Chapter 15 - God's Messengers

Chapter 15 - God's Messengers

1 Kings 17-19

2 Kings 2, 4, 6

Hosea 4-5, 8-9, 14

Amos 1, 3-5, 9

Quicky Quiz:
I remember when I was in school how much I hated quizzes, but I knew that material the best in those classes where we had them.  The reason is that quizzes help reinforce what you learned, and also give a good starting point for the next lesson. They set a foundation on which you can build. So let's start with a quiz. Why? Because unless you cement these answers in your brain, you are gonna get quite confused over the next few weeks.

1. How many tribes were in the Northern Kingdom?

2. Jeroboam was the king over ____________.

2. Judah was part of the Northern or Southern Kingdom?

4. Jeroboam/Rehoboam was a grandson of King David.

3. Israel was the name for the Northern or Southern Kingdom?

4. Rehoboam was king over ____________ .

5. _______ built golden calves for the people to worship.

Did you get them all correct? Awesome! I knew you could do it.

Introduction to the Reading:

If you’ve seen the movie Evan Almighty, you know that it's about a modern day Noah. The newly elected Congressman Evan Baxter (Steve Carell) is excited for his new job, but he doesn't realize God has another plan for him: to build an ark. While light on theology, it's definitely full of comedy: animals overtaking congress, Steve Carell growing a beard overnight, and a delivery from 1-800-Go-4-Wood.

While it is humorous to consider what it would be like if you had to build an ark today, it also raised a serious question for me: what would I do if God spoke to me? What would you do? Slap yourself a few times to see if you were dreaming? Quiver in fear? Wonder if someone drugged you? Pass out? All of the above?

Or I guess another question to ask is: When would you start listening? In Evan Almighty, at first Evan blows God off thinking it can't be real. Then, even though he knows it's God, he doesn't fully get that God really wants him to build an ark. Finally, even after he realizes that God is speaking to him and that he is supposed to build an ark, he doesn't follow God's order to build an ark because it doesn't fit into his plans.

In our reading today we see how people reacted when God did speak. So as we read this week, lets ask these two questions: "When God spoke, how did the people respond?" and "Would I have responded the same way?"

Time to Slow it Down - Top of Page 207 "Now they are trying to kill me too."
"In your face prophets of Baal!" Right? What a total mockery Elijah has made of them, hasn't he? He's got to be riding high on emotions - feeling almost invincible, right? Ahh how fickle our emotions can be. Have you felt that way before: everything is going right and yet you feel so down. To borrow the illustration from the old fairy tale: you're sleeping on pillow top mattresses, and focusing on the pea.

Here Elijah is, with God's help having just awed thousands, including the king - having done quite literally a miracle (by the Lord's power of course) - having the backing of the creator and preserver and ruler of the universe - and how does he feel? Answer: depressed and scared. Can you relate?

So what does Elijah need? See if I were God and Elijah was scared of those who were trying to kill him, I would have shown a little muscle, thrown a few lightening bolts, and said to Elijah, "If they come after you, I’ve got your back!"

But what does Elijah really need to know about our God? Read on to see how God wants himself to be known. Does he want to be known as a God of awesome power? Of ultimate justice? Of terrifying wrath?

Top of Page 208
So what did Elijah need to know about God? His LOVE! The Almighty comes to us in gentle whispers! Have you seen pictures with a little baby in the arms of a muscular man? That's how I picture our relationship to God: the almighty holds back his strength for the sake of those he loves. The fire of God consuming an altar didn't give Elijah peace. What Elijah needed to hear was God's promises: you aren't alone...there will be those who will take up the task after you...I will keep my word!

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:
So, let me ask the question again: If God spoke to you, how would you respond? I'm sure after this lesson in HIStory, we're all thinking, "Well I hope I would have believed God and done what he said." I'm pretty sure we all picture ourselves in the Shunammite's house, and not as a prophet of Baal.

In that case, let me ask yet another question: How have you responded since God has spoken to you? Now before you think that you're supposed to be having visions in the middle of the night, that is not what I mean. Did the Shunammite ever talk directly with God? No! She spoke with Elisha. But that doesn't mean that God didn't speak his word to her. He sent the prophet to speak his word on his behalf.

The Lord has given us his Word as well. Pastors and teachers explain why we can trsut God’s Word.  They might not have received visions from God, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t prophets.  A prophet is someone who speaks on God’s behalf.  Every week they share God’s Word with us.  They are God’s representatives to speak his word publicly. 

So let me ask one more time: Since God has spoken to you, how have you responded?

Making it My Own:

In the movie Evan Almighty, the hardest challenge for Evan Baxter isn't building the ark. The elephants carry the logs. The monkeys fetch him nails. God delivers the wood. While it takes time, God sees to it that Evan can finish the ark in time.

What is the hardest challenge for Evan? The hardest challenge is convincing those around him that God is actually speaking to him. At first even he is quite skeptical. Then he has to tell his wife, who thinks he has lost it. Finally, when asked publicly who told him to build the ark, he squeaks out sheepishly, "God."

One of the hardest things for a Christian to do is to tell someone that they are worshiping a false God. In our nation, we are free to worship whomever we choose, but in our culture, we are looked down upon if we tell anyone that what they believe is wrong. Is that much different than Elijah on Mount Carmel? While there was the worship of Baal, the Asherahs, Molech, and countless other gods in Israel, the one thing that could get you killed was saying that there was only one true God. I can't help but connect the parallels to today. I can understand why Elijah was scared!

So what does God want us to do? What did he want Elijah to do? ... Just remember, the God who speaks in whispers has got your back!

Hymn:

God has spoken by His prophets,
Spoken His unchanging Word,
Each from age to age proclaiming
God, the one, the righteous Lord.
Mid the world’s despair and turmoil,
One firm anchor holding fast;
God is King, His throne eternal,
God the first, and God the last.

God has spoken by Christ Jesus,
Christ, the everlasting Son,
Brightness of the Father’s glory,
With the Father ever one;
Spoken by the Word incarnate,
God of God, ere time began,
Light of light, to earth descending,
Man, revealing God to man.

God yet speaks by His own Spirit
Speaking to the hearts of men,
In the age-long Word expounding
God’s own message, now as then;
Through the rise and fall of nations
One sure faith yet standing fast,
God is King, His Word unchanging,
God the first, and God the last.

For further Study:
To see how relevant the message of Amos is to our society today check out this brief Bible study called:

 Is_Prosperity_a_Problem?

Likewise here's a link to a an excellent Bible study on the book of Hosea called How Forgiving Is God?

Chapter 14 - A Kingdom Torn in Two

1 Kings 12-16
Introduction to the Reading: 

I'm sure you have all had to make some tough decisions: what degree to pursue, what job to take, where to live, whether to stay or breakup with that special someone...or get married. Decisions can be even tougher when we realize the impact that they may have on others. Today we hear about some of the decisions that the leaders of God's special nation had to make, how they made those decisions, and God's opinion of their choice. Let's analyze some of those decisions and see if we can't learn from them!

Time to Slow it Down - Page 195:

• What decision did Rehoboam have to make?
• On what did he base his decision?
• Would you have made the same decision if you were in his shoes?
• Was his decision a God pleasing decision (Notice that this is a different question than the one above!)

Top of Page 196:

• What decision does Rehoboam face this time?
• In this instance, what does he base his decision on?
• What do you think his advisers had been telling him to do? What do you think he wanted to do?

Top of Page 197:

• Jeroboam, king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, seeks advice because of what problem?
• What decision does he make? Politically was it a wise decision?
• What is God's verdict of the decision? Why?

Bottom of Page 198:

• What were the consequences for Jeroboam and his family because of his decisions?
• What were the consequences for the people of Israel?

Top of Page 201:

• Do you think Asa gained or lost political popularity because of his reforms? What family troubles do you think resulted when he deposed Maakah?
• Was Asa's life easy or tough because of his decision to follow the Lord as leader?
• Why do you think the book of Kings doesn't record Asa's "achievements, all he did and the cities he built?"

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:
We don't know who the author of the Book of Kings is. We don't know when it was written. The book never states its purpose either. But perhaps we can learn something from what isn't said. What do I mean by that? Well let's take a look at the king of Israel named Omri. Do you remember reading about him? Probably not because he's just briefly mentioned in the commentary in our reading. From a political historian's perspective, however, Omri would have been a world figure. He established a dynasty, made Samaria the capital city of Israel, According to archaeology, he subjugated the Moabites. Even long after his death, Assyrian records refer to him and his reign. Why does our book just mention him in passing? Well because that's what the Scriptures do. In fact, the Bible only spends six verses on his reign and sums it up by saying that he, "did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him" (16:25). See, the Scriptures aren't focused on the political achievements of these leaders, their administrative decisions and accomplishments, or their worldly fame and reputation. After reading today, what determined if a king was successful or not? It was whether they followed the Lord or not!

Making it My Own:
So what makes you successful? Have you made the right decisions in life? Have you chosen the right career, right investments, right schools for your kids? How would the world rate your decisions? What do your friends or family think of your accomplishments? How do you analyze your life? It makes us nervous making decisions because we know we haven't always made the right decisions in the past. As we look back, we sometimes are saddened by our decisions. Yet you know what I find comforting, even in these dark days of the Book of Kings? "Nevertheless, for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong" (Page 199). In spite of all the bad decisions - no I should say terrible decisions we have read about, God still manages to make sure the Upper Story is still playing out. What do I mean? In spite of the fact that things are falling to pieces, God's plan to bring a Savior through David's descendants is still as strong as ever. Can our failures cause God's promises to fail? Never! When you look back on your life and think, "What if..." As you analyze all the different ways your life could have played out, you may realize that life could have been very different, but the end result is always the same: God sticks with me; God loves me.

Prayer/Hymn:
1789-1855 Text by Josiah Conrad

From:  THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.32

1. Lord, 'tis not that I did choose Thee;

That, I know, could never be;

For this heart would still refuse Thee

Had Thy grace not chosen me.

Thou hast from the sin that stained me

Washed and cleansed and set me free

And unto this end ordained me,

That I ever live to Thee.

2. 'Twas Thy grace in Christ that called me,

Taught my darkened heart and mind;

Else the world had yet enthralled me,

To Thy heavenly glories blind.

Now my heart owns none above Thee;

For Thy grace alone I thirst,

Knowing well that, if I love Thee,

Thou, O Lord, didst love me first.

Chapter 13 - The King Who Had It All

1 Kings 1-8, 10-11
2 Chronicles 5-7
Proverbs 1-3, 6, 20-21

Introduction to the Reading: When you get to announce to someone that you’ve received a promotion, they may likely ask you, “Are you getting a decent raise?... That’s good!”  But you have to wonder why we always assume that having a raise is a good thing.  It’s not bad to have a raise.  Nor would any of us ask our employer to pay us less.  But why is it pretty much always assumed that a raise is a good thing?

Today we learn about Solomon - arguably the wealthiest person ever. But what made him truly wealthy? What impact did earthly wealth have on him? Solomon is a fascinating case study in what happens when one person "has it all." Of course, just like when you see the billboards with the lottery jackpots along the freeway, you can't help but ask yourself, "What would I do if I were in his shoes?"

Time to Slow it Down - Middle of Page 183
Even today, some 3000 years later, it is still recognized that  Solomon's greatest wealth - what truly made him wealthy beyond just physical riches - is that he was a man full of wisdom and knowledge.

There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge, though. You can be smart, as Solomon was about the animals and birds, reptiles and fish (p.179), and yet not have "street smarts." Then there is wisdom which has been defined as "Knowledge applied." Solomon had both, as it evident in his proverbs. They aren't just facts about the world, but how we are to live and interact with the world. Take a moment and pick three proverbs that you like the most. Then, more importantly, take a minute or two to discuss or think about how they apply to your life....

Now that you've reviewed some of the proverbs, I have one more question: what additional characteristic of his wisdom made it stand out from that of others? I'd say it was the source of his wisdom! He even acknowledges it, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." (p. 179). This wasn't just any knowledge, but knowledge applied - and knowledge from God. How do we get such knowledge? If you've been reading The Story with us, you've been looking right at it: God's word, of course! "For the LORD gives wisdom: from his mouth come knowledge and understanding" (p. 179).

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:
"Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that..." 1 Kings 3:3

For a while everything went well. If anyone could be said to "have it all" it was Solomon. Not only that...but he used that wealth and prestige to bring glory to God. In one of his proverbs, Solomon wrote, "Honor the Lord with your wealth" (p. 180), and that is exactly what he did. The temple he built was an architectural wonder of the world. People came to see it just because it was so magnificent. While they visited, though, they got to hear for whom it was built. Some may wonder why put so much money into building a church. "It's just a building," they say, "Why not use that money instead to do evangelism." Fair enough, but sometimes people come to see the buildings, and in the process hear the story.

In addition, Solomon's wisdom brought attention to the Lord. Hiram, king of Lebanon, said, "Praise be to the LORD today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation" (p. 184). The queen of Sheba came to see for herself about what she had heard and said, "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true...Praise be to the LORD your God!" (p. 190) What a wonderful example for us! When we are blessed...when we get a raise, promotion, an award, recognition...whenever we might consider taking praise...may we direct the praise where it is due. Jerusalem under Solomon's rule was truly a light on a hill: like a lighthouse guiding the way home, all who heard about what was happening there were guided to the Lord.

"Except that..." 
And then we hear those words. You can't help but sigh and shake your head. "He had it all!" you feel like screaming. While outwardly things looked magnificent, inwardly Solomon's faith life was in shambles. The physical structures may have been sound, but his faith was on shaky ground. No longer was he, "Fearing, loving, and trusting in God above all things" as Luther explains the First Commandment. Jesus warned that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

The problem is, who is a rich man? Am I rich with what I'm making now? How about next year, when I get a 3 percent raise at work? How about the year after that when I get a 5% raise? Or the year after that when I get a 2% raise?  Maybe you've heard the illustration of the frog in the pot. If you drop a frog in hot water, it will hop right out. If you put a frog in cold water, and slowly warm the kettle...it will relax in there until it's boiled. We don't notice it, but when does a gift from God turn into a turning up the heat on the stove? When do we forget that this is all from God's hand, and start to trust in our wages and forget the giver? Can you name some other things in life that also "raise the temperature" so to speak? You see, I think the small changes - the small increases in wealth or prestige or fame - are almost more of a temptation because you don't notice them as much. There are more times along the line in which you're tempted to think, "Yeah, the work of my hand has done this." There are more chances for the blessings themselves to lure us away from the Lord. King Solomon's many wives led him to worship other gods - false gods. What has lured you away from the Lord this last week?

But as Solomon's father David learned, the Lord does not forsake us. He wants to have a relationship with us. He wants us to repent, to turn to him, and to trust in his love and forgiveness. We may not have a church as glorious as Solomon's temple, but when it comes down to it, God has chosen an even greater temple. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:16, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" God wants to live in you! He has washed you in his blood and made you a fitting home for his Holy Spirit. He doesn't want to be found hidden in a cloud, he wants to be revealed in you. When people see you, he wants them to learn about him. And when this world is destroyed, he wants to live with us forever. "And I heard a loud voice from the throne say, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' (Rev. 21:3-4)"  Then we can truly say, "We've go it all!"


Prayer/Hymn:
One thing's needful; Lord, this treasure
Teach me highly to regard.
All else, though it first give pleasure,
Is a yoke that presses hard.
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
No true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
This one thing is needful; all others are vain -
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.

Wisdom's highest, noblest treasure,
Jesus, can be found in you.
Let me find in you my pleasure;
Make my will and actions true,
Humility there and simplicity reigning,
In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training.
If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine,
The blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine.

For those who like more:

• Read Luke 10:38-42. What distracts you, even though well intentioned, from the one thing that is truly needful?
• A fly through of one artist's concept of Solomon's temple: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFnWTz-7I0E

Chapter 12 - The Trials of a King

2 Samuel 11-12, 18-19

1 Chronicles 22, 29

This time let's hear your thoughts.  Part of good Bible Study is asking good questions.  Here are some good ones to consider.  Bring your responses to class on Sunday:

What is God telling me?

What questions come to mind as I read this section?  What would I like to know more about?

How did the characters in this lesson feel? What questions did they have?

How would I tell this story to my children in my own words?

Who is the author of this book of the Bible? What was his purpose?  Who was the audience?  When did he write? What were his main points?

What lesson was the author hoping his original audience would learn by recording these events?

How does this reading connect with the upper story - HIStory - the story of salvation?

What does this tell me about God?  What characteristics of God do I learn more about?

In this reading, how does God get the glory?

Is there any reference to this in the catechism?  Are there any doctrinal truths that I learn here?

What other portions of Scripture does this remind me of?

How am I confronted with my sin?  Of what fault am I convicted and condemned?

How am I humbled by this lesson?

Where does God show me his love? Where does he give his promise and show his forgiveness? HOw am I comforted and encouraged?

What does this reading lead me to give thanks for?

What does this reading direct me to do?

How does this apply to my family? Our congregation? Our soceity?

What does this portion of Scripture teach me to pray for?

Does this portion of Scripture remind me of any hymns or other songs?

Who do I know that really could benefit from hearing this?

Chapter 11 - From Shepherd to King

1 Samuel 16-18, 24, 31,

2 Samuel 6, 22

1 Chronicles 17

Psalm 59

Introduction to the Reading:

This week we watch as David grows up. Like Saul, we don't hear much about his family background. What matters is that the Lord chooses him. And so we first hear about how the Lord sends Samuel to anoint David as the next king of Israel. However, it will be a long time before he is actually king. That doesn't mean they weren't important times for David. In fact, many of the most memorable stories from David's life occur before he is king. Most importantly, in each of the lessons we see how the Lord was with him and working through him.

If you had to pick four or five stories from when you were growing up that were pivotal moments or summed up a period from your youth, what would they be? What stories would you want to tell your grand-kids if they came over for the weekend and you only had a few hours with them? Now in each of the stories, how would you explain the Lord's roll at that point in your life? Let's read and see how the Lord was integral in the maturing David's young life...

Time to Slow it Down - Pages 158 "But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."

Last week our reading ended with the Lord's words to Saul that the Lord had sought a "man after his own heart" to appoint as ruler of his people. While the people looked for a king that had all the looks of king, the Lord looked where? "At the heart" (p. 145). What do you look for in people? Do you like to follow sports figures with the best throwing percentage? Or celebrities with the best looks? Or politicians with the most popularity? Or, on the other hand, do you vote for those leaders that share Biblical values or follow social figures who use their fame to promote Christ?

While we can't see into David's heart, we can see the fruits of his faith - how he made his faith visible in his life. The first real actions of David that are recorded show how strong his faith is. While everyone else was terrified because they were looking at the physical state of things, David was confident because he was looking to the Lord. But not only did he trust the Lord, he also gave God the credit, "The battle is the Lord's!" (p. 149)

What would you say is worse: not trusting the Lord, or trusting him and not giving him the credit? I guess it's a bit of a silly question, because hopefully we don't fall into either trap. But how often don't we lose sight of who is really in charge? I'll admit, it's all too easy to lose focus. When there is some success with parenting at home or with ministry at Hope it’s easy to say, “Well, we did this and that…” as if that was what gained the success.  There I am forgetting to give credit where it is due.  Then, all of a sudden I realize that I’m neglecting something else big in my life. 

One minute too proud, the next too scared - but the problem was the same! On the other hand, what made David different? I'd summarize it with one word: humility. In the midst of battle, David knew who had what it took to win: the Lord. And when in victory, David knew who deserved the glory: the Lord. Remember how David was the celebrity - parades in his honor, people flocking to see him come back from battle, news about his conquests on everyone's tongues. Yet how did David act? Well not the way that his wife wanted him too! She knew how celebrities should act: they should wear the fancy clothes, work the crowds and the media, walk the red carpet and milk it for all it's worth. What was David doing? Well in her mind, he was acting like a fool. He wore simple clothes and humbled himself before the ark of the Lord. David didn't care, "I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes...I will celebrate before the Lord" (p. 158).

What was this valiant warrior afraid of? "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?" (p. 157). David realized that in spite of his high position, he wasn't worthy of the Lord's presence. He was a sinful human. He knew that he wasn't even worthy to be in the presence of the ark of the Lord, the symbol of God's presence among his people. 

Yet did you see God's grace again and again through this chapter? In spite of the fact that David wasn't worthy to come to the Lord, the Lord came to him, chose him, used him, "I took you..." (p. 159) the Lord said through Nathan the prophet. Saul recognized that the Lord was with David, "Go, and the Lord be with you" (p. 149). What made David special wasn't David, it was the Spirit of the Lord that was in him.

What makes you fit to face the battles that you will encounter this week? What makes you special in the eyes of those around you? What gives you beauty or fame or respect? May we always admit like David, "You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely" (p. 152).

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:

When David came home from his work of fighting, he realized that what he really needed was a house. Not a house for himself, he already had that. In fact he had a very nice house - real hardwood floors made of cedar! No, what David wanted was a house for the Lord. While we often put more thought and money and energy into our own homes, once again we see David's faith shining through.

But the Lord wouldn't let David build the temple. The giving would go in the opposite direction: the Lord would give David a house. This wouldn't be a physical house of course. No, the Lord would give David a household of kings. David's family would rule on the throne of Israel for generations to come.

Yet, as you read those words, do you get the sense that the Lord is talking about something bigger than just a physical kingdom? I hope you do. Once again we see the connection between the lower story and the upper story. David was worried about a physical kingdom, the Lord was working on a spiritual kingdom. The Lord promises to David a king who would sit on the throne forever (And notice how many times he repeats that word "forever."). This son of David, the Lord says, would be, "My son." How could this eternal king be both David's son and God's son? I think by now you are putting the pieces together.

While David's thoughts are on earthly houses, the Lord is building a spiritual house. David wanted a place where people could come to worship the Lord. The Lord was promising to David that through his descendants the God-man Jesus would come who would conquer our greatest enemies of sin, death, and the Devil so that we could live in the kingdom of heaven forever. In that kingdom, Jesus will sit on his throne as King of the Universe forever, and we will have an eternal home.

Hymn of Praise:

David was a great warrior, but he also was known for his songs. At least 75 of the 150 Psalms were written by David. David loved music, and he loved giving God glory through music. We read one of David's psalms in our reading today. We too can give God glory through our songs. In fact, some of our hymns are based on the Psalms of David. One of Luther's most popular hymns is based on Psalm 46 and gives glory to God for being our fortress:

A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need that has us now overtaken.
The old evil foe now means deadly woe; deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight; on Earth is not his equal.

With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One, whom God Himself elected.
You ask, who is this? Jesus Christ it is.
Of Sabbath Lord, and there’s none other God;
He holds the field forever.

Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us.
We tremble not, we fear no ill, they shall not overpower us.
This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none, he’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.

The Word they still shall let remain nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain with His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife,
Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won;
The Kingdom's ours forever!

For those who like more:

• How much did David know about his Redeemer-son? Read a Forward in Christ article about David's faith in the coming Messiah.
• Whose son is the Christ? A devotion on Matthew 22:41-46.

Chapter 10 - Standing Tall and Falling Hard

1 Samuel 1-4, 8-13, 15

Introduction to the Reading: 

When I was in college I was dog-sitting one weekend for one of our local pastors.  His dog, Winston, was the laziest dog I’ve ever seen.  I would throw the ball and he would sit in the recliner and watch the ball roll across the floor and wait for me to go get it and try again.  The only thing that got him to move was a bacon treat!  Have you ever felt that way in a conversation?

You are probably wondering where I'm going with this. You see, when I was in college my professor for interpersonal communications had us play catch. The deal was that we couldn't speak unless we had the ball, and we couldn't throw the ball to anyone unless we had summarized what they had said to us and asked them a question first or said something that gave them something to respond to. It really visualized for us how a good conversation works.

It's amazing how terrible we can be at communicating when we argue though. Have you gotten in an argument with a spouse, parent, or friend? Pay attention how that communication works. I find it fascinating how people argue on television - they do such a good job. For the most part, characters on television shows take turns speaking. If they didn't, we as the viewers would go crazy trying to listen to both sides of the argument. Yet when we argue in real life, we tend to speak over one another and don't really listen to what the other person has to say. If we were really concerned about resolving the issue we would listen first - and I mean listen to the point of being able to put in our own words what the other person had said - and then respond.

Which finally brings me to our reading today.... When you first read 1 & 2 Samuel (which are actually one book split in two by translators), it seems like the main point of the book is the history of the first two kings of Israel. But what's interesting is that we don't hear about Saul's parents or David's birth. Instead the book of Samuel introduces us first and foremost to Samuel. Samuel was born during the period when the judges ruled Israel. In fact, both Samuel and Eli are referred to as judges themselves. Most likely Eli was priest and judge during the reigns of Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon, and Samson. Remember that the period of the judges was the days in which, "Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit" (Judges 21:25).

The name Samuel means "heard of God." As we will read, we'll hear how God heard Hannah's prayer and gave her a son, which is why she called him Samuel. As we read today, beyond just paying attention to the history, let's pay attention to who is asking God for what, how God responded, and how the people reacted to God's response. In other words, beyond just the historical facts, let's pay attention to the communication between God and his people that's also recorded in the book of Samuel.

Time to Slow it Down 

• Bottom of p. 131 -What did Hannah ask for? How did the Lord respond? When the Lord answered Hannah's prayer, how did Hannah react? How would you rate the communication between Hannah and the Lord?
• First Paragraph of p. 133 - When the Lord spoke to Samuel, how did he respond? Would you say that Samuel was able to summarize the Lord's words truthfully or did he listen half-heartedly and only speak what he thought would make people happy? On the other hand, when the Lord's message reached Eli, how did he respond? Would you say that his response was genuine repentance or a half-hearted, "Well if that's the way it's gotta be, then that's the way it's gotta be?" Between Samuel and Eli, who was going beyond just listening and actually reacting appropriately to the Lord's words?
• Middle of p. 136 - What did the people of Israel ask for? How did the Lord respond? Although the Lord said he would give them what they asked for, how did the people react to the warning that was included?
• Middle of p. 142 - What did Saul want from the Lord? Instead of listening to the Lord's response through the prophet Samuel, Saul took things into his own hands - he thought that he had to earn the Lord's favor rather than trusting the Lord's word. What was the result?

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:

So was it wrong for the people to ask for a king? The Lord gave them a king, right? And you remember how terrible things were during the period of the judges, right? Having a king wasn't bad in and of itself. The problem really was what role the king would serve. Now you are saying, "What does he mean by that? A king is a king!" What I mean is this: who was going to be the ultimate ruler of Israel and who was the real leader of the people? Remember where the book of Samuel starts? With Samuel - the Lord's prophet! The Lord wasn't opposed to a king, as long as the king subjected himself to the will and word of the Lord. The Lord, through Samuel, chose who would be king. The king, then, was supposed to listen to the Lord's words and follow his commands. The king's sword was only as powerful as the sword of the Spirit. What upset the Lord is when the people rejected him as the ultimate ruler. They followed the king, but not necessarily the Lord who gave the king power. They listened to the king, but not necessarily the Lord's words through the prophet. The Lord was even with Saul, that is until Saul stopped listening to the commands of the Lord. 

Making it My Own:
How good is your communication with God? How often do you ask something from the Lord, but not necessarily pay attention to his response? For instance, say that you pray fervently to the Lord for a spouse and he blesses you with one.  Everyone’s response is “congratulations” and rightfully so – it’s a blessing from the Lord.  But then again, wasn’t a king a blessing from the Lord as well.  Then, once you are married, perhaps you start to see that just being married didn’t solve all the single-person problems that you thought it would.  Then, God leads you to see that whether you are married or not, you must first seek him.  Even more than seeking his blessings, we need to be seeking him.  When we ask for something from the Lord, we have to pay attention to his WHOLE answer. We are tempted to get distracted by the gifts and ignore the directions that come with those gifts.

Luther, as he explains the Lord's prayer in his Small Catechism, writes, "’Our Father who art in heaven.' Here God tenderly invites us to believe that he is our true Father, and that we are his true children, so that we can ask him confidently with all assurance, as dear children ask their dear father.'" Usually through the first line of the Lord's prayer I'm still pretty focused. But I'll admit that a good portion of the time I'm already off in my own little world by the time I get to the Third Petition "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Luther explains the petition this way, "The good and gracious will of God is certainly done without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it might be done among us also." God's will is certainly done! Who ruled Israel? Well Saul thought he did, but God ultimately decided who would be king, which battles would be won or lost, and who would get the glory. What the Lord asked was that the people followed his will for their lives. The Lord's will was to be done!

The Lord invites us to pray with the full confidence that he is listening, but he also expects us to listen to his response - to listen to his whole response. Once we've prayed to our heavenly Father, we should then follow his will for our lives. I don't know how many times I've asked my wife something, and then responded with, "What did you say?" right after she answered me. I'm terrible like that: I ask a question, but then only hear the part I really want to hear and not the whole answer. God wants us to communicate with him, which means not only throwing the ball in prayer, but also being ready to listen when he is the one speaking.

What do you want from the Lord? Is the request in keeping with the Lord's will? Then ask for it! What warnings may the Lord also give with that request? Also pray that the Lord may keep you focused on his will if he gives you what you asked for. What blessing would you like to ask for your family? For our congregation? For our society? Now what direction does the Lord give us in regard to those requests? Just because we are around God's word, we have to be careful to listen to his word. Hophni and Phinehas were priests in the Lord's house, and yet they failed to listen to God's commands for their lives.

The good news is that the Lord won't forsake his people. Even though we have failed to keep his commands and have done much evil, "For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own" (p. 141).  We follow the Lord's commands, once again, not out of fear. We follow the Lord's commands because he gives them to us to bless us. He wants us to use the things he gives and the prayers he answers - he wants us to use them according to his will so that they can be the blessings he intends. He gives us directions with his gifts because he loves us.

Prayer/Hymn:
Speak, O Savior I am list'ning,
As a servant to his lord.
Let me show respect and honor
To your holy, precious Word,
That each day, my whole life through,
I may serve and follow you.
Let your Word e'er be my pleasure
And my heart's most precious treasure.

As I pray, dear Jesus, hear me;
Let your words in me take root.
May your Spirit e'er be near me
That I bear abundant fruit.
May I daily sing your praise,
From my heart glad anthems raise.
Till my highest praise is given
In the endless joy of heaven.


For those who like more:


Read James 1:19-25

• What practical advice does James give on communication skills?
• What attitude does the Lord warn against?
• What advice have you heard from God's word this week that you want to hang on to, not just forget about?
• What portion of God's word would you like to look intently into? Read it and then write down how you will apply it in your life. Make a plan of action.

Chapter 9 - The Faith of a Foreign Woman

Ruth 1-4

Introduction to the Reading: Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit – Perhaps someday it will be pleasant to have remembered even these things” – Virgil’s Aeneid.  Do you remember a time from your past that was just miserable, but now you are able to laugh about it?  I remember coming back from a mission trip in Canada.  The trip was great, but I was exhausted.  My grandmother had passed away that spring so we were cleaning out her home and it was getting late. Then, on my way home I crashed into a 1994 Geo Tracker Convertible.  The poor 16 year old girl had just been in an accident that was her fault 2 weeks earlier. She wasn’t hurt, but she was so scared to tell her parents. It turned out, part of the reason I was so exhausted was because I had mono.  I shouldn’t have even been driving.  Now, I can look back on all that and it’s not so terrible.  It was one of those days.  I can even joke about it now.

Today we will read about a woman whose life was "bitter." She had suffered in many different ways: she had endured a famine, lived in a foreign land, lost her husband, and even saw her only two sons die. Nonetheless, in the end, it is a joyful, happy story. It is a love story - a story of love between a couple, love between in-laws, and if you notice - love from the Lord.

Before You Read - Background of the Book of Ruth: The story of Ruth stands in stark contrast to the book of Judges, even though the events occur during the same period. You may think of it as a diamond in the rough: a shining ray of hope during a very dark period for the Israelites. We see love and faithfulness between individuals. More than that, while the Israelites are turning away from the Lord, we see an unbeliever coming to faith in the Lord.

  

Interesting Tidbit: The book of Ruth is traditionally read by the Jews on Pentecost. You may wonder why because we think of Pentecost as the festival of the Holy Spirit. But do you remember why the disciples were gathered together in the first place? Pentecost is a harvest festival. They were having what amounts to the Jewish version of our Thanksgiving dinner. Ruth had something more than just food to be thankful for at the harvest, and so we too are reminded that the Lord has richly blessed us as well.

Time to Slow it Down - Bottom of Pages 122 "Where you go, I will go..." Things weren't going well, were they? Naomi had left home with her husband because of a famine. Now, not only was he dead, but her two sons as well. As a woman, Naomi (whose name actually means "pleasant.") had a problem: she had no way to support herself. On top of it, as a foreigner in Moab she wouldn't get much help from anyone, and the only two individuals who she was close to, her daughters-in-law, had lost their husbands and were essentially in the same boat.

On top of the physical difficulties, we also notice a spiritual problem. Like many of the Israelites during the period of the judges, Elimelek had apparently turned to foreign, pagan nations for help rather than turning to the Lord. Then his sons married the "wrong type of women" for a faithful Israelite - they married Moabites. The Lord said his people were not to intermarry with the pagan nations around them. In fact, do you remember how the Lord sent a plague on the Israelites for having sex with the Moabite women? (p. 82-83; Numbers 25; cf. also Nehemiah 13:23) In many ways, the story of Ruth starts out at a point where "everything is going wrong."

But in the words of Ruth, we see a glimmer of hope. While the book of Judges was a downward cycle, a cycle that keeps repeating, in Ruth the cycle is broken. Ruth takes another path - not away from the Lord but toward the Lord's people. At this point, where is her faith at? I'm really not sure. Does she believe in the Lord or is she just that dedicated to Naomi? Either way, let’s see how following the Lord brought blessings to Ruth…and us.

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder: Ruth chose a difficult path, at least from a lower level perspective. As a widow life was pretty difficult to begin with. I’m sure she was worried how she would provide for herself, nevertheless the mother-in-law she had committed to help. Now throw on top of that a move to a foreign, well actually enemy land. Can you imagine what it would have been like for her to hang out by the harvesters and what they would have thought? It would be like a woman in a burka hanging out by the combines in rural Wisconsin. Do you think the rumors might have begun to fly? And just to make things even more difficult, the Jewish customs and beliefs were still probably a bit foreign to her. I’m sure her parents would have taught her as a kid to worship the Moabite god Chemosh. Ruth was in a very awkward, very stressful place in life.

Yet notice how the Lord blesses her & Naomi. He provided someone to look after their physical needs by giving them food and eventually buying back the family property. He gave her a husband who was loving and respectful. He took care of the family name and inheritance. From a lower level perspective, Ruth and Naomi had much to be thankful for.

But remember how we also need to pay attention to the upper story as well? Maybe as you read parts of the book of Judges you wonder why the Israelites were commanded to fight the Moabites and other pagan nations. If you remember, we discussed a couple of times over the last few weeks how the Lord used the Israelites to bring judgment on the unbelief and wickedness of the Canaanite nations that had occupied the land. But then you might wonder, “What if they became believers?”

The book of Ruth is a reminder that the love of God extends not only to those who are down-and-out or those who can’t take care of themselves. We are reminded that God’s love is for ALL people. In Deuteronomy, as Moses repeats God’s commands to the Israelites before they enter the promised land, he reminds them, “[The Lord] executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing” (10:18). How many of those categories does Ruth fall into? All of them! God’s love is for all people – rich and poor, male and female, foreigner and stranger.

God’s love is for us! Did you notice it in our lesson how this story ties directly in to the story of salvation – into your story? Your Savior, Jesus, was a descendant of Ruth! Her son was the great-grandfather of King David, who would become the king of Israel and great-great-great…grandfather of Jesus – the one who paid the price of death to buy you back, to redeem you from the punishment for sin. (cf. Matthew 4)

The story of Ruth is the story of a faithful Moabite during a period of Israelite unfaithfulness. From a lower story perspective it is the story of God’s faithfulness to look after our needs. But more than either of those, from an upper story perspective it’s the story of God looking after our greatest need: a redeemer from sin.

Making it My Own – Questions to ask:

• Who do you know whose life is “bitter?”
• Who do you know that might feel like an outsider?
• Who do you know who may need physical food or care?
• Who do you know who needs spiritual care?
• Who do you know needs to hear the story of Ruth?
• Will you be like Boaz and show them love? How?

Prayer (A Hymn of Thanksgiving):

(Luther reminds us what we mean when we pray “Give us today our daily bread.” He writes in his Small Catechism, “God surely gives daily bread without our asking, even to all the wicked, but we pray in this petition that he would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. What, then, is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that we need for our bodily welfare, such as food and drink, clothing and shoes, house and home, land and cattle, money and goods, a godly spouse, godly children, godly workers, godly and faithful leaders, good government, good weather, peace and order, health, a good name, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.”)

We praise you, O God, our Redeemer, Creator,
In grateful devotion our tribute we bring;
We lay it before you, we kneel and adore you,
We bless your holy Name, glad praises we sing.

We worship you, God of our fathers, we bless you;
Through life’s storm and tempest our guide you have been;
When perils overtake us, you will not forsake us,
And with your help, O Lord, our battles we win.

With voices united our praises we offer,
To you, great Jehovah, glad anthems we raise.
Your strong arm will guide us, our God is beside us,
To you, our great Redeemer, forever be praise.

For those who like more:

• Forward in Christ article "Is He 'The One'?" - Mom gives advice on what to look for when searching for Mr. Right.
• A devotion on what a redeemer was in the Old Testament, and how Christ serves as our Redeemer? http://www.wels.net/spiritual-help/daily-devotion/2010-09/ruth-217-20-september-2-2010

Chapter 8 - A Few Good Men... And Women

Judges 2-4, 6-8, 13-16

Introduction to the Reading and the Book of Judges: Today we are going to read from the book of Judges. Judges covers a time frame of 500 years in about 15,000 words. In addition, The Story abbreviates those 500 years down into 17 pages. What we have in the book of Judges is simply a taste of the period - anecdotal stories of the events and leaders of the nation of Israel. I think this is important to understand because it gives an insight into the book's purpose. The book of Judges isn't meant to give us a detailed rundown of every leader or newspaper headline from the period. The book of Judges wasn't written so that we could memorize the list of Israel's leaders like children learn the list of America's presidents in school. Like every history book, the author's bias and viewpoint of history shows through. The book of Judges is written by the author of HIStory - the LORD - to teach us important lessons - not just about HIStory, but also lessons to be applied to our lives.

The outline of the book, and for that matter the underlying problem, is clearly stated in the introduction to the book of Judges. There is a reoccurring cycle or pattern that the nation of Israel finds itself falling into again and again. Read the first two pages (pp. 103-104) and try to fill in the outline below describing the cycle. Once you've filled in the outline, continue reading the next paragraph.

A)
B)
C) Cry to the Lord for Help
D)
E)
Repeat

So what did you write down? This is how I outline it: A is for apostasy - the people forget the Lord and disobey his commands. B is for battles - the Lord sends enemies to fight the Israelites as a form of punishment. He punishes them not because he is angry, but because he wants to get their attention. Do you remember the religious "revival" after 9/11 that our own nation went through? In a similar manner, the Israelites, when attacked, remember the Lord and cried out to him for help, which is of course letter C "Crying out to the Lord." The Lord, in his grace and mercy, would send a deliverer (the letter D) who was known as a judge. In Hebrew, the underlying word for judge is the same word that the name Joshua or Jesus comes from - it means one who saves. Finally, we get to the letter E - easy sailing. The Israelites would have easy days and a new generation would grow up who were spoiled and didn't know the Lord. Pay attention to this cycle as you read the book of Judges.

On a Personal Note: It is my prayer that even if you have read through the book of Judges before, you will learn more by going through it again here.  Not only will you learn more about the book by seeing parts of it again, but perhaps you will even find it more exciting and see how it applies to you in new ways.  The stories and heroes from the book of Judges would make for a great mini-series or comic book series. The book is action packed and yet the personality of the individuals and the complexity of the their situation is also related. I hope you have as much fun reading from the book of Judges this week as I have.

Filling in the Gaps - p. 105:
First of all, isn't "Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram Naharaim" such a cool name? It has a ring to it! It actually probably wasn't his real title, but a nickname since it means, "Cush the doubly evil of Aram of the two rivers." Not the nicest nickname, but a catchy one!

p. 105 after the Commentary:
I can't believe it! They left out my FAVORITE Judge - Shamgar! Well let me fill you in with the story of Shamgar, "After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath became judge. He delivered Israel by striking down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad" (3:31 HCSB). Yep, that's all we know! And if you are asking what an oxgoad is, it's something you goad oxen with. Ok, so maybe that wasn't the best explanation. It's a stick with a pointy end that you poke oxen with to get them to move in the direction you want them to go. Now you know what an oxgoad is!

p. 107 - Deborah:
Who is actually the "judge" in this story? We read in 1 Samuel 12:11, "So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel. He rescued you from the power of the enemies around you, and you lived securely." Barak is actually the judge, isn't he? And yet he is a judge with a flaw: he is a wimp! He doesn't want to stand up and be a man and lead the people!

p. 112 - Gideon
So where did we meet Gideon? In a winepress. Why? Because he was afraid that the Midianites might see him! You almost stop and wonder, what is the Lord thinking? We need a commander for the army, and you find the guy who is cowering in a corner! Did you catch the irony in the Lord's greeting? The Lord calls him a "mighty warrior." Ha! Gideon is no mighty warrior. Time after time we find him doubting how things will go. Yet it didn't matter that Gideon wasn't quite the warrior you'd want leading you into battle. With quite a strange battle plan the Lord made it quite clear who was mighty - not Gideon, but the Lord!

When You're Done Reading - Thoughts to Ponder:
Well we ended with probably the most famous Judge: Samson. He's probably also one of the most flawed Judges as well. Samson had some real issues, didn't he? He's a big talker, quick temper, and had a real problem with women!

Have you noticed some trends in the book of Judges? First of all the people seem to get more and more wicked. If you put the Judges on a timeline, you notice that the periods of peace get shorter and shorter. Finally, you realize that even the saviors of the nation of Israel from their enemies are getting more and more flawed. We started by talking about a cycle - a cycle of apostasy, battles, crying for help, deliverance, and finally easy-going. But you also begin to notice that this cycle isn't just going around and around. This summer at the Children’s Museum in St. Paul, MN, my daughter got to put a coin in one of those coin funnels.  As the penny sunk deeper and deeper, it would spin around faster and faster until finally it would fall down the hole in the center. The cycle of Judges is a downward spiral as well. Each time the pattern is repeated things are a little bit worse, until before you know it the nation as a whole is falling apart.

What is the underlying problem in Israel? "They forsook the Lord." The people of Israel were to be holy. Remember what the word means? "Set apart or dedicated to God, and therefore without fault or flaw just like he is." Last week, when Joshua asked the people who they would serve, they replied, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him" (p. 101). Yet we find them doing anything but that. Do you think that happened overnight? No, the story of the book of Judges covers multiple generations. Moses told the people, "6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates" (Deut. 6:6-8). The Israelites failed to share with their children all the things that the Lord had told them. They failed to talk about the Lord while traveling, while eating dinner, before bed, and when getting ready for the day. It may have started out one day when they found themselves too busy because there was a lot to do with the harvest, or because the relatives were visiting and things were chaotic. But complacency led to religious compromise. Rather than being totally dedicated to the Lord, the Israelites went after other gods. The problem wasn't an agricultural issue or a problem with their military strength. The problem was spiritual!

So where is our nation at? Are we stuck in a cycle, a pattern circling downward? I'll leave that up to you to answer. Yet there are some definite warning signs. In what percentage of the homes in our nation are the Scriptures read on a weekly basis, nevertheless a daily basis? In our culture, it's ok to pick and choose what you want to believe from various religions. Is the postmodernism of our day that much different than the way the Israelites picked what idols they wanted to worship? When morals are discussed on the talk shows, is the question "what do you believe is right" or is the question "what does the Lord say is right?" When our nation faces financial depressions or our wars aren't going as well as we had hoped, do we think the problem is financial or military, or do we consider that the problem might actually be spiritual? In your life, is your home stuck in the cycle of the Israelites? What are we doing in our homes and families to pass down God's Word to the next generation? Have we considered that our Lower Story problems might really be Upper Story issues?

So we learn about the sins of the Israelites and the warnings for us that come from their faults.  One more lesson stands out even more prominently.  To understand that lesson, I want to quote from the book of Hebrews written over 1000 years later. The author of Hebrews writes about the great "Heroes of Faith" and says, "And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength after being weak, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight" (11:32-34).

When I read the book of Judges, what lesson stands out to me is this; "The Lord can use me." Like Gideon, Barak, and Samson I am rattled with flaws. I'm sinful. I doubt. I'm a failure at living up to God's commands. Yet God wants the good news to be spread to all nations. He has sent Jesus to pay the penalty of death for our sins so that we can live forever with him in heaven. Our biggest enemies - sin, death, and the devil - already stand defeated. Now he wants that message spread to the ends of the earth. And what is amazing is that he chooses to use people like me to do that. Unlike the judges, we aren't fighting physical armies, no we are fighting even more powerful enemies: the spiritual forces of darkness. Yet they are no competition for a mighty warrior like me - because like Gideon, the Lord is with me.

For those who like more:

• Read the two appendices of the book of Judges:
• Chapters 17 & 18 gives us examples of a typical family and a typical tribe in Israel during the time of the judges. What was the job of the Levites? What instead do we see happening? Fill in the blanks: It was bad enough that Dan ______________ , it was worse that they used __________  to do it, but the real irony is that two tribes of the Lord’s chosen people were about to fight over ____________________.
• Chapters 19 - 21 gives us examples of a typical event and a typical episode during the period of the judges. Much like our own civil war, the Isrealite's story is just as sad. What is the recurring theme throughout these 4 stories? (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25)
• If you haven't had a chance, check out the essays from the symposium a couple years ago at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary focused on Lutheran Schools and their role in passing on the Word to the next generation. Read the three papers at http://wlsce.net/symposium.