins. In doing so, we take another small bite and barely notice how we are straying from Jesus bit by bit. At some point, our wandering might get so far off we look up from our grazing and wonder where our Shepherd has gone and how we got so far away from Him. We lost sight of Him, but He never lost sight of us. He is the Good Shepherd, and He leaves the ninety-nine to pursue us when we stray. (Matthew 18:10-14) We may leave His side, but we never leave His sight. Knowing we are prone to wander can help us become more purposeful in keeping our eyes on Him. We can and should set our hearts on Him more consistently and with greater intentionality. Even still, we will wander from Him. In those times, we can rest in this promise: He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), and He will always bring us back (Psalm 71:20-21).

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

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Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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