Ezra 7 at TBC 100110PM

Introduction

Segway

Last sermon on Ezra was seven or eight weeks ago.
That's okay because there was a long time between chapter six and chapter seven of Ezra.

Context

pA) Old Testament  

Approximate dates

2000  -  Abraham leaves Ur and sacrifices to one God

            -   Gen 12.1 "I will make of you a great nation."

1500  -  Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt to the promised land.

         -  Ex.20.2 "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Thou shalt…"

1000  -  David rules the unified kingdom of Israel. 

           -  He is followed by his son, Solomon,

who builds the temple in Jerusalem.

500    -  Zerrubbabel, Ezra, & Nehemiah lead Jews back to the promised land.

           -  The last minor prophet, Malachi, finishes the OT about 4oo years before Christ.

Post-Exile Timeline

1. Destruction of  Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar—

605 BC Nebuchadnezzar  takes the Temple treasures and captives (including Daniel)

598 BC  Second conquest of Jerusalem with more captives and treasure taken

586BC Nebuchadnezzar destroys the temple in

2. Zerubbabel – 539-515BC - Temple Rebuilt - Ezra 1-6

Cyrus—539BC conquers Babylon and decrees return of peoples to their lands.

Cabyses not mentioned in Ezra.

Pseudo Smerdis - An usurper who ruled less than a year. 519BC

Darius I (the Great) - The temple was completed during his reign.

3.   Esther, Persian queen of Ahasuerus Book of Esther

4. Ezra – 458BC - People Reformed – Ezra 7-10

Artaxerxes I - Ezra and Nehemiah returned during his 40+ year reign.

· There is almost 60 years between Zerubbabel and Ezra.

· 58 years ago was 1951

· Harry Truman was president and the 22nd amendment limiting the terms of a president was ratified. North Korea captured Soul, South Korea.

5. Nehemiah – 444-425BC - Wall Built – Nehemiah 1-10

Artaxerxes I - Ezra and Nehemiah returned during his 40+ year reign.

 Theme of the whole book:

We need to trust, serve, and obey the sovereign God

who keeps His covenant and restores His people.

Chapter summaries

Ch. 1-6 – Zerubbabel – 539-515 BC

Ch. 7 – Ezra Returns      559 BC

Ch. 8 -  Return completed   559 BC

Ch. 9 -  Intercessory Prayer 559 BC

Ch. 10 -  Reforms completed 559 BC

Outline and Big Idea

1. State of affairs  (vrs. 1)

2. Ezra the Man  (1-6)

3. Summary of the Trip  (7-10)

4. Letter of Artaxerxes   (11-26)

5.  Ezra's Doxology  (27-28)

B) Big Idea for chapter seven

We should not be discouraged by our vocation, but see it as an opportunity to serve the Lord.

1. State of affairs (1)

1 Now after these things,

in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia,

· Darius's son, Xerxes I or Ahasuerus (Ezra 6.8) had ruled and had Esther as his queen.

· The earlier zeal to return to the Mosaic ordinances that included separation from non-Jews waned.  Over this 58 year period some of them intermarried with unbelieving gentiles (9:1-2).  --Dr. Thomas Constable's Expo0sitory Notes on Ezra

· PAU Isaiah 53.6

  6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

      We have turned, every one, to his own way;

      And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

· Phonecia was in Greek hands.
There was a revolt in progress in the Persian empire at the time of Ezra.  Inarus, a Libian, had seized control of Egypt in 460 and had found ready support from the Athenian fleet in the Mediterranean. The revolt was crushed by Megabyzus between 456 and 454, so Ezra’s journey (458) comes right at its height.  -- IVP Bible Background Commentary : Old Testament.

· It was in Artaxerxes I's interest to have Judea be a orderly and organized area since it was close to Egypt.
"peace and goodwill..." --Thomas Constable's Expository Notes on Ezra

2. Ezra the Man (1-6)

A. Genealogy:  His credential as priest

1. The list of names.  (1 Chronicles 6 has a similar genealogy)

"Continuity with pre-exilic Israel was a major concern for the returnees." --Philip Brown
This establishes Ezra as a religious leader.
Ezra    

· A shortened form of Azariah.

· The time period between Ezra and Seraiah (about 140 yrs) the falls of Jerusalem and the return of Ezra would necessitate that there were three or four ancestors who had been omitted here.  A possible reason is that they would not have been able to function as high priests in the exile.

· The fact that Jeshuah is not mentioned probably indicates that Ezra was from a different part of Seraiah’s line.

the son of Seraiah,   

· Priest under Zedekiah . Z. was killed by Nebuchadnezzar.  (2 Kings 25.18-21; Jer 52.24).

· He was killed by Nebuchadnezzar in Ribulah (2 Kings 25.18-21).

· 1 Chronicles 6 tells us that his son Jehozadak, not included in this genealogy, was carried into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar.)

the son of Azariah, 

· This common name was also the name of one of Daniel's companions.

the son of Hilkiah,  

· The high priest under Josiah. (2 Kings 22.4)

² the son of Shallum,

the son of Zadok,   

· Solomon appointed him chief priest in place of Abiathar, who supported Adonijah in his rebellion against David/Solomon (1 Kings 1.7-8)

the son of Ahitub, 

³ the son of Amariah,

————————————————————

the son of Azariah,

· “it was he who ministered as priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem” (1 Chronicles 6.10)

· Six from the 1 Chronicles 6 genealogy missing here. (Johanan, Azariah, Ahimaaz, Zadok, Ahitub, Amariah)

————————————————————

the son of Meraioth, 

⁴ the son of Zerahiah,

the son of Uzzi,

the son of Bukki, 

⁵ the son of Abishua,

the son of Phinehas,

Remembered in Psalm 103  (Num. 25:1-9)

²⁸ They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

²⁹ Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.

³⁰ Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.

the son of Eleazar,

Greek translation in Lazarus

the son of Aaron the chief priest—

The fact that this genealogy end with Aaron instead of Levi gives us an indication of its purpose.

2. Overview

1. Ezra: Reinstituting the Mosaic Law

(an undetermined number missing names)

2. Seven priests between the temple and Ezra

3. Azariah: officiated at the consecration of the temple (1 Chronicles 6.10)

(Six from the 1 Chronicles 6 genealogy missing: Johanan, Azariah, Ahimaaz, Zadok, Ahitub, Amariah)

4. Seven priests between the Temple and Aaron

5. Aaron: the first High priest

3. Observations:

· This is not an exhaustive genealogy or list of men who served as High Priest. 

· This genealogy is “stylized” and poetic in its structure.

· So its purpose was not to give a detailed proof, but to highlight Ezra’s credential to serve as a priest.  (This was important for him in relation to his work with and in the Temple.)

B. Occupation: A skilled scribe from Babylon

6 this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him. 

1. Origin: from Babylon

· It was not in the friendly surroundings of the Promised Land, but in the foreign culture and land of Babylon that God did the work in Ezra.

2.  Occupation: scribe

skilled  מָהִיר   Strong's H4106 - mahiyr  quick: hence prompt, apt in business, skilful

ylt, kjv—ready; nasb, nkjv, esv—skilled; niv, nlt—well versed

Note how the meaning shifts from the literal to dynamic versions.

· In this case it is emphasized by the word skilled, or literally ‘rapid; (cf.Psalm 45:1) – suggesting a quickness of grasp and ease of movement amid this complex material which was the fruit of devoted study described in verse 10.  --Kidner

scribe    סָפַר   Strong's H5608 – caphar  v. to scratch or write  n. a Muster-officer or secretary/scribe 

· TWOT-- Like the Hebrew sōpēr which is not limited to mere writing, but is also a term applicable to governmental and military officials.

· ylt, kjv, nasb, nkjv, esv—scribe; niv, nlt—teacher

· The more dynamic translations are often helpful, but may be too interpretive here.

· As a scribe, Ezra was possibly a member of the Persian bureaucracy. It was a common practice for ancient Near Eastern governments to employ persons trained not only as secretaries or clerks, but as diplomats and lawyers. These individuals were used to interpret documents from subject and allied peoples. They were also sent on investigative missions to aid the king and his advisors in making decisions. -- Matthews, Victor Harold ; Chavalas, Mark W. ; Walton, John H.: The IVP Bible Background Commentary : Old Testament.

· This phrase shows that the author of this verse combined the Persian office of secretary with that of a Jewish scholar of the law of God. --F. Charles Fensham in The Books of Eara and Nehemiah  -  The New International Commentary of the Old Testament

C. Enablement: “the hand of the Lord his God was upon him.”

6 this Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him. 

· This is a phrase that Ezra uses (with some variation) three times in chapter seven in the singular (on him) and three times in the plural (on us) in chapter eight. 

· It seems to highlight events that show God’s hand in the return.

· “Means: according to the divine favour or divine care arranging for him…”  --C.F. Keil in Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

Application:  God has ordained our background, and is using our talents and occupations for His glory.

Jeremiah 29.11

 ¹⁰ For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. ¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

3. Summary of the Trip (7-10)

7 Some of the children of Israel,

the priests,

the Levites,

the singers,

the gatekeepers, and

the Nethinim

came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. 

⁸ And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. 

A. The People

the children of Israel

the priests,

the Levites,

the singers,

the gatekeepers, and

the Nethinim

Nethinim  נָתִין   Strong's H5411 - Nathiyn  temple servants                 

Ylt, kjv, nkjv—Nethinim; nasb, esv, niv, nlt—temple servants  

· The specific groups mentioned are part of the temple worship.

B.  The Timing

1. When ?

· ⁸… in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. ⁹ On the first day of the first month

· the first day of the first month points to the Passover festival.  --D.A. Carson However, no specific mention is made of Passover in the text.

· The spring time would have been a good time to travel.

· Apparently eleven days lapsed between when the caravan assembled and the actual day of departure described in Ezra 8.31 (³¹ Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. ).

2. How long ?

⁹ On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem

Length of the trip  

· 4 months/119 days

· Most likely they would have taken the norther caravan route (approximately nine hundred miles) up the euphrates, perhaps turning west at Mari across to Tadmor, then southwest through Dmascus andon into Palestine.

· It would be like walking from Tulsa to Columbus OH

· They would have averaged about 8-10 miles a day.

Dangers along the way

3. ⁹… according to the good hand of his God upon him.

C.  The Preparation

¹⁰ For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel. 

Prepared  כּוּן  Strong's H3559 – kuwn  to establish, fix, make ready

Ylt, kjv, nkjv—prepared; nasb, esv—set; niv—devoted; nlt—determined to

Heart  לֵבָב   Strong's H3824 - lebab   the soul, senses, emotions of the mind  

niv, ylt both omit the word from the text.

The word “heart” (lēbāb) connotes the whole of one’s being. (F. Stolz ) Ezra thus concentrated his whole life on the study of the law. --F. Charles Fensham in The Books of Eara and Nehemiah  -  The New International Commentary of the Old Testament
 

Seek דָּרַשׁ   Strong's H1875 - darash   Lit. to tread a place with the feet, to frequent a place, to seek or search after, to study    

ykt, kjv, nkjv—seek; nasb, esv, niv, nlt-- study

 

do it  עָשָׂה  Strong's H6213 - `asah  to labour, to work about anything

Ylt, kjv, nkjv, esv—do; nasb—practice; niv—observance; nlt--obey

 

statutes חֹק  Strong's H2706 – choq  a clear communicated prescription of what one should do ^--Swanson, James: Dictionary of Biblical Languages With Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament).  

ylt, kjv, nasb, nkjv, esv—statutes; niv—decrees; ylt--regulations;

 

ordinances  מִשְׁפָּט   Strong's H4941 - mishpat   1. the act. of deciding a legal dispute or case, or the sentence given  2. right, that which is just, lawful, according to the law  --

ylt, kjv—judgment(s); nasb, nkjv—ordinances; esv—rules; niv—laws; nlt--regulations

 

“The preacher who practices what he preaches is generally know for short, simple sermons.”

 

APPLICATION:

What is your heart set to?  We rarely do what is good by chance or accident.

“And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…” Daniel 1:8

Daniel's mind going to Babylon and Ezra's leaving were similar.

4. Letter / Commission from King Artaxerxes I  (11-26)

The letter is in Aramaic, the language the king would have used.

A. Introduction and Greeting

11 This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave Ezra the priest, the scribe, expert in the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of His statutes to Israel: 

¹²Artaxerxes, king of kings,

 To Ezra the priest, a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Perfect peace, and so forth. 

· king of kings -a typical self designation by the Achemenid kings.

· “a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven” was an official Persian title, so that some have gone so far as to translate “minister/secretary of state for Jewish affairs.”  --H.G.M. Williamson in Word Biblical Commentary

· Perfect peace, and so forth.  There is some debate about how this phrase should be translated, but it should be understood as a typical greeting.

B. To the people of Israel

¹³ I issue a decree that all those of the people of Israel and the priests and Levites in my realm, who volunteer to go up to Jerusalem, may go with

¹⁴ And whereas you are being sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, with regard to the Law of your God which is in your hand; ¹⁵ and

whereas you are to carry the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem; ¹⁶ and

whereas all the silver and gold that you may find in all the province of Babylon, along with the freewill offering of the people and the priests, are to be freely offered for the house of their God in Jerusalem—

¹⁷ now therefore, be careful to

buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and

offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem. ¹⁸ And

whatever seems good to you and your brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do it according to the will of your God. 

¹⁹Also the articles that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver in full before the God of Jerusalem. 

²⁰ And whatever more may be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion you to provide, pay for it from the king's treasury. 

1) Summary:

Whereas you are being sent…

1. to inquire about how the law was being kept

2. to carry the temple vessels and money

Now therefore, be careful to…

1. buy things to offer

2. offer them

3. fulfill the will of your God

4. deliver the vessels

5. whatever more, etc…

2) Key points:

1. Teach and enforce the laws of God, especially the temple worship.

2. Provide for the Temple worship and sacrifices.

C. To the treasurers

²¹ And I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are in the region beyond the River, that

whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, may require of you, let it be done diligently, ²² up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred kors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribed limit. 

²³ Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? 

²⁴ Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tax, tribute, or custom on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God. 

kors  This Hebrew word, untranslated, denotes a round vessel used as a measure both for liquids and solids. It was equal to one homer, and contained ten ephahs in dry and tenbaths in liquid measure (Ezek. 45:14). The Rabbins estimated the cor at 45 gallons, while Josephus estimated it at about 87.   —-Web Encyclopedia

baths   A liquid measure, possibly 8-9 gallons.

1) The officials were told to:

1. Provide generous resources for worship.

2. Let the commands of God be fulfilled.

3. No taxes on those involved with the Temple.

2) The Reason For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

· The King of Persia was covering his bases and appeasing all the gods he could so they would not harm him.   

· This is more of an evidence to the King’s polytheism and superstition that trust in the Yahweh.

D. To Ezra

²⁵ And you, Ezra, according to your God-given wisdom, set magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are in the region beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God; and teach those who do not know them.

²⁶ Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment. 

1. Establish a legal system for the Jews.

2. Teach the laws of God.

3. Punish those who don’t observe God’s law.

Application:

· Ezra's commission may have had a secular purpose, but Ezra used the opportunity to accomplish God's work.

· We should use our vocation to worship and serve the Lord.

p 5.  Ezra's Doxology (27-28)

²⁷Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, ²⁸ and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes.  So I was encouraged, as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.

A.  God’s work on the King put such a thing as this in the king's heart

Compare with Ezra 1.1

 ¹ Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom…

B. God’s favor on Ezra

mercy חֶסֶד   Strong's H2617 - checed (kheh'·sed)  lit. zeal towards, in a good sense:  goodness, kindness, faithfulness, favour

ylt—kindness; kjv, nkjv—mercy; nasb—loving-kindness; esv—steadfast love; niv—good favor; nlt—unfailing love

C. God’s strengthening of Ezra as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me

Encouraged  חָזַק  Strong's H2388 – chazaq   1) to make strong, strengthen  2) to make firm

ylt, kjv, nasb—strengthened; nkjv, nlt—encouraged; esv, niv—took courage;

Application:  We should be careful to recognize, acknowledge, and be encouraged by God’s hand at work in our lives.

Key truths in chapter 7

· We see in chapter seven another “chapter” in the fulfillment of His promise to return His people to the Land.

1. We need to trust, serve, and obey the sovereign God who keeps His covenant and restores His people.

————————————————-

·  Ezra’s secular position in Babylon … did not hinder his calling to be God’s servant and agent of reform and reconstruction.”  --Mark A. Throntveit in Ezra-Nehemiah from Interpretation: a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.

·  

2. We should not be discouraged by our vocation, but see it as an opportunity to serve the Lord.

————————————————-

· “… his determination to “study the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach the statues and ordinances in Israel” (7:10),

· in conjunction with the empowerment of “the hand of the Lord his God which “was upon him” (7:6, 9, 28a).”   --Mark A. Throntveit in Ezra-Nehemiah from Interpretation: a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.

· the hand of the Lord his God which “was upon him

6-The king granted him all his request

9-journey from Babylon to Jerusalem

28-mercy before King, counselors, and mighty princes

· We should "set our hearts" to seek and serve the Lord, and rely on “His good hand”.

H.G.M. Williamson in Word Biblical Commentary

Derek Kidner in Ezra and Nehemiah  -  Tyndal Old Testament Commentaries

Mark A. Throntveit in Ezra-Nehemiah  -  Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for teaching an Preaching

F. Charles Fensham in The Books of Eara and Nehemiah  -  The New International Commentary of the Old Testament

C. Coleman Luck in Ezra and Nehemiah  -  Everyman's Bible Commentary

Edwin Yamauchi in The Expositor's Bible Commentary

Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa in Talk Thru the Old Testament

Dr. Judah J. Slotki in Eaniel-Ezra-Nehemiah  -  Soncino Books of the Bible

Thomas L. Constable in Notes on Ezra 2009 Edition

J.G. McConville in Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther  -  The Daily Study Bible Series (Westminster Press)

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

WebBible Encyclopedia http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/home.html

Matthews, Victor Harold ; Chavalas, Mark W. ; Walton, John H.: The IVP Bible Background Commentary : Old Testament.

C.F. Keil in Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

Merrill F. Unger in Unger's Commentary on the Old Testament

John A. Martin in The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Mark A. Throntveit in Ezra-Nehemiah from Interpretation: a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching.

Philip Brown in A Literary and Theological Analysis of Ezra

Thurs 100107 pm Jer 33-37 & Matt 3

Jeremiah 33
33.7   I will restore...
33.8  I will cleanse them from all their guilt against Me...  Guilt is not just an emotion, but also a standing before God.  God can cleanse of both.  And is was against Him not just a general sense of angst.

Jeremiah 34
34.13  I myself made a covenant...  Don't mess with Texas and don't trifle with God.
34.14  you must set free...  Giving freedom is a greater show of wealth and power that keeping one captive.  Being  a protector and provider takes more strength and honor than being a preditor, a taker.

Jeremiah 35
35.6  Jonadab, the son of Rechab, out father, commanded us...  This is always an inspiration and challenge for me.  First, to have counsel worth keeping for generations--to have that kind of insight.  Second, having children who think enough of me to follow it.  Jonadab was a rich man in the ways that really matter.
35.15  incline your ear...  The idea of having, developing a disposition or inclination to listen to and obey God is a key strategy.
35.19  shall never lack a man to stand before Me...  
Someone from their family would "stand before" Yahweh forever because they had obeyed their father, Jonadab. "Stand before" usually describes someone who served Yahweh in some special way (cf. 7:10; 15:19; Deut. 4:10; 10:8; 1 Kings 10:8; 17:1; 18:15; 2 Kings 3:14; 2 Chron. 29:11).
However it also describes simple worshippers of Yahweh (7:10; Lev. 9:5; Deut. 4:10). The promise probably pointed to a continuing line rather than to a specific ministry. --Dyer, Charles H. "Jeremiah." In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, p. 1180.
"According to the Mishnah 'the children of Jonadab son of Rechab' had a fixed day in the year for bringing wood for the altar of the temple. Other traditions refer to 'waterdrinking' sacrificers whose descent is traced to Jonadab."--Thompson, John Arthur. The Book of Jeremiah. International Commentary on the Old Testament series. , p. 619. The references in the Mishnah and Talmud are in his footnotes.
"Even today, in Syria and Arabia, there are groups that claim to be Rechabites and that follow the Rechabite rule."  --Graybill, John F. "Jeremiah." In The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, p. 681.
2009 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on Jeremiah
  
Jeremiah 36
36.7  it may be that ... everyone will turn from their evil way...  the focus and objective of God's dealings with His people.

Jeremiah 37
37.17  King Zedekiah sent for him... "Is there any Word from the Lord?"  Even though he was in a dungeon because of what God had told him to say,  he was still the "go to guy" when they wanted to know what God said.

Matthew 3
3.6  confessing their sins...  It is interesting to see sins and not "sin" in a general sense.
3.8  bear fruit...  Repentance and faith are not abstract invisible concepts unrelated to "shoe leather".

Mon 100104 am Matt 1

Matthew 1
1.5 by Rahab...
1.5 by Ruth...
1.6 by the wife of Uriah...
1.6  David the king...  Since most of the men in this genealogy were kings, this is an interesting note.
1.11  Jechaniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon...
1.16  the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
I consider these brief mentions during a genealogy to be significant.  
1.18-24  I like the descriptions of Joseph in this passage.

Sun 100103 pm Jer 31-32

Jeremiah 31
31.3  everlasting love ... faithfulness  These two terms placed comparison provide good material for meditation.
31.15  Prophecy about Herod killing babies in Bethlehem.  It would be interesting to study up how that fits into the context of this passage.
31.19  struck my thigh...  Slapping one's thigh, an onomatopoeic expression in Hebrew, was a common expression of remorse, horror, and terror in ancient Near Eastern culture (cf. Ezek. 21:12). (See Pritchard, ed., p. 108; Keil, 2:26.)  --Dr. Thomas L. Constable's Expository Notes on Ezra
31.31-34  This section is on the New Covenant.  Also see Hebrews viii.8-12.
Jeremiah 32
32.9  so I bought the field...  Concrete demonstration of faith that God would do what he said.
32.17-25  This is a great prayer.  A review of God's attributes and actions followed by a question.  I suspect we would often be better off asking a question rather than making a request.
32.26  Is anything too hard for Me?  This is often the question of the day that we wrestle with and need the faith to answer correctly.
32.39  fear Me forever for their own good...  

Sat 100102 am Jer 24-29

Jeremiah 24
24.2  The good figs were the ones that submitted and followed God's discipline.  The end was to be good for them.  The bad figs were those who, in the often repeated words of Jeremiah, stubbornly followed their own hearts, and ran from God's path for them.
24.7  I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord...  This is a great prayer for us too.  Lord give me a heart to know that you are the LORD.
24.7   with their whole heart...  That is what God desires, our whole heart.
 Jeremiah 25
25.3  23 years us a long time to preach and people not listen.
25.9  king of Babylon, My servant...  It is a big thought that a heathen king is God's servant.  So, I am thinking of how modern world political figures play into that mode or function.
25.14  I will recompense them according to their deeds...   The mystery of God's sovereignty and man's free will or responsibility.  God's purpose and promises are served my man's choices and then man receives the just deserts of his choices.
25.20 This is the ancient land where Job lived, sometime after the Flood. 
It is mentioned in the Bible in these three verses: 1:1; Jer. 25:20; Lam. 4:21.
It may have been named after Uz, the son of Aram, who settled this region. Genesis 36:20-21 seems to indicate that this area was conquered by Horites and eventually Edomites, and became known as Edom (Lamentations 4:21).   ----WebBible Encyclopedia… a free service of Eden Communications (provider of ChristianAnswers.Net) / Copyright © 2000-2010, Eden Communications.
25.23  Dedan...  An Arabian people named in Genesis 10:7 as descended from Cush; in Genesis 25:3 as descended from Keturah. Evidently, they were, like the related Sheba (Sabaeans), of mixed race (compare Genesis 10:7,28). In Isaiah 21:13 allusion is made to the "caravans of Dedanites" in the wilds of Arabia, and Eze mentions them as supplying Tyre with precious things (Ezekiel 27:20; in verse 15, "Dedan" should probably be read as in Septuagint, "Rodan," i.e. Rhodians). The name seems still to linger in the island of Dadan, on the border of the Persian Gulf. It is found also in Min. and Sab. inscriptions (Glazer, II, 392).   -- D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'DEDAN; DEDANITES'". International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. 1915
Tema...  te'-ma (tema', "south country"; Thaiman):  The name of a son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:15; 1 Chronicles 1:30), of the tribe descended from him (Jeremiah 25:23), and of the place where they dwelt (Job 6:19; Isaiah 21:14). This last was a locality in Arabia which probably corresponds to the modern Teima' (or Tayma' (see Doughty, Arabia Deserta, I, 285)), an oasis which lies about 200 miles North of el-Medina, and some 40 miles South of Dumat el-Jandal (Dumah), now known as el-Jauf. It is on the ancient caravan road connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Aqaba; and doubtless the people took a share in the carrying trade (Job 6:19). The wells of the oasis still attract the wanderers from the parched wastes (Isaiah 21:14). Doughty (loc. cit.) describes the ruins of the old city wall, some 3 miles in circuit. An Aramaic stele recently discovered, belonging to the 6th century BC, shows the influence of Assyrian article The place is mentioned in the cuneiform inscriptions (Schrader, KAT2, 149).  W. Ewing  Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'TEMA'". International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. 1915
buz...  buz, bu'-zi, buz'-it ( buz): (1) Second son of Nahor (Genesis 22:21). The word occurs again in Jeremiah 25:23, by the side of Dedan (Genesis 10:7) and Tema (Genesis 25:15), and is probably, therefore, the name of a people living in the neighborhood of Edom. Buz and Hazo (Genesis 22:22) are probably the countries of Bazu and Chazu (the former described as full of snakes and scorpions), which Esarhaddon invaded (KB, II, 131).   Horace J. Wolf Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'BUZ; BUZI; BUZITE'".International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. . 1915. . 1915
cut the corners of their hair...  NET Bible translation notes for Jeremiah 9.26: Heb “all those who are cut off on the side of the head who live in the desert.” KJV and some other English versions (e.g., NIV “who live in the desert in distant places”; NLT “who live in distant places”) have followed the interpretation that this is a biform of an expression meaning “end or remote parts of the [far] corners [of the earth].” This interpretation is generally abandoned by the more recent commentaries and lexicons. It occurs also in 25:33; 49:32.
I don't really know whether if refers the style of hair or location.  I don't really have a good way of finding out how all these people cut their hair.  The expressions seems to be a general summary statement to include a larger group on nations of which these are examples.
25.33  that day...  This confirms a "end times" kind of future fulfillment.  It would seem that "that day" could be The Day of the Lord.
Jeremiah 26
26.2  all the words...  This highlights the tendency of preachers to "pull their punches."  
26.2  This verse speaks to our responsibility to and the possibility we will respond and God's willingness to "relent."
26.18  Micah the Moresheth...   was a contemporary of Isaiah (compare Mic 1:1 with Isa 1:1) from the country town of Moresheth in the hill country southwest of Jerusalem. The prophecy referred to is found in Mic 3:12. This is the only time in the OT where an OT prophet is quoted verbatim and identified.  --NET Bible translation notes for Jer. 26.17
26.24  Ahikam...  Meaning: brother of support = helper.  This was the name of one of the five men that Josiah sent to consult the prophetess Huldah in connection with the discovery of the book of the law (2 Kings 22:12-14; 2 Chr. 34:20). He was the son of Shaphan, the royal secretary, and the father of Gedaliah, governor of Judea after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:22; Jer. 40:5-16; 43:6). On one occasion he protected Jeremiah against the fury of Jehoiakim (Jer. 26:24). It was in the chamber of another son (Germariah) of Shaphan that Baruch read in the ears of all the people Jeremiah's roll.  ----WebBible Encyclopedia… a free service of Eden Communications (provider of ChristianAnswers.Net) / Copyright © 2000-2010, Eden Communications.
What a great ministry! to be a Ahikam, and provide cover and protection for God's servants.  May God have a host of Ahikams.
Dr. Thomas Constable has a neat chart about Shaphan's grandsons at the end of chapter 26 http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/jeremiah.pdf
Jeremiah 27
Interesting, everybody, not just Judah was supposed to "serve" the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah 28
I am still remembering 26.17-13 and wondering what promted Hananiah to say that stuff.
Jeremiah 29
29.9  I didn't send them...  It makes you wonder why He let them prophecy, and I am still thinking about why they would be saying that the captivity would end so soon.  Was it pandering, did they see something in world events, or were they just wacked?
29.32  spoken rebellion against the Lord...  I continue to be struck by what the Lord was asking them to do (not because they didn't deserve it), and by the opposition.

Fri 100101 pm Jer 22-23

Jeremiah 22
22.20
Lebanon...  Lebanon proper, Jebel es-Sharki, commences at its southern extremity in the gorge of the Leontes, the ancient Litany, and extends northeast, parallel to the Mediterranean coast, as far as the river Eleutherus, at the plain of Emesa, "the entering of Hamath" (Num. 34:8; 1 Kings 8:65), in all about 90 geographical miles in extent. The average height of this range is from 6,000 to 8,000 feet; the peak of Jebel Mukhmel is about 10,200 feet, and the Sannin about 9,000. The highest peaks are covered with perpetual snow and ice. In the recesses of the range wild beasts as of old still abound (2 Kings 14:9; Song of Songs 4:8). The scenes of the Lebanon are remarkable for their grandeur and beauty, and supplied the sacred writers with many expressive similes (Ps. 29:5, 6; 72:16; 104:16-18; Song of Songs 4:15; Isa. 2:13; 35:2; 60:13; Hos. 14:5). It is famous for its cedars (Song of Songs 5:15), its wines (Hos. 14:7), and its cool waters (Jer. 18:14). The ancient inhabitants were Giblites and Hivites (Josh. 13:5; Judg. 3:3). It was part of the Phoenician kingdom (1 Kings 5:2-6).
The eastern range, or Anti-Lebanon, or “Lebanon towards the sunrising,” runs nearly parallel with the western from the plain of Emesa till it connects with the hills of Galilee in the south. The height of this range is about 5,000 feet. Its highest peak is Hermon (q.v.), from which a number of lesser ranges radiate.
Lebanon is first mentioned in the description of the boundary of Palestine (Deut. 1:7; 11:24). It was assigned to Israel, but was never conquered (Josh. 13:2-6; Judg. 3:1-3).
Bashan...  This country extended from Gilead in the south to Hermon in the north, and from the Jordan on the west to Salcah on the east. Along with the half of Gilead it was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 13:29-31). Golan, one of its cities, became a “city of refuge” (Josh. 21:27).
Argob, in Bashan, was one of Solomon's commissariat districts (1 Kings 4:13). The cities of Bashan were taken by Hazael (2 Kings 10:33), but were soon after reconquered by Jehoash (2 Kings 13:25), who overcame the Syrians in three battles, according to the word of Elisha (19). From this time Bashan almost disappears from history, although we read of the wild cattle of its rich pastures (Ezek. 39:18; Ps. 22:12), the oaks of its forests (Isa. 2:13; Ezek. 27:6; Zech. 11:2), and the beauty of its extensive plains (Amos 4:1; Jer. 50:19). Soon after the conquest, the name “Gilead” was given to the whole country beyond Jordan. After the Exile, Bashan was divided into four districts:  http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/bashan.html?zoom_highlight=bashan
Abarim...  Meaning: regions beyond; i.e., on the east of Jordan, a mountain, or rather a mountain-chain, near Jericho, to the east and southeast of the Dead Sea, in the land of Moab.
From “the top of Pisgah” i.e., Mount Nebo (q.v.), one of its summits, Moses surveyed the Promised Land (Deut. 3:27; 32:49), and there he died (34:1,5). The Israelites had one of their encampments in the mountains of Abarim (Num. 33:47-48) after crossing the Arnon.  --http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/abarim.html?zoom_highlight=abarim 

22.22 the wind shall shepherd your shepherds...
22.28 Coniah...  A form of the name Jehoiachin, found in Jeremiah 22:24,28;37:1. A king of Judah; son and successor of Jehoiakim; reigned three months and surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar; was carried to Babylon, where, after being there 37 years a prisoner, he died.  --ISBE  Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'JEHOIACHIN'". International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.  . 1915.
  
Jeremiah 23

23.5 a righteous branch... Messianic
23.13  an unsavory thing...  prophecying by Baal
23.14  a horrible thing...  God's prophets misbehaving is even worse.
23.16  speak visions of their own minds...  
23.17  to everyone who stubbornly follows his own hearts...  God's shepherds should not give comfort where He does not give comfort.
23.21  I did not speak to them yet they prophesied...  This reinforces the importance of not speaking when God has not spoken.  Too often we feel the need to just say something.
23.22  stood in my counsel...  Like Psalm 1.
23.29  My Word is like a fire ... a hammer...  a strong metaphor.

Wed 091230 am Jer 16-18

Jeremiah 16
16.5  I have taken away my peace from this people, my steadfast love and mercy...  This verse really makes the ESV's tranlation of the Hebrew word חֶסֶד Strong's H2617 - checed seem odd.  How do you remove steadfast love? At any rate steadfast would not imply unending, at least not in this context.  TWOT  presents an interesting question, "The question is, do the texts ascribe his ḥesed to his covenants or to his everlasting love’? Is not ḥesed as Dom Sorg observed (see Bibliography) really the ot reflex of 'God is love'?"  ----Harris, R. Laird ; Harris, Robert Laird ; Archer, Gleason Leonard ; Waltke, Bruce K.: Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. electronic ed. Chicago : Moody Press, 1999, c1980, S. 306
16.13  for I will show you no favor...  This is a thought provoking reason for people to server other gods.
16.18 His inheritance...  The land according to Unger.
  
Jeremiah 17
17.3  all your treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your high places for sin....  Crime may not pay, but there sin caused them to pay dearly.
17.9  desperatly sick...  Since I memorized this in the KJV, the choice of "sick" by the ESV sparked my curiosity.  Merrill F. Under says, "Man's fallen heart is desperately wicked (corrupt; anush, "dangerously ill," afflicted with the deadly virus of sin, "incurably sick" except for medicining by God's grace; Eccles. 9:3; Isa. 1:6; 6:10; Matt. 13:15; Rom. 1:21). --http://www.amazon.com/Ungers-Commentary-Testament-Merrill-Unger/dp/0899574157 It is translated,

•  ylt 9 Crooked is the heart above all things, And it is incurable—who doth know it?
• kjv 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 
• nasb 9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? 
• nkjv 9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 
• esv 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 
• niv 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 
• nlt 9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

The literal Young's and dynamic NIV both pick up on the uncurable part.  The KJV and very dynamic New Living both hone in on the sin part.  And the literal NASB and middle of the road ESV both emphasize the sick part.  I think I am leaning toward the YLT and NIV myself.
17.10  search the heart...
17.13  fountain of living water...  as in 2.13.
17.16  the day of sickness...  an interesting expression, especially in light of verse 17.
17.17a  my thought too.
17.19-27  I like the imagery of the gates and the way Jeremiah stood at the gate and how the exhortation was woven around the image of the kinds of things that happened there would reflect God's blessing or curse.
  
Jeremiah 18
18.1-4  neat object lesson
18.15  forgotten Me...  The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Alternate Accountability List

Another interesting list to use is the one from Revelation 21 describing those who are going to the Lake of Fire.

Job's Accountability Questions

Job 31 Accountability List

1. Lust/looking (1-4)
2. Integrity/honesty (4-8)
3. Seduction/adultery (9-12)
4. Respect/fairness (13-15)
5. Charity/generosity (16-23)
6. Coveting/idolatry (24-28)
7. Malice/"ill will" (29-32)
8. Secret sins/hypocrisy (33-34)
9. Injustice/oppression (38-40)

It is only fair to observe that there are almost as many lists as there are commentators on Job 31 and my list was influenced my homiletical concerns.