December 25, 2022 – Song of Salvation

Song of Salvation

Isaiah 52:7-10 - New International Version (NIV)

⁷ How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    “Your God reigns!”
⁸ Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
    together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
    they will see it with their own eyes.
⁹ Burst into songs of joy together,
    you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people,
    he has redeemed Jerusalem.
¹⁰ The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
    in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
    the salvation of our God.

Whose feet are “beautiful on the mountains” (verse 7)?

What do they “say to Zion” (verse 7)?

What do the watchmen shout for (verse 8)?

What will they see “with their own eyes” (verse 8)?

What will the “ruins of Jerusalem” do (verse 9)?

Who has “comforted his people” (verse 9)?

What will the Lord do “in the sight of all the nations” (verse 10)?

Where will the “salvation of our God” be seen (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, where do you see Jesus the Messiah in this passage?

Psalm 98 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Sing to the Lord a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
    have worked salvation for him.
² The Lord has made his salvation known
    and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
³ He has remembered his love
    and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation of our God.

⁴ Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
    burst into jubilant song with music;
⁵ make music to the Lord with the harp,
    with the harp and the sound of singing,
⁶ with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
    shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

⁷ Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it.
⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands,
    let the mountains sing together for joy;
⁹ let them sing before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.

Why will “a new song” be sung to the Lord (verse 1)?

What has the Lord made known (verse 2)?

Where has the “salvation of our God” been seen (verse 3)?

Who is the earth to “shout for joy” to (verse 4)?

How should music be made to the Lord (verses 5 and 6)?

What should resound (verse 7)?

How should the rivers and mountains respond (verse 8)?

What does the Lord come to do (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, where do you see Jesus the Messiah in this passage?

In your opinion, how are Isaiah 52:7-10 and Psalm 98 similar in their responses to redemption and salvation?

Hebrews 1:1-4 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Who did God speak to “in the past” (verse 1)?

How did He speak to them (verse 1)?

How has God spoken “in these last days” (verse 2)?

Who is the “heir of all things” (verse 2)?

What is the Son (verse 3)?

How does the Son sustain all things (verse 3)?

When did the Son sit “down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (verse 3)?

Who did the Son become superior to (verse 4)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, where do you see Jesus the Messiah in this passage?

In your opinion, what does Hebrews 1:1-4 reveal about how God provides the redemption and comfort that Isaiah predicted in Isaiah 52:7-10?

In your opinion, why are the things that Hebrews 1:1-4 reveals that God has done the reasons for the “new song” of Psalm 98?

John 1:1-14 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

When was the Word (verse 1)?

Who was the Word with (verse 1)?

Who was the Word (verse 1)?

What was made through Him (verse 3)?

Where was life (verse 4)?

What was “that life” (verse 4)?

What has the darkness not overcome (verse 5)?

Who was the man “sent from God” (verse 6)?

Why did he come “as a witness to testify concerning that light” (verse 7)?

What was coming “into the world” (verse 9)?

In your opinion, why did the world not recognize the one who “was in the world” and through whom the world was made (verse 10)?

What did “his own” not do (verse 11)?

What did “those who believed in his name” receive (verse 12)?

How were those “children” born (verse 13)?

Where did the Word make His dwelling (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, where do you see Jesus the Messiah in this passage?

In your opinion, how are the redemption and salvation that the beautiful feet on the mountains bring in Isaiah 52:7-10 described in John 1:1-14?

In your opinion, why does Psalm 98 begin with salvation and end with judgment but John 1:1-14 reverses that by beginning with people not receiving the “true light” while others received and believed? 

In your opinion, how does John 1:1-14’s description of Jesus as the light grow richer as we read about Jesus’ radiance in Hebrews 1:1-4?

In your opinion, how do these passages from Isaiah, Psalms, Hebrews and John help us more fully see Jesus the Messiah?

In your opinion, as those who have received and believed in Jesus, what song do we need sing to have beautiful feet today?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

January 12, 2020 – Mark’s Good News about Jesus – Appointed or Purified

Appointed or Purified


Jeremiah 1:4-12, 17-19 - New International Version (NIV)

⁴ The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
    before you were born I set you apart;
    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

⁶ “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

⁷ But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

⁹ Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

¹¹ The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”

“I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

¹² The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”

¹⁷ “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. ¹⁸ Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. ¹⁹ They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Whose word came to Jeremiah (verse 4)?

When was Jeremiah appointed “as a prophet to the nations” (verse 5)?

What objection did Jeremiah raise to the Lord (verse 6)?

How did the Lord respond to Jeremiah’s objection (verse 7)?

Why is Jeremiah not to be afraid (verse 8)?

How did the Lord put words in Jeremiah’s mouth (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that the Lord appointed Jeremiah “over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (verse 10)?

What did Jeremiah see (verse 11)?

How did the Lord interpret what Jeremiah saw (verse 12)?

What is Jeremiah to say (verse 17)?

Who is Jeremiah to stand against (verse 18)?

How will they respond to Jeremiah (verse 19)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Mark 3:13-19 - New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ and to have authority to drive out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), ¹⁷ James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Where did Jesus go (verse 13)?

Who came to Him (verse 13)?

Why did Jesus appoint the twelve (verse 14)?

What authority did the twelve have (verse 15)?

Who did Jesus give the name Peter (verse 16)?

How is Judas Iscariot described (verse 19)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, why would the one who knew Jeremiah before He formed him in the womb, in Jeremiah 1:4-12, 17-19, have appointed “Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him” to be one of the twelve in Mark 3:13-19? 

Acts 1:12-26 – New International Version (NIV)

¹² Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. ¹³ When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

¹⁵ In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) ¹⁶ and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷ He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

¹⁸ (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. ¹⁹ Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

²⁰ “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

“‘May his place be deserted;
    let there be no one to dwell in it,’

and,

“‘May another take his place of leadership.’

²¹ Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, ²² beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

²³ So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴ Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” ²⁶ Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Who returned to Jerusalem (verse 12)?

Who joined “constantly in prayer” (verse 14)?

How many believers were there (verse 15)?

What did Peter say had to be fulfulled (verse 16)?

How does Peter describe Judas (verses 16 and 17)?

What did Judas do with his payment (verse 18)?

In your opinion, why did Peter quote the Psalms in verse 20?

What criteria did Peter require of Judas’s replacement (verses 21 and 22)?

Who was nominated (verse 23)?

What did they pray (verse 24)?

In your opinion, what is an “apostolic ministry” (verse 25)?

In your opinion, how is the way Matthias became a member of the twelve and the way the other eleven became members different (verse 26)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is Jeremiah, who God appointed as a prophet according to Jeremiah 1:4-12, 17-19 different from Judas who Jesus appointed as one of the twelve in Mark 3::13-19 and who fulfilled the Scripture “which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David” according to Peter in Acts 1:12-26?

In your opinion, how could Judas, who was appointed by Jesus in Mark 3:13-19, have been the one who Peter said in Acts 1:12-26 “served as a guide for those who arrested Jesus”?

Hebrews 1:1-4, 13:20-21 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹ equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

How did God speak to the ancestors of the Jews (and us) in the past (verse 1)?

How did God speak to us “in these last days” (verse 2)?

Who is “appointed heir of all things” (verse 2)?

Through whom did God make the universe (verse 2)?

Who is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (verse 3)?

Who “provided purification for sins” (verse 3)?

Who “became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs” (verse 4)?

Who did the “God of peace” bring back through “the blood of the eternal covenant” (verse 20)?

What is Paul praying that his Christian readers will be equipped with (verse 21)?

What is Paul praying that God will do in his readers (verse 21)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what is different about the word that God spoke to us through Jeremiah as outlined in Jeremiah 1:4-12, 17-19 and the message delivered “to us by his Son” in the last days according to Hebrews 1:1-4, 13:20-21?

In your opinion, how are we who God has spoken to by His Son and who have been equipped  “for doing his will” as described in Hebrews 1:1-4, 13:20-21 to be like the twelve that Jesus appointed in Mark 3:13-19?

In your opinion, what is the difference between the twelve of Acts 1:12-26, of whom Paul includes himself with and says in Hebrews 1:1-4, 13:20-21 “in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” and those have received the “purification for sins” but who have not heard Jesus speak?  How are our responsibilities similar?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Jeremiah, Mark, Acts and Hebrews help us understand about the differences between those who are appointed, like Jeremiah and the twelve (including Judas) and those who have been purified from sins and whom God is working in today?

In your opinion, what can we who are purified from sins through Jesus learn about what God’s will for us today is by studying those who were appointed in today’s scriptures?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

July 14, 2019 – Learning from James – Little and Much

Little and Much


2 Kings 5:15-27 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

¹⁶ The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.

¹⁷ “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord. ¹⁸ But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.”

¹⁹ “Go in peace,” Elisha said.

After Naaman had traveled some distance, ²⁰ Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

²¹ So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked.

²² “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’”

²³ “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. ²⁴ When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.

²⁵ When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”

“Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered.

²⁶ But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? ²⁷ Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.

What did Naaman know (verse 15)?

In your opinion, why did Elisha say “as surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will nat accept a thing” (verse 16)?

Who will Naaman “make burnt offerings and sacrifices” to (verse 17)?

What did Naaman want the Lord to forgive him for (verse 18)?

How did Elisha bless Naaman (verse 19)?

Who thought Elisha was “too easy on Naaman” (verse 20)?

In your opinion, why would Naaman ask “is everything all right” (verse 21)?

What lie did Gehazi tell to justify his request for “a talent of silver and two sets of clothing” (verse 22)?

Who carried the two talents of silver and two sets of clothing back for Gehazi (verse 23)?

When did Gehazi take the things he had been given (verse 24)?

How did Gehazi answer Elisha’s question “where have you been” (verse 25)?

In your opinion, why did Elisha add “olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves” to his question to Gehazi (verse 26)?

What will cling to Gehazi and his descendants forever (verse 27)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Luke 16:1-13 - New International Version (NIV)                 

¹ Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. ² So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

³ “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— ⁴ I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

⁵ “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

⁶ “‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

⁷ “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

⁸ “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. ⁹ I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

¹⁰ “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ¹¹ So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? ¹² And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

¹³ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

What was the manager accused of doing (verse 1)?

Who ask for “an account of your management” (verse 2)?

What did the manager ask himself (verse 3)?

Where did the manager want people to welcome him (verse 4)?

Who did the manager call in (verse 5)?

What did the manager do (verses 6 and 7)?


How did the master react to what the dishonest manager did (verse 8)?


In your opinion, what does Jesus mean by saying “the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light” (verse 8)?


How should worldly wealth be used (verse 9)?


What can the person who can be trusted with little be trusted with (verse 10)?


In your opinion, what are the “true riches” that Jesus mentions (verse 11)?


Why can we only serve one master (verse 13)?


In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?


In your opinion, with the actions of Gehazi (2 Kings 5:15-27) and the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1-13) being so similar, why were the apparent outcomes very different?


Hebrews 1:1-4 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Who spoke “through the prophets at many times and in various ways” (verse 1)?

Who is “heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe” (verse 2)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean by “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (verse 3)?

What did Jesus do after “he had provided purification for sins” (verse 4)?

Who did Jesus become superior to (verse 4)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is Naaman in 2 Kings 5:15-27 proof that Paul is right in Hebrews 1:1-4 when he says “God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways”?

In your opinion, how does Paul show in Hebrews 1:1-4 that Jesus is different from the negative example of the dishonest manager of Luke 16:1-13? 


James 5:1-6 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. ⁴ Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. ⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  ⁶ You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

Who does James say should “weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you” (verse 1)?

What has rotted (verse 2)?


In your opinion, how will the corrosion of the gold and silver testify against the rich (verse 3)?


What cries out against the rich (verse 4)?


What have the rich fattened themselves for (verse 5)?


In your opinion, how could the rich have “condemned and murdered the innocent one” (verse 6)?


In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?


In your opinion, how does Naaman requesting “as much earth as a pair of mules may carry”, apparently for use in worshipping God, and Gehazi lying to obtain clothes and silver in 2 Kings 5:15-27 help us understand the contrast between the innocent and the rich in James 5:1-6?


In your opinion, as “people of the light” what should we learn from Jesus’ teaching about the dishonest manager in Luke 16:1-13 and James’ discussion about the corrosion of the rich people’s gold and silver in James 5:1-6?


In your opinion, how is Jesus, the “heir of all things” in Hebrews 1:1-4, who “provided purification for sins” an example for all those James 5:1-6 might consider “rich people” today?


In your opinion, what do these passages from 2 Kings, Luke, Hebrews and James teach us about the consequence of our choice between “God and money”?


In your opinion, how can we be trustworthy with our little (money, time and talents) so that we may be trusted with much by the Father today and for eternity?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)