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

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.

The Birth of Israel (Bible Study, Part 5)

In our last study we saw God keeping promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  He had promised to give them numerous descendants; they had them.  He promised Abraham that his descendants would come out of an oppressive nation with many possessions.  It happened.  Yet two key promises had not yet been fulfilled: Abraham's descendants had not inherited the land of Canaan, and all nations had not yet been blessed through Abraham's offspring.  As we continue our study we begin to see these promises more clearly delivered. 

We left Israel in Exodus chapter 12 as they were coming out of Egypt.  Two chapters later we read that Pharaoh again had a change of heart and wanted to retake Israel.  He sends his army after Israel only to be destroyed by God in the Red Sea.  Egypt has been completely destroyed for her treatment of Israel.  But, God provides food, water, and solid leadership for Israel in chapters 15-18.  We pick up our study in chapter 19.

Notice that is 3 months after Israel walked out of Egypt.  Here is the birth of Israel as a nation.  Note God's words to Moses: "Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." (Exodus 19:3-6, NIV).

God spells out for Moses that Israel will be a nation.  What quality does God say Israel as a nation ought to be?  Doesn't he describe them as a "holy nation." The term holy means, "set apart or set aside for a unique purpose." They are to be a nation set apart from the rest of the nations.  What else does God say in terms of His relationship with Israel?  Doesn't he say in verse 5, "if you keep my covenant..."?  In other words, God is going to make a covenant with Israel - they will be His possession for a specific purpose. 

If we recall our funnel analogy from our earlier studies in this series you will imagine the wide opening of Eve's descendants narrowed from her to Abraham.  Then from among all Abraham's children it narrows to Isaac.  From Isaac it is narrowed between Jacob and Esau.  Now the funnel narrows to Israel as a nation.  Moses takes God's word back to Israel - they have a choice to make.  Notice what they say: "So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, "We will do everything the Lord has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord." (Ex. 19:7-8, NIV).

How willingly would you say the people of Israel agreed to enter this relationship with God?  Who was it that represented the voice of the people?  With whom does God then make this agreement or covenant relationship?  Its with Israel as a nation, right?

Chapter 20 begins then with the terms of this covenant relationship.  Many will recognize the first few verses of this chapter as the "10 Commandments" but really the covenant and its terms continue past chapter 20 through to chapter 24. Notice how the covenant is ratified, if you will in chapter 24.

"Then he said to Moses, "Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, 2 but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him." 3 When Moses went and told the people all the Lord's words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the Lord has said we will do." 4 Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey."
8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words." (Exodus 24:1-8, NIV). 

How similar is this closing of the covenant to the opening of the covenant?  Do we see the elders of Israel agreeing to the terms?  How is the covenant ratified?  Who is sprinkled with the blood of bulls?  What phrase is used in reference to the blood in verse 8?  Its called the "blood of the covenant" is it not?  All of this demonstrates that the leaders or representatives of the people, that is the nation of Israel, agree on behalf of the nation to enter the covenant relationship with God.

A covenant is similar to a contract with one party committing to provide some deed, good, or service to another in exchange for something else.  As we look at this covenant, Israel agrees to follow God by observing the ordinances God has set down.  What about God, what does He promise to give Israel?  Notice what He says (Exodus 23:20ff):

"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. 22 If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. 23 My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out. 24 Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. 25 Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, 26 and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.
27 "I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. 28 I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.
31 "I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the River. I will hand over to you the people who live in the land and you will drive them out before you. 32 Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. 33 Do not let them live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you." (Exodus 23:20-33, NIV).

What promises do you see God making to Israel?  Does He promise protection?  What about land?  What does He promise concerning good health?  What does he offer as a timeline for receiving the land (verses 29-30)?  Now look at verse 23; with whom does God make this contract?  Is God making this contract with the Amorites? Is He making this covenant with the Hittites?  Is He making it with the Perizzites?  Is He making it with the Canaanites, Hivites, or Jebusites?  Is He making it with the Americans?  Obviously the answer to each of these is no, God is making this covenant with one nation and one nation only, Israel (see again 19:3-5).

Many people today it seems want to take portions of this covenant and apply it to other people in other places and at other times.  But God is making this unique covenant with Israel; do you remember, to be a "holy nation."  Israel was being set aside for a unique purpose.  The question for us at this point in the text is, what is that purpose?  The answer is not quickly supplied in the text.  But we go back to Eve and Abraham.

The serpent of Genesis 3 was told that a seed of the woman would crush his (the serpent's) head.  We were not told in that passage who, when, or where.  But we noticed the implication this would end the "enmity" between the offspring of the woman (Eve) - that's all of us - and the serpent.  There's a promise of hope for us in that curse of the serpent.  A few chapter later we read God's words to Abraham, "through your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 12:3).  Could it be the "set aside" purpose of Israel is to be the nation from which this seed to will come by whom all families will be blessed?

As we continue flipping through the pages of the Old Testament the rest of Exodus highlights God's instructions for Israel in building a portable place of worship, the attire of the Priests, and the establishment of the priesthood for Israel.  The next Old Testament book, Leviticus, highlights God's direction for the work of the priesthood.  It's given while Israel journeys toward Canaan.  The third Old Testament book highlights specific events as Israel journeys toward Canaan, and it discusses the genealogies of the tribes of Israel originating from the twelve sons of Jacob.  Along the way, in Numbers 13-14, spies are sent in to Canaan but Israel rebels against God not trusting they can take the land.  As a result, God punishes that generation by making them wander in the wilderness outside Canaan and not allowing them to enter the land promised to Abraham.  Deuteronomy, the fifth Old Testament book, is Moses standing before the next generation of Israel just before they enter Canaan.  He reminds them of the covenant and agreement they as a nation made with God.

In the closing chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses restates the covenant and reminds Israel of their commitment and their blessings for following God.  Notice Moses' words in Dt. 29:9-15, "Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. 10 All of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God — your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel, 11 together with your children and your wives, and the aliens living in your camps who chop your wood and carry your water. 12 You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God, a covenant the Lord is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, 13 to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 14 I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you 15 who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God but also with those who are not here today. (NIV)

Moses reiterated this covenant with Israel in the days leading to his death.  In chapter 31, Joshua is  commissioned to lead Israel in to Canaan.  Deuteronomy closes and the next Old Testament book, Joshua, highlights Israel taking possession of Canaan.  From Genesis 15 to Joshua 24 God is carrying out the promises He made to Abraham. The seventh book of the Old Testament, Judges, opens with a review of Joshua leading Israel into Canaan and his death.  Israel has received the promise God made to Abraham.  The one promise yet to be realized is "through your seed all families of the earth will be blessed."
At this point in our study have we been told how the families of the earth will be blessed by this seed of Abraham?  Have we been told who this seed of Abraham will be?  Do we know when this seed of Abraham will be born?  The answer to all of these questions is, 'no'.

The book of Judges highlights a period of Israel's history when Israel is governed by judges.  The nation goes back and forth in their commitment to God.  As they do, they trust in the idolatry of the surrounding nations and God allows those nations to oppress Israel.  The next two books of the Old Testament take place, in part, during this time period.  1st Samuel begins with the birth of the final judge of Israel, Samuel.  It's during his leadership that Israel demands a king for themselves (1 Samuel 8).  It will be during the period of the kings that we begin to catch a greater glimpse of the seed of Abraham.  In our next study we will begin to answer some of these remaining questions of who and how this seed will be a blessing.  We will also begin see the qualities of this seed which will allow us to identify who this seed is. Please join us next time.

If you have missed previous lessons in this series you can find them at:

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

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

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

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

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