September - Reading 12

Our Scriptures for today are:

Luke 22:54-62

Hebrews 7:11-28

Proverbs 24:1-22

Isaiah 31-33

May God bless the reading of His Word.

 

Good morning -

It kept going through my mind today as I read Isaiah how well the prophet's words fit with the theology of the Chronicler. The first woe in chapter 31 exemplifies how the Israelites always got themselves in trouble. It is when they relied on might and power to defeat their enemies instead of trusting in the Lord. God had promised that Abraham's seed would be very abundant and he had given them the Promised Land just as he had promised the Patriarchs yet their faith failed them, kings and subjects alike. Even though Isaiah was writing 2 or three centuries after the reign of Saul, he still recognizes in 33:22 that God was the TRUE KIng of Judah.

In Hebrews today we read that the priestly order of the Levites was set only for a time and that the coming of Christ from the non-priestly tribe of Judah was a necessary development in the theology of the Jews. While the Levites could only offer perfect animals for their sacrifices, Christ was able to offer himself, a perfect man, for perfect restitution of sin.

The reading in Luke today was this Gospel's account of the denial by Peter. I will link you to the comments made in the Matthew reading.
http://www.baptistboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=33;t=000090

May God bless you

- Clint

 

It's difficult to find time every single day for this, I know, Aaron.

I hope all is well with you.

 

Proverbs 24

In verses 11-12, the author's intent is likely referring to people falsely accused of earthly crimes and tried by a human magistrate. However, it is not difficult to make the leap to see this Passage as referring to those who are living sinful lives and will be judged for such on the Day of the Lord. Not only are our actions to be judged, but our inactions as well. God will judge us by our works, not by our excuses.

[ September 13, 2004, 07:39 AM: Message edited by: Clint Kritzer ]

 

Sunday School lesson 2/13/05 - continued

Luke 22:54-62 The Denial by Peter

The officials of the Sanhedrin take Jesus to the house of the high priest and Peter follows at a distance. Whatever judgment we have of Peter’s denial, we should remember that he at least had the tenacity to follow Jesus, albeit, at a distance. Because the night was cold, they (those who had taken Christ to the priest’s house) lit a fire to warm themselves in the courtyard. We are not told how the maid identified Peter, but she somehow recognized him as one of Jesus’ companions. Caught in the spotlight, Peter begins his backslide. He denies any acquaintance with Jesus.

All four Gospels record a threefold denial by Peter though there are slight variances as to who the accusers were and the chronology in proximity to the trial. Yet, for all that, Peter’s situation is one that shows the frailty of man in the face of events beyond his control. It is interesting to speculate what may have been going through Peter’s mind. Some have suggested that Peter was entirely motivatred by fear and note that it was not the Sanhedrin nor the soldiers that frightened him but a single maid. Others have surmised that his weakness was due to the disillusionment he may have been suffering. He had expected Jesus to lead him to conquest over the Romans and other powers that be but instead the events unfolding pointed towards despair rather than hope.

Only Luke records the scene which occurs as the cock crows. We are told that the Lord turned and looked at him. We must then ask “from where?” Perhaps it was from a window or doorway that overlooked the courtyard. In any case, the guilt and shame of the deed overwhelm the disciple and he leaves the scene without explanation and weeps. It is at this moment that Grace can begin its work in a man – when he is stripped of his pride and arrogance and stands in the gaze of God naked in his need.

 

Hebrews

Hebrews 7:11-25 A Divine Priesthood

The preacher now draws upon the only other mention of Melchizedek in the Scriptures, Psalm 110:4. In the Biblical timeline, David was centuries after Moses, born under and obedient to the Law. David was well aware of the priesthood and their origin. Moses as a prophet had established them and they remained an integral part of the system of Law.

Yet in Psalm 110, a strong messianic prophecy, David speaks of the messiah being a priest in the order of Melchizedek. Moses had spoken of all priest being descendent from Aaron and of the tribe of Levi. He never mentioned any priestly role played by Judah. The priesthood of the messiah, then, would be separate from the Law.

Paul often stresses the inferiority of the Law. In Psalm 110, David recognizes it as well. The Levitical priesthood could not attain perfection. It would require something more. It would require a different type of priest and a different type of Law. Though the Jews may have clung to their system, the sacred texts of their own religion spoke plainly of its inadequacy.

In the preacher’s day, the Levites established their rights to the priesthood by meticulously tracing their heritage. Even then, crippled or maimed Levites could not serve. Everything about the Levitical priesthood was reliant upon their bodily existence and this was temporary. Upon death, they had no choice but to give up that station. Jesus, however, was appointed a Priest by triumphing over death.

The office of the priest had many duties but all of these pointed to one primary goal: to draw people near to God. The Levitical priests did the job as men could do it but there could be no question that they lacked the divine element necessary to accomplish the task fully. In the great scheme of redemption they served a purpose functioning under a system that served a purpose, but the entirety of the Law could not save a soul. It never bridged the gap between man and God with any permanence. Man can not meet God half way. God must come all the way. He did this with an oath spoken through David that a new kind of Priest functioning under a new kind of system was on the horizon.

Hebrews 7:26-28 A Perfect Priesthood

The Law as delivered by Moses was holy and it is not the preacher’s intention to diminish its importance. The Law as it was received by man became flawed because of man’s inadequacy. It was necessary and always a part of God’s plan that more would come of it. Jesus in fulfilling the Law became morally qualified to function as the Great High Priest.

The former priests were flawed men and as such they had to continually offer sacrifices not only for their flock but for themselves as well. They were born of a corruptible nature and though they served as intermediaries to between God and man, they were unable to ever be the true representatives of God.

In entering our flesh and maintaining perfect character, Jesus became the ultimate High Priest for mankind. He remained sinless despite associating with sinners. He was spiritually unblemished. He was anointed by God and called into Heaven to act as the Priest and the sacrifice that would bring about the pardon of the wretched, sinning creatures made in God’s image.

 

Our Scriptures for 9/13 are:

Luke 22:63-71

Hebrews 8:1-6

Proverbs 24:23-34

Isaiah 34-36

 

Our Scriptures for 9/13 are:

Luke 22:63-71

Hebrews 8:1-6

Proverbs 24:23-34

Isaiah 34-36

 

Our Scriptures for 9/13 are:

Luke 22:63-71

Hebrews 8:1-6

Proverbs 24:23-34

Isaiah 34-36

 

Our Scriptures for 9/13 are:

Luke 22:63-71

Hebrews 8:1-6

Proverbs 24:23-34

Isaiah 34-36

 

Our Scriptures for 9/13 are:

Luke 22:63-71

Hebrews 8:1-6

Proverbs 24:23-34

Isaiah 34-36