Proverbs

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      It's hard to say exactly who the original reader was, but it seems to have been the young people. My child is used many times in the book starting in 1:8. We know the kingdom was not split yet because of 23:10 that talks about not moving boundary markers. The boundary markers were something that would have existed more in the united kingdom rather than the split kingdom. Of course, the readers were the Israelites, and maybe specifically Solomon's children. It seems this could have been the things he learned over time that he wanted to pass down to his children.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

     Solomon is given credit for this book in 1:1. Agur and King Lemuel's mother also contributed to the wise sayings in this book. I Kings 4:32 says that Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs. The book of Proverbs would be just a small compilation of the 3,000 proverbs he wrote. We know he has a lot of wisdom and that God blessed him with wisdom in I Kings 4:29. We learn a lot about Solomon is I & II Kings, and we see that he may have learned from his mistakes in some of the proverbs given. For example Prov 2:16, 5:3, 20, & 6:24 all talk about the traps of an immoral woman. Solomon fell under many of those traps and seems to be warning others about the mistakes he made.

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

      Solomon uses the phrase “my child” a number of times in this book, giving us a clue as to who he was writing to (Prov 1:8, 10, 15, 2:1, 3:1, 11, 21,). Obviously wisdom is the main theme in the book as it is a book dedicated to wisdom. Immoral woman is a main theme in the book as well. I have verse references in the last question all about immoral women. Foolishness and wisdom is contrasted many times Proverbs (Prov 1:7, 3:35, 10:8, 10:14, 13:6, 24:7, 29:9). There are a few other contrasting sides found in Proverbs. There are the righteous vs. the unrighteous, and the prosperous vs. the poor. Laziness is mentioned a few times and it always describes the poor (Prov 10:4). The whole book is about the consequences of doing what is right opposed to doing what is wrong (Prov 13:21). There are so many repeated ideas in Proverbs. A few more would include the words of the wise and the words of fools, long life, the fear of God, and money.

Summary: Proverbs is a simple layout of wisdom and how it will help us live a righteous life.

What is the primary reason this book is written?

      The primary reason for this book can be found in verse 2. It says the “purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.” Verses 3-6 give even more explanation as to why this book was written. Basically it is to help us understand what wisdom is and how to apply it to our lives. It's not about learning things, but applying these principles and disciplines into our daily life. The purpose is to raise up godly people. The original purpose for Solomon may have been to teach his children how to have the same wisdom that he had gained in his life without making all the same mistakes.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      God promises that He will show us which path to take if we trust in Him with all of our hearts in Prov 3:5-6. God is trustworthy and has the best plans for our life. God corrects us because we are His beloved children (Prov 3:12). God is our security and protects us because He loves us (Prov 3:26). God offers us friendship if we are godly people (Prov 3:32). God says that He is the one who puts rulers in their positions and they lead with His help making good decisions because He helps them. The Lord is the creator, the one who formed us (Prov 8:22). Proverbs 8 goes on to explain that He formed us before the beginning of the world (Prov 8:23-30). God explains his sovereignty in Prov 16:9 when Solomon says, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps”. Basically God is the one who is in control of our very lives. He is our helper and the one who guides our steps. God is a just God (Prov 16:11). God is our protector and all who are godly can run to Him and will be safe (Prov 18:10). The Lord is not concerned about our sacrifices, but with our hearts and our obedience (Prov 21:3). God's character and nature can be found among all these proverbs, but these were a few direct links to his character and nature that I found in the text.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      I think what this book shows about God's redemptive plan is that He is not so concerned with the law. God is more concerned about the hearts of His people. He desires people to be wise and not babbling fools. He desires to have a people who follow Him, not ones who are good at obeying laws. The laws were a guideline to God's heart for them, they were never meant to be the end goal. It when people see God's laws as a burden that they forget who God is and what He has in store for us. This book helps bring us closer to understanding God's heart and how He is one day bringing a new covenant.

Personal Application

      Which one do I pick? The whole book is application, but as I read this book I just asked how many of these does my life reflect. I love the proverbs about helping our neighbors and the poor. I don't know if my life truly reflects that. It's challenging when there are so many about helping the poor, or loving the poor. Am I one who is quick to give, quick to serve, and quick to love those in need or are they a burden? Am I okay with neglecting some of these tougher to obey proverbs because my culture doesn't pay much attention to them? Who do I look at more, God or man? These are questions that arose as read Proverbs. A lot of my processing comes with just asking these simple questions. At the end of the day am I actually obeying all that I've heard from scripture, or do I allow myself to be passive about it because of the culture around me.

Point of Passion: Bronx, NYC

     The power of the tongue. Its the mightiest instruments we have in our body. It has the power to bring death and to bring life. How often do you use it to bring life? How often do you use it to build community and to build up your family? How often are you bringing life to those you say you love? Prov 15:4 says, “Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” It seems to me that we've made it the cool thing to do to crush someone's spirit. We try to bring down everyone around us so that we can puff ourselves up. The bible has a lot to say about such things. There is judgment for those who try to build themselves up instead of building those around us up. You were given a tongue to glorify God and to love Him by loving those around you. Your tongue is a powerful tool for good, but when mixed with a evil heart it produces death to everyone around. Your tongue will tell you exactly where your heart is. What you speak out is who you are. We can make lots of excuses about what comes out of our mouth. That we were just angry, or tired, or it was just a joke, but in reality your mouth only produces what is inside your heart.

Psalms

 Psalm 147

Praise the Lord

How awesome it is to worship with the nations

He is worthy of all our praise

God is rebuilding my heart

For years its been suffocating

but now He's breathing life

He gives me joy when life seems like a dark cloud

He heals the scars that no one else can see

He has named the trillions of stars that decorate the night sky

How awesome He is

who's great power is unmatched

He understands me and knows me as friend

He is there for me when others cast their judgments

For He protects the humble and sees their hearts

Sing to God with everything inside of you

and give Him thanks

He brings up the sun in the morning

and paints the evening sky as the sun goes down

He watches over all the animals and nourishes the earth each day

Can my strength and ability impress God?

His desire is that we fear Him

and then He is impressed

He finds joy in those who trust in Him for their strength

He is the one who has blessed my life

He is the one who has supplied my needs

Even the nations are under his care

God made Zion great

He was the one who made Israel prosper

His word is the ultimate authority

No ruler or leaders power can compare

Everyone shrinks in comparison to Him

At His word it all comes to an end

Cities fall and seasons change

God chose Israel to be His holy people

Those who call upon the name of the Lord

No one else can claim His inheritance

My own Psalm

I've come up short every day

I thank God for His grace and mercy

When I failed in my own strength

It was Him who picked me up

He gives me peace day by day

His path is good and safe for me to walk

He keeps my foot from slipping as I run through the river

There is no place that is unsafe when I follow His voice

He makes my feet grounded as I run

Even when I can't see where I'm stepping

I trust in Him that I will not fall

Each step is exhilarating and causes my faith to grow

My eyes are now only focuses ahead

I no longer worry where my feet will land.

His character proves true when the waters are rushing

I thank God that He does not change

I am forever grateful of the one who guides my steps

David's Character

David has a repentant heart in II Sam 12:13. Here David had killed Uriah after committing adultery with Bathsheba. The prophet Nathan comes and tells David a story of a man taking from the poor. David becomes furious at this man and Nathan tells David that he is that man. David doesn't have an excuse or say anything except, “I have sinned against the Lord.” In Psalm 51 we see David's repentant heart for what he had done.

God forgives him right away, but tells him his son will die. I think it angered God, but because David sought after God's heart, God had great mercy on him and was quick to forgive. In 1 Kings 15:5 it says that David did what was right in the sight of the Lord, except this one this with Uriah. It left a scar, a reminder that David had failed, but that God was still with him. God still say him as a righteous man though he sinned.

David is courageous in II Sam 17. David sees the men of Israel shaking in their armor as Goliath challenges them. David is horrified and courageously tells Goliath who he is in light of who God is. So David takes him on and defeats him.

David knew God's power and how little a giant was to him. This seemed to be David's initiation. In chapter 18 he gains favor with Saul and Jonathan. At this time as David continues in war and the people say,” Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” God must have been incredibly pleased because we hear of the favor on David's life after this. I picture David like Caleb and Joshua. God promised victory yet all of Israel chose to walk away from the promised land. Here there was a single giant and the Israelites were standing down in fear. Not David, he knew who God was and defeated the enemy.

David shows loyalty in II Sam 9. David remembers his covenant with Jonathan and looks for someone from his family. He seeks to bless them and finds that Mephibosheth, David's son was still alive.

Prov 28:20 in the CEV says, “God blesses his loyal people.” This is characteristic of God that we see a lot in scripture. God is loyal to those who are loyal. David is loyal to his old friend who had died in battle. He kept his promise and therefore kept his loyalty to Jonathan even when he was dead. I think God was proud of His son David at that time. He was reflecting God's own character and showing others that he was not only out to please himself.

David shows his thankfulness to God in a number of Psalms but I'll use Psalm 30:12. As David is dedicating the Temple to the Lord he has this song. He talks about how God has rescued him and has given him joy. He ends by saying that he is thankful and will be thankful forever.

Col 3:15 says to “always be thankful” and in Psalm 100:4 says to “enter his gates with thanksgiving.” God desires thankful hearts. He commands it in Col 3:15 and a psalmists says that this is a way we can worship God. As David is thankful to the Lord he is giving glory, and worship to God. He is also telling God that He is the one who made it possible. He gives credit to God. This is God's desire. We see it often in the stories of Israel. When they were thankful for what God had done they were blessed. But if they complained or if they were ungrateful God cursed them. We see this clearly in Num 11-12 as God punishes them for their complaining and ungratefulness for the miracle He was doing to provide for them. God values thankfulness and when his people are not grateful sometimes there are consequences.

David was obedient to God in II Sam 2:1-4. David asked God where he should go. He didn't want to go anywhere God wasn't leading him. When God told him where to go he listened. This is a very simple example. We know that many times David obeyed God. Acts 13:36 says that David “had done the will of God.” I Chronicles 18:14 says, “David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.” David is given credit for his obedience a number of times in scripture. God wanted it to be known that David did what was right. This was important to God that people knew this. God says in I Kings 11:34 exactly what David's obedience meant to Him. He says, “For the sake of my servant David, the one whom I chose and who obeyed my commands and decrees, I will keep Solomon as leader for the rest of his life. God blessed later generations because David obeyed the decrees of the Lord.

Kings

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      The original readers was the exiled kingdom of Judah. Jeremiah was a prophet to Judah and II Kings 25:27-30 says how the kingdom of Judah is exiled by Babylon. They were treated well by the Babylonians. Much better than the exiled kingdom of Israel who were treated harshly. The original readers were probably confused because they were promised a king forever (II Sam 7:27). Perhaps because of this promise they were doubting God's promise to them.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

      I think the author may be Jeremiah. This is possible because the author tends to stick to the spiritual side of things. He doesn't only talk about the accomplishments of the Solomon or the other kings, but whether they were good or bad. When talking about the kings he almost always says whether they did what was right or evil in the sight of the Lord (I Kings 15:5,11,16:25). This is a clue that he was a spiritual man who knew the importance of following God. Jeremiah was a prophet from the reign of Josiah into the exile. Meaning who would have authored this book in the time of the exile. There are much more details at the end of the book suggesting he was there at that time.

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

      There is a huge contrast between the wisdom of Solomon (I Kings 4:29) and his son Rehoboam (I Kings 12:12-13). We see the blessings Solomon received because of his wisdom and the curses Rehoboam had because of his foolishness. Israel continuously worshiped idols (II Kings 17:41). We see that the kings did what was “evil in the Lord's sight” a number of times (I Kings 14:22, 15:26,34, 16:19,25,30). As they did what was evil or good in the Lord's sight there is always blessings or curses for them. The righteous are blessed and the evil are cursed. I Kings 15:5, II Kings 14:5-6, 15:4, 35 all give examples of the kings failing to fully obey what the Lord had commanded. Half obedience is a big theme throughout Kings. Two prophets that are spoken of more than any others are Elijah and Elisha. They are highlighted in both first and second Kings. A huge focus is on the prophets as well. Not only Elijah and Elisha, but Isaiah (II Kings 19:2), and Obadiah (I Kings 18:3). A lot of the stories in this book are about the prophets or what the prophets are saying to the kings.

Summary: A book of remembrance at what unfaithfulness leads to and how God never stops bringing us back to Him

What is the primary reason this book is written?

      The primary reason this book is written was probably to give a historical account of the time of the kings. This would include the division of the kingdom in 930 BC, the exile of Israel in 722 BC, the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, and the many events in between. The author also put a lot of emphasis on the faithfulness of the kings and the people. A big reason this book was written was to show the consequences of a faithful nation to God opposed to an unfaithful nation to God.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      In 3:11-14 we see a God that gives us what we ask for according to His will and much much more. I Kings 8:23-24,27,39, and 56 tell us a lot about God's character and nature. God is a God that has unfailing love, there is no one like Him, He keeps promises, He is uncontainable, He knows the human heart, and He keeps all of His promises. He is merciful and just in I Kings 21:29. The word of God never fails. What He says is always true and we can trust what He says (II Kings 10:10). All throughout the book God gives warnings through the prophets. He is a God of second chances and third chances and forth chances. He spared His people for hundreds of years trying to bring them back to Himself. They refused and so He brought them into exile. This was not His heart at all. God wanted to see them love, adore, and worship Him alone. He is the only real God that is not made of stone or wood.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      The peace that God had promised His people happened in Solomon's time (I Kings 4:25 & 5:4). God's redemptive plan for mankind had taken a step forward and another promise of God had been fulfilled. Not only had they made it to the promised land, but they had peace. It was their sin that led them away from peace. In I Kings 9:5 the promise made to David is said to Solomon. The promise of an eternal dynasty. A promise that is fulfilled through the Messiah. The promise is given again by Ahijah in I Kings 11:35-39. It is verse 39 that gives an explanation for exile and the destruction of Jerusalem. Because of Solomon's sin the descendants of David are punished, but, verse 39 says, “though no forever.” There is hope given even in the midst of punishment. There is a promise that one day a descendant of David will reign again.

Another way we see God's redemptive plan worked out is through the prophets. God speaks through them and continually tries to draw His people back to Him. God punishes out of love and sends prophets to remind the people of the God that had done so much for them. They are warned and rebuked, but they refuse to follow God for very long and bring destruction upon themselves. The prophets were a band-aid for a wound that needed much more attention.

Personal Application

      There is always hope, in the darkest moments, in the hardest days, weeks and months God is there. God was there for Elijah when he had no more desire to be alive. Elijah said he would be better off dead as Jezebel sought to kill him. Elijah had just done an amazing feat of killing all the prophets of Baal. Now God was allowing him to be tested. Elijah has nothing as he wandered in the wilderness. He had no where to go, nothing to eat and nothing to drink. God was his only provider, the one who protected him and kept him safe. Through this passage I thought about my own times of distress, when nothing was going right. Though God doesn't come and take all the pain away, He is there. He speaks and comforts and provides everything needed. When I needed money He was there. When I needed a job He was there. He is always there and always looking to care for His children. Elijah is an amazing example of how much God loves us and cares for us when we have given up on ourselves. God doesn't give up, He keeps caring and supplying my every need. It gave me more faith to continue to trust Him when I don't see any hope. It gave me hope that He can do the impossible to sustain me and to bring me along the right path for my life.

Point of Passion

      Kings shows Gods patience with His people. There is always hope for redemption even in the midst of God's punishment. If His people will call upon His name and turn from their sin they will be forgiven. New York City doesn't have prophets, but there are many men leading large churches that have so much truth for their city. They are righteous men calling their city to the worship of the great King. It's not too late to turn. God sent prophet after prophet trying to get people to turn from their sin for hundreds of years. God is wanting the streets of the Bronx to shout out His praise. He desires is for the streets to end with sinning and begin with love for one another. He wants the hate for one another to stop, for gangs to end, for broken families to end, for immorality to end, and for people to see God for who He truly is. As someone who cares and wants to bring restoration for a city that needs it. Don't lose hope in what God can do to your city. Its not over and its not hopeless. The power of the gospel can change the hardest of hearts and can bring cities to their knees in worship to Him.

Samuel

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      The original readers were the Israelites. This book gives a history of how the monarchy began in Israel. The original readers were probably reading this much later on when the had been divided into two kingdoms. As we see in the book of I and II Kings they weren't very loyal to God. They had become pagans worshiping other gods. These two books clearly distinguish between Saul (bad king) and David (good king). The author was showing the original readers what a kingdom run by a man of God could look like.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

      We don't know the actual author. We suspect it to be a combination of writings from Samuel, Nathan and Gad. I Chron 29:29 says that those three wrote accounts of King David. The book is not in chronological order which gives evidence that there was more than one author of the book.  The writings would have been combined together which is why its not in chronological order. 

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

      In I Sam 18:6-8 Saul gets jealous of the peoples praise of David and this remains a theme throughout Samuel as Saul tries to kill David. We see a contrast between this behavior of Saul and David's obedience to God. In I Sam 20:33 Saul tries to kill his own son, but David in II Sam 9:3 looks out for Jonathon's family. David's reign shows what happens when someone rules in the fear of God while Saul's reign shows what happens when someone doesn't fear the Lord. David shows kindness to his enemies and trust for God when he refuses to take vengeance himself. On a number of occasions David spares his enemies lives out of the fear of the Lord. In I Sam 26:9-11 David refuses to kill Saul when he gets the opportunity. He refuses even when Saul is trying to kill him for no reason. We see this on a number of occasions even when he is king in II Sam 16:10. Broken family is a theme and bad fathering even in the case of David with his sons and Saul with Jonathon as he tries to kill him. The battle for the throne is a huge theme, but David waits patiently on the Lord while Saul defends it in his own might.

Summary: These books are about God faithfulness to David and David's trust in God's character and nature even when everything seems like its going against him

What is the primary reason this book is written?

     The primary reason this book is written is to show God's faithfulness to the faithful (II Sam 22:26). The author makes a point to contrast the sin of Saul in his leader and the righteousness of David in his leadership. God anoints David as king, but he has to endure trials and has to wait a long time to see God's promise fulfilled. David had chances to take things into his own hands but he trusts God's ability to make him king despite enemies all around him. This book shows how God's character and nature can be trusted even when everything around us is chaos. David trusted God and God bless him. Saul was selfish and God cursed him.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      Hannah in I Sam 2:2 says, “No one is holy like the Lord!” and in 1 Sam 16:7 God says of himself that, “the LORD looks at the heart.” God's character and nature is shown throughout the book as he guides the leaders of the first monarchy in Israel. God is quick to forgive those who sin, but return to him with a repentant heart. We see this in II Sam 12:13 when Nathan confronts David for the Bathsheba incident, but tells David, “The LORD has forgiven you.” A huge part of God's character that we often have a hard time understanding is shown in I Sam 15:22. God tells Saul after Saul had disobeyed that “Obedience in better than sacrifice.” What a statement to Saul when he was trying to make up for his sin. Other things we see in these books are God takes vengeance (II Sam 22:48), God is sovereign (II Sam 7:18-29), and God seeks to bring us back to him II Sam 14:14).

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      David in these books is a type of Christ. He was born in Bethlehem just as Jesus was. We don't know much about his early life as a shepherd until he comes on the scene killing Goliath. We have only one story of Jesus as a boy. He defeated a giant with the strength of God helping defeat Isrealites enemies. Jesus died on the cross defeating Satan. Saul despised him and tried to kill him for no reason in I Sam 18:11 and in I Sam 19:10. In David's own brothers didn't like him and other members of his family as well in II Sam 19:11-12. David was a prophet of God and the King of Israel. David was victorious in his battles and was a good king over Israel. In the Davidic Covenant there is a promise of one who will come to establish rule forever in Israel in II Sam 7:27-29.

Personal Application

      I think what spoke most to me in these books is David's integrity even when everyone else around him would have understood had he done something he felt wasn't right. He spared Saul's life, but his own men told him to take it. They said look, God is giving him over to you. Still, David knew that God had appointed him king and he would wait for God to place himself as King. It's so difficult to do the small things that you know are right when everyone else around is overlooking or ignoring them. David taught me that it is possible to be bold, to stand up and fight for the things I know to be true. Even if they don't seem like a big deal at times, I know that God is honored by those small acts of obedience and everyday is a test to obey those things. David's life is a living testimony of someone who overcame and obeyed even when it was difficult.

Point of Passion: Bronx, NYC

      There are so many guys pretending to be Davids. They lead gangs, they bring terror wherever they go, and they think they are the toughest thing around. Guys think that they are brave and strong but in reality they are just fools believing a lie from the enemy. A true David fights for the weak, he is strong in his weakness, and he leaves revenge for the Lord. The character of David is not a common thing among the streets. He is someone who stands out, who is ready to be ridiculed for standing up for what he knows to be true. He stands up for righteousness and peace. He's not weak, because God is on his side and he knows it. He's brave not because of anything he has done, but because of the one who is on his side. David didn't take credit for being a great man, but understood that everything he has and everything he is is because of God. David was generous with his praise and didn't take glory for himself. A wake up call to those who think you are something. Know that all that you are is because God has given it to you.

Ruth

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      The original readers would have been Israelites probably living during the time of the monarchy. This book was probably written during the time of David and Saul. I'm not too sure what else we can gather from this book about the original readers, except that the original readers would have learned that there were good people in the land. Not everyone had gone astray, and though there was no “ruler” except God, people obeyed Him and live righteously as we see in the life of Boaz and Naomi.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

      I see someone who made it a point to talk about the woman that eventually would be Jesus' ancestor. I'm not sure if that's super significant, but I think it's interesting that the author chose to point out Ruth. Also, Ruth is a Moabite, and that shows us the author wanted people to know that as long as someone had faith in God, they were part of the family. Just by adding this story I think the author gets a lot of teaching out. We aren't positive who the actual author of this book is.

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

      The character of Boaz is a main theme in this book. He was extremely kind to Ruth and even to other poor people. He told his workers to leave some leftovers for the poor to come and gather so they could have food. Ruth's faithfulness to Naomi is huge. Ruth earns her way into the Israelite family by being faithful to Naomi by staying with her and worshiping God. Ruth must have been impressed with the God of Israel and chose to follow Him and also longed to be with Naomi. Ruth is provided for in a time and culture when woman like her often are not taken care of. She lost her husband and had no one to protect her or care for her or provide for her. But God brought Boaz along to care, protect, and provide for her. Boaz is used as God's instrument to care for Ruth and even marries her giving Ruth hope for a good life.

What is the primary reason this book is written?

      Ruth could have been written as an example of how to treat foreigners. God used a Moabite woman in the line of David. Some thought this was a defilement of the line of David, but really God was just showing that anyone can be part of His kingdom and family. It doesn't have to be native Israelites, but it can be anyone who follows God and goes under His covenant. This shows how receptive God is to those who will worship Him. Even now He accepts Gentiles, not just in Paul's time much later on.

Summary: Ruth is about God's care and provision for the forgotten.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      What I saw most about God's character was through the man Boaz. Boaz showed great love through the way he lived. His actions reflected God. He cared for the poor by making sure they were fed. He loved Ruth and obeyed the law by seeking out the family redeemer first.

God shows that He is no respecter of persons in this book. Not of gender or race. He cared for Ruth though she was both a foreigner and a woman. The important thing to God was her heart. She worshiped God and God alone and so she was accepted. God's only qualifications is the posture of the heart.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      We only get a small glimpse of what Christ did for us through what Boaz did for Ruth. Ruth was a foreigner with no rights and not deserving of anything. She was a good person, but nothing made her more deserving than any other to be sought out. Yet Boaz saw her in need and helped her. He loved her and went through the right process to then marry her. By marrying her he saved her. She now had someone to provide and protect her, while before she was on her own. This is just a small glimpse of the much much greater sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

Personal Application

      Boaz is an amazing example of how a man should live. He is intentional about giving to the poor from his fields. He tells his workers to leave food for them. He didn't have to do that. He could have easily let the poor fend for themselves or, or kicked them off his land completely. He went out of his way to bless and love on the people. With Naomi's land he is the one who initiates the role of the family redeemer, not the one who was next in line to redeem the land. Boaz is the one who makes things happen and who is glad to marry Ruth while the first in line didn't want to marry Ruth. He was too concerned about himself and his estate. Sometimes in order to show love and to bless people we must be initiatory. Boaz was intentional about loving the poor, by allowing them to gather from his fields behind the harvesters. He is just a good example of a man who isn't sitting around wasting his life, but someone who works hard and cares about others around him. He was quick to help Ruth and to talk to her family redeemer. I just thought he was a good, kind man that did what he could to help and to love. He made it a point to be kind to others.

Point of Passion

      God cares and He sees. Though the world around you might overlook and though the people that are your neighbors might not see. God sees, God cares. He will provide your every need and He will come near to you when you call out to Him. The forgotten fields of the streets of New York City are not forgotten to God. He knows everything that goes on in the dark alleys, in the busy street corners, and in the broken homes. He wants to bring men like Boaz to care, to love and to provide for those who are suffering. He longs to care for those who have no one to care for them.

Judges

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      The original readers were the Israelites probably between the time of Saul or David's reign. This would have been a history of their ancestors and how they lived under the time of the judges. They needed to know and understand their history when God was their king. At this time God had been denied as king and they asked for a man to be king. They seemed to think this was better for them than having God as king.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

      The author of Judges knows the area of Israel very well. He must have been an Israelite because of the details that he gives about places and families. Most credit this book to Samuel. At the end of the book the author seems to give his insight on what kind of government he thought was better. In Judges 21:25 he says “in those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” This can be interpreted that everyone was sinning and doing what they wanted because there was no king, when in fact there was a king, the King of Kings.

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

      The main theme of this book is a cycle of disobedience. First, the people sin, usually by worshiping idols. Next, God is angry with them and leaves them. He judges them by sending another nation to enslave them. After a while the people begin to mourn and cry out to God for repentance. God hears them and restores them by raising up a judge that He pours His Spirit on. The judge dies and they return to disobedience. God gives many reminders to His people, there is a lot of killing throughout the book, much like Joshua. God speaks through His prophets, the people He chooses to lead the nation.

Summary: Judges is a book about God's patience though the Israelites continue to worship other idols and forget everything that the Lord had done for them.

What is the primary reason this book is written?

      I think the book of Judges was mainly given to the Israelites to give them a history of their time before their monarchy. God wanted them to see His original design for them, something that they turned from as a nation. I think there's plenty of warning in this book for when they disobey God. He is faithful and just to punish them but also to forgive. We get a good idea of His patience with them and His love for them, especially when He is grieved over their situation. This book is written to show how far God will go to restore His people and how much He will take. The Israelites rejected Him time and time again, but God's character was much more than just a surface thing. God restores them over and over and gives them chance after chance. All while loving them with a great love.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      God is a restorative and gracious God. This book is largely about God redeeming man. Man sins and God restores them in their forgiveness. In God's form of government, He gives clear guidelines and allows the people to choose what they will do. If they sin there is punishment, if they are righteous there is blessing. God blessed Joshua and the nation because he did what was right in the Lords sight. However, in Judges the nation sins, and God punishes, but He is always there to quickly restore His people. He is patient with Gideon as He keeps seeking confirmation from God and uses him to conquer Midian. In Judg 10:16 God is grieved by the misery of the Israelites. This tells me that God did not take pleasure in punishing Israel, but it actually grieved Him to see them suffer, even at His hand. At the end of the day, God is just. He is just in His punishment and in His restoration.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      We see a need for a mediator. When the people had someone to mediate for them they would obey God, but when there was no judge, or no leader, they sinned. They fled from God and worship other gods. There is a void that is needing to be fulfilled, but wont be until the day of Christ. Also, many of the judges bring the Israelites out of captivity or oppression and lead them back into obedience with the father. Each of them act as a messiah that saves the people from their enemies.

Personal Application

      Sometimes I forget that I am very much like the Israelites. As much as I criticize them, I am incredibly like them. I can be quicker to complain than to give thanks to God. I have to learn the same lessons over and over. I can lose sight of what matters most and I can waste my time on things that I've made into idols. My personal application for this book is simply to look at the Israelites and learn from their mistakes. To be someone who can overcome the seemingly stupid ways of the Israelites and be more like the men who led them. The man who did what the Lord commanded. Men like Joshua who simply did his mission. He did what the Lord asked of him in his life and that was enough.

Point of Passion

      New York City is a city founded on Christian principles. Back in the 1600's it was place of Christian lifestyles and Christian morals. There have always been great men of God that came to the city and called people to Jesus. Before it was a huge city it was a small community where everyone knew each other and where the church was a foundation for the community. Over time the city grew and the close knit communities were harder to come by. Like the Israelites in the time of the judges, the city has turned from God and from Christian lifestyles into pagan living. They now worship shoes, clothes, money and all things material. It used to be that people were content and happy and thankful for what they had. They didn't have much and sometimes having a head over their head and a community to come along side them was enough. Now we're not happy unless we have the newest iphone, newest shoes, or that we are in with the newest styles. None of which brings happiness. The Israelites never found happiness in turning from God and they refused to obey Him long enough to find happiness in obedience to Him. So basically its time to be intentional about uniting communities together and to living a life in complete opposite to the worldly ways of most in the Bronx especially. It's to remember your roots and look out for one another, love one another and worship God with one another. You will find you're true fulfillment not in things, but in God and in the principles He has laid out for us. They don't limit us but they free us.

Joshua

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      There are a few clues in the text that give us an idea who the original readers were. We know that Rahab still lived with them, so the book couldn't have been written too long after the events. The phrase “to this day” appears a few times which again tells us that it couldn't have been written too long after the events in the book. The book was written to the Israelites who were settling in the land. They are addressed more than once about how to take their land.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

      We believe the author was Joshua, but there is no conclusive evidence for that. It seems logical that Joshua would have been one of the few people who would have known all the details that the book talks about. All the conversations with God and all the directions that Moses would have given to Joshua before he died. The author knew all of these things, so it seems to me that Joshua would be a good assumption for the authorship. We know that Joshua was called by God in Josh 1:2. Joshua really lacked confidence at the beginning of his leadership. Josh 3:7-8 and 4:14 shows us this. He greatly feared the Lord. He made sure to keep his oath with the Gibeonites, because of his fear of the Lord in Josh 9:19. Joshua did all that the Lord had commanded him as Josh 11:15 says. He was wise in his leadership and knew war. His whole life he spent at war. (Josh13:1).

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

      The phrase I saw the most was “I have given” or ones very similar. At least 13 times throughout the book. The phrase “no king in Israel” shows up a few times as well. This distinguished them from other lands during the time of the judges. God was their king and He ruled them. There were many battles to conquer the land. The book talks a lot about boundaries as well. Half the book is about how the land should be divided. Obviously, God thought it important to lay that out and have record of it for the Israelites to have and now for us to have. It was the fulfillment of Abraham's covenant with God. It gave Israel their Promised Land and we see how they conquered it as well. An amazing part of Israel's story.

Summary: God makes good on His promise to Israel and gives them the Promised Land as their possession.

What is the primary reason this book is written?

      The primary reason this book was written was to remind Israel that God keeps His promises. He did it here and did it many times before and would continue to do it. The Israelites seemed to need this reminder a lot and this is a very important reminder for them. God showed how great things can go when a leader and a nation obey Him. I think they would have needed this reminder as well. The original readers would have been under a monarchy, but it was important for them to see how God blesses them when they worship Him and Him only.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      The character and nature of God is described well in Josh 10:14. We see that God answers prayer and He just finished doing an incredible miracle. He made the sun stand still so the Israelites could have victory over their enemy as God fought for them. God was very encouraging to Joshua as he started his leadership over Israel. He gave Him the encouragement he need to lead the people into victory over the current possessors of the Promised Land. God showed once again that He is in control of the nations. Of who stands and of who falls. The nations and even the length of a day are under His control.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      We see Joshua as a type of Christ. There are some similarities between him and Jesus. One being the have the same name, that means Yahweh and Salvation. Which actually is who Christ is. But what makes Joshua a type of Christ is that he is able to finish the fulfillment of the covenant when Moses was not able to because of sin. Moses represents the old covenant that couldn't bring salvation to people but only could cover up sin. Joshua, however represents the new covenant that is able to bring salvation. Joshua leads the people into the promised land and conquers it fulfilling the covenant. Joshua is the only thing I noticed that gives us a picture of God's redemptive plan for mankind.

Personal Application

      I think what challenged me the most was Joshua's determination to do everything as the Lord had said. He was bold in his leadership and never gave in when the people were afraid or when they held back. He challenged them to continue to take land even when it seemed impossible, because he knew that God was the one fighting. His determination and boldness in leadership really helped me see how I can improve in leadership or even just as a follower of Christ. He didn't give in and brought people back to truth. He knew who God was and guided them back on the right track. Though the tribes of Israel didn't always follow, Joshua did all he could do. He was steadfast in his faith.

Point of Passion

      I think what a city like New York City and maybe every other city in the world is this. “choose today whom you will serve.” It is clear that we cannot serve two masters. If we say we love Jesus than we must rid ourselves of what does not come from Him. How can we continue to live in sin just because our culture says that it's okay. How many in New York City, or even how many in the Bronx have lowered their morality standards because it was the easy thing to do. What is needed are people who will do the hard thing and stand strong when no one else will. To be scoffed at for the sake of living a pure and holy life. This is my challenge for the Christians living in the Bronx from Joshua.

Deutoronomy

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      The original readers were God's “very own people” and his “special possession” as it says in Deut 4:20. Moses says that they are people who have been in rebellion in Deut 9:24. Moses declares that they will be the ones to go over the Jordan River. All they have to do is obey and not do as their parents did (Deut 11:31-32). They were waiting just west of the Jordan River, but had not yet crossed into the Promised Land. They were a people who had no law, government, or any way to sustain themselves. Moses was telling them what God had given to them to meet their needs in these areas.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

      In Deuteronomy we know that the author Moses, is about ready to die. God tells him so in Deut 32:50. Moses never gets to experience the Promised Land, but only gets to see it from Pisgah Peak. The last chapter tells us a little about Moses. Chapter 34 tells us that God buried him in an unknown place in Moab and he died at 120 years old in the land of Moab. The book of Deuteronomy is his farewell address to the people. He wont be joining them on their journey across the Jordan River and is giving them some last instructions.

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

      What I see being repeated a bunch of times are the phrases “you must,” “be careful,” and the word “listen.” Moses was writing to them to give them instructions on how to live in the Promised Land. In this book he repeats things he's said before and he gives new instructions for them. This is the main thing I see throughout the book. Moses is clear in his purpose. He has been their leader for 40 years and he knows that he is leaving them soon. This is his last chance to give them all that he can so that they can go forward on the right foot.

Some of the things he asks of them that come up often are to completely wipe out the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. He made this very clear and told them it was because he didn't want them to be tempted to worship their gods. He tells them that the Lord will go before them. He made it clear to them many times that God would wipe out their enemies. They had nothing to fear about the nations they were going to fight, because God was fighting for them.

Summary: Deuteronomy is about Moses pleading with his people to simply trust God and obey Him in his last speech before he dies.

What is the primary reason this book is written

      The primary reason Moses has written this book is to establish God's covenant with His people. He is telling them all the things they cannot do, all they things they should do, and all the things they are permitted to do. God is fulfilling His previous covenant with Abraham. Israel is now a great nation, God has been with them the whole way and the land God has promised is about to be theirs. Moses warns them many times to stay away from idolatry and to always obey the Lord. I think it's Moses' last attempt to get the people to trust and obey their God. He gives them all the warnings he can and tells them of all the blessings they can receive if they obey. He fights for his people until he dies in Moab.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      In Deuteronomy we see God as the one who fights, cares for, and leads the people in Deut 1:29-33. Moses says that God cared for them “just as a father cares for his child” in verse 31. Moses also says of God in Deut 2:7 that God had watched over them during the whole forty years they were in the wilderness. The Lord is the one who fought. He is the one who fought for the Israelites and destroyed there enemies. Deut 2:20-23 shows very clearly that Moses gives all the credit to God. God comes near to us when we call and as Moses describes in Deut 4:7, and in 4:24 He is a “devouring fire; he is a jealous God.” Deut 4:29,31 gives an awesome picture of who God is. It says, “if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him” and also, “for the Lord you God is merciful....he will not abandon or destroy you.” God is telling the Israelites that He is not too distant that He wont hear them and that He will have mercy on them because of the covenant he made with Abraham. Moses knows a lot about who God is. He had intimate moments with Him. In Deut 10:10, he convinced God not to pass judgment on the Israelites. Moses' interceding actually changed things and God shows that He listens to us. He is moved by our prayers and our cried. Moses almost goes through all of God's characteristics and tells us all about His nature. It really is like reading the psalms. Though they are spaced out between the pages of the book, this book tells us so much about the God of Israel. A couple of times in chapter 15 God gives Israel a way to protect the poor from extreme poverty. He protects the poor from being abused by the rich and cares for the way people are treated.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      The book of Deuteronomy is another piece of the puzzle to God's redemptive plan for mankind. What happens in this book is the fulfillment of what God originally promised to Abraham. God leads this great nation to the Promised Land. This is what God meant when He told Abraham about having children as numerous as the stars. God is making good on His word. The only thing that we are missing is the crushing of Satan's head. We knew that this comes much later, but everything else has come about. The Israelites just need to cross the Jordan river and conquer the land which God promises that they will do.

Personal Application

      I think what I saw today more than I have before, is that God cares about how society functions. He cares about the family, because the family effects every sphere of society. If the family dynamic of a country is chaotic that will effect every other sphere. He cares about arts and media and he cares how the rich treat the poor. He cares about the details of how a government functions. All of these things can be redeemed and He actually gives us a blueprint of how these things can work well. I'm excited to read Lauren's book about transforming nations and to see the power of the Word of God in the world. It's exciting that God's word can shape a nation and can bless a nation if they follow the principles laid out in it. The bible isn't only for shaping individuals but also for shaping nations. I guess the actual application comes in the desire to see how the bible does this. To see how it transforms entire nations. To study the bible in a way where I am looking for ways that God has already designed that shape nations into places that are stable, that function, and that bring peace to a land. I never really realized the enormous power of this book that we carry.

Numbers

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      The original readers would have been very similar if not the same as those who would have read or heard the other books of the Pentateuch. We know they were the Israelites and they were close to getting into the promised land. God was refining His people to prepare them for this time. They were waiting for God to lead them to this land. Num 13:22 gives us a clue that they still identified with Egypt. It says, “all descendants of Anak-lived. (The ancient town of Hebron was founded seven years before the Egyption city of Zoan)” Because Moses used this as a reference it tells us that they still were familiar with Egypt.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

      Moses has been getting increasingly bold in his leadership. His faith in God has increased and he has no problem trusting that God will come through and continue to be just. Num 16:4-8 shows Moses coming against Korah and his followers and having God choose who He wants to lead the people. Moses was tested by even his brother, but remained faithful and trusting in God. As I read the text and paid attention to the point of view, I saw that he was writing from a leaders point of view. This giving more credit to Moses for having written this book. We see his struggles as the people complained, which is how we see them portrayed most of the time. He continues to intercede for his people as God's anger rages against them. Num 16:23-25 is just one example of Moses being an intermediary for the Israelites. He cares deeply about the people and suffers through a lot as a leader of so many people. Moses never fails to do what the Lord asks of him in this book. The faithfulness of Moses to God is so clear and evident and pleasing to the Lord.

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

      God would not allow people to get too near to His glory. Num 3:38 shows a man dying because he gets to close to the sanctuary. A main theme we see throughout is God's dedication to holiness and making His people a holy people. The tabernacle is one of the main things this book speaks about. The detail and intricate work that it took to make it. The place where God's glory dwells. A sacred place.

      Moses intercedes and this sticks out in this book, because it seems he changes the mind of God a few times. The Israelites complain and complain and complain. Even after just being brought out of harms way by a miracle they complain. God's wonders were never enough to them and they would complain when one thing became difficult. I think their forgetfulness and lack of thanksgiving are the reason for that. They never remember and they don't have faith through their current trials. As Jo said today they had a “murmur cycle.” They complained, God would get angry, there was judgement, Moses intercedes and there is relief. Apart from that cycle the real main theme of this book is refinement of the Israelites. They were a pagan people just like those in Egypt and all over the other lands. God had called them out and was bringing them to Himself. This is not something that would happen overnight and Numbers is part of the process to make them holy. We see this by God's harsh punishments when the people sin. God could not allow sin and though He did show grace, He was firm. Not because He was an angry God, but because He was setting them apart to be a witness to the world.

What is the primary reason this book is written

      The primary reason why this book is written is for God to make His people a holy people. There's not much to it. God's people were no where near holy and God was slowly bringing them out of paganism to holiness. All the laws, all the customs, all the sacrifices were to set apart His people. God wanted to give the Israelites the fear of the Lord. He needed them to fear Him and not to go to any other gods. He was showing that He was their God and He was for them. They didn't need anyone else. He showed just how serious He was about setting them apart. That their sin was a serious matter and He could not allow it to infect their nation, tribes or families. Painfully and slowly God is refining His people.

Summary: The book of Numbers is about God refining His people so that they can reflect His glory.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      We see that God's glory is too great and He appeared not as a person but as a cloud in Num 11:25 and He spoke to Moses. God poured out His Spirit as well. Something we haven't seen too much in the first few books of the bible. But we know that God enters man and gives them the power to do things they could not do on their own (prophesy). In Num 11:25 God hears His people. He hears their cries and He hears their murmuring. Num 14:34 shows me that I don't want to have God as an enemy. His wrath is great and his punishments are firm. God desires to be feared because of His greatness. Not because of His anger, but we must know and understand this about our God. God is so serious about making His people holy, in Num 15:32-36, He kills a man for working on the Sabbath. Another crazy example is Num 16:31-34, when God splits the earth and swallows up the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. God punishes and gets angry with His people in Num 16:46. It took Aaron running out with incense to purify them as he stood “between the dead and the living.” God is King over all the lands and He proves it in Num 21:34-35. Num 23:18-24 is an excellent example of God's character and nature. One portion in verse 19 says, “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mnd.” God takes revenge for people as Num 31:2 shows. He is holy. He is always good on His word.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      I wasn't able to find too much that I could see as a picture or foretelling of God's redemptive plan, but I did think replica of a poisonous snake was interesting. The best insight I can give to that is it represented their sin. The snake in the garden was Satan and Jesus was sin for us. I see this snake as a picture of Jesus being hung on a cross and taking on the sin of the world. Its not a perfect parallel, but it seems odd that they would have chosen a snake instead of anything else. The whole scenario is a little bit odd, but it's also very powerful if that is indeed what was happening. Another passage I wasn't too sure about was Num 24:17-18. Balaam is prophesying and it seems he is speaking about David or Jesus. Perhaps he is speaking about both of them in this verse. Either way it speaks of someone who is part of God's redemptive plan for mankind. Either of David or of Jesus. We know Jesus came through the line of David so if he is prophesying of David then He is still prophesying about God's future plans for Israel.

Personal Application

      Most of what I found for application came from what Jo shared today. He did an amazing job of making the book apply to us. One thing from Numbers he shared that hit me most was “The Build up to Rebellion.” This is something we have not learned yet as people and especially as the church body. I complain in my “tent” all the time. I feel righteous, that I have a right to complain about what is happening. Here in Deut 1:27 Moses makes a point to mention this part about them complaining in their tents. This is where the damage is done. Where things get blown out of proportion, where people lose sight of what matters, where bitterness grows, where facts get twisted, and where lies or exaggerations happen. How true is that. How many times have I been wrong about something after I have been talking with everyone else except the person involved. It amazes me how prideful I can be in these situations. How fearful I become to talk to the person involved, but can easily share about them with everyone else. Though when Moses is sharing he is talking about them doubting God and complaining about God. It relates really well to anyone. How I can doubt other peoples character before I know the whole story. How I can make judgments about people I barely know. How dangerous this can be when we fail to see people the way God sees people. When we forget that God is the God who judges. He didn't create us to be His little judges all over the earth. He commands us to love. Judgment is not love. Yes we can confront people, but we must confront. We must pray and speak in love, we must actually care about the other person. We have to stop just getting everyone in line and getting off of our little soap boxes and remember that we too are sinners. That we too fail everyday. I am so glad that God is gracious and how great is a community that loves even the worst of sinners. That comes around those who are struggling and loves them back to Jesus. That confronts them in love and walks with them back to the right path. I believe we can see this principle as Moses talks about what He wrote in Numbers.

Leviticus

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      The Israelites during the time Leviticus would have been read to them didn't know how to worship God. They knew what nations around them did but this book explains for them how to worship God. They also learn how to approach God. They had never before been in the presence of God like this before and they didn't know how to dwell in His presence. God told them how, who, where to worship. God teaches them how to be set apart from what they knew to be normal. The original readers would have only known the customs of the people around them but Leviticus guides them into a new way of living. To be holy and set apart from everyone around them.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

      We know the author of this book to be Moses. He was excited about all that God was sharing with His people. In Lev 8:5 Moses says, “This is what the Lord has commanded us to do!” Right after he said this he washed Aaron and his sons feet and put an official tunic on Aaron. He got right down to business and it seems to me he was excited about all that God was sharing. Reading over the places where Moses spoke I'm finding that he understood what God was doing. He understood that God was pushing for holiness in Lev 10:3. Lev 16:34 says that He was completely obedient to what God had asked. He also was not in shock when God punished those who did not do what God had commanded.

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

      There are a bunch of repeated ideas in Leviticus. Cleanliness is huge. Both ceremonially clean and unclean. Other things God mentions similar to that were defiled, purify, and holy. Holiness is huge for this book. God was teaching the Israelites how to be holy and how to be set apart. God was teaching them that He is holy and how they can be holy. He was teaching them about purification and atonement. Two repeated ideas in Leviticus. Do not are two words that show up all over as God is teaching His people how to be set apart from the other nations around. He continually tells the Israelites that He is the Lord and the Lord their God. He makes it clear that He is for them and with them. He also makes it clear that if they perform the sacrifices correctly and with the right heart they will be a pleasing aroma to Him. God would be satisfied with their sacrifices as a cover for their sin. It was pleasing to Him when the did what He commanded them to do.

Summary: Leviticus is about God revealing himself and teaching Israel how to worship God.

What is the primary reason this book is written

      The primary reason this book was written was to teach the Israelites how to come to God and how to worship Him. Most of the book is the words of God. He teaches them all that they need to do to meet with Him and make atonement for their sin. The process is intricate and God is very specific in what He asks, but it is all for the Israelites to know how to live with His presence. In the second half of the book God explains about the do's and don'ts of living as His chosen people. He teaches them about holiness and living lives different than what they knew before. The purpose of God being so detailed about all of this is so that they can live with the presence of God in their midst. God made it clear that it was a big deal that He lived among them. By giving such detailed instructions and having such high punishments for disobedience. God wanted to make it clear what He expected of His chosen people now that they were moving towards entering the promised land.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      Leviticus tells us that God is very serious about sin and disobedience. After He kills Aaron's sons Moses says in Lev 10:3, “This is what the Lord meant when he said, I will display my holiness through those who come near me, I will display my glory before all people.” Sadly for Aaron's sons, that meant the penalty of death for God to display His holiness. God distinguishes between what is sacred and what is common in Lev 10:10. God is holy and commands the Israelites to be holy by obeying His commands in Lev 11:44. God is serious about making a distinction between Him and the gods of the land. He wanted to be sure that His name was known to be greater than the gods in the land and didn't want any shame to be brought to His name in Lev 18:21 by the sacrificing of children to Molech. All of chapter 25 shows how God cares for the poor. He gives those who have lost their wealth a way to get it back by instituting the year of Jubilee. It's His way of making life work for the people of Israel so that the poor are not hopeless.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      I found quite a few things that hint at God's redemptive plan. One that I thought was cool that only gives a small picture of what is to come is the scapegoat talked about in Lev 16:22. The sin of the people was transferred to the goat and the goat ran off with it. I thought it somewhat resembled what Christ has done for us. He took on our sin and defeated death and hell. The difference with Jesus is He came back haven fully cleansed us from our sin. I thought it was interested how in Lev 17:11 God says that, “the life of the body is in its blood.” The blood of the animals is what covered sin and the blood of Jesus is what cleansed us from our sin. In Lev 21:17-23 we see that nothing with defect could be offered to God as a sacrifice for sin and Jesus died on the cross as a perfect, sinless man. God always demands a spotless animal to be sacrificed and the atonement for sin took a spotless man to take our sin for us. The first 16 chapters of Leviticus talk about the sacrifice for sin and all that it entailed. Chapters 16-27 show what it means to live a sanctified life. The process of sacrificing sin is a quick thing, but the process of becoming holy to the Lord is a lifetime thing that is only perfected in us once we enter into eternity.

Personal Application

      What I got most out of reading this book and listening to lecture was going through the answer of “Why Sacrifice?” It reveals God's character, it reveals God's detest for sin, it reveals God's desire to see man forgiven, and it reveals God's desire to win our hearts, not just our actions. I wouldn't have got this from this book on my own, but I find it very interesting. I asked that question myself. Why go through all of this? Why have so much sacrifices and procedures? Today I understood much more of the why. God didn't just put this in place to make life hard. He did it to give man a way of meeting with Him, of living with His presence. We sing songs like, “I love I love, I love your presence.” Well the Israelites lived with His presence, but it took a big process of being clean and holy before the Lord so that He could live with them. It just made me think and ask what I am doing to allow the presence of God to live with me. Of course things are different and I have the Holy Spirit in me, but am I living in a way that allows the Holy Spirit to work in me. Am I setting myself apart, am I clean and holy before the Lord. Just because times are different doesn't mean God is different. He still longs to be present where the pursuit of holiness is present. I have to ask myself if I am pursuing holiness or if I'm pursuing being better than the next guy. Am I longing to be set apart or am I okay with just being a little different. The people of Israel had to go to extreme lengths to be set apart and I think God would be please if I at least gave it some thought as to how I was living and how it honors or dishonors Him. I can at least give it a thought and some careful attention to see if God has something in store for us in this book. If God knew that we too would need to know what it meant to be set apart. In a culture where we are all supposed to except one another and be relevant, is God pleased? I guess my personal application is more of some questions to think about. Maybe its time for us as Christians and me as an individual to ask God what it means to be set apart. What His desire is for His people so that He can dwell with us and move in us unhindered.

Job

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      To really understand who the original readers were was difficult with this book, but there are some hints about who the original readers would have been.  A few things I found in the book were the people had a systematic way to view God. They thought if you were good, God would be good to you, and if you were bad, God would curse you. We see Eliphaz with this view in Job 4:2-27 and especially in 4:7 when he says, “When have the upright been destroyed?” We even see Job talk this way out of frustration and anguish in Job 10:13-15. They saw having gray hair and being old a sign of wisdom in Job 15:10. Eliphaz seems to have the most incorrect view of God throughout and again we see him describing God as a system in Job 22:21-30. They seemed to have an “appease the gods” type mentality when dealing with God. Something I think we still have in Christian circles today.  Job doesn't say anything about going to one of the Levites for seeking repentance.  This leads us to believe this may been written before the Law was written.  In Job 2:11 we here of Eliphaz for the first time.  Eliphaz is a name from the line of Edom as written in Gen 36:10.  This means that the readers would have to  have been living after Esau.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

      This was difficult for me to pick up on as we were reading, but looking back after reading the book I can see that it is someone who knew God well. He didn't struggle with writing down the tough questions that the characters bring up. He seemed like someone who really knew God well and someone who had experienced God. Someone confident in what they were saying and in who God is. Not afraid to finish the book without really answering the questions of why, but understood that God is more concerned with us knowing the Who. I don't have any specific places where I found this, but more of a general thought that I came to after reading the entire book.

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

      I'll start with some of the repeated ideas. I didn't really find that they all had to do with the main idea. I saw a lot of negativity and despair from the characters in this book. Mainly with Job as he goes through this grieving process after losing everything, even his health. Elihu in Job 34:5-9 is super critical of Job and is completely negative with all that he says about him. The men talking with Job continue to bring up their made up system of God. That He always punishes sin on this earth and always blesses the righteous on this earth. So how could Job be righteous if he is not being blessed. There is a strong theme of righteousness and wickedness. Sarcasm is huge in this book. At least in this translation. Almost every time someone stops talking, the next guy complains about them like this in Job 18:2, “How long before you stop talking? Speak sense if you want us to answer!” Even God, at the end of the book responds in a sarcastic way explaining how ridiculous Job's complaints against God are. Because, God is in fact, God. That makes everything He does perfect, and He alone is sovereign.

What is the primary reason this book is written

      I think the purpose of this book can be found at the very beginning in Job 1:21 when Job says, “I came naked form my mother's womb, and I will be taken when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord.” Jobs first reaction to his loss was this, and this was the correct response. Later he loses his way, but God brings him back in chapters 38-41. God lays out who He is and why we have no right to question Him. We just must praise His name for He is worthy. Even when we don't know the why, He is still God, He is still just, and He is still in control. This response may not mean much to a non believer who just wants questions answered, but this is God's response to the people in this book, and I think to all people who read its pages.

Summary: God is just and trustworthy even when circumstances are at their worst.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      My favorite thing I saw about God's character is found in Job 2:3. God delights in the righteousness of Job. He is so incredibly proud of him. In Job 1:21 the Lord gives and takes away. Job explains a lot about the greatness of God in Job 9:2-10. There Job says He “spread out the heavens” and “shakes the earth from its place, and its foundations tremble.” There is so much in here that we have to filter using what we already know of God's character. Because Job is responding in grief and anger he says a lot of things with a heart of frustration and doesn't always speak truth about who God is. In Job 10:11-12 Job says that God is the one who formed him by knitting his bones and sinews together. God is described as one who cannot be fully discovered in Job 11:7. “You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer” Job writes in Job 14:5. God is the one who decides how long we spend on this earth, to the very minute. Chapters 26 and 38 give too many examples of God's character and nature to write. The two passages are full of who God is. We see how great and awesome He is, and why we worship Him. God has all authority because of who He is and what He can do. He can do anything He pleases, and He chooses to be patient with man.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      To start off this question I saw in Job 9:2-3 that man unable to be declared innocent before God. The verse doesn't say it, but man needs a savior, a mediator to make him holy before God. It may be a little far fetched, but this story can be related back to the passage in Genesis when God tells Mary that Satan will strike you offspring's heel, but your offspring will crush his head. You could say that Satan struck Job's heel, but in the end Job crushed Satan by humbling himself before God. An amazing passage in Job 9:33-35 Job speaks of Job needing a mediator between him and God. So early on in history and Job already realized his need for a mediator. Someone who would come and rescue him from his sin and fear.

Personal Application

      The biggest thing I came away with as I read this book was the word humility. After all of Job's rantings, and everyone's judgments, God comes in the story and blows everyone away with His greatness. He humbles them all by what He has to say and Job immediately realizes his pride and humbles himself before God. God is God and we are not is what I've taken away from this book. It's hard to be prideful when we compare ourselves to God. When we really sit back and think about who He is, it's humbling. He does everything perfectly and has no flaws. Who are we to criticize Him? Who are we to make jabs at His character or sovereignty? We know God as loving, gracious and kind, but that shouldn't stop us from seeing Him for all of who He is. When we do that, it is a humbling experience. I'm walking away from this book with a new respect for God and His greatness, and His patience. I'm walking away humbled and honored that I am able to serve an awesome God.

Exodus

What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

      We see that the readers of Exodus would have had a history of slavery and oppression. The worst of it came when Pharaoh commanded that the newborn boys should be killed. The continuous commands to wipe out the nations in the promised land and not to mingle with them leads me to believe that the original readers could be easily swayed. That they could easily be influenced to worship other gods or to allow for customs that weren't pleasing to God. Exodus 34:12 is just one example of this command from God.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

      Since we believe that the author is Moses, we get to find out a lot about him. He was not confident in God's calling on his life. He argued against God and was persistent. Moses absolutely didn't want to have to speak for God to Pharaoh. We see Moses change and grow in his confidence as a leader. We know he grew up in Pharaoh's house and had an excellent education. He probably was influenced by the Egyptian mythology of the day. He was faithful to the people of Israel and even pleaded to God for their lives in Ex 32:11-13. Moses had very intimate times with God. The story of the burning bush in chapter 3 and when he meets with God on Mt. Sinai in chapter 19 are times when God meets with Moses one on one.

What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the main idea?

      One of the main themes of Exodus that I feel is above all the rest is the glory and sole worship of God. God says, “I AM WHO I AM” and that His name is to be remembered for all generations in   Ex 3:14,15. The word glory appears many times and we see phrases like “the Lord who brought you out” and “I am the Lord your God” so many times in Exodus. Verses like Ex 9:14 shows God telling the people exactly who He is when He says, “Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth.” God emphasizes and reemphasizes the point that He is their God, He is the only God, and He is all powerful. Other themes that come up in Exodus are the Sabbath day that God wanted His people to take. When He gives them their laws He stresses that they take one day to rest. We see complaining or arguing when Moses pleads his case for being unable to lead the people out from Egypt in Ex 3 and 4. The people of Israel complained to Moses and to God in the wilderness over their circumstances in Ex 14:11, 15:24, and 17:3. Along with the complaining the people never put their trust in God and what He could do. Go continually works miracles for them, but they continue to doubt His ability to rescue them and help them. We hardly see the people of Israel being thankful or worshiping God even though He had done so much for them.

Summary: Exodus is about Israel learning to trust in the Lord, and learning that He is the almighty one, the only one worthy of our praise.

What is the primary reason this book is written

      The character of God is shown throughout the book. From His willingness to rescue Israel from Egypt's oppression in Ex 6:6 to His detailed nature displayed in His careful instructions for the tabernacle Ex 25-27. He is a God who hears in Ex 6:5 and a God who helps in Ex 7:1. Day and night He watches over His people as He did for Israel in Ex 13:21-22 with the pillar of fire by night and cloud by day. He is glorious and jealous for all to know of His glory as seen in Ex 14:17. He speaks to Moses and says, “all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!” God says to Israel that He is a healer in Ex 15:26. God is a jealous God and makes that clear to the Israelites in Ex 20:5. In the next verse God says that He is just waiting to lavish His love on those who obey His commandments. God is a fighter in Ex 14:13 when Moses says, “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

      An obvious thing that we see about God's nature is that He is extremely detailed. The making of the tabernacle and all the laws really portrays God as someone who is concerned about the details. In Ex 6:6 God says that He will rescue them and later on He fulfills that promise. Back on verse to      Ex 6:5 God hears His people's cry. He meets them where they are at and promises rescue to them. In Ex 7:1 and in many other passages God helps Moses. God promises to help Moses with his speech, but Moses doesn't trust God enough and eventually God brings Aaron in the picture. God supernaturally helps those He calls and equips them. He also listens and works with us when we lack faith. Day and night God was with the people of Israel as Ex 13:21-22 explains. Just as He was with them at all times we can be sure that He is with us also. It is His very nature. God is a fighter in Job 14:13. He fights for His people.

What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

      The most obvious example of God's redemptive plan in Exodus is found in the passover lamb.   Ex 12:1-17 tells the story of God saving the firstborn sons of all who spread the blood of a spotless one year old lamb. That spotless lamb is a picture of the spotless lamb named Jesus who would later shed His blood to save all people who believe on Him. We see this theme of the firstborn later in     Ex 13:2 and later in 34:19. As part of His redemptive plan for the world God continually uses the firstborn for sacrifices and blessings. In the New Testament we see God give His only son as a sacrifice. The sacrifices develop into a system. God changes the way He accepts sacrifices. This is all part of His overall plan to one day bring a sacrifice once for all time.

Personal Application

      The thing that stuck out to me most in Exodus was the theme of community and family. As believers we need all of the the parts of the body function well. In Ex 36:5 the people had given “more than enough materials to complete the job.” What a beautiful example of everyone getting involved in the plans of the Lord. So many different people with different skills helped to build the tabernacle. It was amazing to see men of the trade respected and written about in scripture. To me it shows the importance of everyone's skills and passions. God used and recognized ordinary people to do what they skilled at. I just love the sense of community you feel when reading in chapters 35-38. It was a team effort and everyone was glad to give what they could give. I think it's a great example for our churches today. That when everyone gives and everyone contributes the Lord is glorified. God moves in mighty ways because He is not limited to just teachers, preachers, or prophets. He actually sees the importance of carpenters and mechanics. I can be free to do what I love to do because God has given me that passion and wants to use me to further His kingdom.