intentionality

Word Day 4 Follow & Remove: 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 Follow & Remove!

The Questions

1) Why did Jesus go to Jerusalem for the Passover and why is this important to this passage? (verse 13)

2) Why did the actions of the people in the temple make Jesus so angry and why was His anger not sinful? (verses 15-16)

3) Why did Jesus not entrust Himself to them? (verse 24)

John 2:13-24

13 The Jewish Passover was near, and so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and he also found the money changers sitting there. 15 After making a whip out of cords, he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables. 16 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

17 And his disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me.
18 So the Jews replied to him, “What sign will you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” 20 Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?”

21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made. 23 While he was in Jerusalem during the Passover Festival, many believed in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. 24 Jesus, however, would not entrust himself to them, since he knew them all

Original Intent

1) Why did Jesus go to Jerusalem for the Passover and why is this important to this passage? (verse 13)
Deuteronomy 16:16 instructed all men to appear before the Lord three times a year. The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which Passover is part of, was one of those times. Jesus would have made the journey to Jerusalem in accordance with this instruction along with all the other Israelite males as Jerusalem was the religious center of Israel. Therefore, the city would have been a bustling place full of travelers. The temple was located in Jerusalem and these travelers were also required to make a sacrifice while they were there. All of these details set up the scene we read about in this passage.

2) Why did the actions of the people in the temple make Jesus so angry and why was His anger not sinful? (verses 15-16)
Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread would have brought many travelers into Jerusalem all of whom were required to offer sacrifices to God according to the Law. While some would have brought their sacrifice with them, several would have arrived needing to purchase an animal for the sacrifice. The people of Jerusalem had chosen to set up a marketplace in the Temple Courts to not only sell animals, but also offer money changing services as people would have needed local currency. These merchants sold for a higher price and took up the space in the Temple that would have otherwise been reserved for worship. Jesus shows up and is angry at what is taking place in His Father’s house. He is angered at the Temple being defiled and people being cheated out of their money. Not only are they defiling the Temple, but they are profiting from their actions. Jesus shows His anger by clearing out the Temple of the merchants. However, this anger was not sinful because Jesus was responding to sin, He was responding to His Father being insulted. Neither was He acting “out of control” in His anger as we read that He had taken the time to “(make) a whip out of cords” (verse 15) as He observed the defilement around Him. Therefore, Christ’s actions were coming from a place of righteous anger and were not sinful.

3) Why did Jesus not entrust Himself to them? (verse 24)
Being the Son of God, Jesus knew the hearts of those standing before Him. He knew when He was being misunderstood or when faith was not genuine. Many eyewitnesses, who followed Jesus and saw all He did during His time in Jerusalem, noticed He was different, but did not embrace Him as the Son of God. Jesus knew they thought He was a good teacher, or possibly a prophet, but they refused to recognize Him as the promised Messiah. As a result, Jesus chose to keep Himself at a distance from those who didn’t genuinely believe Him.

Everyday Application

1) Why did Jesus go to Jerusalem for the Passover and why is this important to this passage? (verse 13)
Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover which was customary in His day. There was a sacredness to these days and the Israelites took time to pause and remember what God had done. We could learn a lesson from the Israelites about slowing down and intentionally remembering what God has done in our lives. They spent time preparing their hearts by following customs designed to help turn their hearts to worship. While we aren’t bound by the same Law they were, it is wise to follow their example and set aside specific times in our calendar for remembering and celebrating what God has done.

2) Why did the actions of the people in the temple make Jesus so angry and why was His anger not sinful? (verses 15-16)
As New Testament followers of Christ, we no longer have a temple we are required to make pilgrimages to. However, Scripture is clear that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) In light of Jesus’ high view of the temple in Jerusalem, we should ask ourselves if we are conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of ourselves being called a temple. The Holy Spirit resides in all who have placed the full weight of their trust in Jesus and His sacrifice for us, therefore we should glorify God with our bodies instead of defiling them as the merchants defiled the temple. We can also think about these verses in relation to the church, which is God’s people living out His love to others on earth. We can bring disunity within the church and damage the church’s impact when we become distracted by anything less than worshipping our Creator. Likewise, we should remember there is such a thing as righteous anger. However, in response to sin and injustice, we must be careful to act within the authority we have and not assume the authority of Jesus. We should rise up against injustice and stand up for those who are treated unjustly. We should be angered by sin within ourselves and others. However, we are not called to be the judge and jury for those outside the Body of Believers. Instead, we are called to love the sinner and point them to Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)

3) Why did Jesus not entrust Himself to them? (verse 24)
Jesus knew the hearts of those around Him when He walked the earth, and He knows ours as well. He knows if we are genuine in our faith or faking it to the world around us. “Faith cannot be one-sided here any more than elsewhere. Christ gives Himself to those who give themselves to Him. They who so trust Him that He is sure they will follow Him even when they cannot see where He is going; they who trust Him, not in one or two matters which they see He can manage, but absolutely and in all things; to these He will give Himself freely, sharing with them His work, His Spirit, His reward.” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary) There will be challenging days in our faith and we are called to trust Christ, not only when life is easy and we know where we are headed, but also in moments of uncertainty or when those around us waiver. When we choose faith, the reward is large. This past year of 2020, has been a year of staying faithful in the unknown and hard for many of us. However, even in those moments, we are called to genuinely believe and trust Jesus. Following Him won’t always be easy, but it will always be worth it!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Follow & Remove!

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!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Word Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

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 :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

The GT Weekend! ~ Enough 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) Mandy shared on Monday about a piece that is missing from each of our lives. Take a few minutes and write down the “missing pieces” you long to be filled. What shape do they take on in your life? Making my list are a stronger marriage, knowing where to serve in ministry, and the ever-present ache for the little boy I never held. Wounds from the past, longings for what I felt should have been, and sadness over opportunities I’ve missed are all missing pieces I feel would make me more whole, happier, or satisfied. Mandy’s words challenge us to not only identify our missing pieces, but then to realize every jagged edge is meant to point us to our need for Jesus. Only One King can satisfy with abundance all the empty, wounded, lonely places of our hearts. This King is for us! If Christ is the ocean, what would it look like for you to intentionally leave those empty pieces behind you on the shore, trusting Jesus to satisfy you as you swim in His sea of abundance and fullness?

2) God intentionally, lovingly, gave His people, ancient Israel, a picture of His extravagant love for them in the sacrificial system He instituted. Yes, it was messy. Bloody. Animal sacrifices on the daily; visually repulsive. Yet, every single day, with every single sacrifice, God was turning their eyes to the innocent animal who gave its life that Israelite men, women, and children would be forgiven. Innocence slaughtered right in front of them that their sins might be paid for through the shedding of blameless blood. Every. Day. Sacrifice. Each Jew knew their sin carried a price, and every Jew knew it required a payment they could never muster on their own behalf for they were already stained with sin. Then, one day, outside of Jerusalem, the perfect Lamb of God offered Himself as the once and for all sacrifice to cover every sin and bind back every shame. God Himself lay slain on the altar of sacrifice. Whether you’ve long walked with Jesus, you’ve just begun, or you have lots of questions about faith, we must each decide what we will do today with such an immense sacrifice from such a lavishly loving God. Will we give Him our sin? Will we surrender the shame we carry? What will you surrender to the Slain, Resurrected Lamb of God?

3) Yesterday’s Journey Study begins, “A friend made a sign for me that said, “You are enough”. She meant to encourage me to not feel burdened to live up to another’s expectations. It sounds great, but not one of us is enough on our own, least of all me.” We all have areas of our lives we feel pretty great about. We’ve put in hard work and determination. We’ve made significant changes and grown in big ways. We want a stamp of approval, like the sign “You Are Enough”, emblazoned across our investment. What are those areas for you? While I strongly advocate for personal growth and I champion hard work and dedication (just ask my high schoolers J), Marietta’s words ring true, “…not one of us is enough on our own…” Perhaps you’ve also seen this at play in other areas of your life. No matter how hard you try, it still seems impossible to meet an expectation or climb that ladder of success. As you consider your experiences with this, allow these struggles to remind you we are each hopelessly far away from attaining our own righteousness, our own deep satisfaction, or our eternal salvation without Jesus Christ. He who came to sacrifice Himself and set us eternally free is the Only One Who Is Enough. The best part? He gives His own enough to each of us when we surrender to Him! Cease your striving, Sister, let His enough become your own.

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 2:5-8 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be exploited.
7 Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a servant,
taking on the likeness of humanity.
And when He had come as a man,
8 He humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.

Prayer Journal
Oh Lord my God, how small I am often tempted to make You. Fashioning You in my mind to dwell only within a small box of my own making. How quick I am to imagine myself as able to avoid Your divine all-knowing, free to live my own life and be my own deity. Inflating myself, I make You lower. Lord, break my heart free from the folly of following myself! My chains to myself are many. Lust. Pride. Control. Self-satisfaction. Hard work. Gossip. Bitterness. Manipulation. Negativity. Self-promotion. Lord God, these are sins, every last one of them and many more. Slay them in my heart, Lord Jesus, making Yourself Lord in their space. Rule and reign with all freedom as You help me give ground where idols once rose high in my heart. Teach me full surrender here at the cross where You, the God of all, gave Your own full surrender to rescue me. Un-fathom-able LOVE. What grace. What mercy to free me from myself. Let it be so, Lord Jesus, let it be so. Amen and Amen.

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

The GT Weekend ~ Anchored Week 3

Leave a Comment

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) Regardless of your physical fitness, how do you “exercise” your spiritual muscles? How do you view spiritual disciplines like prayer, fasting, Scripture memorization, journaling, Scripture reading, church involvement, and engagement in biblical community? Skeptical? Excited? Life-giving necessity? If you were to give a “strength test” number from 1-5 for each of these, which ones would rank lowest? Give some time this weekend for making a plan to begin strengthening 1 or 2 of these and may the Lord bless you richly!

2) What are your gut reactions to Bri’s opening statement, “The world is dying”? As you go about your regular, everyday life this weekend, ask the Spirit to open your heart and eyes to see people through this lens, “The world is dying”. If it’s true, our mission to extend the gospel, the only hope for eternity, becomes paramount. What would it look like if you were to become increasingly more intentional in how you lived in light of this reality? Who can you reach? Who can you pray for?

3) Yesterday, Sarah challenged us to intentionally, fervently, and boldly wrestle in prayer on behalf of others. What do you believe about prayer? Why? How are your beliefs reflected in your prayer life? Intentionally set aside 10 minutes today to sit in silence with the Lord and His word. Read through Colossians 4:7-17, slowly savoring the words and their implications. Be quiet before the Lord, ready to hear His whispers. Who is He asking you to pray for? Who does He want to wrestle on behalf of? Write down those names or situations and fervently follow through. Set reminders on your phone, put up post it notes, decide to pray while you make dinner. Whatever you do, choose to wrestle diligently for these!

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 Colossians 4:2-4 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Prayer Journal
You know I’ve struggled with prayer, Lord. Wondering why we have to pray. Aren’t You going to do what You will do anyways? You’ve walked beside me as I’ve explored prayer, You’ve guided and gently prodded, prompting me to ever trust You more deeply. You’ve called me over and over to trust what You say about prayer, that it’s powerful and effective.

It’s jaw-dropping stunning to me that You, the LORD of all creation, intentionally chose to include me, and us as believers, in Your Kingdom work. Prayer is an intricate, core component of that work. Thank You, Abba, for reminding me again, prayer doesn’t pre-ceed the work, prayer is the work. It’s the unifying work between You as godhead Father, Son, and Spirit, working in tandem with the faithful prayers of Your Church. Prayer is breathtakingly intimate! Humbled, I praise You for the grace gift of prayer!

Worship Through Community

Can we pray for you? Reach Out! We’d love to pray for and with you!
Send us an email at prayer@gracefullytruthful.com

Build community, be transparent, and encourage others:
Share how God spoke to you today!
Comment Here or in our Facebook Community Group!

Worship Through Prayer

Worship Through Music

Sketched V Day 7 Paul, The Student: 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 Paul, The Student!

The Questions

1) Who is the author and the recipient? What is the author’s purpose?

2) How is this list different than a set of legalistic laws like Saul (Paul) would have followed before Christ made him new?

3) How does this passage relate to “waiting” and being a “student” as we saw in yesterday’s Journey Study?

1 Timothy 3:1-10

This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy. 4 He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.
8 Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.

Original Intent

1) Who is the author and the recipient? What is the author’s purpose?
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, his “son in the faith”. A nearly identical list is also recorded to Paul’s letter to Titus. (Titus 1:5-9) Though Paul was never married, Timothy was like a “spiritual” son because Paul had deeply invested in Timothy for many years; the two were very close relationally through their bond of Christ. Paul’s work for the Church was immeasurably important, but he knew the work wasn’t about him and neither began nor ended with him, which is why investing in younger leaders to carry on his legacy was so important to him. Paul begins this section with extreme seriousness when he says, “This saying is trustworthy.” The only instances Paul uses this specific phrase are to either to describe the heart of the gospel, as in 1 Timothy 1:15, or to express the character of leaders within the church. If there is nothing more important, or true, than the gospel and Christ’s sufficiency, then the outlined qualities of leaders here described are to be handled soberly with integrity, humility, and prayer.

2) How is this list different than a set of legalistic laws like Saul (Paul) would have followed before Christ made him new?
All the heavy laws Saul, and Pharisees like him, laid on the Jews had everything to do with looking right, and nothing to do with being right in their hearts. This list, along with Paul’s other various lists in Scripture, all have a common thread: the outpouring of the heart. The actions simply mirror the reality taking place inside where Jesus Christ is Lord. Paul didn’t pen this list because he wanted to control what kind of people would be allowed to lead his missionary church plants. Everything about these qualifications, including how he introduces it with serious respect, speaks of Paul’s desire to honor none but Christ. Yes, there are character traits outlined here, and they may look like a list of “must dos”, but truly they are given under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that church leadership may lead well to the glory of God!

3) How does this passage relate to “waiting” and being a “student” as we saw in yesterday’s Journey Study?
No one drifts into these qualities. No one progressively attains the character traits outlined here without time, dedication, devotion to Scripture, and spiritual discipline by humbly submitting to the hand of the Lord as He shapes hearts. What we see here are marks of a spiritually mature person who has long walked with the Lord. Verse 6 specifically calls this out, “He must not be a recent convert…” Verse 7 also reinforces the idea of lengthened time as the “student” grows rich and deep in their faith walk, “he must be well thought of by outsiders…”. All of these characteristics have an observable aspect to them as the intention is that if one is called to pastor, their lives should be seen and known with authentic transparency. Even Jesus had this observable aspect about His character before entering the ministry, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

Everyday Application

1) Who is the author and the recipient? What is the author’s purpose?
How important do you view your role within the Church, both locally and globally? Have you ever considered it before? Perhaps you wonder if you even have one, or if you view your contribution is too insignificant. Paul is easily known as the best evangelist of all time, next to Christ, but he was well balanced in his view of himself. He was neither puffed up with prideful arrogance nor entangled with a low perspective, allowing his sins and flaws to become his identity and keep him from walking into all God had for him. Whatever your gift, use it for the kingdom, Sister! And if your gift is teaching or shepherding, approach it with serious awareness of the high calling it is to handle the Word of Lord and lead others to know it. As you grow in developing your gift and service to the Body of Christ, look for a “younger” one in the faith you can mentor and encourage along the way. No matter how long you’ve been following Jesus, and even if you haven’t decided yet, find someone “older” in the faith to mentor and encourage you! No believer should ever stop being a student!

2) How is this list different than a set of legalistic laws like Saul (Paul) would have followed before Christ made him new?
As we look over this list, it’s important to remember it is not a list of requirements to being a Christian. Checking off these “requirements” does not win favor with God. The intention is to give serious weight to considering the specific role as “overseer”, meaning “shepherd”, or what we would identify as the pastor role in our churches. The calling of Pastor is a high one, never to be taken lightly. Sisters, the seriousness with which Paul treats this particular leadership role insists that we come alongside our pastors and church leaders to regularly encourage and pray for them as they follow the Lord. Pray for grace. Pray for their adherence to the full gospel. Pray for them to be reminded their value and identity rests in the finished work of Christ on their behalf. Have you written a note or email to your pastor or church leadership team lately? Do it today and come alongside them in Kingdom work!

3) How does this passage relate to “waiting” and being a “student” as we saw in yesterday’s Journey Study?
The Lord has long waited, since the beginning of time, and continues to this day, to wait for His perfect timing to return to earth and finally call His children home. He created humans to be born as helpless infants who needed nurturing and time to grow into maturity. He designed processes for our spiritual growth as we are wooed to Himself, investigating the claims of faith, cross the line and are given salvation, and each day after are given the opportunity to grow deeper with Him. All of this requires waiting, growing, and intentional decision to follow hard after Christ. Those who “aspire to the office of overseer” (verse 1) are not the only ones who are called to be a student of the Lord and wait for Him, all Christ-followers are invited to do the same. If even the Lord Himself waits (Psalm 27:14), something tells me He enjoys the Journey. We should too!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Paul, The Student!

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!

Digging Deeper Community

Share What You’ve Learned!
Pray Together!
Join us in the GT Facebook Community!

Our Current Study Theme!

This is Sketched V Week Two!
Don’t miss out on the discussion!
Sign up to receive every GT Journey Study!

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 :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Screenshot Day 2 From Religion To Relationship: Digging Deeper

Leave a Comment

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 From Religion To Relationship!

The Questions

1) Who is the speaker in this passage and what is the context?

2) Wasn’t the Lord the one to institute the sacrifices and offerings? Did He get bored with them and change His mind?

3) What is the heart behind this heart cry from the Sovereign Lord?

4) What is the promise in this passage?

Isaiah 1:11-20

“What are all your sacrifices to me?”
asks the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings and rams
and the fat of well-fed cattle;
I have no desire for the blood of bulls,
lambs, or male goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,
who requires this from you—
this trampling of my courts?
13 Stop bringing useless offerings.
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons and Sabbaths,
and the calling of solemn assemblies—
I cannot stand iniquity with a festival.
14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.
They have become a burden to me;
I am tired of putting up with them.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will refuse to look at you;
even if you offer countless prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood.

16 “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves.
Remove your evil deeds from my sight.
Stop doing evil.
17 Learn to do what is good.
Pursue justice.
Correct the oppressor.
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow’s cause.

18 “Come, let us settle this,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are scarlet,
they will be as white as snow;
though they are crimson red,
they will be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land.
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Original Intent

1) Who is the speaker in this passage and what is the context?
In verse 11, the inquiry is from “the Lord”. In verse 10 above it, the audience is instructed to “hear the word of the Lord.” Going all the way to the beginning of the chapter (and the book of Isaiah), we gain a broader perspective and understand that what follows is the description of a vision given by Yahweh, the One True God, to Isaiah, son of Amoz. Later in chapter 6, we read of Isaiah’s commissioning by Yahweh to be His prophet to His people, wayward as they were. Isaiah’s audience is the Jewish people, God’s chosen ones, set apart from other nations in order to display God’s glory and draw others to Himself, but they were failing miserably in this high calling. They turned away, chasing other gods, inflating themselves, and breaking the heart of God, their One True Love.

2) Wasn’t the Lord the one to institute the sacrifices and offerings? Did He get bored with them and change His mind?
Yes, the laws listed here, both the general and the specific, were all originally instituted from Yahweh Himself. He first gave the law to Moses at Mt. Sinai when the Israelites were being led through the Wilderness towards the Promised Land. (Exodus 19-24) The Lord’s language here is intense, intentional, and weighed down with thick emotion. He says the people have “trampled my courts” and made “vain offerings”. The Lord says of Himself that He “cannot endure iniquity”, His “soul hates” the festivals and offerings, that they have become a “burden” to Him and He is “weary” of bearing them. It is not the laws itself that have suddenly become cumbersome and draining to the Lord, for these were never the end goal, rather they were simply the means He had designed for His people to draw near to Him. The Lord brings piercing clarity in verses 15-16 as to the reason behind His heavy heartbreak with phrases like, “your hands are full of blood”, “remove the evil of your deeds”, and “cease to do evil”. Even in the Old Testament, it was never about following long lists of rules, it has always been about pursuing a vibrant, deep, intimate relationship!

3) What is the heart behind this heart cry from the Sovereign Lord?
In a word? Redemption! The reason Yahweh called Isaiah to be His prophet in the first place is because His people do “not know” and “do not understand” His perfect design for them to be in relationship with them. They are a “sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity” who have “forsaken the Lord” and “despised the Holy One of Israel”. (Isaiah 1:3-4) God’s father heart wants His beloved children back (Isaiah 1:2), so it is to this end that He calls them to return to Him and leave their sinful ways behind them. (Isaiah 1:17)

4) What is the promise in this passage?
Life! The promise of fullness, of abundance, and blessing comes as a result of a choice given by the Lord at the end of the passage. “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat of the good of the land”, speaks of much more than just full bellies. These words are steeped in ancient promises dating back to when the Hebrew people, having been freed from slavery in Egypt, were led through the Wilderness to gain access to the Promised Land. Wrapped up in this phrase in Isaiah is the idea of rich inheritance, completely undeserved. When the Hebrews took possession of Canaan, the Promised Land, they were given “a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.” They had done nothing to deserve the wealth of the land, the work had already been done for them; Yahweh simply gave it to them because they were His children. In Isaiah, the Lord hearkens back to this old promise, reminding the Jews that abundant life can still be theirs. The rich inheritance is still available. They don’t need to continue in their sin and empty religion, because real relationship is waiting on the other side of genuine confession of sin! (Isaiah 1:18)

Everyday Application

1) Who is the speaker in this passage and what is the context?
Sometimes reading the Old Testament seems so far removed from us with its impressive visions and direct, verbalizations from God, we wonder if it has anything to do with our “right now”. Nothing the Lord did was done in a vacuum, and neither was it recorded and preserved for centuries just to bore us later in the reading of it. When we understand the original context, we can make good application to today. God chose an ordinary man, Isaiah, to be His mouthpiece to His people. Through Isaiah, God verbalized His great love for them, and desire to be in perfect relationship with them. Today, we don’t need visions, booming voices from above, or signs in the sky to show us what God wants for us. His heart desires are all found in Scripture, which He has faithfully preserved through persecution and thousands of years. Additionally, He has given us His Holy Spirit to live right inside of every believer to guide and teach us! (John 14:16-17)

2) Wasn’t the Lord the one to institute the sacrifices and offerings? Did He get bored with them and change His mind?
When we read the seemingly endless rules in the Bible, especially the ones in the Old Testament that seem to make no sense to our modern understanding, remember that it the Lord God has never been random or reckless, but always intentional. There was a specific purpose and meaning behind every instruction that was intended to bring life to His people, glory to God, and a deeper relationship between them. Again, it was never about adherence to the rule, as this passage makes clear, the distinct purpose has always been to remove the sin that stands between us and the Most Holy God so that we might enjoy sweet fellowship with Him! Whether it’s Old Testament law or modern-day church traditions, God’s heart has not changed. The precious treasure is not found in the “doing”, but in the “being” with Him.

3) What is the heart behind this heart cry from the Sovereign Lord?
God’s desire for you and me, your neighbor, and mine, the driver in the lane next to yours, and the mama in line behind me in the grocery is exactly the same as it was for the Jewish people of centuries long since passed. Redemption! This God who set time in motion, crafted our bodies from the dust of the earth, breathed His breath into our lungs, and created us for intentional purpose is the same God whose Father heart longs for our return. We have loved our sin, we have become enamored with ourselves, and in the doing, we have become enemies of Him. (Romans 5:10) We have traded worship to God for worship of ourselves, and it has utterly ruined us, rendering us forever separated from the Holy, Righteous God. (Romans 1:25) But God offers redemption, full and complete and eternal! (Romans 3:23-24) Where our sin cut us off from Him, He sent Jesus to take that “cut off” punishment for us, so that where we were once far, can now be drawn near. (Ephesians 2:13) We could never “make ourselves clean” or fully “cease from evil”, but Jesus did it for us. In exchange, He lavishly gave His righteousness to us, removing all sin, and presenting us blameless before God! Is this how you stand before the Almighty Yahweh?

4) What is the promise in this passage?
Deep, meaningful, relationally satisfying life was held out to the Jewish nation by the Lord God, and He offers the same to us. Escape empty religious rituals, become dead to performance driven acceptance, and become alive to a relationship hemmed in by love, grace, and boundless mercy. Walk into an inheritance your hands did not earn, your ingenuity did not attain, and your body did not produce. Walk into the Life Jesus offers. Worried about those test results? His life is eternal, His peace is real. Caught up in the too-tight-tension of marital conflict? His ways are good, the relationship He offers to you will always satisfy if you allow Him full reign. Overwhelmed? Anxious? Carrying shame? The inheritance of Christ, one you could not create or earn, is yours, full, complete, and eternal through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ! Like the Lord’s invitation in this passage, the pathway to true, free relationship, is through the confession of our sin to a Holy God. What is your confession, Sister? His life is waiting for you!

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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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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.

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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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