Category Archives: Bible Study

Shredding the Word of God

20 After leaving the scroll in the room of Elishama the scribe, they went to the king’s court and told him everything. 21 The king sent Jehudi to take the scroll, and he retrieved it from the room of Elishama the scribe. Then Jehudi read it to the king and all his royal officials who were standing next to the king. 22 Now it was the ninth month, and the king was staying in the winterized part of the palace with the firepot burning near him. 23 And whenever Jehudi read three or four columns of the scroll, the king would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot until the whole scroll was burned up. 24 Neither the king nor any of his attendants who heard all these words were alarmed or tore their clothes. 25 Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll, but he wouldn’t listen to them. (Jer. 36:20-24, CEB)

There are reactions to the word of the Lord… and there are REACTIONS to the word of the Lord. There are those times when the word of the Lord is given and we simply ignore it. This guy had such disdain for what Jeremiah was saying he shredded the document.

We all have tendencies to ignore the word of the Lord given to us. Then, there are times we act in some way that is, in essence, shredding the word given to us. We may not “like” the word given to us. We may think we’re in good shape (when we’re not) so the word given “offends” us. And we take some action that essentially lights a match to the word that was just given and we walk away.

We’ll look for a more “pleasant” word from some other source. We may just quit listening all together.

It’s not that there aren’t good words from the Lord. But when we’re in a place of correction we need the tough words. We’re just not willing to hear them.

Don’t shred the word of the Lord given to you. Don’t skip the tough passages in the Bible that “offend” you. Move through those words and have a heart that is open to actually hearing the word of the Lord.

 

Oh, to KNOW him!

33 No, this is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my Instructions within them and engrave them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Jer. 31:33, CEB)

Israel was dealt with for ignoring God and acting in open rebellion. But once that rebellion was dealt with, God only wanted to draw his people back to him. The promise to come would be to put the law (instruction) on our hearts. We can know God. 

The law on our hearts creates the opportunity for us to truly walk in the Spirit. We can be taught by the Spirit day by day as the instruction of the Lord works in us. It’s not something we read on stone. It’s something we breathe day in and day out.

7 The Lord’s Instruction is perfect,
reviving one’s very being.
The Lord’s laws are faithful,
making naive people wise. (Psalm 19:7, CEB)

We need to know him. We MUST know him!

The cry of God’s heart is that we know him. Why are we so lazy in hearing that call and responding? The all-powerful God of all creation wants us to know him.

What is keeping you from this magnificent pursuit?

Fond Memories of Egypt

The children of Israel had watched Egypt go down hard. A nation of slaves had just walked out on the most powerful nation on the face of the earth and deliverance was theirs.

Hundreds of years of slavery were wiped out… and they complain. They get outside of Egypt and all of a sudden Egypt sounds like Disney World. They think of the great food!

3 The Israelites said to them, “Oh, how we wish that the LORD had just put us to death while we were still in the land of Egypt. There we could sit by the pots cooking meat and eat our fill of bread. Instead, you’ve brought us out into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death.” (Ex. 16:3, CEB)

I find that what happened was their lack of knowledge in the Holy One. One thing I notice in reading the Scriptures is this: we trust who we know. Israel had difficulty knowing God.

Failure to trust God causes us to think fondly of Egypt.

We trust who we know.

Egypt is a lie. The Kingdom is reality.

The Roundabout Way

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God didn’t lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, even though that was the shorter route. God thought, If the people have to fight and face war, they will run back to Egypt. 18 So God led the people by the roundabout way of the Reed Sea desert. The Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt ready for battle. (Ex. 13:17-18, CEB)

God knew what Israel was capable of in that moment. What they couldn’t take at that moment was a battle. There would be times for battle. This was not that time.

There are times in our lives the Lord knows what is ahead. We may think we’re ready for the battle, but our Lord may just know something different. He make take us on a “roundabout” route for another purpose.

The battle is the Lord’s. It is not our battle. He knows the way. Sometimes we wonder why we’re wandering. Yet, he knows.

Our task is to keep our eyes on the One who leads. When the time has come to fight… fight we will.

The God Who Watches Over You

We have celebrated Resurrection Sunday. We have worshiped the risen Savior. For us at Heights Church, it was a great day. We sang with our hearts. We worshiped the mighty King.

These are great days of celebration. It doesn’t take away from the battles we face in our lives. Christ triumphs… and we have to know that triumph even in the midst of intense battles.

Reflecting on Exodus 12 I am reviewing the story of the Passover. One particular sentence jumped out at me:

He won’t let the destroyer enter your houses to strike you down. (Ex. 12:23b, CEB)

All that Israel had to go through to plan for Passover, and to prepare for that night of judgment as the angel of the Lord would pass over Egypt, God promises that in the midst of terror the destroyer would not harm them. The blood was applied.

Resurrection is exciting. The battles are tough. But the reality of the Resurrection and the work of the Lord needs to be deeply instilled in us. The Lord has covered us with his blood. The destroyer cannot strike us down. The battle is intense. The victory is the Lord’s.

Live in this resurrection power.

Did a Shooting Happen… or not?

Yesterday the news was all over the internet in what I consider “main sources.” It was the first thing you saw when the news page would come up. When newspapers were actually printed, it would be called “above the fold.” It was front and center.

I thought there was yet another shooting at yet another college campus. Seven dead.

And today? I couldn’t find it on several “major” news sites. Not in obvious places.

A small Christian college… catering mainly to Korean Americans…

Seven dead.

Are we just numb to those kinds of things now? Let’s get back to other things in the news cycle?

Probably it is something that is still being talked about on the morning news shows. Since I don’t watch them, I am not sure.

These are days when things really seem to be coming apart. Gun violence. Rampages. Anger and bitterness that seriously divides our nation and world.

There are days when events overwhelm us. It happens. It happened in the Psalms.

The news of the day would overwhelm David or another writer and their prayers were prayers of desperation. Prayers that said, “Lord, what in the world is going on?”

We can be given to extremes in thought, but Psalms help us realize we’re not alone in those extreme thoughts.

1 Help, LORD,
because the godly are all gone;
the faithful have completely disappeared
from the human race!
2 Everyone tells lies to everyone else;
they talk with slick speech
and divided hearts.  (Psalm 12:1-2, CEB)

In times of desperation we also need times of radical trust. The world is heading for destruction it seems, but we need our eyes fixed on God.

6 The LORD’s promises are pure,
like silver that’s been refined
in an oven,
purified seven times over!

7 You, LORD, will keep us,
protecting us
from this generation forever.

Death. Racism. War. Crazy politics. The economy wobbling around. Lord, in these days help us keep our eyes on you!

Liking the Common English Bible Bit by Bit

Teaching a New Testament class on some of the “general epistles” I keep several translations with me. I will use my Nook and the Olive Tree Bible Reader to compare, take notes, etc.

While the Common English Bible certainly has a lower reading level than more “literal” translations, what continues to impress me about the CEB is it is truly a translation. They have not aimed for common language alone. It is about clarity. They don’t stretch for common language by paraphrasing.

Some word choices in 2 Peter are intriguing me.

2 Peter 2:1-4 (CEB):

1 But false prophets also arose among the people. In the same way, false teachers will come among you. They will introduce destructive opinions and deny the master who bought them, bringing quick destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow them in their unrestrained immorality, and because of these false teachers the way of truth will be slandered. 3 In their greed they will take advantage of you with lies. The judgment pronounced against them long ago hasn’t fallen idle, nor is their destruction sleeping.
4 God didn’t spare the angels when they sinned but cast them into the lowest level of the underworld and committed them to chains of darkness, keeping them there until the judgment.

Two places specifically are interesting when compared with a more “literal” translation like the ESV:

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, butcast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

The first is the phrase “destructive heresies” in v. 1 (ESV). The phrase takes the meaning of Peter a bit too far. The CEB goes with “destructive opinions” (as does the NRSV). It’s a translator’s choice, but probably staying more in line with what Peter is getting at.

The second is “hell.” That word has more permanence attache to it in our own minds (unless you’re an annihilationist, of course). Even in that sense there is the thought of finality. The ESV footnotes it, but only to use the Greek word “Tartarus.” (Well, now, THAT is helpful!)

Tartarus was a place in Greek mythology, a subterranean abyss where disobedient gods and rebellious human beings were consigned. It is not a place of permanent judgment. Thus, the New Jerusalem Bible, and CEB, using “underworld” might be a better fit.

Again, just interesting notes that keep me intrigued with the CEB. Certainly there is disagreement on which words to use in translation, but it shows me it is truly a translation. They are not trying to “dumb down” Scripture. They are really trying to communicate clearly. 

Be the Hunter

If there is anything worth hunting… it is wisdom. We live life in “pursuit” of so many things, but the greatest pursuit in the ancient texts is the pursuit of wisdom. And the call is to be as tenacious with that pursuit as you would with any other pursuit. Actually, even a little more tenacious.

22 Pursue her like a hunter, 
   and lie in wait by her paths. 
23 Those who peer into her windows 
   will also listen at her doorways. 
24 Those who lodge near her house 
   will also fasten a tent peg in her walls. (Sirach 14:22-24, CEB)

When we choose to seek out wisdom, and then really pursue wisdom… we will find the reward.

Don’t bother to pursue… and she stays far away.

8 She keeps far away from the arrogant, 
   and liars will never remember her.  (Sirach 15:8, CEB)

Our pursuits must be intentional. This isn’t something for the lazy in life.

Do You WANT to See or Not?

There are two stories of healing someone blind in Mark. In between those stories are three episodes where Jesus reveals to his disciples what will happen in a few days: He is going to Jerusalem. He will be handed over to the religious leaders to be put to death. He will rise up after three days.

The contrasts of the two stories of healing the blind man create a great story line to coordinate with the three “reveals” of Jesus concerning his last days.

The first story (Mark 8:22-26) has a blind man brought to Jesus. Jesus has to touch the man twice. Actually, he spits on his eyes.

But it takes two “touches” to heal the blind man completely.

The second story (Mark 10:46-52) has the blind man, Bartimaeus, calling out to Jesus. In all reality, he is shouting after Jesus. He won’t shut up.

46 Jesus and his followers came into Jericho. As Jesus was leaving Jericho, together with his disciples and a sizable crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, Timaeus’ son, was sitting beside the road. 47 When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was there, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, show me mercy!” 48 Many scolded him, telling him to be quiet, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, show me mercy!” (CEB)

He knows exactly what he wants. He asks for the ability to see. There is no indication that Jesus even touched him. He spoke an affirmation of the man’s faith and Bartimaeus was healed.

The attitude of Bartimaeus and the attitude of the first man’s story stand out in the storyline of the gospel. With the healing of Bartimaeus, the story right before that episode is James and John coming to Jesus and asking for “most favored” status in the Kingdom.

THIS came right on the heels of Jesus explaining a third time what would happen to him in Jerusalem. (Talk about blind guys!)

While the disciples were “blind” to what was about to happen, and they were “blind” to the actual nature of the Kingdom, here is the story of Bartimaeus screaming out for the opportunity to see.

Mark’s story is great. The question is this: Do you want to see or not?

Do you want to go bumping around, not really wanting to understand what the Kingdom is TRULY about (and that includes the cross), or do you truly want to see and understand what the Kingdom has in store for those who will cry out?

In life there are those who remain blind and miss the Kingdom. There are those who have a “partial touch” and bump around. They see only one side of the Kingdom or the other. (They see only the cross or only the resurrection.) Then there are those screaming out to Jesus to SEE.

The cross, the resurrection… the cost. And they follow Jesus.

Do you WANT to see… truly see… or not?

What Holds You Back?

Two books I’ve read lately are stirring me from my complacency.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream

Sun Stand Still: What Happens When You Dare to Ask God for the Impossible

The question is this: “What holds me back?”

In Mark 10 the wealthy man comes to Jesus to ask what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus ticks off some of the commandments. This is good for this man, and Jesus knows it. We’re good at lists. We’re good at ticking off some of the easy doctrines and the easy do’s and don’ts.

But Jesus goes to his heart:

 21 Jesus looked at him carefully and loved him. He said, “You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” 22 But the man was dismayed at this statement and went away saddened, because he had many possessions. (Mark 10:21-22, CEB)

Jesus loved him. Because of that love he wanted what was best for this man.

Jesus looks at me and loves me. (Actually, he told me I’m his favorite.) ;)

But Jesus does look at me and love me. He wants his best for me. And that means he can see what is getting in the way.

For the wealthy man, it was his possessions. For others, there will be different things that Jesus will lovingly say to us, “Look, if you want to really follow, this is the baggage to leave behind…”

What holds you back?