What metaphor do Psalm 125:1 and Psalm 30:6-7 share?
How did God describe Himself in Zechariah 2:5?
What kinds of things did the Israelites feel and experience? (Psalm 126:1-3)
How does Galatians 6:9 convey the element of time in the process of harvest?
How are the words of King David's beloved son in Ecclesiastes 1:2 thematically similar to Psalm 127:1-2?
How has insecurity caused you misery?
How can we still say God has been good to us when He allowed us to encounter trouble and sorrow?
Describe a time when God did something that you could hardly believe and you knew you didn't deserve.
What part do you think faith and patience play in our wait as we obey God and look for the first sprouts of harvest?
In one phrase, what do you think Psalm 127:2 is saying?
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Our Eyes Look to the Lord
What were Paul's feelings toward the believers in Philippi? (Philipians 1:3-8)
What do you consider to be the theme of Psalm 123?
How would you define disrespect?
With what metaphors does Psalm 124 describe the peril that surrounds God's people?
With what three major historical situations were the Psalms of Ascent associated?
What relationships do you have at church that you wouldn't have anywhere else?
Have you discovered a strong relationship in the concept of the statement where i look impacts how I feel? If so, how?
What did you do or wish you could have done after seeing someone harshly ridiculed?
What might have happened with your life "if the LORD had not be on [your] side?
What words did God use to tell you what He'll do for you? (Romans 8:28-39)
What do you consider to be the theme of Psalm 123?
How would you define disrespect?
With what metaphors does Psalm 124 describe the peril that surrounds God's people?
With what three major historical situations were the Psalms of Ascent associated?
What relationships do you have at church that you wouldn't have anywhere else?
Have you discovered a strong relationship in the concept of the statement where i look impacts how I feel? If so, how?
What did you do or wish you could have done after seeing someone harshly ridiculed?
What might have happened with your life "if the LORD had not be on [your] side?
What words did God use to tell you what He'll do for you? (Romans 8:28-39)
Monday, September 28, 2009
Where Will My Help Come From?
So, let's review some of the questions from this week's homework and share our responses. (To share your answer or comments you can just click on # comments below this post.)
"What five tones or words would you choose to describe the psalmist's state as he approached God?" I said: needy (Psalm 40:17, 86:1), overwhelmed and fainted (Psalm 142: 3), gratitude and awe (Psalm 144)
"What does Psalm 142:1-2 give you permission to do?"
"A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of David; when he was in the cave. A Prayer.
1I CRY to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord do I make supplication.
2I pour out my complaint before Him; I tell before Him my trouble."
God gives us permission to cry to Him. To ask for Him to meet our needs. To pour out our complaints before Him and to share our troubles with Him. He gives us permission to be real, to not hide behind a mask of perfection. (Of course after we express all of this to Him, He also gives us ability and permission to then let it go and lay it down (pour it out in the sense that then the cup of complaints is empty) before Him...)
In my distress I called out to the Covenant Maker and Keeper and the Covenant Maker and Keeper answered me!
"What connection do you see between taking an uncertain journey and wanting a reminder that your covenant LORD is the uncontested Maker of heaven and earth?"
It gives me comfort to know that God made the earth, so I can feel free to move about it without fear. He protects me and who better to protect me in a journey than the Creator of the place that I travel? PROTECT...PROTECTOR...Do you think He's trying to tell us something? I love the use of Genesis 2:15. God tends, guards, and keeps us! "Do you have any current need to have those truths ("The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121:7-8") hammered into your head, whether concerning your own life or another of God's children? If so, what is it?"
"How does Psalm 91:4 depict the closeness of God's shelter?"
"[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler."
His shelter covers me. It us under His wings that I trust and find refuge. His shelter is closer than close.
"What parallels from Ephesians 2:11-22 apply to lessons you learned about the peace of Jerusalem?"
"What five tones or words would you choose to describe the psalmist's state as he approached God?" I said: needy (Psalm 40:17, 86:1), overwhelmed and fainted (Psalm 142: 3), gratitude and awe (Psalm 144)
"What does Psalm 142:1-2 give you permission to do?"
"A skillful song, or a didactic or reflective poem, of David; when he was in the cave. A Prayer.
1I CRY to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord do I make supplication.
2I pour out my complaint before Him; I tell before Him my trouble."
God gives us permission to cry to Him. To ask for Him to meet our needs. To pour out our complaints before Him and to share our troubles with Him. He gives us permission to be real, to not hide behind a mask of perfection. (Of course after we express all of this to Him, He also gives us ability and permission to then let it go and lay it down (pour it out in the sense that then the cup of complaints is empty) before Him...)
In my distress I called out to the Covenant Maker and Keeper and the Covenant Maker and Keeper answered me!
"What connection do you see between taking an uncertain journey and wanting a reminder that your covenant LORD is the uncontested Maker of heaven and earth?"
It gives me comfort to know that God made the earth, so I can feel free to move about it without fear. He protects me and who better to protect me in a journey than the Creator of the place that I travel? PROTECT...PROTECTOR...Do you think He's trying to tell us something? I love the use of Genesis 2:15. God tends, guards, and keeps us! "Do you have any current need to have those truths ("The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121:7-8") hammered into your head, whether concerning your own life or another of God's children? If so, what is it?"
"How does Psalm 91:4 depict the closeness of God's shelter?"
"[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler."
His shelter covers me. It us under His wings that I trust and find refuge. His shelter is closer than close.
"What parallels from Ephesians 2:11-22 apply to lessons you learned about the peace of Jerusalem?"
Sunday, August 23, 2009
I am so glad that you are joining us for Stepping Up! I will be sending out a schedule for the study and for socials for the semester soon. If you signed up on the list at Connect Weekend or have already emailed me, I have your email address and information. If not, please email me or register on the Valley Creek Church website (www.valleycreek.org) and I will add you to my email list! Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting to know y'all as we study God's word together!!!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Hannah: A Portrait of Femenine Grace
You can read about Hannah in 1 Samuel. There are many interesting aspects to her experiences and many things mentioned in this chapter of the book. I am only going to mention a few things here, but I encourage you to read the Biblical account of Hannah and John MacArthur's chapter about her as weel.
"Hannah prayed and said; My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation." 1 Samuel 2:1
How sweet! Hannah rejoiced in the Lord, even in the middle of her suffering and waiting. She smiled at her enemies, and not in a mean or condescending way, but because how could she not smile when she is rejoicing in her salvation. Her heart was overjoyed! Her heart was overflowing, not only to the words of her mouth (Matthew 12:34) but also to the look on her face.
We have all waited desperately for something that we long for and some of us are still waiting. So I think that we can all relate to Hannah. Hannah was waiting to be a mother. She "wept bitterly". She longed to be a mother with pure motives and she was real with her longing before God. What is it that you are seeking? Privately pour out your feelings on paper. Honestly describe your longing to God. Write out the questions that you hide inside. Ask God to give you the vision of what He wants for you. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart." Psalm 37:4 This means that when we delight in Him our desires are fulfilled, but also that He places those desires in our hearts when we seek Him. "My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad." Psalm 34:2
Hannah also "cherished the very same messianic hope that framed the worldview of everyone of the extraordinary women we are studying". This chapter talks about Jesus being the "one true object of all saving faith - even in Old Testament times. Long before He was explicitly revealed in human flesh, the Redeemer was promised". Our messianic hope fulfilled should frame our worldview. Because Jesus is our salvation, He should be the frame around everything that we see in and believe about the world. A "Christ-centered perspective" is "the key to everything that made" Hannah and the other women that we have studied truly extraordinary!
"I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord." Psalms 40:1-3
"Hannah prayed and said; My heart rejoices in the LORD; My horn is exalted in the LORD. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation." 1 Samuel 2:1
How sweet! Hannah rejoiced in the Lord, even in the middle of her suffering and waiting. She smiled at her enemies, and not in a mean or condescending way, but because how could she not smile when she is rejoicing in her salvation. Her heart was overjoyed! Her heart was overflowing, not only to the words of her mouth (Matthew 12:34) but also to the look on her face.
We have all waited desperately for something that we long for and some of us are still waiting. So I think that we can all relate to Hannah. Hannah was waiting to be a mother. She "wept bitterly". She longed to be a mother with pure motives and she was real with her longing before God. What is it that you are seeking? Privately pour out your feelings on paper. Honestly describe your longing to God. Write out the questions that you hide inside. Ask God to give you the vision of what He wants for you. "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart." Psalm 37:4 This means that when we delight in Him our desires are fulfilled, but also that He places those desires in our hearts when we seek Him. "My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble and afflicted hear and be glad." Psalm 34:2
Hannah also "cherished the very same messianic hope that framed the worldview of everyone of the extraordinary women we are studying". This chapter talks about Jesus being the "one true object of all saving faith - even in Old Testament times. Long before He was explicitly revealed in human flesh, the Redeemer was promised". Our messianic hope fulfilled should frame our worldview. Because Jesus is our salvation, He should be the frame around everything that we see in and believe about the world. A "Christ-centered perspective" is "the key to everything that made" Hannah and the other women that we have studied truly extraordinary!
"I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord." Psalms 40:1-3
This is a song that I remember from a youth camp a long time ago and pray and cling to now.
give me one pure and holy passion
give me one magnificent obsession
give me one glorious ambition for my life
to know and follow hard after You
to know and follow hard after You
to grow as Your disciple in Your truth
This world is empty, pale and pour
compared to knowing You my Lord
lead me on and I will run after You
lead me on and I will run after You
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Ruth: Loyalty and Love
We are still in the lineage of Jesus. God shows us His mercy and grace in who He chose to be the biological ancestors of Christ. Ruth was a Moabite women, who by tradition should not have been married to a Jewish man. But God arranged circumstances in such a way that they could not have been manipulated or ordered by any person.
Gotta love a good love story! Ruth felt drawn to Naomi out of duty, but also out of friendship and love. She was drawn to her mother-in-law who knew the Living God. Ruth abandoned what she had known and grown up with and turned to God. God ordained her steps into perfection. (Father God, I ask that you would guide our steps and that any attempt that we make to manipulate or create our own path would be redirected into your perfect plan for our lives. In Proverbs 16:33 You tell us that even events that seem accidental are readilly ordered by You. You are a partner in our labor and You work everything together for our good, fitting into a plan. We are not wandering aimlessly. Even when we may not feel the direction, You are leading us. We love You and You have called us according to Your design and purpose.)
God led Ruth to the field of her almost-next-of-kin. What a funny turn of events when it turns out there is someone else first. Maybe Ruth wondered what was going on. The Bible doesn't tell us that her faith waivered, but mine might. I hope that it wouldn't, but I can imagine wondering if I had misheard God. Maybe that was my idea and not His? What is going on here? But God still had the situation in His plan. He knew that the next-in-line wouldn't step up and that Boaz was "the one". God had "the one" for Ruth long before she knew who he would be.
So, Ruth gleans in his fields and Boaz is kind to her. He makes sure that she is well taken care of. Then Naomi sends Ruth in to make the first move. And talk about a first move! Okay, I know that it doesn't make sense in our culture, but those of you that are married think about when you first starting crushing on your husband. So you want to tell him that you're interesting, that he may be the guy for you, so you go into his house in the middle of the night, take the covers off of his feet and lay at the foot of his bed. There was an actual meaning in this situation and anyone in the culture and time would have understood. Boaz could have taken advantage of the situation, but he acted honorably. He obviously wanted to marry Ruth, but he knew that he was second in line, so he went with urgency to settle the situation. Boaz took an active role in the love story and pursued Ruth with honor.
BTW - "After years of famine" Boaz had an abundant harvest. The world would say coincidence, but we know that God set up the situation so that Boaz would have no trouble provided for his new bride.
God is our portion and provider. He has "redeemed [us], brought [us] into a position of great favor, endowed [us] with riches and privelege, exalted [us] to be [His] own bride, and loved [us] with the profoundest affection".
Gotta love a good love story! Ruth felt drawn to Naomi out of duty, but also out of friendship and love. She was drawn to her mother-in-law who knew the Living God. Ruth abandoned what she had known and grown up with and turned to God. God ordained her steps into perfection. (Father God, I ask that you would guide our steps and that any attempt that we make to manipulate or create our own path would be redirected into your perfect plan for our lives. In Proverbs 16:33 You tell us that even events that seem accidental are readilly ordered by You. You are a partner in our labor and You work everything together for our good, fitting into a plan. We are not wandering aimlessly. Even when we may not feel the direction, You are leading us. We love You and You have called us according to Your design and purpose.)
God led Ruth to the field of her almost-next-of-kin. What a funny turn of events when it turns out there is someone else first. Maybe Ruth wondered what was going on. The Bible doesn't tell us that her faith waivered, but mine might. I hope that it wouldn't, but I can imagine wondering if I had misheard God. Maybe that was my idea and not His? What is going on here? But God still had the situation in His plan. He knew that the next-in-line wouldn't step up and that Boaz was "the one". God had "the one" for Ruth long before she knew who he would be.
So, Ruth gleans in his fields and Boaz is kind to her. He makes sure that she is well taken care of. Then Naomi sends Ruth in to make the first move. And talk about a first move! Okay, I know that it doesn't make sense in our culture, but those of you that are married think about when you first starting crushing on your husband. So you want to tell him that you're interesting, that he may be the guy for you, so you go into his house in the middle of the night, take the covers off of his feet and lay at the foot of his bed. There was an actual meaning in this situation and anyone in the culture and time would have understood. Boaz could have taken advantage of the situation, but he acted honorably. He obviously wanted to marry Ruth, but he knew that he was second in line, so he went with urgency to settle the situation. Boaz took an active role in the love story and pursued Ruth with honor.
BTW - "After years of famine" Boaz had an abundant harvest. The world would say coincidence, but we know that God set up the situation so that Boaz would have no trouble provided for his new bride.
God is our portion and provider. He has "redeemed [us], brought [us] into a position of great favor, endowed [us] with riches and privelege, exalted [us] to be [His] own bride, and loved [us] with the profoundest affection".
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Rahab: A Horrible Life Redeemed
Don't listen to the unbelief of the pessimists rather than to the promise of YHWH. Even when the others thought that the situation was grim, Joshua and Caleb listened to God and they were "enthusiastic" about it! The other spies relied on logic, while Joshua and Caleb knew that God would do what He said He would do, that He is bigger than even our biggest fears.
Rahab knew just from witnessing God's interactions with the Israelites and from what He spoke to her heart that He is real and powerful. I love the dissection of her action of lying. MacArthur points out that what Rahab did was not right. She acted on her own "logic". She thought that she had to lie to get the king's representatives to leave. She didn't know God very well at that point and she didn't know that He could conquer the situation without her. But that was okay. God still acted in the situation. He didn't leave her alone and hopeless just because she made a mistake. That is so encouraging to me! I can't tell you how may times I have tried to use my own logic to solve a situation that I should have stayed back and allowed God to handle it. Don't get me wrong, God gave us intelligence and wisdom ("The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever." Psalm 111:10) and He wants us to use it. He speaks to our hearts and minds and tells us how to handle situations. But He also tells us when it is time to lay off of a situation and allow Him to be big and glorified in an all Him way. We don't have to compensate for what we think He isn't doing. God's timing, while not always comfortable in the moment, always leads to the best for us! "...Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit [of Whom the oil is a symbol], says the Lord of hosts." Zecheriah 4:6
His divine grace redeemed Rahab and it has redeemed you and me!!!
Rahab knew just from witnessing God's interactions with the Israelites and from what He spoke to her heart that He is real and powerful. I love the dissection of her action of lying. MacArthur points out that what Rahab did was not right. She acted on her own "logic". She thought that she had to lie to get the king's representatives to leave. She didn't know God very well at that point and she didn't know that He could conquer the situation without her. But that was okay. God still acted in the situation. He didn't leave her alone and hopeless just because she made a mistake. That is so encouraging to me! I can't tell you how may times I have tried to use my own logic to solve a situation that I should have stayed back and allowed God to handle it. Don't get me wrong, God gave us intelligence and wisdom ("The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever." Psalm 111:10) and He wants us to use it. He speaks to our hearts and minds and tells us how to handle situations. But He also tells us when it is time to lay off of a situation and allow Him to be big and glorified in an all Him way. We don't have to compensate for what we think He isn't doing. God's timing, while not always comfortable in the moment, always leads to the best for us! "...Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit [of Whom the oil is a symbol], says the Lord of hosts." Zecheriah 4:6
His divine grace redeemed Rahab and it has redeemed you and me!!!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sarah: Hoping Against Hope
"By faith Sarah herself also received strength to coneive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised." Hebrews 11:11
She new that God was faithful, but she didn't alway act like she knew it. I had never related myself so much to Sarah as in the first two and a half pages of this chapter: "impatient, temperamental, conniving, cantankerous, cruel, flighty, pouty, jealous, erratic, unreasonable, a whiner, a complainer, or a nag". Her episodes "of ill temper or strife" remind me of my own. And like Sarah's episodes mine are related to my frustrations. Sarah desperately wanted to be something, wanted God's promise to be fulfilled but couldn't wait. Instead "she concocted a scheme" and it "tore her life apart and seemed to leave a lasting scar on her personality." Think about what your own desires are, even if they are desires given by God. Is there something that you are so desperate for that you are anxious about waiting for God to fulfill that desire? As much as we know God and trust Him it is still hard to wait for Him.
"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart." Psalm 37:4
"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (define requests) with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God." Philippians 4:6
"Therefore Sarah laughed to herself, saying, After I have become aged shall I have pleasure and delight, my lord (husband), being old also?"
Genesis 18:12
P.S. There are countless verses about God delighting in us! So how do we delight in Him? Philippians 4:4, Nehemiah 1:11, Job 22:25-26, Psalm 1:2, Psalm 40:8, Psalm 94:19, Psalm 119:92 ...
Sarah had "important strengths" along with her weaknesses: "faith, steadfastness"..."humility, meekness, hospitality, faithfulness, deep affection for her husband, sincere love toward God, and hope that never died". Sarah sometimes struggled with holding onto her hope and faith, but she always unded up on the side of faith. Sarah went where God lead her without knowing where she was going. I think it is important that the author tells us that they were raised in an urban setting and were not nomadic by nature or nurture. They chose to follow God into a journey. He was their home, their anchor, the place that they returned. Oh, Lord that my dwelling place would be You. Send me out from You and bring me back to You.
How amazing that God went to the extent of putting Abraham into a deep sleep for us to understand the His promises are dependent on Him, not on us. He is faithful and just and does not rely on us. "If Sarah had simply realized that truth and embraced it, her whole burden would have been instantly lifted."
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Eve: Mother of all living
(From Lorna)
“Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living” Genesis 3:20 NKJV
The scripture tells her story, almost in abbreviated fashion, which helps us focus more clearly on the aspects of her life that have the most significance.
Her creation
Gen 2:20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him.
Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
God carefully assembled a whole new creature with just the right set of attributes to make the ideal mate for Adam. She completed Adam in every way. She was “taken out of man” they shared the same essential nature, she was his spiritual counterpart, his intellectual coequal.
Eve’s creation contains some important biblical lessons about the divinely-designed role of women. Adam was created first; then Eve was made to fill a void in his existence. Adam was designed to be a father, provider, protector, and leader. Eve was designed to be a mother, comforter, nurturer, and helper.
Also look at 1 cor 11:14, Ehp 5:22-24, col 3:18 and 1 Peter 3:1-6
Something to think about? The way Eve was created speaks of her fundamental equality with Adam. What does this mean to you? How do you understand the duty and role of women
Her temptation
Genesis 3 then introduces the tempter, a serpent.
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Satan came to Eve in disguise. That epitomizes the subtle way he intended to deceive her. He appears to have singled her out for this cunning deception when she was not in the company of Adam.
”Has God indeed said….”Skepticism is implicit in the inquiry. This is the classic modus operandi. He questions the Word of God by suggesting uncertainty about the meaning of God’s statements, raising doubts in Eves mind. Eve ate and then gave to her husband to eat. By Adams act sin entered the world and death through sin…Romans 5:12
Her Humiliation
And in a moment, her innocence was gone. The result was agonizing shame.
Her Expectation
She was given hope, she would have “seed” and would still have the opportunity to become the mother of the human race. Even better, was the promise that her seed would bruise the serpents head. This was the guarantee that her race would not be hopelessly subordinated to the evil one’s domination forever. This is also shown in the name of her son Seth “appointed one”
Gen 4:25 It suggests the underlying hope that one day her seed would destroy the power of sin.
What life principles have your learnt from the study of Eves life? How would you apply these to your life?
“Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living” Genesis 3:20 NKJV
The scripture tells her story, almost in abbreviated fashion, which helps us focus more clearly on the aspects of her life that have the most significance.
Her creation
Gen 2:20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him.
Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Gen 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
God carefully assembled a whole new creature with just the right set of attributes to make the ideal mate for Adam. She completed Adam in every way. She was “taken out of man” they shared the same essential nature, she was his spiritual counterpart, his intellectual coequal.
Eve’s creation contains some important biblical lessons about the divinely-designed role of women. Adam was created first; then Eve was made to fill a void in his existence. Adam was designed to be a father, provider, protector, and leader. Eve was designed to be a mother, comforter, nurturer, and helper.
Also look at 1 cor 11:14, Ehp 5:22-24, col 3:18 and 1 Peter 3:1-6
Something to think about? The way Eve was created speaks of her fundamental equality with Adam. What does this mean to you? How do you understand the duty and role of women
Her temptation
Genesis 3 then introduces the tempter, a serpent.
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Gen 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Satan came to Eve in disguise. That epitomizes the subtle way he intended to deceive her. He appears to have singled her out for this cunning deception when she was not in the company of Adam.
”Has God indeed said….”Skepticism is implicit in the inquiry. This is the classic modus operandi. He questions the Word of God by suggesting uncertainty about the meaning of God’s statements, raising doubts in Eves mind. Eve ate and then gave to her husband to eat. By Adams act sin entered the world and death through sin…Romans 5:12
Her Humiliation
And in a moment, her innocence was gone. The result was agonizing shame.
Her Expectation
She was given hope, she would have “seed” and would still have the opportunity to become the mother of the human race. Even better, was the promise that her seed would bruise the serpents head. This was the guarantee that her race would not be hopelessly subordinated to the evil one’s domination forever. This is also shown in the name of her son Seth “appointed one”
Gen 4:25 It suggests the underlying hope that one day her seed would destroy the power of sin.
What life principles have your learnt from the study of Eves life? How would you apply these to your life?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Twelve Extraordinary Women - Introduction
I know I am supposed to be blogging chapter one, but - wow - the introduction was amazing, so that is as far as I have gotten! I loved being reminded of the value that Jesus places in women! It was really interesting to read about the place of women in society and have things that I have always thought put into words that really explain the position that the world gives us and the position that Jesus gives us.
Oh Lord, that "what makes me extraordinary would be a memorable, life-changing encounter with You"! That I could be a "trophy of your grace in spite of my failures". You are great, mighty, glorious, awesome! Refine me!"
Three words seemed to keep coming up in the intro - FAITH, FAITHFULNESS, LOVEIn evaluating our value and beauty the intro gives us two verses (plus tons that are associated with specific points - we could spend a whole semester just in the introduction - but we won't:>)
1 Peter 3:3-4 - Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.
I really want the "incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peacefule spirit, not anxious.
Timothy 2:9-10 - Also [I desire] that women should adorn themselves modestly and appropriately and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with [elaborate] hair arrangement or gold or pearls or expensive clothing, But by doing good deeds (deeds in themselves good and for the good and advantage of those contacted by them), as befits women who profess reverential fear for and devotion to God.
I'll blog chapter one soon, but feel free to get started on posting that without me...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Twelve Extraordinary Women
"Celebrated for their courage, vision, hospitality, and spiritual giftedness, it's no wonder women were so important to God's plan revealed in the Old and New Testaments. It wasn't their natural qualities that made these women extraordinary but the power of the one tru God whom they worshipped and served.In Twelve Extraordinary Women, you'll learn more thatn fascinating information about these women, you'll discover - perhaps for the first time - the unmistakable chronolgy of God's redemptive work in history through their lives. These women were not ancillary to His plan, they wer at the very heart of it. And this book includes their amazing stories.You will be challenged and motivated by tthis poignant and personal look in to the lives of some of the Bibl'es most failthful women. Their struggles and temptations are the same trials faced by all believers in all ages. Ant the God to whome they wer so committed is the same God who continues to mold and use ordinary people today."
Eve: Mother of All Living
Sarah: Hope Against Hope
Rahab: A Horrible Life Redeemed
Ruth: Loyalty and Love
Hannah: A Portrait of Feminine Grace
Mary: Blessed Among Women
Anna: The Faithful Witness
The Samaritan Woman: Finding the Water of Life
Martha and Mary: Working and Worshiping
Mary Magdalene: Delivered from Darkness
Lydia: A Hospitable Heart Opened
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