Epistle for September 26, 2008
Posted by: info <info@...>
E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation September 26, 2008
The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength
(Nehemiah 8:1-18)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the events in this chapter
1. Ezra read the Book of the Law of Moses to the assembled congregation
of the Jews in Jerusalem from morning until noon on the first day of the
seventh month (Rosh Hashanah: the Feast of Trumpets at the beginning
of the Hebrew Sacred Year), vv. 1-6; Leviticus 23:23-25.
2. A number of teachers and Levites helped the people to understand the
meaning of the word which Ezra read to them, vv. 7-8.
3. Governor Nehemiah and other leaders instructed the people not to mourn
or weep, but to rejoice and celebrate . . . "for the joy of the Lord is your
strength," vv. 9-12.
4. The Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) was reinstituted, vv. 13-18; Leviticus 23:6;
Numbers 29:35-38; Deuteronomy 31:10-13.
II. Meditation: on the responses of the people to Ezra's reading of the law
1. The men and women and all who could hear with understanding stood and
listened attentively to the reading of God's word, vv. 2, 5.
2. When Ezra finished reading, he blessed the Lord and all the people answered
"Amen, Amen!" as they worshipped God, v. 6.
3. When the people came to understand the commands of the Lord which they
had broken, they began to weep and mourn in a spirit of repentance and
confession, vv. 8-9.
4. The leaders encouraged the people to rejoice and celebrate because this
was a holy day . . . the day of new beginnings as they renewed their vows
and re-established their sacred covenant with the Lord, vv. 9-11.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications seen here
1. The reading and studying of God's word deserves our undivided attention for
an extended period of time each day.
2. God's people should respond positively ("AMEN") to the truths revealed in
His word, as they praise and worship Him.
3. God's laws reveal man's sins . . . calling for godly sorrow, repentance,
confession, and asking for forgiveness.
4. God offers His mercy and grace, His forgiveness and cleansing . . . giving
repentant sinners a fresh new start, accompanied by a heart of joy and
gladness.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Read, study, and meditate upon God's word daily.
2. Receive God's revealed will for my life with a spirit of praise and worship,
affirming His personal directions with "AMEN!"
3. Live in a continuing attitude of repentance before the Lord, acknowledging
His holiness and my sinfulness.
4. Rejoice in the Lord always, Philippians 4:4.
The New Covenant
(Hebrews 8:1-13)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on two key verses in this chapter
1. "We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of
the Majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary and of
the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man," vv. 1-2.
2. "I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their hearts;
and I will be their God, and they shall be my people," v. 10.
II. Observations: on why the new covenant is better (vv. 6-7, 13)
1. It is better because we have a divine (not a human) Mediator (Christ).
2. It is better because it is established on better promises (absolute, rather
than conditional).
3. It is better because, unlike the old covenant, the new covenant is flawless,
since it is built upon God's activities, not man's.
4. It is better because the old covenant is obsolete and growing old, but the
new covenant is eternal and unchanging.
III. Meditation: on the particulars of the new covenant (vv. 8-10)
1. God puts His laws in a person's mind, rather than carving them on stone
tablets.
2. God writes His commandments upon a person's heart . . . emphasizing the
inner, spiritual relationship rather than the outer, ritualistic works.
3. The new covenant includes the personal promise from the Father:
"I will be their God."
4. The new covenant also contains the assurance that, "They shall be My
people" . . . unlike under the old covenant when God's people did not
continue in covenant relationship, and God "disregarded them."
IV. Revelation: on what "new covenant" people shall do (vv. 11-12)
1. They shall have an intimate relationship with God.
2. They shall be taught . . . not by human priests . . . but by the Lord,
Himself, through the person of the Holy Spirit, John 16:13.
3. They all shall have spiritual discernment, regardless of their earthly,
human status ("least" or "great").
4. They shall live in the assurance of God's unfailing mercy and forgiveness.
V. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Cultivate a vibrant devotional life, seeking to experience God every day.
2. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach me the spiritual things of God.
3. Avoid arrogant pride and prejudiced discrimination, accepting with equal
love all of God's people.
4. Continue to live in perpetual repentance, receiving God's mercy and grace.
A Child's Book Report on the Entire Bible (con't)
After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his
brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast.
Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.
Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston.
Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God
sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice,
bowels, and no cable. God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he
gave them his Top Ten Commandments. These include don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance,
or covet your neighbor's stuff. Oh, yeah I just thought of one more: Humor thy father
and thy mother.
One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies.
Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town. After Joshua
came David.
David got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named
Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was
wise, but that doesn't seem so wise.
After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these
was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore.
There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry
about them.
Next time the New Testament!!!
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