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Advent Day 4 Until: 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!

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The Questions

1) What is being referenced by blazing fire, darkness, gloom, storm, trumpets and words? (verses 18-21)

2) What does the opposing imagery represent in verses 22-24?

3) How does the author urge his audience to respond and why? (verses 25-29)

Hebrews 12:18-29

For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, 19 to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, 20 for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. 21 The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. 22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven. 26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Original Intent

1) What is being referenced by blazing fire, darkness, gloom, storm, trumpets and words? (verses 18-21)
The Hebrew audience would have instantly associated the apostle’s dark description with the imagery of Mount Sinai. Ringing in their ears would have been every story they’d heard and every Hebraic character from scrolls they’d studied since boyhood about Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Sinai. Here was the core pillar of the Jewish faith, this was the Lord’s proof of His covenant as evidenced by His commandments. The sky was dark and heavy with clouds, thunder boomed, lightening flashed, and though they technically could touch the mountain, death awaited all who dared. (Exodus 19:12-13) Only Moses and Aaron had permission to go up the mountain of God. (Exodus 19:20, 24) The fear of the Lord and His awe-full presence was too much for the people to bear, even Moses testified, “I am trembling with fear.” (Hebrews 12:21) Likely for some in the audience, their response to the apostle’s words would have been visceral with chills and a physical pulling back; such was the power of the images evoked by this description. Yes, God Almighty had humbled Himself even then to come down to His people, but so thick, heavy, and terrifying was His presence that truly drawing near without an advocate was impossible.

2) What does the opposing imagery represent in verses 22-24?
The author skillfully turns the audience’s eye from the base of one mountain to another. The drastic scenery change between Sinai and Zion is a shift the first hearers could sense with their whole selves. Zion was the place of perfection. As heavy and terrifying as Sinai, Zion surpassed these concepts with the overwhelmingly freeing sense of finally living peaceably; to live in Zion is to live at home for God dwelt there. Zion was the great reward, the longing of every heart, for here, peace flourished and love made its home. Even in the Old Testament, which again, the first audience would have been keenly familiar with, Zion was lush with welcome. This was no cotton-candy sweet place to visit, neither was this a tragedy-doomed utopian dream, Zion was steadfastly and assuredly perfect because Righteousness Himself lived there and only the righteous could dwell securely with Him. The Old Testament rings of the enthralling, eternal loveliness of Zion. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “…the Lord of Armies who dwells on Mount Zion.” (Isaiah 8:18) Ancient worship leader, Korah, described Zion as the Lord’s “Holy mountain, rising splendidly, (as) the joy of the whole earth.” (Psalm 48:2) To be in Zion was to live alongside the deepest joys and impenetrable securities for all eternity. It’s beauty and might reflected the God who embodied it and gave Himself to its citizens forever with the greatest delight, “Go around Zion, encircle it; count its towers, note its ramparts; tour its citadels so that you can tell a future generation: “This God, our God forever and ever—He will always lead us.” (Psalm 48:12-14)

3) How does the author urge his audience to respond and why? (verses 25-29)
Sinai’s terror of the Old Covenant with its law keeping and constant animal bloodshed to offer payment for perpetual sinfulness of God’s people is made plain under the disciple’s pen. So also, the glorious freedom of Zion’s beauty radiates with grand invitation and stunning aura as the author continues his description, but then he pivots our attention to the weightiness of our own decision. Centuries before, as Israel prepared to finally cross over from desert wanderings into their long-awaited Promised Land, their leader Moses declared, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, love the Lord your God, obey him, and remain faithful to him. For He is your life…” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) In much the same fashion, the author of Hebrews urged his audience to refuse to reject what had been set before them. “See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they (ancient Israel) did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from Him (God) who warns us from heaven.” (verse 25) Life and death are again set before the author’s hearers and the choice is given, will they accept the gift of Christ’s forgiveness and dwell in Zion or will they remain under the shadow of death at Mt. Sinai where every sin must be paid in full on their own, which is utterly impossible.

Everyday Application

1) What is being referenced by blazing fire, darkness, gloom, storm, trumpets and words? (verses 18-21)
Today, regardless of culture or location, we simply do not have the same physical response or drastic images playing in our mind’s eye when we read these words in Hebrews. We don’t live in the period of animal sacrifice, we didn’t wander the desert with Moses, we didn’t see the Red Sea waters part, or smell the acrid smoke that surrounded the Hebrew camp of newly-freed slaves as God Almighty descended on Mt. Sinai. We simply read some words and wonder at their curious description. Let’s not pass up this opportunity to slow down and learn from these ancient Hebrew people of how they viewed God with awe. Precisely because we are don’t share their visual experiences, we much too easily dismiss the authority and all-consuming power of the Lord God. When we worship on Sundays, do we ever consider the One to Whom we sing as holding all power and authority, or are we simply waiting for an emotion strong enough to make us raise our hands? God is absolutely unchanging. Though we understand more of His tender heart through the whole of Old and New Testaments, His awesome sovereignty and authority are no less abated simply because Christ came as a helpless infant with silky skin and trembling lips. Considering the absolute magnitude of His unfathomable glory should make us bow with ever deepening awe and reverence as we dare cast our eyes to the Babe in the manger. God displayed a sliver of His glory to Moses, Aaron and the Hebrews gathered at the base of Mount Sinai. (Hebrews 12:29) Let’s gasp together that this same I AM has already come as a wholly divine, wholly human infant and will one day come again as Lord of Lords to once and for all bring His beloved Church Home.

2) What does the opposing imagery represent in verses 22-24?
None who dwelled in Zion experienced lack, grief, shame, or fear because the very same God of Sinai inhabited Zion. “For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home: “This is My resting place forever; I will make My home here because I have desired it. I will abundantly bless its food; I will satisfy its needy with bread. I will clothe its priests with salvation, and its faithful people will shout for joy.” (Psalm 132:13-16) Was there an enormous distinction between the two images of Sinai and Zion? Assuredly, yes, this stark difference is emphasized by Hebrews’ author. Yet, also inherently underscored is the reality that the God of Sinai was also the God of Zion. The difference is that peace with His people had been made. No longer did the dread of perfectly keeping God’s commands hang over them while sin plagued them on all sides, for sin had been slain and righteousness had been perfectly purchased, making peace with God available to all. Those who accepted this peace, were cleansed by the precious blood payment of God Himself and welcomed to Zion’s embrace forever. Zion, with its Heavenly city of Jerusalem, myriads of angels, every redeemed saint, and God’s glorious presence results in the grandest “festive gathering” of all peoples and nations. (verses 22-24) This is Heaven, the great reward of Home for all who trust Christ as Savior and Forgiver from sin.

3) How does the author urge his audience to respond and why? (verses 25-29)
Through the scrolling ink marks of a disciple whose bones have long since returned to dust, yet whose soul, even now, rejoices in dwelling in the presence of the Most High God, the Lord God reaches through history to personally plead with you and I. Which mountain will be your Home? Sinai, representing judgment for every sin and eternal death to pay the consequence for that sin, which each of us have committed, is the default homeland for every human being. Let that sink in. Default. Homeland. Yet, wondrously, Zion is available to all. (Colossians 1:13-14) The payment for sin has been made through Christ the Righteous One as He took our death punishment upon Himself at the cross, then proved His victory over it by rising from His own deathbed three days later. He is the entrance doorway to Zion’s delight, for He longs to make His home with us! (John 10:9) Hear the pleadings of an ancient author, see the love of God who sacrificed Himself for you, repent from your sin, accepting His grace-filled forgiveness, and come Home to Zion! When we surrender our lives to Christ, His Spirit indwells us as He comes to live with us. (Romans 8:9) But this glory is merely a down payment of the Zion yet to come. (Ephesians 1:14) One day, with gloriously resurrected bodies, all who have trusted Christ will rise from the grave as the Holy Jerusalem is inhabited in the new Heaven and the new earth and so we will be with the Lord forever! (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) Sister, choose this day whom you will serve!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

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

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Why Dig Deeper?

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

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

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

Study Tools

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

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

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

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Advent Day 3 Until

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 12:1-3
Deuteronomy 28:1-26
Deuteronomy 18:15-22
Luke 24:25-27
Hebrews 12:18-24

Advent, Day 3

It seemed straightforward enough.

So He could fulfill the covenant promises He’d made to Abraham, God set up parameters for holy living and gave His people a system of choice and consequence.

Choose righteousness, and be blessed. (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)
Choose disobedience and sin, and be cursed. (Deuteronomy 28:15-26)

Easy choice, right?
Yet, inevitably, Israel pivoted to sin.

Like any Good Father, God sought to remind His children of the consequences of their choices before they earned total catastrophe.

Enter, prophets. Since the first sin separated humans from God, and since the people of Israel were subsequently overcome by fear in God’s direct presence, He appointed prophets to deliver His Word.

Today, as we continue to look forward to Jesus’ coming, we travel back to the days of the minor (read, shorter-winded) prophets, ordinary men called by God to warn sin-entangled Israel of impending disaster unless the people repented and returned to God.

Ultimately, each prophet foretold the coming Messiah, Who would once and for all time break the power of sin and bring restoration and redemption. (Hebrews 10:11-18)

The prophet Hosea’s steadfast love for his wife despite her habitual betrayal reflected God’s heart toward unfaithful Israel; he revealed Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 3:16-17). Jesus is the Bridegroom Who loves with compassion (Hosea 11:4, 8-9), healing those who return to Him. (Hosea 6:1-2)

Joel watched a swarm of locusts darken the sun, devouring the few leaves not strangled by drought, then leveraged this devastation to mirror Israel’s sin of abandoning God. He foretold the coming Day of Yahweh, when Jesus would judge the nations (Joel 3:2,12), send His Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28, John 16:7-15), and stand as Israel’s refuge. (Joel 3:16)

Amos, a farmer and rancher who delighted in a life spent tending God’s creation, convicted Israel of breaking covenant with God in their pursuit of materialistic prosperity. Though he warned of impending judgement, Amos also spoke great prophecies of restoration, foretelling Jesus as the fulfillment of David’s line, the rebuilder, and the restorer of God’s people. (Amos 9:11-15)

Author of the shortest book in the Bible, Obadiah emphasizes Christ’s “ordinary humanity” as he descended neither from kings nor priests. Obadiah was simply an ordinary man chosen by God to condemn the pride of Israel’s enemies and reveal Christ as the judge of the nations (Obadiah 1:15-16), Israel’s Savior (Obadiah 1:17), and the Possessor of the Kingdom (Obadiah 1:21).

Jonah’s three-day detour in the belly of a big fish foreshadowed Christ’s three days in the grave before His resurrection (Matthew 12:38-42). Once released, Jonah’s call to repentance from the dreaded Assyrians was an early reflection of Christ’s desire for all people to repent and receive salvation. (Jonah 3:4-10, 2 Peter 3:9)

Micah, a prophet residing in a busy trading town, proclaimed God’s displeasure at the empty rituals of worship offered by Israel, even as they abandoned any pretense of righteousness in their daily dealings. (Micah 6:6-8) Micah’s words portray Jesus as the King to be born in Bethlehem and, following Jesus’ birth, were quoted to the current king, Herod. (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1-6)

In condemning the Assyrians for unabated savagery and wickedness, Nahum comforted God’s people and revealed Christ as the jealous God who avenges adversaries. (Nahum 1:2-3)

As Habakkuk wrestled with the mystery of God’s goodness and power when faced with the reality of evil, he portrayed Jesus as Savior (Matthew 1:21), the Holy One (Habakkuk 1:12, 1 John 1:9), the Justifier through faith (Habakkuk 2:4), and He who will fill the earth with knowledge of God’s glory (Habakkuk 2:14).

Descended from the righteous king Hezekiah, Zephaniah delivered God’s judgement against the people’s sin under the reign of evil kings, called for repentance, and extended the hope of redemption. In Zephaniah’s words, Jesus is foretold as the Righteous One (Zephaniah 3:5) and the people’s true King (Zephaniah 3:15).

Yet the Lord’s words went unheeded. Israel was conquered and exiled by the Babylonians. After 70 years, a remnant was allowed to return; more than a decade after their homecoming, they continued to struggle against enemies and to obtain basic necessities.

Into the disarray stepped Haggai, who encouraged the people to rebuild the temple as a sign of their commitment to God’s centrality in their lives; in doing so, Haggai revealed Christ as the ultimate Restorer of the temple’s glory (Haggai 2:7-9, John 2:17-22) and Overthrower of all worldly kingdoms (Haggai 2:22).

As Zechariah encouraged the people to complete temple reconstruction, he foretold Israel’s restoration through the coming Christ, portraying Jesus as Servant King (Zechariah 9:9), crucified Savior (Zechariah 12:10), smitten Shepherd who would be abandoned (Zechariah 13:7), and coming Judge and righteous King (Zechariah 14).

As the concluding prophet of the Old Testament, Malachi convicted Israel of their sin yet again and delivered the final words of the Lord until John the Baptist would declare the arrival of Jesus (Malachi 3:1, John 1:29).

And then, silence.
For 400 years.

Until a wild-haired, animal skin-clad man waist-deep in the waters of the Jordan River froze, mid-baptism, as he locked eyes with a nondescript Hebrew making His way to the shore.

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

[Did one of these prophets spark your curiosity? Learn more at Bible.org, our main resource for this study!]

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Ready Day 10 Until The Trumpet Sounds

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Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Thessalonians 4:14-5:28
Ephesians 5:1-21
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
Revelation 7:9-17
Revelation 21:1-7

Ready, Day 10

As a mom of 4 girls, I have jokingly shared with friends that I pray Jesus comes back before my daughters hit the lovely stage of life called adolescence. I don’t want to ride that emotional rollercoaster, not even once, let alone FOUR times in a row.

Yet, here I am.  Deep in the trenches of estrogen and girl drama.

I’m still holding out hope for Jesus to make His appearance before my oldest heads to middle school in August. A mom can dream, right?

In all seriousness, I am not sure if there has ever been a time when I’ve longed more desperately for Jesus to return and take me to Heaven.

Surely, I’m not alone.
The past year has been one for the record books on so many levels.

I feel like we’ve all been ravaged in our bodies, minds, and souls.
When trying to describe how I feel, I find words like:
Weak, weary, wounded.
Isolated, alone, afraid.
Confused, uncertain, anxious.
Frustrated, disappointed, disillusioned.

I’m sure you could add to the list.

Hiding and praying for this all to go away isn’t the answer, though.
I don’t believe God has called us to retreat.
No, we can’t withdraw from the war.

Remember, this is exactly what’s going on: an all-out war between good and evil.
As Paul shares in Ephesians, the struggles we encounter are MORE than they appear.

Covid, racial injustice, power outages due to unprecedented weather, unemployment, social isolation, depression, anxiety, political unrest, financial debt, food insecurity, and so much more bombard us from every angle.
The physical and emotional needs are overwhelming.
We could easily forget that these issues, as real and hard as they are,
are NOT the true battles.

We MUST realize they all point to the reality of SIN.
And thus, to our ULTIMATE need for a SAVIOR!

In his letter to the church at Thessalonica, Paul reminds believers we have hope in this fallen and broken world.

And it’s not a vaccine or new president or stimulus check.
It’s not acceptance or affirmation or equity.
It’s not financial stability or food security.
It Is JESUS.

Jesus, who died for our sins and made a way for us to have a relationship with God.
Jesus, who rose again and proved He is victorious over sin and death.
Jesus, who will return to take all who accept His free gift of salvation to eternal glory with Him.

HE is our hope who sustains us, no matter what punches the world throws our way.
HE is the truth ALL people need to hear and believe.
HE is the message we MUST share.

Donating food, water, and blankets is helpful.
Fighting for justice and equality is good, and necessary.
Raising money, offering our skills, or sending an encouraging note can be beneficial.

Followers of Jesus should be the first to do these things.
Our love for God should compel us to love the people in our lives.

But if that is all we do, we have failed our neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family members. We may have improved their current situation,
but we have ignored their eternal condition.

I get it.
Sharing the gospel can be scary.
I am personally guilty of not telling people about Jesus, for fear of what they’ll think of me.

I should be so concerned with the devastating reality of someone’s eternal separation from God that I MUST share JESUS.

Honestly, I shouldn’t be able to anticipate Jesus’ return with joy, knowing people in my life haven’t yet accepted Jesus as their Savior.

I don’t want to hear the promised trumpet blast and realize my neighbor, co-worker, friend, or family member will not come with me.

I can’t even begin to imagine how glorious standing among people from every tongue, tribe, and nation will be as we all sing together to worship Jesus. I envision such beauty and peace and joy. My heart swells with longing for that amazing day.

Then, I cringe to think of what the alternative eternal experience will be for those who don’t know Jesus as Savior.  My heart breaks, and suddenly things shift into perspective.

Every day I linger, waiting for Jesus is an opportunity to share my hope for the future with those around me who are lost in the here and now. I will gladly endure 4 rounds of puberty if it means more time to tell people about JESUS!!!

As I read in Thessalonians today, I was challenged like never before.
I don’t want to simply watch and wait for Jesus to come back.
I want to remember I am fighting in a raging war.
I may not know how long it will last, but I do know Who will stand victorious in the end.
And I CAN make the most of the time I am given, and fight well every day I am here.

Will you join me, as Paul urges, and put on your armor and engage in battle
for someone’s soul?

Will you live as a child of the day,
shining your light into the darkness?

How much more glorious will it be then, when we DO hear the trumpet blast, and finally see our Savior face-to-face, knowing we gave our all to share the hope of JESUS?!

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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 1 Until He Appears

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Habakkuk 1:1-4
Habakkuk 3:16-19
1 Peter 1:3-9
Romans 8:18-38

Reveal, Day 1

“How long, Lord, must I call for help
and you do not listen
or cry out to you about violence
and you do not save?
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.”
(Habakkuk 1:2-4)

If ever there was a prayer for 2020, this passage from Habakkuk pretty much covers it.
Pain, strife, injustice, violence, conflict, loss . . . all wrapped up in a God who has never felt further away.

Christmastime often taps us on our shoulder to remind us what we’ve lost throughout the year, or to bring attention to what we don’t have. Loved ones with whom we once celebrated who will not be sitting at the dinner table this year. Gifts we wish were under the tree, but for which the budget couldn’t make room. A special someone to share life with or children and a family of our own.

But 2020, and all its tumult, have truly humbled our hearts. What we thought was known has toppled into an overwhelming heap, perplexing us when we attempt to piece it back together.
Loss of jobs, businesses, and lives.
Sudden, rapid loss of our “normal.”
The loss of comfort in, and blindness to, the systematic racial inequities still existing in the world, despite the long and hard-fought battles already waged.

It seems impossible that God is here. That He is working. We want to cry out, like Habakkuk, “How long, God!?”
“Where are You now?”
“What are You doing?”
“Why don’t You save us?”

The book of Habakkuk shows us a raw and real conversation between God and Habakkuk on behalf of the nation of Israel. For hundreds of years, since the exodus from Egypt, Israel suffered from the plight of its own sin. Time after time, they turned away from God and deliberately disobeyed Him by worshiping other gods and idols, despite the Father’s constant grace and effort to bring them back to Him.

And so Israel fell, and suffered, at the hand of corrupt nations like Babylon. God delivered them, and they remained faithful . . . for a time. Until they abandoned their Deliverer, and the endless cycle began again, and again, and again.

We see both Habakkuk and God hurting for the world and the sin wreaking havoc at every turn. God shows Habakkuk that He, too, sees the hurt, the pain, the suffering, and the loss. His heart breaks, too. Even though it seemed inconceivable, God was working a plan far greater than their present troubles. In the midst of the consequences of our own sin and the ripple of others’, God’s glorious plan to save His people was being revealed.  

I’m amazed at Habbakuk’s praise at the end of the book. Despite the absence of God’s immediate rescue, Habakkuk rests in God’s constant promises to deliver His people. Habakkuk didn’t have the Christmas story of Immanuel, God with us, or even the knowledge of the Easter story of the resurrection of Jesus, and yet he chose to trust in the midst of loss.

My favorite Christmas hymn lyrics, from the first verse of “O Holy Night,” simply and beautifully remind us of the “now” of our suffering and the “not yet” of the promise to come:

 “Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!” 

How long have you felt the weight of sin and error and pined for relief, crying out to God, “How much longer, Lord?”

Friend, when Christmastime taps us on the shoulder and we look back at 2020 and remember what was lost and painful, may the picture of an innocent baby named Jesus, born in the midst of chaos and filth, prompt our weary hearts to turn toward hope and the bright, new, glorious morning our Father has given us.

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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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