Ezra 2
Children of Israel return from captivityverse 1
Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity
of those which had been carried away – whom Nebuchadnezzar the
king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon
and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah
every one to his city
Zerubbabel the leader of those returningverse 2a
Which came with Zerubbabel – Jeshua – Nehemiah – Seraiah
Reelaiah – Mordecai – Bilshan – Mizpar – Bigvai
Rehum – Baanah
List of those men returningverses 2b-35
The number of the men of the people of Israel
the children of Parosh – two thousand an hundred seventy and two
the children of Shephatiah – three hundred seventy and two
the children Arah – seven hundred seventy and two
the children of Pahath- moab – of the children of Jeshua and Joab
two thousand eight hundred and twelve
the children of Elam – a thousand two hundred fifty and four
the children of Zattu – nine hundred forty and five
the children of Zaccai – seven hundred and threescore
the children of Bani – six hundred forty and two
the children Bebai – six hundred twenty and three
the children of Azgad – a thousand two hundred twenty and two
the children of Adonikam – six hundred sixty and six
the children of Bigvai – two thousand fifty and six
the children of Adin – four hundred fifty and four
the children of Ater of Hezekiah – ninety and eight
the children of Bezai – three hundred twenty and three
the children of Jorah – an hundred and twelve
the children of Hashum – two hundred twenty and three
the children of Gibbar – ninety and five
the children of Bethlehem – an hundred twenty and three
the men of Netophah – fifty and six
the men of Anathoth – an hundred twenty and eight
the children of Azmaveth – forty and two
the children of Kirjath-arim – Chephirah – Beeroth
seven hundred and forty and three
the children of Ramah – Gaba – six hundred and twenty and one
the men of Michmas – an hundred twenty and two
the men of Beth-el – Ai – two hundred twenty and three
the men of Nebo – fifty and two
the children of Magbish – an hundred fifty and six
the children of the other Elam – a thousand two hundred fifty and four
the children of Harim – three hundred and twenty
the children of Lod – Hadid – Ono – seven hundred twenty and five
the children of Jericho – three hundred forty and five
the children of Senaah – three thousand and six hundred and thirty
Priests that returnedverses 36-39
The priests
the children of Jedaiah – of the house of Jeshua
nine hundred seventy and three
the children of Immer – a thousand fifty and two
the children of Pashur – a thousand forty and seven
the children of Harim – a thousand and seventeen
Levites that returnedverses 40-42
The Levites – the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel – of the children of Hodaviah
seventy and four
The singers – the children of Asaph
an hundred twenty and eight
The children of the porters – the children of Shallum – Ater – Talmon
Akkub – Hatita –Shobai – in all an hundred thirty and nine
Nethinim that returnedverses 43-54
The Nethinim – the children of Ziha – Hasupha – Tabbaoth – Keros
Siaha – Padon – Lebanah – Hagabah – Akkub – Hagab – Shalmai
Hanan – Giddel – Gahar – Reaiah Rezin – Nekoda – Gazam
Uzza – Paseah – Besai – Asnah – Mehunim Nephusim – Bakbuk
Hakupha – Harhur – Bazluth – Mehida – Harsha – Barkos – Sisera
Thamah – Neziah – Hatipha
Children of Solomon’s servantsverses 55-58
The children of Solomon’s servants – the children of Sotai – Sophereth
Peruda – Jaaiah – Darkon – Giddel – Shephatiah Hattil
Pochereth of Zebaim – Ami
All the Nethinim – and the children of Solomon’s servants
were three hundred and ninety and two
Those who could not show their father’s houseverses 59-60
And these were they which went up from Tel-meiah – Tel-harsa
Cherub – Addan – Immer
BUT they could not show their father’s house – and their seed
whether they were of Israel – the children of Delaiah – Tobiah
Nekoda – six hundred fifty and two
Priests who couldn’t show their heritageverses 61-63
And of the of children of the priests – the children of Habaiah
Koz – Barzillai – which took a wife of the daughters of
Barzillai the Gileadite and was called after their name
these sought their register among those that were
reckoned by genealogy
BUT they were not found
THEREFORE were they as polluted put out of the priesthood
AND the Tirshatha [governor] said unto them
that they should not eat of the most holy things
till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim
Total of those individuals and their possessionsverses 64-67
The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred
and threescore – besides their servants and their maids
of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty
and seven – and there were among them two hundred
singing men and singing women
Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six
their mules – two hundred forty and five
their camels – four hundred thirty and five
their asses – six thousand seven hundred and twenty
Offering given for Templeverses 68-69
And some of the chief of the fathers – when they came to the
house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem
offered freely for the house of God to set it up in HIS place
they gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work
threescore and one thousand drams of gold
and five thousand pound of silver
and one hundred priests’ garments
People returned to their own towns in Israelverse 70
So the priests – and the Levites – and some of the people – and the singers
and the porters – and the Nethinims – dwelt in their cities
and all Israel in their cities
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and came again to Jerusalem and Judah, everyone to his city. (1473 “carried away” [gowlah] means deportation, exile, a person who is expelled from home or country by an authority and dwells in a foreign land, or migration)
DEVOTION: There is a long list of names of those who returned to the Promised Land after seventy years of captivity. The heritage of the children of Israel was important because it connected them to their inheritance in the Promised Land.
They kept accurate records of births, deaths, and marriages to make sure that the land was given to the right people. Once they returned, they just had to give their name and people would know which property belonged to their family.
Everyone went back to the property of their ancestors. The property would never leave a family. It was owned by them and their relatives even if they had to sell it because of debt. It would return to them in the year of Jubilee.
God had given an inheritance that was to stay in the family as long as they were obedient to HIM. HE wanted the children of Israel to have security in the land HE had given them.
God has given us security in the promise that we have a place reserved for us in heaven. HE wants us to send our blessings to our future home rather than look for all the blessings here on this earth. We are not to store our treasures here but in our mansion in heaven.
Too often we are just looking for something down here when the real blessing is in the future with HIM. Our time here is to be in service to HIM. HE has given each of us gifts and commands that HE wants us to follow.
Our name is written in the book of Life that will be opened. Those whose names are not written in the book of Life are going to spend eternity in the lake of fire reserved for the devil and his angels.
Our desire should be to obey the LORD here and look for our rewards in heaven instead of the other way around. What are you and I sending ahead into our mansion? Are we bringing glory to the LORD as our first priority or are we looking for more here instead?
CHALLENGE: Only know that HE has promised us a place for eternity because of Jesus Christ. We will be living in the city of God for eternity!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 59 And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Tel-harsa, Cherab, Addan, and Immer: but they could not show their father’s house, and their seed whether they were of Israel. (5046 “show” [nagad] means to propose, announce, inform, to give evidence to state emphatically and authoritatively, report, or declare)
DEVOTION: Problems existed for those who returned from captivity. The biggest problem was that there were not good records kept by some of those who went into captivity. Once they returned and there was no record of where they belonged they were not able to inherit the land of their ancestors. This hurt. One group that didn’t have records of their ancestors was a group of priest and Levites who couldn’t serve the LORD in the Temple and had no place to go.
If they couldn’t identify their father’s house they were orphans. It was like there family never existed. They could say they knew who their parents were but it there were no records that were recognized by the leaders it didn’t matter what they said.
What records do we have of our salvation? Is our name written in the lamb’s book of life? Is there any testimony by others as to the reality of our salvation? Do people know that our salvation is genuine?
The second step after salvation is baptism. It is a step of obedience but it doesn’t add to our salvation. It is just a sign that we are willing to be recognized as a believer in a local church.
Our record of baptism and our membership in a local body of believer helps people understand that our salvation is real to us and that we want to follow the LORD through a local church. It puts us in a local family of believers who can support us if our birth family is not willing to support us because of our belief.
God wants us to know that once we become a believer, HE is going to provide for us and one of the ways HE provides is through the support of a local church.
Can you identify who your FATHER is in the spiritual realm? Do people see the relationship? Our life needs to show that we are believers in both words and actions and attitudes.
CHALLENGE: The world is watching every believer to see if they can see who we are related to, whether it is the LORD or the world.
: 62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. (1351 “polluted” [ga’al] means to soil, desecrate, defile, or stain)
DEVOTION: Heritage means a lot to some people. The children of Israel wanted to be able to understand their family trees. They wanted to be sure that only those who were true Israelites were given the privileges that belonged ot the people of God.
The children of Israel were returning from captivity. Notice the long list of names. Sometimes we would like to skip this part of the Bible but even these chapters have a message for us.
Cyrus had provided the means to build the temple. He had provided a way to live in the city of Jerusalem. The genealogy was important to the children of Israel. It was especially important for the priest to be able to trace their roots.
However, in the captivity, some records were lost. This verse tells us that there was a group who didn’t have the proper identification. They were considered defiled. They were considered soiled. They were not allowed to put on the priest’s garments. They were not allowed to eat of the holy bread. They were outcasts. They were allowed to return with the Israelites but not have special privileges.
The Urim and Thummim were used to determine the will of the LORD by the high priest. This part of the high priests garments might have been lost during the exile.
When we appear before the Father in heaven, will we be able to prove our genealogy? The blood of HIS Son, Jesus Christ, relates us to HIM. That is the only way that anyone can be received into heaven. We are part of HIS family because of our relationship with Christ. There is no other way!!!
Only those who appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ are a part of the church. When the trumpet sounds, will you be one of those who meets the LORD in the air? Only those who are true followers of the LORD will be there. Serve the LORD NOW!!!!
CHALLENGE: Check your identification papers!!! Is there a question as to whose family you are in? Is your name written in the book of Life?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 63 And the Tirshatha said to them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim. (224 “Urim” [Uwrtym] means an uncertain kind of device that was used in conjunction with a thummim to discern the will of God, kept in a pouch on the high priest’s breastplate, used in determining God’s decision in certain questions and issues, or revelations)
DEVOTION: Here is the explanation of what this was on the High Priests garments: These gems or stones carried by the high priest and used by him to determine God’s will in certain matters. Many scholars believe these gems were lots that were cast, much as dice are thrown, to aid the high priest in making important decisions.
The Urim and Thummim were either on, by, or in the high priest’s breastplate. For this reason the breastplate is often called the breastplate of judgment, or decision. In the instructions for making the breastplate, the linen was to be doubled to form a square (Ex. 28:16). If the top edge was not stitched together, the breastplate would be an envelope or pouch. Many scholars believe the Urim and Thummim were kept in this pouch and were stones or gems with engraved symbols that signified yes-no or true-false. By these the high priest reached a decision, according to this theory.
The Jewish historian Josephus (about a.d. 37–100), a contemporary of the apostle John, believed that the Urim and Thummim had to do with the flashing of the precious stones in the breastplate. Later Jewish writers believed that the letters in the names of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved on the stones stood out or flashed in succession to spell out God’s answer. This theory does imply that the Urim and Thummim could produce answers to questions that called for more than a mere yes or no reply. Another theory is that by staring at the Urim and Thummim, the high priest went into a state of ecstasy or trance during which God spoke to him.
The student or Bible teacher should bear in mind that all of these theories are pure guesswork. No one knows the exact nature of the Urim and Thummim or precisely how they were used.
There are few allusions to the Urim and Thummim in the Bible. They are first mentioned in the description of the breastplate of judgment (Ex. 28:30; Lev. 8:8). When Joshua succeeded Moses, he was to have answers from the Urim through Eleazar the priest (Num. 27:21). They are next mentioned in Moses’ dying blessing upon Levi (Deut. 33:8). There are places in the Bible where Urim and Thummim may be implied but are not named (Josh. 7:14–18; 1 Sam. 14:37–45; 2 Sam. 21:1).
Saul sought direction from the witch of Endor when he could receive no answer from the Lord, “either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets” (1 Sam. 28:6). Another interesting reference to the Urim and Thummim occurred during the period after the return of the Jewish people from their years in captivity by the Babylonians. The Persian governor of Jerusalem denied the people permission to observe some of their ancient Jewish food laws until “a priest could consult with the Urim and Thummim” (Ezra 2:63).( Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., & Harrison, R. K., Thomas Nelson Publishers (Eds.). (1995). In Nelson’s new illustrated Bible dictionary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.)
Today we just go to the LORD in prayer and ask HIM what we want to know about future actions we should take to bring honor and glory to HIS name. Each believer has this option without having to go to a priest or a pastor. That doesn’t mean that we can ask counsel of pastors and church leaders but we can go to the LORD and genuinely receive an answer to meet our present circumstances.
CHALLENGE: The LORD wants us to come directly to HIM in prayer and expect an answer that will help us grow in our relationship to HIM.
: 70 So the priest, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Neth-i-nims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities. (5411 “Nethimins” [Nathiyn] means temple slaves assigned to the Levites and priests for service in the sanctuary, bondsmen of the Temple, or given one)
DEVOTION: Here is a group of individuals who were helpers to the Levites in the Temple. It is thought that this group were the descendants of those who deceived the children of Israel when they first entered the Promised Land by telling them that they were from a distant country and wanted to have a peace treaty with them.
Joshua and the people made a treaty with them without asking the LORD what they should do and they found out later that they were part of the residents of the Promised Land that they were supposed to kill because the iniquity of the land had reached its full in the eyes of the LORD.
The children of Israel were tricked because they didn’t consult the LORD and had to keep their word to this group. So, they made them servants to the Levites and this continued for the history of the nation of Israel.
So, we have a group coming back from captivity that have been servants of the tribe of Levi for many generations. They were willing to do it because that is what their ancestors had promised and they would not break the word of their ancestors.
Once a commitment was made it was kept. This should be true in our life as well. We have committed our life to Christ because of HIS provision of salvation and we need to keep this always before our eyes even when live serving the LORD is tough.
Serving the LORD was an honor for this group of people and we need to consider it an honor to serve the LORD today as well. God has called us to reach the world with HIS message of salvation as long as we have life in our bodies.
It would have been easier for this group of people to forget their commitment through their ancestors and just moved on into some other kind of work but they didn’t and they were faithful to their responsibilities.
CHALLENGE: We need to be faithful to our responsibilities to the LORD as long as we live.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Priestsverses 36, 61, 70
Levitesverses 40, 70
Singers – children of Asaphverses 41, 64, 70
200 singers
Portersverse 42
Nethinimsverse 43
Some were not found in registerverses 61-63
Priest with Urim and with Thummimverse 63
Temple of the LORD in Jerusalemverse 68
Voluntary offerings given for rebuilding of Temple
Gold = 61,000 coins
Silver = 6, 250 pounds
100 robes for priests
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verse 68
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign)verse 68
House of the LORDverse 68
House of Godverse 68
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation
Nebuchadnezzar – king of Babylonverse 1
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Offering for the LORDverse 68
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Jerusalemverses 1, 70
Judahverse 1
Zerubbabelverse 2
Children of Israel listedverse 3
Children of Solomon’s servantsverses 55-58
Tirshatha = governorverse 63
Congregation = 42,360verse 64
Servants and maids = 7,337verse 64
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
Nethinim—the name given to the hereditary temple servants in all the post-Exilian books of Scripture. The word means given, i.e., “those set apart”, viz., to the menial work of the sanctuary for the Levites. The name occurs seventeen times, and in each case in the Authorized Version incorrectly terminates in “s”, “Nethinims;” in the Revised Version, correctly without the “s” (Ezra 2:70; 7:7, 24; 8:20, etc.). The tradition is that the Gibeonites (Josh. 9:27) were the original caste, afterwards called Nethinim. Their numbers were added to afterwards from captives taken in battle; and they were formally given by David to the Levites (Ezra 8:20), and so were called Nethinim, i.e., the given ones, given to the Levites to be their servants. Only 612 Nethinim returned from Babylon (Ezra 2:58; 8:20). They were under the control of a chief from among themselves (2:43; Neh. 7:46). No reference to them appears in the New Testament, because it is probable that they became merged in the general body of the Jewish people. (Easton, M. G. (1893). In Easton’s Bible dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers.)
5987 נָתִין (nā·ṯîn): n.masc.; ≡ Str 5411; TWOT 1443a—LN 53.66–53.95 (pl.) servants, i.e., ones devoted to common service in the Temple worship complex, similar but separate from Levites, and exempt from taxes, likely doing common chores necessary for worship, such as carrying water and wood, as a class of worker (1Ch 9:2; Ezr 2:43, 58, 70; 7:7; 8:17, 20; Ne 3:26, 31; 7:46, 60, 72[niv 73]; 10:29[EB 28]; 11:3, 21+) for another pointing of the K reading in Ezr 8:17, see 5982 (Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
(nĕtînîm). Nethinims (corrected to “Nethinim” in ASV, but uniformly translated “temple servants” by RSV, with occasional footnote: Hebrew nethinim). Meaning, properly, “those given” (to service of the sanctuary), either the ASV or RSV rendering is acceptable.
In the LXX nĕtînîm is translated literally, “the given (ones),” but Josephus employed a Greek term meaning “sacred slaves.” That they were rather numerous is indicated by the fact that they helped comprise a group of 392 servants who accompanied Zerubbabel to Jerusalem in 538 b.c. (Ezr 2:58), and then later, at the request of Ezra, 220 Nethinim accompanied 38 Levites from the Jewish colony at Casiphia (Ezr 8:16–20). Though, as mentioned above, Nethinim are carefully distinguished from the Levites (being quite likely aliens who became incorporated into the congregation of Israel), Ezra 7:24 shows they shared in the tax exemption enjoyed by all priests and Levites.
The fact of their living in a special quarter on Ophel near the water gate, which led to the Gihon spring, may indicate that they carried water up to the temple mount (Neh 3:26). Not all Nethinim of Jerusalem lived in that quarter, however (cf. Neh 3:31), and still others lived in other cities, probably Levitical ones (Neh 7:72).
The term nĕtînîm is a variant of nĕtûnîm, the latter used of the Levites as “given over” (both by God and by the Israelites) to the service of the tabernacle (Num 3:9; 8:16, 19). But not only is the vocalization of the word modified (apparently a simple matter of vowel harmony in common utterance), the class designated by nĕtînîm is often specified as distinct from priests, Levites, and porters (see Neh 10:28 [H 29]).
Ezra 8:20 tells of the appointment of the Nethinim by David and the princes of Israel for service of the Levites. They were assigned menial tasks about the temple precincts, with only the “descendants of Solomon’s servants” coming lower on the social scale among returnees from exile, according to Ezra’s listing (see 2:58). The precedent, at least, for such perpetual consignment to religious servitude dates very early. Moses gave orders concerning the captive Midianites, that of the half designated for the people in general, one in fifty was to be given “unto the Levites, that keep the charge of the tabernacle of Yahweh” (Num 31:30). And soon after, Joshua punished the wily Gibeonites by making them “hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of Jehovah” (Josh 9:27). (Harris, R. L., Archer, G. L., Jr., & Waltke, B. K. (Eds.). (1999). Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press.)
The 392 “Nethinim” (Ezra 2:43–54) and “children of Solomon’s servants” (vv. 55–58) were workers in the temple who were not priests or Levites. In Hebrew, “Nethinim” means “those given” and seems to refer to prisoners of war who were given to the priests to perform menial tasks in the temple. (See Josh. 9:23, 27 and Num. 31:30, 47.) “Solomon’s servants” were probably a similar group of men, established during Solomon’s reign. Eighty years later, Ezra would have to send for more Levites and Nethinim to help with the temple ministry (Ezra 8:15–20). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Be heroic (p. 18). Colorado Springs, CO: ChariotVictor Pub.)
2:56–63 Although these people could not prove their Jewish origin, they were permitted to return to Jerusalem. But without genealogies they were excluded from the priesthood, according to the Law of Moses (Num. 16:1–40). The governor Zerubbabel was careful to follow the Law by declaring that the would-be priests should not eat of the most holy things, meaning that they should not participate in priestly functions. The Urim and Thummim were sacred lots that were used to determine God’s will (Ex. 28:30) (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 573). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
What a drama! Mount Gerazim and Mount Ebal are two masses of limestone rock rising over 2,000 feet above sea level. Between them lies a beautiful valley, about 300 yards wide. Half the children of Israel are on one mountain, and half are on the other, with the Levites in the valley between the two mountains. Curses are called from Mount Ebal and blessings are called from Mount Gerazim. All of this is to dramatize the importance of obedience and the consequences of disobedience, even down to not letting a blind man wander out of his way.
Nothing is insignificant to a holy God. Nor should it be to us. We must care about right and wrong. (Quiet Walk)
KNOWING GOD
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
We must realize as we approach God that His ultimate, gracious purpose with regard to man has been revealed to us, and it is a purpose of love and mercy and of kindness and compassion. This is something that is only known fully and finally in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why this statement must be put like this: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). This truth is an absolute necessity. That is why our Lord said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). He is the way to God. He is the truth about God, and apart from the life He gives, we will never share or know the life of God. So there is no knowledge of God apart from Him; through Him comes this ultimate true and saving knowledge, the saving relationship.
Notice what John 17:3 tells us about our Lord Jesus Christ: “That they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ.” The name Jesus reminds us of the truth of the Incarnation: This eternal Son of God was made man; the man Jesus. But the man Jesus is One who is God and who is co-equal with Him and whom, therefore, you think of in terms of being God and being with God and Jesus.
But He is also Jesus Christ, and “Christ” means “Messiah,” the One who has been anointed to do this special work of bringing men and women to God and of giving God’s life to humankind. You see how all this mighty doctrine is put here as it were in a nutshell for us and Jesus Christ. It is all there the ultimate object is to know this “only true God”; yes, and the way to know Him is to know Jesus Christ.
A Thought to Ponder: Christ is the way to God; He is the truth about God. (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 143-144, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
All-Out Parenting
The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 TIMOTHY 1:5
I suppose I’m hopelessly tied to my upbringing in the ’60s and ’70s, when there were a lot of radical movements in America. Today I find myself calling for radical parents who hold radical beliefs, who have radical purpose and who are committed to raising a radical generation that follows Jesus Christ wholeheartedly.
I’m challenging parents to embrace things like the following:
•Radical selflessness—It’s time for every Christian parent to prayerfully ask, Am I dying to self so that I can be the parent God wants me to be in raising the next generation?
•Radical objectives—Far too many parents are more concerned with their children’s IQ than their CQ—their character quotient. I’m convinced that the primary reason children depart from the faith of their parents is that many dads and moms don’t have this as their objective: to raise children who have a godly desire to love others and to live holy lives.
•Radical modeling—Children are like tiny radar units. They lock on. They track. They observe. And they imitate. You cannot lie and then demand the truth from your kids. You cannot cheat and then discipline a cheater.
•Radical involvement—This means getting down on the floor, hugging them, reading to them, affirming them. It also means initiating discussions with them about some of life’s most challenging subjects—human sexuality, modesty, temptations, relating to the opposite sex.
•Radical expectations—Are you praying that your kids will grow up to become mature soldiers for Christ, godly men and women equipped for a Kingdom assignment? Are you challenging them with the Great Commandment (see Matthew 22:36-39) and the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:19-20)?
If you’re going to raise children who live radically for Christ, you need a radical way of thinking, living and believing.
DISCUSS
On a 1- to 10-point scale (1 being poor and 10 being outstanding), rate yourselves as parents in each of the areas above. Discuss where you are winning and what you need to do to win. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
The most common refrain in Genesis about God’s creation of the world is that it was good. Down through the centuries, many people both inside and outside the Church have tried to say that the material world is less valuable or important than intangible inner truths. This has been one of the main talking points for the new sexual orthodoxy: telling hurting souls that their bodies are somehow wrong.
Kathy Koch has worked for years to undermine this demeaning perception. In her talk at our recent Wilberforce Weekend, she reminded us about the wonderful intentionality in the way God “knitted” us together as male and female. For today’s BreakPoint, here’s a portion of Kathy’s talk.
I’m Kathy Koch of Celebrate Kids here in Fort Worth, and I want to talk with you about how God made us good. I think God is good and God is a good Creator. And if children, teens, or adults don’t know that, then it doesn’t matter to them that they’re created in His image. In Psalm 139, verses 13 and 14 declare that we have been formed by God in our inward parts. It says in Psalm 139:13 that Father God knitted us together in our mother’s womb. Knitting is a precise skill; the knitter knows before starting what he is making, or he’d better not start. Otherwise he’d have a mittens-scarf-hat-afghan sweater thing with no purpose at all.
The size of the stitch and the needle, the color of the yarn, and the design of the creation is known before the knitter begins.
Do we praise God? Because we’re fearfully made?
Do we stand in awe of ourselves now?
We’re not God.
Fear in the Old Testament is fear of God. That we would have this awesome respect for the creation of who we are. The verse that revolutionized my understanding of God’s creative intent is the end of Psalm 139:14 where David writes on behalf of God: My soul knows very well that I am a wonderful work of the creative intent of God. A fearfully and wonderfully creation made in His image. (Break Point)
BEN CARSON SAYS CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS “A BUNCH OF GARBAGE” (Friday Church News Notes, July 23, 2021, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – The following is excerpted from “Critical Race Theory,” ChristianHeadlines.com, July 6, 2021: “Neurosurgeon and former HUD Secretary Ben Carson on Sunday called Critical Race Theory ‘a bunch of garbage,’ saying it would redefine what American society ‘is based on.’ Carson made the comments during an Independence Day interview with Newsmax’s Eric Bolling, who began by asking Carson to define CRT. ‘It’s an attempt to use race as a mechanism for redefining our society, redefining what it was based on, and how it impacts everybody,’ Carson said. ‘And it wants our people to believe that your race is the most critical determinant of who you are and what happens to you in our society. In other words, it’s a bunch of garbage.’ … Britannica says Critical Race Theorists ‘hold that the law and legal institutions in the United States are inherently racist insofar as they function to create and maintain social, economic, and political inequalities between whites and nonwhites, especially African Americans.’ Critical Race Theory, Carson said, is dividing America. … ‘Our country is a magnificent place,’ Carson said. ‘It can’t be destroyed by Russia or China, or Iran or North Korea. But it can be destroyed from within–there’s no question about that. That’s what Jesus meant when he said a house divided cannot stand. Lincoln reiterated that, and we need to recognize that we, the American people, are not enemies. … America’s schools, Carson said, are changing–for the worse–what America’s youth believe about the country. ‘It was Vladimir Lenin who said, Give me your children, to teach for four years, and the seeds that I plant will never be uprooted,’ Carson said. Supporters of CRT, he said, ‘know the importance of getting into the school systems, and indoctrinating the young people, and that will have a permanent effect.’ … ‘They’ve been taught to hate the United States [and] hate who we are. If they were taught the true history, they would recognize that this is a time to celebrate who we are, and particularly in the black community. When I was a kid growing up, it was a big deal when some black person came on television in a non-servant role. And now you have black admirals and generals and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and presidents [of] universities – even Ivy League schools, a black president, black vice president. I mean, give me a break!’”
Job 42
God blesses Job, restoring his good fortunes.
INSIGHT
Throughout life, there are things we do not understand. As we mature, we begin to understand. Likewise, we do not understand why the righteous must suffer. But someday, in heaven, we will understand. It will make sense. In the midst of Job’s struggle, he makes some incisive observations that help us cope until we receive full understanding: “When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (23:10). “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (13:15).
(Quiet Walk)
“WITHOUT WRATH”
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1 Timothy 2:8
The second condition about prayer laid down by the apostle Paul is “without wrath.” It is most important that we should realize the exact meaning of this word “wrath.” It does not mean what is usually suggested to us by the common usage of that word. It does not mean so much anger or the expression or manifestation of anger as an unloving disposition–not a violent outburst of temper, but rather a settled condition of ill will and resentment. Here the emphasis is not upon the way in which a man regards God and approaches Him, but on the way in which he approaches and regards his fellowmen, his neighbors. Added to this, perhaps, is the whole question of a man’s spirit–not only his actions, but also his outlook and his attitude toward others and toward life. How vitally important this is! And how tragically we all tend to fail at this point.
Often there is a feeling of resentment in our hearts even against God while we are praying to Him. We feel that we have a real grudge and a genuine complaint. We feel that we have been wronged. And yet we feel that we are dependent upon God; so we ask Him for favors. We feel that He is against us, that He is not fair to us, and yet in that state and condition we ask Him to bless us, and we expect Him to do so. God says to the children of Israel, “This people…honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8).
This same spirit also shows itself in our attitude toward our fellows. If we have enemies, we must not hate them, but love them. The rule is, “love your enemies.” “Without wrath.”
A Thought to Ponder
The emphasis is not upon the way in which a man regards God, but on the way in which he regards his fellowmen.
(From Why Does God Allow War? pp. 28-30, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Our Advocate in Heaven
“Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.” (Job 16:19)
It is significant that here, in what is probably the oldest book in the Bible, two vitally important New Testament truths are anticipated. Job somehow knew that he (and, by implication, every other person as well) has a “record” in heaven. This is the only occurrence of this word (sahed) in the Bible, but it basically means that our works, good or bad, have been recorded by God in heaven concerning how we have used or abused our stewardship here on Earth.
And the record inevitably testifies against us, “for there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). At God’s throne of judgment, when “the dead [are] judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works,” then “whosoever [is] not found written in the book of life [is] cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12, 15).
But how can we know that our names will be in God’s book of life in that day? Thankfully, even Job knew, in his long-ago time, that “my witness is in heaven.” Here the word (Hebrew ed) speaks of a formal personal witness who can testify on our behalf, one who “might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!” (Job 16:21).
Job somehow knew that such a witness was there, for he could also say, “I know that my redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25). In the light of the New Testament record, we know that this Redeemer and Witness is none other than the Lord Jesus. “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:1-2). That is, He is the “sacrifice” for our sins and thus can redeem us from sin’s penalty and thereby serve as our defense witness in heaven. Our record of sin and guilt has been washed clean with the precious blood of Christ.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
The Greatest Symphony
We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body. 1 Corinthians 12:13
When BBC Music Magazine asked one hundred fifty-one of the world’s leading conductors to list twenty of what they believed to be the greatest symphonies ever written, Beethoven’s Third, Eroica, came out on top. The work, whose title means “heroic,” was written during the turmoil of the French Revolution. But it also came out of Beethoven’s own struggle as he slowly lost his hearing. The music evokes extreme swings of emotion that express what it means to be human and alive while facing challenges. Through wild swings of happiness, sadness, and eventual triumph Beethoven’s Third Symphony is regarded as a timeless tribute to the human spirit. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians deserves our attention for similar reasons. Through inspired words rather than musical scores, it rises in blessing (1:4–9), falls in the sadness of soul-crushing conflict (11:17–22), and rises again in the unison of gifted people working together for one another and for the glory of God (12:6–7).The difference is that here we see the triumph of our human spirit as a tribute to the Spirit of God. As Paul urges us to experience together the inexpressible love of Christ, he helps us see ourselves as called together by our Father, led by His Son, and inspired by His Spirit—not for noise, but for our contribution to the greatest symphony of all.
(By Mart DeHaan, Our Daily Bread)
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