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Fasting

Reid Roberson

March 7, 2022

Christian fasting is a believer’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.¹ Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, 192.

• Christian fasting requires Christians.

• Christian fasting must be voluntary, not coerced. ² Although true fasting must be voluntary, legitimate authorities do have a right to call fasts, and we ought to obey those authorities when possible.

• Christian fasting always has a spiritual purpose.

Of course, fasting does not refer to abstinence from food necessarily. We can legitimately speak of fasting from many things (i.e., Paul speaks of fasting from sexual relations in 1 Cor. 7:5); however, when the Bible speaks of fasting it is almost always referring to food.

Categories of Fasts

Types of Fast

1.

Normal fast: abstinence from all food.

2.

Partial fast: limited diet without total abstinence.³ Daniel 1:12

3.

Absolute fast: abstinence from all food and water.⁴ Ezra 10:6

4.

Supernatural fast: requires God’s direct intervention.⁵ Deuteronomy 9:9

Scales of Fast

1.

Private fast: done by an individual.⁶ Matthew 6:16-18

2.

Congregational fast: done by a local/regional church body.⁷ Acts 13:2

3.

National fast: called by "secular" authorities.⁸ 2 Chronicles 20:3 In the United States, we’ve had five: John Adams and James Madison each called one; Abraham Lincoln called three.

Occasions for Fasting

1.

Regular fast: occurs at predictable intervals throughout the week/month/year. By Jesus’ time, the Pharisees were fasting every Tuesday and Thursday (which is part of the reason Christians traditionally fast on Wednesday and Friday).⁹ Luke 18:12, Didache 8

2.

Occasional fast: called as a special time of prayer for some cause.¹⁰ Matthew 9:15

Lent

The word "Lenten" comes from the old English "lengthen" in reference to the lengthening days of Spring. In other languages, it is usually referred to by some derivative of the Latin quadrigesima ("fortieth"). Lent is a (1) partial, (2) congregational, and (3) regular fast.

The history is difficult to trace, but similar practices appear all across the world very early on. These early Lenten fasts would have been closely tied to baptisms traditionally performed on Easter. They were an act of communal piety as the congregation prepared to recieve newly baptized Christians. For example, Didache 7:4 gives this instruction:

And before the baptism let the one baptizing and the one who is to be baptized fast, as well as any other who are able. Also, you must instruct the one who is able to be baptized to fast for one or two days beforehand.

By the First Council of Nicea, Lent is firmly established as a liturgical season of fasting and normalized.

Why should we fast?

• Jesus fasted and assumes his followers will.¹¹ Matthew 4:2, 6:16

• Fasting was characteristic of the apostolic church.¹² Acts 13:2-3, 14:23

Fasting does not earn us any merit or points before God. Although we may associate fasting with some special prayer request, fasting does not give us leverage over God’s will.

How does fasting change me?¹³

1.

Fasting helps us mortify the flesh. It serves as a physical sign of our spiritual battle wherein we are called to put sin to death in us.¹⁴ Colossians 3:5-10

2.

Fasting strengthens our repentance.¹⁵ Daniel 9:1-5

3.

Fasting directs our thoughts toward God.¹⁶ Daniel 10:2-5

How do I start?

1.

Start small with partial fasts.

2.

Learn the nuts and bolts through traditional regular fasts like Advent and Lent, and use these seasons to mark your time.

3.

Fast before you come to the Lord’s Table.

4.

Participate in semi-private fasts with your spouse.

The goal is to become comfortable with fasting as a tool in your spiritual toolbelt. Just as we have to learn how to pray, read the Bible, or worship, we must learn and develop habits of fasting.

Video

Notes

Natural Motivations

• Romans 2:12-16 tells us that the unbelieving Gentiles are “a law to themselves.” Classically, this is called natural law.
  • The law of nature proper applies to those things which obey necessarily.
  • The law of reason applies to rational agents (i.e., humans) which have freedom to voluntarily obey/disobey.
• Unbelievers can (and often do) come to accept natural law because they are human, but natural law is ultimately a reflection of God’s eternal law.
• Christians and pagans alike have historically held that happiness is achieved through being what you are.
  • Modern people tend to think in terms of self-definition.
  • Pre-modern people (including most Christians) believed that identity was imposed, so to be what you are is to follow God’s natural law.
• All people can naturally see that perfect happiness comes from perfect holiness (i.e., what we were made to be).
• Perfect holiness can be achieved through perfect obedience to the natural law, but as Paul points out later in Romans, perfect obedience is impossible.
• Bottom-line: Happiness is a legitimate, natural motivation for holiness, but we still need something more to achieve it.

Richard Hooker, Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, 80:

“Good always results when things observe the course of their nature, and evil results when they do the opposite…”

Supernatural Motivations (1 Peter 1:13-21)

• v.16: “Be holy, for I am holy.” (quoting Lev. 11:44)
• Holiness/sanctification/righteousness is attached to a supernatural motivation, namely, the holiness of God.

You are a child of a holy Father (vv. 14-15)

• God has adopted you into his family (see vv. 3-4)
• Families have characterisitics:
  • Names
  • Traditions
  • History
• Families have expectations for behavior.
• The defining characteristic and highest expectation for God’s family is holiness (i.e., to bear the name of Christ is to be holy).

Your Father is a righteous judge (v. 17)

• God judges (1) impartially and (2) according to one’s deeds.
  1. An impartial judge does not give special treatment to his children.
  2. See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
     • God judges our works.
     • Specifically, God judges our efforts in building up his Church.
     • Good works are rewarded; bad works are destroyed.
• Bottom line: Salvation does not free you from judgment; therefore, the judgment of God ought to serve as motivation for our holiness.

You were purchased at the price of Christ’s life (vv. 18-21)

• “Ransom” (lutroo) means, in this context, “to buy back.” This, then, is slave language. One master has purchased the servants of another.
• Man is always bound by slavery to something. Even the most free man on earth serves someone else.
• Consider the story of Naaman (2 Kings 5:18). Even in his pre-Christian faith, Naaman was bound to another master, but we are free from other masters.
• We have an obligation to our kurios as douloi.

Video

Notes

FPC Starkville Wednesday Bible Study

Growing in the Holy Spirit:

Sanctification and Sex for the Saints

February 9, 2022

Martin Lifer

Sanctification/Holiness – God’s Will for You.

Per the NT letters, arguably THE supreme goal and daily focus & prayer of elect & saved Christians:

1. Our sanctification by God’s grace, in preparation for Jesus’ Return so that

(b) we – as his holy ones – will be blameless to see Him & to be one with Him.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Heb. 12:14

Cf. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8

______________________________________________

Turning to 1 Thessalonians Sanctification/Holiness – God’s Will for You.

General Context of Letter and of Paul’s & his team’s relationship to the church:

Confirmation of the Thessalonian Christians’ salvation: “… how you

turned to God from idols (i) to serve the living and true God and (ii) to wait for his Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, Jesus – Who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thess. 1:9b-10

THE supreme goal and daily focus & prayer of elect & saved Christians:

1. Our sanctification by God’s grace, in preparation for Jesus’ Return so that

(b) we – as his holy ones – will be blameless to see Him & to be one with Him.

Prayer of Paul, Silvanus & Timothy for the Thessalonian Christians: “… and may

the Lord make you increase & abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that

He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

For this is the will of God: your sanctification. 1 Thess. 4:3a

For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness (sanctification). 1 Thess. 4:7

Now may the God of Peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you; He will surely do it! 1 Thess. 5:23-24

The context of 1 Thessalonians and, specifically, 3:9-10 & 4:1-2 4:3-9, as well as 4:9-12, 4:13-18 & 5:1-11.

Sanctification and Sex for the Saints

1 Thess. 4:3-8

For this is the will of God: your sanctification –

that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality (Gk. porneias)

4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel/instrument [Gk. Skeuos] [ESV – “how to control his own body”] in sanctification (Gk. hagiasmos - holiness) and honor,

• 5 not in passion of lust/longing, like the Gentiles who do not know God,

• 6 not to go beyond/transgress and take advantage of his brother [brother or sister] in the action, because the Lord is avenging in all this, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.

7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

8 So, he who [ESV whoever] rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

Sermon on the Mount, and, specifically, e.g., 5:27-32

Jesus’ Related Teaching on What Defiles a Person, Matt. 15:10ff. and, specifically, 15:19-21.

“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matt. 15:19

James’ Judgment at Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) re Standards for Gentile Christians – Acts 15:19-21.

1 Corinthians 5-7

1 Cor. 6:9-11 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators/sexually immoral (Gk. pornoi), nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

Video

Notes

FPC Starkville Wednesday Bible Study

Growing in the Holy Spirit: Sanctification & Faithful, Fruitful Christian Life

February 2, 2022

Martin Lifer

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 - And because of Him [God] you are in Christ Jesus,

Who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

________________________

Sanctification/Holiness –

without which no one will see the Lord.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Heb. 12:14

(1) “Positional Sanctification” = “Definitive Sanctification” = Consecrated Sanctification.

God sets apart Christians unto Himself, as holy in and for definitive purposes:

- God’s children

• a/k/a citizens & royal priests of God’s Kingdom

• a/k/a members of the Church (ecclesia/ “called out”)

• a/k/a members of the Body of Christ a/k/a members of the Bride of Christ.

God’s “chosen ones” are “holy and beloved” (Col. 3:12), “beloved children” (Eph. 5:1),

crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20) and clothed in Him – that is, having “put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27),

“a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9), “a Kingdom – priests to his God and Father,” (Rev. 1:6), raised up with Christ & “seated” “with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Eph. 2:6),

God’s “treasured possession” (cf. Deut. 7:6, via 1 Peter 2:9),

“fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Eph. 2:19),

(2) “Progressive Sanctification.” (e.g., Rom. 12:1-2 ff.,2 Cor. 3:18)

(3) “Final/Perfect Sanctification.” (e.g., 1 Jn. 3:2, 1. Cor 13:12, Jude 1:24-25, Rev. 21:2)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

God imputes to us & by His Spirit applies to us Christ’s Righteousness and the Righteousness of His (Perfect) Saving Work

He justifies us by faith in Christ

He secures our holy identity, place & roles with Him and in His House & Kingdom

He inspires us to grow, in Holiness, “Mortifying the Flesh,” Spiritually Maturing, & Bearing Fruit. This growth and its fruit (a) are essential AND (b) will be worked in us by God’s grace & Spirit through our Union with Christ.

ἁãéÜæù

Jn. 17:19 (ESV) And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

(KJV) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

(NASB 1977) And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

(NIV) For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

êáὶ ὑðὲñ áὐôῶí ἐãὼ ἁãéÜæù ἐìáõôüí, ἵíá ὦóéí êáὶ áὐôïὶ ἡãéáóìÝíïé ἐí ἀëçèåßᾳ. ἁãéÜæù

Jn. 17:20-23 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. The glory that you have given Me, I have given to them, so that they may be one, even as We are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them, even as You loved Me.”

Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified (Perfect Tense, Indicative Mood, Middle Voice) with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me.

And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Gal. 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified (Aorist Tense, Indicative Mood, ACTIVE Voice) the flesh with its passions and desires.

Col. 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Rom. 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

 Or Is it Christ Jesus who died… for us?

Video

Notes

FPC Starkville Wednesday Bible Study

Martin Lifer

November 17, 2021

A Very Basic Introduction to the Gospel Truths of God’s Gracious Justification & Sanctification of Believers in Jesus Christ & His Righteousness, by the Work of His Spirit.

Prelude: Any focus on “our” salvation – including justification & sanctification – should be NOT first & last on us but on Jesus Christ our Lord (i.e. Christocentric).

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 - And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Salvation = Union with Christ à Salvation

Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

John 15:4 – “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”

Our salvation and all its benefits come from Christ and our Union with Him.  He gives faith... He gives repentance. Salvation springs from Christ alone. Faith and repentance are fruits of the Spirit's regenerating work in the soul. This Biblical order – which Reformed theology affirms – is that regeneration precedes faith (John 6:63, 65, 6:37) and ensures us that our salvation is wholly of God and by grace alone, NOT a cooperation or joint work of man and God. 

J. I. Packer BAPTISM: THIS RITE EXHIBITS UNION WITH CHRIST
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:3-4

Christian baptism, which has the form of a ceremonial washing (like John’s pre-Christian baptism), is a sign from God that signifies inward cleansing and remission of sins (Acts 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:11; Eph. 5:25-27), Spirit-wrought regeneration and new life (Titus 3:5), and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit as God’s seal testifying and guaranteeing that one will be kept safe in Christ forever (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13-14). Baptism carries these meanings because first and fundamentally it signifies union with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-7; Col. 2:11-12); and this union with Christ is the source of every element in our salvation (1 John 5:11-12). Receiving the sign in faith assures the persons baptized that God’s gift of new life in Christ is freely given to them. At the same time, it commits them to live henceforth in a new way as committed disciples of Jesus. Baptism signifies a watershed point in a human life because it signifies a new-creational engrafting into Christ’s risen life.

Theologian Anthony Hoekema – Union with Christ begins with God's pre-temporal decision to save his people in and through Jesus Christ. This union, further, is based on the redemptive work for his people, which Christ did in history. Finally, this union is actually established with God's people after they have been born, continues throughout their lives, and has as its goal their eternal glorification in the life to come.

We go on, then, to see union with Christ as having its roots in divine election, its basis in the redemptive work of Christ, and its actual establishment with God's people in time. Union between Christ and his people was planned already in eternity, in the sovereign pre-temporal decision whereby God the Father selected us as his own. Christ Himself was chosen to be our Savior before the creation of the world (1 Pet. 1:20); Ephesians 1:4 teaches us that when the Father chose Christ, He also chose us....

We are initially united with Christ in regeneration.

[next] "We appropriate and continue to live out of this union through faith.

Third, "We are justified in union with Christ."

Fourth, "We are sanctified through union with Christ.

"Fifth, "We persevere in the life of faith in union with Christ.

"Finally, "We shall be eternally glorified with Christ." 

The Ordo Salutis

The Reformed affirmation of the Biblical “Ordo Salutis.” “Ordo Salutis (Latin: “order of salvation”) is a Biblical way of understanding God’s soteriological causal (not chronological) ordering all the grace-events of redemption in Christians’ lives in their Union with Christ by the Holy Spirit. 

The Reformed Ordo Salutis, revealed clearly in Scripture, including in Romans 8:29-30:

1) election/predestination (in Christ);

2) Atonement;

3) gospel call;

4) inward call;

5) regeneration;

6) conversion (faith & repentance);

7) justification;

8) sanctification; and

9) glorification.

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom He foreknew

 He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,

in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.

And those whom He predestined

He also called, and those whom he called

He also justified, and those whom He justified

He also glorified.

But Note!!!:

In Reformed theology, the Ordo Salutis is NOT linear but a UNITED Work of God. So God’s grace & redemptive benefits such as regeneration, faith, repentance, justification and sanctification occur concurrently and NOT contingently OR chronological per se.

Theologian Herman Bavinck – “Regeneration, faith, conversion, renewal, and the like, often [in the Bible] do not point to successive steps in the way of salvation but rather summarize in a single word the entire change which takes place in a man."

Note in contrast the Arminian ordo salutis:

1) outward call;

2) faith/election;

3) repentance;

4) regeneration;

5) justification;

6) perseverance; and

7) glorification.

Justification & Sanctification

The Westminster Larger Catechism

Q. 77. What is the difference between justification and sanctification?

A. Although sanctification is inseparably joined to justification,1 the two are distinctly different. In

justification God imputes the righteousness of Christ to believers;2 in sanctification his Spirit

infuses believers with grace and enables them to use it.3 In the former, sin is pardoned;4 in the

latter, it is subdued.5 The one exempts all believers equally and completely from the avenging

anger and condemnation of God in this life;6 the other does not work equally in all believers,7 nor

is it completed in any believer in this life,8 but only grows toward perfection.9

1. 1 Cor 6.11, 1.30, Rom 8.30.

2. Rom 4.6,8, Phil 3.8-9, 2 Cor 5.21.

3. Ez 36.27.

4. Rom 3.24-25.

5. Rom 6.6,14.

6. Rom 8.1,33-34.

7. 1 Jn 2.12-14, Heb 5.12-14, 1 Cor 3.1-2, Mk 4.8,28.

8. 1 Jn 1.8,10.

9. 2 Cor 7.1, Phil 3.12-14, Eph 4.11-15.

New City Catechism Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us.

Commentary by Abraham Booth - Though justification and sanctification are both blessings of grace, and though they are inseparable, yet they are distinct acts of God, and there is, in various respects, a wide difference between them. The distinction may be thus expressed:

Justification (1) respects the person in a legal sense, (2) is a single act of grace, and (3) terminates in a relative change – that is, (a) a freedom from punishment and (b) a right to life.

Sanctification (1) regards him in a physical sense, (2) is a continual work of grace, and (3) terminates in a real change – as to the quality both of habits and actions.

The former is by a righteousness without us; the latter is by holiness wrought in us. That precedes as a cause; this follows as an effect. Justification is by Christ as a priest, and has regard to the guilt of sin. Sanctification is by him as a king, and refers to its dominion. Justification deprives sin of its damning power. Sanctification deprives sin of its reigning power. Justification is instantaneous and complete in all its subjects; sanctification is progressive and perfecting by degrees.

_________________________________________________

So Justification refers to God’s declaration & determination that someone is righteous in his sight – through a righteousness from God Himself, given to us by faith in & by the Person & Work of Christ!. This justification is a one-time & everlasting act of grace whereby God declares a sinner to be not simply pardoned but also perfectly righteous before Him. The JUST & HOLY basis for God’s divine declaration & determination is Person & Work of Christ, including, centrally, his atoning & redemptive death. God credits (“imputes”) us with Jesus’ righteousness (the perfect merit). We are justified by grace – a gift freely received – through faith: by trusting in Jesus Christ alone.

Sanctification, like justification, is God’s work of grace in us through faith and is given & possible because of the finished work of Christ on our behalf. However, sanctification is a continual process in which by God’s grace, Spirit & Word we  grow in holiness – being made more holy, more & more into the Image of Christ. So sanctification is an ongoing spiritual process of grace in believers & in their lives. God inspires the progressive transformation of everyone who has been justified into the image of Jesus our Savior through the work of the Holy Spirit.

“Positional” Righteousness v. “Appropriated/Practical” Righteousness…

v. “Perfect” Righteousness.

Justification happens outside of us: God declares us righteous.

Sanctification happens inside of us: God makes us grow in righteousness.

Justification is a one-time event, and sanctification is a continual process.

Hebrews 10:14, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Titus 3:5-7

Romans 3:24, 4:1-5, 5:1

Romans 8, Hebrews 12:14, Jude 1:20-21, 2 Peter 3;18

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Notes

FPC Starkville, Martin Lifer – Wednesday Night Bible Study

October 13, 2021 - Bible Study Martin Lifer, FPC Starkville

Antichrist, Jezebel, Elijah and You.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

In ancient societies, definitely in Israel,

the king set the moral compass for the nation & her people.

The nation’s fate & the peoples’ future were subject in large part to their king’s faithfulness or  wickedness, wisdom or folly.

N. Kingdom, Ten Tribes/ “Israel”/ “Samaria”/ “Ephraim:”

ALL the kings of the N. Kingdom, Israel, were unfaithful and practiced idolatry & the worst served Baal.

King Ahab “did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him.” … [1 Kings 16:30]

And it came about – as though it had been a trivial [too light a] thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat (!!) – that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him. [1 Kings 16:31]

Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him. He also acted very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the sons of Israel. [1 Kings 21:25-26]

So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves there, according to the word of the LORD that he had spoken.

Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the ivory house that he built and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place. …

Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. So he served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger, according to all that his father had done. [1 Kings 22:37-40, 51-53]

Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.”

But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Now, therefore, thus says the LORD, ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” So Elijah went. [2 Kings 1:2-4]

Jezebel Thrown Down to Death (per order of Jehu) & devoured by the Jezreel dogs (per the LORD’s Word via Elijah).

[2 Kings 9:30-37]

Ahab’s Seventy Sons Killed, Ahaziah’s Forty-two Brothers Killed, the Rest of Ahab’s Family Killed, & Worshipers of Baal Killed,… followed by Jehu’s faults & Death. [2 Kings 10]

____________________________________________________

Omri’s son, Ahab reigns in Israel,… and Hiel of Bethel rebuilds Jericho [bringing upon himself the curse of Joshua 6:26] giving a son for the foundations and a son for the gates. 1 Kings 16:29-34

Elijah proclaims Drought; Widow of Zarephath & Raising Widow’s Dead Son. 1 Kings 17

Elijah’s Message for Ahab; the Great Confrontation, Witness, Victory & Judgment at Mt. Carmel; God Sends Rain & Drought Ends. 1 Kings 18

Elijah Flees Jezebel, Sustained by Angel, and Hides at Horeb, the Mountain of God; the LORD’s Revelation to Elijah, Answers to Elijah’s Complaints, and Further Commissioning; Elijah Calls Elisha. 1 Kings 19

The LORD delivers the Syrians into Ahab’s hand, including by provision of direct prophetic Word; Ahab disobeys the LORD’s Word – making treaty with Ben-Hadad and releasing him; God send prophetic Word to Ahab that he – Ahab – has brought judgment on himself. 1 Kings 20

Ahab Covets Naboth the Jezreelite’s Vineyard; Jezebel has Naboth killed, and Ahab takes the Vineyard; the LORD sends Elijah to bring Word of Judgment v. Ahab: “And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Have you murdered, and also taken possession?”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs shall lick up your blood, even yours.”’” 1 Kings 21

Ahab’s false prophets & plans to take Ramoth Gilead; Micaiah’s Warnings and then Further Prophecies v. Ahab, Including Judgment unto Death; Ahab’s Death in Battle; Jehoshaphat’s Reign (in Judah) and Ahaziah’s Brief Reign Under God’s Judgment (in Israel). 1 Kings 22 

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FPC Starkville, Martin Lifer Ð Wednesday Night Bible Study

October 6, 2021 - Bible Study Martin Lifer, FPC Starkville

Israelite Kings, Their KingdomsÉ and Their KingdomsÕ Ends.

Israelite Kings: All Flawed to Various Degrees, a Few Faithful, and Most Failed & Fallen.

Their Kingdoms: Judah (S. Kingdom) and Israel/Samaria/Ephraim (N. Kingdom).  

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In ancient societies, definitely in Israel,

the king set the moral compass for the nation & her people.

The nationÕs fate & the peoplesÕ future were subject in large part to their kingÕs faithfulness or wickedness, wisdom or folly.

Solomon, DavidÕs son & chosen successor Ð

blessed by God with great wisdom (given in GodÕs favor) and great building projects (palace & Temple)

Élike a Tragic Hero descended into prideful folly AND unfaithful violation of GodÕs Torah,

taking multiple foreign wives & worshiping foreign gods. This set the stage for IsraelÕs division.

SolomonÕs foolish excess ˆ The arrogant folly of his son, Rehoboam

+ JeroboamÕs aspirations of his own kingdom & rebellion v. House of David

ˆ Divided Kingdom, with most of Israel forsaking DavidÕs House (& GodÕs Promises), É

+ JeroboamÕs Machiavellian idolatry in redirecting N. Kingdom from lawful worship at Jerusalem Temple.  

N. Kingdom, Ten Tribes/ ÒIsraelÓ/ ÒSamariaÓ/ ÒEphraim:Ó

ALL the kings of the N. Kingdom, Israel, were unfaithful and practiced idolatry & the worst served Baal.

King Ahab Òdid more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him.Ó [1 Kings 16:30] Ò[T]here was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols.Ó [1 Kings 21:25-26] É Some later kings were as bad or worse.

King Jehu, the one reformer king of Israel God raised up to clean out AhabÕs house & Baal-worshiping practices, is faithful in that call (and blessed by God) yet fails to turn from JeroboamÕs/IsraelÕs unfaithful, idolatrous original ways.

S. Kingdom, ÒJudahÓ & DavidÕs House (Tribe of Judah, Much of Benjamin, Some LevitesÉ & Remnants of Others)  Many of the kings of Judah served idols; a few served the LORD faithfully.

Some bad kings of Judah were partly good, and some good kings were partly bad.

1 Kings (22 Chapters)

1-11 Story of the United Kingdom Ruled by Solomon

12-16 The Tragic Division and the Early Histories of Judah & Israel

17-22 (Primarily) The Stories of Ahab & Elijah

2 Kings (25 Chapters)

1-17 Continuing Histories of Judah & Israel, concluding with the Sad End of Israel under Assyria

18-25 Closing History of Judah, ending with Babylonian Conquest (TempleÕs Destruction & Final Captivity)

Highlighted Heroes in 2 Kings: Elijah & Elisha; IsraelÕs Jehu; and the trio of godly Judean kings Ð Joash, Hezekiah & Josiah.

Key Truths in/from 1 & 2 Kings:

*Kings & generations who serve YHWH and do not worship idols => good kings & good generations.

*Israel in its unfaithfulness passes from affluence & influence to poverty & paralysis. [G. Campbell Morgan]

*In the face of wicked royals (e.g., Ahab & Jezebel), God empowers faithful prophets (supreme ex. Elijah) to serve GodsÕ Word and Providence, and GodÕs Word will prevail, notwithstanding national failure & judgment.

2 Chronicles (36 Chapters)

1-9 SolomonÕs Reign

10-12 Division of the Kingdom into Israel & Judah (see 10:16-19)

13-36 History of the Kings of Judah, concluding with monarchyÕs end, JerusalemÕs destruction & JudahÕs captivity under Babylon É AND the LORDÕs bringing about the prophesied return under Cyrus!

The Chronicles provide the clearest narrative exposition in all of the Bible on individual retribution.

Key Q.s underlying 2 Chronicles: (1) How did we lose GodÕs favor? (2) How to be restored in GodÕs favor?

(1)   JudahÕs kings & Judah lost GodÕs favor by disregarding GodÕs Torah/Word & Providence.

(2)   Humble repentance, obedience to GodÕs Torah/Word, and hope in his Promises & Providence.

2 Chronicles 9/ Queen of Sheba Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. ² And Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her. ³ And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, ⁴ the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his cupbearers, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more breath in her. ⁵ And she said to the king, ÒThe report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, ⁶ but I did not believe the^[a] reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, half the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you surpass the report that I heard. ⁷ Happy are your wives!^[b] Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! ⁸ Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the Lordyour God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.Ó ⁹ Then she gave the king 120 talents^[c] of gold, and a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones. There were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon. ⁰ Moreover, the servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, brought algum wood and precious stones. ¹¹ And the king made from the algum wood supports for the house of the Lord and for the king's house, lyres also and harps for the singers. There never was seen the like of them before in the land of Judah. ¹² And King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all that she desired, whatever she asked besides what she had brought to the king. So she turned and went back to her own land with her servants.

Solomon's Wealth ¹³ Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, ¹⁴ besides that which the explorers and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon. ¹⁵ King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold; 600 shekels^[d] of beaten gold went into each shield. ¹⁶ And he made 300 shields of beaten gold; 300 shekels of gold went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon. ¹⁷ The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. ¹⁸ The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, ¹⁹ while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. Nothing like it was ever made for any kingdom. ²⁰ All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. Silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon. ²¹ For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.^[e]

²² Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. ²³ And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. ²⁴ Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and of gold, garments, myrrh,^[f] spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.²⁵ And Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots, and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. ²⁶ And he ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates^[g] to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. ²⁷ And the king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. ²⁸ And horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands.

Solomon's Death ²⁹ Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat? ³⁰ Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years. ³¹ And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

a.         2 Chronicles 9:6 Hebrew their

b.        2 Chronicles 9:7 Septuagint (compare 1 Kings 10:8); Hebrew men

c.         2 Chronicles 9:9 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms

d.        2 Chronicles 9:15 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams

e.         2 Chronicles 9:21 Or baboons

f.          2 Chronicles 9:24 Or armor

g.         2 Chronicles 9:26 Hebrew the River

2 Chronicles 10/ Revolt Against Rehoboam Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. ² And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. ³ And they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam, ⁴ ÒYour father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.Ó ⁵ He said to them, ÒCome to me again in three days.Ó So the people went away.

⁶ Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men [elders],^[a] who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, ÒHow do you advise me to answer this people?Ó ⁷ And they said to him, ÒIf you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.Ó ⁸ But he abandoned the counsel that the elders gave him, and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. ⁹ And he said to them, ÒWhat do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ÔLighten the yoke that your father put on usÕ?Ó ¹⁰ And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, ÒThus shall you speak to the people who said to you, ÔYour father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for usÕ; thus shall you say to them, ÔMy little finger is thicker than my father's thighs. ¹¹ Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.ÕÓ

¹² So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, ÒCome to me again the third day.Ó ¹³ And the king answered them harshly; and forsaking the counsel of the old men, ¹⁴ King Rehoboam spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, ÒMy father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.Ó ¹⁵ So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the LORD might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.*

¹⁶ And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, ÒWhat portion have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each of you to your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.Ó So all Israel went to their tents. ¹⁷ But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. ¹⁸ Then King Rehoboam sent Hadoram,^[b] who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and the people of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam quickly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. ¹⁹ So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

*1 Kings 11:29-40 ²⁹ And at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed himself in a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the open country. ³⁰ Then Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces. ³¹ And he said to Jeroboam, ÒTake for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ÔBehold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give you ten tribes ³² (but he shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), ³³ because they have^[a]forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did. ³⁴ Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes. ³⁵ But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and will give it to you, ten tribes. ³⁶ Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name. ³⁷ And I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires, and you shall be king over Israel. ³⁸ And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. ³⁹ And I will afflict the offspring of David because of this, but not forever.ÕÓ 

⁴⁰ Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

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FPC Starkville, Martin Lifer – Wednesday Night Bible Study

September 8, 2021 - Bible Study

Martin Lifer, FPC Starkville

OT Message (cont.) of God’s Gift of Promised Land to Israel, & Israel as Agent of Judgment via Holy War v. Canaanites

Other Dispositive Judgments OT & NT

OT Message re The Feasts of the LORD, with a Focus Tonight Summarizing “The Fall Feasts”/ “Days of Awe”

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“Enough Already!” – God’s Justified Dispositive Judgments on:

(i)    almost all humanity [and creation] via Flood in Noah’s days [Gen. 6-8] -> almost a “re-start” of humanity & creation under covenant(s) of peace & renewal of creation mandate [Gen. 8-9];

(ii)   Sodom & Gomorrah via Sulfur & Fire from the LORD out of Heaven -> final, absolute destruction [Gen. 19];

(iii) Canaanites/Amorites via Israel! & Holy War   חרם – devoted to destruction/ the ban -> almost a new people devoted to God and his glory, Name & light to be displayed to the world.

Gen. 9:18-27 including Ham’s sin -> curses on Ham’s youngest son, Canaan,… & blessing of Seth’s God, YHWH.

Gen. 15:16 “Then in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite(s) is not yet complete [Heb. lit. here].”

Num. 21:1-3 When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. And Israel vowed a vow to the LORD and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.” And the LORD heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah [“destruction”].

Deut. 7:1-4 “When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you – the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you – and when the LORD your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and He would destroy you quickly.

Deut. 20:15-18 “Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not cities of the nations here. But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, but you shall devote them to complete destruction –

the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites –

as the LORD your God has commanded, so that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the LORD your God.”

Deut. 9:4-6 Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you. Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, and that He may confirm the word that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

“Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.”…

… “Enough Already!” These OT Judgments Foreshadow the Day of the LORD & Final Judgment.

Rom. 2:5-8 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself in the Day of Wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God –

Who will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and indignation.

Note: God’s judgments on Israel, Judah, and multiple nations

– conveyed in/through Isaiah and other prophets –lead to ->

New Covenant & New Creation gospel promises conveyed in/through Isaiah (esp. Isaiah!) & other prophets.

Also, note re Judgment & History Now:

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Jer. 18:5-11 ⁵ Then the word of the LORD came to me: ⁶ “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. ⁷ If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, ⁸ and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. ⁹ And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, ¹⁰ and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. ¹¹ Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the Lord, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.”

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7 “Appointed Times of YHWH” [the literal Hebrew mo’ed]  a/k/a “Feasts of the LORD” - “Holy Convocations.”

– Lev. 23:2,23:4, 23:37, etc. See also Exodus 12ff. re Passover, Numbers 28-29 re Offerings, etc.

Leviticus 23

1 The LORD spoke again to Moses, saying, 

2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations – My appointed times are these: 

3 For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings. 

4 These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them. 

5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight [lit. “between the 2 evenings”] is the LORD’s Passover. 

6 Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work. 8 But for seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.’” 

9 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 

10 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD for you to be accepted; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 Now on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering to the LORD. 13 Its grain offering shall then be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire to the LORD for a soothing aroma, with its drink offering, a fourth of a hin of wine. 14 Until this same day, until you have brought in the offering of your God, you shall eat neither bread nor roasted grain nor new growth. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. 

15 You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. 16 You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD. 17 You shall bring in from your dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of two-tenths of an ephah; they shall be of a fine flour, baked with leaven as first fruits to the LORD. 18 Along with the bread you shall present seven one year old male lambs without defect, and a bull of the herd and two rams; they are to be a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering by fire of a soothing aroma to the LORD. 19 You shall also offer one male goat for a sin offering and two male lambs one year old for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20 The priest shall then wave them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave offering with two lambs before the LORD; they are to be holy to the LORD for the priest. 21 On this same day you shall make a proclamation as well; you are to have a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work. It is to be a perpetual statute in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.

22 When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’” 

23 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

24 Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a [Heb. lit. “sabbath”] rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 25 You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. 

26 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 

27 “On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the LORD. 28 You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God. 29 If there is any person [Heb. lit. “soul”] who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people. 30 As for any person who does any work on this same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. 31 You shall do no work at all. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. 32 It is to be a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall humble your souls; on the ninth of the month at evening, from evening until evening you shall keep your sabbath.” 

33 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 

34 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying,

‘On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD. 35 On the first day is a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work of any kind. 36 For seven days you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation and present an offering by fire to the LORD; it is an assembly. You shall do no laborious work.’ 

37 These are the appointed times of the LORD which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, to present offerings by fire to the LORD — burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each days matter on its own day – 38 besides those of the sabbaths of the LORD, and besides your gifts and besides all your votive and freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD. 

39 On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day. 40 Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41 You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.42 You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, 43 so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’” 

44 So Moses declared to the sons of Israel the appointed times of the LORD.

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Also note Leviticus 25 re Sabbatical Year AND Year of Jubilee to YHWH

… & Exodus 23:11, Lev. 25, Deut. 15

Numbers 29:1ff.

1 ‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.

2 And you shall offer a burnt offering as a soothing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old without defect;…

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“Rosh HaShanah” & “Yom HaDin” [for liturgy, see Psalm 81]

See Isaiah 27:13 And in that day a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

Zechariah 9:14 Then the LORD will appear over them, and his arrow will go forth like lightning; the Lord GOD will sound the trumpet and will march forth in the whirlwinds of the south.

& Matthew 24:31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

“Yom Kippur” –

Leviticus 16 (instructions for High Priest) 23:26-32 (for the people) & Numbers 29:7-11 (re sacrifices/offerings)

Cf. Daniel 7, 9 & 12 & Revelation 11, 12, etc.

and, esp., Zechariah 12:10ff. & 14:9, Isaiah 43:25 & 66:8, Psalm 2, etc.

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FPC Starkville, Martin Lifer – Wednesday Night Bible Study

September 1, 2021

Review of the Promise, Further Covenants & Specifications/Promises – re Big Picture of OT, Isaiah & NT;

Issues with the Promised Land & the Canaanites

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Acts 26:6-7 “And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king!” [Apostle Paul to King Agrippa]

Romans 4:13,16-20 For the promise to Abraham or to his offspring [Gk. spermati – lit. “seed”] that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith….

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring — not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.

Hebrews 6:13-18 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by Himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.

For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Abrahamic Covenant Mosaic Covenant Davidic Covenant New Covenant

Curse, Sin, Consequences & Timing re Canaanites/Amorites … and re Promised Land

Genesis 9:18-27 including Ham’s sin -> curses on Ham’s youngest son, Canaan,… & blessing of Seth’s God, YHWH.

Genesis 10 – Table of Nations from Noah (Shem, Ham & Japheth).

Genesis 15:16 “Then in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite(s) is not yet complete [lit. here].”

Genesis 18-19

Deuteronomy 7:1-4 & 20:10-18

“When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you – the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and mightier than you – and when the LORD your God gives them over to you, and you defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them and show no mercy to them. You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and He would destroy you quickly.

20:10-18 10 “When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it. 11 And if it responds to you peaceably and it opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall do forced labor for you and shall serve you. 12 But if it makes no peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it. 13 And when the Lord your God gives it into your hand, you shall put all its males to the sword, 14 but the women and the little ones, the livestock, and everything else in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as plunder for yourselves. And you shall enjoy the spoil of your enemies, which the Lord your God has given you. 15 Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not cities of the nations here. 16 But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 but you shall devote them to complete destruction,[a] the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, 18 that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 9:4-6 Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you. Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, and that He may confirm the word that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

“Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.”…

Jeremiah 17:10 “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”

Romans 2:5-8 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, Who will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and indignation.

Jeremiah 18:5-11 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. 9 And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10 and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. 11 Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the Lord, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.”

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FPC Starkville, Martin Lifer – Wednesday Night Bible Study

August 25, 2021

The 1st Recorded Group-Prayer in the Early Church and 1st Recorded Sermon by Paul

Return Us to Several Key OT Covenant Promises & Prophecies from Our Big-Picture OT Overview

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The 1st Recorded Group-Prayer in the Early Church

Acts 4:24-30

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said,

“Sovereign Lord

• Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
• 25 Who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit:

‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?

26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together,

against the Lord and against his Anointed’ —

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while You stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

God the Creator - “Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them”

Psalm 146:6/ 146:3-9 / Acts 14:15 & 17:24

God the Author of the Scriptures (by His Holy Spirit)

Jesus as Messiah, God’s Son, and Holy Servant

Messianic Prophecy re the nations’ doomed rebellion v. YHWH (in Heaven) & “His Anointed” & “Son” (in Zion)

Psalm 2:1-2 (2:6-9ff. & 2:12)/ Hebrews 1:5

Isaiah – YHWH’s Servant 42:1-4, 49:1-7, 50:4-7 & 52:13-53:12

“Davidic Covenant” – God’s Promises re David’s House & Son

2 Samuel 7:4ff/ Psalm 132:11 -> Isaiah 55:3/ Jer. 33:17ff.

Exodus 6:1-8, 7:3/ Deuteronomy 6:20-22ff. – God’s outstretched hand -> signs & wonders, judgment

Zephaniah 1:4 – God’s hand of judgment on Judah

See Isaiah 53:5 – God’s hand stretched out for healing through the Servant’s atoning suffering

Acts 13:16-41

16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:

“Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm He led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years He put up with[a] them in the wilderness.19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. And after that He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, of whom He testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ 23 Of this man's offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. 27 For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, 33 this He has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’

34 And as for the fact that He raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken in this way, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’

35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,37 but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed[b] from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

41 “‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish;

for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”

1. Acts 13:18 Some manuscripts he carried (compare Deuteronomy 1:31)
2. Acts 13:39 Greek justified; twice in this verse

God’s gracious election & deliverance of Israel (and their rebelliousness) – Deuteronomy 4:37-38; Isaiah 1:2ff.

God’s Choosing of & Covenant with David, including the promise of the ultimate Messiah & Son – see Page 1

All above & ALL the promises fulfilled in Jesus

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FPC Starkville, Martin Lifer – Wednesday Night Bible Study

May 26, 2021

Big Picture Overview  of OT – Understanding Isaiah in Its OT Context (Part 14)

Previously: “Putting David on the Map” – the Bible Study Portions of Our Previous Sessions in May.

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Tonight, a brief note re

David & Solomon as Prophetic Types:

David

Warrior King, prevailing over seemingly invincible enemies, humiliation, evil & darkness,…

and

Poet of Worship & Priest-like King, and Prophet of the Messiah as Lord & Savior.

On David as priest-like king (or king who is priestly), recall the connection of 2 Samuel 6:14 & 1 Chron. 15:27 to 1 Samuel 2:18. [See Exodus 28:6-14.]

1 Sam. 2:18 - Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy clothed with a linen ephod.

2 Sam. 6:14 - And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.

1 Chronicles 15:27 - David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers. And David wore a linen ephod.

Solomon

Prince of Peace & Supremely Wise Judge drawing People from the End of the Earth; &  Builder of the Temple.

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God’s covenant promises to David (and to David’s Seed, Son & House) are central to the NT. For example:

Isaiah 55:1-5

Romans 1:1-4- Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,…

Luke 1:32-33 - “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Acts 15

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The “Davidic Covenant:”

God Makes Promises to –

“makes a covenant” [per later passages] with –

David, David’s Seed/Son & House

1 Samuel 7/ 1 Chronicles 17

“covenant,” e.g. - 2 Sam. 23:5; 2 Chron. 7:18; Psalm 89:3; Jer. 33:21

Psalm 89

1 Chronicles 22:8-13

1 Chronicles 28:1-10

1      Kings 2:4; 6:11-2; 9:4-9 (re & to Solomon)

2 Samuel 7

7:1-3

7:4-7/ 7:8-16

(7:17)

7:18-29

Promises to Abram/Abraham => Fulfillment in David and/or Promises to David

-        “kings” Genesis 17:6,16 => David & Sons

-        “great nation” Genesis 12:2 => Israel under David & Solomon e.g., key juncture at 2 Samuel 7:1

-        David brings the promised “place” & “rest”

-        “great name” Promise to Abram in Genesis 12:2 => Promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:9

-          Promises keyed to Abraham’s & then to David’s “seed” (e.g., Genesis 21:12, 2 Samuel 7:12-16)

-        Abraham’s seed will possess gates of enemies Genesis 22:17 => (David will defeat enemies) God will give rest from enemies 2 Sam. 7:11

-        Special personal relationship with Abraham & his seed e.g., Genesis 17:7-8, and with David & his seed 2 Samuel 7:24

-        Conditions re obedience of son/seed Genesis 17:1,18:19 & 2 Samuel 7:14

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FPC Starkville, Martin Lifer – Wednesday Night Bible Study

May 12, 2021

Big Picture Overview  of OT – Understanding Isaiah in Its OT Context (Part 13)

Putting David on the Map – Continued from May 5

Isaiah 55:3-5            Ezekiel 34:23

2 Sam. 22:51, Ps. 18:50

2 Chronicles 21:1-7

Matthew 1:1, 1:5, 1;20        Luke 1:32, 2:4-7, 2:10-11

Acts 13:20-25, 13:30-39     2 Timothy 2:8-9

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1 Samuel 13-15

1 Samuel 13:13-14

13:14 – [Samuel said to Saul] “But now your kingdom shall not continue.

The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

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Putting David on the Map

1 Samuel 16

16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

16:6-7 When they came, he [Samuel] looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.”

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

16:10-13 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel.

And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.”

And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome.

And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”

I Samuel 17 – David (YHWH & David) v. Goliath

1 Samuel 18-19ff. David & Saul/ David & Jonathan/ David & Michal

1 Samuel 21:10-15

1 Samuel 24, 26 (David spares Saul’s life)

1 Samuel 27 & 29 (David & the Philistines)

1 Samuel 31 (Death of Saul & Jonathan)

2 Samuel 2 - David becomes King of Judah …> Civil War with Ish-bosheth)

2 Samuel 5

Elders of Israel Come to David at Hebron to Accept Him as King, Make Covenant with Him & Anoint Him.

…

David Takes Jerusalem – “the Stronghold of Zion,” “the City of David”

as His New Capital,…

and Defeats the Philistines.

Current Conflict in Israel (May 2021/ Note Ramadan ends tonight & Eid al-Fitr is tonight-tomorrow night)

               

                   

 

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