Further Thought: Just as the Old Testament quotes itself (that is, some of the prophets would quote or refer to, for example, texts from the five books of Moses), the New Testament is filled with direct quotes, references, and allusions to the Old. Psalms, Isaiah, and Deuteronomy were among the most quoted. Often, too, the … Continue reading –>
The book of Hebrews, in all its depth and sublimity, was, in many ways, just one long exhortation to Jewish believers in Jesus. And what it exhorted them to do is: Stay faithful to the Lord! This faithfulness, of course, should stem from our love of God, of who He is and of His character and … Continue reading –>
Over and over, the Lord had warned Israel not to follow after the practices of the nations around them. On the contrary, they were to be witnesses to those nations (Deuteronomy 4:6-8). In Deuteronomy 18:9-14, Moses again warns them about their specific practices, which were an “abomination to the LORD” ( Deuteronomy 18.12-13). Read Deuteronomy 18:15-19. What is Moses … Continue reading –>
Read Galatians 3:1-14. What is Paul saying there that is relevant to us today, and how does he use Deuteronomy 27:26 and Deuteronomy 21.22-23 to make his point? Unfortunately, it’s common in Christianity to use this letter as some kind of justification for not keeping the law, the Ten Commandments. Of course, that argument is really used as a … Continue reading –>
In Deuteronomy 10, Moses (again) was recounting Israel’s history and (again) used those accounts to admonish his people to faithfulness. Amid that admonishment he said something else. Read Deuteronomy 10:17-19. What’s the essential message to the people here, and why is this message relevant to God’s church today? The phrase “shows no partiality” is translated from … Continue reading –>
Read Matthew 4:1-11. How did Jesus respond to Satan’s temptations in the wilderness, and what is the important lesson here for us in His response? Jesus didn’t argue with Satan nor debate him. He simply quoted Scripture because, as the Word of God, it is “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). And … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Matthew 4:1-11, Deuteronomy 8:3, Acts 10:34, Galatians 3:1-14, Acts 7:37, Hebrews 10:28-31. Memory Text: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). The New Testament is saturated with the Old. That is, the inspired writers of the New Testament quoted the … Continue reading –>
God’s Perfect Timing By Eliane Hosokawa Imayuki Marcia Yuassa, one of the thousands of Brazilian immigrants working long hours at factories in central Japan, was forced to stay at home after falling ill. Suffering severe pain, she didn’t know how she could take care of her family or even survive. She cried out to God … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “This [Micah 6:1-8] is one of the great passages of the OT. It, like Amos 5:24 and Hosea 6:6, epitomizes the message of the eighth-century prophets. The passage opens with a beautiful example of a covenant lawsuit in which the prophet summons the people to hear the charge Yahweh has against them. The mountains and hills … Continue reading –>
One of the most famous prayers in all the Old Testament is in Daniel 9. Having learned from reading the prophet Jeremiah that the time of Israel’s “desolations” (Daniel 9:2), seventy years, was soon to be up, Daniel earnestly began praying. And what a prayer it was — a poignant and tearful supplication in which he … Continue reading –>
