2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11 + Romans 7:1-13 + Psalm 17:1-15 + Proverbs 19:22-23
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Old Testament – Today in Second Chronicles we read about the furnishings for the Temple, including the completion of the Sea in chapter 4 verses 4 & 5 – “The Sea rested on a base of twelve bronze oxen, all facing outward. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east. The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a lily blossom. It could hold about 16,500 gallons of water.” The Sea was used by the priests for their ceremonial washings. Interestingly, the New Testament views these washing rituals as a foreshadowing of the cleansing provided to us by Jesus, as we will read later this year in Hebrews chapter 9 verses 11-14: “When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” Below is an image of the Sea from today’s readings:
Today we also read about the Ark being brought to the Temple. Second Chronicles chapter 5 verses 13 & 14 are incredible to consider: “The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the LORD with these words: “He is so good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. The priests could not continue their work because the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God.”
New Testament – Great writings by Paul in Romans 7 today about the Law! I love how he wraps up today’s readings in verses 12 & 13 by saying: “But still, the law itself is holy and right and good. But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my doom? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commandment for its own evil purposes.” Great theology in this chapter today! Indeed – the law itself is holy and right and good. But, we couldn’t keep the law and sin tempted us to break the law. And thanks to Jesus, Paul tells us in verse 6 today: “But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to its power. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way by obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way, by the Spirit.” We now serve God by the Spirit! We are free indeed!
Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Romans readings titled “The Loveliness of the Law and the Ugliness of Sin” is at this link.
Psalms – In Psalm 17 David appeals to God as Judge when he is being attacked by foes. Verse 7 is a great prayer and comfort! “Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. You save with your strength those who seek refuge from their enemies.” Do you seek refuge with God from whatever might attacking you? Do you believe that God will show you his unfailing love in wonderful ways? Have you been saved by God’s strength? Have you sought refuge with God from your “enemies”?
Proverbs – I like Proverbs 19 verse 22 today! “Loyalty makes a person attractive. And it is better to be poor than dishonest.” It is an interesting combination of proverbs in one verse. I do agree that loyalty is an attractive quality in people. Are you loyal to God? And I wholeheartedly agree that it is better to be poor than dishonest. Dishonestly is a sin that breeds so many other sins and wrong-thinkings in our life. It’s to be avoided – even if it means being materially poor. You will be wealthy in God’s eyes because of your honesty!
Worship Video: Romans 7 verse 6 I think correlates very well with this video of The David Crowder Band’s “Everything Glorious”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81dK2Vu1IUs
Is everything glorious in your life? Click here for Glory!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.” Romans 7:4 TNIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you are alive in Christ. Pray for the body of Christ. Pray that you are bearing fruit for God.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Jim:
The image you put of the Temple’s Sea was great. For all the verbose description of the Temple in Chronicles, I’ve always had a hard time visualizing it. (What the heck is the Sea anyway?) Now I know.
Romans is interesting because it almost seems that if we had no knowledge of the Law, how could sin manifest itself? But Paul’s analysis was right on in saying that sin and the devil use God’s Law against us, tempting us to do what is specifically forbidden by the law.
Praise God and thank God for his mercy upon me.
Have a great day all.
Jim
====== Vance:
Second Chronicles chapter 5 verses 13 & 14 are incredible to consider –
“The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the LORD with these words: “He is so good! His faithful love endures forever!”
At that moment a cloud filled the Temple of the LORD. The priests could not continue their work because the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God.”
The KJV renders the last part of verse 14 as: “…for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.”
This is according to the “Blue Letter Bible”, by which one can see the Hebrew and Greek meanings of words through Strong’s Concordance.
Hebrew: LORD – Y@hovah {yeh-ho-vaw’}
This means: Jehovah = “the existing One”
Hebrew: “glory” –kabowd {kaw-bode’}
The meaning is:
1) glory, honour, glorious,
abundance
a) abundance, riches
b) honour, splendour,
glory
c) honour, dignity
d) honour, reputation
e) honour, reverence,
glory
f) glory
I do not know the source of the quote, but C.S. Lewis defined glory in a way that has always really impressed me, and which truly captures the essence of glory.
He defines glory as that which is “weighty, substance, of true value.” Picture a set of scales, and you are measuring two (2) different things. Gold has more “glory” and has more “substance” than other substances. Thus, the side of the scale, which weighs the gold, is “weighed down”
Think about it!
It is very important to praise the Lord – to set time aside to do this—to offer not just offerings from our substance (possessions) – but our very selves as well.
When we do that, we are following the example of the priests in verse 13: “…they raised their voices and praised the LORD with these words: “He is so good! His faithful love endures forever!”
And when we consistently do that—as a habit—then, we allow the TRUE glory, substance—that which lasts and that which is eternal—to be deposited into our being.
Then, what the Lord promised with an oath in Isaiah 54 will come true: (Amplified Bible)
verse 9
For this is like the days of Noah to Me; as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.
verse 10
For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you.
If we persistently, consistently offer our possessions and ourselves to the Lord in praise,
then the “riches, abundance, splendor, reputation” and the “weightiness, substance, true lasting value” of God’s character will be deposited into our lives!
Isaiah 54 (Amplified Bible)
verse 17
This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
[those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced];
this is the righteousness
or the vindication which
they obtain from Me [this
is that which I impart to
them as their
justification], says the
Lord.
I end with quotes from The Weight of Glory, by C.S. Lewis…
“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.
Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations–these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat.
But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit–immortal horrors or everlasting splendours.
This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of the kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously–no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.
And our charity must be real and costly love, with deep feeling for the sins in spite of which we love the sinners–no mere tolerance, or indulgence which parodies love as flippancy parodies merriment.
Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses. If he is your Christian neighbour, he is holy in almost the same way, for in him also Christ vere latitat, the glorifier and the glorified, Glory Himself, is truly hidden.”
Remember: Christ is us is the CERTAIN, GUARANTEED hope of glory!… and PRAISE increases the substance of GLORY of Jesus IN and THROUGH us !
Vance
====== Vance:
Romans 7 (NKJV)
3
So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
4
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
5
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
6
But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
NOTE:
I like these meditations. Source: http://www.ministrybooks.org/books.cfm?id=%23%2A%2EX%26%0A
Now we come to Romans 7:5-6.
Verse five says, “For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins, which were through the law, operated in our members to bear fruit to death.” This verse speaks of what we were.
Verse six says, “But now we are discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held, that we should serve as slaves in newness of spirit and not in oldness of letter.” When we were in the flesh (v. 5), we were the old husband.
When we were discharged from the law (v. 6), we became the wife. We have been discharged from the law of the old husband, having died to that in which we were held.
By now it should be very clear who is the old husband. The old husband is our old man. The wife is our regenerated new man. As the old man we are dead, and as the new man we are alive. We were dead as the old husband, but now are alive as the wife. As we shall see, the wife does two things— bears fruit to God and serves in newness of spirit.
Vance
====== Andrew:
“So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.” Romans 7:4 (NIV)
I had not realised before that this is so clear cut – we died to the law.
It’s over as far as the law is concerned. We are free to life the new life of the Spirit with all its new risks and challenges.
So, I guess we have to avoid trying to rebuild old comfort zones by rebuilding systems of the law.
Andrew
====== Johnnie:
Can anyone enlighten me regarding the sea…
Does that represent our sins being washed away and remembered no more?
The sea of forgetfulness?
Anyone?
Johnnie
======= John:
Johnnie: In most sources, “sea” is just referred to as used for priest’s cleansing. Symbolically being pure before God????
Did find something else that may help FWIW.
In Rabbinical litereature –
The sea represented the world; the ten ells of diameter corresponded to the ten Sefirot; and it was round at the top (according to the Talmud passage above cited) as the heavens are round. The depth of the sea was five ells, corresponding to the distance of five hundred years’ journey between heaven and earth (compare Ḥag. 13a). The band of thirty ells around it corresponded to the Ten Commandments, to the ten words of God at the creation of the world, and to the ten Sefirot: for the world can exist only when the Ten Commandments are observed; and the ten Sefirot as well as the ten words of God were the instruments of the Creation. The two rows of colocynths (knops) below the rim were symbolic of the sun and the moon, while the twelve oxen on which the sea rested represented the zodiac (“mazzalot”). It contained 2,000 baths (cubic measures), for the world will sustain him who keeps the Torah, which was created 2,000 years before the world.
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=1424&letter=B&search=bronze%20sea
John
====== John:
Romans 7
Pauls spent Chapter 6 getting into “sanctification”.
“Sanctification is the ability of God to make sinners actually righteous.”
Sanctification will not be complete until we get to heaven , but it can and should start now.
Know that the bondage of sin ended. With Belief in Christ we are given a new life (man).
Reckon yourselves the same way God sees you – “Alive to God in Christ Jesus”.
(Exhorting) Yield to God and Obey God as servants who love their master obey – because you want to – this leads to holiness (sanctification)
======================================================
Romans 7:1-13
THE WAY WE ARE NOT TO LIVE
People say – Got it! Now that I am saved, and a new man, and like a bondservant to God – I obey God by going back to obeying the LAW.
No, No, No Paul says, the Law would be “shackles” to a saved soul.
Here is an analogy. Everyone knows under the Law that when a husband dies, the woman can remarry.
You died to the Law through the body of Christ that you may be joined (marry) another – Jesus. In order that we might bear fruit to God.
How? Because in marriage as the Bride you will submit (obey) Jesus and He will love you. BTW this new husband (Jesus) will never die – it is eternal marriage.
Serving in the new way of the Spirit in that we serve (yield, obey) our new husband – Christ.
NOTE: Some denominations teach that this passage teaches no divorce until death. I disagree. Paul is teaching on condemnation, solution, justifcation, sanctification etc. This is just an analogy, not a literal teaching of marriage. I bring this up because you may have or may in the future run into this argument about divorce.
======================================================
People think – Got it. We died to sin. We died to Law. Wait a minute – doesn’t that make the Law bad?
No, No, No, Paul says.
[Digression]
Psalm 19:7-10
7The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb. NIV
Ok. I get that the Law sets up boundries and that “sin” appeals to our corrupt nature, and we fall for the message
· Because sin falsely promises satisfaction
· Because sin falsely claims an adequate excuse
· Because sin falsely promises an escape from punishment
What I don’t get is vs 9 and 10. Unless it is like Bob Deffingbaugh says – Paul speaking in Adam (as the ancestor). I read some commentaries and Vance’s explanation – and I still feel odd about these verses. Anyone else have thoughts?
Regardless our struggle is with our nature and sin – not the Law. In vs. 11 it talks about sin “seizing the opportunity” – opportunity in its root is a military term meaning “base of operations”. Sin is attacking us. We succomb. The Law just points this out.
Sin “becomes more sinful” in light of the law in two ways. First, sin becomes exceedingly sinful through contrast with the law. Second, sin becomes exceedingly sinful because the law provokes its evil nature. – David Guzik
Exceedingly sinful: “Why didn’t he say, ‘exceeding black,’ or ‘exceeding horrible,’ or ‘exceedingly deadly’? Why, because there is nothing in the world so bad as sin. When he wanted to use the very worst word he could find: to call sin by, he called it by its own name, and reiterated it: ‘sin,’ ‘exceeding sinful.’ ” (Spurgeon)
John
====== Brandie:
That song is awesome and true. Too bad we all can’t see it that way. I know when my poppa passed away I looked at life differently and everything was so beautiful to me. It still is. Amazing how beautiful life is and sometimes taken for granted.
Proverbs 19:22 is very good. In my bible study we are doing on Wed. mornings at church it is called cultivating contentment and it talks about being honest and being content. That we should be content with whatever we have in life. Plain and simple. I have worked on being honest with everyone this week even with my nana being in the hospital and it has worked well with me. I have felt peaceful.
Brandie
======= Alice:
The music is a delightful addition to this study. I enjoy them very much. Thanks for being so faithful.
Alice
====== Janice:
Remember: Christ is us is the CERTAIN, GUARANTEED hope of glory!… and PRAISE increases the substance of GLORY of Jesus IN and THROUGH us !
thank you vance..and remeber he wants us to love….and be forgiving
Janice
====== Billy:
Thanks Mike for all the great images that you provide they really are helpful !! God Bless all the readers and have a great day.
Billy
====== Alan:
“King of Righteousness” I’m reading a book on the names of Jesus, ” He shall be Called” by Robert J. Morgan. A snippet from yesterday’s reading hit me real hard. “I have a King who will never embarrass or disappoint me…But even better He wants to impute His Righteousness to me, so that in His sight I am just as righteous as the King of Righteousness…I’m a broken sinner. I’ve created my own little scandals. Moral failure has tarnished my life. I cannot help breaking my promises. BUT the King transferred my sins to His account while, at the same time transferring His Righteousness to my account. This Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood.{Romans 3:22-25 NIV] Why did He do this for us? Drop the last letter from King and you have the answer. We are made in His image, we are His kin…Think of Him as your Righteousness. As Steve Brown would say, “I’m in” Thanks, In His grace, Alan
====== Jane:
This Devo below ties in with Roman 7:7 . We have freedom in Christ but we won’t be chasing things of this earth that bog us down!! If we let God carry our baggage and walk in faith
Without Covetousness – Hebrews 13:5
INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS
A man’s conversation should consistently exhibit a high level of individual contentment. Defining conversation and covetousness will help to better understand Hebrews 13:5
. A man’s conversation in the Bible sometimes refers to more than the words he speaks. It frequently refers to his entire way of life. One who lives covetously desires things not belonging to him. The Bible stresses the seriousness of covetousness by connecting it to the sin of idolatry. Combining these two simple truths shows that man should never live his life chasing after things not belonging to him. Why is it so important for a Christian to live a life of contentment? Since God promises to never leave or forsake His own, a discontented Christian lacks a trust in His Creator. Understanding these simple truths should bring great contentment to the believer.
Jane
====== Robert:
Vance; Thanks for the new tool. THE BLUE LETTER BIBLE. It looks like a great resource. I like your insight into “glory” too.
Robert
====== Dee:
I loved your reflection Vance!!
2nd Chronicles..the budding and the water basins are magnificent..hard to imagine but very elaborate . Detailed..God is a God of details and imagination.
Romans..we get q good briefing on good, law and sin. Just bec a use something is a law doesn’t mean it’s bad..the well being of us isn’t a bad thing but something God gave to us not punishing us..as a blessing not a curse
Psalm sometime in my desperation I cry out for answers and sometimes I am so Impatient to get what took some ye a rs to build. I hope I answer my call well and when I call on him, he is listening
Proverbs loyalty is an attraction. I pray I am loyal always not just to God but to his people
Dee
===== Stacey:
Thank you for the pictures you post. I could never imagine the Sea from reading. I greatly appreciate that I now have an idea of what it looks like. God bless
Stacey
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