Bible Commentary for 6.30.2010

I have decided to keep track of my bible notes here.   I am still learning and hope to look back on these notes and find places where I failed to grasp the concept.   This way each time I come to the passage I am renewed in my faith by the convictions of the Holy Spirit.

Leviticus 14
Sacred unblemished perfect  blood is the way of cleansing.  (Points to the need for the cross.) The priest petitions for the sinner (leaper) before God; just like Christ does for us now.  Not just for the rich, all leapers are to go through this not just rich or not just poor, for there is the doves or pigeons if one can not afford a lamb.

Belief in the lord does not guarantee monetary gain.

Mildew is something that can kill a house; it is much like leaven in bread, it will be pervasive in the whole house,
also all things that are in the house are contaminated.

I Chronicles 2: Okay, so whats with all of these names?  "The key to legitimacy and identity is a direct irrefutable familial tie with the past." (Archeological Study Bible 1559) "Genealogies were especially important in ancient Israel because the right to hold important offices was a hereditary privilege."(IBID)

Read the Covenant made with Abram in (Genesis 15:5)  God promised that he would deliver a very large household, here is part of the fulfillment of that promise.

This is a proclamation of God stating "I am here.  I am working." 

It is important to God that we bear children of promise.  I noticed that it was written, "Seled died without children."  this also was mentioned "Jether died without children."  God knows we may notice the first mention of without children, so it is written again, we are dumb and stubborn so we need things often repeated.

Ezekiel 6
God loves us enough to take away our idols.  He is the way and the life and the true light, while we often turn our eyes to things easier to comprehend,  this road ends in slavery.  High places = bamah  (height). Why should we care about high places today?  The warning according to the archeological Study Bible (Zondervan) states that when we are away from proper worship in our ordained churches, churches connected to the holy spirit through the reading of the WORD,  we are often influenced by popular culture.  This influence by popular culture will destroy our faithful walk.

Ephesians 2 

2:22 and you are also being built together into it- the home which God inhabits by His Spirit. (Bruce 273)

Commentary on Ephesians:  

Jesus Christ doth differ from the the foundations of other buildings in this, that every particular believer is not only laid upon him (Jesus), and supported by him as it is in material buildings but they are also indented in him, and hid, and were, in the clefts of that rock by saving and serveth for a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat (Isaiah 25:4)  for he saith not, "upon whom" but "in whom ye also builded."(Fergusson 170)

Cultural Side Bar: indented: This word was used in the movie Eclipse when the Wolf Boy is talking about how his clan loves another, they make an imprint of them, this means that they feel with this person, the thing that person feels, it is an encompassing spirit. 

Scripture Memory
John 1:8-9 
⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. ⁹ The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

6/30/2010	Leviticus 14	1 Chronicles 2	Ezekiel 6	Ephesians 2
7/1/2010	Leviticus 15	1 Chronicles 3	Ezekiel 7	Ephesians 3
7/2/2010	Proverbs 26	1 Chronicles 4	Ezekiel 8	Ephesians 4
7/3/2010	Psalm 79	Psalm 80	Psalm 81	Psalm 81
7/4/2010	Psalm 79	Psalm 80	Psalm 81	Psalm 81

Miles Reads Ezekiel 25:17

I believe that Ezekiel may have sounded like Miles in Pulp Fiction.  Check out the scene.

Bible Commentary for 6.28.2010

Martin Luther on Galatians 6:14 :


We should trust in Christ for help and should triumph shouting "Satan the more you attack and try to hurt me, the more proud and firm I am against you, and the more I laugh you to scorn.  The more you frighten me and try to bring me to despair, the more confidence and boldness I have, and the more I glory in the midst of your fury and malice- not by my own power, but through the power of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who strength is made perfect in my weakness.   (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)  When the devil sees that his threats and terrors are feared, he rejoices, when people are already frightened, he terrifies them more and more.  Rather, let us take a bold stand in Christ.


Martin Luther  Galatians: The Crossway Classic Commentaries ed Alister McGrath and J I Packer  (Wheaton Illinois: Crossway Books, 1998), 300. 

Scripture Memory
John 1:8-9
⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. ⁹ The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

6/28/2010	Leviticus 12	2 Kings 25	Ezekiel 4	Galatians 6
6/29/2010	Leviticus 13	1 Chronicles 1	Ezekiel 5	Ephesians 1
6/30/2010	Leviticus 14	1 Chronicles 2	Ezekiel 6	Ephesians 2
7/1/2010	Leviticus 15	1 Chronicles 3	Ezekiel 7	Ephesians 3
7/2/2010	Proverbs 26	1 Chronicles 4	Ezekiel 8	Ephesians 4

The God Who Is There: On Biblical Truth

Frank Viola and Leonard Sweet should read The God That Is There again, especially pages 177 and page 179.  To save them a trip to their book shelf, or library, or bookstore,  let me quote the book for them.   I hope they will rewrite the Jesus Manifesto, to reflect the true inspiration of God.  The truth is more important than a false unity.
"The scriptures are important, not because they are printed in a certain way nor bound in a certain kind of leather, nor because they have helped many people.   This is not the basic reason for the Scriptures being overwhelming important.  The bible, the historic Creeds and orthodoxy are important because God is there, and finally, that is the only reason they have their importance."177

Biblical truth and spirituality is not a relationship to the word god, or to the idea God.  It is a relationship to the One who is there.179

Schaffer, Francis A The God That is There (Chicago: Inter Varsity Press, 1968), 177 and 179.

 I recommend the following book to guard yourself against the rise of heretics in the postmodern age:"The Three Essential Books In One Volume:  Francis A Schaffer Trilogy."  

Billy Graham His Life and Influence by David Aikman

"Billy Graham His Life and Influence" is a book that centers the history of Christian Evangelicalism since 1949. The book provides a panoramic view point of Christianity today.

The book also shares with the reader what it means to be a Christian Man. A man who loves freely and passionately; George W. Bush said about Billy Graham, "He didn't make you feel guilty, he made you feel loved." (249)

Themes that are covered in this book are:

1. Christianity and Culture
2. Mainstream Evangelicalism since 1949.
3. Orthodoxy vs. Orthopraxy
4. Media's Coverage of American Evangelicals.
5. How seminaries have dealt with the questions of the 20^th and 21^st century.
6. How did Denominations interact with each other during this time period? 
7. How do men of God interact with people of power (especially presidents)?
8. Marriage to Godly Women! 

The book does what Rick the Librarian stated good biographies should do: (1. Discover Fascinating people) (2.Rediscover people we think we know well) (3. Portray a hero dynamically, warts and all) (4. Learn how history was influenced by the life of the individual) (6. to celebrate ones culture through a deeper look). David Aikman succeeds in all 5 areas. One thing that was disappointing was the lack of pictures to go along with the narrative.

Cluck It Real Good

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

Felicity Dale offered small nuggets of evangelism opportunities in a fragmented world. Each bite was rich and encouraging to the renewal of the Church today. "When ever we get together, everyone brings a contribution, and the Holy Spirit takes what each person supplies and makes it into a meal to nourish us spiritually." (Pg 191) Mrs. Dale shows the importance of each person to the whole of the church. (1 Corinthians 12) She shows how each of us is responsible to faithfully fulfill the great commission stated in Matthew 28:16-20. She does not shy away from the struggles we may face in order to bring the gospel to all believers. Her honest portrayal in the book is refreshing. The book was segmented into various topics. Each chapter had a theme and a summary at the back of each selection. Because the book had a number of broken components it did not capture my imagination or my muse. The book's flow just never grabbed me.  Mrs. Dale puts the believer at the center of the book, so we must use great care to pray that Christ is the center of our theology and evangelism.  The book was a slow dining experience; a full five course meal. I would use this book as a reference guide to innovative church growth. A slight Cluck! 7.5/10

The book was a slow dining experience; a full five course meal. 

I received this book free from Tyndale Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

Connecting People to the Gospel

Illustration of Connecting unconnected people to the Gospel.

^{Matthew 9:37}Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  

The Lord sends us out to the world to gather others into our community.   

When we stand in truth and unity we become a strong web of light.  

1950's Billy Graham Perspectives on His Life and Theology (part One)

Billy Graham is my grandfather's pastor. To understand my grandfather better it is important to understand the man my grandfather listened to in order to come develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. 


 When I saw that the book Billy Graham His Life and Influence was available for review, I grabbed the book. I am glad that I decided to read this one.  The book unlike a number of others (roughly 128) focuses on a panoramic-historical context of Billy Graham's effect on Christianity from 1949 to the early part of the 21^st century.

There are a number of themes covered in this book, they include:

1. Modern Methods: "We take for granted publicity, bigness, modern techniques. Why should not the church employ some of these methods, that are used by big business or labor unions to promote their products or causes, in order to win men for Christ?"
   
   
2. Mainstream Evangelicalism and its Gospel Representation since 1949 to the early part of the 21^st Century. The terms liberalism and fundamentalism have arisen in modern days. Neither is found in sacred Scripture.
   
   
3. Media's Coverage of American Evangelicals. The media by and large has been friendly and sympathetic in every city that we have visited.
   
   
4. International Relationships through the gospel with diverse groups such as India, North Korea, Germany, England, and New York.

"John Wesley once said, "The World is my parish." Would it be right for us to limit our ministry to only the United States when other countries of the world that are even more spiritually in need. The American government realizes that we no longer live unto ourselves and that what happens in other countries vitally affects us. A spiritual awakening in some of the world's strategic countries will have tremendous impact on the U.S."

  5. Role of Emotions in Evangelicalism:

And I do not think that Christianity holds the emotions in stoic contempt or that it leaves the emotional emptiness of modern life to be filled by secular things…. The content of the message is mainly distinctive bible doctrine.    

 (Items from a look Magazine Article) found at http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/exhibits/NYC57/05sample23-1.htm

Last visited 06.05.2010

Simplicty of the Gospel Message

 Hitler is Hitler with or without a pink Nazi Uniform.  

Billy Graham stated the message is to remain simple so that everyone can understand you.  Principle James Deny, the Scottish theologian once said, "The Man who shoots above his target does not prove his superior ambition- he simply proves he cannot shoot."  To be ethereal and postmodern hides the truth from the parish.  The dangerous truth is still dangerous even when it is re-marketed with a new pink coat.  

Sweet and Viola seem to want to lead seekers into a large field far from the mind of God, replacing the truth in the bible to the truth of the Volk.   The truth of the Volk is now named Jesus and must be accepted. This is dangerous and denies the laws of logic. 

To God Be the Glory

"Billy Graham His Life and Influence" is a book that centers the history of Christian Evangelicalism since 1949. The book provides a panoramic view point of Christianity today. As Billy Graham came to England in 1954, a crowd of great strength gathered at the train station. Billy descended from the train. As he descended the English Christians opened their hearts in tune to God Be the Glory:



o God be the glory, great things he hath done!

    So loved he the world that he gave us his Son,

    who yielded his life an atonement for sin,

    and opened the lifegate that all may go in.



Refrain:

    Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

    let the earth hear his voice!

    Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

    let the people rejoice!

    O come to the Father thru Jesus the Son,

    and give him the glory, great things he hath done!



2.    O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,

    to every believer the promise of God;

    the vilest offender who truly believes,

    that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

    (Refrain)



3.    Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,

    and great our rejoicing thru Jesus the Son;

    but purer, and higher, and greater will be

    our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

    (Refrain)

Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

Slightly chuck this book into your garden and hope that it will grow amongst the weeds.

This book motivated me to think hard about what I consider my Christian Faith; especially the role of Christ in the body of the Church.

One part of the book was a yes, amen, y'all are telling truth. But the weeds of the book kept me from accepting their gospel.

At other times I felt like the book had something like a scratch on a record being played at 35 rotations a second; irritating at best."The Jesus he presented makes one's brain cells smoke in the efforts to grasp him." (Page 31). I was frustrated that Sweet and Viola did not tell the reader to search the scriptures and find the truth about our relationship with God there. Sweet and Viola seem to want to lead seekers into a large field far from the mind of God, replacing the truth in the bible to the truth of the Volk.   The Volk abstracts the word Jesus so that it can mean absolutely anything.  This form of abstraction is dangerous and denies the laws of logic. I wanted to put the needle back past the errors presented. I wanted to yell, "What about the bible? What about the Catechism? What about the historical church?

A book like this motivates you to sharpen your truth stance in your Christian Walk. It also motivates you to track heretics and martyrs historical battle. Slightly chuck this into your garden and hope that it will grow amongst the weeds.


I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."