The Gospel Project
The Law Taught UNIT 18: GOD IN THE RETURN Session 2 8 FEB 26
NEH 8:1-4 Joyful is the key word. (Eccl 3:12-13 RSV) "I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; {13} also that it is God's gift to man that every one should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil." (Eccl 3:22 RSV) "So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should enjoy his work, for that is his lot; who can bring him to see what will be after him?" The city wall had been rebuilt and the people had gone home who did not live in the city. They returned on a given day for a special service. Ezra gave an extended reading of the Law of Moses. Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs in his Studying Life and Work Lessons, July-September 1988, pages 71-72 made specific note that this became a Revival meeting because they all did some serious Bible study. On page 72 Dr. Hobbs wrote about the “Great Awaking” in New England, “Actually, the “Great Awaking” grew out of serious Bible study groups in the homes during the week with services in the churches on Sunday when many people were saved. It was Bible study that produced revival (see Heb. 4:12-13).” How serious are you when you come to any Bible study? In Jerusalem it was the people, not the leadership, who requested Ezra to read the Law of Moses. Dr. Hobbs, page 72 “No doubt Ezra, a priest and scribe, had taught the Scriptures [for 17 years] since arriving in Jerusalem. However, the present occasion produced an unusual desire within the people to hear all the Mosaic Law read. This eager atmosphere presented a unique opportunity for a thorough reading and teaching of the law.” Students have to want to learn, and they have to want to know the truth. This always requires a willingness to reconsider past teachings. The PBS program Religion and Ethics continually uses people from the SBC to make statements about the Palestine situation. Quote from June 11, 2013 annual meeting: “And at its annual meeting beginning June 11, the Southern Baptist Convention is expected to approve a resolution in support of Israel. Richard Land is the President of the Southern Baptists' Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Richard Land (President, Southern Baptists' Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission): It is the overwhelming belief of most Southern Baptists that God made promises to the Jewish people and that God does not make conditional covenants, and that part of that promise was that that land was given to them forever. ... We believe as a matter of faith that we must support Israel's right to exist and that in a very real sense the Bible belt is Israel's safety belt.” Unquote. How wrong can one get? (Exo 19:5-6 RSV) "Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, {6} and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."" “If” makes this obviously CONDITIONAL! Only if a Jew obeys God and keeps God’s covenant will God make him or her “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Our leaders do not understand well the Bible and the fact that only people who believe in Jesus as their own Lord and Savior are real Jews. (Rom 2:28-29 RSV) "For he is not a real Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. {29} He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is not from men but from God." Obviously some serious Bible study of Ex 19:5-6 is needed. What Southern Baptists want to be true and what the Bible states is true are too often not the same. The Bible declares in definite and clear words that only a descendent of Abraham will get the promises of God. The only way anyone is a descendent of Abraham is through Jesus and Jesus alone. (Gal 3:16-18 RSV) "Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many; but, referring to one, "And to your offspring," which is Christ. {17} This is what I mean: the law, which came four hundred and thirty years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. {18} For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no longer by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise." Today we need to demand of our leaders that they do some new serious Bible study before they dare speak on our behalf. They certainly do not speak for me in this vital matter today.
NEH 8:5-6 Ezra unrolled the scrolls and the people saw that he read from the real Scriptures. The people showed they were serious by standing as he read. Dr. Hobbs, page 73 “Before reading Ezra held the open scroll, and “blessed the Lord.” This probably means that in prayer he thanked the Lord for giving the law through Moses. With uplifted hands the people said in response, “Amen, Amen” an indication of their thorough agreement with the concerns of Ezra’ prayer.”
NEH 8:7-12 The Hebrew suggests that Ezra was careful how he read the scrolls. But Dr. Hobbs saw a different understanding. Dr. Hobbs, page 74 “However, there is another possible, more probable meaning of the Hebrew word translated “distinctly. According to Ezra 4:18 it clearly means “in translation.”” Dr. Hobbs noted that the Scriptures were in Hebrew, but during the Exile, the Jews learned the Babylonian language of Aramaic. The result was (Dr. Hobbs, page 74) “they no longer understood Hebrew. (With certain variations, Aramaic was the language spoken in Palestine in Jesus’ day.) Possibly as Ezra read in Hebrew the Levites translated it into Aramaic. This would explain the plural; Hebrew verb “read” because both Ezra and the Levites were involved…. Thus the people understood the meaning of the Scriptures that Ezra read. When the people heard it read they wept. Was it out of joy because once again they were hearing the law of God? Or did hearing the law convict them of their sins? It could be some of both…. Both Nehemiah (“Tirshatha” means “governor”), Ezra, and the Levites told the people to cease mourning and weeping. The day was holy, because on it the people had heard the reading of God’s Word. They should rejoice, not in revelry, but in eating and drinking and in sharing food with the poor…. Gleaned from this is the truth that those who have heard God’s Word, repented of their sins, and received God’s forgiveness have every reason to rejoice.” Today in Israel, the Jews need to do this again. But they reject God’s Word, i.e. Jesus Christ. In doing so they remain LOST without Jesus. (John 14:6 RSV) "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." Salvation through Jesus is the only basic reason anyone can be joyful in the face of death. In spite of fine words at funerals, all lost people will go to the torment side of Hades, to await assignment to Hell. God wants all people to be joyful. This is possible on in the truth of (John 3:16 RSV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." And remember that God has given NO promises to lost people. A Jew is not a child of God because of physical birth. Every Jews must be save IN THE SAME WAY as every non-Jew. (Gal 2:15-16 RSV) "We ourselves, who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, {16} yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified." Our SBC leaders need to learn this.
NEH 8:13-14 Correct Bible study by leaders can do amazing things. The leaders of the people, together with the religious leaders, proposed they spend time doing in-depth Scripture study. Because they did, they learned truths they had missed, such as the keeping of the Feasts of Booths. Our SBC leaders need to do so today. But they mostly feel they already know all the truth, thus they make sweeping statements that are wrong.
NEH 8:17 Booths were built for the people of the city and for the people from outside the city. The Hebrew needs careful reading here. Dr. Hobbs, pages 75-76 “The solution lies in the words “done so.” It had not been observed to the degree that it was done here. Note the reading of the Scripture, for instance.”
NEH 8:18 Dr. Hobbs, page 76 “The continual daily reading of the law of God suggests the importance and value of daily Bible reading. One of the besetting temptations of preachers and Bible teachers is to let their Bible study become professional-simply preparing sermons and lessons. This is necessary for effective work, but reading the Bible should not confined to this. Each day the Bible should be read devotionally in order to feed one’s soul." It appears that our SBC leaders are too professional. Otherwise, how can they keep missing the fact that the First Covenant with Israel before the birth of Jesus was CONDITIONAL on becoming saved and living a saved life? The Second Covenant is likewise conditional on (Acts 20:21 RSV) "testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." They would also learn that the Promises made to Abraham were made while he was Abram the Gentile. These promises were passed to Abraham’s SINGLE HEIR, Jesus Christ. The ONLY WAY any other person can receive the Promises is to be a Joint-Heir with Jesus. (Gal 4:7 RSV) "So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir." (Heb 1:2 RSV) "but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." (Gal 3:29 RSV) "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." Knowing the real true truths of the Bible is how God intends for us to be joyful. Do you know REAL JOY?
APPLY THE WHOLE BIBLE BEFORE YOU STATE A DOCTRINE!
Best Study Guide: How to Study the Bible Principles with Bible, A Study Sources by Orin T. Binkley.
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