July 9 - Ecclesiastes & Esther

July 9 - Ecclesiastes & Esther

Ecclesiastes is perhaps the most pessimistic book of the Old Testament. It opens with these words, "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." Meaning in the end we all die and that everything the author thought important, was not. It is fairly well agreed upon that Solomon is the author, though he is not mentioned by name. Solomon 1:1 "The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem." Pastor teaches this class from the point of Solomon being the author and in this way brings the book into a more positive view - seeing this book as a testimony to Solomon coming back to God in the later days of his life. The dating of the book is uncertain. The theme of the book is that it is folly (vanity) to live a life without God. The book also talks about the author amassing silver and gold, slaves, herds and flocks, singers and a harem (Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines and they pulled him away from his faith in God. Solomon started his kingship so well and was devoted to God but throughout his life goes further and further from God. If Solomon is the author, this gives the hope that he returned to God at the end of his lie). The author concludes that in the end he had nothing. If this is Solomon, this is encouraging that he understood that and came to the realization that there is more than just this earthly life. Pastor explores several key verses: ⁃ Whoever loves money will never have enough ⁃ Everyone comes naked from the womb. As everyone comes, so they depart. ⁃ No one on earth is righteous and never sins. ⁃ Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say,"I find no pleasure in them." Meaning come to the Lord in your youth and don't wander away from Him. Solomon is looking back on his life and realizing how foolish he was to abandon his faith in God. ⁃ The book concludes with "When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man." This is a book that starts out rather pessimistic but ends with a powerful message to come back to the Lord. Esther is a book that has been under much attack by critics. Thought of as fiction, but Pastor believes the book to be firmly anchored in history. An uplifting and powerful story. List of objections to Esther by critics: ⁃ No mention of "God" but He is none-the-less all over this book. Perhaps the absence of His name makes His presence that much more real. The things of this story could not have happened without Him. ⁃ No mention of Esther in Herodotus. ⁃ Objections to "Mordecai" (but a discovery in Susa shows an inscription with "Marduk-ai-a" being an official in Susa during reign of Xerxes bringing validation to the book) ⁃ Palace at Susa destroyed within 30 years of the writing of Esther. But in recent times it has been discovered that what is written in Esther about the palace is exactly right. ⁃ Haman the Agatgite (name may refer to the Province from which he came vs. him being an Amelekite.) Esther ⁃ Author: Mordecai? ⁃ Date: uncertain (464-330 BC) ⁃ Setting; ⁃ Persian emperor Xerxes (486-465 BC) ⁃ 3rd year of Xerxes' reign = 483 BC (1:3) Of historical record is that Xerxes held a massive gathering of leaders to plan to conquer the rest of the world. This historical event is the event that kicks off the book of Esther. At this event Queen Vashti is deposed and then for the next 3 years Xerxes is on a campaign to conquer the world beginning with the Greeks. ⁃ 7th year of Xerxes' reign = 483-479 BC (2:16) He comes back from the war campaign defeated. To cheer him up his men hold a beauty contest to determine the next queen. Esther and many other young women are brought into his harem and King Xerxes chooses Esther she becomes queen. ⁃ 12th year of Xerxes' reign = 483474 BC (3:7) Haman, a wealthy, influential leader in the Persian government, despises Mordecai and wants to kill him and all Jews. But what Haman does not know is that Queen Esther is related to Mordecai. Haman comes to Xerxes and convinces Xerxes to have the Jewish people destroyed on a specific date that is 11 months away. Mordecai learns of the plan and tells Esther. This is when Mordecai says to Esther, "…if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" ⁃ Haman plots while Esther and the Jewish people fast and pray. Then one night King Xerxes couldn't sleep and he has old records read to him and discovers he never rewarded Mordecai for protecting the him. Xerxes gives Mordecai the reward and this angers Haman even more. ⁃ At the next evening's dinner, the king asks what Esther wants, and she tells the King that Haman wants me and my people killed and Haman is killed on the pole that he had built for Mordecai and Mordecai is given the King's ring. ⁃ The King orders that on the day planned to kill the Jews (an irrevocable order) that the Jews are to defend themselves and defeat their enemies. 75,000 anti-jewish rioters were killed that day along with Haman's 10 sons. ⁃ The victory became a festival called Purim and is a time of great rejoicing. God uses a young woman, Esther, to save Messiah's line. This story shows us how God intervenes in history to carry out His plans. Join us next week for our study of Daniel. For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year [https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year] Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com [https://www.awakeusnow.com/]

July 2 - Song of Songs & Lamentations

Song of Songs is a book that speaks of the kind of love that God intends for a husband and a wife to share with one another. Song of Songs ⁃ Is the book in which there is the least amount of consensus on how to interpret this book. ⁃ Author traditionally seen as Solomon but might be written by him, written for him or possibly written of him. ⁃ InterpretatIons: ⁃ Allegory - God/Israel; Jesus/church; Bride groom/bride ⁃ Anthology - unconnected love poems ⁃ Solomon and the Shulammite ⁃ Shulammite and the Shepherd ⁃ It is poetry - not prose Pastor explores Song of Solomon from the viewpoint of #4 Shulammite and the Shepherd because it gives a fascinating story. Shulammite and the Shepherd Outline ⁃ 1:1-2:8 She recalls life back at home and fondly recalls the young man she love so deeply ⁃ 2:8-3:5 Dreams her boyfriend visits her ⁃ 3:6-4:7 Solomon tries to woo her ⁃ 4;8-5:1 She is unmoved ⁃ 5:2-6:3 Dreams of her lover back home ⁃ 6:4-7:9 Solomon's second attempt ⁃ 7:10-8:3 She longs for her boyfriend ⁃ 8:4-14 She returns home and is married and they "live happily ever after" as that is God's plan for marriage, that a Christ-centered marriage truly be a lasting joy. Pastor talks about this being a different culture now-a-days and that when this was written they spoke differently in their love language. Pastor points out a few specific verses: 2:4. "Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love." And the great Hymn "His Banner Over Me Is Love." 2:7. "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." This line is said multiple times throughout the book. What this means is that love is precious, don't consummate your love until you are ready and prepared and have committed yourselves together for life as God intended. 8:6-7. The woman is speaking: "Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one's house for love, it would be utterly scorned." What she is saying is you can offer me all sorts of wealth, palace, clothes,… but I would be an absolute fool to sell out and give up my real love for stuff. Lamentations The book is a series laments. ⁃ Author: Jeremiah(?) nothing in the book says he wrote it but jewish tradition is that Jeremiah composed these words. ⁃ Date: written after the destruction of Jerusalem - post 586 B.C. ⁃ Structure; ⁃ 5 poetic laments ⁃ Chapters 1-4 are acrostic poems - this can't be seen in the English translations. But in Hebrew for chapters 1, 2 and 4 the first verse begins with the first letter of Hebrew alphabet, the 2nd verse the 2nd letter of the alphabet and so on. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet and thus each of these chapters has 22 verses. ⁃ Chapter 3 is a triple acrostic. This one has 66 verses with 3 verses written for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet. As lament-filled as this book is, at the heart of the book, in chapter 3, are some of the most encouraging, comforting and powerful words found in the Bible. Chapter 3 inspired the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness." ⁃ Chapter 5 is not an acrostic. It is a poetic lament. ⁃ Outline by chapter: ⁃ 1 - Jerusalem rebelled against God and has been rejected by God ⁃ 2 - Jerusalem's prophets/priests failed. ⁃ 3 - Great is God's faithfulness! This chapter starts with a lament, but then the author calls to mind "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The author remembers God's faithfulness. When we find ourselves discouraged or saddened, we too can remember that God is faithful. Further on in the chapter in verse 33 we see that God does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. He judges His people, but His heart is not for judgement. His desire is not to bring pain, sorrow and loss into people's lives. Those come because we are living in a fallen world, they come because there is an enemy, and because that fallen nature is in us. But God's desire is not that we suffer, but rather that we are made new. Not that we won't any longer struggle, but God gives us a new spirit and restoration to those who repent and receive Jesus as Savior, Messiah and Lord. God's call us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. ⁃ 4 - Sin of Judah's leaders ⁃ 5 - Plea for restoration - Lamentations ends with a plea for God to restore Jerusalem. And we see that plea fulfilled through Jesus. What the author yearned for has become a reality in Christ and in the return of God's people. And now we long for the day of His final return. Next week Ecclesiastes and Esther. FREE resources: https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year [https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year] Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com [https://www.awakeusnow.com/]

June 25 - Job

The book of Job speaks powerfully to the mind, heart and soul and expresses the heart of God in the midst of life's hardest and most difficult of trials.. Job ⁃ It contains historical material, poetry, proverbs, songs, prophetic words. ⁃ It is hard to date this book as ⁃ We don't know when or where Job lived ⁃ It is unknown as to when the book was written ⁃ Not sure who the author is: Job, Moses, Solomon, other…? ⁃ It is part of the Bible's "Wisdom Literature" ⁃ Unique characteristics: ⁃ "Shaddai" the name used for God (31x) means "The Almighty" and is one of the oldest words used for God. Pastor shares a fascinating story of what a Chinese missionary discovered. ⁃ "Yahweh" / "Yehovah" also appears in the book.. "The One Who Is" ⁃ Setting is in the land of Uz. Not sure where this is - maybe Arabia, Syria, Edom or?? ⁃ We do know that Job was extremely wealthy and faithful to God. ⁃ Archaic vocabulary - many words are hard to translate. It has animals that are unknown to us today. ⁃ The book is all about Spiritual Warfare - war in the heavenlies that we are unable to see that often results in things that cannot be explained by normal human means. ⁃ The book is also about Suffering. At the heart of the suffering is the message that personal sin is not always the cause of personal suffering. ⁃ Several friends are "miserable comfort" ⁃ Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar ⁃ Bring accusations and words of despair to Job instead of comfort (16:2) ⁃ Eliphaz is the leader and chief spokesman for the group (5:27) ⁃ Eliphaz is visited by a spirit (4:12-16) who gives him what he ends up saying to Job. Eliphaz tells that he received a word that was secretly brought to him, that a spirit glided past his face and it spoke to him the things to say to Job. Here we see the spiritual warfare. The devil is a liar, and a thief. ⁃ Job has an encouraging friend ⁃ Elihu is one of Job's friends that was not rebuked by God.(42:7) Elihu speaks truth. The Outline of the Book of Job ⁃ Prologue and setting of the story. A tragic opening. Job loses family, flocks and wealth - yet he remains faithful to God. (1-2) ⁃ Dialogue - for a week his friends say nothing but sit with Job. After a week they begin to talk and these chapters are Job's conversations with these three friends. Job continues strong in his faith. (3-27) ⁃ Interlude on Wisdom (28) ⁃ Job's Closing Arguments about wanting to talk to God and make his case before God to figure out why this is happening to him. (29-31) ⁃ Elihu's Speeches to the other three and to Job. (32-37) ⁃ The LORD Speaks - powerful words from God - who speaks to Job and to the other four. (38-42:6) ⁃ Epilogue - the end of the story and how things turned out for Job. God turns things around because God wins the spiritual battle. (42:7-17) Pastor goes through a list of the greatest verses in the Book of Job: 1:21 - the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. May the name of the Lord be praised! 14:1-2 - reminds us that we are in a world that has fallen and that people die 16:19 - Job says that his witness is in heaven, his Advocate is on High. (Even when he couldn't depend on his friends, he knew He could count on God.) 19:20,23-27 - chapters where Job says he's lost everything, is barely hanging on, BUT he goes on in the deepest moments of pain and suffering to say that he knows that his Redeemer lives and that he will see God. 28:28 - Job tells us that God has taught us that the fear of the Lord is "wisdom" and to shun evil is "understanding." 33:14-18 - words from Elihu: God does speak in many ways, for the purpose of turning us from wrong doing and to save us. 40:15ff Behemoth is an animal made by God at the time when He created man, eats grass, and is described with amazing strength. The greatest of the land creatures that God made. Massive legs and a tail like a cedar tree. There is nothing today that measures up to this animal. It is not a hippo or elephant. Behemoth is massive and gigantic. A huge dinosaur. There is literary and archeological evidence of this animal. 41:1ff Leviathan is an animal that snorts out fire. This is not a crocodile, it is describing a massive sea creature. A fire breathing dragon. And again there is literary and archeological evidence. The fossil record is a distant reminder that shows what is real and genuine. Until more recent history beliefs were all in agreement that the world was created, that it was destroyed by a flood, that will be a final judgement. Job shows us that we need to come back to biblical truth! Join us next week for our study of the Song of Songs and Lamentations. For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year [https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year] Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com [https://www.awakeusnow.com/]

June 18 - Proverbs

The Book of Proverbs is the truth of the Living God applied to daily life. It contains some of the most beautiful Hebrew poetry in existence, and conveys in poetic form powerful, fundamental truths that are absolutely life-changing. Proverbs: ⁃ Solomon . Primary author (1 Proverbs 1:1 and 1 Kings 4:29-34) ⁃ Academic controversy over authorship - but internal evidence along with linguistic and historical evidence makes it very likely that Solomon is the author and that is what it says in Proverbs 1:1. ⁃ Proverbs is part of the Wisdom Literature: Practical, applied knowledge that impacts every area of one's life. Job, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes are also in this category. Biblical Wisdom is more than information, it is transformation, it is the truth of the living God applied to daily life. This is what is found in Proverbs. It is filled with life-changing, fundamental truths. ⁃ Distinction between: "Proverbs" and "Torah" Torah is the 5 Books of Moses and means "instruction". Torah is direct and clear. Proverbs are general. They give an overall view of what is godly, good, practical and pure. Proverbs are general statements of how the way things normally are and general principles. General truths not absolute promises. Basic truths in memorable form. Proverbs: ⁃ Has three characters ⁃ Wise - embraces the things of God ⁃ Fool - opposes the things of God ⁃ Simple - on the fence, uncommitted Proverbs Outline: ⁃ Theme (1:1-7) The "FEAR" of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fear in Biblical Hebrew is better translated to "be in awe of." So the verse = The AWE of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. ⁃ Wisdom Poems (1:8-9:18) these are life-changing poems that give direction. ⁃ Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16) ⁃ 30 Sayings of "the Wise" (22:17-24:22) ⁃ Further Sayings of "the Wise" (24:23-34) ⁃ Hezekiah's Collection (a collection of Solomon's proverbs collected by Hezekiah (25:1-29:27) ⁃ Sayings of Agur - it has been suggested that Agur is Solomon based on what the rabbi's had to say. (30:1-33) ⁃ Sayings of King Lemuel - Solomon had around 7 names - it's a possibility that this is also Solomon (31:1-9) ⁃ Acrostic of the Nobel Wife (31:10-31) each saying begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The book of Proverbs is filled with powerful Wisdom that teaches us how to live as believers. It's a book about trusting God explicitly. It's a book that shows us that God is god. He will show us the way to go because He desires to lead and guide us. This book also encourages us to learn from God's discipline and allow Him to shape and mould us. God uses trials to refine and teach us so that we will rely on Him. In the Proverbs we are encouraged to protect and guard our hearts and to not allow the world and others to corrupt or influence us. When we are in awe of the Lord it is a place of refuge. Pastor talked about the best way to read the Proverbs is slowly with just a few passages at a time and to savor the verses and think on them and allow what they say to wash over us. Join us next week for our continued study of the Job. For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year [https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year] Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com [https://www.awakeusnow.com/]

June 11 - Psalms (Part 3)

This study is part 3 of our study of the Book of Psalms. Psalms Messianic Psalms - 2, 22, 110, 118 Penitential Psalms - 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143 Imprecatory Psalm - 137 Egyptian Hallel - 113-118 Acrostic Psalm - 119 Song of Ascents - 120-134 In this our final study of the Book of Psalms, Pastor kicks off the class with a look at Psalm 34. Saul is after David, so David leaves and goes to Philistine (enemy territory) and he acts like he has lost his mind so that he will preserve his life from the king of Philistine. It is at this point that David writes this Psalm. As David so often does, he starts this Psalm with praises to the Lord. He remembers all the Lord has done for him and how He has gotten him through trial and there's that realization of knowing that God is trustworthy. Pastor shares a very difficult time in his life when God ministered to him in amazing and powerful ways and how God showed His nearness. God doesn't promise a life without troubles, but He does promise to be with us throughout those troubles. At the very time when we feel we are on our own and everything is lost, God says, "No, at those times I am even closer to you, because I am near to the brokenhearted." We can depend on God! Then Pastor takes us to the Imprecatory Psalm 137. A psalm asking for judgement over evil. It was written after the Israelites had been taken into captivity in Babylon. Pastor talks about how judgement always starts with the household of God, with those who know God. God is just and Judgement does come to the unbelieving enemies, too. This is a raw psalm that expresses the anguish of the heart. Judgement does come against Babylon and God's people are freed from Babylon. The Egyptian Hallel Psalms (113-118) are a group of songs that are sung one after another. These psalms are a medley of Psalms that Jesus would have known and sung these throughout His life and most likely sang them with His disciples the evening of His Last Supper. It's a fun exercise to read through these Psalms with the picture in our minds of Jesus singing these songs with His disciples just days before His crucifixion and Him knowing all that is coming His way. Pastor takes us through Psalm 119 an Acrostic Psalm. We can't see that in English, but in the original Hebrew there are 22 sections of 8 verses each in this psalm. Each set of 8 begins with the same letter. Each set takes the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Then we move into the Psalms of Ascent (120-134). These are the songs they sang on the journey to the Temple for the festivals. The final Psalm we look at is Psalm 23 and Pastor teaches us about sheep and shares some very interesting insights and facts about them that really bring the picture of us as "sheep" and Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" into a new light. Join us next week for our continued study of the Proverbs. For our FREE resources: video, podcast, Reading Schedule, and a study guide for each book of the Bible plus many extra items, plus how to listen by radio broadcast - find it all here: https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year [https://www.awakeusnow.com/bible-in-a-year] Our Bible in a Year study will walk you through the Bible book by book taking you from Genesis to Revelation, revealing Jesus throughout both the Old and the New Testaments! In Ephesians 6, the word of God is called the sword of the spirit, and a sword is best used when you take it out of the scabbard to use it! Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God is alive and active! Meaning it is not dry, dusty, old stuff. It is living and active! And because it is the Living Word, it has the power to impact us still today! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com [https://www.awakeusnow.com/]