Category Archives: Bible

Ephesians 1-2

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Paul’s focus in Ephesians is to explain God’s plan of salvation, for Jews and Gentiles alike. As such, I find this letter to be highly encouraging. The letter is full of phrases like “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places”. We are very blessed to have been called to serve God, predestined to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ. We have redemption and forgiveness, through the blood of Christ. God has revealed “the mystery of his will… to unite all things in him”.

Paul gives thanks for the Ephesians upon hearing of their love toward all the saints. In typical over-the-top fashion, Paul does not cease “to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers”, especially because they were now enlightened to the hope to which they had been called.

Like the Ephesians, we were once “dead in trespasses and sins”, before we were baptised. But even before we committed our lives to God, He, “being rich in mercy… made us alive together with Christ”.  We are “members of the household of God… built together into a dwelling place for God by the spirit”.

Paul writes these massive sentences as though he can’t contain the emotion and wonder at the things God has done for us. We have “been saved through faith … it is the gift of God”. What an incredible gift!

 

Numbers 19, Galatians 5-6

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In Numbers 19 we read of the sacrifice of the red heifer, an offering made without the camp, a key ingredient in the “water for impurity” used for ritual cleaning of those who have come into contact with the dead. This sacrifice was in a sense outside the law, being offered by Eleazar rather than the high priest. It symbolised some aspects of Christ’s sacrifice, being restricted to animals without blemish and not used as a farm animal. But it was imperfect – the work of producing the water for impurity itself made 3 others unclean until the evening.

In Galatians 5-6 the contrast between the sacrifice of Christ and the ritualised sacrifices of the law is highlighted. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery… neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” For all the special provisions under the law, it could never offer freedom.

But we are “led by the Spirit” rather than the law, exhorted to show the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, having “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”. So let us “keep in step with the Spirit… and let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up”.

 

 

Proverbs 11

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Solomon continues his snippets of advice in Proverbs 11. “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” This has allusions to Psalm 1, that tree planted by the river of water, flourishing with its influence from God’s word. Solomon continues that theme a few verses later, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life”.

Proverbs 11 also contrasts the righteous with the wicked. Being righteous starts by following an example, since “Where there is no guidance, a people falls”. It affects all aspects of one’s life, starting with one’s attitude, “with the humble is wisdom”, and continuing to the way we treat our neighbours, “With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbour, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered… A man who is kind benefits himself”, focus in life, “The desire of the righteous ends only in good”, and daily habits, “Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor”.  All of these ideas are picked up in the NT, and apply to our lives today as we follow the example of Jesus.

Numbers 12

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In Numbers 12, we learn of the special relationship God had with Moses. God describes Moses as “my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord.”  This occasion is the first of 5 when God’s glory is shown, and on each occasion it is because of Israel rebelling against God. Moses himself was “very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth”; any questioning of his authority was responded to by God directly. Moses was not proud of his special relationship with God, he didn’t use it to his advantage.

As disciples of Christ, covered by his sacrifice, we enjoy a close relationship with God. It’s not because of our own ability, but a gift from God. We should approach challenges with meekness and humility, allowing God to deal with them as He sees fit. This meekness was seen in Christ’s attitude towards the Romans during his trial, “he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter”. He “suffered unjustly”, as Peter encourages us to do, placing trust in God.

 

 

Proverbs 7, Luke 21

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Proverbs 7 provides the last of 4 warnings about the dangers of being unfaithful to Wisdom, in vivid and graphic detail, designed to help avoid the unfaithfulness of sin. Solomon precedes the warning by saying “My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; write them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Solomon’s advice was a treasured possession for his son, designed to occupy his heart and focus. We’re familiar with the idea of a treasured possession, that feeling we have when we finally get something we’ve been eagerly waiting for; we’re so careful with it when we finally get it, whether a new phone or a long-anticipated pet or a fresh bag of coffee beans. God’s word should be treasured and nurtured like that.

Jesus tells his disciples, “heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”. Like Solomon, Jesus’ words provided advice to all generations, regardless of political climate. It’s important for us to treasure these words in our heart, allow them to affect us and guide us.

Proverbs 5, Luke 19

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Solomon writes, “My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.” Wisdom is not some passive thing that can be gained once then forgotten. It requires constant attention and maintenance, active participation. 

Solomon warns about the “forbidden woman”, attractive to those who have stopped listening to wisdom. “Keep your way far from her… For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.” Sin is so attractive,  deceitful and dangerous, Solomon advises to avoid it, to keep away from situations that will lead to sin.

The Pharisees took this idea to extremes, attempting to avoid sin by avoiding sinners. But as Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” At various stages of life we are all lost, having wandered too far down that path leading away from God. Fortunately, Jesus was sent to save people just like us.

Proverbs 1, Luke 15

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Wisdom is personified as one calling out in the streets, offering knowledge to all. Although rejected by many, she notes “whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

We’ve been blessed to receive God’s word, the chance to “hear and increase in learning”. This doesn’t make us more special than anyone else, but it does give us hope and comfort, an understanding of God and His plan.  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”.  If we are to be wise in heavenly wisdom, then we need to really listen and allow it to affect our lives, to turn knowledge into action, following the path of Wisdom.

At various stages in our life, we all can be lost coins or lost sheep, temporarily lost or distracted from the path of Wisdom. Jesus’ parables about the lost are really encouraging, “there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  The act of returning to God, or of helping one of our peers return to God, results in rejoicing in heaven.

Luke 13-14

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In Luke 13 and 14, Jesus gives several parables to describe the kingdom of God. One of those parables starts, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many… but they all alike began to make excuses”. They made weak, trivial excuses for not attending the feast. Instead opportunity was given to the poor and crippled and blind and lame, then to those in the highways and hedges. 

Although we can interpret this parable to mean that the Jews rejected the invitation to the feast, allowing the Gentiles an opportunity, it also applies to our response to our calling. 

Jesus later says, “any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple”. This is a really challenging idea. It shows the importance of putting God first in our lives, to allow our relationship with Him pervade our whole life, as leaven affects flour.

Psalms 140-142, Luke 10

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In Psalms 140-142, David describes his reliance on God, “Deliver me”, “Guard me”, “You are my God”, “O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation”, “my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge”.  David is once more writing about the trials of his daily life, yet in those difficulties he maintains his reliance on God, doesn’t sever that relationship but seeks refuge in it instead.

In Luke 10, Jesus explains to his disciples how blessed they are to understand the gospel. “Many prophets and kings desired to see what you see…and to hear what you hear” about Christ and the salvation that would be offered through him.  Jesus prays to God, thanking God for revealing this hope. This hope is “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”; a hope hidden from the “wise and understanding” of the world, revealed instead to those who demonstrate trust in God like a child trusts a parent.

Psalms 131-134

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Psalms 131-134 form part of the songs of ascent, short poignant songs that seem designed to have been sung. All 15 of them focus on hope, most in a cheerful manner.

Today’s Psalms encourage the listener to be quiet and calm of mind, remind of God’s choice in Israel and Zion, and use a similie to describe the benefits of unity.

“I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul… O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.” There were many events in David’s life that could not readily be understood or fixed. Rather than worrying over things outside his control, David instead meditates, focusing on God and the eternal hope He had promised. 

We can use the same approach to avoid being overcome by the cares of the world that can choke the word, leading us to become unfruitful. Instead, take the advice of Jesus, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.