In Him was Life
John 1:1-5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
(message)
Welcome! The Word is who became Jesus. Let us learn about Him.
See v1.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
“In the beginning was the Word” (1a): The Word existed before the creation and from the eternity.
“the Word was with God” (1b): The Word (God, the Son) was together and intimate with God (God, the Father).
“the Word was God” (1c): The Word (the Son) was one of the Triune God (the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit).
See v2.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
V2 summarizes or repeats v1a and v1b. The Word was together and intimate with God from the eternity.
See v3.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
The Word is the Creator of the universe. This fact is also written in Colossians 1:15-17.
See v4.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
Here, ‘life’ is eternal life (John 5:24), abundant life (John 10:10), the resurrection (John 11:25-26), and the spring of living water (Jeremiah 2:13).
See v5.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Here ‘overcome’ is ‘understand/comprehend’. When the Word came to the world as Jesus, they did not recognize Him (the Creator) (John 1:10) and did not receive Him (the Owner) (John 1:11).
The Unclean and the Clean
Ezekiel 44:23
23 They are to teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.
I. The sin of ‘not teaching the unclean and the clean’ (Ezekiel 22:26)
Via the prophet Ezekiel, God pointed out the sins of priests in Jerusalem (she) in Ezekiel 22:26.
26 Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
According to Ezekiel 44:23, “how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean” should be taught. As we are the creature with the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we should differ from other animals in knowing the unclean and the clean.
II. The result of not knowing the unclean and the clean (Proverbs 26:11)
Proverbs 26:11 describes the behavior of animals such as dogs without knowing the unclean and the clean.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.
All human would know their vomit ‘unclean’ and do not eat it. But dogs do not know ‘what uncleanness is’ and so eat it.
III. The unclean and the clean in Leviticus (Leviticus 11-15)
The 1st five books among 39 books in the old testaments of the Holy Bible are called the books of the Law, written through the great servant of God, Moses. They are Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Leviticus consists of 27 chapters. Let us study the unclean and the clean written in Leviticus.
Leviticus 11-15 teach ‘the unclean and the clean”. Leviticus 11 is on the unclean and the clean in food. Leviticus 12 is on purification after childbirth. Leviticus 13-14 are on skin diseases and moulds. Leviticus 15 is on discharges causing uncleanness.
While recommending to read Leviticus 11-15, I take Leviticus 15:16 as an example, that teaches the uncleaness from ‘semen’ in particular.
16 ‘ “When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening.
Different people may apply this knowledge in different ways. Some people may ignore it. Some people may even oppose it. Some people may consider this applied only to the priests inside the ancient or future temple in Jerusalem.
Before reading this part of the Holy Bible last year, I was completely ignorant about this uncleanness and its effective time (till evening). So, even when I was unclean, I moved around and met people. The result was that I felt something affected those I met on that day. I felt sorry to them, but I didn’t know what it was. After reading the word of God, I recognized ‘uncleanness’ first time, became careful and, as a matter of manner, if possible, avoided to go too close to others when I became unclean so as not to defile them. Only the word of God enabled this knowledge in me. Otherwise, I would have stayed ignorant however many years I might have been living. How important to read the Holy Bible!
IV. Sexual Sins and Penalties (Leviticus 18, 20)
Leviticus 18:1-30 is on unlawful sexual relations. The penalties of such sins are written in Leviticus 20:10-21, most of which require death.
Particularly, ‘childlessness’ is the penalty in Leviticus 20:21.
‘ “If a man marries his brother’s wife, it is an act of impurity; he has dishonoured his brother. They will be childless.
V. More Commandments (Leviticus 19)
Leviticus 19:1-37 contains commandments some of which overlap ten commandments (Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5).
Leviticus 11-20 that include the above three sections are recommended to read.
Appendix. Exodus
The Law is written in Exodus as well. In Exodus 19, God descended in Mount Sinai. Ten commandments are written in Exodus 20 and others are in Exodus 21-24. God gave details on the tabernacle and they built them in Exodus 25-40. Particularly, God gave Moses two stone tablets of the covenant law inscribed by the finger of God in Exodus 31. In Exodus 32, they committed the idolatry by making the golden calf, and Moses broke the stone tablets to pieces in anger. Moses had closer encounter with God and God gave Moses two stone tablets again in Exodus 33 and 34. So, it is recommended to read Exodus 19-24 and 31-34.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
The Sins that brought the End
Ezekiel 22:1-31
In chapter 22 of the book of Ezekiel, God declares through His prophet, Ezekiel to reveal the sins of Jerusalem that caused the coming judgement of God.
I. Bloodshed and Idolatry that brought the Judgement of God (1-5)
In Jerusalem (her), they have shed blood and have become defiled by the idols they have made (2, 3,4a). Note that two sins (bloodshed and idolatry (detestable practices)) were pointed out three times in verse 2, 3 and 4a.
Resultant judgement of God:
- Her end has come (4b)
- Becoming an object of scorn (4c)
- Becoming a laughing-stock (4d)
- Becoming an object of mockery (5)
II. The 1st List of Sins that brought the Judgement of God (6-12)
- In this city, princes misuse their power to shed blood (6).
- In this city, they have treated their father and mother with contempt (7a).
- In this city, they have oppressed the foreigner and ill-treated the fatherless and the widow (7b).
- In this city, they have despised God’s holy things and desecrated God’s Sabbaths (8).
- In this city are slanderers who are bent on shedding blood (9a).
- In this city are those who eat at the mountain shrines and commit lewd acts (9b).
- In this city are those who dishonour their father’s bed (10a).
- In this city are those who violate women during their period, when they are ceremonially unclean (10b).
- In this city, one man commits a detestable offence with his neighbour’s wife, another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law, and another violates his sister, his own father’s daughter (11).
- In this city are people who accept bribes to shed blood (12a).
- They take interest and make a profit from the poor (12b).
- They extort unjust gain from their neighbours (12c).
- They have forgotten God (12d).
III. The Exile and the Siege of the City Foretold (13-22)
God foretold the Exile. See v15.
15 I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you through the countries; and I will put an end to your uncleanness.
Before the Exile took place, Jerusalem had been sieged by Babylon for 1.5 years until all food ran out in the city (Jeremiah 39, 2 Kings 24:10-17). This was foretold in v17-22.
IV. The 2nd List of Sins that brought the Judgement of God (23-29)
More sins in Jerusalem (her) are listed below.
- Sins of Princes: There is a conspiracy of her princes within Jerusalem like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her (25).
- Sins of Priests: Her priests do violence to God’s law and profane God’s holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of God’s Sabbaths, so that God is profaned among them (26).
- Sins of Officials: Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain (27).
- Sins of Prophets: Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, “This is what the Sovereign LORD says”—when the LORD has not spoken (28).
- Sins of People: The people of the land practise extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and ill-treat the foreigner, denying them justice (29).
V. No Mediator Found (30-31)
God considered an alternative to the judgement through a right person. However, when he looked for a mediator, He found none. See v30.
30 ‘I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.
So, God went ahead with His judgement as He planned (31).
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
The Parable of the Great Banquet
Luke 14:12-24
In v12-14, Jesus taught them to invite, if they give a luncheon or dinner, the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and to be blessed.
“Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (13)
In v15-24, Jesus taught the parable of the great banquet. v15 indicates this parable is related to the feast in the kingdom of God.
When the servant said to the invited guests, “Come, for everything is now ready.” (17), they all alike began to make excuses such as field, oxen, and marriage, and refused to come (18-20). Some of these excuses were valid reasons for excluded to attend a war (Deuteronomy 20:5-7). However, in the parable, the excuses are unacceptable to the master as the banquet (salvation) was reserved for (Jesus died for) the invited guests, not to mention the feast in the kingdom of God being the celebration of great joy and value (salvation).
As a result, the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant to hurry to bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame from the streets and alleys of the town (21). After this, there was still room. The master asked his servant to fill the house by compelling them to come in from the roads and country lanes.
The owner of the house (God) expects to fill the house (23). Luke emphasized the divine necessity of evangelism in order to fill up the kingdom as well as the assurance that such efforts would succeed [2]. As Fitzmyer [3] observes, “God’s will is not foiled by the rejection of human beings; the places at the kingdom banquet will be filled.”
People in disadvantages/difficulties are more open-minded to the invitation than people who are busy and well off. This teaches why inviting people in difficulties is a better fit for the banquet as also taught in v12-14.
Finally, see what the master said in v24.
“I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.”
Here, we can learn that the invited quests who refused were disqualified to attend the banquet. It was of great significance in the reality, where persons foolishly declined God’s gracious offer of salvation [2].
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
[2] Stein, R. H. (1992). Luke (Vol. 24, p. 394). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Fitzmyer, Joseph A. (2008). The Gospel according to Luke X–XXIV (The Anchor Yale Bible | AYB). Yale University Press.
“Return, faithless people,” declares the Lord
Jeremiah 3:14
“Return, faithless people,” declares the Lord, “for I am your husband. I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion.
Jeremiah 3:20
But like a woman unfaithful to her husband,
so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me,”
declares the Lord.
Some things in the world are shadows of true things.
Relationships such as father, children, husband, and wife in the world represent true relationships between God and men.
Earthly father is a shadow of true father, who is heavenly Father – God.
Likewise, true husband is God.
The warning about a way that appears to be right, that leads to death in the end
12 There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25)
This warning may be applied to those who live according to
- their commonsense
- their pseudo philosophy
- their religion
without the basis of the Holy Bible.
The Holy Bible is able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. See 2 Timothy 3:15-16.
15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
In Matthew 7:13-14 and John 12:24-25 Jesus teaches the way that leads to life.
13 ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
24 Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:24-25)
Also, Galatians 6:7-10 says,
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Chapter 2 in the Book of Proverbs
Proverbs 2:1-22
The Protasis (=condition) (1-4)
1-2 Listen attentively to the teacher (accept as valid, memorize, focus all attention)
3-4 Seek
3: call out for insight, cry aloud for understanding (as for asking God or a king for deliverance from trouble)
4: as one seeks lost money or hidden treasure
The Apodosis (=result) (5-11)
Greater insight that comes from Wisdom
5-8 begins with ‘then’. This part emphasizes understanding of God and His ways.
9-11 begins with ‘then’. This part focuses on proper and carful behaviour in life.
The Two Tempters (12-19)
12-15: wicked men with perverse words
16-19: the adulterous woman with her seductive words
Concluding Summation (20-22)
This part begins with ‘thus’. You will be in the ways of the good and the paths of the righteous (20).
21 vs 22 contrasts the two consequences of the upright/blameless and the wicked/unfaithful: life and death.
References
[1] Garrett, D. A. (1993). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (Vol. 14, pp. 75–77). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Wisdom and Understanding in the Proverbs
Proverbs 2:1-5
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
Verse 1 can begin by ‘reading’ the book of Proverbs. This book is easy to read even when you are new to the Bible. Especially, when you read chapter 10 ~ 31, you will notice that each verse shines inside your heart like the light. This book consists of 31 chapters. So, it is good to read one chapter a day. So, the whole book can be read once a month. What the book promises may be fulfilled if you read it regularly (v1) because you seek wisdom and understanding as described in v2-4. Then the result will be as shown in v5 and Proverbs 2:6-22.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
Psalm 3
Psalm 3
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom
1 Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
‘God will not deliver him.’
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
7 Arise, Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
Let us study Psalms and learn how to pray. Today let us study Psalm 3.
I. Many foes (1, 2)
See verse 1. David expresses he has many foes. Devils are accusers. No one is without sins, but they try to make you lose confidence in God by accusing you of your sins.
See verse 2. David says what his foes say of him: ‘God will not deliver him.’ It may be their bad wishes and curses. We can learn this is what the enemy wants and if you believe this, you will not be able to pray to God.
II. Confidence in the LORD (3-6)
Then, how David pray in this situation? See verse 3. He declares LORD is a shield (protection) around him, his glory (reputation), and the One who lifts his head high (encouragement). God has accepted his repentance and forgiven him even though God put him in chastisement.
See verse 4. He calls out to God. He cries aloud to God. God answers him from His holy mountain Zion, Jerusalem, where the Ark of God is.
He had confidence in God’s protection and did not afraid of ‘the number’ (5, 6). Like David, we can confess our faith/confidence in our prayer!
III. Deliver, Strike, Break (7, 8)
See v7. This expression shows the intimacy between David and God. He confidently and actively asks God for deliverance. Also, he expresses outright how his enemies and the wicked to be destroyed. Let us see the evil and wickedness behind the scene and learn this prayer.
Differently to ordinary citizens, policemen would face many more criminals because they stand for justice. Likewise, anyone who stands for the truth would see hatred and (spiritual) attacks from the wicked much more clearly and frequently. Proverbs 8:13 says,
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behaviour and perverse speech.
V7 shows David’s stance.
David declares the truth about deliverance, “The deliverance comes from the LORD.” (8a). Amen.
“May your blessing be on your people.” (8b)
David probably said this as the king to bless his people of Israel.
Prayer
If you find hard to pray, you may follow the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.
9 ‘This, then, is how you should pray:
‘ “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
The book of Psalms is a good reference for prayer because it shows examples of prayers.
The prayer could be done using your audible voice (as opposed to silence) especially if you find it helps you pray. Rather be concise than keep on babbling (see Matthew 6:7-8).
The prayer may include repentance, thanks, and praises.
You could tell God about various issues, and (recent) incidents you concern about.
You could pray for others (intercession).
# Many verses including John 16:23 teach us to pray “in the name of Jesus”.
References
[1] The Holy Bible: New International Version (Anglicised Edition, 2011). (2011). (Revised and updated edition, Mt 6:9–13). London: Hodder & Stoughton.
