Thursday, September 29, 2011

Numbers

Numbers
16.38  sinned against their own souls...  This fits well with  Proverbs 5.22.
16.28  therefore they are to be holy; and they shall be a sign... Thinking about what made the censors from the rebellion holy.  It reminds me of 14.19-22.
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Monday, September 26, 2011

Esther 9.1-20 The Opposite Occurred 110925PM@TBC


I can't remember the last time I have preached from handwritten notes, but here they are. Link to sermon.















Wednesday, September 21, 2011

A Brief Outline of Bible Study Tips and Links Updated 16.09.12



These embedded links below are to free stuff that is online.  These have been helpful resources for me even though I don't necessarily agree with everything or endorse the organization that makes it available.  Check out the website (doctrinal statement, links, sponsoring person or organization, etc.) or Google the person to find out more about them. The important thing is that you understand the perspective and orientation of the source. Be aware of who you are using.  
Precepts Austin has a lot of links to resources in all categories and has helpful information about how to study the Bible.  The Bible Hub also has a collection of translations and tools.
I usually have a five-step approach to commentaries and study tools.
First, I become familiar with the passage.  I look at the larger context by looking at the general setting and reading the passage before and after the one I am focusing on.  Then I read my specific verses several times.  I continue to read the passage in several versions that include more formal or literal translations (Young’s Literal, KJV, RSV, NASB) and some of the more dynamic translations and paraphrases (like the NIV84, Wuest, NET Bible, Amplified, New Living, and The Message).  I like to compare them verse by verse from literal to dynamic making note of the variations.  
Second, I use linguistic/language tools and commentaries to clarify the meaning of the grammar and words.   
Linguistic/language

 Great Treasures allows you to see the kjv, nasb, esv, and niv84 side by side.
Third, I also check cross references and cultural resources to better understand the meaning of the text.  I will typically focus on places where there was greater variation between the translations.  I also like to study parallel passages and allusions the New Testament makes to the Old Testament.  During this phase, I am making notes about questions I have about the passage meaning.
History/culture

Fourth, I will refer to a variety of commentaries to get the insights of knowledgeable men on the passage.  I have my favorites, but I try to check commentators from more that one perspective.  It both allows me to see original arguments for the other side of an issue and, most importantly, enrich my understanding and perspective on the passage.  I work from more objective to ones that comment on more subjective aspects of the text.  “Healthy skepticism” are the watchwords when referring to commentaries.

Doctrinal 
Finally, I will sometimes refer to commentators with a more devotional and application bent.  They are usually not as helpful for dissecting the meaning of the text but help me think about how the passage applies to everyday living.  Sermons by accomplished preacher are also good for that, and they give helpful ideas for presenting the passage if you are going to have to teach.
Devotional/Homiletical
 Web sites tend to come and go, so I hope none of these links go to the wrong place.




Num 4-7

Numbers
4.3  from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years...  This is a different standard than for the rest of Israel (men 2o and up ready for battle).
5.14 a spirit of jealousy...  This seems to my 21st century mind to be a bizarre ritual.  A couple things come to mind though.  The husband wasn't to take matters into his own hands.  I assume this was a miraculous exersize of God's justice, inferring that sometimes we should just leave things in His hands.  I wonder what kind of marriage counseling you would need if the woman turned out to be innocent.
6.27  so they shall put My name on them...  This is an interesting statement and I am not sure what it means.   NET Bible translation note: The idea of their putting the name of Yahweh on the people is somewhat problematic. The pronouncing of the name of Yahweh in this context over the people was taken to be the effectual means of blessings. “Putting the name on them” is an expression that emphasizes the truth that he is their God and they are his people or that having his name is having his blessing.
7.12  Hashon for Judah
7.18  Nethnel fo rIssachar
7.24  Eliab for Zebulun
7.30  Elizur for Reuben
7.36  Shelumiel for Simeon
7.42  Elisaph for Gad
7.48  Elishama for Ephraim
7.54  Gamaliel for Manasseh
7.60  Abidan for Benjamin
7.66  Ahiezer for Dan
7.72  Pegiel for Asher
7.78  Ahira for Naphtali
7.84  The repetitious lists are fascinating.  Why did they need to be repeate“The account may strike us as repetitious, but this sort of formula was used by people in the ancient Eastern world to reflect ever-increasing joy: look how much these many people gave for their altar!” --(Maarsingh, p. 29.) from Notes of Numbers by Thomas Constable
>silver platter - 130 shekels  (flour mixed with oil)
>silver bowel - 30 shekels  (flour mixed with oil)
>gold pan - 10 shekels (full of incense)

>young bull
>ram
>male lamb in its first year - burnt offering

>kid - sin offering

>peace offerings -
2 oxen
5 rams
5 male lambs in their first year

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Love in Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words

Love (Noun and Verb)
 A. Verbs
   1. agapao
   2. phileo

B. Nouns
   1. agape
   2. philanthropia

A1.     Love

[Verb] agapao and the corresponding noun agape (agape below) present "the characteristic word of Christianity, and since the Spirit of revelation has used it to express ideas previously unknown, inquiry into its use, whether in Greek literature or in the Septuagint, throws but little light upon its distinctive meaning in the NT. Cp., however, Lev 19:18; Deut 6:5.
"Agape and agapao are used in the NT
(a) to describe the attitude of God toward His Son, John 17:26; the human race, generally, John 3:16; Rom 5:8; and to such as believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, particularly, John 14:21;
(b) to convey His will to His children concerning their attitude one toward another, John 13:34, and toward all men, 1 Thess 3:12; 1 Cor 16:14; 2 Pet 1:7;
(c) to express the essential nature of God, 1 John 4:8.
"Love can be known only from the actions it prompts. God's love is seen in the gift of His Son, 1 John 4:9,10. But obviously this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects, Rom 5:8. It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself, Cp. Deut 7:7,8.
"Love had its perfect expression among men in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Cor 5:14; Eph 2:4; Eph 3:19; Eph 5:2; Christian love is the fruit of His Spirit in the Christian, Gal 5:22.
"Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments, John 14:15,21,23; John 15:10; 1 John 2:5; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6. Self-will, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God.
"Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered. Love seeks the welfare of all, Rom 15:2, and works no ill to any, Rom 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to 'all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith,' Gal 6:10. See further 1 Cor 13 and Col 3:12-14." [ From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, p. 105.]
In respect of agapao as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant "love" and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential "love" in them towards the Giver, and a practical "love" towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver. See BELOVED.
See also : agapao

A2.     Love (Noun and Verb) 

[Verb] phileo is to be distinguished from agapao in this, that phileo more nearly represents "tender affection." The two words are used for the "love" of the Father for the Son, John 3:35 (agapao); John 5:20 (phileo); for the believer, John 14:21 (agapao); John 16:27 (phileo); both, of Christ's "love" for a certain disciple, John 13:23 (agapao); John 20:2 (phileo). Yet the distinction between the two verbs remains, and they are never used indiscriminately in the same passage; if each is used with reference to the same objects, as just mentioned, each word retains its distinctive and essential character.
Phileo is never used in a command to men to "love" God; it is, however, used as a warning in 1Cor. 16;22; agapao is used instead, e.g., Matt 22:37; Luke 10:27; Rom 8:28; 1 Cor 8:3; 1 Pet 1:8; 1 John 4:21. The distinction between the two verbs finds a conspicuous instance in the narrative of John 21:15-17. The context itself indicates that agapao in the first two questions suggests the "love" that values and esteems (cp. Rev 12:11). It is an unselfish "love," ready to serve. The use of phileo in Peter's answers and the Lord's third question, conveys the thought of cherishing the object above all else, of manifesting an affection characterized by constancy, from the motive of the highest veneration. See also Trench, Syn., xii.
Again, to "love" (phileo) life, from an undue desire to preserve it, forgetful of the real object of living, meets with the Lord's reproof, John 12:25. On the contrary, to "love" life (agapao) as used in 1 Pet 3:10, is to consult the true interests of living. Here the word phileo would be quite inappropriate.
Note: In Mark 12:38, AV, thelo, "to wish," is translated "love" (RV, "desire").
See also : phileo

B1.     Love

[Noun] agape the significance of which has been pointed out in connection with agapao, is always rendered "love" in the RV where the AV has "charity," a rendering nowhere used in the RV; in Rom 14:15, where the AV has "charitably," the RV, adhering to the translation of the noun, has "in love."
Note: In the two statements in 1 John 4:8,16, "God is love," both are used to enjoin the exercise of "love" on the part of believers. While the former introduces a declaration of the mode in which God's love has been manifested (1 John 4:9,10), the second introduces a statement of the identification of believers with God in character, and the issue at the Judgment Seat hereafter (1 John 4:17), an identification represented ideally in the sentence "as He is, so are we in this world."
See also : agape

B2.     Love 

[Noun] philanthropia denotes, lit., "love for man" (phileo and anthropos, "man"); hence, "kindness," Acts 28:2; in Titus 3:4, "(His) love toward man." Cp. the adverb philanthropos, "humanely, kindly," Acts 27:3. See KINDNESS.
Note: For philarguria, "love of money," 1 Tim 6:10, see MONEY (love of). For philadelphia, see BROTHER.
See also : philanthropia


Vine, W. E., Merrill F. Unger, William White, and W. E. Vine. Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words. Nashville: Nelson, 1985. Print.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Num 1-2

Numbers
1.2  I am thinking about why Moses needed to know how many people there were and why the process of counting them was important.
1.20 by their genealogies by their families, by their father's house, according to the number of names, every mail individually from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war...  Seems that the bottom line was the potential army.  It is also interesting that this verse is repeated twelve times which would seem to indicate that it might be important.
1.20-33
Reuben     46.0k
Simeon     59.3k
Gad            45.6k
Judah       74.6k
Issachar   54.4k
Zebulun    57.4k
Ephraim   40.5k
Manasseh 32.2k
Benjamin  45.4k
Dan              62.7k
Asher         41.5k
Naphtali    53.4k

2.3  east side: Judah, Isschar, Zebulun
2.9  first to break camp...
2.10  south side:Ruben, Simeon, Gad
2.16  second to break camp...
2.18 west side: Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin
2.24 third to break camp...
2.25 north side: Dan, Asher, Naphtali
2.31  break camp last...
It is interesting to note that the leaders and census numbers were mentioned again in this organizational listing.  I wonder how they determined the lead tribe for each section.

Friday, September 16, 2011

1 Corinthians 10.1-13 “A Flash from the Past, Part 2”



INTRODUCTION
1.     Subject of the chapter:
·  At the end of chapter nine Paul compares how athletes run to compete for a prize to how believers “run” to compete for an “imperishable crown.”  In the first four verses of chapter ten, Paul refers to five blessings that Israel experienced in the wilderness. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.  (1Co 10.5 esv)
2.     The specific issue in verses 5-13
·  Peter uses this word for pleased (eujdokevw yoo-dok-eh'-o) in 2 Peter 1:17 when he describes his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration.  He said that a voice came from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
· What causes God to not be pleased with us?  Paul gives examples of five disqualifying sins.
· In verses 6-10, We must take heed of the disqualifying sins of lust, idolatry, immorality, tempting Christ, & grumbling..
· These particular sins are rehearsed for our example and admonition. We must avoid the tendency to say to ourselves, “Well, I could never do something that bad.” These sins are the ones that we need to take heed of.  This is us!

—————Stand to read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13—————


I. Take heed of Cravings
A. Greek word
ejpiqumevw ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o  “to have a passion for”
Also used in Romans 13.9 repeating some of the ten commandments and is translated “covet.”
Also used in 1 Timothy 3.1 “ If a man desire the office of bishop…”

B. OT allusion
Numbers 11. 4-6, 31-32    (also Psa. 106.13,15)
They were dissatisfied with the manna and wanted meat.  (How soon we forget). 

C. Application  1 Timothy 6  contentment
What is your meat?  It is easier to identify when we can’t get it.  I am afraid that we may not notice it because we can obtain it.


II. Take heed of Idolatry
A. Greek Word
eijdwlolavtrhs i-do-lol-at'-race  lit. to serve an image or idol
used as a sin of unbelievers and believers in 1 Corinthians 5.9-11

B. OT Allusion
Ex 32.6   “Sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”  suggests lewdness or immorality
v.1 Moses delayed; people wanted an image to go ‘before’ them
v.7 corrupted themselves
v.8 turned out of the way commanded
v.8 made, worshiped, & sacrificed to the image
v.9 stiffnecked

C. Application
We would probably never be so crass as to serve a statue.  You cannot serve God and money.
What does God have to “compete with in my life?”
Do you notice the relationship between passions/craving and idolatry?

III. Take heed of Immorality
A. Greek Word
porneuvw porn-yoo'-o  sexual immorality  (root of the word pornography)
1 Corinthians 7.2  The right place for sexual relations is between a wife and husband.  All others fall under the general term.
In 1 Corinthians 6.18 we have the noun form of the word.  It is a sin against our bodies.
It is a sin that carries a special stigma.

B. OT Allusion
Numbers 25.1-9  Israel was on the border of Moab and Barak couldn’t get Balam to curse Israel, so Balam advised Barak to send the Moabite women into the camp to engage them in the worship of Baal Peor and immorality.
Phinehas, the priest, stopped the plague by killing two of the sinners.
Plague killed 24K
Note appearant contradiction:  24K in Num. & “23K in one day” in 1 Cor.
Possible explianations:  1. actual number between 23K and 24K and was rounded differently
2. 23K in one day and the other 1K before or after
3. copyist error

C. Application
Notice the relationship between immorality and idolatry.  When we commit a sexual sin is does something to our spirit.  It is not a sin to be taken lightly.
It is a sin of pleasure over fidelity and therefore a double sin.

IV. Take heed of Tempting Christ
A. Greek Word
peiravzw  pi-rad'-zo    In a positive way to “test or prove”  In a negative way to “ensnare”
used in Matt 4 & Luke 4 of the temptation of Christ
used of the lawyer who tempted Christ with a question in Luke 10.25

B. OT Allusion
Numbers 21.4-9  esp 5   Spoke against God and Moses by questioning his power, faithfulness, and the value of the manna He provided.
comp. w/  Psa. 78.18  “tempted god in their heart by asking for meat”
comp. w/  Heb. 3.8-9 
“Harden not your hearts, as in the day of provocation in the day of temptation in the wilderness
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.”
“The Israelites tempted Him, or “tried His patience and forbearance,” by rebellion, complaining, impatience, and dissatisfaction with His dealings.”   —-A. Barnes

C. Application
What is the difference between Ex 17 “Is the Lord among us or not?” —- Num 21  and  Malachi 3.7
Mal. 3.7   bring tithes     prove me    see if I do not open the heavens
1. obedience
2. faith-hope  expectation
3. submission (vrs. rebellion)
4. How do we tempt God or “try His patience” today?

V. Take heed of Grumbling
A. Greek Word
gogguvzw  igong-good'-zo    to mrmer, mutter, grumble
Used in Matt 20.11  The parable of the laborers   Those who worked longer “complained” about what they were given.

B. OT Allusion
Numbers 14.2-4 
Why has the Lord brought us into this land to die by the sword...?
questioned God intentions and ability to sustain them.
Would it not be getter for us to return to Egypt?
dissatisfied with God’s provision
Lack of Faith, rebelliousness, questioning God’s provision and intentions

C. Application
What is the opposite of grumbling?  THANKFULNESS  is a fruit of the Spirit Eph 5.20 and commanded Phil’p 4-6  “...with thanksgiving let your requests be know to God…”
What do you complain about?  What sinful attitude does it reveal in you?
Malachi 3.13 It is not useless to serve God.
Galatians 6.9 “And be not weary in well-doing, for in do season we shall reap if we faint not.”
Grumbling is all about me.   Phil’p 2.13,14 “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.  Do all things without complaining and disputing,”


CONCLUSION:

1. Presumption is the greatest of all dangers.
2. Temptation works like rocks in a harbor; when the tide is low, everybody sees the danger and avoids it.  But Satan’s strategy in temptation is to raise the tide, and to cover over the dangers of temptation.  Then he likes to crash you upon the covered rocks.
3.  Exodus 13.17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt." 18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.  God knows what we can endure and is faithful to moderate our temptations.
4. We have a high priest who can empathize with our weaknesses (Heb 4.12)  “Let us run with patience … looking unto Jesus.”  “Consider Him who endured such heostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Heb 12.1-3

1 Corinthians 10.1-13 “A Flash from the Past, Part 1”



INTRODUCTION
1. Background:   
Paul had founded this church during his second missionary journey in the commercial center between the Aegean and  Adriatic Seas that was the home of Aphrodite, the “goddess of love.”  What Los Vegas is to gambling, Corinth was to prostitution and debauchery.
1 Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul while he ministered in Ephesus on his third missionary journey. This letter was most likely written in Ephesus in the first half of 55 AD before the riot of the silversmiths. He was responding to a letter from the Corinthians that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus had delivered to him (1 Cor. 7.1) and reports that he had received about problems in the Corinthian church.
2. The key word for 1 Corinthians is “correction.”  There were a range of issues from divisions and immorality to questions about his Apostleship that he addressed.  Disunity (1-4), Immorality (5-6), Marriage (7), Christian liberty (8-11), Worship and spiritual gifts (12-14), Resurrection (15), and “house keeping issues” (16).
3. Context of passage:
· In chapter 8 he discusses the importance of being sensitive to consciences in areas where Christians have some liberty.  9. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block...
· In chapter 9 he talks about how he has not insisted on his rights as an Apostle “for the gospel’s sake.”  12  Nevertheless we have not used this right … lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
· In 10 he talks about things that might disqualify us from finishing well, idolatry, and conscience.
· 11 discusses head coverings and communion.  
4. Subject of passage:
·  At the end of chapter nine Paul compares how athletes run to compete for a prize to how believers “run” to compete for an “imperishable crown.”  He said that he disciplined and subjected his body or made it a slave so that he would not be a “castaway (kjv) or be “disqualified (nkjv, nasv, niv).”  The Greek word here adikimos is the negative form of the word dikimos which appears in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show thyself dikimos unto God…”  We also find it in James 1:12. Turn to and discuss.  “for when he is dikimos, (a noun), he shall receive…
· Then in 1 Corinthians 10:1-15 Paul illustrates this truth with an illustration of the Israelites in the wilderness.  He tells us (1) about the blessings Israel had in the wilderness, (2) rehearses the sins that caused God to be displeased with most of them, and (3) and challenges us to take heed and be assured of God’s faithfulness. 

—————Stand to read 1 Corinthians 10:1-15—————

BIG IDEA: God has given us what we need to follow Him faithfully to the end.
TOPIC STATEMENT: Israel’s wilderness wanderings illustrate spiritual blessings of believers.

First note our connection to the Israelites in the wilderness.  They were our fathers.
Not in a genetic sense as our physical ancestors.  The “you” in this verse included Corinthian gentiles who had no physical relation to Israel.
In a spiritual sense, like Abraham is our father in Galatians 3:7 …”those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”  We all are eager to claim Abraham as our spiritual father, but have doubts about this bunch.  :o)
APPL:  What kind of spiritual connection to you have to your children, in your family?  We can see physical traits, personality traits, but what kind of spiritual traits are you imparting to your children?

I. UNDER THE CLOUD verse 1b
A. OT allusion:  to guide—Exodus 13.20-22  by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way … by night a pillar of fire to give light”
B. OT allusion:  to protect—Exodus 14.19-20  and the pillar of cloud stood behind them … so that the one [Egyptians] did not come near the other [Israel]”
C. NT application:  John 16.13   Holy Spirit, our guide

II. THRU THE SEA verse 1c
A. OT allusion: Red Sea crossing and destruction of  Egyptian army—Exodus 14-15  esp. 14.22, 26, & 30-31
B. NT application: 

III. BAPTIZED INTO MOSES verse 2
A. OT allusion:            —“It is to be remembered that the word baptism has two senses—the one referring to the application of water as a religious rite, in whatever mode it is done; and the other sense of dedicating, consecrating, initiating into, or bringing under obligation to.  And it is evidently in this latter sense that the word is used here…”  ——A. Barnes
B. NT application:  Spiritual baptism Romans 6.3-4   “buried with Him through baptism into death”    “as Christ was raised...we also should walk in newness of life”
C. NT application:  Spiritual baptism  1 Corinthians 12.13 all baptized into one body

IV. ATE SPIRITUAL FOOD verse 3
A. OT allusion: Exodus 16. 2-4 & 14-15  Manna   also Deut. 8.3  ...that you might know...
B. NT application: Matthew 4.3-4  Word of God 
C. NT application:  John 6 esp. v. 26-36  Salvation

V. DRANK OF THAT SPIRITUAL ROCK  verse 4
A. OT allusion:  Water from the rock—Exodus 17.1-2 & 5-6  also Numbers 20.2, 7, & 10-11
B. NT application:  John 4.10-14  Eternal life 
C. NT application: John7.37-39 indwelling Holy Spirit


CONCLUSION:

· We should not get too heady in all these spiritual blessing.  They do not guarantee that God will be pleased with us.  v. 6
· We should be careful not to be spiritually overconfident. v. 12
· God is faithful when we are tempted.  v. 13
· We should use the blessings to increase our faith in, dependence on, and loyalty to the Lord.