December 18, 2022 – Love with Us

Love with Us

Isaiah 7:10-16 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, ¹¹ “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

¹² But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

¹³ Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. ¹⁵ He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, ¹⁶ for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. 

Who spoke to Ahaz (verse 10)?

What was Ahaz to ask for (verse 11)?

In your opinion, why did Ahaz refuse to ask, was it that he did not want to put “the Lord to the test” or was there something more (verse 12)?

Who did Isaiah address his response to (verse 13)?

What sign was the Lord going to give (verse 14)?

In your opinion, why will the son be called Immanuel (verse 14)?

What will he be eating when he “knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right” (verse 15)?

What will happen to the “land of the two kings you dread” (verse 16)?

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

In your opinion, how can we see God’s love in this passage?

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
    shine forth ² before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
    come and save us.

³ Restore us, O God;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

⁴ How long, Lord God Almighty,
    will your anger smolder
    against the prayers of your people?
⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears;
    you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
⁶ You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors,
    and our enemies mock us.

⁷ Restore us, God Almighty;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

¹⁷ Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
    the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
¹⁸ Then we will not turn away from you;
    revive us, and we will call on your name.

¹⁹ Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

Who sits “enthroned between the cherubim” (verse 1)?

What was the Psalmist’s request (verse 2)?

What does the Psalmist say will happen if God’s face shines on Israel (verse 3)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to say that God’s anger smolders “against the prayers of your people” (verse 4)?

What are God’s people being made to drink “by the bowlful” (verse 5)?

Who has made Israel “an object of derision to our neighbors” (verse 6)?

How can Israel be saved (verse 7)?

What will God do for the “son of man” (verse 17)?

When will Israel call on God’s name (verse 18)?

Who does the psalmist ask to restore Israel (verse 19)?

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

In your opinion, how can we see God’s love in this passage?

In your opinion, how are Ahaz in Isaiah 7:10-16 and the psalmist in Psalms 80:1-7, 17-19 different?

Romans 1:1-7 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— ² the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ³ regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, ⁴ and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. ⁵ Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. ⁶ And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.

⁷ To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

How does Paul describe himself (verse 1)?

What does Paul say he is “set apart for” (verse 1)?

How had God promised the gospel “beforehand” (verse 2)?

Who was God’s Son “in his earthly life” (verse 3)?

How was Jesus “through the Spirit of holiness . . . appointed the Son of God in power” (verse 4)?

What was Paul to do because of the apostleship he received from Jesus (verse 5)?

Who is Paul writing to (verse 7)?

How does Paul bless the readers (verse 7)?

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

In your opinion, how can we see God’s love in this passage?

In your opinion, what does Romans 1:1-7 help us understand about the one that God said through Isaiah 7:10-16 would be Immanuel (God with us)?

In your opinion, how does God exceed the request for Him to shine His face on Israel in Psalms 80:1-7, 17-19 by Paul’s call to apostleship in Romans 1:1-7?

Matthew 1:18-25 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

How does Matthew describe Jesus (verse 18)?

What was found before Mary and Joseph “came together” (verse 18)?

Why was Joseph going to “divorce her quietly” (verse 19)?

How did the angel appear to Joseph (verse 20)?

What was Joseph not to be afraid to do (verse 20)?

Why is Joseph to name the son born to Mary Jesus (verse 21)?

What was this to fulfill (verse 22)?

What is the son of the virgin to be called (verse 23)?

What did Joseph do when he woke up (verse 24)?

What did Joseph name Mary’s son (verse 25)?

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

In your opinion, how can we see God’s love in this passage?

In your opinion, why would God promise a sign to a king who rejected Him in Isaiah 7:10-16 that would find its ultimate fulfillment in Matthew 1:18-25 in the birth of a son who “will save his people from their sins”?

In your opinion, how would the psalmist, who described God as sitting enthroned between the cherubim in Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, have a different view of a relationship with God than Matthew, who wrote Matthew 1:18-25 and who knew God with Us? 

In your opinion, how is God’s love, which is lived out in Matthew 1:18-25, also expressed by Paul in Romans 1:1-7?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, Psalms, Romans and Matthew teach us about how God loves us?

In your opinion, as we learn that God is with us, how can we respond to His love?

In your opinion, how do we share the love of “Immanuel” with others?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

December 23, 2018 – Christmas – Salvation, Anticipated and Received

Salvation, Anticipated and Received

Psalm 80:1-7 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
    shine forth ² before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
    come and save us.

³ Restore us, O God;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

⁴ How long, Lord God Almighty,
    will your anger smolder
    against the prayers of your people?
⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears;
    you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
⁶ You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors,
    and our enemies mock us.

⁷ Restore us, God Almighty;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

Who did the “Shepherd of Israel” lead (verse 1)?

In your opinion, what does the psalmist mean by “awaken your might” (verse 2)?

Why did the psalmist want God’s face to shine on him (verse 3)?

What did the psalmist say God’s anger was smoldering against (verse 4)?

What did the psalmist say God fed His people (verse 5)?

Who is an “object of derision” (verse 6)?

How does the psalmist ask for God to save them (verse 7)?

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

Micah 5:2-5a - New International Version (NIV)                 

² “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”

³ Therefore Israel will be abandoned
    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.

⁴ He will stand and shepherd his flock
    in the strength of the Lord,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
    will reach to the ends of the earth.

⁵ And he will be our peace

Who will come from Bethlehem Ephrathah (verse 2)?

What are the origins of the one who will come (verse 2)?

What will end “when she who is in labor bears a son” (verse 3)?

Who will return “when she who is in labor bears a son” (verse 3)?

How will the son “stand and shepherd his flock” (verse 4)?

Why will his flock “live securely” (verse 4)?

What will the son be (verse 5)?

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

In your opinion, what is similar about the salvations that Micah 5:2-5a and Psalm 80:1-7 seek?

Luke 1:39-55 – New International Version (NIV)

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

Where did Mary hurry to (verse 39)?

Where did Mary greet Elizabeth (verse 40)?

What happened when Mary greeted Elizabeth (verse 41)?

Who did Elizabeth again say was blessed (verse 42)?

In your opinion, why did Elizabeth ask “why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me” (verse 43)?

Who does Elizabeth say is blessed (verse 45)?

How does Mary’s soul respond to “the Lord” (verse 46)?

Who does Mary’s spirit “rejoice in” (verse 47)?

What has God been “mindful of” (verse 48)?

Who has done “great things” for Mary (verse 49)?

Who does God extend mercy to (verse 50)?

Who has God scattered (verse 51)?

Who has God lifted up (verse 52)?

Who has God “sent away empty” (verse 53)?

What has God remembered to be (verse 54)?

Who did God promise these things to (verse 55)?

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

In your opinion, what does the psalmist pleading for God to “awaken your might, come and save us” in Psalm 80:1-7 but God delivering salvation through a humble girl in Luke 1:39-55 teach us?

In your opinion, what can we learn from the fact that according to Micah 5:2-5a God’s chosen will come from the small town of Bethlehem and that in Luke 1:39-55 Mary, the mother of the Saviour, sings about her humble state?

Hebrews 10:5-10 – New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
    but a body you prepared for me;
⁶ with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
    I have come to do your will, my God.’”

⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

What did Christ say God did not desire (verse 5)?

What had God prepared for Christ (verse 5)?

In your opinion, why was God not pleased with “burnt offerings and sin offerings” (verse 6)?

Who said “I have come to do your will, my God” (verse 7)?

What did Christ say first (verse 8)?

What did Christ then say (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he says “He sets aside the first to establish the second” (verse 9)?

How are Christians made holy (verse 10)?

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

In your opinion, what does Hebrews 10:5-10 teach us about how God answered the psalmist’s prayer in Psalms 80:1-7?

In your opinion, what does Hebrews 10:5-10 teach us about the ruler that Micah 5:2-5a indicated was coming from Bethlehem to rule the world?

In your opinion, what does Hebrews 10:5-10 teach us about the mercy of the Mighty One that Mary sang about in Luke 1:39-55?

In your opinion, how do these passages from Psalms, Micah, Luke and Hebrews help us in the process of moving from a desire for salvation, to an understanding of where salvation comes from, to salvation?

In your opinion, how can we who have accepted Mary’s Child as our Savior and Shepherd glorify the Lord and rejoice in God our Savior?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)