June - Reading 4

Good afternoon -

Our Scriptures in our scheduled reading today are:

Luke 1:57-66

Ephesians 2:11-22

Psalm 119:25-32

1 Kings 6-7

May God grant you wisdom as you continue to read from His Word.

 

Good afternoon -

We had a power outage here last evening so I was unable to post. Margie and I actually read our Scriptures by flashlight last night. I hope that all of you are continuing as well.

The reading in 1Kings described in great detail Solomon's Temple and Solomon's Palace. There is little on which I can comment but I found an artist's rendering of the Temple: http://www.solomonstemple.com/

In Luke, we read of the birth of John the Baptist. Zecharia's tongue is loosed once he proclaims that the baby's name will be John, concurring with his wife. Tonight, we will read his song or the Benedicta.

In Ephesians, Paul moves from the salvation of individuals into the unification of the Jews and the Gentiles under Christ. This concept will be further explained in chapter 3. We also find that just as Christ told the woman at the well, it is the hearts of the believers that make the Temple of God.

May God bless you

- Clint

[ June 04, 2003, 07:25 AM: Message edited by: Clint Kritzer ]

 

Sunday School lecture – 9/5/04 continued

Luke 1:57-66 The Birth of John

A barren woman bearing a child was a mark of divine mercy, especially in the case of a woman of advanced age. On the eighth day, John was taken to be circumcised as was required by Jewish law as a sign of the Abrahamic Covenant. It is from this Passage and 2:21 that historians reckon that Jewish males were not named until their circumcision. Naming a child was a serious matter in these times as it would represent the character or personality of the one who bore it. It is presumed that it was family members who expected Zechariah's name to be passed on as the objection to "John" was due to no other family member having it.

Zechariah was still mute at this point and was also either deaf or perceived as deaf because the people signed to him. Zechariah communicated that he wanted a writing tablet and confirms Elizabeth's pronouncement of a name. It was not the couple that named him, but God. The name translates as "the Grace or Mercy of the Lord."

The miraculous events and naming associated with John's birth instilled a sense of fear or awe in those who knew. The rumors and tales that spread through the community were "laid up in their hearts" as people wondered what would be this child's extraordinary destiny.

 

Our Scriptures for 6/5 are:

Luke 1:67-80

Ephesians 3:1-13

Psalm 119:33-40

1 Kings 8

 

Our Scriptures for 6/5 are:

Luke 1:67-80

Ephesians 3:1-13

Psalm 119:33-40

1 Kings 8

 

Our Scriptures for 6/5 are:

Luke 1:67-80

Ephesians 3:1-13

Psalm 119:33-40

1 Kings 8

 

Our Scriptures for 6/5 are:

Luke 1:67-80

Ephesians 3:1-13

Psalm 119:33-40

1 Kings 8

 

Our Scriptures for 6/5 are:

Luke 1:67-80

Ephesians 3:1-13

Psalm 119:33-40

1 Kings 8