Monthly Home Bible Study

The Reverend Ronald F. Marshall

Along with our other regular study of Scripture, let us join as a congregation in this home study. We will study alone then talk informally about the assigned verses together as we have opportunity. In this way we can "gather together around the Word" even though physically we will not be getting together (Acts 13.44).

We need to support each other in this difficult project. In 1851 Kierkegaard wrote that the Bible is "an extremely dangerous book.... [because] it is an imperious book... – it takes the whole man and may suddenly and radically change... life on a prodigious scale" (For Self-Examination). And in 1967 Thomas Merton wrote that "we all instinctively know that it is dangerous to become involved in the Bible" (Opening the Bible). Indeed this word "kills" us (Hosea 6.5) because we are "a rebellious people" (Isaiah 30.9)! As Lutherans, however, we are still to "abide in the womb of the Word" (Luther's Works 17.93) by constantly "ruminating on the Word" (LW 30.219) so that we may "become like the Word" (LW 29.155) by thinking "in the way Scripture does" (LW 25.261). Before you study, then, pray: "Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in Our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen" (quoted in R. F. Marshall, Making A New World: How Lutherans Read the Bible, 2003, p. 12).

1 Timothy 6.18

January 2012, Number 227

Week I. Read 1 Timothy 6.18 noting the line they are to do good. Why are we especially to urge the rich to do good deeds? On this read 1 Timothy 6.9 noting the words fall, temptation, snare, senseless, hurtful, plunge, ruin and destruction. Read also James 5.3 noting the words rusted, against, eat and fire, and Luke 18.24 noting the words hard, enter and kingdom. Why are the rich so vulnerable to these corruptions? On this read Deuteronomy 8.17 noting the words beware, my and wealth. Is it that wealth makes us feel independent and self-sufficient? If so, what’s wrong with thinking that way? On this read Hosea 13.4-6 noting the words Egypt, wilderness, drought, fed and forgot, and John 15.5 noting the words apart, me and nothing. Is it, then, that wealth falsely covers up our inherent, deep dependence? On this read Isaiah 30.10 noting the word illusions. So then is it illusory of us to imagine that we’re independent when we really aren’t? Is that then what it’s like to sit in darkness, as Luke 1.79 says?

Week II. Read again 1 Timothy 6.18 noting this same line about the rich doing good. Following up on last week, read John 3.19 noting the line men loved the darkness. If that’s the case, what follows from it? Is all hope for the rich lost? On this read Matthew 6.21 linking your treasure to your heart. What does this mean? On this read 1 Timothy 6.10 about the love of money being the root of all evils. Why do riches take over our hearts like that? On this love of wealth, read Psalm 62.10 noting the words increase and set. Is it possible to countermand this setting of our hearts on wealth? But what is the setting-of-one’s-heart like in the first place? On this read Exodus 32.1-4 noting the words delayed, make, gold, at, calf and brought. Against this, read Colossians 3.1-2 noting the words seek and set. How can one go about switching allegiances like this? On this read Colossians 3.3 noting the words died and hid. Also re-read Colossians 3.1 noting the words if and raised. On these two verses read 2 Corinthians 5.17 noting the phrase new creation. Does that explain how the shift happens? If so, how so?

Week III. Reread 1 Timothy 6.18 noting the word generous. What does it mean for the rich to be generous? On this read Mark 12.41-44 noting the words multitude, money, many, rich, large, poor, penny, more and everything. Does this mean that we are generous only when we are extravagant? On this read Romans 5.6-8 noting the words weak, for, ungodly, hardly, dare and yet. Should we practice this same extra or excess – that we too might be generous like God is? Or would that be unfair to expect of us in general? Should we instead only give what the needy deserve? On this read Ephesians 1.8 noting the word lavished. Doesn’t that mean that we’re only generous when we go beyond what’s reasonable? Read also Luke 10.29-37 noting the words compassion, pouring, whatever and more. If we are to act this same way, would that mean doing more than is fair? The fair amount of help would probably have been only to drop the injured man off at the inn. But if that were the case, why did Jesus tell the young rich man in Matthew 19.21 to give away all that he had to the poor? Would that loss have made him destitute? What about his income producing ability to replenish his wealth in short order? What if Jesus had asked this instead of a wealthy, elderly, retired woman? Would that have been the same? If so, why don’t the Gospels ever record him as having done so?

Week IV. Read 1 Timothy 6.18 one last time noting the same word generous. So what’s so wrong with the rich keeping what they have for themselves? Since they earned it, shouldn’t they be able to spend it on themselves? On this read Luke 12.16-21 noting the words plentifully, store, larger, barns, ample, ease, fool, required, toward and God. Why is God contrasted with us in this parable? Read also in this regard Matthew 6.24 noting the contrast between God and mammon. Are these contrasted for the same reason? If so, what is it? Finally read Luke 12.15 noting the words life, consists and abundance. What does this have to do with John 10.10 and the same word abundance used there?

Joshua 2.5

February 2012, Number 228

Week I. Read Joshua 2.5 noting the line I do not know. Who says this? On this read Joshua 2.1 noting the name Rahab. Why should we care about her? On this read Matthew 1.1-16 noting the words genealogy, Christ and Rahab. Why does the genealogy of Christ matter? On this read Matthew 1.1 noting the names David and Abraham. Why does it matter that Jesus comes from David and Abraham? On this read Genesis 22.15-18 noting the words Abraham, all and bless, and 2 Samuel 7.8-13 noting the words David, kingdom and forever. And what is this blessing? On this read Act 7.17 and 52 noting the words promise, Abraham, Righteous and One, and Acts 13.22-23 noting the words David, king, Savior and Jesus. And what is this promise of salvation coming from Abraham and David? On this read 1 Timothy 1.15 noting the words save and sinners, and 1 Timothy 2.5-6 noting the words mediator and ransom. Why does this salvation matter? On this read Romans 5.1 and Colossians 1.20 noting the same word peace. And why should we care about having this peace? On this read Colossians 2.14 noting the phrase against us. So, are you now convinced of the importance of Rahab? If so, why? Note finally Hebrews 7.3 noting the words without and genealogy. Does this conflict with Matthew 1.1? Why not? On this read Hebrews 7.3 again noting the line priest for ever. How does this differ – and so does not conflict with – Matthew 1.1 about Abraham and David?

Week II. Read again Joshua 2.5 noting this same line I do not know. What is it that Rahab doesn’t know? On this read Joshua 2.1-6 noting the words Joshua, sent, two, men, secretly, hid and roof. Is it true that Rahab doesn’t know about their whereabouts? Why is it that she lies to her king’s men about these spies sent by Joshua to case out Jericho in order to destroy it? On this read Joshua 2.9-13 noting the words know, save, father and mother. But why did she have to lie to her king’s men in order to save her family from what she thinks is sure destruction at the hands of the Israelites? Wasn’t there any other way to go? Why didn’t she try to broker a mass surrender on the part of her people? On this read Joshua 2.11 noting the line no courage left in any man because of you. Why wasn’t that sufficient grounds for planning to surrender? On this read Judges 11.1-33 noting the words mighty, warrior, Ammonites, war, took, land, pass, through, not, listen, Moab, Amorites, not, trust, great and slaughter. Did Rahab think her demoralized people would fight anyway like the Ammonites, Amorites and Moabites would latter do? Is that why she lied to them – because of their reckless endangerment of her family? If so, was her approach justifiable? On what grounds?

Week III. Reread Joshua 2.5 noting that same line I do not know. So was Rahab justified? On lying read Exodus 20.16 and Deuteronomy 5.20 noting the line against your neighbor. Read also Colossians 3.9 against lying in general. Does the Bible teach that all lying is bad – or is it alright to lie to your enemies? Did the wise men lie to Herod when they didn’t return to him after finding the Christ child but went home by another way as Matthew 2.12 says? Was that defensible? Was it right for the midwives to lie about Moses in Exodus 1.15-20? How about Samuel lying to King Saul in 1 Samuel 16.2-5? Or how about Joseph lying about his identity and his brothers in Genesis 42.6-16? Isn’t it an irony that he demands honesty from his brothers in Genesis 42.19 when he doesn’t practice it himself? And how about Abraham in Genesis 12.10-20 and 20.1-18 – both times endangering his wife with his lies? Note also what we might call the bad lies in Genesis 3.4-5 by Satan, 4.9 by Cain and 27.18-24 by Jacob! So where does the Bible stand on lying?

Week IV. Read Joshua 2.5 one last time noting the same line I do not know. Does Jesus also lie? On this read John 7.1-10 noting the words not (with yet being added in the footnote), but and private. And also read Matthew 5.39 about turning the cheek when slapped – but with Jesus not doing so in John 18.23. What’s up? Are the two cases different because of the witnessing in the second and the fact it was Jesus who was struck? Explain your answer. Does Jesus clarify the rule against lying? How so?

Hebrews 6.6

May 2011, Number 219  

Week I. Read Hebrews 6.6 noting the word apostasy. What is this? On this read the same verse noting the words crucify and contempt. Why would any Christian want to do this to Christ? On this read Philippians 3.18-19 noting the words many, tears, enemies, cross, god, belly, shame and earthly. What draws Christians into such shame? On this read Galatians 3.3 and 5:16-24 noting the contrast between spirit and flesh. Reread Galatians 5.24 noting the last spiritual gift – self-control. So is the idea that Christians become apostate and deny Christ when they lose their self-control? How does that happen? On this read Mark 7.18-23 noting our internal defilement and 1 Corinthians 9.24-27 on how self-control is linked to pummeling one’s body. So the point is that card-carrying Christians can become apostate and unbelieving if they no longer practice Christian discipline. On this matter read Galatians 1.6 noting the terrifying line so quickly deserting. Add to this another foreboding line from 1 Timothy1.19 – they have made shipwreck of their faith. How important is this possibility of apostasy? Does it threaten you?

Week II. Read again Hebrews 6.6 noting this time the line on their own account. How can this be? On this read Deuteronomy 12.8 noting the line doing whatever is right in his own eyes. Note the same line in Numbers 15.39 and also in Judges 17.6 and 21.25. Why isn’t this independence rejoiced in? On this read Isaiah 5.20 noting the switching back and forth between good and evil. On this same score read also Romans 7.18-19 noting how wanting or willing and doing don’t agree. Read also that troubling use of loved in John 3.19. Add to these readings the line no one does good, not even one in Romans 3.12! What do these Biblical revelations say about us? On this read Luke 18.9 noting the line trusted in themselves. Read also John 2.24-25 noting the lines did not trust himself to them and knew what was in man. And what was it that he knew was in us? On this read Ezekiel 2.3-7 noting the words rebels, impudent, stubborn and the three occurrences of the word rebellious. And lest we think we aren’t like ancient Israel, read 1 Corinthians 10.6 and 11 noting the words warnings and instruction. So do you trust yourself? Why or why not?

Week III. Reread Hebrews 6.6 noting this time the word contempt again. What is there about Jesus Christ that we don’t like – which makes us hold him in contempt? On this read John 7.7 noting the words hates, testify, works and evil. Why can’t we admit this, accept his judgment against us, and try to do better – rather than hate him for it? On this read 2 Timothy 3.2-4 noting the words money, arrogant, swollen, conceit and pleasure. Does that mean that we aren’t prepared – constitutionally or by nature – to receive constructive criticism gratefully? On our nature, read Ephesians 2.3 noting the words passions, flesh, nature and wrath. What else don’t we like about Jesus? On this read Luke 16.15 noting the words exalted and abomination. Why would that hurt our feelings and enrage us? On this read Luke 12.19 noting the words ample and good, ease and merry. But shouldn’t Christ be in favor of such worldly advantage and prosperity? Why isn’t he? On this read 1 Timothy 6.9 noting the words senseless and hurtful, ruin and destruction. Do you agree with this? On this matter, ask yourself what this verse has to say about gambling for multi-million dollar payouts.

Week IV. Read Hebrews 6.6 one last time noting that same word contempt. How should we go about combating this contempt? On this read Galatians 6.14 noting the words I and me and crucified. Where does this admonition come from? On this read 1 John 2.15-17 noting the words love, world, Father, lust, pride and abides.  Add to this Luke 9.23 noting the words deny and daily. Read also 2 Corinthians 5.14-15 noting the words controls, convinced and themselves. Read as well Romans 13.14 noting the words provisions and gratify and the play between obey and slaves in Romans 6.16. How much help is there in these verses?

Genesis 37.15

June 2011, Number 220

Week I. Read Genesis 37.15 noting the line a man found him wandering in the fields. Why isn’t this man identified? On this read Hebrews 13.2 noting the words strangers and angels. Does that mean this unnamed man is an angel of the Lord? On this read Psalm 91.11-12 noting the words he, give, angels, charge, guard, all, bear and dash. From these two verses we learn that God sends his angels to us to guard us and keep us safe from all harm. So is this unnamed man Joseph’s guardian angel? The answer hinges on whether or not the unnamed man actually helped Joseph, which is contentious indeed. For on the one hand, he helps him find his brothers – which Joseph couldn’t have done without him. But on the other hand, once found, his brothers do him harm. So while this unnamed man helps Joseph get what he wants, it turns out to be bad for him. On this matter read Genesis 50.20 noting the words meant, evil and good. How does this verse inform our debate? On this matter of different meanings for the same event, read Acts 2.22-24 noting the contrasting words plan and lawless.

Week II. Read again Genesis 37.15 noting this time the word asked. Why didn’t this man warn Joseph instead – especially if he was a guardian angel? On this read Acts 9.16 noting the words suffer, for and name. Does this mean that sometimes God helps by leading us into suffering? On this read 2 Corinthians 8.9 noting the phrase by his poverty. Even though this is about Christ’s redeeming sacrifice, it still makes the more general point that exaltation is preceded by denigration. On this point read Philippians 2.9 noting the word therefore. That logical connector also makes this point, that if Christ had not been humiliated in the preceding verse, he wouldn’t have been exalted later. So if the unnamed man had warned Joseph not to go to Dothan where his brothers were, Joseph never would have been able to save the world from famine – as he did in Egypt. Does that make Joseph’s suffering worth it – and the unnamed man’s directions acceptable? Read also 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 noting the words keep, elated, sufficient and content.  How do these verses help us see the point in God allowing us to suffer?

Week III. Reread Genesis 37.15 noting this time the word wandering. Is it good that Joseph was wandering around? On this read Matthew 10.6 noting the word lost. Read also Revelation 3.17 noting the words not, knowing, poor and blind. Do these two verses suggest that God will not help us unless we are lost, and that we dangerously refuse to admit that even when we are lost? If so, was Joseph blessed because he admitted he was lost when he really was? On this read James 4.15-16 noting the words ought, if, Lord, wills, do, arrogance and evil. Do these two verses suggest that we aren’t in control of our lives and that to think otherwise is evil and arrogant of us? If so, then it was good that Joseph admitted he was lost for he in fact was lost – and only then could God help him. Read also Psalm 51.17 noting the words broken and contrite.  While this has to do mostly with the forgiveness of sins, does it also have a lesson regarding humility before God?

Titus 2.7

July 2011, Number 221

Week I. Read Titus 2.7 noting the word teaching. Why is teaching so important for pastors to do – remembering that Titus was a pastor under St. Paul’s care? On this read Matthew 28.20 noting the words teaching and commanded. Why does Jesus want his commands taught to everyone? On this read 1 John 3.23-24 noting the words commandment, should, believe, love, as, keep, abide and Spirit. Read also John 3.36 noting the correlation between the words obey and wrath. So our well-being hinges on whether or not we obey Christ’s commands! Does this explain the importance in teaching those commands? On this read James 3.1 noting the words teachers, many, not, judges, greater and strictness. What does this verse add to the importance of teaching about Jesus? On this read Ephesians 4.14 noting the words no and tossed. It’s important therefore that the right things are taught about Jesus. On this warning read 2 Peter 2.1 noting the words denying and bought. On Jesus buying us back, read also 1 Corinthians 6.19-20 noting the words not, own, bought and price.

 Week II. Read again Titus 2.7 noting that same word teaching. Following up from last week, if we’re bought, from whom, then, are we purchased? On this read Ephesians 5.2 and Hebrews 9.14 noting the words sacrifice, offered, to and God. Why would we have to be bought back from God? On this read Romans 5.9 noting the words saved and wrath. What is this wrath from which we need saving? On this read John 3.36 noting the word God. Why is God mad at us and what is that like? On his reasons for being angry with us, read James 4.6 noting the words oppose and proud. Why does God get angry at us when we’re proud? On this read 2 Timothy 3.2-4 noting the contrast between lovers of self – that is, the proud – and lovers of God. Because of this logical exclusion, the proud necessarily oppose God, which puts them in violation of his law (Matthew 22.37; Psalms 5.5, 11.5, 95.10; Leviticus 26.30) and which leads to God hating them (Romans 2.5; Jeremiah 12.8). And on what it’s like having God mad at us, read Luke 13.3 noting the words repent and perish. What are the means by which we perish? On this read 2 Thessalonians 1.9 noting the words exclusion, punishment, eternal and destruction. Read also in this regard, the following passages on temporal punishments leveled against us in Ezekiel 13.13, 14.21; Isaiah 30.30; Numbers 11.1, 16.31-32. From all of this should we then conclude that sinners need to be saved from God? On this read Matthew 3.12 noting the line the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

 Week III. Reread Titus 2.7 noting this time the word integrity. Why is this important in Christian teaching? On this read Isaiah 30.9-11 noting the words rebellious, lying, hear, instruction, smooth, illusions and holy. Does this mean that Christian teachers are always tempted to water-down the truth? Why is that? On this read Matthew 7.13-14 noting the words narrow, easy, many, life and few. Read also Matthew 16.24 noting the word deny and 1 Peter 4.16 noting the word suffers. Does this mean Christianity is too hard for us? On this read John 6.60 noting the words hard and can. Is that difficulty ever a good reason for cutting back on Christianity? On this read 1 Corinthians 10.13 noting the word endure. Do you believe that? If not, why not?

Genesis 41.32

August 2011, Number 222

Week I. Read Genesis 41.32 noting the word fixed. What is the significance of this word? On this read Psalm 148.3-6 noting the words sun, moon, stars, waters, established, forever and fixed. Why is this steadfastness attributed to God’s works in creation? On this read Psalm 76.4 noting the words glorious, majestic, everlasting and mountains. Why are mountains a good image for God? On this read Deuteronomy 32.4 noting the words rock, perfect, justice, faithfulness, and right. Why is this steadiness and faithfulness important to God? On this read Exodus 34.6-7 noting the words love and forgiving. Why is it so important that God’s forgiving love is so enduring and reliable? On this read 1 John 3.20 noting the words whenever, hearts, condemn, God and greater. Why is such a potent antidote needed to be pitted against our guilty hearts? On this read Romans 7.24 noting the words wretched and deliver. Does that explain why God must be so powerful and so faithfully fixed in his love for us sinners? How so?

 Week II. Read again Genesis 41.32 noting that same word fixed. Is there anything to be feared about God’s steadfastness? On this read Psalm 130.4 noting the linkage between forgiveness and feared. Why should this be the case? Isn’t forgiveness wonderful and nothing more? On this read Psalm 51.17 noting the words broken and despised. Why must we have broken spirits? On this read 1 John 1.8-10 noting the words deceive, truth, if, confess, just and liar. From these two passages we see that God’s forgiveness is contingent on our repentance and contrition. If we repent and have a broken spirit, then we’re forgiven. If we don’t repent we are instead despised! And why is it scary to have God despise us? On this read Leviticus 26:14-39 noting the words sudden, terror, fever, smitten, chastise, plagues, desolate, vengeance, pestilence, fury, destroy, devastate, scatter, sword, faintness, stumble and perish. What is it like to face such horrors? On this read Amos 5.19 noting the line and a bear met him. Does that explain why we should be afraid of God’s forgiveness – being withheld, due to our lack of contrition? How so?

 Week III. Reread Genesis 41.32 noting again the word fixed. Are there any other reasons to fear God’s steadfastness? On this read Exodus 20.7 noting the words hold and guiltless. Read also Romans 2.5 noting the words storing and wrath. Are not both of these words – holding and storing – fixed words? Wouldn’t we like God’s fierceness to be a little less certain and fixed? On this read Hebrews 12.11 noting the words moment and seems. Read also 1 Corinthians 10.13 noting the words common and beyond. In both of these verses God does not budge. Why is that? On this read Revelation 3.19 noting the word love, and Romans 5.3-5 noting the words rejoice, produces, character and disappoint. Is that enough of an explanation for us to endure God’s fixed chastisements? On this read Romans 8.18 noting the word worth, and 2 Corinthians 4.17 noting the word preparing. Do you agree? If so, why?

 Week IV. Read Genesis 41.32 one last time noting the same word fixed. Is there any sense in which we also should be fixed in our beliefs? On this read Ephesians 4.14 noting the words tossed and deceit. Read also James 5.1 noting the words weep, howl, miseries and wiles. So is it wrong to be flexible and ambiguous about such mysterious matters? On this read 2 Corinthians 4.7 noting the words earthen and belongs. But if the message doesn’t belong to us, does that mean we should be uncertain about it? On this read 1 Corinthians 15.58 noting the words steadfast and unmovable. Read also Romans 14.5 noting the phrase fully convinced. Add to these two verses, John 20.27 noting the line don’t be faithless, and Matthew 14.31 noting the question why do you doubt? Do these verses settle it? Is it good to be unmovable? If so, why?

3 John 1.9

September 2011, Number 223

Week I. Read 3 John 1.9 noting the word first. What’s wrong with wanting to be first? On this read Mark 9.35 noting the words first, last and servant. Why is it that we cannot serve others if we think of ourselves first? On this read Matthew 6.24 noting the line no one can serve two masters. While this is primarily about God and others, does it also apply to ourselves and others? On this read Matthew 18.32-33 noting the words wicked, forgave, debt, as, and I. Why wasn’t this forgiven man merciful to others? Was it because of the wealth he had just received because his master had forgiven him his loan? On this read Matthew 19.20-22 noting the words give, poor, great, possessions and sorrowful. Why wouldn’t this righteous man share his great wealth with the poor? On this read Luke 12.16-21 noting the words himself, barns, larger and your. So is it that the more you have less you care about others? Is that what these five passages add up to? If that’s so, is that why divestment is urged in the rich man’s warning to his brothers in Luke 16.25-28? Should we then also pursue the simplicity and frugality honored in Matthew 6.25, Luke 12.15, and Philippians 4.11-13?

Week II. Read again 3 John 1.9 noting this time the word himself. But shouldn’t we care about ourselves in at least some small measure? On this read Matthew 16.24 noting the line deny himself. Does this denial admit to any degrees or is it supposed to be wholesale? On this read Matthew 10.39 noting the play between the words find and lose. What is it like to find your life after you have first lost it? On this read John 12.25 noting the words hate and life. How do you live with yourself if you hate yourself? On this read 2 Timothy 3.2-4 noting the words swollen and pleasure. Does that mean that we don’t find pleasure in ourselves if we hate ourselves? What would that be like? On this read 1 Corinthians 6.19 noting the word temple and 9.27 noting the word pommel. Are these two verses contradictory? On this read 2 Corinthians 4.8 noting the words afflicted verses crushed, and perplexed verses despair. What is it like to be perplexed but not despairing? On this read Hebrews 4.12 noting the distinction between soul and spirit. Does that fine distinction help? If so, how?

 Week III. Reread 3 John 1.9 noting this time the word authority. Why does there have to be a person in the church with authority? On this read Galatians 1.11-2.2 noting the words man’s, revelation, former, traditions, apart, confer, lie, glorified and vain. What kind of control on the Christian message does this provide? On this read Galatians 3.3 noting the conflict between the words begun and ending, spirit and flesh. Why is there this sort of threat? On this read Galatians 5.17 noting the words desires, against, opposed, prevent and would. Why does the flesh do this to the spirit – rather than harmoniously cooperating with it? On this read Galatians 4.3, 8, 9, 19, 5.1, 13 noting the words slaves, bondage, travail, until, submit, yoke, slavery and use. What’s going on here? On this read Exodus 34.14 and 2 Corinthians 11.2 noting the words jealous and jealousy. Is it that there isn’t enough of any one of us to be shared by more than one master over us? If so, what does this mean for us?

 Week IV. Read 3 John 1.9 one last time noting this time the word acknowledge. What does this amount to? On this read Hebrews 13.17 noting the words obey and submit. What is this like? On this read 1 Corinthians 2.4-16 noting the words plausible, power, faith, rest, age, doomed, secret, decreed, conceived, Spirit, comprehend, understand, bestowed, taught, possess, receive, discerned and instruct. And how do we receive this secret? On this read Matthew 19.14 noting the words children, belongs and kingdom. Why is this the case? On this read Romans 10.17 noting the words faith, heard and preaching. What is this hearing contrasted with? On this read Matthew 11.25 noting the words wise and understanding. So is faith opposed to reasoning, thinking and knowing? On this read 2 Timothy 3.5 noting the contrast between form and power. Why can’t our reasoning harness this power too? On this read 2 Corinthians 4.4 noting the words blinded, minds and unbelievers. So what will it take to revive the mind and set it on the spirit as Romans 8.6 says? Note the word transform in Romans 12.2. So where does that leave you? Will your reasoning get to the truth about God?

Psalm 26.8

October 2011, Number 224

Week I. Read Psalm 26.8 noting the word habitation. What’s God’s habitation? On this read Exodus 40.34-38 noting the words tabernacle, fire and cloud. Are these signs of God’s presence? On this read Exodus 33.9-17 noting the words tent, cloud, worship, speaks, my, presence, with, rest, distinct and favor. While this presence seems salutary, is it only ever a blessing? On this read Job 23.13-17 noting the words unchangeable, does, complete, terrified, and darkness. So does all of the power of God reside where his presence is? On this read Isaiah 64.1-2 noting the words thou, presence, and name. Why is this presence so important? On this read Exodus 33.20 noting the words see, me, and live. On this same point read 1 Timothy 6.16 noting the line who… dwells in unapproachable light. So if God is invisible and cannot be seen, then is his presence all that we are able to apprehend of him? If that’s the case, then what is that presence like? On this read Ezekiel 1.28 noting the line the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. Now if that is it, how much of God do we get when he is present to us? Does it matter, or is it too little? Why or why not?

Week II. Read again Psalm 26.8 noting this time the word house. But is not a house too confining or small for God to dwell in? On this read Jeremiah 23.24 noting the line do I not fill heaven and earth? And even more radically, read 1 Kings 8.27 noting the line heaven and earth cannot contain thee. So what does it mean that his house or temple is his habitation? On this read 1 Kings 8.28-30 noting the words yet, toward, place, said, be and heaven. So is it that God can simultaneously be in his house on earth and in the heavens above, and so it’s no problem for him at all to have an earthly temple be his habitation? On this read Jeremiah 23.23 noting the conceptual pairs at hand and far off. But how can God be both near and far away at the same time? On this read Matthew 11.27 noting the close-up words know and reveal; and then read Romans 11.33 noting the far away words unsearchable and inscrutable. So the default position is distance, broken only by revelation. Do you agree? If so, why?

Week III. Reread Psalm 26.8 noting this time the word glory. What is the glory of God contained for us in his earthly temple? On this read Hebrews 1.3 noting the words He, glory and word. Is this the only glory to be found in his temple? How about the people and their various activities, or the architecture and art in the church? On this read Galatians 6.14 noting the word except. Now why is God’s glory on earth so narrowly defined? On this read Colossians 2.9 noting the words in, him, whole, deity, and dwells. But why is that? On this read 1 John 4.10 noting the words loved and expiation. But why does God so fashion his love around this expiation? On this read Romans 5.9 noting the correlation between the words blood and wrath. Is relief from God’s wrath our biggest need in life? On this read Luke 16.26-31 noting the words chasm, fixed, none, beg, warn, torment and convinced. And add to this Hebrews 9.27 noting the words appointed, once and judgment, and John 5.28-29 noting the contrast between done good and done evil regarding those who in the tombs… come forth. Given these last three readings, how could there be any greater problem for us than overcoming divine wrath?

Week IV. Read Psalm 26.8 one last time noting this time the word love. What does this mean? On this read Matthew 22.37 noting the three occurrences of the word all. Why is there all of this exuberance? On this also read Ephesians 6.24 noting the word undying. Should so much energy be expended over this glory? On this read Romans 2.5-10 noting the words storing, wrath and distress. Does that account for it? On this matter read Revelation 3.16 noting the words lukewarm and spew. What does this required passion bring? On this read Luke 14.18 noting the word excuses, and Luke 9.62 noting the phrase looks back. Why are these interruptions and hesitations undesirable? On this read Luke 17.32, noting the entire verse, Remember Lot’s life. What’s that about? On this read Genesis 19:26 noting the line, she looked back and… became a pillar of salt. Is that a good enough reason for this passionate love of God’s glory? Why or why not?