Saturday, June 4, 2011

Proverbs 3.1-12 Sunday school notes

1. Have the passage read in two versions nasb, KJV, (NKJV, ESV) and a more dynamic like the NIV, or Living.
2. Have everybody study the passage and look for the pattern.  (series of imperatives and motivations)

I. The father's teaching  v. 1-2
a) "Remember" assumes obedience  (Grk for obey) -  compare with James 4.17
b)  Obey "with the heart"  Is it enough for our kids to do what we say with a bad attitude?  
What kind of obedience does God expect?  
c) long life  compare with 5th command
d) "peace" or NIV "prosperity"  translate shalom: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

II. Mercy and Truth  v. 3-4
a) checed: ---kindness; deeds of devotion (used of God for his “covenant love”)
b) Truth or faithfulness:  
1. faithfulness, reliability, trustworthiness, i.e., a state or condition of being dependable and loyal to a person or standard (Ge 24:27); 
2.  true, certain, sure, i.e., that which conforms to reality, and is so certain not to be false (Dt 13:15), see also domain LN 70; 
3.  honesty, integrity, i.e., be in a state or condition of telling the truth, and living according to a moral standard (Ne 7:2);
Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
NOT LIKE MATT 23.23
c) "bind" and "write"  Compare with Deut 6.4-9  What does this figurative language suggest?
NECK. 1. Heb. ’ōrep̱ is used of the neck, or back of the neck; it is also translated ‘back’, when used of enemies turning their back in flight (e.g. Ex. 23:27). It is used of similar ideas in respect of conflict (Gn. 49:8; Jb. 16:12), and also in the descriptive metaphor of the hardened or stiffnecked, meaning obstinate or rebellious (Dt. 31:27; 2 Ki. 17:14; Is. 48:4).
Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. (1996). New Bible dictionary (3rd ed.) (810). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.
HEART:
Heart in Hebrew refers to one’s emotions (Prov. 12:25; 13:12; 14:10, 13) but more often to his intellect (such as understanding, 10:8; discernment, 15:14; reflection, 15:28), or will (5:12).
Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Pr 3:5–6). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
 

III. Trust, depend, acknowledge  v. 5-6
a)  TRUST: Hebrew, bāa expresses that sense of well-being and security which results from having something or someone in whom to place confidence.
Oswalt, J. N. (1999). 233 בָּטַח. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (101). Chicago: Moody Press.

b)   LEAN NOT: to lean on, trust in, support  What does the picture of leaning imply?
"own understanding" stands in contrast to trusting in God

c)  Acknowledge (TNIV submit to)  Do you act like someone who knows God?  Our actions acknowledge his teachings and commands.


d) "direct" or "make straight" speaks more about guidance in ethical behavior than particular choices such as career or mate. --NIVAC

NOTE, that nothing in the context here gives any indication of discerning God’s specific will.  It is all about ethical behavior.

IV.  Fear the Lord  v. 7-8
a)  What is the opposite of fearing the Lord in this verse (5)?  What does that teach us about the meaning of the fear of the Lord?
 What does the parallel phrase teach us about fear of the Lord.
b)  "flesh" lit. naval  figure of speech where the navel represents the body.

V.  Honor God with possessions  v. 9-10
a) Honor: to make (lit.) heavy, weighty, (fig), honoured
opposite of taking God's name in vain
God does not need your money.  Why do we give?  What does the concept of first fruits teach us about honoring God?  Just with the tithe?
b) plenty restates the old covenant expectation;
(Exodus 23:19)
Numbers 28:26-31;
Deuteronomy 26:1-11.
promise corresponds with  Malachi 3:10
10     Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,        
That there may be food in My house,        
And try Me now in this,”        
Says the LORD of hosts,        
“If I will not open for you the vwindows of heaven        
And pour out for you such blessing        
That there will not be room enough to receive it. 
  
VI.  Don't despise God's correction  v. 11-12.
 a)  Compare with Proverbs 12.1  Why?
b)   "discipline" (musar) may use punishment as a teaching method to supplement verbal correction, but it is not clear that physical punishment is in view here."  ---NIVAC  [though it probably is included.]
 c)  compare with Hebrews 12.3-6
What are some lessons or applications about parenting that we take from this passage.

APPLICATION:
1.      Note, teaching and commands.  Are you teaching and are you giving commands that will see your children through life?
2.      We should train (punishment can be appropriate) our children.
3.      We should seek to restore them when possible.
4.      The primary (most important) thing that a father teaches his son is what God is like (primarily by his example).
5.      What is the main function of punishment?  Justice or Discipleship?
What characterizes discipline that is focused on justice?
What characteristics of punishment indicate a focus on discipleship?
5b. The rant:  When the focus of our discipline becomes exacting justice or "evening the score," we have lost our way as parents.  Consistency is very important, consequences are important, children do need to "know their place", and occasionally we have to be pretty tough with our kids, BUT it should be with a view to disciple them (not just discipline them).  When discipline becomes all about justice, that will characterize and sometimes poison our relationship with our children.  It is a wise "battle" for the heart, mind, and spirit not just a "smack down" to teach them a lesson" (although they will probably need to "learn their lesson" now and again along the way).  Matthew 23.23 has a lot more to do with parenting than we might first think.

Ex 13-16

Exodus
13.9  on your hand...between your eyes...
14.4  and I will gain honor over pharaoh...  This seems to be a curious way to say this.
14.8  the LORD hardened the heart...
14.11  then they said to Moses...  That didn't take long.
14.17  I will harden ... and they shall...  It seems that hardness of the heart affects ones judgement and cautiousness that good sense brings.
14.18 the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD...
14.27  were fleeing into it...  I don't think that I had noticed that.  It almost seems that the had crossed and were trying to return through it, though other translation are more clear that they were still in the sea.
15.7  Recently, with Osama was killed there was a lot of criticism for people for rejoicing.  But they seem pretty gleeful about the dead Egyptians here.
15.11b  Fearful in praises...   "The bold expression תְהִלֹּת נֹורָא conveys more than summe venerandus, s. colendus laudibus, and signifies terrible to praise, terribilis laudibus. As His rule among men is fearful (Psa_66:5), because He performs fearful miracles, so it is only with fear and trembling that man can sing songs of praise worthy of His wondrous works." --Keil and Delitzsch
16.23  bake and boil...  I am thinking about what kind of stuff this must have been that you would boil it (manna soup?).  Apparently you might have needed to cook it.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Ex 10-12

Exodus 
10.1  I have hardened his heart...  I think this marks a change to divine action on pharaoh's heart.
10.2  that you may know that I AM the LORD...
10.3  to humble yourself before me....  This reminds me of Daniel 4.36.
10.19  There remained not one locust in all the territory...  This may have been the bigger miracle.
10.27  but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart...
11.7  that you may know the LORD...
11.10  and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart...
12.12  For I will pass through ... and will strike all the firstborn...  Now this seems to me to say that the LORDHimself executed judgement.
12.22  none of you shall go out...  I find this instruction about their physical location to be intriguing.  It appears to emphasize the importance of the physical blood and their proximity to the door that it protected.
12.32  and bless me also...  I always find this a bit humorous.
12.43 servant who is bought ...  circumcised...
12.44 [not] sojourner ... hired servant...
12.48  no uncircumcised person shall eat it...  Two thoughts here.  The women?  I am thinking that the rite on the males the women were associated with applied to them too.  Also, this was not an "evangelistic" meal.

Ex 6-9

Exodus 
6.3  Does this mean that the references to "I AM" earlier were inserted by Moses when he wrote Genesis, etc.?
6.20  his father's sister...  Seems odd at first glance.  And why doesn't anybody ever name their kids Amram or Jochebed?  They seem like great saints to me.
6.30  It is striking how poor Moses' "self esteem" seemed to be.
7.5  the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD...
7.17  you shall know that I am the LORD...
7.22  Pharaoh's heart grew hard and he did not heed..
8.9  accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede...  This is a curious statement to my thinking even though it probably made perfect sense to those there at that time.
"Moses said to him (Exo_8:9), “Glorify thyself over me, when I shall entreat for thee,” i.e., take the glory upon thyself of determining the time when I shall remove the plague through my intercession. The expression is elliptical, and לֵעמֹר (saying) is to be supplied, as in Jdg_7:2. To give Jehovah the glory, Moses placed himself below Pharaoh, and left him to fix the time for the frogs to be removed through his intercession."  --Keil and Delitzch OT Commentary
8.10  that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.
8.19  this is the finger of God... I suspect they used a term for God that was not monotheistic, but the still knew something special was happening.
8.22  in order that you [pharaoh] may know that I am the LORD...
8.32  but Pharaoh hardened his heart...
9.7  pharaoh sent [to investigate] ...  This is beginning to get his attention.
9.7 heart of Pharaoh became hard...
9.27  This is a very intereting statement coming from a hard hearted, unrepentant, polytheist.  I am not sure what he meant by this, but it seems to indicate that there are times when a nice sounding confession probably doesn't mean much.  Verse 30 highlights its emptiness.
9.36  he hardened his heart....

Monday, May 30, 2011

Ex 3-5

Exodus
3.11  Who am I that I should go...  This is actually a good response.  I wonder if a response like, "Well, it's about time.  Let's go," would have been a satisfactory response.
3.12 I will certainly be with you...  The ultimate qualification.
4.1  But suppose...  Always an excuse even though this one seems to be a pretty good. one. 
4.11  This statement from God always captures my attention and causes me to thing about the question of "evil."
4.26  Zipporah...  What a sweet supportive moment.
4.31  then they bowed their heads and worshiped Him...  God's compassion and goodness prompts a spirit of humility and reverence (Like Romans 2.4?).
5.2  A pivital verse in this book and section of Israel's history.
5.3 the God of the Hebrews...
5.5  I can't quite follow Pharaoh's logic here even though I think that his strategy is crystal clear.
5.22-23  I am not sure how often we pray with this kind of honesty.  It seems that the Bible heroes frequently pour out their hearts and ask the hard questions with passion, but without the anger and bitterness that I see sometimes today.