First Lutheran Church of West Seattle: Bible Study deogloria@foxinternet.com

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 than 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).

Along with our other regular study of Scripture, let us join as a congregation in this home study. We will study alone than 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).

Ezekiel 7.9

January 2010, Number 203

Week I. Read Ezekiel 7.9 noting the word smite. What does smite mean? On this read Exodus 12.12-13 noting the correlation between the words smite, destroy and blood. Smiting therefore means killing. What examples do we have of God killing people? On this read Genesis 6.7 and 7.23 noting the words blot out and blotted out. Read also Exodus 14.26-28 noting the words waters, back, upon, routed, covered and remained. Read as well Judges 15.14-15 noting the two lines the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and with the jawbone of an ass he slew a thousand men. And for one last example, read Acts 12.20-23, noting the line an angel of the Lord smote him. What other means, besides flood and war, does God use to kill or smite people? On this read Numbers 16.28-35 noting the words common, if, creates, new, ground, opens, swallowed, consumed and two hundred and fifty men. For God’s strangest weapon of destruction, read Deuteronomy 7.20 noting the words send, hornets and destroyed. Were their enemies stung to death?

Week II. Read again Ezekiel 7.9 noting the same word smite. Why does God kill people in these various ways? On this read Isaiah 13.9 noting the correlation between the words destroy and sinners. Why do sinners need to be destroyed? On this read Ecclesiastes 9.18 noting the correlation between the word sinner and the line destroys much good. So destruction is needed in order to preserve the good. Read also Deuteronomy 20.16-18 noting the words utterly, destroy, teach, abominable, and sin. Only destruction, then, can keep sin from spreading – since believers are so easily recruited by bad examples. For an additional reason for such killing, read Ezekiel 5.13 noting the correlation between the word pairs vent and anger, spend and satisfy. How does such killing satisfy God? On this read Isaiah 61.8 noting the words love, justice, hate, wrong, faithfully and recompense. Why is God so diligent or faithful in his recompense or punishment and killing? Shouldn’t he cut us a little slack? No, and the reason for this is because he loves justice – and justice requires that what is wrong be punished without any exceptions.

Week III. Reread Ezekiel 7.9 noting again the word smite. Do we have any protection against such punitive killing? On this read Leviticus 26.40-45 noting the words if, confess, and amends, as well as remember, not and destroy. According to this passage, our good behavior prompts God to compassion and reprieve which protects us from his anger and destruction. Read also Hosea 11.1-9 noting the words loved, called, more, idols, not, know, refused, devour, bent, my, heart, recoils, compassion, grows and execute. What sort of protection is this? The key is in the word recoils which means destroy – as it does in Genesis 19.24-25 where it is translated as overthrew. Therefore God protects us from himself by inflicting his wrath on himself or on his own heart. He cannot cancel his anger without it being spent somewhere. So rather than blasting us with it, he absorbs it himself, in his own heart – which makes it recoil, as Hosea says. Is this a good approach to the problem?

Week IV. Read Ezekiel 7.9 one last time noting again the same word smite. Does this still go on today? On this read Luke 13.3 noting the words repent and perish. According to this verse we’ll perish, or be destroyed, if we don’t repent. On this same point read Matthew 3.12 noting the contrast between gather and burn. This burning is in reference to the fires of hell, as in 2 Peter 3.7 and Revelation 21.8. For another sort of killing, see Acts 2.23 noting the words God, plan, kill and Jesus. Here God’s anger is directed against himself in the body of his only begotten son, Christ Jesus. On this read Isaiah 53.10-11 noting the words will, Lord, bruise, grief, offering, sin, see, travail, satisfied, righteous, bear and iniquities. On this same point read 2 Corinthians 8.9 noting the play between the words rich and poor, realizing that poor means killed. Is this shift of violence onto Jesus an advance? If so, how so?

Acts 5.39

February 2010, Number 204

Week I. Read Acts 5.39 noting the line you will not be able. What is it that they were wanting to be able to do? On this read Acts 5.33 noting the words enraged and kill. Why were they so mad that they wanted to kill their adversaries? On this read Ecclesiastes 9.18 noting the words destroys and good. If that is so, why shouldn’t they go ahead and kill those who are doing so much damaged? On this read 1 Corinthians 13.12 noting the words dimly and part. Does this mean that we should refrain from executing those who are bad just because we might be wrong about them? On this read Romans 12.19 noting the words never, leave and repay. So is another reason for this prohibition that such violent punishment is not within our realm of responsibility? On this read Matthew 4.6-7 noting the words throw and tempt. Does this mean that our efforts at punishing the wicked might boomerang on us and harm us – and thereby only be reckless endangerment of ourselves? Are these three reasons for showing restraint enough to convince you?

Week II. Read again Acts 5.39 noting the same line you will not be able. So if conflict avoidance is the best way to proceed, how shall we rise above our anger and plans for retaliation? On this read Galatians 5.23 noting the word self-control. How does self-control work? On this read Colossians 3.2 noting the words set, mind and above. How is this difficult task of setting one’s mind achieved? On this read Colossians 3.16 noting the words word, dwell, richly, admonish, sing and thankfulness. How does this work? On this read 2 Corinthians 5.17 noting the category of new creation. What is this like? On this read Colossians 3.9-10 noting the play between old nature and new nature. Note as well the lines contrary to nature in Romans 11.24 and by nature children of wrath in Ephesians 2.3. Read as well 2 Corinthians 3.18 noting the word changed. So self-control begins with a new nature – and isn’t primarily about fighting back our old corruption. Does that help you understand self-control? Why or why not?

Week III. Reread Acts 5.39 noting this time the category of God. But what if this isn’t the case – as with Theudas and Judas the Galilean in Acts 5.36-37? What then? On this read Acts 12.23 noting the words smote and eaten. Who did this smiting and sending of the man-eating worms? We’re told in that same verse that it was the Lord God Almighty. So is there any fear that those who are not of God will get off scot free? On this read John 16.20 noting the line the world will rejoice. What does this mean? Could it be that in the short run the ungodly will get away with murder? But read also Luke 16.19-31 noting the line the place of torment. This, however, only happens after the wicked die. Does that mean, then, that it doesn’t help us with our problem? Don’t forget also, in this regard, Luke 13.4 and the tower of Siloam – which looks like short term retribution. Does this verse paint a better picture? If so, how so?

Week IV. Read Acts 5.39 one last time noting again the same category of God. Think this time about what happens if they are not wicked – and truly of God, although we imagined them not to be in the beginning? On this read Matthew 7.12 noting the parallel phrases to you and to them. According to this verse, if our adversaries are truly on God’s side and we have kept ourselves from attacking them, then we will have acted as we would have wanted to be treated ourselves. From this we learn to wait and not be hasty – lest we act on insufficient and misleading evidence. Another way to head-off such a grievous mistake would be to look for corroboration from others. On this read Matthew 18.16 noting the word confirmed. Note also Philippians 2.3 and the line count others better than yourselves. What more would we need to do?

Psalm 107.11

March 2010, Number 205

Week I. Read Psalm 107.11 noting the phrase words of God. What are these words? On this read Psalm 119.105-109 noting the words ordinances, word and law. And what is the law of God? On this read Deuteronomy 5.1-33 noting especially the words commandments and commanded in verses 29-33. What is the importance of these commandments from God? On this read Leviticus 26.3-14 noting the words if, walk, commandments, peace, fruitful, and the phrases your God and walk erect. Are there any other words from God? On this read John 1.17 noting the words grace and truth. What is this grace and truth? On this read Hebrews 9.26 noting the words sacrifice, himself and sin. How are these turned into words? On this read Romans 10.17 noting the line by the preaching of Christ. Note also the words arguments, knowledge and thought, as well as the line captive to obey Christ in 2 Corinthians 10.5.

Week II. Read again Psalm 107.11 noting the same phrase words of God. What then is the function of these two sets of words? On this read 2 Corinthians 3.6 noting the word pairs code and Spirit, kills and life. The commandments, then, are what kill us and the grace of Christ is what gives us life. How then do the commandments kill us? On this read Romans 7.13 noting the words sin, working, death, through, commandment and beyond. But how does this working take place? On this read Romans 7.7-10 noting the words law, know, sin, revived, died and promised. The law, then, destroys our promised goodness and reveals our wretchedness – thereby killing the high opinion we innocently have of ourselves. How could we be so deluded? On this read Jeremiah 17.9 noting the words heart, deceitful, desperately and corrupt. Note that same word deceitfulness in Hebrews 3.17 as well as the phrase fleeting pleasures of sin in Hebrews 11.25.

Week III. Reread Psalm 107.11 noting again that same phrase words of God. And how about the words of grace? How do they give life? On this read Romans 8.3-4 noting the words law, weakened, condemned, just, requirement and fulfilled. Just how does this fulfillment occur? On this read Colossians 2.14 noting the words canceled, bond, against, us, aside and nailing. Now when that bond is cancelled, what happens to those who believe in Christ? On this read Romans 5.9 noting the words blood, saved, God and wrath. What is it like to be shielded from that wrath? On this read Philippians 3.12-14 noting the words not, perfect, press, make, made, forgetting, behind, straining and goal. What’s another simpler description of this fulfillment? On this read Galatians 5.1 noting the line for freedom Christ has set us free. What is this freedom from and for? On this read Matthew 25.30 noting the line weep and gnash their teeth. Then read Romans 6.18 noting the phrase slaves of righteousness. So we’re free to be righteous because we’ve been freed from weeping.

Week IV. Read Psalm 107.11 one last time noting the line spurned the counsel of the Most High. Now why would we kick a gift horse in the mouth and spurn God’s holy word? On this read John 3.19 noting the line men loved darkness rather than light. Why do we love the wrong thing? On this read Psalm 51.5 noting the words sin and conceive. In this regard read also Ephesians 2.3 noting the line by nature children of wrath. If our birth starts us off on the wrong foot like this, where does that lead? On this read Luke 12.19 noting the words ease and merry. Contrast these two words with sorrow in John 16.22 and pommel in 1 Corinthians 9.27. Is it unnatural, then, for a person to become a Christian? On this read Romans 11.24 noting the phrase contrary to nature and do not be conformed to this world in Romans 12.2. Is it then not so surprising that we would reject the good word of the Lord? What do you make of that? Does it explain the word deliver in Romans 7.24?

Matthew 12.45

April 2010, Number 206

Week I. Read Matthew 12.45 noting the creatures called evil spirits. What’s so bad about them that they need to be expelled? On this read 1 Peter 5.8 noting the word devour. Why do the devil and his demons want to destroy Christians? On this read Matthew 4.9 noting the words worship and me. Why is there this incompatibility? On this read Matthew 6.24 noting the line no one can serve two masters. Is this unreasonable? On this read Exodus 34.14 noting the words Lord and jealous. What if God were not this way? On this read 1 Corinthians 14:33 noting the words God and confusion. Why would cooperation between God and the devil and his demons cause confusion? On this read Matthew 22.36-40 noting the words Lord and neighbor. Contrast this agenda with Genesis 3.4-5 noting the word but and the same word in Job 1:11. Are God and Satan on the same page? If not, how can they both be served without causing confusion? What would that confusion be like? On this read Isaiah 5.20 noting the words call and put. Is there any more serious confusion than this? For a possibility, read Romans 1.25 noting the word exchanged.

Week II. Read again Matthew 12.45 noting the words enter and dwell. What makes this entry possible? On this read Matthew 12.44 noting the words swept and empty. How does that emptying take place? On this read Romans 3.28 noting the phrase works of law. What would happen if one went against this verse and swept away the demons by way of works of the law? On this read Matthew 7.18 noting the line a bad tree… cannot… bear good fruit. Does that verse show why deeds based on the law will always prove to be unsuccessful? How can that be? On this read Luke 8.15 noting the concept of a good heart. How does this differ from doing good deeds according to the law of God – which is good and holy according to Romans 7.12? On this read 1 Corinthians 10.31 noting the words do, glory and God. Why is this a problem for us? On this read John 5.44 noting the contested word glory and 12.43 noting the equally contested word praise.

Week III. Reread Matthew 12.45 noting again those same words enter and dwell. Following up from last week, how do we acquire such a good and honest heart? On this read Ezekiel 11.19-20 noting the words put and within. Read as well Romans 2.29 noting the words inwardly, circumcision, heart and spiritual. What do these two passages tell us about how we’re transformed? On this read Colossians 1.13 noting the words delivered and transferred. Why can’t we do this for ourselves? On this read John 5.26 noting the line life in himself and 15.5 noting the line apart from me you can do nothing. Why do we lack this internal, transformative power? On this read Mark 7.18-23 noting the words defile, heart, within and evil. How then can God help our hearts if they are so bad to begin with? On this read Galatians 2.20 noting the words crucified, with, in, by and faith. Is this the mirror opposite of a demon possessed life? How so? What do you think of that?

Week IV. Read Matthew 12.45 one last time noting the word worse. So how do things become worse after such a good thing has happened – after we’ve been cleansed of our demons? On this read 2 Peter 1.9 noting the words forgotten and cleansed. What does this lapse of memory do to us? On this read Deuteronomy 8.17 noting the words beware and my. From this we learn that our forgetfulness leads us astray into thinking we cleaned ourselves out when we in fact didn’t. As a result we sin and welcome the demons back – which make things worse than ever. Secondly read Psalm 51:17 noting the words contrite and despise. From this we learn that when we repent of our alliance with the demons, God will rush in and cleanse us from our wickedness. (See this same point in 1 John 1.9). But if we don’t, he’ll despise us and more demons than ever will be allowed to enter in and plague us. So beware and don’t mock God – for he’ll punish you if you spurn him. On this point read Galatians 6.7! What do you think of it? Scared?

Psalm 118.14

May 2010, Number 207

Week I. Read Psalm 118.14 noting the word strength. Why do we need God’s strength? On this read Psalm 118.5 noting the word free. So what do we need to be set free from? On this read Psalm 118.7, 10-12, and 17 noting the words hate, nations and die. Why do we need help to escape those who hate us? On this read Acts 6.10-13 noting the words withstand, wisdom, secretly, stirred, false and witnesses. Now none of us would be able to sift through such skullduggery. And then what about death? On this read Psalm 49.7-9 noting the words no, man, ransom, live and Pit. So are we less able than we think? Do we need more help than we imagine? On this read Revelation 3.17 noting the list of infirmities: wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked. If we were to grasp this truth regarding our predicament, what would follow for us? On this read John 15.5 noting the words apart and nothing. What should be our guiding principles then? On this read Deuteronomy 8.17 first, noting the words beware and my, and then 1 Thessalonians 5.18 noting the words thanks and all. What principles can we derive from these verses? Staunch humility and abiding gratitude? If so, what difference do they make?

Week II. Read again Psalm 118.14 noting the word song. Why would we want God to be our song, or to sing about him? On this read Psalm 69.30-31 noting the words song, praise, please and God. Why would this please the Lord God? On this read Psalm 71.8 noting the word filled, Psalm 84.4 noting the word ever, Psalm 119.171 noting the expression pour forth, and Psalm 150.6 noting the word loud. So song provides the exuberance that is the excess required for worship fitting the Lord God almighty. On the other hand, why shouldn’t worship be less exuberant and more subdued and meditative – quiet even to the point of eliminating music and song altogether? On this read Psalm 96.4 and the line greatly to be praised. Why is that? On this read Psalm 86.10 noting the line thou… doest wondrous things. Read also Psalm 70.4 and its line God is great. So his great deeds are what make him so great. And what are those great deeds? On this read Psalm 86.13 noting the word love and the line delivered… from the depths of Shoel. Now that’s worth singing about. That’s worth praising God for. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Week III. Reread Psalm 118.14 noting the word salvation. Now what happens if we are not saved? On this read John 3.36 noting the words wrath, God and upon. What is that like? On this read Luke 16.23 noting the word torment, Revelation 9.5 noting the word torture, and 2 Thessalonians 1.9 noting the word eternal. Why is this so? On this read Romans 7.12 noting the words law, holy, just and good. Read also about sin and lawlessness in 1 John 3.4. In that regard note also the words iniquities and separation in Isaiah 59.2. So if the law weren’t so holy and our sinfulness so wretched, neither would our punishment have to be so long-lasting and terrifying. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Week IV. Read Psalm 118.14 one last time noting the same word salvation. This time we ask about how are we saved? On this read John 3.16 noting the words Son and believes. What are we to believe in regarding the Son? On this read Hebrews 9.26 noting the words sin and sacrifice. Read also 1 Peter 2.24 noting the words bore, tree, live, by, wounds and healed and Romans 5.9 noting the words saved, wrath and God. So the crucifixion of Christ buys us back from total degradation and everlasting torment in hell – as 1 Corinthians 6.20 and 5.7 note. But what if we dispute and deny this bloody purchase? On this read 2 Peter 2.1 noting the harsh words false, destructive and denying regarding the beautiful words Master and bought. What do you think of that? Finally, what is it like to believe all of this about Jesus? On this read Hebrews 11.1 noting the words not, seen, and hoped. What kind of apprehension is that and is it strong enough? Why or why not?

James 3.13

June 2010, Number 208

Week I. Read James 3.13 noting the word wisdom. Why does wisdom need to be discussed? On this read James 3.15 noting the phrase this wisdom. How many forms of wisdom are there? Just two – heavenly and earthly or devilish wisdom. Are they equally valuable? Not at all – since the earthly variety is called devilish. And why is that? On this read James 3.17 noting the adjusted words peaceable, reasonable, merciful, fruitful and certain. Now how do these five traits make heavenly wisdom better than the earthly variety? On this read James 3.16 noting the line disorder and every vile practice. So what kind of a justification is this for the inherent superiority of heavenly wisdom? It seems to be based more on practicality than on coherence, beauty or physics. Why is that? On this read James 1.27 noting the words orphans and widows. Read also James 1.12 noting the word crown, and James 4.12 noting the word destroy, and James 5.9 noting the word judged. So avoiding disorder and vileness protects the vulnerable orphans and widows, and also free us from everlasting punishment on Judgment Day. Now do those advantageous make heavenly wisdom indeed preferable to earthly wisdom? How so, if so?

Week II. Read again James 3.13 this time noting the word meekness. Why is heavenly wisdom marked by meekness? On this read James 4.10 noting the interplay between the words humble and exalt. Why does God love human humility or meekness so much? On this read James 4.11 noting the line speak evil against the law and judges the law. Now how does this precaution regarding the law underscore humility? On this read James 2.8 noting the words royal and well. Why is that? On this read James 1.25 noting the word perfect and James 1.17 noting the words every, perfect, gift, from and Father. Does that then mean that if we oppose the law we are also opposing God? What then? On this read James 2.5 noting the words heirs, kingdom and love. By opposing God and his law, then, we lose out on the kingdom of heaven since by so doing we have not loved God! How bad is that?

Week III. Reread James 3.13 noting this time the line by his good life let him show his… wisdom. But isn’t wisdom better shown in articulate, knowledgeable and brilliant speech? On this read John 3.36 noting the words wrath, God and upon. What is that like? On this read 1 Corinthians 2.4 noting the contrast between the words power and words, and 1 Corinthians 4.20 noting the same contrasting words talk and power. Why is this so? On this read Matthew 7.20 noting the words know, them, by and fruits. Is this because actions speak louder than words? On this read Matthew 21.28-31 noting the contrasting two lines I will not but later went and I will go, sir, but later didn’t. What does this mean? On this read Matthew 23.29-32 noting the words hypocrites, saying and murdered. So does hypocrisy make talk cheap? On this read Jeremiah 9.8 noting the contrasting word pairs mouth and peaceably, and heart and ambush. What’s the point of such hypocrisy?

Week IV. Read James 3.13 one last time following up on that word show. Why is it that we are so deceptive? Why do we say one thing and do another? On this read John 3.19-20 noting the words hates and exposed. What is it that we want to cover-up? On this read James 3.8 noting the line full of deadly poison. Why would we rather be thought of more favorably? On this read James 1.22 noting the line deceiving yourselves but also James 1.26 noting the progression from the words deceives to vain. So self-protection is a large part of hypocrisy. But it won’t work! That’s because we’ll have to pay in the end – for there is an eternal judgment which will expose our lives for what they really are. On this read James 4.14 noting the words life and mist. So we are too insubstantial to protect ourselves from the scrutinizing eye of the Lord on Judgment Day. Does that help explain the divine, jealous yearning over us in James 4.5? How so?

1 Samuel 2.30

July 2010, Number 209

Week I. Read 1 Samuel 2.30 noting the words Lord and honor. What is the best way to honor the Lord? On this read 1 Samuel 2.29 noting the line honor your sons above me. What is the principle being addressed here? On this read Colossians 1.18 noting the words everything and pre-eminent. Note also the phrase surpassing worth in Philippians 3.8. Furthermore read Matthew 22.37-38 noting the three uses of the word all and also the words first and great. So what’s the principle at work in these verses? On this read Ephesians 4.6 noting the line one God… who is above all. Read also Isaiah 44.6-7 noting the rhetorical question, Who is like me? From this we see that God is honored when he is treated best of all and nothing is regarded as being greater than he is. Now, what else are we to do to honor God? On this read Proverbs 3.9 noting the words first and fruits. This means we should put our money where our mouth is. So if we honor God above all else, then we better well spend our money promoting the causes of the Lord. On this point read Matthew 6.24 noting the comparative words hate and love. Why is it that we can’t do them both? A clue is in the contrasting words willing and weak in Matthew 26.41. Think about what this weakness is and how in spite of it we are still able to will the right thing.

Week II. Read again 1 Samuel 2.30 noting this time the line I will honor. Why is God like that? Why will he only honor us in reciprocation for our honor rendered to him? Well, it’s because God only rewards diligence. On this read Luke 9.23 noting the word daily, and Luke 9.62 noting the word fit. Read as well Luke 14.33 noting the words renounce and all. Why is God this way? On this read Matthew 5.48 noting the double use of the word perfect. If we can’t ever become perfect, should we then give up trying? On this read Philippians 3.12-14 noting the words press, forgetting, and straining. So the only two options here are not attainment or abandonment. In between is the option of keeping on trying anyway. How can we do that when the prospects are so poor? Wouldn’t the reasonable thing be to give up? On this read Philippians 4.11-13 noting the contrasting words content and all. But if we’re content, shouldn’t we then give up on trying to do all things? No, and that’s just the point. Do you agree?

Week III. Reread 1 Samuel 2.30 noting this time the single word honor. What does God do for us when he honors us? On this read Psalm 3.3-8 noting the words shield, sustains, deliver, smite, enemies and blessing. Read also Ephesians 3.16 noting the words strengthening and inner. What’s the difference between these two passages? On this read 1 Peter 4.12-16 noting the words surprised, ordeal, strange, share, glory and ashamed. So if our enemies prevail over against us, God still can be helping us internally – by strengthening our minds and hearts – even if all around us hell is breaking loose. But is that good enough for us? On this read Romans 5.3-5 noting the words rejoice, produces, and character. Is that a sufficient justification for our enemies prevailing against us? If not read also Hebrews 12.7-13 noting the words endure, father, discipline, respected, more, good, holiness, seems, later, trained, therefore and healed. Are those twelve words enough to help you see the point of your enemies prevailing over against you? If so, how so?

Week IV. Read 1 Samuel 2.30 one last time noting the phrase for those who. Does this mean we earn the blessings we receive from God? On this read James 4.8 noting the two uses of the word draw. Read also Galatians 6.7 noting the correlation between the words reap and sow. Now why aren’t these verses about rewards earned – as they appear to be? On this read Ephesians 2.10 noting the line prepared beforehand. What does this mean? If the reciprocal relationship was set up beforehand, then we can’t earn our rewards even when we do our duty – since our actions wouldn’t count for anything without the prearrangements having been first graciously set up. Do you agree? If so, why?

James 1.21

August 2010, Number 210

Week I. Read James 1.21 noting the word word. What is this word? On this read James 2.1 noting the line the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. What is his glory? On this read James 2.12-13 noting the words liberty, mercy, triumphs and judgment. How are we set free by having mercy triumph over judgment? On this read James 4.12 noting the words one and save. Read also James 5.7 noting the line the coming of the Lord. From this we see that God saves us through the coming of Jesus Christ at the end, when his mercy prevails over his fierce judgment. This is the crown of life promised in James 1.12 and the kingdom in James 2.5 and the peace in James 3.17 This triumph frees us from what James 1.27 calls the stains of the world. This triumph is a taming of the evil that is in us – something that we can’t pull off on our own, as James 3.8 says! This is the exaltation in James 4.10. This is the forgiveness in James 5.15. Jesus did all of this by bringing us back from sin, as is pointed out in James 5.19-20. In the case of Jesus, this bringing back especially included the sacrifice of his life for us. This is the suffering that brings mercy as is noted in James 5.10-11. How else could such liberty be achieved?

Week II. Read again James 1.21 noting this time the word implanted. Why is this word implanted? What does that do for it? On this read James 1.18 noting the words brought, by and fruits. These are internal workings within us – for which an implanted words is needed if it’s ever going to happen. This rebirth – the harvesting of fruit – is the internal purity noted in James 4.8. Now a power from within is needed to pull this off because we are by nature weak – nothing but a mist that vanishes, as James 4.14 says. Having the power of Christ for salvation planted within us enables us finally to forego friendship with the world and to draw near to God, as James 4.4-8 says. So read through that whole passage, noting the words unfaithful, enmity, wishes, enemy, jealously, made, dwell, in, us, gives, more, submit, resist, flee and sinners. How else could this transformation take place without such an implanted word facilitating it?

Week III. Reread James 1.21 noting this time the phrase receive with meekness. Why is this needed if the word is already implanted within us? On this read James 1.4 noting the words let, full, effect, perfect, complete and lacking. What’s the point of this verse? Does it denote some sort of cooperation between that implanted word and ourselves? On this read James 1.7-8 noting the line [you] must not suppose [you’ll] receive anything from the Lord. How can it be that what we have will not bear forth its full effect without our cooperation? Does that diminish the implanted word? On this read James 4.8 noting the double use of the verb phrase draw near to. Is that double use incoherent? Does the first use destroy the second? If not, why not? On this read Number 22.38 noting the word must. Does that little word settle the matter regarding James 4.8? If so, how so?

Week IV. Read James 1.21 one last time noting the line able to save your souls. Why do our souls need saving? On this read James 3.8 noting the line restless evil, full of deadly poison. Read also James 5.5 noting the line you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. How does this poisonous wickedness and evil disable us? On this read James 3.14-15 noting the words bitter, jealousy, selfish, ambition, boast, false, unspiritual and devilish. This bitter swelling within us is what levels us. It’s what puts our well-being beyond our reach. On this mess, read James 1.26 noting the line this man’s religion is vain. If religion is the system by which we try to reach out to God for blessings, then our internal devilishness is what permanently disables it. That’s why our only hope is that God will draw near to us through his implanted word when he comes at the end of time to save and destroy. How do we avoid that final destruction? On this read James 1.21 noting the words meekness and receive. Read also James 3.18, noting the line sown in peace by those who make peace. And who are they? On this read James 4.3 noting the phrase ask wrongly. What keeps us from doing that? Does that take us back to the meekness of James 1.21? If so, how so?

1 Samuel 25.37-38

September 2009, Number 199

Week I. Read 1 Samuel 25.37-38 noting the name Nabal. Who was Nabal? On this read 1 Samuel 25.2-3 noting the words Maon, rich, churlish, ill-behaved and Calebite. Read also 1 Samuel 25.25 noting the words folly and fool (in the footnote). How was Nabal so rich if he was a fool? On this read 1 Samuel 25.3 noting the words Abigail, good and understanding. Do you suppose Abigail was the silent partner behind Nabal’s wealth? On this read Proverbs 31.16-27 noting the words considers, field, buys, profitable, sells, merchant, wisdom and idleness. Was Abigail such a wife? And who were the Calebites? On this read Numbers 34.19 noting the words Caleb, tribe and Judah. Why was Caleb allowed into the prominent tribe of Judah? On this read Numbers 14.24 noting the line he has a different spirit and has followed me fully. Does Nabal live up to his family heritage? Why doesn’t he? On this read Luke 12.16-21 noting the words rich and fool. How does being rich turn one into a fool? On this Deuteronomy 8.17-20 noting the words beware, my, hand, wealth, forget and perish. So did God smite Nabal because he was a rich fool?

Week II. Read again 1 Samuel 25:37-38 noting the line ten days later the Lord smote Nabal; and he died. Why did God do that? On this read 1 Samuel 25.4-11 noting the words heard, peace, with, us, no, harm, favor, give, not and know. So because Nabal, with his great wealth, did not reward David’s men for keeping Nabal’s workers safe, God killed him. What is the lesson in this? Nabal hadn’t contracted with David’s men to provide protection for his workers, so why should he be expected to reward them? Did God punish him unjustly? On this read Matthew 20.15 noting the words begrudge and generosity and Ephesians 4.32 noting the words kind and as. So even though no contract had been signed, Nabal was still expected to show kindness and generosity for the protection rendered – and not return evil for good as 1 Samuel 25.21 puts it. This is because we are to follow God’s way of generosity, which is abounding, as Exodus 34. 6 puts it. Do you agree?

Week III. Reread 1 Samuel 25:37-38 noting the word wife. Why does Nabal’s wife, Abigail, help God kill him? On this read 1 Samuel 25.17 noting the line against all his house. What is the point here? Was Abigail trying to protect the innocent? How did she do that? On this read 1 Samuel 25.18-31 noting the words haste, took, laid, assess, not, tell, bowed, present, forgive, sure, care, conscience and remember. By so doing, Abigail treats David the way Nabal should have in the first place. These gifts and respect kept David from retaliating against Nabal’s workers. But a sacrifice also was needed. On this read 1 Samuel 25.26 noting the line let your enemies… be as Nabal, which means that he should be killed. Did this sway David? On this read 1 Samuel 25.35 noting the line I have granted your petition. So Abigail provides gifts and blood-revenge and saves all of the innocent workers of Nabal. Was it worth sacrificing one life for many? On this read John 11:50 noting the word expedient. Is this a good principle?

Week IV. Read 1 Samuel 25.37-38 one last time noting the word morning. Why does Abigail wait for the morning before she attacks her husband? On this read Judges 11.37-38 noting the words let, bewail and go. Did Abigail show similar mercy to Nabal by allowing him one last fling before taking her vengeance out on him? While this puts her in good light, does it seem right that afterwards she becomes David’s wife? On this read 1 Samuel 25.39-42 noting the words when, dead, blessed, wooed, bowed, behold, haste and became. How do you size up this Biblical episode? On this read Isaiah 55.8-9 noting the words not, my and higher. Do you agree? Note also the word inscrutable in Romans 11.33. Because of the moral infractions in 1 Samuel 25, should we conclude that God also is immoral? What reasons would you have for doing so?

Acts 27.12

October 2009, Number 200

Week I. Read Acts 27.12 noting the word majority. Why is this mentioned? On this read Acts 27.11 noting the contrasting line paid more attention… than to what Paul said. What’s important is that Paul was right even though he was not in the majority. Read also Acts 27.21 noting the line you should have listened to me. Why should they have? On this read Acts 27.21 again, noting this time the words injury and loss. Was this what Paul initially feared? On this read Acts 27.10 noting the further phrase also of our lives. Was Paul wrong then? On this read Acts 27.22-25 noting the words no, loss, life, God and faith. What happened? Did God trump Paul’s prediction? Was it, then, not so much that Paul was wrong, but that he was surprised? On this read Jonah 3.9 noting the line who knows, God may yet… turn… so that we perish not. Are such odds ever based on majority assessments or do they always look more or less unlikely? On this read Judges 7.7 noting the number three hundred men and contrast it with Judges 6.5 noting the line coming like locusts for number. Where does that leave the believer in God?

Week II. Read again Acts 27.12 noting the same word majority. What does this mean for decision-making? On this read Ephesians 4.11-14 noting the contrasting words mature and children. If people are immature, can majorities be trusted? If we are inherently immature, should we be allowed to make weighty decisions? On this read Ephesians 2.1-3 noting the words dead, sins, world, disobedience, passions, wrath and mankind. What does this say about us? On this read Jeremiah 17.9 noting the words deceitful, all, corrupt and understand. Should people like that be trusted to make wise decisions? Does this mean we cannot be taken at our word? On this read Matthew 26.35 noting the words die and all, contrasting it with Matthew 26.56 noting the words all and fled. What happened in between those two verses? On this read 2 Thessalonians 2.7 noting the phrase the mystery of lawlessness. What is mysterious about lawlessness? It can’t be its origin since 2 Thessalonians 2.8-12 attributes that to Satan, God and our refusal to love the truth. So where’s the mystery? On this read John 3.19 noting the words loved and darkness. Would the mystery then be our motive for disobeying?

Week III. Reread Acts 27.12 noting that same word majority. How, then are we to become mature? On this read Colossians 3.1-17 noting the words seek, above, set, minds, died, hid, old, practices, renewed, chosen, love, let, rule, thankful, word, dwell, admonish and sing. If this imposing list were to be followed, then the majority could be trusted to make wise and faithful decisions. Are there any key words in this list? What if they were mind and thankful, admonish and sing? If so, then how we think about what’s worth giving thanks for would be all important. Also, the fact that we need to be admonished tells us that we also have a volitional problem that can’t be addressed intellectually – but requires a lifetime of singing faithful songs. On thankfulness read Ephesians 5.20 noting the line always and for everything, and on singing read Ephesians 5.18-19 noting the words drunk, debauchery, psalms and heart. Regarding thanksgiving, the offense of being thankful for our troubles is essential if we are to mature. And regarding singing, exuberance controlled by the words of the Psalms must replace all artificial, mind-altering substances that lead to drunkenness. Do you agree?

Week IV. Read Acts 27.12 one last time noting again that word majority. What shall we do in the meantime while we’re trying to build up a faithful majority? On this read Genesis 45.7 noting the words preserve and remnant, and Romans 11.5 noting the words remnant and grace. Can you live with a minority while waiting for a faithful majority to emerge? On this read Philippians 4.11 noting the word content. Is that a satisfying word for you?

Proverbs 29.9

November 2009, Number 201

Week I. Read Proverbs 29.9 noting the words wise and fool. What’s the difference between these two? On this read Proverbs 3.33-35 noting the contrasting words curse and blesses, scornful and favor, honor and disgrace. Why is there this discrepancy? On this read Proverbs 16.18-25 noting the words pride, haughty, lowly, heed, trust, discernment, chastisement, judicious, right and death. What do these words hinge on? On this read Proverbs 16.25 and 3.5-8 noting the condemnation of what’s one’s own. Why does relying on oneself make one foolish? On this read Proverbs 5.23 noting the words dies, discipline and lost. Why are we inherently lost if we rely on ourselves? On this read Proverbs 10.27 noting the contrasting words prolongs and short. Why is this? Is it a matter of calculating outcomes rather than only living in the present? On this read Proverbs 12.11 noting the image of tilling the land. This is a forward-looking activity – sacrificing pleasure now for later gains. Why does God favor delayed gratification? Note the word satisfy in Proverbs 13.25.

Week II. Read again Proverbs 29.9 noting the word argument. What’s the nature of an argument? On this read 2 Corinthians 10.5-6 noting the words proud, knowledge, thought, obey and punish. Arguments, then, deal with knowledge and thoughts. They’re concerned with our thinking – especially where it leads us. The goal of our thinking should obedience to God rather than pride in self. Why should our thoughts be so important that we fashion arguments to shape them? On this read Matthew 15.18-19 noting the correlation between the words defile and thoughts. What does mean? It means that our thoughts can mislead us. It means that we can lead ourselves astray by what we think. Because of that we must argue about our thoughts to make sure they aren’t evil and won’t mislead us. On this read Isaiah 55.2-9 noting the words satisfy, live, everlasting, way, thoughts and higher. Read also Psalm 92.5-8 noting the words deep, dull, doomed and destruction.

Week III. Reread Proverbs 29.9 noting the word laughs. Why don’t fools respond to arguments in kind with countervailing thoughts and opposing knowledge? On this read Proverbs 18.7 noting the words mouth, ruin and snare. How is this so? Is it because the fool knows she doesn’t have a leg to stand on? On this read Proverbs 1.7 noting the line despise wisdom and instruction. On this predicament, read Matthew 7.24-27 noting the contrast between the wise man and the foolish man. What is the issue here? It apparently isn’t about avoiding the storms of life, since both are struck by the same rains and wind. The difference lies instead in the aftermath of the storms. In one case there’s destruction but in the other case the house that is also severely beaten does not fall. What’s the difference between the two cases? Matthew 7.24 and 26 say that it has to do with doing what God tells you to do. Do you agree?

Week IV. Read Proverbs 29.9 one last time noting again that word laughs. How then shall the wise respond to the jeers of the foolish? On this read Proverbs 26.4-5 noting the contrasting verses, answer not and answer. So what should we do? We don’t want to become foolish ourselves, so that would mean that we walk away. But on the other hand, we don’t want to leave the foolish in their folly, so that would mean we hang in there and refute what they have to say. But how do we do both? On this read Matthew 5.44 and 17.21 noting the word pray. How is praying for the foolish different than arguing with them? Is it that arguments appeal to their minds while prayer appeals to their hearts, emotions, feelings and the like? If that is so, would praying be a way of refuting the foolish without arguing with them? What do you think? What would be the advantage in that?

James 1.13

December 2009, Number 202

Week I. Read James 1:13 noting the line God tempts no one… with evil. Is that true? On this read 1 Samuel 16.14, 18.10, 19.9 noting the references to an evil spirit. Why would God trip up King Saul in this way? Read also 1 Kings 22:22 noting the words lying spirit. Why would God send such a spirit – isn’t he in favor of truth-telling (Proverbs 19.9; Colossians 3.9)? And read Ezekiel 20:25 noting the statues God sends that are not good. Why would God want to promote idolatry in this way? Is God immoral and irreligious? No, because none of these passages delight in wickedness – instead they are only punishments for wicked behavior. Read also Genesis 6.5-11 noting the tension between the words blot-out and violence. Why is their violence bad but God’s is good? Does it all have to do with purpose and disposition? On this read 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 noting how one and the same fragrance or aroma of Christ can lead to life or death, depending on whether one’s ways are pursing salvation or not. Note the same distinction about the cross in 1 Corinthians 1.18. Do you agree?

Week II. Read again James 1:13 noting the word tempt. What if God isn’t tempting you to do evil? Can he then tempt us? On this read 1 Peter 1.6-7 noting the words trials, tested, genuineness, precious and redound. Do these trials have a justifiable purpose? What could it be? On this read Job 23.10 noting the correlation between the words tried and gold. Is the point that trials and temptations can make us better? On this read Romans 5.3-5 noting the words sufferings, endurance, character, hope, and love. How does the pain and turmoil in suffering, trials and temptations improve our character? On this read Romans 8.18-23 comparing the line sufferings… are not worth comparing with the two occurrences of the word wait. Is character, then all about delayed self-gratification? Do we have character when we can wait – and no character when we are impatient? What do you think?

Week III. Reread James 1:13 noting the word tempted. When God tests us, is he tempted by the very evil included in his test? On this read Genesis 22.1-2 noting the words tested and burnt. Why did God have to test Abraham in this way? Doesn’t this form of examination make the test itself a violation of God’s laws against human immolation, murder and sacrifice? Wouldn’t it have been better to test Abraham a different way – say, to see if he would diligently instruct Isaac in the ways of the Lord or not? On this read Genesis 22.13 noting the words ram and burnt. What does this resolution to the test reveal about God’s intentions in this test of Abraham? Does it show that God was never planning to let Abraham kill his son Isaac? If so, then was God tempted by evil to allow Abraham to break his laws and kill his son? It wouldn’t seem so. What do you think? Is the test still too reckless and risky?

Week IV. Read James 1:13 one last time noting the word when. What should we say when we are being tested? On this read Psalm 13.1-2 noting the repeated question, how long? What does this question say about us? On this read 1 Corinthians 10.13 noting the line beyond your strength. What does this imply? Are we wimps? On this read Jeremiah 12.5 noting the two uses of the word how. Isn’t this verse an attack on becoming weary too early, and falling down to easily? Read also Hebrews 12.4 noting the standard of shedding blood. Isn’t Christianity about toughening us up? Next read Ezekiel 18.25 noting the complaint about God not being just. Does this mean that when we suffer we usually don’t feel we deserve it so we argue with God? On this read Job 16.17 noting the word pure. Isn’t that the way we all would feel? So if these two ways are the wrong ways to act when we suffer, what would the right way be? Should we say instead: Teach me what you want me to learn from this trial because I’m having trouble understanding, and help me get through it because I am weak? What do you think?