A place to grow your relationship with God

Posts tagged ‘Jesus’

El Mensaje de Jesús: Cumpliendo las Profecías Bíblicas

La promesa del Mesías: Génesis 3:15
Y pondré enemistad [hostilidad/odio] entre ti [serpiente/Satanás] y la mujer [la humanidad], y entre tu descendencia [Satanás] y la descendencia suya [Mesías/Redentor]; ésta te herirá en la cabeza [Satanás], y tú le herirás en el talón [Jesús].

Profecía del Antiguo Testamento

  • Isaías 7:14
    • El Señor mismo dará una señal
    • Una virgen concebirá y dará a luz un Hijo
    • Su nombre será Emanuel – Dios con nosotros
  • Isaías 9:6-7
    • Nos ha nacido un Niño – humanidad
    • Nos ha sido dado un Hijo – deidad
    • Se llamará su nombre Admirable, Consejero, Dios Fuerte, Padre Eterno, Príncipe de Paz
  • Su gobierno – reino/reino
    • sobre Su hombro – autoridad
    • paz
    • sin fin – eterno/para siempre
    • sobre el trono de David – pacto
    • establecido con juicio y justicia

El Señor de los Ejércitos -Jehová Sabaot – nuestro Libertador – realizará esto

Profecía del Nuevo Testamento

  • En memoria de su misericordia…
  • En memoria de su santo pacto… (Lucas 1:54-55; 72-73)
  • En la plenitud de los tiempos, Dios envió a su Hijo (Gal 4:4)
  • María dio a luz un Hijo y lo llamó Jesús (Evangelios)
  • la palabra se hizo carne y habitó entre nosotros (Jn 1:14)
  • El ministerio de Jesús

Yo publicaré el decreto: El Señor me ha dicho: Mi Hijo eres tú, Yo te he engendrado hoy. (Salmo 2:7)
Respondió Jesús y le dijo: Permítelo ahora, porque así conviene que cumplamos toda justicia. Entonces se lo permitió. Después que fue bautizado, Jesús subió luego del agua; y he aquí los cielos le fueron abiertos, y vio al Espíritu de Dios que descendía como paloma y venía sobre él. Y de repente vino una voz del cielo, que decía: Éste es mi Hijo amado, en quien tengo complacencia. (Mateo 3:15-17)

Isaías 61:1-3; Lucas 4:18

  • el Espíritu del Señor Dios está sobre mí
  • el Señor me ha ungido
  • para predicar el Evangelio a los pobres
  • para sanar a los que tienen el corazón roto
  • para proclamar la libertad a los cautivos
  • para abrir la cárcel de los que están atados
  • para consolar a todos los que lloran
  • para consolar a los que lloran en Sion
  • para darles belleza por cenizas
  • para dar el óleo de la alegría por el luto
  • para dar el manto de alabanza por el espíritu de pesadez
  • Recuperación de la vista a los ciegos
  • para poner en libertad a los oprimidos
  • para proclamar el año agradable del Señor

1 Juan 3:8b

  • para destruir las obras del diablo

Juan 3:16-17

  • para traer vida eterna
  • para salvar el mundo

1 Pedro 1:20; Tito 2:11; 3:4

  • la gracia, la bondad y el amor de Dios nuestro Salvador se han manifestado a todos los hombres
La Eternidad de Dios: Estudio Bíblico

Category:

Estudio de la Biblia,, La eternidad de Dios

Tagged with:

Understanding the Tabernacle’s Spiritual Significance

The Tabernacle-Man’s Approach to God

A picture showing the various parts of the Tabernacle


When the Lord gave Moses the plan of the Tabernacle on Mt. Sinai, He admonished Moses to follow His specifications in its construction to the letter (Exodus 25:1-9). The Tabernacle was more than just a place to worship while in the wilderness. Its design and layout was a shadow of the redemptive work of Jesus, as well as a pattern of the salvation experienced in the present church age.

  1. The Court of the Tabernacle
    • The court of the Tabernacle was approximately 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. It had one gate on the east side. Four doorposts supported hangings of four colors of cloth: purple, scarlet, blue, and white. There was only one entrance into the courtyard. Likewise, there is also only one way of salvation-through Jesus Christ (John 10:9).
    • Inside the courtyard was the brazen altar, the brazen laver, and the Tabernacle itself. The Tabernacle was approximately 15 feet high, 15 feet wide, and 45 feet long. It consisted of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. These two rooms were separated by a veil of blue, purple, and scarlet. In the Holy Place was the golden candlestick, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense. In the Holy of Holies was the ark of the covenant. There abode the Spirit of God between two golden cherubims located on the lid of the ark, which was called the mercy seat.
      Of course. God is omnipresent, or present everywhere, but He manifested His glory there to show His covenant relationship with Israel. God has always desired to dwell with His people, but sin has always separated humanity from God. From the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after the death of Christ, God has dwelt in the hearts of His people in a new and wonderful way. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (I Corinthians 3:16).
  2. The Altar of Sacrifice
    • The priest approached the Tabernacle first by way of the brazen altar, and there he offered the sacrifice for sin. The brazen altar was approximately seven and a half feet square and four and a half feet high. It was made of acacia wood overlaid with brass. It was a place of death and shedding of blood. It represents the death of Jesus, which purchased our salvation. It also points to repentance, which is our identification with the death of Jesus and our personal death to sin and self-will. Everyone must approach God through repentance. Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish’ (Luke 13:3).
    • The altar was a prominent feature of the Tabernacle and its worship. It was placed immediately in front of the gate of the court of the Tabernacle. It was the first object that met the eye of the worshiper as he came into the court to present his sacrifice unto the Lord. The altar was not hidden in some remote place in the court, removed from the gaze of the people, nor did it stand inside the Tabernacle where only a few could approach it. It was placed where all could see it and where all could approach it. Only the priests could see the golden lampstand, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense, which were inside the Tabernacle itself. No one but the high priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies and he did so only on the Day of Atonement. By contrast, the altar was plainly visible from without. In fact, no one could enter into the Holy Place except by passing this sacred emblem where the sacrificial blood of the animals was offered. The altar teaches that not one will enter heaven except by the blood of Jesus, who stands as an altar of sacrifice for all who would approach God (John 14:6).
The Altar of Sacrifice
  • It was not merely the altar that gave the worshiper access to the Holy Place, by the putting away of his sins, for there had to be a sacrifice upon the altar. The relationship of the brazen altar to every other part of the Tabernacle service and its furniture was like that of the root to a tree, the heart to the body, and the foundation to a building. Everything inside and even the brazen laver in front of the door of the Tabernacle depended upon the work done at the altar.
  • Without the brazen altar, all else, no matter how magnificent, was useless. Everyone had to come to God by the way of the altar.
  • All the priests, their garments, the sacred vessels, and everything else were unfit for service until the blood shed at the brazen altar touched and sanctified them.
  • Here is the story of the Cross of Christ, Calvary. There is no pardon, no righteousness, no peace, no grace, no blessings, and no salvation without the sacrifice of the Cross. The altar represents the shedding of blood and the death of Jesus. And without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Hebrews 9:27).
  • The fire upon the altar was never to go out (Leviticus 6:13). There is no hour, day or night, that a transgressor cannot find the atonement of Calvary.

3. The Laver of Water

The Laver of Water
  • The laver points to the cleansing from sin we have in Jesus – the initial washing at water
    baptism, which is for the remission of sins and the continual cleansing we have thereafter
    • Exo 30:21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a
      statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.
  • In the New Testament
    • Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name
      of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
      Ghost.
    • 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
      another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
  • When we are baptized, God washes away our sins
    • Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,
      calling on the name of the Lord.
  • Without believeth, we are not saved. This belief is demonstrated by baptism.
    • Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall
      be damned.
    • 1 Pet 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting
      away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by
      the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
  • In the New Testament experience of salvation, repentance comes first, which is a death with
    Christ, a death to sin.
  • Then comes water baptism, which is a washing and burial with Christ.
    • Rom 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
      baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:
      that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
      also, should walk in newness of life.

4. The Holy Place

The Holy Place
  • The Holy Place was the golden candlestick (lampstand), the altar of incense, and the table of
    showbread show bread (sh½”brud”) n. The 12 loaves of blessed unleavened bread placed
    every Sabbath in the sanctuary of the Tabernacle as an offering by the Hebrew priests of
    ancient Israel.
  • These pieces of furniture point to Jesus and to our life in Christ through the indwelling of
    the Holy Spirit.
  • 1. THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK
    • The candlestick was of pure gold and provided the only light in the Tabernacle. Just as
      Jesus is the light to the world
      • John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that
        followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
  • 2. THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD
    • The showbread provided sustenance for the priest and also points to Jesus who is the Bread
      of Life and to His Word, which is food for the soul.
    • Just as the table exhibited the bread, so the Christian life shows forth Jesus to a dying world
      • John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man cat of this
        bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will
        give for the life of the world.
  • 3. THE ALTAR OF INCENSE
    • The Altar of incense represents prayers to God each morning and evening.
      • We also should pray each morning and evening
    • God hears the prayers of a righteous person
      • 1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
        people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
        darkness into his marvellous light:
      • James 5:16… The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
        • fer vent (für”v…nt) adj. 1. Having or showing great emotion or zeal; ardent: fervent
          protests; a fervent admirer. 2. Extremely hot; glowing

4. The Holy of Holies (Beyond the Veil)

EPSON MFP image
  • The Holy of Holies represents God himself
  • By His mercy He saved us
    • Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy
      he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Explore Fundamental Bible Stories in Home Study

Category:

bible, Bible Study, Home Bible Study, Scriptural Articles

Tagged with:

Unlocking the Meaning of Passover in Christianity

Passover in the Old Testament is comparative to Passover in the New Testament. In the chart below I will be showing how they are similar and different by talking about some of the different elements that was present in the 1st Passover. In 1st Corinthians 5:7-8 talks about keeping the feast of unleavened bread which is part of Passover.  “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

1st PassoverNew Testament Passover
Egypt: They are being delivered from slavery out of Egypt.
Exodus 3:7 And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;		Sin and death: Before receiving Jesus, we are slaves to sin. Sin is the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Romans 8:1-4 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Lamb: The lamb paid the price for the Israelites. It died in the place of the 1st born.
Exodus 12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.		Jesus: Died in the place of you and me.
1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Blood on the door frame: The blood was placed on the door frames of their houses.
Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.		Blood on the Cross: He was nailed to the cross. Jesus died on the cross. He was bloody all over.
John 19:33-35 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Unleavened Bread
This bread symbolizes sin.
Exodus 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.		Bread of Life
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Hyssop: Used to place the blood on the door frame.
Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.		Hyssop
John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Journey began
Exodus 12:51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.		Journey Begins: We now have a new life set before us. This journey is thought of as a course.
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Led by a prophet: Moses
Deuteronomy 34:10-12
And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, In all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.		Jesus:
Matthew 21:11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
Acts 3:21-24 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
God is King:
1 Chronicles 29:11-12: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.”
Isaiah 33:22: “For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.”
Psalm 47:2-5: “For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.”
Revelation 19:16: “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
Jesus is King
John 18:36 – Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king.”
Revelation 17:14 – “He is Lord of lords and King of kings.”
Revelation 19:13, 16 – “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Forgiveness: The priest made atonement
Leviticus 5:13
And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest’s, as a meat offering.		Forgiveness: Jesus is the High Priest
Hebrews 6:18-20  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
God is with them in the Ark
Exodus 25:22
“There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Covenant law, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.”		The Spirit of God dwells within us
1 Corinthians 3:16
 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

The Seven Appointed Times of God

Category:

bible, Bible Study, Feasts of God, Scriptural Articles

Tagged with:

La Cruz: El Camino a la Salvación

 puestos los ojos en Jesús, el autor y consumador de la fe, el cual por el gozo puesto delante de él sufrió la cruz, menospreciando el oprobio, y se sentó a la diestra del trono de Dios.
(Hebreos 12:2)
 
La Cruz
  • la voluntad del Padre-Dios
  • El propio brazo de Dios produjo la salvación
  • Dios presentó a Jesús como una propiciación (sustituto sin pecado) por Su sangre
  • el sacrificio voluntario, la ofrenda del cuerpo del Hijo, Jesucristo
  • Jesús se humilló a sí mismo y fue obediente hasta el punto de la muerte: la cruz
  • Jesús fue entregado (crucificado) por nuestras ofensas (pecados) y resucitado (resucitado) para nuestra justificación
  • la justicia de Dios revelada; Demostrado
  • la demostración del amor de Dios por nosotros mientras aún éramos pecadores
  • Jesús ahora está sentado a la diestra del trono de Dios, ¡ya está consumado!!
  • Jesús ha triunfado sobre todos los principados y potestades
Todos han pecado y están destituidos de la gloria de Dios
  • los pecadores (¡es decir, tú y yo!) ahora son justificados (declarados justos) libremente por la gracia de Dios a través de la redención que es en Cristo Jesús
  • ahora somos justificados por la fe (creencia, confianza en Jesús)
  • ahora estamos reconciliados con Dios (en paz con Dios a través de la sangre de la cruz)
  • ahora somos salvados por la vida de Jesús
  • ahora somos vivificados con Jesús
  • Somos perdonados de todas nuestras ofensas (pecados)ahora tenemos acceso por fe a la gracia de Dios
  • ahora estamos en la gracia de Dios
  • ahora nos regocijamos en la esperanza de la gloria de Dios

La Obra de la Cruz y la Obra iniciada en la Cruz

  • propiciación – sustituto
  • Redención – Precio pagado
  • Reconciliación – Paz restaurada
  • Justificación – Imputado/Declarado Justo
  • Santificación – Sal a caminar
  • Glorificación -Perfeccionada, completada
La imagen del bautismo
Crucificado con Cristo
  • Viejo Hombre (Carne – Pecado, Naturaleza) Crucificado
Sepultado con Cristo a través del bautismo de muerte 
  • Muertos al pecado
Resucitados con Cristo
 
  • vivo para Dios
  • La muerte ya no tiene dominio
 
Camina en novedad de vida
  • presentarme como un instrumento de justicia para la santidad
 
He sido sepultado, resucitado y vivificado con Cristo. mi vida ahora está escondida
con Cristo en Dios. Cristo es ahora mi vida. (Romanos 6; Colosenses 2:12-13, 3:3)

… Despojémonos de todo peso y del pecado que tan fácilmente nos atrapa, y
Corramos con paciencia la carrera que tenemos por delante!! Hebreos 12:1)
Por favor, lea Romanos 6

La Eternidad de Dios: Estudio Bíblico

Category:

Estudio de la Biblia,, La eternidad de Dios

Tagged with:

Understanding the Law: From Sinai to Christ

Israel at Sinai (The Time of the Law)

  • Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea into the wilderness of Sinai. When they came to Marah, they found bitter water, unsuitable for drinking. When the people murmured against Moses, God showed him a tree. When Moses cut it down and cast it into the water, the water became sweet. Sometimes life may be bitter, but Jesus is the Tree that can sweeten every life.
  • After three months on their journey from Egypt, they arrived at Mt. Sinai. The people remained there for a period of one year. What took place at Sinai marked the beginning of Israel’s national history. The covenant that God made with Abraham and confirmed to Isaac and Jacob became a national covenant.
  • At Mt. Sinai, God gave Moses the law, which included the Ten Commandments as well as other moral, ceremonial, and civil laws. God intended for Israel to live by the law until Jesus came in the fullness of time. “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). The law pointed out sin and the shortcomings of all human efforts to live holy without God’s indwelling Spirit. God also gave Moses the plan of the Tabernacle, which was the physical dwelling place of God’s Spirit in the midst of the people of Israel.

From the Tabernacle to the Cross (Read Hebrews Chapter 9)

  • The mission and the object of the law was the Cross of Christ.
  • The things shown to Moses point to the One who was to come, Jesus
    • Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be
      justified by faith.
  • Jesus was literally God tabernacled in flesh, God coming into this world to be our Savior
    • Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall
      save his people from their sins.
    • Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall
      call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
    • Col 1:14-15 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
    • 1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in
      the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
    • Isa 53:1-10 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
      2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the
      chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the
      LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Explore Fundamental Bible Stories in Home Study

Category:

bible, Bible Study, Home Bible Study, Scriptural Articles

Tagged with:

Understanding the Exodus: God’s Plan of Redemption

The Exodus-The Plan of Redemption

  • Nearly four centuries passed after the Israelites came to Egypt in the days of Joseph. “And the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, and multiplied and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph” (Exodus 1:7-8). The new king set harsh taskmasters over the Israelites and set them at hard labor in the fields and in constructing cities and walls. This story is rich in typology, for the deliverance of Israel from bondage illustrates God’s plan of redemption for fallen humanity. I Corinthians 10:1-11 teaches that we can use the flight from Egypt as an example for us today.
  • Forty Years in Egypt
    • The Birth of Moses
      • Pharaoh became fearful that the Hebrews would rise up and overthrow the Egyptians, so he commanded the midwives to kill every newborn male Hebrew at the time of birth.
      • “But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive” (Exodus 1:17).
      • Then Pharaoh commanded all his people to destroy the baby boys by throwing them into a river (Exodus 1:22). After Moses was born, he was hid three months by his parents, Jochebed and Amram. When they could no longer hide him in their home, his mother made an ark of bulrushes and waterproofed it with slime and pitch. She hid him each day in the reeds along the river. His sister, Miriam, watched the baby Moses from the shore.
      • One day while on her way to wash herself at the river, Pharaoh’s daughter chanced to find the ark there among the reeds. She had the ark brought to her, and when she opened it, Moses wept and Pharaoh’s daughter had compassion on the small baby. She determined to take the child and bring him up in the palace. Miriam offered to contact a Hebrew woman to nurse the child for the daughter of Pharaoh. “And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it” (Exodus 2:9). The woman, who was Jochebed, took the child to her home, nursed him, and received wages for nursing her own baby. “And the child grew, and she brought him [Moses] unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son” (Exodus 2:10). The same river that could have been the means of destruction of Moses became his salvation, just as Jesus becomes our Savior instead of our Judge if we follow His plan of salvation for us.
    • Moses’ Choice
      • When Moses was grown, he went out one day among his brethren and saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. He killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. The next day he saw two Hebrews fighting and attempted to separate them. One of them said, “Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian?” (Exodus 2:14). Because Moses had acted out of God’s will, his efforts to lead were rejected by the people. He was unprepared at this stage for the task that he would later perform. (See also Hebrews 11:23-29.)
  • Forty Years in Midian
    • Moses realized that his deed was known, and fearing revenge by Pharaoh, he fled to the land of Midian. There he met and married Zipporah, a daughter of the Midianite priest Jethro.
    • Moses’ Call
      • One day as Moses was tending sheep, he beheld a bush burning. Upon closer examination, he was amazed when he saw it was not consumed with the fire. God called to him out of the midst of the bush, giving him his call for his life’s work. God told Moses that He had heard the cries of the people and that He would use him to deliver them from bondage and lead them to their promised land.
    • God Proves Himself to Moses
      • Moses expressed doubts that he could do the job, so God had him to cast down the rod he held in his hand. When he did so, the rod changed into a serpent. God had him pick it up by the tail, and it turned back into the rod. God then told Moses to put his hand into his bosom. Moses obeyed, and when he took his hand out it was white with leprosy. Then Moses was told to thrust his hand back into his garment. When he removed his hand, this time it was healed. Thus he was shown that God could make him victorious over everything that would confront him. Likewise God’s people today can totally trust in the Lord, knowing that He will bring triumph over the devil, the world, and the flesh.
  • Moses the Deliverer
    • Moses Before Pharaoh-Ten Plagues
      • Moses obeyed the Lord, returned to Egypt, went to Pharaoh, and told him that God had said, “Let my people go.” Pharaoh desired to keep the Hebrews in bondage and rebelled against God’s will. Disaster came to Egypt in the form of ten plagues from God. Significantly, God used the things the Egyptians worshiped-frogs, cattle, the sun, and the Nile river-to demonstrate His great power. After each of the first nine plagues, Pharaoh agreed to let the Israelites go, but in each instance, he later had a change of heart. His deceit set the stage for the most dreadul plague yet to come.
    • Passover-Deliverance by the Blood
      • The Lord told Moses to speak to the congregation and tell them to take a male lamb of the first year without blemish for each household. He instructed them to kill the lamb and to apply its blood to the two doorposts and the lintel of each house. They were then to roast the lamb and eat it that night, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They were to eat in haste with shoes on their feet, belts on their waist, and a staff in their hand, because it was time to leave Egypt. At midnight the Lord passed through the land of Egypt and killed the firstborn of every household that did not have blood upon the doorpost. When he saw blood on the doorpost, He passed by that house and the inhabitants inside were safe.
      • Salvation in this age is dependent upon the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The blood of Jesus must be applied through obedience to the gospel. If the Lord did not find blood applied to the doorpost, instant death resulted. The blood of the innocent lamb is symbolic of the blood of the Lamb of God that delivers from spiritual bondage.
    • Deliverance through the Red Sea
      • Pharaoh at last agreed to let the Hebrews go. The Lord led them out of Egypt with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day (Exodus 13:21). After the people left Egypt, Pharaoh changed his mind again and sent his army after the Israelites. God led the Israelites to the Red Sea. When the people saw Pharaoh’s chariots closing in on them, they cried out against Moses. Moses told the people, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever’ (Exodus 14:13). Moses lifted his rod, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night (Exodus 14:7-21). The people miraculously crossed over upon dry ground with the waters as a great wall on either side. In every situation the Lord will always make a way of escape for His people. (See I Corinthians 10:13.) The Egyptians were in pursuit, but as soon as the Israelites got across, the Lord had Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea. The waters fell on the Egyptians and they were all drowned. “And Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore” (Exodus 14:30). Salvation is the whole process by which Christ rescues a person from sin and makes him a child of God.
  • Jesus Christ rescues from sin and death; He restores the soul, and He puts a new song into the heart.
  • In typology, Egypt represents bondage, or sin. The Red Sea is a type of baptism for “all our fathers.. baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (I Corinthians 10:1-2). A future lesson will show that entering the promised land is a type of receiving God’s promise. There were battles to be fought, giants to face, and walls to bring down. Thus we see God’s plan of salvation: repentance (leaving Egypt), baptism (crossing the Red Sea), and moving into the promise of God (the Holy Spirit).
Explore Fundamental Bible Stories in Home Study

Category:

bible, Bible Study, Home Bible Study, Scriptural Articles

Tagged with:

The Journey of Joseph: From Betrayal to Leadership

Joseph
God reaffirmed His covenant with Jacob (Israel), and Jacob fathered twelve sons (Genesis 35:22-26). One of Jacob’s sons, Joseph, was chosen by God to be a preserver of the family of Jacob (Genesis 45:5).

  • Joseph Sold into Egypt
    • Joseph was sensitive to the Lord and a person of high moral character. His brothers became jealous of him when they saw that their father loved him above the other sons. Later, Joseph had some dreams which suggested that his brothers and mother and father would bow down to him. Predictably, their hatred for him increased.
    • One day, when Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers, they saw an opportunity to rid themselves of him forever. After casting him into a pit, they sold him to some Midianite merchants for twenty pieces of silver. The Midianites took him into Egypt, where they sold him to Potiphar, who was one of Pharaoh’s officers and a captain of the guard.
  • Jacob Deceived
    • After having disposed of Joseph, his brothers took a goat and killed it, dipping Joseph’s coat in the blood. They brought the coat to their father and asked, “Is this thy son’s coat?” “It is my son’s coat,” Jacob declared. “An evil beast hath devoured him. Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. In his despair, Jacob refused to be comforted and mourned with tears for Joseph (Genesis 37:31-35).
    • Meanwhile, Joseph, being the conscientious, godly man that he was did his very best as a servant to Potiphar. He had every reason for bitterness and an excuse to be sullen. Instead he served his master diligently. Potiphar saw that God was with him and that everything Joseph did prospered. Finally, Potiphar made Joseph the overseer of all that he had. Potiphar concerned himself only with the food that was set before him to eat Joseph took care of everything.
  • Joseph’s Temptation
    • Joseph’s trials were not over, however. Potiphar’s wife became infatuated with Joseph and daily tempted him to commit immorality with her. He steadfastly refused her advances, until one day, as he fled from her presence. she grasped part of his clothing. Seeing that she was rebuffed, she contrived to blame Joseph with trying to assault her, using his clothing as proof. Potiphar, his wrath kindled, put Joseph in the prison where the king’s prisoners were kept.
  • Joseph in Prison
    • Even in the prison, Joseph kept the right attitude. He refused to be bitter and looked for opportunities to serve God. The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners and the complete management of the prison. Even in prison, God blessed Joseph and prepared the way for the fulfillment of His plan.
    • In the prison were two men who had served Pharaoh as the chief of the butlers and the chief of the bakers. They both had dreams, which Joseph Interpreted. True to Joseph’s interpretation, the butler was restored to his office, while the baker was hanged.
  • Joseph’s Elevation under Pharaoh
    • At the end of two years, Pharaoh had a dream that which none of his men could interpret. Then the butler remembered Joseph and suggested to Pharaoh that Joseph might be able to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Pharaoh called for Joseph, who told him the significance of his dream: Egypt would experience seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
    • Pharaoh promoted Joseph to the position of second most powerful ruler in all of Egypt and gave to this thirty-year-old Hebrew the responsibility of storing up food during the seven years of plenty in preparation for the drastic famine that was to follow (Genesis 41:46).
  • Joseph’s Brothers Come to Egypt
    • When the famine came to Egypt, it also affected the land of Canaan, where Joseph’s family still lived. When Jacob heard that Egypt had grain, he sent his sons-all except the youngest son, Benjamin-to buy some. The person in charge of selling grain was Joseph, and just as he had dreamed many years previously, his brothers came before him bowing down to the earth!
    • Recognizing them, Joseph disguised himself and spoke roughly, trying to find out if his father was still alive and attempting to devise a plan to bring his father to Egypt. He accused his brothers of being spies. When they denied the charges and said that they were all the sons of one man, Joseph took one of them, Simeon, and bound him until the others could return with their youngest brother, Benjamin, as proof of their innocence.
    • Jacob was greatly troubled and refused to send Benjamin for fear that he too would never return. But when the famine grew worse, the family had no choice but to comply with Joseph’s instructions. Judah took personal responsibility for Benjamin, and the brothers traveled to Egypt once again.
    • This time, Joseph devised a plan to keep Benjamin, which involved secretly returning the brothers’ money in the mouth of their sacks and putting his personal silver cup in the sack of Benjamin. When the brothers were stopped by Joseph’s servant and returned to him, Joseph could no longer refrain from revealing to them exactly who he was. He wept aloud, and said, “I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?”
  • Joseph Forgives His Brothers
    • His brothers, troubled and surprised, could not answer. Then Joseph, who had every reason to be bitter, harsh, and unforgiving, said, “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5).
    • Long before the New Testament was ever written, Joseph had learned one of the most valuable lessons that we can ever learn: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28). As he was to say later, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive’ (Genesis 50:20).
  • Jacob and His Family Settle in Goshen
    • Joseph supplied his brothers with wagons and equipment. They returned to Canaan and brought their father, Jacob, back to Egypt to settle in the land of Goshen, the choice land of all Egypt. Here they enjoyed many years of blessings, peace, and plenty while Joseph was alive.
  • Israel in Egyptian Bondage
    • After Joseph’s death, a new king arose in Egypt who did not know Joseph. This pharaoh began to be fearful of the Israelites, for they were numerous and strong. He was afraid that they would side with his enemies to help them overthrow Egypt in war. In his fear, the new pharaoh set taskmasters over the Israelites and made slaves of them. But the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelites (Hebrews), the more the Israelites multiplied and grew. God was preparing them for the great exodus from Egypt back to their promised land of Canaan.
Explore Fundamental Bible Stories in Home Study

Category:

bible, Bible Study, Home Bible Study, Scriptural Articles

Tagged with:

The Story of Jacob and Esau: A Biblical Analysis

Jacob and Esau
It was through Isaac that God had promised to raise up descendants to Abraham, Isaac’s wife, Rebekah, had two sons, Esau and Jacob. Like Cain and Abel, these two sons were quite different. The Lord had said to Rebekah, “Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people and the elder shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23).
Esau the elder son was a cunning hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a man of the plains who lived in tents.

Esau Sells His Birthright

  • Jacob, the younger of the two, was making stew one day when Esau came in from the field. Esau was hungry and said. “Feed me, I pray thee with that same red pottage for I am faint” (Genesis 25:30). Esau appears to have been a who was concerned with fleshly, physical things. He was guided by his senses. When he was hungry satisfying his appetite was the most important thing in the world to him.
  • Jacob, on the other hand, had an appreciation for spiritual things, although he was by no means perfect. In response to Esau’s request, Jacob demanded, “Sell me this day thy birthright” (Genesis 25:31).The birthright was the privilege given to the oldest son. It gave him preferred treatment in the family, including first claim on the inheritance. Esau was so oriented to the present, rather than the future, that he answered, “Behold, I am at the point to die and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” (Genesis 25:32).
  • “Swear to me this day.” Jacob insisted, and Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for bread and stew of lentils. Then Esau arose and went his way, having sold out a most valuable blessing for a temporary, fleshly satisfaction (Genesis 25:33-34).
  • How sad it is that when confronted with a choice of preparing for the future eternity or receiving a small measure of satisfaction right now, many will choose the present. Such people are looking at things that are seen and not things that are eternal (II Corinthians 4:18).

Jacob Steals the Blessing

  • The dramatic scene of Jacob gaining Esau’s birthright was not their last encounter over family blessings. When Isaac was old and his vision dim so that he could not see, he called Esau, his favorite of the two boys, and asked Esau to go into the field with his bow and arrows for some venison. Isaac enjoyed the meat and wanted to eat some prior to bestowing upon Esau the blessing due to the firstborn.
  • Rebekah heard Isaac’s instructions to Esau, and she instructed Jacob, who was her favorite son, to bring her two kids of the goats. She prepared the meat that Isaac liked and disguised Jacob by putting the goat skins on Jacob’s hands and neck and giving him Esau’s clothing to wear.
  • Then, pretending to be Esau, Jacob went into his blind father and presented Isaac with the meat. Isaac was surprised that Esau had returned so soon with the meat, and he was a bit skeptical. He called Jacob near in order to feel of him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau” (Genesis 27:22). But Isaac was unable to distinguish that it was Jacob, and he gave Jacob Esau’s blessing.
  • Shortly thereafter, just as Jacob had left his father, Esau came in. Isaac was very disturbed that he had been deceived. Esau cried with a bitter cry, but the blessing could not be removed from Jacob. Esau hated Jacob and planned to kill him in revenge. Rebekah heard of his plans and urged Jacob to flee to Haran, where her brother, Laban, lived.

Jacob’s Encounter with God (Genesis 28:10-22)

  • As Jacob traveled, he came to a place called Luz, where he prepared to stay the night. While he slept, he dreamed of a ladder set up on the earth with its top reaching heaven. The angels of God were going up and down on the ladder. Above the ladder stood the Lord, who said, “I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 28:13-14).
  • Jacob awoke and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. Being afraid, he continued, “How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Genesis 28:16-17).

Jacob Remembers the House of the Lord

  • Early in the morning, Jacob rose and set up a pillar from the stones he had used for pillows. He poured oil on the pillar and called the name of the place Bethel, which means “house of God.” Jacob vowed, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee” (Genesis 28:20-22).
  • Thus, God renewed with Jacob the covenant that He had made with his father, Isaac, and his grandfather, Abraham.

Jacob Wrestles with the Angel of the Lord

  • Twenty years later, after Jacob had spent time with his Uncle Laban and had begun his family, he was on his way back to see his aged father. He heard that Esau was coming to meet him, and fear rose up in his heart as he remembered his brother’s pledge to kill him. Sending his family on, Jacob stayed behind. An angel of the Lord wrestled with him until daybreak. When the angel saw that Jacob was not going to release him, he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh, permanently shrinking the sinew and causing him to limp. The angel said, “Let me go, for the day breaketh.” Jacob answered, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” The angel asked, “What is thy name?” “Jacob” “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob,” said the angel, “but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed” (Genesis 32:24-28).
  • Because of his persistence, Jacob received the blessing that he desired and left that place a different man. His former name, Jacob, meant “supplanter” and had the connotation of trickery and deceit. His new name, Israel, meant “he who strives with God.” There was also a physical difference: every time he took a step, the limp reminded him of his encounter with the angel of the Lord.
  • Certainly, when a person comes into the presence of God and determines to receive God’s best, a miraculous change takes place. He is never the same!
Explore Fundamental Bible Stories in Home Study

Category:

bible, Bible Study, Home Bible Study, Scriptural Articles

Tagged with:

Understanding Deuteronomy 12:29-32: Guidelines for Worship

Verse Mapping of Deuteronomy 12:29-32

 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God. When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land; Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Difficult Words:

  • Snared: Strong’s H5367 – nāqaš
    • שׁ nâqash, naw-kash’; a primitive root; to entrap (with a noose), literally or figuratively:—catch (lay a) snare.
  • thou enquire: Strong’s H1875 – dāraš
    • דָּרַשׁ dârash, daw-rash’; a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship:—ask, × at all, care for, × diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-) mancer, question, require, search, seek (for, out), × surely.
  • Add: Strong’s H3254 – yāsap̄
    • to add, increase, do again
  • Diminish: Strong’s H1639 – gāraʿ
    • to diminish, restrain, withdraw, abate, keep back, do away, take from, clip

Other Translations:

  • Amplified Bible
    •  “When the Lord your God cuts off and destroys before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and settle in their land, 30 beware that you are not lured (ensnared) into following them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods, so that I too may do likewise?’ 31 You shall not behave this way toward the Lord your God, for they have done for their gods every repulsive thing which the Lord hates; for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire [as sacrifices] to their gods. “Everything I command you, you shall be careful to do it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
  • New International Version (NIV)
    • The Lord your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, 30 and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.” 31 You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods. See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.
  • Christian Standard Bible
    • “When the Lord your God annihilates the nations before you, which you are entering to take possession of, and you drive them out and live in their land, 30 be careful not to be ensnared by their ways after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, ‘How did these nations worship their gods? I’ll also do the same.’ 31 You must not do the same to the Lord your God, because they practice every detestable act, which the Lord hates, for their gods. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. 32 Be careful to do everything I command you; do not add anything to it or take anything away from it.

Cross References

  •  Leviticus 18:24-30
    • Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God.
  • Psalms 106:34-39
    • They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the Lord commanded them: But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.  And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
  • Jeremiah 10:2
    • Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
  • Ezekiel 11:12
  • And ye shall know that I am the Lord: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.
  • Matthew 5:17-19
    • Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
  • John 4:24
    •  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Context

  • Author: Deuteronomy identifies Moses as its author five times (1:1, 5; 31:9, 22, 24)
  • Audience: The Israelites; God’s chosen people
  • When wrote: Moses lived from approximately 1520 to 1400 BC, dying at the age of 120 just before the Israelites entered the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:7). Moreover, Moses’ first speech in the book is dated to the specific day: “In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him in commandment to them” (Deuteronomy 1:3). The fortieth year refers to four decades after God freed Israel from Egyptian slavery. Moses spoke the three speeches recorded in Deuteronomy on that day.
  • Purpose: Deuteronomy is called the second Law. It was written to teach the new generation of Israelites who were getting ready to enter the promise land.

What Does it Say:

It says don’t learn the ways of the heathen and don’t incorporate their ideas about how to worship into your worship of God.

What Does it mean:

This means that you are not to add to what God has said on how to worship him. He does not want a show. He wants correct worship that is not tinted by anything to do with pagans.

Application:

We need to be sure that what we are doing is actually pleasing to God. We need to remember that the devil is crafty, but somewhat predictable. Over the years making sin look good has worked. We need to be careful that pagan worship practices have not slipped into our homes, lives, and churches. This will require careful praying and seeking God’s direction.

Comprehensive Bible Studies by Topic

Category:

Bible Verse Mapping, General Bible Study, Scriptural Articles

Tagged with:

Understanding the Role of the Temple in Christianity

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. Hebrews 8:1-5

God instructed Moses on how to build the tabernacle. When it was finished “the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.” Deuteronony 31:15. Many years later when the temple that Solomon had built was finish, he dedicated it to God. It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14

Jesus says that he is the temple.

  • Matthew 12:6: But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple (G2411)
  • John 2: 19:  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple (G3485), and in three days I will raise it up.
  • Revelations 21:22: And I saw no temple (G3485) therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple (G3485) of it.

Temple

  • ἱερόν hierón (G2411), hee-er-on’; neuter of G2413; a sacred place, i.e. the entire precincts (whereas G3485 denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the Temple (at Jerusalem or elsewhere):—temple.
  • ναός naós, nah-os’; from a primary ναίω naíō (to dwell); a fane, shrine, temple:—shrine, temple. Compare G2411.

The temple is the place where the Spirit of God comes down to meet with man. In the Old Testament Moses was instructed to build a tabernacle that was patterned after the spiritual tabernacle in Heaven. The Jesus came as was foretold. Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). This was fulfilled in the New Testament. Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Immanuel

  • “God with us” or “with us is God”
  • symbolic and prophetic name of the Messiah, the Christ, prophesying that He would be born of a virgin and would be ‘God with us’

Emmanuel

  • “God with us”
  • the title applied to the Messiah, born of the virgin, Mt 1:23, Is. 7:14, because Jesus was God united with man, and showed that God was dwelling with man

Now God is doing something new. This was foretold in Jeremiah. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people (Jeremiah 31:33). Here are some more scriptures on what God foretold and on what He is not doing

  • Proverbs 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
  • Ezekiel 39:29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
  • Joel 2:28-29 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
  • Acts 2:17-18 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

These scriptures show that God wants his Spirit to go from dwelling in a house made with human hands to pouring His spirit into his people. Which may be why Paul wrote, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple (G3485) of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

The temple is important is the temple where the Holy Spirit resides. We are all called to be the temple of God, which is the place his spirit lives. We are called to be part of a Holy Priest Hood. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:5-6). The Israelites were given this opportunity, but they rejected it. And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. Now under the New Covenant we are again given this opportunity. 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Each and every one of us has a choice to make. Will you except God or will you reject God.

Category:

General Bible Study, Scriptural Articles

Tagged with: