Nehemiah 13:30-31, "Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; and I provided the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good."
Wow, as I prepare to teach on this passage this coming Sunday, I couldn't help posting on this passage. Nehemiah is a book of hope and new beginnings, and it is fitting that although we end in the rebuke of the people it ushers in this idea that a leader is needed, without him things fall apart, just as they did when Nehemiah left. The people need one who is awash in the word of the Lord (or perhaps is that very Word *wink wink*) and one who leads by example. A man above reproach and is not afraid to rebuke the people and the leadership. In light of Ezra/Nehemiah's placement in the hebrew canon (2nd to last book directly b4 Chronicles) this idea is definitely fitting, and the book is also prophetic. This leader will cleanse the people, establish the priesthood, and provide the wood offering at appointed times, specifically once, being the firstfruits (I Cor. 15:20-23) And then, he will be glorified! So as scripture faces a new picture of David coming after this book, are we to be looking forward to a new David? This is the question the books Nehemiah, and more obviously Chronicles begs.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Profound lyrics
These are the lyrics from the song Grace by Stavesacre. They have been a favorite band of mine for quite some time, like 7 years or more. This song speaks so deeply to what we do when we sin, and what grace is. Oh what a wonderous God we have that when we seek the least of whores, he calls us back through the all-surpassing grace he has gifted us. Grace is so much more than just getting what we don't deserve. It is the active drawing of our God back to himself when we have so foolishly turned our faces from him in sin.
When I was a mountain, strong with stone, silver and gold
Strip-mined wildly, spent it all
Leaving only stone
(Chorus)
But Grace, are You hangin’ on for me?
Tell me it’s true, You still do
Come back around this way
When I was Your lover – passionate and bright as the stars
Left You for the least of whores
Broke Your precious heart
(Chorus)
“Oh, I’ve been standing right here, all along.
My dear, I’ve been standing right here
Ever as before
Oh, I want nothing more than you
Stay please, come back to My arms and
Rest your weary head,
Don’t ever leave again,
Beloved.”
(Chorus)
Grace
Grace –
“Oh, I’ve been standing right here all along.”
When I was a mountain, strong with stone, silver and gold
Strip-mined wildly, spent it all
Leaving only stone
(Chorus)
But Grace, are You hangin’ on for me?
Tell me it’s true, You still do
Come back around this way
When I was Your lover – passionate and bright as the stars
Left You for the least of whores
Broke Your precious heart
(Chorus)
“Oh, I’ve been standing right here, all along.
My dear, I’ve been standing right here
Ever as before
Oh, I want nothing more than you
Stay please, come back to My arms and
Rest your weary head,
Don’t ever leave again,
Beloved.”
(Chorus)
Grace
Grace –
“Oh, I’ve been standing right here all along.”
An email, I wanted to share.
This is something i was thinking about the other day, and i sent it to my dad via email, but i thought i would place it on my blog, just in case anyone still reads this thing.
So Monday, I was walking back to work from my review and some high school kids stopped me and asked if I wanted to do a survey. The first question they asked was, "Do you believe in God?" I, of course, answered, "Yes," but for some reason the next question threw me a bit. They asked me why! And for a second there I couldn't give an answer. But then I said because it is obvious to me that there is one due to everything around me. So I thought about my answer tonight after I read through I Cor. 1 (I decided to read thru that book again) and additionally why I had paused. That answer wasn't the reason I believe, it is merely proof that substantiates what I believe. I suppose if I think about it the reason I believe what I do, is that I have seen God work, not only in my own life, but in others and in his Word (but isn't this just more evidence to support what I believe?). But my question is, do I have to have a reason? Doesn't it ultimately come down to faith? I believe because I choose to (or perhaps because God chose that I would *wink wink) I guess it was just something I hadn't thought about in a while. To get to the reason I was thinking about this is the discussion in I Cor. 1 about the gospel seeming like foolishness to the world, but the very Power of God to those who believe. We don't need to convince others why we believe what we do, even if this seems like foolishness to them. We just share what Christ has done, and if they are called, it will be the very Power of God in their lives, if not, it will seem to be foolishness.
So Monday, I was walking back to work from my review and some high school kids stopped me and asked if I wanted to do a survey. The first question they asked was, "Do you believe in God?" I, of course, answered, "Yes," but for some reason the next question threw me a bit. They asked me why! And for a second there I couldn't give an answer. But then I said because it is obvious to me that there is one due to everything around me. So I thought about my answer tonight after I read through I Cor. 1 (I decided to read thru that book again) and additionally why I had paused. That answer wasn't the reason I believe, it is merely proof that substantiates what I believe. I suppose if I think about it the reason I believe what I do, is that I have seen God work, not only in my own life, but in others and in his Word (but isn't this just more evidence to support what I believe?). But my question is, do I have to have a reason? Doesn't it ultimately come down to faith? I believe because I choose to (or perhaps because God chose that I would *wink wink) I guess it was just something I hadn't thought about in a while. To get to the reason I was thinking about this is the discussion in I Cor. 1 about the gospel seeming like foolishness to the world, but the very Power of God to those who believe. We don't need to convince others why we believe what we do, even if this seems like foolishness to them. We just share what Christ has done, and if they are called, it will be the very Power of God in their lives, if not, it will seem to be foolishness.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
A little thought on Hebrews 12:15-17
So I am finally back after a long absence in posting. It has been a busy year, one filled with all sorts of trials and blessings. Anyway i just thought i would share a thought I had today while reading in Hebrews.
"See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears." Hebrews 12:15-17
So I was reading this passage this afternoon, and a question came up, "Why was is so unholy that Esau sold his birthright?" What I did first was turn to the passage in Genesis where Esau does so, Genesis 25:29-34. It states that in selling his birthright Esau despised it. In doing so, despising not only his father's blessing, but ultimately God's! So how does this fit into this passage in Hebrews? In this passage the writer has been speaking of pursuing ones faith, not missing out on the blessing that God has given. By giving up on our faith, and giving in to disobedience we are in essence despising the blessing of grace. This whole chapter is a call to faithfulness and holiness in light of chapter 11, giving us examples of what faith should look like.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
Don't miss out on the blessing. Esau despised it, and therefore could not regain it.
"See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears." Hebrews 12:15-17
So I was reading this passage this afternoon, and a question came up, "Why was is so unholy that Esau sold his birthright?" What I did first was turn to the passage in Genesis where Esau does so, Genesis 25:29-34. It states that in selling his birthright Esau despised it. In doing so, despising not only his father's blessing, but ultimately God's! So how does this fit into this passage in Hebrews? In this passage the writer has been speaking of pursuing ones faith, not missing out on the blessing that God has given. By giving up on our faith, and giving in to disobedience we are in essence despising the blessing of grace. This whole chapter is a call to faithfulness and holiness in light of chapter 11, giving us examples of what faith should look like.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
Don't miss out on the blessing. Esau despised it, and therefore could not regain it.
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