How did Christmas become the predominant holiday in the U.S.?
1) Spiritual - A strong spiritual desire by Protestant Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ in their churches. Pressured their churches to offer Christmas services.
2) Greater emphasis on family due to emergence of the middle class – Thanks to the Industrial Revolution, Americans became more and more wealthy. Consequently, wives and children did not have to work in the factories to meet needs. They stayed home. Consequently, the home and not the factory became the center of American life. The growing middle class was more family-centric. Parents paid more attention to their children/took joy in their children. Christmas became the holiday for children. Christmas with its many traditions (feasts, exchanging of gifts, decorations) had a strong appeal to the middle class because they promoted family. Two works of literature played an important role in the appeal of Christmas by the middle class – a) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens with its theme of Christmas being a time when people should be helping out/giving to the less fortunate (poor, sick, orphans, etc.). Having heard Dickens read A Christmas Carol at a local playhouse, an American factory owner informed his wife that he would be closing the factory on Christmas Day from now on. b) “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” or as it is more popularly known “Twas the Night Before Christmas” (For more see “Origin of Santa Claus” below.)
3) Commercialism – As Christmas grew in popularity among the middle class, commercial businesses discovered a spike in spending during the Christmas season. Businesses quickly viewed Christmas as a money maker. Commercial businesses promoted the Christmas season in order to make a profit. Incorporated Christmas traditions (Christmas tree, Santa Claus) into their advertising and created new ones (Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer) in order to encourage people to buy their merchandise.
After 1700 years, Christmas still has a multiple personality disorder nature to it – part pious/part profit; part religious/part secular; part Christian/part commercial. Because of its multiple personality disorder, many people, Christians and non-Christians, question the legitimacy of Christmas. Is it about celebrating the birth of the Christ child? Is it an excuse to party? Is it about family? Is it about making a profit? Is Christmas a creation of men designed to advance a religion? Christians also have problems with other aspects of Christmas such as the pagan traditions and the whole Santa Claus thing that seemingly undermine the true reason for celebrating Christmas.
As Christians, how are we to perceive Christmas? As it was intended by the early Church leaders, to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The fact that the date they set for Jesus’ birth was the same as a popular pagan celebration should not detract from that. Their intentions were good and Biblical. Read I Corinthians 9:19-23. I don’t think the Apostle Paul would have a problem with the decision made by the early Church leaders. In order to win the pagans to Christ, the Church allowed them to keep their winter solstice celebration except now it honored Christ and not Saturn or Odin. The fact that the revelry often got out of control speaks more to the more weakness of humanity than the holiday itself. The same is true today. Do not perceive the commercialism of Christmas today as a failure of the holiday but more as a moral weakness of humanity. In other words, don’t blame Christmas for its multiple personality disorder; blame human nature. I for one enjoy Christmas. I enjoy everything about Christmas - the traditions, the decorations, the lights, the gifts, the music, Santa Claus, Rudolph, etc. For me, they do not detract from the true reason for celebrating Christmas - the birth of Jesus. They add to the joy
Origin of the Christmas tree
According to legend, the Christmas tree tradition began in the 1500’s with the father of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther. While walking through the forest on Christmas Eve, Luther was so moved by the beauty of the starlit fir trees that he brought one indoors and decorated it with candles to remind his children of God’s creation. The Christmas tree did not gain world wide popularity until the 1840’s. In 1841 Prince Albert of Germany gave his wife, Queen Victoria of England, a gift of a Christmas tree. This was reputedly the first Christmas tree in England. In 1848, a London newspaper published an engraving of the British royal family standing in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Afterwards, the custom spread quickly in Britain, U.S., and Canada.
Origin of the Nativity
The Nativity is a dramatization of the biblical story of Jesus’ birth, a practice begun by Saint Francis of Assisi in the 1220’s A.D. in Gretchio, Italy. He used figurines, candles, hay, and live animals. Quickly grew in popularity. Most Europeans were illiterate. They could not read the story of Christ’s birth. The Nativity scene enabled them to see and learn the story.
Origin of Santa Claus
The story of Saint Nicholas has many variations. The most popular is the following. St. Nicholas was a bishop in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) in the early 300’s A.D. A widowed man had three daughters but could not afford a proper dowry for them. This meant that they would remain unmarried and probably, in absence of any other possible employment would have to become prostitutes. Hearing of the poor man's plight, Nicholas decided to help him but being too modest to help the man in public, (or to save the man the humiliation of accepting charity), he went to his house under the cover of night and threw three purses (one for each daughter) filled with gold coins through the window opening into the man's house. In another version, Nicholas learns of the poor man's plight and drops the bags of gold down the chimney instead; a variant holds that the daughter had washed her stockings that evening and hung them over the embers to dry, and that the bag of gold fell into the stocking. In honor of St. Nicholas, the Church set December 6 has St. Nicholas’ Day. Overtime, it became a day when parents gave gifts to their children. The children were told the gifts came from St. Nicholas. Good children awoke to gifts from St. Nicholas. Bad children received nothing. The legend of St. Nicholas travelled to Holland where he became known as Sinterklaas. Good children received gifts in their shoes on St. Nicholas Day. When many people from Holland immigrated to New England in the 1600’s and 1700’s, they brought the legend of Sinterklaas with them. In 1823, a newspaper published a poem called “A Visit from Saint Nicholas”, or as it is better known today, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” written by an anonymous author. The poem set the mold for the Santa Claus we know today. In this poem Santa is established as a heavyset man pulled in a sleigh by eight reindeer (who are named for the first time.) He comes down the chimney, brings gifts to children, and puts the gifts in stockings. The poem was a huge success and was quickly printed in newspapers throughout the country. The story appealed to the middle class’ emphasis on family and taking joy in children. Children began looking out their windows on Christmas Eve to see Santa Claus and his reindeer. The author turned out to be an Episcopal minister named Clement C. Moore who based it on a story he told to his daughter on Christmas Eve. Moore’s wife was of Dutch descent and was familiar with the Sinterklaas legend. Santa Claus's modern image was further defined by Thomas Nast, an American cartoonist of the 19th century. In 1863, a picture of Santa illustrated by Nast appeared in Harper's Weekly, one of the nation’s leading newspapers.
Origin of Hannukah
Commencing on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev, Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the Syrians. In 168 BC, members of the Jewish family Maccabee led a revolt against the Greek Syrians due to the policies of Syrian King Antiochus IV which were aimed at nullifying the Jewish faith. Part of this strategem included changing the Beit HaMikdash - the Holy Temple in Jerusalem - to a Greek temple complete with idolatry. Led by Judah Maccabee, the Jews won victory over the Syrians in 165 BC and reclaimed their temple.After cleansing the temple and preparing for its rededication, it was found there was not enough oil to light the N'er Tamid, an oil lamp present in Jewish houses of worship which represents eternal light. Once lit, the lamp should never be extinguished.
A search of the temple produced a small vial of undefiled oil -- enough for only one day. Miraculously, the Temple lights burned for eight days until a new supply of oil was brought. In remembrance of this miracle, one candle of the Menorah - an eight branched candelabra - is lit each of the eight days of Hanukkah. Hanukkah, which means dedication, is a Hebrew word when translated is commonly spelled Hanukah, Chanukah, and Hannukah due to different translations and customs.The tradition of receiving gifts on each of the eight days of Hanukkah is relatively new and due in part to the celebration's proximity to the Christmas season.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS Pt. 1
The origin of Christmas and the many traditions associated with it are murky at best. No one knows when Christmas was first celebrated/acknowledged. Much of this has to do with the fact that early Christians (prior to 300 A.D.), never thought much about celebrating the birth of Christ. The only holiday (holy day) they recognized was Easter – Jesus’ death and resurrection. Overtime there was gathering interest among early Christian leaders to discover when exactly Jesus was born. Call it a curiosity factor. The problem was the Scriptures offered little to no guidance on what time of year Jesus was born. Efforts were made by Christian leaders to pin down a date. One early Church calendar gave March 28 as the date of Jesus’ birth. But nothing ever stuck until around the mid-300’s AD. In an early Church writing, a reference is made to the Feast of the Nativity (a precursor to Christmas) celebrated on December 25. By the Middle Ages (1050 AD), the Feast of the Nativity became known as Christ’s Mass, or Christmas.
Why December 25? This time of year was greatly venerated/held in high regard throughout pre-Christian Europe from highly civilized Rome, Italy, north to barbarian/uneducated Germany. It was the time of the winter solstice. In the days leading up to the solstice, the days grey shorter. In the minds of Europeans, darkness was conquering the light. After the winter solstice, the days grew longer. Light overcame the darkness. The light proved to be unconquerable. The peoples of Europe held festivals to celebrate the victor of light over darkness. In Rome, the festival was called Saturnalia after the god Saturn (agricultural god). This festival lasted for seven days and included the winter solstice, which usually occurred around December 25. During Saturnalia the Romans feasted, postponed all business and warfare, exchanged gifts, and temporarily freed their slaves. For a short period of time, there was a reversal of roles – the slave became the master and the master the slave. The festival was marked by gluttony, drinking, and carousing. It was more Mardi Gras than Christmas. In northern Europe, the Germanic peoples also celebrated the winter solstice. They held great feasts and drank a lot of alcohol in honor of their gods. It was a time of great joy and merrymaking in the midst of the harshness of winter.
As Christianity spread across Europe, people continued to celebrate the winter solstice even after they became Christians. The festivals with their feasting and drinking and all the negatives that came with them continued. The Church had a difficult time outlawing the pagan festivals surrounding the winter solstice. They were far too popular and too engrained among the people (rich and poor, royals and peasants.) To ban the winter solstice celebrations outright would have been very bad public relations for the Church. Therefore, rather than ban the celebration of light over darkness the Church Christianized it. How? By declaring, sometime in the mid-300’s A.D., December 25 to be the date when Light conquered Darkness through the birth of Jesus birth. Scriptural justification – Book of John chapter 1. Before Jesus’ birth Darkness ruled the world. With His birth, Light came into the world and conquered the Darkness. Thereafter, the people could continue to celebrate and make merry during the winter solstice but they did so to celebrate the birth of Jesus rather than to honor pagan gods (Saturn, Odin, etc.) and hopefully, from the Church’s perspective, in a more restrained manner.
In the process, the Church Christianized many of the traditions associated with the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice.
1) Evergreens (trees, holly, mistletoe) – venerated by Romans and the Germanic peoples of northern Europe. Some, such as the Druids, worshipped the evergreen. The evergreen did not die with the onset of winter. It continued to live and remain green despite the harshness of the conditions. It was thought to have magical properties. The Romans hung holly wreaths on their doors as symbols of victory and peace. They exchange holly as gifts. The Germanic people would bring evergreens into their home for good luck and to ward off evil spirits. How evergreens were Christianized – a) Holly – Christians associated holly wreaths with the Jesus’ crown of thorns. The red berries similar to drops of blood. b) The Christmas tree – Decorated evergreen trees were a common part of the winter solstice celebration in the Germanic lands. Following the Germans’ conversion to Christianity, they decorated the evergreen with apples to symbolize the Garden of Eden.
2) Exchanging of gifts - inspired by a) God giving humanity Jesus, His only Son (John 3:16) b) the three wise men who gave gifts to Jesus.
3) Feasts – to celebrate birth of Jesus
Essentially, Christmas was created by the Church in order to give Christian meaning to existing pagan rituals. They were not stolen as much as they were modified so that Christianity would be more accepted by pagans and to encourage Christians to celebrate the winter solstice with more self-control. Unfortunately, the former (converting pagans) proved to be more successful than the latter. Up until the 1800’s, Christmas was celebrated more like Mardi Gras than a sacred day with gluttony, drunkenness, pranks, and carousing. Christmas had a schizophrenic nature – part pious/part revelry; part religious/part raucous; part Christian/part pagan.
Consequently, many European Christians had a very negative opinion of Christmas. Example - After the Puritans (an extreme conservative Christian group) took power in England around 1650, the first thing they did was to ban Christmas. This was not popular among the people and was a major reason why the Puritans lost power. This same religious group were founders of our country and they brought their detest for Christmas with them. Many Protestant churches in the U.S. (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian) did not offer Christmas services. They ignored Christmas. The Protestant Churches did not regard Christmas as a sacred day. Christmas did not become a popular holiday in the United States until the mid-nineteenth century. Christmas did not become a federal holiday until 1870.
Why December 25? This time of year was greatly venerated/held in high regard throughout pre-Christian Europe from highly civilized Rome, Italy, north to barbarian/uneducated Germany. It was the time of the winter solstice. In the days leading up to the solstice, the days grey shorter. In the minds of Europeans, darkness was conquering the light. After the winter solstice, the days grew longer. Light overcame the darkness. The light proved to be unconquerable. The peoples of Europe held festivals to celebrate the victor of light over darkness. In Rome, the festival was called Saturnalia after the god Saturn (agricultural god). This festival lasted for seven days and included the winter solstice, which usually occurred around December 25. During Saturnalia the Romans feasted, postponed all business and warfare, exchanged gifts, and temporarily freed their slaves. For a short period of time, there was a reversal of roles – the slave became the master and the master the slave. The festival was marked by gluttony, drinking, and carousing. It was more Mardi Gras than Christmas. In northern Europe, the Germanic peoples also celebrated the winter solstice. They held great feasts and drank a lot of alcohol in honor of their gods. It was a time of great joy and merrymaking in the midst of the harshness of winter.
As Christianity spread across Europe, people continued to celebrate the winter solstice even after they became Christians. The festivals with their feasting and drinking and all the negatives that came with them continued. The Church had a difficult time outlawing the pagan festivals surrounding the winter solstice. They were far too popular and too engrained among the people (rich and poor, royals and peasants.) To ban the winter solstice celebrations outright would have been very bad public relations for the Church. Therefore, rather than ban the celebration of light over darkness the Church Christianized it. How? By declaring, sometime in the mid-300’s A.D., December 25 to be the date when Light conquered Darkness through the birth of Jesus birth. Scriptural justification – Book of John chapter 1. Before Jesus’ birth Darkness ruled the world. With His birth, Light came into the world and conquered the Darkness. Thereafter, the people could continue to celebrate and make merry during the winter solstice but they did so to celebrate the birth of Jesus rather than to honor pagan gods (Saturn, Odin, etc.) and hopefully, from the Church’s perspective, in a more restrained manner.
In the process, the Church Christianized many of the traditions associated with the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice.
1) Evergreens (trees, holly, mistletoe) – venerated by Romans and the Germanic peoples of northern Europe. Some, such as the Druids, worshipped the evergreen. The evergreen did not die with the onset of winter. It continued to live and remain green despite the harshness of the conditions. It was thought to have magical properties. The Romans hung holly wreaths on their doors as symbols of victory and peace. They exchange holly as gifts. The Germanic people would bring evergreens into their home for good luck and to ward off evil spirits. How evergreens were Christianized – a) Holly – Christians associated holly wreaths with the Jesus’ crown of thorns. The red berries similar to drops of blood. b) The Christmas tree – Decorated evergreen trees were a common part of the winter solstice celebration in the Germanic lands. Following the Germans’ conversion to Christianity, they decorated the evergreen with apples to symbolize the Garden of Eden.
2) Exchanging of gifts - inspired by a) God giving humanity Jesus, His only Son (John 3:16) b) the three wise men who gave gifts to Jesus.
3) Feasts – to celebrate birth of Jesus
Essentially, Christmas was created by the Church in order to give Christian meaning to existing pagan rituals. They were not stolen as much as they were modified so that Christianity would be more accepted by pagans and to encourage Christians to celebrate the winter solstice with more self-control. Unfortunately, the former (converting pagans) proved to be more successful than the latter. Up until the 1800’s, Christmas was celebrated more like Mardi Gras than a sacred day with gluttony, drunkenness, pranks, and carousing. Christmas had a schizophrenic nature – part pious/part revelry; part religious/part raucous; part Christian/part pagan.
Consequently, many European Christians had a very negative opinion of Christmas. Example - After the Puritans (an extreme conservative Christian group) took power in England around 1650, the first thing they did was to ban Christmas. This was not popular among the people and was a major reason why the Puritans lost power. This same religious group were founders of our country and they brought their detest for Christmas with them. Many Protestant churches in the U.S. (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian) did not offer Christmas services. They ignored Christmas. The Protestant Churches did not regard Christmas as a sacred day. Christmas did not become a popular holiday in the United States until the mid-nineteenth century. Christmas did not become a federal holiday until 1870.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Prelude to Christmas - the birth of John the Baptist
The events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist. A prelude to the Christmas story so to speak. Scripture readings - Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 1:5-25, 57-80.
Read Malachi 4:5-6
1) Who did God say he would send in the last days? Elijah. What would be his task? Read vs. 6
Read Luke 1:6-25
2) Characterize in your own words Zechariah and Elizabeth? A godly, righteous couple.
3) What was the one shortcoming of their marriage? They had no children. At this point in their lives, they were too old to have children. Zechariah and Elizabeth were the Abraham and Sarah of their day. Despite their advanced age, they continued to pray that
God will bless them with a child. See verse 13. Zechariah probably praying for a child at the moment he was burning incense in the temple.
4) How was that viewed in Jewish culture? It was a negative. See vs. 25. Barren couples were perceived as being cursed by God. They were denied children because they had sinned.
5) List what all the angel told Zechariah said about his future child, particularly his tasks.
a) a joy and delight to Zechariah and Elizabeth
b) many will rejoice because of his birth
c) he will be great in the sight of the Lord
d) He is never to drink alcohol. Why? Symbol of consecration (being set apart) to do God’s work. Example – Nazirites/Recabites
e) He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. John would be anointed by God from birth to be a prophet. He will do God’s work/proclaim God’s Word.
f) John will bring back to God many of the people of Israel.
g) John will have the spirit and power of Elijah. If Israel had a top ten list for prophets, number one without a doubt would be Elijah. Elijah stood up to the king of the Northern Kingdom (Samaria/Israel) and condemned him for his sins and leading the Northern Kingdom into sin. Elijah prophesied that it would not rain for three and a half years and it didn’t. Elijah took on hundreds of prophets of Baal in a contest to determine which god was the true God – Baal or God. Elijah was the prophet who called down fire from heaven to win the contest. Elijah was the prophet who prayed that rain would return and it did. Elijah was the prophet who did not know death. God took him up in a chariot of fire. The Jews regarded Elijah with great reverence. The angel informed Zechariah that his boy would be like this great prophet for what purpose? The angel quotes Malachi 4:5-6 - to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous so that they may be prepared for the coming of the Lord – Jesus Christ. For more on Elijah read I Kings chapter 17 – II Kings chapter 2.
Review list.
6) How did Zechariah respond to the news? Disbelief. How did the angel respond to Zechariah's response? Punished Zechariah for his lack of faith by denying him the ability to speak until John is born.
7) Read verses, 23-24. What happened? Elizabeth became pregnant.
8) Why did God select Zechariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of this special child? Read verse 6-7. They would raise the child in the knowledge and righteousness of God. He would be in an atmosphere of godliness in the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Also the fact that they were an older couple with no child may have played a factor. God wanted to bless their faithfulness. Finally, Elizabeth’s relation to Mary, the soon to be mother of Jesus was a factor. As we’ll see in next week’s lesson the first person Mary goes to after she receives the news from the angel that she will bear God’s Son is Elizabeth. The only person who can relate to Mary’s experience is Elizabeth.
9) Read verse 59. What were Zechariah and Elizabeth’s relatives and friends wanting to do? Name the child Zechariah. What was Elizabeth’s response? No. His name will be John!
10) When they asked Zechariah what was his response? He wrote on a tablet “His name is John!” What happened after he wrote his response? Zechariah could speak. He proceeded to give praise to God.
11) Read verse 66. What did Zechariah and Elizabeth’s friends, family, and neighbors recognize about the child John? The Lord's hand was with him.
In verses 67-75, Zechariah filled with the Holy Spirit prophesies the imminent coming of the Messiah and how he would bring salvation to Israel.
12) Read verses 76-79. What did Zechariah have to say about his son? He would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah by proclaiming salvation through forgiveness of sins. John’s role was to be the Opening Act for the Main Event. He was to lay the foundation that Jesus would build upon. John was to get the people focused on the coming of Jesus.
Read Malachi 4:5-6
1) Who did God say he would send in the last days? Elijah. What would be his task? Read vs. 6
Read Luke 1:6-25
2) Characterize in your own words Zechariah and Elizabeth? A godly, righteous couple.
3) What was the one shortcoming of their marriage? They had no children. At this point in their lives, they were too old to have children. Zechariah and Elizabeth were the Abraham and Sarah of their day. Despite their advanced age, they continued to pray that
God will bless them with a child. See verse 13. Zechariah probably praying for a child at the moment he was burning incense in the temple.
4) How was that viewed in Jewish culture? It was a negative. See vs. 25. Barren couples were perceived as being cursed by God. They were denied children because they had sinned.
5) List what all the angel told Zechariah said about his future child, particularly his tasks.
a) a joy and delight to Zechariah and Elizabeth
b) many will rejoice because of his birth
c) he will be great in the sight of the Lord
d) He is never to drink alcohol. Why? Symbol of consecration (being set apart) to do God’s work. Example – Nazirites/Recabites
e) He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. John would be anointed by God from birth to be a prophet. He will do God’s work/proclaim God’s Word.
f) John will bring back to God many of the people of Israel.
g) John will have the spirit and power of Elijah. If Israel had a top ten list for prophets, number one without a doubt would be Elijah. Elijah stood up to the king of the Northern Kingdom (Samaria/Israel) and condemned him for his sins and leading the Northern Kingdom into sin. Elijah prophesied that it would not rain for three and a half years and it didn’t. Elijah took on hundreds of prophets of Baal in a contest to determine which god was the true God – Baal or God. Elijah was the prophet who called down fire from heaven to win the contest. Elijah was the prophet who prayed that rain would return and it did. Elijah was the prophet who did not know death. God took him up in a chariot of fire. The Jews regarded Elijah with great reverence. The angel informed Zechariah that his boy would be like this great prophet for what purpose? The angel quotes Malachi 4:5-6 - to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous so that they may be prepared for the coming of the Lord – Jesus Christ. For more on Elijah read I Kings chapter 17 – II Kings chapter 2.
Review list.
6) How did Zechariah respond to the news? Disbelief. How did the angel respond to Zechariah's response? Punished Zechariah for his lack of faith by denying him the ability to speak until John is born.
7) Read verses, 23-24. What happened? Elizabeth became pregnant.
8) Why did God select Zechariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of this special child? Read verse 6-7. They would raise the child in the knowledge and righteousness of God. He would be in an atmosphere of godliness in the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Also the fact that they were an older couple with no child may have played a factor. God wanted to bless their faithfulness. Finally, Elizabeth’s relation to Mary, the soon to be mother of Jesus was a factor. As we’ll see in next week’s lesson the first person Mary goes to after she receives the news from the angel that she will bear God’s Son is Elizabeth. The only person who can relate to Mary’s experience is Elizabeth.
9) Read verse 59. What were Zechariah and Elizabeth’s relatives and friends wanting to do? Name the child Zechariah. What was Elizabeth’s response? No. His name will be John!
10) When they asked Zechariah what was his response? He wrote on a tablet “His name is John!” What happened after he wrote his response? Zechariah could speak. He proceeded to give praise to God.
11) Read verse 66. What did Zechariah and Elizabeth’s friends, family, and neighbors recognize about the child John? The Lord's hand was with him.
In verses 67-75, Zechariah filled with the Holy Spirit prophesies the imminent coming of the Messiah and how he would bring salvation to Israel.
12) Read verses 76-79. What did Zechariah have to say about his son? He would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah by proclaiming salvation through forgiveness of sins. John’s role was to be the Opening Act for the Main Event. He was to lay the foundation that Jesus would build upon. John was to get the people focused on the coming of Jesus.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thanksgiving: the Forgotten Holiday
1) Has Thanksgiving become a forgotten holiday? If so, what are some reasons why?
a) It’s between two of the biggest “holidays” of the year – Halloween and Christmas. Halloween is the second-most commercially successful holiday behind Christmas. In a recent online survey Halloween is a family favorite ranking second only to Christmas. Radio stations start playing 24 hour Christmas music the day after Halloween. Christmas shopping season traditionally began the day after Thanksgiving. Now, some big stores are pushing for it to begin the day after Halloween. On the weekend before Veteran’s Day, Santa Claus was in Southpark mall taking pictures with children.
b) Many people consider it a “blah” holiday. Not a whole lot of fanfare or rituals associated with Thanksgiving - no memorable songs (God Rest Ye Merry Pilgrims or Hark the Herald Turkeys Sing); no presents to open on Thanksgiving Day; no giant turkey visiting homes leaving candy and turkey eggs; no Thanksgiving merchandise; no fireworks; no frills associated with Thanksgiving that get people excited about celebrating the holiday unless you like to eat a lot of turkey and watch parades (who is normally at the end of the parade- Santa Clause!) and football games.
c) Gratitude problem – The only thing a person really has to do on Thanksgiving is say “thank you” to God. That’s how the holiday started. In my opinion, there are three true “holy days” (that is what holiday means – holy day) on the calendar. Christmas – celebrate Christ’s birth; Easter – celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead; Thanksgiving – a special day to thank God for all He has done for you and our nation during the past year. Thanksgiving has its origins in the early days of our nation. The pilgrims set aside a day to thank God for seeing them through a very harsh period of time – famine, disease, death of loved ones. They wanted to thank God for their new friends, the Indians, who showed them how to survive in this new world. They did not take their survival/God’s blessings for granted. I question whether that spirit of Thanksgiving still exists today. I wonder if we are more like the nine men we’ll be talking about in today’s lesson.
Background –
Samaritans – The Assyrian empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel also called Samaria. The Assyrians scattered thousands of people from the North Kingdom throughout their empire. Forcibly removed them from their homes and exiled them to strange lands hundreds of miles away. The Assyrians then forced other people groups in their empire to settle in the Northern Kingdom. People of different races and religions. Overtime, the remaining Israelites intermarried with these other people groups. Their descendants would become known in Jesus’ day as Samaritans. The Samaritans were greatly looked down upon by their relatives to the south the Jews. The Jews held a strong racial and religious prejudice against the Samaritans. The Jews perceived Samaritans as “half-breeds”. They were genetically and religiously impure/unclean. A Jew did not step foot on Samaritan soil for fear they would become “unclean”. They would walk miles around Samaritan territory to get to where they were going. A Jew did not associate or socialize with a Samaritan. The Jews and Samaritans had a similar relationship as whites and blacks in the United Stated during the days of segregation.
Leprosy – a generic name given to a skin disorder that was common in Biblical days. Leprosy produced sores and eruptions on the skin. The skin turned a snow white color. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. A person with leprosy can feel no pain in the area affected because the nerves are dead. A person who contracted leprosy was immediately ostracized from the community for fear of spreading diseases, not just leprosy. Consequently, there was a strong social stigma associated with being a leper. The only people lepers could socialize with were other lepers. These “leper colonies” as they were known would go around the countryside begging for food and money.
Read Luke 17:11-19
1) Where was Jesus travelling? Along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
2) Who did Jesus come across during this journey? Ten lepers
3) What did they want Jesus to do? Show mercy towards them by healing them of their leprosy.
4) What did Jesus tell them to do? Go show themselves to the priest. According to scripture (Leviticus 14), a person with leprosy had to be examined by a priest to determine if he is cleansed or not.
5) As the ten were going to see the priest, what happened? They were healed. The leprosy was gone. Their skin was a normal color. They could actual feel again.
6) What did one of the ten do after he realized he was healed? He went back to see Jesus praising God the whole way. For what purpose? To give thanks to Jesus for healing him.
7) In the last sentence of verse 16, what does Luke point out about this former leper? He is a Samaritan. Why does Luke say this? To explain what Jesus says about this former leper in verse 18.
8) How would you describe Jesus’ response to the actions of the former leper? Amazement perhaps. Why does Jesus exhibit this response? By pointing out that this man who came back to thank Jesus for healing him was a foreigner/a Samaritan, what was Jesus implying about the nationality of the other nine? They were probably Jews. People of Jesus’ race. Yet His own people failed to return to thank Him for healing them.
9) Why was the Samaritan so grateful to Jesus for healing him? Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. Feel the physical and emotional suffering this man endured. You are a leper. Your skin is basically rotting off your bones. You have open sores. You can’t feel anything. There is an awful stench coming from your body. You are ostracized from your family, friends, and normal community. You can’t touch your wife and children. Even if you could, you could not feel them. When you do come into contact with healthy people, you have to shout “Unclean! Unclean!” so that they know not to come near you. When they do recognize you as a leper they run away in fear from you. The only people you can socialize with are other lepers. But, you are not just a leper. You are a Samaritan leper. If the other nine lepers you associated with were Jews, how did they treat you? Not well. They probably stole whatever alms you received or shared with you the last morsel of moldy bread. In effect, you are an outcast among outcasts. But that all changed on the day Jesus healed you. You are healthy once more. You will no longer be treated as a pariah. You can go home to your family. Moreover, it was a Jew who showed compassion for you … a Jew who healed you. That has to make some impression on you. Out of the Samaritan’s joy, poured praises of thanksgiving for the one who changed his life. In return, Jesus, a Jew, commended him, a Samaritan, for his faith. Wow!
10) Why did the other nine not return to Jesus? We don’t really know. In my opinion, the nine were so ecstatic over what happened to them that they simply forgot to thank the One who made it possible. Before we throw rocks at them for being so ungrateful, how many people today … how many of us are guilty of doing the same?
11) In today’s culture with whom does our nation identify most when it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving - expressing thanks to God – the one Samaritan or the nine ex-lepers? You can deduce my conclusion from the title of this lesson and what I shared at the beginning of this lesson. This Thanksgiving be like the Samaritan and not the nine. Do not take God’s blessing for granted.
President Abraham Lincoln's November 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of October, A. D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
a) It’s between two of the biggest “holidays” of the year – Halloween and Christmas. Halloween is the second-most commercially successful holiday behind Christmas. In a recent online survey Halloween is a family favorite ranking second only to Christmas. Radio stations start playing 24 hour Christmas music the day after Halloween. Christmas shopping season traditionally began the day after Thanksgiving. Now, some big stores are pushing for it to begin the day after Halloween. On the weekend before Veteran’s Day, Santa Claus was in Southpark mall taking pictures with children.
b) Many people consider it a “blah” holiday. Not a whole lot of fanfare or rituals associated with Thanksgiving - no memorable songs (God Rest Ye Merry Pilgrims or Hark the Herald Turkeys Sing); no presents to open on Thanksgiving Day; no giant turkey visiting homes leaving candy and turkey eggs; no Thanksgiving merchandise; no fireworks; no frills associated with Thanksgiving that get people excited about celebrating the holiday unless you like to eat a lot of turkey and watch parades (who is normally at the end of the parade- Santa Clause!) and football games.
c) Gratitude problem – The only thing a person really has to do on Thanksgiving is say “thank you” to God. That’s how the holiday started. In my opinion, there are three true “holy days” (that is what holiday means – holy day) on the calendar. Christmas – celebrate Christ’s birth; Easter – celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead; Thanksgiving – a special day to thank God for all He has done for you and our nation during the past year. Thanksgiving has its origins in the early days of our nation. The pilgrims set aside a day to thank God for seeing them through a very harsh period of time – famine, disease, death of loved ones. They wanted to thank God for their new friends, the Indians, who showed them how to survive in this new world. They did not take their survival/God’s blessings for granted. I question whether that spirit of Thanksgiving still exists today. I wonder if we are more like the nine men we’ll be talking about in today’s lesson.
Background –
Samaritans – The Assyrian empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel also called Samaria. The Assyrians scattered thousands of people from the North Kingdom throughout their empire. Forcibly removed them from their homes and exiled them to strange lands hundreds of miles away. The Assyrians then forced other people groups in their empire to settle in the Northern Kingdom. People of different races and religions. Overtime, the remaining Israelites intermarried with these other people groups. Their descendants would become known in Jesus’ day as Samaritans. The Samaritans were greatly looked down upon by their relatives to the south the Jews. The Jews held a strong racial and religious prejudice against the Samaritans. The Jews perceived Samaritans as “half-breeds”. They were genetically and religiously impure/unclean. A Jew did not step foot on Samaritan soil for fear they would become “unclean”. They would walk miles around Samaritan territory to get to where they were going. A Jew did not associate or socialize with a Samaritan. The Jews and Samaritans had a similar relationship as whites and blacks in the United Stated during the days of segregation.
Leprosy – a generic name given to a skin disorder that was common in Biblical days. Leprosy produced sores and eruptions on the skin. The skin turned a snow white color. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. A person with leprosy can feel no pain in the area affected because the nerves are dead. A person who contracted leprosy was immediately ostracized from the community for fear of spreading diseases, not just leprosy. Consequently, there was a strong social stigma associated with being a leper. The only people lepers could socialize with were other lepers. These “leper colonies” as they were known would go around the countryside begging for food and money.
Read Luke 17:11-19
1) Where was Jesus travelling? Along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
2) Who did Jesus come across during this journey? Ten lepers
3) What did they want Jesus to do? Show mercy towards them by healing them of their leprosy.
4) What did Jesus tell them to do? Go show themselves to the priest. According to scripture (Leviticus 14), a person with leprosy had to be examined by a priest to determine if he is cleansed or not.
5) As the ten were going to see the priest, what happened? They were healed. The leprosy was gone. Their skin was a normal color. They could actual feel again.
6) What did one of the ten do after he realized he was healed? He went back to see Jesus praising God the whole way. For what purpose? To give thanks to Jesus for healing him.
7) In the last sentence of verse 16, what does Luke point out about this former leper? He is a Samaritan. Why does Luke say this? To explain what Jesus says about this former leper in verse 18.
8) How would you describe Jesus’ response to the actions of the former leper? Amazement perhaps. Why does Jesus exhibit this response? By pointing out that this man who came back to thank Jesus for healing him was a foreigner/a Samaritan, what was Jesus implying about the nationality of the other nine? They were probably Jews. People of Jesus’ race. Yet His own people failed to return to thank Him for healing them.
9) Why was the Samaritan so grateful to Jesus for healing him? Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. Feel the physical and emotional suffering this man endured. You are a leper. Your skin is basically rotting off your bones. You have open sores. You can’t feel anything. There is an awful stench coming from your body. You are ostracized from your family, friends, and normal community. You can’t touch your wife and children. Even if you could, you could not feel them. When you do come into contact with healthy people, you have to shout “Unclean! Unclean!” so that they know not to come near you. When they do recognize you as a leper they run away in fear from you. The only people you can socialize with are other lepers. But, you are not just a leper. You are a Samaritan leper. If the other nine lepers you associated with were Jews, how did they treat you? Not well. They probably stole whatever alms you received or shared with you the last morsel of moldy bread. In effect, you are an outcast among outcasts. But that all changed on the day Jesus healed you. You are healthy once more. You will no longer be treated as a pariah. You can go home to your family. Moreover, it was a Jew who showed compassion for you … a Jew who healed you. That has to make some impression on you. Out of the Samaritan’s joy, poured praises of thanksgiving for the one who changed his life. In return, Jesus, a Jew, commended him, a Samaritan, for his faith. Wow!
10) Why did the other nine not return to Jesus? We don’t really know. In my opinion, the nine were so ecstatic over what happened to them that they simply forgot to thank the One who made it possible. Before we throw rocks at them for being so ungrateful, how many people today … how many of us are guilty of doing the same?
11) In today’s culture with whom does our nation identify most when it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving - expressing thanks to God – the one Samaritan or the nine ex-lepers? You can deduce my conclusion from the title of this lesson and what I shared at the beginning of this lesson. This Thanksgiving be like the Samaritan and not the nine. Do not take God’s blessing for granted.
President Abraham Lincoln's November 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of October, A. D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Prophetic Books (continued)
How did prophets proclaim God’s message? Usually verbally. But sometimes God had prophets do things, sometimes strange things, to illustrate His message. For example, God had Jeremiah to put a yoke around his neck and stand before the king to illustrate how Israel would be made subject to the rule of Babylon. God told Hosea to marry a prostitute who constantly left Hosea to return to her profession. Each time she left, God told Hosea to get her back. Ultimately, she remained with Hosea. Hosea’s marriage illustrated God’s relationship with Israel. God’s love for His people was so strong that no matter how many times they “cheated” on Him, He was determined to bring them back to Him.
To whom did prophets proclaim God’s message? Primarily to the people of Israel living in the Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom. But God through His prophets addressed other nations: Assyria, Babylonian empire, Egypt, Cush (present day Ethiopia), Edom, cities of Tyre and Sidon in present day Lebanon, etc.
How did the people receive God’s message from the prophets? At times, people were receptive to God’s message and messengers, but more often than not the people commonly rejected God’s message and messengers.
Hebrews 11: 32-38
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Jeremiah is probably the greatest example of a prophet who experienced constant rejection by the people to whom he prophesied. For 40 years, he delivered God’s message to the people and for 40 years the people rejected God’s message and Jeremiah. He was regularly harassed and ridiculed. He experienced ostracism from his family and friends. He was imprisoned in a well.
Why were the prophets and their messages commonly rejected by the people who heard them? The messages they spoke were harsh, condemning. Their words were always negative. They exposed to the light of day people’s sins. They were constantly telling people they were bad. The prophets were constantly telling people bad things will happen to them if they do not reject their evil ways. In simple words, the prophets said things/demanded things the people did not want to hear/do. They did not want to give up their gods, their wealth, and their pleasure. Consequently, the people’s reaction to the prophets was what we read in Hebrews 11. Also, they were viewed by people as being a little weird/crazy.
Hosea 9:7-8
The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a maniac. The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.
To whom did prophets proclaim God’s message? Primarily to the people of Israel living in the Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom. But God through His prophets addressed other nations: Assyria, Babylonian empire, Egypt, Cush (present day Ethiopia), Edom, cities of Tyre and Sidon in present day Lebanon, etc.
How did the people receive God’s message from the prophets? At times, people were receptive to God’s message and messengers, but more often than not the people commonly rejected God’s message and messengers.
Hebrews 11: 32-38
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Jeremiah is probably the greatest example of a prophet who experienced constant rejection by the people to whom he prophesied. For 40 years, he delivered God’s message to the people and for 40 years the people rejected God’s message and Jeremiah. He was regularly harassed and ridiculed. He experienced ostracism from his family and friends. He was imprisoned in a well.
Why were the prophets and their messages commonly rejected by the people who heard them? The messages they spoke were harsh, condemning. Their words were always negative. They exposed to the light of day people’s sins. They were constantly telling people they were bad. The prophets were constantly telling people bad things will happen to them if they do not reject their evil ways. In simple words, the prophets said things/demanded things the people did not want to hear/do. They did not want to give up their gods, their wealth, and their pleasure. Consequently, the people’s reaction to the prophets was what we read in Hebrews 11. Also, they were viewed by people as being a little weird/crazy.
Hosea 9:7-8
The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a maniac. The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Prophetic books (continued)
Messianic – Scattered throughout the Prophetic Books are messages that foretold the birth, life, death, resurrection, and eternal reign of God’s Anointed One – Jesus Christ.
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Isaiah 53:1-12
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
End Times – Messages that foretold the end of this age and the coming of a new age of eternal peace and happiness. The enemies of God’s people would be judged and punished. Evil would be vanquished forever. Ex. Daniel, Ezekiel, Joel
Daniel 12:1-4
At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Isaiah 53:1-12
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
End Times – Messages that foretold the end of this age and the coming of a new age of eternal peace and happiness. The enemies of God’s people would be judged and punished. Evil would be vanquished forever. Ex. Daniel, Ezekiel, Joel
Daniel 12:1-4
At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Prophetic Books (continued)
2. Foretelling future events. When people hear the word “prophet,” the first thing that comes to mind is someone who foretells the future. Prophecy is often associated with prediction. Most people believe all a prophet did was inform people of something that would happen in the future. That is not the case. Prophets spoke of future events only occasionally. The majority of their messages were forthtelling - declarations from God (see above) – not foretelling. The future events being foretold took place within hours (ex. Daniel chapter 5), days, or years after the message was proclaimed. There are some future events that have yet to happen. Foretelling future events had four themes for the people they were addressed to.
Punishment - When speaking God’s words of judgment, the prophets would sometimes inform the people how God would carry out his wrath, usually conquest by a foreign power.
Habakkuk 1:5-7, 12
Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor …. O LORD, you have appointed them (Babylonians) to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them (Babylonians) to punish
Restoration – God would spare from His wrath a remnant with whom He would re-establish a relationship.
Jeremiah 29:10-14
This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Homework assignment. Read Jeremiah 32:26-44. Identify examples of punishment and restoration in Jeremiah’s message to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
Punishment - When speaking God’s words of judgment, the prophets would sometimes inform the people how God would carry out his wrath, usually conquest by a foreign power.
Habakkuk 1:5-7, 12
Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor …. O LORD, you have appointed them (Babylonians) to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them (Babylonians) to punish
Restoration – God would spare from His wrath a remnant with whom He would re-establish a relationship.
Jeremiah 29:10-14
This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Homework assignment. Read Jeremiah 32:26-44. Identify examples of punishment and restoration in Jeremiah’s message to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Prophetic Books
What was a prophet? An individual who received from God a message to share with a person/people. He was God’s spokesman.
Who was a prophet? A prophet was usually a man, but sometimes a woman {Miriam, sister of Moses, Deborah (Book of Judges); Huldah (II Chronicles ch. 34); Isaiah’s wife; and Ana (Luke ch. 2)} We know very little about the biography of the prophets. They often came from obscurity, shared God’s message, and went back into obscurity. Of the few prophets we do know some back story, they came from various backgrounds – Isaiah was an educated scribe; Ezekiel was a priest; Amos was a shepherd.
How did one become a prophet? II Peter 1:20-21 - Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
One became a prophet when they received a message from God and then God told him/her to share this message with the people. A prophet received the message verbally – “The word of the Lord came to …”, ex. Jonah, Micah, Haggai, or in a vision – the prophet not only heard from God, but also saw God and/or coming events, ex. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Nahum.
For an example of God calling a person to be a prophet read Jeremiah chapter 1.
What did a prophet do? Share God’s message to a person/people. While most prophecy was directed to the people as a whole sometimes it was aimed at the leaders (kings, priests, and false prophets), ex. Haggai.
What was the message? The messages of prophets took two forms.
1. Forthtelling - declarations from God. God’s declarations can be summed up by the following –
Condemnation – God through his prophets exposed people’s wickedness and immorality (idolatry, sexual sins, greed, pride, violence, etc.) as well as hypocrisy and condemned it.
Hosea 4:1-2, 7-8, 10
Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed …
The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness … (The people) consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.
Exhortation - God through his prophets strongly encouraged people to be holy, righteous, obedient, humble, compassionate, etc.
Micah 6:6-8
With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Repentance – God through his prophets called on people to abandon their evil ways and return to God.
Joel 2:13-14
Even now," declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and bounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing…
Judgment – God through his prophets warned people of God’s wrath if they refused to repent. God’s judgment was often referred to as the Day of the Lord.
Zephaniah 1:14-18
The great day of the LORD is near, near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.
Homework assignment for next Sunday. Read Isaiah chapter 1 and Amos chapter 5. Identify examples of condemnation, exhortation, repentance, and judgment in Isaiah’s message to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Amos’ message to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Who was a prophet? A prophet was usually a man, but sometimes a woman {Miriam, sister of Moses, Deborah (Book of Judges); Huldah (II Chronicles ch. 34); Isaiah’s wife; and Ana (Luke ch. 2)} We know very little about the biography of the prophets. They often came from obscurity, shared God’s message, and went back into obscurity. Of the few prophets we do know some back story, they came from various backgrounds – Isaiah was an educated scribe; Ezekiel was a priest; Amos was a shepherd.
How did one become a prophet? II Peter 1:20-21 - Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
One became a prophet when they received a message from God and then God told him/her to share this message with the people. A prophet received the message verbally – “The word of the Lord came to …”, ex. Jonah, Micah, Haggai, or in a vision – the prophet not only heard from God, but also saw God and/or coming events, ex. Isaiah, Ezekiel, Nahum.
For an example of God calling a person to be a prophet read Jeremiah chapter 1.
What did a prophet do? Share God’s message to a person/people. While most prophecy was directed to the people as a whole sometimes it was aimed at the leaders (kings, priests, and false prophets), ex. Haggai.
What was the message? The messages of prophets took two forms.
1. Forthtelling - declarations from God. God’s declarations can be summed up by the following –
Condemnation – God through his prophets exposed people’s wickedness and immorality (idolatry, sexual sins, greed, pride, violence, etc.) as well as hypocrisy and condemned it.
Hosea 4:1-2, 7-8, 10
Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed …
The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness … (The people) consult a wooden idol and are answered by a stick of wood. A spirit of prostitution leads them astray; they are unfaithful to their God.
Exhortation - God through his prophets strongly encouraged people to be holy, righteous, obedient, humble, compassionate, etc.
Micah 6:6-8
With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Repentance – God through his prophets called on people to abandon their evil ways and return to God.
Joel 2:13-14
Even now," declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and bounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing…
Judgment – God through his prophets warned people of God’s wrath if they refused to repent. God’s judgment was often referred to as the Day of the Lord.
Zephaniah 1:14-18
The great day of the LORD is near, near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.
Homework assignment for next Sunday. Read Isaiah chapter 1 and Amos chapter 5. Identify examples of condemnation, exhortation, repentance, and judgment in Isaiah’s message to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Amos’ message to the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Jonah Chapter 4
Read Jonah 4:1-4
Jonah is in the city when he prays this prayer. He is watching the response of the Ninevites to God’s message. Jonah learns from God that He has decided not to destroy the city.
1) How did Jonah respond to God’s decision to show compassion for the Ninevites and not
destroy them? Greatly displeased and became angry. A more appropriate translation of angry would be furious. Jonah was ticked off. With whom was Jonah displeased/angry? God.
2) Put in your own words Jonah’s prayer to God in verses 2 and 3. Point out Jonah is still in the
city when he prays this prayer.
I knew this would happen. When you first told me back in Israel to go to Nineveh and cry against it. I knew this would happen. That’s why I fled to Tarshish, to delay this. I know you God. You are gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, full of mercy, and one who does not seek to destroy. Now kill me.
3) From reading Jonah’s prayer, why was he angry at God? He chose to show compassion/mercy towards Nineveh rather than wipe out every single man, woman, and child in the city. Read how Jonah describes God. God showing such qualities to Nineveh should have made Jonah feel how? Rejoicing, excited, partying mood. Instead he’s angry at God. Do you get the impression that Jonah makes God’s mercy, compassion, etc. sound as if they are faults? Jonah in a way was telling God - Nineveh does not deserve Your mercy/compassion/love. The city deserved Your anger/wrath. The city deserves what YOU told me to tell them. The city deserved to be blown off the face of the planet. Why? From Jonah’s point of view why? They are evil, cruel, violent people. They are Israel’s number one enemy. They are Gentiles. How did Israelites view Gentiles? Godless, wicked, depraved, fuel for fires of hell. Beneath contempt. Again, this attitude stemmed from the Israelites’ egotistical/monopolistic view of their relationship with God. God’s blessings, his mercy, love, compassion should be limited to them. Jonah had this attitude regarding the Ninevites. If you were to ask Jonah, “Hey Jonah, don’t you remember that God recently showed compassion and mercy towards you? Remember when the Gentiles pagans attempted to spare your life by not throwing you off the boat? How God sent the big fish to save you from drowning? Remember the words of your prayer inside the big fish - Salvation comes from the Lord?” What do you think Jonah’s response might have been? I am an Israelite. I’m not surprised God would show me mercy. These people are Gentiles. They deserve to be destroyed. Therefore, when God showed mercy to the Ninevites, it angered Jonah to the point where he rather be dead than live in a world where God shows mercy to Gentiles. Again, it is not up to us humans to decide who deserves God’s mercy and who deserves His wrath. Homosexuals, Muslims, Osama bin Laden, do not deserve eternal salvation. They deserve eternal damnation. That is not our choice to make. It’s God’s.
4) Why did Jonah want to die? Jonah would rather die than live in a world where Gentiles are shown mercy by God. Or, he may have been afraid of what might happen to him if his fellow Israelites learn of how God used him to save Nineveh from destruction.
5) Read verse 4. How did God respond to Jonah? Did God strike him dead? No. He asked Jonah a question. Have you any right to be angry? Can you justify your anger towards me because I chose to spare Nineveh? What was Jonah’s response? Silence.
6) Read vs. 5. What did Jonah do? Jonah went outside the walls of the city, built a shelter from the bright sun, and waited to see if God might change His mind again and wipe out Nineveh.
7) Read vs. 6-8. What all did God do to Jonah in these verses? What were Jonah’s reactions? God caused a huge vine to grow to protect Jonah from the blazing sun. Keep him cool/comfortable. What was Jonah’s reaction to this? Happy; thrilled. God once again shows compassion for Jonah. The next morning what did God do? God allowed a worm to eat the vine to the point it withered and died. Jonah no longer had protection from the hot sun. Furthermore, God made it even more uncomfortable for Jonah by having a scorching wind from the east to blow at Jonah. The hot wind combined with the blazing sun made Jonah extremely uncomfortable. His reaction? He wanted to die.
8) Read vs. 9-11. What did God ask Jonah? “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?” Jonah said “Yeah! I’m so ticked off I want to die.” Why was Jonah so angry? Jonah loved the vine. It provided him with shade and comfort. Now it had been taken from him. The death of the vine upset Jonah greatly to the point where he once again wanted to die.
9) What was God’s purpose for doing what He did in vs. 6-8? To once again teach Jonah a lesson in mercy/compassion. If Jonah could show compassion for a plant which he had nothing to do in growing, that grew one day and died the next, should not God show compassion for the people of Nineveh, and its animals, which God did create? The Ninevites were God’s creation. He formed each in the womb. God watched them be born. God watched the Ninevites grow and mature. He watched them make poor decisions and succumb to evil. God despised what they became and yet He still felt compassion for them. Why? Because they were His creation that He had fashioned and formed with his own hands. And so, God sent Jonah to warn them of what He would happen in hopes that the Ninevites would repent. They did. On the other hand, Jonah felt more pity for a plant than he did for human beings created by God.
10) What was Jonah’s response? Silence. No “God you are right. How could I continue to be so hard-headed?” Just silence.
APPLICATION:
Why was Book of Jonah included in Scripture? What did God want Israel to learn from Book of Jonah? God’s love is not confined to one nation. God loves all peoples. He shows compassion for all peoples. His redemptive plan was for all peoples. By showing compassion/mercy to Assyrians, God was showing Jonah and Israel He loved all peoples/enemies. Did Jonah get it? No. Did Israel? No. Their enmity towards Gentiles continued well into the New Testament era.
What does God want us to learn from the Book of Jonah? Same as above. Also Jonah 2:8 - Salvation comes from the Lord. We do not have the authority to determine who deserves eternal salvation and who deserves eternal damnation.
Jonah is in the city when he prays this prayer. He is watching the response of the Ninevites to God’s message. Jonah learns from God that He has decided not to destroy the city.
1) How did Jonah respond to God’s decision to show compassion for the Ninevites and not
destroy them? Greatly displeased and became angry. A more appropriate translation of angry would be furious. Jonah was ticked off. With whom was Jonah displeased/angry? God.
2) Put in your own words Jonah’s prayer to God in verses 2 and 3. Point out Jonah is still in the
city when he prays this prayer.
I knew this would happen. When you first told me back in Israel to go to Nineveh and cry against it. I knew this would happen. That’s why I fled to Tarshish, to delay this. I know you God. You are gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, full of mercy, and one who does not seek to destroy. Now kill me.
3) From reading Jonah’s prayer, why was he angry at God? He chose to show compassion/mercy towards Nineveh rather than wipe out every single man, woman, and child in the city. Read how Jonah describes God. God showing such qualities to Nineveh should have made Jonah feel how? Rejoicing, excited, partying mood. Instead he’s angry at God. Do you get the impression that Jonah makes God’s mercy, compassion, etc. sound as if they are faults? Jonah in a way was telling God - Nineveh does not deserve Your mercy/compassion/love. The city deserved Your anger/wrath. The city deserves what YOU told me to tell them. The city deserved to be blown off the face of the planet. Why? From Jonah’s point of view why? They are evil, cruel, violent people. They are Israel’s number one enemy. They are Gentiles. How did Israelites view Gentiles? Godless, wicked, depraved, fuel for fires of hell. Beneath contempt. Again, this attitude stemmed from the Israelites’ egotistical/monopolistic view of their relationship with God. God’s blessings, his mercy, love, compassion should be limited to them. Jonah had this attitude regarding the Ninevites. If you were to ask Jonah, “Hey Jonah, don’t you remember that God recently showed compassion and mercy towards you? Remember when the Gentiles pagans attempted to spare your life by not throwing you off the boat? How God sent the big fish to save you from drowning? Remember the words of your prayer inside the big fish - Salvation comes from the Lord?” What do you think Jonah’s response might have been? I am an Israelite. I’m not surprised God would show me mercy. These people are Gentiles. They deserve to be destroyed. Therefore, when God showed mercy to the Ninevites, it angered Jonah to the point where he rather be dead than live in a world where God shows mercy to Gentiles. Again, it is not up to us humans to decide who deserves God’s mercy and who deserves His wrath. Homosexuals, Muslims, Osama bin Laden, do not deserve eternal salvation. They deserve eternal damnation. That is not our choice to make. It’s God’s.
4) Why did Jonah want to die? Jonah would rather die than live in a world where Gentiles are shown mercy by God. Or, he may have been afraid of what might happen to him if his fellow Israelites learn of how God used him to save Nineveh from destruction.
5) Read verse 4. How did God respond to Jonah? Did God strike him dead? No. He asked Jonah a question. Have you any right to be angry? Can you justify your anger towards me because I chose to spare Nineveh? What was Jonah’s response? Silence.
6) Read vs. 5. What did Jonah do? Jonah went outside the walls of the city, built a shelter from the bright sun, and waited to see if God might change His mind again and wipe out Nineveh.
7) Read vs. 6-8. What all did God do to Jonah in these verses? What were Jonah’s reactions? God caused a huge vine to grow to protect Jonah from the blazing sun. Keep him cool/comfortable. What was Jonah’s reaction to this? Happy; thrilled. God once again shows compassion for Jonah. The next morning what did God do? God allowed a worm to eat the vine to the point it withered and died. Jonah no longer had protection from the hot sun. Furthermore, God made it even more uncomfortable for Jonah by having a scorching wind from the east to blow at Jonah. The hot wind combined with the blazing sun made Jonah extremely uncomfortable. His reaction? He wanted to die.
8) Read vs. 9-11. What did God ask Jonah? “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?” Jonah said “Yeah! I’m so ticked off I want to die.” Why was Jonah so angry? Jonah loved the vine. It provided him with shade and comfort. Now it had been taken from him. The death of the vine upset Jonah greatly to the point where he once again wanted to die.
9) What was God’s purpose for doing what He did in vs. 6-8? To once again teach Jonah a lesson in mercy/compassion. If Jonah could show compassion for a plant which he had nothing to do in growing, that grew one day and died the next, should not God show compassion for the people of Nineveh, and its animals, which God did create? The Ninevites were God’s creation. He formed each in the womb. God watched them be born. God watched the Ninevites grow and mature. He watched them make poor decisions and succumb to evil. God despised what they became and yet He still felt compassion for them. Why? Because they were His creation that He had fashioned and formed with his own hands. And so, God sent Jonah to warn them of what He would happen in hopes that the Ninevites would repent. They did. On the other hand, Jonah felt more pity for a plant than he did for human beings created by God.
10) What was Jonah’s response? Silence. No “God you are right. How could I continue to be so hard-headed?” Just silence.
APPLICATION:
Why was Book of Jonah included in Scripture? What did God want Israel to learn from Book of Jonah? God’s love is not confined to one nation. God loves all peoples. He shows compassion for all peoples. His redemptive plan was for all peoples. By showing compassion/mercy to Assyrians, God was showing Jonah and Israel He loved all peoples/enemies. Did Jonah get it? No. Did Israel? No. Their enmity towards Gentiles continued well into the New Testament era.
What does God want us to learn from the Book of Jonah? Same as above. Also Jonah 2:8 - Salvation comes from the Lord. We do not have the authority to determine who deserves eternal salvation and who deserves eternal damnation.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Jonah Chapter 3
1) Why do you think God told Jonah a second time to go to Nineveh? Didn’t Jonah already know he was supposed to go to Nineveh? This was God’s way of giving Jonah a do over/a clean slate. Let’s start over Jonah.
2) What was Jonah told to do? Go to Nineveh and proclaim the message I will give you.
3) What did Jonah do? Jonah went to Nineveh. Jonah had learned his lesson.
During Jonah’s journey to Nineveh, let’s say he stopped off at a tavern for a meal. He sits down by a fellow traveler. They strike up a conversation. The traveler asks Jonah where he is going. Jonah tells him Nineveh. He is going there to deliver the citizens of that city a message from God. Traveler – “Don’t you know how cruel the Ninevites are? What they will do to you if you speak against them? Aren’t you afraid?” Jonah’s response – “Afraid to go to Nineveh in the will of God? Let me tell you, I’d be more afraid not to go to Nineveh. It is far more dangerous to be out of the will of God. I’m not afraid of Nineveh.”
4. When did Jonah begin to proclaim to the Ninevites the message God gave him? Soon as he walked through the city gates.
5) What was the message God gave Jonah to proclaim to Nineveh? 40 days and Nineveh will be overthrown. May have said more. But that was the heart of the message. It could be summarized in one sentence. Stick in people’s minds. Notice, countdown for Nineveh’s punishment began not from when Jonah first received the message in Jonah chapter 1 or the second time in Jonah chapter 3. The countdown began when Nineveh first received the message. An example of God’s justice. He was not going to destroy the city without a warning.
6) What did the people of Nineveh learn from Jonah’s message? 40 days and city will be overthrown.
7) How would you characterize Jonah’s sermon? Fire and brimstone. Not a kum-by-yah sermon. Not a sermon that you walk away from feeling good about yourself and the world.
8) What was the purpose of such a sermon? To convince the Ninevites to repent. How? To make real God’s anger for their iniquity. To make real God’s anger for their evil ways and violence. The Ninevites got an image of God’s wrath ready to be poured upon them. There is a verse in the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament that says “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.” Nowhere is there mention in God’s message to the Ninevites about grace, mercy, compassion, love. It was not an uplifting/encouraging message, only a fearful expectation of judgment. Why? What was God seeking to do by having Jonah proclaim such a message? God wanted to instill in thr people’s hearts a fear of God. God wanted to let the Ninevites know how much He abhors sin. How serious He is in dealing with sin in hopes that they would repent.
9) How did the Ninevites respond to God’s message? They did not turn to their gods for deliverance/salvation. They believed God. Not Jonah. The Ninevites put their belief in God. The word “believe” here in Hebrew means “have trust”, “have confidence”. It is the same word used by Abraham in Genesis after God told him he would be the father of many nations. Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. That’s amazing considering these people are Gentiles who did not have the same heritage of worshipping God as Jonah and the Israelites did.
The Ninevites’ belief were followed by works (fasting, wearing sackcloth – both are symbols of humility/repentance) which gave credibility to their repentance. James chapter 2 in the New Testament tells us that faith without works is dead. If the Ninevites only gave lip service to their repentance … showed no outward evidence of their repentance but continued to do evil and harbor evil in their hearts … what would that have shown God and you about how much they believed God’s words? Their belief/faith was non-existent.
10) Why were they so receptive to Jonah’s message? It was a message the Assyrians could relate to. What do you remember about their culture/reputation in the world? Violence – destruction – conquest – other peoples feared them. The Assyrians had no concept of mercy, compassion, grace. Such words were not in their vocabulary. In His message to the Assyrians, God spoke in a language they understood/were familiar with. He instilled fear in their hearts just as the Assyrians instilled fear in other peoples. If God been filled with words such as peace, love, compassion, mercy, the Assyrians might have been so receptive.
What else may have convinced the Ninevites to believe God? Jonah’s appearance. He was a living example of both God’s wrath and God’s mercy/compassion. Also, Jonah’s story was similar to an Assyrian myth about a battle between their great god Asshur and Tiamat, a goddess that resembled a sea beast. Like their god Asshur, Jonah survived his encounter with the sea beast, but he did so because His God commanded the sea beast/was more powerful than the sea beast. Recall the Assyrians are very religious/superstitious people. Therefore, it was not a coincidence that God used a big fish to swallow Jonah. He had a purpose – a tool to reach the Assyrians.
11) When word of God’s message reached the king what all did he do? He took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. All acts of repentance/contrition. What impression do you think that made on his subjects? It was huge. Recall the influential role the king played in Assyrian society. He was a political leader and a religious leader. What might have happened if the king had rejected God’s message? Called it nonsense? The people of Nineveh might have followed his example and God would have destroyed the city. The fact that the king believed God’s message encouraged/convinced the people to follow his example.
12) What did the proclamation he issued to the people say? Read verses 7-9 How serious were they about seeking repentance? Even animals were to fast and wear sackcloth.
Let all men call on God earnestly/urgently and turn from wickedness and violence. In other words cry out to God for mercy with all you strength. The people placed their faith in God – they repented of their evil ways – followed up repentance with action/works that gave credence to their belief.
13) What was the king’s hope? That God would have compassion and spare the city from destruction. Did he guarantee that God would not overthrow the city? No. Read verse 9.
14) When God saw the response of the Ninevites to his message how did He respond in
turn? God showed compassion/mercy to the cruelest people on the face of the earth. He did not destroy the city. Why? Grace. Remember what Jonah said in chapter 2:8. Like Jonah, the people of Nineveh in a moment of desperation renounced their gods. They did not pray to Asshur for salvation. They prayed to God. They did not cling to their idols, they clung to God and hoped for his mercy. Like Jonah, the city deserved to be destroyed but just as He did with Jonah, God showed mercy/compassion for Nineveh. He showed mercy/compassion for Gentiles just as He did for a Hebrew/Israelite, one of the Chosen People. All because of grace.
Was the Ninevites’ repentance genuine? In Matt. 12:38-41, Jesus gave testimony to the Ninevites’ repentance.
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
Jesus is telling the Jewish religious leaders that the people of Nineveh – GENTILES! –repented at the preaching of Jonah and yet Jesus, who is greater than Jonah because He is the Son of God, is preaching repentance to the Jews of his generation, God’s chosen people, and they reject His message. Consequently, on Judgment Day, who will be accepted by God and who will be condemned? Accepted – Ninevites (GENTILES!); Condemned – Jews of Jesus’ day. Moreover, the Ninevites will condemn the Jews for rejecting Jesus.
Jesus’ references to Jonah and to the Ninevites being present at Judgment Day give authenticity to the Book of Jonah. It is historical, not fiction.
15) What do you think Jonah’s thoughts are regarding the Ninevites’ response to the
message he delivered? Perhaps skepticism. They don’t mean what they’re saying/doing. It’s all an act. What are Jonah’s thoughts regarding God’s decision to show compassion to Nineveh and not destroy the city? The answer is in chapter 4.
2) What was Jonah told to do? Go to Nineveh and proclaim the message I will give you.
3) What did Jonah do? Jonah went to Nineveh. Jonah had learned his lesson.
During Jonah’s journey to Nineveh, let’s say he stopped off at a tavern for a meal. He sits down by a fellow traveler. They strike up a conversation. The traveler asks Jonah where he is going. Jonah tells him Nineveh. He is going there to deliver the citizens of that city a message from God. Traveler – “Don’t you know how cruel the Ninevites are? What they will do to you if you speak against them? Aren’t you afraid?” Jonah’s response – “Afraid to go to Nineveh in the will of God? Let me tell you, I’d be more afraid not to go to Nineveh. It is far more dangerous to be out of the will of God. I’m not afraid of Nineveh.”
4. When did Jonah begin to proclaim to the Ninevites the message God gave him? Soon as he walked through the city gates.
5) What was the message God gave Jonah to proclaim to Nineveh? 40 days and Nineveh will be overthrown. May have said more. But that was the heart of the message. It could be summarized in one sentence. Stick in people’s minds. Notice, countdown for Nineveh’s punishment began not from when Jonah first received the message in Jonah chapter 1 or the second time in Jonah chapter 3. The countdown began when Nineveh first received the message. An example of God’s justice. He was not going to destroy the city without a warning.
6) What did the people of Nineveh learn from Jonah’s message? 40 days and city will be overthrown.
7) How would you characterize Jonah’s sermon? Fire and brimstone. Not a kum-by-yah sermon. Not a sermon that you walk away from feeling good about yourself and the world.
8) What was the purpose of such a sermon? To convince the Ninevites to repent. How? To make real God’s anger for their iniquity. To make real God’s anger for their evil ways and violence. The Ninevites got an image of God’s wrath ready to be poured upon them. There is a verse in the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament that says “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.” Nowhere is there mention in God’s message to the Ninevites about grace, mercy, compassion, love. It was not an uplifting/encouraging message, only a fearful expectation of judgment. Why? What was God seeking to do by having Jonah proclaim such a message? God wanted to instill in thr people’s hearts a fear of God. God wanted to let the Ninevites know how much He abhors sin. How serious He is in dealing with sin in hopes that they would repent.
9) How did the Ninevites respond to God’s message? They did not turn to their gods for deliverance/salvation. They believed God. Not Jonah. The Ninevites put their belief in God. The word “believe” here in Hebrew means “have trust”, “have confidence”. It is the same word used by Abraham in Genesis after God told him he would be the father of many nations. Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. That’s amazing considering these people are Gentiles who did not have the same heritage of worshipping God as Jonah and the Israelites did.
The Ninevites’ belief were followed by works (fasting, wearing sackcloth – both are symbols of humility/repentance) which gave credibility to their repentance. James chapter 2 in the New Testament tells us that faith without works is dead. If the Ninevites only gave lip service to their repentance … showed no outward evidence of their repentance but continued to do evil and harbor evil in their hearts … what would that have shown God and you about how much they believed God’s words? Their belief/faith was non-existent.
10) Why were they so receptive to Jonah’s message? It was a message the Assyrians could relate to. What do you remember about their culture/reputation in the world? Violence – destruction – conquest – other peoples feared them. The Assyrians had no concept of mercy, compassion, grace. Such words were not in their vocabulary. In His message to the Assyrians, God spoke in a language they understood/were familiar with. He instilled fear in their hearts just as the Assyrians instilled fear in other peoples. If God been filled with words such as peace, love, compassion, mercy, the Assyrians might have been so receptive.
What else may have convinced the Ninevites to believe God? Jonah’s appearance. He was a living example of both God’s wrath and God’s mercy/compassion. Also, Jonah’s story was similar to an Assyrian myth about a battle between their great god Asshur and Tiamat, a goddess that resembled a sea beast. Like their god Asshur, Jonah survived his encounter with the sea beast, but he did so because His God commanded the sea beast/was more powerful than the sea beast. Recall the Assyrians are very religious/superstitious people. Therefore, it was not a coincidence that God used a big fish to swallow Jonah. He had a purpose – a tool to reach the Assyrians.
11) When word of God’s message reached the king what all did he do? He took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. All acts of repentance/contrition. What impression do you think that made on his subjects? It was huge. Recall the influential role the king played in Assyrian society. He was a political leader and a religious leader. What might have happened if the king had rejected God’s message? Called it nonsense? The people of Nineveh might have followed his example and God would have destroyed the city. The fact that the king believed God’s message encouraged/convinced the people to follow his example.
12) What did the proclamation he issued to the people say? Read verses 7-9 How serious were they about seeking repentance? Even animals were to fast and wear sackcloth.
Let all men call on God earnestly/urgently and turn from wickedness and violence. In other words cry out to God for mercy with all you strength. The people placed their faith in God – they repented of their evil ways – followed up repentance with action/works that gave credence to their belief.
13) What was the king’s hope? That God would have compassion and spare the city from destruction. Did he guarantee that God would not overthrow the city? No. Read verse 9.
14) When God saw the response of the Ninevites to his message how did He respond in
turn? God showed compassion/mercy to the cruelest people on the face of the earth. He did not destroy the city. Why? Grace. Remember what Jonah said in chapter 2:8. Like Jonah, the people of Nineveh in a moment of desperation renounced their gods. They did not pray to Asshur for salvation. They prayed to God. They did not cling to their idols, they clung to God and hoped for his mercy. Like Jonah, the city deserved to be destroyed but just as He did with Jonah, God showed mercy/compassion for Nineveh. He showed mercy/compassion for Gentiles just as He did for a Hebrew/Israelite, one of the Chosen People. All because of grace.
Was the Ninevites’ repentance genuine? In Matt. 12:38-41, Jesus gave testimony to the Ninevites’ repentance.
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
Jesus is telling the Jewish religious leaders that the people of Nineveh – GENTILES! –repented at the preaching of Jonah and yet Jesus, who is greater than Jonah because He is the Son of God, is preaching repentance to the Jews of his generation, God’s chosen people, and they reject His message. Consequently, on Judgment Day, who will be accepted by God and who will be condemned? Accepted – Ninevites (GENTILES!); Condemned – Jews of Jesus’ day. Moreover, the Ninevites will condemn the Jews for rejecting Jesus.
Jesus’ references to Jonah and to the Ninevites being present at Judgment Day give authenticity to the Book of Jonah. It is historical, not fiction.
15) What do you think Jonah’s thoughts are regarding the Ninevites’ response to the
message he delivered? Perhaps skepticism. They don’t mean what they’re saying/doing. It’s all an act. What are Jonah’s thoughts regarding God’s decision to show compassion to Nineveh and not destroy the city? The answer is in chapter 4.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Jonah chapter 2
1) Describe what it must have been like for Jonah to be in the belly of a great fish for three days? Smelly; wet; dark. What do you think Jonah did during his three days inside the fish? A lot of thinking and reflection. How did end I end up in this situation? I’m still alive. I didn’t drown. God spared my life. Even after I disobeyed him. Now, how do I get out of this predicament?
2) How would you characterize Jonah’s prayer? Jonah is reflecting on what happened in the moments after he was thrown off the ship three days earlier. He was sinking like a rock into the waters. He was headed for the bottom of ocean. Read verses 4 & 7. Jonah believed his situation to be hopeless. God had removed him from His presence. He would not spare Jonah. However, Jonah chose to cry out to God in hopes that He would spare him. In both verses, Jonah references the temple. Why? Read I Kings 8:30 - Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place (the Temple); hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive. This verse is part of a prayer spoken by King Solomon delivered at the dedication of the temple. I believe in his last moments of life, Jonah remembered the words of Solomon’s prayer. Did God hear Jonah’s cry for salvation? Yes. See verse 6. How did God save his life? Sent a big fish to swallow him. Did Jonah complain about how God saved him? No. Read verse 9. He thanked God for sparing his life. Chapter 2 is a prayer of thanksgiving from Jonah to God.
3) How did Jonah view being in the belly of the great fish? Salvation or punishment? Salvation. (see verse 9) Which did Jonah deserve? Punishment. He had blatantly disobeyed God. How long did it take for Jonah to realize the whale was God’s method of salvation and not punishment? Three days and nights have passed and he has not been digested.
4) When did Jonah remember God? Verse 7. During a moment of desperation, when he was near death. Do you think Jonah was amazed that God answered his prayer? Speaking for myself, I would be. Why? Jonah did not deserve God’s mercy. He deserved to punishment for blatantly disobeying God. Who was responsible for the state Jonah was in? My opinion: Jonah. If he had done what God told him to do, he would not have gone through a near death experience. He would not be inside a big fish.
5) Share in your own words what Jonah was saying in verse 8. Those who worship anyone or anything other than God are undeserving of grace. Grace is undeserved/unmerited favor. It is undeserved mercy and compassion. Jonah did not deserve mercy; he deserved to drown. Why did he not drown? Grace. Where does grace come from? What is the source of grace? Who is the source of grace? God. How could God show compassion to Jonah? Grace. In order to show compassion/mercy, one must have grace. For an illustration of grace, read the story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-12.
6) When did God release Jonah from the great fish? a) After Jonah agreed to fulfill his vow to God. God, you win. I’ll carry out my mission to be a prophet. God says to a prophet “Tell the people …” A prophet was expected to go and say it.
The final words in Jonah’s prayer are “Salvation comes from the Lord.” Remember these words Jonah spoke. We’ll come back to them later in the Book of Jonah.
7) What do you think Jonah’s physical appearance was like after being in the belly of a fish for 3 days? Skin may have been bleached white from fish’s digestive fluids.
What did God teach Jonah in chapters 1 and 2? 1) You can’t run away from God. 2) A lesson in compassion and mercy. a) Jonah experienced mercy from Gentiles on the ship. They refused to immediately throw Jonah off the ship despite the fact Jonah said if they did the storm would end. They did everything they could to spare Jonah’s life. b) God showed Jonah compassion/mercy by sparing him from drowning. He sent the big fish to spare Jonah’s life despite the fact that Jonah deserved punishment for blatantly disobeying God.
2) How would you characterize Jonah’s prayer? Jonah is reflecting on what happened in the moments after he was thrown off the ship three days earlier. He was sinking like a rock into the waters. He was headed for the bottom of ocean. Read verses 4 & 7. Jonah believed his situation to be hopeless. God had removed him from His presence. He would not spare Jonah. However, Jonah chose to cry out to God in hopes that He would spare him. In both verses, Jonah references the temple. Why? Read I Kings 8:30 - Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place (the Temple); hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive. This verse is part of a prayer spoken by King Solomon delivered at the dedication of the temple. I believe in his last moments of life, Jonah remembered the words of Solomon’s prayer. Did God hear Jonah’s cry for salvation? Yes. See verse 6. How did God save his life? Sent a big fish to swallow him. Did Jonah complain about how God saved him? No. Read verse 9. He thanked God for sparing his life. Chapter 2 is a prayer of thanksgiving from Jonah to God.
3) How did Jonah view being in the belly of the great fish? Salvation or punishment? Salvation. (see verse 9) Which did Jonah deserve? Punishment. He had blatantly disobeyed God. How long did it take for Jonah to realize the whale was God’s method of salvation and not punishment? Three days and nights have passed and he has not been digested.
4) When did Jonah remember God? Verse 7. During a moment of desperation, when he was near death. Do you think Jonah was amazed that God answered his prayer? Speaking for myself, I would be. Why? Jonah did not deserve God’s mercy. He deserved to punishment for blatantly disobeying God. Who was responsible for the state Jonah was in? My opinion: Jonah. If he had done what God told him to do, he would not have gone through a near death experience. He would not be inside a big fish.
5) Share in your own words what Jonah was saying in verse 8. Those who worship anyone or anything other than God are undeserving of grace. Grace is undeserved/unmerited favor. It is undeserved mercy and compassion. Jonah did not deserve mercy; he deserved to drown. Why did he not drown? Grace. Where does grace come from? What is the source of grace? Who is the source of grace? God. How could God show compassion to Jonah? Grace. In order to show compassion/mercy, one must have grace. For an illustration of grace, read the story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-12.
6) When did God release Jonah from the great fish? a) After Jonah agreed to fulfill his vow to God. God, you win. I’ll carry out my mission to be a prophet. God says to a prophet “Tell the people …” A prophet was expected to go and say it.
The final words in Jonah’s prayer are “Salvation comes from the Lord.” Remember these words Jonah spoke. We’ll come back to them later in the Book of Jonah.
7) What do you think Jonah’s physical appearance was like after being in the belly of a fish for 3 days? Skin may have been bleached white from fish’s digestive fluids.
What did God teach Jonah in chapters 1 and 2? 1) You can’t run away from God. 2) A lesson in compassion and mercy. a) Jonah experienced mercy from Gentiles on the ship. They refused to immediately throw Jonah off the ship despite the fact Jonah said if they did the storm would end. They did everything they could to spare Jonah’s life. b) God showed Jonah compassion/mercy by sparing him from drowning. He sent the big fish to spare Jonah’s life despite the fact that Jonah deserved punishment for blatantly disobeying God.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Jonah chapter 1
1) What did God tell Jonah to do? “Go and cry against it!” What does that mean? God says nothing about offering repentance to Nineveh. The last time the phrase “its wickedness has come up before me” was spoken against a city/cities was Sodom and Gomorrah. How did Jonah respond? He refused to go to Nineveh. Why did he respond this way?
When God called Jonah to prophecy to the people of the Northern Kingdom in II Kings, did Jonah have a problem doing it? No. God calls Jonah to prophecy to this city Nineveh, and Jonah refuses? What’s the difference? What was Jonah’s reason for not going to Nineveh? Was it out of fear or something else? The answer is found in Jonah 4:2. Jonah was afraid but not of the Assyrians. He was afraid of God’s compassion/mercy. Jonah knew that if he preached to the Ninevites and by some slim chance they repent and turn to God, that God being a merciful God would forgive them their sins and not destroy Nineveh. Jonah did not want that to happen. He figured that by not going to Nineveh, they won’t hear God’s message; therefore, they won’t repent; and therefore, God would destroy the city like he did Sodom and Gomorrah. Good riddance. Nineveh deserves to be destroyed. What was Jonah’s reason for not going to Nineveh? Prejudice. The Assyrians are Gentiles. Gentiles do not deserve God’s mercy/blessings. Only his Chosen People … the children of Israel deserve that. Moreover, the Ninevites are a cruel, mean, nasty people. They are the Northern Kingdom’s #1 enemy. If God destroys Nineveh, Assyria would no longer be a threat to Jonah’s country. Knowing all this would you have made the same decision as Jonah to not preach to Nineveh? Imagine if you were a Jewish Christian living during the early days of WWII and God called you to leave the U.S. to go to Berlin and preach the gospel to the Nazis. Your response might be the same as Jonah’s.
Why did God call Jonah to prophesy to the Assyrians? Why not Amos or Hosea who were Jonah’s fellow prophets in the Northern Kingdom? Jonah was a man of God. But he also had a heart problem - prejudice. Jonah shared the same attitude toward Gentiles that people in the Northern kingdom had. I believe that is the very reason why God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and not Hosea and Amos. God did not pick Jonah’s name out of a hat. He didn’t say, “Let’s see … who can I send to Nineveh? Jonah’s available. I’ll send him.” He wanted to open Jonah’s eyes to the fact that God’s love and compassion is not limited to one people of the world but that He shows love and compassion for all people. A prejudiced person like Jonah would see God show love and compassion to a Gentile nation and not just any Gentile nation, but the cruelest one on the face of the earth. God wanted to change Jonah’s heart by teaching him this lesson and then take that message back to Israel and change their hearts. You can see that God’s purpose for sending Jonah on this mission to Nineveh was not limited to Nineveh. It also included Jonah and the Northern Kingdom.
A contemporary example – A Christian has issues with homosexuals. He/she is prejudiced toward them. Gays do not deserve mercy/compassion. They deserve damnation. Then, God calls that Christian to minister to homosexuals, specifically those dying from AIDS. What’s God’s purpose for doing this? A learning opportunity for the Christian.
Has God ever told you to do something that you didn’t want to do? Why did you not want to do it? How did you respond? If we were in Jonah’s shoes our problem may have been fear not prejudice. God wants me to walk into Nineveh alone – my people’s #1 enemy … a people notorious for their cruelty and He wants me to preach against them.
As Christians, we can’t pick and choose who we minister to. We can’t pick and choose who to love/show compassion. That decision is not ours, its God’s. God says “Arise, go” what are we to do? Arise and go. If not, how does God respond? See that next.
2) Where did Jonah attempt to flee to? Tarshish. Where was this city located in relation to Nineveh?
From Joppa to Nineveh – about 800 miles. From Joppa to Tarshish – about 2500 miles. Tarshish was a Phoenician trading colony at the west end of the Mediterranean Sea. Past Tarshish was the unknown. Jonah wanted to get as far away from Nineveh as possible.
3) What happened soon after Jonah’s ship set out to sea? God hurled a mighty storm against the ship carrying Jonah. God does not take “No” for an answer. When God tells you to do something he expects you to do it. If He wanted somebody else to do it, he would have called somebody else. If He wanted Hosea or Amos to preach to Nineveh, He would have called one of them. But He didn’t, He called Jonah. If God called you to do something, and for whatever reason (fear, lack of self-confidence) you refuse, don’t think God will say “OK” and move on. If God wanted somebody else to do it, He would have called somebody else. But He didn’t, He called you. As long as you run away from Him, He’s going to continue to pursue you. If you persist in running from your call, you are not going to know true peace.
4) Did the consequences of Jonah’s disobedience impact only him? No. His disobedience put the lives of the men on the ship in jeopardy. Do not think that the consequences of your sin impact only you and not the people around (family, friends, strangers).
5) What did the captain of the ship ask Jonah to do? Pray. Do you think he did it? We do not know for sure. Scripture does not say that Jonah got on his knees to seek God’s intervention. If he did pray, God told Jonah, “You know what it will take to stop this storm Jonah – go to Nineveh.” See answer to question 8. If Jonah did not pray to God, it was because he knew what God’s response would be – “Go to Nineveh” – and Jonah was determined not to go to Nineveh.
6) At what point did Jonah admit he was responsible for putting everyone on the ship in danger? After the crew gambled to see who was at fault. The dice said it was Jonah. God rigged the game so the dice would point to Jonah.
7) Why were the sailors terrified by Jonah’s response to their questioning? Jonah told them that his God was an extremely powerful God because He was not only God of the land but also God of the sea. Moreover, Jonah explained he was running away from this God. Sailors’ response “How could you do something so stupid as to make such a God angry? You have put our lives at risk.”
8) This is a head scratcher. Why did Jonah tell the sailors they had to pick him up and throw in the sea for God to still the storm? Why didn’t he just jump in the water? There is no right answer to this question. We do not know for certain why. What I believe, and this is just me speculating, if Jonah prayed to God as the ship’s captain asked, God answered Jonah by tellong him that in order for the storm to end, the sailors would have to throw him into the sea for the purpose of teaching Jonah a lesson in compassion/mercy. You may be saying “Huh?” How could having Jonah thrown off the ship by the sailors be a teaching opportunity re: compassion? Read verse 13 and 14.
9) Did the sailors act quickly to throw Jonah off the ship when they realized he was to blame for the storm? No. They refused to throw Jonah overboard. They did not want Jonah to die. They did not want his blood on their hands. Think about it. These pagan Gentiles had compassion/mercy for a Hebrew/Israelite who in his heart despised them. Do you see the contrast? Jonah refused to preach salvation to a pagan Gentile nation because he had no compassion for them. Yet these Gentile sailors made every effort to save Jonah because they had compassion for him. God here is attempting to teach Jonah a lesson in compassion. Ultimately, the sailors have no choice but to do what Jonah said. They prayed to God not to hold them accountable for Jonah’s death. They threw Jonah into the sea and as soon as he hit the water the storm stopped raging. The sea was peaceful once more. The sailors worshipped God and made promises to behave.
10) At the moment Jonah was thrown off the ship into the raging sea, what do you think Jonah believed would happen to him? He would drown and die. What did happen to him? A great fish swallowed Jonah whole. Jonah remained inside the fish for three days and three nights.
11) What was the purpose of the great fish? 1) As well see in chapter 2, salvation 2) Give Jonah a time out. What is a time out? What purpose does it serve? Think things out. Think about what you did. How did I end up in this situation? How do I get out? A time out is done in a place of solitude. No one else to consult; no seeking advice from a half dozen people. Just Jonah and God.
Has God ever given you a time out?
When God called Jonah to prophecy to the people of the Northern Kingdom in II Kings, did Jonah have a problem doing it? No. God calls Jonah to prophecy to this city Nineveh, and Jonah refuses? What’s the difference? What was Jonah’s reason for not going to Nineveh? Was it out of fear or something else? The answer is found in Jonah 4:2. Jonah was afraid but not of the Assyrians. He was afraid of God’s compassion/mercy. Jonah knew that if he preached to the Ninevites and by some slim chance they repent and turn to God, that God being a merciful God would forgive them their sins and not destroy Nineveh. Jonah did not want that to happen. He figured that by not going to Nineveh, they won’t hear God’s message; therefore, they won’t repent; and therefore, God would destroy the city like he did Sodom and Gomorrah. Good riddance. Nineveh deserves to be destroyed. What was Jonah’s reason for not going to Nineveh? Prejudice. The Assyrians are Gentiles. Gentiles do not deserve God’s mercy/blessings. Only his Chosen People … the children of Israel deserve that. Moreover, the Ninevites are a cruel, mean, nasty people. They are the Northern Kingdom’s #1 enemy. If God destroys Nineveh, Assyria would no longer be a threat to Jonah’s country. Knowing all this would you have made the same decision as Jonah to not preach to Nineveh? Imagine if you were a Jewish Christian living during the early days of WWII and God called you to leave the U.S. to go to Berlin and preach the gospel to the Nazis. Your response might be the same as Jonah’s.
Why did God call Jonah to prophesy to the Assyrians? Why not Amos or Hosea who were Jonah’s fellow prophets in the Northern Kingdom? Jonah was a man of God. But he also had a heart problem - prejudice. Jonah shared the same attitude toward Gentiles that people in the Northern kingdom had. I believe that is the very reason why God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and not Hosea and Amos. God did not pick Jonah’s name out of a hat. He didn’t say, “Let’s see … who can I send to Nineveh? Jonah’s available. I’ll send him.” He wanted to open Jonah’s eyes to the fact that God’s love and compassion is not limited to one people of the world but that He shows love and compassion for all people. A prejudiced person like Jonah would see God show love and compassion to a Gentile nation and not just any Gentile nation, but the cruelest one on the face of the earth. God wanted to change Jonah’s heart by teaching him this lesson and then take that message back to Israel and change their hearts. You can see that God’s purpose for sending Jonah on this mission to Nineveh was not limited to Nineveh. It also included Jonah and the Northern Kingdom.
A contemporary example – A Christian has issues with homosexuals. He/she is prejudiced toward them. Gays do not deserve mercy/compassion. They deserve damnation. Then, God calls that Christian to minister to homosexuals, specifically those dying from AIDS. What’s God’s purpose for doing this? A learning opportunity for the Christian.
Has God ever told you to do something that you didn’t want to do? Why did you not want to do it? How did you respond? If we were in Jonah’s shoes our problem may have been fear not prejudice. God wants me to walk into Nineveh alone – my people’s #1 enemy … a people notorious for their cruelty and He wants me to preach against them.
As Christians, we can’t pick and choose who we minister to. We can’t pick and choose who to love/show compassion. That decision is not ours, its God’s. God says “Arise, go” what are we to do? Arise and go. If not, how does God respond? See that next.
2) Where did Jonah attempt to flee to? Tarshish. Where was this city located in relation to Nineveh?
From Joppa to Nineveh – about 800 miles. From Joppa to Tarshish – about 2500 miles. Tarshish was a Phoenician trading colony at the west end of the Mediterranean Sea. Past Tarshish was the unknown. Jonah wanted to get as far away from Nineveh as possible.
3) What happened soon after Jonah’s ship set out to sea? God hurled a mighty storm against the ship carrying Jonah. God does not take “No” for an answer. When God tells you to do something he expects you to do it. If He wanted somebody else to do it, he would have called somebody else. If He wanted Hosea or Amos to preach to Nineveh, He would have called one of them. But He didn’t, He called Jonah. If God called you to do something, and for whatever reason (fear, lack of self-confidence) you refuse, don’t think God will say “OK” and move on. If God wanted somebody else to do it, He would have called somebody else. But He didn’t, He called you. As long as you run away from Him, He’s going to continue to pursue you. If you persist in running from your call, you are not going to know true peace.
4) Did the consequences of Jonah’s disobedience impact only him? No. His disobedience put the lives of the men on the ship in jeopardy. Do not think that the consequences of your sin impact only you and not the people around (family, friends, strangers).
5) What did the captain of the ship ask Jonah to do? Pray. Do you think he did it? We do not know for sure. Scripture does not say that Jonah got on his knees to seek God’s intervention. If he did pray, God told Jonah, “You know what it will take to stop this storm Jonah – go to Nineveh.” See answer to question 8. If Jonah did not pray to God, it was because he knew what God’s response would be – “Go to Nineveh” – and Jonah was determined not to go to Nineveh.
6) At what point did Jonah admit he was responsible for putting everyone on the ship in danger? After the crew gambled to see who was at fault. The dice said it was Jonah. God rigged the game so the dice would point to Jonah.
7) Why were the sailors terrified by Jonah’s response to their questioning? Jonah told them that his God was an extremely powerful God because He was not only God of the land but also God of the sea. Moreover, Jonah explained he was running away from this God. Sailors’ response “How could you do something so stupid as to make such a God angry? You have put our lives at risk.”
8) This is a head scratcher. Why did Jonah tell the sailors they had to pick him up and throw in the sea for God to still the storm? Why didn’t he just jump in the water? There is no right answer to this question. We do not know for certain why. What I believe, and this is just me speculating, if Jonah prayed to God as the ship’s captain asked, God answered Jonah by tellong him that in order for the storm to end, the sailors would have to throw him into the sea for the purpose of teaching Jonah a lesson in compassion/mercy. You may be saying “Huh?” How could having Jonah thrown off the ship by the sailors be a teaching opportunity re: compassion? Read verse 13 and 14.
9) Did the sailors act quickly to throw Jonah off the ship when they realized he was to blame for the storm? No. They refused to throw Jonah overboard. They did not want Jonah to die. They did not want his blood on their hands. Think about it. These pagan Gentiles had compassion/mercy for a Hebrew/Israelite who in his heart despised them. Do you see the contrast? Jonah refused to preach salvation to a pagan Gentile nation because he had no compassion for them. Yet these Gentile sailors made every effort to save Jonah because they had compassion for him. God here is attempting to teach Jonah a lesson in compassion. Ultimately, the sailors have no choice but to do what Jonah said. They prayed to God not to hold them accountable for Jonah’s death. They threw Jonah into the sea and as soon as he hit the water the storm stopped raging. The sea was peaceful once more. The sailors worshipped God and made promises to behave.
10) At the moment Jonah was thrown off the ship into the raging sea, what do you think Jonah believed would happen to him? He would drown and die. What did happen to him? A great fish swallowed Jonah whole. Jonah remained inside the fish for three days and three nights.
11) What was the purpose of the great fish? 1) As well see in chapter 2, salvation 2) Give Jonah a time out. What is a time out? What purpose does it serve? Think things out. Think about what you did. How did I end up in this situation? How do I get out? A time out is done in a place of solitude. No one else to consult; no seeking advice from a half dozen people. Just Jonah and God.
Has God ever given you a time out?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Background on the Book of Jonah
Background - Context of the times Jonah prophesied (800-750 B.C.). The nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms – the Northern Kingdom of Israel, also called Samaria. It consisted of ten of the twelve tribes of Israel. Its capital was Samaria. The Southern Kingdom consisted of two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, with its capital in Jerusalem.
Life in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Northern Kingdom - Jonah prophesied during the reign of Jereboam II, an evil king who did what was evil in the sight of God. Jonah prophesied about the same time as two other prophets - Amos and Hosea. All three prophesied in the Northern Kingdom. We first encounter Jonah in the Bible in II Kings 14:23-27.
23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and reigned forty-one years.
24 He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin.
25 He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher.
26 For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, which was very bitter; for there was neither bond nor free, nor was there any helper for Israel.
27 The LORD did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
Jonah was born in Gath-hepher in the Northern kingdom – a town northeast of Nazareth near the sea of Galilee. What did Jonah prophecy about? It was good stuff. He prophesied about the restoration of Israel’s borders. Despite Israel’s sins, God showed compassion/mercy on Israel. God hoped that by showing mercy to Israel they would see him as the one true God and return to Him. God’s word through Jonah was fulfilled by Jereboam II. Israel’s borders were expanded during his reign. The Northern Kingdom was strong politically. Economic prosperity soon followed. God had blessed the Northern Kingdom. Unfortunately, during this time of prosperity, Israel developed spiritual arrogance/pride. They thought they were special because they were God’s chosen people/most favored nation. They were the children Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Illustrations of pride:
a) Prosperity led to moral and religious corruption (idolatry – God called it adultery. He often called Israel an adulteress/prostitute; sexual immorality, no compassion for the poor, widows, orphans). The people of the Northern Kingdom were not concerned about their spiritual decline. After all, they were still “worshipping” God. They continued to perform the worship rituals God required of them. They worshipped God on the Sabbath as required. But the rest of the time they lived life however they pleased. They believed God would still bless them regardless of how they lived their lives. After all, the people of Israel were His Chosen People. Is this attitude prevalent among people in today’s Church? As long as I go to church on Sunday, tithe my 10%, and do a good deed every once in awhile, God will bless me.
b) Pride created a heart of prejudice in the people of the Northern Kingdom towards other peoples of the world whom the people of Israel referred to as Gentiles. The people in Northern Kingdom lived in expectation of the “day of the Lord” (Amos 5:18-20) when God would wipe out all the Gentile nations while Israel relaxes in His light. According to Jewish tradition, Gentiles were fuel for the fires of hell. God had no use for any other nation but Israel because the Israelites were His people. That was not true. Israel was chosen by God to be a light to all nations. They were to be an example of what it meant to be a people of God for other nations to follow. They were to point the peoples of the world to God. Read Genesis 12:2-3; I Kings 8:41-43; Jeremiah 3:14 - 4: 2; Zecheriah. 2:11; 8:20-23.
The Assyrian Empire
Assyria was the most powerful empire in the region. See map. Its greatest city was Nineveh. Its ruins can be seen today near the city of Mosul in Iraq. The Assyrians were known for their cruelty. It was a very militaristic society. Conquest was a divine mission of kings. Their writings reflect their pride in the devastation of their enemies. The Assyrians rejoiced in butchery. Quotes from Assyrian kings - “I cut their throats like sheep,” recorded one king. Another king - “I caused great slaughter. I destroyed, I demolished, I burned. I took their warriors prisoner and impaled them on stakes before their cities.” After sacking one city, an Assyrian king stacked the corpses of the dead like firewood outside the gate, then flayed the nobles who opposed them, and spread their skins out on the piles. After another battle, a king wrote “Many of the captives I burned in fire. Many I took alive; from some I cut off their hands to the wrist, from others I cut off their noses, ears, and fingers; I put out the eyes of many of the soldiers. I burnt their young women and men to death.” What was the purpose of such cruelty by Assyria? It was a deliberate design to instill fear and submission into conquered peoples. The Assyrians also used exile as a means to enforce their rule. They shuffled peoples of different nations from one place to another in the Middle East. Many were sent to Assyria to work as laborers/artisans. The Assyrians shifted 4 million people around Middle East. Consequently, the Northern Kingdom, along with all other peoples in the Middle East, lived in constant terror of Assyria. It was this huge, bloody monster on Israel’s border poised to swallow the Northern Kingdom at any moment. The threat of Assyria added more fuel to Israel’s hatred of Gentiles.
The Assyrians were a very religious people. The Assyrian king was a spiritual leader as well as a political leader. The Assyrian king was regarded as an earthly delegate of the gods. His number one priority was to keep the gods happy. He did this by consulting priests, oracles, exorcists, diviners, astrologers, and soothsayers, fasting, or retreating to a reed hut for a week. The Assyrians were also a very superstitious people. A solar eclipse foretold the death of the Assyrian king. When a solar eclipse began the king quickly abdicated in favor of a substitute. After 100 days, the king returned to the capital. The substitute king and his family members were then killed to fulfill the prophecy.
At the end of our study of the Book of Jonah, we will answer the following questions: Why was Book of Jonah included in Scripture? What did God want Israel to learn from Book of Jonah? Did they? What does God want us to learn from the Book of Jonah? Do you and I get it?
Life in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Northern Kingdom - Jonah prophesied during the reign of Jereboam II, an evil king who did what was evil in the sight of God. Jonah prophesied about the same time as two other prophets - Amos and Hosea. All three prophesied in the Northern Kingdom. We first encounter Jonah in the Bible in II Kings 14:23-27.
23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and reigned forty-one years.
24 He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin.
25 He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher.
26 For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, which was very bitter; for there was neither bond nor free, nor was there any helper for Israel.
27 The LORD did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.
Jonah was born in Gath-hepher in the Northern kingdom – a town northeast of Nazareth near the sea of Galilee. What did Jonah prophecy about? It was good stuff. He prophesied about the restoration of Israel’s borders. Despite Israel’s sins, God showed compassion/mercy on Israel. God hoped that by showing mercy to Israel they would see him as the one true God and return to Him. God’s word through Jonah was fulfilled by Jereboam II. Israel’s borders were expanded during his reign. The Northern Kingdom was strong politically. Economic prosperity soon followed. God had blessed the Northern Kingdom. Unfortunately, during this time of prosperity, Israel developed spiritual arrogance/pride. They thought they were special because they were God’s chosen people/most favored nation. They were the children Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Illustrations of pride:
a) Prosperity led to moral and religious corruption (idolatry – God called it adultery. He often called Israel an adulteress/prostitute; sexual immorality, no compassion for the poor, widows, orphans). The people of the Northern Kingdom were not concerned about their spiritual decline. After all, they were still “worshipping” God. They continued to perform the worship rituals God required of them. They worshipped God on the Sabbath as required. But the rest of the time they lived life however they pleased. They believed God would still bless them regardless of how they lived their lives. After all, the people of Israel were His Chosen People. Is this attitude prevalent among people in today’s Church? As long as I go to church on Sunday, tithe my 10%, and do a good deed every once in awhile, God will bless me.
b) Pride created a heart of prejudice in the people of the Northern Kingdom towards other peoples of the world whom the people of Israel referred to as Gentiles. The people in Northern Kingdom lived in expectation of the “day of the Lord” (Amos 5:18-20) when God would wipe out all the Gentile nations while Israel relaxes in His light. According to Jewish tradition, Gentiles were fuel for the fires of hell. God had no use for any other nation but Israel because the Israelites were His people. That was not true. Israel was chosen by God to be a light to all nations. They were to be an example of what it meant to be a people of God for other nations to follow. They were to point the peoples of the world to God. Read Genesis 12:2-3; I Kings 8:41-43; Jeremiah 3:14 - 4: 2; Zecheriah. 2:11; 8:20-23.
The Assyrian Empire
Assyria was the most powerful empire in the region. See map. Its greatest city was Nineveh. Its ruins can be seen today near the city of Mosul in Iraq. The Assyrians were known for their cruelty. It was a very militaristic society. Conquest was a divine mission of kings. Their writings reflect their pride in the devastation of their enemies. The Assyrians rejoiced in butchery. Quotes from Assyrian kings - “I cut their throats like sheep,” recorded one king. Another king - “I caused great slaughter. I destroyed, I demolished, I burned. I took their warriors prisoner and impaled them on stakes before their cities.” After sacking one city, an Assyrian king stacked the corpses of the dead like firewood outside the gate, then flayed the nobles who opposed them, and spread their skins out on the piles. After another battle, a king wrote “Many of the captives I burned in fire. Many I took alive; from some I cut off their hands to the wrist, from others I cut off their noses, ears, and fingers; I put out the eyes of many of the soldiers. I burnt their young women and men to death.” What was the purpose of such cruelty by Assyria? It was a deliberate design to instill fear and submission into conquered peoples. The Assyrians also used exile as a means to enforce their rule. They shuffled peoples of different nations from one place to another in the Middle East. Many were sent to Assyria to work as laborers/artisans. The Assyrians shifted 4 million people around Middle East. Consequently, the Northern Kingdom, along with all other peoples in the Middle East, lived in constant terror of Assyria. It was this huge, bloody monster on Israel’s border poised to swallow the Northern Kingdom at any moment. The threat of Assyria added more fuel to Israel’s hatred of Gentiles.
The Assyrians were a very religious people. The Assyrian king was a spiritual leader as well as a political leader. The Assyrian king was regarded as an earthly delegate of the gods. His number one priority was to keep the gods happy. He did this by consulting priests, oracles, exorcists, diviners, astrologers, and soothsayers, fasting, or retreating to a reed hut for a week. The Assyrians were also a very superstitious people. A solar eclipse foretold the death of the Assyrian king. When a solar eclipse began the king quickly abdicated in favor of a substitute. After 100 days, the king returned to the capital. The substitute king and his family members were then killed to fulfill the prophecy.
At the end of our study of the Book of Jonah, we will answer the following questions: Why was Book of Jonah included in Scripture? What did God want Israel to learn from Book of Jonah? Did they? What does God want us to learn from the Book of Jonah? Do you and I get it?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Books of Poetry and Wisdom pt. 2
20. Proverbs – the title of this book comes from the word proverb – a short, wise saying that expresses effectively some commonplace truth or useful thought. Can anyone think of a proverb you have heard maybe from your parents or grandparents or in a sermon? “A penny saved is a penny earned.” – Ben Franklin; “More depends on my walk than my talk.” – D.L. Moody; “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.” – William J. Toms. The Book of Proverbs is a collection of short, wise sayings. All but the two last chapters were written by King Solomon. According to I Kings 4:32, Solomon wrote 3000 proverbs and more than a thousand songs. The Book of Proverbs contains 800 of Solomon’s proverbs. They were probably written during Solomon’s middle age years when his relationship with God was the strongest (I Kings chapter 3-10.) Solomon gives his reasons for writing these words of wisdom in Proverbs chapter 1 – to teach readers wisdom and discipline and to help them understand wise sayings so that they can live a balanced, righteous, and just life … to become wise so that we can know what is good and what is evil and apply that knowledge correctly (embrace good, shun evil). The result will be a life of happiness. Topics covered in Proverbs – friendship, conflict resolution, finances, parenting, marriage, etc. His proverbs are directed at men and women, husbands and wives, parents and children. The words, sayings, and imagery used by Solomon to teach wisdom are very simplistic, practical, and sometimes humorous. Examples: Read Proverbs 15:1, chapter 17; chapter 21:19, Proverbs 26:11
Last two chapters of Proverbs were not written by Solomon. The last chapter written by King Lemuel is very significant. They were words of wisdom passed down to him by his mother. The majority of the chapter lists the traits of a virtuous/noble woman.
Theme: Wisdom
Chapters1-29: Proverbs of Solomon
Chapters 30-31: Proverbs of Agur and King Lemuel
Key verses: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7); Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
21. Ecclesiastes - the title of this book comes from the Greek word for “Preacher/Teacher” – the name the author of Ecclesiastes refers to himself as. The authorship of Ecclesiastes is attributed to Solomon. (Eccles. 1:1). Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes during the last years of his life. During the second half of his life, Solomon abandoned God for fleshly pleasures (700 wives, 300 concubines) that led him to worship other gods and for the pleasures that came with being the wealthiest and most famous person in the world. However, as an anonymous writer of proverbs (not found in the Bible) once said, “all good things must come to an end.” Death was coming for Solomon. As it neared, Solomon began to reflect back on his life and remember all his great accomplishments – wealth, power, fame, architecture, pleasures of the flesh, etc. His conclusion – his life was meaningless. Why? God was not in it. Without God, life is meaningless … accomplishments are meaningless. When you die, what good are wealth, fame, power, palaces, and pleasures of the flesh? They are not eternal. It’s as if at the end of his life, Solomon’s heart and mind all at once became clear after a lengthy darkness. Spiritual cold water splashed in his face waking him up to the reality of what he made of his life. Solomon writes down his thoughts in a last will and testament known as Ecclesiastes for posterity to read so that we do make the same mistake he did.
Theme: A life lived without God is a meaningless/worthless life.
Ecclesiastes 1-12:8: The Futility of Life
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14: True meaning in life is found in obedience to God
Key verses: “Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:2); The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
22. Song of Songs/Song of Solomon – written by Solomon during his younger years. It is a romantic dialogue between Solomon and his bride set to music. A duet with a choir chiming in every once and awhile. The two lovers express their deepest love for one another in romantic, poetic, metaphorical (word pictures), and, (what we would refer as today but in Solomon’s day they would not) explicit language. Read chapter 4:1-5, chapter 5:10-16, chapter 6:10. The metaphors used by the lovers were designed to stir up passion and a feeling of “I am special to my lover.” Because of the subject matter, Song of Songs was rated PG-30 by the Jewish elders. No one was allowed to read this book until age 30. Even today, the Song of Songs is rarely mentioned or even read in churches today because of the sexual content found in the book. When Song of Songs was brought up in church, Jewish and Christian leaders would say that the book was an allegory/illustration of God’s relationship with is people (Jews – Israel; Christians – the Church). Why is that case? The followers of God, Jews and Christians, have allowed the World to hijack the meaning of sex. Pornography and sexual immorality have been pervasive in the world for thousands of years. Jewish and Christian reaction to this was an extreme overreaction. They labeled sex and anything to do with sex as taboo, even a book in the Bible - the Song of Songs. Sex was not something men and women were to take pleasure in. Rather, its only purpose was procreation. Jewish and Christian leaders made sex more of a job than a joy. Moreover, Song of Songs is one of only two books in the Bible that God’s name is not mentioned. (The other is Esther.) Given all that, why is the Song of Songs even in the Bible? To teach/instruct men and women that love, especially sexual love, is not something to be perceived as dirty, embarrassing, or unmentionable. Rather, love was created by God for men and women to enjoy … to take pleasure in with this caveat – that it be expressed in an exclusive, monogamous, husband and wife relationship. This love was to be expressed not just physically but also verbally by both man and woman. Verbal expressions of love fan the flames of passion in a relationship. They also gauge the depth of a relationship. The two lovers call one another different titles “my bride, my lover, my darling” but they also call one another “my friend.” The two were not only lovers; they were also friends. Their love was a deep love. It was not based solely on romantic notions of love. Friends confide in one another their joys and fears. Friendship strengthens the bonds of love. Ultimately, the Song of Songs is a refreshing reminder of the beauty and wonder of love shared by a man and a woman.
Song of Songs chapters 1-8: Celebrating Love
Key verse: I belong to my lover and his desire is for me. (Song of Songs 7:10)
Last two chapters of Proverbs were not written by Solomon. The last chapter written by King Lemuel is very significant. They were words of wisdom passed down to him by his mother. The majority of the chapter lists the traits of a virtuous/noble woman.
Theme: Wisdom
Chapters1-29: Proverbs of Solomon
Chapters 30-31: Proverbs of Agur and King Lemuel
Key verses: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7); Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
21. Ecclesiastes - the title of this book comes from the Greek word for “Preacher/Teacher” – the name the author of Ecclesiastes refers to himself as. The authorship of Ecclesiastes is attributed to Solomon. (Eccles. 1:1). Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes during the last years of his life. During the second half of his life, Solomon abandoned God for fleshly pleasures (700 wives, 300 concubines) that led him to worship other gods and for the pleasures that came with being the wealthiest and most famous person in the world. However, as an anonymous writer of proverbs (not found in the Bible) once said, “all good things must come to an end.” Death was coming for Solomon. As it neared, Solomon began to reflect back on his life and remember all his great accomplishments – wealth, power, fame, architecture, pleasures of the flesh, etc. His conclusion – his life was meaningless. Why? God was not in it. Without God, life is meaningless … accomplishments are meaningless. When you die, what good are wealth, fame, power, palaces, and pleasures of the flesh? They are not eternal. It’s as if at the end of his life, Solomon’s heart and mind all at once became clear after a lengthy darkness. Spiritual cold water splashed in his face waking him up to the reality of what he made of his life. Solomon writes down his thoughts in a last will and testament known as Ecclesiastes for posterity to read so that we do make the same mistake he did.
Theme: A life lived without God is a meaningless/worthless life.
Ecclesiastes 1-12:8: The Futility of Life
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14: True meaning in life is found in obedience to God
Key verses: “Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:2); The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
22. Song of Songs/Song of Solomon – written by Solomon during his younger years. It is a romantic dialogue between Solomon and his bride set to music. A duet with a choir chiming in every once and awhile. The two lovers express their deepest love for one another in romantic, poetic, metaphorical (word pictures), and, (what we would refer as today but in Solomon’s day they would not) explicit language. Read chapter 4:1-5, chapter 5:10-16, chapter 6:10. The metaphors used by the lovers were designed to stir up passion and a feeling of “I am special to my lover.” Because of the subject matter, Song of Songs was rated PG-30 by the Jewish elders. No one was allowed to read this book until age 30. Even today, the Song of Songs is rarely mentioned or even read in churches today because of the sexual content found in the book. When Song of Songs was brought up in church, Jewish and Christian leaders would say that the book was an allegory/illustration of God’s relationship with is people (Jews – Israel; Christians – the Church). Why is that case? The followers of God, Jews and Christians, have allowed the World to hijack the meaning of sex. Pornography and sexual immorality have been pervasive in the world for thousands of years. Jewish and Christian reaction to this was an extreme overreaction. They labeled sex and anything to do with sex as taboo, even a book in the Bible - the Song of Songs. Sex was not something men and women were to take pleasure in. Rather, its only purpose was procreation. Jewish and Christian leaders made sex more of a job than a joy. Moreover, Song of Songs is one of only two books in the Bible that God’s name is not mentioned. (The other is Esther.) Given all that, why is the Song of Songs even in the Bible? To teach/instruct men and women that love, especially sexual love, is not something to be perceived as dirty, embarrassing, or unmentionable. Rather, love was created by God for men and women to enjoy … to take pleasure in with this caveat – that it be expressed in an exclusive, monogamous, husband and wife relationship. This love was to be expressed not just physically but also verbally by both man and woman. Verbal expressions of love fan the flames of passion in a relationship. They also gauge the depth of a relationship. The two lovers call one another different titles “my bride, my lover, my darling” but they also call one another “my friend.” The two were not only lovers; they were also friends. Their love was a deep love. It was not based solely on romantic notions of love. Friends confide in one another their joys and fears. Friendship strengthens the bonds of love. Ultimately, the Song of Songs is a refreshing reminder of the beauty and wonder of love shared by a man and a woman.
Song of Songs chapters 1-8: Celebrating Love
Key verse: I belong to my lover and his desire is for me. (Song of Songs 7:10)
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Books of Poetry and Wisdom pt. 1
C. Books of poetry and wisdom – These books consist of narratives, hymns, songs, prayers, poems, and statements of wisdom containing personal truths and observations. These books are creative and honest expressions of worship, love, frustration, anger, joy, futility, desire, and wisdom.
18. Job - named for the principal character in the book. It is believed to be the oldest book in the Bible. Written perhaps 2000 years before Jesus was born. Job may have lived sometime after the Flood and before Abraham.
Theme: suffering and faith
Chapters 1-2: Prologue: Job’s happiness and Job’s testing
Chapters 3-27: Dialogue and Dispute: Job and his three friends
Chapter 28: Interlude on Wisdom
Chapters 29-41: Monologues: Job, Elihu, and God
Chapter 42: Epilogue: Repentance and Restoration
Key verse: Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! That with an iron stylus and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me! (Job 19:23-27)
19. Psalms – derived from the Greek word: Psalmoi, originally meaning “songs sung to a harp or stringed instrument.” Psalms is a collection of 150 songs and prayers sung by Jews in the Temple. Christians also sing psalms found in this book. It is the songbook of the Bible. The authors of Knowing the Bible 101 characterizes Psalms this way: “If the Bible is God’s message to humanity, then the Book of Psalms is humanity’s response to God” in both good times and bad. The Book of Psalms is similar to a diary. The many authors of the psalms express to God in very personal terms what they are feeling/experiencing at a particular moment in their lives - their joys, grief, fears, frustrations, gratitude, and ultimately, faith. They are also expressions of praise, repentance, and wisdom. Examples: Psalm 42, Psalm 51, Psalm 136. The psalms were written over many centuries by various authors. The majority of the psalms (over 70) were written by David. Other authors include Moses, Solomon, Asaph (a worship leader), and sons of Korah (group of singers and composers in the Temple). We do not know who the author is for about 50 psalms. The shortest (two verses – Psalm 117) and longest “chapters” (Psalm 119) in the Bible are found in Psalms.
Theme: Worship in all aspects of life
The Book of Psalms is divided into 5 sections mirroring the first 5 books of the Old Testament known as the Pentateuch.
Part 1 – Psalms 1-41
Part 2 – Psalms 42-72
Part 3 – Psalms 73-89
Part 4 – Psalms 90-106
Part 5 – Psalms 107-150
Key verse: My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever. (Psalm 145:21)
18. Job - named for the principal character in the book. It is believed to be the oldest book in the Bible. Written perhaps 2000 years before Jesus was born. Job may have lived sometime after the Flood and before Abraham.
Theme: suffering and faith
Chapters 1-2: Prologue: Job’s happiness and Job’s testing
Chapters 3-27: Dialogue and Dispute: Job and his three friends
Chapter 28: Interlude on Wisdom
Chapters 29-41: Monologues: Job, Elihu, and God
Chapter 42: Epilogue: Repentance and Restoration
Key verse: Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! That with an iron stylus and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me! (Job 19:23-27)
19. Psalms – derived from the Greek word: Psalmoi, originally meaning “songs sung to a harp or stringed instrument.” Psalms is a collection of 150 songs and prayers sung by Jews in the Temple. Christians also sing psalms found in this book. It is the songbook of the Bible. The authors of Knowing the Bible 101 characterizes Psalms this way: “If the Bible is God’s message to humanity, then the Book of Psalms is humanity’s response to God” in both good times and bad. The Book of Psalms is similar to a diary. The many authors of the psalms express to God in very personal terms what they are feeling/experiencing at a particular moment in their lives - their joys, grief, fears, frustrations, gratitude, and ultimately, faith. They are also expressions of praise, repentance, and wisdom. Examples: Psalm 42, Psalm 51, Psalm 136. The psalms were written over many centuries by various authors. The majority of the psalms (over 70) were written by David. Other authors include Moses, Solomon, Asaph (a worship leader), and sons of Korah (group of singers and composers in the Temple). We do not know who the author is for about 50 psalms. The shortest (two verses – Psalm 117) and longest “chapters” (Psalm 119) in the Bible are found in Psalms.
Theme: Worship in all aspects of life
The Book of Psalms is divided into 5 sections mirroring the first 5 books of the Old Testament known as the Pentateuch.
Part 1 – Psalms 1-41
Part 2 – Psalms 42-72
Part 3 – Psalms 73-89
Part 4 – Psalms 90-106
Part 5 – Psalms 107-150
Key verse: My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever. (Psalm 145:21)
Sunday, July 6, 2008
first post to Bible 101 blog
Hello,
Welcome to the first Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Bible 101 blog. This is a work in progress. On June 29, 2008, we began a series on the Book of Job. I'll be adding notes of the lessons as we complete them.
Greg Crawford
Bible 101 teacher
Chester, VA
Welcome to the first Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Bible 101 blog. This is a work in progress. On June 29, 2008, we began a series on the Book of Job. I'll be adding notes of the lessons as we complete them.
Greg Crawford
Bible 101 teacher
Chester, VA
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