God’s Mysterious Will

Leave a reply

God’s Mysterious Will

Ephesians 1:9-14 NLT

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Examine the scriptures:

God’s Mysterious Will
Ephesians 1:9-14 NLT

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—

  • His (God’s) mysterious will has been revealed to us. A previously hidden divine truth, now revealed by God.

Ephesians 3:9 NLT
9 I (Paul) was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 

Scripture tells us everything we need to know to have a right relationship with God.

which is to fulfill his own good plan.  

God’s mysterious will (God’s plan) is multifaceted.  It has many different parts. 

  • God has a good plan, from the beginning of time, which He will fulfill.

Psalm 33:11 NLT
11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;
his intentions can never be shaken. 

Proverbs 19:21 NLT
21 You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose (plans) will prevail. 

Ephesians 3:9 NLT
9 I (Paul) was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

One part of God’s plan:

Ephesians 2:10 NLT
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

A major part of God’s mysterious will:

10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.  

Since we have the New Testament, much of it written by Paul, we know as much of God’s mysterious will that we need to know. 

  • Christ is the center of God’s plans.

The Gospel is all about Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:27 NLT
27 For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his(Christ’s) authority.” 

(Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) 

Philippians 2:10-11 NLT
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

 1 Timothy 3:16 NLT
16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:
Christ was revealed in a human body
and vindicated by the Spirit.
He was seen by angels
and announced to the nations.
He was believed in throughout the world
and taken to heaven in glory. 

Christ, as described in Scripture:

Colossians 1:16-20 NLT
16 for through him (Christ) God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

1 Timothy 6:15 NLT
15 For,

At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Revelation 19:16 NLT
The Rider on the White Horse
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

  • Jesus Christ is the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Repeat: God’s mysterious will (God’s plan) is multifaceted.  It has many different parts.

Other aspects of God’s mysterious will:

Ephesians 3:3-6 NLT
3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 

Ephesians 6:19 NLT
19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News (the Gospel) is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 

Colossians 1:26-27 NLT
26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

Colossians 2:2 NLT
2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.

19…For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

Mark 4:11 NLT
11 He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, 

  • Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ,

we have received an inheritance from God, 

  • Those who are united with Christ, those adopted into God’s family, have received an inheritance from God. 

Romans 8:17 NLT
17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

Galatians 3:29 NLT
29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Salvation.

Eternal life in heaven and all that goes with this. 

for he chose us in advance,

Review Ephesians 1:5
5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.  

Romans 8:29-30 NLT
29 For God knew his people in advance … 

Colossians 3:12 NLT
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves …

1 Thessalonians 1:4 NLT
4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.

  • God chose us in advance.

and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

A brief summary of God’s plan for his people.

Romans 8:28-30 NLT
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

  • God is firmly in control of history. 

12 God’s purpose was that we Jews (this was written by Paul) who were the first to trust in Christ

Romans 1:16 NLT
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

Chronologically many Jews became believers before Gentiles became believers.

would bring praise and glory to God. 

This verse: God’s purpose was that Jews who put their trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.

Verse 13-14: God’s purpose was that Gentiles purchased by God would bring praise and glory to God.

Westminster Shorter Catechism

      1. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
  • God’s glory is the supreme purpose of redemption. 

13 And now you Gentiles

  • God’s plan includes salvation for Gentiles.

Acts 9:15 NLT
15 But the Lord said (speaking to Ananias), “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.

Acts 28:28 NLT
28 So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT
13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you.

Heard the truth.

Romans 10:14-15 NLT
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

Romans 10:17 NLT
17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

  • Faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ.

The ministry at Redeemer Day School is to tell the students about Jesus.

And when you believed in Christ,

And believed in Christ.

John 1:12 NLT
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 3:16 NLT
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

 

Romans 10:9-15 NLT
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

  • If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

How God’s sovereignty and human responsibility work together is a mystery no one fully understands. 

he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 

Acts 2:38 NLT
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:22 NLT
22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. 

These are promises from God.

God’s promises vs. our feelings.

We may not feel like we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, but we do because God said we do.

Ephesians 4:30 NLT
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (NIV)

  • The Holy Spirit in our life (in a believer’s life) identifies us as one of God’s own children. 

14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised 

and that he has purchased us to be his own people.

2 Corinthians 1:22 NLT
22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Galatians 3:29 NLT
29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Galatians 4:7 NLT
7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Colossians 1:12 NLT
12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

Titus 3:7 NLT
7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

  • The Holy Spirit living in us is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised. 

He did this so we would praise and glorify him. 

Ephesians 1:6 NLT
6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

Colossians 1:12 NLT
12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 

David does this well. 

Psalm 108 NLT
A song. A psalm of David.
1 My heart is confident in you, O God;
no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
2 Wake up, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
3 I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
4 For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth. 

This is something done well at Redeemer Day School where the students memorize Psalm 100 each year at Thanksgiving. 

Psalm 100 NLT
1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
2     Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation. 

  • Scripture instructs us to praise and glorify God. 

Remember:

God chose us.
Jesus redeemed us.
The Holy Spirit protects (seals) us.

We should praise God for choosing us.  (Ephesians 1:3-6)
We should praise Jesus for redeeming us.  (Ephesians 1:5-13)
We should praise the Holy Spirit for protecting (sealing) us.  (Ephesians 1:13-14)

 

From “Outsider” to “Heir”

Leave a reply

Introduction:

Another “before” and “after” picture.

From “Outsider” to “Heir” and the Benefits That Go with It.

Ephesians 2:11-18 NLT
Oneness and Peace in Christ
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 2:11-18 NLT

Oneness and Peace in Christ

11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders.

  • Gentiles used to be “outsiders”.

You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 

Socially:
Gentiles were considered outsiders. 

Genesis 17:9-14 NLT
The Mark of the Covenant
9 Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. 10 This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. 11 You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth. This applies not only to members of your family but also to the servants born in your household and the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. 13 All must be circumcised. Your bodies will bear the mark of my everlasting covenant. 14 Any male who fails to be circumcised will be cut off from the covenant family for breaking the covenant.” 

Gentiles were cut off from the covenant family. 

  • Gentiles were “excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel” (verse 12). 

12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 

  • Gentiles:

Were living apart from Christ.
Did not know God’s covenant promises.
Lived in this world without God.
Lived without hope.

Colossians 1:21 NLT
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.

We really were outsiders, lost and without hope, heading straight to hell. 

13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Brought near to God.

Jesus restored a broken relationship. 

  • Gentiles were brought near to God through the blood of Christ.

The Old Testament discusses this in some detail in Isaiah 56. 

Isaiah 56:8 NLT
8 For the Sovereign Lord,
who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says:
I will bring others, too,
besides my people Israel.” 

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us.

  • We can have peace with God because of what Jesus has done for us.

Romans 5:1 NLT
5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 

united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.  

  • Christ made peace between Jews and Gentiles possible.

Galatians 3:26-28 NLT
26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. 

  • The Mosaic Law included many commandments that served to separate Israel (the Jews) from the other nations (Gentiles).

Deuteronomy 20:16-18 NLT
16 In those towns that the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing. 17 You must completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the Lord your God has commanded you. 18 This will prevent the people of the land from teaching you to imitate their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the Lord your God.

Jesus changed all of that.

Romans 10:4 NLT
4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.   As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

Romans 6:14 NLT
14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Romans 7:6 NLT
6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

  • We have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power.

He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 NLT
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NLT
12 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 

  • Christ’s death on the cross reconciled humans to God, and also Jews and Gentiles to each other. 

17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 

John 14:27 NLT
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 

18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

The gift of the Holy Spirit.

We have access to God through the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:44-45 NLT
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 

Galatians 4:6-7 NLT
6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. 

Romans 8:15-17 NLT
15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. 

Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT
14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. 

Ephesians 3:12 NLT
12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 

  • Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

 

Israel’s Transition to a Monarchy.

Leave a reply

Introduction:

Israel Requests a King.

Israel’s transition to a monarchy.

From Judgeship to Kingship.

1 Samuel 8:1-22 NLT
Israel Requests a King
8:1 As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. 2 Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. 3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”
6 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. 7 “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. 8 Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. 9 Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”

Samuel Warns against a Kingdom
10 So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. 12 Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. 13 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. 14 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. 16 He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. 17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”
21 So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said, 22 and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Samuel 8:1-22 NLT

Israel Requests a King 

8:1 As Samuel grew old,

  • In this passage Samuel is growing old.

When Samuel was 65-70 years old. (Bible Knowledge Commentary)
60 years of age (Mac Arthur)
65 years old (NIV study Bible)

he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. 2 Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba.

Samuel’s two oldest sons functioned as judges in Beersheba.

Beersheba is 57 miles south of Ramah.

 3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.

  • Samuel’s sons were a lot like Eli’s sons.

They accepted bribes and perverted justice.

Scripture addresses these issues.

Exodus 23:8 NLT
8 “Take no bribes, for a bribe makes you ignore something that you clearly see. A bribe makes even a righteous person twist the truth. 

Deuteronomy 16:19 NLT
19 You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly.

Proverbs 17:23 NLT
23 The wicked take secret bribes
to pervert the course of justice.

  • Scripture strictly forbids Samuel’s sons’ actions. 

4 Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. 5 “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you.

  • The elders of Israel used Samuel’s age and the corruption of Samuel’s sons as reasons to ask for a king to rule the nation.

Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”

Even though the elders of Israel used Samuel’s age and the corruption of Samuel’s sons as reasons to ask for a king to rule the nation, the primary reason for their request was a desire to be like the surrounding nations. (verse 20)

  • The primary reason for their request was a desire to be like the surrounding nations. (verse 20)

They wanted to be like everyone else.

The nations surrounding Israel had kings.

Kings, as national leaders, were more capable of uniting a whole nation. Judges tended to be local leaders.

Having a king is not evil in itself.  The people’s reasons for wanting a king were wrong.

Israel was rejecting God as their king. They wanted to exchange their unique position as the people of God to be like all the nations.

Scripture anticipates kings ruling the people of Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:14-20 NLT
Guidelines for a King
14 “You are about to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you take it over and settle there, you may think, ‘We should select a king to rule over us like the other nations around us.’ 15 If this happens, be sure to select as king the man the Lord your God chooses. You must appoint a fellow Israelite; he may not be a foreigner.
16 “The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ 17 The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.
18 “When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. 20 This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.

  • David served the Lord well as king.

Acts 13:22 NLT
22 But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’

1 Chronicles 18:14 NLT
14 So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.

6 Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. 

CEB    It seemed very bad to Samuel
CEV    Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say
ERV    Samuel thought this was a bad idea,
EHV    But in Samuel’s eyes, their request to receive a king to judge them looked evil,
TLB     Samuel was terribly upset
MEV   But the thing was evil in the eyes of Samuel,
NOG   But Samuel considered it wrong

Most likely, Samuel felt that the people were rejecting him.

Verse seven: … “they are rejecting me, not you.” 

  • Samuel was displeased with the people’s request.
  • The rejection of Judgeship was a rejection of God’s rule and sovereignty.

7 “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied,

Be careful what you ask for.

See Numbers 11 

13 They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 

18 “And say to the people, ‘Purify yourselves, for tomorrow you will have meat to eat. You were whining, and the Lord heard you when you cried, “Oh, for some meat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will have to eat it. 19 And it won’t be for just a day or two, or for five or ten or even twenty. 20 You will eat it for a whole month until you gag and are sick of it. For you have rejected the Lord, who is here among you, and you have whined to him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’” 

31 Now the Lord sent a wind that brought quail from the sea and let them fall all around the camp. For miles in every direction there were quail flying about three feet above the ground. 32 So the people went out and caught quail all that day and throughout the night and all the next day, too. No one gathered less than fifty bushels! They spread the quail all around the camp to dry. 33 But while they were gorging themselves on the meat—while it was still in their mouths—the anger of the Lord blazed against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 

The Psalmist talks about this in:
Psalm 106:14-15 NLT
14 In the wilderness their (the Israelites) desires ran wild,
testing God’s patience in that dry wasteland.
15 So he gave them what they asked for,
    but he sent a plague along with it.

  • Be careful what you ask for. You might get what you ask for along with some negative consequences. 

(7 “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied,) repeated
“for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. 

Rejecting God for a human king is clearly a form of idolatry.

An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God.

This was not God’s timing for giving Israel a king. 

8 Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. 

9 Do as they ask,

  • Be careful what you ask for. You might get what you ask for along with some negative consequences.

but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.”

Samuel Warns against a Kingdom

10 So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king.  

  • Samuel explained the disadvantages of kingship.

The disadvantages of kingship. 

11 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. 

12 Some will be generals and captains in his army, 

The king will draft your sons for military service.

some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. 

The king will take your sons from you to work for him.

13 The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. 

The king will take your daughters from you to serve him.

14 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. 

The king will take your possessions and give them to his officials. 

15 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. 

A tenth of the harvest was already required to support God’s Temple and servants.

Deuteronomy 12:4-6 NLT
4 “Do not worship the Lord your God in the way these pagan peoples worship their gods. 5 Rather, you must seek the Lord your God at the place of worship he himself will choose from among all the tribes—the place where his name will be honored. 6 There you will bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings, your offerings to fulfill a vow, your voluntary offerings, and your offerings of the firstborn animals of your herds and flocks.

The king would demand an additional tenth of the people’s harvest. 

16 He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. 17 He will demand a tenth of your flocks,

The king will take your possessions for his own use.

and you will be his slaves. 

The Israelites would be subject to any of the king’s wishes. 

18 When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”

  • Samuel warned the people that they would live to regret their decision for a king and would later cry out for freedom from his rule.

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 

  • In spite of Samuel’s warning, the people demanded a king.

20 “We want to be like the nations around us.

This motive is definitely contrary to the Lord’s will.

  • Israel’s motive for wanting a king was definitely counter to the Lord’s will. 

Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”

Up to this point the Lord had fought the battles for Israel and had given them victory over their enemies.

Just previous to this time.

1 Samuel 7:10 NLT
10 Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them.

Joshua 10:6-14 NLT
6 The men of Gibeon quickly sent messengers to Joshua at his camp in Gilgal. “Don’t abandon your servants now!” they pleaded. “Come at once! Save us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings who live in the hill country have joined forces to attack us.”
7 So Joshua and his entire army, including his best warriors, left Gilgal and set out for Gibeon. 8 “Do not be afraid of them,” the Lord said to Joshua, “for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.”
9 Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise. 10 The Lord threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered great numbers of them at Gibeon. Then the Israelites chased the enemy along the road to Beth-horon, killing them all along the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the Lord destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven that continued until they reached Azekah. The hail killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with the sword. 

14 There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!

Judges 6-8 NLT The story of Gideon
Judges 6:14
14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

Judges 7:7 NLT
7 The Lord told Gideon, “With these 300 men I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Send all the others home.”

14 His companion answered, “Your dream can mean only one thing—God has given Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over Midian and all its allies!”

22 When the 300 Israelites blew their rams’ horns, the Lord caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. 

21 So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said, 22 and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.”

  • Israel was replacing God with a human being.

Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.

 

 

 

 

 

Samuel Leads Israel to Victory

Leave a reply

Samuel Leads Israel to Victory

1 Samuel 7:3-17 NLT
3 Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the Lord and obey him alone; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites got rid of their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and worshiped only the Lord.
5 Then Samuel told them, “Gather all of Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” 6 So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord. They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the Lord. (It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.)
7 When the Philistine rulers heard that Israel had gathered at Mizpah, they mobilized their army and advanced. The Israelites were badly frightened when they learned that the Philistines were approaching. 8 “Don’t stop pleading with the Lord our God to save us from the Philistines!” they begged Samuel. 9 So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the Lord as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the Lord to help Israel, and the Lord answered him.
10 Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them. 11 The men of Israel chased them from Mizpah to a place below Beth-car, slaughtering them all along the way.
12 Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!”
13 So the Philistines were subdued and didn’t invade Israel again for some time. And throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the Lord’s powerful hand was raised against the Philistines. 14 The Israelite villages near Ekron and Gath that the Philistines had captured were restored to Israel, along with the rest of the territory that the Philistines had taken. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites in those days.
15 Samuel continued as Israel’s judge for the rest of his life. 16 Each year he traveled around, setting up his court first at Bethel, then at Gilgal, and then at Mizpah. He judged the people of Israel at each of these places. 17 Then he would return to his home at Ramah, and he would hear cases there, too. And Samuel built an altar to the Lord at Ramah.

Examine the Scriptures
1 Samuel 7:3-17 NLT
Samuel Leads Israel to Victory

Samuel’s first recorded public ministry.

3 Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel,

In the previous lesson the Philistines return the ark to Israel.

After the Ark was at Kiriath Jearim for 20 years Samuel addressed the Israelites.

  • The Israelites had been worshipping idols during this 20 year period.

“If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth.

Ashtoreth was the Canaanite God of fertility associated with Baal.

Some commentators believe Ashtoreth and Asherah are the same god.

The worship of Canaanite Gods was an ongoing problem throughout Israel’s history.

Deuteronomy 12:3 NLT (Instructions to the Israelites moving into the Promised Land)
3 Break down their altars and smash their sacred pillars. Burn their Asherah poles and cut down their carved idols. Completely erase the names of their gods!

1 Kings 16:33 NLT
33 Then he (King Ahab) set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him. 

Turn your hearts to the Lord and obey him alone; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.” 

  • Repent and obey.

Good reminders:

Deuteronomy 5:7-9 NLT
7 “You must not have any other god but me.
8 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 9 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.

Joshua 24:14 NLT
14 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 

Joshua 22:5 NLT
5 But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” 

  • Don’t expect God’s blessing without getting get rid of what is contrary to his will. 

4 So the Israelites got rid of their images of Baal and Ashtoreth and worshiped only the Lord. 

Two dominant gods of the Canaanites.

Two of God’s Old Testament rivals.

Psalm 95:3 NLT
3 For the Lord is a great God,
a great King above all gods. (small g)

Baal – 126 times in the NLT

Ashtoreth – 9 times in the NLT

The book of Judges records this cycle occurring seven times.

Apostasy, turning away from God
Oppression, punishment, slavery
Repentance, sorrow
Deliverance, restoration 

5 Then Samuel told them, “Gather all of Israel to Mizpah,

Most likely located in the northern section of the land given to the tribe of Benjamin.

A place of assembly for Israel. 

and I will pray to the Lord for you.”  

  • Samuel served as an intercessor, praying on Israel’s behalf to God. 

6 So they gathered at Mizpah and, in a great ceremony, drew water from a well and poured it out before the Lord.

A sign of repentance.

This type of ceremony is not mentioned elsewhere on the OT.

Not the same, but similar.

2 Samuel 23:16 NLT
16 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. 

They also went without food all day and confessed that they had sinned against the Lord.

Fasting and prayer.

True repentance had taken place.

(It was at Mizpah that Samuel became Israel’s judge.)

Here Samuel is introduced as the Judge of Israel.

Samuel served as the last judge before the first king.

  • Samuel is introduced as the Judge of Israel. 

7 When the Philistine rulers heard that Israel had gathered at Mizpah,

they mobilized their army and advanced. The Israelites were badly frightened when they learned that the Philistines were approaching. 

8 “Don’t stop pleading with the Lord our God to save us from the Philistines!” they begged Samuel.  

  • The Israelites are beginning to realize that “their help comes from the Lord”. 

Psalm 121
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
1 I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
3 He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
5 The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
6 The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
7 The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.

9 So Samuel took a young lamb and offered it to the Lord as a whole burnt offering. He pleaded with the Lord to help Israel, and the Lord answered him. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT fits here:

2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT
14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 

10 Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the Lord spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day,

Hannah’s prayer
1 Samuel 2:10 NLT
10     Those who fight against the Lord will be shattered.
He thunders against them from heaven;
the Lord judges throughout the earth.
He gives power to his king;
he increases the strength of his anointed one.” 

and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them. 

Actually, God defeated the Philistines when He threw their army into a state of confusion.

God did a similar thing with the Egyptian army.

Exodus 14:24 NLT
24 But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion.

11 The men of Israel chased them from Mizpah to a place below Beth-car, slaughtering them all along the way.

Beth-car.  The location is unknown. 

12 Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. 

The location of this stone memorial is unknown. (NLT study Bible) 

He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!”

  • Samuel gave God the credit He deserved for defeating the Philistines.

A symbol of remembrance.

A memorial of the help received from God.

Psalm 103:2 NLT (Used in the previous lesson.)
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me. 

13 So the Philistines were subdued and didn’t invade Israel again for some time. And throughout Samuel’s lifetime, the Lord’s powerful hand was raised against the Philistines.  

The Philistines are not out of the picture.

The victory here is described as a decisive turning point, although the Philistines do reappear later.

1 Samuel 10:5 NLT
5 “When you arrive at Gibeah of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying.

1 Samuel 13:3 NLT
3 Soon after this, Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines at Geba. The news spread quickly among the Philistines. So Saul blew the ram’s horn throughout the land, saying, “Hebrews, hear this! Rise up in revolt!”

  • The Lord gave Israel victory over the Philistines, discontinuing their threat during Samuel’s judgeship.

14 The Israelite villages near Ekron and Gath (two Philistine cities) that the Philistines had captured were restored to Israel, along with the rest of the territory that the Philistines had taken.

  • The Philistines no longer dominated Israelite territories.

The Philistines resided in the coastal plains.

And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites in those days.

The Amorites resided in the hills west of Israel between the Jordan Valley and the coastal plain.

  • There was peace between Israel and the Amorites in those days. 

15 Samuel continued as Israel’s judge for the rest of his life. 

Some speculation as to Samuels age when he died.

1070-1012 BC 58 years old (Wikipedia)
1080-1017 BC 63 years old (Unger’s)
1130-1020 BC 110 years old (answers.com)

  • Samuel continued as Israel’s judge for the rest of his life.

16 Each year (annual trip) he traveled around, setting up his court first at Bethel, then at Gilgal, and then at Mizpah. He judged the people of Israel at each of these places. 17 Then he would return to his home at Ramah, and he would hear cases there, too.

And Samuel built an altar to the Lord at Ramah. 

Samuel was a man of prayer. 

The story will resume when Samuel is old and Israel is asking for a king.

 

 

 

 

A Gift from God

Leave a reply

A Gift from God

A nine word sentence everyone needs to understand.

Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

 Romans 10:9-10 NLT
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.

 Examine the scriptures:

Review a “before” and “after” picture.

  • The unsaved are in the clutches of Satan and follow in his opposition to God and are doomed to an eternity in Hell.
  • God raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms.

How do we get from “the clutches of Satan” to “seated with him (Christ)”?

Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed.

  • God saved you by his grace when you believed.

Ephesians 2:8 is a concise summary of how a person is saved.

Some additional important details:

Romans 6:23 NLT
23 For the wages of sin is death, …

Romans 1:16-17 NLT
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 3:24-25 NLT
24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

Galatians 2:16 NLT
16 Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

Where does this faith come from?

Romans 10:13-17 NLT
13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 

  • Faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ.

Scripture transforms our lives. 

And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  

  • Salvation is a gift from God. 

A gift belongs to you after you accept it. 

9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  

Romans 9:16 NLT
16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.

Romans 3:20 NLT
20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

2 Timothy 1:9 NLT
9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

Titus 3:5 NLT
5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 NLT
30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 

  • Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done. 

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 

Psalm 139:13-16 NLT
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. 

  • God gives purpose and meaning to our lives.

Philippians 2:13 NLT
13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

  • God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Assurance of your salvation: 

Romans 10:9-10 NLT
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 

John 3:16 NLT
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

  • We can also know we are truly saved.             

 

 

The Philistines Return the Ark (Part 2)

Leave a reply

The Philistines Return the Ark

1 Samuel 6:13-7:2 NLT
13 The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they saw the Ark, they were overjoyed! 14 The cart came into the field of a man named Joshua and stopped beside a large rock. So the people broke up the wood of the cart for a fire and killed the cows and sacrificed them to the Lord as a burnt offering. 15 Several men of the tribe of Levi lifted the Ark of the Lord and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors from the cart and placed them on the large rock. Many sacrifices and burnt offerings were offered to the Lord that day by the people of Beth-shemesh. 16 The five Philistine rulers watched all this and then returned to Ekron that same day.
17 The five gold tumors sent by the Philistines as a guilt offering to the Lord were gifts from the rulers of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. 18 The five gold rats represented the five Philistine towns and their surrounding villages, which were controlled by the five rulers. The large rock at Beth-shemesh, where they set the Ark of the Lord, still stands in the field of Joshua as a witness to what happened there.
The Ark Moved to Kiriath-Jearim
19 But the Lord killed seventy men from Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the Lord. And the people mourned greatly because of what the Lord had done. 20 “Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?” they cried out. “Where can we send the Ark from here?”
21 So they sent messengers to the people at Kiriath-jearim and told them, “The Philistines have returned the Ark of the Lord. Come here and get it!”
7 So the men of Kiriath-jearim came to get the Ark of the Lord. They took it to the hillside home of Abinadab and ordained Eleazar, his son, to be in charge of it. 2 The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a long time—twenty years in all. During that time all Israel mourned because it seemed the Lord had abandoned them.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Samuel 6:13-7:2 NLT
The Philistines Return the Ark (Part 2) 

13 The people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley,

Wheat harvest is normally from mid-April until mid-June.

This was a big event.  These harvests were accomplished with the whole city participating.

  • Beth-shemesh was a Levite city.

Joshua 21:13-16 NLT
13 The following towns with their pasturelands were given to the descendants of Aaron the priest: Hebron (a city of refuge for those who accidentally killed someone), Libnah, 14 Jattir, Eshtemoa, 15 Holon, Debir, and 16 Ain, Juttah, and Beth-shemesh— nine towns from these two tribes. 

and when they saw the Ark, they were overjoyed!  

The Israelites were overjoyed to see the Ark after seven months of captivity by the Philistines, and the Philistines were glad to see the Ark gone from their country.

  • The Israelites were overjoyed to see the Ark coming back to Israel. 

14 The cart came into the field of a man named Joshua and stopped beside a large rock.

In the Old Testament, people often used stone markers as reminders of their encounters with God. These stones served to remind his people of the great works God accomplished in their midst. They were physical markers of great spiritual revelations from God.

Genesis 28:18 NLT
18 The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it.

Joshua 4:2-3 NLT
2 “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. 3 Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’” 

More about this later in this lesson. 

So the people broke up the wood of the cart for a fire and killed the cows and sacrificed them to the Lord as a burnt offering. 

The cart was used for firewood and the cows were sacrificed to the Lord as a burnt offering. 

15 Several men of the tribe of Levi lifted the Ark of the Lord and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors from the cart and placed them on the large rock.

Men of the tribe of Levi lifted the Ark of the Lord.

Numbers 4:15 NLT
15 The camp will be ready to move when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the sacred articles. The Kohathites will come and carry these things to the next destination. But they must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. So these are the things from the Tabernacle that the Kohathites must carry. 

The Kohathites were the Levites who were responsible for assembling, disassembling, and carrying the furniture of the Tabernacle.  

The stone mentioned was used as a pedestal for both the items of gold and the ark.

Many sacrifices and burnt offerings were offered to the Lord that day by the people of Beth-shemesh.  

16 The five Philistine rulers watched all this and then returned to Ekron that same day.

Their duty completed; the five Philistine rulers returned home. 

17 The five gold tumors sent by the Philistines as a guilt offering to the Lord were gifts from the rulers of Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. 18 The five gold rats represented the five Philistine towns and their surrounding villages, which were controlled by the five rulers.

  • All of the Philistines, both the fortified cities and the unwalled villages, participated in the guilt offerings.

1 Samuel 6:3 NLT (Instructions from the Philistine priests and diviners)
3 “Send the Ark of the God of Israel back with a gift,” they were told. “Send a guilt offering so the plague will stop. Then, if you are healed, you will know it was his hand that caused the plague.” 

This offering was both an acknowledgement of guilt and compensation of their trespass of dishonoring the God of Israel. 

The large rock at Beth-shemesh, where they set the Ark of the Lord, still stands in the field of Joshua as a witness to what happened there.

  • The rock in the field of Joshua stands as a monument to this event, a stone of remembrance, a reminder of God’s hand at work.
  • It is important to remember the wonders God has performed.

Psalm 103:2 NLT
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.

Psalm 105:5 NLT
5 Remember the wonders he has performed,
his miracles, and the rulings he has given,

1 Samuel 12:24 NLT
24 But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.

  • Tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders.

Psalm 78:4 NLT
4 We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.

The Ark Moved to Kiriath-Jearim

19 But the Lord killed seventy men from Beth-shemesh because they looked into the Ark of the Lord.

Seventy men from Beth-shemesh desecrated the Ark by opening it up and looking into it.  Perhaps to see if the stone tablets of the Law were still inside.

Numbers 4:20 NLT
20 The Kohathites must never enter the sanctuary to look at the sacred objects for even a moment, or they will die.” 

Those who were killed lacked reverence for God’s holiness.

Later in 2 Samuel we read:

2 Samuel 6:6-7 NLT
6 But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God. 7 Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.

The Israelites suffered when they did not conform to God’s strict requirements. 

And the people mourned greatly because of what the Lord had done.  

20 “Who is able to stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God?” they cried out.

  • God’s people are not immune from His wrath when His holiness is violated.
  • Reverence for God is a key ingredient for righteous living.

God is a Holy God

Isaiah 6:1-4 NLT
Isaiah’s Cleansing and Call
6:1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. 2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. 3 They were calling out to each other,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

Revelation 4 NLT
Worship in Heaven
8…
 “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—
the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
…
11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.” 

“Where can we send the Ark from here?”

The Israelites echoed the distress of the Philistine pagans.

Why was the ark not returned to the Tabernacle at Shiloh?

Some scholars suggest that Shiloh was destroyed by the Philistines after Israel was defeated at Aphek.

Jeremiah 26:9 NLT
9 “What right do you have to prophesy in the Lord’s name that this Temple will be destroyed like Shiloh? What do you mean, saying that Jerusalem will be destroyed and left with no inhabitants?” And all the people threatened him as he stood in front of the Temple.

21 So they sent messengers to the people at Kiriath-jearim and told them, “The Philistines have returned the Ark of the Lord. Come here and get it!”

Kiriath-jearim was about 10 miles northeast of Beth-shemesh.

7:1 So the men of Kiriath-jearim came to get the Ark of the Lord.

The men of  Kiriath-jearim were probably Levites.

Numbers 1:50-51 NLT
50 Put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant, along with all its furnishings and equipment. They must carry the Tabernacle and all its furnishings as you travel, and they must take care of it and camp around it. 51 Whenever it is time for the Tabernacle to move, the Levites will take it down. And when it is time to stop, they will set it up again. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the Tabernacle must be put to death.

They took it to the hillside home of Abinadab and ordained Eleazar, his son, to be in charge of it. 

It is likely that Eleazar was a descendent of Aaron.

Numbers 1:53 NLT
53 But the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Covenant to protect the community of Israel from the Lord’s anger. The Levites are responsible to stand guard around the Tabernacle.”

2 The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a long time—twenty years in all.

Actually, the ark remained in the custody of the house of Abinadab for about 100 years.

In 2 Samuel 6 David goes to Abinadab’s house to get the ark to return it to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 61-3 NLT
Moving the Ark to Jerusalem
6:1Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all. 2 He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. 3 They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. 

The ark was at Kiriath-jearim for 20 years before Samuel undertook his first recorded public ministry.

During that time all Israel mourned because it seemed the Lord had abandoned them.

Once again, the Israelites equated the presence of the ark with God’s presence.

For twenty years Israel neglected God.

After twenty years Israel returned to the Lord.

Introduction to the Book of Ephesians RDSDBF

Leave a reply

 

Disclaimer
There is a big difference between Scripture and commentary.
Scripture is God’s Word.  Commentary is man’s word.
Most of the content in this lesson is from the Scripture.  Some of the content is from commentaries.

Introduction to Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:1-8 NLT
Greetings from Paul
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus,
who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
2May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Spiritual Blessings
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 1:1-8 NLT
Greetings from Paul 

1 This letter is from Paul,

Also Ephesians 3:1 NLT
When I think of all this, I, Paul, …

  • Written by Paul – about 60-62 A.D. – while in prison in Rome – one of the Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon)

There are some differences in dates and locations in other commentaries. (5 of the commentaries I used support the above bullet point.) 

chosen by the will of God

A sovereign God fulfilling His plan.

God’s sovereignty, a theme throughout the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians 1:5 NLT
5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Ephesians 1:9 NLT
9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.

Ephesians 1:11 NLT
11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. 

Ephesians 2:10 NLT
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 

Other scriptures:
Psalm 139:16 NLT
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. 

to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. 

Apostle: The word means “Messenger” or “send forth” and served as official title for Paul and the twelve disciples, who were eyewitness of the resurrected Jesus and were chosen by God to lay the foundation for the church. 

  • It was God’s plan, not Paul’s plan, for Paul to be an apostle.
    • Paul was commissioned and sent by God with the gospel message.
    • Paul’s authority comes from God.
    • 2 Timothy 3:16 (written by Paul) tells us that all of Paul’s writings were inspired by God.

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 

I am writing to God’s holy people (saints) in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

God’s holy people described in the book of Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:15 NLT
15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere …

Ephesians 1:18
18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Ephesians 2:19
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

Ephesians 3:18
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

Ephesians 4:12
12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Ephesians 5:3
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.

  • Paul is writing this letter to God’s holy people.
  • God’s holy people (Saints) are set apart for God’s use.
  • The recipients of this letter are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
  • The recipients of this letter are “believers” in Christ Jesus. 

1:1 The most ancient manuscripts do not include in Ephesus. 

Because the name Ephesus is not mentioned in every early manuscript, and because there are no personal greetings in this letter, some scholars believe the letter was meant to be circulated and read among all the churches in Asia Minor and was simply sent fist to the believers in Ephesus.

Ephesians may have been a letter intended for other churches in addition to the church in Ephesus.

  • To the Ephesians, but may also have been intended to be circulated among other churches. 
  • The book of Ephesians is also written for us.

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us … 

Romans 15:4 NLT
4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. 

Psalm 119:105 NLT
105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.

Interesting facts about Ephesus:

Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia.

Ephesus was an important port city.

Ephesus was located at an intersection of major trade routes.

At this time was the 4th largest city in the Roman Empire, with an estimated population of 500,000 people.

Known for its temple of Artemis, (or Diana to the Romans).

This temple was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.

Important political, educational, and commercial.

Why is all of this significant?  (Not much different than many cities in America.)

Paul visited Ephesus:

Acts 18:18-23   NLT
Paul Returns to Antioch of Syria (second missionary journey)          A.D. 49-52 (51-53)*
18 Paul stayed in Corinth for some time after that, then said good-bye to the brothers and sisters and went to nearby Cenchrea. There he shaved his head according to Jewish custom, marking the end of a vow. Then he set sail for Syria, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.
19 They stopped first at the port of Ephesus, where Paul left the others behind. While he was there, he went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews. 20 They asked him to stay longer, but he declined. 21 As he left, however, he said, “I will come back later, God willing.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 The next stop was at the port of Caesarea. From there he went up and visited the church at Jerusalem and then went back to Antioch.
23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul went back through Galatia and Phrygia, visiting and strengthening all the believers.

(third missionary journey)

19:1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers.
8 Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. 9 But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.
18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices.  

Acts 20:17 & 31 NLT
Third missionary journey A.D. 54-57
17 But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.

31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.

  • Paul was very familiar with the believers in Ephesus.

The first three chapters are theological, emphasizing New Testament doctrine,

while the last three chapters are practical and focus on Christian behavior.

  • The book of Ephesians challenges the reader to focus on Christ and the Church and teaches practical Christian living.

Example of focusing on the church.
Ephesians 6:18 NLT
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

  • Jews and Gentiles make up the church.

Ephesians is a letter of encouragement and admonition.  The book talks a lot about the church, God’s grace, and who we are in Christ.

Unlike Galatians and Corinthians, Ephesians was not written to address a specific concern or concerns within the church. Instead, it was written to emphasize all that we receive when we become a Christian, and to appreciate the high goals God has for the church.

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

These words are more than just a “greeting”.

Grace and peace are major themes in the book of Ephesians.

Paul uses the word “grace” 12 times and “peace” 7 times in Ephesians.

Grace can even be defined by the acronym God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.

In Christianity, God’s grace and God’s mercy are often confused. Although they are similar expressions of God’s favor and love, they possess a clear distinction. When we experience God’s grace, we receive favor that we do not deserve. When we experience God’s mercy, we are spared punishment that we do deserve.

Grace is undeserved blessing that comes from God’s kindness.

Grace expresses God’s steadfast love toward man.

In the next chapter of Ephesians:

Ephesians 2:4-5 NLT
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 

 Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Peace is a sense of well-being and contentedness rooted in the Good News and brought about by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:14 NLT
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people …

Ephesians 6:15 NLT
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News …

Other writings from Paul:

Galatians 5:22 NLT
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Both are gifts from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1-2 NLT
5 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

  • Grace is undeserved blessing that comes from God’s kindness.
  • God’s saving grace is a theme found throughout the book of Ephesians.
  • The Good news of God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ is for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews.
  • Peace is a sense of well-being and contentedness rooted in the Good News and brought about by the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual blessings

Note: In Greek, verses 3-14 are one sentence.

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. NIV

God’s superabundant blessings are given to all of His adopted children.

We are able to be called His children because of what Christ has done for us.

The words “Christ” or “Son” appear, or are implied, in verses 1-7.

2 Peter 1:2-4 (Peter an apostle expands on this thought.)
2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

  • God has equipped us with everything we need to live the life he has planned for us. 

4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us (see verse 5)

This form of the Greek verb “chose” indicates that God not only chose by Himself but for Himself to the praise of His own glory. 

in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

Colossians 1:22 NLT
22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

Titus 3:5-7 NLT
5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

Jude 24 NLT
24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. 

  • As a result of what Jesus did for us, God sees us as holy and blameless.

 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.  

Ephesians 1:11 NLT
11 … he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

 Romans 8:29-30 NLT
29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. 

Colossians 3:12 NLT
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves …

1 Thessalonians 1:4 NLT
4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.

Titus 1:1 NLT
1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen …

John 6:44 NLT
44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. 

  • God decided in advance to adopt us (believers) into his own family, and it gave Him great pleasure. 

6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.  

  • Praising God is an appropriate response for all He has done for us.

1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT
34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

Revelation 5:12 NLT
12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing.”

What did God do for us?

Colossians 1:13 NLT
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness (destination – Hell) and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, (destination – Heaven)

Praise God.

Psalm 150:6 NLT
6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Praise the Lord! 

  • Praise God for His amazing grace. 

7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 

  • God is rich in kindness and grace.

We read about God’s kindness and grace throughout scripture.

Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:14 NLT
14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Ephesians 2:13 NLT
13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 4:30 NLT
30 … Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Other scriptures:

Romans 3:24 NLT
24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Mark 10:45 NLT
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT
18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 

  • God purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

We can ask God for wisdom and understanding.

Colossians 1:9 NLT
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 2:6 NLT
6 For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Colossians 3:16 NLT
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.  

  • God has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.

 

This thought continues in verse 9

Made Alive with Christ

Leave a reply

Made Alive with Christ

Ephesians 2:1-7 NLT2:1 
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 2:1-7 NLT
Made Alive with Christ

2:1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 

Romans 3:23 NLT
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 

Romans 5:12 NLT
12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Romans 6:23 NLT
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

  • When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Sin separates us from God

Sin is like a wall between us and God.

We have no way to get over, under, or through this wall.

We were all spiritually dead with no inclination toward God.

This is a picture of total sinfulness and total lostness. 

2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.  

2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT
4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 

1 John 5:19 NLT
19 We know that … the world around us is under the control of the evil one. 

  • The unsaved are in the clutches of Satan and follow in his opposition to God.

Satan dominates his human subjects.

  • We are surrounded by Satan’s evil forces.

Ephesians 6:12 NLT
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

Psalm 51:5 NLT
5 For I was born a sinner—
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

Romans 2:5 NLT
5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

  • By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger. The wages of sin is death. 

4 But 

God is so rich in mercy,

Mercy:

kind and forgiving treatment of someone (who deserves punishment),
showing forgiveness and compassion to those in need,
the withholding of a just condemnation,
compassion and love expressed in tangible ways,
compassionate treatment of those in distress,
compassion, lovingkindness, and pity.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT
22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.

and he loved us so much, 

  • God is rich in mercy.

5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

When we were dead, God gave us life.

Romans 5:8-10 NLT
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 

  • 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 

John 3:16 NLT
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 

Romans 10:13 NLT
13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

  • Since unsaved people are dead, they have to be made alive before they can believe. This is why salvation can only be by grace alone.

1 Peter 1:3 NLT
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.  

Colossians 1:13 NLT
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 

Philippians 3:20 NLT
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 

  • God raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms. 

7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

 

Ephesians 3:20 NLT
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 

Revelation 7:10-12 NLT
10 And they were shouting with a great roar,
“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne
and from the Lamb!”
11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. 12 They sang,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength belong to our God
forever and ever! Amen.”

  • Our salvation is for God’s glory.

 

The Philistines Return the Ark

Leave a reply

The Philistines Return the Ark

1 Samuel 6:1-12 NLT
The Philistines Return the Ark
6:1 The Ark of the Lord remained in Philistine territory seven months in all. 2 Then the Philistines called in their priests and diviners and asked them, “What should we do about the Ark of the Lord? Tell us how to return it to its own country.”
3 “Send the Ark of the God of Israel back with a gift,” they were told. “Send a guilt offering so the plague will stop. Then, if you are healed, you will know it was his hand that caused the plague.”
4 “What sort of guilt offering should we send?” they asked.
And they were told, “Since the plague has struck both you and your five rulers, make five gold tumors and five gold rats, just like those that have ravaged your land. 5 Make these things to show honor to the God of Israel. Perhaps then he will stop afflicting you, your gods, and your land. 6 Don’t be stubborn and rebellious as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were. By the time God was finished with them, they were eager to let Israel go.
7 “Now build a new cart, and find two cows that have just given birth to calves. Make sure the cows have never been yoked to a cart. Hitch the cows to the cart, but shut their calves away from them in a pen. 8 Put the Ark of the Lord on the cart, and beside it place a chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors you are sending as a guilt offering. Then let the cows go wherever they want. 9 If they cross the border of our land and go to Beth-shemesh, we will know it was the Lord who brought this great disaster upon us. If they don’t, we will know it was not his hand that caused the plague. It came simply by chance.”
10 So these instructions were carried out. Two cows were hitched to the cart, and their newborn calves were shut up in a pen. 11 Then the Ark of the Lord and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors were placed on the cart. 12 And sure enough, without veering off in other directions, the cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh, lowing as they went. The Philistine rulers followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Samuel 6:1-12 NLT
The Philistines Return the Ark

6:1 The Ark of the Lord remained in Philistine territory seven months in all. 

Refer to a map showing the travels of the Ark of the Lord.

2 Then the Philistines called in their priests and diviners (soothsayers, fortunetellers, magicians, omen readers, those who practice evil magic)

  • Don’t assume that the Philistines were ignorant, weak, and “godless”.

Don’t assume that your enemy is ignorant, weak, and “godless”.

The Philistines were a powerful sea people who settled in the coastal strip in SW Palestine.

The Philistines were intensely religious.

The Philistines had a powerful military, due in part to their control of the iron industry.

The Philistines were politically well organized.

The Philistines had a strong economy.

  • The Philistines did some things right. They called in the experts. They “called in their priests and diviners”.

Proverbs 15:22 NLT
22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
    many advisers bring success.

Proverbs 11:14 NLT
14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
    there is safety in having many advisers.

  • The Philistines did many things wrong.

The Philistines practiced divination.

Divination defined:

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, Divination is “the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers.”

Divination is a pagan counterpart of prophecy.

Genuine prophecy is by the Spirit of God.
Inspirational divination is by demonic power.

God spoke strongly against the use of divination.

Deuteronomy 18:10-14 NLT
10 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. 13 But you must be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.”

The Philistines were known for their practice of sorcery.

Isaiah 2:6 NLT
6 For the Lord has rejected his people,
the descendants of Jacob,
because they have filled their land with practices from the East
and with sorcerers, as the Philistines do.
They have made alliances with pagans.

  • Divination is a pagan counterpart of prophecy. Inspirational divination is by demonic power.

 (Then the Philistines called in their priests and diviners -phrase repeated from above) 

and asked them, “What should we do about the Ark of the Lord?

The Philistines believed that they had offended the Israelite God.

The Philistines were beginning to see a need to “respect” the ark of the Lord. 

Tell us how to return it to its own country.” 

After seeing their god Dagon being humiliated and after suffering the painful and deadly consequences of God’s plagues, the Philistines decided to return the Ark of the Lord to Israel. 

The Philistine leaders sensed that there was a right way and a wrong way to handle the ark.

The Philistines were very “religious” and wanted to do things correctly.

They asked their “advisors” how to do this.

The question arises.  Did God expect the Philistines to treat the Ark with the same respect that he demanded of the Israelites?  We really don’t know.

One soured answered the question this way.
It is likely that the Philistines out of respect, fear, or pragmatism carried the ark the “proper” way. 

  • The question arises: Did God expect the Philistines to treat the Ark with the same respect that he demanded of the Israelites?  We really don’t know. 

3 “Send the Ark of the God of Israel back with a gift,” they were told. “Send a guilt offering so the plague will stop.

A Philistine guilt offering would have been a payment to a deity in an attempt to avert his wrath.

  • This offering was both an acknowledgement of guilt and compensation of their trespass of dishonoring the God of Israel.

This was a part of the Philistine’s religious tradition.

Then, if you are healed, you will know it was his hand that caused the plague.”

4 “What sort of guilt offering should we send?” they asked.

And they were told, “Since the plague has struck both you and your five rulers, make five gold tumors and five gold rats, just like those that have ravaged your land. 

The five gold tumors represented the tumors inflicted on the people.

The five gold rats represented the carriers of the plague.

Five, representing the five Philistines cities.

The images of tumors and rats was a symbolic admission of their guilt along with the hope that the evil that had fallen upon them would be removed. 

5 Make these things to show honor to the God of Israel.

Here the Philistine priests and diviners were instructing the Philistine leaders to show honor to the God of Israel.

Perhaps then he will stop afflicting you, your gods, and your land. 

  • The Philistine priests and diviners instructed the Philistine leaders to show honor to the God of Israel.

6 Don’t be stubborn and rebellious as Pharaoh and the Egyptians were. By the time God was finished with them, they were eager to let Israel go.

The Philistine priests and diviners knew about the events of the exodus.

Exodus 10:1-2 NLT
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Return to Pharaoh and make your demands again. I have made him and his officials stubborn so I can display my miraculous signs among them. 2 I’ve also done it so you can tell your children and grandchildren about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them—and so you will know that I am the Lord.”

The Philistine army had defeated the Israelite army, but they now realized that their real enemy was most likely the God of the Israelites.

  • The Philistine priests and diviners warned the Philistine leaders not to be stubborn and rebellious like Pharaoh and the Egyptians had been. 

7 “Now build a new cart,

It would have been a sign of honor and respect to use a new cart.

The Philistines may have thought it would be disrespectful to use a cart to transport the Ark of the Lord that had been used for some other purpose.

The Philistines most like did not know:

Numbers 7:9 NLT
9 But he gave none of the wagons or oxen to the Kohathite division, since they were required to carry the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on their shoulders.

and find two cows that have just given birth to calves.

The Philistines wanted to know without a doubt that this was the work of the God of Israel, and not something that “came simply by chance.”  (see verse 9)

The maternal nature of these cows would normally cause them to stay close to their calves.

Make sure the cows have never been yoked to a cart.

Untrained cows would not know how to work together as a team to pull a cart.

Hitch the cows to the cart, but shut their calves away from them in a pen. 8 Put the Ark of the Lord on the cart, and beside it place a chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors you are sending as a guilt offering. Then let the cows go wherever they want. 9 If they cross the border of our land and go to Beth-shemesh,

The Israelite city closest to the Philistine city of Ekron.

we will know it was the Lord who brought this great disaster upon us. If they don’t, we will know it was not his hand that caused the plague. It came simply by chance.”

  • The Philistines wanted to know if it was the Lord who caused the plague or if it came simply by chance.

10 So these instructions were carried out. Two cows were hitched to the cart, and their newborn calves were shut up in a pen. 

11 Then the Ark of the Lord and the chest containing the gold rats and gold tumors were placed on the cart. 

12 And sure enough, without veering off in other directions, the cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh, lowing as they went.

“Without veering off in other directions.”

“Lowing as they went.”

Moaning from the instinctive unwillingness to leave their calves behind.

Cows moo to seek their herd mates, calf or mother; say they are hungry; call for a partner when they are wishing to mate; raise alarm to warn their herd mates of potential danger.

  • “Without veering off in other directions, the cows went straight along the road toward Beth-shemesh,” was a clear sign of God’s hand at work.

The Philistine rulers followed them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.

 

 

 

 

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

Leave a reply

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

A great prayer to pray for your students, your own family, coworkers, other believers, or anyone else you relate to.

Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT
15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 1:15-23 NLT
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

Verses 15-23 are one sentence in the Greek.

15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 

Paul had spent some time in Ephesus a few years earlier, but he would not have known the newer believers or others who may have read his letter.

Paul made similar statements to other churches.

Colossians 1:4 NLT
4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 

2 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT
3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 

Paul’s description of the Ephesians:

The Ephesians had faith in the Lord Jesus – a right vertical relationship.

The Ephesians had a love for God’s people everywhere – a right horizontal relationship.

  • A proper relationship with God should lead to a proper relationship with other Christians.

Matthew 22:37-39 NLT
37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 

Galatians 5:6 NLT
6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

Remember – Faith and love come from God.

Ephesians 6:23 NLT
23 Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 

1 John 4:7 NLT
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT
… And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith…

  • Faith and love come from God. 

Paul’s prayer: 

16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly,  

  • Paul begins his prayer giving thanks to God.

Because of the Ephesians’ faith and love, Paul continues to give thanks for them. 

17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul’s request.

to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.  

Praying for spiritual wisdom and insight.

To know God personally, not just to know about Him intellectually.

We can know God.

John 14:7 NLT
7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” 

1 John 2:3 NLT
3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 

To know God we must know His Word.

  • Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know God personally and intimately. Paul wanted them to have the spiritual understanding to grasp the full significance of all that God had done for them. 

18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—

Paul prayed that the Ephesians would have a spiritually enlightened mind.

Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be able to understand the confident hope God has given to those he called.

The assurance of eternal life.

  • Paul prayed that the Ephesians would understand the hope he gives to those he has called. 

his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

Understand that we are a part of God’s family.  We belong to God.

Romans 8:17 NLT
17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.

Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be able to understand God’s great power.

God’s power for us who believe him.

The power of God’s Spirit at work in and through His people.

This is not our power, rather it is the power at work in us.

  • Paul prayed that the Ephesians would understand the incredible greatness of the power of God’s Spirit at work in and through His people.

This mighty power: 

This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 

22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 

23 And the church is his (Christ’s) body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

This mighty power:

Power over death.

Jesus’ power and authority transcend all rival powers, in this world and in the world to come.

The church is made full and complete by Christ.