Thoughts on Ministry, The Bible, & Christian Living
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
“If then you have been raised with Christ” – because of our identification with Jesus we have been granted new life which gives us the capacity to live a new kind of life. That new kind of life will be described in detail in the following verses.
5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
“So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made” – The context and actions of Herod described in verses 1-4, seem like certain death for Peter. In moments of difficulty (no matter the intensity of the difficulty), believers should turn to God for both hope and answers. ”casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Pe 5:7.
“earnest prayer” – pertaining to an unceasing activity, normally involving a degree of intensity and/or perseverance—‘without ceasing, continuously, constantly.’ Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 655.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
“when the time came for their purification” -Referring to the time mentioned within the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 12), 33 days after Jesus’ circumcision. Making Jesus just under 6 weeks old.
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”)
“Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord” -Noted from Exodus 13:2, 12
24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Leviticus 9:15-24
15 Then he presented the people’s offering and took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people and killed it and offered it as a sin offering, like the first one.
“presented the people’s offering” – Notice the order of these offerings. Warren Wiersbe stated, “We must first deal with our sins before we can dedicate ourselves totally to the Lord; then we can enjoy fellowship with Him.” Mark F. Rooker, Leviticus, vol. 3A, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 152–153.
Continue reading “Exegetical Notes: Leviticus 9:15-24; 10:1-3”
Leviticus begins with the people of Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai. The glory of the Lord had just filled the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34–38) and God now tells Moses to instruct the Levitical priests and the people of Israel concerning sacrifices, worship, the priesthood, ceremonial cleanness, the Day of Atonement, feasts and holy days, and the Year of Jubilee. The central message is that God is holy and he requires his people to be holy. The book also shows that God graciously provides atonement for sin through the shedding of blood. Traditionally, Jews and Christians recognize Moses as the author, writing sometime after the giving of the Law. – The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Into to Leviticus.
Continue reading “Exegetical Notes: Leviticus 1:3-9; 2:1-3; 3:1-5”
39:42 According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work.
“Israel had done” -An obvious emphasis at the conclusion of chapter 39. 3 times within the last two verses it is noted that Israel had completed (“done”)the task of building the tabernacle and all of it’s components. Moses’ inspection of the work insured that it wasn’t simply finished, but that it was finished well (See note on v. 43).
Continue reading “Exegetical Notes: Exodus 39:42-43; 40:1-4; 34-35”
25 The Lord said to Moses,
A frequently repeated phrase throughout the book of Exodus. It highlights both the authority of Moses to lead as well as his role as God’s authentic messenger to the nation.
2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.
“a contribution” -God gives instruction to Moses to begin assembling the raw materials needed to construct the tabernacle of the Lord. Remember, in the request for a contribution, Israel would be giving largely from the spoils God recently supplied the nation as they departed Egypt (Exodus 12:36).
APP: God ultimately provides all that is needed to accomplish those tasks to which He has called His people.
20 And God spoke all these words, saying,
As in verses 1-17. Exodus 20:1-17 constitute one of the greatest moments in Israel’s history.
13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
Moses responds to the people of Israel. Verses 1-4 give the reader insight into what Israel did not have. God has placed Israel in a position of vulnerability in the eyes of Pharaoh. Through the hardness of his heart, Pharaoh has chosen to pursue Israel with great force (v. 6). Verse 4 reveals God’s purpose behind this trap for Pharaoh. “I will get glory over Pharaoh” and “the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” Although God has purposed and planned for this event, Israel responds with great fear (v. 10) instead of faith. In fact, as we progress through this chapter we’ll see that the crossing of the Red Sea proves to be a great faith builder for the nation of Israel (v. 30).
1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,
The importance of passover is highlighted in at least two details in the first couple of verses: 1) The specific identification of Moses and Aaron, the first two Levitical priests serve as an example for all others to follow. 2) The detailed instructions of the act of passover prior to the formal giving of the law on Mt. Sinai.
2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.