promise

Worship X Day 5 The Unfailing One

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Ephesians 1:1-6
1 John 1:5-9
Psalm 100

Worship X, Day 5

Dependable and trustworthy.
Has never broken a promise.
Loving and kind, yet strong and protective.
Sounds like the perfect man, right? But these words describe someone far superior to any common man. These words merely scratch the surface in describing our Great God. 

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be

Great is Thy faithfulness.
Such a bold statement. But God can back it up.
“Know that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps his gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commands.”
(Deuteronomy 7:9)

God is a faithful covenant keeper. With the Abrahamic covenant, He swore by Himself. He fulfilled both sides of the covenant. (Genesis 15) In a covenant, the “lesser” person would walk through the cut up pieces of animals, symbolizing their own fate if they did not uphold their end. But God walked through instead of Abraham, taking upon Himself the punishment. God guaranteed the fulfillment of the covenant because He is faithful.

Thousands of years later, Jesus came, died on the cross and was resurrected to begin a new covenant for all who believe in Him. “For a thousand generations” God was faithful to Israel. And now, thousands of years later, He is still faithful to all who place their trust in Him. (Psalm 100:5) Each day is an opportunity for a fresh measure of His faithfulness.

Morning by morning new mercies I see.
We can boldly proclaim, “Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you. I will praise your name,
for you have accomplished wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.”
(Isaiah 25:1)
I can boldly proclaim it, looking back over every desperate prayer I’ve ever prayed, seeing His faithfulness to provide, direct, protect and heal.
He has never failed because His faithfulness is great.

O God My Father.
 C. Sproul said, “He has given to us the right and privilege to come into the presence of the majesty of God and address him as Father because indeed he is our Father. He has adopted us into his family and made us co-heirs with his only begotten Son” (Romans 8:16)

When we profess Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become chosen, adopted, predestined and redeemed by God. (Ephesians 1:1-6) Each day is a reminder that we are His beloved daughters.

Morning by morning new mercies I see.
Jesus gave us a way to become comfortable with calling God our Father when He said, “But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret” and “Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy.” (Matthew 6:6-14)

This Father, who lavishes His love on us (1 John 3:1) is the one we can call on to provide our every need. (Matthew 6:31-32) He is our ultimate protector. How do we know? His Son told us, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:29)

This Son, Jesus, has redeemed us “so that we might receive adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son [.]” (Galatians 4:5-6) So as sons and daughters, we confidently call to God Our Father who gives us the best gifts.

 There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

One of the characteristics of God is His immutability, which means “God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises, yet God does act and feel emotions, and he acts and feels differently in response to different situations.” (Wayne Grudem)

Shadows shift and change, God does not. Shadows are not always present, but God is. God Himself says “For I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6, ESV) The same God who created the earth, (Genesis 1:1-25) formed Adam and Eve, (Genesis 1:26-31) parted the Red Sea, (Exodus 14:15-31) rescued Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace, (Daniel 3:8-30) and sent Jesus to redeem us, (John 3:16) is the same unfailing God whose mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
A loving God who’s “faithfulness endures forever.” (Psalm 117:2)  Let me tell you about Him in my life. In 2020 my uncle, sister and grandmother and a friend all passed away. I got laid off from my job. Both my daughters lost their jobs. My husband had a medical emergency and had to have an emergency procedure.

I could have wallowed in my grief, sorrow and frustration. But instead I trusted in my unchanging God. I prayed to the God who helped me deal with the sudden loss of my dad twenty years earlier. I praised the God who provided a job within one month the previous year when I experienced my first layoff. Every morning I focused my eyes on the new mercy that God provided, enabling me to live for His glory one more day.

Gift cards showed up unexpectedly. Checks showed up from people I had not connected with in year. A job came from an unexpected place. I discovered new worship music to help me through my grief. God connected me more deeply to a beautiful soul, that I now serve alongside in ministry.

That’s just a sampling of how our loving, unfailing God works. There was never a time I felt alone, because God was always with me. (Matthew 28:20) He was always supporting me. (Psalm 94:18) And whatever else may come my way, I can endure because…..

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 28:6-9
1 Samuel 1:27-28
Mark 9:14-29

I’ve sat down several times in the last few days to convey on paper my thoughts to the lyrics of a song that I might describe as haunting (as in, poignant and evocative; difficult to ignore or forget). Little did I know that my procrastination was actually working out God’s sovereign timing. I certainly don’t condone a habit of delaying inevitable tasks, but as always God was doing something, even through my postponement.
Letting go of every single dream, I lay each one down at Your feet.
Every moment of my wandering never changes what You see.
I’ve tried to win this war, I confess.
My hands are weary, I need Your rest.
Mighty Warrior, King of the fight, no matter what I face, You’re by my side.*

On the very morning I realized I could no longer delay my writing, I was also made aware of my great need to fully embrace the truths of the song in which I had chosen to meditate. The first two words stabbed me the very moment they caught my eye.

“Letting go…”
I recognized immediately the impact of those words throughout Scripture.
Abraham
Moses
David
Hannah
These are only a few examples of the kind of surrender to which we are called.

Paul’s life and message compel us to an even more radical release of our own wills, reminding us of the most humble and genuine surrender of all through the life and death of our Lord Jesus. Philippians 2:1-11

As a mama and grandma who has kids and grandkids living thousands of miles away, I have learned that letting go is a part of life. As a foster mom, the reality of releasing hits even harder because of the massive unknown attached to it. In the past several years, I have had to let go of how I had pictured life might look and trust God with the unforeseeable future of all the children that He has placed in my care.
Laying things down that I like at my good Father’s feet is one thing.
Laying people down that I love is another.
It freshly and squarely hit me today that
letting go is always the starting point for trusting God.

On this very day, we find ourselves in a place we have never been as foster parents. We have realized that we are unable to provide everything needed for the children who have recently entered our home. The brothers who came through the door earlier this week have experienced difficulties in their lives that I’ll never fully be able to comprehend.
The neglect they have encountered is completely foreign to me.

After several days of looking at my husband with a broken heart, he confessed that he is overwhelmed and underqualified for this particular situation.
Knowing that fostering kids in need like this has to be a team effort (he is an amazing foster dad), I knew it meant we had to make a change.
I have cried and prayed.
I had to come face to face with hidden motives and agendas and plans.
I had to admit that we are not called to save every child.
We are not even called to rescue them from terrible lives.
We are only called to be faithful servants.
I confessed to God: “My hands are weary, I need Your rest.”

You are my strength and comfort. You are my steady hand.
You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand.
Your ways are always higher. Your plans are always good.
There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood.*

Sometimes I do the right thing.
Sometimes I do the right thing for the right reason.
And sometimes I do the right thing for the right reason, but with a skewed view of God.

I forget that He alone is capable of doing what is perfectly good.
Only He knows what tomorrow brings.
I may have good intentions in the spiritual battle I’m fighting,
but if I don’t recognize that He is the King of the fight,
I begin to fight for outcomes and answers
rather than fighting for faith.

As I cry out to Him, I too often hold on to a false hope in my own ability to fix and heal.
Only when I let go of all my pre-conceived notions of what should happen am I able to fully trust Him.
My faith cannot be in the moving mountains or the parting waters,
though He is able to do those things, Exodus 14, Mk 11:22-24
rather my trust is to be completely in Him, not in what He does.

When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move;
when You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through;
when You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You, I will trust.*

The Psalmist communicates so clearly again and again that our trust must be solidly placed in only One Person.
HE is our strength and comfort.
HE is our steady hand.
HE is our firm foundation.
HE is our rock.
HE is exalted.

Yet, everything that makes Him a God who is far above us Isaiah 55:8-9,
doesn’t keep Him from also being a Father who is near and good! James 1:17

I am unable to fully explain how much I needed the truths of this song to permeate my heart and mind today. Letting these kids go is so difficult.
What is the Father calling you to let go of and trust Him with?
Lord, “Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings. There’s not a day ahead You have not seen. So, in all things be my life and breath. I want what You want, Lord, and nothing else.
I will trust in You.”*
Amen!

*song lyrics by Lauren Daigle, “Trust In You”


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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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Worship X Day 1 Proclaiming Praise

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 9
Psalm 37:27-29
Proverbs 21:30
Romans 2:1-11

Worship X, Day 1

We don’t need to look far in the world to see injustice.
Every day the news is filled with stories of people being mistreated or discriminated against because of race, religion, or social status. In many situations, evil seems to triumph. Maybe you can think of examples closer to home from your own experience, too.

This isn’t a new problem. In fact, it was something David was very conscious of as he wrote Psalm 9, in which he celebrated the God of justice.

Though he writes from a situation where he is facing injustice, David praises God boldly. He remembers God’s past faithfulness in bringing justice, and he reflects on justice as an integral part of God’s character.

For David, God’s justice is good news, worthy of praise. His whole-hearted thankfulness to God is expressed by telling others, by “boasting” about God, and by singing of all God has done.

As I read this Psalm, I find it both comforting and slightly unnerving. I suppose our view of justice often depends on which side of it we fall. To the defendant appearing in court, knowing they have done wrong and are about to face the consequences, justice is something to fear, while for the victim, it’s a source of hope, and we see this contrast reflected in the Psalm.

For those who are on the wrong side of God’s justice, the consequences are severe. We read of a God who rebukes the nations, destroys the wicked, and brings eternal ruin. (Psalm 9:5-6) God’s enemies retreat, stumbling and perishing (Psalm 9:3), caught in traps they have set themselves. (Psalm 9:15)

There are many examples of this throughout Scripture:

  •     When the Midianites oppress the people of Israel, God confuses them, causing them to fight one another, and grants the Israelites victory as they simply stand and watch. (Judges 7:19-22)
  •     When Daniel’s fellow-workers in Babylon trick the king into throwing Daniel into the lions’ den, God miraculously rescues Daniel, and it is his enemies who are eaten by the lions. (Daniel 6:21-24)
  •     When Haman plots to destroy God’s people, he is brought to justice and hung on the gallows he built himself. (Esther 7:6-10)

A contrast is drawn between God’s eternal reign (Psalm 9:7) and the fact that the names of the wicked will be erased forever. (Psalm 9:5)

Lest we be too quick to cast our enemies in the roles of the wicked and align ourselves with the righteous, it’s worth noting that Psalm 9:17 describes the heart of wickedness as forgetting God.

Paul’s words in Romans 2 provide a sobering reminder that, without Jesus, we are all deserving of God’s judgement and “there is no favoritism with God.” (Romans 2:11) Rather than assuming God is on our side, we must be careful to make sure we are on His.

For those of us who have put our faith in Jesus and turned to God, there need be no fear of His judgement, and in situations where we are seeking or lacking justice, God’s justice truly is good news!

God is a refuge in times of trouble, He never abandons those who seek Him, He remembers the needy, and He restores the hope of the oppressed.

These are truths that bring deep security.

“For the LORD loves justice and will not abandon His faithful ones. They are kept safe forever.” (Psalm 37:28)

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all.” (John 10:28)

In a world where injustice is rife, this psalm provides encouragement that, in the end, God’s justice will prevail. The plans of the wicked may seem to succeed for a time, but ultimately, “no wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against the Lord.” (Proverbs 21:30)

As David considers all of this, he asks God for help in his current situation for two reasons, to rejoice in God’s salvation and to tell others.

Surely our response should be the same!
Let’s bring our situations to God, knowing He cares and He can bring justice.
Let’s run to Him for refuge, rejoicing in the promise that God’s justice will ultimately prevail.
Let’s praise Him and proclaim the Good News to others who need to hear it!

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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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Sacrifice Day 14 One Sacrifice: 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 One Sacrifice!

The Questions

1) Who was Aaron?

2) What did the holy place signify?

3) What is the mercy seat?

Leviticus 16:2

2 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell your brother Aaron that he may not come whenever he wants into the holy place behind the curtain in front of the mercy seat on the ark or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.”

Original Intent

1) Who was Aaron?
To properly understand the significance of Aaron, we must go back a bit in the storyline. The twelve tribes of Israel were derived from the descendants of Abraham who is considered the patriarch of the Hebrew nation. Abraham was called by God to leave his homeland and follow Him to a new land, where God promised Abraham he would become a great nation. (Genesis 12:1-2) This promise, however, was a long time coming. When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to renew this covenant promise and Sarah, Abraham’s wife, finally gave birth to a son, Isaac. (Genesis 21:3) Isaac then fathered twin sons, Jacob and Esau. (Genesis 25:19-24) There was much tension between Jacob and Esau (Genesis 27), but eventually Jacob fathered twelve sons who would represent the twelve tribes of Israel (Jacob’s name was changed by God to “Israel” in Genesis 32:28). Levi, one of Jacob/Israel’s sons (Genesis 29:34) became the tribe charged with responsibilities of the temple and sacrifices. (Leviticus 8:1-10:20) Aaron was a descendent of Levi (1 Chronicles 6:1-3). In verse 2, the Lord told Moses that Aaron may NOT enter the holy place whenever he desired. This was as a result of the sins of his sons, Nadab and Abihu. (Leviticus 10:1-2)

2) What did the holy place signify?
The tabernacle was designed as a place of sacrifice where atonement for sin and guilt could be given by God’s mercy during the forty years Israel wandered in the desert. It was a temporary dwelling place for God’s Spirit until a permanent one could be established in the temple many years later by King Solomon. Strict guidelines and regulations were set up by God to help the people understand the separate distinction between His perfect holiness and their sinfulness. (Exodus 25:1-31:17) The holy place, or Holy of Holies, was set apart by a large curtain, and only ceremonially clean priests could enter here annually to atone for the sins of Israel. When Adam and Eve, the first man and woman created by God, (Genesis 1:27) sinned in the Garden of Eden it forever separated man from God. (Genesis 3:22-23) The only way to be absolved from sin was by a blood sacrifice; an innocent giving their life for the guilty. The Old Testament book of Leviticus describes five major offerings God established for His people (Leviticus 1:1-6:7) and the handlings of these offerings. (Leviticus 6:8-7:38) Still, only those in the tribe of Levi could offer sacrifices on behalf of everyone else, and they were the only ones permitted entrance to the Holy Place for it housed the presence of God.

3) What is the mercy seat?
Although sin separates us from God, He still longs to be with His children in a restored relationship where He can delight in us and us in Him. He designed the instructions for the Tabernacle, Holy Place, and the contents of the Tabernacle so He could dwell in the midst of His people. (Exodus 25:8) The Tabernacle contained the Ark of the Covenant, which represented God’s throne, and it contained the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, a golden jar holding manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded. (Hebrews 9:4) Picture if you will, the ark being a large rectangular box overlaid with gold. The lid to the box was called the mercy seat, and overarching this “seat” were two angels facing each other and their wings touching. Very specific instructions were given for every aspect of the Tabernacle because they were to “serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things”. (Hebrews 8:5-6, Exodus 25:10-21)

Everyday Application

1) Who was Aaron?
In understanding the history of the twelve tribes of Israel and the importance of Aaron and his tribe of Levites, we can examine God’s plan for humanity. God created us to be in communion with him and He longs for us to call on Him; Scripture says He even answers before we call! (Isaiah 65:24) God could have entirely destroyed mankind for their sinful ways when He sent the flood, but He graciously spared Noah and his family who were faithful to Him. (Genesis 6:13) Similarly, when the children of Israel grumbled as they left Egypt’s slavery and built for themselves a golden calf, the Lord again showed great mercy by not giving them the just death they deserved for worshipping an idol. (Exodus 32:9) Because we are God’s creation, He loves us, desires fellowship with us, and has a plan for our lives. (Ephesians 2:10) God chose Levi, and all Levites, to serve in His temple. As part of this lineage, God chose Aaron. In the same way, you and I are also called to be part of Abraham’s lineage of faith. When we surrender our lives to Christ, we are grafted into the priesthood, originally established in the lineage of Levi, because of the death of God’s son, Jesus, who was the perfect priest for us as mediator between God and mankind. (1 Peter 2:9) We are God’s people! We are God’s special possession! (Deuteronomy 7:6) Do you feel worthless, unworthy, and unloved? Not only does God love you, not only does He hear you, not only are you chosen by God, but He is faithful to complete His work in you! (Philippians 1:6) Do you know who you are? Do you know Whose you are? You are God’s treasured possession no matter your faults, no matter your flaws. (Exodus 19:5) Come to Him in full surrender, leaving behind the ways of sin and false worship.

2) What did the holy place signify?
Before Jesus died on the cross, giving up His spirit, He uttered the words, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) The original Holy Place of the Tabernacle signifies two critical points for the current day believer. First, just as Israel had no access to God without the Levite’s mediation on their behalf, neither can we come into God’s presence without Christ’s mediation because we are sinful. Through Jesus, God made a way for us to be reconciled to Him as He paid the sacrifice for all sin. (1 John 2:2) He took our sinfulness, paying for it in full because of His holiness and became our peace destroying the barrier that once separated us like the curtain in the temple. (Matthew 27:50-51) Secondly, the Holy of Holies reminds us of our need to seek forgiveness. We are sinful. God is holy. To come to him, we must seek forgiveness of our sin. (Matthew 6:12) Because of Jesus, we no longer need a physical tabernacle or a separate holy place to meet with Him for God has made Himself near to us through His Spirit. (Acts 17:27) God will hear when we call and confess our sins. (Zechariah 13:9) When we confess our sins he will forgive us, never remember our offenses, and removing them from the written record against us. (1 John 1:9, Psalm 103:12, Colossians 2:2) Have you accepted your invitation to enter the holy place of forgiveness? You are welcome! The invitation has been engraved by the hand of God, signed by the blood of Jesus, and is sent to you by the call of God’s Spirit Himself. (Ephesians 1:4-5) Open it and accept the invitation, He is waiting for your reply.

3) What is the mercy seat?
The Ark of the Covenant contained the Ten Commandments, a jar of manna, and the staff of Aaron that budded as reminders of God’s covenant, His provision, and His calling on His people to be His own possession. If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, the reminder of His covenantal love for you, His provision, and His down payment of His promise for eternal security is found in the Holy Spirit indwelling your heart. In the Spirit of God, “He has given us everything required for life and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3) The Holy Spirit grows His fruitfulness in us of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as we surrender ourselves to His rule and reign in our lives. (Galatians 5:22-23) Christ-followers have God’s spirit of power at work in them (2 Timothy 2:7) to accomplish the impossible through faith (Mark 11:23), overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21), and love those who hate us (Matthew 5:44). Often-overlooked is the symbolism of Aaron’s rod in the Ark of the Covenant. Israel had been grumbling about the special authority God had given to Moses and Aaron, jealously wanting equal power for themselves. The Lord responded by instructing all leaders of the tribes to place their staffs in the tabernacle. The next day, Aaron’s staff was the only one that not only sprouted, but had budded, blossomed, and produced almonds! (Numbers 17:8) You can read the entire story Numbers 17:1-11. Aaron’s staff remained in the Ark to remind the Israelites that God chose Aaron to lead the people; who He chooses is His choice, no questions asked. You do remember that this was a staff, a piece of wood separated from a living tree, right? God takes things that seem dead and makes them alive again in Him for His ordained purposes. Recognize your place in His kingdom, accept His invitation of forgiveness, and start blooming through the power of His Spirit!

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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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Sacrifice Day 12 The Price Of Forgiveness: 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 Price Of Forgiveness!

The Questions

 1) What does Paul’s call for remembrance in verse 11 reveal about the heart of God toward humanity? (verse 12)

2) The words “but now” in verses 14-15 are hinge words. What did Jesus do for those far from Him?

3) Verses 16-18 give us the reason behind Jesus’ actions (note Question #2). Why did He do it?

Ephesians 2:11-18

11 So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Original Intent

1) What does Paul’s call for remembrance in verse 11 reveal about the heart of God toward humanity? (verse 12)
“Remember that at one time …” (verse 11) Ephesians is a letter from Paul written to the Christian believers in Jesus in a city which had a considerable population of Gentile (non-Jew) believers. These believers needed to be reminded of their spiritual condition before Christ’s grace rescued them. In chapter 1, Paul shared the good news with the saints by rehearsing for them what they have in Christ through faith. He told the believers they had been chosen and sealed by the Holy Spirit of God, and he prayed for them to deeply comprehend the glorious salvation which God had provided for them in the Lord Jesus. Verses 1-2 of chapter 2 begin with the stark contrast from what they have in Christ to who they once were without Christ. Paul’s words strike a solemn tone, “You were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. (Ephesians 2:1-2) Paul proceeds to offer examples of just how far from God they were before they surrendered in faith to Jesus: uncircumcised, without Christ, excluded, foreigners, without hope, and without God. Circumcision was a sign of covenant that Jews had with God as a sign of His covenant with them. (Circumcision and the Covenant) Those who were not of Jewish decent would have been excluded from this special covenant had it not been for Christ! But exclusion was never the heart of God. (Galatians 3:7-9) Though He had worked in specific ways through His people, Israel, He is a God of salvation to all!

2) The words “but now” in verses 14-15 are hinge words. What did Jesus do for those who are spiritually far from Him?
Since there is no bold lettering or underlined words in Scripture, we are forced to intently read the passage for the author’s intended highlights. After studying these verses, I believe Paul would have designated verse 13 as a key point with an asterisk or underline. The two-word phrase “but now” coupled with the two-word phrase “brought near” in verse 13 give us the crux and the beauty of the gospel message. It is the good news factor! Whenever there is bad news connected with the word “but”, the listener is meant to take note. Harsh words like “excluded” and “without God” are now replaced with glorious words and phrases, “…you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility …” (verses 13-14) The gracious of plan of God from the beginning was for Jesus came to earth to bring everyone near to God, including Gentiles. (Romans 15:7-13) This news was challenging and liberating to the reader. The old way of life was to no longer exist in everyday living. In its place, there was a new life of abundance to be lived out because of their acceptance of forgiveness and freedom offered only in Christ. Remembering their old life was not meant to keep them trapped in condemnation, but to remind them of who God is as their Savior and how He has set them free by His grand rescue and gift of new life.

3) Verses 16-18 give us the reason behind Jesus’ actions (note Question #2). Why did He choose this?
Verse 16 says Jesus “did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which He put the hostility to death.” Redemption and reconciliation were why He came. We’ve heard it said about Him: He was born to die. But there’s more! He was born to die to unite us with each other and with God. Jesus lived and died and rose again to offer all those who believe in Him a new identity. In this passage, Paul is referring to all believers as a singular group of people. Jews and Gentiles are joined as one in the one body of Jesus. Though we are each born individually into Christ at salvation (Ephesians 4:20-24), believers  are also joined with other believers, whatever  their origin, to make us all one new person in Christ. This isn’t simply us being changed into a new person; this is two groups of people becoming one Whole Body, the Church. “Early Christians called themselves a ‘third race’ or a ‘new race.’ Early Christians recognized that they were not Jews, not Gentiles, but one new man embracing all who are in Jesus.” (Enduringword.com) What a wonderful and glorious gospel Paul shares with the Ephesians and us. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord for mercy is moved from “you were” to “but God” to “so then”! (Ephesians 2:19-20)

Everyday Application

1) What does Paul’s call for remembrance in verse 11 reveal about the heart of God toward humanity? (verse 12)
Remembering who we were, and/or would be, without Christ is essential to our daily understanding of the gospel message. Some confess Christ as their Savior and Lord as a child because their parents taught them who Jesus is and offered them an opportunity to put their faith in Him. Others come to Him because a missionary shared the truth of the gospel with them they’d never heard. Still others come from backgrounds of long-time sinful behaviors and blatant rebellion. A few even confess Christ at the very end of their lives, sincerely seeing their need for a Savior. But all of these souls are in the same predicament. And sweet sister, so are we! We all find ourselves far away from Christ because of our sin. The Bible says not one of us was born sinless. (Romans 3:22-24) We remember where we were because we want to understand the heart of God toward us. He rescued us only because of His grace. We were far away. He came to us to draw us near to God, paying the debt we were hopeless to repay, and offering us His righteousness in place of our sinfulness. And that’s the gospel! (Colossians 1:13, 2 Timothy 1:9)

2) The words “but now” in verses 14-15 are hinge words. What did Jesus do for those who are spiritually far from Him?
“There is nothing we can do to make God loves us more, and there is nothing we can do to make God loves us less.” I’d heard that statement many times, even sung similar sentiments, but honestly, I didn’t really believe it because I didn’t fully grasp the work of Christ on my behalf. Although I would never have admitted it, I subtly carried the belief that my goodness somehow added to God’s favor toward me. I was a born “rule follower”; this belief in earning God’s love blinded me to my desperate need for God’s grace. I knew I sinned sometimes and needed God’s forgiveness and grace. I also understood that only one sin would keep me from God because I am a sinner. (James 2:10) But I had this sneaky suspicion God loved me most when I was good. Oh, sweet friend, how wrong I was for years! I simply couldn’t comprehend that goodness was not mine to offer to God. Being a circumcised Jew wasn’t what made Jews accepted by God and being Gentiles didn’t keep them from being accepted by God. Christ was all they needed! We need to be reminded that it is God’s work in creation and in salvation. A little boy made a boat he floated downstream, billowing way beyond his reach and out of sight. One day he saw his boat in a store window and explained to the man about his boat. As he walked out the door of the store with his boat he purchased, he declared, “Little boat, you are twice mine. First I made you, now I bought you!” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19) So it is with us as Christ made us, then paid for us, freeing us from the prison of sin and death!

3) Verses 16-18 give us the reason behind Jesus’ actions (note Question #2). Why did He choose this?
Jesus brought peace by bringing Himself to us. He IS our peace. It is Jesus Himself, God in the flesh, who brought reconciliation to humanity. We were God’s enemies. He still loved us and desired to rescue us from ourselves and Satan’s power. The resurrection of Jesus we celebrate at Easter is the event that disrupted the world forever. Its power was known from Heaven to Hell, and what was accomplished on the cross was timeless. Jesus’ work of salvation through His death was sufficient for all who had lived before Him and believed, for all who lived at the time of His death and believed, and for all who would believe through all time! It is Christ who draws us, Christ who saves us, and Christ who keeps our souls for eternity! (Ephesians 2:4-10)
Upon the cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One who suffered there for me.
And from my stricken heart with tears, two wonders I confess:
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.
(Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane)

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with The Price Of Forgiveness!

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 Sacrifice Week Three!
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!

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Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Alive Day 13 Dearly Loved

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1
Genesis 22:1-19
Psalm 44:17-22
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Romans 8:31-36

Alive, Day 13

“What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
Because of you
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Romans 8:31-36)

When I became a believer, I selected a life verse (a passage of Scripture I especially wanted my life to embody) reflecting my limited understanding of the Gospel as I felt I had to “live up” to a standard of “gospel” in order to keep God’s favor:

“Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27a)

As I grew in my understanding and the Lord unpacked the legalism I carried, He gave me Romans 8 as my new life passage. This shift has been monumental in my understanding of who God is, how I interact with Him, and how He cares for me. I pray that as we walk through this chapter today, you will allow Him to lead you deeper in relationship with Him! 

Verse 31: Is any enemy greater than our ally, our God?

The Creator of the entire world has called us unto Himself. He is Elohim, the only One who has ever created something from nothing. He has given us an eternal inheritance as His children and conformed us to the image of His Son. Nothing in the earth, physical or spiritual, is more powerful than our Great God. No one can remove what He has so graciously given.

Verse 32: Having given us THE greatest gift, Jesus, would God then withhold anything we need for a transformed life?

In Genesis, Abraham was willing to give up his precious son, Isaac, with unshakable faith in and love for God; how much more astounding is God’s sacrifice of His own perfect Son, Jesus, because of His love for us? Out of that same love, He promises to equip us, carry us, and sustain us until we reach our eternal home.

This doesn’t mean, “If I pray to win the lottery, God must give it to me.” Our Heavenly Father has so much more than money or other temporal items to give us, if we embrace His gift of a Spirit-led life!

Verses 33-34: Who is qualified to justify, judge, save, and intercede before God for us?

A joy of mine is using Scripture to interpret Scripture, for the Lord’s letters to us are consistent and true! In 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, I found a similar theme: only the One who sets the standard for righteousness can justify, judge, and save.

God gave the law to demonstrate our need for a Savior.
Jesus, fully God and fully Man, came to fulfill the law.
Therefore, we can have right relationship
with God
through Jesus.

Jesus is sitting next to the Father, speaking to Him on behalf of you and me (also known as interceding). Because Jesus bore the wrath of God in His death and then showed ultimate victory over Satan’s limited power in His resurrection, we can have new life! Only the One who designed this plan of redemption can justify or condemn. 

Verse 35: Can anything separate us from God’s love?

Isn’t it kind of the Lord to set these verses in this order?
He affirms our adoption.
He offers us everything we need for a God-filled, Spirit-led life.
He justifies us.
And now in verse 35, He reminds us nothing can steal any of those gifts.
Sometimes, when we walk through a serious trial, we wonder if God has left us alone.
Take heart, my sisters, He hasn’t left. Nothing can separate us from His perfect love. 

Verse 36: Does ridicule or persecution or suffering mean God has abandoned me?

At first glance, this might seem like a strange reference! However, King David was writing of Israel’s hardships. He was lamenting that Israel had walked away from God and was experiencing His judgement. The enemies of Israel were mocking and taunting them; they were “being put to death all day long.” And yet, throughout all their hardships, the Lord God cared for His people by continuing to redeem them.

We can take heart in our current sufferings, for the Lord God will not abandon us, but will redeem us! Our sufferings do not change the realities and truths of God’s love for us. We can rest in His promises and walk forward confidently in His love! 

Lord, as we study this passage verse by verse, show us Your heart. We want to build on these foundational truths so when we fall, we land on Your truth. Would You make clear Your desire for relationship, and show us Your great love? Let us respond to You with humility and a longing to know You. You are our good God and we praise Your holy name! 

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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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Reveal Day 12 Dancing In The Dark: 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 Dancing In The Dark!

The Questions

1) What was the historical background during Ezekiel’s time?

2) What hope did Ezekiel offer to the nations of Israel? (verses 19-22)

3) What is the covenant of peace? (verses 25-28)

Ezekiel 37:15-28

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take a single stick and write on it: Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him. Then take another stick and write on it: Belonging to Joseph—the stick of Ephraim—and all the house of Israel associated with him. Then join them together into a single stick so that they become one in your hand. When your people ask you, ‘Won’t you explain to us what you mean by these things?’— tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and put them together with the stick of Judah. I will make them into a single stick so that they become one in my hand.’

“When the sticks you have written on are in your hand and in full view of the people, tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I am going to take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over all of them. They will no longer be two nations and will no longer be divided into two kingdoms. They will not defile themselves anymore with their idols, their abhorrent things, and all their transgressions. I will save them from all their apostasies by which they sinned, and I will cleanse them. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God. My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow my ordinances and keep my statutes and obey them.

“‘They will live in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your ancestors lived. They will live in it forever with their children and grandchildren, and my servant David will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be a permanent covenant with them. I will establish and multiply them and will set my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. When my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel.’”

Original Intent

1) What was the historical background during Ezekiel’s time?
Ezekiel lived during the 70-year captivity of Judah in Babylon. The prophets Jeremiah and Daniel were his contemporaries. The nation of Israel had forgotten God and become idolatrous by worshiping other gods. Through prophets, God repeatedly warned them about their sin and the coming destruction as a result. Even after they were captured, they took on the pagan gods and beliefs rather than standing up for the One True God. They had a “form of godliness but denied the power within.” (2 Timothy 3:5, Titus 1:16) They ignored the prophets, so God “left them to their own devices”. (Psalm 81:12) They wandered so far from God they no longer had unity within the nation. In just a few short generations after King David’s reign, the nation split into two nations. The Northern Kingdom (10 tribes led by the half tribe of Ephraim) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (The tribes of Judah and Benjamin). The Northern Kingdom had already been overtaken by Assyria during Ezekiel’s ministry and finally, God allowed Babylon to overtake the Southern Kingdom as well. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, and the people were taken captive where they remained for 70 years. Ezekiel’s ministry was during these 70 years. In the first half of chapter 37, Ezekiel has a vision in the Valley of the Dry Bones. Ezekiel was amid piles of dry bones depicting the futility of the people’s lives without the Lord God. The people did not care about God. Even if they were still worshiping Him, it was in ritual only as they followed the cultural influences around them. They were dead in their sins and, for Ezekiel, it seemed there was no hope. But God showed Ezekiel He would raise His nation up and make them alive again.

2) What hope did Ezekiel offer to the nations of Israel? (verses 19-22)
God instructed Ezekiel to take two sticks, mark them with the names Judah and Ephraim and hold them together as one. As Ezekiel obeyed, the sticks fused into one by God’s power. This visual demonstration was a foreshadowing of what was to come. The prophecy was partially fulfilled after Israel’s 70 years of captivity when the two tribes of Judah and many of the tribes of Israel returned home to Jerusalem. Secondly, “it had a further accomplishment in the union of converted Jews and Gentiles in one body” after Jesus came to earth to live, die, and raise up again. However, the ultimate promise is yet to come when Christ returns to set up His Kingdom and all “shall join together in seeking the Lord, and David, their King, the Messiah, who shall be the one King over them…” (Gills Exposition of the Bible) Up to the birth of Christ, people lived in the Age of Truth under the Covenant of the Law. The people were in darkness because they had not seen the Light of God with their eyes in the person of Jesus. Only at certain times in the Old Testament did God come down to fellowship with His people. The Ark of the Covenant was the place of the Presence of God. (R.C. Sproul) No wonder, David danced when they brought the Ark of the Covenant back into Jerusalem. For indeed, God was again “with them.” After 400 years of silence, God began to move again among His people and so, the dance began again. John the Baptist was conceived as a forerunner to Christ. He leapt in his mother’s womb just being near the mother of the Messiah. Doesn’t your heart leap at the joy of this news? Who could forget the angelic announcement of the birth of Christ? Think of it! If I were a shepherd, I would not be able to keep still with excitement at the prospect of this joyous time. Hope was being fulfilled as Emmanuel (Jesus) came to humanity; God with us! A different age was about to begin, the Age of Grace under the Covenant of Redemption. Now not only is God with us, but His Holy Spirit can live within us if we trust in Christ as our Savior! The light of the world had come to chase away the darkness and the people began to dance in the light!

3) What is the covenant of peace? (verses 25-28)
First, let us consider, “What is peace?”. According to GotQuestions.com, “the primary Greek word for peace is ‘eirene’, and it refers to rest and tranquility. A key focus of peace in the New Testament is the advent of Jesus Christ, as announced by the angels in Luke 2:14 when they declare, “Peace on earth…”. Isaiah had predicted the Messiah would be the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and He is called the Lord of Peace in 2 Thessalonians 3:16. It is through Christ’s work of justification we can have peace with God (Romans 5:1), and His peace will keep our hearts and minds secure (Philippians 4:7).” A covenant is a binding agreement serving as a legal document of guarantee. Therefore, the Covenant of Peace is like an unbreakable contract describing the terms and conditions of God’s ‘peace plan’ for mankind. Just like the Covenant of Redemption details the terms and conditions of God’s redemption for mankind, the Covenant of Peace will define what is needed to partake in the coming Age of Peace.” Ezekiel describes how this covenant of peace will be established. Note as you read Ezekiel 34:20 and following, four things: 1) The Lord will rebuke the leaders who have led the people astray and set forth a judgment on them. 2) God will restore not only people, but land and animals. 3) The earth is restored to its original state (Compare the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2 and the New Earth in Revelation 21) and 4) God will be with His people. “I will establish One shepherd over them, … And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them.” (verses 23-24) (Paul Jablonowski, Sons to Glory)

Everyday Application

1) What was the historical background during Ezekiel’s time?
Israel is coming alive today in many ways. The valley of the dry bones describes how the land of Israel was not productive but was like a desolate desert. Today the land of Israel is stronger than ever. In every way, they are flourishing. They are strong militarily, agriculturally, and have even discovered large deposits of natural gas within their land. (learn more at Behold Israel) The State of Israel in Ezekiel’s day sounds a lot like today’s newspaper, doesn’t it? Ezekiel’s counterpart, Habakkuk described it like this… “Why do you force me to look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.” Today, unity is difficult to find, even among believers. We fight over doctrine and petty details like the color of the carpet. We get downright nasty when politics are mentioned. Too often, we stir up division instead of encouraging one another to model Christ-likeness. If we step back, it’s easy to spot similarities between our modern church and ancient Israel as the pull towards cultural norms and worship for ritualistic or even entertainment motives is strong. God told Israel He was not forsaking them and would bring about flourishing. By humble repentance and a focus on unity, we can encourage the global church to move together in unity through the power of the Holy Spirit. How can you begin fostering unity within your local body?

2) What hope did Ezekiel offer to the nations of Israel? (verses 19-22)
God’s promise of hope to make Israel one nation has further been fulfilled in our generation. For over 2500 years, Israel had not been an official nation, but in 1948 the State of Israel was established. (Britt Gillette, End Times Bible Prophecy) In recent years, Jews are returning to the nation for Israel in droves from all over the earth. (Israel365 News) Not only this but, there are also reports that Orthodox Jews are coming to Christ in marked numbers. This brings up another fusing into one. The lines of Abraham (Isaac and Ishmael) are both coming to faith in Jesus. The lineage of Isaac is the Nation of Israel. The lineage of Ishmael being the Arab nations. According to Open Doors, Muslims are turning to Christ in unprecedented numbers. This is another amazing way that both lines of Abraham are coming together as one. Hope is abounding as more people find redemption in Christ and look forward to His return. Once He returns, our greatest hope will be revealed as John prophesied, “Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” (Revelation 21:3-5) We will live in perfect unity. Death – gone. Pain – gone. Crying – None! The very best part is this, “God’s dwelling is with humanity” just as Ezekiel prophesied. (verse 27) One day soon, we will dance in the joy of His Presence as God is with Us.

3) What is the covenant of peace? (verses 25-28)
God’s promise of restoration was depicted in the two visions to Ezekiel. First, the vision of the dry bones and then the two sticks coming together as one. Once they are joined, we will enter the Covenant of Peace. (Ezekiel 37:26) This will happen when Christ returns to earth and sets up His Kingdom. When God initiated the Covenant of the Law with Moses, he created the physical nation of Israel. When Jesus instituted the New Covenant of Redemption, God created the spiritual nation we call “the Church.” Soon it will be time for God to bring these two together. Both the spiritual and the natural must be in perfect balance, so God can create for Himself “one new man” from the two that will bring true peace in an Age of Peace. (Ephesians 1:9-13, Ephesians 2:14-17). In the Age of His Kingdom, Jesus will be the Prince of Peace. All things will balance out with His government. His judgment will root out the evil. Once evil is removed, His Truth and Grace will be in balance with His Government of Peace. Jesus will reign, and we will be in the Presence of God forever. God’s Peace will be revealed, and we will experience the “peace that passes all understanding” to the full! (Philippians 4:7) We have His peace within our hearts, but on that day, complete peace will be established. Finally, the prophecy of God’s Presence among us will be fulfilled and we can say as Isaiah prophesied, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. A light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time.” (Isaiah 9:2-3) It will be the greatest Dance of Joy ever!

What do YOU think?! Share Here!
Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?
Catch up with Dancing In The Dark

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 Reveal Week Three!
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.

Worship VII Day 4 The Wonderful Cross: 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 Wonderful Cross!

The Questions

1) Who is Isaiah describing in these verses and what event is he foretelling?

2) Why is there a comparison to a sheep in verse 7?

3) What is the beautiful promise made in verse 11?

Isaiah 53

Who has believed what we have heard?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
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;
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.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth.
Like a lamb led to the slaughter
and like a sheep silent before her shearers,
he did not open his mouth.
8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment,
and who considered his fate?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
he was struck because of my people’s rebellion.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
but he was with a rich man at his death,
because he had done no violence
and had not spoken deceitfully.

10 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely.
When you make him a guilt offering,
he will see his seed, he will prolong his days,
and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished.
11 After his anguish,
he will see light and be satisfied.
By his knowledge,
my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will carry their iniquities.
12 Therefore, I will give him the many as a portion,
and he will receive the mighty as spoil,
because he willingly submitted to death,
and was counted among the rebels;
yet he bore the sin of many
and interceded for the rebels.

Original Intent

1) Who is Isaiah describing in these verses and what event is he foretelling?
It is important to note this section of Scripture actually begins in Isaiah 52:13-15 and continues in Isaiah 53. Isaiah, through divine inspiration from God’s Holy Spirit, provides an incredible picture of the promised Savior, Jesus Christ. Isaiah paints a picture unlike anywhere else in Scripture of what Christ would endure as He took upon the sins of the world in all of His innocence. These verses describe the mission Jesus came to accomplish in dying sinless in order to offer rescue to sinners.

2) Why is there a comparison to a sheep in verse 7?

The reference to a sheep, or lamb, would have been a familiar one for Isaiah’s Israelite audience. From the first sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God has required the shedding of innocent blood for atonement. Genesis 3:21 describes how God made garments of skins to clothe Adam and Eve. He sacrificed the first animal and innocent blood was shed, as He made clothing to cover their shame. Later, God called Abraham to sacrifice His son, Isaac, and at the last moment God provided a ram for the sacrifice instead. (Genesis 22) During the plagues in Egypt, the final plague required an innocent lamb’s blood to be shed. This blood was to be painted on the doorposts, allowing the angel of death to pass over their homes sparing the life of the eldest son. (Exodus 11-12) During the days of the temple, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement, and presented blood from an animal sacrifice to atone for the sins of the Israelites, a practice established in Leviticus 16:11-14. Isaiah uses language familiar to his audience to tell of a day coming when animal sacrifices would no longer be needed. There would be a day when the perfect, final sacrifice would come in the form of the promised Messiah. He would take the place of the innocent animal sacrifice; He would be led to slaughter for all sins.

3) What is the beautiful promise made in verse 11?
These verses are filled with an incredible promise. The Israelites likely didn’t grasp the entirety of this promise as they lived centuries before its fulfillment. However, Isaiah tells of a time that would indeed come when the promised Messiah would fulfill what God had put into action in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3:15) Isaiah tells of a coming time when Jesus would take the sins of  the world upon Himself and exchange them for glorious salvation and restoration for His people through the work only He could accomplish. Isaiah tells of the Suffering Servant who would “justify many” (verse 11); this is the hope-filled promise Isaiah describes! Through Isaiah, God promises that one day, animal sacrifice would no longer be necessary because the final price would be paid in full. At that time, all who choose to accept His sacrifice would finally be justified before the Holy God because their sin would be paid for in Jesus.

Everyday Application

1) Who is Isaiah describing in these verses and what event is he foretelling?

Isaiah, hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, describes Jesus for us with vivid imagery of all He would endure as He took my sins and yours to the cross where He would die in our place. Because of our sin, we deserve death and eternal separation from God. We are utterly incapable of becoming righteous on our own; our sin is too great, so we are stuck in eternal death. But Jesus, in magnificent love, took the punishment we deserved and offers us His righteousness in place of our sin, if we are willing to trust Him. None of us are deserving of this gift! God chose to lay all our guilt for all of our sin on Jesus as He went to the cross for us. (Isaiah 53:6) Isaiah’s words in these verses lead us to a new understanding of exactly what Jesus did for you, me, our neighbor across the street and across the world, all those years ago. As we read Isaiah’s God-inspired prophecy, we can sense the anguish Christ lovingly chose to endure for all of us so we might be in right relationship with Him.

2) Why is there a comparison to a sheep in verse 7?
Atonement for sin has always required bloodshed. Since Adam and Eve first sinned in the garden, God has required innocent blood for those sins, but He has also faithfully provided a way for sin to be atoned. Even the Old Testament sacrificial system of bloodshed from an innocent animal was given by God as a grace gift. During Passover in Egypt, God provided lamb’s blood to spare lives, painting a clear picture of His provision that would one day come as Jesus poured out His blood in exchange for our eternal souls. We have the privilege of living on the other side of Isaiah’s prophecy foretelling a coming Messiah because Jesus has already fulfilled this promise. We are no longer called to sacrifice an animal to present as atonement for our sins. Jesus became flesh and offered Himself as the perfect Lamb who sacrificed Himself for all sins of all people on the cross. He willingly went to the cross of suffering although He was innocent. We have been given the opportunity to receive the gift of salvation because of the incredible sacrifice of Jesus’ life as He became the final, perfect sacrifice to atone for all sins. (1 John 2:2)

 

3) What is the beautiful promise made in verse 11?
“This verse tells of the enormous family of believers who will become righteous, not by their own works, but by the Messiah’s great work on the cross”. (NLT Study Bible) There is nothing you or I can do to be justified and become righteous on our own, but Christ willingly carried our iniquities to the cross, taking our punishment and, in return, providing us with His righteousness and forgiveness. He did what we could never do on our own account and permanently intercedes for us. This means, in Jesus, every one of our sins, past, present, and future, has already been paid for in full by the perfectly innocent Lamb of God! What an incredibly beautiful promise! When we choose to accept the gift of forgiveness and salvation offered to us in Christ, we agree to turn from our sin and are fully washed by the blood of Christ, becoming a new creation and part of the family of God forever!

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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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Sketched VIII Day 10 Tamar & Judah

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 38
Matthew 1:1-16
Isaiah 30:18-22

Sketched VIII, Day 10

“Judah has chosen you to marry his son, Er!”

“Papa!” my disgust was as thick as the outrage in my voice.

I’d always been too outspoken, and Mama’s quick glare reminded me I’d spoken out of turn, again.

“Tamar!” My mother clicked her tongue and added reprovingly, “Judah is one of the twelve sons of Jacob; you should be honored! Covenant promises with Yahweh surround his family.”

I whirled to face her. My family was well-accustomed to my vigorous debates, and this was one I would not lose. “You know Judah’s reputation! I don’t care a whit whether he’s Jacob’s son, that man has a wandering eye for any woman with a pulse!”

“Well, Tamar, you’re marrying Er, not Judah. That’s final!”

“Papa! No! It’s not fair!” My shrill voice drew the glances of passersby.

Papa responded with tender grace, “Tamar, I love you. You are important and precious, and Yahweh will use you for His work.” He reached out to touch my cheek. “My fiery girl, I adore you. Er has no idea what he’s in for.” He winked and took his seat to bless our meal.

I smiled at the memory. I loved Papa dearly, and he had loved me for who I was. I grieved every day he was gone, but also breathed a prayer of thanks he never had to witness the obscenity that was my marriage to Er.

Er was spiteful and addicted to many things: alcohol, women, and anger . . . but mostly, himself. Whatever Er wanted, he got, until finally, the Lord mercifully answered my pleas for safety. Er was killed by the Lord’s hand.
Truly, the Lord is a God of justice.

In accordance with the Lord’s law, Judah gave me to his next son, Onan.

“Onan.” I spat out his name like a curse. Onan was devious, passive aggressive, and manipulative. Where Er had beaten me with his fists, Onan cut my heart with his words and insidious deception. The death trap of marriage to Judah’s sons was stifling.

My only hope was to bear a child. Even one son would bring purpose to my suffering. Please, Lord, please, I whispered all day and through the watches of the night, grant your daughter redemption.

My situation felt hopeless. Onan only had sex with me for his own pleasure, pulling out at the last moment so I couldn’t conceive. Yet, I knew Yahweh saw all. I clung to my God of justice, waiting.

Mercifully, the Lord did see Onan’s treachery, and He hated it. By Yahweh’s hand, Onan was also put to death. Two dead husbands, a heart damaged enough for a lifetime, and all hope was dashed.

Still, Yahweh was and always would be just, even if I couldn’t see it. There remained Judah’s youngest son, Shelah. I would be close to the end of my child-bearing years by the time Shelah was old enough to marry, but Judah, with some semblance of honor, promised me Shelah if I returned home and waited for him.

Mama. Sweet mama. I nestled my head against her aging shoulder, wrapping my arms around her. “Tamar, my girl, I love you. You are important and precious. Yahweh will use you for His work.” Despite my pride, tears flowed down my cheeks into my mother’s silvery hair. Such faith! Lord, look upon Your daughter! Extend Your just arm!

Shelah’s coming of age came and went. Weeks turned to months as I waited, sure the Lord heard my pleas, but Judah never fulfilled his promise. Word had it, he blamed me for the deaths of his other two sons.

Angry, I cried out to the Lord. Where is your justice, Yahweh?! Have you not seen me waiting, oppressed, and broken all these years?! I have trusted You, haven’t I?!

“Tamar, Judah is heading to Timnah to shear his sheep.” My friend’s bit of information lit a match within me and hope sparked to life. My plan was devious, yes, but I was too angry to care. Yahweh had given Judah the responsibility of protecting and caring for me, yet he shirked his duties. Now was the time for action.

My heart raced as I removed my widow’s clothing, and hurried to the outskirts of Timnah where Judah would pass. Dressed as a prostitute, I was counting on old Judah to be as scandalous as always. I was not disappointed, for moments later, he asked for my services.

I would not be taken advantage of this time. “Give me your signet, your cord, and your staff from your hand as pledge of your payment.” Greedy Judah readily agreed and the deed was done. We both went on our way, Judah to shear his sheep, and me to plead with Yahweh for mercy.

Three months later, Judah’s baby was 12 weeks along.
The Lord had heard! Evidence of His justice fluttered in my womb.

Proof of His abundant kindness washed over me when I safely delivered two sons a few months later. As I held their tiny bodies close, tears streamed from my eyes. The Lord was righteous! Perez and Zerah were proof!

But when the community heard of my sons’ birth, they cried out for my death as an adulteress. As they dragged me to the place of judgement, I clenched Judah’s signet, cord, and staff, calling out for their owner to claim his items, and his sons.

The blood drained from Judah’s face as he put the fragmented pieces together.
I held my breath.

Would the Lord bring justice?

Judah stepped forward, raising a shaking voice,
“She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her my son, Shelah.”

I trembled, in shock at Judah’s confession and in awe of the Lord’s justice.
I would live and raise my boys in peace!

Hundreds of years later, Yahweh further unfolded a plan Tamar wouldn’t know until she reached Heaven: Perez and Zerah are listed in the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord is faithful and just; His righteousness knows no limits. God used a woman of fierce bravery, fighting through difficult circumstances, to usher in the One who would bring justice and righteousness to all people through His death and resurrection. Never doubt, dear sister, the Lord sees, and knows, and fights for you!

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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 Sketched VIII Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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See all past studies in Sketched VIII!

Here Day 10 Simeon

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Isaiah 52:13-53:1
Luke 2:22-35
Isaiah 25:1-9

Here, Day 10

Though I often stumble as I amble because I am an old man,
today I could run like the youth and fly like an eagle. (Isaiah 40:31)

I have seen the salvation of my people!
He came in flesh, wrapped in linen, carried by a virgin.
Oh, the miraculous grace of my Lord!
Oh, His kindness that He gave sight to my faith.
Oh, the wonder of how this baby will save my people and more than I can imagine.
Oh, the heartache his mother will bear, his father will not be able to spare her from.

I endured a fitful night of sleep, woke early, and felt I must go to the temple right away as the Spirit led me. As I watched precious parents parade into the temple with lambs, or turtledoves and pigeons for those of meager means, I spotted Him and my heart quickened as God’s Spirit moved within me, opening my eyes to see His Promised One.

I stood for a few moments, taking in the scene before me. So long have I waited. So long have I prayed. Shamefully I recall my doubt when the years stretched on without answer. Yet, despite my doubt, the Lord has proven faithful. Tears stream unabashedly down my beard as my eyes drank in the long-awaited sight of the Messiah.
His mother so attentive to His cry, His father so attentive to His mother, and I marveled at the miracle of it all.

The Messiah!
How many have waited for this day right along with me, and yet, as I looked around at the crowd, my heart broke with agony.
They do not know! The ONE we have waited generations for is here, in our midst! Yet, they carry on. Oh Lord, make them see, I breathed.

The priest accepted their offering, 2 turtledoves, the offering marked out for the poorest of the poor. (Leviticus 12:8) Emotion flooded me as I realized Yahweh’s powerful grandeur lay before me wrapped in peasant flesh. Here. He was here with us.

And suddenly, overwhelmed by the Spirit, I moved forward with eyes only for the small, poor, sacred family of three as they left the altar. I approached, gently inquiring if I might prophesy over their child. They eagerly handed Him over as though they knew already what I was going to say. Had they been visited, too? Did they know Whose tiny fingers gripped theirs? Did they see how the One who held all things together was now being held by them? Unfathomable!

Nevertheless, I took this boy, just eight days old, raised him in the air and proclaimed by the Spirit,
Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised. For my eyes have
seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—a light for
revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.

I returned the boy to His parents, having held the Author of Life in my hands. Though my tongue had now stilled from the Spirit’s work, my heart continued in prayer as my soul lifted to heights I’d never experienced.
The wait was over, Hope was here!

Yes, this baby will bring joy, peace, and salvation, but His life will also perplex, anger, and confuse others. He will not rise on the accolades of all, nor fall from the targeted anger of those He offends, but He will live out His destiny.

And now I have lived out mine.
You promised, my God, that my faith would be given sight. You promised I would see Your Salvation.
You promised I would see the Messiah.
You promised, and though it felt like I might have misheard you at times for the longing of it, and the waiting for it, You have kept your promise. You have kept Your word.
You are faithful!

Here I am, an old man fulfilled in your kept word.
Here I am, a man whose life has been devoted wholly to you, satisfied and finding it all worth it.
The questioning, the doubting, the mocking at times by my own?
All worth it.
You kept your word.
You are worthy. 

For those who have yet to experience You and Your faithfulness,
may Your grace be upon them. 

For sweet Mary, whose heart will near break in two at the fulfillment of your word,
may Your grace be upon her. 

For Joseph, just a man called to raise the Son of Man,
may Your grace be upon him.

For all those who will question the life of this baby, the far-reaching grace of His life,
may Your grace be upon them to believe.

For those who will be questioned in their belief because they do not fit the mold of your Promised people,
may Your grace be upon them to persevere in hope.

For those who will condemn and betray this Messiah because He is not who they want Him to be, may Your grace be upon their souls. 

Have mercy, dear God, upon all
just as You have had mercy on me. 

And, now, I am at peace.
However much longer my days, I know a peace that nothing can pierce for my hope has been realized. Give this peace to all who may look upon the eyes and life of this baby and hope as I have, now, and for all time to come.  Amen!

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Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

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 Here Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Here!