D.C. or Rome?

Is the Biblical book of Revelation strange to you?  Many people suggest it's too hard to understand.  But I am of the camp which views Revelation as addressing the Christians of the late 1st century and early 2nd century A.D. Roman empire mostly regarding their immediate cultural context.  Believe it or not, we may find comfort today in revisiting the themes of this great book.

There were great pressures on Christians in that context just as there are on American Christians today.  In John's vision of the seven churches of Asia, he hears judgment on these churches and told to write either a warning or encouragement not to succumb to these pressures.  Consider, for instance, the message to the church at Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17):

"12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:

13 'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not

deny  My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.  14 'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.  15 'So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  16 'Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.  17 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.' "

The pressure was subtle.  The reference to Balaam and Balak recalls when Balaam refused to curse Israel directly, but advised Balak, King of Moab, to lead Israel away from God by enticing the Israelites to marry Moabite daughters who practiced idolatry (Numbers 25:1-4, 31:16).  The pressure faced at Pergamum wasn't a physical assault but the pressure from within to conform to what was culturally acceptable idolatry. Each time the Lord praises, warns, or chastises one of these churches He says, "To him who overcomes...I will..." and offers a promise of hope for the future.

Much of the rest of Revelation outlines the idolatry, greed, and immorality of Rome as well as the Roman society's hatred and mistreatment of Christians.  Consider Revelation 13.  The reader is introduced to a second beast whose job it is to make everyone worship the first beast of the preceding chapter (perhaps representing the Roman government and emperor respectively).  To do this, verses 15-17 articulates, that no one could buy or sell unless they had the mark of the beast - indicating they had worshiped the first beast.  In fact, archaeologist have discovered manuscript fragments indicating priests of Roman temples of the Asian provinces certified worshipers so they could purchase meat in the market place.  Christians who didn't succumb to idolatry were unable to purchase this meat.  According to Revelation 13, they could be executed for not having the certification.

At the same time that Christians of Roman Asia were under pressure to conform to societal standards, God called the people of Rome to repentance.  He used various natural events and calamities to call mankind to repentance, but most refused.  Revelation records: "The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts" (Revelation 9:20-21, NASU).


The enduring hope from Revelation for the Christians of the late 1st century and early 2nd century Christians was twofold.  One hope was that God would limit the bounds of persecution and the duration of persecution they would face.  But more importantly was the hope that eventually heaven would be realized.  Heaven is described as a place where the church is God's people in the presence of God a perfect environment where neither sin exists nor the pain caused by those who would persecute the church (Revelation 21:1-4).

The story of Revelation reminds us that Christians live in a world that is opposed to the true God.  The world is deceived by Satan with the temptations of satisfying self rather than submitting to God's will.  We will face varying degrees of hostility from the world.  The world does not appreciate or agree with the standards of Christian living as we work to call people to follow God.

 Yet, most of us love the physical world around us.  Its all we know.  Most of us love our country.  American

Christians are proud to be Americans.  We love the physical beauty and the rich resources God as blessed our nation with.  We anticipate that our country and our government will reinforce the Christian principles our nation was founded upon.  So when one of our three branches of government acts contrary to our Christian principles we feel crushed and threatened.

 We often forget that government will not or perhaps cannot force people to follow the will of God.  God Himself has allowed men and women to make their choices.  From the very beginning mankind has chosen to satisfy self rather than to submit to God - this is the eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden (Genesis 3).  We continue to cave in to our own desires.  Paul reminds us:

"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest" (Ephesians 2:1-3, NASU).


The best men who seek to follow God as leaders often failed.  Moses, Saul, David, and Solomon are three great examples of men dedicated to God who failed at some point in leading God's people because they chose to satisfy a personal desire of some sort.  Israel was to be God's one possession on earth, a true theocratic state based on godly principles but they failed because they were humans susceptible to self will.  The New Testament recalls, "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come" (1 Corinthians 10:11, NASU).

We want so badly for our country to follow Biblical teachings and to honor God in its practices.  We also want our country to uphold its fundamental value of freedom.  We want our citizenry to avoid egregious sins.  But, we don't want interference from big brother.

What if the government sought to enforce religious law, what would that look like?  The world watches as ISIS seeks to be a theocratic state in the Middle East (and beyond, no doubt).  If you happen to believe in the Islamic doctrine of this sect, this may not be a bad thing.  But if not, this is tyranny.

Since the government is worldly we can expect them to follow worldly standards. The story of Revelation reminds us that the world by and large will reject God and even oppose those who seek to follow God.  The glimpse of Heaven and Hell in the final two chapters is not simply a comparison of where the good and bad will spend eternity.  I believe we discover something else in these chapters.

 In the context of the hostility of the world towards Christians in Revelation, Heaven offers the opportunity to be in a Kingdom where everyone wants to be a child of God.  Heaven is a wonderful place, in part, because of the absence of sin.  No longer is there the presence of those hostile to God or godliness. Relief comes from the universal desire to be a child of God.  Notice:

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."  5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." 6 Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son" (Revelation 21:3-7, NASU).


So what do we do when we are disappointed by events in the news?  First, let us keep our composure by remaining focused on our work.  Our task as Christians is to reveal God's love to a lost world so that all may make a choice whether or not to follow Him.  Most will choose not to do so.  But some will.  Whether or not we have a government which honors God does not change our task.  Admittedly, a hostile government or one which does not honor God may make our task harder, but it doesn't change our task.

Second, let us pray that God will bless us with men and women who do seek to honor Him in their decisions.  We want legislators, executives, and judiciaries who will act from a point of Godly principles; let us pray that we will have such leaders, or at least that they will make such decisions.  Let's act with faith as we pray that we do due diligence in our republican government to select such people to be our leaders.

Finally, let us demonstrate Godly and loving living so that Christianity cannot be reviled.  Remember we all have sin in our lives.  No sin is greater or worse than another.  We must all submit our will to God.  So let us approach everyone from a place of humility and compassion as we call people out of a world of sin.  Remember we are asking people to make a choice to follow God in all their behavior.

Let us not be defeated.  Let us not be surprised.  Rather, let us hold our heads high and continue pursuing a life of faith.  Perhaps we will bring others with us as we march to that beautiful city on high.

www.benbrookchurchofchrist.com

Touching the Blood of Jesus (Bible Study, Part 9)

In our previous study, we reviewed what we had learned in the Old Testament about the seed of Eve,  Abraham, and David.  We wanted to know if we could identify this seed based on his qualities and work.  When we read what the Gospels say about Jesus we find that he had the qualities of the seed and did the work which the prophets said he would do. Isaiah noted:

"Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities." (Isaiah 53:10-11, NIV)

As we think about all we have seen about this Seed, the underlying message has been that through him, "all families of the earth will be blessed."  If someone died to carry the punishment for others, would that be a blessing from those who are now free from that guilt?  What about your own life; do you think you have sin in your life?  If you think you do, would it be a blessing for you to have the weight of that sin removed by someone choosing from love to take that burden?  Do you want that burden removed in your life?  If you do the question becomes, 'how do I touch the blood of Jesus'?

This question has been asked by many over the years.  The first to ask the question was the crowd of Jerusalem not long after Jesus' death.  Notice the Apostle Peter's first sermon:

 "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." ' 36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:29-36, NIV)

Peter's sermon has the same idea of a seed of David  which we have been studying "God had promised on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne..." (verse 3).  He ties together Jesus' death (verse 36) and resurrection (verse 31).  Jesus died but was raised from the dead.  Now notice how the crowd responds to Peter's words in verse 37: "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" (NIV).

How did the story of Jesus sit with those who heard Peter's teaching?  What question did they ask?  Weren't they searching for the appropriate way to let the story of Jesus touch their lives?  Weren't they wanting to know how they could touch the blood of Jesus, so to speak?  Are you asking this question?  Notice how Peter answers the question:

"38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." (Acts 2:38-41, NIV).

What is the answer that Peter gives to the question "what shall we do?"  What is the purpose Peter says for doing so (verse 38)?  What else does Peter do in this passage (verse 40)?  Those in the crowd who believed Peter's teaching, what did they do?  Based on Peter's response to the original question, "what shall we do?", do you find an answer to your question, 'what shall I do'?

Peter's answer has two parts "repent and be baptized" he adds "everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins".  The first part of the answer is to "repent".  What does this word mean to you?  We often associate "repent" with feeling bad for something.  But the word translated "repent" means to "change one's mind" with the idea of a 180 degree turn in thinking.  In other words, changing how we view the world. 

The second part is to be baptized.  This word literally means "be immersed".  What does being immersed have to do with "touching the blood of Jesus?"  The Apostle Paul answers this for us in Romans chapter 6; notice how it connects the dots between being baptized and "touching the blood of Jesus".  He begins by answering a rhetorical question about whether or not Christians have a license to sin:

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:1-3, NIV)

What's Paul's reason for saying that Christians don't have a license to sin?  Isn't his answer the statement, "We died to sin;"?  But notice how he says we died to sin, "all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?"  Paul draws the connection of dying to sin with being baptized into Jesus' death.  We might also ask the question, who are the ones "baptized into his death"? The answer: "all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus".  Does this sound like Peter's teaching "repent and be baptized...in the name of Jesus Christ..." (Acts 2:38)? Paul continues to explain the relationship between being baptized and Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection:

" 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." (Romans 6:4-7, NIV).

What are we buried with Jesus through (verse 4)?  What does Paul say is the purpose of being buried with Jesus through baptism (verse 4)?  How does Paul describe the connection in verse 5? "If we have been united with him like this..." ?  What does Paul say is the result and importance of this uniting act (verse 6)?  "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin..."  We can ask the question a little differently, when does verse 6 say our "body of sin" is "done away with"?  Is it not when we are "united with him like this in his death" (verse 5)?  Again, verse 3, "all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death."

Do you believe you have a body of sin?  What does Paul say in this passage is the thing which does away with that sin?  What does Paul say is the thing that connects you with Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection? 

Notice briefly as we move on from this passage, the connection of baptism and repentance.  Paul continues answering the question as to whether Christians have a license to sin.  He writes,

"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." (Romans 6:8-14, NIV)

To whom is a Christian to live his or her life (verse 11).  Does this sound like the "repent" Peter mentioned in Acts 2:38 - a changing of the mind to live to or for God? 

How does Paul say we view how we use ourselves (verses 12-13)?  Now notice how Paul brings it all together in the final phrase, "you are not under law, but under grace."  As Paul has this lengthy discussion about baptism uniting us with Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection - crucifying the old self, the body of sin; he ties it up by saying that doing so puts us under God's grace!

Let me ask you, do you feel a burden of sin in your life?  Do you believe that Jesus is the seed or Messiah the Old Testament spoke about from Eve to the prophets?  Would it be a blessing in your life to have Jesus carry the weight, the guilt, and the consequences of that sin? Do you want to live with Jesus for an eternity? What do these passages say are the way you can touch the blood of Jesus?  Is it by repenting, changing your mind to follow God, and by being baptized, united with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection? 

How can you do that?  Notice three quick passages from the New Testament:

As Peter was teaching a man named Cornelius (Acts 10), the power of God came in a unique fashion upon Cornelius' family.  Notice Peter's response: "Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." (Acts 10:47-48, NIV)

What is the substance Peter baptized Cornelius' family with?  What did Peter associate this water baptism with (verse 48)?

Philip was told by an angel to go meet a man from Africa traveling through Israel.  The man was reading from Isaiah 53, the same passage we have studied, notice the interaction:

"The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.  36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"  38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away...," (Acts 8:34-39a, NIV)

What impact did Philip's teaching have on this man from Ethiopia (verse 37)?  What was the man wanting to have done to him (verse 37)?  What was the substance in which the man was baptized or immersed (verse 38-39)?

Paul retells his story of turning toward God in Acts 22.  He was first on his way to attack Christians but then had a vision of Jesus.  Notice what transpires:

"'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked.  "'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.'  11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me. 12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him. 14 "Then he said: 'The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' (Acts 22:10-16, NIV)

When did Paul decide to believe Jesus?  Does the fact he followed Jesus' instructions to go and wait in Damascus imply he believed what he heard from Jesus himself?  Did Ananias deliver a message to Paul about what his mission in life would be?  Did Paul still have his sins in his life even then?  Notice verse 16, the end of the conversation.  What does Ananias say to Paul - what did Paul still need to do after seeing Jesus and after being instructed by Ananias? "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' "

What response do you want to make to Ananias' question, "And now what are you  waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' " ? 

Are you wanting to be free from sin you feel you have in life?  Are you ready to change your mind to follow God in your life?  God told that serpent so many years ago a seed of Eve would crush the serpent's head, destroying his power of deception and death over men.  That seed is Jesus.  The seed that God told Abraham would be a blessing for all nations, He can be a blessing for you if you choose to be united with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection through baptism.  Do you want to do that?

If you do we, would love to help you do so.  If you are in the Fort Worth, TX area; we can help you directly.  Or, if you need help finding a Christian who can help you close to where you live, whether in the United States or in your another country, we will do our best to help you find one.  Maybe you have further questions?  Please e-mail our minister at ron@benbrookchurchofchrist.com  we would be glad to help you.


If you have not read our previous on-line studies in this series, you can read those as listed below:

Part 1: http://bit.ly/g85Crl

Part 2: http://bit.ly/jl9L6g

Part 3: http://bit.ly/jY1epF

Part 4: http://bit.ly/lWy2ge

Part 5: http://bit.ly/j2LsCM

Part 6: http://bit.ly/mteMgK

Part 7: http://bit.ly/liwNH1

Part 8: http://bit.ly/lxuw7c

As always, you can find us at www.benbrookchurchofchrist.com, "like" us on Facebook,  www.facebook.com/benbrookcofc and or "follow" us on Twitter, @benbrookcofc.

Unveiling the Seed (Bible Study, Part 8)

Our study today is an exciting one.  Today we meet "the seed".  Several weeks ago we began in Genesis with God cursing the serpent, he said there would be enmity between the serpent and the woman as well as the serpent and the woman's seed.  But, he mentioned that the seed of the woman (Eve) would crush the head of serpent.  There was a message of hope in that curse, because it implied a freedom from the enmity of the serpent.  But, God never told the three individuals that day (the serpent, Eve, or Adam) when, where, how, or who the seed would be and do this.

Only a few chapters later in Genesis 12 we saw God make a promise to Abraham that through his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed.  He restated this promise to Abraham as well as his son Isaac, and grandson, Jacob, at various places in Genesis.  Yet, in these promises the reader was not informed of when, how, or who this seed would live and work.

 In our last study we traced this idea of the seed through the Old Testament to the family of King David.  To him, God said there would be one who would reign on this throne and the prophets spoke of this seed of David. The prophets spoke of his qualities, his work, and spoke of his birth place as well as his area of work.  We finally saw what he might do and learned how we could identify him.  Today, we do.

When you open the New Testament to the very first chapter and read this genealogy in Matthew chapter 1, do you wonder why Matthew would begin his writing this way?  It's because he is demonstrating from the very first verse that the subject of his writing is a seed of David and a seed of Abraham.  Could Jesus be the seed the Old Testament talked about?  To know we need consider what qualities and work the seed would have and do.

One of the things we read about in the Old Testament prophet Micah is that the seed or Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.  "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."  (Micah 5:2, NIV) 

Consider what Matthew tells us about Jesus,  "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written..." (Mt.2:1-5, NIV)

This gives us cause for pause.  What control did you have over where you were born? Did you dictate to your parents or give your opinion as to where you might be born?  Think about your family history, did you choose yours?  These are all matters or variables beyond a person's control.  Yet Jesus was born in the right place to the right family - one in the lineage of David and Abraham.

Consider the qualities which the prophets spoke about the seed or Messiah having.  Remember the words of Isaiah: "the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord —  3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord." (Isaiah 11:2, NIV)  Isaiah also says he will be called "wonderful counselor," Isaiah 9:6. 

Now consider these events from Jesus' life.  Notice first his youth:

"And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. 41 Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43 After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." 49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"  50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. 51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:40-51, NIV)

How old is Jesus in this story (verse 42)?  Where is Jesus at when his parents find him, and what is he doing (verse 46)?  What seems to be the perception of all those there in the temple (verse 47)?  Would you say that even at an early age, Jesus displayed a great understanding? 

Consider another event, the 'sermon on the mount'.  Jesus teaches a large crowds, Matthew summarises, "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law" (Matthew 7:28-29, NIV).  How did the crowds view Jesus' wisdom and understanding?

One more series of events shows various religious leaders of Jesus' day trying to entrap him:

"Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" 21 "Caesar's," they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. 23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?" 29 Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead — have you not read what God said to you, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living." 33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied. 43 He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 44 "'The Lord said to my Lord:"Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." ' 45 If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?"  46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions." (Matthew 22:15-45, NIV)

In this lengthy passage, how many times did a religious leader or group of leaders seek to entrap Jesus? Again, how did the crowds react to Jesus' teaching (verse 33)?  What was the response of the religious leaders (verse 46)? 

How does this correspond to Isaiah's description: "and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist." (Isaiah 11:3-5, NIV)

In all of these passages, how well does Jesus demonstrate the quality of understanding, wisdom, and knowledge of God? Would you agree that Jesus meets this identifying feature?  In and of itself, this does not prove Jesus is the seed, but it is a necessary quality for the seed to have based on the prophets.

What about another quality?  Again, Isaiah says, "5 This is what God the Lord says — he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah 42:5-7, NIV)  What is it the seed will do?  Open the eyes of the blind, give freedom to those who are burdened, imprisoned.  How well would you say Jesus does these things?

Notice in John 9, the entire chapter is devoted to the story of Jesus healing a blind man:
"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7 "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man." 10 "How then were your eyes opened?" they demanded. 11 He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." 12 "Where is this man?" they asked him. "I don't know," he said. 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. "He put mud on my eyes," the man replied, "and I washed, and now I see." (John 9:1-13, NIV)  Did Jesus literally open the eyes of the blind?

Besides this specific work of Jesus, consider the general observation of Matthew: "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him" (Matthew 4:23-25, NIV). 

If you were living with any of these conditions without the convenience of modern medicine, would you feel imprisoned, enslaved?  What if someone was able to remove that burden, would you feel freed?  Is there any other way a person might be imprisoned?  Hold that thought, let's come back to it.

Another quality of this seed was to be the geographical area of his life and work.  Remember Isaiah 9? "Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan —  2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned" (Isaiah 9:1-2, NIV).  What region of Judea was to be honored, and where was this 'light' to originate? The traditional inheritance of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali but now "Galilee of the Gentiles." 

Did you recall our earlier reading from Luke 2:40, read just a verse before the temple event of Jesus at age 12.  "When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth" (NIV).  The text says in verse 51 after leaving the temple they returned home to "Nazareth".  Do you know where Nazareth was? It was a small village in the district of Galilee near the border of the inheritance of Zebulun and Naphtali.  Jesus could not have predicted the place of his birth, did he have any more control over where his parents lived growing up?  John 1:28 reveals Jesus was baptized in the Jordan river and he began his work in Cana of Galilee (John 2:1).  A light surely did honor the land of Galilee.

Now lets answer one last question.  What was the work of the seed? "in your seed, all the nations of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 22:18) and...

"This is what God the Lord says —  he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. (Isaiah 42:5-7, NIV)

And Jeremiah 23:5-6: "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.  6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness" (NIV).

Is there a theme of blessing in these passages?  What would it be to have a king that brings justice, righteousness, and compassion?  What would it be to have a king that frees those enslaved?  But how will he do it?  Compare these passages from the Old Testament of the seed or Messiah and the New Testament speaking of Jesus:

Isaiah 52:13
See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

Philippians 2:6
[Jesus - v. 5] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

Was Jesus as God high and lifted up?

Isa 52:14, 53:2
Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness...he grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

Philippians 2:7-8
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself...

Did Jesus appear in a grandiose way - born in a barn and sleeping in an feeding trough as a newborn, growing up as a carpenter, and consider by many to be an illegitimate child?

Isaiah 53:3-4

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

Matthew 26:36-56
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."  37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."  39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."  42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"   47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"  55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

How was Jesus treated on this night?  What did his disciples do when they realized what was happening (verse 56)?

Isaiah 53:7-8
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

Matt 26:57-68, 27:1-2, 27:11-25
 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward 61 and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"  62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" 63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."  64 "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?"
"He is worthy of death," they answered. 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"

27:1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2 They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"  "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. 12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge — to the great amazement of the governor. 15 Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. 21 "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor.
"Barabbas," they answered. 22 "What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked.
They all answered, "Crucify him!"  23 "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" 24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"  25 All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"  

What defense did Jesus make in his trial?  Was it a farce of a trial?  How many people do you know would just sit back and willingly let this happen without opening their mouths when given an opportunity?

Isaiah 53:5
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Matt 27:26-30
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.

Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;

Matt 27:31-38
1 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Isaiah 53:9a
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

Matthew 27:38
Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Could Jesus have controlled who was crucified with him?  As a man crucified at the hands of a non-Jewish authority, he and the theives would likely have been thrown in a common place without traditional funerals.

Isaiah  53:9b
and with the rich in his death,

Matt 27:57-61
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Jesus was crucified between two theives, yet he was laid in the unused tomb of a rich man.

Isaiah 53:10
Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

Matt 27:41-50
 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" 44 In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. 45 From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah." 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him." 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

Did God allow Jesus to suffer? 

Isa 53:11-12
after the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied;by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Matt 28:1-10
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.   3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.  5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."   8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
another New Testament passage, Philippians 2:8-11
and being found in appearance as a man,he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!  9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When was the seed to receive the spoil before or after "he poured out his life" (Isaiah 53:12)?  When did God exalt Jesus to the highest place (Philippians 2:9)?

What was it that the seed was to do?  Was he to suffer for free people from their burden of sin?  How would you describe Jesus suffering?  Would carrying the guilt and punishment for sin be a blessing for all             nations or families?  If the enmity between the serpent and Eve in Genesis 3 is sin and death, then would Jesus rising from the dead "crush" the head of the serpent?

Now consider your own life for a moment?  What are your thoughts about sin in your life?  Do you think you have sin in your life?  If you do, then is this blessing one that could shape your life?  In our next study we'll ask the question, how does the sacrifice of Jesus, the seed, change your life.

If you have not read our previous on-line studies in this series, you can read those as listed below:

Part 1: http://bit.ly/g85Crl

Part 2: http://bit.ly/jl9L6g

Part 3: http://bit.ly/jY1epF

Part 4: http://bit.ly/lWy2ge

Part 5: http://bit.ly/j2LsCM

Part 6: http://bit.ly/mteMgK

Part 7: http://bit.ly/liwNH1

As always, you can find us at www.benbrookchurchofchrist.com, "like" us on Facebook,  www.facebook.com/benbrookcofc and or "follow" us on Twitter, @benbrookcofc.

 

A Nation Becomes a Kingdom (Bible Study, Part 6)

So here we find Israel as a nation.  We finished our study last week with Israel in Canaan led by a series of judges as depicted in the Old Testament book of Judges.  God has fulfilled his promises to Abraham to give him many descendants; He has made his name great. He blessed Abraham. Now, He has brought Israel into the land of Canaan.  Yet, we have not seen how all the nations of the earth will be blessed through Abraham or his seed.  The vague promise given in God's curse of the serpent in Genesis 3, "he [the seed of the woman] will crush your head" has not been fulfilled.  When, where, and how these will take place is not yet evident in the text.  The promise still hangs in the air.

During the period of judges, Israel went back and forth in their following God and keeping their covenant with Him.  Israel would do well for a while and then turn to worship the gods of the nations around them.  God would allow those nations to oppress Israel. Eventually, Israel would turn back to God calling out to Him and he would allow provide them a judge to lead them (see Judges 2:11-33).  The book of judges concludes with a sad observation,  "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit." (Judges 21:25, NIV).

The last of the judges was Samuel.  His story of becoming a judge is told in 1 Samuel 1-3. While Samuel himself was a trustworthy and godly leader, his sons were not.  Because of this Israel asked for a king.
When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. 4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have."  6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do." 10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day." 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, "Listen to them and give them a king." (1 Samuel 8-22, NIV)

As we read this passage what other reason does Israel give for wanting a King?  Was their desire for a king limited to the corruption of Samuel's sons?  Look again at verse 19, is the motivation of Israel at least partly a desire to be like other nations?  As we look at this text, what do we learn about who God is?  How would you describe God's patience with Israel?  Did He immediately annihilate Israel for abandoning their relationship, or did He continue to give them opportunities to come around?  You might ask yourself, 'has God given me an opportunity to come around?'. 

Before we move on, its also important to notice how this passage relates to God's promises to Abraham and his sons.  Do you recall God's promise to Jacob, "And God said to him, "I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body. 12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you." (Genesis 35:11-12, NIV).  Is there a promise or prophecy fulfilled?

In chapters 9 and 10, we are introduced to a man named Saul whom God will ask Samuel to anoint as King.  He is the son of a man named Kish; very tall and handsome (9:2).  Samuel first anoints him in chapter 10:1.  Samuel then tells Saul to meet him leader for the public induction into service, (10:8): "Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do."
Saul is publicly chosen as king and has some success against Israel's enemies as told in chapters 11 and 12.  But in chapter 13, his fear and distrust led him to violate Samuel's instructions.  This would cause Saul to lose his kingdom. 

When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. 9 So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. 11 "What have you done?" asked Samuel.
Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, 12 I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering." 13 "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command." (1 Samuel 13:6-13, NIV).

One of the things that may appear puzzling is why this would happen  to Saul.  Why would he be given a kingdom only to be told it would last only one generation?  What was it that Samuel was going to do for Saul (10:8)?  Was Samuel not going to offer sacrifices?  The Law required that sacrifices be made by a priest and by one who was clean.  Saul was a not priest and he was not clean (he had been in battle and would be considered unclean for touching a dead body).  It was not his place to offer sacrifices.  On the one hand, did his desire to sacrifice to God not seem like a good thing?  If going into battle, would you not want to seek God's protection?

What can we learn from Saul's behavior?  What was at the root of his desire to sacrifice to God?  It was his fear of losing his troops, was it not? His fear prompted him to do something outside of the order God had established.  What was the consequence for Saul (13:13-16)?  He would lose his kingdom.  What quality of individual would be the next king? 

Unfortunately, Saul's mistakes do not end here.  He is a successful military leader, but his faithfulness to God is questionable.  A little later we read, "Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. 2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'" (1 Samuel 15:1-3, NIV).

This passage certainly seems bloody to us as modern readers.  Keep in mind that God is using Israel to punish the Amalekites for their past sins against God.  This is not a war over territory or resources.  Nevertheless, what is the command God gives Saul?  How much of this nation of Amalek was to be left?  How clear were the instructions?  Notice Saul's actions.

Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. 8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs — everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. 10 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel: 11 "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the Lord all that night. 12 Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, "Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal." 13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The Lord bless you! I have carried out the Lord's instructions."
14 But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?" 15 Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the Lord your God, but we totally destroyed the rest."
16 "Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night."
"Tell me," Saul replied. 17 Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.' 19 Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?" 20 "But I did obey the Lord," Saul said. "I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal." 22 But Samuel replied: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,he has rejected you as king. Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the Lord's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord." 26 But Samuel said to him, "I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!" 27 As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors — to one better than you. 29 He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind."  (1 Samuel 15:7-24, NIV).

What is it that Saul actually did, how closely did he follow God's instructions?  Look at verse 13, what did Saul claim about his following God's commands? Look at verse 12, besides not following God's command what had he done?  Does this action appear to be the deed of a man humbly trusting God?  Compare the excuse Saul gives in verses 15 and 21 with what is described in verse 9.  Before his confrontation with Samuel, is anything said by Saul about sacrificing some of the animals to God?  Is Saul's excuse much like a 4 year old's when he or she is caught with a hand in the cookie jar?  "I was getting it for you?"

As we read verses 22-23, what does God say obeying His word?  Would God rather us obey Him or just make sacrifices?  What is it that God wants?  How fair would it be to say God wants us to follow Him with a whole heart?  How does God compare rebellion and insubordination?  Based on both incidents with Saul, how closely would you say God expects us to follow His will in worship or sacrifice?  What is the consequence of this action in Saul's life? 

It is at this time that we are introduced to David.  It is interesting how things progress from here.  David must wait years to become king but in so doing shows a great difference between himself and Saul.  1 Samuel 16:1 states, "The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."

While Samuel meets several of Jesse's sons, these were not to be king.  Instead, David a young man, how old we can't be sure, is attending this father's sheep.  He is the youngest of Jesse's sons,"So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep."Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." 12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah. 14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. (1 Samuel 16:11-14, NIV).

Was anything interesting to you in these verses?  What do you make of verses 13 and 14?  Before God anointed David, did Saul have the "Spirit of the Lord?"  Very few places in the Old Testament mention the Holy Spirit, it seems God allowed the Holy Spirit to be with the kings.  How much control did the Holy Spirit play in Saul's decision making?  Did the Holy Spirit cause, prompt, or nudge Saul to choose to disobey God?  What about David?  Over the next several chapters David makes some horrifying decisions - sin - against God.  Yet, he had God's spirit.  What does that say about how the Holy Spirit might influence the decisions you make?  Are your free to make your own decisions, good or bad?

Let's look at just four more passages briefly.  As we flip through the rest of 1st Samuel, we see a one-sided struggle between David and Saul. Saul grows more violent suspicious of David.  He tries to kill him, David patiently waits for the day God will deliver on the promise to make him king.  2nd Samuel opens at the death of Saul over a period of years the kingdom is divided into two with David reigning at first over the southern kingdom of Judah.  Eventually the nation unites behind David and Israel is one.  The kingdom prospers. 

In 2 Samuel 7, David has a desire to build a temple for God.  However, God does not allow David to build it. Instead he says one of his heirs will build it.  Read the covenant God makes with David:

 "Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.
"'The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'" (2 Samuel 7:8-16, NIV)

As you read this passage are any of these promises similar to the ones God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?  God tells both Abraham and David, "I will make your name great."  He promised them land.  He promised them protection.  But for David he makes a new promise, "[I - God] will establish a house for you..." [your son]..."will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his Kingdom forever."
What comes to mind when you hear of a "kingdom forever?"  Is that an everlasting kingdom?

As we flip through the pages of 2nd Samuel we run past some the huge blunders of David's life.  He dies shortly after the opening of 1st Kings, and his son Solomon becomes king in his place.  Just as God made a covenant with David, he makes a covenant with Solomon.

When Solomon had finished building the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, 2 the Lord appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 The Lord said to him: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. 4 "As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' 6 "But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 8 And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, 'Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?' 9 People will answer, 'Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them — that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them.'" (1 Kings 9:1-9, NIV).

What are the promises God makes to Solomon; are they conditional?  What are the conditions God places on this covenant?  What is the warning God poses to Solomon in verses 6-9?  If Solomon follows God with a whole heart, would God establish his throne and kingdom forever?  But look what happens just two chapters later.

King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter — Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods." Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. 7 On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods. 
9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord's command. 11 So the Lord said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. 12 Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen." (1st Kings 11:1-13, NIV)
What happened with Solomon; how faithful to God was he?  How does God follow through on the warning He gave Solomon earlier?  Yet, what is the two things does God hold out for the benefit of David's name?  Right; Solomon would not lose the unified kingdom, his son would.  And, part of the kingdom would remain for David's name sake.  This happens. 

Following Solomon's death the kingdom plunges into civil war. The northern kingdom is comprised of 10 tribes and is known as Israel.  The southern kingdom is comprised mostly of the tribe of Judah but also Benjamin and fugitives from the other 10 tribes.  It is known as the kingdom of Judah.  During this period known as the "Divided Kingdom" the prophets speak to kings from both Israel and Judah.  They often speak of the coming son who will sit on David's throne over a united kingdom.  Isaiah says:

 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,the Spirit of counsel and of power,the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord —  3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear,their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea." (Isaiah 11:1-10, NIV)

It is in this passage that we begin to see the big picture.  At last we are able to tie together the promises God made to Eve, Abraham and David.  The funnel is coming to a final point.  In this passage who is standing as a rallying point for the peoples?  Who was a "root" of Jesse? That's right King David.  This "root" of Jesse will reign in such a way as to usher in true justice and peace.  He will do this for "peoples" and "nations will rally to him."  Does this sound like the promise to Abraham, "and through your seed, all the nations of the earth will be blessed."?

The final promise is beginning to take shape.  But at this point in the text, do are we told who, when, where, or how this will take place?  Other than this seed being a descendant of David, the details are still foggy.  Next week, the fog will be lifted.

If you have not read our previous on-line studies in this series, you can read those as listed below:

Part 1: http://bitly.com/g85Crl

Part 2: http://bitly.com/jl9L6g

Part 3: http://bitly.com/jY1epF

Part 4: http://bitly.com/lWy2ge

Part 5: http://bitly.com/j2LsCM

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